good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. sinn fein are on course for an historic victory in the northern ireland assembly election. the republican party looks set to win the most seats for the first time, as the second

round of counting is under way. it's vying with the democratic unionist party — whose vote share dropped — for the entitlement to nominate the next first minister. as things stand now, sinn fein has 18 assembly members and the democratic unionist party has 1a. the cross—community alliance party has ten seats, and the ulster unionist party has four. 51 of 90 seats have been declared so far. if sinn fein keeps its lead, the result would be likely to reignite the debate about a united ireland. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. a warning, the report contains some flash photography. applause the political ground in northern ireland is shifting. that is generating delightful new assembly members and disappointment for the party which has won the last five elections. the race for the final few seats tends to be very tight but

the picture is clear. a surge in support for the cross community alliance party and a drop in votes for the democratic unionists and sinn fein is on course to be the largest party in the northern ireland assembly. for the first time, a party which wants to take northern ireland out of the uk is expected to be its largest political force. sinn fein�*s vice president, michelle o'neill, is the favourite to become first minister. no irish nationalist has ever held the post before. i no irish nationalist has ever held the post before.— no irish nationalist has ever held the post before. i am delighted that michelle 0'neal_ the post before. i am delighted that michelle o'neal is _ the post before. i am delighted that michelle o'neal is a _ the post before. i am delighted that michelle o'neal is a leading - the post before. i am delighted that michelle o'neal is a leading sinn . michelle o'neal is a leading sinn fein and she will be the next first minister. hervision fein and she will be the next first minister. her vision and foresight and drive has created an atmosphere in parliament which means it can work, so let's make it work. another ma'or si . n work, so let's make it work. another major sign of — work, so let's make it work. another major sign of change _ work, so let's make it work. another major sign of change is _ work, so let's make it work. another major sign of change is the - work, so let's make it work. another major sign of change is the success i major sign of change is the success of the party which is neither unionist nor nationalist. alliance is set to move up from place to

third. its leaders say voters had sent a firm message.— third. its leaders say voters had sent a firm message. they want to see a government _ sent a firm message. they want to see a government that _ sent a firm message. they want to see a government that works - sent a firm message. they want to see a government that works for i see a government that works for then. instead of being constantly held to ransom by one party or another, what they want to see is continuity of government focusing on delivery. the continuity of government focusing on delive . , ., . ., , delivery. the democratic unionist pa has delivery. the democratic unionist party has lost _ delivery. the democratic unionist party has lost a — delivery. the democratic unionist party has lost a fifth _ delivery. the democratic unionist party has lost a fifth of— delivery. the democratic unionist party has lost a fifth of its - party has lost a fifth of its support. a strong focus of the campaign was opposition to the brexit trade border with the rest of the uk. the dup says it will block the uk. the dup says it will block the formation of a devolved government until checks on goods arriving in northern ireland are scrapped. the traditional unionist voice says the dup has been too weak on the issue. h0 voice says the dup has been too weak on the issue-— on the issue. no point denying it. it has been _ on the issue. no point denying it. it has been very _ on the issue. no point denying it. it has been very difficult. - on the issue. no point denying it. it has been very difficult. it - on the issue. no point denying it. it has been very difficult. it has . it has been very difficult. it has been a very difficult year for the dup. that has been well rehearsed. most people would concede we are

doing better than expected, even in a few weeks ago. what we have seen in this election is what happens whenever unionism shreds the votes. under the power—sharing rules at stormont, unionists and nationalists have to agree to run northern ireland jointly before ministers can take up their positions. the dup is likely to be even less enthusiastic about going into a coalition with sinn fein in front. it is farfrom clear whether the politicians that have been elected will ever get to govern. chris page, bbc news, belfast. let's get more on this from danjohnson, who's at the count centre in belfast. yes, more results coming in here all the time. another round of applause, which sounds like another successful the alliance party. in terms of power—sharing resuming, a major sticking point for the democratic unionist has been over the northern

