this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a picture has been posted on social media which, if authentic, would be the first proof since february that princess latifa of dubai is alive. fomer bbc director general, lord hall, resigns as chairman of the national gallery — saying continuing in the role would be a "distraction" — following the inquiry into panorama's interview with princess diana. thousands of palestinians return home as a ceasefire between israel and gaza holds for a second day. the 11—day conflict has left gaza devastated — us presidentjoe biden pledges to help with reconstruction and to find a lasting peace. the shift is that we still need a

two state solution and is the only answer. and it's back — the fun and festivities are under way, though covid safe — the eurovision song contest is in full voice again. hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. photographs on instagram purport to show princess latifa al—maktoum, the daughter of the ruler of dubai who has not been seen for months. in february, bbc panorama broadcast a secret video testimony from princess latifa where she said she was being held as a hostage by herfamily and feared for her life. the bbc is unable to verify the images. our reporter nawal

al—maghafi has more. all we know is what we can see in the photo. the princess who vanished reappears. at least that is what this photograph suggests. princess latifa has not been seen or heard of in months. she attempted to escape from dubai in 2018. i months. she attempted to escape from dubai in 2018-— dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is _ dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is my — dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is my jail. _ dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is my jail. in _ dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is my jail. in a _ dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is my jail. in a video - dubai in 2018. i am a hostage and this villa is my jail. in a video of l this villa is my jail. in a video of the bbc gained _ this villa is my jail. in a video of the bbc gained access - this villa is my jail. in a video of the bbc gained access to - this villa is my jail. in a video of the bbc gained access to after l this villa is my jail. in a video of i the bbc gained access to after she was captured, she alleges she is being held in solitary confinement in a villa in central dubai. but now video posted by two of her friends on wednesday, shows the princess in a shopping mall, but the image shows a shopping mall, but the image shows a cinema billboard advertising the film, demon slayer, which was

released in the united arab elements early this month. she is not the only daughter of the royal family of dubai who tried to escape. mi; only daughter of the royal family of dubai who tried to escape. my sister was in england. _ dubai who tried to escape. my sister was in england, she _ dubai who tried to escape. my sister was in england, she ran _ dubai who tried to escape. my sister was in england, she ran away. - dubai who tried to escape. my sister was in england, she ran away. there has been no — was in england, she ran away. there has been no comment _ was in england, she ran away. there has been no comment from - was in england, she ran away. there has been no comment from the - was in england, she ran away. there has been no comment from the dubai royal family. has been no comment from the dubai royalfamily. the un which has urged the emirates for months to prove princess latifa is alive, declined to comment on the photograph but it has told the bbc it a way to convincing proof of life in the case of princess latifa, which the uae has said it will provide. the bbc�*s former director general, lord hall, has resigned as chairman of the national gallery in london— following criticism over a bbc interview with princess diana in 1995. tony hall was the corporation's head of news at the time, when reporter martin bashir, used deception to secure the interview. lord hall led an internal

investigation into initial complaints, but it was branded "woefully ineffective" this week, by an independent inquiry. here's our home editor, mark easton. former bbc director—general tony hall has not yet appeared publicly to answer questions about his role in the bashir scandal, specifically about what the dyson report called his "woefully inadequate" investigation into martin bashir�*s conduct in 1986. today, though, we learned that lord hall has stepped down from his role as chair of the national gallery. in a statement he said... tony hall was director of bbc news and current affairs at the time of the panorama interview, and described martin bashir as "an honest and honourable man", even though he knew the reporter had

faked documents and lied on a number of occasions. he was director—general and editor—in—chief at the bbc in 2016, when mr bashir was rehired by the corporation as religious affairs correspondent, and lord hall then promoted him to religion editor in 2017 — decisions to be investigated by mps. i have to say, there are lots of questions, and, also, i would want to know, what precisely did he do in hisjob? he wasn't on air a great deal during his time as correspondent or religious editor, and, you know, one would have to ask why was it that he was even promoted while back at the bbc? princess diana's brother, earl spencer, has revealed that he's written to the commissioner of the metropolitan police, asking the force to look again at the circumstances surrounding her bbc panorama interview. his letter to dame cressida dick claims his sister was the victim of blackmail and fraud. scotland yard has already said it's looking at the dyson investigation

