hello again. south africans have had to live with an unreliable energy grid for years. scheduled blackouts have already cost the country thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in lost business. but in the last few months something has changed.

the country has experienced an unusually steady supply of electricity. as south africans prepare to vote in a general election, some critics believe this could be simple electioneering, but others believe that south africa's energy problem is being fixed for good. the bbc�*s nomsa maseko reports. this power station is one of south africa's many power plants that are coming back online to help minimise the country's electricity crisis. this is a move the government hopes will lessen rolling blackouts, which have crippled the economy and forced south africans to turn to alternatives. all of these efforts are orchestrated. there's nothing sudden about what you are seeing today. and, in fact, the picture looks even exceptionally better. what is it? i'm happy to say to the country

as i stand before you today the energy availability effect of eskom has breached the 70% mark. at 70.78. that's significant. the last time we achieved this was in august 2021. but many people are sceptical. they believe the current reprieve from rolling blackouts is a campaign gimmick by the governing anc to get votes. i do think it might be a ploy for the votes because it is odd that the timing as well of the load shedding. we had had problems before, but now all of a sudden it's better. i think once the elections come, we will see if that was the true standard of our electricity or is itjust a ploy? i live in constant fear of when it's coming back and what will that mean for us. because now everything is sort of back to normal—ish. like everybody else in south africa, it is...affected us so badly. - i mean, we had to lose many stuff around it, l

but we still have hope that one day it will get better here. _ the impact of the power cuts have been felt across the board, including massive job losses, and in some cases it has become a matter of life and death, with many health workers lamenting its effects on their ability to look after patients. when the electricity goes down, you've got newborn babies in incubators who need to be kept warm, etc. and you would have the junior nurses and the junior doctors run into paediatric ward to actually hold the babies and keep the babies warm because the incubators aren't working. opposition parties have taken the government to court to force the country's power utility, eskom, to ensure that hospitals, police stations and schools are exempted from power cuts. but the government is opposing this move. south africans hope

that that particular instance in our democracy, you know, has awakened us to saying that we need to get rid of this government, we need a new government which are going to care for our people, a government that is going to prioritise, you know, the welfare of our people, the social welfare and social justice in our society. research shows that unemployment, power cuts, corruption and crime will be top of mind for millions of south africans as they cast their ballots. a cancer charity is warning people to do more to protect themselves from the sun as the number of melanoma skin cancer cases in the uk continues to rise. cancer research uk predicts there will be a record 20,800 cases diagnosed this year — up from a yearly average of 19,300 between 2020 and 2022.

the charity says there's been a particularly large increase among older people — as chi chi izundu reports. going to take a locating photograph. these are just some of the examples of what melanoma skin cancer can look like. and according to cancer research uk, the number of cases of this serious and often most dangerous form of the disease is on the rise. rates of melanoma have increased by almost a third over a decade, from 21 to 28 per 100,000 people between 2007 and 2009 and 2017 and 2019. it's more common in the elderly. among those aged over 80, there was a 57% rise, while amongst those aged 25 to a9, there was a 7% increase. 17,000 melanoma cases every year are preventable, with almost nine in ten caused

by too much ultraviolet radiation. and one source of that uv radiation comes from the sun, damaging skin cells and causing cancer. we think that there are a few different reasons for this record high of melanoma skin cancer cases. the main one being too much exposure to ultraviolet or uv radiation from the sun and sunbeds, which is why it's so important to take care in the sun. but there are other factors at play as well. here in the uk we have an ageing population and age is a big risk factor for cancer. we also have a growing population, so when we have more people we're going to see more cases. another reason the figures are up is because people are getting better at spotting abnormalities and going to the gp. last month, experts revealed a game changing jab is being trialled on british patients, which has dramatically reduced the risk of melanoma returning. but prevention is key.

in order to stay safe, apply generously high factor sunscreen often, cover up and avoid the sun between 11 and three. chi chi izundu, bbc news. you are watching bbc news. the fbi has been investigating the sale of hundreds of treasures that the british museum says were stolen. the museum said up to 2,000 or its artefacts have been damaged or stolen from its storerooms and sold on ebay. it suspects dr peter higgs, a senior curator at the iconic london tourist attraction, of being involved in the items' disappearance. dr higgs has denied any wrongdoing and the police are investigating. our culture and media editor, katie razzall has been investigating what happened for a new documentary out tonight called thief at the british museum.

