the labour leader sir keir starmer says he'll resign if he's fined by durham police for breaking covid rules. he's being investigated after an event during lockdown last year where he had a beer and a curry with party workers. no rules were broken. i'm absolutely clear about that. but in the event that i'm wrong about that and i get a fixed penalty notice, i'll do the right thing and step down. we'll be live in ukraine, as vladimir putin says his invasion, was to protect russia. during the victory day parade in moscow, marking the defeat of nazi germany, he claimed western nations, were preparing to invade. translation: preparations - were openly under way for another punitive operation in donbas, and an invasion of our historic lands, including crimea. kyiv has announced the possible

acquisition of nuclear weapons. deadlock in belfast after sinn fein win the most seats at stormont but the democratic unionists refuse to govern with them. the head of one of the uk's biggest energy companies calls on the government to give millions of households £1,000 each towards their energy bills. and the amateur fossil hunter who found a rare shark tooth up to 26 million years old — and he's only six. and coming up on the bbc news channel: three in a row for chelsea in the women's super league. we hearfrom their manager emma hayes, after their final day title winning drama. good evening and welcome

to the bbc news at six. the labour leader sir keir starmer says he will quit if he is fined by durham police for breaking covid rules last year during lockdown. he's been under pressure after the police announced they would be investigating an event at which he drank beer and had a curry with party workers at an mp's office. in a statement this afternoon sir keir insisted repeatedly that no laws were broken — but that as a matter of principle and integrity he will stand down if he is issued with a fixed penalty notice. the deputy leader angela rayner has confirmed she will step down if she too is fined. here's our political correspondent ben wright. the questions were not going to stop. mr the questions were not going to sto -. ~ ,, . the questions were not going to sto. ~ ,. the questions were not going to sto. ~ ,,. , stop. mr starmer, will you resign if ou are stop. mr starmer, will you resign if you are fined? _ stop. mr starmer, will you resign if you are fined? keir— stop. mr starmer, will you resign if you are fined? keir starmer- stop. mr starmer, will you resign if you are fined? keir starmer has - stop. mr starmer, will you resign if. you are fined? keir starmer has been at the back foot _ you are fined? keir starmer has been at the back foot since _ you are fined? keir starmer has been at the back foot since friday - you are fined? keir starmer has been at the back foot since friday when - at the back foot since friday when durham police said it would begin an inquiries into this, an indoor gathering for party workers involving beer and curry last april. the labour leader has always said he didn't break the covid rules in

place, but today he suddenly raised the stakes. if place, but today he suddenly raised the stakes. ,., . . ., the stakes. if the police decided to issue me with _ the stakes. if the police decided to issue me with a _ the stakes. if the police decided to issue me with a fixed _ the stakes. if the police decided to issue me with a fixed penalty - issue me with a fixed penalty notice, i would, issue me with a fixed penalty notice, iwould, of issue me with a fixed penalty notice, i would, of course, issue me with a fixed penalty notice, iwould, of course, do issue me with a fixed penalty notice, i would, of course, do the right thing and step down. it’s a right thing and step down. it's a camble right thing and step down. it's a gamble intended _ right thing and step down. it's a gamble intended to _ right thing and step down. it's a gamble intended to draw- right thing and step down. it's a gamble intended to draw a - right thing and step down. it's a gamble intended to draw a stark contrast with boris johnson. gamble intended to draw a stark contrast with borisjohnson. we gamble intended to draw a stark contrast with boris johnson. we have seen 50 fines — contrast with boris johnson. we have seen 50 fines in _ contrast with boris johnson. we have seen 50 fines in downing _ contrast with boris johnson. we have seen 50 fines in downing street, - contrast with boris johnson. we have seen 50 fines in downing street, we | seen 50 fines in downing street, we have seen the prime minister will not step down, we are not all the same, i'm different and i've set out today how i'm different. it same, i'm different and i've set out today how i'm different.— today how i'm different. it was a da of today how i'm different. it was a day of campaigning _ today how i'm different. it was a day of campaigning in _ today how i'm different. it was a day of campaigning in durham . today how i'm different. it was a l day of campaigning in durham last year that has left the labour leader with a thumping political head eight, while his team insists the beer and a takeaway curry were an essential part of their working day, sir keir starmer was quick to demand borisjohnson's resignation when police in london decided to investigate lockdown breaking parties in downing street. —— thumping political head eight. the british thumping political head eight. tie: british public thumping political head eight. tte: british public are thumping political head eight. tt2 british public are not. either never believed a word of it. they think the prime minister should do the decent thing and resign. you have

