heavy fighting in ukraine as russia says they have entered the border town of vovcha nsk. says they have entered the border town of vovchansk. there is a cabinet shake—up in russia as well. donald trump was my criminal hush money trial begins with former attorney michael cohen expected to take the stand. rishi sunak warns of dangerous years ahead in the —— in a major speech ahead of an expected general election. hello, welcome to bbc news now. russia has intensified its attacks in northeast ukraine — raising 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

is trying to stretch the frontline — 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 will have more on that shortly. i will correspond and has the latest on the fighting in ukraine. the kharkiv region _ on the fighting in ukraine. tue: kharkiv region is on the fighting in ukraine. tte: kharkiv region is the on the fighting in ukraine. "tte: kharkiv region is the focus on the fighting in ukraine. tte: kharkiv region is the focus of these new offences, and what ukrainian forces are saying is that the russians are deploying significant troop numbers to two main incursion

points across the border where invading forces are claiming to have taken around nine villages now, claiming to be in a town called vovchansk which has been heavily bombed. gm is disputing that saying there is still heavy fighting, some forces saying they have killed around 100 invading soldiers today, but there are fears to really, firstly that the fighting could spill into other settlements, as the new tide of russian occupation starts to spread, but also, if they were to get within say 20 miles of kharkiv city itself, the second biggest city in ukraine, that would put them within artillery range and thatis put them within artillery range and that is when air defences cannot do anything to protect you and people living there as well as counter settlements across the east knows what happens next when you have cities that sustain significant damage and make it the more impossible to live there, but it is

not clear that this attack is capable of taking a city like kharkiv and russian forces tried and failed two years ago but nevertheless this is a concerning new point of attack for already overstretched ukrainian troops. irate overstretched ukrainian troops. we have seen the us vote through the military aid package, and overall, how is that likely to tip the balance of power and strength in this ongoing battle? t balance of power and strength in this ongoing battle?— balance of power and strength in this ongoing battle? i don't think it would tip _ this ongoing battle? i don't think it would tip the _ this ongoing battle? i don't think it would tip the scales _ this ongoing battle? i don't think it would tip the scales fully - this ongoing battle? i don't think it would tip the scales fully back| it would tip the scales fully back into the favour of ukraine by any stretch, and i think ukraine would take a simple levelling out, if you want to look at it like that. at the moment it is notjust a story of the last four days with the russian site, it is the story of the last six months where you have seen russia really throw everything at trying to take as much ukrainian territory as possible, notably in

the east, but the disturbing development for kyiv is the fact it is now happening in the north—east, and there's a lot of frustration, there are troops there who have said there are troops there who have said the russian soldiers walked across the russian soldiers walked across the border, they were barely challenged and barely met with any kind of ukrainian force a similar criticism we heard levelled at the authorities in the early days of the invasion so the arrival of artillery shells will allow ukraine to perhaps slow down the russian advance and at the moment they are saying we are confident we can take the territory back that has been taken, eventually, but at the moment there is only one direction of travel and it is looking pretty desperate region that was liberated two years ago, we must remember that. james bou~ht ago, we must remember that. james bought there- — ago, we must remember that. james bought there. we _ ago, we must remember that. james bought there. we are _ ago, we must remember that. james bought there. we are hoping - ago, we must remember that. james bought there. we are hoping to - ago, we must remember that. james bought there. we are hoping to speak to a guest on this subject and we

will come back to that in a few moments ——james will come back to that in a few moments —— james waterhouse. here in the uk, an inquiry set up to discover why some women have traumatic experiences in childbirth has called for a huge overhaul of maternity and post—natal care. the report, led by a group of cross—party mps, refers to "harrowing evidence" from more than a thousand women. the findings of the birth trauma inquiry will be presented to the government on monday. let's speak to tory mp theo clarke, who chaired the inquiry, she told us there was a "a postcode lottery" for maternity care in the uk. you gave emotional testimony yourself to the house of commons and many women have given evidence about the appalling maternity care in the uk, new are an mp for the conservative government who have beenin conservative government who have been in powerfor the last 1a conservative government who have been in power for the last 1a years, so isn't underfunding of the nhs fundamentally the problem? t was

