this is bbc news. this i'm annita mcveigh. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. xijinping defends china's model of ruling hong kong — during a visit to mark 25 years since britain handed over control of the city — but the territory's final governor, chris patten, labels the comments �*absurd'. it is of course completely absurd. i don't think xijinping it is of course completely absurd. i don't think xi jinping would democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. the uk conservative mp chris pincher resigns as a deputy chief whip, responsible for party discipline — saying he's �*embarrassed himself�* — as a newspaper alleges he groped two men at a private members�* club.

ukrainian officials say at least 19 people have been killed by russian missile strikes in and around the city of odesa. and more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for pride, as the lgbt+ community marks 50 years since the first march. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the chinese president, xijinping, has led a ceremony marking 25 years since the end of british colonial rule in hong kong. in a speech, he said true democracy began after the territory was handed back to china. mr xi also swore in hong kong's new leader, john lee, who praised the new security law that's been used to crush pro—democracy protests.

britain and the us have accused beijing of failing to live up to the promises it made in 1997 to respect hong kong's freedoms. mark lobel reports. and half a years since the start of the pandemic, choosing hong kong, two years on since a national security law. it is also 25 years since the british handover to chinese rule. | translation: the practice of one i country, two systems has achieved success in hong kong, recognised by all. but after scenes like these, britain now fears that agreement has gone up in smoke. we simply cannot avoid the fact that for some time now, beijing has been failing to comply

with its obligations. friday marked another handover, the swearing in of hong kong's in of hong kong's leader, john lee, a former police officer, under the watchful eye of the president. translation: the rulel of law is the cornerstone and core value of hong kong's success. he was the first winner of elections in which only those loyal to china could run in an increasingly divided hong kong. there are those who are pro—beijing who are happy, and there are those who are very, very anguished and very worried or even scared, and there are thousands of people, including members of my party, in prison. in addition, pro—democracy news outlets have been shut down and a zero covid policy makes life here uneasy. that is not to everybody�*s liking. more than 130,000 people have left hong kong since the start of the year, but that doesn't bother this pro—beijing lawmaker.

we will always have some loss or people coming in and out. it doesn't really matter. president xi's hailing of a new era for the city can also be regarded as a show of defiance for china's regional ambitions as well. its influence is rising in the pacific thanks to a security pact with the solomon islands. and last month, its defence minister vowed to crush any effort by taiwan to pursue independence. they are really preparing in full force in a military or quasi— military option in solving the taiwan question, and so making hong kong fully in control. i don't think they care too much about taiwan's reaction anymore. president xi will be helping this visit covinces hongkongers and the world there is stability on these shores after his crackdown in hong kong and that it would usher in a revival of the global financial centre's bruised economy.

mark lobel, bbc news. (lord chris patten was the last governor of hong kong and was at the handover ceremony in 1997. he says the hopes for hong kong's future he envoked on that day now lie in �*ashes'. saying it was now a hong kong's destiny to be run by the people of hong kong has turned to ashes because hong kong was once one of the freest, arguably the freest and most open society in asia and has now been turned into a police state, as several of our newspapers have said and there are a number of journalists working here and elsewhere who were in hong kong and know it is true, and when xi jinping, who did not, of course, have the courage to even stay in hong kong overnight for some reason, when xijinping talks hong kong overnight for some reason, when xi jinping talks about democracy charts —— starting with

the chinese takeover i am reminded of what one of the quislings in hong kong is said to the foreign affairs committee about democracy, he said, you get us wrong, the chinese don't dislike democratic elections, they like to know the result in advance which is rather the point, so what happened in hong kong it's notjust locking up democrats and notjust making sure the elections could not produce a result which represented the opinions of people in the city and territory, it's notjust that, it's the attack on freedom of speech, it's the attacks on civil society. this year people were not allowed to take part in what has been a tradition of vigils murdered in tiananmen square because the chinese want us to pretend that never happened.— chinese want us to pretend that never happened. when i read the introduction, _ never happened. when i read the introduction, i— never happened. when i read the introduction, i referenced - never happened. when i read the introduction, i referenced what i never happened. when i read the j introduction, i referenced what xi jinping had said, that true democracy began after the territory was handed back and i could sense a

shudderfrom you when i read was handed back and i could sense a shudder from you when i read that. yes, well it is of course completely absurd. i don't think xi jinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. the truth is, one of the reasons why the chinese communists passed what is called the national security law, which in effect put hong kong into handcuffs, one of the reasons they did that was they were terrified of the likely outcome of legislative council elections in 2020.— outcome of legislative council elections in 2020. what were the rotection elections in 2020. what were the protection supposed _ elections in 2020. what were the protection supposed to _ elections in 2020. what were the protection supposed to be? - protection supposed to be? protection is largely depended on the chinese communists sticking to their word in thejoint the chinese communists sticking to their word in the joint declaration on thejoint declaration their word in the joint declaration on the joint declaration was an international treaty lodged at the un in which they guaranteed to retain a hong kong's freedoms and way of life for 50 years after 1997. one of my main critics when i was in

hong kong was a former diplomat who once said, memorably, the chinese may be thuggish dictators, but they are men of their word. but now we know the first part is true but not the last part and they have broken their agreement again and again, not just in relation to hong kong but in relation to world trade organisations, the who, the fortification of the islands in the south china sea and they are mendacious, and unfortunately you cannot trust them but we do have to find ways in which we can cope with this regime until it eventually implodes. this regime until it eventually imlodes. ~ ., ., this regime until it eventually implodes-_ this regime until it eventually imlodes. ~ . ., ., , this regime until it eventually imlodes. . ., ., implodes. what are your thoughts on john lee implodes. what are your thoughts on john lee who — implodes. what are your thoughts on john lee who has _ implodes. what are your thoughts on john lee who has taken _ implodes. what are your thoughts on john lee who has taken over - implodes. what are your thoughts on john lee who has taken over from . john lee who has taken over from carrie lam in hong kong, and he has praised the security law, that hugely security —— hugely controversial security law we have covered, the protests around that and the arrests made of pro—democracy supporters and he was

praising that law which has been used to stifle dissent. what do you make of him? he used to stifle dissent. what do you make of him?— make of him? he is a thuggish cop and not make of him? he is a thuggish cop and got the _ make of him? he is a thuggish cop and got the job _ make of him? he is a thuggish cop and got the job because _ make of him? he is a thuggish cop and got the job because he - make of him? he is a thuggish cop and got the job because he was . and got thejob because he was responsible for the policing of the huge demonstrations in 2019 against the extradition treaty that was going to enable hong kong to send people off to mainland china to be tried if the chinese wanted that. so he got the job because of the very, very tough policing then. tasers, plastic baton rounds, tear gas, instead of trying to talk to people and find a political settlement. chris patten, the last governor of hong kong. i'm joined now by the bbc world service's asia pacific editor celia hatton. 0bviously lots of celebrations going on in hong kong to mark this anniversary. who are these aimed at? you say lots of celebrations but actually it's a very well

choreographed, relatively small celebration. many parts of hong kong are very quiet, people are staying home saying they don't really see what there is to celebrate because hong kong is in a really terrible place at the moment. the economy is really struggling and growth slowed 4% in the first quarter of the year and poverty at the celebrations, when you look at them on television, you could not tell the difference between a celebration that was choreographed or put out by the drop under arm of the state media inside mainland china and what was just on display in hong kong. just a case in point, when xijinping and his wife arrived in hong kong, children were gathering to waive and greet them and they said welcome in mandarin, not in cantonese, the chinese dialect spoken in hong kong, so this was not really put together for the audience in hong kong. the

celebration was put together for the audience in mainland china. it was a very choreographed _ audience in mainland china. it was a very choreographed thing _ audience in mainland china. it was a very choreographed thing to - audience in mainland china. it was a very choreographed thing to give - audience in mainland china. it was a | very choreographed thing to give the impression of lots of celebration but in terms of widespread support for it, not so much.— for it, not so much. absolutely. this was a _ for it, not so much. absolutely. this was a moment _ for it, not so much. absolutely. this was a moment for - for it, not so much. absolutely. this was a moment for the - for it, not so much. absolutely. i this was a moment for the chinese communist party to show it had taken over control of hong kong, to declare victory over the pro—democracy movement in hong kong, and i think that was really the message for people in hong kong, but also those in mainland china. shire message for people in hong kong, but also those in mainland china.- also those in mainland china. are we seeinu a also those in mainland china. are we seeing a changing — also those in mainland china. are we seeing a changing face _ also those in mainland china. are we seeing a changing face of _ also those in mainland china. are we seeing a changing face of hong - also those in mainland china. are we | seeing a changing face of hong kong? we know for example the uk government has opened up roots for people who wanted to leave hong kong and come here as democracy demonstrations were increasingly clamped down on, so are we seeing a real change in hong kong? absolutely. it's notjust the uk, there are many countries around the world that have opened up schemes to welcome people from hong kong. canada, singapore, and i was

speaking to someone in singapore who said it was very difficult to get a school place in singapore now and rents are rising and skyrocketing because so many people are leaving hong kong and choosing singapore as the next destination. a survey earlier this showed almost one half of foreign companies and expats were planning to leave as well. icelia planning to leave as well. celia hatton, thank _ planning to leave as well. celia hatton, thank you _ planning to leave as well. celia hatton, thank you very - planning to leave as well. celia hatton, thank you very much. l the mp chris pincher has resigned as government deputy chief whip, after a newspaper alleged he groped two men at a private members' club. he has apologised to the prime minister and said he had embarrassed himself and others. the role of the government whips is to enforce party discipline. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake reports. chris pincher had been deputy chief whip, responsible for discipline among tory mps, since february. but now it's his own conduct that has fallen short. there were complaints about his behaviour on wednesday night at the carlton club, a private members' club in central london, where he is reported to have groped two men. in a letter to the prime minister yesterday, mr pincher said...

as things stand, chris pincher won't face any further action. a senior government source said he was a loyal conservative who recognised he had behaved badly. labour say there are serious questions about how he can remain as a conservative mp. and chris pincher�*s resignation will again raise the issue of standards of conduct at westminster. jonathan blake, bbc news. you are watching bbc news. staying with the story, chris pincher resigning.

0ur political correspondent iain watson is following developments at westminster. downing street told me this morning they thought no further action was necessary and a government source said last night when the news broke that they believed he had done the right thing by resigning as deputy chief whip and they say he is a loyal conservative mp. he is certainly loyal to borisjohnson because chris pincher was part of what was known at westminster as a shadow whipping operation when the allegations around partygate surfaced towards the end of last year in the mirror newspaper and letters of no confidence were going in for borisjohnson. and he was one of a number of people close to the prime minister who tried to organise support for the prime minister at that stage and it was seen as something of a reward when he became the deputy chief whip back in february. so it looks as though it is the instinct of 10 downing street not to stand by him and say he's done something wrong and he has resigned but not to take any further action. whether that holds inside the party remains to be seen.

the cabinet minister, simon hart, the welsh secretary was on the bbc this morning and told the today programme that the allegations were being taken seriously. i really do think we would not be fulfilling our obligations and duties to the victims in this if we were to speculate about where it might all end. all i want to say, and i want to stress this, is that we take all of these things incredibly seriously. my first reaction when i heard this last night was one of sadness and frustration that here we are again in this position where it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly from the point of view of the victims. it is so tempting for me to be able to in a sense give you all of the answers you want because that's the easy thing to do, but if i was to do that i would make a complicated situation worse and we would be back here tomorrow and you would be rightly holding me

to account for that. he was also saying he believed the chief whip, effectively chris pincher�*s old boss, would be having conversations about what to do and it remains to be seen whether there will be further pressure on him from conservative mps but certainly labour are piling on the pressure this morning on the shadow home secretary yvette cooper for example suggesting that the whip should be withdrawn and there should be a proper investigation. this is a total disgrace, the response from borisjohnson on the government to this. these allegations are really serious and this is about sexual assault and it comes after we have had the wakefield and tiverton by—elections which were as a result of serious incidents involving conservative mps so the idea that the response we have seen that the prime minister thinks he has done the decent thing by resigning and there is no need for an investigation, that is a total disgrace.

the whip's office are responsible for discipline and standards amongst conservative mps but borisjohnson chose this mp to be deputy chief whip because he was a friend and ally, despite the fact he had to resign five years ago from the office due to similar sounding allegations. of course there has to be a full investigation now, and of course he should have the whip suspended. possibly not the end of the story but we should point out that yvette cooper said he had resigned from the whip's office five years ago, and that is true, pending an investigation, but the investigation carried out by the conservative party but via an independent lawyer cleared chris pincher at the time, so the allegations of wrongdoing were not upheld at that point. nonetheless, rumours have persisted at westminster about his conduct and clearly the allegations that were being made on wednesday are serious. we are yet to see whether this line that we can now effectively move on from this, the line that 10 downing street are suggesting, will last the day.

the ukrainian authorities say a russian missile has hit an apartment block in 0desa, killing at least 19 people. a spokesman for the regional adminstration said the missile was launched from an aircraft over the black sea. ukraine had hoped that the russian withdrawal on thursday from the strategically important snake island would ease the threat to 0desa. 0ur correspondent in kyiv, joe inwood, told us more about the attack on 0desa. we understand at least three russian missiles, old soviet x—22 cruise missiles crashed into three different locations around 0desa and one of them hit a nine storey apartment block killing 1a people and wounding 31 more and another three people were killed in a nearby resort complex of some form. what is interesting is that these missiles landed just hours after the russians had been forced off snake island, which people might remember

was iconic at the start of the invasion when the border guards told the flagship to go away and in more colourful language and ever since that it became a bit of an iconic symbol of this resistance and it is on stamps, t—shirts, and you see the icon along with explicit words and they had been hoping that the fact that their huge bombardments had forced the russians off snake island and would offer respite to the people of the south of ukraine and that was not the case last night but the consequences of russia being forced off snake island will be felt over the course of weeks and months rather than hours and days. and this latest attack underscores president zelensky�*s call for more defences. especially air defences. we had the nato and g7 summits ending in the past week. what will we see in terms of the words of support

translating into a difference on the ground in ukraine? there's always a disparity between the two things. that has always been the focus of president zelensky�*s cause. there has been huge promises of diplomatic, economic and military support. the question has always been about how support gets to the front line and it's fair to say a large amount has. we see american donated m—77 howitzers on the front lines and we see these missile systems, very advanced and valuable guided missile systems in action. but not in the numbers that ukrainians say they need and if you look at what is happening in the east, the battle around where the russian invasion is now focused, you can see why. the ukrainians have huge amounts of diplomatic, military and political

support. but they are losing on the battlefield in on points and what we need to see is the former transfer to the latter and they need the equipment, especially air defence systems, to get to the front lines and they need it quicker than it is. the chinese president, xijinping, has led a ceremony marking 25 years since the end of british colonial rule in hong kong. in a speech, he said true democracy began after the territory was handed back to china. mr xi also swore in hong kong's new leader, john lee, who praised the new security law that's been used to crush pro—democracy protests. britain and the us have accused beijing of failing to live up to the promises it made in 1997 to respect hong kong's freedoms. i'm joined now by mark clifford, the president of the committee for freedom in hong kong. thank you very much forjoining us, and you lived in hong kong yourself for almost 30 years. 28 and you lived in hong kong yourself for almost 30 years.— for almost 30 years. 28 years in hon: for almost 30 years. 28 years in hong kong- _ for almost 30 years. 28 years in hong kong. when _ for almost 30 years. 28 years in hong kong. when did _ for almost 30 years. 28 years in hong kong. when did you - for almost 30 years. 28 years in | hong kong. when did you leave? for almost 30 years. 28 years in - hong kong. when did you leave? about a ear and hong kong. when did you leave? about a year and a _ hong kong. when did you leave? about a year and a half _ hong kong. when did you leave? about

