this is bbc news. the headlines... having a vote on your neighbour's extension plans to give people more say over housing developments in england to improve their surroundings. it is no kind of success simply to hit a target of the homes that are built are shoddy, in the wrong place, they don't have the infrastructure required, and they are not contribute into beautiful communities.— are not contribute into beautiful communities. . , ., ., communities. new warnings that more than 1 million — communities. new warnings that more than 1 million households _ communities. new warnings that more than 1 million households across - communities. new warnings that more than 1 million households across the i than 1 million households across the uk will struggle to pay bills over the coming 12 months. if they don't receive more help from the government. vladimir putin is preparing for a long war, the us says, as intelligence reports are found, as ukraine claims to have pushed out russian troops near the keys city of kharkiv. the uk signed

a mutual security pact with sweden, pledging support should the military come under attack. more could be done to help you with long—term chronic pain, specialists say, is a bbc survey suggests a quarter of uk adults live with the condition. doesn't matter how hard i tried, or how much i wait or how much i pray, it most likely isn't going to change. downing street says its target of building 300,000 new homes in england per year still stands after the housing secretary michael gove has said the government was no longer trying to meet it. mr gove said ministers were now focusing on building homes people can be proud of and said that

people in england would be given the right to vote on proposed property extensions in their neighbourhood as part of its new levelling up and regeneration bill which has been introduced in parliament today after yesterday's queens speech. labour has said the queen's speech didn't contain enough measures to help people with the rising cost of living but michael gove dismissed suggestions that an emergency budget could be held, and said ministers were looking at ways to help. 0ur political correspondent helen catt has the latest: the pomp and ceremony of the queen's speech is over. now the work on what it announced begins. among the first items, a levelling up bill which will change planning rules. it promises to give communities more control over development. it isn't the big overhaul that ministers had previously put forward and which caused a backlash among tory mps, and the levelling up secretary appeared to step back from the government's pledged to build an extra 300,000 homes

per year by the mid—2020s. no kind of success simply to hit a target if the homes that are built are shoddy, in the wrong place, don't have the infrastructure required and are not contributing to beautiful communities. downing street insisted the government remains committed to the target. ministers want to introduce design codes to allow local communities more say over materials used in a development and the layout. there would be street votes to allow neighbours to vote on extensions, and new locally set levies after brand—new houses are sold to help build infrastructure. there has been criticism that these measures will not do enough to help those struggling to find a home. a charge levelled at other parts of the queen's speech as well. 30 odd measures, all of them very small, few of them focusing on the cost of living crisis. they seem more interested in stoking the kind of culture wars that divide the country because they think a divided country is good for the conservative party. what we need is a government that will bring this

country back together. the prime minister chaired the first meeting of the cost of living committee of senior ministers last night, but the interstates is tweaking rules on things like mot is to bring down costs, not more big spending. there are millions, families and pensioners who are already struggling. they know it's going to get worse in the autumn when energy bills go up again. and the prime minister literally offered nothing yesterday. in the commons yesterday, the prime minister suggested he and the chancellor would be saying more in the coming days but the treasury then said that did not mean an emergency budget. we are constantly looking at ideas in order to ensure that we relieve the pressure on people who are facing incredibly tough times. but that doesn't amount to an emergency budget, which is what some people immediately thought that it did. it is an example of some

commentators chasing their own tails and trying to take a statement that is commonsensical, turning it into, a major, capital letters, news story, and in fact when the treasury quite rightly say, "calm down". as costs continue to go up, the pressure for action is likely to continue. the government has laid out its plans for the new parliament question is if it will be enough to meet expectations. helen catt, bbc news. new research suggests 1.5 million households will struggle to pay their food and energy bills over the next 12 months. the national institute of economic and social research has predicted that the uk will fall into recession this year. our business correspondent ramzan karmali is here. what is the background to this? what are they saying, and why are they saying it now?— are they saying, and why are they saying it now? they do an outlook every year. _ saying it now? they do an outlook every year. they — saying it now? they do an outlook every year, they have _ saying it now? they do an outlook every year, they have looked - saying it now? they do an outlook every year, they have looked at i saying it now? they do an outlookl every year, they have looked at not just the uk, but the world as well. they have looked at the impact of the war in ukraine will have on the global economy, which they say will shrink by i% because of the war in

ukraine, about $1.5 shrink by 1% because of the war in ukraine, about $1.5 trillion of economic cost. specifically on the uk, they are looking at ways... they say 1.5 million households are under pressure. they say 500,000 households will have to ask the question of whether they can heat or eat. and that is pretty devastating news for quite a lot of households out there. one of the things they have come outwith, they have said there are things the government can do, they can increase universal credit by £25 a week, from now until october, they could also give a one 0ctober, they could also give a one off £250 payment to 11.5 million low—income households. off £250 payment to 11.5 million low-income households. people that wouldn't necessarily _ low-income households. people that wouldn't necessarily be _ low-income households. people that wouldn't necessarily be on _ low-income households. people that wouldn't necessarily be on benefit? i wouldn't necessarily be on benefit? no, but very low incomes. so all of those measures would cost £4.2 billion. now the government say we have spent billions, we have given money toward energy bills, we have lowered the rate on universal credit, we can't keep giving money out. but they say, hang on a minute, according to rishi sunak�*s own

fiscal rules that he sets himself, and the office for fiscal responsibility, they say, you have £20 billion with of head room, and thatis £20 billion with of head room, and that is what the national institute of economic responsibility is saying, you have that headroom, time you used it. it is saying, you have that headroom, time ou used it. , ., saying, you have that headroom, time ou used it. , . , . you used it. it is a difficult conundrum, _ you used it. it is a difficult conundrum, he _ you used it. it is a difficult conundrum, he says - you used it. it is a difficult conundrum, he says he i you used it. it is a difficult - conundrum, he says he needs it as a buffer then they will say, you expect things to get worse? hate to be the bearer— expect things to get worse? hate to be the bearer of _ expect things to get worse? hate to be the bearer of more _ expect things to get worse? hate to be the bearer of more bad - expect things to get worse? hate to be the bearer of more bad news, i be the bearer of more bad news, 0fgem, the energy regulator, have said it is almost inevitable that energy bills will go up in october. the pressure on households is now, it will not go away any time soon. inflation figures have come out today, the bag ring and says it is coming towards 10%. the pressure on households to pay for energy and food is only going to get worse. in the budget is a long way off. it is. |

the government has rejected eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol saying they would make things worse. the foreign secretary, liz truss, said she wanted a "negotiated solution" but warned she could take unilateral action. she'll meet with the vice president of the european commission tomorrow for further talks. the irish ministerfor the irish minister for foreign the irish ministerforforeign pairs said the uk appear to be ready to breach international law. he said that had not gone down well across the european union. indie that had not gone down well across the european union.— the european union. we have been very consistent _ the european union. we have been very consistent about _ the european union. we have been very consistent about this. - the european union. we have been very consistent about this. we - the european union. we have been| very consistent about this. we don't believe the way forward in terms of solving outstanding issues can be done unilaterally by either side. the way to solve outstanding issues in relation to brexit and the protocol, northern ireland, is through partnership, compromise, and through partnership, compromise, and through working these issues out together, in a way that both sides can move on. that is what we want to do. of course, there was issues have

also been part of getting devolved institutions up and running in northern ireland as well, to make it even more complicated. but i think the briefing that we have seen in the briefing that we have seen in the british media, coming from liz truss and others, has gone down really badly across the european union. they believe that the commission has been showing a willingness to compromise, one ongoing technical discussion to try to work out solutions on common ground, and what they are hearing and seeing from london is a rejection of that approach, towards a breach of international law. and setting aside elements of a treaty that the british government was central to putting in place with the eu. so, that hasn't gone down well, and i hope that the decision—makers in westminster will reflect on that. that was the foreign minister of ireland. let's go to belfast and

nick garnett. what is the likely situation of development? it does seem to be moving a lot behind the scenes. this all affects whether the northern ireland executive can get up northern ireland executive can get up and running. northern ireland executive can get up and running-— up and running. exactly, there is more chance _ up and running. exactly, there is more chance of— up and running. exactly, there is more chance of that _ up and running. exactly, there is more chance of that happening l up and running. exactly, there is. more chance of that happening on friday, or less chance of that happening on friday, dan of the uk winning the eurovision song contest. things looked very, very difficult. what has happened is that the process is going, trying to set itself up, the democratic unionist party, the second in last week's elections, it came to a bit of an impasse and it wanted big changes to the northern ireland protocol before it would take its place at the assembly. the problem is, that is not in the power of the united kingdom, it has to be done between the eu and british pollen. it's not going to happen overnight. there are talks for a plan tomorrow, and they

have been going on for months and months. there has been no solution to it. it's very unlikely the solution will happen almost overnight. you have comments from secretary liz truss, and michael gove, saying they are willing to tear apart of the protocol. that word parts is a keyword, they are not talking about ripping up the whole protocol and going it alone, because of the risks that would cause in terms of retribution or reciprocation of problems from the eu itself. so, it is likely there would be some element of going it alone. liz truss says she is willing to start putting that together as early as next week. it would, of course, take a long time to go through, and there has been talk of concern among the conservative backbenchers because they can see that this would not go down well in terms of getting it through parliament. it might get through the house of commons, because of boris johnson's large majority, but one

conservative was saying it would get torn apart in the house of lords if it went that far. so, there is no easy answer to this. so there is no way that it would be sorted out before the assembly is due to take place and due to sit for the first time on friday. we place and due to sit for the first time on friday.— place and due to sit for the first time on friday. we have 'ust had literall , time on friday. we have 'ust had literally. as i time on friday. we have 'ust had literally, as we * time on friday. we have 'ust had literally, as we were _ time on friday. we have just had literally, as we were speaking, i time on friday. we have just had literally, as we were speaking, a| literally, as we were speaking, a response from the white house, saying it wants to encourage continued dialogue between uk and eu northern ireland, the protocol. it is another player in this because it is another player in this because it is one of the guarantors of the good friday agreement?— friday agreement? exactly. the . uestion friday agreement? exactly. the question is. _ friday agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn _ friday agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein _ friday agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says- friday agreement? exactly. the | question is, sinn fein says there has to be able to somewhere. whether thatis has to be able to somewhere. whether that is where it is at the moment, the irish sea, or a hard border between the republic of ireland and northern ireland, there has to be a border, because of the land mass thatis border, because of the land mass that is ireland, there has to be a custom check at some point. part of the land masses in the eu in part is not. so, the threat to the good friday agreement is that if you

create a hard border, it creates division, it creates a difference between the two countries that is not there at the moment. it hasn't been there since the belfast agreement, the good friday agreement, was put in place. so, joe biden getting involved in this, it has been on the cards for a while. yet again, it is upping the rhetoric, it is upping the ante. it adds to the problem is, really. as i say, there is no quick way this can be sorted out. say, there is no quick way this can be sorted out-— say, there is no quick way this can be sorted out. thank you very much. let's talk to — be sorted out. thank you very much. let's talk to roger _ be sorted out. thank you very much. let's talk to roger pollen... - be sorted out. thank you very much. let's talk to roger pollen... i'm - let's talk to roger pollen... i'm sorry, forgive me. we are having some technical problems. we are going to go to ukraine instead. we are going to talk about president putin's efforts to prepare for a long war in ukraine, and victory in the east may not end the conflict. that warning has come from us intelligence is fierce fighting

continues in the east of the country, where russia is trying to take territory. ukraine says the counteroffensive has pushed out russian forces north of kharkiv, recapturing some villages around that city. turning of the tide in kharkiv. this tank, russia's most advanced, destroyed. ukrainian counterattacks have forced the invaders out of some villages. but this war is stagnating, and ukraine's leader knows it. �* ,, �* stagnating, and ukraine's leader knows it-_ i- stagnating, and ukraine's leader knows it._ i also l stagnating, and ukraine's leader- knows it._ i also want knows it. translation: i also want to urle knows it. translation: i also want to urge our — knows it. translation: i also want to urge our people. _ knows it. translation: i also want to urge our people, especially - knows it. translation: i also want to urge our people, especially those not on _ to urge our people, especially those not on the _ to urge our people, especially those not on the front line, not to get carried — not on the front line, not to get carried away. we should not put on pressure _ carried away. we should not put on pressure and expect on pressure on expect— pressure and expect on pressure on expect victories daily.— expect victories daily. russia does not have the _ expect victories daily. russia does not have the air _ expect victories daily. russia does not have the air superiority - expect victories daily. russia does not have the air superiority at - expect victories daily. russia does| not have the air superiority at once over ukraine, according to the us, instead launching shoot and scoot

missions from inside the country. let me the latest aim is to take the whole of the eastern donbas region. today, though, a warning. a shift in focus, yes, but not a shrinking of ambition. ., ., ., ambition. the next month or two fillhtin ambition. the next month or two fighting will _ ambition. the next month or two fighting will be _ ambition. the next month or two fighting will be significant, - ambition. the next month or two fighting will be significant, as - ambition. the next month or two | fighting will be significant, as the russians attempted to reinvigorate their efforts, but even if they are successful, we are not confident to fight in the donbas will effectively end the war. we assess president putin is apparent for prolonged conflict in ukraine during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the donbas. still intends to achieve goals be ond the donbas. . , beyond the donbas. vladimir putin is rel inl on beyond the donbas. vladimir putin is relying on western _ beyond the donbas. vladimir putin is relying on western governments - beyond the donbas. vladimir putin is relying on western governments and j relying on western governments and the european union losing interest, and having to focus on other issues so that he can capitalise in this war. he is not against a long—term campaign. let's remember, there were eight years of russian aggression and a war in the east before this invasion even happened. this war is still brutal. look at mariupol.

hundreds of ukrainian fighters trapped in tunnels, under the steel plant in a destroyed city. they are calling for the wounded to be helped out, while the others refused to surrender. lets ta ke lets take a look at the headlines so far. number10 lets take a look at the headlines so far. number 10 says the government market was sticking by its target of building 300,000 new homes in england every year. new warnings that more than 1 million households across the uk will struggle to pay their bills over the next 12 months if they don't get more government help. vladimir putin is preparing for a long war, us intelligence is warning, as ukraine says it has pushed out russian forces near the key city of kharkiv. let's stay with the consequence of the war in ukraine. it is undoubtedly changing attitudes in the neighbouring countries of sweden and finland. neighbours, that is, to russia. britain has today signed a

security pact, promising to give assistance to sweden if it ever comes under attack. it was signed on a visit by borisjohnson to sweden and later to finland. the countries are considering whether to join nato. if they do, they would become the 31st in 32nd member countries of the 31st in 32nd member countries of the north atlantic treaty 0rganisation founded at the end of the 1940s, to counteract russian influence around europe. moscow has one of military and political repercussions if the two countries join the alliance. finland has an 800 mile long border with russia. speaking at a news conference with the swedish prime minister, boris johnson said in the event of a disaster or an attack on sweden, the uk would come to its aid. i’m disaster or an attack on sweden, the uk would come to its aid.— uk would come to its aid. i'm very leased uk would come to its aid. i'm very pleased today _ uk would come to its aid. i'm very pleased today with _ uk would come to its aid. i'm very pleased today with you, _ uk would come to its aid. i'm very pleased today with you, prime - pleased today with you, prime minister, to sign this mutual security assurances declaration. it is agreement that brings our two countries even closer together, it will allow us to share more

intelligence, ulster our military exercises and further ourjoint development of technology. the prime minister, speaking _ development of technology. the prime minister, speaking in _ development of technology. the prime minister, speaking in sweden - development of technology. the prime minister, speaking in sweden a - minister, speaking in sweden a little earlier today. let's talk to professor gwythian prins, former consultant for the ministry of defence and nato. thank you very much for being with us. the british and swedish security cooperation agreement is presumably not quite a formal promise to send military forces of sweden were attacked, but it is symbolic of the way sweden is becoming much more acutely concert blue conscious of security in the light of ukraine? i blue conscious of security in the light of ukraine?— blue conscious of security in the light of ukraine? i think what you have said is _ light of ukraine? i think what you have said is not _ light of ukraine? i think what you have said is not correct, - light of ukraine? i think what you have said is not correct, i - light of ukraine? i think what you have said is not correct, i think. light of ukraine? i think what you have said is not correct, i think it| have said is not correct, i think it is exactly a formal promise. if you listened to the swedish prime minister, she described it as a bilateral strategic agreement, and prime ministerjohnson made it clear in that conference of which you

played a clip that the request for what aid would be required in any given circumstance will lie with whichever party it is that requires the aid. it is what is normally called all necessary means. in other words, if sweden _ called all necessary means. in other words, if sweden were _ called all necessary means. in other words, if sweden were to _ called all necessary means. in other words, if sweden were to ask- called all necessary means. in other words, if sweden were to ask for. words, if sweden were to ask for direct military intervention by the british, if it was under attack, we would give it? can we read that into it? i would give it? can we read that into it? 4' would give it? can we read that into it? ~ ., would give it? can we read that into it? . .,, it? i think all necessary means means all— it? i think all necessary means means all necessary _ it? i think all necessary means means all necessary means. . it? i think all necessary means l means all necessary means. the it? i think all necessary means - means all necessary means. the whole point about how we in the west talk about deterrence is that unlike mr putin, who likes to waive his nuclear weapons around, somewhat desperately at the moment, given the degree of defeat that he is enduring. we don't talk about what we might do. in a enduring. we don't talk about what we might do-_ enduring. we don't talk about what we might do. in a sense, would you read into this, _ we might do. in a sense, would you read into this, in _ we might do. in a sense, would you read into this, in part, _ we might do. in a sense, would you read into this, in part, that - read into this, in part, that because there is now serious talk in both sweden and finland ofjoining nato, that come in a sense, it is almost like a precursor to that? if

