tonight at ten: borisjohnson is called upon once again to withdraw a false accusation he made against keir starmer. it follows tonight's incident at westminster when sir keir was harrassed by a group of protesters, some of them shouting the name "jimmy savile". that was taken to be a reference to the accusation made by borisjohnson in the house of commons last week that sir keir had failed to prosecute savile on sex offences. also tonight...

in moscow, east meets west as russia and france discuss ways of defusing the military crisis brewing in ukraine. boris johnson delays announcing his plan to tackle record nhs waiting lists in england. and on day 3 of the winter olympics a narrow defeat for team gb in the curling mixed—doubles pair. and coming up in the sport on the bbc news channel... there is a new man at the helm — paul collingwood has been appointed as england's interim men's head coach for the upcoming series with the west indies. good evening. the prime minister has condemned the harassment suffered this evening by the labour leader sir keir starmer who had to be escorted to safety by police. two people were arrested after clashes between protesters and police officers on the streets of westminster. there were shouts of "traitor" and someone can be heard shouting "jimmy savile", taken to be a reference to the false accusation made by borisjohnson that sir keir, a former director of

public prosecutions, had failed to prosecute savile for child sex offences. had failed to prosecute savile for sex offences. in his statement tonight mrjohnson made no reference to his false accusation despite calls from senior aides and party colleagues for him to do so. and withdraw it in full. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. this is not normal rough—and—tumble, but abuse and untrue accusations being hurled at the leader of the accusation. one false claim that he protected the paedophilejimmy savile. keir starmer bundled into a police car. two arrests were made. it happened outside parliament where seven days ago a minister made a false link between the two.- false link between the two. look, i'm sure there _ false link between the two. look, i'm sure there were _ false link between the two. look, i'm sure there were some - false link between the two. look, i'm sure there were some people | false link between the two. look, - i'm sure there were some people out there who already had conspiracy theories in their head but prime minister has given them a platform and permission and that is tantamount to inciting them to these kind of horrific mobster activities. the prime minister wrongly suggested

the labour leader had been involved in the decisions to prosecute —— not to prosecute jimmy in the decisions to prosecute —— not to prosecutejimmy savile when he was director of public prosecutions. borisjohnson was director of public prosecutions. boris johnson clarified was director of public prosecutions. borisjohnson clarified after an outcry but he did not say sorry. fix, outcry but he did not say sorry. a lot of people have got hot under the collar_ lot of people have got hot under the collar and _ lot of people have got hot under the collar and i— lot of people have got hot under the collar and i understand why. let's be clean — collar and i understand why. let's be clean i'm _ collar and i understand why. let's be clear. i'm talking not about the leader— be clear. i'm talking not about the leader of— be clear. i'm talking not about the leader of the opposition's personal record _ leader of the opposition's personal record when he was dpp and i totally understand _ record when he was dpp and i totally understand he had nothing to do personally with those decisions. while _ personally with those decisions. white met the prime minister wrote online, _ white met the prime minister wrote online, the — white met the prime minister wrote online, the behaviour directed at the leader— online, the behaviour directed at the leader of the opposition is absolutely disgraceful. all the leader of the opposition is absolutely disgraceful. all forms of harassment — absolutely disgraceful. all forms of harassment of _ absolutely disgraceful. all forms of harassment of their _ absolutely disgraceful. all forms of harassment of their elected - harassment of their elected representatives are completely unacceptable. but others in his own party want him to say much more. the former tory cabinet memberjulian smith said, "it's really important for our democracy and for his security that the false savile slows made against him are withdrawn in full. " there is no sign of that.

boris johnson's full. " there is no sign of that. borisjohnson's failure full. " there is no sign of that. boris johnson's failure to apologise is already causing one of his closest political confidants, who worked for the prime minister for more than a decade, to quit the party discussed. forums delete match against brexit, and a lockdown, pro—public anger. the prime minister may find himself guilty of stirring up may find himself guilty of stirring up unacceptable pit of your —— behaviour. in one sense it is an ugly reminder of the kind of abuse politicians encounter round these parts these days, from small but very angry bands of protesters about all sorts of different issues. but for downing street it has reignited the row inside the tory party about the row inside the tory party about the prime minister's original claims he made in the house of commons falsely linking keir starmer as prosecutor of the crown prosecution service over decisions about what didn't happen to the paedophile