a year and a half ago. _ hong kong. when did you leave? about a year and a half ago. tell _ hong kong. when did you leave? about a year and a half ago. tell us _ hong kong. when did you leave? about a year and a half ago. tell us about - a year and a half ago. tell us about how hon: a year and a half ago. tell us about how hong kong _ a year and a half ago. tell us about how hong kong changed _ a year and a half ago. tell us about how hong kong changed over- a year and a half ago. tell us about how hong kong changed over thatl how hong kong changed over that time. ~ ., ., ,., how hong kong changed over that time. ~ ., ., ., ., time. when i arrived about a month before the last _ time. when i arrived about a month before the last governor, _ time. when i arrived about a month before the last governor, chris - before the last governor, chris patten, i left i as the territory was closing, asjimmy lai, the pro—democracy newspaper founder was being denied jail, and i was a director and i watched john lee shot down the company, freeze the bank account, freeze jimmy down the company, freeze the bank account, freezejimmy lai's shares on a publicly traded company and put the most popular newspaper in hong kong out of business, and seven of my colleagues are now in jail, six of them without having been tried, just being held without bail now. so you had a front row seat for the removal of rights, and the squashing protest. for removal of rights, and the squashing rotest. ., ~ , ., , , removal of rights, and the squashing rotest. ., ~y ., , protest. for 26 years my colleagues at a- le protest. for 26 years my colleagues at apple daily. _ protest. for 26 years my colleagues at apple daily. putting _ protest. for 26 years my colleagues at apple daily, putting out - protest. for 26 years my colleagues at apple daily, putting out a - protest. for 26 years my colleagues at apple daily, putting out a used . at apple daily, putting out a used paperjust at apple daily, putting out a used paper just as at apple daily, putting out a used paperjust as people do in london

and one day it was all over —— newspaper. 250 police marched into the newsroom on the first occasion and 550 on the second occasion on the third time they took away the chief executive officer and the editor in chief and by the time the dust settled, seven people were in jail and the newspaper was shut down, bank accounts were frozen and a publicly traded company disc —— was disbanded because ofjohn lee. how many staff were in the newsroom? we lost 600 staff and we weren't able to pay them because the bank accounts were frozen and no government turned on the directors and took us to the labour tribunal for not paying the star. it's a very alice in wonderland, kafkaesque world. ~ ., ., alice in wonderland, kafkaesque world. ., ., , ., world. what was the final straw in all of that when _ world. what was the final straw in all of that when you _ world. what was the final straw in all of that when you thought - world. what was the final straw in all of that when you thought nowl world. what was the final straw in . all of that when you thought now was the time to get out after 28 years? i happened to be away when it was happening but there was a point earlier on when i was the only director in hong kong not in police

custody, so it wasn't very comfortable for me.- custody, so it wasn't very comfortable for me. that was a re comfortable for me. that was a pretty straightforward - comfortable for me. that was a pretty straightforward case - comfortable for me. that was a pretty straightforward case of. pretty straightforward case of making up your mind it wouldn't be a wise move to go back. i making up your mind it wouldn't be a wise move to go back.— wise move to go back. i thought i could be helpful— wise move to go back. i thought i could be helpful in _ wise move to go back. i thought i could be helpful in a _ wise move to go back. i thought i could be helpful in a small- wise move to go back. i thought i could be helpful in a small way i could be helpful in a small way outside and i have to sayjimmy lai is a british citizen and i was delighted to hear the prime minister talk about hong kong for time last night. great words and said that he will not forget hong kong. but he could start by ensuring thatjimmy lai gets consular access as a british citizen. he is undergoing a series of trials and doesn't seem to get support from the uk government that one would expect for a british citizen. what uk government that one would expect for a british citizen.— for a british citizen. what is your knowledge _ for a british citizen. what is your knowledge of— for a british citizen. what is your knowledge of the _ for a british citizen. what is your knowledge of the status - for a british citizen. what is your knowledge of the status of - for a british citizen. what is your knowledge of the status of that l for a british citizen. what is yourl knowledge of the status of that in terms of the efforts to get consular access for him? i terms of the efforts to get consular access for him?— access for him? i am not in direct contact with _ access for him? i am not in direct contact with him _ access for him? i am not in direct contact with him or _ access for him? i am not in direct contact with him or his _ access for him? i am not in direct contact with him or his family - access for him? i am not in directj contact with him or his family and access for him? i am not in direct. contact with him or his family and i don't want to fall foul of the national security law which is far reaching, but my understanding is that it has been asked for and hasn't happened. i think it is the chinese that are preventing it but let's see britain make a more muscular effort on behalf of one of

its citizens unjustly held abroad. what would a muscular effort look like? we heard from the last governor of hong kong, lord chris patten earlier and he said to me that the uk, us and others have to keep highlighting the squashing of democracy to try to keep the profile but what more —— muscular action look like to helpjimmy lai and others? look like to help jimmy lai and others? ., , , . . look like to help jimmy lai and others? ., ,, . . , others? there are specific measures with jimm others? there are specific measures with jimmy lai _ others? there are specific measures with jimmy lai that _ others? there are specific measures with jimmy lai that he _ others? there are specific measures with jimmy lai that he has _ others? there are specific measures with jimmy lai that he has been - others? there are specific measures| with jimmy lai that he has been seen withjimmy lai that he has been seen to be supported by the embassy and getting visits, that there is representation in the courtroom to the extent that trails are open. but more broadly, the uk has an international treaty with china lodged in the un. why is the uk not jumping up and down at the violation of the continuing violations of those treaties? can't it hold china, a country with the second largest economy, that says it wants a rules

—based international order violating its own agreements? this -based international order violating its own agreements?— -based international order violating its own agreements? as you mention in the introduction, _ its own agreements? as you mention in the introduction, you're _ its own agreements? as you mention in the introduction, you're the - in the introduction, you're the committee for freedom president in hong kong. tell us about the work you are doing on the committee? taste you are doing on the committee? we are you are doing on the committee? - are trying to raise awareness and keep hong kong in the spotlight but also work through legislators particularly in the uk and us, who will be pushing for mo —— more robust and further reaching sanctions and the uk has sanctioned some hong kong officials including john lee, the new chief executive. britain doesn't seem to have done anything in terms of sanctions and i don't see why hong kong officials were involved in unjust prosecutions of political prisoners and should be able to come to london and enjoy apartments or attend their children's graduations. d0 apartments or attend their children's graduations. do you think it is a difficult _ children's graduations. do you think it is a difficult balancing _ children's graduations. do you think it is a difficult balancing act - children's graduations. do you think it is a difficult balancing act for - it is a difficult balancing act for the uk and other countries? they want one the one hand point out where human rights abuses have taken

place, orwhere where human rights abuses have taken place, or where democracy protests have been squashed, but on the other hand they don't want to alienate china completely.— hand they don't want to alienate china completely. sure. china is a hue china completely. sure. china is a huge market— china completely. sure. china is a huge market and _ china completely. sure. china is a huge market and the _ china completely. sure. china is a huge market and the play -- - china completely. sure. china is a huge market and the play -- a - china completely. sure. china is a huge market and the play -- a to | china completely. sure. china is a i huge market and the play -- a to the huge market and the play —— a to the card very well but as we have seen with president putin in russia, you can jolly along with dictators but you should be wary of what they are going to do and i think xijinping thinks he has been able to take hong kong without paying a price on that will simply embolden him to go to taiwan next, and if we don't act now and realise it is a free world against a totalitarian world led by xijinping we will against a totalitarian world led by xi jinping we will have against a totalitarian world led by xijinping we will have more against a totalitarian world led by xi jinping we will have more trouble and pay a higher price down the road. . , , and pay a higher price down the road. ., , , ., and pay a higher price down the road. . , , ., , ., road. really interesting to get your --ersective road. really interesting to get your perspective today. _ road. really interesting to get your perspective today. mark _ road. really interesting to get your perspective today. mark clifford, . perspective today. mark clifford, president of the committee for freedom in hong kong. thank you for your time. a report in the times this morning says ministers are considering a cut to vat to ease the cost of living crisis. a second report in the telegraph says the education secretary, nadhim zahawi, wants the government to give teachers a pay rise of as much as 9%.

both measures are suggested as ways to help people cope with high inflation — the rate at which prices are rising. but they come amid fears in the treasury that pay rises, or tax cuts, could stoke even higher prices in the shops. pauljohnson, director of britain's institute for fiscal studies gave us his thoughts on the proposals. i think there is a danger that it would lead to higher inflation. clearly, if you cut vat now, you will reduce prices in the shops, so supposing we were to reduce vat by 2.5%, you would get a little reduction in prices, but the whole idea is that it would be temporary and go up again in a year or two, so it wouldn't change the long run level of crisis but the exact problem we are facing at the moment, and this is something that andrew bailey, governor of the bank of england was talking about yesterday, is that demand is too high. that is partly what is driving up inflation. if you cut vat now and push demand

high, you probably push inflation higher in the long run. if the government borrows to put more money in the economy today, then that will result in inflation lasting for a longer period of time, and from what we understand the treasury is pushing back on this idea and i have to say i think the treasury is dead right on this one. 50 to say i think the treasury is dead right on this one.— to say i think the treasury is dead right on this one. so it would be a --oular right on this one. so it would be a popular move. — right on this one. so it would be a popular move, likely, _ right on this one. so it would be a popular move, likely, in - right on this one. so it would be a popular move, likely, in the - right on this one. so it would be a popular move, likely, in the shortj popular move, likely, in the short term, but you think it might come with a sting in the tail. i term, but you think it might come with a sting in the tail.— with a sting in the tail. i think it would be a _ with a sting in the tail. i think it would be a terrible _ with a sting in the tail. i think it would be a terrible policy, - with a sting in the tail. i think it would be a terrible policy, if. with a sting in the tail. i think it| would be a terrible policy, if i'm absolutely honest. there's no point mincing words. cutting vat now at a time when we have a massive excess demand in the economy, which is partly what is driving our prices. what you don't want to do when you have a fire is throw petrol on it and we have a fire at the moment which is inflation, partly driven by very high levels of consumer demand and an economy where we have lots of vacancies and very few people

looking for work. everything is pushing prices up. you pour more money into that mixture and you have got a real danger that you push inflation up further, and that will create just a lot more pain inflation up further, and that will createjust a lot more pain in the long run. 50 create just a lot more pain in the loni run. ., ., ., , ., long run. so how do you dampen down the demand? — long run. so how do you dampen down the demand? the _ long run. so how do you dampen down the demand? the bank— long run. so how do you dampen down the demand? the bank of _ long run. so how do you dampen down the demand? the bank of england, - the demand? the bank of england, frankl , the demand? the bank of england, frankly. needs _ the demand? the bank of england, frankly, needs to _ the demand? the bank of england, frankly, needs to act _ the demand? the bank of england, frankly, needs to act more - the demand? the bank of england, frankly, needs to act more firmly. i frankly, needs to act more firmly. it's been pushing up interest rates and will continue to push up interest rates. i think, broadly speaking, where the government is is not too far off the right kind of response. it's actually produced some very generous additional payments to particularly people on low incomes, but actually to most people whilst having some tax rises for higher earners and promising some quite big tax rises. there is not an enormous amount or they can do in the situation without hurting

people further. it's a terribly difficult balancing act. and they are not putting and getting the public finances. the lead negotiator for network rail says talks with the rmt union since last week's rail strikes have been "constructive". speaking on the today programme, tim shoveller said a formal consultation on compulsory redundancies — one of the main causes of concern for the rmt — would no longer be starting today. cautiously optimistic. we have got to remain positive throughout these types of negotiations because there are moments when it feels like progress is being made, and then sometimes there is a setback. but cautiously optimistic is a good phrase because we are determined to find a solution. we desperately want to make sure that we best provide

services for passengers, and with the price of fuel as high as it is at the moment, that makes the railway a really attractive option. so the quicker we can get this resolved to encourage passengers to come back to the railway, the better. airline and airport staff in some of europe's busiest destinations are going on strike this weekend. it's the latest blow for holidaymakers after months of disruption at airports here. so how much disruption might travellers face this summer? ben boulous has been finding out. at airports around the uk this week, it might sound a lot, it might sound a lot. 400 flights have been cancelled. it's important to note that 400 is out of nearly 16,000 flights that were planned. so, the reality is that was just 2.5% that were grounded. a lot of the cancellations were also made in advance,

giving passengers some notice to change their plans. no such notice though for some travellers, who are planning to fly out of heathrow airport yesterday. these were the scenes yesterday, where passengers complained about queues and total chaos. heathrow asked airlines to cut the number of flights because the expected passenger numbers were too high for it to be able to cope. in terms of figures there, it was 30 flights out of a scheduled 1200 that were cancelled. some passengers said they did not find out until they got to the airport. heathrow said the cancellations were necessary for safety, and that it was a one—off. but passengers flying through the uk's busiest airport can expect more disruption this summer. 700, mainly british airways check—in staff and ground crew, will go on strike over pay. crucially, those dates have not been confirmed yet. we know that staffing issues have caused problems at other airports as well. gatwick airport is planning

to reduce the number of flights injuly and august. so, if you are flying this summer, how worried should you be? i have to be absolutely honest and say that going intojuly and august, i have never seen quite this scale of disruption in any previous summer. of course, it is all to do with the lack of resilience in aviation. to get you and your luggage off the ground and safely to your destination requires dozens of aviation professionals being in the right place at the right time, and all getting theirjobs done. a lot of those people have wandered away from the aviation industry, which is why we are so stretched right now. and the disruption is not only affecting flights leaving the uk. they have already been strikes by cabin crew, baggage handlers and check—in staff across europe.

in spain, portugal, italy, belgium and france, and more are scheduled for this weekend in both france and spain. so, has all this disruption affected our confidence in the industry, and the number of people booking flights? it's really interesting, what we have seen is the appetite to travel is still very significant. we are seeing our members every week, their bookings are ahead where they expected to be against 2019. one of the big challenges we have seen and one of the trends we have seen is the increase of consumers looking to book through their local travel agent, and also what they are booking. they are booking more package holidays, and really that is about trying to give them even more reassurance because if you book a package and that flight or any element of that holiday is disrupted, the principles of the tour operator that you have booked through, it is obligated to make sure that you have an alternative flight. the important thing to remember

here is that, despite those pictures of queues at airports and reports of strikes and cancellations, the numbers are still very low. the risk may be higher than in previous years, but the vast majority of people will still manage to get away on holiday as planned. injapan, an unprecedented heatwave has got many worried about global warming and a possible shortage of electricity to keep air conditioners going. tokyo reported record breaking temperatures on thursday, making it the worstjune heatwave injapan since records began nearly 150 years ago. rupert wingfield—hayes reports. in this town, it is another blazing hot day. at 11am, the temperature is already somewhere north of 40 celsius. for masaya, his wife and brother, working outside in these conditions isn'tjust hard, it's dangerous. masaya shows me the electric fans in his jacket, designed to keep him cool, but they hardly seem up to the task. "it went up to 47 degrees

on the car's thermometer yesterday," he tells me. "is it dangerous?" i ask. "yes, it's dangerous. "we've never had temperatures like this before injune. "usually, it's raining now." a week ago, most people had never heard of this little city, 100 km north of tokyo. now, it's suddenly famous. this is now officially the hottest place injapan. it's been above 40 degrees twice already this week, and according to my thermometer, it's well above that out there in the sunshine today. this has never happened before injune anywhere injapan. this should be the middle of the rainy season, and it's causing huge problems forjapan's electricity—generating system. it's just barely keeping up with demand, and if it fails, people are going to die. these heatwaves are notjust a naturalfluctuation in weather. man—made climate change is making them more extreme

and more dangerous. over the past 100 years, the average temperature for japan has risen by about one degree, which is more than a world record. for tokyo, it was like three degrees higher, so temperatures have been rising. so, definitely, climate change is part of the reason. the increasingly frequent heatwaves are particularly dangerous for old people, of which japan has many. so, here in the north of tokyo, they've opening a cooling—down centre, where i find 86—year—old kiyoji taking refuge from the heat and playing japanese chess. "i'm overwhelmed by the heat," he says. "coming here to cool down is really important. "i don't want to use the air—con at home, "but we've been told if we don't, we could die." four years ago, another heatwave killed scores of elderly people and put 20,000 in hospital. this one is expected to break

on sunday, and for millions of people across japan, it won't come a moment too soon. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in tokyo. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for london pride — a celebration of the lgbt plus community. this year�*s event marks 50 years since the �*gay liberation front�* organised the uk�*s first pride march. 0ur lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss has been to meet several members of the group, to hear about their fight for equality. it's 1972. the miners�* strike first turns off the lights. ted heath is prime minister. donny 0smond is top of the pops. # puppy love... and on screen, gay representation looks something like this. oh, it�*s the masked stranger! take my body but leave

my jewels alone. gay people regularly face arrest and same—sex attraction is still classified as a mental illness. but in the basement of a london university, a revolution is under way and making itself heard in protests across the capital. injuly, pride in the uk is born. that first pride was about visibility. it was terrifying, daring. i wanted to change the world. to claim public space for queer people. the freedom, the ability to be yourself. we are here, we are queer, and you better get used to it. having a good time, really. everyone with long hair, - of course, including myself. we were really being very daring coming out in public in the street.