ireland protocol. the cheques coming into goods —— coming into northern ireland. there are tough negotiations which have been tried already and have not brought about the sort of success the dup says it needs. it looks like they are going to refuse any immediate future to go back into power—sharing. that means sinn fein, despite its success in these elections, may not be able to take up the role of first minister and that means they are not able to inaction all the policies they want to put into place in northern ireland, never mind considering moves towards a united ireland once again. moves towards a united ireland once aaain. ., ~' ,, the education secretary nadhim zahawi has said the government must not be complacent after the conservatives suffered substantial losses in local elections across england, scotland and wales. the party lost almost 500 council seats, with the liberal democrats and labour making gains. our political correspondent

leila nathoo reports. the full picture of elections across england, scotland and wales is now clear. the losses for the conservatives have been significant, down almost 500 councillors, ii more councils now out of tory control. ministers say they are listening. very much around making sure we have a plan for recovery which continues we continue bear down on household budget pressures stop 22,000,000,012 months is what we are delivering now. we're not going to be complacent. we are going to continue to bear down on that, safer streets and the nhs backlog. these other things that when a space and what borisjohnson is very much focused on delivering. boris johnson is very much focused on delivering-— on delivering. labour had hoped a national backdrop _ on delivering. labour had hoped a national backdrop of _ on delivering. labour had hoped a national backdrop of rocketing - national backdrop of rocketing living costs and fines at the top of government for breaking lockdown rules would send voters flocking their way. the party did to well,

securing symbolic victories in london and gains elsewhere. these were tentative steps forward rather than emphatic strikes. we were tentative steps forward rather than emphatic strikes.— were tentative steps forward rather than emphatic strikes. we know we have to rebuild _ than emphatic strikes. we know we have to rebuild trust. _ than emphatic strikes. we know we have to rebuild trust. we _ than emphatic strikes. we know we have to rebuild trust. we had - than emphatic strikes. we know we have to rebuild trust. we had a - have to rebuild trust. we had a terrible near death experience at the last election and we are not taking anyone for granted. what we saw in the results on thursday is a firm foundation for going on to win the next general election. labour's successes were _ the next general election. labour's successes were overshadowed - the next general election. labour's successes were overshadowed by l successes were overshadowed by police saying they were investigating a death sir keir starmerfor a possible investigating a death sir keir starmer for a possible lockdown breach of his own. it has been a good morning for the lib dems, who attempted traditional tory voters a way to add almost 200 councillors in england. conservative support also melted away in wales, with labour profiting. in scotland by the snp increased its support again forcing the tories into retreat. the increased its support again forcing the tories into retreat.— the tories into retreat. the snp is a -a 15 the tories into retreat. the snp is a party 15 years — the tories into retreat. the snp is a party 15 years into government. | the tories into retreat. the snp is| a party 15 years into government. a big vote of confidence in our

leadership of scotland, both nationally and at local level. i do not take it for granted. people want to see us deliver. the reason we keep winning elections is we worked really hard, at elections in our leadership of scotland, both nationally and at local level. i do not take it _ nationally and at local level. i do not take it for _ nationally and at local level. i do not take it for granted. people want to see us deliver. the reason we keep winning elections as we worked really hard, at elections and between elections. votes are counted in the verdicts are in. only a snapshot that feral party is plenty to chew over. leila nathoo, bbc news. let's go live to our scotland correspondent, alexandra mackenzie, in west dunbartonshire. there were gains in scotland for the snp, as you had, also for labour, the liberal democrats and the greens. a very different story for the scot dish conservatives. they lost 60 councillors across the country. —— the scottish conservatives. the snp remains the largest party, having the best election after 15 years in government. labour has overtaken the

scottish conservatives. and plays. disappointment for the scottish conservatives. their leader douglas ross said he believed public anger over pa rtygate ross said he believed public anger over partygate had a part to play in that. he also said today he was determined to win back trust and votes. it was a good day. to labour here in west dunbartonshire. they took overall control but there are still some way behind the snp. —— they are still way behind. and now to our wales correspondent, tomos morgan, who's in cardiff. the tories did worse in wales than over the border. alongside than the greens, they had a great day, recording the highest number of councillors ever in a local election. plaid cymru also doing well, oddly down on the number of

