this is bbc news. the headlines: joe biden has warned any russian troops entering ukraine will be treated as an invasion and be met with severe economic sanctions. new satellite images show russian troops are closer to ukraine's border. many people are feared dead following a huge explosion in the west of ghana. police said the blast — near a mining town — happened when a truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle. a senior british mp from borisjohnson�*s conservative party has accused the government of trying to blackmail colleagues who have called for a vote of confidence in the prime minister's leadership. mrjohnson rejected the claims. the first plane—loads of aid have landed in tonga following saturday's volcanic eruption and tsunami. they touched down at the pacific nation's main airport, which had to be cleared of volcanic ash to make it safe. those are the headlines. you're watching bbc news.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are sonia sodha, chief leader writerfor the observer, and kieran andrews, scottish political editor at the times. welcome to you both of the good to see you again. tomorrow's front pages, beginning with the financial times. it leads with a warning to russia from the us president as tensions between russia and ukraine continue. the metro looks at claims from rebel tory mps who say they were blackmailed to back the prime minister. the guardian similarly leads with the conservatives using "dirty tactics" to get support for the pm. staying with the government, the i says there's a tory "civil war" over boris johnson's future. meanwhile, the telegraph leads with the response to the ending of plan b measures, as some headteachers tell parents masks must stay in school. and the daily mail also leads with reaction to plan b restrictions ending,

saying unions are at war with the prime minister in the drive to get britain back into work. the daily express says millions could be in line for cash help in the energy bill crisis. let's begin, if we may. sonia, do you want to kick us off with the financial times? this is picking up on something biden had misspoke during a news conference on wednesday. during a news conference on wednesday-— during a news conference on wednesday. during a news conference on wednesda . , ., , , wednesday. yes, absolutely, so last niaht, wednesday. yes, absolutely, so last night. when — wednesday. yes, absolutely, so last night, when president _ wednesday. yes, absolutely, so last night, when president biden - wednesday. yes, absolutely, so last night, when president biden gave i wednesday. yes, absolutely, so last| night, when president biden gave the press conference to mark a year of his term in office, he said, he seemed to imply that there is a difference between a minor incursion by russian forces into ukraine and invasion, and that the response of the west will be different which of course sent alarm signals through

europe, america's allies and particularly to ukraine, because it seems to imply the west might not take action in regards of a further russian invasion if it is minor, and that obviously is not the case. so there has been a lot of criticism of biden since he made that response yesterday. the feeling is he didn't speak. these things can be costly in international diplomacy, and i thing his comments today are really rolling back from that position, and i think they are welcome, but i think it has to be asked why he made those comments in the first place. kieran, it does not help what is already delicate situation, not least because not only did he talk about minor incursion, but he rather implied it was proving difficult to keep the european allies — some of them native nations or most of them

— all on the same page on this —— nato nations. - all on the same page on this -- nato nations.— - all on the same page on this -- nato nations. this is very delicate, when clear — nato nations. this is very delicate, when clear committee _ nato nations. this is very delicate, when clear committee k _ nato nations. this is very delicate, when clear committee k is - nato nations. this is very delicate, l when clear committee k is essential, and that— when clear committee k is essential, and that is_ when clear committee k is essential, and that is not what we saw from president — and that is not what we saw from president biden yesterday. we have seen that— president biden yesterday. we have seen that as the white house, president _ seen that as the white house, president biden himself and antony btinken_ president biden himself and antony blinken have had to issue clarifications, to try to calm down, reassure _ clarifications, to try to calm down, reassure presidents oledzki of ukraine — reassure presidents oledzki of ukraine but also the ukrainian people — ukraine but also the ukrainian peorrie -- _ ukraine but also the ukrainian people —— president zelensky. they do have _ people —— president zelensky. they do have allies, and as you say, the suggestion— do have allies, and as you say, the suggestion that there would be infighting between european nations about how to respond to this did not go down _ about how to respond to this did not go down well across capitals in eurone, — go down well across capitals in europe, and again antony blinken having _ europe, and again antony blinken having to — europe, and again antony blinken having to do a bit of clean—up work

