voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. it's easy to forget more than a year into his costly invasion of ukraine but vladimir putin had some staunch allies amongst europe's political elite. ellis grown in italy, schroeder in germany come to mind. so too does make

yesterday, karen kneissl, the former austrian foreign minister who famously danced with putin at her own wedding in 2018. now, she lives in exile, forced out of austria, she says, by death threats. what is her story say about vienna's close ties to moscow and the impact of austria's new —— neutrality —— karin karin kneissl, in northern lebanon, welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much for your invitation.— invitation. it's a pleasure to have you — invitation. it's a pleasure to have you on _ invitation. it's a pleasure to have you on the _ invitation. it's a pleasure to have you on the show - invitation. it's a pleasure to have you on the show and l invitation. it's a pleasure to have you on the show and i | have you on the show and i think we have to start with

this question about your location. you were a senior member of the austrian diplomatic political elite, until recently. now, you've left your home country and you're in exile in lebanon. just explain to me why. well, when our _ just explain to me why. well, when our government - just explain to me why. well, | when our government literally imploded in 2019, all i wanted was to continue my academic work and publishing, but i had to find out that there was not a single contract and furthermore a lot of harassment, also the death threats, but the bigger problem, honestly, was this de facto prohibition to work, so i decided to quit and first, i went to france and now, i'm in lebanon and i cherish the freedom i have in lebanon. fist freedom i have in lebanon. at the root of it all, i think you would agree, are questions about your attitude towards, and your relationship with, the

putin regime in moscow. so, let's get to that immediately. when you came into office has foreign minister, how would you describe your attitude toward vladimir putin?— vladimir putin? well, when i came into — vladimir putin? well, when i came into office _ vladimir putin? well, when i came into office in _ vladimir putin? well, when i| came into office in december 2017, my determination was to conduct a neutral foreign policy, and there were three big chapters i wanted to start. 0ne big chapters i wanted to start. one was reopening our relations with turkiye, turkey, which had been suffering a lot. i wanted to bring more geopolitics into ourforeign policy, like our foreign policy, like opening ourforeign policy, like opening up a china desk, which we have not had at that time. and as a neutral country, starting a strategic dialogue both with the russian federation and the united states of america. the dialogue with russia, and will be called

it a dialogue. these were the three biggest chapters we started with. i three biggest chapters we started with.— three biggest chapters we started with. i think what is really striking _ started with. i think what is really striking to _ started with. i think what is really striking to me - started with. i think what is really striking to me is - started with. i think what is really striking to me is you | really striking to me is you were nominated to be foreign minister by the far right fpo freedom party in austria and they signed a cooperation agreement with putin's party united russia and the party leader, the freedom party leader, the freedom party leader said he opposed economic sanctions against russia, which many of them had been brought in after the annexation of crimea in 2014. now, he wanted you to be foreign minister so presumably, you are deeply sympathetic to those particular policy positions, were you? mat policy positions, were you? not necessarily. _ policy positions, were you? iirrt necessarily, because many in the fpo actually disapproved of my rather independent work, such as looking for an appointment with ankara and when it came to russia, this

was one topic among others —— apporachement. i was one topic among others -- apporachement.— apporachement. i want to talk about russia. _ apporachement. i want to talk about russia. at _ apporachement. i want to talk about russia. at that - apporachement. i want to talk about russia. at that time - apporachement. i want to talk about russia. at that time did you oppose after the invasion of parts of east ukraine and the annexation of crimea, did you oppose the intensifying eu sanctions against britain? what sanctions against britain? what we did and _ sanctions against britain? what we did and what _ sanctions against britain? what we did and what had _ sanctions against britain? what we did and what had been - we did and what had been started prior to my nomination was an economic and civil society dialogue within the framework of the sanctions, so the sanctions ofjuly 2014 by the sanctions ofjuly 2014 by the european union were in force but within the framework of those sanctions and we worked only within that framework, we started to conduct a civil society dialogue and just like germany did with the st petersburg dialogue or france with their dialogue. i dialogue or france with their dialouue. , , dialogue or france with their dialouue. ,, ., �* dialogue. i guess what i'm caettin dialogue. i guess what i'm getting too _ dialogue. i guess what i'm getting too is _ dialogue. i guess what i'm getting too is mood - dialogue. i guess what i'm getting too is mood music| dialogue. i guess what i'm - getting too is mood music and tone, as well as specifics. for example, in 2018, and this is soon after the british

