this is bbc news — i'm lewis vaughan—jones — the headlines at 5:00pm: sweden and finland signal plans tojoin nato in response to russia's invasion of ukraine. the head of the military organisation is ready to welcome them. their membership in nato would increase our shared security, demonstrate that nato�*s door is open, and that aggression does not pay. a british military intelligence assessment suggests russia may have lost a third of its ground forces since the start of its invasion of ukraine. president biden says america must do all it can to end hate—filled domestic terrorism, after ten people are killed in a shooting in buffalo. the uk government says it wouldn't be deterred from taking action over post—brexit trading

arrangements in northern ireland — to try to help restore power—sharing at stormont. and a triumphant ukraine wins the eurovision song contest after claiming the popular vote. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. first, sweden and finland have confirmed they will apply for nato membership — ending decades of military non—alignment. the finnish president, sauli niinisto, called his country's decision historic. however, sweden's governing social democrats, said that as members they would not accept nuclear weapons or alliance bases on swedish territory.

reports say both countries are planning to hand their membership applications to nato on wednesday. nato foreign ministers, who are meeting in berlin, say they want a rapid accession because of the crisis in ukraine. from berlin, our europe correspondent, nick beake, reports. a fresh aerial attack lights the sky above the besieged mariupol steelworks. this is where the last of the city's defenders have been holed up, a final ukrainian stand against a relentless russian bombardment. but as well as by land and by sea, russia continues its assault from the air, focusing its fight on the donbas region. here in the german capital, foreign ministers from nato countries shoulder—to—shoulder, pledging support for ukraine. and now preparing to welcome two new members with finland confirming today it will seek to join the alliance. we have reached today an important decision in good cooperation

between the government and the president of the republic. we hope that the parliament will confirm the decision to apply for nato membership during the coming days. it will be based on a strong mandate. the uk is among the countries giving their full backing. we were very pleased to be joined by our friends, finland and sweden. if they do apply to join nato, the uk is strongly supportive of that. sweden and finland joining the western military alliance is not just about the symbolism of two more flags being planted here. it would double the length of the land borders between russia and nato countries. it's the sort of expansion vladimir putin was desperate to avoid. but turkey has said it could block any enlargement, although its foreign minister has been stressing solidarity this weekend and prompting hopes any opposition could be overcome.

nick beake, bbc news, berlin. let's hear more from jens stoltenberg, the head of nato, at that news conference a little earlier. if they decide to apply, this would be a historic moment. their membership in nato would increase our shared security, demonstrate that nato's door is open, and that aggression does not pay. today, allies discussed our strong support for ukraine, the further strengthening of nato's deterrence and the longer term implications of the war, including our future stance towards russia. russia's war in ukraine is not going as moscow had planned. they have failed to take kyiv. they are pulling back

from around kharkiv. their major offensive in donbas has stalled. russia is not achieving its strategic objectives. president putin wants ukraine defeated, nato down, north america and europe divided. but ukraine stands, nato is stronger than ever, europe and north america are solidly united. jens stoltenberg affair. let's take some live pictures from stockholm, where sweden's ruling social democrats are holding a press conference to set out their position on joining nato. they have changed their policy on nato membership. we can get a bit of

detail of what is going on there. we do not have a translator but we will bring you any interesting points that she says a little later. our reporter maddy savage is in the swedish capital stockholm. an historic day potentially. talk us through what has happened. trier? an historic day potentially. talk us through what has happened. very much so, it was a much _ through what has happened. very much so, it was a much anticipated _ through what has happened. very much so, it was a much anticipated news - so, it was a much anticipated news conference, what has been going on over the last couple of days is the ruling party, social democrats, have been locked away in talks, the party's board, waiting to decide whether or not to change their policy on being for or against joining nato, they have decided it is right for sweden to join, and that essentially brings through quite a quick knock on effect, because just one party in government at the moment, most of the other major opposition party is already very much in favour ofjoining nato. there is already a parliamentary debate scheduled for monday. and many sources, speaking to swedish

media, very much predicting that the formal application will be made within the next couple of days. in the end, the pictures that you just saw from the news conference, the announcement wasn't made at the press conference but in a more low—key statement about 30 minutes ago. but magdalena andersson has just been speaking. i'm understanding the swedish. she has said that as social democrats we think it is the best for sweden's security that we go into nato. this backs up the findings of a cross—party report which was released to the swedish parliament on friday where politicians from across the spectrum had looked into the pros and cons ofjoining nato and decided that they thought it was better for sweden's security, for the security of northern europe, and that they were not too worried, as some critics argued, that it could trigger a military attack from russia at this stage. we will have to wait and see how quickly things

