welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. hello and welcome. the united nations and the international red cross are continuing their efforts in ukraine to rescue more civilians from the besieged city of mariupol. on friday, 50 more people, including children, were evacuated from a huge steel factory complex. these are the latest pictures of some of those who've got out. the azovstal plant is under siege by russian forces. dozens are still trapped inside. the city, in the country's south, has been under constant shelling by the russian military. the steelworks has become the last holdout of ukrainian forces who are fighting to defend mariupol. our correspondent laura bicker has sent this report from dnipro. the russian attacks continue, despite promises of a ceasefire, according to this unverified footage released by the ukrainian azov unit. kremlin—backed troops are still firing on this vast steel plant, according to uk intelligence, while ukrainian soldiers and hundreds of civilians shelter inside. they've been using the sprawling network of tunnels as a refuge for more than two months, with very little food or water. around 100 women and children have already been rescued from the depths of the plant. there is a complex operation to free more civilians. —— there's a complex operation under way to free more civilians. but now comes a plea to save the troops, who have used the steelworks to try and make one last stand the city. —— stand for the city. svetlana's only son is there. she doesn't want to be identified to protect him. translation: it's horrible. horrible to know that your son is fighting and has nothing left to fight with in a city that's completely razed to the ground and seized by the occupiers. i would give everything in exchange for him to survive, for everyone who is still there under the bombardment to survive. we beg — we beg all the world countries to help us and save our heroes. it's not them who are complaining and begging, it's us. svetlana was asked by her son to flee as the russian bombs levelled this once—thriving port. ukrainian officials claim that more than 20,000 people have been killed. the relatives of others still fighting can't bear to see these images. yaroslava's husband and her two sons—in—law are also in that ukrainian azov unit. translation: every image is a wound in my heart - and in my soul, every time. my wish is that they would survive this. of course, they will keep fighting. they are holding on, they are doing the impossible. all sing in ukrainian. outnumbered and outgunned, this small defending force has become a potent symbol for ukraine. they may never surrender, but their families are praying they'll at least get a chance to leave alive. laura bicker, bbc news, dnipro. the white house has announced a new $150 million package of military aid for ukraine that will include artillery, munitions, and radars. president biden said the existing funding for ukraine was "nearly exhausted" and urged us congress to pass his proposed assistance package worth $33 billion to, as he put it, "strengthen ukraine "on the battlefield and at the negotiating table". earlier, i spoke to veteran diplomat ambassador daniel fried. he helped lead the west's response to moscow's annexation of crimea in 2014 as sanctions coordinator in the obama administration. i asked him about the us lend—lease bill and its importance to ukraine. the lend—lease bill has an enormous symbolic significance and the fact that it passed congress overwhelmingly with republicans and democrats uniting is a very good sign for american leadership of this effort. to push back on britain's aggression against ukraine. now, the 33 billion dollars is necessary, —— putin. the lend—lease boele provides some streamlining but it isn't, to be honest, quite the dramatic step forward that the original lend—lease bill was in 1941. original lend—lease bill was in 19111. because we are already able, underthe 19111. because we are already able, under the law, to provide the arms to ukraine. but still, this is a symbolic gesture in the $33 billion request is symbolism, but his money and it is needed. it symbolism, but his money and it is needed-— is needed. it could be signed into law by — is needed. it could be signed into law by joe _ is needed. it could be signed into law by joe biden - is needed. it could be signed into law by joe biden on - is needed. it could be signed into law by joe biden on thel into law byjoe biden on the ninth which of course as symbolic as well because it coincides with the victory day... coincides with the victory da , ., coincides with the victory day- - -- the - coincides with the victory day. . .- the warl coincides with the victory - day. . .- the war that day... oh yeah! the war that putin day. .. oh yeah! the war that putin will— day... oh yeah! the war that putin will be _ day... oh yeah! the war that putin will be celebrating - day... oh yeah! the war that putin will be celebrating in l putin will be celebrating in 1945 by putin in red square. could bring a speedy end this conflict, bearing in mind how much weaponry will be going into ukraine? the much weaponry will be going into ukraine?