this is bbc news, i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. �*never closer to the european union than we are now�*, president zelensky�*s pledge that ukraine was ready to put in the work to become a full eu member. the us capitol investigation hears that rioters demanded former vice—president mike pence be dragged out of the building. keeping cool in school, the heatwave continues to provide record temperatures across europe. and france prepares to decide if president macron should control parliament, as he begins his second term as leader.

hello and welcome. ukraine's application to join the european union looks set to take a step forward today. senior eu officials will give their recommendation on whether to grant the country what's known as "candidate status". but it's a long and complicated process to actually become a member. in his nightly address, president zelensky said ukraine has never been closer to the european union than it is now. here's azadeh moshiri. ukraine's president called it a truly historic day, describing a visit to kyiv by some of europe's most powerful leaders. from france, germany and italy, three of the eurozone�*s largest economies as well as romania, and while president zelensky

has grown accustomed to receiving politicians who wish to see the war first hand, this time he had clear demands, more weapons and shoring up support for ukraine's candidacy to the european union. translation: ukraine has felt the support of four powerful european states at once and in particular support for our movement of the european union. italy, romania, france and germany are with us. but up until this visit president zelensky had criticised these leaders arguing they weren't taking a tough enough start with russia copy president macron was accused of being too soft with his words and chancellor schultz too slow in cutting off economic ties. perhaps that is why they were taken to irpin. at the end of the visit, the leaders announced their support for ukraine's immediate candidate status. translation:

all four of us, we support the status of ukraine's candidacy for immediate accession to the european union. this status will be accompanied, we have all said, by a will be accompanied, we have all said, bya roadmap will be accompanied, we have all said, by a roadmap and also implies the consideration of the western balkan states and neighbouring states, in particular, moldova. those caveats signalled - particular, moldova. those caveats signalled the - particular, moldova. those caveats signalled the long | particular, moldova. those - caveats signalled the long road ahead ukraine's accession to the bloc. all 27 member states must agree to its candidacy in their negotiations would begin on what reforms would be needed. all this must happen without railing the balkan states who had been queueing up tojoin for years. one of president putin's closest advisers, the foreign minister sergei lavrov, has told the bbc that russia has not invaded ukraine. he's repeated the kremlin line that there is no war, but instead a �*special

military operation�*. this comes as russia's invasion of ukraine is almost four months old. mr lavrov, who's been at the heart of power in russia for over 20 years, spoke to our russia editor steve rosenberg. hello, thank you. how are you? it was the first time sergei lavrov had agreed to meet since moscow launched its offensive in ukraine. russia's government has created a parallel reality. invasion? what invasion? translation: we didn't invade ukraine. - we declared a special military operation because we had absolutely no other way of explaining to the west that dragging ukraine into nato was a criminal act. russia�*s �*special operation�* has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths in ukraine. moscow claims it�*s protecting russian speakers and fighting nazis.

speaks russian. i quoted a un report about a ukrainian village where russian soldiers had forced hundreds of people, including 7a children, to spend a month in a basement with no toilet, no water. ten people had died. "is that fighting nazis? i asked. translation: unfortunately, it's a great pity. _ but international diplomats, including the un high commissioner for human rights, the un secretary—general and other un representatives, are being put under pressure by the west. and very often, they�*re being used to amplify fake news spread by the west. so, you�*re saying that russia�*s squeaky clean? no, russia is not squeaky clean. russia is what it is. and we are not ashamed of showing who we are.

and what of the two british men sentenced to death by a russian proxy court in rebel—held eastern ukraine? aiden aslin and shaun pinner had been fighting for ukraine. i tell mr lavrov that in the eyes of the west, russia is responsible for their fate. i am not interested in the eyes of the west at all. i am only interested in international law. according to international law, mercenaries are not recognised as combatants. but they�*re not mercenaries — they served in the ukrainian army. this should be decided by a court. you think the court is independent there? i�*m convinced there are independent courts there. do you think your courts are independent? and on uk—russian relations, no expectation of an improvement. i don�*t think there�*s even any room for manoeuvre any more because both borisjohnson and liz truss say openly that

