this is bbc news. i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world: we're on the frontline of the war in ukraine, where ukraine says its forces have recaptured villages from russian troops north and northeast of kharkiv. these men, they say that if they can take back their city, they can take back their city, the second biggest in the country, just by the russian border, why can't they take back the whole of ukraine? are we heading towards a nordic nato expansion? sweden and finland could soon take the first step towards a formal decision on membership. republicans in the us senate have blocked a bill that would protect access

to abortion across the country. tried to hold the wings level and see if you can start descending for me. a passenger with no idea how to fly is given instructions to land a plane in florida, after the pilot fell ill. and celtic are champions, winning the scottish premiership title for the 10th time in 11 seasons. hello and welcome to the programme. ukraine says its forces have recaptured villages from russian troops north and northeast of kharkiv, pushing them back towards the border. the ongoing offensive could signal a shift in the war�*s momentum and jeopardise russia's main

advance further south. our correspondent, quentin sommerville, and camera journalist, darren conway, have spent the last week with ukrainian troops, in and around the town of ruska losova. a warning, you may find some of their reporting distressing. air raid siren wails. the spectre of russian victory once haunted this city. but no more. for months, the invaders were at the city gates, but kharkiv has cast out vladimir putin's foot soldiers, forcing them back towards the border. air raid siren continues. this road is deadly. there are landmines either side, and a number of times, vehicles have been hit by russian shelling. so, the russians are retreating, but they're not giving up.

they're trying to pin these men down, but retreating they are. there's a lot more at stake here than just the city of kharkiv. the russian supply lines to the donbas are also under threat, but these men, they say that if they can take back their city, the second—biggest in this country, just by the russian border, why can't they take back all of ukraine? for more than a week, they've been fighting and winning. still, they have to move fast. an army in retreat is just as dangerous. so they're on guard. above them, they know that enemy drones are watching. n0 audio no audio translation available. these men are exposed. at the top of this ridge, russian tanks and artillery still roam and still

lay down fire. this has become a far more mobile fight. a deadly game of hide and seek in the kharkiv countryside. 0k, iwill go. you will go there, behind the fence, yeah? ok? we're following a ukrainian territorial defence unit — all volunteers. distant explosion. sit down. every second out in the open risks targeting from russians who are less than half a kilometre away. the men you see are from kharkiv. they're fighting for ukraine, but they're also fighting for their city, and it's a close—quarters battle. but every inch of ground they gain here,

every other mile gives their city respite from the russian guns that you can hear. distant explosion. we're now in the third month of this war. who's winning? we are winning, of course. ukraine is winning. every day that our guys do in mariupol, every day that our guys are doing momma— that they commit, you know, all these are small wins in a big war. through fields and villages, they gain ground. from here, russia attacked kharkiv dozens of times daily. now, only a handful of shells

make it to the city. but there's still a danger in the village. a shell whizzes just overhead. explosion. the enemy is there in the forest. out there, a russian tank is on the hunt. but they've grown used to these tactics, so already, the men who make up this unit — an economist, a businessman, a mechanic — have taken cover. little prepared them for this, but they haven't flinched. explosion. a direct hit knocks out the power. tank fire hammers the bunker. explosion. but the men are

untroubled and unharmed. what of the big above ground? this woman cannot believe it has come to this. her home and history in ruins. translation: shards of. the glass hit me in the face. how could she forgive russia these wounds? translation: why didn't - the shrapnel hit me in the head so that i would die immediately? for days, she suffered through this. translation: but i hardly feel

physical pain any more. - the pain is in my soul. "you're lucky to be alive," says the medic. translation: yes, my arm is working. | but lucky? god didn't let me die. now i have to live in pain. in a time gone by, raissa's father and vladimir putin's father battled hitler. distant explosion. but that shared memory is now lost to history. here in russian—speaking ukraine, the past runs deep and the suffering brought here won't be easily forgiven norforgotten. quentin sommerville, bbc news, kharkiv. a very powerful piece from brenton and darren. we will be talking about whether or not we

