very old ammunition . from the soviet times. it's getting very old, but it's still firing. . hello, welcome to the programme. we have a special report from the front line in ukraine. in some areas, soldiers have run out of munitions. the uk fell into recession at the end of last year. the prime minister's opponents say his promise to grow the economy is in tatters. reports that russia is developing a weapon to destroy satellites in orbit. the us national security adviser is briefing members of congress now. and in the world of artificial intelligence, one claim there's no evidence ai can be controlled. we'll see what that means in al decoded.

we start in ukraine — the eastern front, avdiivka, in the donetsk region. russian forces appear to be surrounding what's left of the front line town after months of heavy fighting there. in the last half hour, the white house has said it is at risk of being captured. ukraine is trying to hold it but soldiers say there's a lack of munitions and supplies. our correspondent, andrew harding, travelled to the front line. ukrainian tanks heading into battle. we are close to the russian lines here and to a town the kremlin has been desperate to capture for months. inside of avdiivka, it's not going well for ukraine. these troops are increasingly pinned down and struggling. in the ditch here, a wounded soldier needing urgent help. so, what's going wrong for ukraine after two years of war?

a simple answer can be found a few kilometres away. a ukrainian artillery team. last year, these men were firing 80 shells a day at russian positions around avdiivka. not any more. so, these are the last two shells that you have? "yes", says the officer in charge. "and these two don't even work." it is an alarming situation. russia is now outgunning ukraine by perhaps five to one. "we're upset", says oleksii. "it means our infantry in avdiivka are fighting on their own without our support. "on their own without our support. "i'm worried it will mean a lot more casualties." speaking of which, more wounded arrive at a nearby field hospital. 24—year—old andrii has shrapnel in his ankle.

ukraine, with a far smaller army than russia's, can't afford to lose many soldiers. in the next storeroom, 48—year—old vadym was hit by shrapnel this morning as he stormed a russian position. "we just don't have enough weapons", he says. what would you say to american politicians who are saying they're not going to give more weapons to ukraine? "i would tell them to come here just once", he says. "then they'll understand the blood and sweat required to build a peaceful world." and the surgeon has this warning. "i urge the west to be more decisive in assisting ukraine", says vitalii. "otherwise, their soldiers will end up having to fight this russian evil, too." in the woods nearby, a live fire training exercise. ukraine is racing to

rebuild its war weary army. but there aren't enough volunteers any more, so more conscripts are being drafted in to fill the ranks. ukraine is not losing this war, at least not yet. but if it's to stand any chance of actually winning, then it's going to have to train an awful lot more men like this and find a lot more weapons for what, right now, looks like it's going to be a very long conflict. andrew harding, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. nato countries have been meeting today. the head of nato was asked about military assistance for ukraine. take a listen. the fact that us has not been able to make a decision so far has already had consequences. it is impacting the flow of support. to some extent, this can be compensated by increased support from other allies, and the european allies in canada

are stepping up, are doing more. —— and canada. and if we put together the military, economic and humanitarian support, actually, canada and european allies are providing more support than the and if we put together the military, economic and humanitarian support, actually, canada and european allies are providing more support than the united states, but the united states being by far the biggest ally, of course it's vital they continue to pledge support. and therefore, i continue to expect that they will be able to make a decision and hopefully as soon as possible. oleksandr merezhko is the chair of ukraine's foreign affairs committee. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on the programme._ talk. thank you very much for coming on i the programme._ talk to thank you very much for coming on - the programme._ talk to me the programme. thank you. talk to me about the shortages. _ the programme. thank you. talk to me about the shortages. how _ the programme. thank you. talk to me about the shortages. how about - the programme. thank you. talk to me about the shortages. how about are . about the shortages. how about are they and what do you need? weill. they and what do you need? well, first of all. — they and what do you need? well, first of all, we _ they and what do you need? well, first of all, we need _ they and what do you need? well, first of all, we need two _ they and what do you need? well, first of all, we need two things. i they and what do you need? -ii first of all, we need two things. we need artillery ammunition and we need artillery ammunition and we need air defence. and we also need military aircraft to guarantee superiority in the air. but what is

