with the united states seeking a historic eighth straight gold in the women's basketball final against france. and banksy strikes again — the elusive street artist confirms he's created his seventh animal—themed piece in london in as many days. welcome to the programme. we begin this hour with the war in ukraine and the country's cross—border offensive. russia says its army will deliver a "tough response" and appears to have acknowledged that ukrainian units have advanced deep into the western region of kursk, saying it's hit troops and equipment around 30 kilometres from the border. it's the most serious attack by a foreign army on russian territory since the second world war. overnight at least two people were killed in kyiv, as russia carried out missile and drone attacks in six regions of ukraine.

louisa pilbeam reports. rescuers desperately searched overnight through rubble where homes once stood. families had lived here near the capital kyiv, say ukrainian officials. ukraine says those who died here were killed by a russian missile. the attack came six days after volodymyr zelensky launched a daring offensive into russian territory, with video emerging of ukrainian soldiers taking down russian flags well inside the russian border. translation: i received several reports from commander - in chief syrskyi regarding the front lines and our actions to push the war onto the aggressor�*s territory. i am grateful to every unit of the defence forces, ensuring that ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor. this footage was released by russian military forces, who say it shows them blowing up

ukrainian tanks in the kursk region. it has not been verified independently by the bbc. the kremlin is calling it a counter—terrorism operation. overnight, russia blamed a ukrainian missile for injuring at least 13 people, and destroying this apartment building. russian forces are urgently evacuating more than 76,000 people along its western border. those people will be moved to eight regions of russia, as ukraine pushes deeper into its territory. louisa pilbeam, bbc news. i spoke earlier to michael bociurkiw — a global affairs analyst and senior fellow at the atlantic council think—tank. i asked about his take on the russian ministry of foreign affairs spokeswoman�*s statement —— maria zakharova —— who claimed that "there is no military purpose" of ukraine's incursion. ra rely rarely anything that comes out of my

coin is to believed. but there is a military point. i do suspect they had western intelligence to do this with. they showed that the russians are very weak internally. they have devoted so much of their resources, both in terms of manpower and equipment, to the ukraine and russia front line so that they are very weak internally. not that long ago the wagner group made that point as well. it's a huge military as well as pr win. well. it's a huge military as well as pr win-— well. it's a huge military as well as pr win. . �*, , ., as pr win. that's interesting what ou said as pr win. that's interesting what you said about — as pr win. that's interesting what you said about having _ as pr win. that's interesting what you said about having western - you said about having western intelligence. the state department spokesperson spoke to the new york times and said that any use of us supplied weapons would not violate

us policy here. do you believe that that point of view would be shared by all of ukraine's western allies? i suspect it would be most of them although i don't know if giorgia meloni here in italy would agree with some of that. she is a bit more cautious about western leaders. however i think there is quiet applause happening in london, in washington, and in paris, in terms of what is happening right now. and talking to ukrainian sources in kyiv it is a big pr win among western allies in terms of, you give it the capability to strengthen russia and this is what we can do, and also the ukrainian saint of the west, we believe this war is winnable. that's really interesting _ believe this war is winnable. that's really interesting in _ believe this war is winnable. that's really interesting in terms - believe this war is winnable. that's really interesting in terms of - believe this war is winnable. that's really interesting in terms of not i really interesting in terms of not just being a military goal but potentially securing support still from the west as there are so many competing priorities. iwonder, when you look at the domestic situation

in russia, how you believe this might affect domestic support or criticism for the war and how people in russia will be viewing this? i’iiii in russia will be viewing this? i�*ll preface that by saying we have to be careful what we say until it is verified by trusted bodies like the bbc, but seeing some videos coming today out of russia there is huge disgust and anger at them not being evacuated in time and allowing this to happen. the other thing we should notice as there is no obvious sign of insurgency or anger being shown towards the ukrainian is among the regular population, whereas when the russians took hold of ukrainian territory civilians to take action. and also i have to give credit to the ukrainians. bbc verified has shown the video of ukrainian troops in charge of that hub and the ukrainians have destroyed it or immobilised it because they know there are international contracts to be honoured and that needs to be

kept flowing, as distasteful as that may be to them and that is an interesting development as well. israel has ordered thousands of palestinian residents of khan younis in the south of gaza to move to designated "humanitarian zones". the order follows saturday's israeli airstrike on a school building in gaza city which the israeli military says was a hamas command centre. more than 70 people died, according to the director of a hospital. the us vice—president and democratic presidential candidate, kamala harris, has added her voice to international condemnation of the loss of civilian life. you know, yet again, there are far too many civilians who've been killed. i mean, israel has a right to...go after the terrorists that are hamas but, as i have said many, many times, they also have — i believe — an important responsibility to avoid civilian casualties.

