russian forces intensify their attacks in northeastern ukraine, with fighting reported in the border town of vovcha nsk. it comes as russia's defence minister, and putin's long—time ally, is pushed out in a rare cabinet shake—up. a maternity care overhaul — as mps say urgent action is needed to reduce the trauma experienced by many women during childbirth. and millions of indians are voting in the fourth phase of the seven week long general election. the uk prime minister rishi sunak warns of knavery dangerous years ahead. hello, i'm geeta guru murthy, welcome to bbc news now, welcome to bbc news now.

russia has intensified its attacks in northeast ukraine — rausing fears the city of kharkiv could soon be in range of its artillery. the border town of vovchansk has been heavily bombed. kharkiv�*s governor has said russia trying to stretch the front line — ukraine's commander in the area has been replaced. in another sign of the growing strain on kyiv — ukraine has said it will need record energy imports after russian attacks on infrastructure. as russia makes progress in the war, president putin is set to appoint a new defence minister, andrey belousov. like his predecessor sergei shoigu, he doesn't have much experience in the field. but he's one of putin's most influential economic advisers. and analysts say that may offer a clue to the russian leader's desire to fund his military ambitions. we'll have more on the changes in russia's defence hierachy in a moment —

first james waterhouse has the latest on the fighting in ukraine. it's a front line at the moment which is more than 1000 kilometres wrong lung, and it is a front line that ukrainian forces are struggling to maintain, with the —— russian forces are struggling to maintain. russia continuing to make its size counts and taking ukrainian military further south. we are told this incursion is being contained for now. there has been heavy fighting really for the past 2a hours, and i think while few think that they are able, even with the gathering of tens of thousands of russian troops across the border, if you think they are able to take cities like kharkiv because they failed the first time round. for now, it appears russia tried to form a buffer zone. try to extend the addition between russian territory in the fighting it is

waging in ukraine because ukraine is shelling targets inside russia. the question really is presidents lenski admits is what is going to happen next? we are containing for now but is russia building towards something more. let's speak to samuel ramani, associate fellow at rusi and author of putin's war on ukraine. just to pick up on what we were hearing from a correspondent on the ground, just give us your assessment of what is going on in the kharkiv area. ,, . of what is going on in the kharkiv area. , , . �* , of what is going on in the kharkiv area. ,, ., ~ , ., of what is going on in the kharkiv area. ~ , ., , area. the russian army had been ”lannin area. the russian army had been planning to _ area. the russian army had been planning to engage _ area. the russian army had been planning to engage in _ area. the russian army had been planning to engage in military - planning to engage in military operations there in kharkiv for some time. the aim was to reconnect to the areas. russia is acting on a long—standing strategy. ukraine is aware of this. they've been doing this since early 2023. but now

russia is stepping up its operation because wool material shortages are not making —— they are not making as much progress as they would have hoped. when ukraine read director kharkiv they might finally start getting the numbers they need. at getting the numbers they need. at what point does us military support that has been voted in now for washington coming to give enough support to ukrainians? i washington coming to give enough support to ukrainians?— support to ukrainians? i think it is auoin to support to ukrainians? i think it is going to be _ support to ukrainians? i think it is going to be coming _ support to ukrainians? i think it is going to be coming in _ support to ukrainians? i think it is going to be coming in and - support to ukrainians? i think it is| going to be coming in and dribbles rather than in massive torrents. before the congress passed the civilian aid package, there were discussions about one to two weeks of the aid being transfers, and that would include defence systems, anti—air missiles. the most important thing for the kharkiv front line is to stabilise a ground offensive but deal with what is

happening in the air because kharkiv is much more vulnerable to attacks from russian missiles than other regions we are seeing in ukraine leg edessa. find regions we are seeing in ukraine leg edessa. �* , ., . ., , edessa. and in terms of the changes to military personnel, _ edessa. and in terms of the changes to military personnel, ukrainians - to military personnel, ukrainians have announced a change in one of their key leaders in the region, but also we have had this announcement from moscow about andrey belousov who is taking over as new defence minister. what do these changes festival in moscow tell us about two in's strategy? i festival in moscow tell us about two in's strategy?— in's strategy? i think the takeover of andrey belousov _ in's strategy? i think the takeover of andrey belousov is _ in's strategy? i think the takeover of andrey belousov is suggestive | in's strategy? i think the takeover. of andrey belousov is suggestive of the fact they want to harmonise russia's economic and security policies. and they are moving increasingly towards a war economy. he was highlighting the fact about the russian defence budget is