they did become members of nato, we would automatically be all bound together in mutual support? that is com - letel together in mutual support? that is completely right. _ together in mutual support? that is completely right. if _ together in mutual support? that is completely right. if the _ together in mutual support? that is completely right. if the swedes - together in mutual support? that is completely right. if the swedes and the finns proceed, as i think all the finns proceed, as i think all the indications are that they will, to make an application, one that has been approved in all of the capitals of all of the nato nations, which i expect would happen, but it would take some time, they would then have formal protection under article 5, an attack on one is an attack on all. what is so important about the bilateral agreement, and i stress it is bilateral, between our two countries, is that it provides cover in this great period. the swedish foreign minister has just been foreign minister hasjust been in north america and was making it very clear in canada that what is needed from the americans is what theyjust got, which is a similar sort of agreement, not get formally so, and

what is unspoken is that we, the united kingdom, is the second most important member of nato, we are also a nuclear power. and so that means that there is an implicit extension of a nuclear shield, and thatis extension of a nuclear shield, and that is the thing which the european union, for example, cannot ever provide under article 42 of the european treaty. it is really nonsense for the eu to believe that it has a military role. it would be very helpful if emmanuel macron stopped talking about that. stopped talkinl that stopped talking about that. stopped talking that up _ stopped talking about that. stopped talking that up and _ stopped talking about that. stopped talking that up and started - stopped talking about that. stopped talking that up and started focusing | talking that up and started focusing on nato? in terms of the change in mood, has vladimir putin effectively engineered, more by accident than design, presumably, the expansion of nato? ~ ., ~ , , nato? well done, mr putin, yes, the man who lives _ nato? well done, mr putin, yes, the man who lives in _ nato? well done, mr putin, yes, the man who lives in a _ nato? well done, mr putin, yes, the man who lives in a topsy-turvy - man who lives in a topsy—turvy world, as you know, because whenever he is describing some horror that his forces are about to perform, he always says it is the other side that has done it. he said what he

didn't want was to have a strengthened nato his resolve was made firmer, and which stood shoulder to shoulder with the ukrainians in defence of their liberty, that is exactly what he has created. bringing in the swedes and finns is no small because both of these are countries with extremely competent militaries. they worked hand in glove with us for many, many years. mrjohnson reminded everybody that the now famous mlaw is an anglo swedish weapon. if you look at the finns, it must be seen through the prism of the winter war from 1939 to 1940, when they fought to stalin. they see ukraine as the winter war two. it has a standing army of over 200,000. it has the largest

artillery stockpile in europe, something of a 700 artillery pieces. so this is going to be a massive improvement in the scale of capability, and it is building a shield wall from the country of these nordic warrior women, who run all of these countries, right the way down to anatolia and turkey. so nato has never been as united and strong, certainly not in my memory. my strong, certainly not in my memory. my time goes back to serving on nato headquarters at the time of the end of the soviet union. 50 headquarters at the time of the end of the soviet union.— of the soviet union. so president macron might — of the soviet union. so president macron might have _ of the soviet union. so president macron might have been - of the soviet union. so president macron might have been a - of the soviet union. so president macron might have been a bit - macron might have been a bit premature, there is life in the old organisation yet. i premature, there is life in the old organisation yet.— organisation yet. i don't take his word on many — organisation yet. i don't take his word on many things. _ organisation yet. i don't take his word on many things. gwythianl organisation yet. i don't take his - word on many things. gwythian prins, thank ou word on many things. gwythian prins, thank you so — word on many things. gwythian prins, thank you so much. _ word on many things. gwythian prins, thank you so much. let's _ word on many things. gwythian prins, thank you so much. let's return - word on many things. gwythian prins, thank you so much. let's return to - thank you so much. let's return to northern ireland and the head of small businesses in northern ireland. thank you for bearing with us as we had technical difficulties. i hope you can hear me clearly now?

let me ask you, simply, from a members point of view, you really want this resolved one way or another. if nothing else, if something is going to happen, presumably that has got to be progress? indie presumably that has got to be llroress? ~ ., presumably that has got to be progress?— presumably that has got to be llroress? . . , ., ., progress? we have been waiting for over16 progress? we have been waiting for over 16 months, _ progress? we have been waiting for over16 months, since _ progress? we have been waiting for over 16 months, since the _ progress? we have been waiting for over16 months, since the protocol. over 16 months, since the protocol came into operation. all of that time, there have been sticking plaster fixes, time, there have been sticking plasterfixes, various time, there have been sticking plaster fixes, various grace time, there have been sticking plasterfixes, various grace periods that have allowed supermarkets goods to come to northern ireland, parcels to come to northern ireland, parcels to come to northern ireland, parcels to come in, they have been in place unilaterally by the uk government. they are not solutions as such. they are just making things work for the moment. so we haven't really got a settled foundation to stand on to do business, and to really promote northern ireland as a place to do business. so we want to get some sort of resolution. suddenly the pressure seems to be ratcheting up, both because of local elections recently and because of the actions and words of the uk government. so, we seem to feel we are moving toward some sort of resolution. at the eu don't seem to be terribly happy with the way that is happening, so all of

that creates uncertainty and that is unwelcome. i crack at the british, to reject the package of measures that the vice president of the commission had recommended. have you seen this proposal? share commission had recommended. have you seen this proposal?— seen this proposal? are you able to make a evaluate _ seen this proposal? are you able to make a evaluate from _ seen this proposal? are you able to make a evaluate from a _ seen this proposal? are you able to make a evaluate from a business i make a evaluate from a business perspective about whether they would improve the situation?— improve the situation? various proposals _ improve the situation? various proposals came _ improve the situation? various proposals came forward - improve the situation? various proposals came forward in - improve the situation? various proposals came forward in the | proposals came forward in the autumn, to a certain extent they move things forward. ultimately, they were again plaster fixes. there was a commitment to cut down the number of cheques being carried out, but ultimately we need to make sure there was more than just a reduction in cheques, we needed a differentiation between goods coming into northern ireland to be consumed here and things passing through northern ireland, to go to the supermarket south of the border. halal supermarket south of the border. how difficult is it getting? sorry to interrupt? how difficult is it getting for your members who run

businesses in northern ireland to access things like components, elements in a manufactured food product or whatever it may be, from the rest of britain, opposed to from the european union, including the republic of ireland? there are lots of different types of difficulties. it depends on the sector you are in. for components, there is a thing called the trader support service, which the government would assist with that. the problem with that is that it was set up to last for a certain period of time, for a number of years, before people got used to the new processes. the risk is that gets taken away. in terms of food products, that is more difficult. some of those are covered by the grace period for those that register for that, some are not. so it's a very difficult picture to try to convey, because lots of different people are affected in different ways. what we need to do is just bring a degree of practical common sense to the resolution of the

problems. sense to the resolution of the problems-— sense to the resolution of the roblems. �* . ., �* , problems. and if a deal can't be found, problems. and if a deal can't be found. and _ problems. and if a deal can't be found. and if— problems. and if a deal can't be found, and if the _ problems. and if a deal can't be found, and if the government i problems. and if a deal can't be - found, and if the government matter acts on its threat to effectively tear off parts of the protocol, what are the fee is for you from a business point of view for that? —— for years. business point of view for that? —— foryears. everybody business point of view for that? —— for years. everybody would prefer a negotiated solution, but if it doesn't happen? negotiated solution, but if it doesn't ha en? . , ., doesn't happen? ultimately, we are lloin to doesn't happen? ultimately, we are going to have _ doesn't happen? ultimately, we are going to have to _ doesn't happen? ultimately, we are going to have to get _ doesn't happen? ultimately, we are going to have to get some - doesn't happen? ultimately, we are going to have to get some sort - doesn't happen? ultimately, we are going to have to get some sort of. going to have to get some sort of working agreement between the uk and the eu. the question is, what we need to do to shorten the between now and then? the risk of any unilateral action on any side is that itjust inflames the situation and it delays the period before you get to the subtle state where you can work quite happily together. so, there is concern around the prospect ofjust there is concern around the prospect of just tearing things there is concern around the prospect ofjust tearing things up. it seems an unplanned move. we don't know what it would provoke in return. therefore, we would much rather move forward on the basis of negotiation. good to speak to you again. thank

you very much for your time. time for a look at the weather. it's a bit wet in london, but i am sure sue them powell has hope. this with a friend has been pushing eastwood at quite a pace and sky is operating extensively in the west and also sunshine returning to eastern areas to take us through the evening. still some showers in western scotland to the small hours of thursday, overall, dry weather, later wind to the south and a little more chilly than the nightjust gone, three orfour more chilly than the nightjust gone, three or four degrees. more chilly than the nightjust gone, three orfour degrees. a lot of sunshine to start the day on thursday. england, wales and northern ireland i think set to remain essentially dry, as will eastern scotland. in the west, yet again, showers turning into more prolonged spells of rain as we get to the afternoon. the rain stretching up to the northern isles. temperatures here just about making

it into double figures. further south, we should get 16, 17, may be 18. as we look to the outlook, temperatures rising for all of us by the time we get to the weekend. look out for some thundery downpours.

welcome back, you are watching bbc news. having a vote on your neighbour's extension. plans to give people more of a say on housing developers in england, to improve their surroundings. the uk signed a mutual security plan with sweden, pledging support should it come under attack.

a quarter of uk adults are living with the condition. we are going to talk about more on all of those stories in the coming minutes. the premier league title race is still on after liverpool beat aston villa yesterday. tonight, manchester city had two wolves, hoping to put more breathing room between them. city are going to be short of defenders for the run—in as ruben dias, john stones and kyle walker are all injured. regardless, pep guardiola's side know that a wind or draw will see them go top with two games left. indie draw will see them go top with two lames left. ~ draw will see them go top with two games left-—

games left. we need six or seven oints to games left. we need six or seven points to be _ games left. we need six or seven points to be champion. _ games left. we need six or seven points to be champion. this - games left. we need six or seven points to be champion. this is - games left. we need six or seven | points to be champion. this is the all—important thing. the points to be champion. this is the all-important thing.— points to be champion. this is the all-important thing. the title wind in scotland could _ all-important thing. the title wind in scotland could be _ all-important thing. the title wind in scotland could be decided - all-important thing. the title wind i in scotland could be decided tonight as celtic go to dundee united knowing that anything but defeat will see them left their 52nd league title. the manager is in his first season in charge and he could add a premiership title to the league cup they won in december. whether it is because me, my own background, or the ground that we needed to make up, 30 games ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking like a team that could end “p looking like a team that could end up being champions. 30 games later,

a goal every week is just being the best possible team we can be. the pga tour say _ best possible team we can be. the pga tour say they will not release players that asked to play in the saudi backed invitational period next month. they said players that take part at centurion golf club in june would be in violation of the regulations. phil mickelson and lee westwood have requested a release from the pga tour to participate. the chief executive of golf investment spoke to bbc sport yesterday. ida investment spoke to bbc sport esterda . ., ., , ., they are partnering up with european

tours, which sends a signal that they are trying to tighten up their monopoly situation. the players are starting to recognise this. adam peaty says he is devastated after being out of the world championship next month. he fractured a bone in his foot while training in the gym. he has been advised to rest for six weeks. the world championships take place in budapest next month. he said he has never had an injury, but he hopes to build up his strength for the commonwealth games. before an nba play—off match, one of the biggest stars, chris paul, talked to the arena wearing a picture of britney greiner, the female player imprisoned in russia. she was on her way back to the us in february, when she was detained at moscow airport. they say they found vapour cartridges in her luggage that allegedly contained oil derived from

cannabis. the biden administration say she is wrongfully detained. she could face ten years in prison. it is notjust an nba could face ten years in prison. it is not just an nba thing, could face ten years in prison. it is notjust an nba thing, everybody wants her home. she is a huge part of the community here. it's all the support. we arejust of the community here. it's all the support. we are just trying to get her home. and aljazeera correspondent, shireen abu akleh, has been shot dead while covering an israeli army raid in the occupied west bank. the television channel said she was shot in the head by israeli forces. the israeli military says she may have been hit by palestinian gunfire. she was wearing a flakjacket with the

word press emblazoned on it when she was killed. anotherjournalist with her was wounded. earlier, was killed. anotherjournalist with herwas wounded. earlier, rebecca jones spoke her was wounded. earlier, rebecca jones spoke to the herwas wounded. earlier, rebecca jones spoke to the managing editor of the aljazeera channel, and explained what he believed had happened. this explained what he believed had ha ened. , , ., explained what he believed had ha-lened. , , ., , explained what he believed had ha ened. , ,. , happened. this is an extremely sad da for happened. this is an extremely sad day forjournalism _ happened. this is an extremely sad day forjournalism and _ happened. this is an extremely sad day forjournalism and journalists . day for journalism and journalists around the world. this is a crime committed by the occupation forces, under the international law. a journalist intentionally targeted by a bullet under the ears. she was wearing a helmet on press fest, nether the less she was targeted. watch to talk about her? we woke up this morning, receiving an e—mail from her, telling our colleagues here at the headquarters, i am heading there, there is an israeli raid and i am going to cover the news. right after that, we have

responded. we are going to be live on air. we called her and she was not there. we kept calling her. we found these images on social media, circulating, that she was targeted ljy circulating, that she was targeted by a bullet under her ears. this was anotherjournalist by a bullet under her ears. this was another journalist as well. by a bullet under her ears. this was anotherjournalist as well. the occupation, the israeli forces, they were there, three days back. they entered without any clash, without any resistance from the palestinians. they took down one of the houses. we are not talking about her covering the war from the israeli or palestinian side,

targeting a military area. no, she was in a place under the occupation of the israeli forces, according to international law. she is a prominentjournalist. international law. she is a prominent journalist. international law. she is a rominent “ournalist. ., ., prominent journalist. forgive me for interrupting. — prominent journalist. forgive me for interrupting. i— prominent journalist. forgive me for interrupting, i know— prominent journalist. forgive me for interrupting, i know there _ prominent journalist. forgive me for interrupting, i know there is - prominent journalist. forgive me for interrupting, i know there is a - interrupting, i know there is a delay on the line, which makes it more difficult to have a conversation. they say they do not target journalists and the israelis have said the indication is she could have been killed by palestinian gunfire. what is your response to that? ~ ., gunfire. what is your response to that? . . ., , ., that? what we have seen from the israeli that? what we have seen from the israeli side — that? what we have seen from the israeli side is _ that? what we have seen from the israeli side is that _ that? what we have seen from the israeli side is that there _ that? what we have seen from the israeli side is that there is - that? what we have seen from the israeli side is that there is no - israeli side is that there is no consistent narrative. they started did it and then they said actually,

there was a fire and we are doing an investigation. the latest statement from the israeli side was from the defence minister. he said, we are doing an investigation. there might be crossfire in that investigation and we are investigating it. you cannot start by placing the blame and then say we are going to investigate. you should start by saying it will be investigated. we are dealing with a heinous crime by placing the blame on others. under international law, the israeli nationalforces are responsible, they are there and in operation and a journalist within your helmet and the press vest, accompanied by otherjournalists, accompanied by other journalists, one accompanied by otherjournalists, one of her colleagues from a palestinian media outlet was there watching the scene! we heinous crime

happening on air! and she was in shock, we have footage and i'm sure you have received. this was under the watch of the international media and local media this is a targeted, intentional crime because in a crossfire, you would not target a journalist under their ear, you would not target them in that area if it is crossfire. and why other journalists were not, got wounded by this fire. what we are seeing now is a targeted and intentional assassination. 6am in the morning, she was heading to an area to cover the news. to give voice to the voiceless. she used to do that. she is the second journalist hired by al jazeera after the day of the launch

of aljazeera, more than 25 years. she has been great in reporting accurate and impartial, objective and neutral, she has been very, very truthful, well—known by international media as well because she is usually doing this kind of work everywhere in palestine, trying to report the news and give voice to the voiceless, she is everywhere and by the way, she is a palestinian journalist, but also she has an american citizenship. she travelled the world. she covered the news in london. i met her in london for the first time when i was a correspondent for aljazeera. she was covering brexit news in london. she was covering news in the us, she travelled the world. she is one of aljazeera's prominentjournalists who we mourn the loss of land who we think that her death is not going to go like this, we are going to hold

whoever is responsible for this accountable and we think that the israeli forces are responsible because they are the occupation force on the ground. israel's foreign ministry has issued the following statement following the death of shireen abu akleh. we are saddened by the death during the heavy— we are saddened by the death during the heavy exchange of fire, it is a mililary— the heavy exchange of fire, it is a military counterterrorism operation. free press _ military counterterrorism operation. free press is fundamental for israel and for— free press is fundamental for israel and for all— free press is fundamental for israel and for all democracies and as such, journalists _ and for all democracies and as such, journalists must be protected. there are indications that sherry my

by we call on the palestinian authority to cooperate in order to get to the truth _ with me now is dore gold, former israeli ambassador to the un. good to speak to you despite the circumstances. you have heard what aljazeera had to say about this. is there a risk it looks like prejudging the investigation if you say before it has been conducted having the investigation we think she was probably killed by palestinian fire? me she was probably killed by palestinian fire?— she was probably killed by palestinian fire? . ., , palestinian fire? we have been here before, we have _ palestinian fire? we have been here before, we have seen _ palestinian fire? we have been here before, we have seen when - palestinian fire? we have been here before, we have seen when there i palestinian fire? we have been here i before, we have seen when there have been all kinds of military operations, sometimesjournalists would be wounded, sometimes killed.