i am nowjoined by david mencer, spokesperson for the office of the israeli prime minister. thank you so much for your time. the backdrop to all of this is the brutal attacks on the 7th of october. what has happened to the hostages, israel, in its efforts to make sure none of that happened again, struck a school building where displaced palestinians were sheltering. we where displaced palestinians were shelterinu. ~ ., where displaced palestinians were shelterinu. ~ . ., ., sheltering. we had that reaction there from _ sheltering. we had that reaction there from kamala _ sheltering. we had that reaction there from kamala harris. - sheltering. we had that reaction there from kamala harris. the l sheltering. we had that reaction i there from kamala harris. the uk's foreign secretary has said he is appalled by the attack on the eu policy chief has said there is no justification for these massacres. what is your response to your allies? ~ , what is your response to your allies? g , , , what is your response to your allies? g , , ., allies? my response is that the hammers would _ allies? my response is that the hammers would make - allies? my response is that the hammers would make murder| allies? my response is that the l hammers would make murder in allies? my response is that the - hammers would make murder in chief has said that cars that support his cause. her mass and is a major

terrorists have been systematically abusing ordinary gazans to their own deadly terrorist killing agenda. the massive terror tunnel network between hospitals, mosques, schools and un facilities, twice the size of the un underground, weapon storage and the imprisonment of hostages, 115 israelis for 310 days now. unimaginable cruelty. the latest disgraceful act is for hamas to abuse these sites, to turn them into terror military facilities over the last few weeks and our intelligence has been closely monitoring an active hamas and islamichhad facility where two dozen hamas and jihadist elephants were operating. we have released the names of these and the photos of these 19 terrorist killers that we targeted and eliminated at this compound. we also published intelligence that an

islamicjihad brigade commander was islamic jihad brigade commander was at islamicjihad brigade commander was at this military facility. we received clear intelligence of the threat posed by these terrorists so in accordance with international humanitarian law we took all possible steps to mitigate the risk to civilians, including using aerial surveillance prior to the strike and selecting very precise munitions to avoid civilian casualties. it did hit the compound.— avoid civilian casualties. it did hit the compound. does the israeli government _ hit the compound. does the israeli government have _ hit the compound. does the israeli government have its _ hit the compound. does the israeli government have its own - hit the compound. does the israeli government have its own death . hit the compound. does the israeli | government have its own death toll to share? ~ ., u, government have its own death toll to share? ~ . u, _, government have its own death toll to share? ~ . u, i. , to share? what i can tell you is that, to share? what i can tell you is that. when _ to share? what i can tell you is that, when we _ to share? what i can tell you is that, when we struck— to share? what i can tell you is that, when we struck it, - to share? what i can tell you is that, when we struck it, therel to share? what i can tell you is - that, when we struck it, there were no women and children present. we released a video of this fact. the compound is still indeed actually intact. there is no significant cratering or damage to the main structure. there is systematic abuse of schools for military activities by hamas and islamicjihad. it's put gazans in danger, as well as israeli

civilians. with hamas routinely over inflating the casualty figures, hamas routinely capped terrorists as civilians, and hamas routinely rely on western media to unfortunately repeat their claims without question. i repeat their claims without question-— repeat their claims without cuestion. , . ., , , question. i understand, that is why i would like — question. i understand, that is why i would like to _ question. i understand, that is why i would like to be _ question. i understand, that is why i would like to be clear _ question. i understand, that is why i would like to be clear in - question. i understand, that is why i would like to be clear in terms . question. i understand, that is why i would like to be clear in terms of| i would like to be clear in terms of what the israeli government can tell us. according to you your intelligence said there were no women or children present. was that intelligence verified after the fact? is the israeli government say that no women or children were killed in this attack? brute that no women or children were killed in this attack?— killed in this attack? we are currently — killed in this attack? we are currently making _ killed in this attack? we are currently making our- killed in this attack? we are currently making our own i killed in this attack? we are _ currently making our own assessment. we are a democracy, we pride ourselves on getting the facts correct rather than shooting from the hip, which is what hamas have done. they have produced unverified casual tea accounts, shared around the world, without any question, no