seats across wales. i think what it reflects is the senedd election last year, where mark drakeford's government exceeded expectations. we have seen the same thing over the last few days. time will tell if that does happen. if you'd like to find the result in your area, head to the bbc news website or app and enter your postcode. you'll also find plenty of election analysis, and the latest reports from our teams around the country. to other news, ukraine says it has recaptured five villages north—east of kharkiv, as it continues a counter—offensive against russian forces. the ukrainian military says they could soon make it impossible for russia to use their artillery on the city. moscow has succeeded in making small advances in the eastern donbas region, although those have been described as costly. the taliban have ordered all women in afghanistan to wear a veil over theirfaces when in public.

taliban claim it's just "advice" but specific punishments have been set out for anyone who doesn't comply. activists have warned that years of progress on women s rights are being rolled back. here, a consortium led by an american businessman, who co—owns the the la dodgers baseball team, has agreed terms to buy chelsea football club. the former russian owner, roman abramovich, put the club up for sale shortly before he faced sanctions because of his links to vladimir putin. our business correspondent, simon browning, is live outside chelsea's ground for us now. simon, what more can you tell us? this is big news overnight in the world of global sport. chelsea confirming in the early hours of the morning they had done a deal with the co—owner of the la dodgers, todd boehly and the consortium. £2.5 billion will go to a frozen

charitable causes, that is because roman abramovich cannot benefit from the proceeds of the sale because of sanctions against him. the rest of the many will be used to invest into the many will be used to invest into the club. doubts have been raised about the use of finance from a californian —based investment firm. the owner of any others has raised concerns about that. it is not a completely done deal. the uk government and the premier league still need to approve it. who is taoiseach? he is part of the la dodgers, the la sparks and the la lakers. lots of fans have been talking about the deal today and we had been listening to them. once we are inside the ground but i am sure attention will turn to the pitch and getting three points today. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. the next news on bbc one is at 5.55pm. bye for now.

hello. welcome back to the northern ireland assembly elections count here in belfast at the titanic exhibition centre and two other cam centres here are northern ireland on day two of trawling through the votes and finding out who will be the 90 mlas return to the northern ireland assembly. we havejust had return to the northern ireland assembly. we have just had a return to the northern ireland assembly. we havejust had a result in the strangford constituency, another victory for the cross community alliance party. nick matheson deemed elective there and thatis matheson deemed elective there and that is a really good result for the alliance party and a not so good one for the traditional unionist fight, the anti—political party and the seat was their best chance for this constituency was their best chance of a second seat it had been said ——

antique protocol party. that is a win for the alliance party. why do these elections leave northern ireland? as predicted in polls in the run—up to election sinn fein look set to return as the largest party should certainly be a seismic moment and historic moment in northern ireland and i think we can show you positions of the parties on your screen right now with the democratic unionist party plenty vertical party led byjeffrey vertical party led by jeffrey donaldson vertical party led byjeffrey donaldson emerging as the second—largest party back in 2017 when they were the biggest party in assembly elections but let's assess all of this now with brian rowan was all of this now with brian rowan was a political commentator and author of the book for the school safety and good to have you with us. to what extent do you think these elections are shaking or politics in northern ireland?— northern ireland? significant because often _ northern ireland? significant because often when - northern ireland? significant because often when people | northern ireland? significant i because often when people talk northern ireland? significant - because often when people talk about the politics of this place we talk about two tribes, orange and green,

unionist and nationalist what been seen out for a considerable period of time in through a number of elections is a significant third pillar grown with in our politics and just mention that nick matheson had been deemed elected on the most recent results here so alliance is the comb that significant third false, if you like, with in our politics, and i think when we —— that significant third false. we know how to stretch out via knowledge and green and clear that third pillar that is designated. and, yes, in many ways the vote seem to be telling the story but also it sound like we're still in quite binary position between nationalism in the form of sinn fein and unionism in the form of the dup so where is the logjam going to be broken? weathers is this common stalemate going to be broken between these parties and, you know, the dup saying it doesn't want to return to the executive unless its concerns on the executive unless its concerns on the protocol are dealt with? ida

