and i am live at radio one�*s big weekend. charlie and i am live at radio one's big weekend. charlie x and ray, some of the big names for everyone here who are getting excited for today. hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. welcome to the programme. we start this hour here in the uk where party leaders are kicking off a weekend of campaigning around the country ahead of the general election on lithjuly. so far today rishi sunak has been in the north of england where he delivered his message to voters at a pub. it comes after the cabinet minister michael gove announced that he was joining a growing list of conservative mps who will be standing down at the election. meanwhile, the labour leader sir keir starmer has been out meeting voters in the west midlands where he told voters that stabilising the economy would be

a number one priority. here is our political correspondent helen catt. here is our political correspondent helen catt. the labour leader arriving at a football club in the west midlands, here to put the boot into the tories�* economic record and to explain what a labour government would do. stability now is change — it's strange to say that in 2024 — but a stable economy has to be the first step of an incoming labour government and that is what we will make an absolute priority if we are privileged enough to come in to serve. it comes at a leading think tank, the ifs, urged both labour and the tories to be open about the tough choices they will face over the country's finances if elected. for rishi sunak, a low—key visit, a cuppa with veterans in the north of england. he answered some gentle concern about his drenching in downing street. it was wet. the amount of people that gave me an umbrella over the last couple of days. but no questions from journalists — instead a treasury minister

defended the government. inflation when they came in was ii.i%, now it's down to 2.3%, almost target, and that's not by accident. it's not all the government, working in partnership with the bank fo england. that means we are now back on to a situation where things can start to improve and get better. lib dem leader ed davey was in chichester harbour in west sussex to announce plans for a new water regulator and to highlight his campaign issue of sewage dumping. today's campaign visits have had a more laid—back vibe in an election, though, which is going to be very far from plain sailing. helen catt, bbc news. keir starmer says labour would lower the voting age to 16 for general elections if it wins power. in scotland and wales, 16 and i7—year—olds can already vote to elect members of their nation's parliament. sir keir says that should be extended.

yes, i want to see 16 and 17—year—olds voting. they can go out and work, they can serve in our armed forces and, of course, if they are out and working they pay tax. and therefore they should have a say over how the money they are paying in is being used. so, yes, i want to see that vote for 16 and 17—year—olds. if you can work, you can pay tax, serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote. our political correspondent harry farley is following the labour leader in stafford. i am here in stafford, stafford rangers football club, this is exactly the sort of area labour need to win if they are going to win that majority they so hope for on july 4th. keir starmer here on a

campaign visit, making a bit of a habit of campaign rallies at lower league football club. one of the things that came up, one of the things i asked him about was workers�* rights, his plan, because there is a bit of a row going on, labour have rebranded their plan for workers�* rights as labour�*s plan to make work play. a number of unions accusing them of watering down their previous proposals, among them unite the union's general secretary, saying the revised deal has more holes in it than swiss cheese. keir starmer denying there had been any watering down of proposals, saying they reached a deal with the unions and argues his plan for workers�* rights is a key part of labour�*s policy of stabilising and growing the economy. the other thing that came up was votes for 16 and 17—year—olds across the uk. the labour leader was very clear that he wants to see that and he wanted to see 16 and 17—year—olds being able to vote after the general election. not quite saying it would be in the labour manifesto, but something we should look out for in a few weeks�* time. let�*s speak to katy balls, political editor of the spectator. thank you for coming on the