to see if there's any significant new evidence to support a criminal investigation. there's already a government review into public broadcasting in britain, but ministers are suggesting the bashir scandal may require specific reform of bbc governance. what really matters for the bbc is they put in place what is needed to ensure that this sort of thing can never happen again. the current bbc director—general, tim davie, has written to staff saying the scandal leaves the corporation with much to reflect on. although there are now significantly stronger processes and governance in place, he says, the bbc must also learn lessons and keep improving. breaking news. martin bashir has given an interview to the times. charlotte wright is looking into this for us. what is the main

thrust? , ., ., thrust? he says he never wanted to harm the princess _ thrust? he says he never wanted to harm the princess of _ thrust? he says he never wanted to harm the princess of wales - thrust? he says he never wanted to harm the princess of wales and - harm the princess of wales and doesn't believe he did. he rejects earl spencer's actions ultimately led to her giving up her security detail and ultimately contributed to her death. he says that is unreasonable and unfair. he has also responded to the duke of cambridge who delivered that statement on thursday evening. the duke of cambridge said the way the interview was obtained fuelled her isolation and paranoia. martin bashir responded saying i cannot imagine what theirfamily much responded saying i cannot imagine what their family much feel each day, although i know a little of that myself having lost a brother and father prematurely. but he says in the 1990s there were stories and secretly recorded phone calls and he says he wasn't the source of any of that. he says he wasn't the source of any of that. ., , ., ,., ., ., that. he goes on in some detail to talk about the _ that. he goes on in some detail to talk about the fact _ that. he goes on in some detail to talk about the fact they _ that. he goes on in some detail to talk about the fact they were - talk about the fact they were friends and remain friends? yes. talk about the fact they were friends and remain friends? yes, he said they had _ friends and remain friends? yes, he said they had a _ friends and remain friends? yes, he said they had a very _ friends and remain friends? yes, he said they had a very close _ said they had a very close

relationship. he said they first bonded after he made a programme on postnatal depression. she told him about her experience. he said diana talked about her own experience of postnatal depression, she spoke about bulimia and he said she said something about feeling suicidal, although he didn't take notes on that. diana came to visit his wife on the day they had their third child in hospital. he says they were friends, he says she was spectacular.— friends, he says she was spectacular. friends, he says she was sectacular. �* , ., , friends, he says she was sectacular. �* , . , , spectacular. and yet, and yet behind all this, there _ spectacular. and yet, and yet behind all this, there is _ spectacular. and yet, and yet behind all this, there is the _ spectacular. and yet, and yet behind all this, there is the fact _ spectacular. and yet, and yet behind all this, there is the fact from - spectacular. and yet, and yet behind all this, there is the fact from the . all this, there is the fact from the dyson report that martin bashir used deception to get to diana, however he felt about her, whatever he says about her now, is there an apology? he says he deeply regrets commissioning the fake bank details, he says he was a young man, 32 of the time. he says since he rejoined

the time. he says since he rejoined the bbc he hopes he has demonstrated high levels of integrity. he was asked by the interviewer, is he repenta nt? is he repentant? he said he hopes viewers will give him the chance to show he is repentant.— viewers will give him the chance to show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed _ show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed to _ show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed to put _ show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed to put his _ show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed to put his side - show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed to put his side of - show he is repentant. martin bashir has managed to put his side of the | has managed to put his side of the story tonight. egyptian mediators have been holding talks to try to work out the details of the ceasefire between israel and hamas, which is now in its second day. meanwhile the first convoys of humanitarian aid have arrived in gaza and thousands of palestinians have been returning home to scenes of devastation. officials say reconstruction might take years. nearly 250 people were killed in gaza during the 11—day conflict. 12 people died in israel which came underfire from thousands of missiles. the bbc�*s laura trevelyan is injerusalem. here injerusalem there isn't

damage, there is psychological damage becausejews and israelis came into conflict on the streets here. but what happened in gaza is real physical damage. after 11 days there, the united nations estimates 77,000 people fled their homes. the bbc�*s tom bateman was out and about in gaza today with a family who returned and saw the rubble that used to be their house. gaza's homeless wonder if it's even worth rebuilding. this man loses count of the rounds of conflict he's seen here. this time, the israelis got his home. i go to meet him at the tent he's put up on the wreckage. before the missile struck, his neighbour had a warning call. he and his family ran and then filmed their house being bombed. israel says it targeted

