live from london. this is bbc news. rishi sunak says he'll bring back mandatory national service for 18—year—olds if the conservatives win the general election. meanwhile labour's been answering questions on its plan for the economy — it promises not to increase income tax — if it wins on polling day. protests in georgia continue over a russian—style law against foreign influence, on the day the nation celebrates its independence from the soviet union. georgia celebrates its independence from the soviet union as protests continue over controversial laws which opponents they will bring this country back to russia's orbit. rescue teams search for survivors in the aftermath of a huge landslide in papua new guinea — where almost 700 people are feared dead.

we start here in the uk — and the fourth day of campaigning ahead of the general election on the 4th ofjuly. labour says it won't raise income tax or national insurance, if it wins power. the pledge was made by the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, speaking to the bbc, but she didn't rule out some spending cuts, saying there would be "difficult decisions" to make. leila nathoo has more. thank you very much. she wants to decide how taxpayers money is spent. rachel reeves making her pitch in west yorkshire this afternoon, promising a labour government would ensure economic stability. today, she said if she became chancellor there would be no rises in income tax or national insurance. but she acknowledged she would face difficult decisions and that public services were struggling. we're not going to be bringing back austerity, but we have got that immediate injection of cash into our front 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. rachel reeves insisted all of her plans would be fully costed. she didn't rule out having to make cuts to public spending. there was no public campaigning from the tories today, butjunior treasury minister bim aslam said in a statement in response. both labor and the conservatives are committed to getting debt falling as a share of national income. but there's a warning that whichever party gets into government would find itself hemmed in. rachel reeves and jeremy hunt are both desperately trying to square a very difficult circle at the moment. if there's going to be no tax increases over the next several years, then it's going to be desperately difficult to find enough moneyjust to avoid cutting spending on some public services, let alone finding money to increase them.

this is how the liberal democrats will be getting from a to b during this election campaign. an echo of labour's promise from them to we were already pledged an echo of labour's promise from them too. we were already pledged not to raise taxes - for ordinary people. people are paying far too much tax under the conservatives. _ |the conservatives have raised taxes| to record amounts in this parliament land during a cost of living crisisi that's hurting people really hard. a long road ahead to polling day. all parties will be trying to attract attention until then. lesley duffy, bbc news. elsewhere — the conservatives have announced they will introduce mandatory national service for 18—year—olds if they win the election. it's a plan labour have called desperate and unfunded. the home secretary, james cleverly, has been giving more details on sunday with laura kuenssberg. what we are putting forward is a

mandatory national service what we're 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. and 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. sounds a bit like social engineering. i mean, if the many thousands of teenagers don't want to go into the army, you've only got 30,000 places for people to go into the military. so the majority of them would take the other option. but what kinds of things would they have to do? well, it could be a range of things. it could be a kind of uniform 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're looking to keep this open.

so what do young people make of the suggestion to bring back national service? we asked some of the people at radio 1's big weekend fesitval in luton i don't think it's a bad idea if, it should be your decision to do it or not but more people will be more inclined to do it at the start and if the government needs help, why not? it is about what you will learn from it and i think anything that you do that is new and you get a learning experience out of it and it can help you down the line. people will probably go for it. but again, i think it would kind of have a big backlash because you're being forced to do something and not a lot of people want to be forced to do something.

like, we live in a free country. i mean, ithink it'd be pretty good because the army isn't doing - too well with recruit, and the whole thing i with russia would be good with a lot more recruits. . but it does infringe a lot on the current human i rights that people know. i don't know, ijust think it would be a large change . for a lot of people. let's speak to victoria honeyman, associate professor in british politics at leeds university. a mixed response to the idea of bringing back national service, what do you make of it as an electoral gambit? i do you make of it as an electoral ambit? ~ �* , gambit? i think it's quite interesting _ gambit? i think it's quite interesting that - gambit? i think it's quite interesting that its - gambit? i think it's quite interesting that its right | gambit? i think it's quite i interesting that its right of gambit? i think it's quite - interesting that its right of centre and very conservative but it's more on the policy and voters of the conservative party are concerned about being redacted by the parties but it's quite polarising and the fact that this is a small regulatory element and what is the government trying to solve with this. if they're worried about the lives of young people there are the things they could be looking at and perhaps