israel's approach to this full question is based on two fundamental and suppose. number one, we are supporting freedom of the press and perhaps even more important than that, we support the rights of journalists to have access to the story. and this is something that is very fundamental in israel. we have free press inside of israel. we don't want to curtail it in anyway and we think it would be much easier to get to the bottom of this story if the palestinians would cooperate with an israeli investigation or a joint investigation. but to try and keep us out is not a smart move. lull; keep us out is not a smart move. my question stands. isn't it potentially difficult for israel if

it is perceived to be prejudging that investigation? and make that suggestion that it is palestinian fire but we will have an investigation, not be part of the difficulty of getting the palestinian authority is to cooperate with your investigation? look, we have had this problem before, where our investigations or our whole situation has been prejudged. i don't know if you remember, jenin has been a place where there have been very difficult firefight between the israeli army and some of the worst terrorist organisations. the and some of the worst terrorist organisations.— and some of the worst terrorist organisations. and some of the worst terrorist orlanisations. ,., ., , ., ., organisations. the point was that at this oint, organisations. the point was that at this point. this _ organisations. the point was that at this point, this particular— organisations. the point was that at this point, this particular time - this point, this particular time when this happened, and the other injured colleague is saying, there was no crossfire taking place and indeed this was not a dangerous part at the point she was shot. weill. at the point she was shot. well, look, i at the point she was shot. well, look. i am _ at the point she was shot. well, look. i amjust— at the point she was shot. well, look, i amjust saying, - at the point she was shot. well, look, i am just saying, one - at the point she was shot. well, look, i am just saying, one was| look, i am just saying, one was known even in arabic as the

headquarters of the suicide bombers a few years back. it is a very dangerous area. but in order to get to the bottom of this, and investigation, a joint investigation which the israeli side and palestinian side work together to get to the bottom of the story. israel and the palestinian authority have together had security cooperation, so the idea that we would work together to look at this is not far—fetched by any means. and i think that is probably the best thing we could do at this point, if we were to get to a highly credible result. �* , ., ~ we were to get to a highly credible result. �* , ., ,, ., we were to get to a highly credible result. �*, ., ,, ., , , result. let's talk more broadly be ond result. let's talk more broadly beyond the — result. let's talk more broadly beyond the killing _ result. let's talk more broadly beyond the killing of _ result. let's talk more broadly beyond the killing of shireen l result. let's talk more broadly i beyond the killing of shireen abu akleh and her colleague being

injured. there is a broader concern, there will be a broader concern that perhaps journalists wearing flak jackets, even emblazoned with the word press have become more vulnerable in recent years. would you broadly accept that's the case? not specifically israel and the occupied territories, the there is a fear that journalists are occupied territories, the there is a fear thatjournalists are no longer regarded as being beyond potential targets in dangerous situations? you are talkinl targets in dangerous situations? vol. are talking about the middle east and if we go from afghanistan all the way to lebanon, and perhaps in parts of north africa as well, you are finding a lot of crossfire, a lot of difficult areas. that doesn't preclude media from covering the israeli—palestinian conflict. we believe strongly in freedom of the press, believe strongly in press access. and that is the position the

government of israel takes and that is our diplomatic position.— is our diplomatic position. thank ou ve is our diplomatic position. thank you very much — is our diplomatic position. thank you very much for _ is our diplomatic position. thank you very much for speaking - is our diplomatic position. thank you very much for speaking to i is our diplomatic position. thank| you very much for speaking to us today. mr; you very much for speaking to us toda . y , ., , for more than three decades, scientists have investigated the cause of so—called gulf war syndrome, a collection of chronic health problems that affected more than a quarter of the coalition troops deployed during the first gulf war in 1991. now a new study by researchers in texas indicates the nerve gas sarin is to blame. caroline hawley has this report. the war to dislodge iraq from neighbouring kuwait was short, but it's been described as the most toxic in history, and it's had devastating long—term consequences for many of the soldiers who served. though, for 30 years, no—one knew exactly why. kerry fuller was one of them — a fit 26—year—old at the time of the war. now it's a battle for him just to get out of bed. i was getting illness after illness, breathing problems, chronic fatigue — run down all the time.

and when i questioned whether it could be anything to do with my service in the gulf or what we were exposed to, the military line was, "you're talking nonsense, there's no evidence — two paracetamol, crack on." kerry suffers excruciating joint and muscle pain. at night, he says he wakes the whole house, screaming. the new research blames health problems like his on the nerve agent sarin, that was released into the air when saddam hussein's chemical weapons caches were bombed. the scientists involved say it's a breakthrough which vindicates the veterans. but the ones who became ill, our new study shows, are the ones that have the weak form of a gene that normally protects you from nerve gas. and so the people with the strong form of the gene, most of them did not get ill. and you say that definitively now — no kind of ifs, no buts —

this is the end of the mystery, as far as you're concerned? that's correct. due to all the controversy over the many studies that have been done so far — all of which had different defects of one type or another — we designed this study over a number of years to be the definitive study, to answer all of the criticisms of studies in the past, so that we would get itjust right. we hope that what our findings will do will lead to a definitive treatment for this disease that would relieve them of some of these symptoms. kerry fuller has not only a huge array of symptoms — including memory problems — but also an arsenal of medication to help with them. that's the new lot. yeah. his daughter, rebecca, has to go to doctors' appointments with him, because he struggles to process the information he's given. he now wants the ministry of defence

to act on the american findings. i just hope they take it seriously and do the right thing and understand it's. .. for most of us, it isn't about money — it's about being able to access the right medical treatment. it's not a lot to ask... ..for what we did. the mod says it's indebted to all those who served — like kerry — and that it's already sponsored what it called significant research. but he wants tangible help, and fears that the latest study will simply be swept under the carpet. caroline hawley, bbc news.

we reported yesterday on the podcast. more than £2.7 million has been raised. deborahjames was diagnosed with bowel cancerjust diagnosed with bowel cancer just over five diagnosed with bowel cancerjust over five years ago when she was 45. for five years now, deborahjames has been recording, documenting, sharing her life with cancer. she has danced her way through most of it. # when you touch me like this. # when you hold me like that...# her extraordinary positivity has been a real boost for other people living with cancer. but in her most recent post on social media, she said it's the message she never wanted to write. "we've tried everything," she says, "but my body simply isn't playing ball." deborah invited us in to come and see her.

i have a really loving family, who i adore and couldn't... i honestly, like... they're just incredible. and, erm, all i knew i wanted was to... ..was to come here and be able to relax, knowing that everything was ok. we've had some really, really hard conversations in the last week. after and surrounded by love. and you always want to know as a mother, are your kids going to be ok? and my kids are going to be fine. but it doesn't mean that i'm not going to... ..miss every chance that... ..i could have had with them. deborah's openness, her honesty, her campaigning, has changed the lives of thousands of people living with cancer. but even as she nears the end, her determination to help others is undimmed.

and so before i died, the one thing i knew i wanted to do was set up a fund that can continue, erm, you know, working on some of the things that gave me life. three, two, one. deborah's family shared these pictures with us. her daughter refreshing thejustgiving page as it reaches £1 million in less than 24 hours. cheering. and ijust cannot thank people enough for their generosity, because it kind of... it just. .. itjust means so much to me. it means kind of... it makes me feel utterly loved. deborah doesn't know how long she has left, but she will be surrounded by her family at the end. i've been having sleepovers with my brother and my sister, all in ourforties. you know, never left alone, which i think is great. it's like being kids again. beautiful. i can't think of a better way to go.

the latest podcast, the latest episode recorded last night is available on bbc sounds. colin paterson has the latest from the high court. colin paterson has the latest from the high court-— colin paterson has the latest from the high court. rebecca bardi, the wife of james _ the high court. rebecca bardi, the wife of james vardy _ the high court. rebecca bardi, the wife of james vardy who _ the high court. rebecca bardi, the wife of james vardy who was - the high court. rebecca bardi, thej wife of james vardy who was being cross—examined, all focused on the exchanges she had had with her agent, coleen rooney's legal team argued they had leaked stories to the sun. many examples were given. 0ne about riyad mahrez, the former leicester team—mate of her team—mate, in which she told her

agent that he had not turned up for training for the second day in a row and the lads were fuming. her agent suggested she sell it to the papers. she settled yes, let's do it. the last 45 minutes before lunch focus on exchanges between two of them relating to coleen rooney's private instagram account. many examples were given. 0ne relating to the rooney is's car being damaged and rebecca bardi saying we should do a story on that. but the post had been deleted. in court today, coleen rooney sat next to her husband wayne rooney, wearing a which rather made him look like columbo, coleen rooney focus on rebecca vardy throughout her questioning. her eyes hardly moving, also worth seeing a lot of swearing in court today, a lot, all coming from leading out extracts of those whatsapp messages. this afternoon will be more rebecca vardy in court. she is the one in the witness box continuing to be

questioned. auk a uk ticket holder won more than £184 million. the biggest ever lottery win in the uk. the winner is yet to be declared. players are being urged to check their tickets. the player could buy for caribbean islands and have money to spare. there are interesting ways of spending your money if you have been lucky. he now it's time for a look at the weather with susan. the rain we have seen moving across england and wales has pushed east at quite a pace and skies are already brightening extensively in the west. sunshine returning to eastern areas to take us through the evening. still some sunshine to come for western scotland into the small hours but overall, a lot of dry

weather, slightly later went to the south. chilly than the nightjust gone. more laws, three orfour. a lot of sunshine to start thursday. northern ireland all set to remain essentially dry as eastern scotland but in the west, showers turning into more prolonged spells of rain into more prolonged spells of rain into the afternoon, the rain stretching to the northern isles. temperatures here making into double figures. furthersouth, temperatures here making into double figures. further south, 16—18, temperatures here making into double figures. furthersouth, 16—18, but looking at the outlook, temperatures rising for all of us by the time we get to the weekend. look out for some thundery downpours.

more difficult to have a conversation.

good afternoon, you are watching bbc news. downing street insists the government remains committed to its promise of building 300,000 homes per year in england — after the housing secretary said the government was no longer trying to meet it. new warnings that more than a million households across the uk will struggle to pay their bills over the next 12 months, if they don't receive more government help. the uk rejects eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol, saying they would make things worse. the uk signs a mutual security pact with sweden, pledging support should its military come under attack. the libel case between rebekah vardy and coleen rooney continues. rebekah vardy admits she directed

her agent to look at colleen rooney's private instagram account to obtain information about a car crash. and, ukraine qualifies for the final of the eurovision song contest — the folk—rap band are favourites to win this weekend's competition. downing street says its target of building 300,000 new homes in england per year still stands, after the housing secretary michael gove has said the government was no longer trying to meet it. mr gove said ministers were now focusing on building �*homes people can be proud of�* — and said that people in england would be given the right to vote on proposed property extensions

in their neighbourhood as part of its new levelling up and regeneration bill — which has been introduced in parliament today after yesterday's queens speech. labour has said the queen's speech didn't contain enough measures to help people with the rising cost of living. michael gove dismissed suggestions that an emergency budget could be held — but he said ministers were looking at ways to help. 0ur political correspondent helen catt has the latest. the pomp and ceremony of the queen's speech is over. now the work on what it announced begins. among the first items, a levelling up bill which will change planning rules. it promises to give communities more control over development. it isn't the big overhaul that ministers had previously put forward and which caused a backlash among tory mps, and the levelling up secretary appeared to step back from the government's pledge to build an extra 300,000 homes per year by the mid—2020s. no kind of success simply to hit

a target if the homes that are built are shoddy, in the wrong place, don't have the infrastructure required and are not contributing to beautiful communities. downing street insisted the government remains committed to the target. ministers want to introduce design codes to allow local communities more say over materials used in a development and the layout. there would be street votes to allow neighbours to vote on extensions, and new locally set levies after brand—new houses are sold to help build infrastructure. there has been criticism that these measures will not do enough to help those struggling to find a home. a charge levelled at other parts of the queen's speech too. 30—odd measures, all of them very small, few of them focusing on the cost of living crisis. they seem more interested in stoking the kind of culture wars that divide the country because they think a divided country is good for the conservative party. what we need is a government that will bring this country back together.

the prime minister chaired the first meeting of a cost of living committee of senior ministers last night, but the emphasis is is tweaking rules on things like mot is to bring down costs, not more big spending. there are millions, families and pensioners who are already struggling. they know it's going to get worse in the autumn when energy bills go up again. and the prime minister literally offered nothing yesterday. in the commons yesterday, the prime minister suggested he and the chancellor would be saying more in the coming days but the treasury then said that did not mean an emergency budget. we are constantly looking at ideas in order to ensure that we relieve the pressure on people who are facing incredibly tough times. but that doesn't amount to... american accent: "an emergency budget!" which is what some people immediately thought that it did. it is an example of some commentators chasing their own tails and trying to take a statement that is commonsensical, turning it into... american acceent: "a major - capital letters - news story!" i

and in fact when the treasury quite rightly say... scouse accent: “calm down". as costs continue to go up, the pressure for action is likely to continue. the government has laid out its plans for the new parliament question is if it will be enough to meet expectations. helen catt, bbc news. 1.5 million households in the uk will soon face food and energy bills that are greater than their disposable income — that's the warning from a think—tank, — the national institute for economic and social research. the institute also cautions that a million households will fall into destitution this year, without further government help, that means living on less than £140 a week for a family of four. alastair harper is head of public affairs at the housing charity shelter. it comes a day after government proposals on apparently providing

protection for people who rent from private landlords. i don't know if you have had the chance to scrutinise the detail of those proposals? could they make any difference? i proposals? could they make any difference?— proposals? could they make any difference? ~ , , difference? i think they genuinely could provide _ difference? i think they genuinely could provide some _ difference? i think they genuinely could provide some protections i difference? i think they genuinely | could provide some protections for renters, who have been waiting for it too long. the risks that people face being flung into homelessness and the vulnerability they face is still very real. but for too long it has been possible for landlordsjust to evict people for no reason whatsoever, leaving them in complete uncertainty, and one of the main causes of homelessness. the proposals, we very much welcome. there has been an understandable reluctance to have too much regulation of private landlords, for fear of discouraging more people from staying in the sector and providing housing. but there is a kind of enlightened self interest for government doing this, because people are made homeless, they

automatically come responsibility of local government, and thereby more taxpayer money has to be spent to support them, rather than helping support them, rather than helping support themselves by paying a landlord and having somewhere to live? i landlord and having somewhere to live? ~ ., , landlord and having somewhere to live? ,, . , , landlord and having somewhere to live? ~' . , , ., landlord and having somewhere to live? ,, . , ., . live? i think that is spot on. we face a completely _ live? i think that is spot on. we face a completely broken - live? i think that is spot on. we l face a completely broken system live? i think that is spot on. we - face a completely broken system in this country, and frankly we have allowed the private rental sector to get too big, because it is a place where people are trapped right now, not getting into ownership. thea;r not getting into ownership. they can't quite _ not getting into ownership. they can't quite afford _ not getting into ownership. they can't quite afford to _ not getting into ownership. they can't quite afford to buy, - not getting into ownership. they can't quite afford to buy, and they are not eligible for social housing, and social housing is limited as well. �* . and social housing is limited as well. ., ., , ., ., well. almost half of renters have no savinls well. almost half of renters have no savings whatsoever, _ well. almost half of renters have no savings whatsoever, they _ well. almost half of renters have no savings whatsoever, they are - well. almost half of renters have no savings whatsoever, they are not i well. almost half of renters have noj savings whatsoever, they are not on the brink of ownership, they are on the brink of ownership, they are on the brink of homelessness. we have left the system grow and get harsher, we need to build social homes. ~ ., harsher, we need to build social homes. . ., ., , ., harsher, we need to build social homes. . ., ., i. ., ,, harsher, we need to build social homes. . ., ., .«l ., ., homes. what do you make of what michael gove _ homes. what do you make of what michael gove had _ homes. what do you make of what michael gove had to _ homes. what do you make of what michael gove had to say _ homes. what do you make of what michael gove had to say today? i michael gove had to say today? 300,000, we are not even trying to meet that target any more? he 300,000, we are not even trying to meet that target any more?- meet that target any more? he will not make that _ meet that target any more? he will not make that target _ meet that target any more? he will not make that target unless - meet that target any more? he will not make that target unless he i not make that target unless he starts to build the social housing we need. it has only been 1969, way back then, that we got anywhere near that target, because half of them

being dealt with social homes. i would social homes are not the enemy of private of element, the two go hand—in—hand. i of private of element, the two go hand-in-hand._ of private of element, the two go hand-in-hand. i was looking at the filures, hand-in-hand. i was looking at the figures, 216,000 _ hand-in-hand. i was looking at the figures, 216,000 were _ hand-in-hand. i was looking at the figures, 216,000 were built - hand-in-hand. i was looking at the figures, 216,000 were built in i figures, 216,000 were built in 2020-21, then figures, 216,000 were built in 2020—21, then a significant dip because of covid. 243,02019—20. it is not so far off 300,000. but because of covid. 243,02019-20. it is not so far off 300,000.— is not so far off 300,000. but do ou know is not so far off 300,000. but do you know how — is not so far off 300,000. but do you know how many _ is not so far off 300,000. but do you know how many social - is not so far off 300,000. but do | you know how many social homes is not so far off 300,000. but do i you know how many social homes were built in that period? we went negative, went negative, we went backwards. :: :: :: :: negative, went negative, we went backwards-— backwards. 20,000 fewer social housinl backwards. 20,000 fewer social housing units — backwards. 20,000 fewer social housing units available? - backwards. 20,000 fewer social housing units available? that i backwards. 20,000 fewer social housing units available? that is| backwards. 20,000 fewer social i housing units available? that is the net loss. i housing units available? that is the net loss- i do _ housing units available? that is the net loss. i do think— housing units available? that is the net loss. i do think the _ housing units available? that is the net loss. i do think the secretary i net loss. i do think the secretary of state has a point that we need the right kind of homes, because we haven't been building them for a long time. haven't been building them for a lonl time. ., ~ haven't been building them for a lonl time. . ,, i. , haven't been building them for a long time-— haven't been building them for a lonl time. ., ~ ,, , . ., long time. thank you very much for that, for talking _ long time. thank you very much for that, for talking to _ long time. thank you very much for that, for talking to is _ long time. thank you very much for that, for talking to is about - long time. thank you very much for that, for talking to is about that, i that, for talking to is about that, from shelter. alistair harper, head of public affairs. let's i'm joined by rico wojtulewicz.