ortra ed decent thing and resign. you have portrayed yourself _ decent thing and resign. you have portrayed yourself again - decent thing and resign. you have portrayed yourself again today - decent thing and resign. you have portrayed yourself again today as | decent thing and resign. you have| portrayed yourself again today as a politician _ portrayed yourself again today as a politician of integrity, you are a former— politician of integrity, you are a former director too of public prosecutions. how embarrassed are you, prosecutions. how embarrassed are you. angry— prosecutions. how embarrassed are you, angry are you, that your career as laneur— you, angry are you, that your career as labour leader now hangs on the outcome _ as labour leader now hangs on the outcome of— as labour leader now hangs on the outcome of the police investigation? then, _ outcome of the police investigation? then, first _ outcome of the police investigation? then, first and foremost no rules were broken. i don't actually believe that those who are accusing me believe that rules were broken. they are trying to simply drag all politicians into a place where the public think we are all the same. putting out the bunting for uk businesses in downing street today, borisjohnson shows no sign of quitting over lockdown breaking parties in number 10. he's already been issued with one fine and the police are still investigating. and ministers have been reluctant to say that labour's leader should resign. he made a great deal of the fact that there were other investigations on other people under way when he probably knew all the time that he may also have potentially come in for investigation himself so that is absolutely a matter for him, and

let's wait for the investigation to proceed to see what else might come out of this. 5ir proceed to see what else might come out of this. . proceed to see what else might come out of this. ,, ,, ., ., , out of this. sir keir starmer has tried to put _ out of this. sir keir starmer has tried to put the _ out of this. sir keir starmer has tried to put the pressure - out of this. sir keir starmer has tried to put the pressure back. out of this. sir keir starmer has | tried to put the pressure back on borisjohnson by putting his career on the line. police in durham now have a very big call to make. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. and our political editor, chris mason is at westminster — the twists and turns of partygate then beergate, if you were to write this as a drama, no—one would believe it. presumably keir starmer was left with no choice but to offer his if he gets fined. exactly that, he felt this was a big gamble but in the circumstances it was better than the alternative. he sought the opinion of senior figures in the party. not all thought this was a good idea but i understand it was a good idea but i understand it was his instinct from the very moment durham police said they were reopening their investigation into what happened just over a year ago. so why has he done what he's done? imagine the alternative where he had avoided answering the question. for potentially a couple of months he would have been dogged by questions about what he might do, and that

would have been very, very difficult. he wouldn't have been able to say anything else in the intervening period. and it would have also looked like he wasn't willing to hold himself to the same moral high bar he expected of the prime minister and the chancellor when he said they should go because they had been fined. instead, by saying he would resign he hopes he's created some political space and potentially, if, and it's a big if, he isn't fined, it helps him to define himself as somebody who believes in fairness and decency. but he could be fined, and if he is it is curtains, it is toast for him, and a labour leadership race will beckon. , a, ,., and a labour leadership race will beckon. , ., , beckon. chris mason, thanks very much. talks are taking place in belfast between the northern ireland secretary brandon lewis and the stormont assembly's five main parties to try to break the current political deadlock. last week's elections saw sinn fein winning the most seats for the first time in northern ireland's history. it means the nationalist party

is entitled to the role of first minister — but that depends on the second largest party, the democratic unionists — or dup — nominating a deputy. and the dup is refusing to do so unless the government removes all trade barriers with the rest of the uk that have arisen out of brexit. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page has more. michelle 0'neill has the keys to the first minister's office but she can't unlock the door unless her political rivals become her partners. applause the sinn fein vice president is in line to be the first irish nationalist to take the job. it would be a hugely symbolic moment for the party which wants northern ireland to leave the uk. it's time for us all, as political leaders, to have the courage to step forward with unity of purpose and determination, to deliver a stable power—sharing coalition, one that works, and mostly, one that delivers.

