this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the commander of ukraine's azov regiment says his soldiers have finally ended their defence of the devastated port city of mariupol. the higher military leadership has given an order to save lives and preserve the well—being of the servicemen and sees defending the city. as russian forces intensify their offensive in eastern ukraine and gain some ground president zelensky says the donbas region is �*completely destroyed' the united states is increasing pressure on britain to resolve its dispute with the european union about northern ireland trade, saying it risks undermining western unity over ukraine. as monkeypox spreads and more countries detect new cases, the world health organization is to hold an emergency meeting gabon calls on rich nations to pay for the upkeep of its forests — that are absorbing

the world's excess carbon. the commander of the azov regiment says ukrainian soldiers have finally ended their defence of the devastated port city of mariupol. they'd vowed to fight until the end, but were eventually told to surrender from the azovstal steel plant. meanwhile, the president of ukraine, volodymyr zelensky has said that the donbas region in the east of the country has been completely destroyed. he said it was like �*hell�*. russia's defence minister says that the "liberation" of the region is nearing completion. jeremy bowen has the latest. the russians are shelling severodonetsk as they try to encircle it. more than 100,000 people lived

in the city before the invasion. now, it's one of russia's biggest targets. this is russia using the methods it perfected in syria and chechnya — heavy bombardment to try to break the will of its opponents. ukrainian rescue crews can still operate to reach civilians who need to get out. day—by—day, family by family, russia is grinding forward. it's a long way to safety, down roads out of severodonetsk that the russians are shelling. they're trying to cut the city off from support, rescue and reinforcement. children here were born into a war. ukrainians have been fighting russian—backed separatists in donbas since 2014.

in moscow, sergei shoigu, the defence minister, held a made—for—tv briefing, designed to back the kremlin�*s message that russia is winning. the minister said their advancing forces would soon take all off luhansk, which is one half of donbas, including severodonetsk. ukrainian combat engineers are trying to slow down the russian advance, laying charges to blow this bridge on a strategic road. president zelensky started with his good news. translation: the ukrainian armed i forces continue to make progress. in liberating the kharkiv region, but the occupiers are trying - to further strengthen - the pressure in the donbas. it's hell, and that's. not an overstatement.

bombardment of severodonetsk is brutal and meaningless. - ukraine's defences in donbas are creaking, they're still not breaking. away from the front lines, life goes on in ukrainian cities. in the end, the outcome of this war depends on ukrainian resilience, on the amount of help its army gets from nato, and president putin's determination to fight on, whatever the cost to russia. jeremy bowen, bbc news, dnipro. let's go to the port city of mariupol now — where ukrainian soldiers holed up at the steel plant have now surrendered their commander posted this message online. the higher military leadership has given an order to save lives and preserve the well—being of the serviceman

and seize defending the city. despite heavy fighting, defending encircled and the lack of response we kept reiterating the conditions most important to us mainly civilians, wounded, and those who have been killed in action. we managed to evacuate the civilians, the wounded receive their necessary medical treatment as for those fallen heroes, the process is ongoing. there are though concerns about the fate of the soldiers who have surrendered. more from the bbc�*s joe inwood, in lviv. that number of 2000, there have been a lot of uncertainty about the total numbers that were still in the plant over the last couple of weeks but actually it seems the figures we have been getting were accurate. they have come out in drips and we see some cuts hospital facilities and others taken to detention camps essentially. but we understand now is that leaders have come out and what we can say is finally the resistance is over. the next question is what happens to them. there had been initially a suggestion that this was going to be

a prisoner exchange and they were going to go one way back to ukrainian territory and the russians would get some of their prisoners in return. over the last few days we've heard talk in this state and questions over whether they should be treated as prisoners of war or they should be treated as war criminals. that would be a very different thing indeed and that would make any future compromises of this kind very difficult. there was even one man who was a member of the negotiating team who suggested the death penalty should be reintroduced by members of the battalion. so it could be and with all the speculation at this point it could be we see some other fighters being treated one way and others being treated in a very different fashion. earlier my colleague krupa padhy spoke with alexander rodnya nsky, adviser to ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky, to get his assessment of the situation in mariupol — and what fate could await the ukrainian soldiers who have surrendered.

