the chairman of the bbc, richard sharp, resigns after breaching the rules on public appointments. an independent report found he failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest before his interview for the role. i would like once again to apologise for that oversight, inadvertent though it was, and for the destruction these events have caused the bbc. —— for the distraction. also on the programme this lunchtime: at least 18 people have died after russia launched a new wave of air strikes on cities across ukraine. as a ceasefire in sudan is extended by three days — the foreign office urges all british citizens who want to leave the country to come forward quickly. this is the closest that we can get to the experience

of being an astronaut. we're with the european space agency's first—ever para astronaut, finding out about life in orbit for people with a physical disability. and ballet meets black sabbath — we see rehearsals for a new dance work set to heavy metal, in birmingham. and coming up on bbc news: new guidance on concussion. players at grassroots clubs should sit out for at least 2a hours, according to new advice from experts. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the chairman of the bbc richard

sharp has announced his resignation, after a report found he failed to disclose two potential perceived conflicts of interest before his interview for the role. an independent review looked at his involvement in an £800,000 pound loan guarantee for the then prime minister borisjohnson. richard sharp has insisted he only ever connected people, and said the review accepts his view that the breach was inadvertant. but he said he'll stand down injune because it would be a distraction for him to remain in thejob. robin brant has this report. he is the person appointed by the government charged with protecting and maintaining the independence of the bbc, trying to keep it above political interference. richard sharp has conceded he made what he called an inadvertent mistake, one that led some to call that independence into question. i that led some to call that independence into question. i have decided that _ independence into question. i have

decided that it — independence into question. i have decided that it is _ independence into question. i have decided that it is right _ independence into question. i have decided that it is right to _ decided that it is right to prioritise the interest of the bbc. i feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation's good work, were i to remain in place until the end of my tenure. i have therefore this morning resigned as a bbc chair to the secretary of state and to the board. he bbc chair to the secretary of state and to the board.— bbc chair to the secretary of state and to the board. he is gone because of a loan and — and to the board. he is gone because of a loan and what _ and to the board. he is gone because of a loan and what is _ and to the board. he is gone because of a loan and what is referred - and to the board. he is gone because of a loan and what is referred to - and to the board. he is gone because of a loan and what is referred to as i of a loan and what is referred to as a perceived potential conflict—of—interest. four men feature in the event that led to this resignation. at the time richard sharp was applying for the bbcjob in 2020, he made an introduction. you mentioned samba life, a millionaire businessman, to the country's top civil servant, simon case, so those two could discuss the guarantee of a personal loan of £800,000 to the then prime minister, borisjohnson. that was the end of his involvement. a month later, richard sharp was made bbc chairman. the independent report detailed the sequence of events. among its 25 pages, it described how

one separate occasions mr sharp informed the former prime minister that he wished to apply to be chair of the bbc board, before he made his application, and that he could make an introduction to someone who might assist the former prime minister with his personal finances. assist the former prime minister with his personalfinances. in its most critical concision, it said there was a risk that members of the public might form the view that mr sharp was informing the prime minister of his application because he wanted him to make a recommendation to appoint him. they might also perceive that he was putting himself in a position where he might, if appointed, putting himself in a position where he might, ifappointed, be putting himself in a position where he might, if appointed, be beholden to the prime minister. none of this need to be true. in to the prime minister. none of this need to be true.— need to be true. in my subsequent interview with _ need to be true. in my subsequent interview with the _ need to be true. in my subsequent interview with the appointments i interview with the appointments panel, i wish with hindsight this potential perceived conflict—of—interest was something i considered to mention. i would like once again to apologise for that oversight, inadvertent though it was, and for the distraction these events have caused the bbc. here is