government, and other european governments have no doubt that putin ordered the poisoning of a former kgb agent in the united kingdom by the name of serco skripal, after that, you, austria's foreign minister, chose to invites presumably your good friend vladimir putin to your own wedding. why did you do that? —— sergei skripal. why did you think that was wise? i why did you think that was wise? ., ., ., , wise? i had informed a number of political _ wise? i had informed a number of political dignitaries - wise? i had informed a number of political dignitaries about. of political dignitaries about the wedding, members of the austrian government among them, and i had handed an invitation to president pridgen when he was on a state visit to vienna injune 2018 and to my big surprise he accepted the invitation, so that's how it started. �* ., invitation, so that's how it started-— invitation, so that's how it started. �* ., ., , ., started. and how many other leaders did — started. and how many other leaders did you _ started. and how many other leaders did you invite - started. and how many other leaders did you invite to - started. and how many other leaders did you invite to the l leaders did you invite to the wedding?— leaders did you invite to the weddin: ? ~ �* ., ., ., wedding? well, i'm not going to numerate now, _ wedding? well, i'm not going to numerate now, the _ wedding? well, i'm not going to numerate now, the invitation . numerate now, the invitation was really a coincidence in the

context of the visit during an exhibition we opened. but if you want to know, i also asked in order back if he would like to attend but he was on his, coincided with his summer vacation in sicily.— coincided with his summer vacation in sicily. jeremy hunt was not the — vacation in sicily. jeremy hunt was not the prime _ vacation in sicily. jeremy hunt was not the prime minister . vacation in sicily. jeremy hunt| was not the prime minister but vladimir putin was the minister of russia at the time that the eu countries were imposing new sanctions because of the fallout from the skripal poisoning. you then not only invited him but you chose to dante walks with him and gave him a deep curtsy and showed him a deep curtsy and showed him perhaps as much respect as any person could possibly show to a russian president. you were hammered in the austrian press for doing it. in retrospect, now, we are, what, four orfive retrospect, now, we are, what, four or five years away from it, do you think that was terribly unwise of you? no, it was not unwise _ terribly unwise of you? no, it was not unwise and _ terribly unwise of you? no, it was not unwise and i'm - terribly unwise of you? no, it was not unwise and i'm not . was not unwise and i'm not going to start now with this vehicle plus story that i've

been asked about beforehand in several other interviews so no, i don't regret that i asked president putin for a waltz —— mea culpa story. in response to that, i did what a lady does when she has danced with a gentleman. i made my reverence. would you dance with him today? yes. b. would you dance with him today? yes. �* ., ., ., , would you dance with him today? yes. �* ., ., .,, , yes. a man who has been indicted — yes. a man who has been indicted by _ yes. a man who has been indicted by the _ yes. a man who has been i indicted by the international criminal court, suspected of war crimes?— criminal court, suspected of war crimes? yes, what has the one with the — war crimes? yes, what has the one with the other— war crimes? yes, what has the one with the other thing - war crimes? yes, what has the one with the other thing to - war crimes? yes, what has the | one with the other thing to do? well, i must say i'm a little bit surprised that i suspected war criminals would be welcome at your wedding, where you to be having one, and you would be looking forward to dancing with him. ~ looking forward to dancing with him. . ., , ., looking forward to dancing with him. ~ ., ,., ., him. well, about the war crimes. _ him. well, about the war crimes. you _ him. well, about the war crimes, you see, - him. well, about the war crimes, you see, i- him. well, about the war| crimes, you see, i would, him. well, about the war- crimes, you see, i would, for instance, like to seejulian assange, who has compiled a number of documents about war criminals and some of them may be also related to high—ranking

british soldiers, but i don't, i'm not going now to enter into this whole war criminal indictment because we have plenty of war criminals within high—ranking political circles. so just to high—ranking political circles. sojust to get high—ranking political circles. so just to get to the point, i suppose, the basic one point, today, with everything that has happened over the last 15 months in ukraine, still regard vladimir putin as a friend whom you'd like to see it a social occasion? i you'd like to see it a social occasion?— you'd like to see it a social occasion? i am very careful with the — occasion? i am very careful with the notion of - occasion? i am very careful with the notion of friend. i with the notion of friend. because a friend is somebody who you would call at four o'clock in the morning because your car is broken, for instance. i have met president putin at several occasions. last time i met him was in may 2019 on the occasion of the signing of the sorter dialogue and i accompanied the austrian president and just as a little