distinguishing between terrorist fighters and noncombatants, no match to reality. so we will always defend ourselves, we will always get civilians out of harm's way. that's the way we operate in this war but it is hamas which continues this war. it could end this afternoon if they released our hostages and lay down their arms.— they released our hostages and lay down their arms. kamala harris said israel has a — down their arms. kamala harris said israel has a right _ down their arms. kamala harris said israel has a right to _ down their arms. kamala harris said israel has a right to go _ down their arms. kamala harris said israel has a right to go after - down their arms. kamala harris said israel has a right to go after hamasl israel has a right to go after hamas but it also has an important responsibility to avoid civilian casualties and far too many have been killed, in her words. you talked about this being a precise strike based on careful intelligence. if more than 1000 people are housed in a building, militarily, can a precise strike avoid serious casualties? what i'm tellin: ou avoid serious casualties? what i'm telling you is _ avoid serious casualties? what i'm telling you is that _ avoid serious casualties? what i'm telling you is that hamas - avoid serious casualties? what i'm telling you is that hamas routinely| telling you is that hamas routinely lie about casualty figures. that was seen at the very start of this war with the hospital that the bbc was

forced to climb down about saying that there were hundreds of people killed when in fact there wasn't. there have been many cases where the worldwide media is routinely taking hamas's word for it. you must stop doing that. it is irresponsible journalism. it does no good to ordinary gazans because we need to clear hamas from gaza to give gazans a proper chance to rebuild their lives and have a better future for their own children, as well as ours. we will always get civilians out of harm's way. that is always our priority. very often we have put up operations when there is any danger to civilian casualties. have us live our lives. they are genocidal murderous liars. irate our lives. they are genocidal murderous liars.— our lives. they are genocidal murderous liars. ~ . , ., our lives. they are genocidal murderous liars. ~ . ., murderous liars. we are giving you a chance to respond _ murderous liars. we are giving you a chance to respond to _ murderous liars. we are giving you a chance to respond to what _ murderous liars. we are giving you a chance to respond to what they - murderous liars. we are giving you a chance to respond to what they are l chance to respond to what they are saying and what ministers on the scene have also said. we have seen these pictures of people look for their loved ones admit to live amidst the rubble. witnesses have said the building also served as a mask and at the strike hit during torn dawn press. would the attack be

justified if that were the case, in your view?— justified if that were the case, in our view? �* ., ., ., ., your view? almost no information comes out — your view? almost no information comes out of— your view? almost no information comes out of gaza _ your view? almost no information comes out of gaza without - your view? almost no information comes out of gaza without going l comes out of gaza without going through hamas first. it's important to recognise that point and it is your responsibility to understand that. the schools were used by terrorist organisations as hiding places with terrorist operatives and as command centres used to plan and execute attacks against gazans and against israeli people as well. prior to the strike to take many steps to ensure that we mitigate any risk to harming civilians, including the use of intelligence and precise munitions, surveillance and additional intelligence. we are currently making our assessment. we are normally quite quick with our assessment, within a couple of days, but we will produce the facts. and where there is an apology to make we will make it, but in this case this

was our hamas and islamicjihad centre and we have the pictures and the names on the dastardly deeds of these terrorist killers that we took out, and it is a better thing for the world they are no longer amongst us. 50 the world they are no longer amongst us. ,, ., the world they are no longer amongst us, ,, ., . ., the world they are no longer amongst us. u, ., the world they are no longer amongst us. ., ., the world they are no longer amongst us. so we can wait to hear from the israeli government _ us. so we can wait to hear from the israeli government when _ us. so we can wait to hear from the israeli government when it - us. so we can wait to hear from the israeli government when it comes l us. so we can wait to hear from the | israeli government when it comes to the death toll figures and any confirmation on which competence would have been killed in the strike is what i understand from you. irate is what i understand from you. we have is what i understand from you. - have already released the names of the terrorists.— the terrorists. apologies, because we are running — the terrorists. apologies, because we are running out _ the terrorists. apologies, because we are running out of— the terrorists. apologies, because we are running out of time - the terrorists. apologies, because we are running out of time and - the terrorists. apologies, because we are running out of time and i i the terrorists. apologies, because | we are running out of time and i do want to give you a chance to answer this question. the ceasefire deal is something that several parties are hoping for. egypt, one of the mediators involved in those talks, has said that these sorts of attacks show israel's lack of political will to end the war. is there not a risk that these attacks on these buildings, these crowded buildings, could jeopardise talks? it’s could jeopardise talks? it's

