this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. further sanctions on belarus as the us calls the diverting of a passenger plane an affront to international norms. thousands of manchester city and chelsea fans are in portugal where the teams meet for the champions league final. the six trillion dollar plan. president biden pushes the biggest spending programme since world war ii — to try and reboot america's economy. the bottom line is this. the biden economic plan is working. we've had record job creation.

we're seeing record economic growth. we're creating a new paradigm. an 18—year—old man has been charged with conspiracy to murder over the shooting of black lives matter activist sasha johnson. making a splash — a rise in lockdown river swimming promts public concern around the state of the uk's waterways. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. we start in belarus. key members of the government there will be hit with sanctions as the us is drawing up a list of people to target. it's a response to the forcing down of a commercial plane to capture an opposition journalist last week.

at a meeting with russian president vladmir putin on friday, the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, said the west is trying to destabilise his country. opposition leader sviatla na tsikhanouskaya, seen here with the dutch prime minister last week, is due to lead a belarus solidarity rally later today in the lithuanian capital vilnius. it's one year to to the day since her husband sergei was imprisoned. he was due to stand as a candidate in the presidential elections last year. she's called for global protests in support of the demoracy movement. sarah rainsford reports from minsk. in belarus, marrying an opposition politician can make for a very lonely life. for a whole year, olga's only contact with her husband has been these letters from his prison cell. pavel writes poems for her,

long stories for their son. but this week, volha finally got to see him. and pavel was still chanting defiance, even in court. the trial had been closed, with relatives only let in for the guilty verdict. translation: we weren't allowed close, we could only shout i love i you or make heart signs, but even to look at each other was a hugejoy. pavel seviarynets is a lifelong dissident but now his three—year—old is growing up without his dad. he was arrested before belarus erupted in protest over the re—election of president alexander lukashenko. translation: it's - a really long sentence. our son will be ten when he gets out, but i don't think he will serve it all. i don't let myself think like that. people here are afraid, but there's real pressure on lukashenko and i think any spark could ignite things again.

the protesters have been forced to retreat from the streets for now, though. many have fled abroad, hundreds more are behind bars. i've never known belarus like this, not in all the years i've been coming here. people now are just terrified to speak out because with the crackdown with all the arrests, you never know who they'll be coming for next. last week, they came for the journalists. vasil was nervous about talking, but his wife was arrested with 14 people in her team at the country's best—known independent news site. today, he was waiting to hear if marina had been charged. so, is there any news, anything new? no news. no news? no news. alexander lukashenko is crushing dissent here, and yet vasil believes last year's protests were a turning point. in public, nobody demonstrates because it is really dangerous, but the people didn't change their mind. they need the change

for the country. change was the rallying cry of the protests here, and some still see glimmers of hope for the future. sarah rainsford, bbc news, minsk. for more on this story, i'm joined now by our correspondent olga ivshina in london. what impact will sanctions have on lukashenka's position? first of all, these sanctions are going to address the closed circle of mr lukashenko, his allies and people from his administration, but what is also important is that from the 3rd ofjune, these sanctions are going to be addressed, and they're going to be addressed, and they're going to be addressed, and they're going to touch the state funded enterprises, and this means that these sanctions will also have an

impact on people in belarus and people who live there, and this means that the already struggling economy will struggle even more, and thatis economy will struggle even more, and that is the problem for not only for the leader but also for the people of the country. find the leader but also for the people of the country-— of the country. and is president putin likely _ of the country. and is president putin likely to _ of the country. and is president putin likely to be _ of the country. and is president putin likely to be comfortable i putin likely to be comfortable openly supporting president lukashenko? it openly supporting president lukashenko?— openly supporting president lukashenko? , , . ., lukashenko? it seems that he already is. lukashenko? it seems that he already is- yesterday's — lukashenko? it seems that he already is. yesterday's meeting _ lukashenko? it seems that he already is. yesterday's meeting lasted - lukashenko? it seems that he already is. yesterday's meeting lasted for - is. yesterday's meeting lasted for more than five hours, and there was this open part where theyjoked and mr putin invited mr lukashenko to swim. it is not that warm, and perhaps that is an allegory for relations between moscow and minsk. they are not that one. they are allies, but for years alexander lukashenko is pursuing his own goals and strategies, he was critical of moscow on certain occasions, so he is not seen as a stable partner from

