more on our top story now and russia president putin has suggested he may extend the invasion of ukraine to protect russian border regions. he was speaking after being re—elected in a vote which western countries have labelled a "sham". the european union said russians had been "denied a real choice". its foreign affairs ministers are currently meeting to discuss the election, the war and possible new sanctions against russia. live to our europe correpsondent nick beake. hello. what could these new possible sanctions comprise?— sanctions comprise? well, much like the results of — sanctions comprise? well, much like the results of the _ sanctions comprise? well, much like the results of the russian _ sanctions comprise? well, much like the results of the russian elections i the results of the russian elections were basically a foregone conclusion, the reaction from the various eu foreign ministers today

has been pretty predictable. there was this joint statement in which they say the russian people were denied any real choice in the vote that took place over the past three days. we heard from the veteran spanish diplomat saying that the russian election was characterised by repression and intimidation. one thing the eu has not done which the widow of alexei navalny wanted to happen, she wanted european leaders to come out and say president putin does not have any legitimacy and he wanted brussels not to recognise this victory. that hasn't happened today but as you have been saying they are looking at more sanctions and we understand that the sanctions being talked about today and potentially agreed would affect people within the prison system in russia, specifically those who work at the penal colony in the arctic

where alexei navalny was being held and where he died last month. there have been talks _ and where he died last month. there have been talks about _ and where he died last month. there have been talks about the _ and where he died last month. there have been talks about the spring into summer being a crucial period into summer being a crucial period in the war in ukraine. our european leaders going any further in talking about how they might take action, whether it is supplying more jets, tanks, armaments that might make it decisive for ukraine? imelt tanks, armaments that might make it decisive for ukraine?— decisive for ukraine? well one thing we are also — decisive for ukraine? well one thing we are also expecting _ decisive for ukraine? well one thing we are also expecting to _ decisive for ukraine? well one thing we are also expecting to see - decisive for ukraine? well one thing we are also expecting to see today i we are also expecting to see today is the signing of a new deal that basically was agreed last week but will be formally approved today. that is a 5 billion euros fund for ukraine. this is money that is being sent to kyiv. it follows a lot of negotiations between the european countries. there has been some disagreement about how money was spent and how military hardware is

sent. germany and france are the key political players within europe, they were not at loggerheads but there were different points of view. for example, france a big proponent of the defence industry in europe, was quite keen for french maid and european made military hardware to be sent to ukraine. other people saying we can't wait for this sort of stuff to be created and manufactured, other things need to be sent. germany was concerned that it has been sent a lot of military capability to ukraine but was worried that might not be taken into account when they did all the maths and worked out how much each country spends. we expect this to be signed off later today. whether it has a massive impact on what is happening on the battlefield is a completely different thing. a bbc investigation has revealed extensive abuse of african women working in oman as domestic servants. dozens of malawian women who have

been lured there by recruiting agents have told bbc africa eye that they were beaten, raped and treated like prisoners whilst working in the gulf country. a warning that this report by africa eye's azeezat olaoluwa contains distressing details from the start. ifeel like i'm in prison. please, please, please, madam, please. these videos were recorded by domestic workers in oman. they are all from malawi, one of the world's poorest countries. the women came together in a whatsapp group after being duped by dishonest recruitment agents into going to oman. georgina was promised a lucrativejob in dubai, but instead she found herself in the omani capital, muscat. translation: i was not allowed to rest. - i was waking up at 3am and going to bed at 1am. the most difficult thing that made me desperate to escape

was the boss forcing me to have sex with him. it was so painful because i had no way to say no. he threatened me and said if i shouted he would shoot me. i got badly injured because it wasn't only him. he would bring friends and they would pay him after. in oman alone, there are an estimated 300,000 domestic workers, most of them from africa or asia. ekaterina runs an ngo which supports migrant workers in the gulf. we identify them as victims of trafficking or forced labour or other forms of exploitation. so we negotiate with their employer

for them to be released. the laws that are in place prohibit a domestic worker to leave the employer. she cannot change jobs and she cannot leave the country, no matter how you are treated. woman screams. man shouts. you crazy! please help me out. the malawian government asked ekaterina to help negotiate the release of over 50 women. the body of 23—year—old ida, who had died in oman, was also brought home. the majority of these women have been released because money has been paid to the employer, from $1,000 to $2,000 per person. how can you buy somebody else's freedom? the malawi government says it has paid over $160,000 for these women to return.

