the prime minister early on monday, the prime minister said he refused borisjohnson�*s request. said he refused boris johnson's reuuest. 1, , said he refused boris johnson's reuuest. a, request. boris johnson asked me to do something _ request. boris johnson asked me to do something that _ request. boris johnson asked me to do something that i _ request. boris johnson asked me to do something that i wasn't - request. boris johnson asked me to| do something that i wasn't prepared to do because i didn't think it was right. to do because i didn't think it was right. i'm yalda hakim live in kyiv as ukraine's counter—offensive intensifies. ukrainian military says it has retaken a fifth village in the eastern donetsk region. former italian prime minister silvio berlusconi dies at 86. he'll be given a state funeral in milan on wednesday. welcome to the programme. i am ben thompson.

welcome to the programme. i am ben thomson. 1, ,_, welcome to the programme. i am ben thomson. _., welcome to the programme. i am ben thomson. , thompson. boris johnson has accused rishi sunak of — thompson. boris johnson has accused rishi sunak of talking _ thompson. boris johnson has accused rishi sunak of talking rubbish - thompson. boris johnson has accused rishi sunak of talking rubbish after i rishi sunak of talking rubbish after he was asked to intervene in the process of appointing people to the house of lords. of the people boris johnson put forward were excluded by the house of lords appointment committee. mr sunak said the former prime minister had asked him to overall the recommendation, which he didn't think was the right thing to do. it was accusing what of what? this is the latest _ it was accusing what of what? this is the latest in _ it was accusing what of what? this is the latest in an _ it was accusing what of what? “in 3 is the latest in an acrimonious war of words. this is directly between rishi sunak and borisjohnson. it is a row over the names which boris johnson put forward for honours as he is entitled to do. any prime minister is entitled to do it upon leaving office, peerages, knighthoods and inputs and other titles. there was clearly some controversy over some of the names

on that list. there is a body whose job it is to oversee and advise the prime minister on whether the names put forward are appropriate. the house of lords appointments commission, and they have confirmed that they rejected eight of the names that borisjohnson put forward. mrjohnson, and those around him, have suspected that rishi sunak, or number ten more widely, made their own attempts to remove some of the names from that list, or in some way, overrule mr johnson's intentions. they deny that that was the case and this morning, rishi sunak was axed to live asked about this directly.— about this directly. when it comes to honours — about this directly. when it comes to honours and _ about this directly. when it comes to honours and boris _ about this directly. when it comes to honours and boris johnson, - about this directly. when it comes i to honours and boris johnson, boris to honours and borisjohnson, boris johnson _ to honours and borisjohnson, boris johnson asked me to do something that i_ johnson asked me to do something that i wasn't prepared to do, because _ that i wasn't prepared to do, because i_ that i wasn't prepared to do, because i didn't think it was right. that was— because i didn't think it was right. that was to — because i didn't think it was right. that was to either overrule the committee or to make promises to people _ committee or to make promises to people i_ committee or to make promises to people. i wasn't prepared to do that _ people. i wasn't prepared to do that i— people. i wasn't prepared to do that. i didn't think it was right. if people —

that. i didn't think it was right. if people don't like that then tough — if people don't like that then tough. when i got thisjob... applause when i got thisjob, i said i was going _ when i got thisjob, i said i was going to — when i got thisjob, i said i was going to do things differently because i wanted to change politics. that is— because i wanted to change politics. that is what i am doing. just because i wanted to change politics. that is what i am doing.— that is what i am doing. just a few hours later— that is what i am doing. just a few hours later we _ that is what i am doing. just a few hours later we have _ that is what i am doing. just a few hours later we have boris - that is what i am doing. just a few| hours later we have boris johnson's hours later we have borisjohnson's response, a statement in the name of the former prime minister, given to us this afternoon, reads that rishi sunak is talking rubbish. he goes on to say that to honour these peerages it was not necessary to overall, but simply to ask them to renew their vetting which would have been a mere formality. to have a former prime minister accusing his successor of talking rubbish, is quite extraordinary. it is reflective of the strained and tense relationship, thatis