reminder, the austrian president's then invited president putin tojoin him president's then invited president putin to join him for the salzburg festival in 2020, so everybody was very much excited in 2019, 2020, to have president putin at the salzburg festival, gazprom paid for the whole thing, but the context of 2019 and 2020 let's take it in that context.— that context. there are many --eole that context. there are many people inside _ that context. there are many people inside austria - that context. there are many people inside austria who - that context. there are many. people inside austria who look at the very close ties which you perhaps symbolise more than anybody else, the really close ties between the political elite in vienna and putin's regime in moscow and they have grave concerns that it led to major strategic mistakes inside the austrian government. i'm just going to quote to you one foreign policy spokeswoman for the green party, over instituted, who said putin's fifth column in austria wanted to turn the foreign ministry, thatis to turn the foreign ministry, that is your ministry, into a russian battery 0scar doll.

were you in essence working for the russians?— the russians? no, i was not workin: the russians? no, i was not working for— the russians? no, i was not working for the _ the russians? no, i was not working for the russians. i the russians? no, i was not. working for the russians. and some of the austrian press have insinuated a number of things which had better be decided in court, and some of the person you quoted has been accusing me of running espionage networks so they're all kinds of accusations the room which should be decided at court. and no, i am should be decided at court. and no, iam not should be decided at court. and no, i am not working for a russian spy network.- no, i am not working for a russian spy network. you chose to raise the _ russian spy network. you chose to raise the issue _ russian spy network. you chose to raise the issue of— russian spy network. you chose to raise the issue of espionage i to raise the issue of espionage and i want to ask you because i'm very interested in the background, the evolution of your thinking. the is a former kgb agent, so shannon noll, who worked for the kgb until the early 1990s, later poisoned and he left russia and i believe he made a home in france, he said he elite of the paris school, the dna at the same time as

you. he said, quote, i had a lot of contact with karin, she was my classmate, she was prone putin long before she became foreign minister, and i got the impression and i woke this on her intelligence card that she could be a good candidate to be recruited by our services. that's a former kgb agent. that the kgb ever formally approached you?- the kgb ever formally auroached ou? ., approached you? no, nobody ever from any russian _ approached you? no, nobody ever from any russian embassy - approached you? no, nobody ever from any russian embassy has - from any russian embassy has formally approached me and in contrast to some western countries who were very eager to approach me. i countries who were very eager to approach me.— to approach me. i mean formally. _ to approach me. i mean formally, did _ to approach me. i mean formally, did they - to approach me. i mean - formally, did they approach you win anyway?— win anyway? no, i was never approached _ win anyway? no, i was never approached neither - win anyway? no, i was never approached neither formally | win anyway? no, i was never. approached neither formally nor informally. this person, who you just quoted, let's put this into chronological audio because there is disorder. we attended the dna in paris in 1992. that was the year when the soviet union was breaking apart —— ena. kgb actually was

closing down. and mr shkolov has been running from one media tv talking faster than other, making these claims that he had recommended me for the kgb which in 1992 wasjust recommended me for the kgb which in 1992 was just about to close down and mr putin, as far as i know, also left the kgb in 1992 so how could i have been a putin fan or whatever you just quoted him when, in 1992, there was not much crosstalk.. to be fair, he was not much crosstalk.. to be fair. he did _ was not much crosstalk.. to be fair, he did not— was not much crosstalk.. to be fair, he did not mention - was not much crosstalk.. to be fair, he did not mention putin, i fair, he did not mention putin, he did mention putin, but he had also said that he is thought you, given your mindset and attitude towards russia, would be somebody that the kgb might be interested in. crosstalk.. i'm prepared, you said you've never been approached. in said you've never been approached.— said you've never been a- roached. " ' .,, approached. in 1992, there was no russia. _ approached. in 1992, there was no russia, there _ approached. in 1992, there was no russia, there was _ approached. in 1992, there was no russia, there was the - approached. in 1992, there was j no russia, there was the soviet union, and mr shkolov has made these claims in order to get

