live from london, this is bbc news. two summits dominated by the future of ukraine — president zelesnky arrives in jeddah to appeal for arab support. unfortunately, there are some in the world and here among you who turn a blind eye to the cages and the illegal annexations. syria's president assad is invited to that arab league gathering — we'll assess the significance of that after a decade of brutal civil war. meanwhile, g7 leaders injapan announce new sanctions against moscow — we'll have the latest. john allan quits as chairman of the uk's biggest supermarket, tesco, following allegations of inappropriate

behaviour by four women. welcome to bbc news. it is a day of two important summits, with the war in ukraine being the common theme. at the g7 gathering injapan, world leaders met to discuss a new round of sanctions against russia while, at the arab league meeting in saudi arabia, president zelensky made a surprise visit, urging those attending to support ukraine. he told the gathering injeddah that, on this, the asoth day of the war, the world needed to fight the virus of aggression from moscow, stressing kyiv would not give up any sovereign territory to achieve peace. also making the headlines at that summit president assad of syria — the first time he's been invited to the arab league since the devastating civil war that's blighted the country.

here he is — the official handshake and welcome from the saudi crown prince. more on assad in a moment and more on the g7. first, though, let's hear from volodymir zelenski. if there are people here at the summit who have a different view on the war on our land, calling it a conflict, i'm sure that we can all be united in saving people from the cages of russian prisons. unfortunately, there are some in the world and here among you who turn a blind eye to those cages and illegal annexations. and i'm here so that everyone can take an honest look, no matter how hard the russians try to influence. there must still be independence. in his speech to the summit, syria's bashar al—assad said

it was an "historic opportunity" to address crises across the region and he hoped for a new phase in arab coordination. due to the economy of the west, which has divided us, and we have tried to affirm that all of that intervention that the west. the resources and all of the violence. our diplomatic correspondent is monitoring the various strands of a very important day. let's start with that speech by president zelensky, very interesting, he was pretty blunt, he said there were people in that room who previously simply turned a blind eye.— turned a blind eye. that's right. surrise

turned a blind eye. that's right. surprise visit _ turned a blind eye. that's right. surprise visit overshadowed - turned a blind eye. that's right. | surprise visit overshadowed what turned a blind eye. that's right. - surprise visit overshadowed what we thought would be the main news event, the reintegration of president assad, but he came with a plea to arab countries to take sides, not to sit on the fence, to protect our people. he spoke about the virus of aggression, he spoke about ukraine defending itself against colonialism and imperialism, and it was a desperate plea for the arab world to look at itself and to in his mind take the side... take his side, take the right side. he was coming to a country that has close ties with moscow, but there were warm words for the saudis, who have also offered to mediate in the wall and who have also been involved in the release of ukrainian prisoners from russia last year, but a very interesting development.

interesting as well that he chose to turn up when this was a summit when we expected the spotlight to be on president assad, and assad of course owns the fact that he was at the summit to the help of russia, whose war planes helped defeat the opposition in syria and have caused so much destruction in ukraine as well. i so much destruction in ukraine as well. . ~ so much destruction in ukraine as well. ., ~ ., ., well. i will talk more about president _ well. i will talk more about president assad _ well. i will talk more about president assad in - well. i will talk more about president assad in a - well. i will talk more about. president assad in a moment, well. i will talk more about - president assad in a moment, but well. i will talk more about _ president assad in a moment, but we are seeing the pictures of president zelensky arriving injeddah. he was addressing that room, saudi arabia repeating the offer to mediate in the war, he said really quite clearly, none of you sitting here would give away 30% of your country to make peace, surreally drawing a clear line. fix, to make peace, surreally drawing a clear line. �* , . ., clear line. a very clear line. i think asking _ clear line. a very clear line. i think asking arab _ clear line. a very clear line. i think asking arab countries l clear line. a very clear line. i | think asking arab countries to clear line. a very clear line. i - think asking arab countries to take a moral stand and what is taking place and take a stand with ukraine.

