as critical. these are live pictures from the hospital in rome where he's receiving treatment. of former hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah — as israel carries out air strikes in southern lebanon. for the first time in more than 20 years israel deploys up its military expansion. iam i am live in berlin where voters have been going to the polls for several hours in a voters have been going to the polls for several we rs in a voters have been going to the polls for several we are1 a voters have been going to the polls for several we are at a critical election. we are at a cdu quarters, will be speaking to the election party tonight.

i am lauren taylor. where prime minister sir keir starmer has week to see president trump, sir keir said britain will take a leading role in ukraine's defence. sir keir told a scottish labour conference in glasgow that is required in ukraine once a peace deal is reached. its economy with industrial policy to stand up for ukraine, europe and the uk. our online spaces, even, at times, our streets. the rising bills, the cost of living crisis, that will only continue unless we have a resolution that is fair and stable for ukraine. this is one of the great lessons of our history. instability in europe always

washes up on our shores, i've been saying for some time that we europeans, including the united kingdom, have to do more for our the us is right about that. it's time to take responsibility for our security, our continent. we have to be ready to play our role if a force our political correspondent damian grammaticas has more on what the uk government has

been saying about trump's intervention on ukraine. very interesting political intervention a very pay political pivotal important pay politicalrpivetal this important pay politicalrpivatal this was important pay politicalpivotal this was a moment. this was a confident speech labour party members e- "ééétufidffir’é " ,,,, 77é£$fla75d7¥$r7$ 555337177 7 in scotland for a regional conference. comes in the �* keir starmer about context of keir starmer about to to washington, all of the to go to washington, all of the in europe about = -= trump might approach and donald trump might approach and what he might give away in any in te: 25 77i7n7trying in trying to secure a approach in trying to secure a deal with russia for a peace m -e’ in two things deal in ukraine. two things here a standout for me. the here a standout for me the . . w. w... .a... - is here a standout for me the . . w. a... .7.., , is keir here a standout for me tho? was. ,, as. . a is keir starmer saying first is keir starmer saying in quite an emotional ; :——- m speech, there was a bitjust before that where he was talking about how he had been ukraine, he had met who lead to ukraine, he had met who lead mac soldiers who had suffered burns and being in burns and being treated in hospital and had fought on the line of freedom. he said

front line of freedom. he said he had been to a town outside of kyiv where people had been murdered by russian soldiers and he said he had to and he said he had spoken to people who russian soldiers had civilians, shot them handcuffed civilians, shot them the he said don't in the head. he said you don't 7 a place in the head. he said you don't , a place and in the head. he said you don't , a place hei a... in the head. he said you don't , a place he had conversations he had with people who had gathered the people who had gathered at the bodies of friends, brothers,, families, wield them bodies of friends, brothers,, graves lilies, wield them bodies of friends, brothers,, graves in es, wield them bodies of friends, brothers,, graves in shopping them into grayea in ahopping” ,. ~ " you don't into grayea in ahopping” w ~ " you don't forget :;e£ like that and at; that and it uh; that and it makes things like that and it makes me more determined to up me more determined tostand up very to ukraine. very oersonat. different to emotional, very different to what we heard donald trump what we heard from donald trump in recent days, blaming ukraine for the conflict. so, fef eiie tfififl'd eeee“ 77 7 7 77 7 7 setting starmer, rhetorically, setting himself apart from the american without a president without picking a direct confrontation with him. also no mention of also mention... no mention of president trump, there, was there? ., , ., there? no better outlining

he there? no better outlining - he thinks _ there? no better outlining - he thinks need - there? no better outlining - - he thinks need changing, things he thiniss need aha-5�*s 7 spending, big’g’efir’defense epending. to the of commitment'to'the'defence of those are he put , eutf’zf’ezefjfi’z put7 the 7 put7 thetable 7 put7 thetable �*7donald can put on the table for donald saying, this is what i trump, saying, this is what i can do. , trump, saying, this is what i can do. t, ,, trump, saying, this is what i can do; about the is right about the fact that europeans need to do for europeans need to do more for their own security, what are we a bad information about getting a bad information about what might entail, that on defence 7on defence before 7 77oh neonate to7 to washington? e to washinuton? �* goes to washington? at the minute, goes to washington? at the minute. only _ goes to washington? at the minute, only that _ goes to washington? at the minute, only that broad - minute, only that broad approach, there is a apdroach, there is a commitment doing more. what we is a for how have is a timeline for how quickly that could happen. there is a lot of pressure, —: eeauu a. . a obviously, to accelerate a timeline for increasing defence e -e the government said spending. the government said would go over the course it would go up over the course of five or six years. some to do more for that. pressure to do more for that. also no commitment to �* it also no commitment to how it would be funded. that is critical too. what we do have here, very clearly think, is here, very clearly i think, is 2fo saying here, very clearly i think, is if saying to here, very clearly i think, is if g saying to donald keir starmer saying to donald we agree with you on