trying to get the soldiers back, the agreement was that they will surrender now but eventually we will exchange them in a prisoner swap. it seems the russian side is reniging on those agreements as so often with the russian side they usually lie and deceive everyone as we can see. so we're hoping to get them back at some point but there is a serious risk and it was just reported that the russian spies were trying to instrumentalized those people for their own purpose and their own propaganda needs and to put them on some fake trial. we don't know what awaits them obviously it's not good and we are trying our best to rescue them. you said you are hoping to get them back and seeing how the people of mariupol have been affected by this. this is huge the devastating for them to hear that they may or may not see their loved ones again? absolutely. it's devastating that you have to understand the city has been raised to the ground and the russians managed to take by destroying it entirely and

converting it into rubble and that's exactly the war strategy they are pursuing now in the remaining donbas area. they don't have the capabilities nor the military ability to take our cities without many casualties and without casualties to their own side and the only way to do that is to destroy everything and convert the cities to rubble and that's exactly what's happening. you talk about the remaining donbas best area because the russian side are now seeing they are near completion when it comes to the liberation of donbas. how do you see it? they are far from it. if you look at the map, the donbas area is both donatsk region and the levansk region so they are close to perhaps so far but still managed to take the luhansk region. the donetsk region is still largely on our control and that several the donestk are part of the region so that's currently being raised to the ground and completely shelled

and destroyed. so that's where most of the trauma is happening. sucre says she wants to name those who broke _ sucre says she wants to name those who broke the — sucre says she wants to name those who broke the rules. _ sucre says she wants to name those who broke the rules. the _ who broke the rules. the metropolitan _ who broke the rules. the metropolitan police - who broke the rules. the metropolitan police have| who broke the rules. the - metropolitan police have not identified _ metropolitan police have not identified any— metropolitan police have not identified any of— metropolitan police have not identified any of the - metropolitan police have not identified any of the 83 - metropolitan police have not- identified any of the 83 individuals who have — identified any of the 83 individuals who have been _ identified any of the 83 individuals who have been fine. _ identified any of the 83 individuals who have been fine. mg _ identified any of the 83 individuals who have been fine.— identified any of the 83 individuals who have been fine. 146 notices have been issued- — who have been fine. 146 notices have been issued. her _ who have been fine. 146 notices have been issued. her report _ who have been fine. 146 notices have been issued. her report is _ who have been fine. 146 notices have been issued. her report is due to - who have been fine. 146 notices have been issued. her report is due to be| been issued. her report is due to be published next week. the united states has told the uk and the european union to "lower the temperature" in their dispute over the post—brexit trading rules in northern ireland. the senior state department official, derek chollet, warned that the row risked undermining western unity over ukraine. the uk has threatened to unilaterally override elements of the northern ireland protocol it agreed as part of the brexit deal — a move strongly opposed by the eu. we really want to see this resolved. the last thing we believe that we need collectively is a big fight between the uk and the eu.

in a monent we need to be sharing a message of unity so we hope this issue is resolved and we hope both sides refrain from unilateral acts and they find a way to lower the temperature and resolve this issue. earlier, the us house speaker nancy pelosi warned the uk that changes to the trade deal could damage the good friday peace agreement. on her comments — the uk's former brexit minister lord frost issued this rebuke saying that ms pelosi's statement was �*ignorant of the realities in northern ireland' and that there is �*no plan to put in place a physical border�* with the republic of ireland. he went on to say that infact — it�*s the northern ireland protocol which undermines the good friday agreement, and �*people who can�*t see that really shouldn�*t be commenting.�*. to put this all into context — here�*s our diplomatic correspondent, james landale. what is interesting is that you have got nancy pelosi from the us congress and other congressional members coming to the uk in the