the executive unless its concerns on the protocol are dealt with? no easy solution to the _ the protocol are dealt with? no easy solution to the stormont _ the protocol are dealt with? no easy solution to the stormont stand-off l solution to the stormont stand—off in the history of stormont since 1998 as it stands and falls and falls and stands sojeffrey donaldson has made it very clear that unless the sea border issues resolved and they say that much bigger than the new trading arrangements between the parts the cane here, they see that as a threat to the union and i think we see a tremor and they, within the community at this stage and this is about the change that has come over about the change that has come over a number of years despite a tremor and a trauma. we spoke here in 2017 at the last assembly election when unionists lost their overall majority stormont in the selection. then on the 2019 elections they lost their second european seat and then in the westminster elections may no longer hold the majority of seats at westminster. now there another sense of loss, that they could lose the title of first minister at stormont. while this is ajoint office atthe top of the executive first and deputy first minister, you will know

that titles in this place mean something, of course they do come in first is more important than deputy first is more important than deputy first so sinn fein have had a pretty good election with huge first preference vote. we're still waiting to see the final number of seats but we are in that period of change and in that period of change i think it is going to be even more difficult to put stormont back together again when the counting on the selection finishes. . ~ ., ,., when the counting on the selection finishes. . ~ ., ,, finishes. talking about sinn fein, the -a finishes. talking about sinn fein, the party leader— finishes. talking about sinn fein, the party leader mary _ finishes. talking about sinn fein, the party leader mary lou - finishes. talking about sinn fein, i the party leader mary lou mcdonald said yesterday when asked about the timeframe for a referendum aboard apollo on the question of irish unity and she talked about a decade and said her personal view was it could be five years. sinn fein was �*sjohn o'dowd saying earlier today that northern ireland secretary brandon lewis should publish the criteria for a border poll. that is interesting, but they are being quite robust in the language and that given that during the campaign actually didn't really talk at a border poll, did they? the person talkin:

border poll, did they? the person talking that _ border poll, did they? the person talking that a _ border poll, did they? the person talking that a body _ border poll, did they? the person talking that a body pulled - border poll, did they? the person talking that a body pulled duringl talking that a body pulled during the campaign wasjeffrey donaldson and in many cases he made the sinn feinjob easier in and in many cases he made the sinn fein job easier in terms of getting the vote out. i understand why jeffrey donaldson raised concerns about a broader pool, raised concerns about sinn fein first minister. he was trying to energise the unionist vote and bring this output on the other side of that coin it energised the nationalist vote as well. in terms of the border pun, sinn fein don't set rates for border poll. it is up to the ukraine government and does anyone really believe that this uk government in particular is thinking at this time of a border date here? no, they're not, and i don't expect them tensing. not, and i don't expect them tensinu. , , not, and i don't expect them tensinu. , . , tensing. just finally if it ever does happen _ tensing. just finally if it ever does happen that _ tensing. just finally if it ever does happen that third - tensing. just finally if it ever does happen that third pillar tensing. just finally if it ever - does happen that third pillar and centre ground you're talking about will be deciders. that is why i raise the significance of the third pillar are neither orange or green on the own can win a border poll. but that that group designated as

other and they will decide when it comes their mood and their thinking and whether that pulled the curse will be decide who wins that referendum. that you are watch your person that referendum. rainbow in there, political commentator, author of the book political purgatory are trying to get a sense of how long this second date coating could go on. questions over some of the poles and perhaps possible see if as we get into the vinyl seats but i think we are so i was aware yet it is fair to say that is for the full and final picture.— to say that is for the full and final icture. . ~ ,. , . final picture. thank you very much anita. let's get some more detailed analysis of the results so far in northern ireland. we can cross to lewis goodall at the touch—screen. lewis. just picking up that thing about the