trump, we agree with you on things, we agree with you some things, we agree with you that we should do more, we agree that we should in agree that we should step in and to signal that the uk and try to signal that the uk is willing to stand up with the united states if there is a that ”htéfl “stiff haggis that secures ukraine's deal that secures ukraine's security. let's take you to lebanon now, where thousands of people have gathered for the funeral of hassan nasrallah, group hezbollah who was killed in southern lebanon, just hours before which had been moved in breach of last yea r�*s let's speak to our correspondent lina sinjab what position, point have we reached in the funeral proceedings?— proceedings? well, the ceremony started already _ proceedings? well, the ceremony started already and _ proceedings? well, the ceremony started already and thousands - started already and thousands of people have in the of people have gathered in the main here in beirut fifi'fi effilufi hefe ifi. ee'fee 7 the fie'fi efafilufi hefe ifi. ee'fee 7

the bodies of both lately and has roller into stadium and crowds the stadium and amid crowds cheering from the leader. isa is a do? where mam; this is a day where many supporters of hezbollah have gathered. thousands �*them gathered. thousands of them from different parts of came from different parts of the also from the country but also from abroad. mainly, from iraq and inasi-nto iran. in a sign to show significant for the significant support for the group but also to send a message to say that the power of this resistance movement as see see it has not faded away. the ceremon takin -lace as the ceremony taking place right now the leader is e= t—— m addressing the crowd on a speech. israeli �*jets flew over the city fighterjets flew over the city a low position and 7 loud soun7d 77 hilt; gamma." 77 7187.53 anathema causing loud sound that could cause a lot of fear among the crowd. so far, it is still proceeding and continuing.

while other see today, as well, as a day of an end to the power of hezbollah and an end to the of'h'eabollah'and an'end to the that they of'h'eabollah'and attend to the that they taken over power that they have taken over the past three and a the past three decades and a to their political limitation to their political power inside too. in power inside lebanon too. in the meantime, there has been some israeli action in southern tell us more about -%--way 7777v7vay77that7 77 7 7 7777 7 77777 7way that is significant. that way that is significant. before the started before the procession started and the ceremony started, there were israeli in the were israeli air strikes in the south of lebanon where the south of lebanon where'the' ~ ~ , ~ ~ , , ~ defence said that they israeli defence said that they would targeting anti—aircraft firing into israel, to diminish they that this is in it. they said that this is in opposition, violates the peace deal that has been reached, a ceasefire deal that has been reached earlier this year. this is the that they have is the attack that they have carried out this morning just

before the ceremony it before the ceremony started. it is also sending message to a " 77777f7u7jl7 '" '" " """"""" i" " 7 777 fu7ll7of supporters head full of diolch supporters and whoever is still carrying weapons among that weapons among hezbollah that they will not stop attack 7 any7threat7 77 7 any7threat that 77 7 77any7threat that could7 7 any7threat that could7come thank you with us. what the significance in your view of this funeralfor nasrallah? thane see sees *’ it nasrallah? thane ess eeee *’ it a taste, a nasrallah? thane ess heeee ! - it. a taste, a show of think it was a taste, a show of force of hezbollah because it suffered great losses has suffered great losses in the war. it suffered also loss of power, political power, over in lebanon recent months in lebanon itself. its

recent mognthgsgin lebanon itself. its 355 syria has itself. its allies in syria has basically replaced the revolution in syria, this basically replaced the revolution ii this a, this is not as7 it used to 7 is not as7 it used to as 7 link is not as it used to be as a of there is a a result of that. there is a new government in lebanon so for to out tens of for them to bring out tens of thousands of supporters is a show force. at the same time, it also symbolises that most of the hezbollah leadership has the heabottah teadershi—p has eliminated by israel. most important thing for both, in lebanon, is incarnated to the t, the have been the letter. 12—17; * ’ the have been some air seen they have been some air strikes this morning, how's it been going, business of been going, the business of or continuing that policing or continuing that ceasefire? it policing or continuing that ceasefire?— ceasefire? it does not go exactly as _ ceasefire? it does not go exactly as the _ ceasefire? it does not go exactly as the remit, - ceasefire? it does not go exactly as the remit, as l ceasefire? it does not go i exactly as the remit, as the