coming days and their message is yes we are concerned about what the british government is up to with the protocol and post—brexit trade rules and the impact that might have on the future us uk trade the and others are saying it�*s not going to happen. what he was saying is a different point. he was saying now is not the moment for the uk and the european union to be at odds over a trade issue involving northern ireland. he�*s not going to the heart of the issue and saying there are concerns which are the other way to concerns which are the other way to concerns that this might have an impact. it might have an impact on businesses or the unity of the united kingdom are peace and stability in northern ireland. he is saying there is another concern and that if this is a moment to use his words, president putin is looking for any opportunity for a fraying of the western alliance and its potentially one of those. he is saying with the full force of the united states, don�*t do this. calm

it down, lower the temperature he says, no unilateral acts and resolve it as soon as possible. it�*s a clear message from washington to london and brussels. message from washington to london and brussels— and brussels. more cases of monkeypox _ and brussels. more cases of monkeypox have _ and brussels. more cases of monkeypox have been - and brussels. more cases of. monkeypox have been reported and brussels. more cases of— monkeypox have been reported across the world. several cases also found across north america and canada. the uk has a total of 20 cases while portugal has five and spain has identified seven. it�*s portugal has five and spain has identified seven.— portugal has five and spain has identified seven. it's been around for more than _ identified seven. it's been around for more than 50 _ identified seven. it's been around for more than 50 years. - identified seven. it's been around for more than 50 years. usually l for more than 50 years. usually cases are in west and central africa but we now had scores in this current outbreak in europe and north america. symptoms usually start with a fever and headache and then spreads to a rash on the face or general tools and mysterious and finally scabs. so it can be confused with chickenpox. it usually clears up with chickenpox. it usually clears up of its own accord into the four

weeks so how do you catch it? it does not spread easily. this is not another covid—19. you require close physical contact with an infected person sells skin to skin contact, exposure to skin blisters or scabs or perhaps touching clothing or bedding from an infected person. uk health security agency said a significant proportion of recent cases have been among gay and bisexual men and it urged them to be alert to the symptoms. there is a vaccine which is effective at preventing both monkeypox and smallpox. smallpox has been eradicated and today he said the uk procured more doses and some staff and health clinics have already received the vaccine. the and health clinics have already received the vaccine. the lungs of africa, we — received the vaccine. the lungs of africa, we will— received the vaccine. the lungs of africa, we will hear— received the vaccine. the lungs of africa, we will hear from - received the vaccine. the lungs of africa, we will hear from cobb -

received the vaccine. the lungs of africa, we will hear from cobb on | africa, we will hear from cobb on mr.

the commander of ukraine�*s azov regiment says his soldiers have finally ended their defence of the devastated port city of mariupol. bowden has been stripped of its atp and wta ranking points following his decision to ban russia and belarusian players from competing at the sms championships because of the war in ukraine. players will not receive no ranking points for taking part in wimbledon. welcome. explain what is going on. the part in wimbledon. welcome. explain what is going om— what is going on. the background is that the all england _

what is going on. the background is that the all england tennis - that the all england tennis association decided to ban russian and belarusian athletes from wimbledon in response to what�*s happening in ukraine. 0bviously they decided to do that. that did not go down well with the atp. that is the men�*s world tour or the wta and now the itf which look after tennis and junior tennis and they say in a statement they did not want to have to do this but they said we see no option but to remove atp ranking points from wimbledon for 2022 and what that means is thanks to you and i will be exactly the same and it will still be a major tournament and have all the big names although not russian names and one of those will be the world number two but it was still essentially be wimbledon but for the players they would not get any ranking points and that means it�*s more like an exhibition event. it's it�*s more like an exhibition event. it�*s not affiliated to those worlds twice. today made this decision. it has not gone down well with wimbledon. they say they are disappointed by the decision and call it disproportionate in the