the people want government and we all want change. and i am committed to both. but the democratic unionist party is committed to changing the brexit trading arrangements, which it says have created an economic barrier with england, scotland and wales. the northern ireland protocol means certain goods like milk, eggs, medicines and parcels are inspected when they arrive here from great britain. the arrangement was put in place to keep open the border with the republic of ireland. it's the only land frontier between the uk and the eu, and brussels wants to prevent any goods which aren't in line with eu standards from reaching the european single market. after talks with the northern ireland secretary the dup has insisted again there will be no devolved government unless the protocol is scrapped. i'm not going to say one thing to the electorate and the day after the election do a volte—face. i'm not going to do that. i gave my word, i sought a mandate on the basis

of sorting out the protocol. i'm committed to doing that. the sooner it happens the better. the dup is hoping its stance will put pressure on borisjohnson to take action to remove the protocol on his own if he can't reach an agreement with the eu that deals with unionists' concerns. other parties here at stormont have accused the dup of holding the people of northern ireland to ransom. the irish prime minister has denied a claim by london that the eu is being inflexible about how the trade border should work. we do hear the concerns from unionism and from other quarters in relation to the operation of the protocol, but it is our view that those concerns can be addressed. amidst the uncertainty, there have been celebrations and snaps for newly elected politicians today. none of them can know when, or even if, they will get to govern northern ireland. well, the first sitting of the assembly has been scheduled for this

friday, but bar a political miracle, a power—sharing coalition will not be informed by then. so the ministers who were imposed before polling day can carry on, but only on a caretaker capacity, meaning they can't take any major decisions. that state of governmental limbo can go on for up to six months. after that, technically, another election has to called. chris, in belfast, thank you. if you'd like to know more about the political situation in northern ireland, you can find more on our website — bbc.co.uk/news. now to the war in ukraine and over to clive myrie who is in the ukrainian capital kyiv tonight.

glorious victory, the defeat of nazi germany. but today there is no peace. vladimir putin has invaded ukraine. back from there, parading

too paratroopers, who moscow says took part in the russian offensive. a war of conquest, says the west. the kremlin disagrees. translation: the kremlin disagrees. translation: the defence of our motherland, when its destiny was at stake, has always been sacred. as in the past, you, our soldiers, are today fighting for our soldiers, are today fighting for our people in donbas, for the security our motherland, for russia. 0n security our motherland, for russia. on display, lots of firepower. and yet in ukraine moscow has suffered military setbacks. what russia does next isn't clear. you can march thousands of soldiers across red square, you can parade your very latest military hardware. but that does not automatically make you an internationally recognised superpower. the point is that the kremlin's decision to attack ukraine has sparked global condemnation and

sanctions, and is turning russia into a pariah. and that has consequences. doused with paint, russia's ambassador to poland at a soviet military cemetery today. the crowd is calling the russian officials fascists. moscow has launched an official complaint. there were individual protests in russia too, no to the new war, says the sign. it didn't last long. 0thers came to victory day events with signs that said "this is not what they fought for." and what about those who fought in world war ii? maria sidorova who is 100 years old to all she wants is peace. "the war i fought in we understood, but this war now, well, maybe i'm old, there is something not quite right about it. i hope it ends soon."