jimmy savile. the prime minister did retract those remarks but there are conservatives unhappy about the fact he made those claims in the first place, unhappy has not withdrawn them fully and who still want him to apologise and it has made this another torrid night after a very, very bumpy week for the prime minister, just at the point when number 10 had very much hoped to move on. studio: laura, many thanks. laura kuenssberg with the latest at westminster. amid growing concern worldwide about the situation in ukraine, president macron has been holding talks in moscow with president putin. the french president said he hoped discussions would begin "a process of de—escalation and reduce the possibility of a russian invasion". but today the british defence secretary ben wallace announced a further 350 british troops will be sent to poland in the spirit of solidarity with neighbouring ukraine. there are an estimated 100,000

russian troops deployed close to ukraine's border. moscow denies it's planning to invade but it's warned repeatedly that if ukraine is allowed to join nato, the military alliance dominated by the americans, it will pose a real threat to russian security. our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg has the latest. from one president to another, warm words. how are you? fine, just fine. how are you? but there'd be no cosy chat. socially distanced summits is how the kremlin likes it. "emmanuel, i'm so pleased to see you," said vladimir putin. behind the smiles, though, serious concerns. what worries the west is moscow's muscle—flexing near ukraine — like these war games involving russia and belarus. and the russian troops massed near ukraine's border.

what worries moscow is nato. it's demanding an end to nato enlargement to the east. "we need a response that avoids war for russia and europe," said president macron. "and build bricks of trust, stability and visibility. just having the french president in town is being seen here as a diplomatic success for the kremlin. there is a very long but very colourful russian word, "nerukopozhatnyy". it means quite literally "no one wants to shake your hand." you're like a pariah. after russia's annexation of crimea eight years ago vladimir putin was nerukopozhatnyy. world leaders avoided him like the plague. this they are queueing up to meet him. that's why moscow believes coercive diplomacy is working. but what if

diplomacy is working. but what if diplomacy fails? and erica has sent these trips to poland to protect nato's eastern flank. in case of a russian military escalation in ukraine. and to signal transatlantic solidarity, germany's chancellor olaf scholz flew to washington for talks on the crisis with president biden. it talks on the crisis with president biden. ,, ., ., ,, , ., talks on the crisis with president biden. ,, ., .,~ , ., . ., biden. if russia makes a choice to further invade _ biden. if russia makes a choice to further invade ukraine _ biden. if russia makes a choice to further invade ukraine we - biden. if russia makes a choice to further invade ukraine we are - further invade ukraine we are jointly ready, and all of nato is ready. jointly ready, and all of nato is read. ,,, ., , ready. moscow insists that it is the victim here. _ ready. moscow insists that it is the victim here, that _ ready. moscow insists that it is the victim here, that russia _ ready. moscow insists that it is the victim here, that russia is - ready. moscow insists that it is the victim here, that russia is a - victim here, that russia is a besieged fortress, threatened by america, by nato, by a besieged fortress, threatened by america, by nato, bya ukraine hostile to moscow. what the west are struggling to work out is if diplomacy ends what will russia do next? steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. let's go live to washington. our north america editor sarah smith

is at the white house. these two sets of high—level talks today, sarah, do you detect they are giving any hope for a de—escalation? well, there is still talk of a search for a diplomatic solution to this crisis but president biden today was very much warning vladimir putin of what the consequences would be of taking any military action against ukraine, saying it would be against ukraine, saying it would be a giant mistake and would provoke the most severe economic sanctions ever imposed, including the stopping of a major pipeline between russia and germany. as he was standing beside the german chancellor, he wanted to stress there would be a united western response. it was rather surprising at that press conference to hear the president advising us citizens in ukraine to leave because, he said, he wouldn't want to see them getting caught in the crossfire. this while the white house to say they are searching for a diplomatic solution and believe one can be found. there are many

warnings here ofjust how dire the consequences could be if russia does take military action, but asked at the very end of the press conference if there was still an off ramp for vladimir putin, in other words if a diplomatic solution could be found, president biden said very emphatically the answer to that is yes. emphatically the answer to that is es, ,,., ., ., , emphatically the answer to that is es. ., ., , ., ., yes. sarah, many thanks. sarah smith, a north _ yes. sarah, many thanks. sarah smith, a north america - yes. sarah, many thanks. sarah smith, a north america editor. yes. sarah, many thanks. sarah| smith, a north america editor at yes. sarah, many thanks. sarah - smith, a north america editor at the white house. —— sarah smith, our north america editor at the white house. borisjohnson says the nhs will be set what he calls "tough new targets" to tackle the record waiting lists in england. ministers had been due to announce plans today to deal with the backlog, but that's been delayed until later this week. more than six million patients are currently waiting for non—urgent operations and procedures, as our health editor hugh pym reports. politics and health, a difficult mix. the nhs has the daunting task of tackling the backlog of reparations which built up

