on the outskirts of the city, closer to that threat, is the last line of defence. amidst all of the talk of a ukrainian counteroffensive, there's always a risk of the russians breaking through the line. there is a sympathy in the trenches for those wanting to come home. "if you have to die", he tells me, "it's better to die at home than somewhere abroad." it's the watchful eyes of soldiers like him which are allowing people to move back into harm's way. for serhiy and viktoria, it's a conscious decision. translation: who knows when it will become safe here? _ maybe a year, two or five. we don't want to wait even one year.

overall, we are prepared. yes. in these times of turmoil, there is a hope and belief they won't last forever. futures depend on it. james waterhouse, bbc news, pokrovsk, in eastern ukraine. returning now to our top story — russia's defence ministry says it has thwarted a ukrainian attack in the occupied donetsk region. kyiv hasn't responded directly, but says there had been almost 30 clashes in donetsk and luhansk. the increase in activity is the latest sign that an expected ukrainian counter—offensive appears to have begun. what to have begun. exactly do we know? live now to ed arnold — research fellow for european security within the international security studies department at rusi — a defence and security think tank. thank you for being with us. there is a lot i want to ask you and a lot

to get through given what we have seenin to get through given what we have seen in recent hours about what is happening in ukraine and indeed in russia. what's your assessment first of all about whether this much touted counteroffensive is actually now begun?— touted counteroffensive is actually nowbeuun? , ., , now begun? yes, the main point is that ukrainian _ now begun? yes, the main point is that ukrainian operational- now begun? yes, the main point is that ukrainian operational security | that ukrainian operational security is very tight and there will be no significant announcement at the start of an offensive but we are seeing a lot more activity certainly in volume on the line of contact between ukraine and russia, but also in terms of the forces that are starting to do slightly larger reconnaissance. it seems ukraine is now operating at battalion level and starting to probe russian lines and defences to try and understand where the russian defences are strong or weak and it is where they find the weak and it is where they find the weak spots that they will then start to push further in and we will start to push further in and we will start to see the counteroffensive in full

swing. to see the counteroffensive in full swina. , ., ., to see the counteroffensive in full swin. , ., ., ., ., swing. explain to me away from military parlance _ swing. explain to me away from military parlance what - swing. explain to me away from military parlance what these - swing. explain to me away from i military parlance what these kinds of probing attacks are designed to determine? we were talking earlier to an adviser to the ukrainian military suggesting that this was a case ofjust military suggesting that this was a case of just finding military suggesting that this was a case ofjust finding out military suggesting that this was a case of just finding out what sort of defences are there, what sort of russian forces are there and then they can plan more strategically. yes, ukrainian intelligence, we know they have a very good imagery of defensive locations in terms of where anti—tank ditches and tanks are and some elements of mine fields and trench systems, firstly upfront and trench systems, firstly upfront and then also in reserve, and further back, that's what ukrainian forces understand, they need to understand the distribution of russian forces and the strengths, and they are much more difficult to see because you can hide troops either within trenches within the area but critically what ukraine are trying to do is now unmasked russian guns, which sit quite far behind the line and they can mutually support a

couple of different areas. if they start firing at the defensive they are easy to target and is now ukraine has long range weapons systems that have been supplied by the uk, france and others and they will be looking for those targets to take them out so they can have a much easier go of it when the defence really starts to kick in. what you read into the fact that all this talk of ukrainian counteroffensive is actually at the moment coming from the russian side. they say they have repelled an attack on some of their defences and ukraine was not successful. ukraine for its part is saying silent on it and as you would expect and have touched on they will not announce the offensive has begun. what do you read into what information we are getting and how credible it might be? ~ . getting and how credible it might be? ~' . . , getting and how credible it might be? ~ . ., , , ., , be? ukraine have been planning this oeration be? ukraine have been planning this operation for — be? ukraine have been planning this operation for months. _ be? ukraine have been planning this operation for months. like - be? ukraine have been planning this operation for months. like you - be? ukraine have been planning this operation for months. like you said, throughout the entire war the operational security has been very tight and they are pressing a lot to

