welcome to bbc news. lam rich i am rich preston. our top stories: in eastern ukraine, further fighting for control of this a chance, the ukrainian army rejects russia's claims they have encircled the city. the united nations corsicana libya as anti—government protests continue, but demonstrators say they will not give up. —— the united nations calls for calm. a council of taliban elders because of the world to recognise the taliban and sanctions. the biggest ever london pride. more thani 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.

hello, and welcome to bbc news. ukraine says its forces are enduring intense russian shelling in the eastern city of lysychansk, 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 saaudun, were all sentenced to death by the so—called donetsk people's republic. according to dominic 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 rattled the russians within ukraine. rattled or not, on the battlefields of the east, russia is very much on the advance. they're 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 have seen attacks right across ukraine. here in the capital, kyiv, at a shopping centre in the town of kremenchuk, 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. translation: 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 inflames. —— in flames. protesters are much

in flames. protesters are much in several cities, but it is here on the eastern city of tobruk that their anger was on full display. despite being an oil—rich country, but wealth has not trickled down to the people. libya has been suffering chronic power cuts and rising prices. and since it's ruler, colonel muammar gadhafi, 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 of the parliament being torched. translation:— parliament being torched. translation: yes, these protesters _ translation: yes, these protesters under - translation: yes, these protesters under the - translation: yes, these | protesters under the poverty line, they don't have money and can't have a decent life, not even food. we support them, and support their rights, but not the way they did it.- the way they did it. what happened _ the way they did it. what happened after _ the way they did it. what happened after sunset, l the way they did it. what i happened after sunset, the destruction of libyan buildings and public properties, is considered a shame in the city of tobruk _ considered a shame in the city of tobruk-— of tobruk. with the country struggling _ of tobruk. with the country struggling through - of tobruk. with the country struggling through political| struggling through political deadlock, the protesters have specific demands. they want all

ruling bodies to give up their powers, and want elections that were originally scheduled for last december to finally be held stop the united nations has said the protests should be a clarion call for the political class to put their differences aside. until that happens, protesters have vowed to step up the pressure. azaday mashiri, bbc news. 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 3,000 clerics attended the male—only conference. earlier i spoke to husain haqqani, the former ambassador of pakistan to the united states, who now serves as a director for south and central asia at the hudson institute. i asked what he thinks the taliban might have wanted to get out of this event.

the taliban are looking for legitimacy, and one of the things they were looking to prove by having a grand assembly is that they are not ruling that —— ruling afghanistan without consent of tribal elders and scholars from all over afghanistan. they will not get that legitimacy just all over afghanistan. they will not get that legitimacyjust by quarrelling about 3000 people and making them say what they managed to get them to say. —— corralling. because the taliban to power by force, and the rest of the world recognises that reality. of the world recognises that reali . ~ , . , of the world recognises that reali .~ , . reality. why are these clerical leaders so — reality. why are these clerical leaders so important - reality. why are these clerical leaders so important for - reality. why are these clerical leaders so important for the l leaders so important for the taliban for theirfuture taliban for their future control of the country? the taliban were _ control of the country? the taliban were always - control of the country? the taliban were always a - control of the country? tie: taliban were always a movement that was very narrowly based, it represents only be cashed in part of afghanistan —— the pashtun part. and only the hardline believers in a hardline believers in a hardline ideology. they have been a very closely associated with a belief system that is identified internationally with al-qaeda and other extremist

groups. so they now need to project to the rest of the world that they have the support of people other than members of our hardcore organisation and movement, and thatis organisation and movement, and that is why they assembled a wider gathering. figs that is why they assembled a wider gathering.— wider gathering. as you mentioned, _ wider gathering. as you mentioned, the - wider gathering. as you mentioned, the taliban | wider gathering. as you . mentioned, the taliban are looking for international recognition, but at the same time, they are failing to move forwards on issues, especially issues like human rights and rights for women and girls. what is the best, realistically, but the taliban can hope for? if they refused to change their position on that front?— to change their position on that front? until the taliban chan . e that front? until the taliban change their _ that front? until the taliban change their stance - that front? until the taliban change their stance on - that front? until the taliban i change their stance on women and girls and on 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 do not think the taliban will get international recognition or the lifting of sanctions. their only hope right now is to continue getting food aid, medical supplies, which the

rest of the world understands has 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. these sanctions were there to punish the taliban, effectively. but at the same time, arguably, it makes things worse if international governments can't engage with the taliban properly. is there an argument that it would be ultimately best for the west to drop the sanctions and, for the good of the region, start dealing with the taliban and accept that that is who rules afghanistan? i accept that that is who rules afghanistan?— accept that that is who rules afghanistan? i think the fact that the taliban _ afghanistan? i think the fact that the taliban rule - afghanistan? i think the fact that the taliban rule of - that the taliban rule of afghanistan will not change, with or without sanctions, but the taliban's behaviour can change with sanctions. without sanctions, the taliban will have no countervailing force or

