welcome to bbc news — i'm rich preston. our top stories. in eastern ukraine — further fighting for control of lysycha nsk. the ukrainian army rejects russia's claims they've encircled the city. the un calls for calm in libya — as anti—government protests continue — but demostrators say they won't give up. warnings of further disruption this summer at heathrow, for travellers passing through the uk's busiest airport. the biggest ever london pride — more than a million people take to the streets as it marks its 50th anniversary. and — getting fiery under the lights at wimbledon — the match one player described as a circus.

ukraine says its forces are enduring intense russian shelling in the eastern city of lysycha nsk — but it denies claims its troops are surrounded. lysychansk is the last ukrainian—held city in luhansk, which is part of the industrial donbas region. these pictures from russia's state—owned domestic news agency, ria, show drone images of battles near the city. but kyiv denies claims that russian—backed fighters have encircled the city. elsewhere, russia is continuing its missile strikes. in the south, ukraine's military says the city of mykolaiv has been hit by ten missiles targeting the port and other industrial infrastructure. it's not yet clear if there are any casualities. ukrainian authorities have accused moscow of hitting civilian targets in an effort to force them into making territorial concessions. meanwhile, two more britons captured

by russian forces in ukraine have been charged with being mercenaries, according to russian state media. it comes after two other british men were sentenced to death last month. joe inwood reports. andrew hill travelled to ukraine to help fight the russian invasion. dylan healy went there to help evacuate civilians. both men now face being tried as mercenaries in an unrecognised separatist court. they would not be the first to appear there. last month, aiden aslin, shaun pinner and a moroccan man, brahim saadoun, were all sentenced to death by the so—called donetsk people's republic. according to dominik byrne, who is working on their cases, it is no coincidence most of them are british. this really shows that the russians are putting more and more pressure on the british government than other governments and using the british prisoners

as more of a political tool and negotiation tool more than others. and we believe that's the case because the british government have really seemed to rattle the russians within ukraine. rattled or not, on the battlefields of the east, russia is very much on the advance. they are said to be taking ground in lysychansk, the last part of the luhansk region held by the ukrainians. russia is moving to encircle the city. if they do, they will cut off some of ukraine's most experienced soldiers. but it's notjust the eastern donbas region that has felt the effects of russia's invasion. the last fortnight has seen attacks right across ukraine — here in the capital, kyiv, at a shopping centre in the town of kremenyuk and, most recently, in the resort of serhiyivka. 21 people are now known to have died when three russian missiles struck the popular holiday destination. roman tried to help. everyone who was inside at that moment, they all died. my neighbour was a very good person. it's a great pity. she simply died in my arms.

it's really scary. i don't know how to put it into words. the attack on serhiyivka came just a few hours after russia was driven from the strategically important snake island under massive ukrainian bombardment. russia claimed it left as a gesture of goodwill but last night returned to bomb the equipment it had been forced to leave behind. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. protesters in libya say they'll carry on with demonstrations until the ruling elite steps aside. there were marches in most cities across the country, but the united nations has called for calm after protesters stormed libya's parliament on friday night. the bbc�*s azaday moshiri has more. libya's parliament in flames. protesters were marching in several cities but it was here in the eastern city that their anger was on full display.

despite being an oil—rich country, that wealth has not trickle down to the people. libya has been suffering chronic power cuts and rising prices. and since its ruler was ousted more than ten years ago, the country has been locked in chaos. but in the light of day, not all people in libya approved at their parliament being torched.— being torched. yes, these protesters _ being torched. yes, these protesters are _ being torched. yes, these protesters are under- being torched. yes, these protesters are under the l protesters are under the poverty line. they don't have money and can have a decent life, not even food. we support them and support their right but not the way they did it. what happened after sunset, the destruction of buildings and public— destruction of buildings and public properties is considered a shame — public properties is considered a shame for the city. white met with_ a shame for the city. white met with the — a shame for the city. white met with the country struggling through political deadlock the have — through political deadlock the have specific demands. they

want — have specific demands. they want all_ have specific demands. they want all ruling bodies to give up want all ruling bodies to give up their_ want all ruling bodies to give up their powers and want elections originally scheduled for last— elections originally scheduled for last december to finally be held~ — for last december to finally be held. the un has said the protests should be a clarion call for— protests should be a clarion call for the political class to put their_ call for the political class to put their differences aside. until— put their differences aside. until that happens, protesters have _ until that happens, protesters have vowed to step up the pressure. religious leaders and tribal elders who've been holding a three—day meeting in the afghan capital kabul have called on the international community to recognise the taliban as legitimate rulers of the country, and lift all sanctions. around 3000 clerics attended the male—only conference. we can now speak to husain haqqani, the former ambassador of pakistan to the united states who now serves as a director for south & central asia at the hudson institute. he joins us from washington. good evening. the taliban called this meeting with religious clerics. a not insignificant meeting. at one point the taliban supreme

