this is bbc news. fierce fighting in ukraine's kharkiv region, as russia launches a surprise attack. israel's prime minister vows — to press ahead with the offensive in rafah — in defiance of us calls for restraint. and the netherlands entering to for the eurovision song contest is reportedly stopped from rehearsing by organisers. we will be live in sweden for the very latest. all of that coming up in a moment or two. first let's catch up with all the sports details. bayer leverkusen are still on course to win three

trophies this season — but they've decided to mark the one they've already claimed in a unique way. the german club have offered its fans free tattoos to celebrate their first bundesliga title, as well as the new european football record of 49 matches unbeaten in all competitions. that was sealed on thursday as leverkusen reached the final of the europa league with an aggregate win over roma. their achievements this season under manager xabi alonso have gone some distance beyond expectations, and they could win what's being called the invicible treble if they pick up the europa league in the final against atalanta, and then the german cup without losing again this season. i think it alonso has a clear idea of the football he wants his team to play in terms of possession and how to structure a build up plays, all these things. they are of course may be drawn on a tactics board, but they have also been talk to these players quite well. i think shabby alonso is kind of the leading hand

in this whole operation. a number of players have come into their own under alonso. history too in the conference league as olympiakos reached their first european final. they completed a 6—2 aggregate win over aston villa to become the first greek side since their rivals panathanaikos in 1971 to make a major continental final, when they'll play fiorentina in athens, just ten miles from their own stadium. it is not now for olympiakos, it is for greece. this will be the biggest achievement ever from a greek team. we want all the greeks to celebrate together with us. also taking into consideration the teams that we have had with, and aston villa,

the fourth team in the premier league. for the players, the manager a fantastic crowd, well supported. it is something magic in this stadium, the positive vibes help you and you feel a winner from the very beginning. david beckham says the current manchester united team can be inspired by the treble—winning side he was a part of in 1999. a documentary�*s been released to mark 25 years since united became the first club to claim the premier league, fa cup and champions league in one season — and despite only being eighth in the current table, beckham's former teammate gary neville insists it's only a matter of time before united start winning trophies consistently again. i hope ihope in i hope in three orfour weeks, this fa cup final against manchester city, which is such a tough game, but if they can just defy the odds, who knows where that might lead to a? in 1989 siralex who knows where that might lead to a? in 1989 sir alex ferguson one and fa cup final belief in him and a

group of players. it was building block by block, step—by—step. that could bejust block by block, step—by—step. that could be just around the corner, or if you years away. but it is inevitable manchester united will win again. defending champion elena rybakkina has withdrawn from the italian open through illness ahead of her second round match in rome. she was due on court on friday alongside the likes of novak djokovic and aryna sabalenka. eighth seed ons jabeur though is out, beaten in three sets by sofia kenin. the tunisian had onlyjust ended a run of poor results by reaching the quarterfinals in madrid last week, but falls in rome at herfirst hurdle. meanwhile former grand slam champion dominic thiem has announced he'll retire later this year. he's just 30, but a wrist injury derailed the 2020 us open winner's career, which also included three other major finals and a best world ranking of three. and that's all the sport for now. let's get more on our top story. the un says more than 100,000 people

have fled rafah in southern gaza after a few older people in the city to leave ahead of what it describes as a limited operation. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, who has reportedly insisted an assault will go ahead despite us holding a large shipment of bombs are of concern for civilian casualties. let's speak to our guest now. thank you so much for being here with us. you posted on social media that is who will call biden's bluff in increments. tell us what you meant by that. i think this has already been clear. president biden a couple of years two days ago said the israelis have not yet entered rafah, that they are

around the border, they have taken over the border crossing with egypt, but they haven't actually entered rafah. and that is the red line for him, if they do go into rafah. we have already gone into rafah, and they have gone into rafah several times before and after he said that, but in much more minor ways in comparison to how the raid into gaza city and county units. that type of excursion is what he seems to have been warning the israelis against doing. but that isn't to say they haven't already started going in. i think that this is the strategy of netanyahu, at present, that he is going to push and push, but in small steps, in increments, so that he doesn't actually come across as crossing that red line. but, indeed, he has already crossed that read like i got into rafah. unfortunately

