. this moment of michelle o'neill becoming — this moment of michelle o'neill becoming the _ thisn first minister— becoming the first sinn fein first minister here. _ becoming the first sinn fein first minister here. so _ becoming the first sinn fein first minister here. so it— becoming the first sinn fein first minister here. so it is— becoming the first sinn fein first| minister here. so it is significant. can i_ minister here. so it is significant. can i also— minister here. so it is significant. can i also say— minister here. so it is significant. can i also say this, _ minister here. so it is significant. can i also say this, for— minister here. so it is significant. can i also say this, for us - minister here. so it is significant. can i also say this, for us as- can i also say this, for us as republicans, _ can i also say this, for us as republicans, and _ can i also say this, for us as republicans, and for- can i also say this, for us as republicans, and for those i can i also say this, for us as. republicans, and for those of can i also say this, for us as- republicans, a

is northern ireland michelle o'neill. is that _ northern ireland michelle o'neill. is that correct?h _ is that correct? 13:3 you produce no messages with these individuals is that correct? 133 you produce no messages with these individuals in your first _ messages with these individuals in your first statement, is that correct _ your first statement, is that correct chris neal yes, but i said in the _ correct chris neal yes, but i said in the statement, those messages would _ in the statement, those messages would have been extremely limited. if i would have been extremely limited. if i take _ would have been extremely limited. if i take john swinney for example, if i takejohn swinney for example, it has never been a practice, not just during the pandemic, but generally, to text, i don't think i have ever sent to whatsapp tojohn swinney and certainly if i have it would be the exception, absolutely the exception, but text messages will be very occasional and the nature of the text messages i would have a john swinney would be, are you free to speak, or can i pop in to see you. it's n

a nationalist leader michelle o'neill taking over as first minister.yet here we are!— yet here we are! it is probably not some that — yet here we are! it is probably not some that i _ yet here we are! it is probably not some that i ever _ yet here we are! it is probably not some that i ever thought - yet here we are! it is probably not some that i ever thought i - yet here we are! it is probably not some that i ever thought i would l yet here we are! it is probably not i some that i ever thought i would see in my lifetime, when the assembly was first initiated after 1998, 25 years ago, and 26 years this year, it was with a sdlp and alter unit is party leaving that. it is notjust a nationalist first minister, it is a republican first minister. michelle o'neill is a republican. she is advocated for a united ireland. we are onlyjust over 100 years old, northern ireland and more than 100 years old, and i say, look at a map and that border. it is drawn the way it is for a reason. it was to make this a unionist majority, and that is not the case. not only do

take _ this will point be seeing michelle o'neill take her— this will point be seeing michelle mandate she won in the may 22 l mandate she won in the may 22 assembly— mandate she won in the may 22 assembly election. _ mandate she won in the may 22 assembly election. recognisingj mandate she won in the may 22 - assembly election. recognising that the first _ assembly election. recognising that the first and — assembly election. recognising that the first and deputy— assembly election. recognising that the first and deputy first _ assembly election. recognising that the first and deputy first ministersi the first and deputy first ministers remain— the first and deputy first ministers remain equal — the first and deputy first ministers remain equal in _ the first and deputy first ministers remain equal in law. _ the first and deputy first ministers remain equal in law. i— the first and deputy first ministers remain equal in law. i would - the first and deputy first ministers remain equal in law. i would look. remain equal in law. i would look forward _ remain equal in law. i would

and, mr speaker, it is only right that an important part of the will will be seeing michelle o'neillemocratic mandate she won in the may 2022 assembly election. recognising that the first and deputy first ministers remain equal in law. i look forward to working with a new first minister, deputy first minister, all of their colleagues in the northern ireland executive to improve the lives of people from all backgrounds, unionist, nationalist or other. as we move forward swiftly to give effect to our commitments, i urge the parties to do the same thing in notifying the speaker of the northern ireland assembly to recall stormont, elect the first and deputy first minister and appoint all ministers to the executive. mr speaker, it is time to build on the progress of the last 25 years. today, we have presented a plan that will deliver the long—term change northern ireland needs. it will strengthen northern ireland's place in our union and guarantee the free flow of goods across the entire united kingdom. it's only by sticking to this plan that we will become a more united and prosperous co

taking a position as first— michelle o'neill taking a position as first minister, and that willmoment of great significance, not simply because we have and have government for so long but because it will— government for so long but because it will he _ government for so long but because it will be the first time we will have — it will be the first time we will have a — it will be the first time we will have a sinn fein first minister, a nationalist — have a sinn fein first minister, a nationalist first minister, so mark, i nationalist first minister, so mark, i suppose — nationalist first minister, so mark, i suppose of change that has occurred _ i suppose of change that has occurred in northern ireland and across— occurred in northern ireland and across ireland, so we are here to do the business — across ireland, so we are here to do the business and we will be meeting other— the business and we will be meeting other parties in the course of this afternoon — other parties in the course of this afternoon and it's now a case of agreeing — afternoon and it's now a case of agreeing