programme. thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the programme.- what. thank you for coming on the programme.- what do j thank you for coming on the - programme.- what do you make programme. hello. what do you make of this idea of — programme. hello. what do you make of this idea of 16 _ programme. hello. what do you make of this idea of 16 and _ programme. hello what do you make of this idea of 16 and 17—year—olds getting a vote in a general election? it getting a vote in a general election?— getting a vote in a general election? , , , election? it is interesting. it is something _ election? it is interesting. it is something keir— election? it is interesting. it is something keir starmer - election? it is interesting. it is something keir starmer would | something keir starmer would consider, and eu citizens in terms of voter relaxation. but the decision to confirm it at the time he has, originally a story in the times confirmed today, you wonder if they believe it is something that will help get the youth vote out? that could be one thing in terms of the timing of the announcement. when it comes to the 18 plus groups they are trying to work out what their appeal to this group is and this is appeal to this group is and this is a policy which does suggest labour is more in touch with the youth vote than the tories. even though historically they have been against it as a policy. historically they have been against it as a policy-— it as a policy. interesting, let's focus on the _ it as a policy. interesting, let's focus on the campaign - it as a policy. interesting, let's focus on the campaign so - it as a policy. interesting, let's focus on the campaign so far. it as a policy. interesting, let's l focus on the campaign so far and keir starmer. a focus on football clubs, talk to me about that. in

terms of his visits, there is a focus on football clubs, but if you look at some of the visits keir starmer is currently doing, as you say, football clubs in the west midlands, i think that you can see that the labour strategy is unless they go to areas where they are already quite popular and more to go to the marginal places where they think it will be a tight race. i think it will be a tight race. i think because labour is trying to make their vote a lot more efficient at this time around, you have a situation whereby keir starmer will spend a lot of time in the red wall, a lot of time in the west midlands where labour came out on top, but very narrowly in the regional mayor race where andy street pushed out the tory candidate. i think you will be hearing from those around keir starmer who do not expect him to go to the same areas and they do not expect him to spend much time in cities altogether because cities are where labour does very well.

interesting. let�*s take a look at rishi sunak. what are you picking up from the campaign so far? the rishi sunak. what are you picking up from the campaign so far?— from the campaign so far? the first thin to from the campaign so far? the first thing to note _ from the campaign so far? the first thing to note is _ from the campaign so far? the first thing to note is it _ from the campaign so far? the first thing to note is it is _ from the campaign so far? the first thing to note is it is quite _ from the campaign so far? the first thing to note is it is quite easy - from the campaign so far? the first thing to note is it is quite easy to i thing to note is it is quite easy to criticise the campaign so far in a sense there have been quite a few gaps. you heard rishi sunak today in the clips we have just heard making light of his decision not to take an umbrella out when he stood outside downing street and he said he was going to announce an election and left it soaked. the optics of that set off a few tory nerves early on. probably the best thing he can do now in this position is to laugh it off and show he has got good humour on it. but yesterday there was a lot of mockery, one of his stops in northern ireland something had the word titanic in it and there is a sense that because a lot of tory mps didn�*t want a summer election and now you also have the story exodus with michael gove announcing last night that he is one of the many tory mps not to seek re—election, i

think it is hard to shake off the fact that campaigners have been distracted on a negative news and it is yet to find its feet. there is still a long time to go but i don�*t think it has been the easiest start for rishi sunak. still think it has been the easiest start for rishi sunak.— for rishi sunak. still six weeks. katie, for rishi sunak. still six weeks. katie. great _ for rishi sunak. still six weeks. katie, great to _ for rishi sunak. still six weeks. katie, great to speak _ for rishi sunak. still six weeks. katie, great to speak to - for rishi sunak. still six weeks. katie, great to speak to you. i political rallies are taking place across south africa today as parties make their final attempts to win support ahead of wednesday�*s election. it�*s expected to be the most tightly contested election since democracy was introduced 30 years ago. the anc, if voted into power next week, will focus onjobs the anc, if voted into power next week, will focus on jobs for the next generation. the breakaway parties are also holding final rallies. let�*s cross to my colleague catherine byaruhanga who is following events from the anc�*s final pre—election rally in johannesburg. what is happening there? hello,