more input for example, education, issues of health purchases and and those kinds of things. it does make you ask what the government is trying to solve with this. it you ask what the government is trying to solve with this.- you ask what the government is trying to solve with this. it can be risky politically — trying to solve with this. it can be risky politically and _ trying to solve with this. it can be risky politically and taught - trying to solve with this. it can be risky politically and taught about | risky politically and taught about adjusting social fragmentation comedy think we will pin that on them because they been in powerfor a while? them because they been in power for a while? .,, ., them because they been in power for a while? ., , , , a while? those who supported this oli and a while? those who supported this policy and those — a while? those who supported this policy and those who _ a while? those who supported this policy and those who think - a while? those who supported thisl policy and those who think actually, this is just electioneering and there's no real purpose behind it and you're essentially singling out and you're essentially singling out a small group in society and saying there's a problem we must solve it. to make the pledges during the selection to say what is happening with him people come away there's singling out young people and why they think this is the solution because a lot of people can think why is this group being targeted in the avnet national service since early 1960s, why is it simply a good

idea to have it be out in an election?— idea to have it be out in an election? �* , ., ., election? and they are not ruling out cuts to _ election? and they are not ruling out cuts to public _ election? and they are not ruling out cuts to public spending - election? and they are not ruling out cuts to public spending but . election? and they are not ruling i out cuts to public spending but they said they will not have returned austerity. what about the campaign on that subject? the austerity. what about the campaign on that subject?— on that sub'ect? the labour party are doinu on that subject? the labour party are doing something _ on that subject? the labour party are doing something relatively . are doing something relatively similar to what they did in 1997 where if you remember, the blair party at that point pledge that they're going to stick the tax plans of the conservative party and then the content of the criticism and say they're being responsible and saying we can do what we need to and if we essentially reorganise the data a little bit in there trying very much to deal with what they think is going to be the conservative big criticism of them and they're just going to focus on the economy. find going to focus on the economy. and the 're going to focus on the economy. and they're focusing on seats where they can come second to the tories comedy think that is a good strategy for

them? , ., , ., , think that is a good strategy for them? , ., , ., ., them? the liberal democrats along with smaller— them? the liberal democrats along with smaller parties _ them? the liberal democrats along with smaller parties have _ them? the liberal democrats along with smaller parties have to - them? the liberal democrats along with smaller parties have to be - them? the liberal democrats along | with smaller parties have to be very focused about where they want to essentially put their time and effort and money and easy to see this in the big parties, safe seat, whether it be conservative or labour, you tend not to see the same kind of visits are a number of election leaflets and things against the constituencies. it makes sense for them to target where it is a bit the biggest difference and i'll be primarily in the blue wall seats with a come second or have come second to conservatives primarily in the will be targeting very hard because it makes more sense for them to do that than ever more blanketed approach. to do that than ever more blanketed a- roach. . ~' ,, to do that than ever more blanketed auroach. . ~' , to do that than ever more blanketed auroach. . ~ , . approach. thank you very much indeed much indeed — approach. thank you very much indeed much indeed for _ approach. thank you very much indeed much indeed for your _ approach. thank you very much indeed much indeed for your thoughts. - and a quick reminder — you can find all the latest on the general election here in the uk — we're running a live page with continuous coverage. you can find plenty of updates and analysis on the bbc news app and on our website.