crucially important, especially right now, is artillery shells. we're talking about war of attrition, and to win this war, we need strong artillery and of course, we need enough artillery shells. according to some estimates, 2 million shells per year. if according to some estimates, 2 million shells per year.- million shells per year. if you need 2 million shells _ million shells per year. if you need 2 million shells for _ million shells per year. if you need 2 million shells for year, _ 2 million shells for year, how many will you get this year?— will you get this year? well, we were promised _ will you get this year? well, we were promised by _ will you get this year? well, we were promised by the _ will you get this year? well, we were promised by the europeani will you get this year? well, we - were promised by the european union 1 were promised by the european union i million artillery shells. but so far, we have received only 300,000. so, you're a long way off what you need to. ., so, you're a long way off what you need to. . ., . , need to. yeah, unfortunately, because russia _ need to. yeah, unfortunately, because russia has _ need to. yeah, unfortunately, because russia has produced | need to. yeah, unfortunately, i because russia has produced this year 2 million shells. it has received i million from north korea. this makes it 3 million shells. in the ratio in terms of front lines is

5-1. on the ratio in terms of front lines is 5—1. on a daily basis, russians can afford to fire 10,000 shells, and we can afford to fire only 2000. crosstalk does not mean any progress is just not going to happen this year? this isjust simply a not going to happen this year? this is just simply a matter of holding on and try next year? isjust simply a matter of holding on and try next year?— on and try next year? well, first of all, we on and try next year? well, first of all. we need _ on and try next year? well, first of all, we need to _ on and try next year? well, first of all, we need to survive _ on and try next year? well, first of all, we need to survive and - on and try next year? well, first of all, we need to survive and we - all, we need to survive and we need to defend the territories under our control. what we have now, we call the situation dynamic defence. we don't lose hope to make advancements this year, but of course to do that when we are outgunned and outnumbered by russian troops. we need more support from the west, more weaponry and on a timely basis. we need these deliveries to come to ukraine on time.— ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank ou ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank you so — ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank you so much _ ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank you so much for— ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank you so much for coming - ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank you so much for coming on - ukraine on time. oleksandr merezhko, thank you so much for coming on the l thank you so much for coming on the programme. thank you.—

donald trump will face the first ever criminal trial against a former us president. a new yorkjudge has rejected trump's appeal to dismiss charges against him over allegations of falsifying business records. it's linked to payments made to the porn star stormy daniels, who claimed she'd had an affairwith mrtrump. we have a start date for the trial — march the 25th. live now to our north america correspondent nada tawfik. what happened today? yeah, louis, this was a hearing _ what happened today? yeah, louis, this was a hearing to _ what happened today? yeah, louis, this was a hearing to decide - what happened today? yeah, louis, this was a hearing to decide how- what happened today? yeah, louis, this was a hearing to decide how the judge would rule on a motion by donald trump's lawyers to throughout this case entirely. just as the hearing was getting started, the judge got right to the point. he said this case would not be dismissed and he said the trial would go ahead as planned on march

25. beginning withjury would go ahead as planned on march 25. beginning with jury selection. so that was a big loss to donald trump and his legal team, who would argue that these should be pushed until after the election. they stayed amount to election interference, that is a great injustice of donald trump trying to prepare for the selection as he's campaigning. 0f prepare for the selection as he's campaigning. of the prepare for the selection as he's campaigning. 0f thejudge prepare for the selection as he's campaigning. of the judge said that was simply not a legal requirement. super tuesday, when most states will have picked to they want to be their nominee for president. a loss there for donald trump. it's been a familiar sight seeing him for donald trump. it's been a familiarsight seeing him in for donald trump. it's been a familiar sight seeing him in the corridors speaking to the press, slamming these in cases of the witchhunt. but in court, he really left it to the lawyers to battle it out, though they were unsuccessful. now we were waiting for so long to see in this election year which of his four criminal trials would go to trial first.