move forward. but as i said, all signs really pointing to the fact that membership could be imminent for sweden, as well as finland, which already announced earlier this weekend that it was moving forward with the process too. the weekend that it was moving forward with the process too.— with the process too. the change in ublic with the process too. the change in public opinion _ with the process too. the change in public opinion on _ with the process too. the change in public opinion on this _ with the process too. the change in public opinion on this issue - with the process too. the change in public opinion on this issue in - with the process too. the change in public opinion on this issue in both | public opinion on this issue in both those countries has been pretty rapid. it those countries has been pretty raid. . , , those countries has been pretty ra id, ., , , , those countries has been pretty raid. , , rapid. it has been very rapid. sliuhtl rapid. it has been very rapid. slightly more _ rapid. it has been very rapid. slightly more in _ rapid. it has been very rapid. slightly more in finland - rapid. it has been very rapid. slightly more in finland than| rapid. it has been very rapid. - slightly more in finland than here in sweden, but remarkable nevertheless. just under 50% of swedes to support nato membership according to recent polls. that is compared with about 30% towards the end of last year. so support has really stepped up since the military invasion of ukraine by russia. but i think it's worth pointing out this isn't something that everyone here isn't something that everyone here is behind. those who were against membership, some of them are worried it could trigger russian aggression, but also i think there is a sense among some that sweden has been this

symbol of peace and neutrality, staying away from getting involved in military conflicts and i think there are some there —— who will be morning that a shift in identity. the message from the prime minister at the beginning of a news conference that is going on now is really that the situation is changing in europe and it has been up changing in europe and it has been up to sweden to adapt to those different circumstances. maddy sava . e, different circumstances. maddy savage. as _ different circumstances. maddy savage. as jens _ different circumstances. maddy savage, as jens stoltenberg - different circumstances. maddy | savage, as jens stoltenberg so, different circumstances. maddy i savage, as jens stoltenberg so, a savage, asjens stoltenberg so, a potentially historic day. thank you for the details from stockholm. we have had a look at the diplomatic impacts of the war in ukraine. let's have a look at what is happening on the ground, because the ministry of defence says russia is likely to have lost a third of the ground combat forces it committed to the invasion. the intelligence assessment said the russian offensive had stalled and fallen behind schedule. 0vernight, a russian missile strike hit the western region of lviv, from wherejoe inwood reports. it was last night, just as the sounds of the celebration

of ukraine's eurovision victory were dying down. they were replaced by the sound of air raid sirens, not an unfamiliar sound in this part of the country. when we woke up, we were told that six missiles, maybe more, had come over. two had been shot down, but four hit a military installation just near here. we haven't been told any more information than that. often when it is a military target we are not told what happened, but we know it was destroyed completely. the authorities said there were no casualties, however. let's move on to this military intelligence assessment that russia could have lost a third of its ground combat forces it has committed in this invasion. given what you have seen since you have been there, is it credible? absolutely. if you have seen some of the images coming out, for example, the satellite and drone images of the attempted russian crossing of the siverskyi donets river a few days ago, it should not come

as much of a surprise. there were between 70—80 vehicles destroyed, tanks, armoured personnel carriers and trucks completely wiped out by artillery fire. it sounds a lot, a third, and it really is. i think it is extraordinary it is credible. they have lost a vast number of troops. with these things it is hard to know exactly the truth of the matter. of course the british ministry of defence is not impartial in this matter, a lot of the damage done to russian forces has come from weaponry that they have provided. but it does seem to tally with the reports we have had. the full—blooded retreat from around kyiv and around kharkiv now, there have been a large number of military blunders, even disasters, for russia in this campaign. there are other areas where they have advanced and succeeded, but in the main this has not been a successful campaign, either in tactics or strategic

