as she has said, in that very personal statement this evening, she is still undergoing treatment and, in herwords, she has good and bad days. i think itjust goes to say, again, just how brave catherine is, because she knows all of the world's eyes are going to be on her tomorrow. and she is very much standing by her duty and also standing by her father—in—law as well for his big day too. but it would be nice. if she could just have some time to rest and fully recover and come back- in full strength. welcome to the programme. let me run you through the headlines.

the princess of wales has said she's making good progress following her cancer diagnosis and will attend tomorrow's trooping the colour to mark the king's birthday. she hasn't taken part in any public engagements since christmas. in a statement, she said her treatment was ongoing and would continue for a few more months. south africa's parliament is expected to elect cyril ramaphosa to a second term as president, after a dramatic first day of the new parliamentary session. his africa national congress concluded a coalition agreement with their historic rivals, the centre—right democratic alliance, and two smaller parties. in the uk elections, sir keir starmer has said he is prepared to make enemies over issues such as planning in order to pursue economic growth. speaking to the bbc, the labour leader rejected conservative suggestions that labour would have to cut spending, raise taxes or increase borrowing. in a major ruling for gun access, a divided supreme court has struck down a law that bans bump stocks. they are gun accessories that allow semi—automatic rifles to fire more quickly.

it was brought in by donald trump's government after one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern us history. so, let's return to that royal story now. the princess of wales says she is making "good progress" after her cancer diagnosis, but that she's not out of the woods. catherine has released a personal message saying she'll be at trooping the colour on saturday, which is the traditional king's birthday parade. in the statement, she says she is still undergoing chemotherapy, likely to last another few months. catherine also released a new image — taken earlier this week in windsor. she also thanked the kind messages of support she's received over a couple of months. she said she's "learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty" and that she's "taking each day as it comes." our royal correspondent jonny dymond reports. a new picture of the princess from the palace, to mark a new stage in herjourney.

it's been almost three months since the princess revealed that she was undergoing chemotherapy, something that followed surgery earlier in the year. the surgery was successful. however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. my medical team therefore advised that i should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and i'm now in the early stages of that treatment. since then, prince william has worked alone and the palace has remained silent, though last week, when asked about kate's progress, the prince said she was getting better. "she'd have loved to have been at the d—day commemorations," he said. from the princess this evening, a message about these past long months. "i am making good progress," she wrote...

"my treatment," she wrote... tomorrow is the king's birthday parade, trooping the colour, one of the biggest days of the royal year, and the princess says she will be there, back in the public eye with their children. there may be more public engagements to come this summer, but each one will depend on the princess's health. "i am," the princess wrote today, "not out of the woods yet," but from windsor comes a message and a picture that speak of hope for days to come. jonny dymond, bbc news. with me is frances read. frances, good to see you, and you've

been following this. what has reaction been? because it's quite a statement down i personal statement. really personal. their actions mirrored that this is a positive step for the princess of wales —— the reaction be read. you can imagine this has been discussed around the world. we have heard from the uk prime minister on social media, rishi sunak reflected the statement be especially many over those with cancer and their families. that was his take on it. he says they will recognise that same struggle in her words, and draw and hope inspiration from her strength, and he also expressed his delight she will be in attendance at tripping the colour tomorrow, because this is a massive international event that's held in london over the weekend, but i think catherine's statement also comes with caveats as well —— trooping the colour. this idea she is not out of the was yet, she has her good days, or bad days, she was very honest

about that and what she wants to do, make the most of it on her good days. cancer charities like cancer research uk thanked the princess for sharing this kind of update this evening, saying her words would mean so much to other cancer patients, that it can affect everyone differently, because it can. people treatment are different, illnesses are different, and they reinforce how important it is the princess is given that time and space to focus on her treatment, but importantly, i think it is also important to mention the cancer charities felt this is important for catherine to raise awareness, that if people spot something that is not normal for them, they should speak with their doctor, and so this awareness as well as solidarity is part of this huge impact she is able to have simply by releasing this statement this evening. simply by releasing this statement this evening-— this evening. really, really is a ersonal this evening. really, really is a personal statement, _ this evening. really, really is a personal statement, isn't - this evening. really, really is a personal statement, isn't it? i this evening. really, really is a l personal statement, isn't it? she personalstatement, isn't it? she also makes it clear as well, this one event, she will be in a carriage, then on a balcony to wave. this is not a return to public