the view of — events have caused the bbc. here is the view of the _ events have caused the bbc. here is the view of the current _ events have caused the bbc. here is the view of the current prime - the view of the current prime minister, who knows richard sharp well. he was his mentor in his pre—politics investment banking days. pre-politics investment banking da s. ~ . , ., pre-politics investment banking das. , days. when concerns are raised it is riaht days. when concerns are raised it is ri . ht that days. when concerns are raised it is right that there _ days. when concerns are raised it is right that there is _ days. when concerns are raised it is right that there is a _ days. when concerns are raised it is right that there is a proper - right that there is a proper process, _ right that there is a proper process, an independent process, that we _ process, an independent process, that we don't prejudge, we allow it to carry— that we don't prejudge, we allow it to carry on. — that we don't prejudge, we allow it to carry on, establish the facts, reach _ to carry on, establish the facts, reach a — to carry on, establish the facts, reach a conclusion.— reach a conclusion. that has happened- _ reach a conclusion. that has happened- he _ reach a conclusion. that has happened. he could - reach a conclusion. that has happened. he could have i reach a conclusion. that has i happened. he could have been reach a conclusion. that has - happened. he could have been sacked and should _ happened. he could have been sacked and should have _ happened. he could have been sacked and should have been _ happened. he could have been sacked and should have been weeks - happened. he could have been sacked and should have been weeks ago. - happened. he could have been sacked and should have been weeks ago. it. and should have been weeks ago. it was clear_ and should have been weeks ago. it was clear for— and should have been weeks ago. it was clear for everyone _ and should have been weeks ago. it was clear for everyone to _ and should have been weeks ago. it was clear for everyone to see - and should have been weeks ago. it was clear for everyone to see that i was clear for everyone to see that he had _ was clear for everyone to see that he had failed _ was clear for everyone to see that he had failed to— was clear for everyone to see that he had failed to act _ was clear for everyone to see that he had failed to act appropriatelyl he had failed to act appropriately in the _ he had failed to act appropriately in the process, _ he had failed to act appropriately in the process, and _ he had failed to act appropriately in the process, and it _ he had failed to act appropriately in the process, and it has - he had failed to act appropriately in the process, and it has causedi in the process, and it has caused untold _ in the process, and it has caused untold damage _ in the process, and it has caused untold damage to _ in the process, and it has caused untold damage to the _ in the process, and it has caused untold damage to the reputation| in the process, and it has caused - untold damage to the reputation and the independence _ untold damage to the reputation and the independence of— untold damage to the reputation and the independence of the _ untold damage to the reputation and the independence of the bbc. - untold damage to the reputation and the independence of the bbc. the i untold damage to the reputation and the independence of the bbc. the bbc board has insisted _ the independence of the bbc. the bbc board has insisted richard _ the independence of the bbc. the bbc board has insisted richard sharp - the independence of the bbc. the bbc board has insisted richard sharp is - board has insisted richard sharp is a man of integrity. he has admitted an oversight that has potentially damaged the corporation. it is an organisation battling to restore trust from its audiences and maintain the impartiality it believes is fundamental to its future. 0ur media correspondent david sillito is with me.

david, why exactly is he going? the phrase of richard sharp, an inadvertent breach of the rules which has led to a distraction. and throughout the process, i mean, there are no major revelations of fact in this. they are pretty much as we understood it before. he has always said, i'm going to fight this, i'm going to carry on. something has changed. i think there are two elements here. one is he said he had a meeting with simon case, the cabinet secretary, which left him in the understanding that essentially he was off the hook and didn't need to say anything more, he was in the clear. a statement was issued by the cabinet office today saying, no, actually, it is up to the candidate to be open and transparent about any perceived potential conflicts of interest. it was down to him. then there was the other element of it. definitely something has changed. we are aware that there have been meetings in the last 2a hours or so. the director and the bbc did pay him a visit

yesterday. certainly there seems to have been a change of mood somewhere which has led to today's resignation. we are now in a situation where another chairman needs to be appointed. you will be here until the end ofjune, but that is up to the government. here until the end ofjune, but that is up to the government.— is up to the government. david, thank yom _ let's get the reaction from westminster and our political correspondent helen catt is there. tell us more about political responses where you are, helen? richard shop's decision to design has saved the government in a sense from having to weigh in and make a decision on his future. it does in a way draw something of a line after yet another hangover from boris johnson's government, but of course, as you've heard, it hasn't stopped opposition parties from levelling criticism at rishi sunak. there have also been some criticism is politically of mr sharp, and his response here. damian green, senior conservative mp who can delete my chair is the culture media and sport

