live from london. this is bbc news. i'm ben thompson and these are the headlines... russia's wagner mercenary group claims its units now control the embattled ukrainian city of bakhmut while kyiv insists its forces still hold it. russian officials say they've detained a woman after a pro—kremlin blogger was killed in sunday's bomb blast at a cafe in st petersburg. from centre left to centre right — finland's conservative leader petteri orpo wins a nail—biting three—way election race, defeating prime minister sanna marin. schools in england face further closures as the uk's largest teaching union rejects the government's pay offer and calls further strikes. questions are asked after a weekend of long delays

at the port of dover — uk authorities apologise, and say there'll be a review of plans ahead of the easter weekend let's return to some breaking news this hour and schools in england face fresh strikes this spring after members of the national education union rejected the government's pay offer. rejected the government's pay teachers have been gathering for the union's annual conference in harrogate, where pay and workload are among the issues being discussed. ministers say the pay offer is "fair and reasonable". live now to our uk education editor branwen jeffreys who is in harrogate.

bring us up—to—date. the government says the pay offer is fair but the unions do not agree. i says the pay offer is fair but the unions do not agree.— unions do not agree. i have 'ust ste ed unions do not agree. i have 'ust stepped out fl unions do not agree. i have 'ust stepped out of i unions do not agree. i have 'ust stepped out of the i unions do not agree. i have just stepped out of the conference l unions do not agree. i have just i stepped out of the conference hall for there were cheers and whoops from the thousands of teachers attending the conference when the leadership announced by an overwhelming majority a vote in the last few days was to reject the latest pay offer for teachers in england from the government. that means parents in england face more disruption, they've already had more strike days and there will be two more unable the 27th the 2nd of may. as we said, this isn'tjust about pay, it's about hours and conditions.— pay, it's about hours and conditions. �* ., ., , conditions. all of that has been art of conditions. all of that has been part of the _ conditions. all of that has been part of the negotiation - conditions. all of that has been part of the negotiation with - conditions. all of that has been part of the negotiation with the government. the government has said it is looking for ways to try and reduce the workload by around five hours for teachers, by international standards, teachers in england spend a lot of time in the classroom, that

means they say it displaces a lot of their planning and preparation for lessons, their marking of work into the evening and weekends, so that is an important part of the discussion but at the heart of it is the fact with rising energy prices globally, with rising energy prices globally, with the cost of living in the uk going up, teachers pay has not kept up going up, teachers pay has not kept up and actually over the past decade, four experienced teachers, it's fallen by about 12—13%. the government had offered a one—off top up government had offered a one—off top up payment of thousand pounds for this year, about 2.4% on top of the 5% teachers have had this year and it had proposed 4.3% for most experienced teachers next year and a starting salary of £30,000. that is the deal that has now been rejected by the union today. for the deal that has now been re'ected by the union today.�* by the union today. for now, thank ou, by the union today. for now, thank you. keep — by the union today. for now, thank you. keep us _ by the union today. for now, thank you, keep us updated _ by the union today. for now, thank you, keep us updated as _ by the union today. for now, thank

you, keep us updated as i - by the union today. for now, thank you, keep us updated as i know- by the union today. for now, thank| you, keep us updated as i know you will. some newjust in on ukraine — and this from our correspondent in kyiv, huog bacheva. and it's about that claim from the head of russia's wagner group that his troops have raised the russian flag over the embattled eastern city. this is from president zelensky�*s chief of staff — who says "bakhmut is ukraine". andriy yermak urged people to "calmly respond to the fakes of those who invent a �*victory�* that does not exist in reality". ukraine's deputy defence minister, hanna maliar, said the wagner claim was "a funny fake". earlier, yevgeny prigozhin said bakhmut had been taken "from a legal point of view", but admitted that ukrainian forces remained in the western part of the city. you will know we have had those pictures showing the wagner group

