welcome to bbc news — i'm chris rogers. our top stories. final results are declared in northern ireland's assembly election — with an historic win for the irish nationalist party — sinn fein. today, they decreed that all women must cover their places with a veil in public and they laid out an escalating series of punishments for any woman not complying. ukraine says all women, children and the elderly have now been evacuated from azovstal steel plant in the city of mariupol. hong kong prepares to elect a new leader — albeit with not many voters — and only one candidate. rights in afghanistan come underfresh attack — the taliban order women to wear the full face veil. today, they decreed that all

women must cover their places with a veil in public and they laid out an escalating series of punishments for any woman not complying. the united states has called for northern ireland leaders to return to power sharing. it follows sinn fein�*s historic victory in the election to the northern ireland assembly. it is the first time a nationalist party in northern ireland has won the most seats with sinn fein�*s ultimate goal being for northern ireland to leave the uk and become one country with the republic of ireland. our correspondent chris page reports, and a warning — there is some flash photography.

smiles, flashes and cheers, were the sure—fire signs of sinn fein�*s success. cheering the party has retained its 27 seats, and that is enough to top the table. for the first time, a party which is dedicated to taking northern ireland out of the uk is the biggest political force here. it's a huge historic moment for irish nationalism and a massively symbolic shift. sinn fein�*s vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to become the first minister. no nationalist has ever won the post before. today ushers in a new era, which i believe presents us all with an opportunity to reimagine relationships in this society on the basis of fairness, on the basis of equality, and on the basis of social justice. irrespective of religious, political or social backgrounds, my commitment is to make politics work. cheering another major indication of change is the surge of the party which is neither unionist nor nationalist.

alliance has more than doubled its number of seats, moving from fifth place to third in the assembly. its leaders said the breakthrough had come after many years�* work. people wrote us off and said that there was no future for a shared future in northern ireland, and we've proven them wrong. it's taken us a while to get here, but we're here now, and i think we have proven there is a third way in politics here. but the democratic unionist party has lost about a fifth of its support. a strong focus of its campaign was its opposition to the brexit trade border with the rest of the uk, known as the northern ireland protocol. the dup says it'll block the formation of a devolved government until checks on goods are scrapped. but it's shed votes to a more hard—line party — the traditional unionist voice, which claims the dup has been too weak on the issue. we will accept the outcome of the election. however, our position remains that we need to remove the long

shadow of the protocol that is inhibiting our ability to operate and function properly within the political institutions, and the sooner that happens, the sooner we'll be in a position to move forward. 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. but the politicians who've been elected are unlikely to get to govern any time soon. the dup is even less likely to go into a coalition now that sinn fein is in front. after the disappointment and delight of today, the future is an unclear picture. chris page, bbc news. in the years before its rise, sinn fein was a party ostracised by many in the political sphere. during the 30 year conflict in northern ireland known as the "troubles" it was seen as being associated with a campaign of violence. but once the party decided on a way forward through politics, and in the 1980s had

members elected as mps, it began to gain popularity. our ireland correspondent emma vardy looks back — her report contains flashing images. steeped in the violence of the past, sinn fein�*s political aims were born out of a northern ireland's darkest days. the freedom fighters of the ira are now continuing the struggle against foreign occupation and domination! during the 30 year conflict here, sinn fein were the voice of the paramilitary group the ira... explosions ..who fought an armed campaign to try to break british rule in northern ireland. gerry adams, the leader of sinn fein during some of the worst of the ira violence, became both a hated and revered figure.

