this is bbc news, the headlines... the conservatives say they'll bring back mandatory national service for 18—year olds if they win the general election. labour has described the plan as a gimmick. the united nations says 670 people are feared dead following a landslide in papua new guinea. at least 12 people are confirmed dead, after a russian attack on a crowded diy store in ukraine's second city of kharkiv.

and rapper nicki minaj cancels a gig in manchester after being arrested at amsterdam airport on suspicion of drug offences. let's return to the general election. the conservatives have announced they will introduce mandatory national service for 18 year olds if they win, in a bid to "get young people out of their bubble". it's a plan labour have called desparate and unfunded. earlier this morning, the home secretary, james cleverly, spoke on sunday with laura kuenssberg. 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 young people from different areas, different economic groups, different religions to try and find a way of addressing the kind of fragmentation that we see too much. it sounds a bit like social engineering. i mean, if the many thousands of teenagers don't want to go into the army, you have 30,000 places for people to go into the military, the majority of them would take the other option — what kinds of things that they have to do? well, it could be a range of things. it could be a kind of uniformed public service, whether it be something like special constable or on—call firefighter or emergency health responder, or environmental protection flood defence work. so we are looking to keep this open, because the important bit is about that societal coming together. that is absolutely key. and we are investing in those young people. we have allocated

2.5 billion towards it. it is fully funded. we have of course discussed with senior military leaders about the military element of it and that will be slightly different. so it will be a year if you choose the military bit. it will be 25 days if you choose the more civil option. you say it is funded but you said the other night it would be funded by cracking down on tax avoidance, which conservatives and other people say you have been trying to do that for m years and it rarely... trying to, no, we have been. ..rarely has the impact it is hoped for. so independent projections, not our figures, external figures, assess that we will be able to catch about £6 billion, 1 billion of which will be set aside for this. why haven't you been getting over the last few yea rs 7 no, we have.

we have been much better than the labour party ever were at cracking down on tax avoidance. the oaven�*t you been getting over the last few no, we have. we have been much better than the labour party ever were at cracking down on tax avoidance. other part of the money will come from what is called the shared prosperity fund, and that was allocated to be spent around the country, often in places where there is deprivation, often where there is a dire need for things to be improved, and you are taking money from that to put it somewhere else. no, we are extending it because it was going to come to an end. we are extending it by three years. but you are spending it on something else. but we are spending it on those places. so this money will be spent across the country. the levelling up will continue, we are investing in people in those places — are investing in people in those laces. ., �* ., ., are investing in people in those laces. ., ., places. you've made a decision it ma be places. you've made a decision it may be the _ places. you've made a decision it may be the right _ places. you've made a decision it may be the right decision - places. you've made a decision it may be the right decision wrong l may be the right decision wrong decision but you are spending it in a certain way on town centres around the country and it might be spent in those same geographical locations but it is being spent on something different. it but it is being spent on something different. . , ., ., ~ ., different. it was earmarked to finish. different. it was earmarked to finish- we _ different. it was earmarked to finish. we are _ different. it was earmarked to finish. we are extending - different. it was earmarked to finish. we are extending it. i different. it was earmarked to i finish. we are extending it. what different. it was earmarked to - finish. we are extending it. what we are looking — finish. we are extending it. what we are looking to do is continuing our commitment to levelling up and as well as_ commitment to levelling up and as well as investing in places, we are investing — well as investing in places, we are

investing in — well as investing in places, we are investing in people in those places. investing in people in the shadow chancellor rachel reeves dismissed the conservatives' plans as a gimmick. you mentioned there the national service scheme. ijust wonder, would labour support that? this isjust another gimmick, a desperate gimmick from a conservative party with no viable means of funding it. one minute they say that levelling up is really important, and then the raid that levelling up budget and say it is going to be used for national service. it is just another example, i am afraid, of a gimmick where the sums don't add up. rachel reeves also spoke to laura kuenssberg about labour's plans for the economy. it does, does it not, mean cuts to some public service spending? well, there's not going to be a return to austerity under. a labour government. that's not my question. well, you know, we had austerity i for five years and that is part i of the reason why our economy and our public services - are in a mess today. there is no spending review. the government haven't done i a spending review, so there's no allocations for departments.