purporting to raise the flag over the city. in its morning update, the ukrainian army said fighting in bakhmut continued. a very unclear picture emerging from bakhmut, claim and counterclaim, as we said in ukraine saying it is still under their control even though there are claims from the russian mercenary wagner group saying they are in charge. and further we were talking about the bomb blast in st petersburg, an update there, russian investigators say they have detained a suspect, our correspondent in moscow was telling us the suspect has been detained, that explosion over the weekend killing a top military blogger and someone supportive, there he is, of the russian campaign in ukraine. the suspect they named an hour or so

in ukraine. the suspect they named an hour orso ago, in ukraine. the suspect they named an hour or so ago, detained now on suspicion of involvement in the explosion in a cafe in st petersburg, that's according to the latest lines coming out of russia. we will keep you up—to—date with the very latest on those two developing stories in st petersburg and from kyiv and also bakhmut where there are claims russia is in control. more on that on bbc news. turning our attention elsewhere now. kosovo president hashim thaci has been accused of war crimes by a special international prosecutor in the hague. mr thaci and others "are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders", torture and enforced disappearances, the prosecutor said. the accusations — covering kosovo's independence war against serbia in 1998 — are being assessed by a judge at the kosovo specialist chambers who will decide if the case goes to trial. mr thaci has denied any wrongdoing.

let's take you live to the hague now the trial getting under way, we will get our latest updates from anna holligan who is at the trial. bring us up—to—date with what is happening, they relate to a very specific period in history. this was durin: the specific period in history. this was during the battle _ specific period in history. this was during the battle for— specific period in history. this was | during the battle for independence in kosovo from serbia, we have witnessed a remarkable moment here in the hague, i am standing outside the kosovo specialist chambers, just a few moments ago hashim thaci the former prime minister and president of kosovo stood in court and replied to the judge who had listened to a summary of the charges, war crimes and crimes against humanity, the allegation he was involved in murder, forced disappearances,

kidnapping, torture, he stood in court and he said i understand the charges, i am fully not guilty. the prosecutor ran through a summary almost like a history lesson of what these charges actually relate to. he talked as well about witness intimidation, the dangers of witness intimidation, the dangers of witness intimidation because this is a sensitive case and during the time i have been standing here, people have walked past, supporters of hashim thaciand walked past, supporters of hashim thaci and they talk about and in terms of being a war hero, not a war criminal and they say he is the reason kosovo exists in its current form today and yet at the same time, we expect to hear from about 140 alleged victims of hashim thaci and the church was saying there is so much sensitivity involve that all of the parties have been asked to

refrain from giving any detail about any of the protected witnesses because one of the reasons this court was created, run by international organisations and funded by the us and eu and that is partly designed to ensure this can go ahead without witness interference or intimidation. hashim thaci was one of the most visible individuals during negotiations to create kosovo and free it from serbian rule. joe biden at the time was us vice president and he referred to hashim thaci as the george washington of kosovo. so there is so much riding on this process for hashim thaci, the court itself in fact because this is the biggest case in the history of the kosovo specialist chambers so all

eyes on this court right now. fies kosovo specialist chambers so all eyes on this court right now. as you said, that insurgency _ eyes on this court right now. as you said, that insurgency that _ eyes on this court right now. as you said, that insurgency that brought l said, that insurgency that brought independence from serbia made him a hero in the eyes of many people but it also led to the disappearance and death of more than 13,000 people? absolutely right. that is why this is such a controversial case. yesterday in the capital of kosovo thousands of people turned out in support of this man, people had travelled from all over europe, thousands of people disappeared and thousands of people disappeared and thousands of people fled and many of them ended up as refugees. i've been speaking to people today who live in the netherlands and germany and they have all travelled here to the hague to support this man. let me give you some more details about what has been said in court, this is outlining why it is so important, the prosecutor wanted to point out this is a case against these