is that correct? that is because what my colleagues spoke to you before we went on air, sparing my embarrassment. i am sure you ask this question all the time, what is the problem, as you see it, in terms of getting enough? we know there is no shortage of demand. everybody knows that. we see it in the prices people are prepared to pay for the limited supply of housing available. presumably you would be delighted to sell more housing, because you are in the business. what is the problem?— in the business. what is the roblem? . ;;:: :: :: :: :: problem? we could hit the 300,000 tarlet problem? we could hit the 300,000 target without _ problem? we could hit the 300,000 target without social _ problem? we could hit the 300,000 target without social housing, - problem? we could hit the 300,000 target without social housing, let's l target without social housing, let's be clear about that. it doesn't mean we should hit it without social housing. let's say we agree to build x amount of homes, the planning process would not allow it. that is the crux of the matter, the planning process makes it almost impossible

to deliver. self build, housing association, council, private homes, they are all strangled by planning processes that doesn't like houses. it's easy to blame the bureaucracy, is at the bureaucracy or have we created a bureaucracy to achieve an objective that we, as the public, want, we don't want too much development, if we are fortunate enough to already have a house of our own, whether we rent or own it, or a flat or whatever it may be? think that is part of it, i also think people don't understand what the planning process is. the government often gets the blame. if you look at how the planning system works, a great example is 42% of south—east and london councils are not delivering the minimum housing requirements. go up north, suddenly they are building 400% of the minimum target, because they think they have got to make sure they have homes for people. it's a lot more complex to deliver down south, because people are worried they are going to lose votes, effectively.

you look at the same issues, i am in the midlands at the moment, see my family, but i am from brighton and hove, we have a green council that will not deliver offshore renewables, because they know they need land for it. people are scared of the land use. this covenant had a great idea, and they rolled back on it. .,, , ., it. those were the planning proposals _ it. those were the planning proposals they _ it. those were the planning proposals they scrapped, i it. those were the planning proposals they scrapped, itj it. those were the planning i proposals they scrapped, it was a presumption in favour of development. unless you could demonstrate certain things that would be harmed by it. we do not put it that way? ii would be harmed by it. we do not put it that wa ? , ., ., would be harmed by it. we do not put it that way?— it that way? if you are well below our it that way? if you are well below your number. _ it that way? if you are well below your number, you _ it that way? if you are well below your number, you are _ it that way? if you are well below your number, you are correct i it that way? if you are well below| your number, you are correct with that, but the new planning rules they effectively say, you still have to deliver x amount of homes, this area, instead of this site, you get competition in the land market, local people decide what design and type of homes are going to be

delivered, the builders go, great, i don't have to wait too much or ten years to get planning for 200 and 500 homes, i canjust build them. forgive me for interrupting, we have another guest standing by. i want to ask you one line going forward. will this help, saying to people you can have a vote on your neighbour's planning proposal? this yes. have a vote on your neighbour's planning proposal? this- have a vote on your neighbour's planning proposal? this yes, it is in addition _ planning proposal? this yes, it is in addition to _ planning proposal? this yes, it is in addition to the _ planning proposal? this yes, it is in addition to the existing - planning proposal? this yes, it is| in addition to the existing system, it doesn't stop supply, it helps more to come forward. it doesn't fix the underlying issue of allocations and permissions, and planning politics. and permissions, and planning olitics. .., and permissions, and planning olitics. ., . ., ,, politics. rico wo'tulewicz, thank ou ve politics. rico wo'tulewicz, thank you very much. _ politics. rico wojtulewicz, thank you very much. i _ politics. rico wojtulewicz, thank you very much, i hope _ politics. rico wojtulewicz, thank you very much, i hope you i politics. rico wojtulewicz, thank you very much, i hope you enjoy politics. rico wojtulewicz, thank i you very much, i hope you enjoy your time with yourfamily you very much, i hope you enjoy your time with your family in the midlands. the government has rejected eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol, saying they would make things worse. the foreign secretary, liz truss, said she wanted a "negotiated solution", but warned she could take unilateral action. she'll meet with the vice president of the european commission tomorrow for further talks. speaking in belfast,

ireland's minister for foreign affairs, simon coveney, said britain appeared to be ready to breach international law. he said it hadn't gone down well across the eu. we have been very consistent about this. we don't believe the way forward in terms of solving outstanding issues can be done unilaterally by either side. the way to solve outstanding issues in relation to brexit and the protocol, and northern ireland, is through partnership, compromise, and through working these issues out together, in a way that both sides can move on. that is what we want to do. of course, those issues are also been part of getting devolved institutions up and running in northern ireland as well, to make it even more complicated. but i think the briefing that we have seen in the british media, coming from secretary truss and others, has gone down really badly across the european union. they believe that the commission has

been showing a willingness to compromise, once ongoing technical discussion to try to work out solutions and common ground, and what they are hearing and seeing from london is a rejection of that approach, towards a breach of international law. and setting aside elements of a treaty that the british government was central to putting in place with the eu. so, that hasn't gone down well, and i hope that the decision—makers in westminster will reflect on that. early i spoke to our correspondence and he told us what the uncertainty is meaning for the political situation in northern ireland. things look very, very difficult. really, what has happened as the assembly has been in the process of trying to set itself up. the democratic unionist party, the second party in last week's elections, came to a bit of an impasse. it wanted, it said, big

changes to the northern ireland protocol before it would take its place at the assembly. now the problem is, that is not in the power of the dup. that has all got to be done between the eu and westminster, the british parliament. and that is a real difficulty. it's not going to happen overnight. there are talks, as you said, about a plan for tomorrow. they have been going on for months and months. there has been no solution to it. it's very unlikely that solution will happen almost overnight. and you have comments from secretary liz truss and also from michael gove today, saying that they are willing to tear up saying that they are willing to tear up parts of the northern ireland protocol. i think that word, parts, is a very key word. they are not talking about revving up the whole protocol and going it alone, because of the risks that would cause in terms of retribution or reciprocation of problems from the eu itself. so it is likely that there will be some element of going it alone. liz truss says she is

willing to start to put that together as early as next week, and it would of course take a long time to get through. there has been talk of concern among conservative backbenchers, because they can see that this would not go down well in terms of getting it through parliament. it might get through the house of commons because of boris johnson's large majority, but one conservative was saying that it will get torn apart, mauled in the house of lords, if it went that far. so there is no easy answer to this. and there is no easy answer to this. and there is no way that it seems to be able to be sorted out before the assembly is due to take place, due to sit for the first time on friday. and we have just had to literally as you are speaking a response from the white house, saying it wants to encourage continued dialogue between the uk under eu northern ireland protocol. it is another player in this because it is one of the guarantors of the good friday agreement?— guarantors of the good friday alreement? , , ., , agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says — agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says there _ agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says there has _ agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says there has to _ agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says there has to be - agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says there has to be a i sinn fein says there has to be a border somewhere. whether that border somewhere. whether that border is as it is at the moment in

the irish sea, whether it is a hard border between the republic of ireland and northern ireland, there has to be a border, because of the land mass that is ireland, there has to be a customs check at some point. part of the land masses in the eu, and part of it isn't. the threat to the good friday agreement is if you create a hard border, it creates division. it creates a difference between the two countries that is not there at the moment, and has not been there since the belfast agreement, the good friday agreement was put in place. and so, joe biden getting involved in this, it has been on the cards for a while and it is yet again upping the rhetoric, it is yet again upping the rhetoric, it is upping the ante, as it were, and it adds to the problem is, really. because, as i say, there is no quick way this can be sorted out. russia's president vladimir putin is preparing for a long war in ukraine — and even victory in the east may not end the conflict.

that's the warning from us intelligence, as fierce fighting continues in the eastern part of the country, where russia is trying to take territory. ukraine says their counter—offensive has pushed out russian forces north of kharkiv, recapturing some villages around that key city. 0ur kyiv correspondentjames waterhouse sent this report. a turning of the tide in the kharkhiv region. this t—90 tank, russia's most advanced, destroyed. ukrainian counterattacks have forced the invaders out of some villages, but this war is stagnating and ukraine's leader knows it. translation: i also want to urge| all our people and especially those not on the front line, not to get carried away. we should not put moral pressure and expect some victories weekly and even daily. russia doesn't have the air superiority it once had over ukraine, according to the us.

instead launching shoot and scoot missions from inside the country. vladimir putin's latest aim is to take the whole of the eastern donbas region. today, though, a warning. a shift in focus, yes. but not a shrinking of ambition. the next month or two of fighting will be significant as the russians attempt to reinvigorate their efforts. but even if they are successful, we are not confident that the fight in the donbas will effectively end the war. we assess president putin is preparing for prolonged conflict in ukraine, during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the donbas. vladimir putin is relying on western governments and the european union losing interest, and having to focus on other issues so that he can capitalise in this war. and he is not against a long—term campaign. let's remember there were eight years of russian aggression and war in the east before this invasion even happened. this war is still brutal. look at mariupol.

hundreds of ukrainian fighters trapped in tunnels under the azovstal steel plant in the destroyed city. they're calling for the wounded to be helped out. while the others refuse to surrender. james waterhouse, bbc news, in kyiv. the uk has signed a mutual security pact with sweden. it means britain would give assistance to sweden if it came under attack. it was signed on a visit by borisjohnson to sweden and finland today — as the two countries consider whether to join nato. if they do, they would become the 31st and 32nd members of nato. moscow has warned of military and political repercussions if the two countries join the alliance. finland has an 8,000 mile border with russia. speaking at a news conference with the swedish prime minister, borisjohnson said that in the event of a disaster or attack on sweden,

the uk would come to its aid. i'm very pleased today with you, prime minister andersson, to sign this mutual security assurances declaration. it is an agreement that brings our two countries even closer together, it will allow us to share more intelligence, bolster our military exercises and further ourjoint development of technology. professor gwythian prins was a former consultant to both the ministry of defence and nato. he explained more about the agreement between the uk and sweden. if you listened to the swedish prime minister, she described it as a bilateral strategic agreement, and prime ministerjohnson made it clear in that conference of which you played a clip that the request for what aid would be required in any given

circumstance will lie with whichever party it is that requires the aid. it is what is normally called an all necessary means agreement. in other words, if sweden were to ask for direct military intervention by the british, if it was under attack, we would give it? can we read that into it? i think all necessary means means all necessary means. the whole point about how we in the west talk about deterrence is that unlike mr putin, who likes to waive his nuclear weapons around, somewhat desperately at the moment, given the degree of defeat that he is enduring, we don't talk about what we might do. that is what makes deterrence strong. in a sense, would you read into this, in part, that because there is now serious talk in both sweden and finland ofjoining nato, that, in a sense, it is almost

like a precursor to that? if they did become members of nato, we would automatically be all bound together in mutual support? that is completely right. if the swedes and the finns proceed, as i think all the indications are that they will, to make an application, once that has been approved in all of the capitals of all of the nato nations, which i expect would happen, but it would take some time, they would then have formal protection under article 5, that is to say an attack on one is an attack on all. what is so important about the bilateral agreement, and i stress it is bilateral, between our two countries, is that it provides cover in this grey period. the swedish foreign minister has just been in north america and was making it very clear in canada that what is needed from the americans is what theyjust got, which is a similar sort of agreement, not yet formally so, and what is unspoken is that we,

the united kingdom, as the second most important member of nato, we are also a nuclear power. and so that means that there is an implicit extension of a nuclear shield, and that is the thing which the european union, for example, cannot ever provide under article 42 of the european treaty. it is really nonsense for the eu to believe that it has a military role. it would be very helpful if emmanuel macron stopped talking about that. the nspcc says the number of adults reporting harmful sexual behaviour between young people has increased by almost a third in the past year. there has been growing concern about the issue following campaigns such as "everyone's invited" which encouraged reporting. the calls included the father of a 12—year—old boy coerced into sexual behaviour by another boy, and an adult reporting a younger female cousin being repeatedly groped and humiliated at school by a group of boys. joining me now is sandra robinson,

nspcc helpline manager. sandra, a lot of the calls that you must be getting, your colleagues get in, really disturbing. in a sense, i suppose what is almost more disturbing across the piece is that there seems to be situations where this has become almost normalised behaviour in some places? i this has become almost normalised behaviour in some places?- behaviour in some places? i think that is true- _ behaviour in some places? i think that is true. and _ behaviour in some places? i think that is true. and i _ behaviour in some places? i think that is true. and i think _ behaviour in some places? i think that is true. and i think that i behaviour in some places? i think that is true. and i think that is i that is true. and i think that is what we want the government to do is to look at the mandatory relationship and sex education training, and improve that support and school so that teachers can deal with that effectively. we want schools to be healthy places for children to learn about what is good and consensual relationships. is just about technology, just about the stuff people are seeing on the internet, the opportunities they are having with social media, allowing for kind of sexting, harassment in terms of hostile messages and

trolling, or in the end is it about interpersonal, face—to—face relationships that have become toxic? it relationships that have become toxic? , ., ., toxic? it is about both of those thins. toxic? it is about both of those things- it _ toxic? it is about both of those things- it is — toxic? it is about both of those things. it is about _ toxic? it is about both of those things. it is about how - toxic? it is about both of those things. it is about how peoplel toxic? it is about both of those i things. it is about how people are with each other in the schools, what they are saying, what they are doing, and how they interact together. but the last time the relationship and sex education was looked at prior to this course, which is now mandatory, was the year 2000. if we think about the changes that have taken place in those 22 years, they are huge. and we need to help children to learn how to manage those environments. we need to learn to help them manage what is consent, because that case you just cited, it was somebody he was coerced, they thought they consented, but they really didn't. theyjust didn't know how to say no. is it about helping our young people, not only those that are victims, but those that are perpetrating it, because we want all of our children to be safe. lays

of our children to be safe. as adults, of our children to be safe. as adults. i _ of our children to be safe. as adults, i suspect we quite often forget, because it is hard to put yourself back to where you wear as a child, we forget, perhaps, the desire to conform, the desire to belong and be part of a group, to be part of a belong and be part of a group, to be part ofa gang, belong and be part of a group, to be part of a gang, to be part of whatever it is your friends are doing. sometimes that mitigates against the use of that word no. how do you empower youngsters to feel that they can have both, they can be part of something they want to be part of something they want to be part of, but it doesn't mean they have to give up something that is precious to them? they might not fully understand the value of how important that is until it is too late? ., , important that is until it is too late? . , ., ., ., late? that is at the heart of the relationship _ late? that is at the heart of the relationship and _ late? that is at the heart of the relationship and sex _ late? that is at the heart of the relationship and sex education | relationship and sex education curriculum. it is about talking to people, having these open conversations, having them in the same spaces, to say what is appropriate, what isn't appropriate, what does consent look like? having control of your own body, and saying it is ok to say no. it's about

creating that atmosphere within schools, so those conversations can take place. schools, so those conversations can take lace. ., schools, so those conversations can take place-— take place. sandra, can i ask you, what difference _ take place. sandra, can i ask you, what difference do _ take place. sandra, can i ask you, what difference do you _ take place. sandra, can i ask you, what difference do you think i what difference do you think everyone's invited has made? it has been huge. — everyone's invited has made? it has been huge. it— everyone's invited has made? it has been huge. it is— everyone's invited has made? it has been huge, it is a _ everyone's invited has made? it has been huge, it is a watershed - everyone's invited has made? it it? been huge, it is a watershed moment. we have had contacts about this before. we have had contacts now about this that goes back years and decades. i am about this that goes back years and decades. iam not about this that goes back years and decades. i am not saying it is a new problem, but it was really important because it started people talking about it, it allowed us to set up dedicated helplines, purely about this. also, it is at the heart of the nspcc, the conference, where professionals are talking about how we manage to deal with this issue. i know that you and your colleagues must deal with some very distressing situations, all i can say is thank you very much for being there for so many young people who need you when they do, because it is important

