live from london, this is bbc news. we'll be live injeddah as ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky arrives at the arab league summit. syrian president bashar al assad will also address the meeting for the first time in more than a decade. leaders of the g7 countries vow to "starve the russian war machine" with new sanctions, on the first day of the summit in hiroshima. the brother of british television presenter, philip schofield, has been jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing a boy. police in australia order an independent inquiry after officers tasered a 95—year—old care home resident with dementia.

hello, a warm welcome. we begin injeddah where — in the past few minutes — ukraine's president zelensky has arrived on an unannounced visit at an arab league summit, just getting under way. he tweeted that he wanted to enhance ukraine's ties with the arab world and take cooperation with the saudis to a new level. the syrian president bashar al—assad is making his first appearance at the summit in more than 12 years, since syria was thrown out of the bloc in response to the suppression of pro—democracy protests and an enduring civil war — he arrived in the country last night we will speak to our correspondent injeddah injusta we will speak to our correspondent injeddah in just a few moments, we will speak to our correspondent injeddah injust a few moments, but injeddah injust a few moments, but in a big day for diplomatic

developments, this time injapan. now to japan, where the g7 leaders of the world's leading industrialised nations have begun their summit with a demand that russia withdraws from ukraine, and a promise of new sanctions targeting its economy. in a joint statement, the g7 call for russia to "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of ukraine". they also announce sanctions designed to "starve russia of g7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine" including restrictions on exports of items "critical to russia on the battlefield". one key industry is diamonds. russian diamonds were worth $4 billion in exports in 2021. the uk has announced plans to impose a unilateral ban on russian diamonds, following on the footsteps of action by the us last year.

downing street said so far, more than 60% of president putin's war chest has been "immobilised", worth about £275 billon or $342 billion. european council president charles michel is under pressure to try to persuade the 27 eu members to follow suit. here is what he said about the traceability of the diamonds. we will restrict trade in russia, they are for ever. we layout openly and frankly why these sanctions are necessary and justified. russian propaganda is built on lies and conspiracy. we are fighting back with the facts and figures. it is important to work on it. we need to put a system in place that will be efficient because we all know the challenge is to make sure that we

are against russia, not against ourselves. systematically, the principle we have tried to put in place is painful against russia in order to curb the war machine, not to be painful on ourselves.- to be painful on ourselves. those are the latest _ to be painful on ourselves. those are the latest sanctions _ to be painful on ourselves. those. are the latest sanctions announced by the uk on diamonds and other minerals that could form the centre of a new package of sanctions. we are expecting details more on that. the official talks get under way later. earlier, leaders visited the itsukushima shrine just outside the city. it's one of the most famous tourist spots injapan, known for this — the "floating" torii gate. posing for the official photo, the leaders of the us, uk, canada, france, germany, italy and japan.

and those leaders laid flowers at hiroshima's peace memorial, built to remember those killed in the atomic bomb attack on the city that helped bring the second world war to an end. we'll assess the growing concerns over the use of nuclear weapons a little later. lets show you what is happening in jeddah, this for the arab league summit. these are pictures... no, i'm sorry, this is the g7 injapan. apologies for that. this is the leader arriving, so lots of leaders have been invited to the g7 meeting, evenif have been invited to the g7 meeting, even if they do not form an official part of the g7. you saw the official

members in that photocall earlier. as we've been discussing, many other leaders had been invited to take part, some official, some on the sidelines. we note the important elements are of course that ongoing war in ukraine, to try and bring it toa war in ukraine, to try and bring it to a peaceful resolution, but two new rounds of sanctions aimed at crippling the war machine in saudi arabia. a pretty firm statement issued by those leaders of the g7. they said they want to stop russia what it needs. they have called on the country to unconditionally withdraw its troops. it is also worth talking about the significance of the g7 and dislocation at hiroshima, because japanese prime minister was born at hiroshima and has made it a key part of these

talks to discuss nuclear proliferation and an attempt to ratchet down nuclear weapons around the world. whether he will be successful is because of much debate, but that is one of the other issues they will be hoping to discuss because at the moment, many suggesting the risk of nuclear war at its highest now since the end of the cold war. as you can see, those are the pictures injapan, expecting to see the arrival of the indian leaders and their delegation to join those talks. let's get a sense of what has been happening. some ceremonial events, the real talks will get under way, there is a dinner held tonight. live now to our correspondent shaimaa khalil in hiroshima. we were looking at pictures of the other leaders, and you are telling us yesterday that whilst the g7, the