i would have to do that if i become chancellor in a few weeks' time i and i'll set out those plans. but would you rule out making cuts to some areas to public spending in some areas? we're not going to be l bringing back austerity, but we have got that immediate injection of cash into our front l line public services. that's a down payment on the changes that we want to make. _ but in the end, we have to grow the economy. l we have to turn around this dire performance. i we have to turn around - this dire performance. this dire economic performance. and we will move on, but this is absolutely fundamental, all sorts of economic experts, people like pauljohnson, a very well respected independent number cruncher, you look at the state of the books right now, the plans that have been set out imply very clearly that there that there will have to be cuts to some part of public spending, and i am hearing you not wanting to admit that, but you are also not ruling that out. we are in an unusual situation. where halfway through the year we have no spending plans for the next financial year. |

that is because the government haven't done those plans, - so i will inherit a situation - where there are no departmental allocations for any government i department, so we will have to do that spending review. but i am asking what you would do. that spending review, this is the question. we will have to do i that spending review. do you rule out making cuts to public spending? i don't want to make any cuts to public spending, i which is why we have announced the immediate injection of cashl into public services - so that money for our nhs, the additional police, i 13,000 additional police and community support officers, and the 6500 additional- teachers in our schools, - they are all fully costed and fully funded promises because unless things are fully i costed and fully funded, frankly you can't believe they are going to happen, - and our plans are all fully costed and fully funded. but you don't want to make cuts, you don't want to borrow more. if you want to spend more on public services and you don't want to make cuts, then you could put up taxes, and some of our viewers think this is what you should do. peter, who is retired as told us, "i want to pay more tax to ensure correct funding of local

authorities and nhs. i want politicians not to treat me naively". so why not put up taxes? that is what the tories claim you are going to do. well, there is nothing that will be in our manifesto that we haven't. said where the moneyl is going to come from. we have made those commitments, | so vat and business rates on private schools, private equity bosses being taxed properly - on their bonuses and the extension i of the windfall tax so the energy i profits are properly taxed, - ensuring non—dom is pay their fair profits are properly taxed, - ensuring non—domss pay their fair share of tax in the country they live in _ and also cracking down on tax avoidance, which is costing i our economy billionsl of pounds every year. those are the commitments we have made. _ and that is what we will use i to provide that injection of cash into public services. but what we want to know is what else you might do. no, that is, those are _ the commitments that we have made and that is how we will fund them. and then beyond that, laura, i we have to grow the economy. it is why we have said - we would reform the planning system so we can get| britain building again.

it is why we would introduce - a modern industrial strategy to give businesses the confidence to invest. it is why, as sharon said, _ we need to reform the apprenticeship levy so that businesses can invest in the skills that they need - to help our young people. succeed and get on in life. if we do those things, i know, because i have seen the huge| potential we have the country, we can grow our economy- and that is a way that we can improve living standards. i rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor. rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor. let's go back to this conservative proposal to bring back a version of national service if they win the election. i'm joined now by sebastian payne — a formerjournalist and director of the centre—right thinktank uk 0nward — who have previously argued for national service. we have to tell you, in the interest of transparency, he unsuccessfully stood to be conservative candidate in the last year. thank you for joining us. your proposal was a

little different for national service. you were arguing in favour of it being, not being compulsory, you thought there should be an opt out. how problematic is it to make it a mandatory thing? i out. how problematic is it to make it a mandatory thing?— it a mandatory thing? i think the fact that the _ it a mandatory thing? i think the fact that the conservatives i it a mandatory thing? i think the fact that the conservatives are i fact that the conservatives are looking at this is a really good thing because the research we did at 0nward shows younger people are unhappy, unskilled and un—mode. 0ur polling found them one in 518 to 2a—year—olds are economically inactive than three times more likely to distrust their neighbours in over 65. trying to tackle the disengagement was a crucial thing to do. there is a lot of interesting things in the proposals and the crucial thing is a royal commission to look at it because it is a big scheme and something that requires a lot of analysis to make sure that we get the right british model for national service because a lot of other countries are looking at this, france, germany, switzerland have

all brought back schemes like this to deal with that alienation issue in some countries have compulsory and others not, but the crucial thing is using the commission to make sure we get the right thing for the uk and our research found that it is good to guide people towards it. that is why we argued out for an opt out is opposed to a compulsory one, but there are merits on both sides. ., ., , ., sides. you say one in five young --eole sides. you say one in five young peeple in _ sides. you say one in five young peeple in that — sides. you say one in five young people in that category - sides. you say one in five young people in that category age i people in that category age group are economically inactive. why shovel the other four out of five who are economically active or otherwise being productive, why shove them into the system as well? it is notjust about being them economically inactive, it is also about how they are feeling within society, 57% of 18 to 2a—year—olds according to our research say they are less patriotic than previous generations, so what this is trying to do about trying to tide back into

