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. football fans gather to celebrate manchester city's record breaking four—in—a—row premier league victory — just days after they lost the fa cup to rivals man united.

hello, i'm lauren taylor. 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. 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'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. for more on the national service plan, i spoke earlier to victoria honeyman, associate professor in british politics at leeds university, for her insights. i think it is quite interesting. this is very right of centre and more on the policy and will appear to some voters that are concerned by other parties and having said that, quite polarising and the fact that this may have a small military element but the bigger question is where problems are the government trying to solve with this if they're worried about the lives of young people, there lots of things that can be looking at that perhaps more important to them, education, issues relating to house purchases and

those kinds of things. it makes you question what the government is trying to solve here with the solution. ., , .., trying to solve here with the solution. ., , , solution. your singing can be risky oliticall solution. your singing can be risky politically to _ solution. your singing can be risky politically to talk _ solution. your singing can be risky politically to talk about _ solution. your singing can be risky politically to talk about addressing fragmentation, is that something they might depend on them because they've been in powerfor a while? possibly but also polarising because there are those who support this and actually, this is a electioneering and there's no real purpose behind it and singling out a small group in society and saying if there's a problem, they will solve it but to make the pledges during selection to make the pledges during selection to make what it is that is happening with young people, where the seemingly out and people and why they think this is the solution because it is a veritable people who think why is this group being targeted in ways we have a net national services since the 1960s and wise and suddenly such an idea that we have to be brought out in the election. find

that we have to be brought out in the election-— the election. and they are not rulin: the election. and they are not ruling out _ the election. and they are not ruling out cuts _ the election. and they are not ruling out cuts to _ the election. and they are not ruling out cuts to public- the election. and they are not. ruling out cuts to public spending and having a returned austerity and her the subject. the and having a returned austerity and her the subject.— her the sub'ect. the labour party aet her the subject. the labour party get accused _ her the subject. the labour party get accused of — her the subject. the labour party get accused of being _ her the subject. the labour party get accused of being very - get accused of being very tax—and—spend, back in 1997 we remember the blair party and at the point where the tony blair pledged that they would stick with the tax plans of the party and allows them to fend off the criticism and allows them to say to be fiscally responsible and we can do what we need to do with the money that we've got every reorganise the data chairs a little bit and they're trying very much to deal with the conservative big criticism of them which is going to focus on the economy. find big criticism of them which is going to focus on the economy. and they're focusin: to focus on the economy. and they're focusing on — to focus on the economy. and they're focusing on many _ to focus on the economy. and they're focusing on many seats _ to focus on the economy. and they're focusing on many seats where - to focus on the economy. and they're focusing on many seats where they i focusing on many seats where they come second to the tories, do you think that is a good strategy for them? , ., , ., , think that is a good strategy for them? , ., , ., ., them? the liberal democrats along with the number— them? the liberal democrats along with the number of— them? the liberal democrats along with the number of smaller - them? the liberal democrats along with the number of smaller parties| with the number of smaller parties have to be very focused about where

they want to essentially put their time and effort and money. we see this in the big parties, if you're in a safe seat, whether be conservative or labour scottish national party, you don't see the same kind of visits, of election leaflets and things. 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. thousands of football fans are gathering in manchester this evening ahead of the manchester city trophy parade. the victory tour follows city becoming the first men's team in the history of english football to win the league four years in a row. however, the celebration comes just a day after they lost the fa cup final to rivals manchester united. joining me now is bbc news sportscaster 0lly foster — and one of our bbc colleagues — but today he comes to us as manchester city

superfan — ellis palmer. what kind of mood are we expecting after yesterday's defeat in the fa cup final? i'm taking a breakfrom the i'm taking a break from the day i'm taking a breakfrom the dayjob and titles and massive historic thing and it's never been done before and it is incredible just seeing the play in the consistency in performance and coming and what it really matters is what has been incredible about manchester city and it's not been my 2012 in the season where we've got to a hundred points but it's been very good and incredible to watch the tactical evolution of managers like pep guardiola. ., ., evolution of managers like pep guardiola— guardiola. how do you the achievement _ guardiola. how do you the achievement and - guardiola. how do you the achievement and may - guardiola. how do you the achievement and may be i guardiola. how do you the i achievement and may be be guardiola. how do you the - achievement and may be be down guardiola. how do you the _ achievement and may be be down about what i'm up manchester united? i what i'm up manchester united? 1 think it is difficult because they came out and said, when he got the

