live from washington, this is bbc news. 243 215 points! we have a winner! a historic end to eurovision, with sweden's loreen becoming the first woman to win the contest twice. i'm so happy and so thankful. thank you for this. this is for you, thank you. volodymyr zelensky and the pope hold talks at the vatican, but the pontiff stops short of directly condemning russia's invasion of ukraine. a ceasefire takes effect in the gaza strip after five days of fighting between israel and palestinian militants.

we start in the uk, where the wait is now over for eurovision fans. in the last hour in liverpool, the winner of this year's eurovision song contest has been annouced, with sweden taking the crown for the seventh time with loreen�*s song tattoo. this was the moment her victory was announced. loreen was already the bookies�* favourite but she now becomes the first woman to ever win the contest twice, after her victory in 2012 with the track euphoria. well, loreen led the way from the start of the jury vote. here she is with her winning performance of tattoo earlier. # to get closer to you. # you're stuck on me. # like a tattoo...

# to get closer to you. # you're stuck on me. # like a tattoo... # no, i don't care about the pain. # i'll walk through fire. # and through rainjust # to get closer to you. # you're stuck on me. # like a tattoo. # no, i don't care about them. and here she is accepting the award. only the second person

to win eurovision twice. how does it feel? this is overwhelming. i'm so happy and i am so thankful. thank you for this. this is for you, thank you. we are so happy foryou, loreen, bringing eurovision to sweden for abba's 50th anniversary year. it's so, so special. just after loreen was announced as the winner i spoke to our chief presenter maryam moshiri, who has been watching all the action in liverpool. it is so exciting, what a show. it is so exciting, what a show. it was absolutely extraordinary, and ijust love extraordinary, and i just love the extraordinary, and ijust love the way that eurovision keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last minute. all through the end, all through the voting, thejury through the end, all through the voting, the jury voting, sweden kept getting 12 points, 12 points, 12 points, over and over again. 12 points, 12 points, over and overagain. finland 12 points, 12 points, over and over again. finland were around fourth or fifth place, over again. finland were around fourth orfifth place, and over again. finland were around fourth or fifth place, and then we went to tell it voting. and

televoting changes everything, and clearly audiences from not only europe but around the world, even audiences in the us, could vote for eurovision, and they voted in their droves for fin that. so at one point and that was in the lead, but at the very last minute sweden's audience votes were counted. they needed 187 points to beat finland, and they got over 200 points, so history is made. loreen, eurovision legend, already the queen of eurovision, is now a two time winner. 0nlyjohnny logan from ireland has done that before. this also means that sweden is now a seven time winner of the eurovision song contest, and that puts it, again, on an equal footing with ireland. that puts it, again, on an equalfooting with ireland. so i guess next year we're going be heading to sweden. hopefully we can no be heading to sweden. hopefully we can go there _ be heading to sweden. hopefully we can go there together. - be heading to sweden. hopefully we can go there together. i - we can go there together. i would love a little trip to sweden. incredible how good sweden. incredible how good sweden is at eurovision. how many times they have one, like you said, loreen now only the second person to win this event

twice. what was it about this performance, do you think, that got the fence behind her and got the fence behind her and got the fence behind her and got thejudges behind her? i got the judges behind her? i think it wasjust got the judges behind her? i think it was just a beautifully written and executed song. the stage was amazing, the performance was brilliant. she had the longest nails i have ever seen in my life. apparently they had to be removed by nail technicians after every performance, but i think also, carl, it comes down to the fact that loreen is eurovision legend. in 2012 she won with that amazing song euphoria, and that changed eurovision. that really made eurovision. that really made eurovision a different kind of competition. i think to some degree the song is amazing, to another degree, loreen is amazing. when she is the queen of eurovision, and people have wanted to come out and honour her and respect her, and tattoo is a great song, but let's not forget finland also did really, really well. a brilliant song, cha cha cha. it was my