nails party it is absolutely right they are nonsectarian, nonaligned and went right to the middle and was fifth last time stormont was contested in 2017 and you can see they had jumped into third place, very credible third place as well. obviously sinn fein getting all the attention if you're coming top of the poll and it is many times already a historic time for the nationalist party. vote survey once marginally in 1998 but in terms of seats in the 100 year or so history northern ireland and integration of northern ireland and integration of northern ireland and integration of northern ireland in the early 1920s has never happened before. all the various institutions of northern ireland whether stormont this time on northern irish parliament at westminster it is very much designed for that not to be the case and the whole point of northern ireland to have a permanent unionist majority that unionism is still on top of the add together the dup and the uup and add together the dup and the uup and a tv, they steal have a plurality

shortly followed by the plurality nationalist bloc the middle. —— beat tuv party. big store isn't so much sinn fein has macros but it is the collapse perhaps collapse is a strong word but certainly strong decline of the dup down 7% there which we can see if we just have a quick look at the vote share over time and this is before this election and you can see the last election and you can see the last election in 2017 dup were onlyjust in terms of vote share above sinn fein you are talking at a couple percentage points, 2.2%, a rounding error almost but they were symbolically still on top and it was enough to various points in fits and starts and get the executive back together and you can see since essentially they overtook the uup basically punished for their role by the unionist community and the good friday protest and you can see the dup have just been friday protest and you can see the dup havejust been on friday protest and you can see the dup have just been on top of the since and the gradual mahler stabilising 30% mark so this will be

around 2021% a very significant decline and we heard jeffrey donaldson the new leader say this is a good result for the dup. this is the worst result so far followed 20 years. 20% whether this will end up being their worst results over all and the story you can just see in seat after seat after seat sir jeffrey donaldson's seat in lagan valley that he represents element will soon be an mla as well. you can just see as though it remains even a strong hold ndp stronghold and has been ever since they're still down by 7% losing that to the dup and you can see that in place after place. strangford we have just been hearing about, strongly unionist place. dup still on top with 35% of the vote but, again, down by 11% uup down by 4% but, again, down by 11% uup down by 11% going over to the tv and again the alliance as well looking at

south antrim and another strongly unionist seat with the dup their 25%. they've had biased share ever since 2003 and probably before that and you've got the same story, alliance taking over the tv taking over as well. it is the same pattern again and again and again. dup decline, worst performance in stormont was created and you are saying that the consequences. the tv splintering the unionist vote, splintering the unionist vote, splintering and factoring to different unionist forces in the big beneficiaries is nationalism because they go to, is on top both in terms of seats and didn't share of the vote coming tops on the boat less. thank you, lewis. the ukrainian army says it's recaptured five villages northeast of kharkiv, in a counter—offensive against russian forces who've been shelling the city for weeks. it comes as the united nations and the international red cross continue efforts to rescue more civilians from the besieged

city of mariupol. on friday, 50 more people, including children, were evacuated from a huge steel factory complex. these are the latest pictures of some of those who've got out. the azovstal plant is under siege by russian forces. dozens are still trapped inside. the city, in the country's south, has been under constant shelling by the russian military. earlier i spoke to my colleague ben brown who's in kyiv and gave us this update.. good news that another 50 people have been evacuated from azovstal. we don't know how many civilians are left there — we think probably about another 150, some frail people, some elderly people, women and children. so they still have to be rescued from that steelworks because the russian bombardment there has been continuing relentlessly, and it's taken huge diplomatic efforts with the ukrainian government, the united nations, the red cross, to get people out of there. there are still some 2,000 fighters in there as well, and they are fighting a last stand, really, against the russians. it is a pretty defiant stand and until the russian forces can clear out the azovstal plant,

then they can't really say that they have finally taken the city of mariupol, and they want to do that, especially by monday, which is may the 9th, when the russians have their victory day parades in moscow and elsewhere, marking their victory over nazi germany. it's an important moment for the russians and the thinking is that president putin very much wants to have some more successes to show to his people on the battlefield here in ukraine, and a final victory in mariupol would certainly fit the bill. but in the middle of all of that, we've got these civilians who have been trapped inside that steelworks for months now, since the beginning of the war. they've been living in hellish conditions without food — well, with very dwindling supplies of food and water and medicine. so at least now we are seeing some people getting out of there. whether the remaining civilians can be evacuated from there, we'll have to wait and see.