it taught me that i was a survivor. we had a mass kiss—in. kissing between same—sex couples back then was an arrestable offence. the police were all lined up on the side of the park. 0fficers did come over, and warn us to stop kissing, but there were too many of us. by the time we finished snogging each other, one turned round and the police had completely disappeared, they were so disgusted with what was happening. and so powerless. after 50 years, some of the original glf have reunited where it all began, in the old lecture theatre in the london school of economics. the glf was telling us about coming out and how important it was for us to stand up, and be recognised, and that we weren�*t, you know, the monsters that the press and the psychiatrists and everyone

else was telling the world we were. i was only, what, 21. i left home because my parents disapproved of me being gay, i'd run away, moved in with my girlfriend. i was brought up in india and the whole idea of gayness was just not in your consciousness. because back in those days, - most lgbt+ people were ashamed and guilty, they were closeted, they dared not show _ their name in public. in a way i had no self—worth, and i had no gay pride or anything like that, because i had been hiding who i was. medical options included seeing a lot of psychiatrists, and convincing them that you were notjust mad. i ended up as a drag queen living in a commune in notting hill, and that was so unexpected but when i got there, it made perfect sense. the glf lit a spark which would burn for the next five decades.

but those years also saw huge trials. so don't die of ignorance. when aids came along, the partners of the ones who died, the families would sweep in and throw them out of the flat or whatever. it was a time of real despair and bitterness. we�*re over that one now with the recognition of gay partnerships, with the civil partnership. and people can�*t do that to their children any more. but there was still more fighting to be done after teaching about homosexuality was banned in schools. children who need to be taught to respect traditional, moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. the way that the community came back together over clause 28 was incredible. in the house of lords... shouting. _ in the late 1980s, section 28 protesters stormed the bbc. but then once it was got rid of,

yeah, good riddance and a complete and utter waste of time it was. progression came later. steps towards righting the wrongs of the past, and equality. legally, husbands. it was a monumental vote. it gave that equality in terms of the law. we marched for the rights to walk down the aisle. i pride has undergone many changes over the years. what started off as a protest of around 700 people is now a march of thousands. but what does it stand for today? there is still a need for protest. it's a fightback, it's a celebration. and i would emphasise our history, i or they will take it for granted. i we have a massive issues in terms of international sport, that to be seen publicly as gay is a bad thing and damaging, which is astonishing. even the friends of ours are now being very wary about, what can you say, what's respectable enough to say?

gradually, they are trying to divide us all up. we need tojoin together even more. shout till we're hoarse, | until conversion therapy is banned for all. still today, a third of all lgbt+ people in britain have been victims of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic violence. the only way you keep rights by perpetually struggling to keep them. no victory is ever forever unless you make it forever. the next chapter in the glf history will be written on friday when they march here once again, 50 years after starting a revolution that changed so much for so many. lauren moss, bbc news. i�*m joined now by peter tatchell, human rights activist and one of the organisers of the first ever parade in london.

thank you for your time today. take us back to that first parade, and describe what it was like to be on it. it describe what it was like to be on it. ., , . , , . it. it was incredibly exciting. it had never _ it. it was incredibly exciting. it had never been _ it. it was incredibly exciting. it had never been done - it. it was incredibly exciting. it had never been done before. i it. it was incredibly exciting. it| had never been done before. it it. it was incredibly exciting. it - had never been done before. it was joyful, carnival celebration, but we also had a sense of nervousness and anxiety because we didn�*t know whether the police would arrest us, and we feared the possibility of attacked by far right extremists, who did wage violent assault on the lgbt+ community at that time. nevertheless, we were undeterred, we were defiant, and we had that much and we felt so good because just to be out and proud and open, that was a revolution, and the response of the public was a mixture of hostility, yes, a lot of peoplejust gawped in disbelief that gay people would dare show their faces, and many others actually supported us, and that gave us confidence and

hope. and that gave us confidence and ho e. ., ' and that gave us confidence and ho e. ., , ., and that gave us confidence and ho e, ., ' ., , ., and that gave us confidence and ho e, ., ' ., y., “ hope. how different do you think it would be for— hope. how different do you think it would be for someone _ hope. how different do you think it would be for someone who - hope. how different do you think it would be for someone who might i hope. how different do you think it i would be for someone who might be taking part in theirfirst pride march this weekend? taking part in their first pride march this weekend?- taking part in their first pride march this weekend? what is extraordinary _ march this weekend? what is extraordinary is _ march this weekend? what is extraordinary is that - march this weekend? what is extraordinary is that what - march this weekend? what is i extraordinary is that what began march this weekend? what is - extraordinary is that what began as one pride march in 1972 in london, with only 700 people, has now exploded this year into over 190 pride events across the whole of the uk involving 1 million people. that is extraordinary. i had never envisaged that way back in 1972. 50. envisaged that way back in 1972. so, ou said in envisaged that way back in 1972. so, you said in the report that there is still a need for protest, but do you think on the whole that the situation has evolved to an extent where people are accepted for who they are, who they want to be, who they are, who they want to be, who they want to be with, much more now than back 50 years ago? well. than back 50 years ago? well, absolutely- — than back 50 years ago? well, absolutely. but _ than back 50 years ago? well, absolutely. but you _ than back 50 years ago? well, absolutely. but you do - than back 50 years ago? well, absolutely. but you do have i than back 50 years ago? well, j absolutely. but you do have to

remember that from the 1960s, through to the year 2000, there were almost no law reforms at all. we were still treated as criminals and victims of disc of a nation without any redress. it only began to change in 2000 with a first major reform which ended the ban on lgbt+ in the armed forces. after that all anti—gay laws were repealed, including same sex marriage bill 2013. an extra ordinary pace of change given that until 1999, britain had the largest number of anti—gay laws in any country in the world, some dating back centuries. so it has been a huge social revolution.— so it has been a huge social revolution. �* ., , . ., revolution. and of course the change here and in — revolution. and of course the change here and in other _ revolution. and of course the change here and in other countries - revolution. and of course the change here and in other countries like - revolution. and of course the change here and in other countries like the i here and in other countries like the us and so forth, that�*s not necessarily the case around the world, as our viewers will know. that�*s right, there are still 69 countries that criminalise same—sex relations. penalties range from me

few years imprisonment, right up to life imprisonment, and sadly there are still 12 muslim majority countries that have the death penalty. gay people can be put to death simply because of who they love. it death simply because of who they love. . , , death simply because of who they love. ., , , ,., ., death simply because of who they love. .,, , ,., ., ,., love. it has been reported that you are sa in: love. it has been reported that you are saying that _ love. it has been reported that you are saying that police _ love. it has been reported that you are saying that police in _ love. it has been reported that you are saying that police in uniform i love. it has been reported that you are saying that police in uniform at least it should not have a place at the pride parade until they respect the pride parade until they respect the community. is that a sweeping generalisation to say that? i the community. is that a sweeping generalisation to say that?- generalisation to say that? i think there's a big _ generalisation to say that? i think there's a big problem _ generalisation to say that? i think there's a big problem with - generalisation to say that? i think there's a big problem with the i there�*s a big problem with the police. the police have been exposed in this year alone, having big problems with homophobia, racism and misogyny. you know, we know they mishandled the serial killer investigation of stephen court, where four young gay men were murdered. we know that they behaved disgracefully over the sarah everard vigil, and we know that police stop and search victimised the champion

black athlete bianca williams. these are just typical examples of problems with the police. what i�*m saying is that uniformed police are not welcome in the pride parade, but of course there are many good officers and i thank and praise them, and they are welcome to march in civilian clothes, but not the police as an institution, not until they reform. police as an institution, not until they reform-— police as an institution, not until they reform. peter, thank you for our time they reform. peter, thank you for your time today. _ they reform. peter, thank you for your time today. thank _ they reform. peter, thank you for your time today. thank you. - the bbc understands french police are investigating ten men in connection with the sinking of a migrant boat in the english channel last november in which at least 27 people drowned. the men are believed to be part of an afghan smuggling network. let�*s speak now to our paris correspondent, hugh schofield. what more can you tell us about these individuals under investigation?- these individuals under investigation? these individuals under investi . ation? ~ , investigation? well, they were -icked investigation? well, they were icked u- investigation? well, they were picked up on — investigation? well, they were picked up on sunday _ investigation? well, they were picked up on sunday and - investigation? well, they were picked up on sunday and into i investigation? well, they were - picked up on sunday and into monday in locations in paris, around calais

and in eastern france. we reported yesterday that they were being held. there were 15 originally taken into custody, five were released and the other ten are being held. in the last hours of yesterday and overnight they have been presented before a judge and served with notice that they are under formal investigation, so effectively charged. the charges are on in voluntary homicide, in other words, killing people without intending to, and people trafficking. some of these people have been kept in prison, others have been given conditional release, and as we understand it, most are afghan. in other words, this is an afghan people smuggling ring. let�*s not forget that actually on that night, that terrible night, the people who died on the boat were not mainly afghan, they were mainly iraqi kurds, said there were a few afghans on it and some other nationalities

too. ., ' . on it and some other nationalities too. ., , . , ., . on it and some other nationalities too. ., '. , , too. how difficult is it to catch up with these _ too. how difficult is it to catch up with these gangs? _ too. how difficult is it to catch up with these gangs? well, - too. how difficult is it to catch up with these gangs? well, i - too. how difficult is it to catch up with these gangs? well, i think i too. how difficult is it to catch upj with these gangs? well, i think it is immensely _ with these gangs? well, i think it is immensely difficult. _ with these gangs? well, i think it is immensely difficult. they - with these gangs? well, i think it is immensely difficult. they are l with these gangs? well, i think it| is immensely difficult. they are by nature clandestinely, undercover operations, run by people from the nationalities that they are trying to help or make money from, in this case afghans. many people in the gang will have been people who were here perfectly legally, who have got their papers and then turned to working with their fellow compatriots and with others to get people across, so they are by their very nature secret and sometimes violent and they sometimes use intimidation to keep their affair very secret indeed.— ukrainian circus performers will be touring britain this summer. 16 of them came to the uk under the homes for ukrainians scheme after spending three months hiding from russian forces.

my name is dania and i�*m 23 years old and i�*m ukrainian. in the circus, i am a dancer and i really enjoy it. i think that that�*s why i came to this world. but that world was turned upside down when war broke out. she was caught in kharkiv, seeking shelter from the bombs. every day was worse and worse, and every night was worse and worse and every day, i was more exhausted. you are scared so much and you don�*t know what to do and i did not eat, the first day, i didn�*t sleep and i was scared to sleep at night because i was afraid that i would not hear any sirens or explosions, so i would not wake up next morning. viktor was given special leave as an artist to flee ukraine with his wife and son. it's very dangerous,

very dangerous all the time, there are rockets and everything and when we left, we, i not remember how many days, we just one place after the other place. i am very happy to come with all of my family. it is like a second my family also be safe here. my child going school. my wife work with me. we all together here. of course, we will see if the public like this because i am also in my heart like, i want to give it more. the circus�*s co—founder says it�*s given a lifeline. i think it�*s very important to keep it as normal as possible for all of them and this is what they train to do,

this is what they love doing, and the more they not thinking about the bad things, it�*s better for their mental health. these positive emotions are helping them through difficult times. it's to show how strong we are, that the disaster happened in another country and we still can go on stage, we can smile, even if it's difficult. we can smile and we can make people happy and we can show how talented, hard—working and how strong we are. emma baugh, bbc news. just before we go, the story of a short hop that turned into a long haul. this is bob, a racing pigeon who set off from guernsey in the channel islands three weeks ago, heading for the north of england. but alabama, 4,0000 miles away, is where the 4 year old bird turned up. his owner believes he may have hitched a ride on a passing oil tanker.

you are watching bbc news. hello. it is another day forjust taking your body with you because we are looking at a day of sunshine and showers. but with a brisk breeze, the showers should move through more readily. we have got a weather front moving and bringing rain into the northern islands, and by the end of the day into northern ireland. for wimbledon today, a lot of dry weather and some bright spells, some sunny intervals, but we are not immune to a shower. if we do catch one, it will be lighter than yesterday, and it will move through that bit quicker on the brisk breeze. busy afternoon and the rest of us, further showers will develop. some across north—east england, central and eastern scotland could be heavy and thundery. the rainbow push into the northern isles, and

another band of rain will come in across northern ireland. there will be a lot of dry weather too, and some of us will see some sunshine and stay dry. temperatures of 13—22 north to south. pollen levels across wales and much of england today are high. forthe wales and much of england today are high. for the rest of us, they are either low or moderate. this evening and overnight, the rain in northern ireland spreads in across scotland, northern england, wales and into the south—west. it is pushing steadily eastwards. 0vernight lows similar to last night, 11—13 c. into saturday, we do still have this curl of rain, and it�*s turning more showery in nature, weakening as it pushes itself where there will be a lot of dry weather. behind it, a mixture of sunshine and showers. more persistent rain later in the day across the far north of scotland. temperatures down a touch on today, 14-20 c. into

temperatures down a touch on today, 14—20 c. into sunday, high pressure is trying to build in from the south—west. we will see a lot of dry weather in the south—west. many of us will see a fair bit of dry weather but showers will put down towards east anglia, and some showers across parts of scotland, northern ireland and northern england. temperatures 13—22 c. then high—pressure starts to establish itself as we head on into the new working week with weather front toppling around the top of it we could see some rain at times across the north and the west, but a lot of dry weather and getting that bit warmer, especially in the south.

this is bbc news — i�*m rebecca jones. the headlines at 11: the conservative mp chris pincher resigns as a deputy chief whip, responsible for party discipline — saying he�*s "embarrassed himself" — as a newspaper alleges he groped two men at a private members�* club. xijinping defends china�*s model of ruling hong kong, during a visit to mark 25 years since britain handed over control of the city, but the territory�*s final governor, chris patten, labels the comments "absurd". it the comments "absurd". is of course completely ai don�*t it is of course completely absurd. i don�*t think xijinping it is of course completely absurd. i don�*t think xi jinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with eight police truncheon.

ukranian officials say at least 19 people have been killed by russian missile strikes in and around the city of 0desa. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for pride — as the lgbt+ community marks 50 years since the first march. and two british hopefuls — cameron norrie and heather watson — will both be in action today at wimbledon. the mp chris pincher has resigned as government deputy chief whip, after a newspaper alleged he groped two men at a private members�* club. he has apologised to the prime minister and said he had embarrassed himself and others. the role of the government whips is to enforce party discipline. 0ur political correspondent

jonathan blake reports. chris pincher had been deputy chief whip, responsible for discipline among tory mps, since february. but now it�*s his own conduct that has fallen short. there were complaints about his behaviour on wednesday night at the carlton club, a private members�* club in central london, where he is reported to have groped two men. in a letter to the prime minister yesterday, mr pincher said... as things stand, chris pincher won�*t face any further action. a senior government source said he was a loyal conservative who recognised he had behaved badly. labour say there are serious questions about how he can remain as a conservative mp.