seven members are there, but they have invited others to try and tackle some of those key issues. that is right, it will be a bigger dinner table when all the other people arrive because in addition to the g7 members, australia, india, brazil, south korea, vietnam, indonesia and cook islands representing the pacific islanders have been invited. i think this is the japanese president making a point he was the g7 to be more diverse, to be less western centric and involve many other players, many other talks. and involve many other players, many othertalks. it and involve many other players, many other talks. it will involve difficult conversations, however, because we are looking at pictures of india's prime minister in hiroshima. the prime minister of japan wasjust in india a few hiroshima. the prime minister of japan was just in india a few weeks

ago. it is a key part of his foreign policy, but india is one of those countries which hasn't condemned russia's war against ukraine, which continues to buy oil from russia, which has said we won't stop relying on russian energy because we cannot cope with raised prices, we can't cope, we can't sustain another supply chain. and so i think we the g7 showing that show of unity, standing together with ukraine against russian aggression, announcing these sanctions to stop the russian war machine, as we've heard it being said, to stop their ability to sustain the military aggression against ukraine. there will be complicated conversations with other leaders who have a long—standing relationship with

russia, their economy relies on a. it is the japanese payments are's viewed to bring people to the table and have these conversations. volodymyr zelensky comes and it will make the point more poignant. what make the point more poignant. what do we make — make the point more poignant. what do we make of— make the point more poignant. what do we make of the _ make the point more poignant. what do we make of the statements from those leaders are meeting at the g7, calling on russia to unconditionally withdraw troops and military equipment and the portents of the entire internationally recognised territory of ukraine. we know volodymyr zelensky will address that the g7, but you would assume it would fall on deaf years in moscow. well, it well, and you wouldn't expect otherwise. it is about showing a united front with a message of unity around ukraine. i also think one of the other things to take away from the statement that

came about ukraine is about the nuclear message. there is a great deal of nervousness about the ratcheting up of the nuclear rhetoric when it comes to russia and china, but if you look at one of the quotes, this is an important line, russia's irresponsible rhetoric and stated intent to deploy nuclear weapons in belarus are dangerous and unacceptable. the statement says they expressed a gravest concern over russia's irresponsible seizure at attire radiation —— control of the nuclear station. the ceremony of the nuclear station. the ceremony of the place is so timely, this is a city which has experienced first—hand the devastation of a nuclear bomb, the devastation of an

atomic bomb, and we are now talking about that threat russia poses in ukraine. again, we are expecting not as nancy made that point in hiroshima, and him addressing the world will be hugely symbolic —— expecting volodymyr zelensky to address the world.— expecting volodymyr zelensky to address the world. let's take you to the other bigger _ address the world. let's take you to the other bigger bands, _ address the world. let's take you to the other bigger bands, the - address the world. let's take you to the other bigger bands, the arab i the other bigger bands, the arab league summit, the meeting taking place injeddah in saudi arabia. we've been seeing pictures of some of the arrivals, the crown prince has been shaken hands. batters after 12 years of serbia being suspended from this. let's go to our middle east correspondent. there's a lot of symbolism that will be seen right around the world that syria

readmitted to arab league after 12 years of suspension. there will be hopes this may bring an end to some of that conflict by bringing perhaps him in from the cold. it is of that conflict by bringing perhaps him in from the cold.— him in from the cold. it is a significant _ him in from the cold. it is a significant moment - him in from the cold. it is a| significant moment because him in from the cold. it is a - significant moment because he is attending the event for the first time in 12 years. it is a big victory for bashar al—assad. what is interesting is he will be in the same room as some leaders heading countries which had opposed bashar al—assad, including saudi arabia. but only recently there has been a shift, countries like omagh on working to bring syria back. it was a push for the saudi arabia, the leader of the park, to make it

possible. it doesn't mean anyone attending the meeting was in favour of it. out of 22 members, only 13 voted in favour of re—admitting saudi arabia. sorry to interrupt. you are with bbc news. we saudi arabia. sorry to interrupt. you are with bbc news.- saudi arabia. sorry to interrupt. you are with bbc news. we are at the arab summit- — you are with bbc news. we are at the arab summit. sorry _ you are with bbc news. we are at the arab summit. sorry to _ you are with bbc news. we are at the arab summit. sorry to interrupted. i arab summit. sorry to interrupted. explain the symbolism, because bashar al—assad being welcomed into the group has not gone down well with all members of the group. it hasn't gone down well with every member. out of the 22 members, 13 voted in favour, but there were nine countries not endorsing the idea, like kuwait. it was saudi arabia, the leader of the park and host, that pushed through and try to build

a consensus. for bashar al—assad, it is a victory because he's been out in the cold for the past 12 years. the only support he had was from iran, not part of the arab league. but now, and interestingly some of the members meeting of those countries who supported rebels during civil war, including saudi arabia. the shift started a few years ago, by the uae he wanted to bring him back into the fold. they could not build a consensus, and it was saudi arabia which made the push, after the earthquake in particular. it is a pivotal moment for the summit particular. it is a pivotal moment forthe summitand particular. it is a pivotal moment for the summit and more for bashar al—assad. interestingly, this may draw a line under bashar al—assad and his expulsion. irate draw a line under bashar al-assad and his expulsion.—