the united states, as of yet, does not want to seem to take the steps thatis not want to seem to take the steps that is necessary to force a change in behaviourfrom that is necessary to force a change in behaviour from the that is necessary to force a change in behaviourfrom the israelis. i in behaviour from the israelis. i have seen some analysts suggest it would be a mistake to simply wait until benjamin netanyahu and his government says, yes, we have started our rafah offensive. what you have to say seems to fit exactly like that. you do not think it will work that way because mackie oh, no, i don't. i think what we have seen over the past seven months is that the israelis will go as far as they can go. the israelis will go as far as they can no. , the israelis will go as far as they can no. r ., ., the israelis will go as far as they can no. , ., ., ., , the israelis will go as far as they canuo. , ., ., ., ,., , can go. they do not feel that is any accountability _ can go. they do not feel that is any accountability for _ can go. they do not feel that is any accountability for their _ can go. they do not feel that is any accountability for their actions. - accountability for their actions. and they are not wrong. 0ver accountability for their actions. and they are not wrong. over the past seven months, there hasn't been, at least not from the main allies, the united states, which also happens to be their main source of weaponry, as well as political cover at the united nations. that is

this environment of impunity when it comes to israeli action in gaza, and i think the israelis are aware of that. frankly, right now it would not be unusual for netanyahu and his government to feel that this is a bluff by the biden administration, because it doesn't fit as well with everything that has been going on for the past seven months from the biden administration with regards to holding back israel in terms of its campaign on gaza, which as you are reporting, has taken the lives of tens of thousands. truth? reporting, has taken the lives of tens of thousands.— reporting, has taken the lives of tens of thousands. why do you think we are with — tens of thousands. why do you think we are with negotiations? _ tens of thousands. why do you think we are with negotiations? -- - tens of thousands. why do you think we are with negotiations? -- where| we are with negotiations? —— where do you think we are. in terms of that us pressure, they are a steadfast ally, they have supplied a huge amount of weaponry, why do you think the pressure from washington

has failed to move netanyahu? i think they negotiations are essentially stalled, suspended. the israelis never sent a serious delegation. they only sent a delegation. they only sent a delegation a couple of days ago, which clearly didn't actually have the authority to do very much. the israelis have made it very clear since day 1— deal or no—deal, they are going into rafah. netanyahu made this very clear himself as prime minister. i'm not really hopeful with those negotiations. the change in pressure from the us is really very minimal. we are talking about rhetoric. �* . r' very minimal. we are talking about rhetoric. �* ., ,~' , ., very minimal. we are talking about rhetoric. �* . n' , ., , very minimal. we are talking about rhetoric. �* ., , ., rhetoric. i'm asking you, why do you think the pressure _ rhetoric. i'm asking you, why do you think the pressure that _ rhetoric. i'm asking you, why do you think the pressure that has - rhetoric. i'm asking you, why do you think the pressure that has been - think the pressure that has been applied failed with netanyahu? because i don't know if he takes it seriously. if over the past seven months, the reality is that the

americans have stood very steadfast with their israeli allies. also, it netanyahu is a political survivor. i think right now he takes more seriously at the threat of his government coming to pieces because his ministers on the far right would withdraw, or they have threatened to withdraw, or they have threatened to withdraw, if there isn't an incursion into rafah. i think it is that more seriously than he does warnings from washington, dc. but we will wait to see. i think the reality has finally dawned on policymakers in washington that the israelis are indeed very serious about going into rafah, and that if they go in there will be a massacre of until proportions.— of until proportions. thank you so much for being — of until proportions. thank you so much for being life _ of until proportions. thank you so much for being life yet _ of until proportions. thank you so much for being life yet on - of until proportions. thank you so much for being life yet on the - much for being life yet on the programme. hello, i'm azadeh moshiri. we'll be going live to the old bailey, where a man has

admitted killing an elderly mobility scooter rider in a "motiveless" knife attackjust five days after being released from prison. lee byer, a6, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter by diminished responsibility of thomas 0'halloran, in greenford, west london, in august 2022. a post—mortem examination found he was stabbed in the neck, chest and abdomen. let's listen into that sentencing at the old bailey. i let's listen into that sentencing at the old bailey.— let's listen into that sentencing at the old bailey. i am concerned that althou:h the old bailey. i am concerned that although there _ the old bailey. i am concerned that although there are _ the old bailey. i am concerned that although there are structure - although there are structure throughout the hybrid order and consideration of the above issues, no enforcement of the mental health act 1980 the end present and his hallucinations means he may pose a significant risk to others. ultimately, i confirm that the use of a hospital order with a