— much weaponry will be going into ukraine? the task now for all of us. _ into ukraine? the task now for all of us, the _ into ukraine? the task now for all of us, the uk, _ into ukraine? the task now for all of us, the uk, us, - into ukraine? the task now for all of us, the uk, us, europe, | all of us, the uk, us, europe, is to lean forward, to provide the ukrainians the arms they need to defend themselves and intensify the sanctions on russia. do it right now. may nine, as you suggest, is apt to be an important day symbolically and maybe notjust symbolically and maybe notjust symbolically if putin uses the occasion to make some announcements. but we need to make clear to him that he is not going to win this war and we need to back the ukrainians and, by the way, it is not fanciful any more to think of the ukrainians actually succeeding in blocking the russian offensive. they've been doing an awfully good job of it and this is a success which is not inevitable but it is possible. not inevitable but it is possible-— not inevitable but it is ossible. ., ., possible. you mentioned sanctions. _ possible. you mentioned sanctions, the _ possible. you mentioned sanctions, the eu - possible. you mentioned. sanctions, the eu recently discussed the oil sanctions first of all, before the gas sanctions which affect so many, of which some european countries are reliant, but do the oil sanctions go far enough and you have exemptions for slovakia and hungary and some suggestion that russia can actually whether the impact of these oil sanctions.— these oil sanctions. every new sanction helps. _ these oil sanctions. every new sanction helps. if— these oil sanctions. every new sanction helps. if you - these oil sanctions. every new sanction helps. if you asked i these oil sanctions. every new. sanction helps. if you asked me whether we should be putting on more, the answer will pretty much always be yes but the oil sanctions may not be 100% effective but every dollar and every pound, every bureau that we take out of putin's war machine is good and don't look at the oil sanctions are zero or 100 putin think of it as another bite out of putin's war bucket. i would like to see the eu announce a final deal and if there is an exception for hungary, you know, an exemption for a limited period of time, i will live with that. policy—making is not for purists. i want to get the best possible results. daniel fried. an explosion at a luxury hotel in the cuban capital havana has killed at least 22 people. the blast tore through several floors of the hotel saratoga. the cuban president miguel diaz—canel said the explosion had resulted from what he called a gas accident, though investigations were underway. more than 60 people have been injured. our correspondent will grant reports. the saratoga hotel, a landmark in havana, reduced to rubble. its facade ripped clean off, the rooms of the 5—star hotel exposed. its ornate lobby left a twisted pile of metal, marble and concrete. a gas tanker outside the building was quickly identified as the cause of the blast. for local residents, it was a horrific, surreal moment. they can scarcely believe the saratoga, once a favourite among visiting celebrities, has been left in ruins. translation: you could see peeple _ ruins. translation: you could see people shouting, _ ruins. translation: you could see people shouting, dust - see people shouting, dust rising, the disaster. it was like a horror film, rising, the disaster. it was like a horrorfilm, really. translation: i like a horror film, really. translation:— like a horror film, really. translation: i felt the clear exnlosion. — translation: i felt the clear exnlosion. a _ translation: i felt the clear explosion, a single _ translation: i felt the clear explosion, a single boom, - translation: | felt the clear| explosion, a single boom, and translation: | felt the clear | explosion, a single boom, and i saw crystals cracking and falling and a white cloud of dust that wouldn't go away. i managed to close the door and get away from in the opposite direction from danger, over here. ., ., , here. the authorities were . uickl here. the authorities were quickly on _ here. the authorities were quickly on the _ here. the authorities were quickly on the scene, - here. the authorities were i quickly on the scene, ferrying the injured to local hospitals and searching the rubble for survivors. ivana's overstretched emergency services being tested to their limit. —— havana. the president also appeared to offer support and condolences. for some, the explosion brought back memories of the early 1990s, and radical anti— castro groups from florida bombed a number of cuban hotels. however, the president was quick to dismiss rumours that the blast was anything other than an accident. translation: mi; anything other than an accident. translation: my case was this a bomb _ accident. translation: my case was this a bomb or— accident. translation: my case