georgia is celebrating the anniversary of its independence from russia with official ceremonies being held in the capital tbilisi. it comes as the country continues to grapple with the mass protests against a controversial, so—called "foreign agents" law which opponents believe would put georgia's independence at risk. let's speak to our south caucasus correspondent rayhan demytrie, who's in tblisi for us telex a bit about the mood on day? there are some celebrations of the party is wrapping up now and there are a lot of people buying food and celebrating georgia's independence but a little bit further up this main street where i'm standing now, just outside the parliament, there is a process once again in some thousands of people are gathered there marching towards the park to

protest the law on the transparency of foreign influence which the georgian government introduced back in april and it's provoked these weeks of mass protests and it is controversial because people fear that this law which they have dogged as russian law because the similarities between the legislation never exists in russia, they fear it will be used to silence dissent in georgia it all comes as the parliamentary elections in october and we see over the past several weeks, georgia fell out with its traditional allies the united states, the european union and their talks earlier this week there were talks earlier this week there were talks in the us state department about restrictions of visas for those who as it was said, undermine

georgia poss plus democracy. georgia is in candidacy status to join the european union but we have had many european union but we have had many european leaders and institutions repeating over and over again to the georgian government urging them to withdraw this bill and to return to its path towards europe and it is seen as in any liberal legislation and they have been out for weeks and days and many people fear that the adoption of this slob would mark a u—turn in georgia poss poss foreign policy comments pro—western policy to pro—russian —— georgia poss poss foreign policy. to pro—russian —— georgia's foreign policy.

there was a ceremony in the square and in the country ceremonial president and it was vetoed last week and talking about an enemy that georgia has and it is georgia that occupies the territory and after her speech, we heard from the countries prime minister that georgia independence is injeopardy and hinted at this veto which the president is placed on his controversial law and the president and the prime minister and the government are at odds by the president is not have any executive power indeed what she could with the veto by parliament which is dominated by the georgian dream party is said to override a presidential veto in the government

argument is they are saying that is the most georgian legislation and it will ensure georgia's sovereignty. manly youth vote and there's an election coming up to try and persuade them that they made the right decision? that persuade them that they made the right decision?— right decision? that is the point and throughout _ right decision? that is the point and throughout all— right decision? that is the point and throughout all these - right decision? that is the point and throughout all these weeks| right decision? that is the point i and throughout all these weeks of protests, the government has been undermining this voices that have protesting in this square and there was police violence, georgia prime minister said those protesting against the bill of lower iq and undermining them and humiliating these protesters in the prime minister suggests that some people can be chosen from the protesters any colour for an open debate about

this law and driven by this on strike as we speak and with this legislation, georgia is turning its back to europe and this is not something that they are willing to accept because more than 80% of this country according to a number of polls sees georgia's future within the european union and what is happening now is seen by the protesters at an existential moment for this country and they want to ensure that this country moves west and not back to russia. ukraine says it's managing to hold back russian forces, near the northern city of kharkiv, and inflicting severe casualty numbers. the russians are being pushed back using artillery, but also drones, which are playing a key role

in the war. jonathan beale tells the story of one ukrainian drone unit, on the frontline, in the kharkiv region. they are now one of the most potent weapons of this war. cheap mass produced drones being used to deadly effect. and here on the front, they're helping ukraine slow russia's advance, but still not enough. we can hold them back with drones and herd them badly. but to win with them, unfortunately. now, what do you call them? this is peaky blinders. it's what they call themselves. peaky blinders after the cult tv series. but flat caps are where the similarity ends. they've been trained by western special forces. in just a few weeks, they've hunted down more than a hundred russian soldiers.

terror from the sky. today, they appear to be hiding. so they look for something else. so you're stealing russian rifles from the russians? yes, yes, yes. this is the second time that 0lexander has fought for this territory. his home. he once farmed the fields nearby. then he grew strawberries. now he's planting bombs. but he knows what they're doing won't end this war. right now, it's like to more or less equal gladiators - fighting each other. and neither can defeat the other. yes, the conflict might be frozen, maybe for several years or even l decades, but this war- will last a very long time. the russians are learning, too. when the peaky blinders tried to fly a kamikaze drone into a target. their signal gets jammed.

