live from london, this is bbc news. the conservatives say they will bring back mandatory national service for 18—year—olds if they win the general election. russia bombs a crowded diy store in ukraine's second city of kharkiv killing at least 12 people. six newborn babies have died after a blaze at a children's hospital in delhi. the rapper nicki minaj cancels a gig in manchester after being arrested at amsterdam airport on suspicion of drug offences, leaving fans upset. hello. i'm lucy grey. we begin in the uk because the general election campaign is well and truly under way.

the conservatives have promised to bring back a form of national service if they win the general election. the party said 18 year—olds would have a choice of either joining the military full—time for 12 months or volunteering one weekend every month carrying out a community service, with organisations like the fire brigade, police or the nhs. our political correspondent leila nathoo reports. an eye—catching policy from the conservatives early on in this campaign, one that's grabbed the headlines in this morning's papers. yeah, many more of these over the next few weeks! enjoy your weekend. bye— bye. they say if they win the general election, by the end of the next parliament they would bring back a form of mandatory national service for every 18—year—old. that would involve either applying for one of 30,000 full—time one—year placements in the armed forces or cyber defence, or young people would have to volunteer in their communities for one weekend a month in organisations such as charities, the police or nhs. the tories say the scheme would cost £2.5 billion a year by 2029, but key details are yet to be worked

out, for example how much those on military placements would be paid and what sanction there would be for not complying. cuts in the british army has seen its size fall from more than 100,000 in 2010 to around 73,000 as ofjanuary this year. rishi sunak says the programme would provide life—changing opportunities and a shared sense of purpose. labour said the tories were out of ideas and described the plan as "desperate". it's certainly one that will be noticed. leila nathoo, bbc news. officials in ukraine say at least 12 people have been killed and 43 others wounded after russian forces hit a supermarket in the northern ukrainian city of kharkiv. two glide bombs hit the building on saturday. some people are still missing. later in the day russia launched another attack, on the residential area in the kharkiv city centre with a civilian block of flats damaged, leaving at least 25 people injured, local authorities report. it takes the total current number

of injured in kharkiv to 68. the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky repeated his appeal for more air defences. russian forces have made gains in the kharkiv region since launching a renewed offensive across the border. 0ur ukraine correspondent, who is in kyiv, gave us the latest on the attacks. well, this was a saturday afternoon where people were presumably buying plants or other accessories for their homes. i think what's always notable about this gritty city is that people get on with their lives despite frequent russian missile attacks, which have become all the more intense over the past few weeks. it's coincided with a cross—border ground offensive launched by russian forces which have brought them closer to the city. so, at the moment, we know at least 11 people have been killed. there was a huge fire after these glide bombs reportedly struck. these are really crude bits of weaponry that are being used by the russians.

they are typically soviet era bombs that are packed with explosives which are fitted with wings and their own navigation systems. they can be dropped by russian fighterjets and they can cause severe damage. it's very difficult for ukrainian air defense systems to take them out, which is why president zelensky, as you say, has renewed his calls for more air defense systems for the city. he's also just released a six—minute film in english, which is also unusual, where he talks about russian lies in the past when it comes to attempted ceasefires. he's appealing to the world, the west and china, ahead of a peace summit next month in switzerland. he's also doing it from kharkiv city itself. it's a medium which plays to his strengths, but itjust shows how concerning a time it is for ukraine.

a fire at a children's hospital in the indian capital, delhi, has killed at least six babies. several other newborns are receiving treatment after being rescued a fire at a children's hospital in the indian capital, delhi, has killed at least six babies. a fire at a children's hospital in the indian capital, delhi, several other newborns are receiving treatment after being rescued from the burning building. the cause of the fire is not yet clear. the city's chief minister described the deaths as heartbreaking and said an investigation was under way. earlier i spoke to divya arya, our correspondent in delhi, who told me what we know so far. you can see bursts of flames climbing up and affecting buildings even adjacent to the baby care hospital. it is early days to talk about the cause of the fire, but what the fire department has said is that the fire spread more rapidly

because there were oxygen cylinders that lead and fed the fire. they also said that even though the fire took place late at night, which enabled them to reach the spot very quickly because there wasn't much traffic, what slowdown the process of rescuing was the fact there was a single staircase leading up to the floors above and that was totally clogged by the smoke that the fire had generated. they were able to rescue 12 babies, some of whom are receiving treatment but there seems to be one more baby who might have succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll from six to seven. israel is reported to have agreed a new framework to revive stalled negotiations aimed at securing a hostage deal in gaza. mediated talks ground to a halt earlier this month after israel launched a military operation in rafah. meanwhile, israeli officials have denied a claim by hamas that the militant group has captured one of its soldiers in gaza.