i haven't gone away, you know! today, the ira dead are remembered at the republican plot in milltown cemetery. many who served time in prison on their release became involved in the political movement to achieve a united ireland through peaceful means. those were very, very formative days and clearly the idea that we have to move forward politically is very much entrenched now in republican ideology. sinn fein sees the conflict as having been a legitimate armed struggle but the party now strongly advocates peace. what's been key to their success, do you think? there's that organic link. sinn fein republican activists were part of the community. in the 1990s, sinn fein played a key role in bringing about the good friday agreement, which largely ended the violence. in the years after, their support at the ballot box grew. martin mcguinness, a former commander in the ira, became deputy first minister, sharing power with the dup. for those who remember the past, sinn fein still

deeply divide opinion but in the party today, there are far fewer elected representatives who were involved in the armed conflict and their electoral success is a new milestone in what has been a remarkable political journey. if we look back to the good friday agreement, they would have been ex—prisoners, they would have been people who would have had links to that sort of republican wing of sinn fein/the ira. what we see now is a very young party, a very progressive party. it's full of young women — the two leaders are women, both of whom have no connection to that sort of previous past. but sinn fein�*s successes a blow for unionism. the immediate challenge for the party's current leaders will be to form a new power—sharing executive at stormont and governing in the first minister role may yet be some way off. earlier we werejoined by niall carson, a photo journalist with the press association from dublin. we asked what this election means for ireland, north — and south — off the border.

it is very interesting because it could be here in the southern parliaments because sinn fein are riding very high in the polls at the minute here, higher than the government, the two government parties. there is not an election due for another three years but definitely it is causing a bit of a star anyway, bit of a debate about the prospect of a referendum, you know. how did you view the voting that took place in northern ireland 7 is this unionist sending a very strong message as well or are people beginning to vote about other things? is this about voting for the right on the left, voting for various policies on this about the politics. yes, there is a bit of that.

northern ireland has never really had the left right divide that you see in, for instance, america. elections have always been on the constitutional question but as younger people who grew up not involved in the trouble is, a lot more of them are voting for centrist parties like the alliance party who don't designate themselves unionist or nationalists and they have come out as the third block in this election that is going to make a very interesting make up to the northern ireland assembly if it does get up and running again as there will be different priorities and there won't be as much squabbling between the two main parties because there will be a third block now to kind of mediate and that is the way it is in a lot of our local councils and

a lot have the casting vote and decisions get made which were blocked for years. he was ukraine and russia say a humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians from the besieged azovstal steelworks in the southern port city of mariupol has been completed. ukraine said that all elderly people, women and children had been taken to safety , a total of more than 300 people. those evacuated are relieved to be leaving the city. i was going to the market when i was going to the market when i saw a large crowd of people and i asked them where they were going and they said there was a possibility of going to the city. i was a possibility of going to the ci . . , was a possibility of going to theci. . the city. i was so excited. i had nothing _ the city. i was so excited. i had nothing with _ the city. i was so excited. i had nothing with me - the city. i was so excited. i | had nothing with me except the city. i was so excited. i - had nothing with me except this bag and i decided, all right, if my house is already burned,

it is going to waste anyway. we were surviving although this time — were surviving although this time~ for— were surviving although this time. fortwo were surviving although this time. for two weeks we have been — time. for two weeks we have been living in a basement then russians— been living in a basement then russians came and helped us leave — russians came and helped us leave. then we heard about an evacuation _ leave. then we heard about an evacuation and we came to the mole _ evacuation and we came to the mole in — evacuation and we came to the mole in marie poll and got on this bus _ mole in marie poll and got on this bus. eight children were sitting — this bus. eight children were sitting in— this bus. eight children were sitting in a basement for two weeks — sitting in a basement for two weeks without water, bad, nothing _ weeks without water, bad, nothing. afterwards we were going — nothing. afterwards we were going to _ nothing. afterwards we were going to the city and next we don't — going to the city and next we don't know. we will see if someone will help us. i don't know — those evacuated are relieved to be leaving the city.their departure comes after heavy russian bombardment of the plant in recent weeks. we've heard from ukrainian officials that women and children have been allowed out

and they say that all of them have made it out of the steel plan. remember these are people who have been inside come in the dark, in these maze—like tunnels far more than 60 days. they finally got out. we heard from the ukrainian fighters who have said on social media they have given an idea of how this works. they say there are white likes to signal civilians were on their way. that would imply a degree of coordination between these two sides, however, over the past few days there are reports that russia has continued to shell the steel plant. certainly when you've seen some of the pictures you've seen smoke still rising from this plant. there are still around 2000, thought to be 2000 ukrainian fighters inside hiding internals who have vowed not to surrender. we have heard from their families, we have had from their mothers and their wives who have pleaded for them to get out alive. president zelensky said today that he was negotiating for their release. but now there are fears that these civilians are out, what