the homes of militants. he says his son just works for the police in the enclave, which is governed by the armed group hamas. translation: i am an innocent civilian. j i have nothing to do with politics. my feeling is more hatred towards israel. if i have a weapon now, i will go and fight, because i am not guilty. i have nothing to do with what happened to me. aid groups say 80,000 people in gaza were displaced in the fighting. some have been leaving schools where they'd sheltered. meanwhile, the first aid convoys have been arriving. this crossing with israel has partially reopened as the truce continues to hold. they're clearing up at the hanadi tower in gaza city. in the final hours of the last major

conflict in 2014 it was evacuated, but stayed standing as the war ended. this time, it was struck on the first day of fighting. with a hit on this tower, it's like this conflict picked up where the last one left off. there is a depressing continuity for people here. life becomes reduced to counting the time between wars. israel's leaders claim to have hit hamas' capabilities in an unprecedented way, but people on both sides feel they are just counting down to the next inevitable conflict. tom bateman, bbc news, gaza. studio: and laura, for diplomats now, for the international i'm joined now from tel aviv by micky aharonson, a fellow at the jerusalem institute for strategy and security studies

and a former advisor to prime minister netanyahu. thank you forjoining us. do you think israel is more secure than two weeks ago? i think israel is more secure than two weeks ago?— weeks ago? i don't know if we can talk about secure _ weeks ago? i don't know if we can talk about secure in _ weeks ago? i don't know if we can talk about secure in the _ weeks ago? i don't know if we can talk about secure in the long - weeks ago? i don't know if we can talk about secure in the long run. | talk about secure in the long run. this will be a long war of attrition and we hope to break the equation that says that whenever hamas needs more money to come into gaza, it will start shooting rockets into the state of israel. and we hope this time hamas will reconsider before it does it again. time hamas will reconsider before it does it again-— does it again. hamas would point to the number — does it again. hamas would point to the number of _ does it again. hamas would point to the number of civilians, _ does it again. hamas would point to the number of civilians, the - does it again. hamas would point to the number of civilians, the number of women and children who have been killed by israeli strikes and say that in the court of public opinion globally, israel has been diminished?— globally, israel has been diminished? . ., ., ,�* diminished? what hamas doesn't point out is a quarter— diminished? what hamas doesn't point out is a quarter of— diminished? what hamas doesn't point out is a quarter of the _ diminished? what hamas doesn't point out is a quarter of the missiles - out is a quarter of the missiles itch up towards israel fell in the territory of gaza, while killing its

own people which provided good pictures for hamas. but the major reason hamas started shooting wasn't about israel, it was the palestinian authority and wish to portray itself as more powerful. these calculations, they have nothing to do with israel,, they understand the price it will have to pay. whenever israel chose to operate against hamas, against military rockets against hamas, to try to minimise any collateral damage. we have practices here that are unprecedented and unseen in the world like try to run citizens to stay away from places which israel was about to bomb because hamas placed weapons in between the civilian population, which is a war

crime in itself. the civilian population, which is a war crime in itself.— crime in itself. the us president, joe crime in itself. the us president, joe biden. _ crime in itself. the us president, joe biden. who — crime in itself. the us president, joe biden, who has _ crime in itself. the us president, joe biden, who has talked - crime in itself. the us president, joe biden, who has talked to - crime in itself. the us president, l joe biden, who has talked to prime minister netanyahu several times in the past week, is that the only solution is a two state solution. is that feasible? i solution is a two state solution. is that feasible?— that feasible? i think it is feasible. _ that feasible? i think it is feasible. it _ that feasible? i think it is feasible. it is _ that feasible? i think it is feasible. it is good - that feasible? i think it is feasible. it is good for. that feasible? i think it is| feasible. it is good for the that feasible? i think it is - feasible. it is good for the people of the region because war is bad for everybody. we consider our losses as tragic. when a seven—year—old dies, we will do whatever we can to prevent it. the solution is needed. the solution will not be with hamas. israel left gaza in 2005 unilaterally and since then it has been absorbing rockets on its population from hamas. therefore the solution will be not with hamas, it will be rid the region. it will include the moderate arab state that

perceive hamas as a common threat. hamas is notjust a threat for israel, it is the incarnation of the muslim brotherhood and it is a threat to stability, threat to peace by all of the moderate states the region. in that sense, this operation actually strengthened the perception of the importance of cooperation between israel and moderate arab states. because since we have the representatives of the muslim brotherhood on our borders, it stresses the fact it is worthwhile to cooperate in this region. because israel demonstrated its capacity to damage... militarily