vladimir putin wants russians to believe the decisions he takes are right. this giant victory day event portrayed him as the father of the nation. but in a system built around one man, if he gets it wrong that is dangerous. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the view from the cobbled streets of red square. ukraine's president zelensky here has released his own video message commemorating the victory over nazi germany, saying his country will win its war with russia. much of the fighting here, is taking place in the east and south of the country, with russia's defence ministry, saying 200 targets have been hit today, mainly in the donbas region, the former industrial heartland, that hugs the border with russia. but, despite the attacks, the russian offensive overall, appears to have stalled in the east, with reports of heavy losses. the bbc�*s andrew harding, has sent us this report,

from eastern ukraine and a warning, it contains pictures you may find distressing. a quiet village in the donbas is saying farewell to ivan naduti. killed by a scrap of russian shrapnel. the 30—year—old builder volunteered to fight the day after putin's invasion. his wife begged him not to go. now his father is lost in grief. but something else is stirring in this village and across this region. a burning sense of defiance. "he was defending freedom for every one of us," says a village elder, his lip trembling. "glory to our heroes." a lonely ukrainian warplane thunders overhead. the front lines are just

a town away to the north. and a defiant blitz spirit is growing here too, as the bombs fall at random in places like kramatorsk. seizing this corner of eastern ukraine, with its close ties to russia, was supposed to be an easier task for the kremlin's blundering army. but the blundering goes on. "my shop is hardly a strategic target," says lilia, with contempt. and all this is stiffening the resolve of ukrainian soldiers. we met this tank unit, holding their ground at a spot where russia has been trying to break through. they badly need better equipment, but they have other strengths. we are unity. we fight for our independence from russia. russian soldiers fight for money.

they don't much await it as much as we. the russians have been pounding these front line positions for weeks now, but the big picture here in the donbas is that the kremlin's offensive has largely stalled. they have taken hardly any significant towns, and the ukrainians are making them pay a heavy price for every scrap of land. further out, in no—man's land, ukrainian volunteers collect the abandoned bodies of russian soldiers. too many to count, according to alexei. "i can't see how the russian army can keep going, it's losing so many men," he says. "i don't understand this madness." back at the village, ivan's father is still inconsolable. but his widow brings their five—year—old son to the graveside. "he was a stubborn man

and a good man," she tells us, sounding resolute now, as the struggle for the donbas grinds on. andrew harding, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. the view on the front line in the east. let's talk to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet who's in the central ukrainian city of in dnipro. it is good to see you. lyse, we all thought we'd get greater clarity about what could lie ahead in this war, from vladimir putin's speech, but we're all left guessing about his true war aims, the parameters of the fighting, and what victory would look like for russia. yes, yet again we are reminded that russia's invasion of ukraine is really president putin's war. 50 really president putin's war. so from really president putin's war. sr from the very start, it has been a guessing game. there was so much

uncertainty about what president putin wants that there was speculation in the run—up to may the 9th, would he call out for a general mobilisation and declaration of war rather than a special military operation as he described it or what he instead declare victory and try to bring an end to these hostilities on the ground where he is clearly not gaining ground? and in the end, he did neither. in a speech which largely focused on his animosity towards the west. but he did say, as he has said so many times, it is all going according to plan. so what do we see on the ground? as we heard, the bulk of his fighting forces and fire power are now focused on the donbas in eastern ukraine, closer to his border. even there, he has been denied that swift and sweeping victory that he thought he would get so early on in this invasion. so what we expect? more and more of this war, a war in which there so

many losses over ukrainians, and they say it is a war they still will win. ~ . , they say it is a war they still will win. a, , ., they say it is a war they still will win. ., i, . they say it is a war they still will win. many thanks. lyse doucet, our chief international _ win. many thanks. lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent. l well, there was a huge build—up to vladimir putin's speech today, but it's notable for what he didn't say. no official declaration of war with ukraine, no mass mobilisation of troops. no tick list of achievements, because there aren't any, and most significantly, no timeline for victory, and no sense when his troops will be going home. that's it, from me and the team here in kyiv, now back to you, fiona, for the rest of the day's news. thanks to you and the team in kyiv. the time is 18:20. our top story this evening: the labour leader keir starmer says he will resign if he is fined by durham police for breaking covid

