and swimming s world governing body votes to effectively ban transgender competitors like american lia thomas from taking part in women s races. after the uk promises more heavy weapons to ukraine now the new head of the british army says troops should be prepared to fight russia in europe. we want to start by bringing you some we want to start by bringing you some breaking we want to start by bringing you some breaking news we want to start by bringing you some breaking news from - we want to start by bringing you some breaking news from the i some breaking news from the elections some breaking news from the elections in some breaking news from the elections in france, some breaking news from the elections in france, coming . some breaking news from thei elections in france, coming in some breaking news from the - elections in france, coming in from reuters elections in france, coming in from reuters. , ., ., reuters. president emmanuel macron is on course
has voted to stop transgender athletes from competing in women s elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty. as the conflict in ukraine continues the new head of the british army tells his troops they should be prepared to fight in europe once again . it s two hours until voting closes in the final round of parliamentary elections in france, with president emmanuel macron facing an alliance of left wing parties. good afternoon. the transport secretary says it s not for the government to intervene to try to prevent three days of strikes on the railways this week. grant shapps dismissed calls from the rmt union to get involved in the dispute as a stunt, saying it s for the employers and unions to reach an agreement. mr shapps says the strikes would be an act of self harm . the labour leader, sir keir starmer, says the government wants the strikes to go ahead to sow division in society. here s our political correspondent, damian grammatic
this is bbc news the headlines at seven. the transport secretary accuses union leaders of punishing millions of innocent people by pressing ahead with rail strikes this week. itjust seems that the union is determined to go out on strike, the rmt, come what may, and i think it s a very sad situation and i call on them to reconsider. yeah, i feel sorry for them, yeah, ifeel sorry for them, they want to appear rightjust like the rest of us but what can you do? the transort rest of us but what can you do? the transport minister has not been listening transport minister has not been listening to them for decades and it is time listening to them for decades and it is time they listened. it is listening to them for decades and it is time they listened. is time they listened. it is awful for peeple. is time they listened. it is awful for peeple. they is time they listened. it is awful for people, they need is time they listened. it is awful for people, they need to - is time the