capacity of hamas. its capacity to damage. .. militarily capacity of hamas.— capacity of hamas. thank you for 'oinin: capacity of hamas. thank you for joining us- _ the headlines on bbc news... a picture has been posted on social media which — if authentic — would be the first proof since february that princess latifa of dubai is alive. former bbc director general, lord hall, resigns as chairman of the national gallery — saying continuing in the role would be a "distraction" — following the inquiry into panorama's interview with princess diana. gaza's residents begin the clear up as egyptians negotiators talk to both sides about how to sustain the ceasefire. most people travelling from the uk will not be allowed to enter germany from tomorrow, because of the rise in cases of the indian variant here. german citizens and residents, as well as others with an exceptional reason can still enter, but have to quarantine for two weeks.

our correspondent in berlin, damien mcguinness, explains why the german government has taken this decision. the economy is starting to open up over this weekend. people can now start sitting out on terraces, beer gardens are opening up, outside eating's allowed — all sorts of cultural, sporting activities. that's because the infection rates here in germany have really come down. the vaccine roll—out has sped up. now almost 40% of the population have had at least one dose. but the worry is that the indian variant could come over into germany. now, at the moment, about 2% of new infections are of the indian variant — that's what officials here say, the gay and there is a real concern that, if the indian variant spreads here class, in germany, as it has done in parts of england, then that could really stop the progress of fighting the pandemic in germany, and that's why, overnight, german officials announced that travel from britain or from the uk to germany is effectively banned. the only exemption are residents of germany or german citizens coming back to germany, and they will have to go into two—week isolation period at home.

so, a big restriction, and it will cause a lot of problems and make it almost impossible for many people to go from the uk to germany until the indian variant is controlled. i think that's what the german government is really looking for. let's take a moment to look at the latest developments in the pandemic... india's information technology ministry has written to social media companies asking them to remove content that refers to the 'indian variant�* of coronavirus. it said reports using the term were "completely false". the world health organisation has classified a covid variant, first identified in india, as being of international concern. more than a million people are now known to have died from covid—19 in latin america and the caribbean. that's around 30% of the global total of fatalities. the worst affected countries have been brazil, mexico, colombia, peru and argentina. bangladesh has issued an urgent appeal to britain and the united states to provide more doses of the astrazeneca

coronavirus vaccine. the country says it is in danger of running out of supplies. bangladesh has received around ten million astrazeneca jabs from india in recent months. if you've been missing your fix of high—energy pop and a certain kitsch charm — worry no more. the eurovision song contest is back and set to start in just under two hours. this the 65th edition is hosted in the netherlands, after being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. for more on this we can go to our correspondent steve holden in rotterdam. what has been your highlight so far? it is good to have eurovision back and we are more than halfway into this 26 song epic. the highlights have been multi, represented by an 18—year—old cold destiny with a booming, powerfulvoice. she has

18—year—old cold destiny with a booming, powerful voice. she has a female empowerment anthem which has gone down so well. we have had the appearance of iceland. they are the only country that were not allowed to perform live in the arena. that is because one of their band members tested positive for covid—19 early in the week. the safety protocols kicked in so we had to see rehearsal footage from last week. watching at home, he wouldn't even notice but the band are in a hotel watching themselves on the screen. they would have loved to have been here, but not the case tonight. haifa have loved to have been here, but not the case tonight.— not the case tonight. how surreal for them. there's _ not the case tonight. how surreal for them. there's an _ not the case tonight. how surreal for them. there's an audience, i not the case tonight. how surreal. for them. there's an audience, but not quite the audience are used to? for a start, there is an audience, which is a good thing but the contest because it provides some atmosphere. the dutch government have allowed 3500 people into the arena, they all have to be tested before they came in it is a domestic row. normally you get people from

all over the world. but the flags are here from all the country. they are here from all the country. they are giving those people on stage the energy, the much needed eurovision atmosphere as it is going well so far. ., ~ atmosphere as it is going well so far. . ,, , ., atmosphere as it is going well so far. . ,, ., , , far. thank you for getting us up toda , far. thank you for getting us up today. enjoy- — sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's lizzie greenwood—hughes. we're starting with the us pga golf where phil mickelson has extended his lead to four shots as he to become the oldest winner in history. he is now on nine under par or eight car rather after eight holes in south carolina. bruce kafka and hideki matsuyama both on for under par. the hardest part of the causes to come with the back nine. the schools are changing all the time. atletico madrid won the league on the final day of the season. it was