duties at all?— this is not a return to public duties at all? ., . . . , ., duties at all? not at all, and you have to see _ duties at all? not at all, and you have to see trooping _ duties at all? not at all, and you have to see trooping the - duties at all? not at all, and you have to see trooping the colourl duties at all? not at all, and you - have to see trooping the colour as a family event, yes, it is an international event, but it is a family event and she want to be there for herfamily family event and she want to be there for her family but there for her three children as well. she has said, when i feel 0k, her three children as well. she has said, when i feel ok, i will be able to do duties, and when i don't, we will not expect her to see her return to the full force and public than she would normally take part in. ., . , ., ~' than she would normally take part in. frances, thank you very much for keein: in. frances, thank you very much for keeping track _ in. frances, thank you very much for keeping track of _ in. frances, thank you very much for keeping track of reaction _ in. frances, thank you very much for keeping track of reaction as - in. frances, thank you very much for keeping track of reaction as the - keeping track of reaction as the world makes sense of that news. we can get more now with royal broadcaster, journalist and podcaster christine ross. that's the point — it is notjust here in the uk we are considering this, really reaction from right around the world, because people do care about her. . around the world, because people do care about her-— care about her. , there was really tremendous _ care about her. , there was really tremendous international - care about her. , there was really. tremendous international response just going through comments on social media. the comments on the post on social media overwhelmingly positive but also overwhelmingly international, lots of them in foreign languages, celebrating this very positive news from the princess

of wales, because while she is intravenously important figure in the uk, she's really an individual character throughout the world wide, on a really global scale. yes. character throughout the world wide, on a really global scale.— on a really global scale. yes, and she talks about _ on a really global scale. yes, and she talks about the _ on a really global scale. yes, and she talks about the response - on a really global scale. yes, and she talks about the response she | on a really global scale. yes, and - she talks about the response she has had up from around the world, she says it has made a difference to william and mika helped them through some of the hundred times, and it was that idea, and frances was touching on it there, that cancer treatment has good days and bad days, no two days are the same, there will be ups and downs, and it there will be ups and downs, and it there will be a message there that resonates with so many people going through something similar or caring for someone facing a similar diagnosis. for someone facing a similar diagnosis-— for someone facing a similar diaunosis. ~ , ,., , ~' . diagnosis. absolutely. i think all of us worldwide _ diagnosis. absolutely. i think all of us worldwide know _ diagnosis. absolutely. i think all of us worldwide know someone l of us worldwide know someone affected by cancer or we ourselves have been directly impacted by cancer, and this really humanises such a terrible disease, because evenif such a terrible disease, because even if the —— if even the princess of wales is not immune, it can happen to everybody. catherine is taking the time to fully heal, listen to her doctor's

orders, and as catherine discussed, good days and bad days, really listen to that.— good days and bad days, really listen to that. there was a lot of clamour earlier _ listen to that. there was a lot of clamour earlier in _ listen to that. there was a lot of clamour earlier in the _ listen to that. there was a lot of clamour earlier in the year- listen to that. there was a lot of clamour earlier in the year when there was a lot of information, we don't know the order of events, but she released that very public wheel highlighting the treatment she was facing. this is, some would say, a very sensible move, to give an update, so people know when we might expect to see her in public, but do you get a sense she needed to do this today? i you get a sense she needed to do this today?— you get a sense she needed to do this toda ? ~ . . . this today? i think that what we are seeinu is a this today? i think that what we are seeing is a shift _ this today? i think that what we are seeing is a shift in _ this today? i think that what we are seeing is a shift in the _ this today? i think that what we are seeing is a shift in the princess - this today? i think that what we are seeing is a shift in the princess of. seeing is a shift in the princess of wales's relationship with the public, in that she is acknowledging how much of a personal relationship other people have with her, and while it is only one sided, people really deeply care about her and are invested in her well—being and support her, and i think this is really a way of giving back to them. as she said, she was overwhelmed by the messages of support and i think when you are faced with buckets and

buckets of cards and gifts and donations to charities in your name, i think it does feel right to be more forthcoming and more personal with your response to that, especially in 2024, with the state of social media, being able to get those messages out. i think this is a real shift in that relationship. christine, go to talk to you. thanks for being with us, christine ross there. it's been a historic day in south africa, where two rival parties have agreed to form a coalition government. it's after the african national congress and its largest rival the centre—right democratic alliance agreed to work together, after 30 years of anc rule. it marks a momumental political shift in the country. the african national congress was forced to enter coalition talks, after losing its majority in elections last month. today, the new parliament in cape town has been meeting for the first time since the 29 may general election. so let's take you though what's been happening. so let's take you through what's been happening. the coalition will be called