was this a bomb or an _ accident. translation: my case was this a bomb or an attack, - was this a bomb or an attack, it'sjust a very was this a bomb or an attack, it's just a very unfortunate accident and it seems to be around the gas tank. the truth is the explosion _ around the gas tank. the truth is the explosion could - around the gas tank. the truth is the explosion could have - is the explosion could have been worse. the hotel was closed for refurbishment and was due to reopen next week. furthermore, a nearby school unscathed. the children were safely evacuated. nevertheless, this explosion comes at a difficult time for cuba. its tourism sector has been all but shut down amid the covid—19 pandemic and only this year was beginning to pick up again. for an island whose economy now largely revolves around tourism, past two years have been brutal, specially when combined with top us sanctions and the state's economic mismanagement. this explosion could set back that recovery even further. however, for now, most mines in cuba are now focused on the families of those caught up in this tragic blast and those are still fighting for their lives in hospital. will grant, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news. the italian government has impounded a $700 million vessel known locally as �*putin's yacht�*, saying investigations showed that its owner had ties to "prominent elements of the russian government" targeted by eu sanctions. the 6—deck scheherazade has two helipads, a swimming pool and a movie theatre. thousands of people have joined a funeral procession in the israeli city of elad to bury three men killed in an attack during the city's independence day celebrations. a manhunt is still underway for two palestinians suspected of carrying out the attack. the president of sri lanka, gotabaya rajapaksa, has declared a new state of emergency as demands grow for his government to resign. earlier, police fired tear gas at protesters outside parliament in colombo. there've been weeks of demonstrations against the sri lankan government for its handling of the worst economic crisis in decades. gareth barlow reports. all chant. protests are the new soundtrack of sri lanka's streets. for weeks, people have demonstrated as the worst economic crisis in decades grips the country. translation: when the | government failed to solve the problems faced by the people, people took to the streets asking the president, prime minister and the government to go home. but instead of going home, the government changed its line—up in parliament in order to safeguard their power. the state of emergency, the second in five weeks, gives the authorities additional powers and comes at the end of a day where police fired tear gas and water cannon into the crowds. the economic and political crisis has gripped this nation, famed for its emerald hills and green teas, for weeks now. food, power and medicines often run short and what is available how ever more expensive. translation: what we earn is not enough to eat, - let alone for other expenses. we can only eat one meal. i get paid $2.50 every day i work. if we are to eat a piece of roti, then we have to cope with the rising price of wheat, flour and rice. everything has gone up in price. as families go hungry, they are calling on president gotabaya rajapaksa and the prime minister, his brother, to step down. all chant. but despite pressure from opposition parties, despite scores of mps resigning from the government, and despite pressure from the people, the president and the prime minister are refusing to back down. gareth barlow, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: prince harry and meghan say they will attend the platinum jubilee celebrations, but there will be no access all areas, as the queen says they won't be appearing on the buckingham palace balcony. i, nelson rolihlahla mandela, do hereby swear to be faithful to the republic of south africa. after six years of construction and numerous delays, the channel tunnel has been formally opened by the queen and president mitterrand. but the tunnel is still not yet ready for passengers and freight services to begin. for centuries, christianity and i islam struggled for supremacy. now, the pope's visit - symbolises their willingness to coexist. roger bannister became the first man in the world to run a mile in underfour minutes. memories of victory as the ve celebrations reach their climax. this night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. this is bbc world news. our main story: a further 50 civilians have been evacuated from the mariupol steelworks in ukraine that has been under attack by russian forces. here in the uk, local council elections have resulted in the conservatives losing nearly 500 seats. the scottish nationalists remain the biggest party in scotland, while there have been gains for plaid cymru in wales. but it is northern ireland where the result could bring seismic change if the main nationalist party, sinn fein, wins more seats than the unionists. our ireland correspondent