pressure. the taliban rule with an iron hand, and the only hope that the people of afghanistan, especially the women and girls who are suffering from their oppression, is that the international community can pressure the taliban into changing their behaviour. that is the moment every country where sanctions are imposed. now, i sanctions making the ordinary people of afghanistan suffer differently, that always happens, and that the international community has to make sure that the sanctions are designed in a way in which the taliban suffer more than the taliban suffer more than the ordinary people of afghanistan.— the ordinary people of afghanistan. the ordinary people of afr hanistan. . afghanistan. the taliban will be heping — afghanistan. the taliban will be hoping some _ afghanistan. the taliban will be hoping some countries i afghanistan. the taliban will i be hoping some countries may 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 of pakistan. what could pakistan be doing to engage with the taliban? . taliban? the taliban in pakistan _ taliban? the taliban in pakistan are _ taliban? the taliban in pakistan are very - taliban? the taliban in | pakistan are very closely engaged. examples make ambassador in kabul talks to the taliban frequently, in

fact, pakistan is the window into afghanistan while the international community maintain sanctions against afghanistan. but the problem is, pakistan does not have the resources or the means to be able to support afghanistan. that is something that people like myself, who were critical of pakistan's policy of supporting the taliban, pointed out earlier as well, but pakistan cannot afford a satellite state. the taliban have received pakistani support but may not in pakistan �*s control, and that creates a serious problem for pakistan in influencing the taliban while getting international support for further acceptance of the taliban by the international community. that was hussein haqqani, a former pakistan ambassador to the united states. let's get some of the day's other stories. authorities in israel say they have shut down three drones heading towards a gas filled with ownership disputed between israel and lebanon. his

policy as it was the drones as part of a reconnaissance mission. palestinian authorities have handed over to us experts the bullet that killed palestinian american general shireen abu akleh earlier this year she was working for aljazeera. —— american journalist. palestinian authorities say she was killed by israeli soldiers when she was covering clashes in the west bank. israel says she was not shot intentionally. and it is now known that at least 2a people have been killed in a landslide in north—eastern india. a section of a hill fell on a railway construction camp in the strait of minute or after heavy rains. —— in the state of manipur. 37 people are still unaccounted for. as the us prepares to celebrate independence day, it has not gone unnoticed on social media but 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 only seen this. —— already seen this. the profile has been black and brown women over the last 20, 30 years in the united states, but that has already laid the ground for what we will now see. interestingly enough, the type of policing and criminalisation previously involved women who were pregnant, many who wanted to maintain they were pregnant but were being prosecuted because they were not perfect in their pregnancy, threatened with arrest because they wanted a c—section, or arrested because they attempted suicide while pregnant, orfell down the steps while pregnant. but now prosecutors who already see that as a precedent find it quite easy, i think, under this new regime, to go after women who are threatening to have an abortion, want to have an abortion, or they want to leave and go to another

state in order to terminate their pregnancies. you mentioned women travelling to other states. one of the technical challenges here is the push and pull between federal law and state law. in practice, how would it work, if a woman travels from a state where abortion is restricted to a state where she can have the procedure and then returns home? could she be prosecuted, in those circumstances? well, it is really important that we deal with clear facts and i'm glad you asked that question, because there is so much confusion. it dates back well over 150, 70 years in american jurisprudence, that people are free to travel, it is enshrined in our constitution and constitutional practices. in fact, the constitution 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 so it has been a long tradition within american law that people are free to travel and receive the benefits in the state in which

they travel to. that said, there are prosecutors saying that 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 that they are keen on drafting legislation that would allow them to even prosecute doctors in states that are free to perform abortion. now, they don't have the history of law on their side, they don't have the rule of law on their side, but those issues, if litigated, remain up to courts, to some degree, this is what troubles many people in the wake of the supreme court's decision just last week. we have officials from so—called sanctuary states like california, illinois, new york, calling for president biden to do more on a federal level to protect women's rates to seek out an abortion.