his four criminal trials would go to trialfirst. marking the his four criminal trials would go to trial first. marking the first time a former president will face criminal charges in a trial, and now the answer. it will be this case, the answer. it will be this case, the new york hush money case. donald trump denies — the new york hush money case. donald trump denies the _ the new york hush money case. donald trump denies the allegations. - the new york hush money case. donald trump denies the allegations. you - trump denies the allegations. you referenced the other cases. where are we on those?— referenced the other cases. where are we on those? well, interestingly enou~h, are we on those? well, interestingly enough. there _ are we on those? well, interestingly enough. there is— are we on those? well, interestingly enough, there is a _ are we on those? well, interestingly enough, there is a hearing _ are we on those? well, interestingly enough, there is a hearing in - are we on those? well, interestingly enough, there is a hearing in the - enough, there is a hearing in the georgia case not on the facts of the case itself. donald trump is accused of trying to overturn the results from 2020 election in georgia. that went to joe from 2020 election in georgia. that went tojoe biden. trump denies that. the actual hearing is looking at conduct of the district attorney, sandy willis, who brought those charges. —— fanne willis and nathan wade. they are accused of having an improper relationship. willis may

take the stand as well. this is all to decide whether she should be disqualified from this case. back to the civil cases, tomorrow, we are expecting a verdict in a case that will decide the fate of donald trump's business empire. tomorrow will mark a very important verdict. nada, we may be back with you tomorrow. thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's ta ke let's take a look at some other news. the number of patients in england waiting more than 12 hours for a bed on a ward after being seen in a&e was 19 times higher this winter than it was before the covid pandemic. new data shows there were nearly 100,000 12—hour waits in december and january — compared to about 5,000 in 2019 to 2020.

british gas has announced its profits for 2023 increased tenfold to £750 million. the supplier said the jump from £72 million in 2022 was due to regulator 0fgem allowing it to recover losses of £500 million it racked up in the aftermath of russia's invasion of ukraine. centrica, british gas's parent company, said its profits fell by 17% to £2.8 billion. people are voting to elect new mps in kingswood and wellingborough. the by—elections will decide who'll replace former conservative mps chris skidmore and peter bone. mr skidmore resigned as an mp last month and mr bone you're live with bbc news. israeli forces have been carried out a raid in the main hospital in southern gaza. they say they had intelligence there might be the bodies of hostages there. the director of the nasser hospital in khan younis told the bbc that

conditions were catastrophic and very dangerous, with the remaining patients — in his words — "piled up in wards". 0ur middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports. a medical refuge, turned military target. in nasser hospital, they hunted for safety to the sounds of destruction, by the light of mobile phones. hospitals are no protection from israel's army. a message for hamas, heard by all. the israel army now is almost about to enter the hospital. their protection against israel's powerful army — a table. we have patients who need care, but after the israeli army bombed the hospital directly, most of our health care workers here are afraid about themself

and they have to leave the hospital. about a0 health care workers stay at the hospital right now. israel had ordered people to leave the hospital. "when people went out, they shot at them, and some were killed," mohammed said. "they said there was safe passage, but they approached us "with a bulldozer and a tank. "every half an hour, they let a few people go." with israeli forces surrounding the hospital, the army said it believed hamas fighters were inside. today, it said it had arrested several suspects there. because hamas terrorists are likely hiding behind injured civilians inside nasser hospital right now, and appear to have used the hospital to hide our hostages there too, the idf is conducting a precise to hide our hostages there, too, the idf is conducting a precise

and limited operation inside nasser hospital. israel's army has been fighting its way through khan younis. homes, turned to battlefields, street by street. the only relics from a previous life, its people. now fleeing to the border town of rafah, the last stop for civilians in this war. the red cross has warned of unimaginable carnage if the army follows them there. but israel's prime minister has been clear — he will fight he will fight hamas wherever it hides, and that rafah will be next. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. we can speak now to israel defense forces spokesman peter lerner. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on | the programme._ can thank you very much for coming on - the programme._ can we the programme. good evening. can we talk about the — the programme. good evening. can we talk about the operation _ the programme. good evening. can we

