on the battlefield in happening on the battlefield in ukraine, especially in the east, because we have been getting those reports that ukrainian forces are successfully counter attacking the russians around ukraine's second city, kharkiv. let's discuss this a bit more with a militaryjournalist and analyst for ukrainian television. can you, you have been out to the east, you have been watching your soldiers in action. in fact, you got wounded earlier on in the conflict. what is the latest around kharkiv in particular? such a big city, ukraine's second city and your troops are doing quite well there? what we see on the ground is a slight transformation of simultaneous counter strikes, counter attacks into a bigger, broader counter offensive operations. ukrainian forces are creating a broad art, a broad bow

around kharkiv, notjust to deter russian forces, but to push them back for more than a distance of an artillery strike. because kharkiv is constantly under threat of artillery strikes from russian forces. they strikes from russian forces. they strike notjust outskirts but also downtown, residential areas and parks. downtown, residential areas and arks. �* downtown, residential areas and arks, �* ., downtown, residential areas and arks. �* ., ':: :: , downtown, residential areas and -arks. �* ., ':: i: , ., parks. but about 100 miles from the ci of parks. but about 100 miles from the city of kharkiv _ parks. but about 100 miles from the city of kharkiv is _ parks. but about 100 miles from the city of kharkiv is a _ parks. but about 100 miles from the city of kharkiv is a place _ parks. but about 100 miles from the city of kharkiv is a place where - city of kharkiv is a place where russian forces are gathering there a new offensive? the russian forces are gathering there a new offensive?— russian forces are gathering there a new offensive? the density of forces is overwhelming, _ new offensive? the density of forces is overwhelming, because _ new offensive? the density of forces is overwhelming, because we - new offensive? the density of forces l is overwhelming, because we suggest the russians have their more than 20 italian tactical groups which means more than 20,000 troops over there. and also it gives us a reason to

suggest that russians are preparing a pincer movement or pincer operation to surround the most capable ukrainian forces in the central donbas. d0 capable ukrainian forces in the central donbas.— capable ukrainian forces in the central donbas. do you think they could succeed _ central donbas. do you think they could succeed in _ central donbas. do you think they could succeed in encircling - could succeed in encircling ukraine's best troops in the east? i think they won't because of the kharkiv counter offensive operation. and this is the other side of the coin, because this operation could distract russian forces enough from izium. and i think they will feel a lack of troops, lack of individuals to launch eight so—called picture operation to surround ukrainian troops. —— pincer operation. from operation to surround ukrainian troops. -- pincer operation. from my oint of troops. -- pincer operation. from my point of view. — troops. -- pincer operation. from my point of view, from _ troops. -- pincer operation. from my point of view, from what _ troops. -- pincer operation. from my point of view, from what i _ troops. -- pincer operation. from my point of view, from what i can - troops. -- pincer operation. from my point of view, from what i can see, i point of view, from what i can see, the military of ukraine are holding their own. but they could get

overwhelmed. to what extent do they need more weapons from the west very quickly to help them in their struggle with the russian invasion? so, we see how ukrainians for the first time in their military history are hit. russian t 19 tanks which russian designers say are the best tanks in the world ever. ukrainians can see this tank burns as well as other russian tanks. but contrary to this, i can suggest that russians send to the battlefield the best things they have, which means we are in a situation where they need help, the need for military aid from the west is growing by the hour. it is a matter of time. we need more than

equipment, more than heavy equipment to deter russian forces as expeditious as possible. uk. to deter russian forces as expeditious as possible. ok, you need more _ expeditious as possible. ok, you need more western _ expeditious as possible. ok, you need more western weapons - expeditious as possible. ok, you need more western weapons as | expeditious as possible. ok, you - need more western weapons as soon as possible. we got the message. thank you very much indeed. ukrainian military reporter with ukrainian tv here. just summing up the situation on the battlefield, it is very finely poised as he was just explaining. ukrainian troops are having some success around the second city of kharkiv in the east, but as he was saying around izium, not too far from here, russian forces really gathering in its he is very worried about a new offensive by the russians that could end up encircling and ukrainian troops. that is the latest from here in kyiv. i will hand it back to you rebecca. thanks to that and to your team out in kyiv. 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. today is the 15th anniversary of the rotary young citizen award which celebrates remarkable young