"we should defeat russia. "we should force russia to its knees". go on then, do it. let�*s speak to kateryna malofieieva who�*s a freelance journalist in kyiv. you�*ve spent a lot of time in donbas and the areas around kyiv that are now the focus of war crimes investigation. you also have direct contact with a commander from the ukrainian army in severodonetsk, we�*ll get to that in a moment. but first, what�*s your reaction to the lavrov interview? good morning victoria. well, for a long time, so the level

of —— saraguay lavrov was an example of smart diplomat because he was a mediator between the ukrainian and the west and now unfortunately listening to his latest statement, it sounds like he is just the mouthpiece of the kremlin propaganda because in this short clip that we have just listened to, a understood that he quite contradicts himself. he kind of question the report of the un high commissioner on human rights and basically, you cannot, as a person who spends quite some time in the kyiv region, i saw the excavation of the bodies, i spoke to people, i heard the testimonies of people, so it�*s quite difficult to stage such

atrocities or stage a testimony so when lavrov questions that report, that means he kind of undermines and questions the international law, the one that he appeals to in his response, and at the same time, when steve asked mr lavrov about the death sentence of the british soldiers that were fighting illegally in ukraine because they signed a contract with ukrainian army and lavrov called them mercenaries, approves the decision of the separatist republic, he gives them legitimacy, he gives a legitimacy to the court. meanwhile lavrov i assume hasn�*t been to donetsk, he doesn�*t know how the court system operates their, when a

person, a detainee or the person, a detainee or the person who is in the trial is assigned a lawyer, that is enforced by the separatist authorities so there is no furnace in this court. so it is quite contradicts the re, the statement of the foreign minister of russia.- statement of the foreign minister of russia. and as you sa , ou minister of russia. and as you say. you have _ minister of russia. and as you say, you have seen _ minister of russia. and as you say, you have seen evidence l say, you have seen evidence with your own eyes of russian war crimes in those places. i wanted to get back to what i�*ve said about the communication that you had with severodonetsk and what is happening in the east of there. what is the situation on the ground as far as you know?— situation on the ground as far as you know? the situation on the ground — as you know? the situation on the ground in _ as you know? the situation on the ground in severodonetsk. as you know? the situation on| the ground in severodonetsk is quite leaked. i understand that we quite often have the parallels between severodonetsk and the chemical plant in mariupol. according to

officials there is at least 500 civilians including a0 children inside of the plant in severodonetsk. they trade and offered the remaining ones to leave but unfortunately some of them made a decision to stay and this number is overruling the city up to 10,000 civilians so that means that shows either the reluctance to leave or some of them support the russian side and they have pro—russian inclination. i am side and they have pro—russian inclination. iam in side and they have pro—russian inclination. i am in touch with the deputy commander of one of the deputy commander of one of the brigades that is fighting in severodonetsk and the situation remains the same, because part of the city is controlled by the russians, part is controlled by the ukrainians but you know, it is difficult also to draw the line because the fighting is constant and there is close battles going on in the city.

so ukrainian forces still have their access to their ammunition. those three bridges that were destroyed creates difficulty for people to be evacuated with normal cars but for the military vehicles it is still possible to cross the river in the narrow part. but not entirely _ river in the narrow part. but not entirely cut _ river in the narrow part. but not entirely cut off - river in the narrow part. but not entirely cut off at this stage. kateryna malofieieva, thank you very much for your time. let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. london�*s gatwick airport has said it will limit the number of flights during the summer travel season in light of continuing staff shortages, a move that will force airlines to cancel some flights. britain�*s second—largest airport will cap flight numbers per day injuly and august in order to avoid chaos and combat same—day cancellations by airlines. justin bieber has postponed his