leader even showed up. what with the taliban looking to get out of this event? the with the taliban looking to get out of this event?— out of this event? the taliban are looking — out of this event? the taliban are looking for _ out of this event? the taliban are looking for legitimacy - out of this event? the taliban are looking for legitimacy in i are looking for legitimacy in one of the things they wanted to prove by having a grand assembly was that they are not ruling afghanistan without the consent of tribal elders and scholars from all over afghanistan. they will not get that legitimacy just about 3000 people and saying what they managed to get them to say because the taliban to power by force and the rest of the world recognises that reality. who; recognises that reality. why are these — recognises that reality. why are these clerical— recognises that reality. why are these clerical leaders i recognises that reality. why are these clerical leaders so important for the taliban in their future control of the country?— their future control of the count ? . . , . country? the taliban always a movement — country? the taliban always a movement that _ country? the taliban always a movement that was _ country? the taliban always a movement that was very - country? the taliban always a - movement that was very narrowly based. it represents only a part of afghanistan and only the hardline believers in hardline ideology. they have

been very closely associated with the belief system that has identified internationally with al-qaeda and other extremist groups are they now need to project to the rest of the world that they have the support of people other than members of their hard—core organisation and movement and thatis organisation and movement and that is why they assembled a wider gathering. the that is why they assembled a wider gathering.— wider gathering. the taliban are looking _ wider gathering. the taliban are looking for _ wider gathering. the taliban are looking for international| are looking for international recognition but, the same time, failing to move forward on issues especially human rights and rights for women and girls. what is the best, realistically, that the taliban can hope for if they refuse to change their position on that front? . ,. change their position on that front? . . . front? until the taliban change their stance _ front? until the taliban change their stance on _ front? until the taliban change their stance on women - front? until the taliban change their stance on women and - front? until the taliban change | their stance on women and girls and many other things including how they treat various ethnic minorities, how they treat religious minorities as well as how they interact with the rest of the world, i don't think the taliban will get international

recognition or the lifting of sanctions. their only hope right now is to continue to getting food aid, medical supplies which the rest of the world understands have to be given to afghanistan and some engagement with the taliban because they are the de facto rulers of the country but legitimacy and full recognition is a long way off and the lifting of sanctions does not seem feasible until and unless the taliban change. the sanctions _ the taliban change. the sanctions were - the taliban change. the sanctions were there i the taliban change. the sanctions were there to | the taliban change. the sanctions were there to punish the taliban, effectively. but, at the same time, arguably, it makes things worse if international governments cannot engage with the taliban properly. is there an argument that would be ultimately best for the west to drop the sanctions and for the good of the region start dealing with the region start dealing with the taliban and accept that is who rules afghanistan? the fact that the taliban _ who rules afghanistan? the fact that the taliban ruled _ that the taliban ruled afghanistan will not change with or without sanctions but the taliban's behaviour can change without sanctions they

would have no contributing force of pressure. the telephone bill with an iron hand and the only hope that the people of afghanistan, especially the women and girls who are suffering from their oppression, as the international community can pressure the taliban into changing their behaviour. that is where sanctions are imposed. now, other sanctions making the ordinary people of afghanistan suffer? definitely. it always happens. there are the international community has to make sure the sanctions are designed in a way which the taliban suffer more than the ordinary people of afghanistan. the taliban will be hoping some countries may be more inclined to help them than others. pakistan has previously engaged

with the taliban. you are the former ambassador to pakistan. what could pakistan be doing to engage with the taliban? the taliban and _ engage with the taliban? tie: taliban and pakistan engage with the taliban? tte: taliban and pakistan are engage with the taliban? t'te: taliban and pakistan are very closely engaged. the ambassador talks to the taliban frequently and pakistanis the window into afghanistan by the international community maintain sanctions but the problem is that pakistan does not have the resources or the means to be able to support afghanistan. that is something people like myself who are critics of the policy of supporting the taliban pointed out earlier as well that pakistan cannot afford a satellite state. there taliban have received pakistan's support but are not under their control and that creates a serious problem for pakistan in influencing the taliban or getting support for further acceptance of the taliban by the international community. let's get some of the day's other news. authorities in israel say they've shot down three unarmed hezbollah drones heading

