live from london, this is bbc news. flood and criticises some arab leaders over the invasion of his country by russia. —— volodymyr zelensky. bashar al—assad embraces the saudi crown prince as he attends the saudi crown prince as he attends the meeting for the first time in 12 years. the meeting for the first time in 12 ears. ., . y the meeting for the first time in 12 ears. ., ., , ., years. unfortunately, there are some in the world — years. unfortunately, there are some in the world and _ years. unfortunately, there are some in the world and here _ years. unfortunately, there are some in the world and here and _ years. unfortunately, there are some in the world and here and you - years. unfortunately, there are some in the world and here and you who i in the world and here and you who turn a blind eye to those illegal annexations. 1.1k turn a blind eye to those illegal annexations.— turn a blind eye to those illegal annexations. uk prime minister seaks to annexations. uk prime minister speaks to the — annexations. uk prime minister speaks to the bbc _ annexations. uk prime minister speaks to the bbc at _ annexations. uk prime minister speaks to the bbc at the - annexations. uk prime minister speaks to the bbc at the g7 - annexations. uk prime minister - speaks to the bbc at the g7 summit injapan where illegal migration remains top the agenda.

we will start in saudi arabia where the syrian president is due to address the arab league summit shortly. it is his first appearance at the gathering of more than 12 years after syria was thrown out of the block in response to its suppression of pro—democracy protests. basher al—assad was formally welcomed back by the saudi cramping is who said he hoped his presence would help notjust the stability of syria but the wider region. president zelensky also made an unannounced visit. he urged arabic leaders not to ignore the reality of what was happening in ukraine. anyone how defence has had to learn from invaders, and anyone can defends children of his nation from

enslavement, the search query is on the part ofjustice. and i'm proud to represent such warriors and the entire ukrainian people. ukraine has never chosen i would choose did not go to other lengths. we do not engage in annexations and plunder of other nations�* resources, but we will never submit to any foreigners were colonisers. that is why we fight, and i am sure all donations will understand this is our main emotion, and i'm sure all donations will understand the main clue i want to live here injeddah, a noble call to live here injeddah, a noble call to ranocchia to help protect our

people. i think some of the important points he made was he once cooperation and intervention from leaders. this was very interesting because there are many leaders have either taken a neutral stance and have not taken any sides in this role, and that is the message that president zelensky was trying to send, that he needs the co—operation, and even in the end he said, for the latest to establish a dialogue with ukraine, they should be in touch with them directly, they don't need mediators, so he was trying to reach out to the wider arab world. the eye of the significant comment came from the crown prince and said saudi arabia would like to play the role. we will return to samir _ would like to play the role. we will return to samir and _ would like to play the role. we will return to samir and that _ would like to play the role. we will return to samir and that he - would like to play the role. we will return to samir and that he was . return to samir and that he was telling us about president zelensky�*s speech. but let's hear

from the syrian president live now, the first time he has been at that eventin the first time he has been at that event in 12 years. a£111" the first time he has been at that event in 12 years.— event in 12 years. our efforts in terms of the — event in 12 years. our efforts in terms of the reconciliation - event in 12 years. our efforts in terms of the reconciliation that| terms of the reconciliation that preceded the summit. we have an opportunity to establish a culture in terms of the neoliberalism. the values of the people. and to identify ourselves, which is wrongly accused of being chauvinist, in a state of conflict with the ethnic and religious identities, and then this way it should disappear along with our communities. we have various headlines which are more than summits and speeches. it does

not start with crimes of the palestinians, and not with colonial expansionism of the ottomans, and it also goes hand in hand with the priority for other developing countries here. the room of the arab league is a national platform for the discussion of various issues and addressing them. the reform of this system and the roof of the charter and its internal regulations in order to keep abreast of developments. ourjoint arab action requires strategies and shared vision is another to be transformed later, and to executive plans we need a unified policy and clear and transparent mechanisms and values and in this way should be