thatis exactly as the remit, as the that is five deal, because that is five points, five 7 points in the south of -m -elm lebanon. two months after, by the of february, because the 18th of february, because it says that the lebanese army have the position in the south, z is part of 7 is part of ii —— which is part of 11 common —— which is part of 11 common —— which is part of 11 common —— which is part of yemen, and only the army only having the lebanese army between one should e hope that those is not another provocation, we have seen how it can end. hezbollah miscalculated on seven october and then throughout war. at and then throughout the war. at of it, israel had to the end of it, israel had to evacuate of its residents evacuate'fifififi of its res'tdents the north and we saw their war that caused

the war that caused huge damage lebanon. ., ., , , lebanon. you mention in passing earlier the _ lebanon. you mention in passing earlier the links _ lebanon. you mention in passing earlier the links between - earlienthedinks between and iran, how is that hezbollah and iran, how is that now between iran link now between iran and hezbollah given that the shift that has been in the thst “hits has seen in the " ' " ' " with thst “hits has lseen in the " ' " ' " with the thet there hes lseeh. in the " ' " ' " with the downfall �*the resist". saith. the fiestas-stall. j�*ke —— —— —~—— —— — — in region. with the �*iah�*e'j ”“i�*e ,, ~ ,,... ~ ' ' in syria ree�*e". saith the �*iah�*e'j ”“he ,, ,, ,,.. ~ ' ' in syria and ree�*e". saith the �*iah�*e'j ”“he w ,, ww ~ ' ' in syria and the changes regime in syria and the changes in the war between israel and intheswar between israel and and also the gaza war? lebanon and also the gaza war? completely. i think this political changes, have weakened hezbollah. as i mentioned, geographically, there is no buffer between iran and lebanon so it's difficult for them to transfer weapons for them. to transfer weapons” " ammunition to for them to transfer weapon's” " ammunition to hezbollah. don't have 7 77 as; a; 77 7a7u7i;;77 7 7 77 as; a; 77 7a7u7i;;7i7h 7 they don't have the allies in at the time, iran syria. at the same time, iran with its confrontation, is more with its confrontation'ris more it operates with its confrontationris more it operates within careful how it operates within the region. it was exposed that

early system are its early defence system are not as good as they thought they were. that attack in they were. with that attack in key in this key strategic targets. in this sense, hezbollah is pushing the position, the last 30 years. position, in the last 30 years. we talked about the-— . .- of this funeral in signifieanes of thisteneretin ' ' ... .. w ' �* but signifieanes of thisteneretin ' ' . w w w ' �* but explain to us particular but explain to us what the influence of hessle what theinftuence of hessle is now with the new diolch is now with the new political side of things in lebanon. how big an influence are they �*these days? for are they now these days? for man are they now these days? iff?" many definitely in many decades, definitely in the last 25 years, hezbollah was the most powerful, not only the most powerful. not only ... ~ operations but military operations but political power, within 7 7 it represented lebanon. also, it represented its resistance to its counter resistance to israel, supported, still

israel, it was supported, still ljy israel, it was supported, still by iran, and now supported, by iran, and now it creates are weaker, it creates are within the paralysis within the political system. it is an abnormal situation, to have a political party is the eete eh=h is sessile the military eeffe �*eh'eh is eeeeehe tife military power sets eh=h is sessile the military power within strongest military power within a country that can dictate its policy in the sense of confrontation with policy in the sense of confronta there th tees . policy in the sense of confronta there is tees . policy in the sense of confronta there is l? reason . lebanon not to have a for lebanon not to have a secure border and actually good relations. the feeling that relations. the feeling is that the influence of iran and as a hessle diolch. result, hessle diolch. than much result, hessle diolch. than i - much indeed for your very much indeed for your thoughts on the subject. israel has expelled the residents of three refugee military presence there. the defence minister, israel katz, said palestinian camps injenin, tulkarm and nur shams were now empty