and chris pincher�*s resignation will again raise the issue of standards of conduct at westminster. jonathan blake, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent, helen catt is in westminster. how is this being investigated? what is being looked at today in westminster is what happens next. as you heard in that piece, number ten i think this doesn�*t need to be investigated further, that chris pincher is eight loyal conservative who recognises that he behaved badly so he wouldn�*t face any further action. a lot of the talk at westminster this morning is whether that line will hold. have a listen to simon hart, the welsh secretary, a member of the cabinet. he says it is being taken seriously. i really do think that we would not be fulfilling our obligations and duties to the victims of this if we were to

speculate about where it might allend. all i want to say, and i really want to stress this, is that we take all of these things incredibly seriously. my first reaction when i heard this last night was one of sadness and frustration that we are here again. it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly from the point of view of the victims and i say, it is so tempting to me to in a sense give you all of the answers that you want, because that's the easier thing to do. but i think if i was to do that, i would just make a complicated situation worse, and we would be back here tomorrow and you will be rightly holding me to account for that. so he did also say that the chief whip would be having conversations today and opposition parties are very clear about what they think should happen. labourand very clear about what they think should happen. labour and the liberal democrats both say that they think he should have the conservative whip withdrawn and it

should be firmly investigated. the shadow home secretary yvette cooper is among them. this is just a totally disgraceful response from borisjohnson, from _ the government to this. these allegations are really serious. this is about sexual assault. it comes obviously after we have had wakefield and tiverton by—elections, which were also a result of serious incidents involving conservative mps. so the idea that the response we have seen that the prime minister thinks he has done the decent thing by resigning, there is no need for an investigation, that is a total disgrace. the whips office are responsible for discipline and standards among conservative mps, but boris johnson chose this mp to be deputy chief whip because he was a friend and ally, despite the fact that he had to resign five years ago from the whips office due to similar sounding allegations. of course there has to be a full investigation now and of course he should have the whip suspended. we should say that the allegations that yvette cooper mentioned there from five years ago, chris pincher

was investigated and he was cleared. but rumours have persisted since and this is why there are wider questions being raised about boris johnson�*sjudgment in questions being raised about boris johnson�*s judgment in appointing him. a conservative mp told the bbc that they had personally raised concerns about mr pincher�*s behaviour to senior figures in number ten on the conservative party before he was appointed. so there is certainly a lot of discussion today about the thinking behind that decision and the wisdom and judgment behind it. decision and the wisdom and 'udgment behind it. ,., ., ., decision and the wisdom and 'udgment behind it. ., ., ,, ., behind it. good to talk to you. our olitical behind it. good to talk to you. our political correspondent _ behind it. good to talk to you. our political correspondent at - political correspondent at westminster. the chinese president, xijinping, has led a ceremony marking 25 years since the end of british colonial rule in hong kong. in a speech, he said true democracy began after the territory was handed back to china. mr xi also swore in hong kong�*s new leader, john lee, who praised the new security law that�*s been used to crush pro—democracy protests.

britain and the us have accused beijing of failing to live up to the promises it made in 1997 to respect hong kong�*s freedoms. mark lobel reports. president xi�*s first steps out of china since the start of the pandemic, choosing hong kong, two years on controller parr state security law here stifling protests, reducing the city public autonomy. it is also 25 years since the british handover to chinese rule. | translation: the practice of one j country, two systems has achieved success in hong kong, recognised by all. but after scenes like these, britain now fears that agreement has gone up in smoke. we simply cannot avoid the fact that for some time now, beijing has been failing to comply

with its obligations. friday marked another handover, the swearing in of hong kong�*s new leader, john lee, a former police officer under the watchful eye of the president. translation: the rule | of law is the cornerstone of hong kong's success. is the first winner of elections in which only those loyal to china could run in an increasingly divided hong kong. there are those who are probating, who are happy, and there are those who are very, very anguished and very worried or even scared, and there are thousands of people, including members of my party, in prison. in addition, pro—democracy news outlets have been shut down and a zero—covid policy makes life here uneasy. that is not to everyone�*s liking. more than 130,000 people have left

hong kong since the start of the year, that doesn�*t bother this probating lawmaker. we will always have some loss or people coming in and out. it doesn't really matter. president xi�*s hailing for a new era for the city can also be regarded as a show of defiance for china�*s regional ambitions as well. its influence is rising in the pacific thanks to a security pact with the solomon islands. and last month, its defence minister vowed to crush any effort by taiwan to pursue independence. they are really preparing in full force in military or quasi— military options in solving the taiwan question, and so making hong kong fully in control, i don't think they care too much about taiwan's reaction any more. president xi will be hopping this visit commences mrs hongkongers and the world there is stability on these shores in his crackdown on hong kong and that would usher in a revival of the global financial centre�*s bruised economy. mark lobel, bbc news.

the last british governor of hong kong, lord chris patten, spoke to the bbc about that democracy claim from xi jinping. it is of course completely absurd. i don�*t think xijinping it is of course completely absurd. i don�*t think xi jinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. the truth is that one of the reasons why the chinese communist past what is called the national security law, which in effect put hong kong into handcuffs, one of the reasons was that they were terrified of the likely outcome of legislative council elections in 2020. and we�*ll have a longer interview with chris patten here a little later in the next half an hour. the ukrainian authorities say a russian missile has hit an apartment block in 0desa, killing at least 19 people. a spokesman for the regional

adminstration said the missile was launched from an aircraft over the black sea. ukraine had hoped that the russian withdrawal on thursday from the strategically important snake island would ease the threat to 0desa. 0ur correspondent in kyiv, joe inwood, told us more about the attack on 0desa. at 1am this morning a number of russian cruise missiles landed just outside of 0desa. one of them hit a nine—story residential building. many bodies were found there. even more have been taken to hospital. there is another location at a holiday resort of some form, where a smaller number have been found, but in that location they are still searching, and they fear they will find more victims. we understand these were soviet—era x—22 cruise missiles, the same missile that landed in the shopping centre in bakhmut earlier this week. all of this is happening just as it has been announced or revealed that the russians have been forced off snake island, which is a strategically and symbolically important outcropping in the black sea. people may remember at the start

of this conflict, that was in the headlines after the ukrainian border guards there told the russian black sea flagship to go away in rather more colourful and un—broadcastable language, and ever since then it has been an icon for the ukrainian people. you see it on posters. there was even a commemorative stamp of the defenders of snake island. the russians have said they left the island under their own steam, of their own free will as a gesture of goodwill to aid grain export. the ukrainians have a very different perspective. they have released footage of the island under huge bombardment. their satellite imagery showing many destroyed structures and equipment. they say they have defeated the russians in this part of the black sea. they had been hoping that might ease the pressure on places like 0desa, ease up the risk of missile attacks. of course, last night has shown that may be a forlorn hope 110w. that update you with the headlines.

the conservative mp chris pincher resigns as a deputy chief whip, responsible for party discipline — saying he�*s embarrassed himself — as a newspaper alleges he groped two men at a private members�* club. xi jinping defends china�*s model of ruling hong kong during a visit to mark 25 years since britain handed over control of the city, but the territory�*s final governor, chris patten, labels the comments "absurd". ukrianian officials say at least 19 people have been killed by russian missile strikes in and around the city of 0desa. family members who take on parental responsibility for their relatives�* children say they�*re struggling to cope with rising living costs. unlike foster carers, they are not entitled to a financial allowance from the government in england and wales. now, charities are warning some children, who could continue to live with family members, are at risk of ending up in care. zoe conway has more.

wendy and her grandchildren have a very special bond. she�*s everything to them. her daughter was unable to cope with looking after them. so they�*ve lived with wendy since they were babies. why do you call wendy "mum"? because she, like, does everything like a mum. what do you mean? like, she cooks me dinner. she washes my clothes. she just does everything. it was 15 years ago, just when wendy had started thinking about retirement, that she was plunged into a world of nappies and night feeds. i had a nice office job, reasonably well paid. and overnight i found myself without a job, not allowed to work. all my pension rights gone, and just, you know, a kinship carer. wendy�*s granddaughter is so good at rollerblading,

she plays roller hockey at a national level. wendy�*s proud of both her grandchildren. but at 69, she finds being a mum exhausting. being a mother, you tend to say no rather a lot. you have to be the disciplinarian? absolutely. it's a shame i can't be a grandmother as well. i can't spoil them, which you can do as a grandmother. wendy wonders how she�*d cope without being able to rely on donated food at this community centre. she�*s noticed the cost of everything going up. coffee — a jar of coffee — that had gone up by 50p from one week to the next. unbelievable. if she was a foster carer, she�*d be entitled to £137 a week. but there�*s no such guarantee for kinship carers. kinship carers have been struggling financially for many, many years. they don�*t have the same rights as foster carers

to a financial allowance, so many of them give up work. they don�*t get an allowance, and of course they are plunged into poverty. what�*s worse now is there is a cost of living crisis, so it�*s more urgent than ever that the government steps in. laura was 27 years old when she got a call from social services, asking her to take in her half brother and half sister. their mother had died. it was really hard. i went from working 60—hour weeks ito working none and doing schooli runs and doing hair in the morning. laura says it�*s not just an allowance that kinship carers need. they also need better access to emotional support. they needed bereavement counselling, but there's no bereavement _ counsellors for children in prettyj much the whole of west sussex. only private. i couldn't afford to do that. 0k. let's go. laura also has her own five—year—old daughter.

what the charity kinship fears most is that if families don�*t feel financially secure, children will end up back in the care system. my children are happy, they're healthy. - and if you were to meet them, you wouldn't even know - that they were kinship children. and they would probably say that i'm their mum. i and we have enjoyed every moment of it. i and i wouldn't be anywhere else. the government says it�*s considering how to help kinship carers further. they also say they�*re providing £37 billion to support vulnerable families. zoe conway, bbc news. let�*s speak now to sandra bond — she became a kinship carer to her grandson in 2020. welcome to bbc news. tell us a little bit about your grandson and how you ended up caring for him. he

is how you ended up caring for him. he: is now two and a half. he was 14 months when he came to me. it was a very sudden situation. he just came overnight, with nothing. he knew me because i am his nanna, but complete or people for him and then all of a sudden having to cope with a 14—month—old child. he is doing well, there is a lot of construction is around. we were talking about finances. that has been the hardest part for me, taking somebody on and work full time and all of a sudden i have a little man in my house and i have a little man in my house and i have to find him a full—time nursery and it is £1700 a month. excessive costs on top of my normal bills, mortgage. so very hard times when he first came. ., . ., , ., first came. financially and otherwise. _ first came. financially and otherwise, what _ first came. financially and otherwise, what sort - first came. financially and otherwise, what sort of. first came. financially and i otherwise, what sort of impact first came. financially and - otherwise, what sort of impact did it have on you?— it have on you? financially, i had to draw down _

it have on you? financially, i had to draw down my _ it have on you? financially, i had to draw down my pension - it have on you? financially, i had i to draw down my pension because he came with nothing. i had to purchase 0llie�*s equipment, car seats, pushchairs, nappies, clothes, shoes, it was never i didn�*t have any start up it was never i didn�*t have any start up front so i had to do it myself so had to draw down my pension and then my nursery fees weren�*t built into my nursery fees weren�*t built into my budget and even though i am a professional and i work full time, i didn�*t have £1700 a month to pay for the nursery. i drew down my savings, my savings to pay towards nursery costs. my credit cards are building up costs. my credit cards are building up and now the cost of living has had a huge impact on me financially. before i went into this i was a financially stable and now i am running on an overdraft and using credit cards. irate running on an overdraft and using credit cards-— credit cards. we are to take you ended u- credit cards. we are to take you

ended up looking _ credit cards. we are to take you ended up looking after - credit cards. we are to take you ended up looking after your i credit cards. we are to take you - ended up looking after your grandson because your daughter was facing personal challenges at the time. i am only saying thatjust personal challenges at the time. i am only saying that just viewers personal challenges at the time. i am only saying thatjust viewers who see this are wondering how the situation came about. have explained very eloquently the sort of financial pressures you ended up facing. what sort of help were you given? ila facing. what sort of help were you iiven? ., , ., ., given? no help. i rang social services when _ given? no help. i rang social services when he _ given? no help. i rang social services when he came - given? no help. i rang social services when he came to i given? no help. i rang social| services when he came to me given? no help. i rang social- services when he came to me on the weekend, on the monday, and i was told that is what families do, that is what families just have to do. so i didn�*t get any support. i had worked in social services so we didn�*t take me long to research the children�*s act and find out what i was entitled to so i went back to them again and i insisted on support and i got support in regards to people coming out to see me and i got a kinship allowance, which is nowhere near what a foster allowance is. if i was a proper foster carer and he wasn�*t my family, i would be

entitled to four times as much. i think i get hundred and 30 somethings right now and it will be more than 500 if i was a foster carer. . , more than 500 if i was a foster carer. ., , , ., carer. later this year the government _ carer. later this year the government will - carer. later this year the government will respond carer. later this year the i government will respond in carer. later this year the - government will respond in photo recommendations suggested by the independent care review, including how we can support kinship carers further. if you had the chance to feed into those government recommendations, what you say? i would be recommending that we are treated the same as foster carers. we are doing the same job. usually in harder situations. a lot of these children are coming to kinship care have had previous trauma. they have... there are lots for special needs. i�*ve had to find therapy and i am also paying for that for him because he has special needs. we need to be treated like everyone else in that foster care system. we need to be paid because we are doing the samejob, looking need to be paid because we are doing the same job, looking after these children and a lot of these children

already have existing issues. irate already have existing issues. we have to leave it there. your family is lucky to have you and it is great that you are taken the time to talk to us. thank you. a review into wales children�*s services has been called for to prevent tragedies like logan mwangi�*s murder. (tx 00v)his mother, stepfather and a teenager were given life his mother, stepfather and a teenager were given life sentences for murdering the five—year—old and dumping his body in a river. the nspcc says the inquiry should leave "no stone unturned". nurses and some pharmacists can now certify sick notes, to help reduce the pressure on gps. the documents — now called "fit notes" provide evidence to employers about a patient�*s condition and ability to work. the new system applies to england, scotland and wales, with northern ireland expected to follow. police officers in scotland are to "withdraw their goodwill" in a dispute over pay.

they�*re not allowed to go on strike, but from 5 o�*clock this afternoon they will not start their shifts early, nor take radio equipment home with them, and will charge for overtime. police scotland said it was committed to seeking a settlement. let�*s talk to our correspondent in scotland james shaw. can the public still rely on the police service in scotland as they normally would?— police service in scotland as they normally would? that has actually been the promise _ normally would? that has actually been the promise from _ normally would? that has actually been the promise from the - normally would? that has actually | been the promise from the general secretary of the scottish police federation which represents around 17,000 officers in scotland. he said this morning that there will be, that he can guarantee there will be no impact on the public safety this weekend. there are quite a few big events happening in and around glasgow. there are a couple of big p0p glasgow. there are a couple of big pop concerts and there are also 0range walk celebrating the anniversary of the battle of the

boynein anniversary of the battle of the boyne in 1690. that will involve hundreds of thousands of people marching through the centre of glasgow. that is normally quite a big event for police scotland. you would expect there to be a big police presence there. that is going to involve a lot of manpower and resources but nevertheless even in the light of that there is this promise there won�*t be any impact on public safety. this promise there won't be any impact on public safety-— public safety. this is a dispute about my _ public safety. this is a dispute about pay. what _ public safety. this is a dispute about pay. what are _ public safety. this is a dispute about pay. what are both - public safety. this is a dispute | about pay. what are both sides sa in: ? about pay. what are both sides saying? where _ about pay. what are both sides saying? where we _ about pay. what are both sides saying? where we are - about pay. what are both sides saying? where we are at - about pay. what are both sides saying? where we are at the i about pay. what are both sides - saying? where we are at the moment is that the management side have offered £565 for every officer that equates to 1.4% across all the different ranks, and it represents everyone from constables to chief inspectors. they say the scottish police federation say that it�*s is a lowest offer on the moment in the public sector. so talks are set to resume on monday and clearly they are hoping for an improvement on

that offer. 0n the management side, on the government side, and the scottish government have said they valued the work police officers have done, particularly doing the covid pandemic when they take many worked over and above what was expected, but this is a very tight situation in terms of public finances and nicola sturgeon has said police officers in scotland get paid more than they do in england and wales. but how that negotiation is going to pan out over the next few days, we willjust have to wait and see. thanks for that, james. 0ur correspondent in scotland. airline and airport staff in some of europe�*s busiest destinations are going on strike this weekend. it�*s the latest blow for holidaymakers after months of disruption at airports here. so how much disruption might travellers face this summer? ben boulous has been finding out. in airports around the uk this week