ben brown reporting. an explosion at a luxury hotel in the cuban capital havana has killed at least 22 people. the blast tore through several floors of the hotel saratoga. the cuban president, miguel diaz canel, said the explosion had resulted from what he called a gas accident, though investigations were under way. more than 60 people have been injured. our correspondent will grant reports. the saratoga hotel, a landmark in havana reduced to rubble. its facade ripped clean off, the rooms of the 5—star hotel were exposed and its ornate lobby left a twisted pile of metal, marble and concrete. a gas tanker outside the building was quickly identified as the cause of the blast. for local residents, it was a horrific, surreal moment. they can scarcely believe the saratoga, once a favourite among visiting celebrities, has been left in ruins. translation: you could see people shouting, dust rising, the disaster. l it was like a horror film, really.

translation: i felt the clear explosion, a single boom, - and i saw crystals cracking and falling and a white cloud of dust that would not go away. but i managed to close the door and i managed to get away in the opposite direction from danger, over here. siren wails. the authorities were quickly on the scene, ferrying the injured to local hospitals and searching the rubble for survivors — havana's overstretched emergency services being tested to their limits. the president, miguel diaz—canel, also appeared to offer support and condolences. for some, the explosion brought back memories of the early 1990s, when radical anti—castro groups from florida bombed a number of cuban hotels. however, the president was quick to dismiss rumours that the blast was anything other than an accident.

translation: in no case was this a bomb or an attack. _ it's just a very unfortunate accident, and it seems to be around the gas tank. the truth is, the explosion could've been worse. the hotel was closed for refurbishments and was due to reopen next week. furthermore, a nearby school was unscathed, the children safely evacuated. nevertheless, this explosion comes at a difficult time for cuba. its tourism sector has been all but shut down amid the covid—19 pandemic and only this year was beginning to pick up again. for an island whose economy now largely revolves around tourism, the past two years have been brutal, especially when combined with tough us sanctions and the state's economic mismanagement. this explosion could set back that recovery even further. however, for now, most minds in cuba are simply focused on the families of those caught up in this tragic blast and those still fighting for their lives in hospital. will grant, bbc news.

now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich. hello. some places have been a lot sunnier than others so far. today, the satellite picture reveals where we've had the best breaks in the cloud. it's been a bit murky for some coasts of west wales and south west england, certainly murky for some coasts of east anglia and the south east where we've seen the odd shower. cloud has been producing some showers across parts of scotland, as well. overnight, most of the showers will fade, but we will see areas of cloud drifting westwards across england and wales, also cloud into northern ireland and northwest scotland — some patchy rain here. a mild night for many, but rather chilly for parts of eastern scotland and eastern england. and into tomorrow, some rainjust skipping across the far north of scotland. for the majority, it's a fine day. patchy cloud and sunny spells, small chance for a shower, particularly in north wales, northern england and southern scotland. and temperatures generally between 18 and 20 degrees, a little cooler for

some north sea coasts. in the south, monday could bring highs of 22 degrees, some rain further north and west, and it will turn a little cooler for most of us by tuesday. hello this is bbc news. the headlines. an historic moment for nationalists in northern ireland, as sinn fein is on course to become the largest party at stormont. across the rest of the uk the conservatives have lost almost 500 seats in the local elections, with labour and the liberal democrats taking control of a number of councils. the snp remain the largest party in scottish councils — with labour overtaking the conservatives to finish second. labour was the biggest winner in wales, where the conservatives lost more than 80 seats. in other news — more attempts are being made to rescue civilians trapped at a steelworks in the beseiged ukrainian city of mariupol. 50 people were taken out of the city yesterday.