moscow, but for putin, it is important to keep lukashenko in power, for him it is so important to show that he strongly supports lukashenko and he is not going to that revolution in any of his neighbouring countries happen any more. 50 neighbouring countries happen any more. ., ., ., more. so in what form will that su ort more. so in what form will that support come _ more. so in what form will that support come from _ more. so in what form will that support come from russia? - more. so in what form will that support come from russia? it i more. so in what form will that | support come from russia? it is more. so in what form will that - support come from russia? it is hard to sa at support come from russia? it is hard to say at the — support come from russia? it is hard to say at the moment, _ support come from russia? it is hard to say at the moment, the _ support come from russia? it is hard to say at the moment, the details . to say at the moment, the details are still not revealed to the press, but it is quite possible that the revolution will ask for more economic help from moscow, because their economy does need a strong hand. but we need to remember that the russian economy is doing not so great too, and even though mr putin has definitely been comfortable supporting lukashenko in public, there is growing concerned about lukashenko in some other political and economic cycles of russia, so

there is internal pressure on mr putin too. but the main trouble here is that there is this demand and hope for change in the belarusian people, but the price for individuals is too high, but the price for russia, the absence of change in the russian regime, is quite acceptable. filga change in the russian regime, is quite acceptable.— quite acceptable. olga ivshina, thank ou quite acceptable. olga ivshina, thank you very _ quite acceptable. olga ivshina, thank you very much _ quite acceptable. olga ivshina, thank you very much for - quite acceptable. olga ivshina, thank you very much for that. i quite acceptable. olga ivshina, - thank you very much for that. thank you. thousands of fans are descending on the portuguese city of porto ahead of this evening's champions league final between chelsea and manchester city. 16,500 supporters will be allowed into the stadium to watch the all—english affair after the venue was switched from turkey, because of covid—i9. our sports correspondent, natalie pirks, reports from porto. wembley may have been a more practical choice for an all—english final. singing. but now they're in porto,

fans are more than happy. a train to london is 100 quid, it's 400 quid to come here, you get the sun and the beer and the people are better. wembley would have been nice, you could have a lot more people, but you can't really beat this, can you, to be honest? it's our first champions league final, you can't| not follow your team. with or without a ticket. i've missed two games in 42 years. it was essential that i was here, even though there were lots of hoops to jump through. it hasn't exactly been simple. chanting: portugal, - portugal, we are coming! on top of the usual flight and hotel price hikes, three covid tests are needed to get in and out. more than 11,000 city and chelsea fans have tickets to be in the stadium, but plenty more have travelled without tickets, and are planning to watch it in the bars around porto, which close at 10:30pm. during the day, the atmosphere was one of mutual respect, albeit under a watchful eye.

like most tourist cities, porto has lost millions during the pandemic. but now the hotels are full for the first time since last march. it was important for the economy, for the local economy, the restaurants, for the hotels, for the tourists, for the boats, for example. so it is like kick—off for a new moment here in porto, and also portugal. both teams overcame stellar opposition to be here, but this is city's first champions league final. for pep guardiola, there's no greater feeling. i am the happiest man in the world right now to be here, it is a privilege, it is an honour, and we are going to try to do our best. the prize forfans is the most coveted trophy in european club football. but the nation's reputation is also at stake. natalie pirks, bbc news, porto. in a moment we'll speak to olly foster in porto. first to phil mccann,