people across great britain and ireland who have made an outstanding contribution to their community and taken on important responsibilities at a very young age. this year introduces the first—ever young environmentalist award and the child of courage award, honouring two youngsters who are helping make a difference to others despite having to face extreme health problems and difficulties themselves. let's speak now to 17—year—old areeb who is one of this year's winner, she won the child of courage award after her battle with covid—i9. areeb, it is wonderful to have you with us here on bbc news. many, many congratulations first of all. if we move on to what happened to you, just wondered what this award means to you. just wondered what this award means to ou. ~ , . ., ., , just wondered what this award means to ou.~ ., ., , to you. well, this award means so much to me. _ to you. well, this award means so much to me, especially _ to you. well, this award means so much to me, especially since - to you. well, this award means so much to me, especially since it. much to me, especially since it has allowed so many people to hear my story and my experience with covid.

i want you to tell me a little bit about that, if you would. because i understand you caught covid injuly 2021, but in august the following month, you collapsed at home, which sounds very scary. tell me what happened. sounds very scary. tell me what happened-— sounds very scary. tell me what hauened. , , happened. yes, it was “ust midnight and i wasjust h happened. yes, it was “ust midnight and i wasjust going _ happened. yes, it was “ust midnight and i wasjust going to_ happened. yes, it wasjust midnight and i wasjust going to the - happened. yes, it wasjust midnight| and i wasjust going to the bathroom and i was just going to the bathroom and i was just going to the bathroom and suddenly ijust collapsed because of i couldn't breathe. and as soon as the ambulance had come, they checked my vital signs and my oxygen levels were as low as 47%. and they immediately rushed me to the ambulance, immediately rushed me to the king georges hospital, the local hospital. a few days later, became even worse and i was taken to the royal hospital in cambridge. find

the royal hospital in cambridge. and ou were the royal hospital in cambridge. and you were extremely ill in hospital, won't you? did you understand just how ill you work? hat won't you? did you understand “ust how ill you wormi how ill you work? not really. i never thought _ how ill you work? not really. i never thought something - how ill you work? not really. i never thought something like | never thought something like this could happen to me. because half of the time, i was asleep, i had could happen to me. because half of the time, iwas asleep, i had no sense of reality or what was going on around me. it was very frightening. i on around me. it was very frightening.— on around me. it was very friuuhtenin. , �* , frightening. i bet it was. because ou had a frightening. i bet it was. because you had a special— frightening. i bet it was. because you had a special treatment, - frightening. i bet it was. because i you had a special treatment, didn't you? which i think it only given as a very last resort, which does give us a sense ofjust how seriously ill you were. us a sense of “ust how seriously ill ou were. ~ , , ., , us a sense of “ust how seriously ill ou were. ~ , , .,, ., ., you were. well, yes. i was on extra ox uen. you were. well, yes. i was on extra oxygen- and _ you were. well, yes. i was on extra oxygen- and i— you were. well, yes. i was on extra oxygen. and i was _ you were. well, yes. i was on extra oxygen. and i was on _ you were. well, yes. i was on extra oxygen. and i was on that - you were. well, yes. i was on extra oxygen. and i was on that life - oxygen. and i was on that life support machine twice.- oxygen. and i was on that life support machine twice. gosh. and i know ou support machine twice. gosh. and i know you suffered _ support machine twice. gosh. and i know you suffered nerve _ support machine twice. gosh. and i know you suffered nerve damage i support machine twice. gosh. and i. know you suffered nerve damage when you were ill, and you had to relearn all sorts of skills, didn't you? tell us what you had to relearn.