fundamentally the problem? i was overwhelmed _ fundamentally the problem? i was overwhelmed by _ fundamentally the problem? i was overwhelmed by public _ fundamentally the problem? t —" overwhelmed by public response to our inquiry, and can i thank so many women for writing in and sharing their deeply distressing stories? the headline discovery that i found, reading through the submissions, was that there seems to be a postcode lottery in the country on maternity provision and i find that unacceptable, that depending on where you live in the uk, you will be offered a different level of maternity care. my headline recommendation that i am making to the prime minister today is firstly to call for a national maternity framework, new strategy to be rolled out so that we do get a standardised form of maternity but secondly i also believe we should have a new role for a maternity commissioner where you will be responsible for implementing those great recommendations and we should make sure we are delivering on the objectives.

sure we are delivering on the objectives-— sure we are delivering on the ob'ectives. �* ., . ., objectives. but how much of the roblem objectives. but how much of the problem is _ objectives. but how much of the problem is a _ objectives. but how much of the problem is a lack _ objectives. but how much of the problem is a lack of _ objectives. but how much of the problem is a lack of oversight i objectives. but how much of the | problem is a lack of oversight and focus and funding by the conservatives in the last 1a years when you have been in government? t when you have been in government? i welcome that the government announced recently in the budget there will be an additional £35 million to go towards the maternity workforce and they will have an additional 160 new posts the midwives you will see that in my report of the first recommendation is about that, so it is about safe levels of care in our hospitals and we want to make sure we recruit and train and retain midwives and i saw that myself, when i gave birth to my daughter in staffordshire, it was a very busy ward on the weekend and there clearly was not enough staff to deal with that, so staffing is part of it but i do think we need to have a wider conversation about challenges within the nhs. some of the stories that we receive is about language and culture and compassion is free, and i received that myself,

and this is what opened my eyes to theissues and this is what opened my eyes to the issues in our hospitals. i had a traumatic birth and spent nearly 40 hours in labourand traumatic birth and spent nearly 40 hours in labour and i ended up bleeding very heavily after delivery and being rushed into the emergency room, and it is very traumatic i was separated from my daughter as well, when i came out and i was hooked up to a drip and a catheter and i could not move, my daughter was screaming next to me, and when i pressed the emergency button for help, the health care professional came and said not my baby, not my problem, and walked out, me there, and my experience was not unique and i have read other examples of a similar situation all across the uk so we need to have a frank conversation about the culture in the nhs and i do welcome that the government and the nhs are working very constructively with members of the inquiry and the health secretary will come to our report launch in parliament and she will be setting out her response to each of our headline recommendations. you are

co-chairing — headline recommendations. you are co-chairing this _ headline recommendations. you are co-chairing this with _ headline recommendations. you are co-chairing this with rosie - co—chairing this with rosie duffield, and is it significant that historically, i know this has been an issue for longer than the conservatives have been in power, the poor standard of maternity care in the uk, but is it significant that basically it needs prominent women in politics to make this an issue and bring this to public attention? because even today the bbc has been receiving numerous calls from people who have gone through horrific experiences. t do through horrific experiences. i do think ou through horrific experiences. i do think you are _ through horrific experiences. t if think you are right. there does seem to be a lack of discussion around women's health issues and that party might be to do with the demographic of parliament and it is still quite unusual to be a young female mp who has given birth while elected in office and i think we need to discuss these topics more openly. what struck me reading the submissions is there seems to be a taboo around risks around chard bear and i was expecting mums to write to me with recent experiences but