russian drones are as much of a threat to ukrainian forces. most take shelter under trees. easy now, but harder in the winter. for both sides. it's a constant game of hide and seek. ukraine says it has now slowed down the russian front line. it has stabilized the situation, but there's still quite a fierce artillery battle going on. there much harder task will be to push the russians back. they might just weather this storm with the arrival of more western weapons. but what ukraine really wants is permission to use those weapons

to strike inside russia just a mile from the border. they're doing the best to intercept russian resupplies, but they�* re hamstrung. we can't stop the preparing of attack. so you need to target inside russia to stop them advancing here. of course. but you're not allowed to. nope. and does that make sense to you? no. not at all. ukraine remains determined to fight, but they're still looking to the west to give them the tools to win. jonathan beale, bbc news, kharkiv. the united nations says more than 670 people are feared dead in a huge landslide in the pacific nation of papua new guinea. dozens of houses are thought to have been buried in rock and earth. the disaster was sparked

by an earthquake that hit enga province, some 370 miles north west of the capital port moresby. this report is from our correspondent katy watson a scene of total devastation. in an area so remote and with land here still unstable, rescuers are struggling to do theirjob. more than two days after the landslide, villagers aren't giving up in their hunt for survivors but the situation on the ground is difficult. the landslide struck in the early hours of friday morning. more than 100 houses were buried at a time when most of the villagers would have been asleep butjust a few bodies have been recovered so far. debris from the landslide is up to eight metres deep in some places but getting heavy machinery to this remote area of highlands is difficult. people are using whatever tools they can get their hands on, be it shovels or sticks, to help dig victims out. to make matters worse, nearby tribal violence

which is totally unrelated to the landslide is also complicating the delivery of relief materials. but in the search for survivors, some good news. there has been some glimmer of hope in the last 2a hours. a husband and wife that were buried were rescued and thankfully their three children were not at the scene when the landslip happened. understanding the true scale of this disaster and finding those thought to have died among this rubble will take some time. katy watson, bbc news, sydney. want to take you to berlin now — these are live picturs — french president emmanuel macron has begun his state visit to germany want to take you to berlin now — these are live pictures — french president emmanuel macron has begun his state visit to germany which will last for three days. this is the first state visit to germany by a french president for nearly a quarter of a century. the visit is intended to highlight franco—german unity at a time of disagreement between mr macron and chancellor 0laf scholz on several key issues including the war in ukraine.

the french president will also visit dresden and munster, before taking part in a joint cabinet meeting with mr scholz near berlin on tuesday. next to the israel—gaza war. for the first time in several months hamas has launched a missile attack on israel. the israeli military says at least eight rockets were launched from the rafah area of southern gaza, most of which it intercepted. some did get through — landing in open fields — but no injuries or significant damage has been reported. 0ur correspondent in jerusalem, dan johnson, gave us this update. interceptions have been heard over the city by colleagues who are in tel aviv at the moment — at least six, possibly eight rockets that have been intercepted by israeli air defense systems, which are very secure, very effective.

but it does look like some of these rockets that we believe have been fired from the south of gaza, from rafah, have got through. there are some videos emerging showing where rockets have landed on open ground. no word yet on whether any serious damage has been caused, whether there are any casualties. but this certainly does mark another moment in this conflict. it's the first time since, we think, january that tel aviv has actually come under rocket attack. these would be long—range rockets fired from the very south of gaza. and the al-qassam brigade, the armed wing of hamas, says it is doing that in response to israel's massacre of its civilians. we know that the military operations around rafah have continued intensifying over the weekend with more air strikes and more ground military activity as well. this is despite israel having been told on friday by the international court ofjustice that its offensive