400 flights have been cancelled. that is up 158% compared to the same seven day period in 2019. it might sound a lot, but it is important to note that 400 is out of nearly 16,000 flights that were planned. so the reality is that was just 2.5% that were grounded. a lot of the cancellations were also made in advance, giving passengers some notice to change their plans. no such notice for some travellers who were planning to fly out of heathrow yesterday. these were the scenes there where passengers complained about queues and total chaos. heathrow asked airlines to cut the number of flights because they expected passenger numbers were too high for it to be able to cope. in terms of figures, it was 30 flights out of a scheduled 1200 that were cancelled. some passages said they didn�*t find out until i got to the

airport. heathrow said the cancellations were necessary for safety and it was a one off. passengers flying through the uk�*s busiest airport can expect more disruption this summer. 700 mainly british airways staff and ground crew will go on strike over pay and those dates have been confirmed yet. we know that staffing issues have caused problems at the airport. gatwick airport is planning to reduce the number of flights injuly and august. so if you are flying this summer, how worried should you be? i this summer, how worried should you be? ., ., , this summer, how worried should you be? ., , ., , be? i have to be absolutely honest and say that _ be? i have to be absolutely honest and say that going _ be? i have to be absolutely honest and say that going into _ be? i have to be absolutely honest and say that going into july - be? i have to be absolutely honest and say that going into july and i and say that going intojuly and august i have never seen quite this scale of disruption in any previous summer. it is all to do with the lack of resilience in aviation full stop to get you and hopefully your luggage off the ground and safely to your destination requires dozens of aviation professionals being in the right place at the right time and all getting theirjobs done. and a

lot of those people have wandered away from the aviation industry, which is why they are so stretched right now. which is why they are so stretched riiht now. �* which is why they are so stretched riihtnow. �* ,. , ., which is why they are so stretched riihtnow.�* ,. , ., ,�* right now. and the description isn't only affecting _ right now. and the description isn't only affecting flight _ right now. and the description isn't only affecting flight leaving - right now. and the description isn't only affecting flight leaving the i only affecting flight leaving the uk. there have already been strikes by cabin crew, baggage handlers and check—in staff across europe. in spain, portugal, belgium and france and more are scheduled for this weekend in france and spain. so has all this disruption affected other continents in the industry and the number of people blocking flight? the appetitive travel is still very significant. we have seen our members _ significant. we have seen our members every week, bookings are ahead _ members every week, bookings are ahead where they expected to be versus _ ahead where they expected to be versus 2019. one of the changes we see are _ versus 2019. one of the changes we see are trends for the increase in consumer— see are trends for the increase in consumer is— see are trends for the increase in consumer is looking to book through their local_ consumer is looking to book through their local travel agent. and also what _ their local travel agent. and also what are — their local travel agent. and also what are they a booking, more packages — what are they a booking, more packages and really that is about

trying _ packages and really that is about trying to— packages and really that is about trying to give them even more reassuring is because if you book a package _ reassuring is because if you book a package and that flight or any part of that— package and that flight or any part of that holiday is disrupted, the principles— of that holiday is disrupted, the principles that have been put through— principles that have been put through is obligated that you have an alternative flight. the important thin . an alternative flight. the important thin to an alternative flight. the important thing to remember— an alternative flight. the important thing to remember is _ an alternative flight. the important thing to remember is that - an alternative flight. the important thing to remember is that despite i thing to remember is that despite those pictures of queues at airports and reports of strikes and consolations, the numbers are still very low. the risk may be higher than previous years but the vast majority of people will still manage to get away on holiday as planned. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. it is another day of sunshine and showers but the showers should move through a lot quicker today than they did yesterday as we have more of a breeze. showers develop through the course of the afternoon and we could catch one at wimbledon and we have rain coming in across northern ireland and pushing into the far north—east of scotland. temperatures today 13 to 22

degrees, north to south. as we head on through the evening and overnight, this rain in northern ireland spreads in across wales and continues to push steadily eastwards affecting scotland and also south—west england, the midlands and northern england. temperatures falling away to between about ten and 13 degrees. tomorrow we start off with that rain and you can see it nicely here. it is weakening as it pushes south east, a lot of dry weather ahead of it and later in the day we will see more persistent rain push in across the far north—west of scotland. in between, it�*s sunshine and showers, with highs up to 20. hello, this is bbc news — i�*m rebecca jones — the headlines: the conservative mp chris pincher resigns as a deputy chief whip, responsible for party discipline — saying he�*s �*embarrassed himself�* — as a newspaper alleges he groped two men at a private members�* club.

xi jinping defends china�*s model of ruling hong kong — during a visit to mark 25 years since britain handed over control — but the territory�*s final governor, chris patten, labels the comments �*absurd�*. ukrianian officials say at least 19 people have been killed by russian missile strikes in and around the city of 0desa. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for pride — as the lgbt plus community marks 50 years since the first march. and two british hopefuls — cameron norrie and heather watson — will both be in action today at wimbledon. sport, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here�*s gavin. so much going the tennis, cricket

and the grand prix. good morning. hello there. it�*s another big day at wimbledon. british hopes in the third round are carried by heather watson, who�*s first on number one court and then cameron norrie who is third on centre later this afternoon. before norrie plays, number one seed novak djokovic takeson fellow serb miomir kecmanovic. the action is underway at the all england club, with court no 3. jelena 0stapenko, the 12th seed — against irina begu. they�*re in the first set there. 3-3. going serve at the moment. at stake a place in the last 16. and on court no 2 — frances tiafoe against alexander bublik. also in the first set. bublik racing ahead there. action on centre, and court 1 starts from 1pm.

let�*s take a look at what�*s in store for centre court then. first up — tunisian 0ns jabeur, in action against diane parry of france. jabeur one to watch, she�*s the third seed. then it�*s djokovic. with cam norrie closing the day, up against stevejohnson on the usa. all eyes on that one for sure. and heather watson is first up on court no 1 against kaja juvan. angelique kerber, a former winner here in 2018, against elise mertens next. and finally, it�*s spanish sensation carlos alacaraz against 0scar 0tte. so a big day for heather watson, a win today would represent her best performance at wimbledon. she is a good player, she is quite fearless. i played her the first round in the us open last year and lost to her there. ifeel round in the us open last year and lost to her there. i feel it is a different match this time, we are coming in with a few matches under our belt, it is on grass, it is at

wimbledon. i am definitely feeling much better about myself so i am looking forward to it. in form england are taking on india in a test match at edgbaston today — a game postponed from last september becuase of a covid outbreak in the indian squad. it completes last summer�*s series which india lead 2—1. england won the toss and decided to bowl. england�*s all—time leading wicket takerjames anderson is back in the side in place ofjamie 0verton and he made the breakthrough dismissing shubman gilfor 17. a few moments ago india were 38—1. there�*s commentary on test match special on radio 5 live sports extra and in—play highlights on bbc sport website and app. that�*s bbc.co.uk/sport tottenham have completed the signing of brazil forward richarlison from everton in a deal believed to be worth £60 million. the 25—year—old forward underwent medical checks ahead of flying to london early next week, with his new club set to start their pre—season on monday. spurs will pay an initial

£55 million with a further 5 million in add—ons. britain�*s dina asher—smith won the women�*s 200 metres at the diamond league meeting in stockholm. the 2019 world championship gold medallist finished a fraction of a second ahead of mujinga kambundji of switzerland. denmark�*s ida karstoft was third. 0lympic pole vault champion armand duplantis gave the home crowd something to cheer as he broke his own outdoor world record by one centimetre with 6.16 metres. it�*s still 4 centimetres short of his indoor record and he said it felt "quite amazing, but really wasn�*t that much of a surprise for me". and before we go the men�*s champions league is to be broadcast on bbc tv for the first time from the 2024—25 season. highlights will be shown from 10 pm on the wednesday of match weeks on bbc tv, bbc iplayer and the bbc sport website and app, with clips for online and social media also available. that�*s all the sport for now.

let�*s just show you some pictures of the new zealand leader jacinda ardern arriving at downing street for a meeting with borisjohnson to discuss "shared geopolitical challenges" — but reporters more interesting in the resignation of chrisd pincher as government deputy chief whip. prime minister, is your leadership lacking? will you suspend chris pincher? ibis lacking? will you suspend chris pincher? �* , lacking? will you suspend chris pincher? ~ , ., pincher? as you can hear there, reporters _ pincher? as you can hear there, reporters perhaps _ pincher? as you can hear there, reporters perhaps slightly - pincher? as you can hear there, reporters perhaps slightly less i reporters perhaps slightly less interested in the meeting between borisjohnson and the prime minister of new zealand, jacinda ahern and more interested in the resignation of chris pincher. we thought we would bring you those pictures to keep you up dated.

let�*s get more now on the ceremony that�*s taken place in hong kong to mark 25 years since the end of british colonial rule in hong kong. the chinese president, xijinping, led the commemorations and in his speech said true democracy began after the territory was handed back to china. britain and the us have accused beijing of failing to live up to the promises it made in 1997 to respect hong kong�*s freedoms. lord chris patten was the last governor of hong kong and was at the handover ceremony in 1997. he spoke to my colleague annita mcveigh earlier and reflected on what he said that day. saying that it was now hong kong�*s destiny to be run by the people of hong kong have turned to ashes, because hong kong was once one of the freest, arguably the freest and most open society in asia and it has now been turned into a police state, as several of our newspapers have said and there are a number

of journalists who work here and elsewhere, who were in hong kong and know it is true. and when xijinping, who did not, of course, have the courage to even stay in hong kong overnight for some reason, when xi jinping talks about democracy starting with the chinese takeover, i am reminded of what one of the quislings in hong kong once said to the foreign affairs committee about democracy, he said, you get us wrong, the chinese don�*t dislike democratic elections, theyjust like to know the result in advance, which is rather the point, i think. so what happened in hong kong, it�*s notjust locking up democrats and notjust making sure the elections could not produce a result which represented the opinions of people in the city and the territory, it�*s notjust that, it�*s the attack on freedom of speech, it�*s the attacks on civil society. this year, people were not allowed to take part in what has been

a tradition, of vigils for those murdered in tiananmen square because the chinese want us to pretend that never happened. when i read the introduction, lord patten, and i referenced what xijinping had said, that true democracy began after the territory was handed back, i could sense a shudder from you when i read that. yes, well it is of course completely absurd. i don�*t think xijinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. the truth is, that one of the reasons why the chinese communists passed what is called the national security law, which in effect put hong kong into handcuffs, one of the reasons why they did that was they were terrified of the likely outcome of legislative council elections in 2020. what were the protections supposed to be? the protections largely depended

on the chinese communists sticking to their word in the joint declaration, the joint declaration was an international treaty lodged at the un in which they guaranteed to retain hong kong�*s freedoms and way of life for 50 years after 1997. now, one of my main critics when i was in hong kong was a former diplomat who once said, memorably, "the chinese may be thuggish dictators, but they are men of their word." well, now we know the first part is true but alas not the last part and they have broken their agreement again and again, notjust in relation to hong kong but in relation to the world trade 0rganisations, the who, the fortification of the islands in the south china sea and they are mendacious, and unfortunately you cannot trust them but we do have to find ways in which we can cope with this regime until it eventually implodes. what are your thoughts

onjohn lee who has taken over from carrie lam in charge of hong kong, and he has praised the security law, that hugely controversial security law, we have covered, the protests around that and the arrests made of pro—democracy supporters and he was praising that law which has been used to stifle dissent. what do you make of him? he is a thuggish cop and he got thejob because he was responsible for the policing of the huge demonstrations in 2019 against an extradition treaty that was going to enable hong kong to send people off to mainland china to be tried if the chinese wanted that. so he got the job because of the very, very tough policing then. tasers, plastic baton rounds, tear gas, instead of trying to talk to people and find a political settlement. a judiciary source has told

the bbc that ten men aged between 21 and 41, have been placed under formal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, involuntary injuries, endangering lives of others and people—trafficking, in connection with the sinking of a migrant boat in the english channel last november, in which at least 27 people drowned. 0ur paris correspondent hugh schofield has the latest. well, they were picked up at the weekend or and into monday, in locations in paris, in northern france, in calais and in eastern france. we were reporting yesterday that they were being held, there were 15 originally taken into custody, five were released. the other ten were being held. they have since then in the last hours, yesterday and overnight, been presented before a judge and this is the french procedure, they have been served with notice that they are under formal

investigation, which means effectively that they are charged and the charges are involuntary homicide, in other words killing people without intending to, and people trafficking. some of these people have been kept in prison, others have, are kept in custody. others have been given conditional release. and as we understand it, most of them, as you are saying, are afghan. in other words, this is an afghan people smuggling ring. let us not forget that actually on that night, that terrible night, the people who died on the boat were not mainly afghan, they were mainly iraqi. there were some, a few afghans on it and a few other nationalities, too. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for london pride — a celebration of the lgbt+ community. this year�*s event marks 50 years since the �*gay liberation front�* organised the uk�*s first pride march.

0ur lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss has been to meet several members of the group, to hear about their fight for equality. it's 1972. the miners�* strike first turns off the lights. ted heath is prime minister. donny 0smond is top of the pops. # puppy love... and on screen, gay representation looks something like this. oh, it�*s the masked stranger! take my body but leave my jewels alone. gay people regularly face arrest and same—sex attraction is still classified as a mental illness. but in the basement of a london university, a revolution is under way and making itself heard in protests across the capital. injuly, pride in the uk is born. that first pride was about visibility. it was terrifying, daring.

i wanted to change the world. to claim public space for queer people. the freedom, the ability to be yourself. we are here, we are queer, and you better get used to it. having a good time, really. everyone with long hair, i of course, including myself. we were really being very daring coming out in public in the street. it taught me that i was a survivor. we had a mass kiss—in. kissing between same—sex couples back then was an arrestable offence. the police were all lined up on the side of the park. 0fficers did come over, and warn us to stop kissing, but there were too many of us. by the time we finished snogging each other, one turned round and the police had completely disappeared, they were so disgusted with what was happening. and so powerless. after 50 years, some of the original glf have

reunited where it all began, in the old lecture theatre in the london school of economics. the glf was telling us about coming out and how important it was for us to stand up, and be recognised, and that we weren�*t, you know, the monsters that the press and the psychiatrists and everyone else was telling the world we were. i was only, what, 21. i had left home because my parents disapproved of me being gay, i'd run away, moved in with my girlfriend. i was brought up in india and the whole idea of gayness was just not in your consciousness. because back in those days, - most lgbt+ people were ashamed and guilty, they were closeted, they dared not show _ their name in public. in a way i had no self—worth, and i had no gay pride or anything like that, because i had been hiding who i was.

medical options involved seeing a lot of psychiatrists, and convincing them that you were notjust mad. i ended up as a drag queen living in a commune in notting hill, and that was so unexpected but when i got there, it made perfect sense. the glf lit a spark which would burn for the next five decades. but those years also saw huge trials. so don't die of ignorance. when aids came along, the partners of the ones who died, the families would sweep in and throw them out of the flat or whatever. it was a time of real despair and bitterness. we�*re over that one now with the recognition of gay partnerships, with the civil partnership. and people can�*t do that to their children any more. but there was still more fighting to be done after teaching about homosexuality

was banned in schools. children who need to be taught to respect traditional, moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. the way that the community came back together over clause 28 was incredible. in the house of lords... shouting. _ in the late 1980s, section 28 protesters stormed the bbc. but then once it was got rid of, yeah, good riddance and a complete and utter waste of time it was. progression came later. steps towards righting the wrongs of the past, and equality. legally, husbands. it was a monumental vote. it gave that equality in terms of the law. we marched for the rights to walk down the aisle. i pride has undergone many changes over the years. what started off as a protest of around 700 people is now a march of thousands. but what does it stand for today?

there is still a need for protest. it's a fightback, it's a celebration. i would emphasise our history, or they will take it for granted. j we have a massive issues in terms of international sport, that to be seen publicly as gay is a bad thing and damaging, which is astonishing. even the friends of ours are now being very wary about, what can you say, what's respectable enough to say? gradually, they are trying to divide us all up. we need tojoin together even more. shout till we're hoarse, | until conversion therapy is banned for all. still today, a third of all lgbt+ people in britain have been victims of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic violence. the only way you keep rights by perpetually struggling to keep them. no victory is ever forever unless you make it forever.