well, i had to relearn lots of things. i had to learn how to walk, i needed to learn how to talk again, how to eat. and i found i needed to learn how to talk again, how to eat. and ifound it i needed to learn how to talk again, how to eat. and i found it very difficult, especially as soon as i woke up. ifelt difficult, especially as soon as i woke up. i felt very paralysed, i couldn't move a muscle. i wish to bearin couldn't move a muscle. i wish to bear in bed unable to do anything, really. bear in bed unable to do anything, reall . bear in bed unable to do anything, reall. ., ., really. gosh, so how long has it taken you _ really. gosh, so how long has it taken you to — really. gosh, so how long has it taken you to relearn _ really. gosh, so how long has it taken you to relearn to - really. gosh, so how long has it taken you to relearn to walk- really. gosh, so how long has it| taken you to relearn to walk and talk and eat?— taken you to relearn to walk and talk and eat? well, i'm able to do those things _ talk and eat? well, i'm able to do those things now, _ talk and eat? well, i'm able to do those things now, but _ talk and eat? well, i'm able to do those things now, but walking - talk and eat? well, i'm able to do those things now, but walking is i those things now, but walking is still a bit of a difficulty for me. i still find it very difficult, i get very breathless. and on the road to recovery. bud get very breathless. and on the road to recovery-— to recovery. and the point is that ou had to recovery. and the point is that you had not _ to recovery. and the point is that you had not been _ to recovery. and the point is that you had not been vaccinated - to recovery. and the point is that you had not been vaccinated for. you had not been vaccinated for covid, had you? at that point, a vaccination was not being offered to your age group, vaccination was not being offered to yourage group, is vaccination was not being offered to your age group, is that right? yes, the vaccinations _ your age group, is that right? yes, the vaccinations weren't _ your age group, is that right? 13:3 the vaccinations weren't available for my age. however, the irony is a

few days later, they were. bud for my age. however, the irony is a few days later, they were.- few days later, they were. and he really think— few days later, they were. and he really think if _ few days later, they were. and he really think if you _ few days later, they were. and he really think if you had _ few days later, they were. and he really think if you had been - really think if you had been vaccinated, you would not have had to go through what you have been through? to go through what you have been throu~h? , ., , ., ., through? yes, i really do. i do believe the — through? yes, i really do. i do believe the vaccine _ through? yes, i really do. i do believe the vaccine helps - through? yes, i really do. i do l believe the vaccine helps people through? yes, i really do. i do - believe the vaccine helps people a lot. i believe the vaccine helps people a lot. ., ., ~ ., .,, lot. i want to know, i hope you don't mind _ lot. i want to know, i hope you don't mind me _ lot. i want to know, i hope you don't mind me asking, - lot. i want to know, i hope you don't mind me asking, you - lot. i want to know, i hope you i don't mind me asking, you finally got better, you finally got home, what was it you are looking forward to? what were the sorts of things that you were keen to do? i to? what were the sorts of things that you were keen to do?- to? what were the sorts of things that you were keen to do? i was “ust lookin: that you were keen to do? i was “ust looking forward fl that you were keen to do? i was “ust looking forward to i that you were keen to do? i was “ust looking forward to return i that you were keen to do? i was “ust looking forward to return to * that you were keen to do? i was “ust looking forward to return to my i looking forward to return to my normal life again and doing the things i love, like i love going on long walks. and as of recently, i have been able to do that. as well as travelling. i'm able to do those things now, and doing those things make me so much happier. because now i realise that all of these things are a luxury and not everybody is able to do these things.- are a luxury and not everybody is able to do these things. yeah, i can see in your — able to do these things. yeah, i can see in your smile _ able to do these things. yeah, i can see in your smile how _