i having to do a bit of clean—up work iwouid _ having to do a bit of clean—up work i would imagine today in berlin. yeah, _ i would imagine today in berlin. yeah, i— i would imagine today in berlin. yeah, i noticed in this article, it is drawing attention to emmanuel macron, sonia, who has been pushing for there to be some kind of eu defence, some aspects to the european union's foreign policy, but the eu has a bit of a problem with this, not least because of our dependence, even in western europe, on russian gas. i dependence, even in western europe, on russian gas— dependence, even in western europe, on russian gas-— on russian gas. i think that is why it is so important _ on russian gas. i think that is why it is so important that _ on russian gas. i think that is why it is so important that in _ on russian gas. i think that is why it is so important that in the - it is so important that in the long—term europe really looks at its energy security. obviously the uk is included in that. because europe cannot be held hostage by a reliance on russia for energy, and the actions that europe take, they can't be determined by energy needs, really, and they should not be determined by energy needs, so i think it is a really difficult

position, because how do you make the right sort of noise to deter a very populist authoritarian president of russia like vladimir putin? it is really tricky, because to some extent, any sanctions, are they enough? it is a difficult situation, but it is just another reason why it really underlines the importance of not being reliance on russia for anything.— russia for anything. president macron possibly _ russia for anything. president macron possibly suggesting i russia for anything. president macron possibly suggesting inj russia for anything. president - macron possibly suggesting in the article about having the eu's on talks with russia— i don't know how that would go down with washington. kieran, a couple of intriguing lines in the front—page story from the i, aren't there? in the front-page story from the i, aren't there?—

aren't there? there are. a striking front-page — aren't there? there are. a striking front-page from — aren't there? there are. a striking front-page from the _ aren't there? there are. a striking front-page from the i _ aren't there? there are. a striking front-page from the i as - aren't there? there are. a striking front-page from the i as usual. i aren't there? there are. a striking i front-page from the i as usual. what front—page from the i as usual. what struck— front—page from the i as usual. what struck my— front—page from the i as usual. what struck my eye, we saw this poll borisjohnson's popularity boris johnson's popularity dropping, a cabinet — boris johnson's popularity dropping, a cabinet... the lines here about the energy— a cabinet... the lines here about the energy bill crisis and obviously something that is coming down the track, _ something that is coming down the track, that— something that is coming down the track, that as we are all talking at the moment about the hypocrisy of downing _ the moment about the hypocrisy of downing street, of the prime minister— downing street, of the prime minister and the big country that is coming _ minister and the big country that is coming from the general public from that, people are really, really going— that, people are really, really going to— that, people are really, really going to noticed in the coming months — going to noticed in the coming months the cost of living going up as energy— months the cost of living going up as energy bills increase but not only that, — as energy bills increase but not only that, as your energy bills increase. _ only that, as your energy bills increase, we are going to see in april— increase, we are going to see in april an — increase, we are going to see in april an increase in national insurance as well. so your bills are going _