who is at manchester airport. this is obviously one of the largest exodus is of people from the uk. you have been speaking to the fans, what have been speaking to the fans, what have they been saying?— have they been saying? there is a lot of excitement _ have they been saying? there is a lot of excitement and _ have they been saying? there is a lot of excitement and some - lot of excitement and some trepidation here today. it has been strange seeing this airport to be busy, there are around 6000 man city ent 6000 chelsea fans, and i spoke to some of them earlier on. completely buzzing. nervous, i'm still nervous, but i can't believe we are — still nervous, but i can't believe we are going. still nervous, but i can't believe we are going-— still nervous, but i can't believe we are going. hopefully we've all had our tests _ we are going. hopefully we've all had our tests and _ we are going. hopefully we've all had our tests and been _ we are going. hopefully we've all had our tests and been negative, j we are going. hopefully we've all i had our tests and been negative, so everybody _ had our tests and been negative, so everybody getting _ had our tests and been negative, so everybody getting on _ had our tests and been negative, so everybody getting on the _ had our tests and been negative, so everybody getting on the flight, - had our tests and been negative, so everybody getting on the flight, and the stadium — everybody getting on the flight, and the stadium should _ everybody getting on the flight, and the stadium should be _ everybody getting on the flight, and the stadium should be quite - everybody getting on the flight, and the stadium should be quite safe. . everybody getting on the flight, and the stadium should be quite safe. itj the stadium should be quite safe. it is a bit the stadium should be quite safe. is a bit of nervous excitement at the same time, just looking forward to getting to portugal and going to

the game. to getting to portugal and going to the name. ., , ., , the game. today we 'ust need to put in our best the game. today we just need to put in our best performance _ the game. today we just need to put in our best performance and - the game. today we just need to put in our best performance and we - the game. today we just need to put in our best performance and we willl in our best performance and we will come _ in our best performance and we will come home — in our best performance and we will come home with the trophy. for most— come home with the trophy. for most of those manchester city and chelsea fans, that is the first time getting on a plane since the pandemic began. they have also had to get pcr tests to be able to fly, you don't have to quarantine to go between the uk and portugal, but you do have to have negative tests, so there were some nail—biting while they were waiting to find out what they were waiting to find out what the result of the test were and therefore whether they would be able to go. but everybody here was be able to go, so they were in high spirits and they may very well be when those charter flights return tonight. all of course things could be the complete opposite. thank you very much indeed. let's cross over to olly foster now. everybody is heading to porto, the fans are, anyway. what is the feeling like there? it fans are, anyway. what is the feeling like there?— fans are, anyway. what is the feeling like there? it has been livel , feeling like there? it has been lively. put _ feeling like there? it has been lively. put it — feeling like there? it has been lively, put it that _

feeling like there? it has been lively, put it that way, - feeling like there? it has been lively, put it that way, on - feeling like there? it has been lively, put it that way, on the | lively, put it that way, on the streets. we're hearing about the covid anxiety and having to take all the test at that end, but i think the test at that end, but i think the fans who are here now, the nerves is really all about the match. i game of huge significance, a third all english final in the history of the european cup and champions league, and mentioning the numbers of the fans, 6000 official allocation for both sets of supporters. chelsea actually handed 800 back, they couldn't get rid of them all. but there are many thousands travelling to the city because of these travel restrictions easing, who have not got tickets. and just as football is opening up, the whole business of football is opening up as well, so there have been plenty of touts around, trying to sell tickets at vastly inflated prices, and they are being bought at vastly inflated prices, because for manchester city, certainly, their first european cup final, first champions league final, the top tier of european football...

champions league final, the top tier of european football. . ._ of european football... shouting there is another _ of european football... shouting there is another city _ of european football... shouting there is another city fan _ of european football... shouting there is another city fan who - of european football... shouting there is another city fan who has l there is another city fan who has got here safely! they are not all drinking tea and coffee, put it that way. olly foster in porto and phil mccann at manchester airport, thank you very much indeed. we will be speaking to you later, i'm sure. you're watching bbc news. an 18—year—old man has been charged in connection with the attempted murder of black lives matter activist sasha johnson. 27—year—old sasha remains in a critical condition in hospital after she was shot in the head at a house party in peckham last sunday. cameron deriggs from lewisham is appearing at westminster magistrates' court later today, charged with conspiracy to murder. four other people arrested over the incident have been released on bail. republicans have criticised president biden's plan to increase federal government spending to the highest level since the second world war.