is russia going to do. there is no doubt that winning the entire port of mariupol ahead of the mi the ninth victory day celebrations would be hugely symbolic for vladimir putin. so some are wondering, now that the civilians are out, what will happen to that planned and what will happen to these fighters and it may be that any negotiations under way are a race against time. let s get some of the day's other news. the former brazilian president, luiz inacio lula da silva, has launched his campaign to return to power in 0ctober�*s election. in an address to supporters, the left—wing leader urged brazilians to unite behind him to defend democracy and defeat the right—wing incumbent. emmanuel macron has been re—inaugurated as president of france, two weeks after his election victory over marine le pen. after the simple ceremony at the elysee palace, mr macron spoke about challenges facing

france — including the war in ukraine and climate change. wildfires have broken out in several regions of southern siberia. a state of emergency has been declared in the krasno—yarsk region, after two hundred buildings were set ablaze. so far five people are known to have died. in afghanistan, the taliban have ordered women to cover their faces with a veil when in public, warning that if they fail to do so, their male relatives could be jailed for three days. women's rights activists have reacted with dismay. 0ur afghanistan correspondent, secunder kermani, sent this report from kabul. the clothes afghan women wear have been fiercely debated and fought over. this is a conservative country and many wear the blue burqa or cover their face. but in big cities, like in this market in kabul,

many others choose just to cover their hair. translation: humans are born free. - no—one has the right to talk about women's clothes. at the ministry of prevention of vice and promotion of virtue, the taliban announced the veil would be compulsory. any woman repeatedly not complying could see their male relatives jailed. many women in afghanistan do wear the burqa already, but many others don't — theyjust cover their hair — and they see that as being perfectly in accordance with islamic and afghan values. so, who are you to tell them how they should be dressing? translation: in afghanistan, 99% of women follow - the correct hijab. the other i%, we request them to implement this decree. this is not our order, but the order of god. when they took power last august, it initially appeared as if the taliban were much less strict than they

were 20 years ago. but in recent weeks, their ministry of vice and virtue has been issuing more and more hardline decrees, governing in particular the lives of afghan women. the schools need to be open, there is famine all over this country. there are suicide bombings. there are so many other problems. instead of looking after that, they are always after women. teenage girls have still not been allowed back to school. many worry that the fragile progress made on women's rights here is now unravelling. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. final results are declared in northern ireland's assembly election — with an historic win for the irish nationalist party — sinn fein. ukraine says all women, children and the elderly have now been evacuated from azovstal steel plant in the city of mariupol.

the first lady of the united statesjill biden has arrived in slovakia, where she plans to meet president zuzana caputova, refugees and aid workers on the slovak—ukraine border. this is part of her larger visit to the region, and is the latest show of us support for ukraine and the countries assisting it. with me to discuss is our news reporter azadeh moshiri, has been tracking the visit. this is part of the larger trip. she hasjust left romania and now slovakia. boosting morale among those countries as well, i suppose. morale among those countries as well, isuppose. the morale among those countries as well, i suppose. the element thatis well, i suppose. the element that is right. coinciding with international mother's day on sunday and, as you say, she was

in romania where she met with us servicemen and ukrainian refugees. this is a long standing precedent forfirst standing precedent for first ladies standing precedent forfirst ladies to visit troops abroad. the most recent times we had hillary clinton and michelle 0bama make these sorts of trips but the diplomatic tensions are quite high here given the war in ukraine. it is particularly important for the united states to show these sorts of countries that the us is there to support them if they need that help and by the us secretary state and defence had been to kyiv this is closer than the us president has been to the conflict. it is particularly poignant that she is doing this by touring classrooms and meeting with ukrainian mothers and children because she is an educator and it is apt that she is doing this alongside the romanian first lady because she is also a teacher. in fact, we can take a teacher. in fact, we can take a listen to what she has said this visit represents to our country. i this visit represents to our count . . this visit represents to our country-— this visit represents to our count . . , ., country. i am very grateful that you — country. i am very grateful that you took _ country. i am very grateful that you took the - country. i am very grateful that you took the time -