lewis. do what is happening there? hello, lewis- do you — what is happening there? hello, lewis. do you know _ what is happening there? hello, lewis. do you know what, - what is happening there? hello, lewis. do you know what, it - what is happening there? hello, lewis. do you know what, it is l lewis. do you know what, it is winter here in the southern hemisphere but you wouldn�*t realise that considering how hot and sunny it is here at the stadium. the anc has its supporters out, they have nearly packed at the stadium, and they really need to show a strong show of support in front of south africans because this is a party that over the past few months have been polling at around 40% of the vote. it needs to get 50% plus in order to remain the majority party in south africa. this is the party of nelson mandela, it has dominated south african politics for three decades now. but right now there are real questions about its legacy and whether it has done enough to support south africans. right now presidents cyril ramaphosa is promising morejobs, better economy first africa. let�*s take a listen to what he has had to say. first africa. let's take a listen to what he has had to say.- first africa. let's take a listen to what he has had to say. over the

next five years, _ what he has had to say. over the next five years, working - what he has had to say. over the next five years, working with - what he has had to say. over the next five years, working with all| next five years, working with all south _ next five years, working with all south africans, we will implement a 'obs south africans, we will implement a jobs plan _ south africans, we will implement a jobs plan to put all south africans to work — jobs plan to put all south africans to work. we will build our industries and invest in an inclusive _ industries and invest in an inclusive economy. we will tackle the high — inclusive economy. we will tackle the high cost of living. we will invest— the high cost of living. we will invest in— the high cost of living. we will invest in our people and provide services — invest in our people and provide services that our people need. we will continue to defend our democracy and advance the freedom that we _ democracy and advance the freedom that we fought so hard. we will continue — that we fought so hard. we will continue to build a better africa and a _ continue to build a better africa and a better world for all our chitdren— and a better world for all our children to grow up in. we heard that message — children to grow up in. we heard that message there, _ children to grow up in. we heard that message there, what - children to grow up in. we heard that message there, what about| children to grow up in. we heard - that message there, what about the opponents? talk us through it. yes.

opponents? talk us through it. yes, lewis, opponents? talk us through it. yes, lewis. there — opponents? talk us through it. yes, lewis, there are _ opponents? talk us through it. yes, lewis, there are around _ opponents? talk us through it. yes, lewis, there are around 17 _ opponents? talk us through it. yes lewis, there are around 17 political parties and organisations that are challenging president cyril ramaphosa and his anc party. at the moment there is another rally happening in the north of the country and that is led byjulius malema and he leads the eff. it is a left party that is calling for the nationalisation of mining and mines. tomorrow there will be a rally by the democratic alliance, the long—time opposition party in south africa. when you look at all those parties there is a wide range of choices before south africans. there are about 27 million people who are expected to vote. they are engaged in this process. there are debates every day on the tv, on social media. but there are also much smaller parties and some have only existed just for a year. the question is with all of these

opposition parties they are going to eat away at the anc�*s support, but are any of them going to be strong enough to challenge it? that is a big question. enough to challenge it? that is a big question-— enough to challenge it? that is a bi ruestion. ., ,, . ., big question. thank you so much for that. to israel now where the military has continued its attacks across gaza including in the city of rafah despite the un�*s top court ordering it to immediately stop its offensive there on friday. the european union�*s top diplomat says the bloc will have to make a choice between supporting israel, or international institutions and the rule of law. josep borrell was speaking after the un�*s highest court ruled that israel had to halt its military offensive in response to a case brought by south africa. they�*ve accused israel of violating the un genocide convention in gaza. israel has said no power on earth will stop it going after hamas. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is injerusalem. there�*s certainly no sign yet of a let—up in israel�*s military campaign in the southern gaza strip. we�*ve heard reports this morning of fresh air strikes in the rafah area.