averaging somewhere near the 805. it is encouraging the war economy. vovchansk is one of the few economists who argued that after crimea, he is very supportive of putin buzz like a gender and is very loyal. the russian economy hasn't lot better with standing connotations than the russian military has on the front lines in ukraine. putin sees this as a hybrid well. the war against ukraine as a military will. well. the war against ukraine as a military will-— military will. when we look at the ukrainian commander _ military will. when we look at the ukrainian commander who - military will. when we look at the ukrainian commander who has i military will. when we look at the i ukrainian commander who has been responsible for the north—eastern kharkiv front line, he was replaced which was announced today as well. again, what does that tell us, and where do you think the balance of strength is on ukrainian and russian sides now as we look at the extra

aid coming in from the us but significant russian gains? i think it is a kneejerk _ significant russian gains? i think it is a kneejerk reaction - significant russian gains? i think it is a kneejerk reaction in - significant russian gains? i think it is a kneejerk reaction in some| it is a kneejerk reaction in some ways, this change in ukraine. they were obviously caught off—guard by the russian events in kharkiv. it's something that's a contingency. they've been planning for a few months as i noted. the new appointment is somebody who has experience in her son and experience with military training. so i think thatis with military training. so i think that is why they made the kharkiv personnel change at this moment in time. it fits in with the broadest strategy that we've seen from presidents lenski. remove the defence minister, remove, rip most recently the infrastructure minister and some of those were due to corruption. it is clear that zelinsky is trying to get leadership

on the front lines as ukraine deals with this latest wave of russian aggression and the start its own campaign in 2025. and for all the latest on this story, you can visit the bbc news app or go to our website. staying in the region, and protests are continuing outside parliament in georgia after an all—night rally against a controversial foreign agents law. the bill requires organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence orface fines. western countries and georgia's opposition have denounced it as authoritarian and russian—inspired, but the country's prime minister vowed on sunday to push ahead with the law. let's cross live now to our south caucasus correspondent rayhan demytrie who was there overnight. just tell us how big are the protests and will this all go

through anyway? the protest was quite big overnight. there were thousands of people, when i returned this morning at 8am, they were all concentrated outside the parliament building, trying to block the entrances to the parliament building to prevent mp5 from the governing georgian party from entering the party. this is where the clashes have happened with the police that pushed the protesters out. about 20 people were arrested and some people were beaten up. what we're seeing now is that these demonstrations are continuing, the protesters are here. a short while ago, a group of studentsjoined the a short while ago, a group of students joined the protesters and we are hearing that more students will bejoining later we are hearing that more students will be joining later today. we are hearing that more students will bejoining later today. there was no sign of these protesters kind of giving up on their demand, and their demand is for the government to withdraw the bill. but earlier today, when mp5 finally made it to

the title at the main building, it tookjust the title at the main building, it took just 67 seconds the title at the main building, it tookjust 67 seconds to the title at the main building, it took just 67 seconds to finally green light this controversial law before the final vote on tuesday. and why is there such concern about these legal changes?— these legal changes? there is a massive concern _ these legal changes? there is a massive concern because - these legal changes? there is a massive concern because a - these legal changes? there is a massive concern because a lot i these legal changes? there is a l massive concern because a lot of people see it as a change in georgia's foreign policy course. they see it as a pivot towards russia. they dubbed the law, the russian law because of the similarities with the foreign agents that has been in force in russia for many years now and has been used to silence critical voices in the country, and this country is heading to its own parliamentary elections this year. people are worried that the law will restrict this critical voices in georgia, but most importantly, what they fear and why they are so angry at the government is that they are worried that it

will kill this national hope and national dream that georgia has which isjoining the european union. and given that there has been so much criticism from the eu, we have a number of senior eu officials visiting georgia these days, they are worrying that it will kill this national dream.— are worrying that it will kill this national dream. ., ~ , ., , . national dream. thank you very much indeed. rishi sunak warned of dangerous years ahead and said that the uk would be less safe under 0k starmer. he did not announce any new policies but said that voters had a clear choice and said that labour had a nod to the uk achievements. rishi sunak set out the challenges set out by the axis of authority and states, as he put it, with russia china and