during the pandemic. a plan for england was to be published today, but it was delayed because of a reported intervention by the treasury. it's depressing news for annie. she's already been waiting more than two years for a knee operation, and she's desperate for any action which might help her local hospital make inroads into the waiting list. i'm totally reliant on the nhs. you know, there is no other answer but to sit and wait, and it's very frustrating. my quality of life has been affected quite a lot because i'm very limited in what i can do. so is the delay because of a split between prime minister and chancellor? they were out together today on a hospital visit, with borisjohnson saying the nhs plan would be published soon. i think that what we're doing is working together, across the whole of government, to fix the covid backlogs, which, believe me, is a massive priority for us, for everybody in the country. the labour leader said a plan to deal with the backlog was essential. the government said it was going to come up with a plan and now it hasn't,

and i think it's yet more evidence of the chaos and incompetence, particularly of the last three orfour months, where everybody has been embroiled in allegations about partygate. there's a price for that. there are now a record 6 million on waiting lists for nonurgent operations and procedures. the overall number of patients in england waiting for hospital treatment was rising before the pandemic. then covid struck and there were fewer referrals so the number fell back, then came a sharp increase. the area in yellow shows those waiting more than the target 18 weeks and up to a year, and red more than a year. both are up considerably on pre—pandemic levels. it's absolutely critical to get the plan out there. trust leaders are ready to plough on with cutting those waiting lists, and it's deeply frustrating when they've been waiting for some time to know what the priorities and targets are. hospitals like the queen elizabeth in birmingham have opened new wards so more operations can be done. there is a network of treatment

centres in scotland and the welsh government says a plan will be published in april. across the uk, the backlog is seen as a key priority. hugh pym, bbc news. gcse and a—level exams will return this summer in england, wales and northern ireland after two years of relying on teacher assessments which gave students record high grades. the return to exams is to be managed carefully, according to ministers, to avoid sudden changes as exam standards are reimposed. and today england followed the rest of the uk in giving pupils more details of the likely topics in this year's exams. our education correspondent elaine dunkley has more details. it is the return of traditional exams for pupils across the uk, but here at this high school in sheffield it is far from a return to the normal school day. we

sheffield it is far from a return to the normal school day.— sheffield it is far from a return to the normal school day. we have got a number of teachers _ the normal school day. we have got a number of teachers who _ the normal school day. we have got a number of teachers who have - the normal school day. we have got a number of teachers who have got - number of teachers who have got covid and are isolating. to number of teachers who have got covid and are isolating.— covid and are isolating. to offset the destruction _ covid and are isolating. to offset the destruction of— covid and are isolating. to offset the destruction of the _ covid and are isolating. to offset the destruction of the exam - the destruction of the exam regulator quual said there would be a generous approach to grading this year, a decision welcomed by this head teacher. it is year, a decision welcomed by this head teacher.— year, a decision welcomed by this head teacher. it is appropriate they will be more _ head teacher. it is appropriate they will be more generous, _ head teacher. it is appropriate they will be more generous, students i head teacher. it is appropriate they i will be more generous, students have been through a lot over the last two years and to move straight back to 2019 boundaries would have been harsh on them, particularly with the availability we have seen in students' attendance and the staff attendance and with what people have been able to follow. the attendance and with what people have been able to follow.— been able to follow. the government wants to get — been able to follow. the government wants to get results _ been able to follow. the government wants to get results back— been able to follow. the government wants to get results back to - been able to follow. the government wants to get results back to the - wants to get results back to the level they were at before the pandemic. two years of teacher assessed grades has led to a record number of marks. taste assessed grades has led to a record number of marks.— assessed grades has led to a record number of marks. we have been given a list about what _ number of marks. we have been given a list about what will _ number of marks. we have been given a list about what will be _ number of marks. we have been given a list about what will be in _ number of marks. we have been given a list about what will be in the - a list about what will be in the exam. ., ., a list about what will be in the exam. ., , ., a list about what will be in the exam. ., ,,, exam. today teachers and pupils were civen exam. today teachers and pupils were given information _ exam. today teachers and pupils were given information about _ exam. today teachers and pupils were given information about content, - given information about content, text and topics from exam boards to help them revise providing