country. i am very grateful that you took the time and country. i am very grateful - that you took the time and made the effort to visit us. we have always loved the americans and we feel safer if we know that they back us up. and we are living now in a very tense situation. that's why it is good to be united.- situation. that's why it is good to be united. and what with the first _ good to be united. and what with the first lady _ good to be united. and what with the first lady have - good to be united. and what | with the first lady have heard from the refugees and those helping them? we've seen millions of refugees travelling to all the neighbouring countries in the border of ukraine. what help receiving when they get there? to your oint when they get there? to your point there — when they get there? to your point there have _ when they get there? to your point there have been - when they get there? to your point there have been vast i point there have been vast amounts of ukrainian refugees who have been displaced. the united states, the united nations puts the most recent figures at more than 12 million and that those internally displaced within ukraine and they are telling the first lady that, while they have left and they have that, a lot of them are staying in these neighbouring countries because

they are hoping to go back to ukraine once it is safer. now, in terms of the figures, you have more than 5.7 million who have more than 5.7 million who have left and gone through neighbouring countries. poland has taken in the most with more than 3 million and very many has more than 850,000 who have entered the country so the eu has responded with a vast number of measures including allowing refugees to work in the member states for up to three years. they have access to things like social care, housing, medical care, schools but, of course, all of this is not the end game for a lot of these refugees. they have told these refugees. they have told the first lady that their hope that ukraine will once again be safe. , ., ., ., ., safe. they want to go home as soon as possible. _ safe. they want to go home as soon as possible. thank- safe. they want to go home as soon as possible. thank you i safe. they want to go home as | soon as possible. thank you for bringing us up to date with all of that. thank you. there is more on the website as well. there is more on the website as well. a pro—bejing election committee in hong kong is beginning to choose a new city leader —, and we already know the result asjohn lee, a former

deputy head of police, is the only candidate. the current leader , carrie lam , oversaw the implementation of a controversial national security law that led to massive protests against the territory's government in 2019earlier i was joined byjournalist ilaria maria sala. i asked her how the election is being received by the public in hong kong. it is not really protocol at an election because, as you mentioned, there was only one candidate and there is very few voters. a committee of 1500 people, a little less, is going to choose to approve this choice that has already been

pre—made so even if the police has decided to put out a lot of security, about 7000 policemen and women are out in force to make sure that nothing untoward happens. the mood in hong kong is of a certain degree of indifference because there is absolutely no say in this exercise. do you think we are, despite the police presence, likely to see anger over the selection, if we can call it that. to think that anger is likely to spill out in the streets but we saw in 2019? i think that is extremely unlikely. hong kong is a very different place from 2019. there has been no demonstration since then that were either approved or even mass demonstrations as we saw

before. partially because this is illegal both under the anti—covert sanitary measures but also because, since the enactment of the national security law onjune 30, 2020, this kind of demonstrations have been made largely illegal. also, there has been a strong loss of faith, if you want to call it that, in the power of street demonstrations to actually get the leadership to start a dialogue with the populations of i really think this is not going to happen today. there are not going to be protests. more analysis of what is going on right now on the news website and you can download the bbc news app as well. lots of information from our correspondence there.