rules. and it has been confirmed the queen will not be attending the state 0pening will not be attending the state opening of parliament tomorrow. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel: with no premiership sides in the champions cup semis, sale's director of rugby hits out at the salary cap, saying pay restrictions in the english game makes it harder to match sides from france. the head of scottishpower is calling on the government to give ten million households £1,000 each towards their energy bills by october. without it, he says, 40% of households could be in fuel poverty this winter, with an expected rise in average energy bills in october to between £2,500 and £3,000 a year. the chancellor of the exchequer, rishi sunak, has said again that people will have to wait until the autumn for any further help with their energy bills. here's our business editor, simonjack. gerard barwick, like millions of other energy consumers, is looking at soaring bills with dismay. he can't see how he can afford

another rise this winter. we've already cut back on not using as much heating, not using as much electricity. now, come 0ctober, they expect you to pull out another £1,000. you're already looking at an empty purse and you cannot pull any more money out of an empty purse. the price cap was introduced in early 2019 to ensure customers weren't overcharged. it stayed relatively stable until soaring wholesale prices saw it shoot up to nearly £2,000 this april, and scottishpower estimate that it could hit 2,900 this october, which would see workers on average salaries spending 10% of their take—home pay on energy. that is one definition of fuel poverty and would include 10 million households. keith anderson wants £1,000 knocked off their bills, paid for by adding £40 to all bills over the next ten years. 10 million households, that is notjust people

on benefits orjust people requiring government support. that is average income, average families, who will be suffering real issues with debt and real issues with the ability to heat their home by october. some might describe this as self—serving lobbying to ensure companies like his get paid, but he insisted energy retailers could not continue to lose hundreds of millions of pounds. we can't subsidise the energy sector forever, and that's what we have been doing. last year, we were clearly subsidising our customers' bills. this year, we're subsidising customers' bills. there's a limit as to how long that can go on before you run out of money doing it. the government has already provided some support. there was £150 council tax rebate for most households from april and there will be £200 knocked off all bills come october, but that money will have to be repaid over the following years. but there was widespread acknowledgement both outside and within government that more help

will be needed if households are to withstand another crippling rise in energy bills this winter. the treasury has said it wants to wait to see how high prices rise before deciding what to do. speaking today, the chancellor gave his clearest signal yet that targeted help is coming. we can do things to support people and we are going to do what we can to ease the burden. i wish i could make it completely go away, but i can't. but where we can make a difference, particularly for those who really need our help, that's what we're going to do, that's what we have done and we will continue to do so. but scottishpower warn that if the chancellor wants industry help to head off a winter crisis, he needs to act soon. simon jack, bbc news. buckingham palace has announced the queen will not attend tomorrow's state opening of parliament. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell joins us, royal correspondent nicholas witchelljoins us, what more can you tell us about this? the witchell joins us, what more can you tell us about this?— tell us about this? the decision has been taken — tell us about this? the decision has been taken by _ tell us about this? the decision has been taken by buckingham - tell us about this? the decision has been taken by buckingham palace l tell us about this? the decision has i been taken by buckingham palace that the queen will not be attending the state opening of parliament

tomorrow, the queen's speech will be red instead by the prince of wales with the duke of cambridge also in attendance, they are both councils of state so they are empowered to do that. this is what the palace statement says within the last few minutes. the queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the state opening of parliament tomorrow. at her majesty's request and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, the prince of wales will read the queen's speech on her majesty's behalf with the duke of cambridge also in attendance. we are told the decision was taken today in consultation with the royal doctors, even though earlier today, we were led to believe she was still hoping to attend. the palace won't go into detail as to what these episodic mobility problems are specifically, but we understand that they are a continuation of the issues that she has experienced since last autumn which of course caused her to miss