society, strengthen those bonds and what it means to be british because i think it is important to grasp on that well of goodwill that is there because during the covid pandemic we found that three out of four younger people were volunteering and helping in their local community, and i think it is sad and ashamed that thatis think it is sad and ashamed that that is slightly being lost on these proposals are what they need to guide them back into society. don’t guide them back into society. don't the sa guide them back into society. don't they say one _ guide them back into society. don't they say one volunteer _ guide them back into society. don't they say one volunteer is _ guide them back into society. don't they say one volunteer is worth ten conscripts? this would seem to be a deeply illiberal idea, to forcing people into something they may not choose. why not let them decide for themselves? the choose. why not let them decide for themselves?— themselves? the proposal from the conservatives _ themselves? the proposal from the conservatives is _ themselves? the proposal from the conservatives is actually _ themselves? the proposal from the conservatives is actually all - themselves? the proposal from the conservatives is actually all about i conservatives is actually all about choice because it is not saying you have to go into the army all you have to go into the army all you have to go into the army all you have to go into cyber security. it is about think you can get involved in civic life, one weekend with the rnli, for example, that is i think that will suit different people better but there may be people who will want to get stuck into the army or into cyber defences because that

is a really important thing for the future of the country, to make sure they got those skills when they need them so there is quite a lot of choice in this and i think what a new form of national service needs to be seen as is a kind of gateway, part of coming of age experience. our research shows some form of national service is popular across all age categories and is popular amongst younger people as well because they do want to feel more engaged, they want those links but at the moment the structures aren't there to provide them.— there to provide them. would you want to have _ there to provide them. would you want to have done _ there to provide them. would you want to have done it? _ there to provide them. would you want to have done it? i— there to provide them. would you want to have done it? i would i there to provide them. would you . want to have done it? i would have done the one _ want to have done it? i would have done the one weekend _ want to have done it? i would have done the one weekend a _ want to have done it? i would have done the one weekend a year, i want to have done it? i would have done the one weekend a year, for. done the one weekend a year, for certain. but not the military. maybe not the quite best suited for military things but i was a computer scientist in a previous life there maybe cyber defences would have been something i would have done. thea;a something i would have done. they would have — something i would have done. they would have found _ something i would have done. they would have found something useful for you to do, i am sure. apparently

this will be incredibly expensive at a time when whoever is in government will have to make difficult choices about how to spend money, and there is a suggestion that this would drainfunding from is a suggestion that this would drain funding from other projects, possibly that levelling up idea, that hasn't fully been implemented. better ways of spending money than this? i better ways of spending money than this? ., better ways of spending money than this? ~' ., . better ways of spending money than this? ~ . . ., , this? i think the fact we have this big generational _ this? i think the fact we have this big generational cohort _ this? i think the fact we have this big generational cohort who i this? i think the fact we have this big generational cohort who have| this? i think the fact we have this i big generational cohort who have got struggles feeling economically inactive, that will be very expensive for many years and decades to come so i don't think this is a waste of money at all and i think in the conservative proposals they talked about money from the shared prosperity fund, which already exist. but i don't think it will drag things away from other priorities and i do think it is really important we have not wasted talent, and wasted potential amongst a generation, unlocking that is crucial. it is a good thing to spend money on depending on what kind of scheme and where you end up. from

that onward — scheme and where you end up. from that onward think _ scheme and where you end up. from that onward think tank. _ scheme and where you end up. from that onward think tank. thank you. it's now less than two weeks until millions of people across the world pause to remember the 80th anniversary of d—day, when allied forces stormed the beaches of northern france in a bid to re—take occupied europe from the nazis. it remains the largest seaborne invasion in history. rachel burden reports. i must have been frightened. aye, it was frightening, it was. because the noise was terrific. the american battleships were actually giving us covering fire. they were firing shells over our heads and the germans, of course, they were firing from the shore. you used to watch the flash and you'd wonder where the shell was going to land, you know? everybody was bombarding. it was a fantastic noise. and then bombers came over and they didn't fly across the beach, they flew along the beach, dropping bombs all the way along, so as we looked at the beach you could see it flickering with flame.