emma vardy has the latest, and a warning this report contains flashing images. cheering and applause. heading towards a new future. sinn fein are hoping this is the moment that marks an end to the domination of unionism in northern ireland for a century. today is a good day. it's about change, it's about progress and it's about partnership in what is, we believe, the election of a generation. sinn fein is known as the harder—line nationalist party in the assembly but ultimately wants to leave the uk and become a united ireland. kelly, gerry — sinn fein... cheering and applause. but instead, the party fought its campaign on the challenges facing working—class families. we have got very good results. we're very happy with them. we went to the people and, as we had said before, this six—week campaign started on the issues. it's the cost of living, it's health, it's all of that. but even if sinn fein win the most seats, they must share power at the top with the dup, who recently walked out of that arrangement. what if the dup won't go into government with you? this is a democratic election. so we're saying very clearly that needs everybody, including the dup. so the dup have to answer why they would be against that. even after all the votes are counted here, there is little chance of a properly functioning government. the dup has said it will block full power sharing unless there are changes to the brexit arrangements — that new trade border down the irish sea. i think you'll see in a majority of our seats we will retain, that people want us to be in a government that works and they want to see good government in northern ireland. so, until the government and the european commission resolve the protocol, i'm afraid there is going to be an impact on the emergence or the reformation of an executive in the short term. the elections brought success for the alliance party, neither unionist nor nationalist, showing an increasing number of people don't want to be dominated by the issue of whether northern ireland should remain part of the uk. but for now, a sinn fein victory would be a new milestone in the decades—old struggle over what northern ireland wants to be. chelsea football club says terms have been agreed for its purchase by a consortium led by the american businessman todd boehly, who is a co—owner of the los angeles dodgers. the london club was put up for sale by its former russian owner, roman abramovich, shortly before he was sanctioned because of his links to vladimir putin. with me is our reporter simonjones. a deal in principle done. do we know exactly who is involved and how much?— and how much? well, todd boehl , and how much? well, todd boehly, better _ and how much? well, todd boehly, better known - and how much? well, todd boehly, better known for l and how much? well, todd| boehly, better known for his links with baseball and basketball in the us, but now turning his attention to foot. he is leading a consortium, and we are told the bid is around $5 billion. so chelsea, one of the biggest football clubs in the biggest football clubs in the world, and it comes with a big pricetag. now, we have had a statement released by chelsea in the early hours of this morning here in the uk, and in that it says around $3 billion will go towards buying shares in the club, and then that money will be put in a frozen bank account. the idea is ultimately it's going to be released to give money to charity to support victims of the war in ukraine. and also, an additional $2 billion, we are told, will be used for improvements in the club such as at stamford bridge, chelsea's ground, also the women's team and also the academy. so that may be some relief for the chelsea fans wondering about the very future of their club. it wondering about the very future of their club.— of their club. it has all happened _ of their club. it has all happened quite - of their club. it has all i happened quite quickly, of their club. it has all _ happened quite quickly, though, hasn't it? will there be a few disappointed runners—up in this bidding process? i disappointed runners-up in this bidding process?— bidding process? i think there will, because _ bidding process? i think there will, because there _ bidding process? i think there will, because there had - bidding process? i think there will, because there had been| bidding process? i think there | will, because there had been a lot of interest, because it is not often one of the world's biggest football clubs gets put on sale like this. but certainly you are going to have to dig deep in your pockets. in one of those who expressed a last—minute interest was written's richest man, sirjim ratcliffe. now, he said earlier this week they had been thinking about it, he had been pondering. he said actually he was a manchester united fan, so maybe that put him off a little bit, but he said he wanted to put a bed in, but bit, but he said he wanted to puta bed in, but! bit, but he said he wanted to put a bed in, but i think it may well be too late, because what we are told, if all goes according to plan, then this bid should go through by the end of this month. but it has to be approved by the uk government and also by the premier league.