the unity government. it will also include smaller political parties. this was the moment a number of new mps were sworn in, including anc leaders cyril ramaphosa. and the leader of the democratic alliance, john steenhuisen. the da says it will support ramaphosa's bid to secure a second and final term as president. it is my privilege to report to you that after two weeks of thorough negotiations that only concluded after today's sitting of parliament had already started, the da has reached agreement on the statement of intent for the formation of a government of national unity. the government of national unity�*s presidential candidate will come from the largest party inside the grouping, being president cyril ramaphosa. following his election today, president ramaphosa will then exercise his prerogative to appoint his new cabinet from among the members of the government of national unity,

in consultation with the leaders of the constituent parties. as you heard there, as part of the anc—da deal, the two parties have agreed to share the roles of speaker and deputy speaker between them. and cabinet posts are also being shared. this is a seismic political shift, as many anc supporters see the da as favouring interests of south africa's white minority, something it denies. long seen as unbeatable in national elections, the anc lost support in recent years as voters wearied of persistently high levels of poverty, inequality and crime, rolling power cuts and corruption in party ranks. dr zwelethu jolobe is head of the department of political studies at the university of cape town. thank you for being with us, and first of all, your assessment of quite how seismic a moment this is, what we saw in that parliament building today?—

what we saw in that parliament building today? look, i think most of us exoected _ building today? look, i think most of us expected the _ building today? look, i think most of us expected the anc— building today? look, i think most of us expected the anc support i building today? look, i think most of us expected the anc support to | of us expected the anc support to drop, i think the major surprise is the extent to which it did, and so in terms of our initial estimations, we were more looking at the anc at about 45%, at worst, but it drop so low for us, the biggest surprise of all. because in a way, it has forced, it has been forced to in fact seek support to the da. i think thatis fact seek support to the da. i think that is where the major surprise is, i think the second one is that we must be quite mindful that in the last 70 years, the anc has broken up three times, and over three times, it has produced significant opposition parties during elections. and so if we are to track the anc in a 17, 20 year period, it's the kind of majority party that has had secessionist tendencies, and soak in

as much as there is a shock from all of us about the extent to which it has reduce its overall support, if we look at it from a broader canvas, it is something that we have seen coming for a while now. politically, are ou coming for a while now. politically, are you optimistic _ coming for a while now. politically, are you optimistic that _ coming for a while now. politically, are you optimistic that these - coming for a while now. politically, are you optimistic that these two . are you optimistic that these two parties that have been in opposition for so long, with fundamental differences, can put those differences, can put those differences aside and informed this unity government? i differences aside and informed this unity government?— differences aside and informed this unity government? i think we have to look uuite unity government? i think we have to look quite careful— unity government? i think we have to look quite careful at _ unity government? i think we have to look quite careful at the _ unity government? i think we have to look quite careful at the politics - look quite careful at the politics within each, and we have seen is you have a kind of centralist coalition emerging, both within the anc and the da, and it is a kind of pro—business, pro—market, kind of coalition where the majority factions within each art in sort of the same ideological spectrum, and so i think that for the next five

years, it does seem like that central coalition will hold and the reason why it will hold is that those that oppose it are in the minority for now, and so, in terms of what's in the best interests, i think that what is good for the country as a whole is that we had about 30 years of anc rule, and the lessons we have learned is that having a majority party has not been any best of the voter. in the sense that a lot of the issues around, say, things like corruption, or things likejust like say, things like corruption, or things like just like basic mismanagement have gone —— in the best interest of the voter. serra; mismanagement have gone -- in the best interest of the voter.— best interest of the voter. sorry to interru t, best interest of the voter. sorry to interrupt. but _ best interest of the voter. sorry to interrupt, but you _ best interest of the voter. sorry to interrupt, but you talk _ best interest of the voter. sorry to interrupt, but you talk about - best interest of the voter. sorry to interrupt, but you talk about this | interrupt, but you talk about this being a pro—business government, something it may help enforce some economic reform. is in your assessment of and i ran through some of those issues at the beginning there, high levels of poverty, inequality, crime, power cuts,

corruption. is this unity government enough to send that message to voters that this really is a new era in politics for south africa? i think it is enough from a minimal point of view. i think that the first thing we can draw from this is that there is going to be some degree of supervision or some degree of accountability, that there was not before, and further in the past, the anc was able to make decisions of all sorts without having to consult anybody and without having to account to anybody. now, they are obliged to do that, and so i think that from a broader governance point of view, this is a move in the right direction. but we have to look out forfor direction. but we have to look out for for now is that the coalition is only in its first phase, and i think that from the understanding that we have, there are three phases to it. the next phase is, what policy issues are they going to agree on? and what things are they going to consider? and i think that that will