champions league final last year, and there was nothing else he could do with manchester city and fantastic, it's great, it's incredible and manchester united and the plane stops snow is there but they really got some ability to invade the picture. but, but he's been able to do as a manager and the way has been able to inspire is been incredible but itjust wasn't way has been able to inspire is been incredible but it just wasn't there because manchester united had a great credit and winning the fa cup yesterday. pare great credit and winning the fa cup esterda . �* , ~ , ., yesterday. are they likely to win the title next _ yesterday. are they likely to win the title next year _ yesterday. are they likely to win the title next year but _ yesterday. are they likely to win the title next year but shallow i yesterday. are they likely to win i the title next year but shallow that would be incredible, wounded, five in a ., ., ., would be incredible, wounded, five ina ., ., ., , . ., in a row. that would be the icing on the cake. in a row. that would be the icing on the cake- the _ in a row. that would be the icing on the cake. the contract _ in a row. that would be the icing on the cake. the contract will - in a row. that would be the icing on the cake. the contract will be - the cake. the contract will be at the cake. the contract will be at the end of next season and is even

more of an imperative for pep guardiola to win the title next year and, i think it's going to be a difficult week next year and obviously humpty forward after losing out on the seasons, a new manager and we do not know it's going to be. speculation in the position of manchester united and also liverpool, it's going to be a very competitive premier league next season, that's for sure. but i think they have the quality and you look at how pep guardiola has changed over time and when he came in, city are playing more direct style of football and upfront. haifa are playing more direct style of football and upfront. how important it is he been — football and upfront. how important it is he been to _ football and upfront. how important it is he been to your— football and upfront. how important it is he been to your side _ football and upfront. how important it is he been to your side the - it is he been to your side the season? i it is he been to your side the season? ~ , it is he been to your side the season? ~' , a, . , season? i think every manchester ci fan season? i think every manchester city fan and _ season? i think every manchester city fan and you — season? i think every manchester city fan and you go _ season? i think every manchester city fan and you go a _ season? i think every manchester city fan and you go a while, - season? i think every manchester city fan and you go a while, we i season? i think every manchester i city fan and you go a while, we have this young man from stockport who himself is a manchester city fan. and i was looking the other day with footage and having the team out as a

mascot and the area and coming to the cloud and the academy, developed over the last six years and a lot of media speculation about a machine to go on non—and should city, pep stuck with them and develop them as a player at what he has done is very similar to what they did with pep guardiola in barcelona. and developed as a player over time, got some world—class players around him and that is why he has been so good this year. and playing up more central positioning in the pitch means will be very interesting for southgate this summer as to who gareth southgate puts an end. does he go with the central midfield position, but his evolution as a

player has been really, really enjoyable. ali, what is the mood out there was yellow it was wet, absolutely pouring in the last season as well and trying to gauge what the atmosphere will be like working so hard over the last couple of hours and great manchester run here, this is the finish line and they are turning into the end point of the victory parade which is becoming a bit of an annual thing and last year, it was the trouble that when the champions league and after that disappointment, talking of the fa cup final and they are expected to win against manchester united and as euphoric as it was last season but they are here to celebrate that four

in a row victory. it they are here to celebrate that four in a row victory-— in a row victory. it was a historic achievement _ in a row victory. it was a historic achievement for _ in a row victory. it was a historic achievement for manchester - in a row victory. it was a historicj achievement for manchester city in a row victory. it was a historic - achievement for manchester city and probably in the next hour and a half, top of his affairs in north to south through manchester, they mentioned fell forward and, so many flags to help city get across the line phil foden. in the next hour and a half or so, they have not started yet. and a half or so, they have not started yet-— started yet. despite all the success. — started yet. despite all the success, 100 _ started yet. despite all the success, 100 premier - started yet. despite all the i success, 100 premier league champions league victories hanging over them, what is the timetable over them, what is the timetable over that? ., ., over them, what is the timetable over that?— over that? hanging over the club and in february last _ over that? hanging over the club and in february last year— over that? hanging over the club and in february last year that _ over that? hanging over the club and in february last year that did - over that? hanging over the club and in february last year that did not - in february last year that did not really hinder them and going on to win before when in the club world cup this year and the premier league chief executive a few weeks ago said

the times tables had been sent and perhaps the hearing will take place in the autumn but he could drag on and the next year and these charges go back to 2009, nine year stretch but failing to show how much these players and how much their manager, they deny all of these charges and are looking forward to essentially their day in court but the time the allegations, that was the foundations of unprecedented success at manchester city and until those charges are heard and we have some kind of verdict, that is going to be something that does hangover manchester city for all their successes. 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. 0ur south caucasus correspondent rayhan demytrie, is in tblisi now and gave me this update. there are some celebrations in their parties wrapping up and there are a lot of people earlier todayjust buying food and celebrating georgia possible and dependence but further up possible and dependence but further up this main street and outside of parliament, there is some thousands of people gathering and marching towards the park to protest the transparency for influencing government introducing back in april and it is provoking this weeks of protests and it is controversial because people fear that what day of