of a tank division injenin, the first time tanks have been used in the palestinian territory for over 20 years. far—right israeli ministers , . our correspondent mark lowen is injerusalem and has calls the resurgence of terrorism in the occupied west bank. from three refugee camps. that is a very significant move there in the west bank and i think the fear among many palestinians is what israel is actually aiming for is an eventual annexation of the west bank. basically, with the attention focused on gaza, that actually israel is then using that

shift, using that attention of the white house. settlers on palestinians in the west bank, so, the message from palestinian is don't lose sight of what is happening in the west bank with all the attention on gaza. that has been brewing. hostages who were freed by hamas but israel has saying that hamas is violating

the terms of the ceasefire there is real concern about the future survival us government workers have received an email asking them losing theirjobs — it's the latest development on federal spending. elon musk, who is leading the campaign to for president trump to cut government spending, said employees had failure to do so would be taken as a resignation. to germany now. these are live pictures from berlin, where polls have openeed in a high stake election that and the us. it follows the collapse of the three—party coalition government led by olaf sholz in november. conservative leader fredrich merz and his cdu party are highly favoured to win but even with a victory,

sumi somiskander is in germany covering the elections. of germany's cdu party. to pick on the issue of needing coalition partner, how a coalition partner, how difficult will it be to find a coalition that works properly? is 77isth7e 7 7 7 7 7is the most 7 7 7 7is the most important7 7 that is the most important question now. we have question right now. we have been at these polls �* the last few weeks and over the last few weeks and really, they not moved reelle thee heee 7hfif teeeeet 77777 7 much. the way things feeélltf. thee heee 7hfif teeeeet 7 7777 7 much. the way things stand that much. the way things stand right now, the christian democrats look set to come out the biggest party and friedrich 7 77w7i7ll77b7e7777 77 77 7 77w7i7ll77b7e7the7 7 77 77 7 7 i7/7i7l7i77ll77b7e77the77next7 77 chancellor, i think. in the very last we saw before very last poll we saw before the election today, we saw the clcttiehmseeeeeeeee �* numbers are the eleetiehmseeeeeeeee �*numbers are slipping their numbers are slipping ever so slightly flat that why so slightly flat that is why today's government will be on every anybody. at the every date for anybody. at the cdu headquarters because they want to see as many parties in the middle, in the centre of germany's spectrum rem-en" "it'e' sheet—the w . .,. w ww . as much of the vote as det asmuch of the yote as 6.5.5.5 525777777 777 777 77 $0 det asmuch of the yote as as.-. lesa — —— — .. ... h so it det asmuch of the yote as 6.5.5.5 5257777 77 777 777 77 so it is det asmuch of the yote as 6.5.5.5 5257777 77 777 777 77

so it is easier det asmuch of the yote as 6.5.5.5 5257777 77 777 777 77 so it is easier to possible so it is easier to form a coalition. at the moment, you a moment, you have a two—way or even a three—way coalition or even a three—way and is not coalition and that is not desirable. one of the reasons we are here in the first place is because the previous government, a three—way coalition, was so untenable. there was so much infighting and also a lot of conflict over and also a lot of conflict over a number of issues that they could not keep the government going. is certainly going gging. that is certainlygoing be one of biggest to be one of the biggest things to be one of the biggest things to watch for today as those numbers come in later to see how big a share of the vote each of those parties have received. when it comes to the issues themselves, this election campaign has been marked by a of issues marked by a number of issues including the we 7christian democrats that the christian democrats have said that... have accuse the government the outgoing government of running the economy to the ground was not also, around teas not he�*s-tee �* since the snap migration. ever since the snap was called, we have election was called, we have seen really terrible attacks carried here in germany. was a car ramming attack there was a car ramming attack. munichjust there was a car ramming attack munichjust before the in munich just before the security conference with two dying stop there

security conference with two horrific; stop there security conference with two horrific stabbing) there security conference with two horrific stabbing where a was horrific stabbing where a two—year—old somebody who 2—1 777777 77-7 77 777777 7 7 sham; 77 was trying to help her was killed. and in magdeburg killed. and then in magdeburg just before christmas horrific—— ~—— —— . — with six people killed. attack with six people killed. went to yesterday we went to magdeburg yesterday to see how people were feeling we went to magdeburg yesterday to set migration, 3 were feeling we went to magdeburg yesterday to set migration, 3 wert the ling about migration, about the election this is what we election and this is what we found. the car ramming two months ago shook magdeburg, and who should stay. the christian democrats and their candidate migration but want to kerb illegal migration significantly.