the strained and tense relationship, that is probably an understatement, between rishi sunak and his predecessor, borisjohnson, who was effectively forced from office by mps in his own party over his conduct. there has been a tension there ever since mr sunak took over, having resigned as chancellor before boris johnson's having resigned as chancellor before borisjohnson's eventual resignation, and that is now spilling wine out into the open and you have this very uncomfortable, acrimonious atmosphere within the conservative party, which will overshadow anything that rishi sunak attempts to do until somehow, this row can, perhaps, be settled or put to bed. , ., row can, perhaps, be settled or put to bed. , . ., , to bed. yes, and that is the point i wanted to pick _ to bed. yes, and that is the point i wanted to pick up _ to bed. yes, and that is the point i wanted to pick up with _ to bed. yes, and that is the point i wanted to pick up with you, - wanted to pick up with you, describing it as a strained and tense relationship, spilling out into open warfare. these two have not got on before, and this, though, seems to be a new level of their dispute? it seems to be a new level of their disute? ., , seems to be a new level of their disute? . , , , ,, .,~ dispute? it really is. rishi sunak is at pains. _ dispute? it really is. rishi sunak is at pains, since _ dispute? it really is. rishi sunak is at pains, since he _ dispute? it really is. rishi sunak is at pains, since he took - dispute? it really is. rishi sunak is at pains, since he took over, i dispute? it really is. rishi sunakl is at pains, since he took over, to demonstrate that he was going to

govern in a very different way to borisjohnson, whose administration was often characterised by chaos. many people looked on it as dysfunctional. of course he was in charge during the period of the pandemic, but then there was what became known as the partygate affair and his handling of the accusations against chris pincher, one of the whips in his party who stepped down, that eventually saw mrjohnson's downfall. rishi sunak has tried to give the sense that he is a far more level—headed, far more sensible, if you like, as some would see it, far calmer in the words of the energy secretary, grant shapps, prime ministerthan secretary, grant shapps, prime minister than borisjohnson ever minister than boris johnson ever was. minister than borisjohnson ever was. i think today we saw a steely side to him in that response to the question which you are just now, saying that it was tough if people didn't like what he had done, and by people, he meant borisjohnson, there is no doubt about that. perhaps showing a bit of fight, a

bit of spirit, that some of the conservative party, some mps felt was lacking from rishi sunak. this was lacking from rishi sunak. this was on show today. where it will go next, we will have to see.— next, we will have to see. really aood to next, we will have to see. really good to have _ next, we will have to see. really good to have you _ next, we will have to see. really good to have you with _ next, we will have to see. really good to have you with us, - next, we will have to see. really good to have you with us, that l next, we will have to see. really good to have you with us, that is our political correspondent, jonathan blake. we will be back with him if there are any further developments on what is turning out to be quite a bitter dispute between those two men. an update on strike action at heathrow airport, one of europe's busiest. the first of the summer strikes that were manned for the 24th and 25th ofjune have now been called off. that strike, you may remember, would involve around 2000 security officers. heathrow airport are saying they have made an improved pay offer and as a gesture of goodwill, the union has decided to postpone the strike. that is not to postpone the strike. that is not to say that all the strikes that are planned over the summer are off.

this isjust planned over the summer are off. this is just the first. there are another 29 days of strike action that are spread right across the summer in relation to this dispute over pay and conditions. heathrow saying they have now issued a new pay offer. the union will vote on it and in what they call a gesture of goodwill by the union, that first day of strike action is now postponed. if you are planning to travel on the 24th or 25th ofjune, maybe a little bit of good news. we will return now to one of our main stories and events in ukraine. the ukrainian counteroffensive was highly anticipated — but so far, we've had little information about it. today, kyiv claims it's recaptured