she bought in good faith over the years. how many gems do you think belong to the british museum? i think it is 150 here and the same amount in my drawer.— i think it is 150 here and the same amount in my drawer. more than two ears amount in my drawer. more than two years before — amount in my drawer. more than two years before the _ amount in my drawer. more than two years before the global— amount in my drawer. more than two years before the global scandal - years before the global scandal about the thefts was revealed he had wanted the museum and inside it was selling its artefacts online. back then he was rebuffed. first selling its artefacts online. back then he was rebuffed.— selling its artefacts online. back then he was rebuffed. first i was in shock, then he was rebuffed. first i was in shock. almost _ then he was rebuffed. first i was in shock, almost paralysed. _ then he was rebuffed. first i was in shock, almost paralysed. i- then he was rebuffed. first i was in shock, almost paralysed. i couldn't imagine it. shock, almost paralysed. i couldn't imaaine it. ,, . ., imagine it. since then he has handed over the gems _ imagine it. since then he has handed over the gems he _ imagine it. since then he has handed over the gems he thinks _ imagine it. since then he has handed over the gems he thinks belong - imagine it. since then he has handed over the gems he thinks belong to i over the gems he thinks belong to the museum. we followed his mission to find other missing artefacts, to paris and a meeting with the

collector. the collector has asked us not to show his face. he never imagined these items could have belonged to the british museum. bier? belonged to the british museum. very sad sto . belonged to the british museum. very sad story- but — belonged to the british museum. very sad story- but i _ belonged to the british museum. very sad story. but i am _ belonged to the british museum. very sad story. but i am happy it is going — sad story. but i am happy it is going back to the museum. in sad story. but i am happy it is going back to the museum. in 2023 a curator at the — going back to the museum. in 2023 a curator at the british _ going back to the museum. in 2023 a curator at the british museum, - going back to the museum. in 2023 a curator at the british museum, dr - curator at the british museum, dr peter higgs, was sacked in connection with the thefts. he denies any wrongdoing and the police are still investigating. our investigation has discovered that some of the items the british museum says have disappeared have been on quite a journey. two of the gems were unwittingly put on display at another museum in germany. and 260 have ended up in washington, dc. the fbi is investigating. we have had exclusive access to the british museum's recovery programme. it still hasn't been able to prove in most cases that the objects belong to the museum because so many were never catalogued. it has now begun

to register all its collection. there were things we could have done better and we have apologised. the museum today, a couple of years on, is much more open, much more transparent. is much more open, much more transoarent-_ is much more open, much more transparent. is much more open, much more transarent. �* , ~ , , transparent. the british museum says it has recovered _ transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost _ transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost half— transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost half of- transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost half of the - it has recovered almost half of the 1500 items it believes were stolen or missing. but it is likely many others, particularly priceless ancient gold jewelry, will never be found, and hundreds of its artefacts have been damaged. and for viewers in the uk you can watch �*thief at the british museum' tonight on bbc 2 at 7pm. globally you can also listen to all episodes of the accompanying podcast on bbc sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. gloucestershire's famous annual cheese rolling competition has been taking place today in southwest england. dozens of competitors ignored

warnings about the potential dangers began two centuries ago. last year there were a number of injuries. finally this half hour — something not to try unless you know what you are doing. the season opening event in the cliff diving world series has taken place in athens. in the men's category last year's winner constantin popovici from romania continued where he left of last season with a win. this year is the 15th anniversary of the men's series, with the 10th year the women have taken part.

let's ta ke let's take a look at the weather. hello. but as we go through the afternoon the heaviest, most persistent you can see rather threatening—looking skies in edinburgh just a few hours ago. most frequent showers across the far north. fewer showers, but most of those out to the west, for the remainder of the afternoon, it's sunny spells and scattered lighter winds here, so if you get some showers slightly brisker winds, particularly on exposed south coasts, that should help push those showers through at quite a pace. if you dodge the showers and keep some sunshine with a little shelter, it will still feel quite pleasant.

but at least you will have some early morning sunshine. the rain will push in from the west. again, temperatures peaking at around 18 degrees. dominating the story as these frontal systems sweep their way brighter weather out to the west, but temperatures a little bit subdued for this time of year. again, we're looking at highs of 15 to 18 degrees,

that low pressure will push away. as we head towards the weekend, high pressure is going to build as we look further ahead, there is some welcome news.

live from london, this is bbc news. after his first major speech of the general election campaign, labour's leader says his party will deliver security,