favourite. i can say that now, the competition is over. and in terms of the televoting it was the winning song, but it's just not quite enough to win the entire thing. but i know that everyone who is watching is going to think, look, all the performances were amazing and the show was amazing and liverpool has put on such a fantastic eurovision. everyone has been saying it, and i have to say, at the end of what has been a fantastic week, it has been a fantastic week, it has been one of the best eurovision is we have ever had.— is we have ever had. well, it looks like — is we have ever had. well, it looks like you _ is we have ever had. well, it looks like you have - is we have ever had. well, it looks like you have been - is we have ever had. well, it. looks like you have been having a great time there. the people of liverpool have been having a fantastic time. of course, we know that ukraine was meant to be hosting this year, because they won last year. just talk about the atmosphere in the city and how it has pulled everyone together. absolutely, carl. yes, _ everyone together. absolutely, carl. yes, i— everyone together. absolutely, carl. yes, i wish _ everyone together. absolutely, carl. yes, i wish you _ everyone together. absolutely, carl. yes, i wish you had - everyone together. absolutely, carl. yes, i wish you had beenl carl. yes, i wish you had been here to get a flavour of that atmosphere. because of course, as you mentioned, ukraine when the event in 2022. therefore they should really have held they should really have held the event in kyiv, in ukraine, but the war with russia meant that was deemed too dangerous

so liverpool and the uk stepped up so liverpool and the uk stepped up and stepped in. and you really mark the fact that it should have been in ukraine, they have been references signposting. there has been a real embrace of ukrainian culture, ukrainian music, ukrainian food. everywhere you walk in this wonderful city, you see the blue and yellow of the ukrainian flag. you see photography exhibitions of ukrainian photographs, you see bands playing ukrainian music. really, a lot of ukrainians that i have spoken to who have come here from all over the country to liverpool to be part of it have told me that liverpool feels to them like they are at home, and that really is a wonderful thing to behold. and also, in the show, there was a lot of referencing to ukraine as well. it all kicked off with the band from last year, and of course ukraine's performer had a stunning performance. didn't do as well as they did last year, but a great performance nonetheless. i but a great performance nonetheless.— but a great performance nonetheless. ., ., ., , ., nonetheless. i have to ask you before we _ nonetheless. i have to ask you before we let _ nonetheless. i have to ask you before we let you _ nonetheless. i have to ask you before we let you go, - nonetheless. i have to ask you before we let you go, did - nonetheless. i have to ask you before we let you go, did you | before we let you go, did you have a favourite memory or a favourite moment from this

year's eurovision? i favourite moment from this year's eurovision?— favourite moment from this year's eurovision? i did, and it is a really _ year's eurovision? i did, and it is a really embarrassing i it is a really embarrassing one. i interviewed — actually, wait a minute. one. i interviewed — actually, waita minute. i one. i interviewed — actually, wait a minute. i interviewed marco from italy, and he was delightful, to say the least. that was great. but the most embarrassing moment was when jedward, former eurovision contestants for ireland, who have been entrance twice in this competition, came here to the studio and just started dancing, booking and grinding with me, and i kind of felt, what am i supposed to... ma like a newsreader? am i supposed to be serious or am i supposed to be serious or am i supposed to be serious or am i supposed to get down with them? it was slightly awkward, and they replayed that sot are over and over on the news channel. so that was my most embarrassing moment. so that was my most embarrassin: moment. ., embarrassing moment. you never know what — embarrassing moment. you never know what will _ embarrassing moment. you never know what will happen _ embarrassing moment. you never know what will happen in - know what will happen in eurovision or what it will bring out of you. thank you so much for all of your coverage this week, with sweden now being crowned champion. thank you so much. while it's called eurovision, the song contest has plenty of fans here in the us as well. and this year, for the first time ever, americans and fans from anywhere in the world can actually vote, even if their own