— government and also by the premier league. because it has been the most _ premier league. because it has been the most extraordinary i been the most extraordinary saga, hasn't it? this club hit ljy saga, hasn't it? this club hit by sanctions, really severely restricting what it could do in the games following that decision.— the games following that decision. , , ., ., , decision. yes, this all really started back _ decision. yes, this all really started back in _ decision. yes, this all really started back in march - decision. yes, this all really started back in march when | decision. yes, this all really . started back in march when the owner, roman abramovich, said he was going to put the club up for sale. he was going to put the club up forsale. he he was going to put the club up for sale. he said he was going to put the club up forsale. he said he he was going to put the club up for sale. he said he was doing it with a heavy heart, but he had been under some pressure due to russia's invasion of ukraine. but then after that the uk government actually imposed sanctions on mr abramovich, saying that ultimately they didn't feel his links with president putin meant that he could actually do business in this country. so then we have had this sale period, and now it looks like that may well be completed by the end of this month, but there have been restrictions on chelsea such as they cannot buy players at the moment. so it was potentially going to have severe implications for them on the field as well as off the field. ,, ., ., ~ , ., field. 0k, simon, thank you very much _ field. ok, simon, thank you very much for— field. 0k, simon, thank you very much for that - field. 0k, simon, thank you very much for that update. | this summer marks queen elizabeth's platinum jubilee — 70 years on the british throne. a key moment is a royal appearance on the balcony at buckingham palace. but the queen has made some changes, as nicholas witchell reports. an appearance on the palace balcony is a centrepiece of any major royal celebration, but for the platinum jubilee, there are sensitivities around some family members. so the queen has decided that only working royals willjoin her on the balcony. so cancelled in balcony terms are the duke of york and the sussexes. harry and meghan say they are coming to the jubilee, but they won't be on the balcony. the big question, of course, is how visible will the queen be throughout the four days of the jubilee celebrations. it all begins on thursday 2june with trooping the colour, at the culmination of which the royal family makes that balcony appearance. according to the palace, the queen plans to attend trooping, but a final decision will be taken on the day. on friday 3june, there will be a service of thanksgiving at st paul's cathedral. again, all the palace will say is that the queen plans to attend. on saturday 4june, after the derby, there will be the platinum party at the palace, produced by the bbc, on a stage being built right in front of the palace. will the queen be there? it will be decided on the day. and then finally, on sunday 5june, the gold state coach will be one of the main features in a jubilee pageant on the mall — though the queen will not be riding in it. so it is clearly the queen's intention to be at trooping the colour and the service of thanksgiving, and at the other events if she can. nicholas witchell, bbc news. all over the world, people are generating help for ukraine and the refugees who have lost their homes, families and livelihood. now, the biggest brewery in the world has come up with a project that is basically a donation in a can. wendy urquhart reports. this isn't just any this isn'tjust any old beer, this is ukrainian beer. cans are rolling off the conveyor belt at the speed of 90,000 per hour, and anheuser—busch is hoping the money will roll in just as fast, because all of the profits will be used to help victims of the war. ab bev dominates the global beer market and produces 500 brands of beer including budweiser, budd lite and the ukrainian favourite. the company has three breweries in ukraine and says the russian you creation —— since the russian invasion it has been evacuating as many employees as possible. 160 of them have now started a new life in belgium, and the brewery is footing the bill for their accommodation. alexander used to be a project developer at one of the ukrainian factories. i at one of the ukrainian factories.