remaining usjustice world tour dates amid his ongoing recovery from ramsay hunt syndrome. a post from the tour�*s official instagram account said the singer was upbeat and receiving "the best medical care possible", while looking forward to returning to performing later this summer. nepal is preparing to move its everest base camp because global warming and human activity are making it unsafe. the camp, used by up to 1,500 people in the spring climbing season, is situated on the rapidly thinning glacier. researchers say melt—water destabilises the glacier, and climbers say crevasses are increasingly appearing at base camp while they�*re asleep. french officials are urging caution as a record pre—summer heatwave spreads across the country from spain. authorities there are fighting forest fires on a sixth day of sweltering temperatures. and as russell trott reports, there�*s no sign of any let—up until at least sunday.

they are used to heat waves in spain, just not that early in the summer season and certainly not this hot. with the high temperatures comes the inevitable wildfires. across the pyrenees they are banning outdoor public event. translation: outdoor public event. tuna/mom- outdoor public event. translation: �* ., ., , translation: i'm going to sign a decree which _ translation: i'm going to sign a decree which prohibits - translation: i'm going to sign a decree which prohibits all- a decree which prohibits all outdoor public demonstrations, or those held in non—air—conditioned premises. this measure will apply from tomorrow until the end of the heatwave. tomorrow until the end of the heatwave-— tomorrow until the end of the heatwave. , , ., , ., heatwave. this is how they are kee - in: heatwave. this is how they are keeping cool — heatwave. this is how they are keeping cool in _ heatwave. this is how they are keeping cool in some - heatwave. this is how they are keeping cool in some schools. | keeping cool in some schools. this headmistress says watering the playground will prevent her pupils from getting heatstroke. while portugal saw its hottest may since 1931, the french said it was the earliest hot spell to ever hit the country. the hot zone is expected to move

into central europe, italy, the alpine countries and even the south of germany. scientists warned that as global temperatures rise over time, heatwaves are predict to become more frequent and intense and longer lasting. and their impacts more widespread. russell trott, bbc news. do stay with us here on bbc news. there was a bomb in the city centre. a code word known to be one used by the ira was given. army bomb experts were examining a suspect van when there was a huge explosion. the south african parliament has destroyed the foundation of apartheid by abolishing the population registration act which, for a0 years, forcibly classified each citizen according to race. just a day old and the royal baby is tonight sleeping in his cot at home. |

early this evening, the new prince was taken by his mother and fatherl to their apartments . in kensington palace. germany�*s parliament, the bundestag, has voted by a narrow majority to move the seat of government from bonn to berlin. berliners celebrated into the night, but the decision was greeted with shock in bonn. the real focus of attention today was valentina tereshkova, the world's first woman cosmonaut. what do you think of - the russian woman in space? i think it�*s a wonderful achievement and i think we might be able to persuade the wife it would be a good idea, if i could, to get her to go up there for a little while. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: our us congressional hearing has heard more evidence about the attempted donald trump to overturn events of the 2020 election. witnesses described how mr trump and his aides put pressure on the former vice president, mike pence, not to validate joe biden�*s victory. our north america correspondent, peter bowes

reports. another compelling hearing, dissecting the events that led up dissecting the events that led up to the january six attack on the us capitol. it focused on the us capitol. it focused on the role of the former vice president, mike pence, who was pressurised by donald trump to overturn the result of the 2020 election. the committee revealed testimony from senior members of the trump administration that they believe is evidence that the former president knew his actions were against the law. the former president wanted mike pence to reject both and either declare donald trump the winner authentically votes back to the states to be counted again. mike pence said no. he resisted the pressure. he knew it was illegal. he knew what was wrong. we are fortunate for the courage of mike pence. the caitol the courage of mike pence. the capitol came — the courage of mike pence. the capitol came under attack as mike pence was certifying the

