ministers from london and dublin will meet at the british—irish intergovernmental conference for the rmont powersharing. the british—irish intergovernmental conference will be held in london, a year and a half after devolved government imploded in belfast after a bitter row between the dup and sinn fein over a botched green energy scheme. this is the briefing from bbc news. the latest headlines: greece is observing three days of national mourning following the deaths of at least 74 people in wildfires near athens. hundreds of homes and cars have been destroyed, with forests reduced to ash as the flames quickly spread. voting is underway in pakistan following a general election campaign that's been marred by accusations of military interference. the party of the former cricketer, imran khan, is challenging that of the ousted prime minister, nawaz sharif. it has emerged that the dam which has collapsed in sales which killed 20 people had developed a fault discovered a day before. they had tried unsuccessfully to re— parent. —— laos. now it's time to look at some of the stories making he

ministers from london and dublin will meet at the british—irish intergovernmental conference, the firstforum has been held in 11 years. the power—sharing coalition at stormont collapsed 18 months ago. violence has erupted as millions head to the polls in pakistan, with the worst incident seeing at least 27 people killed by a bomb in the city of quetta. voters are deciding between the parties of the former cricket star imran khan and the disgraced former prime minister nawaz sharif. our correspondent secunder kermani is islamabad. in the context of the election, how unexpected was the violence? well, there had been... inaudible today, we've seen 27 people killed in an attack in the city of quetta in the western province of balochistan. the same province saw an attack two weeks ago at an election rally where 150 people were killed, one of the worst attacks in pakistan history. levels of violence have steadily decreased over the last two years. five years ago when the last election took place, the situation is better now. the last time, in 2013, a number of political parties weren't able t

unionists have nothing to fear from a british/irish intergovernmental conference. governments have signed up to as pa rt of governments have signed up to as part of good friday agreement. we do not deal with devolved decision—making in northern ireland. this is about protecting the institutions of the good friday agreement. trying to find a way to ensure that they can work and function which they aren't doing today. in that contribution the irish foreign minister addressed unionist concerns. some think this conference maybe a vehicle for increased meddling, as they would see it, by dublin. nationalists think it could inject momentum into the process. but i don't think anybody is expecting a break through until later in the year. thank you very much. you're watching afternoon live. the headlines: rescuers search for dozens missing after deadly wild fires in greece. police say they have found evidence more than 60 children were abused at a children's home in derbyshire. a woman who says she is stuck in an unhappy marriage loses her supreme court appeal to be granted

british and irish ministers have met for their first intergovernmental conference in more than a decadear and a half ago and has remained in deadlock. the meeting was attended by irish foreign affairs minister simon coveney, who, when asked about brexit negotiations, stressed that leaving without a deal was not a desirable outcome. two unionist in northern ireland unionists anywhere, they have nothing to fear from a british — irish intergovernmental conference. this is an agreed structure that both governments have signed up to as part of the good friday agreement. it is very clear we do not deal with devolved decision—making in northern ireland. this is about protecting the institutions of the good friday agreement, trying to find a way to make sure they can work and function which they are doing today. it's nearly four months since protests broke out along israel's border with the gaza strip. in that time dozens of palestinians have been shot dead by israeli soldiers and thousands more have been wounded. but behind the dramatic scenes, health workers are worried about something longer

i know there is a fear that some unionists have that the british irish intergovernmental conference ishe autumn. hopefully, we will be able to deal with the con science by actually showing people that there is nothing to fear. this is simply a structure for two governments that wa nt to structure for two governments that want to work together to engage together at and not to do anything thatis together at and not to do anything that is inconsistent with other elements of the good friday agreement. anti-brexit? on brexit, the point that i was making this morning when i was asked to comment on the likelihood of an ordeal brexit is that i think a lot of people are talking up the likelihood ofan people are talking up the likelihood of an ordeal brexit. i don‘t believe it is likely, i don‘t believe anybody wanted. i don‘t think there isa anybody wanted. i don‘t think there is a majority in the parliament that i come from all the parliament in london that would want that. we need to focus on the intensification of negotiations in order to move forward. what is going to solve this problem is

ministers from london and dublin will meet at the british—irish intergovernmental conference, the firstd in eleven years. the power—sharing coalition at stormont collapsed 18 months ago. more than 100 million voters in pakistan go to the polls today to elect a new government. the vote comes amid tightened security after violence marred the campaign. the election sees the former cricketer imran khan up against the party ofjailed ex—prime minister nawaz sharif. the american pop singer demi lovato is being treated in hospital in los angeles following a suspected drug overdose. us media reports say the 25—year—old was found unconscious at her home. in a statement, her agent said she was now awake and surrounded by herfamily. richard main reports. demi lovato was in the middle of a world tour when she was rushed to hospital last night, after being found unconscious at home. us media claim she was given medicine to ca ta ra ct claim she was given medicine to cataract overdose. she is believed to be awake and in stable condition. —— counteract. the former child star is one of the biggest selli

british and irish ministers have met for their first intergovernmental conference in more than one decadelapsed a year and a half ago and has remained in deadlock. the meeting was attended by irish foreign minister simon coatney, who when asked about brexit negotiations, stressed that leaving without a deal was not a desirable outcome. let speak to jonathan blake who is at westminster. brexit is still on everyone's mind, and lots of talk of no deal lately? there has been. since the break negotiations began, the government has offered to micah often repeated thatjust a phrase that no deal is better than a bad deal, and that has been bizarre asa bad deal, and that has been bizarre as a part of the position from the outset. but recently we have talked more about it and the government has stepped up its preparations for a no till scenario, that was one of the things that the prime minister and her cabinet agreed a few weeks ago. we're told to —— technical notices will be issued by the government over the summer about how people and businesses might be able to prepare for the eventuality of th