and bear in mind as well, this is an area, especially the gulf, countries in the gulf have been accused of siding with russia on the oil issue. and they have upset the west by doing that. so i think a plea for countries to look into themselves and to give ukraine the support that president zelensky wants, and he is looking for support in all quarters, and he particularly wants greater support from the global south, and maybe you can include the arab world and out. ., ., , ., and out. returning to what you touched upon _ and out. returning to what you touched upon earlier _ and out. returning to what you touched upon earlier with - and out. returning to what you - touched upon earlier with president assad, you are right, there was a point where it looked like he would lose that civil war, until russia intervened to support him. he is now

backin intervened to support him. he is now back in the international fold, certainly the arab world, it's extraordinary, given everything that has happened, and certainly western leaders will look at what he said today and be disturbed by that message where he simply said, the world has moved on. the message where he simply said, the world has moved on.— world has moved on. the world has moved on- — world has moved on. the world has moved on- i — world has moved on. the world has moved on. i also _ world has moved on. the world has moved on. i also think _ world has moved on. the world has moved on. i also think it _ world has moved on. the world has moved on. i also think it was - moved on. i also think it was interesting him talking about a historical opportunity to address issues in the middle east without foreign interference, some irony there given that it was russia and iran that helped him win the war and put him where he was today. i think his presence there also sends a fairly disturbing message, certainly to the many victims of the syrian regime, i message that the dictator is authoritarian leaders, if you can cling onto power,, events you have been responsible for may be forgotten, and certainly the us, the were not keen on president assad

being readmitted into the arab fold, but mostly has many victims, this is a man who waged a brutal war, used chemical weapons against his own people and crossed red lines and actually did not get any consequences, which president putin may well have been watching that closely. so rape, mass murder and chemical weapons used, and now, there he is on the arab stage, so a hugely important diplomatic victory for him to be there, and we wait to see if that has any repercussions on the wider international stage, but he will be very happy with what happened today and he looked extremely comfortable and happy to be meeting the leaders, and he was all smiles there.— all smiles there. thanks for taking us throu~h all smiles there. thanks for taking us through all— all smiles there. thanks for taking us through all of _ all smiles there. thanks for taking us through all of that. _

leaders of the g7 group of developed economies are holding their summit injapan, where they've agreed new sanctions against russia. they're meeting in the city of hiroshima and visited the memorial to atom bomb victims just outside the city. the japanese prime minister, fumio kishida, was born in hiroshima and, amid concerns of nuclear threats from russia, he's made nuclear disarmament a key issue for the summit. so what have the leaders agreed? in a joint statement, they call for russia to "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops and military equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of ukraine." they also announced 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 libn dollars 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 dollars. the european council president charles michel is under pressure to try to persuade the 27 eu members to follow suit. the uk prime minister, rishi sunak, whom you saw there at the summit, said vladimir putin must be shown that his "violence and coercion" towards ukraine "do not reap rewards". he gave an interview to our political editor, chris mason, who started with a question on ukraine. a tranquil if rather damp setting for our interview with the prime minister — a traditionaljapanese tea house, carp in the pond outside. world leaders have gathered here to discuss the global economy, an increasingly muscular china and the war in ukraine. we've taken the lead on announcing new sanctions on russia.

i'm hopeful and confident that our partner countries will follow, as they have done when we've done this previously. that will make the sanctions more effective, ensure that russia pays a price for its illegal activity and, again, this is something we can be proud of in the uk because we have taken a leadership role when it comes to supporting ukraine. but rishi sunak was less sure of his answers on a big issue back home. david cameron and theresa may both promised to get net migration below 100,000. they failed. the most recent conservative manifesto talked about it falling, falling from a level that, at the time, was about a quarter of a million. the latest figures were half a million the new figures next week expected to be higher still. are you comfortable with that? so i want to bring the levels of legal migration down, let's be crystal clear about that. to what? i'm not going to put a precise figure on it, but i do want to bring them down. it's not crystal clear, though, if you can't be precise. well, we don't know what the numbers are going to be next week, or when the numbers are coming out. so i think it's right