north korea. pm as he put it, with russia china and north korea-— north korea. an axis of authoritarian _ north korea. an axis of authoritarian states - north korea. an axis of| authoritarian states like north korea. an axis of - authoritarian states like russia, north korea, iran and china is working together to undermine us and our values. war has returned to europe, with our native allies saying that if putin succeeds in ukraine, they might be next. —— nato. right now, in africa, conflicts are being fought in 18 different countries. and putting cosmic recklessness has taken us closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than at any point since the cuban missile crisis. fiur the cuban missile crisis. our olitical the cuban missile crisis. 0ur political correspondent hannah miller joins political correspondent hannah millerjoins me now. this was a speech with no new policies, but the prime minister interestingly did say that he felt the labour opposition was sort of talking down the uk and

said maybe they could, as he put it, depress their way to victory. he was asked about the timing of the general election, could there be one injuly, but he did not answer that, hejust said the injuly, but he did not answer that, he just said the second half of this year. he just said the second half of this ear. . �* , he just said the second half of this ear. ., �* , , ., he just said the second half of this ear. . �*, ., ., , year. that's something we already knew, year. that's something we already knew. wasn't _ year. that's something we already knew, wasn't it? _ year. that's something we already knew, wasn't it? i _ year. that's something we already knew, wasn't it? i think— year. that's something we already knew, wasn't it? i think one - year. that's something we already knew, wasn't it? i think one of - year. that's something we already j knew, wasn't it? i think one of the striking claims he is trying to make in the run—up to a general election is this argument that the country will be less safe if we have a labour government. that of causes something that labour would strongly dispute, and there were a number of times during the speech that rishi sunak suggested that labour did not have a plan or policy, where i think the labour party would come back and say that they do. there was a significant amount of spin here, no new policy, but a clear outline in terms of security and insecurity being an important part of the next general election.— general election. thank you very much indeed. _

general election. thank you very much indeed. this _ general election. thank you very much indeed. this is _ general election. thank you very much indeed. this is bbc - general election. thank you very much indeed. this is bbc news. |

millions of indians are voting in the fourth phase of the seven—week long general election. polling is being held for 96 seats, largely covering southern and eastern states. srinagar, the main city in indian—administered kashmir, is voting for the first time since mr modi withdrew the region's semi—autonomy. mr modi's party is not standing in kashmir. live to delhi and to our correspondent, samira hussain. just tell us exactly where these folks are taking place. what are the keyissues folks are taking place. what are the key issues in the different regions? when looking at about ten different states that are currently voting. some as you rightly pointed out in the south and then of course there

is there territory of general kashmir that are also voting. by the time this fourth phase is over, about 70% of the entire country will have finally voted. and we have been looking at the issues right across the country, and according to recent polling and interviews that we have done, in the minds of voters in terms of the most pressing issues, bar none it has to be the economy. most importantly is unemployment, that there is a real struggle with unemployment, particularly among young educated men. that is a real problem. also a real difficulty, which is something that is interesting right across the world, is the fight with inflation and the higher prices and increase cost of living. that has really put a lot of pressure on everyday people. haifa living. that has really put a lot of pressure on everyday people. how is the turn out? — pressure on everyday people. how is the turn out? there _ pressure on everyday people. how is the turn out? there has _ pressure on everyday people. how is the turn out? there has been - pressure on everyday people. how is the turn out? there has been a - pressure on everyday people. how is the turn out? there has been a lot . the turn out? there has been a lot of expectation that narendra modi will win again, a historic third

term. is there any evidence that thatis term. is there any evidence that that is depressing voting and does it vary again by region? if that is depressing voting and does it vary again by region?— that is depressing voting and does it vary again by region? if you look at voter turnout _ it vary again by region? if you look at voter turnout as _ it vary again by region? if you look at voter turnout as per _ it vary again by region? if you look at voter turnout as per the - it vary again by region? if you look| at voter turnout as per the election commission of india, you see that actually in the last three phases, voter turnout has been around 65%. that is marginally less than what we saw in the previous general election. and when you factor in the population increases, you see that voter turnout is a little bit less. that's one thing that a lot of people are looking at in terms of voter turnout and the excitement thatis voter turnout and the excitement that is around the selection that many people have been saying there is just not as much zest for the selection that you have seen in past elections in india.— elections in india. under the results come _ elections in india. under the results come in, _ elections in india. under the results come in, because . elections in india. under the | results come in, because this elections in india. under the . results come in, because this is elections in india. under the - results come in, because this is one of most democratic votes ever —— biggest democratic votes ever, isn't