work that you and your colleagues are doing all the time, and most of us can't ever know what that involves in terms of the sacrifices and balls for you and your colleagues, the kind of mental pressure it puts you under, so thank you for that. is a pressure it puts you under, so thank you for that-— you for that. is a final plea can we 'ust sa if you for that. is a final plea can we just say if anybody _ you for that. is a final plea can we just say if anybody has _ you for that. is a final plea can we just say if anybody has any - just say if anybody has any concerns, please contact us. that is what we are here for.— what we are here for. remind us of the number? _ google nspcc and you will come straight through to the website. sandra robinson, the helpline manager at nspcc. if you missed the number and the address, you can find all the details, notjust for the all the details, not just for the nspcc, all the details, notjust for the nspcc, but other contacts and organisations who can help you. if you don't want to approach somebody,

it will at least help you find information you need online. it's at bbc.co.uk/actionline. the rain we have seen moving across england and wales today has been pushing its way eastwards at quite a pace and skies are already brightening extensively in the west and sunshine returning to eastern areas to take us through the evening. still some showers to come for western scotland into the small hours of thursday, but overall, a lot of dry weather, slightly later went to the south, a little chillier than the nightjust gone, low is perhaps three or 4 degrees. a lot of sunshine to start our day on thursday, england, wales and northern ireland set to remain essentially dry as well eastern scotland but in the west yet again showers turning into more prolonged spells of rain as we get to the afternoon, also stretching up to the northern isles. temperaturesjust northern isles. temperatures just

about northern isles. temperaturesjust about making it into double figures. further south and we should get 16-18, but further south and we should get 16—18, but as we look to the outlook, temperatures rising for all of us by the time we get to the weekend but look out for some thundery downpours. this is bbc news. the headlines... the government insists it remains committed to its promise of building 300,000 homes per year in england, after the housing secretary said the government was no longer trying to meet it. new warnings that more than a million households across the uk will struggle to pay their bills over the next 12 months, if they don't receive more government help. the uk rejects eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol, saying they would make things worse. the uk signs a mutual security pact with sweden, pledging support should its military come under attack. rebekah vardy admits she directed her agent to look

at coleen rooney's private instagram account to obtain information about a car crash. and, ukraine qualifies for the final of the eurovision song contest — the folk—rap band are favourites to win this weekend's competition. it is easier to see folk rap band than the actual name of the band. who are you backing for eurovision? ukraine would be my bet but i know there will be plenty of people betting on who might win the premier league title race. the premier league title race is still on with manchester city heading to wolves tonight — hoping to put move breathing room between them and liverpool. the reds have drawn level with city at the top but it's only goal difference that separates the two sides for now. city are going to be short of defenders for the run

in as ruben dias, john stones and kyle walker are all injured. pep guardiola's side know that a win or draw would see them go top outright with only two games left. the most difficult service in tennis is the service you have to serve to be champion. so it is quite similar that position. we need six, seven points to be champions. and they will be the more difficult ones. these away games with wolves and west ham, will be... we have to do the best of ourselves to do it. this is the only important thing. meanwhile, the title in scotland could be decided tonight as celtic go to dundee united knowing anything but defeat will see them lift their 52nd league trophy. a point will do for the hoops. last season they finished 25 points behind rangers. manager ange postecoglou is in his first season in charge and he could add a premiership win to the league cup title they won in december. there wasn't a great deal

of expectation in terms of success, whether that was because you know me and my own background, orjust the ground we needed to make up. 30 games ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking like a team that could end up being champions. so 30 games later, i think we have taken an approach that has gotten us to the point. our goal every week is be the best possible team we can be. former new zealand captain brendon mccullum has agreed to be the next england test coach, subject to the contract being finalised. mccullum coaches the indian premier league side kolkata knight riders. but he's likely to end his work with the franchise to be full—time with england. 0fficial confirmation could come by the end of the week. the pga tour have say they won't release players who ask to play in golf's saudi—backed invitational series opener in england next month.

the tour said players who take part at centurion golf club injune would be in violation of their regulations. american phil mickelson and england's lee westwood had requested a release from the pga tour to participate. the chief executive of l—i—v golf investments greg norman spoke to bbc sport yesterday. no tour in this world, ian, owns golf. not one tour. right? no tour, there has been a monopoly in place for 53 years and it's, yes, if the opportunity for players is to go play, you have to play the pga tour. that is it. pure and simple. pure and simple as that. all we are trying to do is give the players another opportunity to play. them partnering with the european tour sends a signal they're tightening up their monopoly situation. get tighter controls. the players are starting to recognise this. triple 0lympic swimming champion adam peaty says he's devastated after being ruled out of the world championships

next month. he's fractured a bone in his foot whilst training in the gym and has been advised to rest for six weeks. the world championships take place in budapest next month. peaty said in a statement on twitter that he's never had an injury but he hopes to build up strength for the commonwealth games. that's all the sport for now. thank you very much. people living with chronic pain aren't always receiving effective treatment — according to specialists who think more could be done to help patients manage their condition. a survey carried out for bbc news suggests 26% of adults in the uk live with long—term, persistent pain. nearly half of those said it impacted their daily life — simple things like doing the shopping, or going to work. 0ur health correspondent, dominic hughes, has been to meet two young women whose lives have been severely affected by pain.

i wish i could turn the clock back. but i also know that i didn't do this. five years ago, jen was a successful dental therapist, happy and fulfilled. hi, i'mjennifer. even starring in her practice's promotional videos. today, she's living a life dominated by pain. 0pioid patches, anti—inflammatories, nerve—pain medications. it started with back pain. it was how i would imagine being kicked in the back by a horse would be. erm, that really acute, direct force. but now it's spread through her body, and every dayjen lives with chronic, persistent pain. 0ur bodies are designed to protect us. and sometimes the system that protects us goes into overdrive. my life revolves around the pain.

it doesn't matter how hard i try, or how much i wish, or how much i pray, it isn't — or most likely isn't — going to change. hiya, stella. come in. at a clinic in southport... grab a seat. ..dr chris barker leads a team — physios, psychologists, pharmacists — helping people to manage their pain better, focusing notjust on physical causes, but how the brain interprets and reacts to pain. great. cheers, see you again. thank you very much. you're welcome. but dr barker says the broader health system still doesn't have a good understanding of chronic pain. it's not something that is commonly talked about. people... people kind ofjust get on with it. and it gets to a point where people become incredibly disabled and distressed. and i don't think we're equipped, either as a society or as a health care system, to deal with that. pain isjust — you probably know yourself, pain is huge.

0h, absolutely. yeah. libby is one of those who's worked with chris. now at university, she's lived almost half her life with pain, after developing chronic fatigue syndrome while still really young. the pain came to dominate her teenage years. but with help, libby is learning how to manage her condition. it's not something i can change. it's just something i can co—exist with. and, for me, that's kind of what acceptance is. it's just finding a way to co—exist. i'm sort of trapped in a body that's painful to be in. there's no nice way of putting it. it'sjust a bit... it sucks. both libby and jen have at times felt badly let down by the health service. late or misdiagnoses, or simply not having their voices heard. both have also found people who understand their condition, and treat them with care and compassion. but in the end, it's come down to their own resilience, finding some strength despite their pain. dominic hughes, bbc news.

in response to that report, nhs health boards and trusts across the uk say they are doing more to support people with chronic pain, including recruiting more specialist staff, and reviewing current programmes — though they acknowledge services are stretched. for more on the life changing impact of the condition, and how people can regain control of pain — available now. rebekah vardy has denied in court the suggestion that it was standard practice for her to leak private information to the sun newspaper, via her agent. ms vardy is suing colleen rooney for libel — after rooney accused vardy of selling private stories. 0ur correspondent charlie haynesjoins me from outside the court.

what have we heard today? rebekah vard has what have we heard today? rebekah vardy has been _ what have we heard today? rebekah vardy has been in _ what have we heard today? rebekah vardy has been in the _ what have we heard today? rebekah vardy has been in the witness - what have we heard today? rebekah vardy has been in the witness stand, giving evidence today, she will likely be going on to give evidence tomorrow. coleen rooney has been feet away from, staring her down entire time. the lawyer coleen rooney has been questioning rebekah vardy on new stories and messages she sent to her agent, he says these messages between the two are examples of plans to leak stories. in one case, he says that there was a plan to leak the story of a celebrity who rebekah vardy knew, having an affair. he read out the messages in court, he said, 0mg, have you've seen how badly misses if this behaving? leaked the story. in response to this, rebekah vardy said

she was just response to this, rebekah vardy said she wasjustjoking when response to this, rebekah vardy said she was justjoking when she sent this comment but the lawyer seeing as you mentioned earlier that this was standard practice to these stories, that rebekah vardy would leak the stories to her agent and her agent would pass the stories onto the sun or media organisations and the story would be sold on. in another exchange, she said that she had considered selling a story but it was a fleeting moment and she decided not to do it in the end. the trial is due to go on until next week. wayne rooney will be taking to the stand but not jamie vardy. thank ou ve the stand but not jamie vardy. thank you very much- _ sri lankan authorities have been told to shoot on—site. the country

has been rocked by demonstrations over soaring prices, power cuts in the last of medicines. hundreds been injured. outside the former prime minister's residence here in the centre of colombo, a military presence here that is matched across the city as colombo and the rest of this island nation remains in a curfew. there's also an increased police presence as well as security forces. just move the camera down here, you can see what is normally a really busy and packed road completely deserted, as this country goes through another day of a curfew. now, the defence ministry has now given security forces orders to shoot at sight at anyone who damages public property or threatens life. but many of the anti—government protesters who are largely peaceful believe this is antagonising behaviour from the government.

now, i was here on monday outside the former prime minister's house, where scenes got very tense, as we had supporters of then prime minister attacking largely peaceful anti—government protesters. that is when things escalated and overnight there has been another night of violence in the city of negombo not too far from here in colombo, there were clashes and shops and businesses and homes were torched. we are also seeing more politicians�* residences and properties targeted as well. it has been more than two dozen properties associated with the rajapaksa family which have been vandalised, or attacked and last night a hotel resort belonging to the former prime minister's son was set alight. so things still remain quite tense as this curfew continues. in terms of the politics, well, protesters, who are still gathering at the protest site at the other end of the city here say they won't go home until the country's president, the former prime minister's brother, gota baya rajapa ksa, quits. at the moment he shows

no signs of going. at the moment discussions continue about forming an interim government with the opposition parties as well. but we have heard from the opposition leader saying he is not going to take part in any all—party interim government, unless gotabaya rajapaksa steps down. so the uncertainty continues here and of course all the while people continue to struggle through this economic crisis. the headlines on bbc news... the government insists it remains committed to its promise of building 300,000 homes per year in england — after the housing secretary said the government was no

longer trying to meet it. new warnings that more than a million households across the uk will struggle to pay their bills over the next 12 months, if they don't recieve more government help. the uk rejects eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol —— saying they would make things worse. breaking news. the european commission has announced that as of monday, there will no longer be a requirement to wear masks on flights to and from european union countries. that has just been reported. by news agencies the news channel, aljazeera, has accused the israeli armed forces

of targeting journalists after one of its best known reporters was shot dead in the occupied west bank; sherine abu aqla was a palestinian—american journalist. she was killed while reporting on a raid by israeli forces in the west bank. aljazeera said she was hit deliberately by israeli troops and in cold blood. israel says the fatal shot was probably fired by a palestinian and says the palestinians have rejected their offer of a joint investigation. journalist mujahed al—saadi was there when the shooting happened. here's his account of what took place. translation: what happened was, we were waiting for our colleagues l to enter the refugee camp at the point where the israeli army was present. we chose a point that did not have any confrontations between the youth and the militants. we got to a point where we waited for shireen to put on all her safety gear. she then reached us and we moved a few metres. we exposed ourselves to the army and the passers—by that we are press tv. we arrived and within seconds, there was the first shot. i told them that we are being targeted, we are being shot at.

i turned and found shireen on the ground. ifound shartha shielding herself by tree and screaming. i turned and found shireen on the ground in the first few seconds, with the shooting, and we were telling each other, we were being shot at. the shooting continued for more than three minutes on the teams that were there. 0ur middle east correspondent, tim franks, is injerusalem. he says it's still not clear exactly what happened. the palestinians say this is clear this was in the words of their president an execution, aljazeera described it as a cold—blooded execution. qatar, owners of aljazeera, said it was state—sponsored terrorism. the israeli authorities, the government and army, have said that

when she died, there was, as they put it, indiscriminate firing from palestinian militants and it's possible they say that she was caught in crossfire. they have yet to offer firm evidence. caught in crossfire. they have yet to offerfirm evidence. they caught in crossfire. they have yet to offer firm evidence. they offered a joint investigation which has been turned down by the palestinians and i understand palestinian doctors are currently carrying out an autopsy on her body in palestine. but as far as both sides are concerned, they understand that this is an extremely high profile death made all the more high—profile by the fact that she had a us citizenship and the american ambassador has called for a full investigation. scientists say they've established why tens of thousands of soldiers who served in the gulf war in 1991, including many from the uk, went on to suffer from chronic health problems.

the say the cause was the deadly nerve agent sarin, which was released into the air when caches of iraqi chemical weapons were bombed. if you were with us yesterday, you'll know that the podcaster and cancer campaigner deborahjames was urging people to donate to her fundraising page for clinical trials and research — after revealing that she's now having end of life care at home. well more than 2 point seven million pounds has been raised in a little over 24 hours. deborahjames was diagnosed with bowel cancer more than 5 years ago at the age ofjust 35. 0ur correspondent graham satchell has followed her story over the last few years, and yesterday he spoke to her again. for five years now, deborahjames has been recording, documenting, sharing her life with cancer. she has danced her way through most of it. # when you touch me like this # when you hold me like that...#

her extraordinary positivity has been a real boost for other people living with cancer. but in her most recent post on social media, she said it's the message she "never wanted to write." "we've tried everything," she says, "but my body simply isn't playing ball." deborah invited us in to come and see her. i have a really loving family who i adore and couldn't... i honestly... they are just incredible. and all i knew i wanted was to come here and be able to relax, knowing everything was ok. and you always want to know as a mother, are your kids going to be ok? and my kids are going to be fine.

but it doesn't mean that i'm not going to miss every chance that i could have had with them. deborah's openness, her honesty, her campaigning, has changed the lives of thousands of people living with cancer. but even as she nears the end, her determination to help others is undimmed. deborah's openness, her honesty, her campaigning, has changed the lives of thousands of people living with cancer. three, two, one. deborah's family shared these pictures with us. her daughter refreshing thejustgiving page as it reaches £1 million in less than 24 hours. ijust cannot thank people enough for their generosity because itjust means so much to me. it means kind of... it makes me feel utterly loved.

deborah doesn't know how long she has left but she will be surrounded by her family at the end. i have been having sleepovers with my sister. all in ourforties. you know, never left alone, which i think is great. like being kids again. and i can't think of a better way to go. you can hear more from deborah on her podcast. the latest recording of you, me and the big c was released last night — and is available on bbc sounds. ukraine has made it through to the eurovision song contest final, after last night's semifinal heat. the ukrainian folk, rap and hip hop group kalush 0rchestra has become the favourite to win the competition this weekend. david sillito reports from this year's host city of turin.

turin. the morning after the night before. a night that was all about ukraine, as the kalush 0rchestra made its way to the final. there were many blue and yellow flags at the many gatherings across the city. this was a moment when eurovision becomes something more than just a song contest. it's a very emotional moment. but it's so much sad also. so it's really like a big family in europe and ukraine feels part of it. and this is really like celebration of this european union and all the values are european values. so it means a lot. but while they are the odds—on favourites, it's not over yet. turin has sprung a surprise in the betting. there could be, on saturday night, a few unionjacks flying along these famous streets. and if you are a film fan, you might just recognise this location. you know, plucky brits carrying out a daring heist. and if you look at the betting, there is a feeling that maybe,

just maybe, this year there could be a 2022 uk italianjob! sam ryder, space man, is this year a real contender. we are out of the darkness and he brings the light, literally. because he is in a kind of crystal maze structure with beams and bars of light. and it pays homage to rock, eltonjohn, freddie mercury, david bowie. i think older viewers will love that, but also his young tik—tok following. 12 million people, and notjust in the uk. so while ukraine has captured people's hearts, italy looks set to yield something rather better than nul points for the uk. # and i want to go home.# david sillito, bbc news, turin. finally, could it have been you? a uk ticket—holder won last night's

euromillions jackpot of more than £184 million. it's the biggest—ever lottery win in the uk. there has been one claim so far but the winner has yet to be declared. the winner could buy four caribbean islands and still have cash to spare or opt for 11 six—bedroomed luxury homes in london's hyde park. the biggest white diamond ever sold is being auctioned this afternoon in geneva. it is 220 carats which my colleague in the gallery tells me is because of the clarity of the diamond is so exceptionally high, it's expected to sell for up to $30 million. unless she has won the euro millions, she isn't going to be bidding but if it is you, all you have to do isjump on bidding but if it is you, all you have to do is jump on the bidding but if it is you, all you have to do isjump on the plane bidding but if it is you, all you have to do is jump on the plane to geneva, clicks the evidence of your win and get in there and start

bidding. you never know. we will bring you the outcome out of curiosity if nothing else. here is the weather. the rain we have seen has pushed east at quite a pace and skies are already brightening extensively and we will see sunshine returning to eastern areas to take us through the evening. showers to come for western scotland into the small hours but overall a lot of dry weather, slightly lighter wind, a little chilly than the nightjust gone. perhaps three or 4 degrees. a lot of sunshine to start thursday, england, wales and northern ireland i think all set to remain essentially dry as well eastern scotland but in the west yet again, showers turning into more prolonged spells of rain as we get to the afternoon. the rain stretching up to the northern isles. temperatures just about making it

into double figures. further south we should get 16—18. as we look to the outlook, temperatures rising for all of us by the time we get to the weekend but look out for some thundery downpours.