what we don�*t yet know is the situation on the ground. we know that israeli troops and armour are poised very close to the center of rafah, but they haven�*t yet gone into the centre of that built—up area. and we don�*t know exactly what the military�*s plans are. israel continues to say that the operation is limited. it highlights the fact that it has given civilians lots of opportunity to move out of harm�*s way. but the un�*s humanitarian affairs boss, martin griffiths, tweeted last night that there is nothing limited about this campaign. he said, and i quote, "the ground incursion in rafah has displaced more than 800,000 people, fleeing once again in fear for their lives and arriving in areas without adequate shelter, latrines and clean water". so the un�*s view is that this is having a major impact on the civilian population of the southern gaza strip and one that is not being properly addressed from the point of view of aid and shelter and everything

else that people need. of course, there is still the fear of what happens to the hundreds of thousands of people who are still in rafah, who have yet to flee, who have yet to be told to flee by the israelis. what happens to them if indeed a full—scale invasion of the city takes place? 0ne slight development on the aid situation last night following a call betweenjoe biden and the egyptian leader abdel fattah el—sisi. egypt has agreed to send trucks that were backed—up, waiting to go into through the rafah crossing, which is closed has been waiting to go into through the rafah crossing, which is closed, has been for the last two or three weeks, egypt has agreed to send those trucks round to the kerem shalom crossing, that is the israeli crossing nearby. that could help the flow of aid into the southern gaza strip, but it�*s a little early to know. now it�*s time for a look at today�*s sport with paul scott.

hello from the bbc sport centre. speculation about the future of manchester united manager erik ten hag is continuing, with less than an hour to kick off in his team�*s fa cup final against manchester city, with club legend peter schmeichel telling the bbc he would be "very surprised" if ten hag remains in charge, regardless of the outcome of today�*s match. united are refusing to comment, but in an interview with dutch media, ten hag says he�*s been given assurances that the club�*s rebuild under new co—owner sirjim ratcliffe will continue with him in charge. schmeichel wants the club to show more patience with their managers. without saying that i want eric to lose his job, without saying that i want eric to lose hisjob, i would be very surprised if he is a manager to be honest because the way they have been going about the first couple of months in charge, it very much points to they want a completely new and a clean start and they wanted to

be their project. i really hate the fact that manchester united is a club that keeps a manager for a short period of time and when things are not going in the right direction you sack him. no such uncertainty at manchester city, with pep guardiola�*s side aiming to do the "double—double", that�*s winning the league and fa cup twice in a row. they�*re strong favourites, but guardiola is wary of an upset. ina long in a long period we have been better than we have in the last years, it is obvious, facts, everyday we are there. but one day anything can happen and the players know feel it. i hope we are ready to play the last game of the season and to try, the fa cup is nice, it is a difficult cut, so it deserves all our hopes. it�*s also cup final day in scotland with celtic and rangers meeting

in the showpiece event for the first time in more than 20 years. celtic were unbeaten against rangers in theirfour premiership games this season. jane dougall is at hampden park. the fans are starting to filter into hampden park ahead of the oldest competition in association football. this will be 150th scottish cup final and for the first time in 22 years the old firms, rangers and celtic, will be facing each other in this final. in 2002 it was rangers who won the competition on that day. they are going into this match but celtic will probably be the favourites. they have already won the league title, although rangers did win the league cup earlier this season. there will be a 50—50 split of fans inside the stadium and that will be the first time for a long time because away fans are currently not allowed at old firm matches. however, with half of the fans being celtic supporters and half of the fans being rangers supporters that

will make for an electric atmosphere at hampden park. there is nothing like an old firm rivalry. there will be some bitter battles between these two teams, but whatever happens it will be a significant day in scottish football. bbc sport understands that vincent kompany has agreed a deal in principle to become the new bayern munich coach. the german side moved for kompany after a series of rejections in their search for a successor to thomas tuchel. kompany�*s new deal is believed to run through until 2027, with bayern set to pay burnley over £10 million in compensation. in formula one, charles leclerc has topped final practice ahead of qualifying for the monaco grand prix, despite an improved showing by world champion max verstappen. the red bull driver has struggled so far in the principality, but was second, just under two—tenths behind leclerc. mercedes�* lewis hamilton continued his strong weekend by finishing third. you can follow live text updates from qualifying later on the bbc sport website.