the $6 trillion budget proposal has money for infrastructure, education and green technology. the white house says it's needed to get america's economy moving. but one senator has called the plan insanely expensive. our north america correspondent david willis reports. president biden is looking to boost american manufacturing, and with it the lower and middle—class. he's proposing a massive programme of public spending, the largest since the second world war, a plan that would add trillions of dollars to this country's national debt. last month, in a presidential address to congress, he said america's economy needed to be reimagined and rebuilt. my fellow americans. trickle down. trickle—down economics has never worked, and it's time to grow the economy from the bottom and the middle out. applause.

the president's proposals include spending $4.5 trillion on infrastructure and social programmes over the course of the next decade, an additional $14 billion on climate initiatives designed to accelerate the move away from fossil fuels and more than $2 billion on addressing the problems caused by gun violence, including provisions for tighter background checks. all paid for by tax increases on wealthy americans and big corporations. republican reaction was sharp and severe. president biden's proposal would drown american families in debt, deficits and inflation, tweeted mitch mcconnell, the republican leader in the senate. all setting the stage for a bitter fight in congress over what democrats regard as the long overdue redistribution of wealth, and their opponents see as a return to the dark days of big government. the party's differences were laid bare only hours earlier

when senate republicans voted to block the formation of a commission to investigate the events of january the 6th, a day which saw hundreds of donald trump supporters stormed the capitol building in washington, dc, delaying the certification ofjoe biden as president. republicans feared such a commission could harm their chances in next year's congressional elections. the senate leader accused them of seeking to sweep the events ofjanuary the 6th under the rug. out of fear or fealty to donald trump, the republican minorityjust prevented the american people from getting the full truth about january the 6th. the republican minorityjust prevented the senate from even debating the bill. no opportunity for amendments, no opportunity for debate. there was an attempt by the republican minority to shunt this vote into the dark of night. but because of today's senate time agreement, it was done in broad daylight.

the american people will see how each republican senator voted. the vote ends any chance of a nonpartisan inquiry into the events of that fateful day. it also underlines the widening gulf between the two parties going into the difficult months of budget negotiation that lie ahead. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. the headlines on bbc news. further sanctions on belarus as the us calls the diverting of a passenger plane an affront to international norms. thousands of manchester city and chelsea fans are in portugal where the teams meet for the champions league final. the $6 trillion plan. president biden pushes the biggest spending programme since world war ii to try and reboot america's economy. with indoor pools closed

for most of the last year — swimming in the uk's rivers has seen an exponential rise in popularity, creating a growing public concern around the state of the country's waterways. with leisure activities in rivers expected to hit record levels this bank holiday weekend, a national ocean conservation charity is launching an app to provide the uk's only real—time water quality information for water sports enthusiasts. tom webb reports. at a time when many of us have been discovering our natural waterways is a place for leisure, the uk ranks just 25th out of 30 european nations for water quality, which is why the usually ocean—focused charity surfers against sewage is turning its attention inland with the use of a new app. our rivers are sadly in a shocking state.

only 14% meeting good ecological status, and none meeting good chemical status. and the app is really, really important. it gives people the real—time, live data on sewage and agricultural pollution of their favourite beaches and bathing spots on rivers. sewage discharges are only legal in certain very limited circumstances. but despite this, last year water companies in england did so more than 400,000 times, 837% rise from the previous year. this occurred for 3 million hours. one treatment were cologne dumped over1 billion litres in one day, the equivalent of 400 olympic swimming fulls of sewage. and it's not only a threat to the environment, as andy tassel discovered when swimming with friends in the river dee in chester last summer. when we got in, the water looked pretty clear. within a matter of an hour or two, started to feel pretty queasy. it knocked me off pretty much anything, spent two days in bed.