hamas said it had ambushed some israeli forces in the north of the territory. while ground operations and shelling by israel forces continue to advance across gaza, the egyptian red crescent society says about 200 aid trucks, including four fuel trucks, are expected to enter the territory through the kerem shalom crossing. earlier, our correspondent danjohnson gave this update. there had been intensifying military operations in the north of gaza around jabaliya over the last week or so and some of that military activity had been focused on returning the bodies of those hostages, the three men whose funerals are now taking place, them having been returned to their families. but the claim from hamas is that in that military operation, that military activity around jabalya, it has been able to hold captive an israeli soldier. now, israel's defense forces have denied this. they say it is not the case that a soldier is being held hostage. but hamas has released a video which appears to show the bloodied body of a figure

being dragged through a tunnel. now, we've not been able to verify that video. we don't know when it dates from. we don't know exactly what it shows. hamas says it is evidence that it does have an israeli military captive, but israel has been very clear and firm in denying that. but we don't know what the level of engagement here has been, whether an israeli soldier has perhaps been killed and hamas has the body. israel has not given it a clear explanation yet of exactly what has happened here and whether hamas has got any any justification for saying what it's saying. well, let's talk about what's going on in the south of gaza then for a moment, because israel's attacks on rafah have continued and this is coming after the icj ruling that israel should halt its attacks on rafah. yeah. there's been no sign of israel taking notice of that icj ruling. in israel's view, what it's doing there in terms

of its military operations doesn't amount to the things it is accused of and therefore it's not going to stop doing it. so we've seen intensifying air strikes, shelling and ground operations over the last few days. we know that almost a million palestinians have now fled from rafah over the two weeks or so since the israeli military went into that area. the rafah border crossing with egypt has been closed for all of that time, which has seriously restricted aid supplies. there is some movement on that today. hopefully, things will free up with a deal that the us presidentjoe biden�*s negotiated with egypt so that trucks that had been queuing up on the egyptian side of the rafah border border crossing can now go around and use israel's kerem shalom crossing to get into gaza. there's hope that 200 trucks of food and fuel will make it in that way. but then there is the further challenge of distributing aid. there are so many people displaced, on the move, trying to find somewhere safe, and it isn't safe for humanitarian aid workers to do theirjob either. so even inside gaza, there is aid piling up on the inside of the border

crossings with the aid agencies not able to reach it, not able to effectively distribute it, not able to get it to the people who need it. that's something else that the international court ruled on on friday. that the israeli military should make efforts to reopen the rafah crossing to free up aid supplies. israel saying it's doing all it can to get aid to the palestinians. and one other aspect to talk about is the talks or potential talks, because israel has agreed to a new framework for negotiations, hasn't it? yes. we're expecting some movement on that from tuesday. we know there are meetings taking place in brussels tomorrow to try to restart this process. there's been very little hope of any serious negotiation for the last two or three weeks. but with mediation by qatar and the egyptians, it's hoped that israel will be able to restart these peace talks indirectly with hamas. we're getting word that hamas hasn't had any new deal put to it yet, but the hope is that talks can resume from tuesday towards reaching some sort of deal, which would mean the return of some hostages.