terms for the russians. thanks to joe for that update. to the us now and the latest on that shooting which killed ten people. president biden says the united states must do everything in its power to end what he called hate—filled domestic terrorism. the shooting happened in a supermarket in the city of buffalo in new york state. most of the victims were black. an 18—year—old man, who's white, has been charged with murder in the first degree. from new york, nada tawfik reports. a busy grocery store in a predominantly black community — this was the shooter's intended target. the horror started immediately in the parking lot. as the gunman emerged from his car heavily armed and wearing tactical gear, he shot four people, killing three of them. to eyewitnesses, it was clear he came to do maximum damage. when i first saw him shooting, he shot a woman, he shot a deacon, he shot another woman. and then, he went in the store and started shooting again. a retired buffalo police officer was working security,

and shot the gunman. but he was unharmed because of his armour. the shooter then returned fire, killing the security guard. the entire horrific episode of people being killed in cold blood in the store was streamed live online. the suspect was taken into custody alive, after putting his gun to his neck and threatening to shoot himself. he has been identified as an 18—year—old white male, and has been charged with murder in the first degree. officials said evidence showed the attack was racially motivated. we are investigating this incident as both a hate crime, and a case of racially motivated, violent extremism. a white supremacist who has engaged in an act of terrorism _ and will be prosecuted as such. in a cold—hearted, cruel, - calculating way, a military—style execution targeting people - who simply want to buy groceries.

distraught community members have been gathering at the scene, trying to come to terms with the fact that a toxic mix of guns and racism has ended their neighbours' lives in an instant. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. brexit and northern ireland now. the business secretary kwasi kwarteng says he doesn't think there'll be a trade war with the eu over the northern ireland protocol. reports say the uk government is preparing to introduce legislation to strip away parts of the protocol. the protocol — agreed by borisjohnson and the eu — governs trade between britain and northern ireland after brexit. here's the business secretary. i don't think there's going to be a trade war, i don't think that's something that... they're talking about retaliation, they're talking about action they will take. there is a lot of talk, as we've seen over the last six years, the vote happened six years ago, and there's been a lot of talk and a lot of threats about what the eu will or won't do.

that's up to them. as far as i'm concerned, our primary the duty as the british government is to look after political stability in northern ireland, and if that means re—looking at the protocol, we absolutely have to do that. well, the prime minister will travel to belfast tomorrow for talks with the parties about restoring power—sharing. this is after the recent elections there. the labour front bencher, ed miliband, says borisjohnson should not use the protocol for political manoeuvring. i'm afraid itjust proves, once again, that borisjohnson is not a serious person about the real issues that this country faces. he signed the agreement, he said it was a triumph, he said it was a triumph of the people of northern ireland. he refuses to negotiate on things like a veterinary agreement that could make a real difference. power—sharing collapsed two and a half months ago in northern ireland. he is finally getting around actually to going to northern ireland. what i hope he doesn't do is try and use northern ireland as a political weapon, because that will be absolutely because that would be absolutely the wrong thing to do.

what he needs to do is engage seriously, engage seriously with the people of northern ireland and europe and find a solution to these issues. not go round making threats. a trade war at this moment, of all moments, will be the worst thing. jon tonge, professor of politics at the university of liverpool told me more about the challenges that lie ahead for the prime minister. basically the british government has only got two options at the moment of it wants to try and get rid of the protocol and get the democratic unionist party back into the power—sharing institutions which have collapsed in northern ireland. the first is to trigger article 16, which is the legal route for the british government to do. it's their written within the protocol and the british government is entitled to suspend parts of the protocol if british government is entitled to suspend parts of the protocol if there is a serious societal difficulty in the uk as a consequence of the protocol, which you can make a case for that the collapse of the good friday and power—sharing institutions is indeed a serious issue. so the british government can do that. but the eu is entitled to take appropriate, and i quote, "counterbalancing measures." so that could be the beginnings of a trade war.

the other alternative for the british government is to do what it has been hinting at in recent weeks, and that's to pass domestic legislation which would disapply aspects of the protocol. i'm pretty sure that would lead to two things. one, that the european union would try to take the british government to court for breaches of the protocol, and secondly, that could, longer term, lead to a trade war because the entire withdrawal agreement, the deal that allowed the rest of the united kingdom to withdraw from the eu, well, all bets would be off in respect of that. 0k, and what can we expect, do you think, if anything, from the prime minister's visit? well, it is a limited number of rabbits that can be pulled from this particular hat. there's the two options i've just mentioned. and borisjohnson will also be keen to try and persuade the dup to go back into power—sharing in northern ireland. the carrot that might be offered is, look, we will put this domestic legislation before parliament to try and in effect disapply aspects of the protocol, and then you can go back into the political institutions.