a nail—biting time in the spanish capital because athletic 00 only had a two point advantage over real madrid. so when luis suarez put them ahead, atletico had to hold on or lose the title. here is the rest of the scores from la liga. the bundasliga was already decided but champions bayern achieved another a bit of history when their striker robert lewandowski broke gerd mueller�*s long standing goal—scoring record in a season with 41 goals. elsewhere werder bremen were relegated and cologne go into the playoff, thanks to that win over schalke. the monaco grand prix returns this weekend after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic. and the fans have already had plenty to cheer about. monaco—born charles leclerc will start on pole at his home race for the first time. he was fastest in a dramatic afternoon of qualifying which left lewis hamilton 7th on the grid.

i was quite emotional in the car, but i told myself, it is time to put everything together. i managed to do so, so i am incredibly happy. two more points, i have to say it is a big surprise to be on pole position and in fourth place. this wasn't a very good job from us. the decisions — this wasn't a very good job from us. the decisions were made going into today— the decisions were made going into today and _ the decisions were made going into today and the cart was really hard today and the cart was really hard to drive _ today and the cart was really hard to drive the day. i gave it everything i could and itjust wasn't — everything i could and itjust wasn't one of those days for us. colombian egan bernal has strengthened his grip on the leader's pinkjersey at the giro d'italia. italy's lorenzo fortunato was the surpris winner of the gruelling fourteenth stage. but bernal shook off his main rivals including britain's simon yates in the final few hundred metres to finish 11th and extend his overall lead to over a minute and a half

with 7 stages left. britain's adam peaty has added another gold medal to his extensive medal collection... the latest was in the 50 metres breaststroke at the european championships in budapest. peaty had already won gold in the 100 metres there and managed to make it double gold over the shorter distance. yhat was his 15th european title, so things are looking good ahead of this summer's olympics in tokyo. an outstanding swim from myself. i don't want to be arrogant but i couldn't have executed that any more and that gives me in my own stroke. it is only going to get easy enough. we have got to dip back down again. we have got to dip back down again. we have got to dip back down again. we have tried to rest and is fast as little as we can but we are back into the trenches and we will come out all guns firing for the olympics. manny pacqiao is making a comeback. the multi—weight champion returns to the ring after two years out of boxing to fight the wbc and ibf welterweight champion errol spence in las vegas on the 21 august.

pacquiao, who's a serving senator in the philippines is aiming to win his latest world title at the age of 42... he's won world titles at eight different weights in his 26—year pro career. that's all the sport for now. thanks very much, you are watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. good evening. at least we had a respite from the persistent rain today, although we still had a few showers. but as we go into sunday, we've got another band of rain coming in. it's going to be a chilly start. we've had some showers through the day and those will continue through the evening and fade away, and under the starry skies, temperatures are going to fall close to freezing. we had a frost last night in scotland, and it'll be more generally chilly overnight with ground frosts in many central and northern areas, although further

west, we've already got the next band of rain coming into northern ireland by morning. so, it turns wet quite quickly for northern ireland. a bright start further east, and holding onto some drier weather through the day, but the rain pushes its way eastwards, pushes into western scotland, western england, wales. for a time, there'll be some quite hefty downpours and some quite gusty winds as well, and temperatures won't be any great shapes — 13 or 1a at best because we've got all that cloud. it turns brighter and showery for northern ireland later, and it's certainly a day for heavy showers on monday.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: former bbcjournalist martin bashir defends his interview with princess diana in 1995 — telling the sunday times, 'i never wanted to harm diana in any way and i don't believe we did.�* it's the first time he's spoken since an inquiry found he obtained the interview by deception. wider surge testing has been rolled out in parts of london and the north east of england, due to a rise in coronavirus cases linked to the indian variant. a picture emerges that appears to show princess latifa, the daughter of the ruler of dubai,

who's not been seen for months. the first convoys of humanitarian aid have arrived in gaza, hours after a ceasefire between israel and palestinian militants came into effect. now on bbc news, afghanistan is in the grip of a new and sinister campaign of violence, in which young professionals ? often women — are being deliberately singled out, targeted and murdered. all the victims were working to build a country based on democratic values. the government blames the violence on insurgent groups like the taliban, who have their own agenda ahead of the withdrawal of us troops later this year. speaking to families who have lost loved ones, those who have chosen to leave and those living in fear, our world asks what impact this tactic will have on the future of afghanistan. this programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting. afghanistan is in the grip

of a new and sinister