— at one of the ukrainian factories. . , , ., . factories. i am very proud that we can produce _ factories. i am very proud that we can produce this _ factories. i am very proud that we can produce this beer - factories. i am very proud that we can produce this beer in i we can produce this beer in europe, and across the world, to give some assistance for our families, for all people of ukraine. it families, for all people of ukraine-— families, for all people of ukraine. ., , ukraine. it would help in the sense that — ukraine. it would help in the sense that people _ ukraine. it would help in the sense that people drinking l ukraine. it would help in the l sense that people drinking the beer_ sense that people drinking the heer will— sense that people drinking the beer will think about the city which — beer will think about the city which was attacked by the russians, and which resisted the russian invasion. they will think— the russian invasion. they will think about ukraine, which is fighting — think about ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom, for its interests, but also for freedom _ its interests, but also for freedom and democracy in europe _ freedom and democracy in europe. it freedom and democracy in euroe. �* ., freedom and democracy in euroe. . , europe. it can't have been easy to leave everything _ europe. it can't have been easy to leave everything and - to leave everything and everyone they knew in ukraine, but at least these ukrainians have each other and can now look forward to a bright future in brussels. two historic cooling towers at the la robla coal—fired power plant in leon in spain have been demolished. the power station was built in 1971 and will be replaced by a hydrogen power plant. it has formed part of the landscape of the mountains of the valle del alba region for decades, but it tookjust seven seconds to be reduced to rubble. that is it from us. we are back with some headlines in a minute. hello there. we've got some rain moving its way southwards through the rest of the night. but ahead of that, during the day on friday, temperatures nudge to 23 degrees celsius in a couple of spots. that won't be repeated this weekend. i think generally temperatures into the high teens, possibly 20, because there will be some sunshine, but a few showers as well. as i say, that rain's been making its way southwards on this weather front here. some quite heavy rain for a time before it starts to clear away. and the azores high spreads drier weather across most of the uk, but still a watering for the gardens on that weather front. some misty, low cloud and rather grey weather. behind it, as well, we're seeing some mist and some fog, low—level fog, forming. and it's turned quite chilly, particularly in the glens of scotland. perhaps a touch of frost here. so a bright, chilly start for some in the morning. best of the sunshine, i think, in the west today, but still some drizzly rain in south—eastern areas, and as that cloud breaks up, it will be moist enough for a few showers to form. not just across east anglia and the south—east, but possibly in other areas. as i say, west is best for the sunshine. 16—20 potentially in areas here where we see some sunshine, but there'll be rather cool breezes on the north sea coast. a little bit more cloud here at times as well during the day. now, that azores high pressure continues to drift a little bit further eastwards into sunday, allowing these weather systems to come into the north and west. so the main change — again, mist and fog first thing, a little bit on the cool side, but then some fairweather cloud coming and going. a lot of dry weather for england and wales, fewer showers. but instead we pick up a bit of a breeze from the south across northern ireland and scotland to bring in some cloud and perhaps some patchy rain later in the day, but perhaps not as chilly for the north sea coasts. then, taking it further ahead into monday, we keep that north—west/south—east split, at least on monday, with the best of the drier, brighter weather across parts of england and wales. the strong sunshine, as we'll see this weekend when it comes out, but perhaps something heavier rain—wise coming into scotland and to northern ireland. so it's still looking unsettled as we head into next week, and why? that's because we've got low pressure dominating towards the north. even further south, some of these weather fronts could brush in some rain from time to time. the detail is uncertain, but it looks as if it will be wetter further north and windier, potentially, with the driest weather further south. but even here, we might see a little bit of rain as well. as ever, you can keep up to date on the website. this is bbc news. the headlines: a further 50 civilians have been evacuated from the azovstal steelworks in the besieged ukrainian city of mariupol. the figure was confirmed separately by the ukrainian deputy prime minister and russia's ministry of defence, which said that women, the elderly and 11 children were among those rescued. the white house has announced a new $150 million package of us military aid for ukraine, including artillery, munitions, and radar. the ukrainian president has urged western allies to send additional heavy weaponry to help kyiv stave off the russian offensive in the eastern donbas region. an explosion at a luxury hotel in the cuban capital, havana, has killed at least 22 people and left more than 60 injured. the blast ripped through several floors of the hotel saratoga.