the nationalist party, saying it will be a moment of great significance when her colleague, michelle o'neillmes the first national first minister. ms. mcdonald: we are positive but realistic. there's a financial package on the table. there should be no doubt, it's not enough in the medium-term to fund this, just so as we are clear, there is still a big financial problem in terms of running public services here, and i don't want to rain on anybody's parade, today of all days, but there has to be a realism here. there is a financial problem, and we have said consistently that the best way for us to confront tory austerity and the funding of the north is to do it -- the underfunding of the north is to do it from a position of collective strength. sumi: u.s. state department spokespersons of the bdc we recognize the importance that that has been taken to the full restoration of the northern ireland assembl pakistan former prime minister imran khan as well as former foreign minister shah mehmood qureshi were sentenced. mr. kong was accused of leaking -- mr. khan was accused of leaking classified

institutions do return, they will do so with a nationalist first minister in the shape of sinn fein�*s michelle o'neillhe first time in northern ireland's existence — more than a century — that the top job will be held by a leader who wants a united ireland. power—sharing is the only show in town so i am finally glad - we are getting to a juncture where actually that may be | possible once again. i believe in power—sharing - and i believe in life you get much, much more done when you work together as opposed _ to working apart. after two years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stormont stalemate will soon be at an end, but it is not done yet. and so people in northern ireland must do what they have done for nearly two years now — wait. sara girvan, bbc news, belfast. an australian state mp has accused a local news channel of misoygny after it edited an image of her to give her larger breasts and more revealing clothing. in a message on social media — showing the altered image and the real one side by side — georgie purcell said she had �*endured a lot�* but did not expect to h

and if it happens, incidentally, it is the leader of sinn fein in belfast, michele o'neil, who will becomest minister of northern ireland. she will be the first irish nationalist to hold that position. that in and of itself will be a major moment. it's a moment that now looks like it will arrive with this dup endorsement of the deal that it has negotiated with the british government, but sirjeffrey donaldson careful to say the dup would not move to lift its veto to allow the regional government to be restored until the uk government in london had passed legislation through the british parliament. now to the deadly drone strike over the weekend targeting us soldiers in jordan. the us army says three service members were killed when an unmanned aerial drone struck their container housing units. this marks the first time american troops have been killed by enemy fire since the start of the israel—gaza war. the pentagon says at least a0 other people were injured. us officials said monday the enemy drone may have been mistaken for an american drone. a preliminary report found there was no effor

and if it happens, incidentally, it is the leader of sinn fein in belfast, michele o'neil, who will become minister of northern ireland. she will be the first irish nationalist to hold that position. that in and of itself will be a major moment. it's a moment that now looks like it will arrive with this dup endorsement of the deal that it has negotiated with the british government, but sirjeffrey donaldson careful to say the dup would not move to lift its veto to allow the regional government to be restored until the uk government in london had passed legislation through the british parliament. now, let's turn to another major story we are following. the us department of defence has released the names of three army reserve soldiers killed by a drone strike over the weekend in jordan. from left to right, sgt williamjerome rivers, specialist kennedy ladon sanders and specialist breonna alexsondria moffett. all from the state of georgia. the us army says they were killed when an unmanned aerial drone struck their container housing units. this marks the first time american troops have been kil

institutions do return, they will do so with a nationalist first minister in the shape of sinn fein�*s michelle o'neilln ireland's existence — more than a century — that the top job will be held by a leader who wants a united ireland. power—sharing is the only show in town so i am finally glad - we are getting to a juncture where actually that may be | possible once again. i believe in power—sharingl and i believe in life you get much, much more donej when you work together as opposed to working apart. after two years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stormont stalemate will soon be at an end, but it is not done yet. and so people in northern ireland must do what they have done for nearly two years now — wait. sara girvin, bbc news, belfast. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the bbc has released around 3,000 emails linked to the martin bashir scandal. an independent inquiry in 2021 found that mr bashir had been deceitful and had faked documents to get his famous interview with princess diana for panorama in 1995