individuals not against the kosovo liberation army itself. they are accused of targeting people perceived to be opponents of their political ambitions, and collaborators with serb forces and most of the victims, the prosecutors wrote, are kosovo albanians, the same ethnic group as the former president who is standing trial here today and one of the reasons this court was created was out of a sense of injustice that many serbians felt, the yugoslav tribunal which is another court here in the hague was much too focused on alleged serbian atrocities so in a sense, this court was created to try and redress the balance but there is an inevitability about these types of trials that it will ignite further divisions potentially before it goes

any way towards doing what booth courts are designed to do and human rights groups have talked about the trial and they hope it will shed light on this dark period in history and also help the victims to find out what happened to some of those thousands of people who disappeared. for now, thank you, we will let you go and follow the trial and we will speak to you later. that trial continuing and we will be back with anna if there are further developments are bringing you up—to—date with news in the uk. the man who killed a nine—year—old schoolgirl in liverpool will be sentenced later today. 0livia pratt—korbel died after thomas cashman fired a shot through the front door of herfamily home in august last year. cashman had denied murder butjurors at manchester crown court found him guilty last thursday.

now as we're been reporting — former us president donald trump is "gearing up for a battle" ahead of his scheduled court hearing tomorrow, his lawyer has said. mr trump is expected to fly to new york from his florida home today, to face charges related to hush money payments made to an adult film star. he's continued to deny any wrongdoing. 0ur north america reporter, nada tawfik has more. this week, the eyes of the world will be fixed on this court complex in lower manhattan. history will be made when donald trump becomes the first former president to be arrested and to appear in court on criminal charges on tuesday. trump has upended us politics before and looks set to do it again. he's vowed to carry on with his presidential campaign even if convicted. he's turned his indictment into an opportunity to fundraise. his campaign says they've raised $4 million so far with messages like this to his supporters attacking democrats and the case as a witch hunt.

no president in the history of our country has been subjected to such vicious and disgusting attacks. but they only attack me because i fight for you. it's very simple. your contribution today will show the left that nothing can destroy the greatest political movement in history. the case is connected to a $130,000 payment to this woman, the porn star stormy daniels. she claims she and donald trump had sex, something he denies, and that trump's former lawyer, michael cohen, paid herfor her silence in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign. michael cohen testified to the grand jury that trump directed him to do it and later reimbursed him with company funds logged as legal expenses. trump denies any wrongdoing, and his lawyers say he will plead not guilty. this is not what so many people want to make it look like. oh, it's michael cohen's vengeance

against donald trump. that's not what this is about. this is solely about accountability. i should not be held accountable for donald trump's dirty deeds. after trump is formally booked and fingerprinted and appears in court, he is expected to immediately fly back to his residence at mar—a—lago in florida. that evening he is expected to deliver a public statement, his first as an accused criminal. donald trump once again has a firm grip on the public�*s attention. he has survived numerous scandals, two impeachments and is once more leveraging his misfortune to rally his supporters. it's hard to see the upside of criminal charges, though it remains to be seen if this will benefit him politically. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. around the world and across the uk this is bbc news.

you're live with bbc news... after hundreds of grassroots football referees in england told the bbc they feared for their safety on the pitch, a world first trial was launched, allowing amateur referees to wear bodycams. around 100 people have used the equipment in the first three months of the scheme and if it proves successful, the trial will be expanded. our sports reporterjane dougall has been to see how it's working. afternoon, lads. so obviously, i've got the body camera on today. so what will happen if i need to switch this camera on, i will announce i'm activating the camera. in the first of its kind in the world, sophie wood is one of 100 grassroots referees taking part in a body cam technology trial. the aim is to see if they can improve the behaviour of players and coaches. it means that i've got that safety net there. if anything was to cross that line for me, i'm able to switch the camera on, it captures, starts recording from that moment, it also captures