select committee, suggested that damage to trust in the bbc, to the public appointments process, and to mr sharp, his reputation himself, could have been avoided if he had been more open. the attention is now really turning to that process about how a new bbc chair will be chosen. lots of calls in westminster for that to be seen to be transparent, rigorous and independent. the snp suggesting that the post should not be held by a tory donor this time round. rishi sunak was asked about this earlier and said it was right to turn to the established appointments process when the time came to select the next chair. asked whether he could guarantee richard shop's replacement would be a nonpolitical appointment, he said they werejumping nonpolitical appointment, he said they were jumping ahead, there nonpolitical appointment, he said they werejumping ahead, there is an established process for all these things and it would be right that we turn to that when the time is right. thank you, helen. in ukraine, officials say at least 18 people have been killed in a wave of russian missile strikes across the country,

with the capital, kyiv, coming under attack for the first time in more than 50 days. president volodymyr zelensky described it as another night of russian terror. 0ur correspondent hugo bachega sent this report. as ukrainians left, russia attacked with force, a block of flats in the town of uman partially collapsed after being hit by a missile. burying residents under the rubble. translation: fist burying residents under the rubble. translation:— burying residents under the rubble. translation: �* 5: ii ., ., ., translation: at 4:30am we heard an exlosion translation: at 4:30am we heard an exalosion and — translation: at 4:30am we heard an explosion and came _ translation: at 4:30am we heard an explosion and came down. _ translation: at 4:30am we heard an explosion and came down. there - translation: at 4:30am we heard an explosion and came down. there were| explosion and came down. there were two very strong explosions at everything started to burn. in the city of dnipro, a woman and a daughter aged three were killed after their house was hit. in the q, after their house was hit. in the 0, there were missile attacks for the first time in over 50 days. the devastation could have been much worse if it wasn't for the work of the ukrainian air defence. the military said _ the ukrainian air defence. the military said all _ the ukrainian air defence. the military said all but two of the 23 missiles that had been fired were intercepted. president zelensky

described the assault as another night of russian terror. the attacks happen as ukraine prepares to launch an offensive to try to take back occupied territory. almost ten hours after this attack here in uman, there is still a massive rescue and search operation. in the last hour we saw a body being removed here from the site. minutes ago we had an update from the authorities, saying that 17 people were killed here, including three children. and reacting to the attacks, president zelensky said it was another night of russian terror, and that this would not be forgiven. thank you. you go bachega there in ukraine. the foreign secretary, james cleverly, has urged all uk nationals wanting to leave sudan to come forward as quickly as possible after a ceasefire in the country was extended for three days. nearly 900 british nationals and residents have so far been flown to safety, but at least 2a sudanese doctors who work for the nhs

have been stopped from boarding evacuation flights. the foreign office says only uk passport holders are eligible for the airlifts. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports from nairobi. the sudanese capital this morning, smoke still drifting over the city, the new ceasefire seems as shaky as the new ceasefire seems as shaky as the last, but for some there is relief. ., ., ., relief. so, our area has been relatively _ relief. so, our area has been relatively calm _ relief. so, our area has been relatively calm overnight, i relief. so, our area has been i relatively calm overnight, with relief. so, our area has been - relatively calm overnight, with the sporadic gun fights and engagements we can hear, but nothing too near to us. it is a very fluid situation, of course, and that can change at any moment, so we are hoping things settle down. the moment, so we are hoping things settle down-— moment, so we are hoping things settle down. _, ., settle down. the government -- for government — settle down. the government -- for government to _ settle down. the government -- for government to back _ settle down. the government -- for government to back trying - settle down. the government -- for government to back trying to - settle down. the government -- for government to back trying to get i government to back trying to get citizens out, it is welcome news. in portadown, and a director point,

hundreds gathered yesterday hoping to reach saudi arabia and pakistan. flights are also leaving the port, this one bound for turkey, governments around the world scrambling to evacuate their citizens. britain says anyone wanting to reach the uk must get to an air base north of khartoum as soon as possible. the government says the operation is running smoothly. that is not everyone's experience. the bbc has spoken to one nhs doctor with our uk work permit denied a place on a flight after queueing for 16 hours, just one of more than 20 doctors still stranded. i one of more than 20 doctors still stranded. ., ., ., ., , _ ., stranded. i am more than happy to wait for other _ stranded. i am more than happy to wait for other people _ stranded. i am more than happy to wait for other people to _ stranded. i am more than happy to wait for other people to be - wait for other people to be evacuated before me, but do not have any chance to be evacuated in this very risky area and this deadly fight, with all these years that i'm working since before covid, during covid until now, i'm really feeling so disappointed.— covid until now, i'm really feeling so disappointed. huge numbers of sudanese are _ so disappointed. huge numbers of sudanese are also _ so disappointed. huge numbers of sudanese are also on _ so disappointed. huge numbers of sudanese are also on the - so disappointed. huge numbers of sudanese are also on the move, i sudanese are also on the move, 20,000 having crossed into chard, seeking shelter in refugee camps