talk about the operation at _ the programme. good evening. can we talk about the operation at nasser - talk about the operation at nasser hospital? have you found hamas people there? hospital? have you found hamas peeple there?— hospital? have you found hamas people there? absolutely. the idf has been conducting _ people there? absolutely. the idf has been conducting operations i people there? absolutely. the idf has been conducting operations in | has been conducting operations in khan younis in the west specifically over the last two weeks. in the last few days, we've been appealing to the people that have taken refuge in the people that have taken refuge in the hospital premises to evacuate the hospital premises to evacuate the area. this morning, we announced that we have arrested several suspects and this evening, we announced the names of three terrorists. they have participated actually in the attack on the 7th of october. absolutely, hamas are continuing their actions, the way they have conducted themselves throughout this war, of holding up inside hospitals, utilising hospitals to conduct a task, to hide, conceal hostages and they're all doing it at the desk term and of

gaza —— at the detriment to. i suppose the question many watchable feel is windows the tolerable actions become intolerable —— when do the tolerable actions. do you think the achievements he said were a result of the operations, honing in on one of the last functioning hospitals? i in on one of the last functioning hosnitals?_ in on one of the last functioning hositals? ., . . ., hospitals? i would say that hamas have weaponised _ hospitals? i would say that hamas have weaponised hospitals. i hospitals? i would say that hamas have weaponised hospitals. that l hospitals? i would say that hamas| have weaponised hospitals. that is precisely what they want. they want us not to operate their so that they can continue to conduct their atrocities. we can't give them a free pass. we have to make sure there are pursued and hunted down. this war would not have taken place if it wasn't for the actions of hamas. now they are bearing the consequences. from our perspective, from what we are doing, we are conducting operations in the

hospital. while we are differentiating between the civilians, evacuating them from the hospital premises, engaging with the administration to make sure that they understand, we are seeking out terrorists. we released a very damning report from the investigations of one of the terrorist to tilde specifically in his own words in arabic of the 15 hamas terrorists he knew were holding on. so it's clearfor everyone's and very common knowledge apparently that hamas have commandeered the hospital, this hospital and many others. but these hosital. .. hospital and many others. but these hosnital- -- i'm _ hospital and many others. but these hospital... i'm sure _ hospital and many others. but these hospital... i'm sure people - hospital and many others. but these hospital... i'm sure people will- hospital... i'm sure people will follow that argument, but these hospitals are being used to treat

seriously ill people who need that attention and that quality care to don't actually happen.— don't actually happen. that's not true. we have _ don't actually happen. that's not true. we have not _ don't actually happen. that's not true. we have not evacuated i don't actually happen. that's not true. we have not evacuated any patient or staff. they've been informed that we are not speaking them out. we informed that we are not speaking them out. ~ u, informed that we are not speaking them out. ~ u, , informed that we are not speaking them out. ~ , , . , them out. we can 'ust see the images ofthe them out. we can 'ust see the images of the conditions i them out. we can just see the images of the conditions inside _ them out. we can just see the images of the conditions inside the _ of the conditions inside the hospital with people walking or smoke. that isn't quality care that people need. we smoke. that isn't quality care that peeple need-— smoke. that isn't quality care that --eole need. ~ . . . . , people need. we are at war, and this is a ve , people need. we are at war, and this is a very. very _ people need. we are at war, and this is a very. very tragic _ people need. we are at war, and this is a very, very tragic reality _ people need. we are at war, and this is a very, very tragic reality that i is a very, very tragic reality that we are facing. the suggestion that we are facing. the suggestion that we allow hamas to continue to hide among the hospitals is unacceptable. it's the same is telling us not to operate. we have to change the paradigm, we have to get rid of hamas. everybody agrees on that. that is a clear goal that all of our allies around the world understand. 0f allies around the world understand. of course there are challenges in operating. i would argue that the idf is conducting the operations

within the realm to achieve our goals while operating with the principles of distinction and military necessity and where those two combined and come together in order to achieve our goals of dismantling and destroying hamas as a governing authority. we need to weigh on what that means. they have subordinated the entire governing support system, whether it's hospitals, schools — every part of their system. they have to go. peter lerner, their system. they have to go. peter lerner. thank _ their system. they have to go. peter lerner, thank you _ their system. they have to go. peter lerner, thank you very _ their system. they have to go. peter lerner, thank you very much. - lerner, thank you very much. good evenini. greece's parliament is to soon vote on legislation on approving same—sex marriage. if it's given the green light, the country would become the first christian orthodox—majority country to legalise it. niko efstathiou is a journalist in greece.

thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme-— the programme. thank you for the invitation. what _ the programme. thank you for the invitation. what are _ the programme. thank you for the invitation. what are we _ the programme. thank you for the invitation. what are we expecting l the programme. thank you for the i invitation. what are we expecting to ha en invitation. what are we expecting to happen now? _ invitation. what are we expecting to happen now? so. — invitation. what are we expecting to happen now? so, we're _ invitation. what are we expecting to happen now? so, we're mostly- invitation. what are we expecting to i happen now? so, we're mostly certain that it's going — happen now? so, we're mostly certain that it's going to _ happen now? so, we're mostly certain that it's going to pass _ happen now? so, we're mostly certain that it's going to pass with _ happen now? so, we're mostly certain that it's going to pass with 170 - that it's going to pass with 170 votes in favour. they will have support from most of the mps of the governing party, but not all. some will abstain and some will reject. there will be parties that will not vote for it. the communist party of greece as well as the parties on the far right. but i have to tell you it was not expected that 100 roughly, 170 mp5, was not expected that 100 roughly, 170 mps, allegedly would vote for it. it's a huge success for greece, which is predominantly conservative country. the biggest is facet —— a success it is guaranteed public support. i think it's a major

victory for the community here. there are crowds gathered outside the parliament in the square in downtown ethics waited with bated breath. a big day. hike downtown ethics waited with bated breath. a big day.— breath. a big day. niko efstathiou, thank ou breath. a big day. niko efstathiou, thank you very _ breath. a big day. niko efstathiou, thank you very much _ breath. a big day. niko efstathiou, thank you very much for _ breath. a big day. niko efstathiou, thank you very much for that. i the white house national security spokesman has confirmed that classified reports of a national security threat in the us pertain to russia's anti—satellite capability. us media, citing officials, had spoken of the development of a space—based nuclear capable weapon, but mr kirby hasn't confirmed this. the national security adviser, jake sullivan, has been meeting he says it yet active. with me isjuliana suess, who is a research analyst for space security at the royal united services institute, a think—tank. thanks for coming on the programme. thanks for coming on the programme. thank you for having me. we don't know a whole lot of what's actually going on at the moment. we know there is a supposedly nuclear

capable satellite, but we don't know if this is because the satellite is powered or actually a nuclear weapon. powered or actually a nuclear wea on. ., powered or actually a nuclear wea on. . . , weapon. right, and what will be the difference? they _ weapon. right, and what will be the difference? they are _ weapon. right, and what will be the difference? they are nothing - weapon. right, and what will be the difference? they are nothing new. l difference? they are nothing new. nasa are researching _ difference? they are nothing new. nasa are researching methods. i nasa are researching methods. however, it would be in violation of the treaty of 1967, of which russia is a signatory. it would have far—reaching consequences. it would violate the space. far-reaching consequences. it would violate the space.— violate the space. slightly worrying- _ violate the space. slightly worrying. what _ violate the space. slightly worrying. what is - violate the space. slightly worrying. what is the i violate the space. slightly i worrying. what is the objective violate the space. slightly - worrying. what is the objective of having a weapon in orbit? there's a coule of having a weapon in orbit? there's a couple of objectives _ having a weapon in orbit? there's a couple of objectives of _ having a weapon in orbit? there's a couple of objectives of to _ having a weapon in orbit? there's a couple of objectives of to why i couple of objectives of to why russia specifically wants to build a counterspace capability. since 2010,