but for many, the benefits outweigh the potential risks. health worker susie hawley discovered her love for wild swimming with her friends, even turning it into a way to raise money for fellow front line workers experiencing problems with their mental health. i kind of took on this challenge to swim in the thames every day for 28 days in february, which was magical, and this really incredibly positive thing alongside this really challenging and difficult thing i was doing in the hospital. while surfers against sewage are hoping that users of the app will be more safe when using the waterways, they're also hoping it will act as a campaigning tool. the safer seas and rivers service will allow people to contact their mp and their water company's ceo in their catchment every time there is a pollution incident. to the environment agency says it's working actively with the water companies to ensure overflows are properly controlled, and the harm they do to the environment is stopped. many of us will continue to use the rivers this weekend, despite the potential pollution from sewage, but environmental

charities are hoping that the increasing use of our waterways will turn the tide in the campaign for cleaner waters. tom webb, bbc news. we can speak now to fergal sharkey, the former lead singer of the undertones — who is a keen fisherman and a passionate campaigner for cleaner rivers as vice president of the salmon and trout conservation. lovely to have you with us here on bbc news this morning. looking at those pictures and hear in the description of how people fall sick, it makes you rather queasy. it is description of how people fall sick, it makes you rather queasy.- it makes you rather queasy. it is a shockin: it makes you rather queasy. it is a shocking illustration _ it makes you rather queasy. it is a shocking illustration of _ it makes you rather queasy. it is a shocking illustration of what - it makes you rather queasy. it is a shocking illustration of what you l shocking illustration of what you are actually seeing, which is a failure of politics, a failure of regulation of the industry, and indeed a chronic and massive underinvestment by the industry in

its own infrastructure, regardless of statements made by the environment agency, the brutal truth is water companies have paid out almost £60 billion in dividends to their shareholders whilst filling our rivers full of sewage. 50. our rivers full of sewage. so, fearaal our rivers full of sewage. so, feargal. _ our rivers full of sewage. so, feargal. are _ our rivers full of sewage. so, feargal, are you _ our rivers full of sewage. so, feargal, are you saying that the government has allowed them to do this? mi; government has allowed them to do this? ~ , , ., ., government has allowed them to do this? g , ., ., ., ., this? my interpretation of the law is that this should _ this? my interpretation of the law is that this should only _ this? my interpretation of the law is that this should only ever- this? my interpretation of the law l is that this should only ever happen in exceptional circumstances, and no one has yet to explain to me how you can possibly comprehend 3.1 million hours a year is anything remotely exceptional. i am fairly comfortable enough a lot of it does not comply with the law, does not comply with water companys' permits. the example you gave of modern sewage treatment works in london, last year over 3.5 billion litres of sewage dumped into the river thames. the government have simply turned the policy of the

polluter pays into one that says it pays to pollute. are you saying that it this is just raw sewage going to go into rivers? that is disgusting. fin raw sewage going to go into rivers? that is disgusting.— that is disgusting. on occasion it is unadulterated _ that is disgusting. on occasion it is unadulterated raw _ that is disgusting. on occasion it is unadulterated raw sewage. - is unadulterated raw sewage. sometimes it is sewage mixed with road run off water, which is possibly more toxic for rivers. and if you look closely at most rivers in the country these days, anywhere neara in the country these days, anywhere near a sewage overflow, you will i'm afraid see the odd ugly underbelly of the sewage system are clinging to vegetation, hanging from trees, and by that i mean wet wipes, how did they end up in a river? lay —— ladies sanitary products, used contraceptives and so on. the government needs to find a way to intervene goes beyond the rhetoric. so how can the public help to make this a priority for the government? unless the government is noise, they