precisely — could jeopardise talks? it's precisely the _ could jeopardise talks? it�*s precisely the opposite of your proposition because it's only when we put military, harsh military pressure, against hamas, that they do come to the negotiating table. no one wants our hostages out more than israel's people and israel's government. they are an open wound in our society. 115 people, 310 days on. it's almost unimaginable the cruelty which is going on right now. we want is people home right now but again and again it is hamas which has been walking away from negotiations again and again and that has been underlined by qatar, the us, egypt as well. they always walk away but the only thing that pushes their feet to the fire is when this harsh military pressure. that is what works with hamas. thank ou ve that is what works with hamas. thank you very much — that is what works with hamas. thank you very much for _ that is what works with hamas. thank you very much for your— that is what works with hamas. thank you very much for your time. - that is what works with hamas. thank you very much for your time. we - that is what works with hamas. thank you very much for your time. we do appreciate it and as soon as we have those figures from you we will report them as well.

the first of the funerals for three young girls fatally stabbed at a taylor swift dance class in southport, in northern england, is being held today. nine year old alice da silva aguair will be laid to rest at st patrick's catholic church in southport. olivia richwald reports. alice da silva aguiar, aged nine, described as amazing, caring and confident. she was killed alongside six—year—old bebe king and seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe on july 29th. ten others were seriously injured in the attack on a taylor swift—themed dance event. last week, a memorial service — a celebration of alice's life — took place at st patrick's church on merseyside, where alice had celebrated her first communion just a few months ago. family and friends of alice sang hymns and read tributes in portuguese and english. singing. and today, alice's funeral will take place at the same church. frjohn heneghan said herfamily

feel she is now in heaven. they believe that we've got to let her go dancing into heaven. that's one of the messages they gave to me — she's going dancing into heaven. that's how they're seeing this and this funeral is, of course, going to be profoundly sad but it also will have that deep joy because that's what they believe — they believe she's gone home to heaven, dancing with the angels and saints. all those who were injured in the attacks have now been released from hospital. the funerals haven't taken place yet for elsie dot stancombe and bebe king. yesterday it emerged that bebe's older sister genie, aged nine, witnessed the attacks and escaped. her parents said genie had shown incredible strength and courage, and bebe was sweet, kind and spirited. 18—year—old axel rudakubana, from southport, has been charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a knife. he's been detained into youth custody. olivia richwald,

bbc news, southport. now it's time for a look at today's sport. after 19 days, 329 gold medals, a few hundred thousand fans — the olympic games are drawing to a close in paris with just the women's basketball to be decided. it is currently tied at 25 all at half time between france and the usa. of the 13 golds of offer on sunday the first may be the most remarkable with sifan hassan winning the women's marathon. so what, you might think. well, she's already won two bronzes in the five and ten thousand metres on the track. well, after more than 42 thousand metres on the road, it came down to the last 100 with the dutch runner out sprinting ethiopia's tigist assefa to win gold with an olympic record 2 hours, 22 minutes and 55 seconds. it adds to her three medals from tokyo too. michelle gulyas of hungary stormed home for a gold medal in the women's modern pentathlon,

and set a new world record in the process. starting the laser run 13 seconds behind home favourite elodie clouvel, gulyas quickly took the lead after rapidly getting through the first shooting stop, holding onto it to cross the line with a new women's record points haul of 1461. earlier, defending champion kate french from great britain withdrew through illness. two gold medals in freestyle wrestling have pushed japan up into third position in the medal table. kotaro kiyooka overcame iran's rahman amouzadkhalili by ten points to three in the men's 65 kilogram category, before yuka kagami triumphed over american kennedy blades in the women's 76 kilo contest. confirmation too that usa's jordan chiles has been stripped of her gymnastics bronze, following a ruling by the court of arbitration for sport. she was upgraded to third in monday's floor final after an appeal — but an inquiry found that appeal was lodged four seconds too late, so romania's ana barbosu will now collect the bronze instead.