form the basis of how they will share power at the level of the cabinet, national, provincial, etc, and so we are still in early days at the moment, but i think that going forward, if we look at the personalities involved here, they are the people who all pretty much are the people who all pretty much are on the same ideological area, if you like, which means that there will be a degree of stability, which is a positive thing, because in the last one years or so, this country has seen a lot of coalitions, most of whom have not really lead to any material benefits of most people. zwelethu jolobe, really good to get your insight into that. thank you, head of the department of legal studies at the university of cape town. we were looking at live

proceedings in that parliament building, we will go back if there are any developments there. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are with the context on bbc news. the us supreme court has ruled against a ban on bump stocks, a gun accessory which are used to vamp up semi—automatic firearms. in a decision today, the court said the government did not have the right to ban the devices. bump stocks have been behind some of the most devastating mass shootings in recent history. the trump administration banned bump stocks after they were used in a shooting that killed 60 people at an outdoor concert in las vegas, in 2017. most of the killer's 22 guns were equipped with bump stocks, allowing them to fire as many as nine bullets a second. 500 people were wounded. joe biden has condemned the ruling and called on congress to take further action on gun safety, reiterating his demand to pass a federal assault weapons ban.

this was the reaction from vice president kamala harris as she touched down in atlanta. understand what bump stocks do — they allow the firing of hundreds of bullets a minute. it was bump stocks that resulted in 60 people being dead in las vegas, nevada on i october. and what the court did today is really rolling back what otherwise is important progress to be made to prevent gun violence in america. and frankly, when we think about the decisions voters will make in november, there is a clear contrast between where we stand and the former president. let's not forget, the former president literally said, "folks need to get over it," as it relates to the gun violence issue in america. so let's take this seriously, let's understand that we all have the ability to weigh in on this important issue, especially when

one in five americans has a family member that was killed by gun violence. and we know that gun violence is the number one cause of death in the children of america. not cancer, not car accidents, gun violence. that's kamala harris there. we can speak to our north america correspondent nomia iqbal. nomia, this was a split decision, it was not unanimous by any stretch, three of the justice dissented, was not unanimous by any stretch, three of thejustice dissented, one of them saying, this decision will have deadly consequences. that was the comment — have deadly consequences. that was the comment by _ have deadly consequences. that was the comment by the _ have deadly consequences. that was the comment by the liberal - have deadly consequences. that was the comment by the liberaljustice i the comment by the liberaljustice sonia sotomayor, who gave the dissenting opinion, it was split down ideological lines of the conservative majority, evoked 6—3 voted to ban government to basically undo donald trump's ruling back in 2017. they basically said that he overstepped, the administration exceeded its power with the band, arguing that a firearm with the

accessory did not meet a definition of a machine gun underfederal accessory did not meet a definition of a machine gun under federal law. let mejust reach of a machine gun under federal law. let me just reach you whatjustice clarence thomas wrote, he wrote the majority opinion. he says, nothing changes when a semiautomatic is equipped with a bump stock. the firing cycle remains the same, he said. and it's on a social milieu said, today the court puts bump stocks back in civilian hands, she completely refuted this suggestion that if you put put a bump stock on it, it does not turn it into a machine gun —— sonia sotomayor. she says, if i see a bird quack like a duck, i call that a duck. former president donald trump issued a statement after the ruling. he welcomed it, which could be somewhat odd, considering it was his policy overturned, but he isn't president of campaign mode, second rights and being pro—gun is a very republican

position —— he is in. president biden also in campaign mode and he is pushing for stronger gun reforms, he does not think that anything that congress has done so far, the last major legislation was in 2022, goes far enough. find major legislation was in 2022, goes far enou:h. �* g. �* ., far enough. and joe biden, as you exect of far enough. and joe biden, as you expect of the _ far enough. and joe biden, as you expect of the weapons _ far enough. and joe biden, as you expect of the weapons of - far enough. and joe biden, as you expect of the weapons of war - far enough. and joe biden, as you | expect of the weapons of war have far enough. and joe biden, as you . expect of the weapons of war have no place on the streets of america, and i wonder in all of this, is there a danger that it ends up getting bogged down in all this technical debate on a bed you add on the gun rather than gun itself? what rather than gun itself? what president — rather than gun itself? what president biden _ rather than gun itself? what president biden wants - rather than gun itself? what president biden wants to - rather than gun itself? what president biden wants to do| rather than gun itself? what l president biden wants to do is basically banned or certainly restrict semiautomatic rifles, military grade weapons, ammunition and expanded background checks for people who can have guns and those who cannot, the last major legislation we saw, as i mentioned, was a month after the uvalde shooting in 2022, the devastating