say they will not put anything in the domain and are asking people to stay silent on any aspect of that and that's a ukrainian position. in terms of what we have from the russians, the russian defence ministry come the information has not been verified and they are very paucity with the truth. in terms of saying they did not succeed the task and it had no success, at this point in the defence, if it is not necessarily to to break the line and its to find out where the areas of the russian line are weak, to then push forward with the manoeuvring of the grades and the main battle tanks and other armoured personnel carriers that the ukrainians have been getting from the west over the last couple of months. fine been getting from the west over the last couple of months.— last couple of months. one of the most hotly _ last couple of months. one of the most hotly contested _ last couple of months. one of the most hotly contested and - last couple of months. one of the most hotly contested and fought l last couple of months. one of the - most hotly contested and fought over parts of ukraine has been bakhmut. i want to show viewers a map and explain to viewers what we are looking at. the area in red is

russian forces and then we start to get a sense of their advance on the city. this is from august of last year until may and then purple blobs appear, which are ukrainian fighting back. it shows you how scrappy and hard fought over and how difficult it has been for russian forces to take that city and then it has been subject to claim and counterclaim about who is in control. what's your assessment about what has happened there and where we are right now as far as bakhmut is concerned? the russians have _ far as bakhmut is concerned? tue: russians have captured far as bakhmut is concerned? tte: russians have captured the far as bakhmut is concerned? "tte: russians have captured the main far as bakhmut is concerned? tte: russians have captured the main part of the city and they are present there, but it's worth noting what's left of the city, usually fighting over these population centres where the people are and the real source of power in the region. there is infrastructure there and it is used as a stepping stone for further offences. the russians cannot use bakhmut for that because of the way they have fought over it but at the moment it looks like ukraine is pushing on the flanks to the south

west and north and what's happening at the moment is that wagner forces say they want to withdraw and they need a couple of months of recuperation and refitting. they are trying to use regular russian forces at the moment. it allows ukraine, by pressing and probing, to disrupt that and it keeps russian forces fixed in bakhmut so they are not in the defensive line which is further away, and we will see a lot of attacks, probing to the north and south of bakhmut and as long as russian forces are invested there they are fixed. t russian forces are invested there they are fixed-— they are fixed. i suppose the challenge — they are fixed. i suppose the challenge right _ they are fixed. i suppose the challenge right now- they are fixed. i suppose the challenge right now is - they are fixed. i suppose the l challenge right now is working they are fixed. i suppose the - challenge right now is working out what happens next and where we go from here. iam interested in the military operation. there is also a psychological operation going on here as well, an information war. the latest video published by ukrainian forces, fingers on lips,

staying silent. what does that tell you about how important winning emotions and the information war and how important it is for the battle. it is important in terms of ukrainian society and the populace but actually what ukraine has been very effective in doing is making sure western support continues to be high for sure western support continues to be highfor ukraine, sure western support continues to be high for ukraine, both for the military offensive, going on this year and probably next year as well, and also in terms of ukraine long term objectives in terms of their defence and eu and nato memberships and institutions. the target audience is notjust ukrainians but also their wider audience in the west. the real issue of note is that russian morale has not been good and they have been on the defensive for a long time. they tried at the start of the year and it hasn't gone well. they have run out of offensive options this year and being on the defensive knowing you will have to

face a counteroffensive from ukraine will be pretty daunting for the russians. tote will be pretty daunting for the russians. ~ ., will be pretty daunting for the russians. ~ . ., , ., will be pretty daunting for the russians. ~ . . , ., ., russians. we are really grateful for havin: ou russians. we are really grateful for having you with _ russians. we are really grateful for having you with us. _ russians. we are really grateful for having you with us. ed _ russians. we are really grateful for having you with us. ed arnold, - having you with us. ed arnold, research fellow for european security. let's return to the hacking trial involving prince harry. he will become the first senior member of the british royal family for more than 100 years to give evidence in court this week as he enters the witness box in his legal battle against mirror group newspapers. his lawyer says he won't be appearing today — a decision criticised by lawyers for mgn. that's the newspaper group. i'm joined now by matthew dando, a media lawyer and a partner at wiggin. we are told prince harry will appear tomorrow. all expectation is that this could be a pretty bruising experience for prince harry. tt absolutely could be and i think bruising is the word. i am a litigation lawyer but spend a lot of my time advising clients not to litigate or go to trial because it