attention or to be on tv shows. i never had any contact with him, apart from the fact that we attended the same academy and he was... we attended the same academy and he was. . ._ an l and he was... crosstalk. an active kgb _ and he was... crosstalk. an active kgb agents. _ and he was... crosstalk. an active kgb agents. you've - active kgb agents. you've explained _ active kgb agents. you've explained your _ active kgb agents. you've explained your connection active kgb agents. you've - explained your connection with him. thank you very much. you have other connections of course in russia, not least the fact that for more than a year you served on the board of state—owned energy giant rosneft. why did it take you three months after putin's all—out assault on ukraine in february of 2022, why did it take you three more months to decide to resign from that board? ~ , , ., board? well, vp is still a shareholder _ board? well, vp is still a shareholder in _ board? well, vp is still a shareholder in rosneft, i board? well, vp is still a| shareholder in rosneft, it board? well, vp is still a i shareholder in rosneft, it is 24 billion, i think. shareholder in rosneft, it is 24 billion, ithink. it shareholder in rosneft, it is 24 billion, i think. it is never notified its exit. so i'm not a person who quits when there is turbulence on the ship and that's why i stayed, but bp

you didn't feel uncomfortable sitting on the board of acro three is russian forces were invading ukraine? ilat three is russian forces were invading ukraine?— three is russian forces were invading ukraine? not at all, i didn't feel— invading ukraine? not at all, i didn't feel uncomfortable i invading ukraine? not at all, i didn't feel uncomfortable and | didn't feel uncomfortable and many others like bp don't feel uncomfortable like capital investment authority as many other shareholders, investment authority as many othershareholders, bp, british petroleum whatever you might call it is still a shareholder of rosneft.— call it is still a shareholder of rosneft. ., ,., , ., , of rosneft. the reason you 'ust told me didn't i of rosneft. the reason you 'ust told me didn't feeli told me didn't feel uncomfortable you are happy to stay on the board we can only conclude the reason you quit the board in the end was because the european parliament passed a resolution demanding the eu council imposed sanctions on you, for your place in the russian economy? is that what forced you to resign? is that what forced you to resi . n? . is that what forced you to resin? ., ., ,., .,, resign? the legal reasoning was on the russian _ resign? the legal reasoning was on the russian side, _ resign? the legal reasoning was on the russian side, around i resign? the legal reasoning was on the russian side, around 20 | on the russian side, around 20

15th of may last year, all eu passport holders had to quit the companies. so that was a different story and i quit, i think it was 25 may, when all eu passport holders wither on the board or in the executive, could not anymore remain. there is no point _ could not anymore remain. there is no point of— could not anymore remain. there is no point of principle _ could not anymore remain. there is no point of principle for - is no point of principle for you here, let's talk about some principles. is it for you a clear principle that russia would that invasion of ukraine, beginning february 2022, has committed an egregious violation of international law? any time a war breaks out as a failure of diplomacy... that any time a war breaks out as a failure of diplomacy. . .- failure of diplomacy... that is not my question? _ failure of diplomacy... that is not my question? it - failure of diplomacy... that is not my question? it is - failure of diplomacy... that is not my question? it is very i not my question? it is very simple. not my question? it is very simle. , , simple. yes, can you please re eat simple. yes, can you please repeat your _ simple. yes, can you please repeat your question - simple. yes, can you please. repeat your question because (inaudible question) does russia's all—out brutal invasion of ukraine from

february 2022 represent an egregious violation of international law and your opinion?— international law and your oinion? ., ., , opinion? any kind of outbreak of war is a _ opinion? any kind of outbreak of war is a violation _ opinion? any kind of outbreak of war is a violation of- of war is a violation of international law. and i have said that before. i'm asking you whether the russian invasion is in your view. yes the russian _ invasion is in your view. yes the russian invasion - invasion is in your view. jazz the russian invasion like any outbreak of war, is a violation of international law, yes, that is what i just of international law, yes, that is what ijust replied. find is what i 'ust replied. and would is what ijust replied. and would you _ is what ijust replied. and would you like _ is what ijust replied. and would you like to - is what ijust replied. and would you like to see i is what ijust replied. and would you like to see vladimir putin before the international criminal court in the hague, the un has presented there its independent international commission of enquiry, overwhelming evidence of a whole series of suspected russian war crimes, in particular he is charged with responsibility for the deportation of thousands of children to russia. the evidence goes much further, do you want to see him at the hague? you want to see him at the haaue? ., ., �* ., ., you want to see him at the hauue? ., ., �* ., ., , hague? no, i don't want to see