election result, defined donald trump who we had spoken to earlier in the days.— trump who we had spoken to earlier in the days. there was a telephone _ earlier in the days. there was a telephone conversation - a telephone conversation between the president and the vice president, is that correct?— vice president, is that correct? �* , , correct? blue. it was pretty heated. correct? blue. it was pretty heated- i — correct? blue. it was pretty heated. i remember- correct? blue. it was pretty heated. i remember he - correct? blue. it was pretty i heated. i remember he called him a wimp — heated. i remember he called him a wimp and _ heated. i remember he called him a wimp and is _ heated. i remember he called him a wimp and is that - heated. i remember he called him a wimp and is that you i heated. i remember he called| him a wimp and is that you are a wimp— him a wimp and is that you are a wimp and _ him a wimp and is that you are a wimp and you _ him a wimp and is that you are a wimp and you will— him a wimp and is that you are a wimp and you will be - him a wimp and is that you are a wimp and you will be a - him a wimp and is that you are a wimp and you will be a wimp| a wimp and you will be a wimp and the— a wimp and you will be a wimp and the web— a wimp and you will be a wimp and the web is— a wimp and you will be a wimp and the web is the _ a wimp and you will be a wimp and the web is the word - a wimp and you will be a wimp and the web is the word i - and the web is the word i rememhen _ and the web is the word i remember.— and the web is the word i remember. . ., ., , remember. the committee was shown a footage _ remember. the committee was shown a footage of _ remember. the committee was shown a footage of writers - shown a footage of writers threatening to hang mike pence when it became known he refused to go along with the plan. i�*m to go along with the plan. i'm heafina to go along with the plan. i'm hearing that _ to go along with the plan. i“n hearing that the p just caved. i�*m hearing that mike pence just caved. if he caved, we would drag him through the streets! that would drag him through the streets! �* ., . streets! at one point, the vice president _ streets! at one point, the vice president was _ streets! at one point, the vice president was within - streets! at one point, the vice president was within 12 - streets! at one point, the vice | president was within 12 metres of the rioters. he was rushed out of the senate chamber and spent several hours in a secure, underground location. the committee was shown a tweet ijy the committee was shown a tweet by donald trump when he knew the i been breached. he wrote:

mike pence didn�*t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our constitution. usa demands the truth. the testimony revealed during the hearing is notable because much of it comes from those in the inner circle of donald trump. a conservative federaljudge and former advisor told the committee that is a former president got his way, there would have been dire consequences for the country. the declaration of donald trump as the next president would have plunged america into what i believe would have been tantamount to a revolution. he added that with mr trump likely trying to regain the presidency in 202a he and his allies and supporters were still a clear

and present danger to american democracy. the committee says the next hearing will focus on efforts to apply pressure to republican state officials to reverse election results, which were lawful. peter bowes, bbc news. france will decide this weekend whether to hand president emmanuel macron control of parliament, as he begins his second term as leader. the final round of voting for 577 national assembly seats takes place on sunday. in many place, the run—off is a battle between president macron�*s allies and candidates from a new left—wing alliance led by far—left leader jean—luc melenchon. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson, has been talking to voters and candidates in the southern city of toulouse. the far left leader of france is turning up the heat on president macron. his rally in toulouse packs, even in 38

degrees heat. jean—luc melenchon was knocked out of the presidential election in france this year but he harnessed his supporters to a new alliance of green and left—wing parties. that is press that is threatening the allies of emmanuel macron in the presidential race on sunday. the presidential race on sunday-— the presidential race on sunday. the presidential race on sunda. ., ., , sunday. for most of my life i have been — sunday. for most of my life i have been voting _ sunday. for most of my life i have been voting for - sunday. for most of my life i have been voting for the - sunday. for most of my life i l have been voting for the lesser of two evils are now for the first time in my life we have a green alliance on the left and it is exciting.— it is exciting. the alliance finish neck _ it is exciting. the alliance finish neck and _ it is exciting. the alliance finish neck and neck - it is exciting. the alliance finish neck and neck with | finish neck and neck with emmanuel macron�*s party in the first round of voting. the president broke his silence ahead of the boat on sunday to warn against disorder in france. the alliance candidate in toulouse says there is a difference between disorder and democracy. translation: , ., , democracy. translation: , ., , ., , translation: everyone is to be reassured we — translation: everyone is to be reassured we are _ translation: everyone is to be reassured we are the _ translation: everyone is to be reassured we are the united - reassured we are the united left, so we�*re not going to bring in soviet tanks. on the other hand, yes, we want real