towards a rig in the karish gas field. ownership of the field is disputed between israel and lebanon. the militant group says it launched the drones as part of what it called a reconnaissance mission. palestinian authorities have handed over to us experts the bullet that killed the palestinian—american journalist shireen abu akleh earlier this year whilst she was working for the al jazeera news network. palestinian authorities say she was killed by israeli soldiers when she was covering clashes in the west bank. israel says she wasn't shot intentionally. it's now known that at least twenty— four people have been killed in a landslide in northeastern india. a section of a hill fell on a railway construction camp in the state of manipur after heavy rains. 38 people are still unaccounted for. as the us prepares to celebrates independence day, it hasn't gone unnoticed on social media that in some states, the freedom being celebrated is being taken away from women's reproductive health choices. presidentjoe biden has weighed in on the topic— and around the world, there have been protests

in solidarity with the pro—choice movement. michelle goodwin is professor of law at university of california, irvine and has written extensively about abortion and the effects of criminalising it. she told us about the threat of legal proceedings against women seeking abortions: it is more than a threat. it is a reality in many states because we have already seen this. the profile has been black and brown women, over the last 20 or 30 years in the united states but that is already laid the grounds for what we will now see. interestingly enough, the type of policing and criminalisation previously involved women who are pregnant, many of whom wanted to maintain but were being prosecuted because they were not perfect and the pregnancy, threatened with arrest because they wanted a c—section or arrested because they attempted suicide while pregnant or fell down steps for pregnant or fell down steps for

pregnant but now prosecutors who already see that as a president find it quite easy, i think, underthis president find it quite easy, i think, under this new regime, to go after women who are threatening to have an abortion i want to have an abortion or may want to leave and go to another state in order to terminate pregnancies. you mentioned _ terminate pregnancies. you mentioned women - terminate pregnancies. you mentioned women travelling to other states in one of the challenges here is the push and pull between federal law and state law. in practice, how would it work of a woman travels from a state where abortion is restricted to a state which can have the procedure and then returned home. could she be prosecuted in those circumstances? it is in those circumstances? it is important — in those circumstances? it is important we _ in those circumstances? it is important we deal _ in those circumstances? it is important we deal with - in those circumstances? it 3 important we deal with clear facts and damn graduates that question because there is so much confusion. it dates back well over 157 years in american jurisprudence that people are free to travel and it is enshrined in our constitution practices. the constitution that we have in part was the result of confusion in the colonies where people could

travel and whether their rights and privileges would be recognised in other states and is be a long tradition within american law that people are free to travel and receive the benefits and the states in which they travel to. that said, there prosecutors saying they don't care about that. there are legislators saying they don't care about this history, they don't care about the rule of law in this context and they are keen on drafting legislation that would allow them to prosecute doctors in states that are free to perform abortions. they don't have the history of law on their side and they don't have the rule of law on their side but those issues, if litigated, remain up to courts, to some degree, and this is what troubles many people in the wake of the supreme court prospect decision last week. . . . ,

last week. there are officials from century _ last week. there are officials from century states - last week. there are officials from century states that - from century states that california, illinois, new york, calling for president biden to do more in a federal level to protect women's rights to seek out an abortion. is that something using a president doing? it something using a president doinu ? , something using a president doinr? , . ., , doing? it is certainly something _ doing? it is certainly something he - doing? it is certainly something he is - doing? it is certainly - something he is articulating doing? it is certainly _ something he is articulating on something he is articulating on something he is articulating on something he could very do. keepin something he could very do. keep in mind we still have an equal rights amendment for 38 states have ratified many could be signed into law. president trump actually blocked during his administration from signing it into law making it official. president biden could very well do that and we could see what that might lead to. president biden could collaborate with members of congress and really push them to get the women health protection act enacted and that is a note that code applies review weighed. there is a lot of power within the president's hands to get action so we are waiting to see what he might actually do.

there are warnings of further disruption for air travellers passing through heathrow this summer, with more flights likely to be cancelled in the coming weeks at the uk's busiest airport. the cuts are expected as the airlines change their schedules ahead of the school holiday period. our business reporter noor nanji has the story. after big queues at airports this summer, warnings of more disruption, with a new wave of flight cancellations expected to be announced next week. we're now right in the midst of the peak summer travel season but we're still experiencing the problems of lack of manpower, not only for airlines but across airports, ground handlers and even in some cases border control staff, so the mix of high volumes and lack of people is causing tremendous dislocation at many airports. the government is allowing an amnesty on airport slot rules, which they say is part of their plan to tackle disruption ahead of the summer season. it means airlines are able