we take stock of those. but what i want people to know is i am committed to bringing those numbers down. but i also know that the country's number one priority when it comes to migration is illegal migration. that's why one of my five priorities is to stop the boats. we are passing new laws in parliament to help us do that. sure. but i want to talk about legal migration. well, hang on, i think it's important, because i spend a lot of my time talking to people, and when it comes to migration, what i hearfrom everyone is the priority they have for the government is to stop the boats and to tackle illegal migration. that is why i am so focused on that issue. the latest migration figures will be published next thursday. the prime minister also said he acknowledged many people were struggling, and he wants to cut taxes, but couldn't say when. of course i want to bring taxes down. i am a low tax conservative, and i do want to see the tax burden fall. i particulary want to see people's hard work rewarded. but will it come now before the election? now, i never comment on tax policy, never ever, and i won't start now, but people should know that i do

want to bring taxes down. it's important right now we tackle inflation. that is the number one economic priority. the first of my priorities is to halve inflation. and while we are doing that, we are supporting people with the cost of living. here, though, the international agenda — security, trade and what to do about artificial intelligence. chris mason, bbc news, at the g7 summit injapan. 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 a0%jump in profits for the 12 months to april.

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 one—billion—pound 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. more reaction to that story here in the next hour on bbc news. you're live with bbc news. parts of ukraine, including the capital kyiv, have again been targeted by russian drone and missile attacks.

it comes as officials in ukraine say they're preparing for around half the population to need mental health support in the coming months, as a result of russia's invasion last year. it comes as the country's health system is already under strain, with doctors having to prioritise patients with physical injuries from the fighting. over to our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse in kyiv. it has been a week with such events taking place. it bears a weight. the concern as it could take up to 20 years to mentally rehabilitate an entire generation. we have taken a look at ukraine's akram prices. —— crisis.

for a soldier recently out from the front line, there is often a darkness etched across the ice. this man has fought for the past 15 months. he is at a recovery centre with his wife tatiana who has travelled 600 miles to be with him. we will suffer the consequences for the rest of our lives. i have pulled them out, they died in my arms, this will stay with us for the rest of our lives. will stay with us for the rest of our lives-_ will stay with us for the rest of our lives, ~ ., i: i: :: ~ ., ., our lives. around 2000 ukrainian soldiers came _ our lives. around 2000 ukrainian soldiers came here _ our lives. around 2000 ukrainian soldiers came here for _ our lives. around 2000 ukrainian | soldiers came here for counselling and physiotherapy last year, but this is just respite, and physiotherapy last year, but this isjust respite, most go back to fight after week. he this isjust respite, most go back to fight after week.— this isjust respite, most go back to fight after week. he has changed a lot, to fight after week. he has changed a tot. he proved _ to fight after week. he has changed a lot, he proved he _ to fight after week. he has changed a lot, he proved he was _ to fight after week. he has changed a lot, he proved he was capable - to fight after week. he has changed a lot, he proved he was capable of. a lot, he proved he was capable of many— a lot, he proved he was capable of many things. protecting us, standing up many things. protecting us, standing up for— many things. protecting us, standing up for ukraine, i can't find the words — up for ukraine, ican't find the words to— up for ukraine, i can't find the words to describe it. it is soon

time to say — words to describe it. it is soon time to say goodbye. - words to describe it. it is soon time to say goodbye. one - words to describe it. it is soon | time to say goodbye. one goes words to describe it. it is soon - time to say goodbye. one goes home time to say goodbye. 0ne goes home on the other to the front. the weight of this war is not contained to the trenches, ukraine is looking at the whole population. irate to the trenches, ukraine is looking at the whole population.— at the whole population. we are re arina at the whole population. we are preparing our — at the whole population. we are preparing our health _ at the whole population. we are preparing our health sector - at the whole population. we are preparing our health sector to l preparing our health sector to provide — preparing our health sector to provide quality psychological services for 15 million people, we hope _ services for 15 million people, we hope it_ services for 15 million people, we hope it will— services for 15 million people, we hope it will not be needed by every second _ hope it will not be needed by every second person but we are convinced the system — second person but we are convinced the system should be ready to react. with a _ the system should be ready to react. with a lack— the system should be ready to react. with a lack of psychologists, the emphasis on self—care. for this class, it means body therapy, where they share feelings before exploring touch and movement to heal. this man became a war photographer at the start of the conflict. i