able to do these things. yeah, i can see in your smile how happy - able to do these things. yeah, i can see in your smile how happy you i able to do these things. yeah, i can | see in your smile how happy you are. just a final thought, am i right that this is now influenced what you might want to do as a career? yes. might want to do as a career? yes, it has. might want to do as a career? yes, it has- even — might want to do as a career? yes, it has. even though _ might want to do as a career? yes, it has. even though as _ might want to do as a career? yes, it has. even though as a _ might want to do as a career? yes it has. even though as a child might want to do as a career? ieis it has. even though as a child i might want to do as a career? i2: it has. even though as a child i was always a saying that i wanted to be always a saying that i wanted to be a doctor when i grow up, i still wasn't100% sure. but ever since this experience, ifeel wasn't100% sure. but ever since this experience, i feel certain that i want to pursue this career. areeb, we wish you — i want to pursue this career. areeb, we wish you well— i want to pursue this career. areeb, we wish you well and _ i want to pursue this career. areeb, l we wish you well and congratulations on winning the rotary young citizen award child of courage award. thanks so much. the taliban in afghanistan have ordered all women to veil their faces when in public, returning the country to the dress code enforced during their previous time in power. it recommended that women wear the all—encompassing burqa. the move has been met with dismay by women's rights campaigners, who say that nine months after seizing power, the taliban are again rolling back women's rights.

0ur correspondent secunder kermani has more from kabul. the last time they were in power, the taliban made women wear the all—encompassing birth. it was one of the measures most closely associated with their regime. after taking power last august however, they held off issuing the laws on what women should wear until now that is. today, they decreed that all women must cover their faces with a veil in public, and they laid out an escalating series of punishments for any woman not complying, beginning with their male relatives being talked to at home. then if the woman still is not complying with those male relatives being summoned by the taliban officials. then potentially being jailed for three days and taken to court. this is a conservative country, and many women already wore a face veil of sorts. but in kabul,

and other big cities, many women cover their hair but not faces. women's rights organisations have reacted to this degree dismay. they see progress on women's rights being rolled back. teenage girls are still not allowed back into the classroom in most of the country, many female employees have been told not to return to their offices. across the world, the majority of muslims do not believe it is a compulsory part of the religion for women to wear a veil over their faces, of the religion for women to wear a veil over theirfaces, but of the religion for women to wear a veil over their faces, but here of the religion for women to wear a veil over theirfaces, but here in afghanistan, the taliban seem adamant on imposing their interpretation of islam despite at first appearing more lenient. their hardline ministry of vice and virtue has become stricter in recent weeks. 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 president said the explosion was caused by, what he called, a �*gas accident�*, though investigations are underway. more than 60 people have been injured. 0ur correspondent, will grant reports. the saratoga hotel, a landmark in havana reduced to rubble. its facade ripped clean off, the rooms of the five—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—i9 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. emmanuel macron has been formally inaugurated as president of france for his second term.

the event at the elysee palace comes two weeks after he defeated his rival marine le pen. the ceremony has been scaled back and there won't be a military parade down the champs elysees. our correspondent hugh schofield is in paris and can tell us more about what lies ahead. at the elysee palace, at the start, the president of the constitutional council, laurent fabius, former prime minister, announcing officially the results of the election and then saying, "you are formally elected president." and then this symbolic moment where the chain of office of the grand master of the legion of honour is handed over to the president, as it has been for two centuries now, since napoleon. that's part of the ceremony, and then there's a speech by macron, in which in this occasion he spoke in both general terms about the challenges ahead, about the need for this to be a new mandate. i mean, everyone's conscious, of course, that he has served a term already, that the election did not exactly

heal the rifts running through the heart of french society. and he seems to be, or at least gives the impression the impression of being conscious of that. i don't know if the need for a new a new start and to reinvent a new kind of government, a new social, ecological, productive pact, as he called it, to usher in this new five—year term. i mean, we're in a rather odd period politically, as we always are after presidential elections, because they are these days followed a few weeks later by the legislative elections for the parliament. it's a hybrid system, a very strong president, but he can't act unless he has and sort of enforces an agenda, unless he has the parliament behind him. normally he gets it because there's this kind of impetus which carries the voter through into the legislative elections after the presidential. they make the subconscious decision that there's no point in electing a president unless we give them parliament as well. but these are very different times that the whole of the election system, the political system,