the dup would still have the option of withdrawing at a later date if the government bill was withdrawn, oras is possible, the government cannot get its bill through because they would be a conservative backbench rebellion against that bill, for sure, and it would be difficult to get it through the house of lords. but at the moment we are looking at a pretty bleak vista. the parties in northern ireland have 2a weeks to nominate a first and deputy first minister to get power—sharing restored. at the moment there is not a fully functioning executive and there is not even an assembly in northern ireland. given those pretty complicated options, but the ones you have set out, i'm not going to ask you to predict the future, but what is your best assessment of where we actually end up here? my best assessment is that there will be continuing prevarication, continued muddling through. the british government doesn't want to take northern ireland back into direct rule and it doesn't want to offend the european union to the point where that trade war is launched. so at the moment i think there will be conciliatory noises

from borisjohnson tomorrow. he is regarding this as matters of detail, others are seeing it in much more fundamental terms about whether brexit was never completed. brexit was ever completed. borisjohnson has got to square a lot of circles tomorrow in northern ireland, keep the eu happy, keep the dup happy and keep sinn fein happy, who of course have become the largest party in northern ireland. and good luck with that. thanks to jon tonge thanks tojon tonge there. the headlines on bbc news: sweden and finland signal plans tojoin nato in response to russia's invasion of ukraine. the head of the military organisation is ready to welcome them. a british military intelligence assessment suggests russia may have lost a third of its ground forces since the start of its invasion of ukraine. president biden says america must do all it can to end hate—filled domestic terrorism, after ten people are killed in a shooting in buffalo.

sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's holly. we have had a pretty dramatic day at the top and bottom of the premier league table. more on that in a moment but first, chelsea have done the double. the wsl champions have beaten manchester city 3—2 to claim the women's fa cup forfourth time. it went to extra time — chelsea were heading for victory after this brilliant second—half goalfrom erin cuthbert had put them 2—1 up. but in the 89th minute, city pressed forward and grabbed an equaliser — hayley raso straight off the bech hayley raso straight off the bench no penalties needed, though — sam kerr's shot was deflected in off alex greenwood and that proved to be the winner. these are the scenes at wembley. there was a record crowd, over 49,000

there was a record crowd, over 19,000 watching chelsea lift the fa cup for a fourth time, after winning the league of course just last weekend. a huge moment for emma hayes, as we saw, in front of the crowd. receiving their medals and lifting that trophy this afternoon. these scenes on bbc one right now and the iplayer and bbc sport website as well. there was another twist in the premier league title race as leaders manchester city went 2—0 down at west ham, but salvaged a point to draw 2—2. joe lynskey was watching. 0ne one more point takes them closer. manchester city now know what they need, with one more win on the last day they will be champions, but at west ham they were pushed all the way. this ground was highly charged by an emotional tribute to mark noble, their captain in his last

home match. he made his debut in 2004. home match. he made his debut in 200a. now his club are at a high point, playing for a place in europe next season, they took this game to city. jarrod bowen has been their break—out star. 25 and going for a place with england at the world cup, he is a finisher. and here disrupting citi's marched to the title. before half—time it was 2—0. city knew that with defeat it could all change and liverpool would have all change and liverpool would have a chance, but then came the fightback. it would start with a deflection. jack grealish's shot brought back focus. in the pressure west ham buckled. vladimir sue fell stretched and headed into his own goal. —— vladimir coufal. city sensed they could have more and when gabrieljesus was fouled they had a penalty. a kick to almost seal the league, but saved. city's last match

is at home to villa and three points they will do it. to come through here for a draw felt valuable on a day that meant this match to west ham. joe lynskey, bbc news. tottenham have moved into the top four for the moment with a narrow 1—0 win over burnley. it was a penalty that settled it, given for a handball from ashley barnes on the stroke of half time. referee kevin friend awarded the spot kick after consulting with var and having a second look. up stepped harry kane to slot the ball home, his 21st penalty in a row for spurs, putting them above arsenal and into the champions league places for the time being. elsewhere leeds have kept alive their hopes of surival after a frenetic home draw with brighton, thanks to a late equaliser. everton could avoid the drop if they beat brentford. it is half—time there at the moment it goodison park. they're currently down to ten men.