where conditions are harsh. they are fleeing the doorfor where conditions are harsh. they are fleeing the door for region, where tribal violence it is claimed to have claimed dozens of lives in recent days. the longer this crisis laughed, —— lasts, the more it threatens to tear sudan apart. our correspondent caroline hawley is in larnaca, in cyprus, which is the first place british nationals are being flown to out of sudan. just what is happening there right now, caroline? i just what is happening there right now, caroline?— just what is happening there right now, caroline? ., ., . ., now, caroline? i am at check in, and it is here that _ now, caroline? i am at check in, and it is here that we _ now, caroline? i am at check in, and it is here that we have _ now, caroline? i am at check in, and it is here that we have seen - now, caroline? i am at check in, and it is here that we have seen quite i now, caroline? i am at check in, and it is here that we have seen quite a i it is here that we have seen quite a few people come from hotels, people who have been flown in and then check themselves in for chartered flights to the uk. you can't see anyone at the moment but over the course of the morning we have seen quite a lot of people. i met two women who had newborn babies, 25 days old, who have obviously been

born and their first few days have beenin born and their first few days have been in extremely difficult circumstances. we don't have an exact figure of how many people have now been flown into cyprus. the figure was 897 as of late last night. we have been told there has been a steady flow of new flights in, and we think there are only about 50 people left in cyprus at the moment who haven't been taken to onward flights. then there was the question of how many more people will be able to get out. there was a turkish evacuation flight which was going in to land at the airfield in khartoum which was fired at, and obviously that will have implications, because the government has said all along flights will continue as long as it is operationally feasible, so you can imagine that they reassessing the situation. the current foreign office advice at the moment is that british nationals should make their way to the airfield to get out if they want to do so.—

way to the airfield to get out if they want to do so. caroline hawley in c rus, they want to do so. caroline hawley in cyprus. thank _ they want to do so. caroline hawley in cyprus, thank you. _ the national union of headteachers is to ballot its members in england about strike action, after rejecting the government's latest pay offer. the union, which mainly represents primary school leaders, has called on ministers to return to negotiations. the government say its offer of 4.3% next year for most teachers and a starting salary of £30,000, is fair and reasonable. nhs workers from the unite union in england have voted to reject the latest government pay offer. planned strikes involving unite members will go ahead at some ambulance trusts and hospitals next week. unite, which represents mainly ambulance workers and some hospital staff, has followed the royal college of nursing's rejection of a 5% pay rise for this year and a one—off payment for last year. members of the largest nhs union, unison, have voted to accept the offer. gmb is expected to announce its vote

result later today. inspectors say the metropolitan police force is still failing to investigate deaths properly several years after serious flaws were exposed in the case of the serial killer stephen port. port is serving a whole life term for the murder of four men and a series of sex attacks in london in 2014 and 2015. the met accepts it needs to do more to prevent something similar happening again. helena wilkinson reports. stephen port poisoned anthony walgate, gabriel kovari, daniel whitworth and jack taylor with an overdose of a date rape drug at his flat in east london between june 2014 and september 2015. he was also found guilty of a series of sex assaults against other men. an inquest later heard the met police made a series of mistakes in the case. the deaths were not initially

seen as suspicious by officers. today's report says some improvements have since been made, nearly eight years since port murdered his last victim. but it said officers still relied on luck to identify links between deaths at a local level. every year, about 50,000 people in london die. about one in five of those gets a police officer called. and so they're turning up to about 30 deaths a day. and they're still not doing the thorough investigation, they're not getting the right evidence, they're not asking the right questions. and for that reason, they're making the same sorts of mistakes that they made back in 2014. inspectors also found that officers at the force were still inexperienced, untrained and poorly supervised. there was unacceptable record keeping, with records of deaths having basic omissions, and that the force had been slow to listen and reluctant to change until it is forced to do so,

