this is bbc news. i'm rlch preston. in the race to be britain's next prime minister two of the leading candidates have been meeting face—to—face. the uk's former chancellor, rishi sunak, is so far the only person to have secured the backing of more than a hundred mps. rivals of the former prime minister, borisjohnson, dismiss claims by his allies that he's also reached that number. in other news, ukrainian officials say around 1.5 million households are without power after the latest wave of russian attacks. at china's party congress, president xi's predecessor hu jintao is mysteriously led out of the hall by officials.

just tell me what i did to you. i just tell me what i did to you. liust— just tell me what i did to you. liust don't_ just tell me what i did to you. ijust don't like you know more _ and we speak to colin farrell and brendan gleeson about their new film about the end of a friendship. the former british prime minister borisjohnson and the ex—chancellor rishi sunak, have held face—to—face talks about the conservative leadership race, though neither has formally declared their intention to stand. penny mordaunt, the leader of the house of commons, was the first to formally declare, on friday. mr sunak has the public support of over a hundred conservative mps the threshold required for the leadership contest this time. some of mrjohnson�*s former cabinet colleagues have warned against his return to

downing street, barely three months after a series of scandals forced him out. our political correspondent damian grammaticas has been following events. are you running for the leadership? he was tight—lipped this morning, but rishi sunak clearly has a well of support among conservative mps — more than 100 now publicly backing him. and that sets up the extraordinary possibility he could face off against the man he helped bring down. borisjohnson, flying back from a caribbean holiday for a possible political comeback. it's just over four months since mrjohnson faced a revolt by his own mps and a confidence vote. the vote in favour of having confidence in borisjohnson as leader is 211 votes and the vote against him was 148 votes. more than 40% of his mps had no confidence in him then. dozens then resigned from his government. but some now say they want him to return. what we've seen in the last few

days is that some of the mps who resigned, some of the mps who called for boris to go at the start of the summer, have now said they would like to see him put himself forward. they've admitted they were wrong and i know there are many others waiting to hear on if he makes the decision to run before they go public. thank you all very much for coming! those who want him back remember this — borisjohnson is a vote winner. but many tory mps haven't forgotten what followed — lockdown parties that broke the law. parliament will soon begin hearings into whether mr johnson lied about this. it's why the man who was a deputy prime minister is backing rishi sunak. i think the country needs a prime minister that is focused 100% on them, and i just don't see as a practical matter that that can be boris if he is then dealing with all of those issues, and i say that as someone who would love to see boris return to front line politics. i think he can, but i don't think he can until he's addressed those issues. the first candidate to declare she was running was penny mordaunt last night, but she has far fewer public declarations of support.

i'm backing penny because she's the candidate i think that can not onlyjust bring the conservative party and parliament together, but actually, the whole country. she's got a proven track record working across eight departments in her 12 years in parliament. this was borisjohnson injuly, to the right, rishi sunak. later that day, mr sunak resigned as chancellor, saying people needed competent, serious government. three days later, mrjohnson was out of office. so, the choice facing tory mps may come down to two men with a bitter history or an untested alternative compromise candidate. damian grammaticas, bbc news. our political correspondent damian grammaticas has been following the latest from westminster. the bbc has been told that those two men are the front runners and they have been meeting tonight. we don't know

anything about what it may be about but you could reasonably ask yourself why they would want to meet at this point. possibly, you could assume, to salvage or come to accommodation. we know that rishi sunak has crucial momentum and is well past the threshold he needs. it is very unlikely that he would be in any mood to stand aside. perhaps he would like to see some sort of accommodation for mrjohnson but borisjohnson�*s mrjohnson but boris johnson's best mrjohnson but borisjohnson�*s best hope to try to take it to a vote of the party membership where he may feel he would get some support. but when it was put out that he might have a hundred votes and they were asked to show the names they were unable to. we only have them on 50 and the momentum at them on 50 and the momentum at the moment seems with rishi sunak. ., , , sunak. how is this political and economic _ sunak. how is this political and economic chaos - sunak. how is this political and economic chaos being | sunak. how is this political- and economic chaos being viewed in the united states. we speak to the president and ceo of the