him in the — hague? no, i don't want to see him in the hague, _ hague? no, i don't want to see him in the hague, again, i hague? no, i don't want to see him in the hague, again, as. hague? no, i don't want to see him in the hague, again, as i l him in the hague, again, as i just said before i would like to see julian assange free, that would be something i would like to see. i that would be something i would like to see-— like to see. i 'ust wonder why ou are like to see. i 'ust wonder why like to see. i just wonder why you are so unwilling - like to see. i just wonder why you are so unwilling to i like to see. i just wonder why | you are so unwilling to answer these direct questions. julian assange is an interesting subject but it is not for this. do you think there is a case to be made that vladimir putin is responsible for war crimes? but, first of all let me respond as a legal scholar, i have studied law and i have dedicated a lot of my work in the legal officer of the minister of foreign affairs also to the creation of the international crime court, i was involved in that in the 19905, was involved in that in the 1990s, and one of my first actions as minister was to increase our prosecutions to the icc, i have always been in favour of pursuing international crimes. but let me just

international crimes. but let mejust remind you, international crimes. but let me just remind you, that a number of states have not signed and ratified the founding charter for the signed and ratified the founding charterfor the icc, founding charter for the icc, so founding charterfor the icc, so it has nojurisdiction for president putin, and this is my firm on gnostic response is a legal scholar. firm on gnostic response is a legalscholar. —— firm on gnostic response is a legal scholar. —— formalistic response. it legal scholar. -- formalistic response-— response. it is interesting that austria _ response. it is interesting that austria is _ response. it is interesting that austria is normally i that austria is normally diplomatically neutral. you represented that neutrality as foreign minister but you are not neutral anymore, it is fair to say you make contributions to say you make contributions to the state run russia to date media network which is controlled ultimately by the kremlin. you make many visits to moscow and you are constantly criticising european leaders for their sending of weapons to ukraine. so you have taken a side, haven't you? yes. taken a side, haven't you? yes, i have taken _ taken a side, haven't you? yes, i have taken a _ taken a side, haven't you? yes, i have taken a side, _ taken a side, haven't you? yes, i have taken a side, and - taken a side, haven't you? yes, i have taken a side, and on i i have taken a side, and on many other issues, and i

refrained from commenting on australian domestic policy for a number of years, when i am asked i say i am not commenting on austria, but unfortunately as a country whose neutrality is not only a matter of national legislation of 1955 but also guaranteed by a number of international at, austria is not anymore neutral neither politically or militarily. what do ou politically or militarily. what do you mean _ politically or militarily. what do you mean by _ politically or militarily. what do you mean by that? i politically or militarily. what. do you mean by that? austria politically or militarily. what i do you mean by that? austria is not sending weapons to ukraine as i recall so many other european nations but austria like hungary refuses to do so. yes, hungary being a nato member also gives authorisation to the transit of weapons across its territory, while in austria we have around five transits per day, recently the number of battalion weapons reached ukraine and they were destined for poland, so the

list is long, but i would have liked to see a different, real neutral stance when it comes also to this military aspect, also to this military aspect, also let me recall the european union is now buying ammunition from a common front call the european peace facility. in eu country is bound by that and you can also discuss that ever since austria joined the european union. austrian strategist _ european union. austrian strategist and _ european union. austrian strategist and political i strategist and political thinkers think austria should be doing much more to help ukraine and should abandon this notion of formal neutrality, let's not get stuck on that, let's not get stuck on that, let's talk about a different list that might be learned from what has happened over the last 14 months. i havejust come from germany when the turning point 0laf scholz recognised with the ukraine invasion means germany has weaned itself off, russian energy. austria in december of this winter used

70% russian gas, isn't it dangerous and are responsible for austria still to be so dependent on moscow's energy supply? i5 dependent on moscow's energy su--l? ,_ dependent on moscow's energy su--l? , ., dependent on moscow's energy supply? is somebody who has been teaching _ supply? is somebody who has been teaching well _ supply? is somebody who has been teaching well and - supply? is somebody who has been teaching well and gas i been teaching well and gas issues for about 20 years i always said diversity, his liberty and liberty alone is a quotation from winston churchill also interested in oil and gas issues 100 years ago. we have seen austrian importing russian gas ever since 1968, by the way 0mb started... d0 since 1968, by the way omb started- - -— started... do you think that reliance _ started... do you think that reliance should _ started... do you think that reliance should continue? l started... do you think that i reliance should continue? you see it is not — reliance should continue? you see it is not up _ reliance should continue? you see it is not up to _ reliance should continue? you see it is not up to me - reliance should continue? you see it is not up to me to i reliance should continue? m. see it is not up to me to give any bias to the utilities companies, the decision—making process is one of the utility companies and some stakeholders