following recent inspections. stephen, this is serious. yeah, i know. inspectors also considered whether homophobia explained why the met did not investigate port�*s killings properly, but said it was impossible to reach any definitive conclusions. it did, however, say there were, and still are, homophobic officers at the force, and that there was a lack of understanding of the lifestyle of those they were investigating. responding to the report, the met police said it accepted it had more to do to minimise the chance of a case like port�*s ever happening again. helena wilkinson, bbc news. our top story this lunchtime: richard sharp announces his resignation as chair of the bbc after a report found he failed to disclose potential perceived

conflicts of interest before his interview for thejob. thank you so much for your time, everybody. i'll miss you. goodnight. and after eight years, james corden signs off from his star—spangled us late night talk show. coming up on bbc news, could we have another upset on the cards at the world snooker championships? si jiahui looks to topple luca brecel — the man who knocked out champion ronnie o'sullivan — for a spot in the final. a british paralympian and nhs surgeon, who's been recruited as the european space agency's first para—astronaut has been given a taste of what life will be like in orbit. john mcfall, who lost a leg in an accident when he was a teenager, is taking part in a ground—breaking project. our science editor rebecca morelle

joined john mcfall on a test flight. john mcfall is an astronaut candidate with a difference. he's an amputee — he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was a teenager. now he's working with the european space agency to see if a person with a disability can go to space. esa had announced that they were looking for an astronaut with a physical disability, and i looked at the person specification and i kind of went, "oh, yeah, i've got that... i like — yeah, i like doing that. i've got this degree, yeah. i can do... oh, yeah, that sounds good." and i was like, "wow, this is... this sounds really interesting." john's getting his first taste of space on a parabolic flight, where you experience periods of weightlessness. the flight works by the plane climbing extremely steeply. it takes a team of three to control the manoeuvre. the plane then arcs to begin its descent. here we go.

i joined john for his — and my — first flight. ooh! help, help, help, help, help! i'm spinning! we're spinning! i want to come down! ooh! it is like the ground is moving away from you. it's really hard to actually control where you're going. as you can see, it's hard to master, but this is the closest that we can get to experience what being an astronaut is like. john, how are you finding it? look at this! i mean, where do you get this? how has this happened?! 0h! and down. woo! this isn't the first time john's pushed himself to the limits. he's a former medal—winning paralympian, a sprinter. this was the first international race he won. for the last ten yearsjohn has been working as a surgeon on orthopaedic wards. hiya, sir. how are you? but his life is about to change. my name's john. possibly forever. john uses an extremely

high tech prosthesis. the parabolic flight is john's first chance to see how this responds to weightlessness. in normal gravity, if you look here, the knee bends... yes! ..under normal gravity. but when you go into zero—g, you'll probably see i'm floating around a lot with the leg straight because that gravity isn't there. are you sort of starting to predict what your prosthesis is going to do? each parabola is a learning opportunity. it is! and this is what the project is all about — working out what needs to be adapted for a person with a disability to live and work in space. john's not guaranteed a mission but this flight has whet his appetite. so, still happy with signing up to be an astronaut? absolutely, absolutely, yeah. you haven't made a terrible mistake? not at all. i can't wait. you really want to get into space now? this has given me even more hunger and excitement about doing it. it's awesome. so, forjohn mcfall, watch this space. rebecca morelle, bbc news.

the original central london hmv store is to reopen later this year. the century—old music chain shut its flagship store in 2019 after going into administration. the shop's return is being described as a "dramatic turnaround", with hmv returning to profit in 2022. the actress has won her high court battle with a british film company over the collapse of a movie she was set to star in. the french actress was supposed to play a soldier in a patriot, but the production was abandoned in 2019. the court found eva green was due herfee the court found eva green was due her fee because she didn't not renounce her contractual obligations. anyone with suspected concussion should be removed immediately from games of football, rugby and all other sports, and rest for at least 24 hours