is incredibly high stakes, incredibly uncertain, and the process of cross—examination is incredibly bruising, that is the purpose, to test the credibility of the case of the claimant. it is seeking to undermine and challenge. there is very little off—limits. it could stray into all sorts of areas around personal and private life over long periods around the prince's agenda, how he has been driving that and it can be incredibly bruising, that's a perfect description of what may lie ahead. , , , ., perfect description of what may lie ahead. , , ,, ., ., ~' perfect description of what may lie ahead. , , ., ahead. interestingly, if you look at what's already _ ahead. interestingly, if you look at what's already happened _ ahead. interestingly, if you look at what's already happened because. what's already happened because parts of the trial have already been running. mirrot group has apologised for one article. what does that apology tell us about how they are viewing this case? t apology tell us about how they are viewing this case?— viewing this case? i think it's really interesting _ viewing this case? i think it's really interesting and - viewing this case? i think it's really interesting and you - viewing this case? i think it's| really interesting and you are absolutely right, they have paid out millions of pounds to other claimants stop many claimants have settled and we have found that out

to court papers. in this case they have also admitted to having a sourced information and in a story that ran about prince harry and they have apologised for that so it begs the question about why they were willing to do that on this one occasion and they are not willing to do it on these other occasions. the mirror group says that in the majority of cases considered by the court they can actively show that the sources were legitimately sourced for the stories. they were tips or sources that effectively legitimately fed them the story. in a few instances they are putting prince harry to proof that stories were unlawfully sourced, but i think they must be feeling relatively confident because if you apologise once and you are equally weak on other cases, why not apologise for them all? tt other cases, why not apologise for them all? ,., , ., ., them all? it boils down to whether senior executives _ them all? it boils down to whether senior executives knew _ them all? it boils down to whether senior executives knew about - senior executives knew about unlawful information gathering techniques and failed to stop it. that's what they will have to prove. i know your expertise is the law but you will also know there are so many

perceptions about how this could play out in the court of public opinion. there is a suggestion that younger people might view this as prince harry taking on the establishment. others might see it as him being a divisive figure and he should keep a dignified silence. that doesn't play into the law of all of this but it will be an important element. all of this but it will be an im ortant element. . �* , .. , important element. that's exactly ri . ht. important element. that's exactly right- there _ important element. that's exactly right. there are _ important element. that's exactly right. there are two _ important element. that's exactly right. there are two courts - important element. that's exactly right. there are two courts in - important element. that's exactly | right. there are two courts in play, the court of law and the court of public opinion and both are relevant, possibly one more relevant than the other depending on where your audience is that you are aiming for. in terms of litigation, it's always dangerous to commence litigation where you are looking at trying to avenge grievances or pursue points of principle or pursue a political agenda or trying to affect change. that's not really what litigation is about. litigation is a legal and forensic analysis of facts. it's not really about whether prince harry was being wronged by

the media generally, it's not about whether he was right or wrong in trying to affect change in the industry. it's not really about ethics or morals. it's about a very specific legal analysis as to how certain stories were sourced. but the overarching story of all of this is the court of public opinion, and how it plays out there will undoubtedly depend on the slant from which people are coming and their age ranges as well. tt’s which people are coming and their age ranges as well. it's fascinating to see how — age ranges as well. it's fascinating to see how this _ age ranges as well. it's fascinating to see how this will _ age ranges as well. it's fascinating to see how this will play _ age ranges as well. it's fascinating to see how this will play out. - to see how this will play out. described as a courtroom drama and royal soap opera in one. good to have your insight, a media lawyer and partner. 4.2 million children