and that�*s all the sport for now. here are a teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a knife attack left one woman dead and another critically injured at a beach in bournemouth. let�*s join our correspondence there. what do we know?— do we know? lewis, the police were called here — do we know? lewis, the police were called here to _ do we know? lewis, the police were called here to bournemouth - do we know? lewis, the police were called here to bournemouth beach l called here to bournemouth beach just before midnight, following reports of a number of stabbings. when they got here they discovered two victims, 134—year—old woman who sadly died following those stab injuries. under38—year—old sadly died following those stab injuries. under 38—year—old woman who is currently recovering in hospital. she is said to be in a serious condition. now, the police have announced they have arrested 17—year—old teenager today. he is from the lancashire area. as for the

two victims, they are from the pool market area. the beach here is closed this afternoon for at least a mile long stretch as the police launched a murder investigation. as for the teenager that has been arrested, he has been arrested on suspicion of murder and suspicion of attempted murder. he is currently being questioned at a local police station. local business owners here have said that they have complained for months about teenage youth violence on the beach at the night and one business owner told me here that he comes to work in a stab proof vest. that he comes to work in a stab proof vest-— proof vest. greg, thank you for that. extreme temperatures are continuing to grip pakistan, with some parts of the country expected to reach fifty degrees celsius. punjab and sindh provinces are the worst affected. schools in punjab are closing a week early for the summer holidays, although exams will go ahead as planned. people have been told to avoid direct sunlight and advised to stay

indoors during the hottest times of the day. 0ur bbc urdu correspondent saher baloch has more. pakistan is in the middle of an intense heatwave with hundreds of heat stroke victims being treated in hospitals across the country. it reached 49 celsius this week in the southern sindh province of pakistan. these temperatures are more than eight centigrade above the average daytime temperature. authorities in punjab have been forced to close schools for a week and are advising people to remain indoors and remain hydrated at the same time. many people have continued to work out of financial necessity and are out on the streets. these high temperatures have followed the country�*s wettest april since 1961 with more than double the usual monthly rainfall. these wide changes in weather patterns have been abdicated to human climate change which has led to record—breaking temperatures across the country which is also

caused... to high temperatures are forecast to continue this week and into next weekend and they are expected to exceed 46 degrees. radio 0ne�*s big weekend kicked off yesterday for a jam—packed bank holiday, a warning to our viewers, the pictures in this material might include some flashing images. let�*s speak to bbc newsbeat presenter pria rai over at the festival in luton. hello, yes, welcome to luton. we are not too far away from london and we are live at radio one�*s big weekend. let me introduce the glaring noise coming from the stage behind me, thatis coming from the stage behind me, that is jackjones who has just started that site on the main stage, one of four main stages here this

year. we have got an introducing stage, a dance stage and a new music stage. it is incredible here, the atmosphere is great and the sun has come down. it is treating us today. there is so much to get excited about with the line—up today. we have got raye, fresh off the back of winning and iva novello award and six brits. we have also got terms, rag and bone man and a word for h, who will be on just after seven o�*clock today, which, realfans might know that he is a manchester united fan so if he were to be in his dressing room before his set, you would be able to see him watching the fa cup final. maybe that will determine how his set goes, but either way so many people here in for a treat and the crowd is really mixed as well. i have been speaking to families and their

children, parents, such a big mix of people. yes, from the local area here in luton, but i have also spoken to people who have come from further afield, like lincoln and liverpool. all the radio one djs getting involved with a crowd as well and getting the atmosphere going. it is the festival that kicks off the uk festival season. so there is a lot of excitement and of course the food and beverages are fulling flowing as well.— the food and beverages are fulling flowing as well. thank you so much. have a good — flowing as well. thank you so much. have a good time. _ now many people dream about turning left as they board a flight into the first class section but a new airline has launched a first class flight for pampered pooches. bark air took off for it�*s maiden flight from new york to los angeles with 10 dogs and their owners on board. prices start at 6000 dollars for a us flight and it�*s 8000 dollars for a one—way ticket from new york to london. there are no dog—eared in—flight