to cancel flights without being penalised for not using their slot, but they must finalise their schedules by this friday. british airways services from heathrow are likely to bear the brunt of any cancellations. but ba said the relaxed rules would help them provide certainty to customers by making it easier to consolidate some quieter flights. ba is already facing the threat of summer strikes from cabin and ground crews over a pay dispute. today, there are already strikes by ryanair and easyjet cabin crew in spain, and some passengers are being stranded across europe. so what should you do if you're caught up in all of this? crucially, i know what my rights are if anything is cancelled and that is to get a replacement flight on the same day if there's anything available that will take me there at the airline's expense, and then furthermore hotel accommodation if need be and compensation if it's the airline's fault, which if it's technical issues or staff shortage, it generally is.

but for one passenger who's stuck in geneva after having his flight to bristol cancelled for three days in a row, it's tough. i don't have any available funds to pay for anything. easyjet have said they'll refund me any expenses, but i can't pay for anything at the minute. after two years of covid rules, the travel industry and passengers were hoping for a return to normality, but for now those fears of delays and cancellations are not going away. and it's notjust the uk facing travel chaos in the us, thousands of americans have had their fourth of july plans disrupted. airlines have cancelled more than 1000 flights across the independence day holiday weekend amid a shortage of pilots and crew.

greece has welcomed the first of more than 200 firefighters from other european countries who will help to contain summer wildfires. last year — following the worst heatwave in decades — a spate of fires caused devastation across the country, as gail maclellan reports. the first firefighters have arrived in greece with their fire trucks. they will be joined with colleagues from france, germany and norway. the project has been funded by the eu and the greek government is grateful. we thank you very much for coming to help us during a difficult summerfor our country and for proving that european solidarity is not just theoretical, it is real. greases on high alert this year. the government, conscious of the anger that followed just a year's devastating fires and what was seen as the slow

response. that should have boosted firefighting capacity and the european forces will provide crucial back—up. and the european forces will provide crucial back-up. funds has a strong — provide crucial back-up. funds has a strong knowledge - provide crucial back-up. funds has a strong knowledge when l provide crucial back-up. funds| has a strong knowledge when it comes— has a strong knowledge when it comes to — has a strong knowledge when it comes to forest fires particularly around the mediterranean region so this mission _ mediterranean region so this mission will be an opportunity for very— mission will be an opportunity for very interesting discussions with the greek firefighters. we will see what they— firefighters. we will see what they have to teach as, what we can teach — they have to teach as, what we can teach them and how it will benefit — can teach them and how it will benefit both sides. this can teach them and how it will benefit both sides.— benefit both sides. this is what they _ benefit both sides. this is what they have _ benefit both sides. this is what they have come - benefit both sides. this is what they have come to i benefit both sides. this is - what they have come to prevent. in two weeks last august, more than 46,000 in two weeks last august, more than 16,000 hectares went out in smokejust 80 than 16,000 hectares went out in smoke just 80 kilometres east of athens laying waste to homes, forests, or of groves and livestock. after the worst heatwave in 30 years. the european firefighters will be on standby with local groups during the hottest months, july and august. all hoping that history will not repeat itself. all hoping that history will not repeat itself. london has seen its biggest ever pride —

more than a million people have taken part, in the first event since 2019, because of the pandemic. it's also the 50th anniversary of london's first pride event. 0ur lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss reports. it's loud, it's proud and it's back where it all began. the pride march has took to the streets of london once again, led by the gay liberation front, who started it in 1972. generations came together under the rainbow flag, including 17—year—old erin and her mum vicky, who have travelled from leicestershire. i came out this year to my mum as bi. i'd always wanted to come to one of these festivals. when i discovered we'd be down here anyway for the guns n roses concert yesterday, i asked if we could go, and my mum was so for it. i'm so proud of erin, ireally am. to see everybody today, it's the most amazing experience. for others, it was a homecoming. jamieson went to his first pride 46 years ago.

it's wonderful now to see the progression of what it was, and what we have become. and there were some familiarfaces. after coming out last month, dame kelly holmes went along for the first time. it's my first pride. it's thought around 30,000 people took part in the parade today, passing some of the route the original march took in 1972. it's one of the most colourful celebrations in the country. but pride is still a protest at its heart. we are not being complacent. we saw this time last week in oslo, hours before their pride, a terrorist attack leading to two people being killed and more than 20 being injured, so we can't pretend that there isn't discrimination, bias and violence against people from this community. pride is reaching far and wide across the uk, with events from shetland... ..to salisbury, and will continue for the next several weeks. lauren moss, bbc news. tennis — and wimbledon has had its fair share of characters down the years.