the sinn fein vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to take up the position.wo years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stalemate at stormont is coming to an end. chris page, bbc news, belfast. for more on this, i'm joined by the irish times�* northern editor, freya mcclements. we don't know all of the details of this deal yet, but what has the reaction been to it? i this deal yet, but what has the reaction been to it?— this deal yet, but what has the reaction been to it? i think broadly s-ueakin a reaction been to it? i think broadly speaking a very — reaction been to it? i think broadly speaking a very positive _ reaction been to it? i think broadly speaking a very positive reaction. l reaction been to it? i think broadly speaking a very positive reaction. i mean, all the other parties in northern ireland that are entitled to make up the executive, the uk government, the irish government, international observers have long urged the dup to get back into stormont and to allow a power—sharing government in northern ireland to get back u

and if it happens, incidentally, it is the leader of sinn fein in belfast, michele o'neil, who will becomeand. she will be the first irish nationalist to hold that position. that in and of itself will be a major moment. it's a moment that now looks like it will arrive with this dup endorsement of the deal that it has negotiated with the british government, but sirjeffrey donaldson careful to say the dup would not move to lift its veto to allow the regional government to be restored until the uk government in london had passed legislation through the british parliament. our correspondent they're talking is three what is at stake. we will keep you across the development survey here on bbc news as parliament convenes here in westminster, so we will keep you across every twist and turn on bbc news. the tech billionaire elon musk says his neuralink company has successfully implanted one of its wireless brain chips in a human for the first time. he made the announcement on x — his social media platform — saying that the procedure happened on sunday. he says that the subject is recovering well, a

institutions return they will do so with a nationalist first minister in the shape of sinn fein�*s michelle o'neillhe first time in northern ireland's existence that the top job will be held by a leader who wants a united ireland. i am glad we are getting to a juncture where power—sharing maybe possible again. i believe in power—sharing and i believe in life you get much more done when you work together as opposed to working apart. after two years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stormont stalemate will soon be at an end but it is not done yet, so people in northern ireland must do what they have done for nearly two years — wait. live now to our correspondent tomos morgan who's outside stormont. we heard in that report it is not yet a done deal, but there must be relief after these two years of frustration and division. that finally there seems to be some significant progress.— finally there seems to be some significant progress. yes, that will be what many _ significant progress. yes, that will be what many people _ significant progress. yes, that will be what many peopl

the deal opens the door to sinn fein�*s michelle o'neill taking the role of first minister., is at westminster and has more on what comes next. tomorrow we get the detail of this new deal in a so—called command paper and a debate as well in the commons, the law will be changed on thursday, meaning as soon as friday, the potential restoration of a sinn fein first minister. the white house has welcomed the development. a national security council spokesperson told the bbc that although legislation needed to be published, they looked forward to the full restoration of the institutions in line with the belfast/good friday agreement. you're live with bbc news. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, after being accused of leaking state secrets. his party says the decision is a mockery. imran khan is already serving a three year term, after being convicted of corruption. our correspondent caroline davies reports from islamabad. his face is on the election posters but imran khan is already behind bars. the former prime minister has not

the sinn fein vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to take up the position.ears of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stalemate at stormont is coming to an end. chris page, bbc news, belfast. and chris page sent us this update a while ago on the timeline of the devolved government returning to northern ireland. weeks, maybe even days, certainly not months. the reason why now the pathway has opened up for northern ireland to have its government back is that the largest unionist party, the democratic unionists, have announced that they have endorsed a deal that they've reached with the uk government to address their concerns over brexit trading arrangements for northern ireland. it was the dup who in effect brought about the collapse of the regional government here almost two years ago because they believed that an arrangement whereby northern ireland in effect stayed in the uk single market... stayed in the eu, rather, single market for goods meant that northern ireland was being separated from the rest of the uk in an economic sense, so

two different types of public health interventions because again, one of the points made that michelle o'neillelle 0'neill makes forfairly the points made that michelle 0'neill makes for fairly is that the island of ireland as a single epidemiological area, island of ireland as a single epidemiologicalarea, it was island of ireland as a single epidemiological area, it was always regarded so in terms of animal health and in terms of human health so these are difficult issues to manage and i would not say this was a view that i hold passionately but i do think the whole question about how you can ensure the uk government short of a civil contingency act can say we need to override some sort of independent decision—making you might make, i think that's worth considering. was it fair to say that in advance of the pandemic, it was reasonably foreseeable that a health emergency of the nature of the pandemic which the uk faced, it would require, given the underlying devolution settlement, a degree of cross—border cooperation? yes. what cross-border cooperation? yes. what ou sa it cross-border coopera