insurance as well. so your bills are going to _ insurance as well. so your bills are going to be — insurance as well. so your bills are going to be going up, of living is going _ going to be going up, of living is going up— going to be going up, of living is going up and the government is going to be taxing you more, so therefore it is not— to be taxing you more, so therefore it is not a _ to be taxing you more, so therefore it is not a surprise to see the idf list on _ it is not a surprise to see the idf list on the — it is not a surprise to see the idf list on the front page of the i, about— list on the front page of the i, about the _ list on the front page of the i, about the treasury consider a universal credit boost, etc, because people _ universal credit boost, etc, because people wiii— universal credit boost, etc, because people will need help, but also possibly— people will need help, but also possibly slightly cynically, if your rishi _ possibly slightly cynically, if your rishi sunak and you are thinking about— rishi sunak and you are thinking about a — rishi sunak and you are thinking about a leadership challenge, do you want to— about a leadership challenge, do you want to be _ about a leadership challenge, do you want to be the chancellor being blamed — want to be the chancellor being blamed for making the country pour 'ust blamed for making the country pour just before — blamed for making the country pour just before you launch your campaign?— just before you launch your campaign? sonia, it is very intriguing. _ campaign? sonia, it is very intriguing, isn't _ campaign? sonia, it is very intriguing, isn't it? - campaign? sonia, it is very intriguing, isn't it? one - campaign? sonia, it is very intriguing, isn't it? one of| campaign? sonia, it is very i intriguing, isn't it? one of the reasons the government gave for resisting the pressure from tory backbenchers to either reduce or limit vat on fuel bills, was that it was a blunt instrument, that it would benefit everybody, including the rich, does not seem to bother them when they were talking about freezing the tv licence fee. the energy bill, large sums of money talking about. the universal credit

boost — possibly reducing the cut, which was put in place recently — this is presumably notjust connected with borisjohnson's battles who survive. i connected with boris johnson's battles who survive.— connected with boris johnson's battles who survive. i think it is, because actually, _ battles who survive. i think it is, because actually, again, - battles who survive. i think it is, because actually, again, to i battles who survive. i think it is, because actually, again, to be . battles who survive. i think it is, because actually, again, to be a| battles who survive. i think it is, i because actually, again, to be a bit cynical, like kieran, if you look what the government has done for tax credits, this is mostly parents on work, mostly low wages, overthe last decade, some families have lost thousands of pounds a year from tax credits and that has happened at the same time as tory chancellors have provided very expensive tax cuts that have gone predominantly to the top half of the income distribution, so essentially there has been cuts in support for the very poorest families, for low—paid parents, that have gone to fund tax cuts for more affluent households. that's happened over the last decade and the tax

credit cut that we saw at the end of last year, 20 times a week, that was the biggest ever one—off cut to benefits in real terms, civil we have seen a government that has slashed away at support for low—income parents over the last 12 years and now, with energy bills going up, we are looking at a one—off payment that is targeted to the lowest income households. obviously that's better than doing nothing, but i think the question to ask is, it's obvious this was coming down the track, we have been talked about the cost of living crisis for the last year of 18 months, yet the government still went ahead and cut universal credit by £20 a month last year. a payment to relieve the pressure for a bit, that is not really the way to do this. you need to target support for families on an ongoing basis.

to target support for families on an ongoing basis-— ongoing basis. interesting, talking to the food blogger _ ongoing basis. interesting, talking to the food blogger earlier, - ongoing basis. interesting, talking to the food blogger earlier, the i to the food blogger earlier, the things are misleading, because of things are misleading, because of things in the so—called average person's basket, which apparently include bedroom furniture and champagne about which is neither of which to be a purchase she would expect to be making. a bag of rice had gone something like thread present up in the space of six months, which is a pretty terrifying thought. take us onto the front of your sister paper, the guardian, if your sister paper, the guardian, if you would, please — tories using dirty tactics to get mps to back johnson. dirty tactics to get mps to back johnson. , , ., , ., , , . johnson. this is the latest aspect ofthe johnson. this is the latest aspect of the political _ johnson. this is the latest aspect of the political crisis _ johnson. this is the latest aspect of the political crisis to _ johnson. this is the latest aspect of the political crisis to hit - johnson. this is the latest aspect of the political crisis to hit borisl of the political crisis to hit boris johnson. we've had a couple of mps, out and say today that they either know of reports or have been targeted themselves by government website who basically have, they say, blackmailed them into footing with the government, and appear lead