pre—emptive and there will be a way out, not at all of its tours. regarding our daily crisis from libya and syria and sudan, and yemen, we cannot address. this is a result of larger headlines which remain untreated. we need to address the friction at the arab front, and not to deepen these rifts. we need to leave the domestic issues for people who are able to arrange for them. we need to stop the foreign interventions in our countries and to help them when required. as for

syria, its past, present and future is arabism, but it belongs and not for hugging, hugging will be ephemeral, but belonging is eternal. we may exchange hugs for one reason or another, we may exchange hugs for one reason oranother, but we may exchange hugs for one reason or another, but we cannot change the belonging, whoever does that has no belonging, whoever does that has no belonging in the first place, and what is in the heart is not a part of the heart. syria is an integral part of arabism, while we are holding this summit in a very stormy world, we need arab regional partnerships which have culminated in this summit, which i hope will be the next step for the newjoint in this summit, which i hope will be the next step for the new joint arab action for our solidarity for peace in our country and region, and for the development and progress instead of destruction, and for observing

the five minute duration of the speeches i would like to thank the heads who express their solidarity with syria and i reciprocate the same, and i would like to thank the custodian for the great role he has undertaken, and extensive efforts to maintain reconciliation and for making this summit a success, and i wish him and the cramp in and the saudi people continuous prosperous and prosperity. saudi people continuous prosperous and prosperity-_ and prosperity. thank you, president- _ and prosperity. thank you, president. so, _ and prosperity. thank you, president. so, the - and prosperity. thank you, president. so, the syrian l and prosperity. thank you, - president. so, the syrian president s-ueakin president. so, the syrian president speaking there- — president. so, the syrian president speaking there. let's _ president. so, the syrian president speaking there. let's have - president. so, the syrian president speaking there. let's have a - president. so, the syrian president speaking there. let's have a look. speaking there. let's have a look some of the key lines after that speech. you will have hurt in their touch on the five minute limit on the speech at the summit. he said he was glad to be speaking about summit, describing it as a historic

opportunity to address regional issues without foreign interference. that was his first take on this but suggesting this summit could be a forum for arab regional partnerships. he also talked about solidarity and peace in our region, solidarity and peace in our region, so an important address there, the first time that the syrian president has been able to address that event, given that syria was thrown out of the group, thrown out of the block, in response to that suppression of pro—democracy protests in 2011. that of course triggered an enduring civil war that killed more than 300,000 people. so damascus returning to that event, championed in the region, saudi saying this is an important part of the summit, one they hope will draw a line under the worst of the civil war in the country. but saudi also offering to play mediator to talks between ukraine and russia, another ongoing

dispute, they say they will host those talks should they be required. so lots of things going on right now, these are the images from a little earlier of the syrian president meeting with at saudi cramp and is. —— crown prince. saudi arabia keen to play a new wider, diplomatic role on the world stage but really welcoming president basher al—assad, syria was thrown out of that group 12 years ago. so lots of important developments, there is that summit going on, there is also the g7 meeting going on in hiroshima injapan, and that is where we were head now. leaders of the world's most developed g7 economies — gathered in hiroshima for a summit — have promised new sanctions against russia. they said the measures would starve moscow of technology, industrial equipment, and services that supported its 15—month war against ukraine. the us is imposing around 300 new sanctions which are expected

to target "individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft "across europe, the middle east and asia. the uk has also announced a ban on importing russian diamonds, copper, aluminium and nickel. the g7 leaders, who'll be joined at the weekend by ukraine's president zelensky, also laid wreaths at the memorial garden in hiroshima at the site devastated by an atomic bomb in 19115. from there, laura bicker reports. the shell of this blast—hit dome stands as a solemn reminder, a devastating testimony of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. a world without them will take more than an offering or a prayer. but the ghosts of this city have a voice, and they come with a warning. the leaders of the world's richest countries came to listen and laid wreaths at the cenotaph for the hundreds of thousands