lou mcdonald said it will be a moment of "very great significance" when her party colleague michelle o'neill first minister at stormont. speaking in the great hall at stormont, mrs o'neill said the next days will be �*crucial�* in restoring power sharing. obviously i am very glad we are at thisjuncture in the think it is a day of— thisjuncture in the think it is a day of optimism and there is some hope _ day of optimism and there is some hope for— day of optimism and there is some hope for the wider public. our public— hope for the wider public. our public sector is stretched in public sector_ public sector is stretched in public sector workers have been forced to the picket— sector workers have been forced to the picket lines. i want to be in position— the picket lines. i want to be in position because i want to make a difference — position because i want to make a difference to people's lights and i want to— difference to people's lights and i want to stand up and fight back against — want to stand up and fight back against the tory authority agenda that has— against the tory authority age

agreed it looks like it is going to be, it will result in the first sinn fein first minister michelle o'neilleland? it deal is set for northern ireland? if is deal is set for northern ireland? it is a historic moment regardless of what anyone's political perspective is, the first time a nationalist will hold this position. it is also the first time there will be a nationalist leader of the opposition in northern ireland, so there is a whole host of first—time forays are coming with the restoration of the assembly as we expect within the coming days. there is a very symbolic difference in the way northern ireland, the leadership will be presented going forward, but it is always important to stress the position of first minister and deputy first minister is actually a shared office in northern ireland, only a semantic difference in the title above. it is how the parties due to leaning those two titles that will have a key part in presenting how that relationship works going forward. ., . , , how that relationship works going forward. ., ., , ., how that relationship works going forward. ., ., ,

the deal opens the door to sinn fein's michelle o'neill taking the role of first minister.minster and has more on what comes next. tomorrow we get the detail of this new deal in a so—called command paper and a debate as well in the commons, the law will be changed on thursday, meaning as soon as friday, the potential restoration and a sinn fein a first minister. us officials weighed in on the breakthrough. a us state department spokesperson told the bbc: "we welcome the news that important steps have been taken "toward the full restoration of the northern ireland assembly "and executive at stormont." a spokesperson for the white house also welcomed it. you're live with bbc news. farmers in france are taking part in mass protests for a second consecutive day. on tuesday, farmers blocked roads again with slow moving convoys of tractors, causing traffic jams on key routes into paris. they're hoping to put pressure on emmanuel macron's government to do more to fight inflation and help them compete with cheap imports. similar protests have been held in other european countries i

the sinn fein vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to take up the position., frustration and division, it looks like the stalemate at stormont is coming to an end. chris page, bbc news, belfast. it isa it is a complex issue. power—sharing means there must be representatives from the nationalist community and unionists, who want northern ireland to remain part of the uk. the idea is that whatever the historic differences, both communities have a vested interest in the system. it has a first minister and deputy first minister, one unionists and the other nationalists. the devolved government last collapse of every 2022 after the democratic unionist party withdrew in protest against post—brexit trade checks between the region and great britain, and the walk—out means that power—sharing was impossible. it's believed the arrangements under the northern ireland protocol diminished the region does not replace within the uk internal market, and a new deal called the windsor framework was agreed in 2022 between the government and european union, aimed at addressing th

the sinn fein vice president michelle o'neill is in line to take up the position.ing her party gave its reaction to the events of the past 12 hours. there is enormous challenges facing an incoming executive, but we have long wanted to get the assembly back functioning again. the executive, the north/south ministerial council arrangements, and we want to work very quickly now with all of the parties and with both governments to make sure that we have a quick and smooth transition back into a functioning institution. after nearly two years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stalemate at stormont will soon be at an end. there has been a range of reaction over the last few hours. the leader of sinn fein said it would be a moment of very great significance when her party colleague becomes first minister. she says it has long been a time coming but we are very pleased. we been a time coming but we are very leased. ~ . . , , pleased. we are incredibly positive as we read today _ pleased. we are incredibly positive as we read today but _ pleased. w

with, for the first time, a nationalist first minister, sinn fein�*s michelle o'neill. with equal legal powers, a unionist depute first minister from the dup. each will have a veto over decisionmaking by the other. it will certainly not be to everyone's liking, but many will feel the difference. the uk government has promised £35 billion, for much needed improvement to services, like the nhs, education and infrastucture. and the new deal headline? no routine checks on goods crossing from great britain to northern ireland. nickjoins us from belfast. well, you could see the political pace quickened today. there was a statement in the house of commons by the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, and then a joint appearance involving him and sirjeffrey donaldson, the leader of the dup, where they both sold that deal. at hillsborough castle and county down, where the northern ireland secretary works, and it is right in the heart ofjeffrey donaldson�*s constituency. we do have a divide and that was on display today. veteran dup mp picked up on how northern ireland