because the reality has been, in the last few weeks, the only hostage returns have been the bodies of those who were killed, either on 7th october or during their time being held by hamas. a source told the bbc that any sort of deal would now be reliant from the hamas perspective on a full israeli withdrawal from gaza, a permanent ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade and reconstruction of gaza's infrastructure. so a lot to be worked out in that sort of deal to secure the return of hostages. prime minister benjamin netanyahu is under renewed pressure to reassess his military strategy, which hasn't been delivering the results that he had promised. and there have been huge protests again over this weekend in tel aviv of people calling for him to do more to make sure that hostages do get back safely to their families. let's return now to the general election. it is sunday morning here

in the uk meaning that the big political programmes have been taken place. let's get the latest from our political correspondent helen catt. i suppose the big announcement is that the tories are saying about the return of mandatory national service. , ., ~' return of mandatory national service. , ., ~ ., service. yes, not the kind of national _ service. yes, not the kind of national service _ service. yes, not the kind of national service that - service. yes, not the kind of national service that was . service. yes, not the kind of- national service that was around until 1960, which was 18 months in the military for everyone. what they are saying is that all 18—year—olds would have to choose either between a year in the armed forces or a year's worth of volunteering, 25 day spread over a year volunteering with things like the police, the nhs or charities that tackle loneliness. james cleverly the home secretary was asked about this this morning. what we are putting forward is a mandatory national service, a small element of which will be with the military and anyone taking

that route will volunteer to do so. so whilst you will be compelled to take part in the national service, no—one will be compelled to do the military bit. it's about addressing the fragmentation that we've seen in society, too many young people living in their own bubble, whether it be a digital bubble or a social bubble, and we want to get back to the situation where people are mixing with with young people from different areas, different economic groups, different religions. so, that is the outline of why they want to do it. there is quite a lot of detail that has not been worked out and we will get until after the election if they are re—elected, and that includes things like what happens to people who don't do this. james cleverly said it would not be a criminal sanction but what sanction it might be we don't know, or how much people would be paid for

doing the military aspect of it. that would be kicked beyond the election to a royal commission. to find mandatory! exactly. _ election to a royal commission. to find mandatory! exactly. labour. find mandatory! exactly. labour think this is — find mandatory! exactly. labour think this is a _ find mandatory! exactly. labour think this is a desperate - find mandatory! exactly. labourl think this is a desperate gimmick with the sums don't add up. labour have been choosing _ with the sums don't add up. labour have been choosing to _ with the sums don't add up. labour have been choosing to focus - with the sums don't add up. labour have been choosing to focus on - with the sums don't add up. labour have been choosing to focus on the j have been choosing to focus on the economy than today. the have been choosing to focus on the economy than today.— have been choosing to focus on the economy than today. the focus of the first weekend — economy than today. the focus of the first weekend of _ economy than today. the focus of the first weekend of campaigning - economy than today. the focus of the first weekend of campaigning and - economy than today. the focus of the first weekend of campaigning and the j first weekend of campaigning and the shadow chancellor has been talking to laura kuenssberg this morning, and labour's line is very much that they will bring stability to the economy, arguing that stability is change after the last few years, but they are being pushed on how the tough choices that would face any government that comes in at this stage given the uk's current financial positions, rachel reeves was pushed on whether or not she would stick to the very tough spending plans that the conservatives have got pencilled in for the coming years, which many experts have said amount to a real