won't do anything. that unless the government is noise, they won't do anything-— won't do anything. that is why my absolute applause _ won't do anything. that is why my absolute applause to _ won't do anything. that is why my absolute applause to hugo - won't do anything. that is why my absolute applause to hugo and i absolute applause to hugo and everybody at surfers against sewage. download the app, make a lot of noise. there is only one small stretch of river in england currently designated for water quality, and i'm now told the environment agency are insisting on testing the water quality upstream from the point where the sewage is dumped into the river wharf in oakley, negating the whole cleanliness in the first place. that troubles me _ cleanliness in the first place. that troubles me because _ cleanliness in the first place. that troubles me because i _ cleanliness in the first place. that troubles me because i used to paddle in there. thank you very much, feargal sharkey, thank you. thank ou for feargal sharkey, thank you. thank you for the — feargal sharkey, thank you. thank you for the opportunity. _ feargal sharkey, thank you. thank you for the opportunity. before - feargal sharkey, thank you. thank you for the opportunity. before wej you for the opportunity. before we to. australia's national university in canberra has offered to return thousands of blood samples taken from indigenous people over many decades. the specimens collected from 35 aboriginal communities have been

held without their consent. some indigenous groups want to donate the samples to science, but others want them back for spiritual reasons. you're watching bbc news. uk music festivals could be facing another lost summer according to mps, who blame the government for not introducing an insurance safety net for organisers. a report from the digital, culture, media and sport committee also said ministers had "refused to take multiple opportunities" to address concerns, and that it will now be too late for many festivals to go ahead this year. sarah campbell reports. early may, and a test event at liverpool's sefton park. more than 5,000 people were allowed into enjoy the atmosphere, the music, the food. they were tested and their behaviour was monitored to see

whether a festival could be a safe place during a pandemic. leeds, 2016, and even if it means getting a little muddy, thousands of people are desperate to get back to the festival experience. and the reading and leeds festivals 2021 are on at the end of august, and are sold out. but glastonbury, probably the best—known event of its kind, was online only this year — the second year running this corner of somerset wasn't the focus of global music interest. and many other festivals won't happen either this year, the parliamentary committee argues, because the government won't provide back—up insurance to cover costs if they have to be cancelled at the last minute. industry representatives agreed. it cost on average more than £6 million to stage a festival, so it is an enormous risk to proceed without insurance, and many will choose not to. the government department responsible says indemnity cover will be looked at, adding they are working

flat out to support festivals and live events. and following on from promising test results from this event in liverpool, it has been announced that the download music festival which had been cancelled will now go ahead injune as a government test event. sarah campbell, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello there. we finally got there, it has been a miserable may, but we are closing the bank holiday weekend with some dry, settled and sunny weather. i know there has been some low cloud mist and fog around is depicted beautifully by these patient sheep in doncaster, but we are optimistic that that will break. the morning satellite picture showing how extensive the cloud was, and in some areas it was thick enough for early morning drizzle, but the sunshine nibbling away at it quite nicely. into the afternoon there will be more sunshine coming through, temperatures will start to climb and that may well trigger the

sunshine and the warmth in east anglia and south—east england. if you are out with friends and family this afternoon, don't forget uv levels, the son is very strong so we are expecting it to be high fairly widely across the country. the clear skies continue, the sunshine and the warmth continuing into the early evening, so if you are planning a barbecue, it should be fine and dry. through the night we could see a little bit of low cloud rolling in of the north sea. temperatures will hold off, ranging from 6—10 , but potentially a murky start once again along exposed coasts, but high pressure remains with us, slowly drifting eastwards, not that much in the way of wind around on sunday, but a good deal of dry weather once again in the forecast, that sunshine will nibble away at the cloud, a lovely afternoon in prospect for many, and again, just outside chance of an isolated shower, but you really will be unlucky if you catch one of those, temperatures perhaps

up one of those, temperatures perhaps up to around 22, possibly 23 degrees once again. as we move out of sunday into monday, the high pressure continues to drift off into the north sea. the wind will pick up, but coming in off the near continent, a warmer source of air, so bank holiday monday could be warmer still. we could see potentially temperatures peaking at 23 or 24 celsius, and that is above average for the time of year. and it does look as though this trend will continue for the week ahead, and it is half term, just getting that little bit fresher as we go through the week, but a lot of dry weather for our first week ofjune.