there should end. now, whether this isjust hamas reacting to that offensive on the ground in rafah or whether this is some sort of last stand as israel's military actually moves further and further into rafah and reduces the operating space that hamas has left there, that's a question that we'll have to contemplate in the hours that follow when we assess how serious this attack was and how much damage it has caused. but certainly it's the first time that air raid sirens have sounded in tel aviv for some time. it's the first time that area has come under hamas attack for many months. and it does show that hamas still has weaponry, heavy artillery, and is prepared to use it to target israeli civilians. there had been renewed hopes that peace talks could recommence on tuesday. this had been something that had been talked about by the americans and israelis. it would be the talks that have been mediated by the egyptians and the qataris. and there were hopes that a new deal may be put to hamas as early as this week for the possibility of returning more hostages, bringing about some sort of peaceful conclusion to this military operation. now, whether hamas has preempted that and is determined to show that it can still launch rockets and cause damage and destruction in israel, that could be one possible explanation for this attack. hamas itself is saying that this is in response tojust

a massacre of its civilians. it's not clear whether that means the conflict more generally or specifically operations around rafah over this weekend. we know over the last two weeks, since israel's military first went into rafah, more than a million palestinians have been uprooted and displaced. in georgia, there celebrating independence from russia, the anniversary of their independence at around the country, the youth vote continues to protest on the streets and they've been unhappy with the controversial foreign agents law which they believe puts their independence at risk and plenty more coming up on that and stay with us

on bbc news. goodbye for now. hello there. compared with yesterday, for most of us, the weather has taken a turn for the worse today. there will still be some sunshine around at times through the rest of the day, but we are seeing more showers breaking out as well, some of them heavy and thundery. and those showers will continue well into the afternoon. some slow moving thundery downpours, particularly across southern scotland and a good part of england. temperatures as a result of more showers around will be lower than yesterday. noticeably so in scotland, but we still could make 21 in the south east of england if we miss most of those showers. but those heavy showers will continue into the evening. they'll fade away from much of england and wales overnight.

but we'll see some further wet weather coming back into northern ireland and scotland later on in the night. clearer skies in the south could see temperatures dipping away to eight or nine degrees. but the promise of some early sunshine, at least, for central and eastern parts of england. however, scattered showers will build up through the day. this time, the focus of the heavier downpours with some thunderstorms is more across northern and eastern parts of scotland, this time. there will be some sunshine around with those showers building up too, and it will feel pleasantly warm in the sunshine, i suspect. but those temperatures are typically going to be 16 or 17 degrees on bank holiday monday afternoon. one area of low pressure that's bringing all the showers at the moment will be replaced by another one coming in from the atlantic for tuesday. and that will push cloud northwards and eastwards and bring with it this showery rain as well. could get a bit wetter through the day across northern ireland and later into northern england. the best of the dry weather this time, after all those heavy showers on monday, will be across north eastern parts of scotland. typical temperatures around about 17 degrees or so on tuesday. now, that area of low pressure continues to push across the uk on tuesday night into wednesday. and so we'll see some

further rain or showers, some of which could be heavy and thundery. so wetter weather across southern scotland, northern england, driving down across other parts of england and wales to be followed by some heavy, perhaps thundery showers in scotland. this time the driest weather looks like to be in northern ireland. and again, those temperatures around 16 or 17 degrees. those temperatures aren't really going to change much over the weekend. it's about what we'd expect at this time of the year. quite a changeable week ahead, though, it has to be said, with some further heavy showers. signs, though, with high pressure around later, it could turn drier.

the headlines. rishi sunak says he'll bring back mandatory national service for 18—year—olds if the conservatives win at the general election. meanwhile, labourers been answering questions about his plans for the economy. it promises not to introduce income tax if it wins on polling day. the united nations is estimated that more than 670 people died in a landslide and pop out new guinea. at least 150 houses were buried while people were sleeping inside them. sirens heard across tel aviv as hamas says it's launched a large missile attack on the city. the first in months. no direct hits or injuries have been reported. 12 people have been injured after a

flight from doha suffered turbulence