questions. help in two of the subjects and some measures— help in two of the subjects and some measures provided has helped us as such _ measures provided has helped us as such. a, ., . measures provided has helped us as such. ., . ., . ., measures provided has helped us as such. .,. .. ., , ., such. max once a chance to prove himself. such. max once a chance to prove himself- the _ such. max once a chance to prove himself. the first _ such. max once a chance to prove himself. the first mocks - such. max once a chance to prove himself. the first mocks were - such. max once a chance to prove i himself. the first mocks were quite hard and the _ himself. the first mocks were quite hard and the second _ himself. the first mocks were quite hard and the second was _ himself. the first mocks were quite hard and the second was like - himself. the first mocks were quite hard and the second was like the i hard and the second was like the first practice run. but hard and the second was like the first practice run.— hard and the second was like the first practice run. but the last few ears of first practice run. but the last few years of destruction _ first practice run. but the last few years of destruction left - first practice run. but the last few years of destruction left him i first practice run. but the last few years of destruction left him with | years of destruction left him with doubts. ,., . , years of destruction left him with doubts. ,., ., , ., years of destruction left him with doubts. . , ., , doubts. personally i would prefer teacher assessed _ doubts. personally i would prefer teacher assessed grades - doubts. personally i would prefer teacher assessed grades so i i doubts. personally i would prefer. teacher assessed grades so i would not go through the stress of exams, but the exams would tell them what i can do. , , . �* , but the exams would tell them what i cando. ,, ., but the exams would tell them what i cando. _ ., can do. this year's exam timetable will be more _ can do. this year's exam timetable will be more spread _ can do. this year's exam timetable will be more spread out _ can do. this year's exam timetable will be more spread out than i can do. this year's exam timetable will be more spread out than in i will be more spread out than in previous years. to avoid pupils missing numerous assessments if they get covid. with just 15 weeks to go it is time for pupils to get their heads down for serious revision. but

with schools experiencing different levels of disruption there are questions over how fair this years exams will be. the united kingdom and the republic of ireland have dropped their plan for a joint bid to host the 2030 world cup and instead will focus on a plan to host the euros in 2028. the footballing bodies involved said there were too many areas of uncertainty to continue with a world cup proposal but they were confident of putting together a highly competitive bid for the euros, as our sports editor dan roan reports. it is known for passionate fans, great stadia and top players, but today uk and irish football abandoned hopes for a joint bid to host the 2030 world cup. more than half a century after wembley staged the event, the five football associations confirmed that after a feasibility study they would focus on the sport's second biggest international tournament instead.

we work very closely with scotland, northern ireland and the republic of ireland and england of course. clearly england is an economic power with the amount of infrastructure and stadiums they have, but i can assure you that the discussions are very collegiate, there is a great energy between the five national associations. it's brilliant. we english love football. just imagine what we i could achieve together. ended in humiliation. and today one of the ambassadors for that bid told me they were right to be cautious. the infighting between uefa and fifa is at a height we've not seen before. i think the portuguese—spanish bid was favoured as the european bid to go forward and there's no doubt that the scenes at wembley at the euro final didn't

do us any good at all. so i think on those three reasons it would have been very difficult for us to make a bid. wembley hosted eight matches at last year's euros, including the final, but it was marred by crowd trouble which meant any world cup bid was always doomed. it's good to have ambition but not to have pipe dreams and i really do think it was a complete waste of money in order to have done this feasibility study. they could have done it in about 20 seconds and they would be told there was no hope. with impressive club grounds as well as national stadia to choose from, the british government had given financial backing to the idea of a joint world cup bid, but today said it accepted this wasn't the moment to proceed. it said it hoped to confirm support for a euros bid in the coming weeks. we know that we have the infrastructure here, we have the it capacity, we have the transport, we have everything really needed