of victims of the hiroshima bombing. before their thoughts turned to the nuclear threat from russia and the war in ukraine, survivors of the bomb have a message. listen to your heart's voice. what are you thinking of? feel that, underneath this ground, many victims still not found and are sleeping. future generations will suffer. if you don't work now, they will suffer. summits are always heavy on symbolism. talks here are unlikely to lead to a pledge to disarm, but they do aim to starve russia's war machine. we all believe in a world where people — we all believe in a world where people play by the rules and it's right— people play by the rules and it's right which stand up for those things — right which stand up for those things. we are better able to do that if_ things. we are better able to do that if we — things. we are better able to do that if we do that together.

the prime minister ofjapan has leveraged this city's tragic history and the g7 has come up with a strong statement imposing further sanctions on russia. but will that be enough? because while the west may have shunned purchases of crude oil from russia in the last year, the likes of india and china have not, and that means money is still flowing into moscow. respect for the past is framing a discussion about ending europe's current war. the g7 leaders will hear from the ukrainian president over the weekend in the hope that they can reduce the risk of another hiroshima. laura bicker, bbc news, japan. earlier, i spoke to tatsujiro suzuki, professor at the research center for nuclear weapons abolition, nagasaki university, and a senior member of asia pacific leaderhsip network about how the nuclear threat has to be at the centre of discussions during this weekend's g7.

the message from hiroshima is very important in terms of never us nuclear weapons, important in terms of never us nuclearweapons, but important in terms of never us nuclear weapons, but also nuclear weapons came from the world, so ending the is the most important message. ending the is the most important messaue. �* , ., message. and there is a huge symbolism — message. and there is a huge symbolism of _ message. and there is a huge symbolism of this _ message. and there is a huge symbolism of this event - message. and there is a huge | symbolism of this event taking message. and there is a huge - symbolism of this event taking place in hiroshima, of course the centre of the atomic bomb that helped bring an end to the second world war. and we know a personal connection from the japanese leader? yes. we know a personal connection from the japanese leader?— we know a personal connection from the japanese leader? yes. the prime minister comes _ the japanese leader? yes. the prime minister comes from _ the japanese leader? yes. the prime minister comes from hiroshima - the japanese leader? yes. the prime minister comes from hiroshima and i the japanese leader? yes. the prime i minister comes from hiroshima and he himself has committed to realise a world free of nuclear weapons, unfortunately, given the current situations, we cannot proceed with nuclear disarmament, but i sincerely hope that the prime minister has a personal commitment to move towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

ukraine isjust a world free of nuclear weapons. ukraine is just one flashpoint right now, there are tensions elsewhere, i'm thinking between india and pakistan, korea, tensions in the middle east, we have seen president al—assad arriving at that summit after the survivor that has engulfed his country. it's notjust ukraine, is it? i his country. it's not 'ust ukraine, is it? ., ., , ., , ., is it? i agree, all the tensions are increasing. _ is it? i agree, all the tensions are increasing, and _ is it? i agree, all the tensions are increasing, and because - is it? i agree, all the tensions are increasing, and because of - is it? i agree, all the tensions are increasing, and because of the i increasing, and because of the russian invasion of ukraine, i think people want more strong deterrents, especially amongst nuclear weapons, so unfortunately the current situation is moving towards nuclear disarmament but instead expansion of nuclear forces, disarmament but instead expansion of nuclearforces, that disarmament but instead expansion of nuclear forces, that is unfortunate. nuclear programmes in asia are expanding fast, and be under threat, just one single event could trigger