magazines but an on—board spa for the dogs as well as tasty treats including frothy milk drinks and even old shoes. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. it�*s a bit warmer today. more sunshine around as well, but it�*s not dry everywhere, as we�*ll see in just a moment. but the headline really for the rest of the bank holiday weekend is going to be a mixture of some warm sunshine, but we are going to find some heavy and thundery showers breaking out as well. but this is what�*s been happening recently, this cloud is heading into the southwest, starting to bring some rain. also have this cloud spoiling the weather across parts of east anglia, moving into lincolnshire, up towards the north—east of england, there�*s a bit of rain in that. but we could make 20 degrees around the murray firth, around the moray firth, perhaps into merseyside and down towards the london area as well, where we�*re seeing some sunshine, just one or two showers perhaps.

there�*s that first area of cloud, though, that�*s coming in from the north sea — that will bring some heavy rain northwards into scotland overnight. and this rain coming in to the southwest will pivot northwards and eastwards across england and wales. so a lot of cloud around overnight. it is going to be turning wetter overnight as well and those temperatures typically down to ten or 11 degrees. so we start with those two areas of rain. you can see they�*re going to be moving their way northwards through the day. that rain should move away from scotland. and then following on from that, we�*ll get some sunshine. we�*ll also see some showers. now, those showers could turn heavy and thundery. the greater risk of those slow moving thundery downpours will be across northern england, parts of the midlands, towards norfolk and perhaps into suffolk as well. these are the temperatures we�*re looking at. because there are more showers around, the temperatures aren�*t going to be quite as high as today. could make 19 though across east anglia and the southeast. those thundery showers still there into the early evening. they will tend to fade away, that wet weather moving its way northwards into scotland and then tending to clear away a bit overnight. heading into bank holiday monday, well, we await more weather fronts coming in from the atlantic next week. still got low pressure close by and that�*s going to bring with it some more showers,

maybe not quite as wet as it was looking earlier on for bank holiday monday. most of the heavy thundery showers towards parts of scotland, maybe the north—east of england. there�*ll be a few showers around elsewhere, but it�*s likely to be a better day, i think, for bank holiday monday across northern england, much of the midlands and for east anglia as well. those temperatures around 16 or 17 degrees. and those temperatures aren�*t going to change a great deal through the rest of next week. we�*ll have a south—westerly wind for a while. later in the week it may turn northwesterly and cool down in the northwest, but the week ahead is going to remain unsettled. yes, there�*ll be some sunshine at times, but there will be some spells of rain or some showers. some of them perhaps on the heavy side.

this is bbc news. the headlines... thank you. party leaders hit the campaign trail in the uk�*s general election as the list grows of conservative mps who say they�*ll be standing down. campaigning out in west midlands, sir keir starmer says labour will lower the voting age to 16 if its party wins. with south africa�*s general election just days away — will nelson mandela�*s legacy be enough to secure another anc win or will voters turn away? and bbc radio 1�*s big weekend gets under way, with record—breaking brit award—winner raye set to headline today.

increasing numbers of england and wales�*s most vulnerable children are being caught in deprivation of liberty borders.— being caught in deprivation of libe borders. , ., . liberty borders. they have increased tenfold since — liberty borders. they have increased tenfold since 20 _ liberty borders. they have increased tenfold since 20 17th _ liberty borders. they have increased tenfold since 2017th over— liberty borders. they have increased tenfold since 2017th over 1200 - tenfold since 20 17th over 1200 applications in the last year. this is the first time young people who have lived over the mac under these orders has spoken publicly. soi so i was in care before she had even started school. i so i was in care before she had even started school.— started school. i 'ust remember bein:

started school. i 'ust remember being hungry. _ started school. i 'ust remember being hungry. a _ started school. ijust remember being hungry, a lot— started school. ijust remember being hungry, a lot of—