country didn't compete. alesia michelle is one of those super fans. tonight she is the host of a large eurovision watch party here in washington, which she livestreamed on youtube. this was the moment when it became clear sweden was the winner. and alesia is with me now. you have been watching and live streaming all night. we saw that loreen was crowned champion. what was your reaction? just saw it, you seemed pretty excited. i reaction? just saw it, you seemed pretty excited. i had to take a moment, _ seemed pretty excited. i had to take a moment, i _ seemed pretty excited. i had to take a moment, i had - seemed pretty excited. i had to take a moment, i had to - seemed pretty excited. i had to l take a moment, i had to breathe in, i had to breathe out. you know, considerthat in, i had to breathe out. you know, consider that the thing. i know some people were maybe just thinking sweden isjust going to walk away with it, but let's be realistic. she did not walk away with this win. finland gave her a realfight. but yet she still was able to remain victorious and at the

top and is our eurovision 2023 winner. ~ , ., winner. well, we 'ust heard from mary _ winner. well, we 'ust heard from mary who _ winner. well, we just heard from mary who was - winner. well, we just heard from mary who was there . winner. well, we just heard j from mary who was there in liverpool describing loreen as the queen of eurovision. talk about her. she won in 2012. winning again this year, i believe she is 39 years old. really an amazing performance and an amazing eurovision career. i and an amazing eurovision career. ., �* , and an amazing eurovision career. . �* , ., ., career. i mean, it's amazing, and of course _ career. i mean, it's amazing, and of course i'm _ career. i mean, it's amazing, and of course i'm right - career. i mean, it's amazing, and of course i'm right here i career. i mean, it's amazing,| and of course i'm right here in dc. you can hear dc sounds around me, ithink. buti dc. you can hear dc sounds around me, i think. but i will tell you, i think that eurovision, if you look at eurovision, if you look at eurovision pre—2012, if you look at the eurovision song contest before she won and look at it after, it looks different. when euphoria one, that was a song that really change the way that the song contest was i think even taken injust by europe, so contest was i think even taken in just by europe, so the fact that she is now our second home second winner of eurovision — it actually doesn't feel that crazy, because she really was

someone who marks a moment in the eurovision song contest, now we are seeing it i think graduate again found another chapter, potentially. that graduate again found another chapter, potentially.- chapter, potentially. that is really interesting. _ chapter, potentially. that is really interesting. what - chapter, potentially. that isj really interesting. what was chapter, potentially. that is i really interesting. what was it about euphoria that changed eurovision? i about euphoria that changed eurovision?— eurovision? i think the fact that it was _ eurovision? i think the fact that it was something - eurovision? i think the fact that it was something that | eurovision? i think the fact - that it was something that was radio friendly. i think it was something that felt current. i think it was something that didn't feel like just eurovision. it felt like something that felt like, oh, this is just what people would be listening to in 2012. and i think a fair critique of the eurovision song contest is that maybe it was just a touch behind, maybe it wasjust maybe it was just a touch behind, maybe it was just three years behind, maybe it wasjust five years behind but the actual charts were. but if you look at 2012 and if you look at her win in 2012, it felt like something that, oh, no, we can hear this on the radio now. interesting. now, idid hear this on the radio now. interesting. now, i did an informal poll of my friends on whatsapp on whether or not they were watching eurovision this

year. no—one said yes. it is a bit of a struggle to get americans to pay attention, isn't it? how do you rate the amount of attention and found that you are seeing with eurovision here in the united states? i eurovision here in the united states? ., ., states? i mean, look, i am here in washington, _ states? i mean, look, i am here in washington, dc, _ states? i mean, look, i am here in washington, dc, and - states? i mean, look, i am here in washington, dc, and maybe l in washington, dc, and maybe where i am i have a kind of skewed perspective, because we have such a big international community here in dc, and i have to say, i'm from dc, so maybe that's why i might be partial to eurovision, but we had over 600 people rsvp between the semi—final events and the grand final, so if eurovision was something that wasn't happening in the united states before, i think it's harder to make that announcement now. getting bi aer announcement now. getting bigger and _ announcement now. getting bigger and bigger, - announcement now. getting bigger and bigger, and - announcement now. getting i bigger and bigger, and alesia, this was the first year, of course, that americans could vote. just briefly, did you vote, and who did you vote for? look, overloaded, buti vote, and who did you vote for? look, overloaded, but i am a strategic voter. i throwing all my weight behind sweden and