in the uk are now growing up in poverty. that's the finding of a new report from the end child poverty coalition. the total number of children experiencing poverty in 2021/2022, 4.2 million is an increase on the 3.6 million recorded the previous year. lets speak tojoseph howes, who's chair of the end child poverty coalition. 70% of children in poverty are living in a house where at least one aduu living in a house where at least one adult works. what does it tell us about in work poverty? it is a huge challenge. i think there is another statistic where 12% of the working population are earning less than the real living wage and it highlights that there is a real challenge around income here. poverty is caused by lack of money in the household and this is highlighting that. t5 household and this is highlighting that. , ., household and this is highlighting that. , . , . household and this is highlighting that. , . . ., household and this is highlighting that. , . , . ., that. is it that people are not able to net as that. is it that people are not able to get as many — that. is it that people are not able to get as many hours _ that. is it that people are not able to get as many hours or— that. is it that people are not able to get as many hours or as - that. is it that people are not able to get as many hours or as much l that. is it that people are not able - to get as many hours or as much work as they would like or is it that employers are simply not paying a living wage? we certainly know that

there is a mix of the two. we are seeing single—parent are really struggling and that is where the single parent is working but are struggling with the hours to be able to do all that work and get the right to pay, essentially. we also know that large her family households are really struggling. from our statistics, 42% of children in larger households, that's over two children in a household, are living in poverty, as opposed to households with one or two children, which is around 23% living in poverty. which is around 2396 living in ove . ., which is around 2396 living in ove . . ., . poverty. there are huge regional differences _ poverty. there are huge regional differences as _ poverty. there are huge regional differences as well _ poverty. there are huge regional differences as well depending i poverty. there are huge regional differences as well depending on where in the uk you live, you are more likely to be in poverty even though one parent at home is working. though one parent at home is workinu. ~ , , though one parent at home is workinu. , , ~ though one parent at home is workinu. , , . . , . working. absolutely. we have seen a real rise in the _ working. absolutely. we have seen a real rise in the west _ working. absolutely. we have seen a real rise in the west midlands - working. absolutely. we have seen a real rise in the west midlands this i real rise in the west midlands this year. other areas that have long

been quite high are london, the north—east and north—west as well. good to have you with us. the latest on the child poverty report, thank you. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. a man will appear in court today accused of running onto the track during saturday's epsom derby. ben newman, 32 and from east london, will face guildford magistrates charged with causing a public nuisance will stop he was among 31 people who were arrested. a petition to introduce a legal duty of care from universities and colleges to students will be debated by mps this afternoon. it was started by a group of 25 families whose children took their own lives while at university. the department for education says a general duty of care to deliver education and pastoral services

already exists in higher education. and an inquest opening at dorset coroner's court heard there was a suggestion a riptide led to the deaths of a 17—year—old from southampton and a 12—year—old from buckinghamshire off bournemouth beach. the pair died in hospital after the incident that took place on wednesday. dorset police said it was keeping an open mind as to the circumstances that led to their deaths. more of those stories on the website. you're live with bbc news. a woman once branded australia's worst female serial killer has been pardoned and freed from prison after new evidence suggested she did not kill herfour children. kathleen folbigg, seen here on the left, had spent 20 years in prison for the deaths, which occurred over a decade. but on monday, the attorney—general of new south wales said an inquiry had concluded there was reasonable doubt as to her guilt. scientists now believe the children may have died of natural causes. this was the second inquiry into this case. the australian academy of science

gave independent evidence in april and put together a petition calling for mrs folbigg to be pardoned. i'm joined now by the chief executive anna—maria arabia. talk us through your involvement in the case. and it was a pretty harrowing case. the australian academy of science involvement in the case commenced in 2019 when a fellow, a professor, brought to our attention new genetic information that was available that shed light on the conditions of the family. the genomic sequence of kathleen folbigg and her children had become available at that time. that was during the first inquiry into the convictions of kathleen folbigg and science was still emerging but there was enough evidence to show that this warranted further investigation and so after that first inquiry the australian academy of science became involved in looking at this evidence and the more we looked the more compelling