mothers with experiences from ten, 20, 30 years mothers with experiences from ten, 20,30 years ago, mothers with experiences from ten, 20, 30 years ago, they were also writing to the inquiry, saying they remembered it as if it was yesterday and they did not feel they could talk about it openly with family members and colleagues and their closest friends, and i hope by publicly talking about my story in the chamber of the house of commons, and mps talking about it today, that we are breaking the taboo and saying it is acceptable to ask for help and whether it is on the physical injury side and i suffered from a birth injury which is known is a certain kind of tear, i think we need a frank conversation, but a huge number of women in this country will have birth and have a very good and safe experience and of course our inquiry has been looking at the very traumatic experiences and i hope the report out today is a maternity road map for the prime minister to say this is where we have identified issues and this is where they can be

addressed and these are the policy recommendations to do that. we will follow that up — recommendations to do that. we will follow that up and _ recommendations to do that. we will follow that up and see _ recommendations to do that. we will follow that up and see if _ recommendations to do that. we will follow that up and see if the - follow that up and see if the government does take action but for now, follow that up and see if the government does take action but for now, thanks follow that up and see if the government does take action but for now, thanks for follow that up and see if the government does take action but for now, thanks forjoining follow that up and see if the government does take action but for now, thanks forjoining us. follow that up and see if the government does take action but for now, thanks forjoining us. the testimony that she gave in the house of commons is worth a look at, is on the bbc website. it was an emotional moment in parliament. an all out israeli attack on gaza would provoke anarchy, according to antony blinken. ceremonies are being held in israel to mark the memorial day which honours israelis killed in the wars fought by the country. we have this report.

the war returns to the north. there's panic in jabalia. they'd been told to leave. but is there anywhere safe? "we don't know where to go," she says. "we've been forced from one place to another. "i saw a tank and a bulldozer, they're over there." months after israeli forces last fought through these streets, they're back. israel says it's trying to stop hamas reorganising. after seven months of war, the group is still unpredictable. a few miles away, a new crossing point for aid heading into the north. israel under enormous international pressure to prevent starvation. a convoy carrying flour went in yesterday, a rare sight in a place deprived for so long. a place of hunger and disease. for israel, a moment of introspection. it's memorial day, when the country

stops to reflect on its own pain on those who have died in the course of israel's long years of conflict, this already among the worst in living memory. emotions still raw at the scene of the music festival where so many young israelis died on october the seventh. naama's brother is fighting in gaza. ijust want my brothers and my sisters out. i know what they've been through and what they're going through now. and we all want the war to end, but we didn't start it. injerusalem, israel's unpopular prime minister spoke of his and the country's determination on a video call. translation: this is . what the war is all about. it's either us, israel, orthem. the hamas monster. either continued existence, liberty, security and prosperity or destruction. slaughter, rape and enslavement. the war is still raging at both ends of the gaza strip. mr netanyahu looking for some version of total victory, his frustrated allies warning that this isn't possible,

that dangerous anarchy is the more likely outcome, a warning the prime minister does not appear to be heeding. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

donald trump's criminal hush money trial resumes shortly — with star witness michael cohen set to take the stand. the former us president is accused of falsifying business records to hide payments to the adult film star, stormy daniels. mr trump denies the claims. this is the outside of the court where we have seen a daily appearance by donald trump, usually comes to the doors and makes a statement of the cameras ahead of the hearing. live now to new york and our correspondent, nada tawfik. take us through today, it is going

to be a very big day?— to be a very big day? absolutely. this trial, the _ to be a very big day? absolutely. this trial, the outcome _ to be a very big day? absolutely. this trial, the outcome hinges i to be a very big day? absolutely. j this trial, the outcome hinges on michael cohen's testimony and that is why he is the prosecution's star witness and michael cohen has already entered the court, and donald trump is not far behind him. proceedings will get under way shortly, but i'm joined by a white collar criminal defence attorney and a former federal prosecutor to break down michael cohen's testimony, and mitchell, michael cohen is so important because the 3a charges of falsifying business records relate to his reimbursement to stormy daniels for the $130,000 hush money payment. so what do the prosecutors need to establish in their questioning to prove those charges? they need to establish that he paid stormy— they need to establish that he paid stormy daniels and that donald trump