they have been building back some of they have been building back some of the cold war era projects. for example, satellites, reeve aligned them greatly. most military operations and capabilities would not function the way that they do without space. for russia to be able to disrupt and potentially destroy these, they might see some benefit. interesting. 0k, juliana, thank you. if you're feeling down after valentine's day, take a look at this. police in peru disguised himself as a cartoon series care bears to laura woman allegedly selling drugs out of her house —— to lure. the police pounced interested her. there you

go. police released the video to say they found cocaine base in the house. they dressed as santa claus last christmas to catch criminals too. i'll be back with the headlines in just a couple of minutes' time. i'm lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news. hello there. normally at this time of the year, maximum temperatures would be 8—9 celsius. now, today wasn't a record—breaker by any means, but it was unusually mild, particularly for england and wales — 17 celsius in worcestershire and also suffolk, and in the northeast of england, it was 16 celsius in durham. those high temperatures came because we had a southerly breeze, and we also broke the cloud up to give some sunshine here and there as well. but that was ahead of the rain. and, whilst it was 15 celsius in manchester for a while,

we have seen the cloud thickening across wales and western parts of england with some rain developing. the rain's cleared away from scotland and northern ireland, but this band of rain will push southeastwards across england and wales. should be gone by the end of the night, and it's going to leave some clear spells, but a few showers towards the north and the west, and not quite as warm as it was last night, but still a mild start to friday. and friday should be a quiet day, really. we're going to find some spells of sunshine. they'll shower coming over the irish sea into england the odd shower coming over the irish sea into england and wales, and a few showers for a while in the far north the far north of scotland. may well turn out to be quite sunny across southern counties of england, and the winds should be fairly gentle as well. those temperatures not quite as high as today, but 12 celsius in the central belt of scotland is above average, still, and 1a in the southeast of england and across east anglia. now, over the weekend, we're looking to the atlantic to see some rain. that first weather front is just going to fade away. this is the main feature of the weather through the weekend. that rain pushing its way eastwards.

starting dry for many places, i think, on saturday. but there will be a lot of cloud, a few spots of rain ahead of the main rain band that's bringing some wet weather over northern ireland, moving a little more quickly over the irish sea into western parts of england and wales and into western scotland later on in the day as well. but still ahead of that, we've got temperatures reaching 13—14 celsius if it does brighten up a little bit. that band of rain moves eastwards overnight. we're all going to get some spells of rain for a while. it does clear away more readily from the northern half of the uk, but a different story further south where we could well hang on to some rain across parts of england and wales even into the afternoon. this rain pushing slowly south eastwards, eventually clearing wales. more sunshine and dry weather for northern england, for scotland and also for northern ireland. for northern ireland, barring the odd shower in the far northwest of scotland, we're still in this quite mild air mass, so again, temperatures will be around 12—14.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. a setback for two of the world's biggest economies — the uk and japan fall into recession. we'll get a sense of the mood among the uk's smallerfirms. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh. hello from the bbc sport centre. christian horner says claims

of inappropriate and controlling behaviour that have been made against him are "a distraction" for his red bull team, but insists it's "business as usual" as they prepare for the new formula 1 season. horner, seen on the right here at the launch of this season's car on thursday, is the subject of an internal investigation after complaints from a female colleague. he denies the allegations and spent several hours being questioned by a lawyer last week, but he told the bbc�*s laura scott he will be in place for the opening grand prix of the 2024 campaign in bahrain at the beginning of next month. it isa it is a distraction for the team, but the team are very together. they are very focused on the season ahead, and they have been tremendously supportive. so, yeah, looking forward to the season ahead of us. , ., looking forward to the season ahead of us. , . , ., looking forward to the season ahead ofus. , . looking forward to the season ahead ofus., . �*, looking forward to the season ahead ofus., . of us. given that you said it's a distraction, it _ of us. given that you said it's a distraction, it would _ of us. given that you said it's a distraction, it would be - of us. given that you said it's a distraction, it would be betterl of us. given that you said it's a | distraction, it would be better if you stepped aside while the investigation ran its course? know, because i deny _ investigation ran its course? know,

because i deny any of— investigation ran its course? know, because i deny any of the _ because i deny any of the allegations it been made.