will be seeing an expansion of nato in the nordic area later. elizabeth shaw is a senior fellow at the american enterprise institute. that coming up in about ten minutes time. let's get some of the day's other news: a passenger plane has caught fire after leaving the runway, while taking off from the chinese city of chonqing. tibet airlines said the crew and passengers had been safely evacuated from the plane. it's not yet known if anyone was hurt. north korea has officially acknowledged its first outbreak of covid—i9 and ordered strict lockdowns in all cities. the outbreak, first detected in the capital pyongyang on sunday, involves the highly transmissible omicron variant. no details have been given on the number of cases. much of china's commercial capital, shanghai, is continuing to endure tougher covid restrictions, six weeks after controls were first imposed. millions of people who are confined to their homes have now been barred from ordering commercial food deliveries

for three days. survivors and relatives of those who died when an apartment block collapsed in the us state of florida, last year, are to receive nearly $1 billion in compensation. 98 people were killed when the building at surfside came down. bbc news has been told that the uk government has received legal advice that it would be lawful to change the post—brexit trading arrangements involving northern ireland, without the approval of the eu. the northern ireland protocol — under which goods from britain going to northern ireland have to be checked — has emerged as a major stumbling block in attempts to set up a new government in northern ireland, after last week's local elections. here's the uk prime minister. i think the trouble with the protocol arrangement is that they have been used and

interpreted in such a way as to lose the confidence and the support of one important community in northern ireland — the unionist community. we community in northern ireland - the unionist community.- the unionist community. we will be talkin: the unionist community. we will be talking about _ the unionist community. we will be talking about this _ the unionist community. we will be talking about this in - be talking about this in business and whether or not we are set with the tradable between the uk and the eu. we will be talking to roger polen later on. a bill that would protect nationwide access to abortion in the united states has been blocked in the senate. democrats had attempted to introduce the measure ahead of a supreme court decision that is expected to overturn a ruling that established the right to abortion in the nineteen—seventies. but all 50 republicans and one democrat voted not to consider the legislation. vice president kamala harris spoke to reporters shortly after the vote in the capitol. ijust presided over the women's health protective act vote, and, sadly, the senate failed to stand in defence of a woman's right to make

decisions about her own body. let's be clear, the majority of the american people believe in defending a woman's right, her choice, to decide what happens to her own body. now can you think of anything worse? you're mid air and your pilot falls ill, unable to fly. that's what happened to one american air passenger, with no flying training whatsoever — who had to step up to land the plane to save his life. but how? air traffic controllers in florida gave him basic instructions over the radio and — luckily — it worked. mark lobel has this incredible story. when the pilot of this single engine says not to separate suddenly got a midair, he fell against the control, sending the aircraft into a nosedive and sharp turn living passenger

harrison on a wing and a prayer at 2750 metres high. but despite having no experience of piloting a plane, he pulled it out of its nosedive and radiate a traffic control. with just the florida coast for reference, mr harrison was then given step by step instructions of what to do next. at this point, robert morgan was pulled off his break to help guide the plane down. when somebody just — help guide the plane down. when somebody just that _ help guide the plane down. when

somebody just that i'm _ help guide the plane down. when somebodyjust that i'm on - help guide the plane down. when somebodyjust that i'm on you, . somebodyjust that i'm on you, you are not expecting this situation, ifelt like i was in a movie. situation, i felt like i was in a movie-— a movie. but he wasn't. morgan's _ a movie. but he wasn't. morgan's just _ a movie. but he wasn't. morgan's just now - a movie. but he wasn't. morgan's just now to i a movie. but he wasn't. | morgan'sjust now to get a movie. but he wasn't. - morgan's just now to get the passenger and pilot come and pointing to a longer runway so he can land safely. he pointing to a longer runway so he can land safely.— pointing to a longer runway so he can land safely. he was calm all the way _ he can land safely. he was calm all the way in. _ he can land safely. he was calm all the way in. you _ he can land safely. he was calm all the way in. you are - he can land safely. he was calm all the way in. you are 1000 - all the way in. you are 1000 feet, 300 feet and then he disappeared off the radar so i was kind of, what do i do now? it is ok. i do not see you anymore on my radar, can you still hear me?— still hear me? yes, i can still hean still hear me? yes, i can still hear- after— still hear me? yes, i can still hear. after a _ still hear me? yes, i can still hear. after a bouncing - still hear me? yes, i can stilll hear. after a bouncing landing the plane was towed away. a hug on the tarmac before rushing home to see his pregnant wife. the original pilot was taken to hospital. his condition remains unknown. mark lobel, bbc news. quite a story to tell that