there were some rocket launchers and they would all launch together, 25, disappear into the cloud and then come down in a shower on the beach and the beach virtually exploded. it was the most amazing sight, which i've never seen anything like it since. they said, oh, you'll be ok, you'll be walking ashore, but the germans were all dug in. they had four years to dig these massive, big gun enplacements in concrete. all our shelling and bombing and it hardly touched them. at 7.25am, the first british soldier came ashore here at gold beach. along the coastline tens of thousands of allied troops waded through the chilly waters.

right at the very last moment, the american said, "well, gee, because utah beach is going to be an american beach, in the nicest way, we don't want the brits leading us on there". and i said, "hell's bells, well, what are we going to do?" and they said, "well, we've got another something else for you to do". we have got into line towards the beach, then turned to port. and they said, "well, sorry we have to tell you, the lead ship was blown out of the water in the first half—an—hour". and we thought, good god, if they hadn't altered the orders, etcetera, and want to have their own ship there, we would have been there, we could be blown out of the water. we might have been seriously injured. we could even be dead, of course. and they said, "well, sorry we have to tell you, the lead ship was blown out of the water in the first half—an—hour".

and we thought, good god, if they hadn't altered the orders, etcetera, and want to have their own ship there, we would have been there, we could be blown out of the water. we might have been seriously injured. we could even be dead, of course. antytila, are one of ukraine's most famous rock bands and they have shared the stage with stars like ed sheeran and u2. now they are touring the uk. back in 2022 when russia invaded their country the band traded their instruments for rifles and theyjoined the frontline to help their country. deleting it will be joining the shortly to tell it is more about their story but first let's listen to one of their songs. song plays.

from antytila, thank you for coming in. you have a bit very busy time ahead of you in the uk. teiiii in. you have a bit very busy time ahead of you in the uk.— in. you have a bit very busy time ahead of you in the uk. tell us more about this visit. _ ahead of you in the uk. tell us more about this visit. we came _ ahead of you in the uk. tell us more about this visit. we came here i ahead of you in the uk. tell us more about this visit. we came here with . about this visit. we came here with project culture was four, a commentary that was made when he won the extracted from the front line from our commander because when the full—scale invasion started, we became soldiers and when we were extracted from the front line, our friends came to us and said, let's tell your unique story to the world. how along are serving on the front line? ~ , ., line? we were serving for eight months, from _ line? we were serving for eight months, from the _ line? we were serving for eight months, from the first - line? we were serving for eight months, from the first day i line? we were serving for eight months, from the first day of. months, from the first day of full—scale invasion. and that is how it was, our story, you can see it in

this commentary —— documentary which we will present in the united kingdom. it we will present in the united kinudom. we will present in the united kingdom-— we will present in the united kinudom. , , ., kingdom. it when will it be shown? it has kingdom. it when will it be shown? it has already _ kingdom. it when will it be shown? it has already been _ kingdom. it when will it be shown? it has already been shown - kingdom. it when will it be shown? it has already been shown in i kingdom. it when will it be shown? | it has already been shown in london and will be shown in birmingham and manchester so you can watch our social media to find the place is to come and see it. you social media to find the place is to come and see it.— come and see it. you had to part from youtube _ come and see it. you had to part from youtube and _ come and see it. you had to part from youtube and resell - come and see it. you had to part from youtube and resell your. come and see it. you had to part i from youtube and resell your pain with a cheering. how important is it to be on stage with names like that who attract attention? it is who attract attention? it is incredible _ who attract attention? it is incredible support - who attract attention? it 3 incredible support because we know that they have a huge audience and we have common principles. it symbolises that celebrities are free and will support ukraine and ukraine is a right side of the war, so it is very symbolic. is a right side of the war, so it is very symbolic— very symbolic. you have been -la inc, very symbolic. you have been playing. antytila, _ very symbolic. you have been playing, antytila, for - very symbolic. you have been playing, antytila, for 15 i very symbolic. you have been| playing, antytila, for 15 years. very symbolic. you have been i playing, antytila, for15 years. how playing, antytila, for 15 years. how much how is your musical life change