a nuclear. �* . , just one single event could trigger a nuclear. �* , , , a nuclear. and briefly, time is ti . ht, a nuclear. and briefly, time is tight. but _ a nuclear. and briefly, time is tight, but china _ a nuclear. and briefly, time is tight, but china is _ a nuclear. and briefly, time is tight, but china is also - a nuclear. and briefly, time is tight, but china is also a - a nuclear. and briefly, time is tight, but china is also a risk, | tight, but china is also a risk, potentially, maybe further into the future, but they will consider what risk china poses on a now knocking on stage right now to? yes. risk china poses on a now knocking on stage right now to?— on stage right now to? yes. i think that china and _ on stage right now to? yes. i think that china and us _ on stage right now to? yes. i think that china and us relationship - on stage right now to? yes. i think that china and us relationship is i that china and us relationship is very tense right now, we are concerned about the taiwan strait issue, and it is possible thatjapan and korea could be involved in a row happened, and that conflict may trigger an accidental nuclear war in this region. it is very important for china in the us to talk to each other, to minimise the risk of nuclear war.— other, to minimise the risk of nuclear war. ~ ., ., ., nuclear war. we will have more on offence still _ nuclear war. we will have more on offence still to _ nuclear war. we will have more on offence still to come in _ nuclear war. we will have more on offence still to come in the - nuclear war. we will have more on offence still to come in the next i offence still to come in the next half hour. but around the world and across the uk, 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 40% 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.

a line of breaking news relating to tesco, the firm's chairman is to step down from his role next month over allegations that were made over his personal conduct, he has said that there allegations risked becoming a distraction to the business, sojohn allen will leave tesco, the international, multinational supermarket group, he will step down over allegations related to his personal conduct. the business said it had conducted a thorough review of his behaviour, this was back in 2022, he said he found no evidence of complaints to that meeting, or in any of his tenure as tesco chairman. he had faced four separate allegations in relation to his personal conduct, one of which he unreservedly

apologise for what were deemed to be inappropriate comments made to a female member of staff. sojust confirming that news, he will step down as tesco's chairman, he would down as tesco's chairman, he would do so at the agm on the 16th of june, tesco telling us it is now looking for a successor to take over from him, so the tesco chairman stepping down to avoid those allegations becoming a distraction to the firm. 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. our sydney correspondent phil mercer brought us more details on this story.

two police officers were called to this nursing in the state of new south wales. it's a relatively short distance to the national capital, canberra. there, they found a 95—year—old woman who had taken a serrated steak knife from the kitchen and was brandishing that knife. the two officers and 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 back, falling over, fracturing her skull, suffering a bleed on the brain and, according to family members, they don't expect her to survive these critical head injuries she is being treated for in hospital. so that police investigation you referred to will have to answer many questions, one of which is why the police felt

threatened by a 95—year—old woman advancing towards them, using a walking frame when she was just five tall and weighing less than 100lbs. so many, many questions for the police here in eastern australia to answer. it's been five years since the government first promised school guidance for transgender pupils, and a union representing head teachers in england says without it many are operating in a vacuum. a survey commissioned by the bbc has found three quarters of teachers at secondary school in england teach a pupil who is trans or nonbinary. the department for education says it's important time is taken to get the guidance right ahead. lauren moss reports. school should be somewhere that every single person feels safe and happy. without official guidance to navigate what can be a tricky subject, schools like chesterfield high school in crosby have come up with their own for pupils who identify as transgender.

schools have been looking for guidance and advice. we've never had to face a challenge around it because we've been able to be quite thoughtful and very planned. and what i would hope that is that the government has produced a guidance document which actually means that schools know what they should be doing and their expectation, but it's in the best interest of the child. at chesterfield, between ten and 20 pupils out of more than 1,000 identifies trans or genderfluid. there are gender neutral as well as single sex toilets. transgender students get ready for pe in private changing rooms. it can be expensive to create these spaces and, without guidance, teachers and pupils are filling the gaps. it was a bit isolating, the school learning as they went. ellie is 18 and went to a catholic school and was the first to come out as nonbinary, not identifying solely as male orfemale. it's just really important that teachers and school staff feel like they know what they're talking about. if a student comes to them, they're not being given the right