a number of villages from russian forces. you'll like it is difficult to get information from the battleground as this situation developed.— this situation developed. president zelensky confirmed that _ zelensky confirmed that counteroffensive has become. we are still relying on information coming in from the ukrainian military about what is happening on the ground. let's talk you through some of the villagers the ukrainian say they have taken. in the last hour ukraine announced it has now secured a village in the southern region of the separation, after defeating several russian attempts to retake it. it is the fifth settlement in the south that the ukrainian say

they have liberated. we have been reporting about other small villages in the last 2a hours that the ukrainian say they have retaken. we are seeing this footage that was released earlier today by the separate marine infantry brigade. it is described as sewing ukrainian forces recapturing the village. this is in the done yet region, it has been under russian occupation for much of the year for more than a year now. it is not far from the settlements of blahodatne. footage on social media shows troops. the deputy defence minister said a nearby village was taken while ukraine says it's continued to make gains in its counteroffensive. they appear to be relatively minor and still away from russia's main fortified line. we have a lot of reporting from our correspondence

and experts on our live page. frank gardner was earlier reporting that these are all distractions. it is these are all distractions. it is the land bridge that connects russian forces in crimea that is the price. that is what the ukrainian forces are hoping to focus on. we are hearing a lot about these smaller villages. they don't have large populations. when i spoke to ukrainian military officials they say that big or small, this is ukrainian land and we are going to do whatever we can to retake them. in the past hour we have been following another story on the crimean peninsula. ukraine's military intelligence is that russia

is preparing to evacuate the town of armiansk. we have been reporting about the breach of the dam which has devastated homes and left many people stranded, still waiting to be evacuated. there are concerns about waterborne diseases and concerns that so many people don't have water and they are in desperate need of medical attention. this is now russia saying that it is preparing to evacuate that town in crimea. it is saying that the facility is going to be mined for demolition, because it has now put that chemical plant injeopardy. as i said, the clock over dam, huge body of water in the

russian occupied area of southern ukraine, was breached last week and releasing a flood of water downstream. the local plant depends on its water for downstream. the local plant depends on its waterfor the north downstream. the local plant depends on its water for the north crimea canal whichjust a on its water for the north crimea canal which just a few days ago was fed by this giant dam. that has now shrunken and that chemical plant has been jeopardised. shrunken and that chemical plant has beenjeopardised. the russians are going to evacuate the town. joining me to discuss the cou nteroffe nsive the ukrainian army has... the importance _ the ukrainian army has... the importance of this military operation is far bigger than the names— operation is far bigger than the names of these villages which wouldn't say anything.- names of these villages which wouldn't say anything. they are very small. wouldn't say anything. they are very small- they — wouldn't say anything. they are very small- they are _ wouldn't say anything. they are very small. they are very _ wouldn't say anything. they are very small. they are very small. - wouldn't say anything. they are very small. they are very small. these i small. they are very small. these villa . ers small. they are very small. these villagers were _ small. they are very small. these villagers were liberated _ small. they are very small. these villagers were liberated in - small. they are very small. these villagers were liberated in a - small. they are very small. these | villagers were liberated in a strong hold on—

villagers were liberated in a strong hold on a _ villagers were liberated in a strong hold on a way to occupied crimea. meanwhile — hold on a way to occupied crimea. meanwhile other villagers have been liberated near donetsk. they have we will hear about some of these villages that will be taken and we obviously will not hear from your side about the losses. but they will be huge losses because the russians are deeply entrenched

at this stage. the russians are deeply entrenched at this stage-— at this stage. that is correct, but we refer at this stage. that is correct, but we prefer not to mention - at this stage. that is correct, but we prefer not to mention any - at this stage. that is correct, but. we prefer not to mention any figures about military losses until the operation is under way. but considering how much ukrainian artillery has got together in this region, the russian losses would be very big, and they have lost more than last day and several thousand injured. last day and several thousand in'ured. ~ ., ., injured. we cannot confirm that because they — injured. we cannot confirm that because they are _ injured. we cannot confirm that because they are also _ injured. we cannot confirm that because they are also saying i injured. we cannot confirm that - because they are also saying several hundred ukrainian forces have been killed. haste hundred ukrainian forces have been killed. ~ ., hundred ukrainian forces have been killed. ~ . ., ., killed. we are not commenting on this. tell killed. we are not commenting on this- tell me _ killed. we are not commenting on this. tell me more _ killed. we are not commenting on this. tell me more about the - this. tell me more about the significance _ this. tell me more about the significance of _ this. tell me more about the significance of this _ this. tell me more about the significance of this language| significance of this language because some of these other villages are not necessarily significant but it is on the road and the weight of this land bridge? —— and the way. that is correct. this is local operations are not a big offensive,

