welcome to bbc news — i'm chris rogers. our top stories. the united states has called for northern ireland's 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. 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. 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. their departure comes after heavy russian bombardment of the plant in recent weeks. many civilians have gone to the city of zaporizhzhia. our correspondent,

laura bicker is there. 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 may 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 the right—wing incumben. wildfires have broken out in several regions of southern siberia. a state of emergency has been declared in the krasno—yarsk region, after 200 buildings were set ablaze. so far five people are known to have died. more now on that sinn fein election gains, and in the years before its rise, the party was 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, sinn fein began to gain popularity. 0ur 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. let's hear more from emma now on what these results could mean. it will be new challenges for power—sharing here at stormont. next week the parties will meet back here and they will be required to nominate a first and deputy first minister and the dp has said it won't do

that because of opposition to the backset arrangement and because those rules are equal, they are joined, the because those rules are equal, they arejoined, the dp is even this likely to want to go back into government serving as a deputy alongside a sinn fein first minister. meanwhile, negotiations with the eu are continuing to try to solve those breaks had problems with the rsc border and by that is continuing the du people is my position is unlikely to change so if in six months there is not a new agreement between the parties here, well, we could be having for a first set of elections. earlier we werejoined by niall carson, a photo journalist with the press association from dublin. i asked what this election means for ireland, north — and south — of 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. if how did you view the voting that took place in northern ireland? that took place in 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, perhaps? 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. what you think will happen in the coming

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. 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. earlier i spoke to adam smith. he was a senior advisor to the us treasury from 2010—2015 where he was one of the main architects of the first set of sanctions against russia after it annexed crimea in 2014. i asked him to explain what the

american lend lease bill is. it fully borrows its name from 1941 which, as you it fully borrows its name from 1941which, as you just said, help the european allies which included russia at the time, fight back against germany quite effectively.— quite effectively. this land lease, quite effectively. this land lease. to _ quite effectively. this land lease, to be _ quite effectively. this land lease, to be frank, - quite effectively. this land lease, to be frank, it - quite effectively. this land lease, to be frank, it is - quite effectively. this land | lease, to be frank, it is very sort of rich in symbolism but i'm not sure does significantly more than the us has already done. the us, through authorities, has already provided well over $1 billion worth of goods to ukraine. the new land lease will make that a little bit easier bureaucratically speaking but the real import, i would argue, twofold. talking about, she said, land lease which we know demonstrates the industrial might of the united states is now behind the effort in ukraine. and the symbolism. their plane to sign it on may

nine which is victory day for the soviet union over germany. and so the competing narratives putin demonstrating some sort of victory of some sort of sort on monday and post about in trying to demonstrate that the might of the west in the united states is behind the fight and helping ukraine for a package russia. fin helping ukraine for a package russia. a, ., helping ukraine for a package russia. ., �* �* ., russia. on may nine to bbc and other news _ russia. on may nine to bbc and other news organisations - russia. on may nine to bbc and other news organisations will i other news organisations will no doubt be reporting on both a victory parade in russia but also joe victory parade in russia but alsojoe biden signing this bill. and putting more pressure on russia to stop its invasion of ukraine yet there will be emotions out on the streets of moscow and other russian cities, believing the rhetoric. leaving the media portrayal of this war in ukraine. and that suggests to me, i am no expert, you are the expert, that the sanctions don't work. they are not getting to the people. they are not infecting on the people who vote for this man who continued to support this man.