and his expulsion. we will see president _ and his expulsion. we will see president zelensky _ and his expulsion. we will see president zelensky address i and his expulsion. we will see president zelensky address in | and his expulsion. we will see i president zelensky address in his own country. what do we know about the timings of a when he will arrive at the summit? he the timings of a when he will arrive at the summit?— at the summit? he is expected any moment, at the summit? he is expected any moment. that _ at the summit? he is expected any moment, that is _ at the summit? he is expected any moment, that is why _ at the summit? he is expected any moment, that is why the _ at the summit? he is expected any moment, that is why the summit l moment, that is why the summit hasn't started. it was a surprise because we had no idea this morning he was coming. the focus was on bashar al—assad, who is going to make his first appearance in 12 years. now with president zelensky alsojoining, it makes years. now with president zelensky also joining, it makes the summit interesting. you have so thence keep coming face—to—face with leaders who are allies of russia, so how will it go and what will the conversation be? so then skee will use his platform to build a case for the end of a war —— zelensky. whether he will be able to convince the arab states, some of those who support russia and those who are adopted a

neutral stance. russia and those who are adopted a neutralstance. it russia and those who are adopted a neutral stance. it is interesting to see what president zelensky says during the summit, and of course, there will be focus on bashar al—assad, so these two men, there will be a lot of interest to see what they say. it's— will be a lot of interest to see what they say. it's stay there if ou can, what they say. it's stay there if you can, because _ what they say. it's stay there if you can, because we _ what they say. it's stay there if you can, because we will- what they say. it's stay there if you can, because we will be i what they say. it's stay there if l you can, because we will be back with you if we see president zelensky arriving. too big events happening, the g7 summit and the arab league summit. we will be across those stories and take you back live if there are any other developments. this is bbc news. vote counting has began in northern ireland's council elections, and is expected to take at least two days. all of the a62 seats are being contested. polls have suggested sinn fein may overtake the democratic unionists to become the biggest party in local

government for the first time. nationwide has announced a a0%jump in profits for the 12 months to april. the uk's biggest building society saw underlying profits before tax of £2.2 billion. the company's chief executive says the strong performance meant some customer accounts would be receiving payments of £100. the government is setting out a £1 billion strategy to try to boost the semiconductor industry in the uk. the investment, over the next ten years, is designed to focus on chip design and development rather than manufacture. semiconductors are an essential part of most of the world's gadgets — they are inside everything from phones to cars. you're live with bbc news. while we wait for president zelensky

to arrive, we will keep eyes on the pictures and right across a story of the g7 summit in hiroshima. world leaders gathering to discuss that war in ukraine. the two events side by side. we will move between them. let's bring you up—to—date with the latest news. in the uk, a former civilian police worker has been jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing a boy. timothy schofield, who's the brother of the tv presenter philip schofield, was found guilty last month of 11 sexual offences against a teenager. the 54—year—old from the city of bath denied the offences, which happened between 2016 and 2019. in the last hour, police have been speaking outside the court. the offences were first reported to us in december 2021 and within 48 hours timothy schofield had been arrested, interviewed and charged for the sickening series of offences. he was suspended from duty and misconduct proceedings against him were paused so that the criminal case could take priority.

following his conviction, a misconduct hearing was held on tuesday, the 25th of april and chaired by assistant chief constable will white. at this hearing he was dismissed without notice and he'll now be placed on a national barred list which will prevent him from working in law enforcement again. the victim in this case has shown remarkable bravery in disclosing the horrific offences committed against him, and the support of the police investigation and court process has been invaluable to us. we hope that their courage and determination will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward and speak to the police no matter how long ago those offences occurred. we want them to know that they will be believed and respected and we will always do our very best to bring suspects to justice. 0ur south west england correspondentjenny kumah was in the courtroom in bristol.

what was heard in court? well, before sentencing _ what was heard in court? well, before sentencing there - what was heard in court? well, before sentencing there was i what was heard in court? well, before sentencing there was a l before sentencing there was a statement from the victim which describe the impacts of the abuse, the fear, stress and panic and how the fear, stress and panic and how the victim had lived through a loop of fear and exciting tea —— anxiety. it was only when philip schofield was arrested he felt safe. phillip schofield had exploited the teenager's innocence and that this was wrong on all levels. the trial was wrong on all levels. the trial was heard last month, a week—long case with some distressing details. timothy schofield denied all 11 sexual offences but did admit that he watched pornography with the teenager, but he insisted the teenager, but he insisted the teenager was 16 and had consented.