the local operation targets a city miller —— which has a significant bridge which is of key importance to the russians because they supply armaments and foods which goes to crimea and their biggest naval base. i know you do not want to call it a counter offensive, it is just part of a complex multitude of operations, but you also have a window until october when the weather changes and this becomes very difficult. that weather changes and this becomes very difficult-— very difficult. that is correct. ukraine. _ very difficult. that is correct. ukraine, fortunately, - very difficult. that is correct. ukraine, fortunately, has- very difficult. that is correct. - ukraine, fortunately, has a typical continental climate, and we want the operation to be finished by october, and we managed to liberate the city

of kherson. typically because the weather is bad and we have a lot of mild in autumn, so typically by october, military operations should 0ctober, military operations should be suspended —— a lot of mud. october, military operations should be suspended -- a lot of mud. thanks forioining us- — be suspended -- a lot of mud. thanks forioining us- as _ be suspended -- a lot of mud. thanks forjoining us. as you can _ be suspended -- a lot of mud. thanks forjoining us. as you can hear, - be suspended -- a lot of mud. thanks forjoining us. as you can hear, a - forjoining us. as you can hear, a lot of complex operations taking place. we are getting some information from the ukrainian military and also the russian side is giving out information about what they are calling this a counteroffensive and we heard vladimir putin say that ukraine's counteroffensive has begun so this is going to be a long and brutal and bloody operation. which will go on until about october or november. so they do have a small window to try to get as many games as possible. you are watching the bbc news ——

gains. studio: thanks forjoining us. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news. a 26—year—old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 21—year—old chloe mitchell in northern ireland. brandonjohn rainey, from ballymena, county antrim, is accused of murdering ms mitchell between the second and fifth ofjune. the court heard that mr rainey, who appeared via video link, has serious mental health problems and is a paranoid schizophrenic. school inspections in england are to change, after campaigning by the family of head teacher ruth perry — who took her own life after an 0fsted inspection. changes include earlier reinspections for schools that are given a rating of inadequate over child welfare, to give them a chance to improve. there's a warning mortgage rates could rise even further. they've already gone up

by about half a percentage point in the past month, with the average fixed deal now around 6 per cent. many lenders have been removing deals and increasing rates, after predictions that the bank of england could raise rates higher than previously thought. more on all those stories on the bbc news website. you are life with bbc news.

figures from across italy's political spectrum have been paying tribute to silvio berlusconi, who has died at the age of 86. the prime minister, giorgia meloni, said his courage had made him one of the most influential men in italy's history. the former centre— left prime minister, matteo renzi, said everyone had to recognise mr berlusconi's impact on italy's public life, whether they liked him or not he was known as much for his private life as his business acumen. let's go live to bethany bell in rome. so here's a colourful political figure is properly an understatement. how do you think it will be remembered in italy? do you think it will be remembered in ital ? , , , , , do you think it will be remembered inital? _ in italy? deeply deeply polarising fiaure. in italy? deeply deeply polarising figure- you _ in italy? deeply deeply polarising figure. you mentioned _ in italy? deeply deeply polarising figure. you mentioned the - in italy? deeply deeply polarising| figure. you mentioned the tribute just then, he said that some people hated him and some people loved him. you couldn't deny his impact on italy. forsome you couldn't deny his impact on italy. for some people, you couldn't deny his impact on italy. forsome people, silvio berlusconi was the defender of italian values, the champion of the free market. for others he was a symbol of corruption and moral decay with his countless string of trials. he was charged with all sorts of things, from tax fraud to bribery.