law firm, the deputy trade ministerfor the us in the second obama term. there has been a lot of deception on this on a political angle but looking at this from an international trade perspective, what do you make of events of the last week? it of events of the last week? it is unsettling but not something that should be a significant barrier to good trade relationships that the uk and us have. i think the whole relationship is premised on three things. one common the historic people and culture ties to the national security guides and the economic ties that the united states and the uk. we see those weathering all of those because of that relationship but certainly this element of uncertainty in the uk, even as we enter elections here in the united states within three weeks. a lot is happening on both sides of the atlantic and we will see how it

pans out in the coming days. you say that you see us weathering these uk continues in this cycle of domestic political turmoil, and that to uk -- us political turmoil, and that to uk —— us elections, can the uk count on days and months ahead? you can count on the us, i do not see that fundamentally in doubt. what i think is not likely that the us could do is step in if needed in any significant way other than the good solid relationship we have now. there had been discussions about possible uk us trade deals as the uk left the eu but that has founded and largely founded because of the change in the administration in the us because of us domestic politics. one of the things that could be good for a relationship going forward would be to reach a bilateral trade agreement between both

countries that would approve the economies in both countries. i think that is possible but not probable, in large part because of the political challenges that we face here domestically in the united states. i am glad you brought this up because as you mentioned during the present campaign that was a fanfare about the great us uk trade deal that would come but has never materialised.— never materialised. you say that theoretically _ never materialised. you say that theoretically it - never materialised. you say that theoretically it could i never materialised. you say| that theoretically it could be a good thing. in practice there is political will in america does that exist to make this happen? i does that exist to make this ha--en? .�* does that exist to make this ha en? ., �* ~' , happen? i don't think there is the political _ happen? i don't think there is the political will. _ happen? i don't think there is the political will. and - happen? i don't think there is the political will. and i - happen? i don't think there is the politicalwill. and i think. the politicalwill. and i think we have lost _ the politicalwill. and i think we have lost the _ the politicalwill. and i think| we have lost the ambassador there. thank you very much for your time. there. thank you very much for your time-— your time. the trade issues are very difficult — your time. the trade issues are very difficult in _ your time. the trade issues are very difficult in the _ your time. the trade issues are very difficult in the us - your time. the trade issues are very difficult in the us i - your time. the trade issues are very difficult in the us i hope . very difficult in the us i hope we can find accommodation but it is possible, not probable. we lost you temporarily there but we will try to stick with it. talking about some of the leaders here in the uk, liz truss and rishi sunak when they were complaining for the leadership position, one of the big points of controversy was

the economic plans and plans around tax cuts. what do you make of the promises they made and have a transpired? irate make of the promises they made and have a transpired?— and have a transpired? we see how they transpired _ and have a transpired? we see how they transpired with - and have a transpired? we see how they transpired with the i how they transpired with the way that the markets in the economy responded to those actions. what we hope will happen is that there will now be a move towards stability which is certainly needed within the uk but it will also help stabilise the global relationship between the us and the uk and the uk's prominent role in the world is the part we need the uk to be a strong global player. the uk is that the challenges like the ones we have seen recently because many people to question that commitment. i don't think the us questions it but certainly the us wants the strongest possible ally in the uk, which is why it is in the interests of the us for these issues to be resolved sooner rather than later. ., ~

be resolved sooner rather than later. . ,, , ., be resolved sooner rather than later. ., ~' , ., , be resolved sooner rather than later. . ,, i. , . be resolved sooner rather than later. ., ~ , . ., later. thank you very much for makin: later. thank you very much for making the — later. thank you very much for making the time _ later. thank you very much for making the time for— later. thank you very much for making the time for us, - making the time for us, ambassador. president volodymyr zelensky has denounced renewed russian attacks on ukraine's energy infrastructure as an attempt to break his country. he said the world had to stop the terror. kyiv says almost 1.5 million households are without power following another barrage by russian missiles on civilian energy facilities. the national electricity operator said the latest strikes could have caused more damage than the intense bombardment lasting several days earlier this month. here's the latest from our correspondent, hugo bachega. the ukrainian presidential office said around 1.5 million households across the country are without power following this morning's attacks and the ukrainian airforce said russian forces had fired 33 cruise missiles, but that 18 of those missiles had been intercepted by the air defence systems. today's attacks targeted energy infrastructure in regions away from the front line, like lutsk in the north—west,