as for team gb — they'll finish the paris games with 65 medals in total after two bronzes on the final day with emma finucane in track cycling's individual sprint and emma campbell in weightlifting. campbell — silver medallist in tokyo — stood one step lower on the rostrum in the over 81 kilo category. she lifted a total of 288 kilograms and celebrated with a cartwheel across the stage. china's li wenwen took gold. great britain will end the paris olympics with 1a gold medals, 22 silver and 29 bronze, seventh in the medal. if we do look at that medal table the women's basketball title have serious ramifications because the usa are one god away from topping it. those wrestling titles have seen japan leapfrog australia whilst the netherlands have climbed above great britain. gb�*s call is one better

than tokyo but they have eight fewer goals. a more traditional close ceremony compared to the opening one is coming up injust underfive hours. the usual mix of art, entertainment and tradition. the olympic flag will be handed over to los angeles, a games that will see a host of new sports included. we want to have the greatest sports' programme in the history of the olympics because we are a great sporting city. so we are bringing some of the most important, most traditional, most meaningful sports in our country, baseball, softball and flag football, and we are bringing some of the most important, most accessible sports in the world, cricket and squash, and the 36 sports we have on our programme will mean this will be the greatest collection of athletes the history of the world has ever seen in one place. and away from paris, just over the alps into italy where former arsenal and barcelona winger alexis sanchez is returning to udinese 18 years after first signing for them. the 35—year—old was released by inter milan when his contract expired injuly. sanchez played for udinese between 2006 and 2011 and has penned a two—year contract.

and that's all the sport for now. a new artwork of swimming fish, thought to be the seventh by banksy in seven days, has appeared on a police box in the city of london. the aquarium—like design differs from banksy�*s other recent silhouette artworks, in that the school of fish has been painted with more detail and tone. the artist has revealed a new animal artwork each day this week: a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans and a cat. our reporter yasmin rufo went to the city of london, where this new artwork is. she has been telling me about the reaction of the people to it. the crowds here have been huge. people started gathering before one o'clock, just on the speculation that it could potentially be a banksy. eversince that it could potentially be a banksy. ever since he did post it on his social media is people have been turning up taking pictures, taking pictures of them inside the post box. i think that is what is unique

about this particular one. where the others are more you are looking at something, here you can actually get involved. you can go inside the sentry box, sit down and be surrounded by those piranhas. people were speculating on what it could be that we have been speaking to people here and no one seems disappointed that this is what the seventh day images. that this is what the seventh day imaaes. , , .,, ., that this is what the seventh day imaaes. , ., images. yesterday's was at risk, in some ways. _ images. yesterday's was at risk, in some ways, wasn't _ images. yesterday's was at risk, in some ways, wasn't it? _ images. yesterday's was at risk, in some ways, wasn't it? there - images. yesterday's was at risk, in some ways, wasn't it? there was l images. yesterday's was at risk, in some ways, wasn't it? there was a disagreement with the landlord, thoughts about removing it, and then earlier as well, we had another piece which was in peckham which had been stolen. it was a picture of a wolf on a satellite dish. his work isn't protected, is it? it’s wolf on a satellite dish. his work isn't protected, is it?— isn't protected, is it? it's not, no, isn't protected, is it? it's not, no. and _ isn't protected, is it? it's not, no. and when _ isn't protected, is it? it's not, no, and when it _ isn't protected, is it? it's not, no, and when it has _ isn't protected, is it? it's not, no, and when it has been - isn't protected, is it? it's not, no, and when it has been put| isn't protected, is it? it's not, i no, and when it has been put on private property or unsafe buildings, like it was yesterday, it can be taken down. what's very unique about this one though is it has been spray—painted on the sentry box so it's one that can't be peeled off, it can't be easily taken away.