in recent times? from when you first started only wanted to be a rock star, you could never have envisaged that your journey would have star, you could never have envisaged that yourjourney would have been like it is. that your “ourney would have been like it is. �* ., ., like it is. before the war we gathered — like it is. before the war we gathered at _ like it is. before the war we gathered at stadiums i like it is. before the war we gathered at stadiums in i like it is. before the war we gathered at stadiums in our like it is. before the war we - gathered at stadiums in our country and we had a couple of world tours, but when the war started we became soldiers and now we are a lot different. 0ur soldiers and now we are a lot different. our main mission now is to share with the world the truth about ukrainian war, to remain that ukraine will continue to resist russian military forces. the war is continuing and this is our main duty and this is our main goal everywhere, to share the truth about ukrainian war. so now we are not as musicians, this is like what it is before the war started, we are acting more like influences of ukraine and we remain about

ukrainian military prisoners captured in russian prisons. hagar captured in russian prisons. how different is _ captured in russian prisons. how different is it _ captured in russian prisons. how different is it to _ captured in russian prisons. how different is it to try _ captured in russian prisons. how different is it to try to _ captured in russian prisons. how different is it to try to tell the story in this way? ukraine is in the news nearly every day but invasion happened nearly two years ago. how important it is do you think about musicians iq to be telling story, to keep people interested? the people are interested _ keep people interested? the people are interested in _ keep people interested? the people are interested in personal— keep people interested? the people are interested in personal stories, i are interested in personal stories, and we know this, and we are telling and we know this, and we are telling a personal story, but people —— about people two destiny in ukraine and it is very important to do this through creativity channels because we as creative persons can speak from heart to heart. music is a tool that helps us to share our emotions, to share the real situation, so we use this tool as musicians and we will continue to do this, to thank for support especially from the

people of united kingdom and to ask for more because we are acting not just for the ukrainian future, we are fighting for the future of the freedom of the world. ladle are fighting for the future of the freedom of the world.— are fighting for the future of the freedom of the world. we have got three dates! _ freedom of the world. we have got three dates! you _ freedom of the world. we have got three dates! you have _ freedom of the world. we have got three dates! you have got - freedom of the world. we have got three dates! you have got three i three dates! you have got three dating cities of the uk. {line three dates! you have got three dating cities of the uk. one event in electric cinema, _ dating cities of the uk. one event in electric cinema, one _ dating cities of the uk. one event in electric cinema, one event i dating cities of the uk. one event in electric cinema, one event was| dating cities of the uk. one event i in electric cinema, one event was in liverpool, liverpool council, the mayor of liverpool was organising it, and the third was yesterday in logan hall where we gathered a lot of people, ukrainian and british people and people of the united kingdom to share our documentary and to speak to play the music it was very warm evening yesterday. find very warm evening yesterday. and the movie is called — very warm evening yesterday. and the movie is called culture _ very warm evening yesterday. and the movie is called culture versus - very warm evening yesterday. and the movie is called culture versus war. i movie is called culture versus war. good to have you with us.

faye tozer is best known as a member of the squeaky clean pop group steps but she's embracing her darker side for her latest project. she's playing the fur—coat—loving baddie cruella di vil in a stage version of "101 dalmatians — the musical". kirsteen 0'sullivan went to meet her. # tragedy... faye tozer is ditching the happy pop routine for a dark and devilish new role, playing the leading 101 dalmatians are musical, none other than cruella devil. i dalmatians are musical, none other than cruella devil.— than cruella devil. i played wicked queen in panto _ than cruella devil. i played wicked queen in panto before _ than cruella devil. i played wicked queen in panto before so - than cruella devil. i played wicked queen in panto before so i've i than cruella devil. i played wicked queen in panto before so i've had| queen in panto before so i've had that inner rage and wickedness out on stage before and i feel like she is going to be a heightened extension of that and i really can't wait to get my teeth into her but it is so lovely to do a role that is kind of polar opposite to what people see me in as usual. she has en'o ed a people see me in as usual. she has enjoyed a diverse _ people see me in as usual. she has enjoyed a diverse career— people see me in as usual. she has enjoyed a diverse career spanning i enjoyed a diverse career spanning stage and screen and she says she