there were sex scandals. 0nly things, from tax fraud to bribery. there were sex scandals. only one case stuck. in 2013 he was convicted of corruption. he was given a four—yearjail of corruption. he was given a four—year jail sentence. of corruption. he was given a four—yearjail sentence. he didn't four—year jail sentence. he didn't go four—yearjail sentence. he didn't go to jail, he served it in a community care centre and because of his age. the because he what it was an extremely divisive figure and one who was loved by his fans for his bad jokes, which is exactly what his opponents hated him for. a figure really that many people see as a forerunner of people like donald trump. forerunner of people like donald trum. �* ., , forerunner of people like donald trum.�* ., , ., ., forerunner of people like donald trum. ., ., ., ~ forerunner of people like donald trum.�* ., , ., ., ., trump. bethany, for now, thank you very much- — trump. bethany, for now, thank you very much. bethany _ trump. bethany, for now, thank you very much. bethany bell, _ trump. bethany, for now, thank you very much. bethany bell, live - trump. bethany, for now, thank you very much. bethany bell, live in - very much. bethany bell, live in rome. let's take you further north where we can speak now to a writer, visiting fellow and author of the political economy of italy's decline. thank you for being with us. i will put that same question to you. how would you describe the

legacy of mr berlusconi? 2011 the economist magazine _ legacy of mr berlusconi? 2011 the economist magazine published i legacy of mr berlusconi? 2011 the | economist magazine published on legacy of mr berlusconi? 2011 the - economist magazine published on the cover saying, economist magazine published on the coversaying, i economist magazine published on the cover saying, i quote, their didn't do it alone, he benefited from the weakness of his opponents and defend a permissive environment in the public sphere and the mainstream media. he was very damaging my country. he restored a broken economic system and did nothing to improve a political system that was based on collusion. he was a disaster for my country. find based on collusion. he was a disaster for my country. and yet he had many supporters. _ disaster for my country. and yet he had many supporters. he _ disaster for my country. and yet he had many supporters. he was - disaster for my country. and yet he had many supporters. he was a - had many supporters. he was a successful businessman turned politician. the parallels with donald trump do not stop there, do they? he was mired in scandal, as you touched on, personal and professional. i am looking at the rap sheet here, charges of bribery,

tax fraud, sex with an underage prostitute. he was convicted on several occasions but managed to avoid jail time. what was it about him that still inspired the confidence of those who supported him and loved him?— confidence of those who supported him and loved him? without skilful lander, he him and loved him? without skilful gander. he was _ him and loved him? without skilful gander, he was a _ him and loved him? without skilful gander, he was a television - him and loved him? without skilful gander, he was a television man i him and loved him? without skilful. gander, he was a television man and use it well, in part it is to support that system that is both unfair and inefficient, support that system that is both unfairand inefficient, he support that system that is both unfair and inefficient, he managed to distribute compensations to small on trip pruners, to pensioners, two other categories. it indirectly bought their consent, their consensus. that only entrenched a very bad system. you consensus. that only entrenched a very bad system-— very bad system. you say it was a permissive _ very bad system. you say it was a permissive society _ very bad system. you say it was a permissive society that _ very bad system. you say it was a permissive society that allowed i very bad system. you say it was a| permissive society that allowed mr berlusconi to perhaps do what he did, orsecure berlusconi to perhaps do what he did, or secure that support that he had. who is to blame?— had. who is to blame? italy's history in _