the 30 seconds beforehand, so then context can really be gained around the situation that you've switched it on. many worry that when incidents like this one are broadcast on television, the behaviour can be copied at a grassroots level. the professional game of course are very aware of the fact that they are often seen as the example and that people can aspire to the behaviours seen and, you know, they are working collaboratively with the football association to ensure that actually they are also addressing poor behaviour from the coaches, the players. so hopefully, you know, if we do this united we'll get some really positive results. in february, a bbc questionnaire found that out of almost 1,000 referees who responded, just under 300 said they'd been physically abused by spectators, players or managers. the mere presence of them, the fact that somebody sees the device there, makes them sort of think twice about their behaviour really. these really are just there to explore whether, you know, it improves the level of participant

behaviour within the grassroots game and also give the referee that added level of safety and security for them refereeing. one of the four leagues in the country where the trial is being rolled out is middlesbrough, where19—year—old referee 0llie cairney has already used the equipment in matches. i'm a player, you're the referee, i come up to talk to you and you worry that i might start abusing you. if i feel threatened in any way, i'll press that button and then they can actually see the player, their face on the screen. do you think also if the player sees themselves on that screen, that will stop them from shouting or pushing you or anything like that? 100%, yeah. i think they see themselves and they'll probably realise they're in the wrong straightaway and they'll step back from it. and have you actually noticed a difference, then? a little bit, yeah. it's fair enough for them like, "come on, ref, it shouldn't be a foul against me," but that's about it, really, that's all they'll say, they won't, like, go any further with it, and i think that's partly

because of the camera. we can't show body cam footage from this match because there weren't any abusive incidents. so is it working already? a positive impact on players' behaviours and attitudes whilst on the pitch. you know, they're understanding that there's the need for referees to wear these now so they're thinking about their behaviour even before they've stepped on the field of play. then obviously when they can see it, it's there to act as a major deterrent. the fa will track the impact of body cams across the participating leagues, which also include liverpool, worcester and essex. if they see positive results then it may become the norm for grassroots referees to wear one, and easier to name and shame those who might want to abuse them. jane dougall, bbc news, middlesbrough. further evidence of the impact of technology on sport. you are watching bbc news. let's get more on this now with millie wheeler,

she's a referee at devon county fa here in the uk, and has been refereeing for the past two years. thank you for being with us. i wonder what difference a body count would make for the work that you do day to day? i would make for the work that you do da to da ? ~' ., would make for the work that you do da to da ? ~ ., ., , day to day? i think it would really hel and day to day? i think it would really help and slow _ day to day? i think it would really help and slow abuse _ day to day? i think it would really help and slow abuse so _ day to day? i think it would really help and slow abuse so much. . day to day? i think it would really help and slow abuse so much. at| day to day? i think it would really - help and slow abuse so much. at the minute when i referee i get a load of abuse, i wake up on a saturday morning and i dread going to the game because i know the abuse i get, it happens every game. it's more common for me to get abuse in a game, away from the game but i think the cameras will help and show people how bad it actually is. whether that be the coaches, the players or spectators that also give the abuse. i players or spectators that also give the abuse. ., players or spectators that also give the abuse. . ., ., ., the abuse. i wanted to ask you about that, our the abuse. i wanted to ask you about that, your experiences _ the abuse. i wanted to ask you about that, your experiences of _ the abuse. i wanted to ask you about that, your experiences of a _ the abuse. i wanted to ask you about that, your experiences of a typical. that, your experiences of a typical game. where is the abuse coming from, players, spectators lined you find you get a different sort of