information to be able to support people, they can't do theirjobs properly. using the daily survey app teacher tapp, we surveyed almost 7,000 teachers in england. 75% of teachers at secondary school said they teach trans or nonbinary pupils, compared with 8% of primary school teachers. almost three quarters of all teachers said their school would usually support a child socially transitioning, changing their name, pronouns or uniform. at secondary school, 39% of teachers said they support this regardless of parental consent. a report commissioned by nhs england last year said that social transition was not a neutral act and better information is needed about its outcomes. some parent groups have raised concerns about toilets and overnight accommodation on trips becoming mixed sex and say teachers aren't qualified to decide whether children can change their gender. the biggest concern - is that the school's keeping secrets from parents. while we do need to listen to children, adults- have a responsibility to ensure - that they don't make any decisions that they can never come back - from and might have lifelong effects

that the child wasn't able to realise at the time. i the priority for teachers is supporting pupils, and just 9% of those we asked said they feel there are adequate enough support services in place to refer children with gender dysphoria to. less than half said they'd feel confident knowing the next steps to take. just get that student to stay where they are... penny allen runs chesterfield's wellbeing unit. it's trying to de—escalate emotions and issues with parents. we've got the wishes and feelings of a child, we've got the wishes and feelings of a parent, there's legalities involved. the association of school and college leaders says teachers are working in a vacuum without guidance. the government's promised a draft will be published this term so teachers, pupils, parents and the wider public can have their say before it's finalised later this year. lauren moss, bbc news, crosby. more on all those stories on the bbc

website _ more on all those stories on the bbc website. �* . . . more on all those stories on the bbc website. �* , ,, _, , , website. business coming up in 'ust a few minutes. fl website. business coming up in 'ust a few minutes, stay i website. business coming up in 'ust a few minutes, stay with i website. business coming up in 'ust a few minutes, stay with us i website. business coming up injust a few minutes, stay with us here. . the focus of the showers today mainly across parts of the south but it will be a role reversal as we step through this weekend where it will be scotland and northern ireland, but largely fine across england and wales with warm spells of sunshine. so bringing outbreaks of rain. so the main focus of those showers through the rest of today will be across parts of the likes of northern england, the west midlands, eastern portions of wales, and then down through the west country. if you do catch some of these showers, they could be quite slow—moving and thundery in nature. and some of the drier conditions

will be found further north with the best of the sunny spells likely to be across parts of scotland. and if you are stepping out this evening, those temperatures generally sitting in the mid—teens. a few more sharp showers with us this evening. those will push westwards and fade away. and then some outbreaks of rain and drizzle pushing into the likes of northern ireland and scotland. temperatures tonight for many of us getting down to around 6 to 8 degrees celsius locally, a touch lower with some patchy mist and fog developing, too. as for tomorrow, then, most places will see another dry day because of the area of high pressure. but we also have this weather front pushing into the northwest. that will bring more cloud to parts of northern ireland and scotland and eventually some showery rain will start to creep into western areas, which will tend to intensify towards evening. but, actually, for much of england and wales, it's a fine story, dry and bright with sunshine and patchy cloud, higher uv levels and temperatures in the sunshine getting up into the high teens and low 20s. more of a fresher breeze for parts of the south east. looking further ahead, then, into saturday night and then through sunday, we still have this cold front with us.

but by this point it is a weak feature. there will be more cloud for scotland and northern ireland on sunday, but not really much in the way of rain and drizzle left on this. and for england and wales it's going to be another fine day, dry and bright, with some sunshine and patchy cloud. and once again, those temperatures responding in the sunshine into the high teens, low 20s, probably around 21 celsius at best. and then looking further out to next week, as you can see at the moment, it is looking largely dry thanks to high pressure and it should feel pleasantly warm if you are in that afternoon sunshine. that's your forecast.

the elephant not in the room. g7 leaders look for ways to curb the growing economic power of china. and to saudi arabia which is holding the arab league summit as we speak with president assad and president zelensky in attendance — we find out what's on the agenda. welcome to world business report. we have eight minutes of business news coming up.