loves theatre and is embracing the ageing process. loves theatre and is embracing the ageing process-_ loves theatre and is embracing the ageing namesa— loves theatre and is embracing the ageing process. there was a gap in m career ageing process. there was a gap in my career where _ ageing process. there was a gap in my career where you _ ageing process. there was a gap in my career where you are _ ageing process. there was a gap in my career where you are too - ageing process. there was a gap in my career where you are too old i ageing process. there was a gap in my career where you are too old to be the princess, and you are too young to be the morphing into the next character or the mother of whatever, so i'm really finding joy in the character roles i am being offered these days. she in the character roles i am being offered these days.— in the character roles i am being offered these days. she is a busy mum and being _ offered these days. she is a busy mum and being a _ offered these days. she is a busy mum and being a performer- offered these days. she is a busy| mum and being a performer often means time away from her family, something she says is simply part of the course. i’m something she says is simply part of the course. �* ., ., , , , ., the course. i'm not the only type of “0b that the course. i'm not the only type of job that works _ the course. i'm not the only type of job that works away _ the course. i'm not the only type of job that works away from _ the course. i'm not the only type of job that works away from home. . the course. i'm not the only type of| job that works away from home. we have got our people in the army, on the rig, so everybody that has to work away and i think it is a really good example to set your children that you are hard—working and you love yourjob. the that you are hard-working and you love yourjob— love your “0b. the 101 dalmatians musical love yourjob. the 101 dalmatians musical arrives _ love yourjob. the 101 dalmatians musical arrives at _ love yourjob. the 101 dalmatians musical arrives at the _ love yourjob. the 101 dalmatians musical arrives at the marlowe i musical arrives at the marlowe theatre this summer and she can't wait to perform in kent. i theatre this summer and she can't wait to perform in kent.— theatre this summer and she can't wait to perform in kent. i have done a few shows — wait to perform in kent. i have done a few shows here, _ wait to perform in kent. i have done a few shows here, singing _ wait to perform in kent. i have done a few shows here, singing in the - a few shows here, singing in the rain, 42nd st, i'm a big fan of canterbury, i have got my favourite

restaurants, i know where i will be staying so i'm really excited to come back. staying so i'm really excited to come back-— staying so i'm really excited to come back. �* ., , come back. and canine lovers in the audience are — come back. and canine lovers in the audience are in _ come back. and canine lovers in the audience are in for— come back. and canine lovers in the audience are in for a _ come back. and canine lovers in the audience are in for a treat. - come back. and canine lovers in the audience are in for a treat. we - come back. and canine lovers in the audience are in for a treat. we are l audience are in for a treat. we are actually touring — audience are in for a treat. we are actually touring at _ audience are in for a treat. we are actually touring at a _ audience are in for a treat. we are actually touring at a real-life - actually touring at a real—life dalmatian puppy. he will be smothered. this is the bestjob ever. smothered. this is the best 'ob ever. ,, ., ., ., , ever. stop! you got a little puppy cominu ever. stop! you got a little puppy coming on _ ever. stop! you got a little puppy coming on tour _ ever. stop! you got a little puppy coming on tour with _ ever. stop! you got a little puppy coming on tour with you? - ever. stop! you got a little puppy coming on tour with you? where | ever. stop! you got a little puppy i coming on tour with you? where will ou slee - ? coming on tour with you? where will you sleep? in _ coming on tour with you? where will you sleep? in my — coming on tour with you? where will you sleep? in my bed! _ coming on tour with you? where will you sleep? in my bed! i— coming on tour with you? where will you sleep? in my bed! i don't know. | you sleep? in my bed! i don't know. i am going to steal it. 101 dalmatians arrives at the marlowe theatre from the 16th to the 20th of july. and just before we go — let's leave you with these pictures. it's a giant picnic on paris's most famous avenue — the champs—elysees. you can see here — the french capital's iconic boulevard was laid with a 216—meter—long red—and—white chequered rug, thought to be the world's largest tablecloth. who will watch that? but it wasn't open to everyone — nearly 273,000 people applied

to take part in the event and only 4,000 were chosen. it is time for a look at the weather. 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.

live from london, this is bbc news. sirens hamas says it's launched a large missile attack on the city of tel aviv, the first in months. yes, i'm live injerusalem as its central israel comes under attack by hamas rockets for the first time since earlier this year. the united nations says 670 people are feared dead following a landslide in papua new guinea. the conservatives say they'll bring back mandatory national service for is—year—olds if they win the general election. labour has described the plan as a gimmick. bangladesh braces for an intense cyclone — tens of thousands flee coastal villages for concrete storm shelters.