the next chapter in the glf history will be written on friday when they march here once again, 50 years after starting a revolution that changed so much for so many. lauren moss, bbc news. i�*m joined now by christopherjoell—deshields, executive director at pride in london. they organise the parade which starts tomorrow. thank you forjoining us. i want to start by asking you what the answer to the question is for what pride stands for today? ii to the question is for what pride stands for today?— stands for today? if we look at pride today. — stands for today? if we look at pride today, pride _ stands for today? if we look at pride today, pride today - stands for today? if we look at pride today, pride today we i pride today, pride today we recognise we live and protest but we also have elements of celebration. 0ver also have elements of celebration. over the 50 years we have seen the movement grow, we have had great achievements, but that protest element remains as the foundation of

how we go out and how we see pride as. the fight has been steadfast and we still have a fight ahead of us. it is getting that balance of protest and celebration and recognising the platform that pride plays. visibility as well as that voice for london and the uk and around the world as well. 50th anniversary — around the world as well. 50th anniversary of _ around the world as well. 50th anniversary of this _ around the world as well. 50th anniversary of this parade, attitudes have changed dramatically since then, haven�*t they? what has changed in your view? since then, haven't they? what has changed in your view?— changed in your view? certainly we are very honoured _ changed in your view? certainly we are very honoured to _ changed in your view? certainly we are very honoured to have - changed in your view? certainly we are very honoured to have the - changed in your view? certainly we are very honoured to have the gay| are very honoured to have the gay liberation front who went out in terms of being brave and taking to their streets and fighting for liberation for their lgbt plus community. if we look at some of the

achievements we have had, and directly as a result of the fight that they gave, you know, they established that first pride march 50 years ago in 1972 and along the way we have seen the recognition of same—sex partners, repeal of section 28, equal marriage, lifting of the ban of lesbians, games and bisexuals serving in the military. but there is still a lot more about those achievements have been great and they have given great recognition to they have given great recognition to the lgbt plus community. —— games. but there is more work to do. i the lgbt plus community. -- games. but there is more work to do.- but there is more work to do. i also want to say. — but there is more work to do. i also want to say, there _ but there is more work to do. i also want to say, there has _ but there is more work to do. i also want to say, there has been - but there is more work to do. i also want to say, there has been so - but there is more work to do. i also want to say, there has been so much change here in the uk, that is not the case in many other countries, isn�*t it? the case in many other countries, isn't it? . , the case in many other countries, isn't it? ., , . , .,

isn't it? that is correct, they are 70 lus isn't it? that is correct, they are 70 plus countries _ isn't it? that is correct, they are 70 plus countries around - isn't it? that is correct, they are 70 plus countries around the i isn't it? that is correct, they are i 70 plus countries around the world that still have, are still criminalising their citizens for who they love, for who they are. and i think, you know, the pride movement in terms of the platform it provides... we are privileged to be able to lend a voice to that global recognition. i think we should be doing more to lend a voice but we should be able to use the pride platform is to create that level of unity and that expression of equality for our lgbt plus citizens across the world. brute equality for our lgbt plus citizens across the world.— equality for our lgbt plus citizens across the world. we are out of time that it has been _ across the world. we are out of time that it has been good _ across the world. we are out of time that it has been good to _ across the world. we are out of time that it has been good to talk- across the world. we are out of time that it has been good to talk to - that it has been good to talk to you. thank you for your time. a man charged with murdering 35—year—old zara aleena has been remanded in custody after appearing

at the old bailey this morning. jordan mcsweeney allegedly attacked zara aleena as she walked home from a night out in ilford, east london, in the early hours of sunday. the 29—year—old is also accused of robbing the law graduate of her mobile phone, keys and handbag, and of attempted penetration without consent. nearly a century ago, battersea power station helped to keep london going. now, its art deco control room has been restored to its former glory. you might have caught a glimpse of some original features in films like the king�*s speech. but soon, visitors will have the chance to see it up close — as bhavani vadde reports. it�*s what you expect from the grandeur of a ballroom rather than the beating heart of a coal—fired power station. from the gold painted ceiling to the teak parquet floor, this is the first peek at control room a, which has now been fully restored

to its art deco glory. it is here that the energy created in the power station and turned into electricity was distributed all over london. and you can actually see that from the names on some of these distribution boards here. all of the equipment is on display. this is the antithesis of digital. you can see it all, and you can see all the dials, but it is also the most amazing stylistic architectural tour de force. because it is very, very art deco. and to marry those two up is very exciting. built in the 1930s, control room a was an original part of the grade—ii listed power station. until 1975, it dispersed electricity generated by the turbines to large parts of the city, as well as some of our most famous landmarks. carnaby street 2 was the code name for buckingham palace so hardly anyone knew that power to the palace was being sent from here. the rest of these gauges and dials distributed electricity to a fifth of the capital.

the restoration was painstaking. experts used 3d printing to recreate missing dials and levers, as well as digital colour scanning to match the original paintjob. the room has also featured in a number of films, including as a bbc studio in the oscar—winning the king�*s speech and it was the backdrop for this rather surreal scene in the monty python film the meaning of life. in the autumn it will open as an event space within battersea power station which has been transformed into a housing and shopping complex. this is the jewel in the crown of this development. it is a totally unique snapshot in the history of this city, and to see how people worked 80 years ago. this was a control room for a power station, it has parquet flooring, art deco ceilings, albeit a bomb did drop through the ceiling in 1944 but luckily, it didn't go off. the quality of the finishes and the engineering show the country

in a very different point of its evolution. as well are taking in the room�*s art deco features, it is hoped visitors will get an insight into how london was once powered. bhavani vadde, bbc news. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello. it is another day forjust taking your brolly with you because we are looking at a day of sunshine and showers, but with a brisker breeze, the showers should move through more readily. we have a weather front bringing rain up into the northern islands, and another bringing rain by the end of the day into northern ireland. for wimbledon today, there will be a lot of dry weather around, some bright spells and sunny intervals, but we are not immune to a shower. if we do catch one, it�*s going to be lighter than yesterday and it will move through that bit quicker on the brisk breeze. this afternoon for the rest of us, further showers developing and some across north—east england, central and eastern scotland, could prove to be heavy and thundery. rain will push up into the northern isles, and another band

of rain will come in across northern ireland. but there will be a lot of dry weather and some of us will see some sunshine. it may stay dry in places. 13—22, north to south. pollen levels across wales and much of england are high, but the rest of us they are low or moderate. this evening and overnight, the rain in northern ireland spreads in across scotland, northern england, wales, and into the south—west. it is pushing steadily eastwards will stop overnight lows similar 0vernight lows similar to last night, 11—13 c. into saturday, we do still have this curl of rain, and it is turning more showery in nature, weakening as it pushes south where there will be a lot of dry weather. behind it a mix of sunshine and showers. later in the day, more persistent rain pushing in across the far north of scotland. temperatures, if anything down a touch on today, 14—20 degrees.

as we head into sunday, high pressure is trying to build in from the south—west, so we will see a lot of dry weather in the south—west and many of us will see a fair bit of dry weather but showers push down towards east anglia. some showers across parts of scotland, northern ireland and northern england. temperatures 13—22 degrees. high pressure then starts to establish itself as we head on into the new working week. we could see some rain at times across the north and the west, but a lot of dry weather and getting that bit warmer, especially in the south.

this is bbc news. i�*m rebecca jones. the headlines... the conservative mp chris pincher resigns as a deputy chief whip, responsible for party discipline — saying he�*s embarrassed himself — as a newspaper alleges he groped two men at a private members�* club. are you drowning in sleaze? will you suspend chris pincher? pressure grows on the prime minister to suspend mr pincher from the tory party. xijinping defends china�*s model of ruling hong kong during a visit to mark 25 years since britain handed over control, but the territory�*s final governor, chris patten, labels this the comments �*absurd�*. it is completely absurd. i don�*t think xijinping would know

it is completely absurd. i don�*t think xi jinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. ukrianian officials say at least 19 people have been killed by russian missile strikes in and around the city of 0desa. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for pride, as the lgbt+ community marks 50 years since the first march. and two british hopefuls — cameron norrie and heather watson — this will both be in action today at wimbledon. welcome to bbc news. we will bring you more on all of those stories in a moment.

the latest data on the prevalence of covid in the uk have just been released. i want to bring those figures to give. the percentage of people testing positive for covid has continued to increase across the uk. likely caused by increases in infections because of these new 0micron variants. in england, the estimated number of people testing positive for covid was 1,829,100. that is the equivalent of 3.35% of the population are probably an easierfigure to the population are probably an easier figure to understand, one the population are probably an easierfigure to understand, one in 30 people. one in 30 people in england is estimated number of people testing positive for covid—19

—— for covid. it is one in 30 in wales, one in 25 in northern ireland and one in 18 in scotland. so these are figures from the office for national statistics that have just been released but the headline is that the number of people testing positive for covid is continuing to increase across the uk and we will bring you more on that as soon as we get it. in the meantime, let�*s return to politics. the mp chris pincher has resigned as government deputy chief whip, after a newspaper alleged he groped two men at a private members�* club. he has apologised to the prime minister and said he had embarrassed himself and others. the role of the government whips is to enforce party discipline. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake reports. chris pincher had been deputy chief whip, responsible for discipline among tory mps, since february. but now it�*s his own conduct

that has fallen short. there were complaints about his behaviour on wednesday night at the carlton club, a private members�* club in central london, where he is reported to have groped two men. in a letter to the prime minister yesterday, mr pincher said... as things stand, chris pincher won�*t face any further action. a senior government source said he was a loyal conservative who recognised he had behaved badly. labour say there are serious questions about how he can remain as a conservative mp. and chris pincher�*s resignation will again raise the issue of standards of conduct at westminster. jonathan blake, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent helen catt is following developments at westminster.

what is being looked at today in westminster is what happens next. as you heard in that piece, number 10 are saying this doesn�*t need to be investigated further, that chris pincher is a loyal conservative who recognises that he behaved badly so he wouldn�*t face any further action. a lot of the talk at westminster this morning is whether that line will hold. have a listen to simon hart, the welsh secretary, a member of the cabinet. he says it is being taken seriously. i really do think that we would not be fulfilling our obligations and duties to the victims of this if we were to speculate about where it might all end. all i want to say, and i really want to stress this, is that we take all of these things incredibly seriously. my first reaction when i heard this last night was one of sadness and frustration that we are here again.

it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly from the point of view of the victims and as i say, it is so tempting to me to in a sense give you all of the answers that you want, because that's the easier thing to do. but i think if i was to do that, i would just make a complicated situation worse, and we would be back here tomorrow and you will be rightly holding me to account for that. so he did also say that the chief whip would be having conversations today and opposition parties are very clear about what they think should happen. labour and the liberal democrats both say that they think he should have the conservative whip withdrawn and it should be firmly investigated. the shadow home secretary yvette cooper is among them. this is just a totally disgraceful response from borisjohnson, i from the government to this. these allegationsl are really serious. this is about sexual assault. it comes obviously after we have had

wakefield and tiverton by—elections, which were also a result of serious incidents involving _ conservative mps. so the idea that the response - we have seen that the prime minister thinks he has done the decent thing by resigning, there is no need - for an investigation, i that is a total disgrace. the whips office are responsible for discipline and standards i among conservative mps, i but boris johnson chose this mp to be deputy chief whip - because he was a friend and ally, despite the fact that he had to resign five years ago i from the whips office due - to similar—sounding allegations. |0f course there has to be a fulli investigation now and of course he should have the whip suspended. we should say that the allegations that yvette cooper mentioned there from five years ago, chris pincher was investigated and he was cleared. but rumours have persisted since and this is why there are wider questions being raised about borisjohnson�*s judgment in appointing him. a conservative mp told the bbc that they had personally raised

concerns about mr pincher�*s behaviour to senior figures in number 10 and the conservative party before he was appointed. so there is certainly a lot of discussion today about the thinking behind that decision and the wisdom and judgment behind it. 19 covid cases in the uk and other countries have been increasing, with two sub—variants of omicron likely to be driving new infections. the data, from the office for national statistics, has just been released. with me in the studio now is our health correspondentjim reed — who has been looking through them. around 2.3 million people in the uk would have had covid last week, up from 1.7 million people the week before. q; , from 1.7 million people the week before. 5: , . .,

from 1.7 million people the week before. q; , . ., , from 1.7 million people the week before. g; , . ., , , before. 32% increase. the number is hi . hest in before. 3296 increase. the number is highest in scotland, _ before. 3296 increase. the number is highest in scotland, where _ before. 3296 increase. the number is highest in scotland, where one - before. 3296 increase. the number is highest in scotland, where one in . before. 3296 increase. the number is highest in scotland, where one in 18| highest in scotland, where one in 18 likely had the virus and in northern ireland one in 25, in england and wales roughly one in 30. i think it is important to explain exactly what we are talking about. some people might be thinking, are we even testing for covid any more? this is not the testing where you go to a centre when you have symptoms. this is the awareness survey they sample tens and thousands of people at random. we don't test regularly for covid in the same way as before, so this is the best evidence of how covid is spreading in the uk. anyone watching has anecdotal evidence over the last few weeks, people testing positive again, and this data backs it up. positive again, and this data backs it u . _ . ., positive again, and this data backs it u, . ., ., ., positive again, and this data backs it up. what are the main reasons behind the _ it up. what are the main reasons behind the rise _ it up. what are the main reasons behind the rise because - it up. what are the main reasons behind the rise because we - it up. what are the main reasons behind the rise because we have| it up. what are the main reasons - behind the rise because we have seen a lot of big events in the platinum jubilee, for example. i a lot of big events in the platinum jubilee, for example.—

a lot of big events in the platinum jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part — jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part of— jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part of it. _ jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part of it. when _ jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part of it. when you - jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part of it. when you look - jubilee, for example. i am sure that will be part of it. when you look at l will be part of it. when you look at this latest wave of infection we are now seeing, it happened slightly earlier than thejubilee, at the end of may. when you said in the introduction, what we know a lot of these waves in infection are driven by a new genetic variants. they are given those names, ba four and ba five. they are on the same family tree as omicron. initial research into these two offshoot appears to show they are spreading more quickly and it appears to show they can infect people who have already been infected once with omicron. see if you had omicron in december, january there is a reasonable chance that you might be success double two susceptible to catching it again. evenif

susceptible to catching it again. even if you have had all your vaccines and boosters? what we know is the are vaccines and boosters? what we know is they are very _ vaccines and boosters? what we know is they are very good _ vaccines and boosters? what we know is they are very good at _ vaccines and boosters? what we know is they are very good at protecting - is they are very good at protecting against severe disease and less good at protecting you from the actual infection. so you might not get very sick but you still might get a nasty dose and have to stay in bed. in terms of hospitalisations, what are you saying? this terms of hospitalisations, what are you saying?— you saying? this is key for policymakers _ you saying? this is key for policymakers and - you saying? this is key for policymakers and the - you saying? this is key for| policymakers and the nhs. you saying? this is key for- policymakers and the nhs. we have you saying? this is key for— policymakers and the nhs. we have a chat looking at the impact of hospitalisations. this is in england only because it is a most recent data and you will see towards the right—hand side the number of people in hospital with covid is going up, but still far below than in february and march this year. and if you look back to january last year, you can see that real hospitalisations there. it is also important that

hospitalisations are a different and harder thing to measure because when you go into hospital you are generally tested for covid. not everyone comes back with a positive test will be admitted to hospital for that reason. you might be in for a broken ankle but you test positive when you are inside and the latest data shows only around a third of people who are omitted or are in hospital having tested positive for covid, they are primarily because of the virus itself is something else. when you look at very important statistic, the number of people on a ventilator for covid, the sickest. currently in england 211 people are on a ventilator. that has doubled in a month so definitely worth keeping an eye on, but well below the high. backin an eye on, but well below the high. back injanuary an eye on, but well below the high. back in january 2021 nearly 4000 people were on a ventilator in england, and we are and i 200. there is a real difference in people that are very seriously sick. it is worth sa in: are very seriously sick. it is worth saying that _ are very seriously sick. it is worth saying that although _ are very seriously sick. it is worth saying that although the - are very seriously sick. it is worth saying that although the numberl are very seriously sick. it is worth i saying that although the number of

deaths from covid is much lower than it was at the peak of the pandemic, people are still dying from covid every day. people are still dying from covid eve da . . , people are still dying from covid eve da. every day. the latest statistics we have is if you _ every day. the latest statistics we have is if you look _ every day. the latest statistics we have is if you look at _ every day. the latest statistics we have is if you look at people - every day. the latest statistics we have is if you look at people and l have is if you look at people and covid is on the death certificate, it is roughly 20 to 30 people a day. that is still a significant people of number of people and if you see a big increase, further down the line you will see an increase in deaths, which is by at the moment the message going out from the health authorities is if you are in a vulnerable group, make sure you have that fourth spring booster. goad vulnerable group, make sure you have that fourth spring booster.— that fourth spring booster. good to talk to you- — the chinese president, xijinping, has led a ceremony marking 25 years since the end of british colonial rule in hong kong. in a speech, he said true democracy began after the territory