it became. we were able to bring together around 150 experts from australia who signed a petition seeking that kathleen folbigg be pardoned. unlike the uk we don't have a criminal case review commission, which is a mechanism by which cases can be reassessed when new evidence emerges. and so it was that pardon that eventually allowed the new south wales attorney general to call for a second inquiry. it was that inquiry that the academy of science was appointed as an independent scientific advisor and we were able to gather experts from around the world to provide evidence to that inquiry so that science could be adequately and comprehensively heard in the justice system. today kathleen folbigg has been released, she has been pardoned, and is at home. and the commissioner of that inquiry has found reasonable doubt as to her

convictions. this found reasonable doubt as to her convictions-_ convictions. as you said, science was able to _ convictions. as you said, science was able to prove _ convictions. as you said, science was able to prove her— convictions. as you said, science | was able to prove her innocence, convictions. as you said, science - was able to prove her innocence, and yet even with that science it was a very difficult thing for you to get the conviction overturned. tt very difficult thing for you to get the conviction overturned. it was, recisel the conviction overturned. it was, precisely because _ the conviction overturned. it was, precisely because there _ the conviction overturned. it was, precisely because there was - the conviction overturned. it was, precisely because there was no i precisely because there was no mechanism, orthere precisely because there was no mechanism, or there is no mechanism in australia for emerging and complex science as it comes to like to be considered by the justice system. and so the petition for a pardon was sought and that led to this inquiry. indeed, that was a very long journey. once the inquiry was opened we were able to bring forward the very best expertise in the world from the right fields and we had an extraordinary demonstration of what a science led legal system can and should look like in the future. i think this is a demonstration case for how science can assist with better decision—making in the australian justice system and surely this case is a demonstration case but also a

triggerfor more reform is a demonstration case but also a trigger for more reform so that the routine consideration of science from independent sources can occur not only in extraordinary cases like this one. tt’s not only in extraordinary cases like this one. �* , , , not only in extraordinary cases like this one. d , , ., this one. it's very interesting to see what implications _ this one. it's very interesting to see what implications this - this one. it's very interesting to | see what implications this could have for cases that come up in the future for review. the chief executive of the australian academy of science. officials in washington, dc have been explaining what was behind a loud noise that prompted alarm in the us capital. loud boom. the sonic boom was caused by us fighters jets being scrambled to intercept a small plane which had violated washington's airspace. officials say there were repeated attempts to contact the pilot of the cessna citation, but it later crashed in south—west virginia. four people are believed to have been on board the plane.

saudi arabia's first female astronaut has been describing to the bbc the experience of visiting the international space station. a capsule carrying rayyanah barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, returned safely to earth earlier this week. she was accompanied by fellow saudi ali al-qarni — a fighter pilot — and two americans. the four travelled to the iss to conduct pioneering research on microgravity, human health and rain—seeding technology. rayyanah barnawi told us about her arrival at the station: i'd say the moment you enter the international space station you would feel like you are visiting a new family. they are very welcoming and try to introduce you to the different parts. you always train here knowing that you are in a simulator, but then when you are up there in the international space station it feels a little bit like home, a home that you have not visited before. it was really spectacular seeing all the hardware,

software, all the machines that we will be working on. it was mind blowing. we were privileged to conduct more than 20 experiments on board the station. 1a of which were driven by saudi scientists back home, so being able to take our own research from our own country all the way to the international space station was an amazing and honourable feeling. we had the pleasure to work with the international space station crew, teaching us how to use the hardware that will help us conduct these experiments. and it ranged from live technologies to life sciences, biomedical sciences, and also contacting kids and children back home and telling them the stories about the international space station.