became a war photographer at the start of the conflict.— start of the conflict. i have had to become start of the conflict. i have had to ioecome highly — start of the conflict. i have had to become highly focused _ start of the conflict. i have had to become highly focused on - start of the conflict. i have had to become highly focused on the - become highly focused on the present, _ become highly focused on the present. you _ become highly focused on the present, you need _ become highly focused on the present, you need to- become highly focused on the present, you need to when i become highly focused on the - present, you need to when you live through— present, you need to when you live through war. — present, you need to when you live through war. and _ present, you need to when you live through war, and the _ present, you need to when you live through war, and the skills- present, you need to when you live through war, and the skills i- present, you need to when you live through war, and the skills i have i through war, and the skills i have picked _ through war, and the skills i have picked up — through war, and the skills i have picked up in — through war, and the skills i have picked up in the _ through war, and the skills i have picked up in the class, _ through war, and the skills i have picked up in the class, i- through war, and the skills i have picked up in the class, ican- through war, and the skills i have picked up in the class, i can use i picked up in the class, i can use them _ picked up in the class, i can use them when _ picked up in the class, i can use them when i _ picked up in the class, i can use them when i am _ picked up in the class, i can use them when i am on _ picked up in the class, i can use them when i am on the - picked up in the class, i can use them when i am on the front. picked up in the class, i can use . them when i am on the front lines under— them when i am on the front lines under shelling _ them when i am on the front lines under shelling.— them when i am on the front lines under shelling. weather here in kyiv or anywhere — under shelling. weather here in kyiv or anywhere across _ under shelling. weather here in kyiv or anywhere across the _ under shelling. weather here in kyiv or anywhere across the country, - or anywhere across the country, millions of ukrainians have reported a deterioration in their mental health, anxiety, stress, depression, now, the state says it is doing what it can, this is a growing problem affecting all generations. and because of the ongoing war and the very nature of mental health, it is likely to be a long time before the full impact is realised. find likely to be a long time before the full impact is realised.— full impact is realised. and there are parallels _ full impact is realised. and there are parallels being _ full impact is realised. and there are parallels being made - full impact is realised. and there are parallels being made here i full impact is realised. and there are parallels being made here in| are parallels being made here in ukraine with significant conflicts of old, including the vietnam war and the world wars where you often

heard from a wartime generation talk about notjust heard from a wartime generation talk about not just the heard from a wartime generation talk about notjust the events themselves but life afterwards, lives forever changed, and i think doctors and psychologists here are increasingly aware that they are in the midst of aware that they are in the midst of a significant moment in the country's history. but the road to any kind of rehabilitation and recovery for people is made more difficult with this war still carrying on, war that requires fighting and human loss. it is a fascinating _ fighting and human loss. it is a fascinating piece, _ fighting and human loss. it is a fascinating piece, thank- fighting and human loss. it is a fascinating piece, thank you i fighting and human loss. it is a| fascinating piece, thank you for that bit of reporting. and while you are with us, talk to us about the importance of president zelensky speaking at the arab league summit getting under way injeddah? we know he has arrived there. and interesting to note that bashar al—assad is there and syria of course the only member of that group has supported russia's invasion.

yes, it is interesting because president zelensky, since before the invasion, has undertaken a huge diplomatic push, it has been relentless, he has hosted countless world leaders and more recently he has left ukraine with all the security risks that poses to try and secure long—term support for his country's defence. and a couple of months ago he admitted that ukraine could have better engaged with countries that are increasingly disengaged with russia's invasion of ukraine, take african countries and take the middle east, where they have been reluctant to condemn russian invasion. they have not seen it as a threat to sovereignty and democracy, they have seen it is needless violence and called for peace, that has been a non—starter because that suggests some sort of territorial compromise which thus far will not happen. so what we are

seeing, we have seen increased engagement between kyiv and china, which has very close and economic ties with russia since the invasion, and we are now seeing engagement on that where president zelensky is looking to engage the middle east, in the case of saudi arabia they will discuss energy cooperation as well as president zelensky�*s own peace formula which does not contain territorial concessions. this keeps ukraine on the agendas of alternative nations that do not fall under the categories of western allies, and it will be interesting to see what longer—term guarantees he can secure from this visit and of course there is speculation over whether he will turn up in person for the g7 summit injapan to stop we have not had any confirmation yet but we do know that he will be speaking... at the moment we gather