knew that _ stormy daniels and that donald trump knew that he paid stormy daniels and they need _ knew that he paid stormy daniels and they need to establish that donald trump _ they need to establish that donald trump knew that the payments that went to _ trump knew that the payments that went to michael cohen were four michael— went to michael cohen were four michael cohen's rate payments to stormy— michael cohen's rate payments to stormy daniels and not for legal payments. stormy daniels and not for legal -a ments. , ., ., , payments. there is no one smoking run in this payments. there is no one smoking gun in this case _ payments. there is no one smoking gun in this case and _ payments. there is no one smoking gun in this case and it _ payments. there is no one smoking gun in this case and it depends - payments. there is no one smoking gun in this case and it depends on | payments. there is no one smokingj gun in this case and it depends on a series of evidence and testimony corroborating what michael cohen says, so what is the strongest piece of corroborating evidence? the stronaest of corroborating evidence? the strongest piece of evidence are the checks_ strongest piece of evidence are the checks that were paid to him and the recording _ checks that were paid to him and the recording that was made with regard tom _ recording that was made with regard to... , recording that was made with regard to," , recording that was made with regard to... , ., , ., to... sorry, we can now listen to donald trump- _ to... sorry, we can now listen to donald trump. it _ to... sorry, we can now listen to donald trump. it is _ to... sorry, we can now listen to donald trump. it is very - donald trump. it is very interesting, _ donald trump. it is very interesting, and - donald trump. it is very interesting, and i'm - donald trump. it is very | interesting, and i'm sure donald trump. it is very - interesting, and i'm sure you donald trump. it is very _ interesting, and i'm sure you have all read it. leading in wisconsin,

arizona, and nevada. in nevada we are leading by 12 points, it is generally a democratic wrote —— democrats state. we had another very good rally at the weekend. the crowd was not shown but that is par for the course. a couple of quotes have come out. mark says, great guy, brilliant man, ourjudicial system brilliant man, our judicial system is brilliant man, ourjudicial system is broken. andrew mccarthy, donald trump should be acquitted in

manhattan. it should be thrown out for the most basic of reasons. the case cannot be proven. they have got no evidence, and i am innocent, it is a political witchhunt and nobody has any —— ever seen anything like it, what thejudges has any —— ever seen anything like it, what the judges getting away with it is disgraceful, the fact that we have 100,000 people in new jersey and they would like to show their support. you cannot get one person within three blocks of this courthouse. another one, take a look at this statement, the fourth week and there's still no evidence all connecting donald trump with any criminal wrongdoing. the crime in which prosecutors...

criminalwrongdoing. the crime in which prosecutors. . ._ which prosecutors... inaudible i have no idea _ which prosecutors... inaudible i have no idea what _ which prosecutors... inaudible i have no idea what they - which prosecutors... inaudible i have no idea what they are - which prosecutors... inaudible i i have no idea what they are doing. the book—keeping, we have a legal expense which is a legal expense, we don't say or concrete work or electrical work, we pay the lawyer, legal expense, and a legal expense is a legal expense, and it is not down in the book, a legal expense, perfectly marked down. this all comes from joe biden and the white house, by the way. they have their top people here. because he can't put two sentences together, the worst president in the history of our country, he can't speak, can't walk off a helicopter or off a plane or of a stage and the only way they think they can win is to do

something with donald trump. he is the worst president in the history of america. john says, there should be a motion for dismissal. so corrupt and so conflicted, like no judge has ever been, but the press does not want to write about it, but you know exactly what we are saying. there has been no showing of a crime, another one says. they have failed to protect the rights of the defendant from a base there politically motivated prosecution. this is all from the very talented legal experts. i'm sure the new york times is thrilled. there it is. donald trump leading by a lot in every state. every swing state, leading by a lot. this trial is