little one when they come into the world! let me know what you think of that and all the other stories we're covering. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we will tell you who came out on top as inter milan faced juventus. the pope was shot, the pope will live — that's the essence of the appalling news from rome this afternoon, that, as an italian television commentator put it, "terrorism had come to the vatican." the man they called the butcher of lyon, klaus barbie, went on trial today in the french town where he was the gestapo chief in the second world war. winnie mandela never looked like a woman just sentencedl to six years injail. the judge told mrs mandela there was no indication - she felt even - the slightest remorse. the chinese government has called for an all—out effort to help the victims of a powerful earthquake — the worst to hit the country for 30 years.

the computer deep blue has tonight triumphed over the world chess champion, garry kasparov. it is the first time a machine has defeated a reigning world champion in a classical chess match. america's first legall same—sex marriages have been taking - place in massachusetts. god bless america! cheering this is bbc news. the latest headlines — ukrainian forces launch counter attacks in the east — forcing russian troops out of villages near the country's second biggest city kharkiv. republicans in the us senate have blocked a bill that would protect access to abortion across the country.

as promised, we are returning to nato. and what is going on with britain and finland. britain and finland have signed a mutual security deal — hours after the uk agreed a similar deal with sweden, against the background of the russian invasion of ukraine. the british prime minister borisjohnson said the uk would not hesitate to act to defend against any threat from what he called a "21st century tyra nt". he's been visiting both countries which are considering nato membership, in the face of president putin's decision to invade ukraine. elisabeth braw is a senior fellow at the american enterprise institute — where she focuses on defence against emerging national security challenges. this thank you so much for joining me, elisabeth. great to have you on the programme. recently we have seen a rapid rise in public support for joining nato, haven't we? why was their reluctance for so long, and why has that

evaporated?— long, and why has that evaporated? long, and why has that eva orated? , ., evaporated? yes, well, we have seen in finland _ evaporated? yes, well, we have seen in finland and _ evaporated? yes, well, we have seen in finland and particular, l seen in finland and particular, and to a lesser extent in finland, but massively —— a lesser extent in sweden, but massively in finland a radical change in public opinion, up until the beginning of this year. there was a 20 to 25% range of support for nato membership. that has now gone up membership. that has now gone up to 76% in the most recent survey, in an incredible development, and we have to remember that though finland has a very long history with the russian soviet union, became independent from russia in 1917, then fought a courageous war against the red army when the red army invaded in 1939, then was forced to sign a friendship, after the end of world war ii, which obliged it to be a soviet neutral, deep enough the soviet union collapsed, finland did remain outside nato, didn't see

much point, and it was proud of having relatively good nations with moscow. that has all evaporated.— with moscow. that has all evaporated. with moscow. that has all evaorated. ., ., evaporated. now, as i sort of ointed evaporated. now, as i sort of pointed out _ evaporated. now, as i sort of pointed out in _ evaporated. now, as i sort of pointed out in the _ evaporated. now, as i sort of| pointed out in the introduction to this interview, the uk has now entered this defence agreement, hasn't it, with finland and sweden. is there a particular reason for that, how does it help the uk, how does it help nato, and if so where, in what instances?— in what instances? well, frankly it _ in what instances? well, frankly it doesn't - in what instances? well, frankly it doesn't really l in what instances? well, i frankly it doesn't really help the uk, it mostly helps sweden and finland, so that the two agreements that uk signed this week, in the past few hours actually, with sweden and finland obliges the uk and sweden and the and finland respectively to assist each other, in case of a serious crisis. �* ., ~' , other, in case of a serious crisis. �* ., ~ , , ., crisis. and how likely is a serious — crisis. and how likely is a serious crisis? _ crisis. and how likely is a serious crisis? to - crisis. and how likely is a serious crisis? to what i crisis. and how likely is a - serious crisis? to what extent do finland and sweden really need to worry about their borders and their security, because they do share a 900 mile border, do they not, with