it will be remotely. we are seeing a different strategy now. the latest on the mental health issues that so many people in ukraine are actually suffering from and of course the state of the current health system there, so more from james here in the programme in the next little while. the tesco chairmanjohn allan will step down from his role next month as the company said that allegations over his personal conduct "risk becoming a distraction" to the supermarket. he has faced four allegations in the media in relation to his personal conduct, three of which he vigorously denied and one over which he unreservedly apologised for the inappropriate colleagues meet a female member of staff. with more on this here is our business correspondent.-

this here is our business correspondent. this here is our business corresondent. , ., ~ ., , correspondent. john allen are very rominent correspondent. john allen are very prominent business _ correspondent. john allen are very prominent business leader, - correspondent. john allen are very prominent business leader, chair. correspondent. john allen are very | prominent business leader, chair of tesco for eight years now, he was due to stand down next year after serving a full nine—year term, but in a statement this afternoon, the company confirmed he will step aside at this year's agm in a few weeks' time, so a year before he was expected to stand down. he has been under pressure in recent weeks after allegations emerged of his conduct, for women made allegations of inappropriate and inappropriate behaviour, one senior member of staff said he touched her bottom, a similar aim staff said he touched her bottom, a similaraim was made staff said he touched her bottom, a similar aim was made by cbi staff, the allegation dates back to 2019. tesco said they carried out a full review into these allegations and have not found any wrong doing themselves but felt this was becoming a distraction so this appears to be why they have acted

now. john allan denies these claims and apologised for another allegation that he made a comment about a female member of staff, he released a statement saying he regretted having to stand down from the job following baseless allegations against him, he said there is no evidence of wrongdoing, at that time, he said, i remain determined to prove my innocence. 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 to this nursing home 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 5"2 and weighing less than 100lbs.

so many, many questions for the police here in eastern australia to answer. some parts of england and wales had heavy downpours to contend with but over the weekend england and wales have the line's share the dry sunny weather, and the sun is strong. a bit different for scotland and northern ireland, here more in the way of cloud and a bit of rain at times, not a way of cloud and a bit of rain at times, nota huge way of cloud and a bit of rain at times, not a huge amount. way of cloud and a bit of rain at times, nota huge amount. 0n way of cloud and a bit of rain at times, not a huge amount. 0n the earlier satellite picture you can see this area of cloud in the west of the uk, that turns the sunshine hazy, mainly high—level cloud, a few blobs of shower cloud, some of those showers are drifting westwards through the evening into wales and south—west england and dying away, but overnight we will see cloud in some splashes of rain getting in across northern ireland and parts of

scotland. temperatures generally 6-11 , scotland. temperatures generally 6—11 , may get a bit chillier than that in some parts of eastern england. tomorrow morning, a bit of mist and low cloud but that will clear quickly and then a lot of sunshine, just a touch of patchy cloud. northern ireland and scotland will see more in the way of cloud, some splashes of rain but probably not a huge amount. more sunshine in north—east scotland, making it feel warm, highest temperatures further south 19, may be 2a liverpool and cardiff but whatever the temperature say on the thermometer, if you have sunshine overhead, and england and wales particularly well, many places will have high uv levels so protect yourself if you are out for any length of time. during saturday night this frontal system will pep up night this frontal system will pep up so the rain across northern ireland and scotland will turn heavier but only briefly, into sunday that rain will ease off, still a lot of cloud and dampness here and there, whereas for england

and wales quite a lot of sunshine, bitter patchy cloud here and there, a feed of winds from the north sea making it feel but further west, liverpool up to 20 degrees, cool a day in northern scotland. next week, this area of high pressure will dominate, broadly speaking it will block the progress of any weather systems. there may be a bit of rain at times in the north of the uk, particularly the north of scotland, but for most of us are largely dry, patchy cloud and sunny spells and while there would be a heatwave it will feel pleasant in the sunshine. —— bet will not be.