rigged and dishonest, it is a disgrace to new york and the country, i should disgrace to new york and the country, ishould be disgrace to new york and the country, i should be out campaigning, instead of sitting in a very cold courthouse all day long. this is a joe biden very cold courthouse all day long. this is ajoe biden prosecution, election interference at a level that nobody in this country has ever seen before. this is for third world countries, not for the usa. thank you very much. d0 countries, not for the usa. thank you very much-— you very much. do you plan to testi ? you very much. do you plan to testify? donald _ you very much. do you plan to testify? donald trump - you very much. do you plan to testify? donald trump making icall testify? donald trump making typically inflammatory - testify? donald trump making i typically inflammatory statements, he is supposed to be subject to a 939 he is supposed to be subject to a gag order because he's not supposed to be commenting on the court process in such a way. claiming this is ajoe process in such a way. claiming this is a joe biden operation. and a mistrial and laying into his political opponent and it saying that he should be out campaigning for the presidential run—off instead

of in this court. but he has gone in there with his team. i don't know if you were able to hear what donald trump was saying. his usual inflammatory statements, really, talking about how he is leading in the polling according to his data. that is correct. we have seen donald trump leading in key battleground states and is interesting that he chose today when the headlines will be dominated by the testimony of michael cohen, to speak at length about his political situation but also we heard him say that what he did with michael cohen was reimbursing for legitimate legal expenses. that is the argument from the defence. mitchell is still with me to go through, and we just heard donald trump say this is not legitimate but michael cohen, his credibility is at issue here, so how

do prosecutors deal with the fact that he has admitted lying under oath and he has a conviction in 2018 for violating federal campaign charges? for violating federal campaign charaes? , ., �* ., ., charges? they don't get around history but _ charges? they don't get around history but they _ charges? they don't get around history but they have _ charges? they don't get around history but they have to - charges? they don't get around | history but they have to embrace charges? they don't get around i history but they have to embrace it and say— history but they have to embrace it and say that he has been somebody who has_ and say that he has been somebody who has lied in the past but he is telling _ who has lied in the past but he is telling the — who has lied in the past but he is telling the truth now and the way you know — telling the truth now and the way you know he is telling the truth now is his— you know he is telling the truth now is his testimony is corroborated by contemporaneous documents that he could not— contemporaneous documents that he could not have made up. we contemporaneous documents that he could not have made up.— could not have made up. we were talkin: could not have made up. we were talking earlier _ could not have made up. we were talking earlier about _ could not have made up. we were talking earlier about the _ could not have made up. we were talking earlier about the fact i could not have made up. we were talking earlier about the fact that| talking earlier about the fact that for them, his past helps them explain to jurors why donald trump chose him as a lawyer. what explain to jurors why donald trump chose him as a lawyer.— explain to jurors why donald trump chose him as a lawyer. what i would exect the chose him as a lawyer. what i would expect the prosecutors _ chose him as a lawyer. what i would expect the prosecutors to _ chose him as a lawyer. what i wouldj expect the prosecutors to eventually say is _ expect the prosecutors to eventually say is that _ expect the prosecutors to eventually say is that michael cohen may be disgusting to us, and donald trump did not. _ disgusting to us, and donald trump did not. he — disgusting to us, and donald trump did not, he could have hired anybody. _ did not, he could have hired anybody, but the things that made michael— anybody, but the things that made michael cohen so disgusting to you and me _ michael cohen so disgusting to you and me or— michael cohen so disgusting to you and me or what made him attractive to donald _ and me or what made him attractive to donald trump, he was someone who was willing _