russia? ., ., , ., russia? finland does, and if finland does _ russia? finland does, and if finland does apply - russia? finland does, and if finland does apply for- russia? finland does, and if finland does apply for nato| finland does apply for nato membership, which it is likely to announce tomorrow that it wants to do, followed by sweden a few days later, then the two of them enter a really dangerous period where they are not yet full members with nato, and that is why the uk felt it had to make this announcement and signed this agreement with sweden and finland ahead of them submitting their membership applications, so that there is no doubt that france will come to their rescue, meaning the uk. the us is also an officially pledged similar support so that the russians know if it were to attack sweden and finland during this really tricky period of them having played for nato membership and not being members yet that they would have the support of the uk and the us, and that is intended to convince russia not

to try any dangerous military tricks while the two are waiting to be admitted. what is the timeline _ waiting to be admitted. what is the timeline on _ waiting to be admitted. what is the timeline on all— waiting to be admitted. what is the timeline on all of— waiting to be admitted. what is the timeline on all of this, - the timeline on all of this, how quickly could they become nato members?— nato members? they are both very attractive _ nato members? they are both very attractive applicants. - nato members? they are both very attractive applicants. so l very attractive applicants. so they won't face the prolonged weight that some other recent applicants have seen, in some cases it has taken years for countries to join nato, cases it has taken years for countries tojoin nato, even though they wanted desperately to join. though they wanted desperately tojoin. these though they wanted desperately to join. these two countries we are looking at a weight ofjust are looking at a weight ofjust a few months, up to eight months. so we could see them become formal members of nato, if they submit their bids within the next few days, we could see them becoming formal members of nato by the beginning of next year, which is really extremely expeditious, and the only delay there is that ratification has to take place.— there is that ratification has to take place. thank you very much for _ to take place. thank you very much for your _ to take place. thank you very much for your time. - time now to get the

latest sports news. this is your sports news where we start with football and manchester city have moved three points clear at the top of the premier league after a 5—1 win away to wolves. kevin de bruyne scored the first four for pep guardiola's side, who remain ahead of liverpool with two games remaining for both teams. is like a guy, always generous, has the sense to make an assist but this had the sense to be prolific, to score goals. he did again against chelsea, he scored a goal against madrid, and has been decisive scoring goals. this in the end is the greatest. inter milan have won the coppa italia after a 11—2 extra time win over juventus in the final. with the match level at 2—2 after 90 minutes, it went to extra time and ivan perisic scored a penalty, which he then followed up with a goal from open play a short time later, handing interan eighth

win in this competiton and a first since 2011. celtic have been crowned scottish premiership champions, after a 1—1 draw away to dundee united. having been 25 points behind rangers last season, ange postecoglou has taken the club forward after being appointed and the hoops have now gone 31 games unbeaten on their way to a 52nd league title. and in the netherlands, ajax retained their eredivisie title with a game to spare, after thrashing heerenveen, 5-o. that's a record—extending 36th dutch league title for ajax — and their third under erik ten hag, who was given a rousing send—off, afterfive years with the club. he takes over at manchester united next season. reigning champion rafael nadal is through to the third round of the italian 0pen, after a straight—sets win over american, john isner. after losing out in the madrid 0pen quarterfinals last week, the 35—year—old spaniard, who's won this title ten times, made light work of isner in the 6—3, 6—1win, to set up a last 16 clash with 13th seeded canadian denis