terms cut. she said there would be no return to austerity, but she hasn't ruled out further spending cuts. what she did rule out was the increases in personal taxes. it does, does it not, mean cuts to some public— does, does it not, mean cuts to some public service — does, does it not, mean cuts to some public service spending?— public service spending? there will not be a return _ public service spending? there will not be a return to _ public service spending? there will not be a return to austerity - public service spending? there will not be a return to austerity under. public service spending? there willj not be a return to austerity under a labour_ not be a return to austerity under a labour government. _ not be a return to austerity under a labour government. we _ not be a return to austerity under a labour government. we had - not be a return to austerity under a . labour government. we had austerity for five _ labour government. we had austerity for five veers — labour government. we had austerity for five years and _ labour government. we had austerity for five years and that _ labour government. we had austerity for five years and that is _ labour government. we had austerity for five years and that is part - labour government. we had austerity for five years and that is part of- for five years and that is part of the reason _ for five years and that is part of the reason why— for five years and that is part of the reason why our— for five years and that is part of the reason why our economy i for five years and that is part of. the reason why our economy and public— the reason why our economy and public services _ the reason why our economy and public services are _ the reason why our economy and public services are in _ the reason why our economy and public services are in a _ the reason why our economy and public services are in a mess - the reason why our economy and i public services are in a mess today. there _ public services are in a mess today. there is— public services are in a mess today. there is no— public services are in a mess today. there is no spending _ public services are in a mess today. there is no spending review. - public services are in a mess today. there is no spending review. the i there is no spending review. the government— there is no spending review. the government hasn't— there is no spending review. the government hasn't done - there is no spending review. the government hasn't done a - there is no spending review. the . government hasn't done a spending review— government hasn't done a spending review so— government hasn't done a spending review so there _ review so there is no allocation for departments _ review so there is no allocation for departments i_ review so there is no allocation for departments. i would _ review so there is no allocation for departments. i would have - review so there is no allocation for departments. i would have to - review so there is no allocation for departments. i would have to do. review so there is no allocation for i departments. i would have to do that if i departments. i would have to do that if i become _ departments. ! would have to do that if i become chancellor— departments. i would have to do that if i become chancellor in _ departments. i would have to do that if i become chancellor in a _ departments. ! would have to do that if i become chancellor in a few- if i become chancellor in a few weeks — if i become chancellor in a few weeks and _ if i become chancellor in a few weeks and i_ if i become chancellor in a few weeks and i would _ if i become chancellor in a few weeks and i would set - if i become chancellor in a few weeks and i would set out - if i become chancellor in a few. weeks and i would set out those plants — weeks and i would set out those plants we — weeks and i would set out those plants. we will _ weeks and i would set out those plants. we will not _ weeks and i would set out those plants. we will not bring - weeks and i would set out those plants. we will not bring back. plants. we will not bring back austeritv _ plants. we will not bring back austerity. but _ plants. we will not bring back austerity. but we _ plants. we will not bring back austerity. but we have - plants. we will not bring back austerity. but we have got. plants. we will not bring back. austerity. but we have got that immediate _ austerity. but we have got that immediate injection _ austerity. but we have got that immediate injection of- austerity. but we have got that immediate injection of cash - austerity. but we have got thati immediate injection of cash into austerity. but we have got that - immediate injection of cash into our front line _ immediate injection of cash into our front line public _ immediate injection of cash into our front line public services _ immediate injection of cash into our front line public services as - immediate injection of cash into our front line public services as a - immediate injection of cash into our front line public services as a downl front line public services as a down payment _ front line public services as a down payment on — front line public services as a down payment on the _ front line public services as a down payment on the changes _ front line public services as a down payment on the changes that - front line public services as a down payment on the changes that we . front line public services as a down i payment on the changes that we want to make. _ payment on the changes that we want to make. but — payment on the changes that we want to make. but in— payment on the changes that we want to make, but in the _ payment on the changes that we want to make, but in the end _ payment on the changes that we want to make, but in the end we _

payment on the changes that we want to make, but in the end we have - payment on the changes that we want to make, but in the end we have to. to make, but in the end we have to the economv — we will get more specifics on the manifestos come out. do we know when that will be? we don't know yet. 0k, thank you very much, helen. we have fabulously matching outfits here in the studio! let's turn to papua new guinea now, where around 670 people are thought to have died after a massive landslide on friday. un officials are estimating that more than 600 people are buried under the debris. the landslide struck remote villages on friday and since then only a few bodies have been recovered. unstable ground and a lack of machinery is hampering relief efforts. at the scene of the tragedy itself, survivors have been moved to higher ground, as there are fears of further landslips. let's speak to journalist scott waide, papua new guinea correspondent for radio new zealand.

hello to you. can you tell us about what is going on there at the moment? it sounds like getting to the area is difficult and extremely difficult conditions and trying to search for survivors?— difficult conditions and trying to search for survivors? yes, it has been a difficult _ search for survivors? yes, it has been a difficult three _ search for survivors? yes, it has been a difficult three days - search for survivors? yes, it has been a difficult three days for i been a difficult three days for people on the ground. there is a kilometre of art that stretches from the foot of the mountain to where it has ended. there are at least 500, and that is a figure we are using at the moment... there has been some glimmer of hope in the last 2a hours. a husband and wife were buried were rescued and thankfully the three children weren't there at the three children weren't there at the scene where the landslip happened. there have been four bodies recovered, the partial