cherkasy in central ukraine, and also odesa in the south, where at least three people were injured as a result of those attacks. officials say the damage caused by the latest air strikes might exceed the consequences caused by last week's attacks that were carried out by russia, targeting sites across the country. officials say that more than a third of the country's power stations have been damaged as a result of these attacks. reacting to the latest air strikes, the president's chief of staff andriy yermak said russia was fighting against civilian infrastructure and people and that ukrainians are getting angrier by the day. he said these attacks would lead to a much stronger ukrainian response. footage of china's former leader hu jintao being asked to leave the stage at the great hall of the people in beijing during the

communist party congress is drawing global attention. mr hu, who is 79, was sitting beside president xijinping when he was approached by officials who took him by the arm and led him away. chinese state media blamed ill health for the incident during what is a usually highly choreographed event. our correspondent steve mcdonell has more from beijing. the first thing you notice from these incredible events in the great hall of the people is that china's former leader, when asked to leave, doesn't want to go, and you have to ask yourself why? what is going on? because he represents a type of government so different to the way things are done now. a period of opening up to the outside world, collective leadership. speculation has first turned to the possibility that this was a piece of political theatre — that he was being symbolically removed to show who is really in charge. but then, when you look at the footage more closely, he doesn't seem to be well. at times, he doesn't seem to know what's going on.

if there were legitimate health reasons, though, for him to be removed, why did hu jintao have to go so suddenly, and why do it in front of the cameras? unfortunately, china's system is so opaque that we are getting nothing else from the government by way of explanation. the new italian government has been sworn in at a ceremony in the presidential palace in rome. giorgia meloni is italy's first far—right leader since the world war ii and the country's first ever female prime minister. her party, brothers of italy, won last month's elections with just over a quarter of the vote. she'll head a right—wing coalition. ms meloni has sought to reassure western allies that italy's foreign policy won't change. in germany police say around 80,000 peoplejoined a rally in support of protesters in iran. the biggest demonstration by the iran dies for ever. iranians across the globe are

calling on western governments to sanction the revolutionary guard and throughout iranians diplomats. we'rejoined now by a news reporter to tell us more about these protests in germany. about these protests in germany-— about these protests in german . , , germany. the fact it is being talked about _ germany. the fact it is being talked about about _ germany. the fact it is being talked about about as - germany. the fact it is being talked about about as one i germany. the fact it is being talked about about as one ofj talked about about as one of the biggest rallies of the iranian diaspora ever goes towards the sense that these protests in this movement going on within iran is unprecedented. some of the protesters there said that in fact they travelled from other countries in order to join fact they travelled from other countries in order tojoin in, thatis countries in order tojoin in, that is how you get to a figure located thousand. that is what german police are saying while organisers say the number was closely to 100,000 in the truth is often somewhere in between. but what they are also doing is calling on specific demands of western governments one of them is to add further sanctions to the powerful revolutionary guards and that is because the revolutionary guards are not just a military or security force, have a lot of sway and huge power over lahri's economy as well as its politics. the second demand is to oust

iranians diplomats in embassies across the west. also while we talk about this huge protest in berlin because it is historic, have been movements and rallies support of protesters in iran in the west since the beginning, since six weeks ago when protests began in places like washington, paris, london and over the weekend we even had protests injapan. people have been calling on western governments for action for quite a while now.- governments for action for quite a while now. let's go to iran because _ quite a while now. let's go to iran because as _ quite a while now. let's go to iran because as you - quite a while now. let's go to. iran because as you mentioned they are in the sixth week of demonstrations. what is the latest in the country? the protests _ latest in the country? the protests are _ latest in the country? the protests are still - latest in the country? tie: protests are still going on latest in the country? ti2 protests are still going on and they have not lost any of them momentum. the government is using the same strategy they do when there are widespread protest and that's to cause internet blackouts, to make it difficult for people on the ground to show us what is going on but bbc persian as well as otherforeign media and on but bbc persian as well as other foreign media and social media have still been getting these videos of protest continuing in their sixth week,