the prosecution said there was evidence of abuse from the age of 13. we also heard in the trial timothy schofield speaking of his mental health struggles, he said he had been gay all his life and that he hadn't told anybody and this had been extremely difficult. but whilst the judge acknowledged his been extremely difficult. but whilst thejudge acknowledged his mental health difficulties, thejudge thejudge acknowledged his mental health difficulties, the judge said that was no excuse for the crimes. as you are hearing, timothy schofield worked as a civilian police staff officer, worked in it, he was suspended when the criminal proceedings began and he was sacked when the conviction came through. that conviction was welcomed by his brother, the tv presenter phillip schofield, who also said, a spot he was concerned, he no longer had a brother —— as for as he was

concerned. a 95—year—old woman is in hospital with life—threatening head injuries after being tasered by police in australia. this is the care home in cooma where clare nowland, who uses a walking frame and suffers from dementia, was tasered when she approached officers with a steak knife. the incident has sparked an outcry from the community who say the response was disproportionate. the new south wales police chief says an investigation is under way. at the time she was tasered, she was approaching police, but it is fair to say at a slow pace. she had a walking frame. but she had a knife. an investigation has commenced and that's called a critical incident investigation. given what was before us at midday on wednesday, this investigation was nominated as a level1 critical incident. if a threshold is met where it

changes from being a departmental issue into a criminal issue, we are certainly mature enough and transparent enough as an organisation to do what has to be done. 0ur sydney correspondent phil mercer brought us more details on this story. two police officers were called this nursing home in the town of cooma in new south wales, a short distance to the capital. they found a 95—year—old woman who are taking a serrated steak knife from a kitchen and was brandishing that night. the two officers and the care home staff members tried to calm the situation, but according to the police, this elderly woman was advancing towards those police officers and she was tasered twice, once in the chest and

once in the bark, falling over, fracturing her school, suffering a bleed on the brain, and according to family members, they don't expect her to survive these critical head injuries she's being treated for in hospital. that investigation you refer to what have to answer many questions, one of which is why the police felt threatened by a 95 ruled woman advancing towards them, using a walking frame. she was just five tall, so many questions for the police in eastern australia to answer. �* , ., ~' police in eastern australia to answer. 2 .,~ police in eastern australia to answer. 2 ., police in eastern australia to answer. 2 w, ., answer. let's take you to one of the two events — answer. let's take you to one of the two events we _ answer. let's take you to one of the two events we are _ answer. let's take you to one of the two events we are following - answer. let's take you to one of the two events we are following this - two events we are following this our, the scene injeddah in saudi arabia where the arab league summit is getting under way. you will know we've been telling you about the g7 meeting, which is entirely separate,

in hiroshima. leaders from around the world meeting. we been seeing the world meeting. we been seeing the saudi crown prince welcoming people. we will take you back there live. the focus on the shower mainly across the south but it will be a role reversal this weekend where it will be scotland and northern ireland seeing rain, but largely fine across england and wales with sunshine. today we have this cold front bringing rain. this feature will spark off some sharp showers. the main focus of the showers through today will be across northern england, the west midlands, eastern wales and down through the west country. if you do catch the showers, they could be slow—moving and thundery. some of the dry conditions found further north, with the best of the sunny spells across

scotland. if you are stepping up this evening, temperature setting in the mid—teens. a few sharp showers this evening, pushing west and fading away. 0utbreaks this evening, pushing west and fading away. outbreaks of drizzle pushing into northern ireland and scotland. temperatures tonight getting down to around 6—8 c, locally a touch lower with mist and fog developing. for tomorrow, locally a touch lower with mist and fog developing. fortomorrow, most places will see another try day because of the area of high pressure. we have this weather front in the north—west, bringing more cloud to northern ireland and scotland and eventually some showery rain creeping into western areas, which will intensify towards the evening. for much of the place, try and bright, patchy cloud, higher uv levels and temperatures getting up into the high teens and low 20s. a fresh breeze for the south—east. further ahead into saturday night

and sunday, this cold front is still there, but it is a weak future. more cloud for scotland's northern ireland on sunday, but not much rain, and for england and wales, anotherfine day. try rain, and for england and wales, another fine day. try and ride with sunshine and patchy cloud. those temperatures responding, into the high teens, low 20s, around 21 celsius. looking further to next week, it is luck and largely tried thanks to high pressure, and it should feel warm if you are in the afternoon sunshine. that is your forecast.

this is bbc news, the headlines. ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky has arrived injeddah for the arab league summit. syrian president bashar al assad will also address the meeting shortly for the first time in more than a decade. leaders of the g7 countries have vowed to 2starve the russian war vowed to "starve the russian war machine" with new sanctions, on the first day of the summit in hiroshima. police in australia order an independent inquiry after officers tasered a 95—year—old care home resident with dementia.