so to sanction to actually work in the end? i so to sanction to actually work in the end?— in the end? i think they can work. in the end? i think they can work- the _ in the end? i think they can work. the idea _ in the end? i think they can work. the idea that - in the end? i think they can work. the idea that they i in the end? i think they can i work. the idea that they were quickly is an misnomer. there was an immediate shock and of the size of the sanctions were rolled out at the end of february. rolled out at the end of february-— rolled out at the end of februa .~ , , rolled out at the end of februa .~ , .,�* , ., february. why don't people and army generals _ february. why don't people and army generals question - army generals question president and put pressure on him to stop this invasion? the? him to stop this invasion? they ma not him to stop this invasion? they may not be _ him to stop this invasion? they may not be feeling _ him to stop this invasion? they may not be feeling it _ him to stop this invasion? they may not be feeling it yet. - may not be feeling it yet. sanctions are the sort of thing that will build up over time as it gets tighter, the screws get tighter and tighter. the idea that they would have felt them immediately is a little bit of a misnomer as to how they actually work and no sanctions we have worked that well and quickly but over time for sure in the weeks and months to come but the pain will be significant in russia and i don't know whether it will be enough. it is a function of their willingness to go up against an authoritarian state, the likelihood of not understanding what is actually happening because of controlled information space at the 11 but for sure, they will be poorer than they were. theirjobs will

be less secure than they were. their ability to buy things and to enjoy their lives will be significantly reduced and i think that will add to pressure domestically for president putin. , , , , , putin. very briefly because i want to ask _ putin. very briefly because i want to ask you _ putin. very briefly because i want to ask you this. - putin. very briefly because i want to ask you this. do - putin. very briefly because i j want to ask you this. do you see any way out of this? do you see any way out of this? do you see any way out of this? do you see an end to this conflict? i hope so. i do think we need to be very careful about allowing off ramps to exist for president putin and for the western for ukraine. i'm not sure that they are public at this stage nor are they particularly clear. i certainly hope there is going to be an off ramp for the sake of the ukrainian people in the russian people, to be perfectly honest, to get people back to the negotiating table and hopefully get ukrainians to support their own independence. a pro—bejing election committee in hong kong is beginning to choose a new city leader —

we can see them arriving now —, 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 government in 2019. earlier i was joined by journalist ilaria maria sala. i asked her how the election is being received by the public in hong kong. it is not for the proper to call it an election because, as you mention, there is only one candidate and very few voters. the committee of 1500 people, a little less, is going to choose to approve this choice. that has already been pre—made. so if you have the police have decided to put out a lot of security, we are hearing about

7000 police men 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. [30 because there is absolutely no say in this exercise.— say in this exercise. do you think we — say in this exercise. do you think we are, _ say in this exercise. do you think we are, despite - say in this exercise. do you think we are, despite the i think we are, despite the police presence, likely to see anger over the selection if we can call it. to think that anger is likely to spill out on the streets like we saw in 2019? i the streets like we saw in 2019? 4' the streets like we saw in 2019? ~ ., , , 2019? i think that is extremely unlikel . 2019? i think that is extremely unlikely. hong _ 2019? i think that is extremely unlikely. hong kong _ 2019? i think that is extremely unlikely. hong kong is - 2019? i think that is extremely unlikely. hong kong is a - 2019? i think that is extremely unlikely. hong kong is a very l unlikely. hong kong is a very different place from 2019. there has been no demonstration since then were either approved or even mass demonstrations partially because it is legal

and anti—covert sanitary measures and 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 power of street demonstrations to actually get the leadership to start a dialogue with the population so i really think this is not going to happen today, there are not going to be protests.

japan and south korea say north korea has fired what could be a ballistic missile into the sea off the east coast of the peninsula. south korea says it is believed to have been a submarine—launched ballistic missile fired into the sea ofjapan — around sinpo, where north korea keeps submarines and missile testing equipment. 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.

either way, wife carrying has its fans. 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 think the big 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. 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, only the so—called wife is upside down. that does come with some issues. i think it is a lot more uncomfortable for my partner because the weight is on my shoulder it is easy for me to run said this competitor. what 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. let's continue the racing theme now, with one of the biggest upsets in the history of america's most celebrated horse race. rich strike, ridden by sonny leon , stormed to victory at churchill downs in louisville, to win the kentucky derby, despite being the eighty—to—one rank outsider. the horse was only brought into the field on friday after another had to drop out. a reminder of our top story. 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. 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 wants to see the country reunited with the republic of ireland. its president said 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