especially at universities, at sharif university, one of the biggest campuses, it's in tehran specifically, people were out protesting in and around the campus saying death to the dictator, a reference to the supreme leader ali company, as well as the rallying cry that happened since mahsa amini died in custody by the morality police so it also means the crackdown is still continuing and rights groups are saying more than 200 people died but they are still doing things like pointing out specific people they think are inciting riots like a cleric in the hannah dunn who said that senior officials in the iranian government were responsible for the death of dozens of protesters last month. figs protesters last month. as moshiri, _ protesters last month. as moshiri, thank you very much. this is bbc news, a reminder of the headlines. in the race to be bridgen�*s next prime minister two of the leading candidates borisjohnson and candidates boris johnson and rishi candidates borisjohnson and rishi sunak have been meeting face—to—face. and ukrainian

officials say around 500,000, million and a half households are without power after the latest wave of russian attacks. back to our top story now and the conservative leadership race here in the uk. where does borisjohnson�*s support like? boris johnson's support like? he has borisjohnson�*s support like? he has been popular with party members and that is, it's partly because they see him as a winner and of course he did when the 2019 election with a very big majority in a very dramatic way and so he has always had this appeal among the rank—and—file is the person who will transform the electoral fortunes and that will be the hope again. whether the rank—and—file feel quite the rank—and—file feel quite the same way at the moment, given what has happened over the last year or two during the end of his premiership, is a moot point. but that would be what he is pinning his hopes on, isn't it, that he could get the backing of and get through to the final ballot and went on

the party members because they would see him as the way to revive their electoral prospects and of course, the negative thing for rishi sunak is, and it may be entirely sensible that what he is suggesting and what he is arguing for, le. that we cannot do lots of, we have to be very strict on public spending, we cannot do an awful lot to help people in the immediate future, it's going to be quite hard, and that was his message when he was up against liz truss and why liz truss managed to win because he was of course was offering what turned out to be completely impossible but it appeared superficially good to some people and rishi sunak is offering sort of hard rule for the next two years which is what is needed but politically borisjohnson again always upbeat talk that he comes up with, it may seduce some people. it may not be very sensible and it probably won't go down as well with the

markets, willars, as a rishi sunak premiership, i think that's fairly clear, but that's the thing that might — he might be hoping and is possible that might appeal to some of the people who are going to be voting in this inaudible party member if there is a seriously meaningful contact with all of the party members.— the party members. what do british voters _ the party members. what do british voters make - the party members. what do british voters make of - the party members. what do british voters make of the i british voters make of the turbulent events in westminster? jessica lim has been talking to people in the conservative constituency of kynaston and stockbridge in south yorkshire to find out. as mps are back in their constituencies this weekend, many will find out if what is happening in westminster is the talk of the town.— talk of the town. inevitably all the politicians _ talk of the town. inevitably all the politicians level i all the politicians level conservative and we need to get a bit more stance within the country again. b, a bit more stance within the country again-— country again. a bit of an audible back. _ country again. a bit of an audible back. i've - country again. a bit of an audible back. i've been i country again. a bit of an | audible back. i've been in sain audible back. i've been in spain on _ audible back. i've been in spain on holiday - audible back. i've been in spain on holiday and i audible back. i've been in spain on holiday and all. audible back. i've been in| spain on holiday and all of audible back. i've been in i spain on holiday and all of the spanish — spain on holiday and all of the spanish people _ spain on holiday and all of the spanish people and _ spain on holiday and all of the spanish people and german i spanish people and german people _ spanish people and german people keep _ spanish people and german