has been shaken up by macron. there's no centre—left, centre—right any more. there's a strong challenge from the far left now. and so this a legislative election, which takes place injune, is actually going to be very, very important to make sure that he does have the legislative, legislative power and backing to put his programme into action. our correspondent hugh schofield in paris. north korea appears to have launched a ballastic missile, according to the japanese military. in the last few minutes, the japanese coast guard said it has already fallen into the sea. the launch comes as the united states warns north korea may be preparing a nuclear test within the next few weeks — its first in five years. a state department spokeswoman said north korea had been readying its puun—gay—ree nuclear site for such a test. here's the bbc�*s david willis. this is the first on the record comment by us officials making the point, as you pointed out, that they believe the north korean nuclear test site in the north of pyongyang

is readying and preparing to carry out a test possibly within the next few weeks. now that is consistent, that sort of analysis, with remarks by the north korean leader kim jong—un who, only last month, said he was looking to accelerate his country's nuclear weapons programme and also consistent with satellite imagery on the ground which shows increased activity around that nuclear test site. now, the timing of this is significant for two reasons. next week sees the inauguration of the new south korean president, and the week afterthat, president biden is due to visit the south korean capital. all this, of course, a reminder to him and to his administration that whilst their attention has been focused on russia's aggression towards ukraine, tensions have been heightened, as ever perhaps, on the korean peninsula.

there were three summits between kimjong—un and donald trump, having started out calling him little rocket man, donald trump professed that their relationship developed into something that he likened to a love affair. but nonetheless, it did not lead to commitment from north korea to pan down its nuclearisation, its weapons programme. and indeed, sanctions remain on north korea imposed by the us and other nations. as far as the biden administration is concerned, it is looking to resume diplomatic ties with north korea, but there's been little in the way of interest shown by the north koreans so far. and this is worrying because this has been one of the most active years on record for the testing of weapons by the north koreans. more than a dozen weapons testings have taken place this year of various kinds, and that is of course troubling not only to america's

allies in the region but the united states as well. our correspondent david willis there. the president of sri lanka, gotabaya rajapaksa, has declared a new state of emergency. this is the second one in just five weeks. there are calls for his government to resign as much of the country is on strike, and there are food and fuel shortages. our correspondent rajini vaidynathan, is in the capital, colombo. well, a state of emergency is now in place here in sri lanka, although things seem relatively normal so far. but a state of emergency does give the government sweeping powers. they can arrest people for long periods of time without a warrant, they can also break up protests, and it could mean that we see more military on the streets in sri lankan cities. i'm here at galle face green in colombo, and as you can see, protesters are gathering here. many have set up camp here.

they say they are not going to leave here until president gotabaya rajapa ksa leaves office. he's showing no signs of quitting, but people here blame him for this economic crisis. today, people are asking why he has brought in this state of emergency. they say, as you can see, that protests are peaceful and they believe that the government has brought this state of emergency in as a way of stifling free speech. as i say, the government says they've done this to restore public order. yesterday evening, at parliament, i was down at protests that were peaceful. after i left, police fired tear gas into the crowds and things got more tense. now, while the protests continue, millions of sri lankans continue also to suffer as this economic crisis bites. people spending hours every day in queues to get food and fuel, and they're contending with daily power cuts and blackouts.