finland. i was wanting to support some of the countries that europe wouldn't give many points to, but i can't lie, i gave some points to finland, gave some points to finland, gave some points to finland, gave some points to sweden. well, loreen collecting all the points tonight, doing very well, and alesia michelle, american eurovision fan and post of a big—time watch party there in washington, dc, thank you very much forjoining us. thank you. well, ukraine is of course one of the eurovision hosts this year as they still deal with a brutal war at home. we want to bring you some developing news concerning the invasion. according to reports, russia attacked the western ukrainian city of ternopil as the ukrainian eurovision entry, tvorchi, who hailfrom the city, were about to take to the stage in liverpool. the ternopil regional state administration head says two civilians have been injured and warehouses belonging to commercial companies and a religious organisations were hit. just moments after the

eurovision 2023 final started, the air raid sirens sounded over almost entire ukrainian territory. most of the regions were on high alert because of missiles. people are advised to stay in bomb shelters. explosions were heard in the city of ternopil, which is in the west of ukraine. despite not being able to host due to the war, many ukrainians were still keen to follow along from home. this is a bar in kyiv where fans still enjoyed the competition all the same, and our correspondent hugo bachega has been speaking to some of them. frustrated, but because of the war, because of lots of people dying and lots of people losing their homes, businesses, relatives. it's hurtful in any case, but not in case of eurovision. yeah, eurovision is continuing, and we have our representative.

we have lots of countries that still participate, so we're all good. and we participate as well. i feel ok, because you guys as britain did a very good job, and we're really grateful that it's truly a ukrainian—british eurovision this year. so we watched with my friends, and we can feel so much ukrainian history and culture and energy on the stage, and it is amazing. maybe we did not even do such a good job in as we dud collaboration with the guys in britain. really huge support and i feel it here. i i don't expect some support from here right now, - eurovision, because we've already talked to this - we cannot show that. but now i see that half of the songs i are kind of about us and support us, - and this is really important. now let's leave eurovision and look at rome now, where ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky is on a one—day visit. he met the pope as well as

political leaders there. the italian prime minister, giorgia meloni, has promised to supply more weapons and money to ukraine. but that promise is not universally supported by her coalition partners, as sofia bettiza reports from rome. a grand welcome in rome. this is the first time that president zelensky has visited italy since russia invaded ukraine. on his arrival, he tweeted that it was an important visit for the approaching victory against russia. and it was a packed agenda. first, a private meeting with his counterpart, the italian president. translation: first of all, i am here to thank all - of italian society. unfortunately, i do not have time to shake hands with everyone or to hug them for the great support italy has provided to ukraine.

then a working lunch with prime minister giorgia meloni. as it is a just peace. we are not so hypocritical as to pretend that anything that resembles an invasion is peace. this is important because peace can't be achieved through any kind of surrender on ukraine's side. but it is not so straightforward. italy is a country that historically has strong ties with russia. and some members of meloni's government are not so keen on sending weapons to kyiv. after several political meetings, a private audience with the head of the catholic church. this is the first time that president zelensky and pope francis meet since russia invaded ukraine last year. the pope has called for peace in ukraine time and again, and even though he does not take political sides, this meeting is very symbolic. they spoke for a0 minutes, and both agreed on the need to continue humanitarian efforts towards the victims

of the conflict. the pope told mr zelensky he constantly prays for peace in ukraine. he cannot enforce peace, but he had can be an influentialfigure. severe bettiza, bbc news, rome. in other news: pakistan's former prime minister, imran khan, has called for supporters to hold nationwide protests. it follows days of clashes between his followers and security forces. mr khan repeated his call for immediate elections and told supporters they would have to make sacrifices for their freedom. earlier, pakistan's current prime minister, shahbaz sharif, ordered the police to arrest everyone involved in the widespread unrest. around half a million people are being evacuated to safer areas in southeast bangladesh, ahead of a cyclone forecasters say could be extremely dangerous. cyclone mocha is predicted to make landfall on sunday, with speeds of up to 170kph, and storm surges of to 12 feet.