people keep saying - spanish people and german people keep saying what i spanish people and german people keep saying what isi people keep saying what is wrong _ people keep saying what is wrong with _ people keep saying what is wrong with your _ people keep saying what is wrong with your country? i people keep saying what is wrong with your country? well, we've been _ wrong with your country? well, we've been talking. _ wrong with your country? well, | we've been talking. crosstalk. that's the problem. _ we've been talking. crosstalk. that's the problem. this - that's the problem. this constituency _ that's the problem. this constituency has - that's the problem. this constituency has this i that's the problem. this i constituency has this rural market town of kynaston and the industrial still works in stockbridge nearby. historically labour that turn conservative in 2019, the local mp says she has a huge operation for borisjohnson but is backing rishi sunak as leader. but some business owners say they are more bothered by getting support soon. ., , , soon. the main thing is energy bills, that's — soon. the main thing is energy bills, that's what's _ soon. the main thing is energy bills, that's what's crippling i bills, that's what's crippling us. our quarterly has gone up from £270 and 990 for three months, for a little shop like this is difficult.— this is difficult. electric and as? this is difficult. electric and gas? just _ this is difficult. electric and gas? just electric, - this is difficult. electric and gas? just electric, we i this is difficult. electric and gas? just electric, we have j this is difficult. electric and i gas? just electric, we have no as so it gas? just electric, we have no gas so it is — gas? just electric, we have no gas so it is crippling _ gas? just electric, we have no gas so it is crippling us - gas? just electric, we have no gas so it is crippling us big i gas so it is crippling us big time is a software about needs sorting out. time is a software about needs sorting out-— time is a software about needs sorting out. never happens over the next few _ sorting out. never happens over the next few days, _ sorting out. never happens over the next few days, it _ sorting out. never happens over the next few days, it is - the next few days, it is certainly giving people a topic to chew over here. jessica lim, bbc news in penistone.

officials in sudan say the number of people killed in ethnic fighting in the south of the country has risen to 200. the two days of clashes between the hausa and berta communities were sparked by a land dispute. the governor of the blue nile region has declared a state of emergency. too i declare a state of emergency in all parts of the blue nile region for 30 days the chief of the fourth regiment of ground forces, police chief and the head of the rapid support forces must intervene with all means to stop trouble fighting. they have all constitutional and legal powers to take proper procedures according to the nature of the situation. meanwhile in west africa authorities in nigeria say nearly 200 people have died in flood due to this year's rainy season. ———n. one of the third of a million have been affected since june of a million have been affected sincejune with rains damaging homes, house rooms, class

services and grain stores and this year's rainy season has been far deadlier than usual. the co—owner of the red bull formula 1 team dietrich mateschitz has died at the age of 78. he built a business empire, launching the red bull energy drink in the 1980s and marketed the brand by sponsoring a variety of extreme sports. he became a key figure in motorsport in particular more than two decades ago. a sheet of paper with handwritten lyrics for two songs by the sex pistols has sold for more than £50,000 at an auction in london. the page has the words for holidays in the sun and submission, written by the band's fundamental mighton in 1977. it was a part of a collection of sex pistols memorabilia that went under the hammer at sotheby�*s for a total of nearly $400,000. how do you respond when your best friend randomly decides to call time on your life—long friendship?

well that's the plot of the film, the banshees of inisherin, set in the 1920s on a fictional remote island off the coast of ireland. our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba has been talking to its stars colin farrell and brendan gleeson. have you been rowing? dark and quirky... what the hell's going on with you and me, brother? he's dull, siobhan. but he's always been dull. ..humorous and compelling. you're behaving awful unusual. the film tells the story of a lifelong friendship that suddenly ends. people have responded to it in such a positive way and it's meant something to the people that i've spoken to that have seen it. there's been a kind of relatability or personalisation of this film in regard to their own lives and their own experience of whether it's friendship, loss or isolation had to be dealt with, so it means a lot, it's lovely. yeah, breaking up and all that kind of stuff, like, we've all had a bit of it. it's hitting home with people in a way that's quite moving and stuff. you just kind of feel, "wow, this is one that has worked