shapovalov. tomorrow is another day with a chance to play better. that is the main goal today, no, be better and better, and try to reach a higher level every single day, no? and tomorrow i will have a tough test with a great player, and it's an opportunity for me to keep trying, and that's what i'm going to do. in the women's draw — world number one iga swiatek is through to the round of 16 after a 6—3, 6—0 win over romanian elena—gabriela ruse. the top seed and defending champion wasted no time against the 24—year—old and will next face belarusian 16th seed victoria azarenka whose best result was as a beaten finalist here in 2013. juan pedro lopez still holds the leader's pink jersey, heading into the sixth stage of the giro d'italia in the coming hours. the frenchman arnaud demare won a sprint for the line

on the riders' second and final day in sicily. it's the sixth stage win of his career in the giro with the 21—day race due to end in verona on the 29th of may. to the nba, where miami heat point guard kyle lowry will miss his side's sixth game of the eastern conference semifinal series later against the philadelphia 76ers with a left hamstring injury. 36—year—old lowry, who won the nba title in 2019 with the toronto raptors, also missed the heat's120—85 home victory in game five on tuesday, which gave miami a 3—2 edge in the best—of—seven series. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me and the rest of the team, that's your sports news for now. some shocking live pictures now

in california. this is laguna hills, a pretty exclusive enclave of orange county. coastal wildfires have consumed at least a dozen homes and it is spreading. evacuations have been ordered. hello. rain reached some of the driest southern areas of the uk on wednesday. it wasn't very much, but it was more than has fallen for quite some time. that system now out of the way, and southern areas are having a mainly dry thursday to come, whereas across northern areas close to a weather front, there'll be some more rain, particularly across parts of scotland, and especially in the west. there will be a lot of dry weather to begin the day and a cooler start, with temperatures quite widely into single figures. a little bit lower than this in some rural spots. there will be lots of sunshine first thing. all parts will see cloud increasing. not everywhere will get rain from that cloud. there will be a few showers popping up in northern ireland during the morning, lasting into the afternoon. northwest scotland turning wetter, more widely across western parts of scotland, later in the day,

you'll see some rain. some of that pushing a bit further east during the afternoon. the odd shower for wales and southwest england. across wales and england, more cloud in the afternoon, compared with the morning, and a warmer day across the east and southeast of england, where it stays dry, with some sunny spells, compared with wednesday's rain. it is scotland, northern ireland, northern england with some patchy rain on into thursday night, and then, really by friday morning, it'sjust the northern half of scotland really seeing some rain, on what will be a milder start to the day. so on friday, then, it's really across northern scotland, we will see some further outbreaks of rain for a time. some cloud elsewhere in scotland, northern england, and northern ireland. it's wales and the southern half of england that will see the lion's share of friday's sunshine, on what will be a windy day across scotland, northern ireland and northern england, in particular — really quite gusty winds here, and temperatures are edging just a touch higher. now, it is a sign of things to come into the weekend — it will be pleasantly warm, especially when you get to see some sunshine. high pressure is close by. but that's not the whole story — later saturday, saturday night, first thing sunday, there are some showers, even some thunderstorms

pushing up from the south, into parts of england and wales. some of those come back sunday night and into monday morning. so, whilst many places this weekend will stay dry, there will be a chance of seeing a shower or maybe a thunderstorm, especially the further south you are. so, a selection of locations — you can find more places, of course, online and through the app — showing a lot of fine, pleasantly warm weather when the sun is out, but again, a chance of showers and thunderstorms later on saturday, particularly into england and wales.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world: border disorder — fears of a uk—eu trade war, as tensions grow over the post—brexit deal on northern ireland. negative outlook — british consumers are the gloomiest in ten years, as inflation soars and recession looms. bear market blues — the sell—off continues, with the dow down for the fifth session in a row and a further hammering for tech stocks and cryptos. plus, streaming in — disney signs up millions of new customers to its online video platforms, as rival netflix loses subscribers.