there'sjohn mcenroe of course — or you might rememberjeff tarango — who was so upset he walked off court. the latest �*bad boy�* is australia's nick kyrgios. he beat number—four seed — stefanos tsitsipas — in a match that was far from good—natured. with that — and the rest of the action — here's the bbc�*s tim allman. look up fiery in a dictionary and you will probably see a photo from this match. two players who, despite once being doubles partners, clearly don't always get along. things seem to turn a little sour when the greek player hit a ball into the crowd, nearly striking a spectator. the australian insisted his opponent should default the match and made his opinion clear, loudly and repeatedly to the umpire. it is repeatedly to the umpire. it is constant bullying, _ repeatedly to the umpire. it 3 constant bullying, that is what he does. he believes the opponents. your stroller via bully at school. he has good traits and as coach as well but he also has a very evil side to

him. ., . ., ., he also has a very evil side to him. ., .., ., , . him. you continue to berate the officials in _ him. you continue to berate the officials in a _ him. you continue to berate the officials in a match _ him. you continue to berate the officials in a match described i officials in a match described as being like a but in the end he won it in four sets. t’m as being like a but in the end he won it in four sets. i'm not sure how _ he won it in four sets. i'm not sure how i — he won it in four sets. i'm not sure howl believed _ he won it in four sets. i'm not sure howl believed him. i he won it in four sets. i'm not sure howl believed him. he l he won it in four sets. i'm not i sure howl believed him. he was sure how i believed him. he was the one hitting balls at me and hitting a spectator. i didn't do anything. i was actually like, apart from going to the umpire did nothing towards him today that was disrespectful. no doubt that his place in the second week beating his opponent in straight sets. a big upset in the women's draw. the world number one saw her winning streak come to a close. the 32 yards out she was like a good wine that has aged well. for the first time ever sunday will see play at wimbledon a centre court marks its centenary. history has always been made round here.

hello there. part two of the weekend is looking fairly unsettled as well. we'll have more showers around, some of them could turn out to be quite heavy in places, maybe some rumbles of thunder. the winds light in the south, quite breezy across northern areas, and it's because we've got low pressure to the north of the uk, high pressure towards the south and a couple of weak weather fronts crossing the country. these will enhance the shower activity. now, one such front will be lying across central parts of the uk through the morning, so it'll be rather cloudy here with some showery rain, some sunshine across the south, showers. quite breezy across scotland and northern ireland. but into the afternoon, all areas will see sunshine and showers — some of them could be

heavy across some central and eastern areas. it could turn a bit drier towards western areas later in the day. top temperatures 21—22 degrees in the south and east, generally the mid—teens further north. there could be a passing shower at wimbledon, but i think the emphasis will be on drier and sunnier weather with light winds and a top temperature of around 22 degrees. now, through sunday night, it looks like the showers will fade away. lengthy clear skies again across england and wales. scotland and northern ireland will stay breezy with showers or longer spells of rain, and temperatures will range from around 9—12 celsius across the uk. so, monday, we start off with some sunshine across southern and eastern areas — a few showers developing here into the afternoon. most of the showers will be across the north and west of the country, leaving some longer spells of rain at times, for the north and west of scotland. temperatures again, the mid—teens in the north. we could see 22 or even 23 degrees across southeast england. this area of high pressure want to continue to build into the southwest, but around the top of it, it will feed and a lot of cloud to northern and western parts of the country.

some cloud getting down into the south and east as well — maybe just one or two showers here, and top temperatures around 17—22 celsius. as we move deeper into the week, it looks like this area of high pressure will continue to influence our weather, pushing these weather fronts away, but it'll always be cloudier with the chance of some showers and stronger breeze across the north and the west of the uk for the rest of the week. you can see the cloudier sky across scotland and northern ireland. further south you are, a better chance of staying dry and it should start to turn warmer, perhaps reaching 26 degrees on friday.

this is bbc news. the headlines. fighting appears to be intensifying around the ukrainian city of lysychansk as russian forces try to take the only remaining city in the luhansk region not under their control. it's come under intense shelling, but a ukrainian spokesman denied claims that russian—backed fighters had now encircled the city. libyan activists say they'll continue protesting until the ruling elite steps aside. the comments follow rallies in most parts of the country on friday, which ended in the parliament building in tobruk being stormed and then set on fire. the united nations has called for calm in libya. a three—day meeting of religious and tribal leaders in afghanistan has ended with a call on the international community to recognise the taliban

government and lift all sanctions on the country.