abuse given that you are a female referee? ., , ., ., , , referee? yeah, you get the abuse from the parents _ referee? yeah, you get the abuse from the parents and _ referee? yeah, you get the abuse from the parents and players, - referee? yeah, you get the abuse from the parents and players, the managers and spectators whatever. you get the abuse from everyone. a lot of the time it depends on the team and the club, what it will come from mostly. from the referee, a female perspective, i get more abuse than others in some games, depending come on female games you get a lot less abuse and in male games, older people give you more respect, the younger people do not as much and they see you more as a target. the older figures respect that you are a female referee. you older figures respect that you are a female referee.— older figures respect that you are a female referee. you say some of that abuse comes — female referee. you say some of that abuse comes from _ female referee. you say some of that abuse comes from parents _ female referee. you say some of that abuse comes from parents who - female referee. you say some of that abuse comes from parents who i - abuse comes from parents who i assume are watching their children play and you are refereeing so what sort of example does that set, if the parents are sending abuse your

way, an example may be to set the children who are playing on the pitch that you are supposed to be refereeing? it’s pitch that you are supposed to be refereeing?— pitch that you are supposed to be refereeine? fl ., ' ~ ., ., refereeing? it's awful. a lot of the time ou refereeing? it's awful. a lot of the time you can _ refereeing? it's awful. a lot of the time you can tell— refereeing? it's awful. a lot of the time you can tell the _ refereeing? it's awful. a lot of the time you can tell the parents - refereeing? it's awful. a lot of the time you can tell the parents and. time you can tell the parents and players. you can tell who is family. i have had parents that are worse than the players i have had before, giving an upside which was completely correct and i think it shows an awful example. the same with the coaches. if their behaviour is bad it will reflect so much in the players, i have had coaches where they behaved amazingly and have been so supportive had so have the player so it completely depends on the older people showing them how to behave. ~ ., on the older people showing them how to behave. . . ., , , to behave. what impact does this have on you? _ to behave. what impact does this have on you? it _ to behave. what impact does this have on you? it is _ to behave. what impact does this have on you? it is hard, - to behave. what impact does this have on you? it is hard, really - have on you? it is hard, really hard. i have on you? it is hard, really hard- i will— have on you? it is hard, really hard. i will walk _ have on you? it is hard, really hard. i will walk away - have on you? it is hard, really hard. i will walk away from . have on you? it is hard, really - hard. i will walk away from games and i will come away in tears sometimes, it will really not my confidence and i do not want to do it any more but i still remember

decisions on people that have given me abuse from when i started referee and it is very hard but you have to get a support system around you and helpful coming from a game, it is so knocking. helpful coming from a game, it is so knockina. ., , ., , ., , helpful coming from a game, it is so knockina. ., ,, , ., , ., ., knocking. have you been able to wear one of the body _ knocking. have you been able to wear one of the body comes _ knocking. have you been able to wear one of the body comes because - knocking. have you been able to wear one of the body comes because one i one of the body comes because one would assume this makes those players and supporters accountable for their actions? players and supporters accountable fortheiractions? i players and supporters accountable for their actions?— for their actions? i have not yet but i would _ for their actions? i have not yet but i would definitely _ for their actions? i have not yet but i would definitely welcome | for their actions? i have not yet l but i would definitely welcome it. for their actions? i have not yet i but i would definitely welcome it. i think it would really help the players see how they are actually treating you and seeing on the camera how they are acting toward you, whether that be aggressive, seeing how they react. d0 you, whether that be aggressive, seeing how they react.— you, whether that be aggressive, seeing how they react. do you feel ou have seeing how they react. do you feel you have enough _ seeing how they react. do you feel you have enough support - seeing how they react. do you feel you have enough support when - seeing how they react. do you feel| you have enough support when you seeing how they react. do you feel - you have enough support when you are on the pitch? is anyone looking out for you or your well—being? the lat on the pitch? is anyone looking out for you or your well-being? a lot of the time, for you or your well-being? a lot of the time. no- _