restriction order is the more appropriate recommendation to reduced risk. this i noticed further amplified in the net of consultation. this is a man who has still not recovered. i do not know whether he ever will. he is likely to remain on medication for the rest of his life to manage his illness. 0ne unwell, the illness is difficult to see or penetrate. they do not want a person with command hallucinations in prison. they present a risk. the nha does not apply in prison and they cannot compel treatment. the can send him back to hospital, but violence is linked to his illness. there are a number of paragraphs from that note i have added to the written sentencing remarks. in his report, the doctor makes similar observations. i note in particular, when considering the protection of the public, he says this "native

define has shown a good response to form a good response to phonological treatment. his psychological treatment. his psychological treatment has onlyjust begun and is likely to be difficult for the reason stated. in my opinion, lee byer requires the supervised care of a specialist medical service, and i consider that this need to be long—term and possibly a life long. if you should become part of his medication again, i believe the risks the defendant poses of violence are potentially grave. i do not believe supervision and managed treatment can be affected by prison care health services, the parole board or probation services. in the event of lee byer returned to prison after hospital treatment to complete his custodial sentence as part of a hybrid order, in my opinion the parole board can offer little in the material of public safety in this case and to follow the advice of

clinicians, since lee byer�*s... such effective interface between the prison clinicians and the parole board is far less likely to be effective and comprehensive as the interface between forensic psychiatrists and the ministry of justice, the first—tier tribunal offered by ace hospital wrote in my opinion. in his summit at the end i consider carefully the application of a hybrid order in this case and also the author of doctor ian cummings, who has provided psychiatric evidence to the court. it is my view that a section 45 aorta it would not be appropriate in the defendant's case. the doctor harford he gave evidence during the course of the sentencing hearing. he adopted his reports on the greedy of

the summary of conclusions i have set out the way treatment can be given and the issues of management in the prison estate. he expanded on the reasons why the preferred course here is a secure hospital environment, as opposed to a prison state, as well as the extensive treatment required. the treatment is going to be long—term and probably lifelong. he confirmed that the best way of protecting the public is through a hospital order with a restriction order. he cannot be definitive as to the timing. he confirmed that the findings in his report that the treatment is at an early stage, and you will be in a high security police for many years, and then possibly go to a lower level of security. that is a possibility you may remain in hospitalfor possibility you may remain in hospital for the rest of your life. you will certainly need long—term, possibly lifelong treatment. the

leading... i have consider in particular paragraphs 31 to 55 of thatjudgment. there are a number of alternatives i have been referred to, including the case of paul serie from 2022. turning to sentencing. in my view, the conditions in section 37 72a r met in this case. you are clearly some suffering with paranoid schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness. taking into account the factors set out, namely the extent to which you need treatment for the mental order from which you suffer. second, the extent... thirdly at the extent to which punishment is required. fourthly, the extent of protection for the public, including

after release. i'm entirely satisfied that the appropriate way to do with you is by the making of a hospital altered with restrictions. i doubt there is a place available to you within the newmarket ward of broadmoor hospital. —— know that is a place. as to what is said about the regime on release. whilst either giving consideration to a hybrid order, i have come to the view that it is not likely to assist in the management of the very obvious risks that are present here. i am also satisfied that this is a case where having regard to the nature of the offences and the offence of manslaughter in particular, and the risk of you committing further offences if at large, it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm that i further order they should be the subject of provisions of section 41 of the 1980

the act. i will make a condition a restriction order. the sentence yet as a hospital order with a restriction in relations to both counts on indictment. if the statue charges apply in this case, the appropriate order may be drawn up. you may go down. thank you. studio: you have been listening to the sentencing of lee byer, who was 46 years old. he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter by diminished responsibility of thomas o'halloran, who was 87 years old. he had already pled guilty, we were listening to the sentencing. what we heard from the sentencing. what we heard from the judges that he has been sentenced to a hospital order with restrictions. he said lee byer was clearly suffering with paranoid schizophrenia, and that some of the issues he was considering here where the extent to which punishment was required as well as protection the

public. tom symonds has been following the background to thes case and has this report. could you give us some details on what has been decided here today? what you hear that was the quite detailed considerations of this judge, who has heard evidence about the psychiatric condition of lee byer, about what he should do about the sentence. to simply pass a long prison sentence for this man, but he decided on a hospital order. effectively that means with the conditions placed on about the judge, lee byer will spend a great deal of time in a secure psychiatric hospital. he specified that that would be broadmoor. that means lee byer will not go to prison, he'll be in hospital, it is a secure hospital, he can come in and out, and he will be treated for his quite