oman�*s labour ministry has told the bbc that it only received one complaint from a malawian domestic worker in the two years to 2023. it said it is prohibited for employers to impose any form of forced labour on workers or to keep their private documents without their written consent. azeezat olaoluwa, bbc news. you can watch bbc africa eye's full film �*trapped in oman�* on the bbc africa youtube page. it's not often that you'll find ants being discussed at the highest levels of a country's government, but that's exactly wha'ts been happening in a hearing in australia's capital, canberra, as part of a senate inquiry examining the threat from invasive fire ants. experts say they pose more

of a danger to australia than rabbits, cane toads, foxes, camels, wild dogs and feral cats combined. the ants are native to south america and are thought to have entered australia in shipping containers. our correspondent in sydney, phil mercer, has more. these fire ants, native to south america, were first detected in the australian city of brisbane in 2001. and this federal inquiry is examining the health, economic and agricultural consequences of the spread of these fire ants. now, it's believed that they have crossed the borderfrom queensland into northern parts of new south wales state. they have also been detected at major ports right around australia. and these fire ants, when they attack, they attack en masse, they swarm over their victims, their jaws lock onto a victim's skin and they insert venom via a stinger, or a spike, in their abdomen. so, essentially, it's not really a bite, it's a stab, and these fire ants can inflict multiple stings on victims and they pose a threat notjust to people but to pets, livestock and wildlife as well. so, a lot for this parliamentary

inquiry in canberra to digest, as it ascertains the threat from these tiny, yet aggressive creatures. let's speak to reece pianta from australia's invasive species council, who has worked on the ten—year national red fire ant eradication program. thank you very much forjoining us today. i understand you have the misfortune to be bitten by fire ants, what is it like? i misfortune to be bitten by fire ants, what is it like?— misfortune to be bitten by fire ants, what is it like? i was bitten b some ants, what is it like? i was bitten by some fire _ ants, what is it like? i was bitten by some fire ants, _ ants, what is it like? i was bitten by some fire ants, most - ants, what is it like? i was bitten by some fire ants, most recentlyj ants, what is it like? i was bitten i by some fire ants, most recently on a cane farm south of brisbane where the arms prevalent. one firearm sting by itself doesn't hurt that much, but the problem is when they do exhibit the swarming behaviour you are likely to be stung by

hundreds and thousands, and that is when you can get toxic shock become very sensitive to the fire and vellum, so if you're still in future occasions you're more likely to have a reaction. ., ., ., occasions you're more likely to have areaction. ., ., ., , a reaction. you are part of this ten ear a reaction. you are part of this ten year national _ a reaction. you are part of this ten year national eradication _ a reaction. you are part of this ten i year national eradication programme. ifought through that year national eradication programme. i fought through that programme are you? we i fought through that programme are ou? ~ . ., ., ., i fought through that programme are ou? ~ . . ., ., , you? we are a non-government body that provides — you? we are a non-government body that provides advice _ you? we are a non-government body that provides advice and _ you? we are a non-government body that provides advice and advocacy - that provides advice and advocacy and the ten year programme is run by the government. we are at the end of that programme and that is one of the problem that is led to fire ants breaching containment. last year the punting for that effort ran out so fire and started spreading again and thatis fire and started spreading again and that is what has triggered the senate inquiry which is looking at what with the cost of dealing with fire ants and how much it would cost to deal with them while we still can? i to deal with them while we still can? , , , ., , to deal with them while we still can? , , ,.,, , ., to deal with them while we still can? , ,., , . can? i suppose the question is what is the cost of _ can? i suppose the question is what is the cost of not _ can? i suppose the question is what is the cost of not dealing _ can? i suppose the question is what