we have in the past told you about the somewhat unusual sport of wife—carrying. some say it dates back to the age of the vikings — while in modern times it's mostly been popular in finland. but now wife—carrying has gone international. the bbc�*s tim allman explains. this may be an ancient tradition going back more than ten centuries or it mayjust be a practicaljoke that originated somewhere near helsinki. eitherway, originated somewhere near helsinki. either way, wife carrying hazardous funds. you don't actually have to tie the knot to take part but whatever your marital status, it is supposed to be good for team building. i supposed to be good for team buildint. ~ , building. i think the big interest— building. i think the big interest is _ building. i think the big interest is due -

building. i think the big interest is due to - building. i think the big interest is due to the i building. i think the big l interest is due to the fact that couples can leave their comfort zone. they're very close to each other so husband and wife can function as a unit. ., , unit. here in hungary contestants - unit. here in hungary contestants race - unit. here in hungaryl contestants race along unit. here in hungary i contestants race along a unit. here in hungary - contestants race along a 260 metre course with both obstacles and water hazards. some carry the product piggyback. 0thers try what is termed the estonian method by the so—called wife is upside down. that does, some issues. i think it is a lot more uncomfortable for my partner because — uncomfortable for my partner because the weight is on my shoulder— because the weight is on my shoulder it is easy for me to run — shoulder it is easy for me to run said _ shoulder it is easy for me to run said this competitor. what is our run said this competitor. what is your tactic _ run said this competitor. what is your tactic for _ run said this competitor. what is your tactic for when - run said this competitor. what is your tactic for when your - is your tactic for when your head goes underwater? take a deep breath, she replies. wife carrying is not without its critics. some say it is old—fashioned or even sexist. but for the winners this could

be the beginning of something beautiful. that is the latest from the bbc. hello there. we'll be heading through the remainder of the weekend on a largely dry and settled note before more rain works in from the north—west by monday. for the here and now, this is how we ended saturday evening. beautiful sunset in east ayrshire there, and through the course of sunday, we're looking at another largely dry settled day with some sunny spells around just one or two isolated showers. we've got a weak weather front just trying to nudge in from the north—west, but not really making inroads because high pressure is in charge and that's sitting out to the east. the lowest temperatures first thing sunday morning will be across eastern scotland and eastern england, mid—single figures, but further west most places starting off

the day just about in double figures. any early morning mist and fog will lift fairly quickly and the day will warm up as the sunshine spreads across the uk, a little bit cloudier across the far north—west of the western isles, the northern isles as well. but through the day, fair—weather cloud bubbles up and that mayjust be enough to produce one or two isolated showers for wales, parts of south—west england, northern england into southern scotland. but most places are going to avoid any of those showers, temperatures in the mid teens around the east coast, but we could see 20 degrees inland. sunday evening and overnight into monday now and things remain largely dry and clear again some mist and some fog patches. but you'll notice the cloud thickening from the northwest as this weather front spread some rain into northern ireland and north—west scotland to start off monday morning. mild, breezy and rather damp in the northwest cooler, clearer conditions down towards the south—east. so monday's weather then will be dominated still by high pressure sitting out to the east. but these more active weather fronts are starting to move in from the atlantic. they're going to bring more cloud to northern ireland and scotland with outbreaks of rain really from the word go, heaviest over coasts and hills in the west, slightly more patchy further east. but much of england and wales keeping the dry weather with some sunny spells. it'll be a little bit warmer,

particularly for eastern england, compared to recent days, 20—22 degrees here. but typically the mid teens across scotland and northern ireland. into tuesday and the front tends to make its way further towards the south and the east and then a return to sunny spells and scattered, blustery showers from the northwest. temperatures coming down a little bit in the south, still about 20 degrees or so. typically the mid teens across the north—west of the uk. through the week ahead, then some showers around, especially towards the north and the west. things looking drier, though, further south and east for now.

this is bbc news, the headlines: for the first time the irish nationalist party sinn fein has won the largest number of seats in northern ireland's assembly. sinn fein want to see the country reunited with the republic of ireland. its president said that the momentum for change across the island of ireland was now well—established. ukraine and russia say a humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians from the besieged azovstal steelworks in the city of mariupol has been completed. ukraine said that all elderly people, women and children had been taken to safety. president zelensky said they would now seek to evacuate wounded soldiers. the taliban in afghanistan have ordered all women to veil theirfaces when in public, returning the country to the dress code enforced

during their previous time in power.