was handed back to china. mr xi also swore in hong kong's new leader, john lee, who praised the new security law that's been used to crush pro—democracy protests. britain and the us have accused beijing of failing to live up to the promises it made in 1997 to respect hong kong's freedoms. mark lobel reports. president xi's steps out of china since the start of the pandemic, choosing hong kong, two years on sincer the state security law here stifling protests, reducing the city public autonomy. it is also 25 years since the british handover to chinese rule. | translation: the practice of one j country, two systems has achieved success in hong kong, recognised by all. but after scenes like these, britain now fears that agreement has gone up in smoke. we simply cannot avoid the fact

that for some time now, beijing has been failing to comply with its obligations. friday marked another handover, the swearing in of hong kong new leader, john lee, a former police officer under the watchful eye of the president. translation: the rulel of law is the cornerstone of hong kong's success. is the first winner of elections in which only those loyal to china could run in an increasingly divided hong kong. there are those who are probating, who are happy, and there - are those who are very, | very anguished and very worried or even scared, _ and there are thousands of people, including members of my party, in prison. l in addition, pro—democracy news outlets have been shut down and a zero covid policy makes life here uneasy. that is not everyone's liking. more than 130,000 people have left

hong kong since the start of the year, but that doesn't bother this pro—beijing lawmaker. we will always have some loss or people coming in and out. it doesn't really matter. president xi's hailing for a new era for the city can also be regarded as a show of defiance for china's regional ambitions as well. its influence is rising in the pacific thanks to a security pact with the solomon islands. and last month, its defence minister vowed to crush any effort by taiwan to pursue independence. they are really preparing in full force in military or quasi— military options in solving the taiwan question, and so making hong kong fully in control, i don't think they care too much about taiwan's reaction anymore. president xi will be helping this visit convinces mrs hongkongers

and the world there is stability on these shores in his crackdown on hong kong and that would usher in a revival of the global financial centre's bruised economy. mark lobel, bbc news. the last british governor of hong kong, lord chris patten, spoke to the bbc about that democracy claim from xi jinping. it is of course completely absurd. i don't think xijinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. the truth is that one of the reasons why the chinese communists passed what is called the national security law, which in effect put hong kong into handcuffs, one of the reasons was that they were terrified of the likely outcome of legislative council elections in 2020. i'm joined now by pro—democracy activist nathan law. he has been living in britain since fleeing hong kong in 2020.

thanks forjoining us. from your point of view as someone who is in exile, what do you make of the celebrations today? because they have been very carefully choreographed.- have been very carefully choreoa-rahed. , ., ., choreographed. there is nothing to celebrate. because _ choreographed. there is nothing to celebrate. because for _ choreographed. there is nothing to celebrate. because for now- choreographed. there is nothing to celebrate. because for now the - celebrate. because for now the promises given by beijing are not met. they have violated the international treaty, the democracy, freedom and autonomy in hong kong have all been ruined. i don't think most hong kong people would think it is a good day to go out and celebrate. most of them would feel like it is a tragic day, a day to mourn. ., . , . ., mourn. from a personal point of view, mourn. from a personal point of view. can _ mourn. from a personal point of view. can you — mourn. from a personal point of view, can you remind _ mourn. from a personal point of view, can you remind us - mourn. from a personal point of view, can you remind us what i view, can you remind us what happened to you and how your freedoms were cracked down on? i was a student leader _ freedoms were cracked down on? i was a student leader in _ freedoms were cracked down on? i was a student leader in the _ freedoms were cracked down on? i —" a student leader in the umbrella movement in 2014 and then i was elected as the youngest parliament

training —— parliamentarian in 2016. there was still openness. but afterwards beijing increased these crackdowns, i was unseated due to beijingbeijing because of my participation in umbrella movement i was child. i knew that the law criminalised free speech and targets political activist. higher to leave hong kong to preserve a price. so you can see the trajectory of my activism and political activism over the past few years, it really signals how... the past few years, it really signals how. . ._ the past few years, it really sianals how... ~ . , , , the past few years, it really siunalshow...~ . , , , ., signals how... what is your sense of how three people — signals how... what is your sense of how three people are _ signals how... what is your sense of how three people are in _ signals how... what is your sense of how three people are in hong - signals how... what is your sense of how three people are in hong kongl signals how... what is your sense of. how three people are in hong kong to express themselves and go about their business? it is

express themselves and go about their business?— their business? it is really difficult for _ their business? it is really difficult for hong - their business? it is really difficult for hong kong - their business? it is really - difficult for hong kong people to speak loudly and criticise the government now because they basically lock all the avenues for you to express these things. a lot of hong kong people, they have turned themselves into a mode of focusing on their work, being quiet and some of the others with more agency, they would organise book clubs, help political prisoners. they tend to stay more low—profile now to avoid punishment. but i think for now, they are working on the ground and trying to make some noise. he sport, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin.

hello there. it's another big day at wimbledon. british hopes in the third round are carried by heather watson, who's first on number one court and then cameron norrie who is third on centre later this afternoon. before norrie plays, number one seed novak djokovic takes on fellow serb miomir kecmanovic. the action is underway at the all england club, with court no 3. jelena 0stapenko, the 12th seed — against irina begu. they're in the first set there. and on court no, frances tiafoe against alexander bublik. also in the first set. both players haven't been past the first round before at wimbledon.

action on centre, and court 1 starts from 1pm. let's take a look at what's in store for centre court then. action starts from 1pm. first up — tunisian 0ns jabeur, in action against diane parry of france. jabeur one to watch, she's the third seed. then it's djokovic. with cam norrie closing the day, up against stevejohnson on the usa. all eyes on that one for sure. and heather watson is first up on court no 1, against kaja juvan. angelique kerber, a former winner here in 2018, against elise mertens next. and finally, it's spanish sensation carlos alacaraz against oscar 0tte. so a big day for heather watson, a win today would represent her best performance at wimbledon. juvan is a good player, she is quite fearless. i played her the first round in the us open last year and lost to her there. i feel it is a different match this time, we are coming in with a few matches under our belt, it is on grass, it is at wimbledon. i am definitely feeling much better about myself so i am looking forward to it.

in—form england made two early breakthroughs in their delayed fifth test against on india at edgbaston — a match postponed from last september becuase of a covid outbreak in the indian squad. it completes last summer's series which india lead 2—1. james anderson — back in the side in place ofjamie 0verton — has taken both wickets to fall — shubman gilfor 17 and cheteshwar pujura. india reached 53—2 before rain stopped play. tottenham have completed the signing of brazil forward richarlison from everton in a deal believed to be worth £60 million. the 25—year—old forward underwent medical checks ahead of flying to london early next week, with his new club set to start their pre—season on monday. spurs will pay an initial £55 million with a further five million in add—ons. that's all the sport for now. so much to look forward to. the ukrainian authorities say a russian missile has hit an apartment block in 0desa, killing at least 19 people. a spokesman for the regional adminstration said the missile

was launched from an aircraft over the black sea. this ukraine had hoped that the russian withdrawal on thursday from the strategically important snake island would ease the threat to odesa. our correspondent in kyiv, joe inwood, told us more about the attack on odesa. at 1am this morning a number of russian cruise missiles landed just outside of odesa. one of them hit a nine—story residential building. many bodies were found there. even more have been taken to hospital. there is another location at a holiday resort of some form, where a smaller number have been found, but in that location they are still searching, and they fear they will find more victims. we understand these were soviet—era x—22 cruise missiles, the same missile that landed in the shopping centre in bakhmut earlier this week. all of this is happening just as it has been announced or revealed that the russians have been forced off snake island, which is a strategically and symbolically important outcropping in the black sea. people may remember at the start of this conflict,

that was in the headlines after the ukrainian border guards there told the russian black sea flagship to go away in rather more colourful and un—broadcastable language, and ever since then it has been an icon for the ukrainian people. you see it on posters. there was even a commemorative stamp of the defenders of snake island. the russians have said they left the island under their own steam, of their own free will as a gesture of goodwill to aid grain export. the ukrainians have a very different perspective. they have released footage of the island under huge bombardment. their satellite imagery showing many destroyed structures and equipment. they say they have defeated the russians in this part of the black sea. they had been hoping that might ease the pressure on places like 0desa, ease up the risk of missile attacks. of course, last night has shown that may be a forlorn hope now.

family members who take on parental responsibility for their relatives' children say they're struggling to cope with rising living costs. unlike foster carers, they are not entitled to a financial allowance from the government in england and wales. now, charities are warning some children — who could continue to live with family members — are at risk of ending up in care. earlier we spoke to sandra bond from redhill, who took care of her 14—month—old grandson in 2020. she told me about the struggles she has faced since. i had to draw down my pension because, as i said, he came with nothing. i had to purchase all his equipment, you know, from car seats to cots, to pushchairs, to the nappies, the clothes, the shoes, i mean it wasjust never—ending. so i didn't have any entitlement as a kinship carer to a start—up fund, so i had to do all that myself. so by doing that, i had to draw down my pension and then the nursery fees wasn't built into my budget. and even though i'm a professional

and i work full time, i certainly didn't have 17 excess pounds a month to pay for the nursery, which i have had to find myself with no support, to pay that. i drew down my, some of my savings, i have used my savings to pay towards the nursery costs. i'm trying... my credit cards are building up and now the cost of living, that's had a huge impact on me as well now financially. before i went into this, i would have said i was financially stable. now, i'm running on an overdraft and using credit cards. sandra, we ought to say that you ended up looking after your grandson because your daughter is facing personal challenges at the time. i'm only saying that, just in case viewers listening to this are wondering how the situation came about. you have explained very, very eloquently the sort of financial pressures you have ended up facing. what sort of help were you given? no help. i rang social services when he had come to me on the weekend, on the monday and i was told that is what families do. that's what families

just have to do. so i didn't get any support. luckily, i mean, i had worked in adult social care for 40 years, so i knew social services from the adult point of view, so it didn't take me long to research the children's act and find out what he was entitled to, so i went back to them again and i insisted on support and i got support in regards to people coming out to see me and i got a kinship allowance, which is, it's nowhere near what the foster allowance is. if i was a proper foster carer and he wasn't my family, i would be entitled to four times as much. i get i think i get 130 a fortnight now and it would be 500 on i get i think i get 130 a fortnight now and it would be 500 and something if he was in foster care. so that's all i get and that goes nowhere towards his nursery, and certainly not as living costs. later this year, the government will respond in full to recommendations by the independent care review, including how it can support kinship carers further. if you had the chance to feed

into those government recommendations, what would you say? i would be recommending that we are treated the same as foster carers. we are doing the same job, usually in harder situations. i mean, a lot of these children that come into kinship care have had previous trauma. you know, they have... there is lots out there with special needs, my grandson himself, you know, i have had to find therapy and i am also paying for that for him. you know, because he has special needs. we need to be treated like everybody else that's in the foster ca re system. we need to be paid because we are doing the samejob, we are looking after these children and a lot of these children already a man charged with murdering 35—year old zara aleena has been remanded in custody after appearing at the old bailey this morning. jordan mcsweeney allegedly attacked zara aleena as she walked home from a night out in ilford, east london, in the early hours of sunday. the 29—year—old is also accused of robbing the law graduate of her mobile phone, keys and handbag, and of attempted penetration without consent.

now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. we have matt taylor with us. a lot of blue sky behind you. another day of blue sky behind you. another day of sunshine and showers across the country, some have been heavy and thundery. the heaviest of the showers will be to the north and east of the country, more persistent in shetland. compared with the morning, longerspells in shetland. compared with the morning, longer spells had. in shetland. compared with the morning, longerspells had. it in shetland. compared with the morning, longer spells had. it will feel cooler as the showers come through and northern ireland, more persistent rain going into the evening. that spreads into parts of scotland, western fringes of england and wales. further south and east, clearer skies. temperatures around

11-13. as clearer skies. temperatures around 11—13. as for saturday itself, may stay dry towards the evening, the weather fronts reds south and east, giving a smell of thicker crowd. brightening up the sunshine and showers. more persistent rain in northern scotland and a cool day for july. hello this is bbc news — i'm rebecca jones — the headlines. the conservative mp chris pincher resigns as a deputy chief whip, responsible for party discipline — saying he's 'embarrassed himself�* — as a newspaper alleges he groped two men at a private members' club. the number of covid cases in the uk rises more than 30% — one in 30 people had

the virus last week. xi jinping defends china's model of ruling hong kong — during a visit to mark 25 years since britain handed over control — but the territory's final governor, chris patten, labels the comments 'absurd'. ukrianian officials say at least 19 people have been killed by russian missile strikes in and around the city of odesa. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for pride — as the lgbt+ community marks 50 years since the first march. and two british hopefuls — cameron norrie and heather watson — will both be in action today at wimbledon. the rate of people testing positive for covid—19 has continued to increase across the uk, the office for national statistics says. in both england and wales about one in 30 people would have had coronavirus in the week ending 24 june, data just released says.

in northern ireland it was about1 in 25 and in scotland the rate was about1 in 18. joining me now is christina pagel, professor of operational research at university college london. very at university college london. good to have you wit number very good to have you with us. the number of covid cases rises by 30%. given we are in this situation, there will be people who say we need to tighten restrictions but others will say we have to move on and treat covid more normally. what is your view? i treat covid more normally. what is our view? ~ , treat covid more normally. what is your view?— your view? i think it is neither nor, your view? i think it is neither nor. this _ your view? i think it is neither nor. this is — your view? i think it is neither nor, this is our— your view? i think it is neither nor, this is our third - your view? i think it is neither nor, this is our third wave - your view? i think it is neitherj nor, this is our third wave this year and we nor, this is our third wave this yearand we are nor, this is our third wave this year and we are only halfway through the year. we have already had 20,000 people dying with covid with their death certificates. it is not the same of a single flu season in any one year, it is disruptive, people

are getting sick and every wave gets some cases of lung covid and it is damaging to our population. it is not about temporary situations. what not about temporary situations. what would ou not about temporary situations. what would you say — not about temporary situations. what would you say they — not about temporary situations. what would you say they would be? top i not about temporary situations. what would you say they would be? top of| would you say they would be? top of the list has to _ would you say they would be? top of the list has to be _ would you say they would be? top of the list has to be cleaner _ would you say they would be? top of the list has to be cleaner air - the list has to be cleaner air indoors, whether that is through ventilation systems are sterilisation, there are different ways to do it, we know how to do it, we know it works but it requires investment. that requires government to support it and businesses to do it and to actually, yes it is medium to long term but we are in a medium to long term but we are in a medium to long term situation. that is the ultimate aim and improving vaccines. what do we know about how omicron effects people about this ba for nba five variant. we know it can be

infect people, especially people who had omicron in the safeway. it does not appear to be severe and that was the evidence from portugal and south africa. forthe the evidence from portugal and south africa. for the same prevalence that we are saying for a 3.5% in england, the last time we were there was in february last year and we had fewer hospital admissions. february last year and we had fewer hospitaladmissions. it february last year and we had fewer hospital admissions. it could be boosters are waning. although it is not more severe, we are in a situation we are several more months out of booster. haifa situation we are several more months out of booster-— out of booster. how much does this vaccine prevent _ out of booster. how much does this vaccine prevent against _ out of booster. how much does this vaccine prevent against these - vaccine prevent against these variants? it vaccine prevent against these variants? , . . ., vaccine prevent against these variants? , . . . . variants? it is a new variant, about the same as _ variants? it is a new variant, about the same as the _ variants? it is a new variant, about the same as the previous - variants? it is a new variant, about the same as the previous one. - the same as the previous one. compared to unvaccinated it is about 70% infection against severe disease. but... ithink 70% infection against severe disease. but... i think we do know there is about 8% chance of getting