context of the exceptional and extreme circumstances of the situation. damaging to all players who compete on the tour but the atp felt they had no choice but to bring in some sort of sanction because they did not agree with the decision by the tennis association to ban all russian and belarusian athletes from all uk grass court tournaments. this does not affect some of the other grass to a tournaments in the uk, it isjust wimbledon. lots grass to a tournaments in the uk, it isjust wimbledon.— is just wimbledon. lots of sporting bodies around _ is just wimbledon. lots of sporting bodies around the _ is just wimbledon. lots of sporting bodies around the world _ is just wimbledon. lots of sporting bodies around the world have - isjust wimbledon. lots of sporting i bodies around the world have banned russian athletes from competing in various different games and so you wonder why there are events will also do the same thing or maybe they will now be warned off doing that. certainly sports that our team sports have made those decisions to ban russia for instance looking at ua for an fy file with football but the atp have said and this is

important, or combination of russia�*s devastating invasion of ukraine remains unequivocal. immediate action was taken to suspend the atp track event in moscow and have russian and belarusian athletes compete under natural flags on tour so as far as they are concerned they think they have done what they can. i will be due part of their other statements when they announced they were going to strip the ranking points. they said the ability for players of any nationality to enter tournaments based on merit and without discrimination is fundamental to laboratory. and that is why they meet this decision. i think they did find it difficult to do this. i don�*t think anyone wanted this to happen in the family tennis association would not have wanted to ban russian athletes but they felt they had two in response to what�*s going on in ukraine. it�*s a difficult situation at one of those horrible times with sports and politics collide. it�*s never tidy and is never pleasant and often the players are the ones you miss out.

on thursday the taliban ordered all women tvjournalists in afghanistan to cover their faces when appearing on screen. but many women have chosen to either find ways to get around it — or have ignored it completely. earlier i spoke to bbcjournalist ali hamedani about what viewers saw when they turned on their televisions this morning. many tv stations if you turn them on you will see women who are wearing masks, not tojobs you will see women who are wearing masks, not to jobs so which is a creative way around what the taliban wanted yesterday which is basically sent an order to tv stations asking women and female presenters or whoever is going on air to cover theirfaces and for whoever is going on air to cover their faces and for many covering this order meant that women should wear the traditional garb but they have not done that, they came up with creative ideas around this which means they started wearing

their mask which they were already doing it because of covid—19 to make it more normal and someone then decided not to wear any mask or face covering and just appear as normal and that is coming from the fact that afghanistan had done that afghanistan media where the freest in the region i have to say. i was involved in many media projects in afghanistan and i have to say it was always amazing to see how their operating relatively free. two years ago in afghanistan people were watching the talent show the voice with many female and male singers and talents and female tv presenters and talents and female tv presenters and everything was normal and of course from that society you cannot come and change that society overnight by such orders.

two secret service agents working on president biden�*s trip have been sent back to the us after allegations of an "altercation" in seoul in the early hours of thursday morning. one of the employees is said to have got into a physical altercation with a local taxi driver. no one was detained or arrested but seoul police are investigating the incident. a secret service spokesperson said the pair had been placed on administrative leave. the central african country gabon is calling on developed nations to pay more for the upkeep of its forests. officials are saying that failing to conserve carbon—rich areas like the congo basin would mean the world would lose the fight against climate change. almost 90% of gabon is covered by tropical woodland home to endangered species like gorillas, elephants and chimpanzees. it�*s also one of the most carbon—positive countries in the world and wants to further limit the impact of industries like oil and logging. i spoke earlier to gabon�*s environemnt minister lee white. he explained how the government intended the plan to work, and why it should appeal

to other countries. if we look at babylon it�*s the most carbon rich country on earth. we are not absorbing just over 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. that�*s about a partner of the uk�*s annual emissions. blocking those tonnes of carbon into the rain forest of gabon. we have a 30 year track record of keeping our deforestation rates low. as we look at carbon crediting through the un climate change convention there is a mechanism to help tropical countries reduce their deforestation because gabon is a high forest low deforestation country over the last ten years we absorbed 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the