it? �* , ., ., ., , biggest democratic votes ever, isn't it? �*, ., ., ., , . ., it? it's one of the longest election cles, it? it's one of the longest election cycles. properly — it? it's one of the longest election cycles, properly not _ it? it's one of the longest election cycles, properly not as _ it? it's one of the longest election cycles, properly not as long - it? it's one of the longest election cycles, properly not as long as - it? it's one of the longest election j cycles, properly not as long as the american election cycle but still it is long. the vast majority of the polling will take place on the 1st ofjune. because they are using electronic voting systems, the expectation is that the results will come out fairly quickly. if expectation is that the results will come out fairly quickly. iii expectation is that the results will come out fairly quickly.— come out fairly quickly. if i can ask ou come out fairly quickly. if i can ask you about _ come out fairly quickly. if i can ask you about jammu - come out fairly quickly. if i can ask you about jammu and - come out fairly quickly. if i can - ask you about jammu and kashmir, ask you aboutjammu and kashmir, there has been a big political change there. what is their story coming out of that region at the moment? , , ., , ., moment? this is really important because this _ moment? this is really important because this is _ moment? this is really important because this is the _ moment? this is really important because this is the first _ moment? this is really important because this is the first election | because this is the first election thatis because this is the first election that is happening since their special status has been revoked. it gave them some autonomy when it came to creating rules for the particular region and the land protection rights. the bjp which is the ruling party, they are not even contesting in that region, and according to the more initial voter turnout,

apparently voter turn out so far has not been very strong in that region. thank you very much indeed for your time. donald trump's former lawyer is expected to take the stand today at the hush—money trial in new york. michael cohen will testify about his role in what prosecutors say was a cover—up of payments to hide an affair. trump is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his then lawyer for the payment on the eve of the 2016 presidential election, when the story could have proved politically fatal. mr trump denies the allegations. america's top diplomat is talking about an all—out affront on rafah, in gaza. an israeli bombardment in

eastern parts of rafah has already displaced millions. -- if —— if they live and get out of gaza as we believe they're going to do then you will have a vacuum. that will fill ultimately by hamas again. we have been working for a number of recent governorates for rebuilding. we have not seen that coming from israel. we've been working with others on that plan. we have the

same objectives as israel. we want to ensure that hamas cannot govern gazza again. we to make sure that gazza again. we to make sure that gazza gets its leaders. we feel we have a more effective and durable way of getting that done. 0ur middle east bureau chief, jo floto, told us how much criticism israel's strategy in gaza is attracting domestically. well, i think in the run—up to today, it's certainly come out of the surface. we've had senior military officials, albeit anonymously, briefing the israeli media about their dissatisfaction, or their concern rather, that there isn't a proper political strategy for how to end this war. and that, in other words, in order to defeat hamas, you have to replace hamas. and that's something we haven't seen set out in detail by the israeli prime minister. but you're right, today, just a couple of minutes ago, we've had sirens sounding across the whole of israel as the country marks its memorial day remembering those who've died in all of israel's wars,

but in particular those who've died since october 7th, and that is a price that israelis are continuing to pay, because the military offensive carries on. more soldiers are dying. and of course there is concern about the fate of hostages who remain in gaza. now, we think of more than 35 of those 130 odd people have been killed. how many of the remainder survive is a different question. but the anxiety of the families of those hostages is huge, palpable, and is often angry as they protest on israel's streets. but today the mood is sombre, it's reflective. but there is also concern about how long this war, which has lasted 220 days so far, how long it's going to carry on for. meanwhile, lebanon's foreign minister has said the country fears an expansion of israel's military campaign against hezbollah, as both sides continue to exchange attacks along the border.