for a country to host. with england and scotland staging euros games last summer, the five nations bid is said to be the favourite when uefa makes its decision next year. for those dreaming of a home world cup, however, the wait goes on. dan roan, bbc news. a man who was paralysed for five years has been able to walk again thanks to an electrical implant developed by swiss scientists. the device enables him to stand and walk slowly by sending electrical signals to his legs. it's the first time that anyone who's suffered a complete cut to their spinal cord has been able to walk again. our science correspondent pallab ghosh reports from lausanne. michel roccati was paralysed after a motorbike accident five years ago. his spinal cord was completely severed and he has no feeling in his legs. but he can now walk using a frame because of an electrical implant that's been surgically inserted

on his spine. using a remote control, he's able to send signals to his leg muscles, which enables him to walk. it's the first time that someone this injured has been able to do this. michel, i can't believe that you were paralysed once. i know, it's very close to before the accident, yes. i stand up, i walk where i want alone, i can do the stairs. david m'zee is another patient helping scientists with their research... it looks like it works! ..which has been published in nature medicine. they don't use the technology to help them walk in their everyday lives — instead, they use it to practise walking, which exercises their muscles. this is not the cure for spinal cord injury, but it is a critical step to improve people's quality of life. we are going to empower them with the ability to stand, maybe make some steps. it is not enough, it's not a cure, but it is a significant improvement, i believe, for the future.

david and michel stroll together on the banks of lake geneva. so far, nine people have been successfully treated with the implant. david was one of the first people to have the implant. michel is the latest. both of them say that it's transformed their lives, and the hope is that the treatment could benefit many more people. ready, set, go! at his home in zurich, david races with his one—year—old daughter, zoe. when david had his accident 12 years ago, he was just 22. he was paralysed, unable to walk and unable to have a child. regular walking with the implant has improved his health to such an extent that he was able to father a child last year. it was great fun. it's the first time i've been walking with her in that way — she with a baby walker, i with my walker. she could beat you! oh, she can, and she even beats me without the walker, so it's a bit embarrassing!

hey, david! hey, guys! good to see you, man. good to see you. how are you doing? i'm fine. the technology has helped david and michel do more in their lives, but it cost more than £100,000 for the first two years, and it'll need more improvements in clinical trials over several years before it can move out of the lab into the clinic. cheers! but it is a new way forward for researchers. pallab ghosh, bbc news, lausanne. a state of emergency has been declared in the canadian capital ottawa following over a week of protests by truckers against covid restrictions. the city centre has been brought to a standstill with vehicles and tents blocking roads. the mayor of ottawa said the situation was "completely out of control" with demonstrators outnumbering police posing a threat to the safety of residents. the rallies were caused by the introduction last month of a new rule that all truckers

needed to be vaccinated to cross the us—canada border but they've widened into broader challenges to covid restrictions. our correspondentjessica murphy sent this report. but canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the us regularly have already been vaccinated, but those who have not are adamant they will never be and their cause has fed into larger concerns over covid-19 fed into larger concerns over covid—19 restrictions in canada with thousands of protesters joining the trackers. it was a nightmare to declare a state of emergency. haste trackers. it was a nightmare to declare a state of emergency. have a serious emergency _ declare a state of emergency. have a serious emergency where _ declare a state of emergency. have a serious emergency where we - declare a state of emergency. have a serious emergency where we have i declare a state of emergency. have a serious emergency where we have to | serious emergency where we have to put all options on the table and that includes some violence. we want to minimise that and at the end of the day if people will not leave, they will be forced to leave. but that warning _

they will be forced to leave. but that warning has not stopped the 500 trucks from continuing their protest. it trucks from continuing their rotest. , ., ., ., protest. it is important for me to come here _ protest. it is important for me to come here and _ protest. it is important for me to come here and fight _ protest. it is important for me to come here and fight for- protest. it is important for me to come here and fight for my i protest. it is important for me to i come here and fight for my freedom. i come here and fight for my freedom. i don't _ come here and fight for my freedom. i don't want — come here and fight for my freedom. i don't want to be told what to do, to idon't want to be told what to do, to get— i don't want to be told what to do, to get an — i don't want to be told what to do, to get an injection if i don't want to, to _ to get an injection if i don't want to, to wear— to get an injection if i don't want to, to wear a to get an injection if i don't want to, to weara mask to get an injection if i don't want to, to wear a mask if i don't want to. to, to wear a mask if i don't want to i_ to, to wear a mask if i don't want to i don't — to, to wear a mask if i don't want to. i don't want people telling me what _ to. idon't want people telling me what to— to. i don't want people telling me what to do — to. i don't want people telling me what to de— to. i don't want people telling me what to do. ., , , ,, , what to do. some of the business is here downtown _ what to do. some of the business is here downtown have _ what to do. some of the business is here downtown have closed - what to do. some of the business is here downtown have closed down i what to do. some of the business is i here downtown have closed down and others say they have lost foot traffic. you can see behind me trucks going back blocks and barbecues and even bonfires. it is clear they plan to stay here for the long haul. residents say they are tired of the noise and disruption. today a judge granted a ten day injunction seeking to stop the trackers from honking their horns. i don't want them here, they have no right to be here. they have done their protest and they should have been sent home a while ago. people and their shops, we can't open because of them.— and their shops, we can't open because of them. please have try to clamp down — because of them. please have try to clamp down on _ because of them. please have try to clamp down on fuel _ because of them. please have try to clamp down on fuel coming -