remains of a 25—year—old man who has been identified by his family, three women who have been pulled of the rubble dads. it has been that grim reality that people have had to face over the last hours. it has been difficult, as she said, to capture many —— to where many of the bodies are buried. it is the grim reality that people have to face right now. we have heard her tribal violence has been affecting those trying to get to the region to help. yes. get to the region to help. yes, there is a _ get to the region to help. yes, there is a tribal— get to the region to help. yes, there is a tribal conflict - get to the region to help. is: there is a tribal conflict ongoing, so people passing through have to negotiate their way. it is a problem that the province has had over many years that is just compounding the situation as we speak. years that isjust compounding the situation as we speak.— situation as we speak. thank you very much _ situation as we speak. thank you very much for— situation as we speak. thank you very much for talking _ situation as we speak. thank you very much for talking us -

situation as we speak. thank you very much for talking us through | very much for talking us through that, those very disturbing scenes there papua new guinea. political parties across south africa have been holding their final rallies before wednesday's elections. it is 30 years since the african national congress won the country's first democratic elections following the release of nelson mandela and the end of apartheid. now polls suggest that for the first time, the party may fail to get an overall majority. let's cross to my colleague catherine byaruhanga, who is at a rally for the main opposition party the democratic alliance just outside johannesburg. 0ver over to you, catherine. hi, lucy. i have to hold the microphone quite close to my face because it is light! thousands of people are already here. this is the peak of months of campaigning. there are other events happening across

south africa today. you have action in south africa, another political party holding their final rally, also the freedom party holding their final events this weekend. as you say, the key question is whether the anc will maintain its majority in parliament. this is the party of nelson mandela, of course. they have been dominant for the past 30 years, since the end of apartheid. the latest polls show they're only going to gain about 40% of vote. 0ne latest polls show they're only going to gain about 40% of vote. one of the party is hoping to take on the anc is the da. paul's only show that they will gain about 20% of the vote nationally. to unpick this we are

joined by ida candidate. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. the bulls in south africa showing that the challenges with the anc losing support, opposition parties like yours aren't really making up the ground to gain those undecided voters. , , .., ground to gain those undecided voters. , , .. ., voters. there is significant ground that has been _ voters. there is significant ground that has been made. _ voters. there is significant ground that has been made. given - voters. there is significant ground that has been made. given our. that has been made. given our history we did not expect it would be easy for us to get to that 50% mark, but we have been working steadily and seem to increase, seeing the growth. it is looking encouraging. we will be able to bring anc under a0%, which is good. the economic heart of south africa will not be under the government of anc. kwazulu—natal, we are seeing

the northern cape as well showing significant improvements, the western cape. we now have four of the nine provinces that will not be under the control of the governing anc, which is good. xfour under the control of the governing anc, which is good.— anc, which is good. your self and another ten _ anc, which is good. your self and another ten parties _ anc, which is good. your self and another ten parties have - anc, which is good. your self and another ten parties have formed l anc, which is good. your self and - another ten parties have formed what you call a multiparty charter, so a coalition of parties that out there want to come together you will be able to take over government in south africa. however, the polls are not showing that is possible. weill. not showing that is possible. well, it is possible- _ not showing that is possible. well, it is possible. the _ not showing that is possible. well, it is possible. the multiparty - it is possible. the multiparty charter, it is possible. the multiparty charter. your— it is possible. the multiparty charter, your coalition, - it is possible. the multiparty charter, your coalition, is . it is possible. the multiparty| charter, your coalition, is not gaining ground, it hasn't taken off as an idea in south africa. weill. gaining ground, it hasn't taken off as an idea in south africa.- as an idea in south africa. well, i think it is- _ as an idea in south africa. well, i think it is. it— as an idea in south africa. well, i think it is. it is _ as an idea in south africa. well, i think it is. it is creating _ think it is. it is creating excitement. in1991t think it is. it is creating excitement. in 1994 it was the excitement. in 1994 it was the excitement of the government of national unity. i have been the

longest campaign, since last september actually. this is the longest campaign of any premier candidates. we have been running this for a very long time. other smaller parties have been concentrating on social media, being on the ground, especially from areas that the anc have failed to serve for the longest of time. we are hoping we will be able to bring in the numbers on monday, tuesday, and ultimately wednesday, election day, so we can get the numbers and hope to collectively get over 50%, because that is the only way we will because that is the only way we will be able to get south africa to where it needs to be.— be able to get south africa to where it needs to be. thank you very much from the democratic _ it needs to be. thank you very much from the democratic alliance. - it needs to be. thank you very much from the democratic alliance. lucy, | from the democratic alliance. lucy, it is loud, you have thousands of people here once again. 0pposition parties say they should not be counted out in these elections. just