social change with strong powers on social planning and planning. powers on social planning and ”lannin. .. ., , ., planning. new candidates are not expected _ planning. new candidates are not expected to _ planning. new candidates are not expected to win - planning. new candidates are not expected to win control i planning. new candidates are | not expected to win control of the assembly but they could become the largest opposition group and block the president�*s own party from majority. the race here in toulouse shows just how farjean—luc melenchon and his alliance has come at this point in the election five years ago, it was emmanuel macron�*s allies who are leading and most districts of this region. now it isjean—luc melenchon�*s. this woman is running against him in toulouse.— running against him in toulouse. ,, n ., toulouse. he can speak for hours and _ toulouse. he can speak for hours and what _ toulouse. he can speak for hours and what is - toulouse. he can speak for hours and what is kind - toulouse. he can speak for hours and what is kind of. hours and what is kind of surprising is how people are buying — surprising is how people are buying it _ surprising is how people are buying it. they believe they will stay _ buying it. they believe they will stay together but the first _ will stay together but the first day there elected, of course _ first day there elected, of course they will go their own ways — course they will go their own wa s, ., , , , course they will go their own wa s. ., , , ,., ways. socialists, greens and communists _ ways. socialists, greens and communists disagree - ways. socialists, greens and communists disagree on - ways. socialists, greens and - communists disagree on several key issues, with each other and

with the far left party of jean—luc melenchon, but their success in this alliance shows just how unsettled french politics is. in the two months since a presidential election, the pendulum to opposition against emmanuel macron has flung from the far right to the far left. lucy williamson, bbc news. while artificial intelligence and robotics may be considered the future of medicine, for a few south african hospitals the future is now. cape town�*s tygerberg hospital is proving to be a hotbed of innovation, robots are already being used in surgery as well as helping patients connect with loved ones. the bbc�*s vumani mkhize visited the hospital to find out how ai is transforming patient�*s lives. this is the most advanced surgical robot on the continent. there are only three in the whole of africa. tiny instruments mimic the surgeon hands with great precision and a wider range of motion than a human can ever manage. this is the cutting—edge of medical technology in south africa. the surgeons behind me are using the da vinci surgical system to

do a prostate operation on this patient. the system as nimble, sensitive arms that can get to parts of the body which are difficult for surgeons to reach. this patient is expected to go home in one day after a three—hour and normally invasive surgery, fast recovery time is one of the major health benefits of this robot. so time is one of the major health benefits of this robot. 50 it benefits of this robot. so it has helped _ benefits of this robot. so it has helped us _ benefits of this robot. so it has helped us to _ benefits of this robot. so it has helped us to change i benefits of this robot. so it has helped us to change toj benefits of this robot. sr t has helped us to change to more precise surgery. the outcomes for patients when it comes to quality of life and their longevity is much, much better so yes we can take out the cancer with a big open cut and lots of blood loss versus if you do it with these robots that comes out better and how the rest of your life will be war so much better because we could see nerves that previously we could not see and operate more precisely so less blood loss and people are out of hospital quicker. the blood loss and people are out of hospital quicker.— blood loss and people are out of hospital quicker. the use of robots is not _ of hospital quicker. the use of robots is not only _ of hospital quicker. the use of robots is not only limited - of hospital quicker. the use of robots is not only limited to i robots is not only limited to surgery. it is also used in