the bbc�*s middle east correspondent hugo bachega sat down with the foreign minister and started by asking him about the possibility of a major military operation by the israeli army. well, the missile defence has been saying we'll return lebanon to stone age. you know, i understand. i would say we are still neighbours, no matter what, geographically. and therefore, i don't think he wants a country in stone age next to his. it means he will be in trouble as well. so, i think these words are, as a lot of ambassadors tell us here, i mean western ambassadors, that it is for domestic consumption more than for us. i do not think that israel would have a land invasion. ithink, you know, what happened in gaza whatever they want to achieve from land, they can achieve it from the skies and they have a dominance in the skies. so you say you're concerned that this could become a major confrontation, but you're not concerned about a land confrontation?

but as a government, we are concerned. and if there is escalation, it will be from the skies. and we are concerned, of course. i'm not concerned myself about land invasion. and have you been given any kind of indirect message from israel through mediators from visiting the country? yes, we have. and we're sending messages that we want peace. we want the implementation of 1701. and if they do it, there would be security for ever now. so 1701 is the resolution, the un resolution that was implemented after the 2006 war. but you say you've received messages from the israelis. what are they saying? well, they're not interested in 1701. are you, you know, talking to hezbollah? we talk to hezbollah. hezbollah is a resistance movement. as long as we have occupied land, and we have, we cannot stop the resistance. that's our problem. that's why we want 1701. that's why we want a lasting

border like they have with jordan and egypt. and it may not be accompanied by a peace treaty, but there would be peace on the borders. and there is nojustification for any other group to carry weapons than the lebanese armed forces. finally, let's talk about gaza, because president biden has announced that it is suspending some arms shipments to israel. do you think this is going to change israeli tactics in gaza? ultimately, it worked. the issue is that for the americans to continue in this position in the future. i think it's the only way that can the war stop in gaza and we can start really talking about peace. we have had warfor the last 75 years. it's time to really try peace. if we try peace, if we have peace, then you can always go back to war. but now it's very difficult to go to peace. we are back in a few minutes. this is bbc news.

hello again. the weather this week is going to be more unsettled than it was last week. and that's because low pressure is very much going to be with us for a lot of this week. today, it's bringing in some rain from the southwest, very slowly, pushing northwards and eastwards. some of that rain will be heavy across parts of south—west england, south wales and northern ireland. and the clouds are going to continue to build ahead of it. there'll be some harr coming offshore at times across eastern parts of scotland, but in between, a lot of dry weather, sunny and warm conditions, with temperatures feasibly up to 2a degrees somewhere in eastern england. and as we head through the evening and overnight, the rain continues its journey, moving eastwards and also northwards. further showers come into the southwest and we see a return to localised mist and murk across eastern areas. but it is going to be a mild night. in fact, for some of us it will feel warm for the time of year. so as we go through tomorrow, the low pressure's still with us, the weather front pushing ever further east.

and it will be a breezy day, perhaps not quite as breezy as today. we still will have the low cloud, mist and murk along the wast coast. mist and murk along the east coast. here's our rain. follow it all the way around and you can see a plethora of showers coming in across the south and the west. but in between, there'll be some sunshine, as there will be across parts of northern scotland. temperatures through the course of tomorrow ranging from 12 in lerwick, and 20 in inverness to about 19 as we push down towards norwich. now, on wednesday, we still do have that weather front affecting parts of northern and eastern england with some increasingly patchy rain on it. 0n either side, for northern scotland, for northern ireland, much of wales and southern england, there'll be a lot of dry weather, bar a few showers and some sunshine, with temperatures again up to 20, maybe 21 degrees. moving from thursday and towards the end of the week, the low pressure sinks a bit further south, but we do import more showers from the near continent. so during the course of thursday, you can see how we start off with showers across the southeastern corner. but they become more widespread across england and wales through the day.

some of those heavy and thundery move further north and we're looking at drier conditions with fewer showers and top temperatures, again, round about the 20—degree mark. beyond that, it still is changeable. we're looking at sunshine. we're looking at showers. and temperatures roughly where they should be, orjust above.

this is bbc news. the headlines: russian forces intensify their attacks in north—eastern ukraine, with fighting reported in the border town of vovcha nsk. the prime minister, rushi sunak, warns of dangerous years head in a major speech ahead of an expected general election. more than 300 people have died in flash floods in northern afghanistan — rescue teams step up efforts to help. where i am standing used to be a house with people living in them, so relatives have been trying to look for their loved ones under the rubble. here in the uk, "harrowing evidence" from more than 1,00 women, including some who said they were left in blood—soaked sheets, will be presented to the government

as part of the findings of the birth trauma inquiry.