is the cost of not dealing with - is the cost of not dealing with them. if is the cost of not dealing with them. . , ., them. if fire ants travel across australia they _ them. if fire ants travel across australia they would _ them. if fire ants travel across australia they would cost - them. if fire ants travel across australia they would cost at i them. if fire ants travel across | australia they would cost at $2 billion a year economic impact. hundred and 60,000 medical more appointments. they would threaten iconic native species like echidnas and koalas. d0 iconic native species like echidnas and koalas— iconic native species like echidnas and koalas. , ., ~ ., ., and koalas. do you think that enough has been learnt _ and koalas. do you think that enough has been learnt about _ and koalas. do you think that enough has been learnt about the _ and koalas. do you think that enough has been learnt about the species, i has been learnt about the species, if the money is there, to deal with it effectively or is the genie out of the bottle? i it effectively or is the genie out of the bottle?— it effectively or is the genie out of the bottle? i think we are very close to the _ of the bottle? i think we are very close to the tipping _ of the bottle? i think we are very close to the tipping point. - of the bottle? i think we are very close to the tipping point. we - of the bottle? i think we are very | close to the tipping point. we had 20 years were fire ants where effectively contain. in bristol and their spread has been slow. the various incursions in other parts of the country have been dealt with. it is this less stronghold there needs to be addressed. we need to build on the success of the tactics that have

been proven over the last 20 years, amplified goose, scale them up and nature we can get the job done because living with fire ants will because living with fire ants will be very expensive and very painful for the whole country. i appreciate our time for the whole country. i appreciate your time today. _ for the whole country. i appreciate your time today. thank _ for the whole country. i appreciate your time today. thank you - for the whole country. i appreciate your time today. thank you very i your time today. thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. in this sleepy corner of surrey, something strange is approach, but luckily these investigators are first on the scene.— luckily these investigators are first on the scene. you are able to see fingerprints. _ first on the scene. you are able to see fingerprints. then _ first on the scene. you are able to see fingerprints. then if _ first on the scene. you are able to see fingerprints. then if we - first on the scene. you are able to | see fingerprints. then if we change the light we might be able to see a bit more the length of the smudge. this student flat has been given a new lease of life by surrey university's you criminology with forensic investigation groups. here, students with the practical skills they learn in lectures to the test.

they have a practical crime scene to look at every single week. we don't just want to teach them theory, we won them to apply that and go forward in their career path. estimated time of death early saturday morning. to estimated time of death early saturday morning.— estimated time of death early saturday morning. to give the flattest grand _ saturday morning. to give the flattest grand opening, - saturday morning. to give the i flattest grand opening, someone saturday morning. to give the - flattest grand opening, someone who is no stranger to a fake crime scene, brenda blethyn. you're live with bbc news. the uk's broadcasting regulator, ofcom, has found that five programmes on gb news featuring tory politicians acting as news presenters broke broadcasting impartiality rules. ofcom rules say a politician cannot be a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter, unless there is editorial justification. it found that two episodes of jacob rees—mogg's state of the nation, two episodes of friday morning with esther and phil, and one episode of saturday morning with esther and philfailed to comply

with the broadcasting code. in response to this decision gb news says: they are deeply concerned by the ruling and that they will raise it directly with the regulator in the strongest possible terms. the media group calling it a chilling development forfree speech, as they say ofcom acknowledged the programme was deemed impartial, but viewers might think otherwise. gb news says they will continue to feature serving politicians hosting programmes, stating just as other ofcom regulated services have in the past and still do. live now to our media and arts correspondent david sillito. just tell us a little bit more about why ofcom made this finding against tv news. . , ., tv news. here are the rules. if an actin: tv news. here are the rules. if an acting serving _ tv news. here are the rules. if an acting serving politician, - tv news. here are the rules. if an acting serving politician, yes, - tv news. here are the rules. if an acting serving politician, yes, you| acting serving politician, yes, you can present a programme on television. you can also present a