palestinians poured out on the streets in gaza city as a ceasefire between israel and the militant islamichhad went into effect. crowds celebrated in the streets. emergency services and civil defence vehicles had their sirens blaring and lights flashing. the truce came into effect a few hours ago, signalling an end to the worst episode of cross—borderfire in the last years. the agreement, brokered by egypt, follows five days of violent exchanges which have killed at least 35 people, all but one of them palestinian. there has been no comment from the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, or other officials since news of the truce emerged. a palestinian source told the bbc that the new agreement included a commitment by israel to stop so—called targeted assassinations. israel has been demanding a complete halt to rocket fire by islamichhad at its civilians. joining me now to discuss the ceasefire is khaled elgindy, senior fellow at the middle east institute and the director

of its programme on palestine and palestinian—israeli affairs. thank you so much forjoining us. we were looking at some of those scenes in the gaza strip, people in the streets celebrating. it would seem the ceasefire has been welcome. what is your sense because hello there is no doubt, particularly in gaza, which has been under bombardment for five days. been under bombardment for five da 5. . , . , been under bombardment for five da s. . , ., , ., been under bombardment for five da 5. . , . , . ., days. gazans have been all over social media _ days. gazans have been all over social media talking _ days. gazans have been all over social media talking about - days. gazans have been all over social media talking about the l social media talking about the terror that they've felt over the past five days and so there is no question that there is a huge sigh of relief there in gaza. in particular since, obviously in terms of firepower, what israel possesses and can unleash is far greater than any single or group of palestinian at his

could ever inflict on israel. how fragile of a truce is this likely to be? i how fragile of a truce is this likely to be?— likely to be? i think is very frarile. likely to be? i think is very fragile- i — likely to be? i think is very fragile. i think _ likely to be? i think is very fragile. i think we - likely to be? i think is very fragile. i think we have - likely to be? i think is very fragile. i think we have to | fragile. i think we have to remember the way things began five days ago, a days before that we had a ceasefire agreement and then this week israel unilaterally broke that ceasefire agreements because it is, apparently for a combination of reasons, but a lot of it had to do with domestic pressure from the more extreme wing of israel's already very extreme government. there are people in the israeli government were not satisfied with the ceasefire before and wanted basically resume its policy of assassination. and that's how this ceasefire broke and then, of course, islamicjihad responded with various barrages

of rockets. so neither of these two sides have a particular good record in terms of keeping their commitments to ceasefires. we've seen a number of outbreaks in the past couple of outbreaks in the past couple of years. and all of this kind of years. and all of this kind of speaks to the absence of, at the end of the day, you know, there is no military solution to whatever the problems are. israel can't impose a quiet simply by bombing gaza. and, certainly, palestinian rockets aren't going to achieve anything other than more death and destruction brought on by israel's military. but all of this kind of point to the fact that there is no political process there is no diplomatic process, and there aren't really any responsible third—party act as beyond the

egyptians, let's say, who clearly have a direct stake instability in gaza because they have a border with gaza. but one glaring absence is the role of the united states. i think this outbreak has been met with sort of a collective shrug and the sides kind of, you... shrug and the sides kind of, ou. .. ,, ,, ~ you... crosstalk. should _ you... crosstalk. should the - you... crosstalk. should the doing . you... crosstalk. - should the doing more, is you... crosstalk. _ should the doing more, is there a political will in the united states to step in? we see egypt getting involved. i states to step in? we see egypt getting involved.— getting involved. i don't think there is any — getting involved. i don't think there is any political- getting involved. i don't think there is any political will- getting involved. i don't think there is any political will in i there is any political will in washington or, frankly, from the european side. there is a lot of fatigue about the issue. i think he biden administration in particular has downgraded the whole issue of the palestinians, 2—state solution, many people feel is no longer possible, and the administration pays lip service