the as rush law because of the similarities between this, they fear that it can be used to silence dissent in georgia and it all comes out of the parliamentary elections in october and we have seen over the past several weeks, georgia fell out with its traditional allies, the united states, the european union and there are talks this week, talks from the us state department about visa restrictions as it was said in a statement undermining georgia's democracy. in candidacy status to join the european union but we have heard from many european leaders repeating over and over again to the georgian government urging them to withdraw this bill and to return to

its path and is seen as not a liberal legislation and people are out in the streets for weeks and days, mainly young people and they fear that the adoption of this law will mark a u—turn and georgia's form policy towards progression. i5 form policy towards progression. is a moment for unity as the prime minister accuses the president of the trail and the official ceremony, tell us about that.— tell us about that. earlier today, there was an _ tell us about that. earlier today, there was an official— tell us about that. earlier today, there was an official ceremony l tell us about that. earlier today, | there was an official ceremony in there was an official ceremony in the square not far away from here we are speech from the ceremonial president and they veto this bill last week and she talked about the enemy that georgia has instead it is

russian that occupies 20% of the georgian territory and after the speech, we are from the country prime minister saying that it is in danger and he indeed accuse the president of petrenko and brad scenting at this veto which the president put on this controversial law and the president of the prime minister and the government, they are at odds by the president does not have any executive power, she did what she could with the veto but in today's time, the parliament which is dominated by the government is set to override the presidential veto. the government's argument is that the legislation they're putting forward is that is the most georgian legislation and they're saying that it will ensure georgia possible sovereignty. it will ensure georgia possible sovereignty. —— george's sovereignty.

—— georgia's sovereignty. 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. but to win with them, unfortunately no. 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. 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. a pilot who died after a spitfire crashed in a field in lincolnshire has been named by the raf. squadron leader mark long was killed when the world war two—era fighter came down near raf coningsby on saturday afternoon. he had been a part of the battle of britain memorial flight team for the past four years. in a statement, the raf said mark long, long was �*a great friend, colleague and a passionate, professional aviator�*. an investigation into the cause of the crash is now under way. 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 picnic blanket. but it wasn't open to everyone — nearly 273,000 people applied to take part in the event — and only 4,000 were chosen. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. this is probably not the sort of weather you'd hope for in a bank holiday weekend. yes, it's been warm when the sun was out, but we have seen a lot of showers, heavy thundery downpours, really bringing a soaking in a short space of time. this was the radar picture from earlier on. you can see all those thunderstorms dancing away across england heading up into southern scotland. but gradually, overnight, we're going to see those tending to fade away for most areas, some clearer spells for england and wales, but more cloud and still some wetter weather as you move further north, that will keep temperatures a bit higher. but where we have the clearer skies, where the south temperatures could dip away to seven or eight degrees. there could be some early sunshine, though, for central and eastern parts of england. and we'll continue to see some sunshine on bank holiday monday. but there will be more showers around as well. and quickly, the cloud will build up

as temperatures rise. that will lead to a scattering of showers developing. but the focus for the heavy thundery ones. this is more towards northern and eastern parts of scotland, bringing the risk of some travel disruption and some local flooding. it will be warm in the sunshine when it's out and typical temperatures are going to be 16 or 17 degrees. one area of low pressure that's bringing all the showers at the moment will be replaced by another one. this one coming in from the atlantic and sort of keeping the unsettled theme going into tuesday and beyond. so we've got more cloud coming in from the west that's going to bring with it the showery outbreaks of rain. it'll get wetter later in northern england, but this time the driest weather may well be across the north east of scotland with some sunshine here for much of the day. typical temperatures, again, 16 or 17 degrees. but there is some wet weather around on tuesday and that will continue into wednesday. that area of low pressure pushing its way across the uk right in the middle of the low. this is where we may well have the wettest weather first thing on wednesday morning, but that wet weather will push down across england and wales, followed by some sunshine but maybe some heavy thundery showers for scotland. and this time the driest

weather is likely to be across northern ireland and a northwesterly breeze this time and again. those temperatures not really changing much right the way through the weekend. in actualfact, those numbers are near what we'd expect at this time of the year. but a mixed week ahead. heavy showers, longer spells of rain, but signs of hope are later next week, higher pressure should turn it drier and brighter.

this is bbc news, the headlines. 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. sirens heard across tel aviv for that no direct hits or injuries have been reported. rescue teams search for survivors in the aftermath of a huge landslide in papua new guinea — where almost 700 people are feared dead.

twelve people have been injured —