along covid from each infection and thatis along covid from each infection and that is an issue, thinking about workforce and daily living. i understand. what would your advice be about facemasks, especially for people who perhaps don't have symptoms? would you for example where a facemask now, do you think it would be wise? i where a facemask now, do you think it would be wise?— it would be wise? i have never sto ed it would be wise? i have never stopped wearing _ it would be wise? i have never stopped wearing a _ it would be wise? i have never stopped wearing a facemask i it would be wise? i have never| stopped wearing a facemask on it would be wise? i have never - stopped wearing a facemask on public transport and in shops, so yes i absolutely think that facemasks can be a useful addition and it has to be a useful addition and it has to be a useful addition and it has to be a high—quality one preferably. they look a bit thicker but actually i think more comfortable. and you know, especially because it is summer, doing as much as you can outdoors and keeping the windows open. those are the things that always work and will keep on working. always work and will keep on workinu. ,, , , . . always work and will keep on workinu. ,, ,, . . ., ~

always work and will keep on workin.. ,, , , ., . ., ~' working. sensible advice. thank you for our working. sensible advice. thank you for yourtime- _ more on our top story. the role of the government workers to enforce party discipline. we are joined by the shadow leader of the house of commons and the labour mp for bristol west. good to have you with us on bbc news, what do you think should happen now? first us on bbc news, what do you think should happen now?— should happen now? first of all, i urue an should happen now? first of all, i urge any victim — should happen now? first of all, i urge any victim of _ should happen now? first of all, i urge any victim of alleged - should happen now? first of all, i urge any victim of alleged sexual| urge any victim of alleged sexual assault by a member of parliament to use the independent complaints and grievances system. it is therefore a good reason, it is there to help victims and hold perpetrators to account. . .. victims and hold perpetrators to account. . , ., ., account. can i interact you, i ought to sa ,

account. can i interact you, i ought to say. he — account. can i interact you, i ought to say. he hasn't — account. can i interact you, i ought to say, he hasn't actually _ account. can i interact you, i oughtj to say, he hasn't actually answered those allegations. we only know these are allegations at this point. exactly, that is why we use this word alleged. that is important because that is for those people involved to make that decision but i hope they know there is a process if they feel it is appropriate. this now shows there is a pattern of behaviour of scandal, of poor behaviour of scandal, of poor behaviour and low standards in public behaviour of a range of sorts. chris pincher is admitting to poor behaviour and this seems to be to goal of this tory government led by borisjohnson, so mired of sleaze and scandal in so many thoughts that he and his government seem unable to govern. i really urge tory mps who are propping up borisjohnson to did the decent thing, get him to move on for the sake of the country. iuntimely for the sake of the country. when ou sa , for the sake of the country. when you say. get _ for the sake of the country. when you say. get him _ for the sake of the country. when you say, get him to _ for the sake of the country. when you say, get him to move - for the sake of the country. when you say, get him to move on, - for the sake of the country. when l you say, get him to move on, what are you saying, should he resign as an mp, how far do you want him to go? i an mp, how far do you want him to to? ., , ., ~'

an mp, how far do you want him to go? i was talking about boris johnson who _ go? i was talking about boris johnson who is _ go? i was talking about boris johnson who is a _ go? i was talking about boris johnson who is a leader - go? i was talking about boris johnson who is a leader of i go? i was talking about boris. johnson who is a leader of this party and has serious questions to answer about how he is leading this parting and... in relation to chris pincher, these are allegations at this point that he himself has apologised for what amounts at the very least poor behaviour. i urge the conservative party to think about what it is doing to the reputation of parliament as a whole, to ensure that if any adequate investigations are carried out swiftly and if necessary to consider whether further sanctions should apply to chris pincher. i am holding borisjohnson to account because it is boris johnson's failure borisjohnson to account because it is borisjohnson's failure in leadership, borisjohnson's failure leadership, boris johnson's failure to leadership, borisjohnson's failure to take responsibility for his own poor behaviour in repeated situations. that is what needs to change, borisjohnson needs to go and chris pincher needs to answer allegations when they are put to him. , , ., _, ,

allegations when they are put to him. , , ., , ., him. this is not confined 'ust to the conservative i him. this is not confined 'ust to the conservative party, i him. this is not confined just to the conservative party, it i him. this is not confined just to the conservative party, it is i him. this is not confined just to the conservative party, it is a i the conservative party, it is a parliament wide problem. there have been problems for different people from different part these. the labour party _ from different part these. ira: labour party suspended from different part these. tue: labour party suspended him from the wet and we lost that seat to another by—election. we took action and that is what we expect from the conservative party. the tone that is set from the top of the conservative party by borisjohnson, all throughout the parties that took place, whether he misled the house of commons is being investigated, the fact that he has managed to lose not one ethics adviser but do which shows he does not have that built—in understanding of trust that we should be able to expect from the prime minister. it is doing the country no favours because we base massive crises, the war in ukraine, cost of living crisis and boris johnson cannot lead his government

on taking steps on any of these and we need a government that is taking on seriously the challenges the country is facing and therefore i am asking conservative mps to look at their prime minister, do the decent thing and get him to move on. stern; thing and get him to move on. very aood to thing and get him to move on. very good to have _ thing and get him to move on. very good to have you — thing and get him to move on. very good to have you with _ thing and get him to move on. very good to have you with us, thank you for your thoughts and insights. i should say, we are receiving news that boris johnson should say, we are receiving news that borisjohnson has said according to one for spokespeople that chris pincher�*s behaviour is unacceptable and when asked whether the prime minister operates a zero tolerance approach to allegations of sexual misconduct amongst members of the team, a spokesman said, of course the prime minister thinks that that sort of behaviour is unacceptable and he would encourage those who wish to make a complaint to do so. let's get more now on the ceremony that's taken place in hong kong to mark 25 years since the end of british colonial rule in hong kong. the chinese president, xijinping,

led the commemorations and in his speech said true democracy began after the territory was handed back to china. britain and the us have accused beijing of failing to live up to the promises it made in 1997 to respect hong kong's freedoms. lord chris patten was the last governor of hong kong and was at the handover ceremony in 1997. he spoke to my colleague annita mcveigh earlier and reflected on what he said that day. saying that it was now hong kong's destiny to be run by the people of hong kong have turned to ashes, because hong kong was once one of the freest, arguably the freest and most open society in asia and it has now been turned into a police state, as several of our newspapers have said and there are a number of journalists who work here and elsewhere, who were in hong kong and know it is true. and when xijinping, who did not, of course, have the courage to even stay

in hong kong overnight for some reason, when xi jinping talks about democracy starting with the chinese takeover, i am reminded of what one of the quislings in hong kong once said to the foreign affairs committee about democracy, he said, you get us wrong, the chinese don't dislike democratic elections, theyjust like to know the result in advance, which is rather the point, i think. so what happened in hong kong, it's notjust locking up democrats and notjust making sure the elections could not produce a result which represented the opinions of people in the city and the territory, it's notjust that, it's the attack on freedom of speech, it's the attacks on civil society. this year, people were not allowed to take part in what has been a tradition, of vigils for those murdered in tiananmen square because the chinese want us to pretend that never happened. when i read the introduction,

lord patten, and i referenced what xijinping had said, that true democracy began after the territory was handed back, i could sense a shudder from you when i read that. yes, well it is of course completely absurd. i don't think xijinping would know a democratic election if it hit him over the head with a police truncheon. the truth is, that one of the reasons why the chinese communists passed what is called the national security law, which in effect put hong kong into handcuffs, one of the reasons why they did that was they were terrified of the likely outcome of legislative council elections in 2020. what were the protections supposed to be? the protections largely depended on the chinese communists sticking to their word in the joint declaration, the joint declaration was an international treaty lodged at the un in which they guaranteed to retain hong kong's

freedoms and way of life for 50 years after 1997. now, one of my main critics when i was in hong kong was a former diplomat who once said, memorably, "the chinese may be thuggish dictators, but they are men of their word." well, now we know the first part is true but alas not the last part and they have broken their agreement again and again, notjust in relation to hong kong but in relation to the world trade organisations, the who, the fortification of the islands in the south china sea and they are mendacious, and unfortunately you cannot trust them but we do have to find ways in which we can cope with this regime until it eventually implodes. what are your thoughts onjohn lee who has taken overfrom carrie lam in charge of hong kong, and he has praised the security law, that hugely controversial security

law, we have covered, the protests around that and the arrests made of pro—democracy supporters and he was praising that law which has been used to stifle dissent. what do you make of him? he is a thuggish cop and he got thejob because he was responsible the protests around that and the arrests made he is a thuggish cop and he got thejob because he was responsible for the policing of the huge demonstrations in 2019 against an extradition treaty that was going to enable hong kong to send people off to mainland china to be tried if the chinese wanted that. so he got the job because of the very, very tough policing then. tasers, plastic baton rounds, tear gas, instead of trying to talk to people and find a political settlement. police officers in scotland are to "withdraw their goodwill" in a dispute over pay. they're not allowed to go on strike but, from 5 o'clock this afternoon, they will not start their shifts

early, nor take radio equipment home with them, and will charge for overtime. police scotland said it was committed to seeking a settlement. more than a million people are expected to take to the streets of london this weekend for london pride — a celebration of the lgbt+ community. this year's event marks 50 years since the 'gay liberation front�* organised the uk's first pride march. our lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss has been to meet several members of the group, to hear about their fight for equality. it's 1972. the miners�* strike first turns off the lights. ted heath is prime minister. donny osmond is top of the pops. # puppy love... and on screen, gay representation looks something like this. oh, it�*s the masked stranger! take my body but leave

my jewels alone. gay people regularly face arrest and same—sex attraction is still classified as a mental illness. but in the basement of a london university, a revolution is under way and making itself heard in protests across the capital. injuly, pride in the uk is born. that first pride was about visibility. it was terrifying, daring. i wanted to change the world. to claim public space for queer people. the freedom, the ability to be yourself. we are here, we are queer, and you better get used to it. having a good time, really. everyone with long hair, i of course, including myself. we were really being very daring coming out in public in the street. it taught me that i was a survivor.

we had a mass kiss—in. kissing between same—sex couples back then was an arrestable offence. the police were all lined up on the side of the park. officers did come over, and warn us to stop kissing, but there were too many of us. by the time we finished snogging each other, one turned round and the police had completely disappeared, they were so disgusted with what was happening. and so powerless. after 50 years, some of the original glf have reunited where it all began, in their old lecture theatre in the london school of economics. the glf was telling us about coming out and how important it was for us to stand up, and be recognised, and that we weren�*t, you know, the monsters that the press and the psychiatrists and everyone else was telling the world we were. i was only, what, 21.

i had left home because my parents disapproved of me being gay, i'd run away, moved in with my girlfriend. i was brought up in india and the whole idea of gayness was just not in your consciousness. because back in those days, - most lgbt+ people were ashamed and guilty, they were closeted, they dared not show _ their name in public. in a way i had no self—worth, and i had no gay pride or anything like that, because i had been hiding who i was. medical options involved seeing a lot of psychiatrists, and convincing them that you were notjust mad. i ended up as a drag queen living in a commune in notting hill, and that was so unexpected but when i got there, it made perfect sense. the glf lit a spark which would burn for the next five decades. but those years also

saw huge trials. so don't die of ignorance. when aids came along, the partners of the ones who died, the families would sweep in and throw them out of the flat or whatever. it was a time of real despair and bitterness. we�*re over that one now with the recognition of gay partnerships, with the civil partnership. and people can�*t do that to their children any more. but there was still more fighting to be done after teaching about homosexuality was banned in schools. children who need to be taught to respect traditional, moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. the way that the community came back together over clause 28 was incredible. in the house of lords... shouting. _ in the late 1980s, section 28 protesters stormed the bbc.

but then once it was got rid of, yeah, good riddance and a complete and utter waste of time it was. progression came later. steps towards righting the wrongs of the past, and equality. legally, husbands. it was a monumental vote. it gave that equality in terms of the law. we march for the right| to walk down the aisle. pride has undergone many changes over the years. what started off as a protest of around 700 people is now a march of thousands. but what does it stand for today? there is still a need for protest. it's a fightback, it's a celebration. i would emphasise our history, or they will take it for granted. j we have a massive issues in terms of international sport, that to be seen publicly as gay is a bad thing and damaging, which is astonishing. even the friends of ours are now

being very wary about, what can you say, what's respectable enough to say? gradually, they are trying to divide us all up. we need tojoin together even more. shout till we're hoarse, | until conversion therapy is banned for all. still today, a third of all lgbt+ people in britain have been victims of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic violence. the only way you keep rights is by perpetually struggling to keep them. no victory is ever forever unless you make it forever. the next chapter in the glf history will be written on friday when they march here once again, 50 years after starting a revolution that changed so much for so many. lauren moss, bbc news. nearly a century ago, battersea power station helped to keep london going. now, its art deco control room has been restored to its former glory. you might have caught a glimpse

of some original features in films like the king�*s speech. but soon, visitors will have the chance to see it up close — as bhavani vadde reports. it�*s what you expect from the grandeur of a ballroom rather than the beating heart of a coal—fired power station. from the gold painted ceiling to the teak parquet floor, this is the first peek at control room a, which has now been fully restored to its art deco glory. it is here that the energy created in the power station and turned into electricity there was distributed all over london. and you can actually see that from the names on some of these distribution boards here. all of the equipment is on display. this is the antithesis of digital. you can see it all, and you can see all the dials, but it is also the most amazing stylistic architectural tour de force. because it is very, very art deco. and to marry those two

up is very exciting. built in the 19305, control room a was an original part of the grade—ii listed power station. until 1975, it dispersed electricity generated by the turbines to large parts of the city, as well as some of our most famous landmarks. carnaby street 2 was the code name for buckingham palace so hardly anyone knew that power to the palace was being sent from here. the rest of these gauges and dials distributed electricity to a fifth of the capital. the restoration was painstaking. experts used 3d printing to recreate missing dials and levers, as well as digital colour scanning to match the original paintjob. the room has also featured in a number of films, including as a bbc studio in the oscar—winning the king�*s speech, and it was the backdrop for this rather surreal scene in the monty python film the meaning of life. in the autumn it will open as an event space within battersea power station

which has been transformed into a housing and shopping complex. this is the jewel in the crown of this development. it is a total unique snapshot in the history of this city, to see how people worked 80 years ago. this was a control room for a power station, it has parquet flooring, art deco ceilings, albeit a bomb did drop through the ceiling in 1944 but luckily, it didn't go off. the quality of the finishes and the engineering show the country in a very different point of its evolution. as well are taking in the room�*s art deco features, it is hoped visitors will get an insight into how london was once powered. bhavani vadde, bbc news. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with matt. hello. this area of cloud bringing rain

across shetland, clouds gathering in from the west but the speckle nature of the cloud continue into the evening, heavy across eastern areas, further areas of thunder. a wet end to the day across northern ireland. outbreaks of rain spread across scotland, northern england and south west of the night and tomorrow morning. to the south and east of that should stay dry once evening showers have cleared and temperatures in double figures to start saturday. a lot of cloud around for saturday, we have this weather feature pushing across the country. with a more breeze around, down through towards the south west, it could take all day before it reaches wimbledon, optimistic view interaction is expected for play there on saturday. it will reach the grand prix circuit in silverstone and we could see showers for

qualifying throughout saturday afternoon. it will work its way south and east. lovely start in east anglia, before that cloud increases. turning to sunshine and showers. cloudy in the far north of scotland where we see outbreaks of rain all day long, coming and going. more other breeze further south and that weather front makes its way to worst east anglia and the evening. a cool day for this stage injuly, day for this stage in july, especially day for this stage injuly, especially in the day for this stage in july, especially in the breeze day for this stage injuly, especially in the breeze and day for this stage in july, especially in the breeze and showers but the reason wishes those weather fronts on as we go through the night and into sunday. still the dregs across the country on sunday bringing cloud and shown lane, east words. most of you will be dry and sandy, a better chance of some sunny spells. more other breeze on sunday where we have new showers. 14, 15 degrees. as for next week, high

pressure will start to push its way, not enough scotland and northern ireland, a few showers around.

calls for borisjohnson to take action against one of his mps who�*s accused of groping two men. chris pincher has resigned as deputy chief whip after admitting he drank too much and embarrassed himself at a london club. one cabinet minister says the full facts need to be determined. it is so important that we allow the proper authorities to establish absolutely everything that has happened, so that we can decide properly what should happen. and with the victims first and foremost and uppermost in our minds. labour say it shows the tory party is mired in sleaze and that mr pincher should no longer be able to sit as a conservative mp. also this lunchtime: figures just out show a rise of more than 30% in the number of people

with covid in the uk in the last week — a total of 2.3