current affairs programme, but you can't do news, and that is what this is all gbg says that this these programmes were general programmes, discussion programmes and were not the news so there was this analysis of five of them, over may and june of five of them, over may and june of last year, and on five occasions gb news is said to have essentially, jacob rees—mogg, esther mcveigh and philip mcveigh crossed the line into doing news. forjacob rees—mogg, there were instances where they said there were instances where they said there was breaking news about donald trump and a civil action, he was going to reports that were breaking at the time. they said he was acting as a news presenter. also comments about prince charles and his alleged political views. they said there were moments where a cross from

commentary and debate into presenting the news. gbg commentary and debate into presenting the news. commentary and debate into ”resentin the news. , �* , presenting the news. gbg said it was entirely impartial _ presenting the news. gbg said it was entirely impartial and _ presenting the news. gbg said it was entirely impartial and they _ presenting the news. gbg said it was entirely impartial and they said - entirely impartial and they said they believe there is huge uncertainty in these rules about what is allowed and not allowed. they believe that they didn't break the rules, the phrase they use in their response was chilling in what impact it would have a media diversity. no fine or sanction for gb news because ofcom says this has essentially happened a year ago over a specific period of time and they have had no specific complaints against them, so no sanctions, but if it happens again they will be fined. in an election year in the uk, likely an election year, the potential for this sort of setup to cause concern with the broadcasting regulator can only grow. absolutely.

the interest — regulator can only grow. absolutely. the interest and _ regulator can only grow. absolutely. the interest and concern _ regulator can only grow. absolutely. the interest and concern and - regulator can only grow. absolutely. the interest and concern and the - the interest and concern and the legal issues are multiplied the closer we get to an election. if you were just in the closer we get to an election. if you werejust in the run—up closer we get to an election. if you were just in the run—up to an election there were strict rules about what can be broadcast and the levels of impartiality and how much time each political party is given coverage of, so the idea that one political party with politicians as they presenting the programmes, well, will be content certain of that. gb gb news says they will continue to have politicians presenting their programmes in the future. they are committed to this is a programme format. ofcom are watching this very carefully to see if a crosses that grey boundary between current affairs and news. as the world looks to move away from using fossil fuels, demand for deep sea mining permits is increasing. there are tens of billions of pounds' worth of metals

and minerals lying on the ocean's seabed which could be used in renewable technologies, but what impact could mining have on marine life and coastal communities? our climate editor, justin rowlatt, has been exploring the issues. in november last year, a research vessel chartered by a mining company is assessing the impact of mining on the abyssal plain, the sea bed of the deep ocean. protesters from greenpeace board the vessel, hampering the research, according to the mining company. you might think this is the usual conflict between industry and activists, except that in this case the miners, like the greens, claim to be acting in the best interests of the planet. why? they claim the potato sized metallic nodules they are after are crucial to the green transition, and that hoovering them up

from the sea floor is far less damaging than mining on land. this is what the miners are after. this is a polymetallic nodule. they take millions of years to form and they contain cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, all metals used in renewable technologies. the problem is getting hold of these destroys the creatures that live among them. for years, it was assumed there was little life in the cold, dark depths of the ocean. it's true there aren't many animals per square metre, but what scientists are learning is that what is there is far more diverse than was expected. but the abyssal plain is vast. it covers 40% of the entire surface of the earth. land makes up just 29%. mining companies say the area they plan to work is a tiny proportion of the total. i understand why the greens are cautious, but on this occasion