improving the mental health of patients who have been in hospital for patients who have been in hospitalfor a long time. hello! hospital for a long time. hello! , ., ., ., , hello! this woman has not seen her family _ hello! this woman has not seen her family in — hello! this woman has not seen her family in two _ hello! this woman has not seen her family in two months. - hello! this woman has not seen her family in two months. she l herfamily in two months. she uses the robot to talk to her loved ones. initially developed for private patients, the robot has been repurposed for various youthin has been repurposed for various youth in hospital wards. has been repurposed for various youth in hospitalwards.- youth in hospitalwards. when i hear them _ youth in hospitalwards. when i hear them it — youth in hospitalwards. when i hear them it is _ youth in hospitalwards. when i hear them it is so _ youth in hospitalwards. when i hear them it is so much - youth in hospitalwards. when i hear them it is so much more i hear them it is so much more powerful and many patients are far from powerful and many patients are farfrom home and powerful and many patients are far from home and families cannot come to visit and it really helps create the connections and technology has allowed us to do that and it is amazing and one of the good things that have come out of covid. i would things that have come out of covid. iwould never things that have come out of covid. i would never have done this before but we were forced to do it and taking technology into space going forward. research in the use of artificial intelligence in medicine is thriving in africa at the moment. there are many interesting phases and could be a game—changer invites against diseases when it launches next

year. please stay with us, we will talk about the heat in the economy, rising inflation and the heat in the uk as well. hello. friday is set to bring the peak of the heat that has been building over the last couple of days, especially across england and wales. on thursday, scotland and northern ireland stayed that bit cooler but cardiff got to 26. to the west of london, a high of 29.5 degrees. but that�*s nothing compared with the temperatures we�*ve seen in south—west europe. this a0 in southern france on thursday is a record—breaker — the earliest point in the year that france has recorded a temperature of a0 degrees — and some of that extra heat will waft northwards on friday into the south—east corner, highs of 33, always cooler further north and west. these are the starting temperatures for friday — quite warm and muggy out there first thing.

we�*ve got outbreaks of rain that will be pushing down across parts of scotland into northern ireland and this is a bit of a dividing line because, behind this, we are into cooler, fresher conditions. quite windy as well. but ahead of our band of cloud and rain, lots of hot sunshine. some mist and murk perhaps for some western coasts but east wales, the west country, into the midlands, a good part of eastern england, the south east seeing temperatures into the high 20s or low 30s, likely to peak somewhere around 33 degrees. with very high uv levels in these southern parts, the sun is very, very strong at this time of year. now, through friday night, this band of cloud continues to sink southwards. a weak weather front at this stage, not much rain on it but to the north of it, we�*re into the cool air, to the south of it, still very warm and muggy — 18 likely to be the starting temperature in the centre of london on saturday morning. so, you can see that warm air clinging on in the south but further north and west, something cooler and fresher to the north of this weather front. now, along the line of the weather front on saturday, we will see some outbreaks of rain starting to develop. some of this rain could be

heavy, possibly thundery. also, some showers into the north—west of scotland. generally, quite a lot of sunshine across the northern half of the uk. temperatures for most of us at this stage in the high teens but still 27 in london, maybe 29 across parts of southern and south—eastern england. but by sunday, the cooler air does win out. however, still some heavy, thundery downpours in the south and especially the south—west. elsewhere, a lot of dry weather but largely northerly winds by this stage, so temperatures at best between 1a—20 degrees. do stay with us here on bbc news.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the highest interest rates in 13 years. but markets bet the bank of england will have to go much higher to control soaring inflation. recession fears stalk wall street, as the sell—off resumes, with us shares closing sharply lower how the cost of living crisis is hitting people here in the uk. more than half tell a bbc survey they are cutting back on groceries or skipping meals. also coming up, the world�*s richest man and his plans to buy twitter. elon musk tells staff people should be allowed to tweet �*pretty outrageous things�*, as long as they are not illegal.