it had been level at 1—1. richarlison has just made it 2—1. earlier leicester thrashed already relegated watford to consign them to a seventh defeat in eight league games. all the day's results are on the bbc sport website. iga swiatek has successfully defended her title at the rome 0pen, with a straight sets win in the final against 0ns jabeur. the world number one came through 6—2, 6—2 to extend her winning streak to 28 matches. it also means she's won five tournaments in a row — victory in rome following wins in doha, indian wells, miami and stuttgart. that's all the sport for now. i will have more for you this evening on sportsday. see you then. thank you. nhs prescription charges in england will be frozen at their current rate, as part of government efforts to ease the rising cost of living. the department of health and social care says

it will save people £17 million overall. prescriptions will remain free across the rest of the uk. gareth barlow reports. as the cost of living rises, for the first time in over a decade the cost of prescriptions will not. in a typical year, charges usually increase in line with inflation but with inflation soaring at the fastest rate for 30 years, ministers have decided to freeze charges in their current rates. the move only affects patients in england, as people living elsewhere in the uk already do not have to pay. the freeze means a single prescription will remain at £9.35, while a three—month prescription prepayment will continue to be just over £30. but there are calls for the government to go further with its support. those are the sort of people, the squeezed middle, people who don't get free prescriptions because they are not on the medicines that qualifies or on the income that qualifies. they often have to make decisions about which medicines

they need, and those medicines are all prescribed for a reason. because those patients need that treatment. the decision of whether to buy medicines to treat a high blood pressure or use the money to feed her children is the situation faced by faith, a single mother of two who says she cannot afford vital drugs. i would rather save my children than myself, and that is why sometimes i cannot afford the prescriptions. so it will not go far, because it is not necessarily the... it is everything going up price—wise, and i cannot afford everything i used to be able to, including my prescription. not everyone in england has to pay for their medicine. in fact, the department of health says 89% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge. to people benefiting from age, income, maternity or medical—based exemptions.

however, laura cockram, the chair of the prescription charges coalition said it is time for the government to review who is eligible for free prescriptions. we really are urging the government to actually review the prescription charges exemption list. it was put together over 50 years ago, when some conditions like hiv didn't even exist. but at the same time, there were not life—saving treatments for things like asthma and maybe parkinson's and ms. so we think it is really important that the government does overhaul the prescription charge exemption list. but this announcement today is very welcome from the health secretary. the department of health and social care estimates the freeze will save patients in england £17 million overall and it is just one measure that the government hopes may help people with the rising cost of living. gareth barlow, bbc news. to the eurovision song contest now. ukraine says it hopes to be able to host next year's competition, after the country's emotional win in last night's final in italy. their entry — the kalush 0rchestra — topped the leaderboard

after winning the popular vote. sam ryder, the uk's entry, finished second, but led after the jury votes with his song space man. 0ur correspondent, mark lowen, sent this report from turin. music: stefania by the kalush 0rchestra. in the end they had it all — the sound, the sympathy, the success. ukraine's kalush 0rchestra went into eurovision as the favourite with a folk and hip—hop anthem to the lead singer's mother and now to their motherland now under attack, one member staying home to fight. # up in space, man! it so almost went the uk's way, sam ryder�*s space man hoping to take his country to the galaxy of winners for the first time in 25 years. 183 points.

he did so well. there it is. as the public votes went in he was brought down to earth and ukraine's star shone bright. cheering all the way to kyiv where the winning song warmed hearts broken by war. this meant so much more than music or eurovision kitsch. it was a continent rallying behind a country in darkness, defending its european identity. we won here in the eurovision... we are going to interrupt that to take you live from the us, this is president biden making his first remarks on that shooting, ten people killed in buffalo. pray for the victims and their families, and their devastated

community. i've been receiving updates from my team in the white house that is in close contact with the justice department. house that is in close contact with thejustice department. we are still gathering the facts while already the justice department gathering the facts while already thejustice department has stated publicly it is investigating the matter as a hate crime, a racially motivated act of violent extremism. as they do, we must all work together to address the hate that remains a stain on the soul of america. our hearts are heavy once again but our resolve must never, ever waver. again but our resolve must never, everwaver. no again but our resolve must never, ever waver. no one understands this more than the people sitting in front of me. mums, dads, children, family members, about how those folks in buffalo field today when they got the call. it's as if you are being pulled into a black hole in your chest and there is no way out. jill and i know,