to donald trump, he was someone who was willing to lie and cheat and steal~ _ was willing to lie and cheat and steal. ~ ., ., ~' was willing to lie and cheat and steal. ~ ., ., ~ ., steal. when we look at cross-examination, i steal. when we look at| cross-examination, the steal. when we look at - cross-examination, the defence, steal. when we look at _ cross-examination, the defence, for cross—examination, the defence, for example, with stormy daniels, it was a very intense cross—examination, but what about how it will be with michael cohen? t but what about how it will be with michael cohen?— michael cohen? i think it will be lona and michael cohen? i think it will be long and it _ michael cohen? i think it will be long and it may _ michael cohen? i think it will be long and it may even _ michael cohen? i think it will be long and it may even be - long and it may even be counter—productive a long because michael— counter—productive a long because michael cohen has been going after donald _ michael cohen has been going after donald trump in very ugly ways. he has been _ donald trump in very ugly ways. he has been using derogatory nicknames which _ has been using derogatory nicknames which have _ has been using derogatory nicknames which have conveyed that he thinks donald _ which have conveyed that he thinks donald trump is sitting there in an adult _ donald trump is sitting there in an adult diaper. donald trump is sitting there in an adult diaper-— adult diaper. today will be one of the most intense _ adult diaper. today will be one of the most intense days _ adult diaper. today will be one of the most intense days on - adult diaper. today will be one of the most intense days on the i adult diaper. today will be one of. the most intense days on the stand and michael cohen could be here for and michael cohen could be here for a few days. we and michael cohen could be here for a few da s. ~ . and michael cohen could be here for afewda s. , a few days. we will be back with you in a few minutes. _ a few days. we will be back with you in a few minutes. donald _ a few days. we will be back with you in a few minutes. donald trump i a few days. we will be back with you in a few minutes. donald trump has| in a few minutes. donald trump has just gone into court with his son eric trump and his entourage. we will be back in new york very shortly.

hello there. the weather this afternoon is looking, well, a bit half and half, really. warm sunshine for east scotland and parts of eastern england. the day's top temperatures could reach 25 into parts of east anglia. different story further west with cloud and rain. and for some, temperatures, really struggle — might only see highs of 13 degrees underneath this curl of cloud associated with low pressure to the south west. and it's notjust cloud. we're looking at some persistent rain getting in across parts of south—west england, wales and northern ireland. 20 to 30 millimetres. could see double that over the high ground. so we may well see one or two areas of localised flooding and it's a particularly slow moving band of rain. so chances are if you have the rain already it's going to be with you through the rest of today. whereas if you've got the sunshine, east scotland, eastern areas of england, likely you'll keep that as well. temperatures well into the 20s, 23 there for newcastle and hull. well into the 20s for the north and east of scotland. the day's top temperature, probably east anglia,

could see highs up to 25. 0vernight tonight, we get that band of rain pushing its way northwards and eastwards with showers following into the south west. temperatures on the mild side, 11 to 1a degrees for most. tomorrow, we pick up on this band of rain, this time across eastern areas of england running in across scotland and still showers following to northern ireland, wales and western areas of england. but at least you'll see some sunny spells. so in that respect, the weather a little bit brighter here, but some of the showers will be quite heavy at times. temperatures coming down back into the teens for most of us. then for wednesday, we've still got the dregs of that area of low pressure with us. and wednesday looks to be a kind of showery day, although there could be some lengthier spells of rain lurking across parts of eastern england. at this stage, the highest temperatures will be working

into northern areas of scotland, where we could see the warmest spots reach around 22 or 23 degrees celsius. but otherwise, generally, temperatures running into the teens. again for thursday it looks like the warmest weather will be across northern scotland. again, temperatures into the low 20s here, but low pressure looks set to bring another pulse of fairly heavy rain in across parts of england and wales. temperatures for many of us staying into the upper teens. this pattern of rather unsettled weather conditions for england and wales continues, then, through the rest of the week and into the weekend. the brightest weather further north.

this is bbc news. russian forces intensified their attacks in ukraine, with fighting reported on the border. it comes as russia's defence minister is pushed out in a rare cabinet shake—up. more than 300 people have died in flash floods in northern afghanistan. in a similar canning over the button, king charles passes over a senior military role to his son, prince william. let me take you to india, because in the very sacred city for hindus is aaron elsie, the prime minister has been on a long road show there, filing his own nomination papers for the seat as part of the fourth phase

of the national