for you or your well-being? a lot of the time, no. sometimes _ for you or your well-being? a lot of the time, no. sometimes there - for you or your well-being? a lot of the time, no. sometimes there will be a mentor or someone like that and the coaches may pack you put a lot of the time there is not that support there, especially the lower league grass roots. it is hard to get support and help. if i am in a situation where i needed it, a lot of times someone would not be there and it can be scary at times when there is no one there.— and it can be scary at times when there is no one there. good luck and thank ou there is no one there. good luck and thank you for— there is no one there. good luck and thank you for talking _ there is no one there. good luck and thank you for talking to _ there is no one there. good luck and thank you for talking to us. - there is no one there. good luck and thank you for talking to us. it - thank you for talking to us. it sounds really difficult so let's hope these body cameras make a difference and make it more enjoyable for everyone but especially you. thank you for talking to us. killing eve starjodie comer triumphed at last night's 0livier awards — which celebrate live theatre. suit jacket, flung on suitjacket, flung on the back of chairs. 1am girl dancing. she picked up the award for best actress for her one—woman play — prima facie and praised the "complete sisterhood backstage".

0scar nominee paul mescal won best actor for his role in a streetcar named desire. speaking after her win, jody comer said being involved in the production had been wonderful. felt like a very spiritual experience. i don't think any of us could have anticipated the effect it would have on the relationship particularly with the audiences that we had. and it's interesting now, we are in the rehearsal room in broadway and we haven't changed anything drastically because she feels different because i feel different, because she feels different because ifeel different, ifeel because she feels different because i feel different, i feel like i've grown, you know? it's a really interesting process now, finding what we did and also having all these new discoveries so yeah. jodie, it there. the headlines coming up for you next but first, let's have a look at the weather.

here is carol. hello again. many of us started on a cold note, but with some clear skies and we're hanging on to a lot of clear skies today under this area of high pressure. so very settled conditions. but we do have a weather front making its way in from the atlantic. that will throw more cloud ahead of it as it does so through the course of the afternoon, especially and across the western isles and also northern ireland. here, too, it's going to be windy, gusty winds around the outer hebrides. breezy along the north sea coastline, east anglia, kent and the english channel. so feeling a little bit cooler here. but for most of us, the breeze is very gentle. now, temperatures today could get up to 15 degrees somewhere around the moray firth. but generally, we're looking at about 9 to 13. through this evening and overnight under clear skies. temperatures will follow quite rapidly. as their weather front comes in, it will bring thicker cloud in some rain across western scotland and northern ireland. so not as cold here, but temperatures freezing or indeed below for much of the rest of the country.

tomorrow then, the high pressure is still with us. these were the fronts trying to make inroads, not making a huge amount of progress, but they still will produce thicker cloud and some spots of rain across the north and also the west and still gusty winds here. we could have gusts as much as 45 miles an hour. ahead of that, we're looking at a lot of dry weather. once again, a lot of sunshine, sunshine turning hazy as the fronts try to push that a little bit further south and east across eastern scotland. and our temperatures once again, 9 to about 15 degrees, but not feeling as cold along the north sea coastline. wednesday sees a bit more in the way of an active front coming in, introducing thicker cloud and also some rain pushing steadily south eastwards. ahead of it, the cloud will build, but it should stay dry until later. and then behind it in the far north of scotland, it will brighten up, but that will be quiet later on in the day, highs of about 14 degrees. and then as we head towards the easter bank holiday weekend, we do have that weather front stalling for a time on thursday

in some eastern areas, but it clears, then high pressure takes over once again. so on thursday, in the east in particular, there'll be some rain around and thicker cloud. but then we see the sun return with highs potentially up to 14 or 15.

live from london, this is bbc news. i'm ben thompson and these are the latest headlines. russia detains a woman after a pro—kremlin blogger was killed in a bomb blast at a cafe in st petersburg. russia's wagner mercenary group claims it now control the embattled ukrainian city of bakhmut. but kyiv insists its forces still hold it. schools in england face further closures as the uk's largest teaching union rejects the government's pay offer and calls further strikes. from centre—left to centre—right, finland's conservative leader petteri 0rpo wins a nail—biting three—way election race, defeating prime minister sanna marin.

australia's prime minister leads tributes to one of the country's