new warnings that more than a million households why do i go to that it is committed to building houses in england, after michael gove said it is no longer attempting to meet the targets. new warnings that more than a million households across the uk will struggle to pay their bills over the next 12 months, if they don't receive more government help. the uk rejects eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol, saying they would make things worse. the uk signs a mutual security pact with sweden, pledging support should its military come under attack. rebekah vardy admits she directed her agent to look at coleen rooney's private instagram account to obtain information about a car crash.

and ukraine qualifies for the final of the eurovision song contest — the folk—rap band are favourites to win this weekend's competition. hello, and welcome to bbc news. downing street says its target of building 300,000 new homes in england per year still stands, after the housing secretary michael gove has said the government was no longer trying to meet it. mr gove said ministers were now focusing on building homes people can be proud of — and said that people in england would be given the right to vote

on proposed property extensions in their neighbourhood as part of its new levelling up and regeneration bill — which has been introduced in parliament today after yesterday's queens speech. labour has said the queen's speech didn't contain enough measures to help people with the rising cost of living. michael gove dismissed suggestions that an emergency budget could be held — but he said ministers were looking at ways to help. a new cabinet committee has been formed to try to answer some of the problems caused by the cost of living rises. 0ur political correspondent helen catt has the latest. the pomp and ceremony of the queen's speech is over. now the work on what it announced begins. among the first items, a levelling up bill which will change planning rules. it promises to give communities more control over development. it isn't the big overhaul that ministers had previously put forward and which caused a backlash among tory mps, and the levelling up secretary appeared to step back from the government's pledge to build an extra 300,000 homes per year by the mid—2020s.

it's no kind of success simply to hit a target if the homes that are built are shoddy, in the wrong place, don't have the infrastructure required and are not contributing to beautiful communities. downing street insisted the government remains committed to the target. ministers want to introduce design codes to allow local communities more say over materials used in a development and the layout. there would be street votes to allow neighbours to vote on extensions, and new locally set levies after brand—new houses are sold to help build infrastructure. there has been criticism that these measures will not do enough to help those struggling to find a home. a charge levelled at other parts of the queen's speech too. 30—odd measures, all of them very small, few of them focusing on the cost of living crisis. they seem more interested in stoking the kind of culture wars that divide the country because they think a divided country is good for the conservative party. what we need is a government that will bring this country back together.

the prime minister chaired the first meeting of a cost of living committee of senior ministers last night, but the emphasis is is tweaking rules on things like mot is to bring down costs, not more big spending. there are millions, families and pensioners who are really struggling already. they know it's going to get worse in the autumn when energy bills go up again. and the prime minister literally offered nothing yesterday. in the commons yesterday, the prime minister suggested he and the chancellor would be saying more in the coming days but the treasury then said that did not mean an emergency budget. we are constantly looking at ideas in order to ensure that we relieve the pressure on people who are facing incredibly tough times. but that doesn't amount to... american accent: "an emergency budget!" which is what some people immediately thought that it did. it is an example of some commentators chasing their own tails and trying to take a statement that is commonsensical, turning it into... american acceent: "a major -| capital letters - nig news story!" american acceent: "a major -|

capital letters - big news story!" and in fact when the treasury quite rightly say... scouse accent: “calm down". as costs continue to go up, the pressure for action is likely to continue. the government has laid out its plans for the new parliament question is if it will be enough to meet expectations. helen catt, bbc news. 1.5 million households in the uk will soon face food and energy bills that are greater than their disposable income — that's the warning from a think—tank, the national institute for economic and social research. the institute also cautions that a million households will fall into destitution this year, without further government help —— that means living on less than £140 a week for a family of four. they looked at not just they looked at notjust the uk, they looked at the world as well, they

looked at the world as well, they looked at the impact the war in ukraine will have on the global economy, which they say will shrink by 1%, $1.5 trillion worth of economic costs. specifically on the uk, they are looking at ways to make... you know, they say 1.5 million households are under pressure here. they say 500,000 households have to ask that question of whether they can heat or eat. that is pretty devastating news for quite a lot of households out there. one of the things they have come out with, they are saying there are things the government can do, they can increase universal credit by £125 per week, and they could give a one—off £250 payment to low income households. one-off £250 payment to low income households. , one-off £250 payment to low income households-— households. they would not necessarily _ households. they would not necessarily be _ households. they would not necessarily be on _ households. they would not necessarily be on benefits, | households. they would not i necessarily be on benefits, but earnings are low? to necessarily be on benefits, but earnings are low?— necessarily be on benefits, but earnings are low? to get these measures _ earnings are low? to get these measures together _ earnings are low? to get these measures together would i earnings are low? to get these measures together would cost | earnings are low? to get these i measures together would cost £4.2 billion. the government say we have spent billions, we have given money toward energy bills, we have lowered the taper rate on universal credit,

we cannot keep giving money out. they say, hang on a second, according to rishi sunak�*s own fiscal rules, which he sets himself, according to the office for budget responsibility, which looks at his numbers and checks them, they say, we have £20 billion worth of headroom here. that is what the national institute of social research are saying. you have that headroom, it is time you used it. that is their message. it is headroom, it is time you used it. that is their message.— that is their message. it is a difficult conundrum - that is their message. it is a difficult conundrum for i that is their message. it is a difficult conundrum for the l difficult conundrum for the chancellor, he says i need it as a buffer, they will say, you are expecting things to get worse? politically, the message is not good. i politically, the message is not lood. ., politically, the message is not lood. . ., politically, the message is not ood. ., ., , politically, the message is not lood. ., ., , , ., politically, the message is not ood. . ., , , . ., good. i hate to be the bearer of more bad _ good. i hate to be the bearer of more bad news, _ good. i hate to be the bearer of more bad news, ofgem, - good. i hate to be the bearer of more bad news, ofgem, the i good. i hate to be the bearer of- more bad news, ofgem, the energy more bad news, 0fgem, the energy regulator, has said it is almost inevitable that energy bills will go up inevitable that energy bills will go up again in october. the pressure on households is not going away any time soon. we just had households is not going away any time soon. wejust had inflation numbers coming out of the us, 8.3%, the uk, the bank of england said it is heading towards 10%. cost pressures on households to pay for their energy, to pay for theirfood, their energy, to pay for their food, it their energy, to pay for theirfood, it is only going to get worse.

the government has rejected eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol — saying they would make things worse. the foreign secretary, liz truss, said she wanted a "negotiated solution" but warned she could take unilateral action. she'll meet with the vice president of the european commission tomorrow for further talks. speaking in belfast, ireland's minister for foreign affairs, simon coveney, said britain appeared to be ready to breach international law. he said it hadn't gone down well across the eu. we have been very consistent on this. we don't believe the way forward in terms of solving outstanding issues can be done unilaterally by either side. the way to solve outstanding issues in relation to brexit and the protocol, and northern ireland, is through partnership, compromise, and through working these issues out together, in a way that both sides can move on. that is what we want to do.

of course, there was issues have also been part of getting devolved of course, those issues are also been part of getting devolved to make it even more complicated. but i think the briefing that we have seen in the british media, coming from liz truss and others, has gone down really media, coming from secretary truss and others, has gone down really they believe that the commission has been showing a willingness to compromise, one ongoing technical discussion to try to work out to compromise, wants ongoing technical discussion to try to work out solutions and common ground, and what they are hearing and seeing of international law. and setting aside elements of a treaty that the british government was central to putting in place with the eu. so, that hasn't gone down well, and i hope that the decision—makers in westminster will reflect on that.

earlier i spoke to our correspondent nick garnett, and he told us what this means for the political situation in northern ireland. things look very, very difficult. really, what has happened as the assembly has been in the process of trying to set itself up. the democratic unionist party, the second party in last week's elections, came to a bit of an impasse. it wanted, it said, big changes to the northern ireland protocol before it would take its place at the assembly. now the problem is, that is not in the power of the dup. that has all got to be done between the eu and westminster, the british parliament. and that is a real difficulty. it's not going to happen overnight. there are talks, as you said, about a plan for tomorrow. they have been going on for months and months. there has been no solution to it. it's very unlikely that solution will happen almost overnight. and you have comments

from secretary liz truss and also from michael gove today, saying that they are willing to tear up parts of the northern ireland protocol. i think that word, parts, is a very key word. they are not talking about revving up the whole protocol and going it alone, because of the risks that would cause in terms of retribution or reciprocation of problems from the eu itself. so it is likely that there will be some element of going it alone. liz truss says she is willing to start to put that together as early as next week, and it would of course take a long time to get through. there has been talk of concern among conservative backbenchers, because they can see that this would not go down well in terms of getting it through parliament. it might get through the house of commons because of borisjohnson's large majority, but one conservative was saying that it will get torn apart, mauled in the house of lords, if it went that far. so there is no easy answer to this. and there is no way that it seems to be able to be sorted out before

the assembly is due to take place, due to sit for the first time on friday. and we have just had literally as you are speaking a response from the white house, saying it wants to encourage continued dialogue between the uk and eu on the northern ireland protocol. it is another player in this because it is one of the guarantors of the good friday agreement? exactly. the question is, sinn fein says there has to be a border somewhere. whether that border is as it is at the moment in the irish sea, whether it is a hard border between the republic of ireland and northern ireland, there has to be a border, because of the land mass that is ireland, there has to be a customs check at some point. part of the land mass is in the eu, and part of it isn't. the threat to the good friday agreement is if you create a hard border, it creates division. it creates a difference between the two countries that is not there at the moment, and has not been there since the belfast agreement, the good friday agreement was put in place.

and so, joe biden getting involved in this, it has been on the cards for a while and it is yet again upping the rhetoric, it is upping the ante, as it were, and it adds to the problem is, really. because, as i say, there is no quick way this can be sorted out. and at 4.30 we'll be speaking to the tory peer, lord moylan, about this, lord moylan of course having dual british and irish citizenship russia's president vladimir putin is preparing for a long war in ukraine — and even victory in the east may not end the conflict. that's the warning from us intelligence, as fierce fighting continues in the eastern part of the country, where russia is trying to take territory. ukraine says their counter—offensive

has pushed out russian forces north of kharkiv, recapturing some villages around that key city. 0ur kyiv correspondentjames waterhouse sent this report. a turning of the tide in the kharkhiv region. this t—90 tank, russia's most advanced, destroyed. ukrainian counterattacks have forced the invaders out of some villages, but this war is stagnating and ukraine's leader knows it. translation: i also want to urge| all our people and especially those not on the frontline, not to get carried away. we should not put moral pressure and expect some victories weekly and even daily. russia doesn't have the air superiority it once had over ukraine, according to the us. instead launching shoot and scoot missions from inside the country. vladimir putin's latest aim is to take the whole of the eastern donbas region.

today, though, a warning. a shift in focus, yes. but not a shrinking of ambition. the next month or two of fighting will be significant as the russians attempt to reinvigorate their efforts. but even if they are successful, we are not confident that the fight in the donbas will effectively end the war. we assess president putin is preparing for prolonged conflict in ukraine, during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the donbas. vladimir putin is relying on western governments and the european union losing interest, and having to focus on other issues so that he can capitalise in this war. and he is not against a long—term campaign. let's remember there were eight years of russian aggression and war in the east before this invasion even happened. this war is still brutal. look at mariupol. hundreds of ukrainian fighters trapped in tunnels under the azovstal steel plant in the destroyed city. they're calling for the wounded to be helped out. while the others refuse to surrender. james waterhouse, bbc news, in kyiv.

the prime minister is due to arrive in finland sure to come on the second stage of a visit to the region, which has already seen them sign a mutual security pact with the swedish prime minister. the uk would give assistance to sweden if it came under attack. give assistance to sweden if it came underattack. finland's give assistance to sweden if it came under attack. finland's government is widely expected to begin the process of applying to join the nato alliance this week, and it is possible sweden could follow soon after. they would become the 31st and 32nd members of nato, founded at the end of the 1940s to provide a counterweight to the soviet expansion. moscow has warned of military and political repercussions if the countries become members. finland has an 800 mile border with russia. this report contains some stark images.

finland may be a small country, but it has one of the biggest armies in europe. defence and security are notjust matters for the armed forces here. they are woven into the fabric of the civic life of the country. we have a firm role in society. we still have a conscription, which means that majority of the finns are somehow part of the national defence via their conscription and service. and give me some sense of how big the finnish armed forces are. how many service personnel could you mobilise in the event of a real national emergency? 208,000 is the figure right now. from a population of five million. exactly. that's huge, isn't it? it is. these are mostly conscript soldiers. they serve full—time for a year, and will then do regular refresher training throughout their adult lives. for men, it's compulsory. some women also volunteer. i have two older brothers and my father also, so when they were in the army, i just thought that if there was a war, i want to be there too.

i don't want them to go, like, and i would stay home. i want to go too. newsreel: today little finland is putting up such a savage i defence as the modern world has rarely seen... finland's thinking about defence is still shaped by this — an attempt by the soviet union to invade and occupy the country in 1939. finland's resistance then is an echo of ukraine today. among the wreckage, the finns found propaganda films, which were to have been shown in helsinki after the russians had taken the capital. this is also 1940, the winter war. yes, during the winter war. analisa antilla was a teenager in the city of vyborg. the soviets captured it and made it part of russia. finland never got it back. and did you witness some of the destruction yourself? "yes, of course," she told me. "i was there when the bombs were falling. we had to get down on the floor.

people were fleeing with their belongings. my mother and i were on the last bus to leave vyborg." and are you still sad that it's a russian town now? of course. finland's border with russia is 800 miles long. its accession to nato's would strengthen the alliance's military might right on russia's doorstep. the trees beyond the frozen lake are in russia. 0n the other side of this frontier, this further advance of nato will be seen as more evidence of malign western intent, as a direct threat to the security of russia itself. finland's army is already compatible with nato's. this is a british tank taking part injoint training exercises on finnish soil already. for finland was once part of the russian empire, and the spectre of a resurgent russian imperialism has driven finland into full alignment

with the western military alliance, and is redrawing the security map of europe. allan little, bbc news, finland. speaking at a news conference with the swedish prime minister, borisjohnson said that in the event of a disaster or attack on sweden, the uk would come to its aid i'm very pleased today with you, prime minister andersson, to sign this mutual security assurances declaration. it is an agreement that brings our two countries even closer together, it will allow us to share more intelligence, bolster our military exercises and further ourjoint development of technology. paul adamsjoins us paul adams joins us now. paul adamsjoins us now. i was talking to a former nato analyst a little earlier today and as saying

that this is exactly the outcome vladimir putin wouldn't have wanted, yet he seems to have accelerated the expansion of nato right up his borders. in expansion of nato right up his borders. ., , ., expansion of nato right up his borders. . , ., ., , . borders. in a year of such uncertainty _ borders. in a year of such uncertainty on _ borders. in a year of such uncertainty on a - borders. in a year of such uncertainty on a numberl borders. in a year of such l uncertainty on a number of borders. in a year of such - uncertainty on a number of fronts, borders. in a year of such _ uncertainty on a number of fronts, i think one thing you can say is pretty certain, by the end of 2022, finland and sweden will both be members of nato, and will be welcomed with open arms by the alliance. this is, as a former finnish prime minister put it, couldn's accession, the ninth round of accession to nato, it is one that vladimir putin by himself has engineered. support forjoining nato was bumping along in the low to mid 20% in finland, until this year, now it is about 76%, slightly lagging behind in sweden, which has a longer, deepertradition behind in sweden, which has a longer, deeper tradition of neutrality and finland. still, it has risen there dramatically. so it

is highly likely, in fact i would say it is a racing certainty that by this time next week we will have had firm indications from both countries, probably in a joint announcement, that they intend to seek membership. iline announcement, that they intend to seek membership.— announcement, that they intend to seek membership. one of the things that in the past _ seek membership. one of the things that in the past has _ seek membership. one of the things that in the past has made _ seek membership. one of the things that in the past has made some i that in the past has made some membership accession is has been that their military isn't ready to integrate with nato. is it fair to say that with sweden and finland, that wouldn't be a problem? nothing could be further— that wouldn't be a problem? nothing could be further from _ that wouldn't be a problem? nothing could be further from the _ that wouldn't be a problem? nothing could be further from the case. i i could be further from the case. i spent some time with the swedish military just spent some time with the swedish militaryjust a spent some time with the swedish military just a few years spent some time with the swedish militaryjust a few years ago as they were starting to reassess their relations with russia, and wondering how they should bolster their defences, i was really struck as the swedish air force carried out its exercises, by itself, all of the communications were in english. they are entirely compatible with nato, the same goes for finland, both countries operate according to nato standards, they operate to the

greatest extent with western equipment, the suites have a advanced defence industry of their own. they will have absolutely no problems adjusting to life in nato. in fact for the last 30 years, both countries have come all intents and purposes, they have been members of nato, they have taken part in exercises with nato, it is a rapid process. it can take many months and years, or even longer in some cases, but i think most people assume that once the application is in, it will be a matter of weeks, perhaps just a few months, before they are both welcome then. in a few months, before they are both welcome then.— few months, before they are both welcome then. in a sense, does this make the security _ welcome then. in a sense, does this make the security pact, _ welcome then. in a sense, does this make the security pact, the - make the security pact, the bilateral security pact announced with sweden, sort of academic? it will soon be superseded, assuming everything goes to plan, by the mutual defence which is built into nato? , �* . nato? yes, article five will come into force — nato? yes, article five will come into force the _ nato? yes, article five will come into force the moment _ nato? yes, article five will come into force the moment the i nato? yes, article five will come into force the moment the two i nato? yes, article five will come i into force the moment the two are members. that is the mutual defence

aspect of the nato alliance. but there will be a period, and we don't quite know how long it will be, when they have stated their intention to join but they are not members, therefore not covered by article 5. what britain in particular and other countries, other nato members want to do, is to give the two countries the assurances they need in these rather nervous and uncertain times, with the russians warning of various vague threats of what they could do in the event that the two countries expressed their desire to join, these are arrangements that are designed to reassure and give confidence to the governments and the peoples of both sweden and finland, in that interim period, their security will be in good hands. ., ., ., ., ., , hands. until now, how have relations been between _ hands. until now, how have relations been between helsinki _ hands. until now, how have relations been between helsinki and _ hands. until now, how have relations. been between helsinki and stockholm, and moscow? the

been between helsinki and stockholm, and moscow?— and moscow? the suites have been e einl and moscow? the suites have been eyeing russian _ and moscow? the suites have been eyeing russian behaviour, - eyeing russian behaviour, particularly in the baltics, with some misgivings, for several years, watching the activity of russian submarines, for example, close to the coast of sweden, very close to stockholm, in a famous case just a few years ago. finland has a very long border with russia, and when finland joins, long border with russia, and when finlandjoins, nato long border with russia, and when finland joins, nato is a border with russia will almost double inside. it is a country that as recently as world war ii was at war with russia, and lost territory to russia as a result of that war. it has maintained a relationship, an uneasy relationship, and a relationship designed not to provoke russia in the years ever since. in some ways, for finland it is a significant step, as it is full sweden, which is turning its back on 200 years of at least stated neutrality. pauli turning its back on 200 years of at least stated neutrality. paul adams, our diplomatic _ least stated neutrality. paul adams, our diplomatic correspondent, i least stated neutrality. pauladams,j our diplomatic correspondent, thank you very much.