but this two years ago almost, michelle o'neill was elected to a position as the leader of the largesttlement to the first minister's post. so of course, yes, in the history of ireland, in the history of the relationships between ireland and britain and the partition of ireland and the purpose behind that and how it was carved up, this is obviously a very historic occasion. a unionist leader takes a leap to preserve his political dream. history suggests he will do well if he keeps his party together. and we can talk to nick now. nick, you've knownjeffrey donaldson for 30 years. tell us about him and the significance of events over the last 2a hours. yes, victoria, when i was here for the times about 30 year ago, i knew jeffrey donaldson. if you wanted to know what was going on in the ulster unionist party, you would talk to jeffrey donaldson. he was a high—flyer in that party. during the good friday agreement he turned on the late david trimble and moved to the late david trimble and moved to the democratic unionist party. that showed jeffrey donaldson was no pushover. there was a pres

so unfortunately , when michelle unfortunately, when michelle o'neill takes her table on monday, i'me knocked by an awful amount of people who actually want their pay sorted out . want their pay sorted out. >> okay, dougie beattie, thank you for that. update from stormont. some of the harder unionists are calling this a surrender deal. let's see. as usual, the devil is always in the detail. now let's bring you a sneak taste. a preview of that exclusive interview with penny morden that we spoke about a few minutes ago . the former defence minutes ago. the former defence secretary and the current leader of the house of commons has been speaking to our political edhon speaking to our political editor, and this is editor, chris hope, and this is what she when chris asked what she said when chris asked her a royal navy reservist , her as a royal navy reservist, if she'd be ready to fight for her country she got the call her country if she got the call up . up. >> i] >> up. >> i have signed up to >> so look, i have signed up to do this in the past. i have to say, if they're if say, chris,

in northern ireland sinn fein's vice—president michelle o'neill said she hopes those wrongly convicted has to go through parliament. and that's there's no real fixed timescale for that because parliament decides. but we want to do this very quickly. so we think we can put a new law in place in weeks. and once people... this law will make sure that every single person who has been convicted as a result of horizon evidence, as a result of this scandal, their convictions will be set aside, will be overturned, and that opens the door immediately to compensation. and people have two choices at that point in time. they can go down a full assessment route for compensation for loss and for damage to other things such as reputation and health and relationships and all those things. but also the alternative to that is they can take a very simple option, which is take a fixed sum award of £600,000, which is a much quicker process because people don't need to compile a full claim and assess the full claim. it can happen much more quickly. so people could be getting compensation in weeks a matter o

the sinn fein vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to take up the position. years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stalemate at stormont is coming to an end. chris page, bbc news, belfast. let's speak now to our political correspondent helen catt. helen, this deal is subject to the uk government delivering on its promises to the dup? how close is that? this was one of the first things _ how close is that? this was one of the first things that _ how close is that? this was one of the first things that rishi - how close is that? this was one of the first things that rishi sunak i the first things that rishi sunak looked at when he became prime minister, dealing with some of those issues in the post—brexit trading arrangements for northern ireland. when he announced this winter framework as it was known in february last year, it was seen as something of a successful hymn at the time, certainly in terms of success for uk, eu relations. what it didn't t was convinced the dup to re—enter power sharing. the fact there now is an agreement i

ireland which will mean that the dup would take the deputy first minister post and sinn fein, michelle o'neilllation and have it all done by wednesday. a new speaker in the northern ireland assembly and it is up and running. they are all ready to go but sir jeffrey donaldson has not appeared yet. we're joined now by ben lowry, editor of the unionist news letter newspaper. hello. what are we waiting for? what is the hitch? 50 i hello. what are we waiting for? what is the hitch?— is the hitch? so i don't know what the hitch is- _ is the hitch? so i don't know what the hitch is. i— is the hitch? so i don't know what the hitch is. i think— is the hitch? so i don't know what the hitch is. i think the _ is the hitch? so i don't know what the hitch is. i think the hitch - is the hitch? so i don't know what the hitch is. i think the hitch is . the hitch is. i think the hitch is the hitch is. i think the hitch is the fundamental divide that there is on returning to stormont. if you zoom _ on returning to stormont. if you zoom out — on returning to stormont. if you zoom out a _ on returning to stormont.

michelle o'neill stands to be the first irish nationalist to take up the position of first minister ofs the way for power sharing to return in northern ireland. for some common conditions, choose your pharmacy instead of a gp. chemists get new prescribing powers in england. the ban on xl bullies — the deadline has just passed for owners to register their dog, if they want to keep it, in england and wales. and the energy bill for nearly £250,000. a businessman tells us the mistake caused pandemonium. and stay with us on bbc news. for continuing coverage and analysis from our team of correspondence in the uk and around the world.