according to new government guidance for grassroots clubs. the recommendations about head injuries say anyone affected shouldn't play competitive sport for at least 21 days after their accident. our health correspondent jim reed has the details. fast, fun, and at times, high impact. this team of under 15s are training hard in west london. your heads up here, yeah? that's where it's going to get, bang. here, players are learning how to tackle as safely as possible, how to protect themselves from a blow which could lead to a head injury. i think everyone kind of worries about getting injured. i think the main one that i kind of worry about is head injuries. everyone knows the risks of going into rugby, and everyone's safe with their tackles and how they conduct themselves. there's different i ways of tackling... at clubs like this, coaches say player safety has been transformed over the last decade. when i was a child, it was very much if you got an injury, it was,

right, get them off, bandage them up, straight back on again. and i think there was this sort of worry about being able to speak up. the kids, they have a voice now. that means in times of them having something like a concussion, they're much more likely to express how they're feeling. use it! the runner! until now, it's often been left up to individual clubs and sporting bodies to set their own rules when it comes to dealing with head injuries. now, though, new national guidelines have been drawn up to better protect children and adults across the uk. the recommendations, based on earlier scottish guidance, say a player with suspected concussion must be removed immediately and they should not return to competitive sport for at least three weeks. in rare cases, the consequences can be fatal. in 2011, ben robinson from northern ireland collapsed on the rugby pitch after multiple blows to the head.

ben's death was so preventable. his father said the attitude of some in sport still needs to shift. slowly it is changing. like we say, you can have all the protocols in the world, but if the culture of the coach is, "i need my best player up and playing", it goes out the window. it's reallyjust getting everybody the same awareness and the same education. it's hoped stronger guidance can now raise standards across all sports, allowing players like these to enjoy the game they love, while better protecting young heads and young minds. jim reed, bbc news. it's ballet but not as we know it — a new show is crossing pirouettes with heavy metal. the birmingham royal ballet is teaming up with the band black sabbath for a performance featuring head—banging dancers, and a guitarist on stage. our entertainment correspondent colin paterson explains.

# i need someone to show me... pirouetting to paranoid. # i can't see the things that make true happiness... i this is black sabbath — the ballet in their hometown of birmingham. the heavy—metal pioneers were never exactly known for their pas de deux, with ozzy osbourne famous for biting bats, not ballet. but the all—time dance great carlos acosta — who's now based in brum — had an idea. one of the things that i wanted to do when ijoined birmingham royal ballet is to bring awareness of the treasure that this city had given to the world, and black sabbath is a perfect fit. # can you help me occupy my brain? it is a subject that opens curiosity, because we come from the ballet world and then the heavy—metal world — what's going to be the negotiation? what will be the product at the end? and that excites me.

# has he lost his mind? the ballet, which will premiere in september, is described as a metal symphony over three acts. and, crucially, carlos persuaded sabbath's guitarist, tony iommi, to give the show his blessing. black sabbath — the ballet. why?! he laughs. why not?! how much did you know about ballet beforehand? not a dot. no, i didn't... i've never been to a ballet. # evil minds thatl plot destruction... how involved's ozzy? ozzy's not really involved. well, he's in the states anyway, and i'm the only one here. how is he at the moment? he's 0k. i heard from him a couple of days ago. he's... he's doing all right — i think he's going to have another operation. but he's dying to get back here — he's dying to, he really wants to come back to england. and see the ballet? yes, he might well be —

if he's back in time, he'll be... he'll be here, yeah. the birmingham run has already sold out, but there are hopes that the show will travel around the world. yes, black sabbath back on tour — ballet style! # i tell you to enjoy life... colin paterson, bbc news, birmingham. james corden has presented his last—ever edition of the late late show on us television. the british actor and comedian was a household name in this country when he took on the role, not least through his success with gavin and stacey, but was little known stateside. how much has changed in the last eight years. i'm james corden and for the last time, this, this is the late late show. james corden's show was a huge success, pulling in some of the biggest names in show business. from touring liverpool with paul mccartney. to parachutejumping with tom cruise. # oh, baby...

even the then first lady got involved in carpool karaoke. stars including harry styles appeared on his final night. i would never say never to that. # you filled it with thousands of moments ofjoy. # and now there won't be any more... signing off, corden said, "all we have wanted is to be a bit of light and levity at the end of your day. thank you for letting me into your home every night." time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. the bank holiday weekend is just around the corner and it will be quite mixed, quite typicalfor this time of year. it will be feeling warmer and there will be some sunshine around but there is still the chance of some heavy showers. a bit warmer today and brightening up, a drier day across the country after

the rain yesterday.