three days to the final vote. polls and surveys suggest about a third of voters in south africa are yet to decide on which party to vote for. thank you, catherine. she will be covering that income and vote on wednesday, as well. an investigation is under way into a spitfire crash in which a royal air force pilot was killed. it happened near raf coningsby in lincolnshire during a flight to commemorate the battle of britain. philip norton reports. a second world war spitfire lies badly damaged in a field. it crashed in what the raf has called a tragic accident. the pilot was killed. the spitfire came down a short distance from the runway here at raf coningsby. as well as being home to modern—day typhoon fighterjets, the spitfire is part of the much—loved battle of britain memorial flight, which is based here. next month, they're due to take part in commemorative d—day events. many enthusiasts here had seen the spitfire.

soon as you lose a pilot, it's like you've lost a member of your family. when you are obsessed with planes like we are, especially the raf because it's some sight here some days, it's a shame, really. the prince and princess of wales, who have close links with the lincolnshire raf station, led tributes to the pilot. they said "they were incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from raf coningsby. our thoughts this evening are with the pilot's loved ones, the battle of britain memorial flight and the wider raf family". an investigation into what caused the crash is now under way. philip norton, bbc news, at raf coningsby in lincolnshire. i will be back with you at 1030 am with the headlines. i will be back with you at 1030 am with the headlines. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello there. lots of sunshine around yesterday, but it is all change weather—wise today. there will still be some sunny spells, mostly towards the south of the uk, but also the threat of some heavy, thundery downpours breaking out, as well. it's been a soggy night for many with our weather fronts merging, slowly pushing further northward. so spells of rain, lots of saturated ground around this morning. for the northern half of the uk it stays cloudy with further spells of rain, some heavy at times. further south, there will be some sunshine, but watch out for those thunderstorms. they could be heavy and slow moving, particularly across the midlands, parts of eastern wales and through northern england too. a bit drier across northern scotland and south—east england. temperatures 15 to 19 degrees celsius for most. it will still feel pleasantly warm in the best of the sunshine.

the showers will tend to fade away overnight tonight, but still some showery outbreaks of rain across many central and western areas of scotland, gradually pushing further eastwards. clearer skies further south and east. it's a mild start to bank holiday monday. lots of typical bank holiday weather around tomorrow. most of the rain, though, will be towards the north. that's gradually pushing further eastwards as we head throughout the day. some heavy downpours of rain around at times and a scattering of showers further south, but also some bright and some sunny spells in between those showers, which won't be as heavy or as thundery as we're expecting for the rest of the day today. it will still feel pleasantly warm in the best of the sunshine. temperatures will be round about the seasonal average, generally 15 to 18 degrees. then we look out towards the south—west as we head into tuesday to see this area of low pressure sweeping in. the winds are going to pick up. it's going to be quite a breezy day. there will be more cloud, showery outbreaks of rain again pushing northwards and eastwards, but possibly dry still for much of the day across northern,

eastern areas of scotland and through north—east england too. temperatures, once again, very close to the seasonal average — 15 to 17 degrees. for much of the rest of the week there will still be more showers around with low pressure dominant, but as we head towards next weekend high pressure will start to topple in from the west and this will settle things down. so a little drier, but still the possibility of some showers on friday and into next weekend. there will be some spells of sunshine. it will feel a little warmer. bye— bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the conservatives say they'll bring back a form of national service if they win the general election. everyone aged 18 would either have to apply for a full—time 12—month placement in the armed forces or do community work. the death toll in papua new guinea's landslide is feared to be more than 600. the landslide struck remote villages on friday and since then only a few bodies have been recovered. a russian air strike on a busy diy store has killed at least 12 people. president zelensky called the bombing an act of madness and appealed for more air defences to be given to his country. a fire at a children's hospital in the indian capital, delhi, has killed at least six babies. several other newborns are receiving treatment after being rescued from the burning building.

the cause of the fire is not yet clear.