rajini vaidya nathan rajini vaidyanathan in colombo. injust two days, the philippines will elect their president and vice president on a six—year term. leading the polls on a joint ticket, is ferdinand "bongbong" marcoer, son of a late dictator — and sara duterte, daughter of the outgoing president, who's running for vice—president. howard johnson, is in the philippine capital, manila with the latest. philippine elections are a fun and lively affair, as you can see. music, entertainment, and at the moment, there are people coming on the stage in support of the vice president currently in second place in the polls for this election. you can see her supporters are here in huge numbers, 300,000 is the estimate. kevin is one of them. why are you supporting her? i am supporting — are you supporting her? i am supporting her _ are you supporting her? i am supporting her because - are you supporting her? i —n supporting her because she are you supporting her? i 2h supporting her because she has no

corruption issues, she is a lawyer and economist with a good platform and economist with a good platform and good governance record. hagar and good governance record. how about her chief _ and good governance record. how about her chief opponent? the current frontrunner in the election? i am not forfake news, i am not for disinformation, and he has been staying in the government where results were not that significant, thatis results were not that significant, that is why i am not going to vote for him. : , that is why i am not going to vote for him. : .,~ for him. and when kevin says fake news, his critics _ for him. and when kevin says fake news, his critics say _ for him. and when kevin says fake news, his critics say that - for him. and when kevin says fake news, his critics say that he - for him. and when kevin says fake news, his critics say that he has i news, his critics say that he has used social media to whitewash the history of his father using tick—tock to make videos that glorify the video and he raised at human rights abuses and the $10 billion of public money during that time. his supporters say that he is going to bring unity to the country and that he will bring together the north and south with sarah duterte it as his vice president and they can make the country rise again. they will go to the polls on monday morning, six ama open, they will close at 7pm. they have been

extended this time round because of the covid—i9 pandemic giving more time to queue up and get into those polling booths. we results to come as early as monday night. howard johnson inn manila. now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich. hello there. in terms of saturday, sunshine — some places have been doing a lot better than others. this was the scene for a weather watcher earlier on in herefordshire. beautiful blue skies overhead. contrast that with the scene for this weather watcher in perth and kinross with a lot of cloud in the sky. in fact, some of this cloud across parts of scotland has been producing some showery rain. we've also had some low cloud lapping onto some of these north sea coasts. the best of the sunshine has been found out towards the west, and as we go towards the end of the day, we will see some further showers across parts of scotland. maybe the odd one for parts of northern england into east anglia, the southeast. there will be some decent spells of sunshine. it will stay a bit murky for some eastern coasts and also for some coasts of south west england

and west wales. temperatures around 7:00 between 9 and i7 degrees for most of us. and then through this evening and tonight, we are likely to see more cloud filtering in from the east across parts of england and wales. could be some low cloud in places, some areas of cloud too. for northern ireland and western scotland, the odd splash of rain here. for most, it's a dry night, rather chilly for some eastern parts. so, into tomorrow, high pressure tries to hold firm. these frontal systems drifting to the northwest of the uk will bring more cloud and some bits and pieces of rain, but not an awful lot. we will see some of that cloud just grazing into the northwest corner of northern ireland, some rain skipping across the far north west of scotland. but elsewhere, some decent spells of sunshine. could well be a little bit murky again for some coasts. some patchy cloud bubbling up with the odd shower through parts of wales, northern england and southern scotland into the afternoon. widely, though, it will be quite warm, highs of 18 to 20 degrees, a little cooler for some north sea coasts. now, as we move out of sunday and into monday, our area of high pressure starts to retreat

and we see some slightly more active frontal systems pushing in from the northwest. so that means cloud and rain for parts of northern ireland and scotland, could be some quite heavy bursts of rain, actually. the breeze will be strengthening. it'll turn quite blustery in some northwestern parts. the best of the dry and sunny weather across england and wales, particularly towards the south east corner, where we could see highs of 22 degrees, but it will be a little cooler than that further north and west. and as we head deeper into the week, those cooler conditions will spread a little further southwards, with some outbreaks of rain. but i think many southern parts will stay predominantly dry.

this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones, with the latest headlines at 3: an historic moment for nationalists in northern ireland, as sinn fein is on course to become the largest party at stormont. the democratic unionist party leaderjeffrey donaldson says his party will decide next week whether to enter a power—sharing government. i met annita mcveigh in belfast for the latest news and analysis from the latest news and analysis from the counts around northern ireland. 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. cheering 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