we spoke to someone from the city of london police earlier who said they don't think it's actually police property. we don't know who the box actually belongs to. we don't know whether it will stay or whether it can be taken away. for now it is very firmly staying. we have seen people try to have a little peel of the corner to save it does come off but i can guarantee you, it definitely doesn't come off. i but i can guarantee you, it definitely doesn't come off. i can see people _ definitely doesn't come off. i can see people take _ definitely doesn't come off. i can see people take photos - definitely doesn't come off. i can see people take photos so - definitely doesn't come off. i can see people take photos so there really is that enthusiasm you are talking about. i wonder in your view, what the community to receive these artworks, what you think it means to them. this is the quickest pace of artwork we have seen from banksy. it’s pace of artwork we have seen from banks . �* , ., , pace of artwork we have seen from banks. �*, ., p pace of artwork we have seen from banks. �*, '. ., banksy. it's really difficult to know what — banksy. it's really difficult to know what this _ banksy. it's really difficult to know what this is _ banksy. it's really difficult to know what this is all - banksy. it's really difficult to know what this is all about i banksy. it's really difficult to - know what this is all about because he is not commenting. he has posted each one of these images on his social media every day without any comments. obviously there is speculation about what this could mean. partly it could mean it is his way of cheering people up, making people happy, after the riots that have been happening this week.

others say there is an environmental element to it and he is at sea trying to raise awareness of some of the environmental issues that are happening in the uk and the world right now. stay with us here on bbc news. there is plenty more to come and if you want to steam more of banksy�*s artworks go to instagram. hello there. it's a very warm day today but things are going to get hotter for some of us tomorrow. temperatures today are higher than they were yesterday. afternoon temperatures widely into the mid 20s for england and wales. could be reaching 30 degrees in the south—east of england. overnight tonight and into tomorrow morning things are going to be changing a bit, for these areas there is a risk of heavy rain,

thunder, lightning and some large hail as well. further south, it may well stay dry and for this part of the country, particularly hot and humid. our headline temperature is 35 degrees. that could be reached in cambridgeshire tomorrow afternoon. but for this evening we are going to have some sunshine to end the day for most, but there are one or two thundery showers threatening the south—west. those could drift into wales and the midlands, more especially into scotland. later in the night we get a spell of noisy weather with some very heavy rain, gusty winds and frequent lightning coming into northern ireland and, later, western scotland. these are the minimum temperatures tonight so an uncomfortably warm night for sleeping. the weather soon cheers up in northern ireland. we get some sunshine. thundery rain pushes quickly eastwards tomorrow morning in scotland. it may affect northern england but it does move away in the afternoon. further south it is likely to stay dry and a much lower risk of the odd shower. more in the way of sunshine and across the midlands and eastern england temperatures will be around 30 degrees or more.

out towards the west and north temperatures are going to be lower, as we see fresher air coming in following that spell of wet weather. it has been very hot in spain, and that is where the heat has been coming from. you can see, right the way across western europe, it is to be going to turn cooler over the week ahead as we get atlantic winds coming in. they start to arrive in western areas on tuesday, and we see another band of rain coming into northern and western parts, with the winds picking up as well in the north—west. but through the midlands and eastern england it may well be dry still on tuesday, and it is going to be very warm, if not hot. temperatures reaching 28 degrees. again further west things are a lot cooler. after this very hot and humid start some of us, with some sundry downpours in places, the rest of the week will see temperatures gradually falling away, and still rather unsettled.

this is bbc news, the headlines: moscow says its armed forces will deliver a "tough response" to ukraine's incursion into its western kursk region. the comment came as the ukrainian army forged ahead on day six of its surprise ground offensive. hundreds of mourners have gathered for the first of the funerals for three young girls killed at a dance class in southport last month. alice dasilva aguiar will be laid to rest

at st patrick's catholic church in the town. the killing sparked disorder across the uk. iran's new president announces his cabinet amidst fears of escalation in the middle east. the final event of the paris olympics is under way, with the united states seeking a historic eighth straight gold in the women's basketball final against france. and banksy strikes again— the elusive street artist confirms he's created his seventh animal—themed piece in london in as many days. hello and welcome to paris, we can go straight to my colleague. thank you very much indeed. welcome to paris. welcome to paris. it's the final day of the olympics,

can you believe it.