the cdu put forth a five—point plan with steps like stopping but it's not clear if that's legal or feasible in a new government. it came to a head when friedrich merz tried his word and a taboo. stand, we find voters who are attracted to the promise of radical i, at least, want to see the criminals actually be punished. they should be sent away. translation: everyone

is welcome here, - migration runs deep. some voters tell us they're worried about alienating the vast majority of immigrants here who don't commit crimes. and they are just as dear to me as all the other people. and i think it's so awful to shut people out. that's why we are where we are now. translation: when i look at parties that want - to send away immigrants and don't want immigration, i think it's important to people who want to come to us— from abroad because they enrich our society. a contrast that reflects the fault lines dividing germany's mainstream parties.

we have indeed seen at the christian and christian democrats and their chancellor friedrich merz saying that will do saying that they will do something drastically curb 7 including a the immigration, including a five point plan asylu m 7 asylum 7away at turning asylum seekers away at the border. it's not clear the bordereltisnotelear... ~ �*that�*s actually aligned the german constitution or law. sense-e �* to european law. another factor to if we talking remember, if we are talking about coalition it is about coalition building, it is not clear whether friedrich merz will be able to get an 7777wit7h7hi7s7juni70r 77 7 agreement with his junior coalition agreement with hisjunior coalition partners. certainly, agreement with hisjunior coali at1 partners. certainly, agreement with hisjunior coali at stake 1ers. certainly, agreement with hisjunior coali at stake here certainly, agreement with hisjunior coali at stake here cer1 we y, a lot at stake here and we will watching it all and be watching it all and bringing results live to you later this evening. results live to you later this evenina. . ~ results live to you later this evening-— results live to you later this evenina. . ~ ,, , . evening. thank you very much indeed. the pope has asked catholics to pray for him, as he continues to reveive treatment in hospital

his condition as still critical. these are the live pictures from the gemelli hospital being treated for double pneumonia. he's been given oxygen and blood transfusions. well—wishers have been leaving candles, flowers and letters outside hospital all week. pope francis was unable to deliver the traditional these are the live pictures from st peter's square. our europe correspondent sarah rasinford has this update from rome. but it might have been somewhat reassuring for catholics around very closely, including here at st peter's. the statement simply said that the night had been describe as "alarming".

because he had a chronic respiratory attack yesterday — they also said that he had had blood transfusions because of signs of anaemia. this so closely. and certainly that is the case here in rome. up at the the hospital where the pope is being treated, bring flowers and to say prayers for the pope. and to the church. so people here very much holding pope francis in their prayers. of course, they know that he is 88, they know that he is frail, he was frail before this, but i've also heard him described as a 100% pope — a pope who gave and gives absolutely his all to his duties,

was taken to hospital on the 14th of february. but certainly the tone of that latest update yesterday catholics worldwide. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. this certainly shaping up this certainly shaping up to a tale of two up to being a tale of two saturday sunny and halves. saturday sunny and quiet but all quiet but unfortunately all change this sunday is wet and

windy weather is currently sweeping its way in the sweeping its way in from the it arrived during west. it arrived during the early hours of sunday morning ireland. also e 777777by by gale 77 7777777777777 77 777 777 77777 by gale force winds accompanied by gale force winds as well. really wet as well. that really wet weather continues to sleep its way eastwards. not start central and england. clouding eastern england. clouding over as we go through the day. it should say dry in anglia should say dry in east anglia the it drives and the south—east. it drives —— rain arrives and it stays for much of the afternoon. brighter skies into the afternoon for northern ireland, england and wales, and that will gradually drift its way but we will keep that drier corner across east anglia across the country.

sweeps its way steadily southwards, a spell of wet showers further north, but it will be a mild start to our monday morning. now, as we go into monday in a little more detail, some sunny spells coming through and a scattering brisk westerly wind still. but in the sunnier moments, temperatures still above where they should be for this time of year. quieter theme of weather, but it's not going to last. the next low will start to show its hand during wednesday, so we could have a brief dry window again on tuesday, more rain to come on wednesday. until then, have a good sunday.

this is bbc news. the headlines: sir keir starmer has said britain is ready to take a leading role if a force is required in ukraine once

a peace deal is reached.