atmosphere and that�*s crediting system will reward us with about 100 million tonnes and so we are trying to put that first batch of credits onto the market with quite a compelling marketing strategy. if you buy a tonne of carbon credits from gabon you are taking ten tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and are a highly biodiversity positive country said during that time our elephants and gorilla population increase and so they are carbon positive credits. 0ur they are carbon positive credits. our hope is weight the decision we took at cup 26 will be able to increase the number of carbon credits we are creating by accounting for a max of carbon dioxide and put that into the global carbon markets we are trying to put together through the un.— carbon markets we are trying to put together through the un. so you want countries to help _

together through the un. so you want countries to help you _ together through the un. so you want countries to help you and _ together through the un. so you want countries to help you and continue - countries to help you and continue the efforts you are making but how would they work? you want countries to encourage businesses to invest in gabon or do you want them to give you money? indie gabon or do you want them to give you money?— gabon or do you want them to give you money? we actually want both. the carbon — you money? we actually want both. the carbon markets _ you money? we actually want both. the carbon markets want _ you money? we actually want both. the carbon markets want to - you money? we actually want both. the carbon markets want to of - you money? we actually want both. the carbon markets want to of the i the carbon markets want to of the basin. we have to create jobs and proofs of the people of the countries it�*s worth more standing than they are dead and the way to do thatis than they are dead and the way to do that is through sustainable forestry and transformation of the woods into valuable products like furniture and windows and doors and so on. so we are trying to create a sustainable forest economy exporting timber from gabon which is climate positive. we think the carbon markets can come in on top of that almost as the icing but allow us to make key investments

in preserving the rainforest and in controlling and pushing the sustainable industries. just an update on the report on parties at downing street during covid lockdowns. it�*s emerged that the uk prime minister borisjohnson did hold a meeting sometime before 21st april with civil servant sue gray — who has been conducting an inquiry into lockdown breaches in government. number 10 has told us "the prime minister commissioned the investigation led by sue gray and has been clear throughout that it should be completely independent. as he reiterated again today, the decision on what and when to publish rests entirely with the investigation team and he will respond in parliament once it concludes." don�*t forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter — i�*m @samanthatvnews.

the weekend has somewhat seems for some of us. some rain in some parts of uk. the gardens did needed. there was some sunshine around as well. a beautiful picture from one of our weather watchers. this cloud brought a lot of rain across parts of england and wales during the morning. this cloud came in from the west in the afternoon bringing some downpours. all of that rain is going east with drier weather coming into the night. 0ne east with drier weather coming into the night. one way to the showers. but claire spells for the most part. many of the towns and cities are between eight and 11 degrees. to make it cooler than that out in the countryside. 0n make it cooler than that out in the countryside. on saturday dry weather is around. some spells of sunshine. we will see cloud bringing rain and it will get into parts of western

scotland. northeast scotland holding onto brightness. in the afternoon the channel islands should see sunshine and we will see sun across england and wales as well. some showers for southwest england and wales. they will be fairly light. temperatures 70 degrees and liverpool will see showers across northern ireland with rain drifting northeast across scotland. the fire northeast should hold onto something brighter with just the odd showers. saturday night the rain willjourney across the northern half of scotland. we will introduce a lot of mist and low cloud around some western coasts and heels. sunday we will be between the weather fronts here and a cold front here and in between a wedge of humid air bringing a lust of low cloud but bringing a lust of low cloud but bringing us some high temperatures on sunday especially down towards the south—east corner. sunday�*s later details will bring low cloud and mist and fog for a coast and

heels towards the west and a spot of rain with some heavy bursts of rain pushing to northwest scotland and northern ireland later in the day. south and east the best of the sunshine and the highest of the temperatures with 20 degrees with 20 -- 23 the temperatures with 20 degrees with 20 —— 23 the top temperature in london. cooler to start a new week with rain at times turning dry and warmer as we head towards the end of the week.