attack on a school in which 19 children were killed and two teachers, and it was quite a rare moment in that congress to take action. that includes house republicans, senate republicans, but it did not go far enough or president biden. he wants all this other stuff. president biden. he wants all this otherstuff. he president biden. he wants all this other stuff. he wants real kind of restrictions on guns, whereas republicans want to focus more on increasing public security and focusing on mental health and social issues, and that sort of thing, and i suppose what i would say is, yes, it would get bogged down in all the technical stuff, it would get bogged down in all the technicalstuff, but it would get bogged down in all the technical stuff, but ultimately in an election year, there are so many issues that people are looking at and caring about, and what tends to happen even though most americans, more than half the polls consistently show want some kind of strict law, that tends to spike as you can imagine when there is the high—profile mass shooting. fiifi high-profile mass shooting. 0k, nomia, high-profile mass shooting. 0k, nomia. really — high—profile mass shooting. 0k, nomia, really good to talk to you. thank you for explaining that, nomia

iqbal, our correspondent in washington, thank you very much. just wa nt to want to remind you of one of the other stories we are following, entirely different, but the euros in germany, munich is hosting the first match of your 2024, and if your scotland fan, it is not great news sub germany are three goals up against scotland in this opening game. you can really see the faces thereof some concern of those fans watching at a fanzone in inverness in scotland. the rather different picture, though, that is right now in hamburg. 0ne different picture, though, that is right now in hamburg. one more shot, fans are slightly more jubilant, and i think that is in berlin. we'll talk some more about that very shortly here on the context on bbc news. stay with us. coverage continues. good evening.

in amongst the heavy downpours today, we had a little sunshine. this was clarach, for example, on the west wales coast earlier on. but this sort of shower cloud would dominate this weekend. yes, there'll be a little sunshine, but there will be a lot of heavy showers, and so it'll feel cool again forjune. the reason for this weekend's heavy showers is low pressure. it's parked itself across the uk, and there'll be showers or even longer spells of rain meandering around that area of low pressure. and they'll be particularly, i think, slow moving in the central parts of that low pressure. but, again, like today, we've had fairly brisk winds in the north and in the south, so the showers move through fairly quickly, but still some evening thunderstorms to come. where those showers do ease away, perhaps parts of scotland, northern england, it will turn quite chilly overnight with a little bit of mist and fog. but we've got more showers rushing in from the west and still meandering around our area of low pressure. so it will be, i think, cooler than it was last night, which promises that we'll see a little bit more sunshine to start tomorrow morning as well. but that sunshine will soon be eroded as the cloud bubbles up

and the showers get going, already with us in many western and southern areas northern ireland, wales, england, and you can see across scotland as well, they'll soon fill in the gaps. they'll become heavy and slow moving around the centre of that low pressure, again, with hail and thunder. and there'll be some big showers, squally winds in southern areas and towards the north. these too could be heavy and thundery and unusually windy as well. so that's a concern for those under canvas, which, of course, at this time of year is not unusual, but it will be windy as well as very heavy showers. and so temperatures because of the cooler start won't be quite as high as today. but, again, it feels pleasant enough if you're in the sunshine, out the wind and its strong sunshine. a week away from the longest day now. then that rain comes in through the night and moves its way southwards. so that'll hold temperatures up in some areas. but, again, it could be fairly cool, and like saturday morning, could be a little bit of mist and fog around first thing, particularly where the winds are light. but this dominates, it could be really quite wet, we think, in parts of southern scotland,

northern ireland, northern england. we'll be firming up on details. and there'll be showers following on behind, a bit more of a chilly breeze by that stage in the north, and there'll be showers to the south, but perhaps fewer and lengthier, brighter, sunny spells will lift the temperatures a little higher and make it feel a little bit warmer once again, a little more likejune. but it's really an unsettled picture, as you can see. there might be something a little drier early next week. bye for now.

you're watching the context on bbc news. one of the leading voices in china's me too movement is handed a five—year prison sentence for subversion. leaders from the g7 countries have been meeting in italy and, today, talks were dominated by concerns about china's industrial capacity — and its relationship with russia. president biden said that while it's not supplying weapons, china provides russia with the ability and technology to produce them and use them in its war against ukraine. meanwhile, the leaders agreed they'd use frozen russian assets to raise $50 billion for ukraine to help it in its fight against russia. vladimir putin responded defining this as a theft which, he said,

will not go unpunished.