"the way it should." do you know who we remember for how nice they was in - the 17th century? who? absolutely no—one. yet, we all remember| the music of the time. everyone to a man i knows mozart's name. i don't, so there goes that theory. one of the central themes is how much people should sacrifice in order to create meaningful art, with both actors drawing on their own experiences. through the years, i've missed things. i've missed funerals of people who meant a lot to me, imissed... you know, i have two children — i missed the birth of one, i was there for the birth of the other one, but only because i wasn't gainfully employed at that time, thank god! so, at least i was there for one of my boys being born, but you miss really important, fundamentally important moments. at one stage, i was nearly seven months away over the year in three different jobs. it was too much for my kids. it was breaking my heart to be there, and i said, "i'm not... "there's a certain level — i'm missing too much". so it's a constant line you're trying to walk. how gratified are you to be

talked about as oscar contenders? if you got a nomination or something like that and i didn't, we'd have a laugh with it. we would. we would have a laugh with it and then we would — it'd be business as usual, do you know what i mean? it would be great, let's be honest _ and then it'd would be business as usual, you know, afterwards. no, but it'd be great! it'd be a laugh! "i want it," is what he's saying! "i want it! "when do we find out?" well, oscar nominations are still three months away but when they are announced, many expect to see the names gleeson and farrell on that list. lizo mzimba, bbc news. before we go a reminder of our top story. britain's former prime minister boris johnson and prime minister borisjohnson and the formerfinance prime minister borisjohnson and the former finance minister rishi sunak held face—to—face talks about the conservative leadership race, though neither has formally declared their intention to stand. penny mordaunt the leader of the house of commons was the force to formally declare. mr sulek has the public support of 100

mps, the threshold required for the leadership contest. some of mrjohnson's former colleagues have warned against his report of a return to downing street ——mr sunak. much more on our website and you can reach me on twitter. thanks for your company. hello there. temperatures on saturday rose to a high of 19 degrees in essex and it's going to be a mild start to sunday as well but we're dominated by low pressure and that means while it is mild, we're going to get the cloud and rain. this is the main feature, this low pressure spinning away to the south—west, pushing cloud our way and bringing with it some outbreaks of rain out from the south—west. on sunday, that rain is going to move its way northwards. it'll be heavy and it contains the risk of some thunder as well. so this is where we've got the really wet start early in the morning. that rain heavy and thundery, could give a lot of rain in a short space of time, but it does not last long. it races northwards up across northern england into northern ireland, clearing away from here in the afternoon as it heads into central and southern parts of scotland. the rain band followed by some

sunshine but also some heavy, maybe thundery showers, particularly in the south of england later on in the afternoon. temperatures still on the mild side but maybe not quite as high as they were on saturday. that rain continues northwards across scotland into the evening and then we get more rain arriving across england and wales overnight. that area of low pressure moving across the uk heading northwards and out of the way. we're going to be left with more of a west to south—westerly breeze this time on monday, and that means a mixture again of sunshine and also some showers. the bulk of the showers coming in across the western side of the uk and feeding through the english channel. a few showers will get to eastern areas but there should be some sunshine in between those showers as well. and those temperatures again reaching highs of around 16 or 17 degrees widely across england and wales. we've got a bump of high pressure overnight as we see those showers fading away and into the start of tuesday before another weather system arrives from the south later on in the day, so we start off dry.

there may be some mist and fog patches around in northern areas on tuesday and then, we'll see the breeze picking up. it'll blow in this cloud and rain to the south—west of wales later on but for many parts of the country tuesday looks like it will be a dry day with some sunshine and temperatures reaching 17 or 18 degrees. the very cold weather is kept way to the north of the uk or out here in the atlantic and instead, we're getting more southerly breezes, bringing that warmer weather all the way up from the azores. and temperatures really through the rest of the week will be around four degrees above normal for this time of the year — could make 21 in the south—east of england — with the wetter weather further north and west.

hello. bbc news with the latest headlines. the former uk prime minister borisjohnson and the formerfinance minister minister borisjohnson and the former finance minister rishi sunak have held face—to—face talks about the conservative leadership race although neither has formally declared their intention to stand. penny mordaunt was the first to formally declare she would be running. president zelensky of ukraine has denounced renewed russian attacks on the energy infrastructure of ukraine as an attempt to reach his country. he said the world had to stop the terror. tf says almost 1.5 million households are without power following another barrage

by russian missiles. and chinese state media has blamed ill health for the unexpected removal of the former president from a hall