the government has been using the threat of embarrassing stories, information the webs may held on mps, then basically saying, unless you vote with us, we will give one of these... and the second, the mp who has just defected from the conservative party to the labour party, christian wakeford, he said he was told that he government whips that if he did not vote with the government, that funding for a new high school in his constituency — much needed funding for a constituency that had not had a new high school for a long time — would be withdrawn if he did not but with the government, and i think this is really interesting, seeing the reaction to the story at westminster tonight, the two sorts of reactions. people say, of course this is what the government whips do. they have always applied pressure for mps to vote, and then i think there are

people less familiar with westminster saying, this is really shocking. this is not why we want mps voting for the government. actually, money for children in their constituency, they are being threatened with that taken away. i think this is actually going to blow up think this is actually going to blow up and become quite a big story. i think it is something that people know to have gone on in westminster, but it is a bit like the mp expenses scandal in some ways. everyone in westminster knows it goes on and just think that's the way politics works, but when you talk to the public about it, they find it pretty shocking and the don't get is a way this country should be run. i am this country should be run. i am not clear from — this country should be run. i am not clear from peter— this country should be run. i am not clear from peter v _ clear from peter v christian wakeford gave, whether action change how we voted, because shirley are —— shirley arts the public... i -- shirley arts the public... ijust -- shirley arts the public... i 'ust don't think... fl

-- shirley arts the public... i 'ust don't think... you i -- shirley arts the public... i 'ust don't think... you are i -- shirley arts the public... i 'ust don't think... you are right, i -- shirley arts the public... ijust don't think... you are right, he i -- shirley arts the public... ijust. don't think... you are right, he did not say whether a change how we voted, but i do not think these are the sorts of tactics people expect to see in a professional workplace but the threat of having hostile stories about you or your family potentially placed in the press? that is not the way. i think members of the public will be rightly horrified to learn this is what is going on. i horrified to learn this is what is auoin on. ., �* ~ ., horrified to learn this is what is rroin on. ., �* ,, ., ., horrified to learn this is what is rroinon. ., �* ,, ., ., going on. i don't know what you think of that, — going on. i don't know what you think of that, kieran, _ going on. i don't know what you think of that, kieran, because l going on. i don't know what you | think of that, kieran, because as going on. i don't know what you i think of that, kieran, because as a political editor, you have the fortune or misfortune to be a lobby journalist, whether it is the corners of holyrood or the corridors of westminster. does this sound credible? is it a bit of a cult to believe? —— a bit difficult. it is believe? -- a bit difficult. it is not difficult _ believe? -- a bit difficult. it is not difficult to _ believe? -- a bit difficult. it is not difficult to believe - believe? —— a bit difficult. it is not difficult to believe whips we use any— not difficult to believe whips we use any powers of their proposal to try and _ use any powers of their proposal to try and get— use any powers of their proposal to try and get people one way or another, _ try and get people one way or another, particularly when they are

under— another, particularly when they are under pressure. one of the other interesting — under pressure. one of the other interesting things about this is not 'ust interesting things about this is not just what— interesting things about this is not just what sonia was talking about, direction _ just what sonia was talking about, direction of the wider public as these — direction of the wider public as these kind of tactics move out. maybe — these kind of tactics move out. maybe people of washed house of cards. _ maybe people of washed house of cards” _ maybe people of washed house of cards,, but also the reaction of the newer— cards,, but also the reaction of the newer intake of mps, the 2019 intake, who have not really been in westminster very much since the election— westminster very much since the election and there has been a little bit of— election and there has been a little bit of talk— election and there has been a little bit of talk about... exactly. i think— bit of talk about... exactly. i think the _ bit of talk about... exactly. i think the phrase that was used, in analysis— think the phrase that was used, in analysis by— think the phrase that was used, in analysis by my colleagues, talking about, _ analysis by my colleagues, talking about, they have not been so—called house _ about, they have not been so—called house trained in the ways of westminster, which makes them difficult — westminster, which makes them difficult to whip, but not just westminster, which makes them difficult to whip, but notjust in the practical sense, but in the fact that they—

the practical sense, but in the fact that they have now been mps for