considerable mental health problems. we heard in detail in the hearing this morning, lee byer was someone who is himself a statement to the court setting out what was going on in his head at the time he committed this horrific attack on thomas o'halloran. he said that he believed that someone had put a box in his head, which was suggesting that he go out and kill people, that he was taking part in a hungary game scenario, but he might have to defend himself. also that she was suffering from delusions and all sorts of other mental health conditions. the way this works in court is, if a defendant like lee byer search through display this kind of mental health condition, then doctors and psychiatrists are brought into a assess his condition. there were two psychiatrist, one for

the defence and one for the prosecution. they both decided he was someone suffering from a considerable mental health condition, paranoid schizophrenia with delusions that can suggest a way for him to act on things on his head. crucially, he was unable to stand trial because of that. he was arrested and charged with murder initially. but once that happened in the psychiatric decision was made, then the charge was dropped to manslaughter with diminished responsibility. effectively saying that responsibility for his own actions was bypassed about the fact that he had this mental health condition. that is what has happened at court today. it comes after no try at all. this was simply his pulley, after a horrific attack on a grandfather extremely built lower in that part of west london and much loved by our extended family. i think it is worth it is going into

the background that tom provided to us in a report to understand the circumstances around this case. i’m understand the circumstances around this case. �* ., , ., ., this case. i'm arrested you two are restin: this case. i'm arrested you two are resting you — this case. i'm arrested you two are resting you on _ this case. i'm arrested you two are resting you on suspicion _ this case. i'm arrested you two are resting you on suspicion of - this case. i'm arrested you two are resting you on suspicion of the - resting you on suspicion of the murder— resting you on suspicion of the murder of— resting you on suspicion of the murder of thomas o'halloran... it murder of thomas o'halloran... [it took murder of thomas o'halloran... took two murder of thomas o'halloran... it took two days to track him down. lee byer didn't seem surprised. i was took two days to track him down. lee byer didn't seem surprised.— byer didn't seem surprised. i was in rison. i byer didn't seem surprised. i was in prison- i was _ byer didn't seem surprised. i was in prison- i was in _ byer didn't seem surprised. i was in prison. iwas in prison. _ byer didn't seem surprised. i was in prison. iwas in prison. but - byer didn't seem surprised. i was in prison. i was in prison. but he - prison. iwas in prison. but he wasn't. prison. iwas in prison. but he wasn't- two — prison. iwas in prison. but he wasn't. two days _ prison. iwas in prison. but he wasn't. two days earlier, - prison. iwas in prison. but he wasn't. two days earlier, this| prison. i was in prison. but he i wasn't. two days earlier, this is thomas o'halloran heading home from busking in west london. as she stopped at a supermarket, lee byer was heading his way. 15 minutes later, the killer and his victim, two people completely unconnected were heading towards each other. they came together in this underpass. lee byer pulled a knife and attacked thomas o'halloran. he fought back, according to forensic

experts. fatally injured, he made another 100 metres in that direction before his mobility scooter came to a halt. lee byer hurried away, knife in hand. this woman seems completely unaware of what just in hand. this woman seems completely unaware of whatjust happened. he broke the knife and up to handle and a drain. he bought gloves and a bleach and tried to burn his trainers, but detectives recovered part of them. thomas o'halloran was known locally for his accordion and charity collections. he known locally for his accordion and charity collections.— charity collections. he wasn't a erson charity collections. he wasn't a person that — charity collections. he wasn't a person that was _ charity collections. he wasn't a person that was settling - charity collections. he wasn't a person that was settling down | charity collections. he wasn't a l person that was settling down in charity collections. he wasn't a - person that was settling down in his old age. he was certainly a man that wanted to do more, but it all the household jobs, you know, he did all that the shopping. he is a big loss to that family. they didn't know each other and that is no motive, there was no robbery. all the various hypotheses were considered throughout. but various hypotheses were considered throu:hout. �* ., , ., various hypotheses were considered throu:hout. �* ., ., ., throughout. but it was a random attack. they just _ throughout. but it was a random attack. they just came _ throughout. but it was a random attack. they just came across i throughout. but it was a random l attack. theyjust came across each other in underpass? in attack. theyjust came across each other in underpass?— other in underpass? in which is