to two stays, but isn't interested in pushing the issue. enlarged but because to do that would require seriously confronting and israeli government that is very, very extreme and has already abandoned the idea of two states and is, in fact, much more aggressive in his dealings with the palestinians on a whole range of issues. so the us administration does not want to pick a fight with the israeli government and, frankly, doesn't want to spend political capitol on the palestinians.— political capitol on the palestinians. ., ., palestinians. you mentioned at the beginning _ palestinians. you mentioned at the beginning that _ palestinians. you mentioned at the beginning that this - palestinians. you mentioned at the beginning that this is - palestinians. you mentioned at the beginning that this is a - the beginning that this is a truce that could be fragile. what is the key to at least extended if not permanent peace in the region? how can they get a ceasefire to find the stick? well, the key would be to connect the ceasefire to a bigger political process that addresses the core issues of the conflict, and they are many and they are actually

increasing. there is a 100 years dispute between israelis and palestinians. you have two national groups with competing national groups with competing national claims but only one of them has a state in quite a powerful state and the other half or so, 5 million palestinians, are stateless and living under israeli rule. so if there was a way to address that, two and 56 years of israeli occupation and, you know, then there would be hoped, but like i said, there is no political will to deal with these very difficult issues. there is no way to address the core issues of the conflict without putting pressure on israel and that's something that the united states, in particular, does not want to do. states, in particular, does not want to tie-—

want to do. never an easy solution — want to do. never an easy solution in _ want to do. never an easy solution in that _ want to do. never an easy solution in that region. . want to do. never an easy - solution in that region. khaled elgindy, seniorfellow solution in that region. khaled elgindy, senior fellow at the middle east institute and director of the programme on palestine and israeli palestine affairs, thank you so much for your perspective. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. for the vast majority of places saturday turned into a mostly sunny and very warm day. many parts of western england, wales, northern ireland, and scholars at temperatures up to 21 degrees. however, in eastern england underneath the stubborn area of cloud some places only got to 10 degrees. that stubborn area of cloud still with us for sunday morning, but it should break up more effectively for the day had to allow more sunshine and warmth —— khaled elgindy. at the same time as cold front was here from the north—west will bring range of bouts of northern scotland first thing and as the wishes of these was through the day it will introduce something a little bit cooler to the

north and of the uk. so through sunday morning this allowed to start off across central and eastern england should break up a little more effectively, rolling back out into the north sea. but this frontal system pushing southeast was out of scotland and into northern england and were swelled by the mid afternoon and behind that things certainly will be a good deal cooler. 1a for aberdeen, glasgow, belfast, day eastern england, 20 or 21 degrees. as we had through sunday night this weather from will push a little further southeast with and we will see this clump of cells drifting across eastern scotland and down into north—eastern england. actually quite chilly for monday morning across northern and western parts of the uk, four degrees in glasgow, for example. because as we head into monday and this frontal system clears through we will be left in some cool air, through we will be left in some coolair, quite through we will be left in some cool air, quite a chilly north—westerly wind around the top of an area of high pressure. that wind will be noticeable through the day. it will certainly make it feel chillier. we will see shows run and the east coast of england

and the east coast of england and was generally some scattered showers breaking up, particularly across central and northern parts of the uk, not as many down towards the south, but lower temperatures, 12— 15 degrees, actually a little disappointing, orat degrees, actually a little disappointing, or at least below the norm for this time of year. now, into tuesday there will still be some showers around, not as windy. so it won't feel quite astutely. 11 degrees for aberdeen. 17 the high end cardiff. there will be some spells of sunshine. as we head deeper into the week, a fair amount head deeper into the week, a fairamount of dry head deeper into the week, a fair amount of dry weather, high pressure never too far away, but there will be some weather systems bringing a bit of rain at times and it is set to turna of rain at times and it is set to turn a little warmer.

v0|ce—0ver: 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. oh yes. hello. 0h oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the _ oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the shy _ oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the shy schoolboy - oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the shy schoolboy who i hello! the shy schoolboy who became a _ hello! the shy schoolboy who became a global _ hello! the shy schoolboy who became a global celebrity. i hello! the shy schoolboy who j became a global celebrity. sir richard branson is a very british bundle of contradictions. the dyslexic who set up a student magazine. the record label founder who didn't listen to music. the 60s hippie who became a multibillionaire. today he's

got his own island, and his