had. who is to blame? italy's history in part. _ had. who is to blame? italy's history in part, and _ had. who is to blame? italy's history in part, and it- had. who is to blame? italy's history in part, and it is- had. who is to blame? italy's history in part, and it is a - had. who is to blame? italy's i history in part, and it is a natural phenomenon. by being in powerfor so long, he dominated politics for 20 years, he represented that system and he also changed social norms, changed the way italians see things in the direction of supporting what he represented. that is another element of his damaging legacy. haste element of his damaging legacy. we know politicians have to reinvent themselves with changing times. he first came to office in1991i and themselves with changing times. he first came to office in 1994 and led for governments until 2011. yet he was the same person time and time again. he didn't change what he's done for how he represented himself as yellow very little. they began on as yellow very little. they began on a very liberal sounding message, which is policy contradicted, but he went on with that. at first he

reignited polarisation with a anti—communist campaign after communism had disappeared, then used other divisive messages to divide italy between us and and that is what supported him. he italy between us and and that is what supported him.— italy between us and and that is what supported him. he didn't change ve much. what supported him. he didn't change very much- i — what supported him. he didn't change very much- i see _ what supported him. he didn't change very much. i see a _ what supported him. he didn't change very much. i see a lot _ what supported him. he didn't change very much. i see a lot of _ what supported him. he didn't change very much. i see a lot of continuity i very much. i see a lot of continuity between his policies and his style in government and the current government,. giorgia meloni lacks the liberal veneer but berlusconi was no less nationalist and instinct and may be authoritarian, or anti—democratic common in a way, at heart, then giorgia meloni is. pond heart, then giorgia meloni is. and really briefly. _ heart, then giorgia meloni is. and really briefly, will we see the likes of him ever again in politics, particularly in italy? we likes of him ever again in politics, particularly in italy?— likes of him ever again in politics,

particularly in italy? we have seen some avatars _ particularly in italy? we have seen some avatars of _ particularly in italy? we have seen some avatars of him. _ particularly in italy? we have seen some avatars of him. some - particularly in italy? we have seen some avatars of him. some have l particularly in italy? we have seen - some avatars of him. some have taken a leaf from his book and you already hinted at the parallel with trump, which is obvious. some historians have said that italy is a place where political experiments take place. fascism was born here. i think we still have to understand what it means and what will spread. it is really good to have your thoughts, thank you for being with us. joining us live from northern italy. much more on all those stories to come. you are with bbc news. hello, there. for many parts of the uk it's going to be a dry day with a good deal of sunshine around. the sunniest weather likely to be here in the north—east of england. over the past couple

of days we have seen temperatures reaching 32 degrees, 90 fahrenheit. may not be as hot as that today, a little cooler in the south—east, and the highest temperature likely to be in cumbria. but with that heat and humidity, we have the potential for torrential thundery downpours. hail and lightning, some flooding expected as well, there could be about inch of rain falling in the space of an hour. a few showers towards the east perhaps but the main focus of the downpours pushing through the midlands, wales, maybe parts of western northern ireland and up towards western scotland. those heavy showers that do develop will tend to decay overnight so it does tend to become dry in most areas, a few showers towards the south—west for a while but skies will clear. these are the minimum temperatures at the end of the night and it's a warm night, an uncomfortable night for sleeping once again with that heat and humidity. tomorrow, on the whole, it's a dry and sunny start. the risk of a thundery

shower across england and wales much reduced. the main focus of the downpours on the western side of northern ireland. it could bring travel disruption. temperature wise, very similar to what we see today, looking at highs of 27 or 28 degrees. through the rest of the week, it looks like things will be much quieter. we are losing those thunderstorms, a lot of dry weather, a lot of sunshine, and it should be more comfortable at night for sleeping. a little cooler at night — not as humid. the high pressure we have had is pushing all the heavy showers away but instead of that humid south easterly breeze, it's a slightly cooler, fresher easterly breeze coming our way. lots of sunshine around. some early mist and fog along the east coast of scotland. maybe foggy through parts of the english channel but otherwise a dry and sunny day on wednesday. again, high temperatures looking at 27 or 28 degrees, tend to be more towards the western

side of the country.

this is bbc news. the headlines: borisjohnson has accused rishi sunak of "talking rubbish", after the prime minister claimed his former boss had

asked him to intervene in the process of appointing people to the house of lords.