really unfortunate _ other in underpass? in which is really unfortunate set - other in underpass? in which is really unfortunate set of- really u nfortu nate set of circumstances, really unfortunate set of circumstances, yes.- really unfortunate set of circumstances, yes. really unfortunate set of circumstances, es. �* , , circumstances, yes. lee byeri 'ust finished a prison i circumstances, yes. lee byeri 'ust finished a prison sentence. i circumstances, yes. lee byeri 'ust finished a prison sentence. web finished a prison sentence. we obtained footage a week before the killing buying presents for his mum. the assessment of two psychiatrists was that he was psychotic, hearing voices and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. the court accepted a plea of... today, thomas o'halloran's family had been in court to hear sentencing today of a random killing alongside one of britain's busies rows. tom, the judge did list out previous convictions. we know this happened five days after lee byer was released from prison. he was known to police, wasn't he? that is something that has been in the headlines when it has come to other knife attacks across the uk. yes. headlines when it has come to other knife attacks across the uk.- knife attacks across the uk. yes, he had a string — knife attacks across the uk. yes, he had a string of _ knife attacks across the uk. yes, he had a string of convictions _ knife attacks across the uk. yes, he had a string of convictions over- knife attacks across the uk. yes, he had a string of convictions over a - had a string of convictions over a

long period of his life. he is 45 now. but i think probably more important to consider is his mental health history, because this is a man who was released from prison and does not seem to have been under any sort of mental health care, or taking any sort of mental health drugs. just to break that down, the judge said that in autumn 2020 he had been reported to be having paranoid schizophrenic episodes. he was moved around prisons, he was put on some medication. but that medication ended in march 2023... inaudible. apologies, i think we are having some trouble with the sound there. he was talking about the fact that lee byer was previously unknown to

police —— previously known to police. this wasn't the first time we have heard there have been issues like this. stay with us on bbc news. we will keep covering this story. hello. for most of us, it feels more like summer than spring out there today. another very warm one across large swathes of the uk. the weekend will be very warm, as well. dry for most on saturday, but things are set to change on sunday with the increasing chance of some heavy thundery showers. you can see weather systems waiting in the wings out in the atlantic, but, for the time being they are being fended off by this area of high pressure. we do have a bit more in the way of cloud across the north of scotland. the odd spot of rain here. also, this area of low cloud and mistiness rolling on to some of these eastern coasts of east anglia and the south—east of england. elsewhere, good spells of sunshine, highs of 24, maybe 25 degrees. through this evening and tonight, this area of cloud will roll its way in off the north sea into parts of eastern england, perhaps getting

into the midlands, as well. also some areas of low cloud just rolling across the north—west of scotland, maybe affecting shetland. most places seeing clear skies and hence some sunshine to start saturday morning. temperatures not dropping too far at all. for saturday, this area of cloud will tend to roll back towards north sea coasts. for most, it's going to be fine with some sunshine, but we do have the chance for some showers to pop up. they should be quite well scattered, but across some parts of scotland, especially over high ground, we could see the odd heavy thundery downpour. equally, in the best of the sunshine, highs of 24, perhaps 25 degrees. not a bad looking day for northern ireland, maybe just the odd shower out towards the west. dry for the bulk of england and wales. a bit of patchy fairweather cloud and still some of this low cloud and mist affecting some north sea coasts, but temperatures easily up to 23, 24, 25 degrees. our area of high pressure starts to give way as we head into the second half of the weekend, with these frontal systems rolling in from the atlantic, so the increasing chance of seeing some heavy showers and perhaps some thunderstorms popping up

as we head through sunday, particularly across parts of northern ireland, northern england, wales, the midlands and down towards the south—west. it may well be that eastern parts of england stay dry. we'll see some showers getting going across parts of scotland. still very warm, though, with temperatures up to 25, perhaps up to 26 degrees on sunday. as we head into next week, well, a very different weather outlook. it looks much more unsettled. some rain at times and feeling cooler, as well.

live from london. this is bbc news. figures reveal that the uk has emerged from recession, the prime minister says he is positive. i’m minister says he is positive. i'm confident that _ minister says he is positive. in confident that the figures show that the economy has real momentum, it is hard to argue that when the figures show we have the highestjoint growth rate. fierce fighting in ukraine's kharkiv region, as russia launches a surprise attack. pc sharon beshenivsky — shot dead two decades ago — the mastermind behind the armed robbery is finally sentenced for her murder. israel's prime minister vows — to press ahead with the offensive in rafah — in defiance of us

and — harry accompanies his wife meghan — at the start