they've got it wrong. let's go back to first principles. we should be carrying out extractive industries in parts of the planet where there is the least life, not the most life. mr barron says greenpeace's approach is anti—science. as the world is saying, "give me more scientific evidence", here we were going back to an area that we had been harvesting these very same rocks from a year earlier. greenpeace, unfortunately, do not sit into that group that want more scientific evidence. what they wanted to do was to disrupt us. greenpeace says its protest wasjustified because the metals company plans to press ahead with mining before regulations have been agreed. there is so much science out there already which is urging extreme caution. 800 scientists, more than, have said we should not be transitioning right now to actually mining. we don't want to see licences coming forward... they're not transition to mining,

they're collecting evidence, right? with the intention to put that into application... you've said we need more science and then greenpeace is blocking the effort to get that science done, aren't you? i think there's a big difference between tick box science by a company that has a clear commercial interest in the outcomes of that research, and independent scientific research, which is helping us understand the complexity and the fragility of deep ocean environments. a decision about greenpeace's future with the international seabed authority will be made at the meeting injamaica. in the meantime, scientists continue to gather more information about the ocean depths. it's a new industry and we should be concerned and we should ask difficult questions. essentially, there's always a risk with these things. and collecting data, collecting evidence is the way to reduce that risk, to understand what it is, and then ultimately to make a decision. and i suspect that decision will be difficult. the really good news, says dr glover, is that decisions about regulating the collection of these nodules are being made before the industry begins. and that, he says,

is very rare indeed. justin rowlatt, bbc news. with me isjustin rowlatt. you have the nodule with you from the report. you have the nodule with you from the re ort. , you have the nodule with you from the report-— you have the nodule with you from the reort. , , ., _ ., the report. this was probably formed around a short's _ the report. this was probably formed around a short's truth _ the report. this was probably formed around a short's truth that _ the report. this was probably formed around a short's truth that fell - the report. this was probably formed around a short's truth that fell to - around a short's truth that fell to the ocean floor. i around a short's truth that fell to the ocean floor.— the ocean floor. i will put that 'ust the ocean floor. i will put that just there- — the ocean floor. i will put that just there. 30 _ the ocean floor. i will put that just there. 30 million - the ocean floor. i will put that just there. 30 million years i the ocean floor. i will put that i just there. 30 million years ago the ocean floor. i will put that - just there. 30 million years ago it would have _ just there. 30 million years ago it would have fallen _ just there. 30 million years ago it would have fallen to _ just there. 30 million years ago it would have fallen to the - just there. 30 million years ago it would have fallen to the ocean i just there. 30 million years ago it i would have fallen to the ocean floor and there are metals dissolved in sea water and very slowly they are leached out forming this area around whatever organic material it was. they grow about one or two millimetres for every million years,

so what you're holding is almost certainly 30 or more million years old, so why before the evolution of mankind, which happened 300,000 years ago. this is distant evolutionary history, that this began to be formed in the ocean. there are tens of billions of them down there and they contain these really useful metals. that is what the mining companies are interested in. the mining companies say, listen, we are trying to do the right thing for the planet and it is the green standing in our way. we will take some of the pressure from mining on land and produce some of these important measures for the energy transition. the green say this is the last pristine environment left on earth, you send these huge machines down there and you will do terrible damage to it. what about this potential that greenpeace could be stripped of its observer status with the un? they

are at the grandmother and granddaddy of environmental organisations.— granddaddy of environmental organisations. granddaddy of environmental oruanisations. , . , ., ., organisations. they have been around a lona organisations. they have been around a long time- — organisations. they have been around a long time- their _ organisations. they have been around a long time. they fight _ organisations. they have been around a long time. they fight campaigns. i a long time. they fight campaigns. on of their has always been direct action. they were involved with this protest around the research vessels. the company say you're anti—science, you don't want the results of our site because you have decided already you don't want this to happen. greenpeace of course says, listen, it is our right to protest these kind of thing so decisions will be made by member countries, hundred and 67 countries are members of the sea bed authority, and they will decide what the future of greenpeace will be. on balance, i think they will give them a ticking off but let them stay as observers. if they are kicked out, of course greenpeace will say we were being excluded from the process, it is not fair. , ., ., ,