police are concerned for a 15—year—old girl known as maddie, who has been missing for 14 days. she left her foster parents�* house in southmead in bristol on april 26th, saying she was going to the shops but never returned. police say that the circumstances of her disappearance are deeply worrying, and they have appealed for anybody who sees her own notices her online, to call 999 all the nonemergency number 101 as soon as you can. a girl known locally as maddie. police support 0fficerjulia james was killed in april last year near her home in cant. let's go to

canterbury crown court. what have we heard today? julia canterbury crown court. what have we heard today?— heard today? julia james was killed as she was out _ heard today? julia james was killed as she was out walking _ heard today? julia james was killed as she was out walking her - heard today? julia james was killed as she was out walking her dog i heard today? julia james was killed j as she was out walking her dog just over a year ago, this is a route she would regularly take. the prosecution say the defendant, callum wheeler, was waiting for someone to attack. they say that he hitjulia james repeatedly and she stood no chance of survival. callum wheeler admits he was responsible for killing julia james, who was off duty at the time, but he denies it was murder. today in court, we heard from a witness called gavin tucker, he is a gamekeeper who worked in the area where julia he is a gamekeeper who worked in the area wherejulia james he is a gamekeeper who worked in the area where julia james was he is a gamekeeper who worked in the area wherejulia james was killed. he has told the court that on the day afterjulia james died, he saw callum wheeler in the area acting suspiciously. he actually captured some dash cam footage from his land rover of callum wheeler walking alongside a field. mr tucker said he

asked callum wheeler what he was doing, he said that he replied he was new to the area and he was lost. but mr tucker said he knew that was a lie, because he had seen callum wheeler in the area a few months earlier. he also took some mobile phone pictures of callum wheeler and dialled 999. one of the pictures was later released by the police as part of an appeal, and the court heard that helped take the police to callum wheeler and he was arrested after that. callum wheeler and he was arrested afterthat. in callum wheeler and he was arrested after that. in the picture, the prosecution says that callum wheeler is seen carrying a blue bag, the prosecution say inside that bag was the murder weapon used to killjulia james. the prosecution say it is unclear why he was carrying it, perhaps he was goading the police, perhaps he was goading the police, perhaps he was looking to dispose of the weapon. we also heard in court this afternoon from a pcso who attended the scene whenjulia james's body was discovered. she

told the court she called out, but there were no signs of life. we also saw some body—cam footage that pcso carmichael took, showing the body on the ground, with a hood over her head. 0n seeing that footage, some of the members ofjulia james's family were in tears in court. the prosecution continues tomorrow, expecting to hear from some prosecution continues tomorrow, expecting to hearfrom some more witnesses. expecting to hear from some more witnesses. ., ~' , ., , expecting to hear from some more witnesses. ., ,, , ., , . witnesses. thank you very much. rebekah vardy — witnesses. thank you very much. rebekah vardy has _ witnesses. thank you very much. rebekah vardy has denied - witnesses. thank you very much. rebekah vardy has denied a i rebekah vardy has denied a suggestion that it was standard practice for her to lick private information to the sun newspaper, using her agent as a link. rebekah vardy is suing coleen rooney for libel. rebekah vardy has been in the

witness stand, she will likely be going on to give evidence tomorrow. coleen rooney has been feet away from her, staring her down the entire time. the lawyer for coleen rooney, he has been questioning rebekah vardy on news stories and messages she sent to her agent, he says that these messages between the two are examples of plans to leak stories. in one case, he says that there was a plan to leak the story of a celebrity who rebekah vardy knew having an affair. he read out the messages in court, he said 0mg, have you've seen how badly misses f is behaving? leak the story. in response to this, rebekah vardy said i was just response to this, rebekah vardy said i wasjustjoking when i response to this, rebekah vardy said i was justjoking when i sent this comment, but the agent saying as you mentioned earlier that this was standard practice to leak these stories, that rebekah vardy would pass the stories to her agent and

her agent would pass the stories onto the sun and media organisations and the stories would be sold on. in another exchange she said she had considered selling a story but it was a fleeting moment and she decided not to do it in the end. the trial is due to go on until next week. wayne rooney is going to be taking to the stand but not jamie vardy. mr; taking to the stand but not jamie vard. g ., ,., ., ., vardy. my apologies to charlie and colin paterson _ vardy. my apologies to charlie and colin paterson who _ vardy. my apologies to charlie and colin paterson who was _ vardy. my apologies to charlie and colin paterson who was also i vardy. my apologies to charlie and colin paterson who was also in i vardy. my apologies to charlie and i colin paterson who was also in court but not for that particular report. a uk ticket—holder won last night's euromillions jackpot of more it's the biggest—ever lottery win in the uk. there has been one claim so far but the winner has yet to be declared.

the bad news if you were selling that diamond, it did not meet the estimated price. instead of the $30 million estimated, it sold at christies in geneva for a disappointing $18.8 million. 0h, christies in geneva for a disappointing $18.8 million. oh, you see, inflation catching up early everywhere. but it is a lovely thing to look at. worth 18.8 million? 0nly to look at. worth 18.8 million? only you can decide. what do you think of it? �* , ., , , , you can decide. what do you think of it? i, ,. you can decide. what do you think of it? ,, ,_, it? it's a pretty big piece of blinl. it? it's a pretty big piece of bling- i'm _ it? it's a pretty big piece of bling. i'm not _ it? it's a pretty big piece of bling. i'm not sure - it? it's a pretty big piece of bling. i'm not sure i- it? it's a pretty big piece of bling. i'm not sure i could i it? it's a pretty big piece of- bling. i'm not sure i could afford that. former new zealand captain brendon mccullum has agreed to be the next england test coach subject to the contract being finalised. mccullum coaches the indian premier league side kolkata knight riders. but he's likely to end his work

with the franchise to be full—time with england. 0fficial confirmation could come by the end of the week. the premier league title race is still on with manchester city heading to wolves tonight — hoping to put more breathing room between them and liverpool. the reds have drawn level with city at the top but it's only goal difference that seperates the two sides for now. city are going to be short of defenders for the run in as ruben dias, john stones and kyle walker are all injured. pep guardiola's side know that a win or draw would see them go top outright with only two games left. the most difficult service in tennis is the service you have deserved to be champion so it is quite a similar position, we need six, seven points to be champion. and they will be the more difficult ones. these away games against wolves and west ham will be... well, we have to be the best of ourselves to do it. this is the only important thing.-

the only important thing. mikel arteta is giving _ the only important thing. mikel arteta is giving up _ the only important thing. mikel arteta is giving up for - the only important thing. mikel arteta is giving up for a - the only important thing. mikel arteta is giving up for a massive north london derby against tottenham tomorrow. with athletes in the champions league on the line, arteta is looking forward to it. the champions league on the line, arteta is looking forward to it._ is looking forward to it. the most excitinl is looking forward to it. the most exciting one. _ is looking forward to it. the most exciting one, we _ is looking forward to it. the most exciting one, we played - is looking forward to it. the most exciting one, we played the i is looking forward to it. the most i exciting one, we played the chelsea finals. _ exciting one, we played the chelsea finals. it _ exciting one, we played the chelsea finals, it was the same. when you have _ finals, it was the same. when you have the _ finals, it was the same. when you have the opportunity to achieve one of your— have the opportunity to achieve one of your objectives in the season, can't _ of your objectives in the season, can't wait — of your objectives in the season, can't wait to play the game because this is— can't wait to play the game because this is our— can't wait to play the game because this is ourjob and the work you have _ this is ourjob and the work you have done _ this is ourjob and the work you have done throughout the season to try to _ have done throughout the season to try to earn _ have done throughout the season to try to earn it. meanwhile, the title in scotland could be decided tonight as celtic go to dundee united knowing anything but defeat will see them lift their 52nd league trophy. a point will do for the hoops. last season they finished 25 points behind rangers. manager ange postecoglou is in his first season in charge and he could add a premiership win to the league cup title they won in december. there was not a great deal of expectation _ there was not a great deal of expectation in _ there was not a great deal of expectation in terms - there was not a great deal of expectation in terms of - there was not a great deal of. expectation in terms of success. whether— expectation in terms of success. whether that _

expectation in terms of success. whether that was _ expectation in terms of success. whether that was because - expectation in terms of success. whether that was because of. expectation in terms of success. | whether that was because of me expectation in terms of success. - whether that was because of me and my own _ whether that was because of me and my own background _ whether that was because of me and my own background or— whether that was because of me and my own background orjust _ whether that was because of me and my own background orjust the - whether that was because of me and i my own background orjust the ground we needed _ my own background orjust the ground we needed to— my own background orjust the ground we needed to make _ my own background orjust the ground we needed to make up _ my own background orjust the ground we needed to make up and _ my own background orjust the ground we needed to make up and 30 - my own background orjust the ground we needed to make up and 30 gamesl we needed to make up and 30 games a-o, we needed to make up and 30 games ago. we _ we needed to make up and 30 games ago. we were — we needed to make up and 30 games ago. we were a— we needed to make up and 30 games ago, we were a fair— we needed to make up and 30 games ago, we were a fair way— we needed to make up and 30 games ago, we were a fair way behind - we needed to make up and 30 games ago, we were a fair way behind in- ago, we were a fair way behind in terms— ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of— ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking _ ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking like _ ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking like a _ ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking like a team - ago, we were a fair way behind in terms of looking like a team that| terms of looking like a team that could _ terms of looking like a team that could end — terms of looking like a team that could end up _ terms of looking like a team that could end up being _ terms of looking like a team that could end up being champions, l terms of looking like a team that| could end up being champions, so terms of looking like a team that - could end up being champions, so 30 games— could end up being champions, so 30 games later, — could end up being champions, so 30 games later, i— could end up being champions, so 30 games later, ithink— could end up being champions, so 30 games later, i think we _ could end up being champions, so 30 games later, i think we have - could end up being champions, so 30 games later, i think we have taken i games later, i think we have taken an approach— games later, i think we have taken an approach that _ games later, i think we have taken an approach that has _ games later, i think we have taken an approach that has got _ games later, i think we have taken an approach that has got us - games later, i think we have taken an approach that has got us to - games later, i think we have taken an approach that has got us to thisj an approach that has got us to this point _ an approach that has got us to this point and — an approach that has got us to this point and our— an approach that has got us to this point and our goal— an approach that has got us to this point and our goal every _ an approach that has got us to this point and our goal every week- an approach that has got us to this point and our goal every week is i point and our goal every week is 'ust point and our goal every week is just be _ point and our goal every week is just be the — point and our goal every week is just be the best _ point and our goal every week is just be the best possible - point and our goal every week is just be the best possible team l point and our goal every week is i just be the best possible team we can be _ triple 0lympic swimming champion adam peaty says he's devastated after being ruled out of the world championships next month. he's fractured a bone in his foot whilst training in the gym and has been advised to rest for six weeks. the world championships take place in budapest next month. peaty said in a statement on twitter that he's never had an injury but he hopes to build up strength for the commonwealth games. the french sprinter won stage five of g l italia —— giroud to tell. mark on the hardest stage of the climb.

disappointed to miss out on the sprint finish in messi contested by a reduced field. cavendish will try again on the italian mainland. watford have found the diamond in the rough, they have been relegated from the premier league and just announced who will be managing them. forest green rovers manager will be the new boss, taking overfrom roy hodgson. quite the end of an area for him. at least he is hopefully going to have a long and happy retirement ahead of him. you can find out more _ retirement ahead of him. you can find out more on _ retirement ahead of him. you can find out more on the _ retirement ahead of him. you can find out more on the bbc - retirement ahead of him. you can find out more on the bbc sport i find out more on the bbc sport website. bbc don't quote uk faults sport. to

an adult reported a younger female cousin being repeatedly groped and humiliated by a group of males at her school. i humiliated by a group of males at her school-— her school. i spoke to the nspcc hel-line her school. i spoke to the nspcc helpline manager _ her school. i spoke to the nspcc helpline manager who _ her school. i spoke to the nspcc helpline manager who told i her school. i spoke to the nspcc helpline manager who told us i her school. i spoke to the nspcc i helpline manager who told us what is worrying is how the behaviour has become almost normalised. so teachers can deal with it effectively. we want schools to be helpful and healthy places for children to learn about what is good and consensual relationships. people living with chronic pain aren't always receiving effective treatment — according to specialists who think more could be done to help patients manage their condition. a survey carried out for bbc news

suggests 26 % of adults in the uk live with long term, persistent pain. nearly half of those said it impacted their daily life — simple things like doing the shopping, or going to work. 0ur health correspondent, dominic hughes, has been to meet two young women whose lives have been severely affected by pain. i wish i could turn the clock back. but i also know that i didn't do this. five years ago, jen was a successful dental therapist, happy and fulfilled. hi, i'mjennifer. even starring in her practice's promotional videos. today, she's living a life dominated by pain. 0pioid patches, anti—inflammatories, nerve—pain medications. it started with back pain. it was how i would imagine being kicked in the back by a horse would be. erm, that really acute, direct force.

but now it's spread through her body, and every dayjen lives with chronic, persistent pain. 0ur bodies are designed to protect us. and sometimes the system that protects us goes into overdrive. my life revolves around the pain. it doesn't matter how hard i try, or how much i wish, or how much i pray, it isn't — or most likely isn't — going to change. hiya, stella. come in. at a clinic in southport... grab a seat. ..dr chris barker leads a team — physios, psychologists, pharmacists — helping people to manage their pain better, focusing notjust on physical causes, but how the brain interprets and reacts to pain. great. cheers, see you again. thank you very much. you're welcome. but dr barker says the broader health system still doesn't have a good understanding of chronic pain. it's not something that is commonly talked about. people...

people kind ofjust get on with it. and it gets to a point where people become incredibly disabled and distressed. and i don't think we're equipped, either as a society or as a health care system, to deal with that. pain isjust — you probably know yourself, pain is huge. 0h, absolutely. yeah. libby is one of those who's worked with chris. now at university, she's lived almost half her life with pain, after developing chronic fatigue syndrome while still really young. the pain came to dominate her teenage years. but with help, libby is learning how to manage her condition. it's not something i can change. it's just something i can co—exist with. and, for me, that's kind of what acceptance is. it's just finding a way to co—exist. i'm sort of trapped in a body that's painful to be in. there's no nice way of putting it. it'sjust a bit... it sucks. both libby and jen have at times felt badly let down by the health service.

late or misdiagnoses, or simply not having their voices heard. both have also found people who understand their condition, and treat them with care and compassion. but in the end, it's come down to their own resilience, finding some strength despite their pain. dominic hughes, bbc news. lam iamjoined by i am joined by a consultant in pain medicine — i amjoined by a consultant in pain medicine. ., ~ i amjoined by a consultant in pain medicine. ., ,, , ., i amjoined by a consultant in pain medicine. ., ~' , ., ., i amjoined by a consultant in pain medicine. ., ,, , ., ., , medicine. thank you for being with us. you medicine. thank you for being with us- you must _ medicine. thank you for being with us. you must hear— medicine. thank you for being with us. you must hear cases. - medicine. thank you for being with us. you must hear cases. what i medicine. thank you for being with j us. you must hear cases. what can medicine. thank you for being with i us. you must hear cases. what can be done that is not being done at the moment? the important thing is moment? the important thing 3 understanding for the person who has been unfortunately suffering like that. and helping them to appreciate there are two aspects to the pain.