is that something you see the president doing? well, it is certainly something that he is articulating, and it is something that he could very well do. keep in mind we still have an equal rights amendment, where 38 states have ratified it, meaning that it could now be signed into law. president trump actually blocked it from being signed into law during his administration. 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's health protection act enacted, and that is an act that codifies roe v wade. there is a lot of authority and power within the president's hand to make action, so we are all waiting to see what president biden may actually do. greece has welcomed the first of more than two hundred 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 european firefighters from romania and bulgaria have arrived in greece along with their firetrucks. arrived in greece along with theirfiretrucks. they arrived in greece along with their firetrucks. they will be joined by colleagues from france, finland, germany and norway is. the project is being fronted by the eu's civil protection mechanism and the greek government is grateful. translation: we greek government is grateful. translation:— greek government is grateful. translation: ~ ., ~ , translation: we thank you very much for coming _ translation: we thank you very much for coming to _ translation: we thank you very much for coming to help - translation: we thank you very much for coming to help us - 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. greece is on high alert this year. the government conscious of the anger that followed last year's devastating fires and what was seen as their slow response. this year they have boosted firefighting capacity

and the european forces will provide crucial backup. translation:- provide crucial backup. translation: france has a stron: translation: france has a strong knowledge _ translation: france has a strong knowledge when - translation: france has a strong knowledge when it . translation: france has a - strong knowledge when it comes to forest fires, particularly around the mediterranean region so this mission will be an opportunity for very interesting discussions with the greek firefighters. we will see what they have to teach us, what we can teach them and how it will benefit both sides. this is what they have come to prevent. in two weeks last august, more than 16,000 hectares went up in smoke in evia, laying waste to homes, pine forests, olive groves and livestock after the worst heatwave in 30 years. european fighters will be on standby with local groups during the hottest months, july and august, all hoping that history will not repeat itself.

there are warnings of further disruption for air travellers passing through heathrow with more flights likely to be cancelled. the cuts are expected as the airlines change their schedules ahead of the school holiday period. 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 ofjuly plans disrupted. airlines have cancelled more than 1,000 flights across the independence day holiday weekend amid a shortage of pilots and crew. 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.

cheering. it's loud, it's proud, and it is back where it all began. the pride march 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 travelled from leicestershire. i came out this year to my mum as bi, and i have always wanted to come to one of these festivals, and when i discovered we would be down here, because we went to a guns n' roses concert yesterday, i asked if we could go, and my mum was so for it. i am so proud of erin, i really am, and to see everybody today, it is the most amazing experience. for others, it was a homecoming. jamison went to his first pride 46 years ago. it is wonderful now, i to see the progression of what it was, and -

what we have become. it is thought around 30,000 people took part in the parade today, including some from the original pride in 1972. it is one of the most colourful celebrations in the country, but pride is still a protest at its heart. 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 people being injured, so we can't pretend that there isn't discrimination, bias and violence against people in this community. pride is reaching far and wide in the uk, with events from shetland to salisbury, and will continue for the next several weeks. lauren moss, bbc news. in tennis, and wimbledon has had its fair share of characters down the years. there'sjohn mcenroe of course, or you might remember jeff 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 the 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 seemed 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. its repeatedly to the umpire. its constant bullying, that's what he does. he believes his opponents. he was probably a bully at school himself. he has some good traits in his character as well, but he always has a very evil side to him. , .,, . ., always has a very evil side to him. , ., him. kyrgios continued to berate the _ him. kyrgios continued to berate the officials - him. kyrgios continued to berate the officials in - him. kyrgios continued to berate the officials in a i him. kyrgios continued to - berate the officials in a match described as being like a

circus but in the end he won it in four sets. i circus but in the end he won it in four sets.— circus but in the end he won it in four sets. i don't know what to sa , in four sets. i don't know what to say. i'm _ in four sets. i don't know what to say. i'm not _ in four sets. i don't know what to say, i'm not sure _ in four sets. i don't know what to say, i'm not sure who - in four sets. i don't know what to say, i'm not sure who are l to say, i'm not sure who are bullied — or how i'd bullied him. he's the one that had a spectator, he's the one that snaked out of the stadium. apart from mejust snaked out of the stadium. apart from me just going back and forth to the umpire a fair bit, did nothing to him today that was disrespectful. rafael nadal booked _ that was disrespectful. rafael nadal booked his _ that was disrespectful. rafael nadal booked his place - that was disrespectful. rafael nadal booked his place in - that was disrespectful. rafael nadal booked his place in the | nadal booked his place in the second week of the tournament beating his opponent in straight sets stopping there was a big upset in the women's draw, eager biontech saw her winning streak come to a close -- iga winning streak come to a close —— iga swiatek. the 32—year—old says she is like a good wine that has aged well. sunday will seek scheduled to play at wimbledon. history is always being made around here. and you can keep up—to—date

with all the latest action from wimbledon on the bbc news website. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @richpreston. from all of us here on the team, thanks for watching, goodbye. 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. now, 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 nine to 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, though, 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 in a lot of cloud to northern and western parts of the country. some cloud getting down into the south and the east as well, maybe just one or two showers here,

and top temperatures around 17 to 22 celsius. now, 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. the further south that 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.

the male—only meeting also declared that any armed