other recent church services. but she is continuing with virtual audiences, with australia today, with the privy council, there will be a consultation with the prime minister also. be a consultation with the prime ministeralso. so be a consultation with the prime minister also. so that work is continuing from windsor castle, but she will not be attending the state opening of parliament tomorrow. nicholas witchell, thank you. morrisons has done a deal to buy one of britain's biggest convenience chains, mccoll�*s. morrisons secured the deal after a last—minute bidding war against the billionaire owners of asda. the retailer says it's taking on all of mccoll�*s 1,160 stores, and all colleagues will be transferred to morrisons. the group is also taking on the two pension schemes. a man has admitted killing a police community support officer in kent, but he's denied murder. julia james was found dead in akholt wood in april last year. the 53—year—old had been walking her dog when she was attacked. callum wheeler, who is 22, appeared at canterbury crown court for the first day of his trial, which is expected

to last four weeks. thousands of travellers have faced hours of queues at birmingham and manchester airports, many hoping to fly out of the airports had to queue to enter the terminals. birmingham airport decided to line up queues for security outside to prevent them becoming tangled up with check—in queues inside. the airport says it has already started recruiting extra staff. a rare and precious find — a tooth from one of the world's largest prehistoric sharks, a megalodon. it was found on the suffolk coast and could be up to 20 million years old. and the amateur fossil hunter who found this rare fossil? he's only six. jo black reports. the tooth of one of the largest prehistoric sharks, extinct for roughly three and a half million years. it's a discovery that any experienced palaeontologist would be thrilled with, but this megalodon tooth was unearthed by a six—year—old, and now sammy and his fossil are the talk of his school.

sammy, i like your... i like your fossil. i think the tooth is heavy. it's really big and megalodons are from ages ago. but what does sammy make of it all? so it's, like, so big, i didn't know what it even was. and how did you find out what it was? my daddy told me. there were some clearly very serious fossil hunters down there with all the proper gear and then me and sammy in muddy boots walking along the beach hoping to find a shark's tooth and, instead, turning up this megalodon tooth. megalodons are thought to be the largest fish that ever lived. a megalodon's full body length can range from at least 13 metres up to a maximum of 18 metres, or almost the length of two double—decker buses. it was the last bank holiday weekend here in bawdsey, in suffolk,

when sammy struck lucky. sammy has been to this beach before, but he was looking for shells. but inspired by talking to fossil hunters, he decided to try and look for sharks' teeth. so this was his first attempt at doing so and, of course, he found one. but at first, he didn't realise how special it was. there's a part of me that's been looking for a megalodon tooth since i was six, so i haven't found yet! i'm very, very pleased that he's found one. sammy has now taken to sleeping with his special tooth. this might be a once—in—a—lifetime find but, for this six—year—old, he's determined it won't be his last. jo black, bbc news, bawdsey, in suffolk. good for sammy, what a find at six years old! time to have a look at the weather. here's stav da naos. good evening, changes have been taking place with the weather this afternoon, low pressure has been sweeping into northern and western areas bringing outbreaks are very useful rain. it will stay on the

unsettled side, quite breezy with further rain or showers at times. this is the tangled weather front pushing into north and west of the country with this area of low pressure. higher pressure across the south and east so although the sunshine has been turning hazy, it has stay dry and quite warm and windy. look at the rain piling into northern ireland, much of scotland, heavy bursts, into western wales and north—west england, very much needed, of course. if you want the rainfall across the south east, this front will fizzle out this evening and overnight as it pushes southwards and eastwards, not reaching east anglia and the south east until tomorrow morning. behind it, clear spells, blustery east until tomorrow morning. behind it, clearspells, blustery showers, some of them on the heavy side. a bit fresher in the north—west, but quite a warm and muggy night for england and wales. the pressure chart for tuesday, low pressure to the north of the uk, isobars on the chart so another breezy and windy day. there is the weather front across the south east, barely any rain on it, it won't give the gardens and fields across the south east much of a drink. it will clear

away and then it is