because of them. please have try to clamp down on fuel coming into i because of them. please have try to clamp down on fuel coming into the| clamp down on fuel coming into the main protest area. for now a gap remains between what the protesters want and what the government is willing to do. day 3 of the winter olympics in beijing and there was disappointment for team gb�*s curling mixed—doubles pair when they were narrowly beaten in a tough semi—final against norway. jen dodds and bruce mouat lost 6—5, ending their hopes of a gold or silver medal. with more on this and the rest of the day's olympic action here's laura scott. their faces said it all as they watched their hopes of a guaranteed olympic medal slide away. even more agonising for bruce mouat and jen dodds, given their strong start. has she done it? i think she has. but late on norway struck, pressure on the british pair. listen to their yells getting more distressed. curl! it's got to curl a lot. look at the stone refusing to curl and feel the despair of dodds, a semifinal loss, while norway's

husband and wife team celebrated. it's going to be tough to get over it but we have to get right tomorrow because, asjen said, there is still a medal up for grabs and we are hungry for it. now it is the turn of kirsty muir. earlier there had been teenage tricks from team gb�*s youngest star kirsty muir. soaring above an abandoned steel mill, the 17—year—old from aberdeen showed her mettle, securing seventh place and a spot in the ski big air final. the weather here injan ching meant a day's delay to the men's downhill, the blue ribbon event of the winter olympics. but as the wind speeds dropped, the world's fastest skiers could finally get under way. beat feuz had won pretty much everything in skiing, except olympic gold. blitzing his way down at more than 80 miles an hour, hurtling himself towards the line, the speed merchant got his hands on the title he so craved. time for two athletes at different

stages of their careers to do something no—one had ever done before at the olympics. speed skater ireen wust becoming the first to win an individual gold medal at five separate games. and 15—year—old figure skating prodigy kamila valieva landing a quadruple jump. not once, but twice. laura scott, bbc news, beijing. that's it. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night. hello there. it's a north—south divide of weather across the country on tuesday — we've got a weather front straddling central parts of the uk to the north of that, so for much of scotland, it's going to be cold with wintry showers. for much of england and wales, though, it's going to be very mild indeed. plenty of isobars on the charts, too. it's going to be quite breezy, but windy across northern scotland with gales here. so, here, it's going to be bright, sunshine, showers, these wintry and the hills of scotland,

gales in the north of scotland. this weather front bringing thicker clouds to central areas to the south of it for much of england and wales. variable cloud with some sunny spells and very mild for the time of year, 12—14 celsius, single figures in the north. that weather front through central areas starts to wriggle southwards on a wednesday, lying across southern britain, i think, through wednesday afternoon. so, here, it will be cloudy, very mild, southern areas seeing some spots of drizzle. elsewhere, more of the country will be in the colder air mass, but bright with some sunshine. further wintry showers, though across scotland. significant snow in the hills there where it will be windy.

this is bbc news. the headlines... president macron and vladimir putin have been holding talks in moscow, the latest attempt to defuse the growing crisis over ukraine. as the talks began, russia said both sides had concerns about the security situation in europe. meanwhile, the new german chancellor has been meeting president biden on his first official visit to the white house. joe biden said the two allies were in lockstep. he later said diplomacy remained the best way to resolve the ukraine crisis — but the us and its allies would be ready if russia invaded uk opposition labour leader, sir keir starmer, has been escorted to safety by police, after he was targeted by a crowd near parliament. two arrests have been made after clashes between police and protesters. doctors in switzerland have used a spinal implant to enable a man whose nerves were completely severed in a motorbike accident to walk again. this is bbc news.