what an incredible experience. itv�*s this morning host holly willoughby says finding out her former co—presenter phillip schofield hadn't told the truth was a lock to process. this was holly's first show since phillip schofield resigned from programme after he revealed he had lied about an affair with a younger colleague. josie gibson what i co—host for the programme today and other guest presenters will fill in over the coming weeks and months. this was holly speaking today on the programme. it feels very strange indeed sitting here without phil. and i imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like i have — shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the well—being of people on all sides of what's been going on and full of questions. you, me, and all of us at this morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth.

who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from itv and step down from a career that they loved. that is a lot to process. itv is britain's biggest commercial broadcaster, so what are the implications? this is tv critic scott bryant. implications? this is tv critic scott itryant-_ implications? this is tv critic scott b ant. ., , scott bryant. you can tell it must have been _ scott bryant. you can tell it must have been difficult _ scott bryant. you can tell it must have been difficult to _ scott bryant. you can tell it must have been difficult to give - scott bryant. you can tell it must have been difficult to give and i scott bryant. you can tell it must| have been difficult to give and you can also can tell the balance she has had to take with the statement pointing out what phillip schofield did was wrong while also acknowledging how difficult it must have been on his mental health. there is also an emphasis i think on a new chapterfor this morning, the fact that phil and holly were such a big reason for the show�*s success and of course the partnership in that programme but also giving indication that this morning is a whole will try to move on from this too. they have been a number of statements through instagram over the last few weeks and of course a lot of tabloid speculation and you can tell it has affected itv and this morning in a big way and raising questions regarding the workplace culture at itv. they have been a lot of reports, including over the weekend, of a toxic

workplace culture, allegations itv have vehemently denied. but this will ramble on and on. dane carolyn mccall, the head of itv, will be at a dcms committee meeting in a couple of weeks, that will be televised and there will be questions about what itv knew at what point. the big challenge for this morning and itv is how to get trust back. a lot of viewers feel very let down and i think it will take a long time for viewers to think about what is actually on this morning rather than this morning being itself in the news. ~ ., . this morning being itself in the news. . . ., . , news. we will have all the headlines for ou at news. we will have all the headlines for you at the _ news. we will have all the headlines for you at the top — news. we will have all the headlines for you at the top of— news. we will have all the headlines for you at the top of the _ news. we will have all the headlines for you at the top of the hour. i news. we will have all the headlines for you at the top of the hour. stay i for you at the top of the hour. stay with us and see you soon. the weather patterns across the been very static in the last few weeks meaning many gardens are asking when will it rain. the answer could be this cloud here, affecting madeira and the canary islands. stormowska will bring wet and windy weather during the rest of today and

tomorrow but notice how the area of low pressure pushes towards our shores as we had to the weekend bringing the chance of showers and thunderstorms. however, it doesn't guarantee rainbow everywhere. the rainfall could be fairly sporadic. it will change weather patterns and instead of the air coming around the north of the uk it will come from the near continent bring in more warm and humid air and this weekend temperature is widely across the uk into the mid if not high 20s and certainly warmer by night. that's coming our way. at the moment it is as you work with many central and western areas with blue skies throughout the day. cloud to the east of the country. that cloud continues to roll back into the night and after retreating towards the coast through the day it becomes extensive through much of england and east wales, and central eastern scotland as well towards dawn tomorrow. temperature down into low and single figures for many. for many parts it will be 7—10 to start tuesday morning. if anything grey

skies are more abundant on tuesday with the best of the breaks in the west on tuesday. the cloud shrinking away in scotland, wales and the south but it could be more stubborn across parts of the midlands, yorkshire, east anglia, pushed in by a rather nagging east, north—easterly wind that has been with jose few weeks now, keeping things cool to the north—east coast and still warmest to the west. west is gone, west of loch lomond, western northern ireland, highs of 23. pollen levels rising across much of england, wales and northern ireland with grass pollen season getting under way as it will be again on wednesday. wednesday, signs that low cloud will shrink a bit quicker and be more lingered across parts of north—east england with southern and eastern areas, the summer sunshine out and feeling warmer with highs in western scotland and northern ireland and increasingly the south—west of england. towards the week temperatures will rise further with the chance of a few sporadic showers into the weekend but the more humid field by day and by night.