fair. some pr considerations ossibl fair. some pr considerations possibly there _ fair. some pr considerations possibly there as _ fair. some pr considerations possibly there as well. i fair. some pr considerations i possibly there as well. absolutely, eah. possibly there as well. absolutely, yeah- cynically. — possibly there as well. absolutely, yeah. cynically, you _ possibly there as well. absolutely, yeah. cynically, you would - possibly there as well. absolutely, yeah. cynically, you would say i possibly there as well. absolutely, i yeah. cynically, you would say there is pr involved here. greenpeace need these high profile campaigns to raise money. the mining companies say they are not prone to compromise, they want to fight this campaign. hello there. it's felt quite warm out there for many of us today, particularly where we've had the blue skies and the sunshine, but the weather is changing again and changes are happening out to the west because this cloud is coming in from the atlantic. the winds are picking up. we're going to see some rain arriving, as well. but ahead of that, we've got some mild air could make 15 degrees around the murray firth and 16 is quite likely in the south—east of england.

but we do see that rain coming in together with stronger winds into northern ireland and we'll see one band of rain pushing eastwards overnight, followed by a second band of rain that's developing. that one could be quite heavy rain with gusty winds, gales likely in the far north of scotland. it will be a pretty mild night out there, milder than it was last night. temperatures no lower than nine or ten degrees. but those two bands of rain that we start with in england and wales willjust tend to fade away and it'll brighten up in many places, leaving just a few showers and a few showers will continue in northern ireland, but the earlier, heavier showers in scotland will move away, sunshine will come out and the winds will ease as well. temperatures still reaching 12 or 13 degrees in scotland and northern ireland, but again peaking at 16 in the south—east of england. now we could see a bit of rain developing in the south west of england by the end of the day. that weather front is going to move back northwards again overnight and into wednesday, taking rain northwards too, some of that rain for a while, affecting

northern ireland, perhaps some southern and eastern parts of scotland. but most of the rain more likely from the southwest into wales, through the midlands and across northern england, scotland, northern ireland turning drier and brighter through the day and across the south—east of england it may stay dry as well. here it's still quite mild, 16 or 17 degrees, but behind the rain to the north things are cooling off a little bit now. we're all going to see some rain over this week ahead, but may not be too much rain across the north east of scotland. and we're probably going to miss most of the rain in the south—east of england. it's going to be wetter in the west, particularly across western parts of scotland. as we head into thursday, we'll see the winds picking up across northern areas and these weather fronts bringing more rain into scotland and northern ireland in particular. as we move into the end of the week and into the weekend, it's staying windy, but the wind direction is changing, eventually coming to the north—west or the north. that will bring colder weather and lots of showers.

today at one — the israeli army carries out another attack on gaza's biggest hospital — it says hamas was using it as a military base. israel says it's now in control of the al shifa hospital. hamas has called the raid a war crime. also this lunchtime, the prime minister brushes off questions about a plot to remove him. he says he's not interested in westminster politics. an olympic title—winning

effort from laura kenny! also this lunchtime, the finishing line for dame laura kenny — why britain's most successful female olympian is calling it a day. you're never going to have a perfect time to do it, but i can sit here today and say now is the right time for me. 15 years after the university chef claudia lawrence disappeared, her mother tells us of her agony. it's been a sentence, a 15—year sentence. it's like somebody having an illness for 15 years. and is it or isn't it a banksy? after much speculation, the elusive street artist confirms he did create this new mural in north london. and coming up on bbc news, we hear more from laura kenny, as britain's most successful female olympian says now is the right time to retire from cycling.