0ne there are two aspects to the pain. one is what we would call the biomedical pain. the pain that you think i have got a dreadful hip or dreadful back or dreadful in the and the second part, which is the bit a lot of people are now talking about is pain tolerance. how well our bodies cope with pain. that aspect of putting up with pain is the bit that often fails in chronic pain. so you have these two aspects, one dealing with the initial cause and secondly dealing with the resilience of the system. the two are treated in different ways. what we need to do in practice is treat both aspects. 0ne do in practice is treat both aspects. one can be treated with analgesics, that is the basic biomedical pain. the other is to try

to deal with the resilience of the system. the second aspect starts to failing people with chronic pain. i'm gratefulfor you failing people with chronic pain. i'm grateful for you setting failing people with chronic pain. i'm gratefulfor you setting it failing people with chronic pain. i'm grateful for you setting it out so clearly. i wonder if one of the difficulties patients experience is these kind of conditions because they are consistent, there is not necessarily a solution to them and people start to think, this is something i have to live with because in getting older or perhaps people around them not quite as sympathetic as they should be? filth. sympathetic as they should be? oh, es, sympathetic as they should be? oi, yes, absolutely. sympathetic as they should be? oi yes, absolutely. when things are around a long time, we think ijust have to put up with it. the second aspect is that the longer you have something of course the treatment that you might have had right at the

beginning because if you have a terrible hit on the and need a bit of codeine and morphine, that's understandable. the big problem is as you go on and on, the stuff you are taking doesn't work. so you become tolerant. you become addicted or take too many anti—inflammatories, it rots your gut. so that is one aspect. the second as you said is people around you and your own self might become less sympathetic to the whole thing and you put it to one side. the treatment of chronic pain is, it has to be what is biopsychosocial. we understand chronic pain can be part of our lives and it has both a biological effect, like the knee or the ship and it has a psychological effect, that it affects you and the people around you and the social effect that in fact it extends to the whole family and when you treat

chronic pain, you can give different drugs and treatments to help all those aspects. it’s drugs and treatments to help all those aspects.— those aspects. it's a fascinating sub'ect, those aspects. it's a fascinating subject. a _ those aspects. it's a fascinating subject, a reminder— those aspects. it's a fascinating subject, a reminder that - those aspects. it's a fascinating subject, a reminder that that i those aspects. it's a fascinating | subject, a reminder that that life of pain programme is available on the bbc iplayer. thank you very much for talking to us. i know a lot of people have been interested. the government has rejected eu proposals to reduce the impact of the post—brexit northern ireland protocol saying they would make things worse. thanks very much for coming in to the studio. we heard earlierfrom one business person saying some of the things would be better but nonetheless the whole business needs to be resolved. if the government

does abdicate this protocol it would be a resolution of sorts but there must be consequences? i be a resolution of sorts but there must be consequences?- be a resolution of sorts but there must be consequences? i think the fact is the british _ must be consequences? i think the fact is the british government - must be consequences? i think the fact is the british government has. fact is the british government has rejected what the eu has said, but the eu has refused to enter into any engagement with what the british government has said which was set out very clearly in a paper the government produced and they have said now very clearly in the last week that they will never, that's the word they use, never renegotiate the word they use, never renegotiate the protocol and the changes that are needed will involve a massive renegotiation of the protocol. it's not working, it's time for the government to act. i don't think torque is going to cut it. they have made it clear they don't want to negotiate so the time for the government to act. well there be consequences? i think there will be consequences? i think there will be consequences but the idea you are driving the bus off the edge of the cliff is sort of eye think way way

exaggerated. they could cancel the trade agreement but that would take at least a year and would require... that would mean we would be treated like any other country that was not... ., , . ',., not... there would be tariffs on what we sold — not... there would be tariffs on what we sold into _ not... there would be tariffs on what we sold into the _ not... there would be tariffs on what we sold into the european i not... there would be tariffs on - what we sold into the european union where there are not at the moment. equally you have to remember we could impose tariffs on goods coming in here and that trade agreement is very favourable to the european union because they sell us a lot more goods than we sell to them, always have done. they would be shooting themselves in the foot. unless they think they can find alternative sources.— unless they think they can find alternative sources. yes, but of course they _ alternative sources. yes, but of course they probably _ alternative sources. yes, but of course they probably could - alternative sources. yes, but of course they probably could find | course they probably could find alternative sources in due course. let me put to you this point. criticism has been made all the way along that this was a deal that the british government should not have made, the prime minister was told at the time, he made it despite the

advice, but he said don't worry there will not be aborted in the irish sea, there will not be division between great and northern ireland, people knew it would come about and it has come about. factors caettin about and it has come about. factors getting brexit — about and it has come about. factors getting brexit done _ about and it has come about. factors getting brexit done was _ about and it has come about. factors getting brexit done was a _ about and it has come about. factors getting brexit done was a massive i getting brexit done was a massive project. if you have a massive project. if you have a massive project like building a new house, you could find out that part of it does not work. the garage... but he was warned — does not work. the garage... but he was warned it _ does not work. the garage... but he was warned it would _ does not work. the garage... but he was warned it would not _ does not work. the garage... but he was warned it would not work! - was warned it would not work! nonetheless, you go ahead with the project and hope that the european union will take a more supportive to an gentle view of how the thing might be applied but if you think the garage does not work and it is leaking, you can sit there if you like whingeing about whose fault it was but it does not fix the problem. we have to fix and focusing on working problem. the european union is not willing to engage... mb? is not willing to engage... why should it if _ is not willing to engage... why should it if it — is not willing to engage... why should it if it thinks _ is not willing to engage... why should it if it thinks it negotiated at the time? and the government signed something...

at the time? and the government signed something. . .— signed something... because the whole purpose — signed something... because the whole purpose of _ signed something... because the whole purpose of the _ signed something... because the whole purpose of the northern i whole purpose of the northern ireland protocol and it says so at the outset is to protect the belfast good friday agreement and peace settlement in northern ireland, that is the primary purpose of the agreement and it is clear exactly having a deteriorate effect. ihlat having a deteriorate effect. not least because _ having a deteriorate effect. not least because the democratic unionists have said they will not go into power while it continues. on that basis, is the timing of the government announcement really not so much about the protocol and trade and finance but actually politics? it is too important for power—sharing not to be restored and if the dup won't play ball when the protocol has to go? it's not really about the protocol. it’s protocol has to go? it's not really about the protocol.— about the protocol. it's largely about the protocol. it's largely about the _ about the protocol. it's largely about the protocol _ about the protocol. it's largely about the protocol but - about the protocol. it's largely about the protocol but i - about the protocol. it's largely about the protocol but i think. about the protocol but i think you're quite right, it has been useful, the government did not take this action in the run—up to the elections, left people in northern ireland to make a choice without intervening in that aggressive way. we have made their choice and it's clear the demolition settlement is not going to operate. the good

friday institutions will not operate unless the protocol is dealt with. the first obligation is for the people of northern ireland and it's intolerable that you have a situation where the people of part of the united kingdom are dependent on a foreign power, the goodwill of a foreign power about whether they get medicine or food and whatever. that's not going to work, the demolition settlement is being undermined, the eu is refusing to negotiate, it is time for the government to act and that means aggregating the work through legislation in the uk, the look of the protocol. there was not a bill specifically in the queen's speech as we were disappointed by that, but the noises over the last few days indicate that next week something would happen. ithink indicate that next week something would happen. i think next week is a bit of a deadline the government has to act. , , bit of a deadline the government has to act. , . ., .. , . to act. they have to act, they have reassured — to act. they have to act, they have reassured the _ to act. they have to act, they have reassured the dup _ to act. they have to act, they have reassured the dup and _ to act. they have to act, they have reassured the dup and others - to act. they have to act, they have reassured the dup and others it i to act. they have to act, they have. reassured the dup and others it will act, there is a chance the process could begin to be restored as soon

as the end of next week? i’m could begin to be restored as soon as the end of next week?— as the end of next week? i'm not auoin as the end of next week? i'm not going to- -- _ as the end of next week? i'm not going to--- i— as the end of next week? i'm not going to... i don't _ as the end of next week? i'm not going to... i don't know - as the end of next week? i'm not going to... i don't know what - going to... i don't know what discussions have taken place, if there had been... but discussions have taken place, if there had been...— there had been... but it would certainly the — there had been... but it would certainly the dup _ there had been... but it would certainly the dup would - there had been... but it would certainly the dup would say i there had been... but it would| certainly the dup would say we there had been... but it would - certainly the dup would say we want to see the colour— certainly the dup would say we want to see the colour of— certainly the dup would say we want to see the colour of your _ certainly the dup would say we want to see the colour of your money - to see the colour of your money first. how they would respond, how quickly they would respond i don't know. i'm not... i quickly they would respond i don't know. i'm not...— quickly they would respond i don't know. i'm not... i understand. you are a backbench. .. _ know. i'm not... i understand. you are a backbench... i— know. i'm not... i understand. you are a backbench... i am _ know. i'm not... i understand. you are a backbench... i am not- know. i'm not... i understand. you are a backbench... i am not a - know. i'm not... i understand. you are a backbench... i am not a dup| are a backbench... i am not a dup member. — are a backbench... i am not a dup member. i— are a backbench... i am not a dup member. i am _ are a backbench... i am not a dup member, i am not— are a backbench... i am not a dup member, i am not party— are a backbench... i am not a dup member, i am not party to - are a backbench... i am not a dup member, i am not party to their. member, i am not party to their thinking. member, i am not party to their thinkina. , , w' member, i am not party to their thinkina. , , a , member, i am not party to their thinkina. , , , ,, thinking. first picking up your oint thinking. first picking up your point about— thinking. first picking up your point about medicine - thinking. first picking up your point about medicine and - thinking. first picking up your. point about medicine and food. thinking. first picking up your- point about medicine and food. very important. what the eu would say is all we want is the maintenance of the same standards which existed before we left the european union, britain left the european union and actually a lot of people would say we quite liked those standards on medicines and food. we are not bothered by that.— bothered by that. let's take medicine- — bothered by that. let's take medicine. the _ bothered by that. let's take medicine. the medicine - bothered by that. let's take medicine. the medicine in l bothered by that. let's take - medicine. the medicine in northern ireland largely comes from great

britain. they have been flowing into the eu without interruption for 30 or a0 years, nobody is far as i know has died from them. they have not gone out and say, they are perfectly 0k. gone out and say, they are perfectly ok. you need a simple system that says the eu would be happy to accept medicines made in britain, certified in britain, approved by our medical regulators, because we are respectable and responsible and we will accept their medicines, that's all you need, a simple system like that. what they have got is, what they want and what they are imposing is this unworkable system that means you are dependent on them actually changing their law which they have done a bit in orderfor medicines changing their law which they have done a bit in order for medicines to continue flowing in northern ireland and it's very similar with food. we have been eating european food for years, i am have been eating european food for years, lam happy have been eating european food for years, i am happy to continue eating european food, i know it's going to be safe, it's fine! why would they want to worry about eating whatever

we produce? let want to worry about eating whatever we produce?— we produce? let me ask you a final oint we produce? let me ask you a final point which — we produce? let me ask you a final point which is _ we produce? let me ask you a final point which is relevant _ we produce? let me ask you a final point which is relevant because - we produce? let me ask you a final point which is relevant because it's| point which is relevant because it's all very well for government to announce this, but because the protocol was enacted into domestic law as i understand that it requires an act of parliament or the application of an act and parliament has to vote on it. can the government get it through the commons although this has been quite a rebellious conservative parliamentary party in this last parliament, could it get it through the house of lords?— the house of lords? eventually because the — the house of lords? eventually because the house _ the house of lords? eventually because the house of- the house of lords? eventually because the house of lords - the house of lords? eventually - because the house of lords always has to give way to the elected house and quite rightly. but also because the move might have shifted some of the move might have shifted some of the opponents of the legislation the government brought forward last year in order to stop checks on goods coming with great britain to northern ireland which is what the prime minister promised. he put the legislation forward and it was killed in the house of lords. now there are more peers willing to recognise that there is a problem about the application of the

protocol and it requires more than moving the deckchairs which is what the european union wants to talk about. , . , about. there might be cross-party consensus... _ about. there might be cross-party consensus... i'm _ about. there might be cross-party consensus... i'm not _ about. there might be cross-party consensus... i'm not sure - about. there might be cross-party consensus... i'm not sure about i consensus... i'm not sure about cross-party — consensus... i'm not sure about cross-party consensus - consensus... i'm not sure about cross-party consensus but - consensus... i'm not sure about cross-party consensus but i'm l consensus... i'm not sure about l cross-party consensus but i'm not cross—party consensus but i'm not sure that the... remember nobody has majority in the house of lords. including the labour party. it requires lots of parties and groups across benches and whatever working together to defeat the government. that coalition is not quite as strong as it was before. you that coalition is not quite as strong as it was before. you said in the end the — strong as it was before. you said in the end the house _ strong as it was before. you said in the end the house of— strong as it was before. you said in the end the house of lords - strong as it was before. you said in the end the house of lords gives . strong as it was before. you said in l the end the house of lords gives way to the elected house and that an accepted part of our constitution for 100 or more since the crisis over the liberals budget back in 1910 or thereabouts. we had this salisbury convention but there seems to be an understanding that you have to be an understanding that you have to put something into a manifesto before that seems to apply. is that the case or have i misunderstood? they talk over each other there is a separate thing which is stronger

level if you like witches if it is in the manifesto and house of lords definitely won't in its way of being implemented but even on other matters, if the commons expresses itself several times and this can go backwards and forwards, if it keeps... b. backwards and forwards, if it kees... �* ., ., backwards and forwards, if it kees... ., ., . , backwards and forwards, if it l keeps- - -_ if keeps... a lot of late nights. if the commons _ keeps... a lot of late nights. if the commons keeps _ keeps... a lot of late nights. if the commons keeps coming i keeps... a lot of late nights. if. the commons keeps coming back keeps... a lot of late nights. if- the commons keeps coming back and says we want it, no, we wanted, at some point, the opposition coalition starts to flake because people are more sensible. the other thing is up its sleeve the government has got parliament acts going back to that crisis you mentioned where the government can force it through by following certain procedure, that i very rarely happens. usually the house of lords is more sensible than to provoke the government into, force the government into doing that. �* , ., , ., that. but this will not be over ruickl . that. but this will not be over quickly. thank _ that. but this will not be over quickly. thank you _ that. but this will not be over quickly. thank you very - that. but this will not be over| quickly. thank you very much, that. but this will not be over - quickly. thank you very much, nice to talk to you.

ukraine has made it through to the eurovision song contest final, after last night's semifinal heat. the ukrainian folk, rap and hip hop group kalush orchestra has become the favourite to win the competition this weekend. david sillito reports from this year's host city of turin: turin. the morning after the night before. a night that was all about ukraine, as the kalush orchestra made its way to the final. there were many blue and yellow flags at the many gatherings across the city. this was a moment when eurovision becomes something more than just a song contest. it's a very emotional moment. but it's so much sad also. so it's really like a big family in europe and ukraine feels part of it. and this is really like celebration of this european union and all the values, all the european values. so it means a lot.

but while they are the odds—on favourites, it's not over yet. turin has sprung a surprise in the betting. there could be, on saturday night, a few unionjacks flying along these famous streets. and if you are a film fan you might just recognise this location. you know, plucky brits carrying out a daring heist. and if you look at the betting, there is a feeling that maybe, just maybe, this year there could be a 2022 uk italianjob! sam ryder, space man, is this year a real contender. he comes out of the darkness and he brings the light, literally. it's a new day, we come out. of the darkness and he brings the light, literally. because he is in a kind of crystal maze structure with beams - and bars of light. and it pays homage to rock, eltonjohn, freddie mercury, david bowie.

i think older viewers - will love that, but also his young tik—tok following. 12 million people, and they're notjust in the uk. _ so while ukraine has captured people's hearts, italy looks set to yield something rather better than nul points for the uk. # and i want to go home.# david sillito, bbc news, turin. full coverage of eurovision on bbc one on saturday night. we will be joining jane for the news at 5pm. thanks for your company, here is the weather. the rain we have seen moving has been pushing east at quite a pace and skies are already brightening extensively in the west and we will see sunshine returning to eastern areas to take us through the evening. still some showers to come from western scotland into the small hours of thursday but dry weather, slightly later went to the south, chilly than the night gone but rural lows three orfour.

chilly than the night gone but rural lows three or four. a lot of sunshine to start thursday, england, wales and northern ireland set to remain essentially dry, as will eastern scotland but in the west yet again showers turning into more prolonged spells of rain as we get to the afternoon. stretching up to the northern isles. temperatures here just about making it into double figures. further south than we should get 16—17— 18. temperatures rising for all of us by the time we get the weekend but look out for some thundery downpours.

this is bbc news. the headlines: new warnings that more than a million households across the uk will struggle to pay their bills over the next 12 months — as the prime minister warns of continuing pressure to come. as the prime minister warns we as the prime minister warns have already done a hi and we have already done a huge amount and we are putting billions and billions into helping people with the gusts of their energy. but we have to be realistic. there is going to be continuing pressure so we are going to continue to do as much as we can. going to continue to do as much as we can. the uk signs a mutual security pact with sweden, pledging support should its military come under attack.