from the government. i have always said one should diversify, this has always been my attitude. aha, diversify, this has always been my attitude-— my attitude. a final thought, ou my attitude. a final thought, you write _ my attitude. a final thought, you write plenty _ my attitude. a final thought, you write plenty about i you write plenty about diplomacy when it comes to ukraine you say all weapons supplies to ukraine should stop, there should be immediate dialogue, there should be immediate peace talks that is the only path out of this crisis. you tell me, how exactly do you think this crisis can end, there is no more arm supplied to ukraine, they can't force russian forces of their territory, vladimir putin has annexed huge chunks of ukraine into russia. how do you believe that that can be the basis for negotiation and for peace?— the basis for negotiation and for eace? ~ ., .,, for peace? well, i do hope the chinese mediation _ for peace? well, i do hope the chinese mediation will - for peace? well, i do hope the chinese mediation will make i chinese mediation will make some starts, there are several points, one of them as territorial integrity for ukraine, another point is sanction lifting, it is also

mentioning ceasefires, so stopping of more arms delivery and we had the recent phone conversation between president zelensky and xijinping, may be russian diplomacy can start with some sort of breakthrough, but it should happen, first on a technical level. we won't see some noble words like peace being applied and happening immediately but i hope a ceasefire can implemented. it can only save lives and i think every soldier, every civilian who was killed from whichever side is one live too much that has been destroyed. this is my attitude not only as a diplomat but as a human being.- but as a human being. karin kneissl, _ but as a human being. karin kneissl, 11— but as a human being. karin kneissl, 11 on, _ but as a human being. karin kneissl, 11 on, thank- but as a human being. karin kneissl, 11 on, thank you i but as a human being. karin l kneissl, 11 on, thank you very much forjoining me on hardtalk.— much forjoining me on hardtalk. ., ., . .,

hello, there. looking at the weather over the coronation weekend, i think it's fair to say we've had a real mixed bag, starting on saturday, with the coronation itself, where, in london, we had, of course, rain. it wasn't that heavy — we only had five millimetres — but it was relentless, lasting for about nine hours, so very damp weather. a different story for sunday, many of us dry with some sunshine coming through, and it was the warmest day of the year so far, with highs of 21.3. but how warm is that? well, if we look at the 7th of may, in previous years, up to that date, we've had much warmer spells. for example, back in 2018, temperatures had already reached 29 degrees at this time of the year. so, 21, absolutely nothing special for early may. now, on the satellite picture, what we're looking at here is this stripe of cloud, which is our next band of heavy rain that's going to

be moving through. indeed, it's already making inroads in across northern ireland, moving its way eastwards into scotland. england, in the west, and wales also, having a wet start to your bank holiday monday. it will be quite mild, though, temperatures about ten to 12 celsius for many of us, and then, through monday, well, you might well start off with a bit of sunshine across east anglia and the southeast of england, but this band of rain is on its way. the rain, quite heavy at times, perhaps with a bit of thunder mixed in, and even as we start to see some brighter weather moving in to the north west later on, there'll be lots of heavy showers, particularly for northern ireland, with a number of thunderstorms here. but those storms are also likely to be working to west scotland, as well. where we do see a bit of may sunshine, temperatures still into the high teens, so it still won't feel too bad. tuesday, it starts quite cloudy. there'll be some sunshine comes through for a time, but then big showers. northern ireland, wales and southern counties of england quite likely to see some big thunderstorms, and some of those will have hail mixed in with them, as well. still, there will be some places that dodge the downpours, and with

temperatures still into the upper teens, it won't feel too bad, if you're out and about. wednesday sees an occlusion, bringing some more general rain to west scotland and northern ireland. it's not the only place that will see rain, though, because, after a fine start across england and wales, showers will move from west to east, and, again, they're likely to be heavy, with some hail and thunder mixed in once again. temperatures still pretty much, at best, reaching the upper teens. thursday, we see further showers, particularly concentrated across england and wales. something a bit brighterfor scotland and northern ireland, but as you can see from the outlook, we are expecting it to stay pretty unsettled.

live from london, this is bbc news. the search for survivors continues after a tourist boat capsizes in the southern indian state of kerala, killing at least 21. russia has launched another wave of missile and drone strikes against ukraine. the capital kyiv and 0desa were among the targets. a concert fit for a king: windsor castle plays host to a star—studded evening of entertainment to celebrate the coronation. hello, i'm sally bundock. welcome to the programme. we begin in india, where

the search for survivors gone on through the night in the southern state of kerala