this is bbc news. the headlines... as fears continue to grow of a russian invasion of ukraine, the foreign secretary will lead a meeting of the government's emergency cobra committee this afternoon, and borisjohnson warns russian military action could be imminent. the signs are, as you heard from president biden, that they are at least planning for something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. german chancellor olaf scholz is meeting the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, as part of diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions in the region. the public inquiry opens into the wrongful convictions of hundreds of sub—postmasters, accused of theft because of a faulty it system. we need compensation for everybody, we need justice for everyone. we need some people to at least

face the consequences of what they've done to us. 15—year—old russian skater kamila valieva will continue to compete in the winter olympics, despite failing a drugs test in december. the aa says the average price of petrol at pumps across the uk hit a new record at the weekend, reaching more than 148 pence per litre. ghostbusters. anybody see a ghost? and, ivan reitman, director of comedy hits like ghostbusters, has died. he was 75. foreign secretary liz truss will lead a meeting of the government's emergency response committee, to discuss the russian and ukraine tensions.

western nations have again made it clear to moscow, that any military action will result in massive sanctions that would have serious consequences for the russian economy. the g7 group of the world's most developed countries, including britain, made the warning as a spokesman for ukraine's president insisted his country's ambition is still tojoin nato, as set out in its constitution, despite the ukrainian ambassador to britain suggesting otherwise, as a means of avoiding war. russia has long wanted ukraine to drop it's desire tojoin the military alliance. moscow now has up to 130,000 troops encircling ukraine, but maintains it has no plans to invade. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, james landale, has the very latest. kyiv this morning. another day in a cosmopolitan european capital, normal life continuing, despite the dire warnings of invasion. but is this the calm before the storm?

0laf scholz, germany's new chancellor, hopes not. he arrived in ukraine for talks with the country's president. he is due in moscow tomorrow to see president putin, looking for ways out of a confrontation the west fears could end in russian invasion. european leaders say the threat is real, and could affect the whole of europe. i think it's extremely serious and tensions are very high, because, as you heard already, russian forces are at the ukrainian border at a high readiness, and there are more than 100,000 of them. ukraine has summoned russian officials to a meeting of the organization for security and cooperation in europe to explain its military build—up. last night, ukraine's ambassador in london suggested one possible concession. he told the bbc his country might give up the goal of nato membership to avert war. this morning, he took it all back.

we are not a member of nato right now, and to avoid war, we are ready for many concessions, and that is what we are doing in our conversations with russia. but it has nothing to do with nato, which is enshrined in the constitution. the kremlin, which says russia's security would be threatened by ukrainejoining nato, said abandoning the goal would help address its concerns. but a spokesman said russia—us relations were on the floor. the prime minister, in scotland today, is due to visit more european capitals this week, to show his support for nato allies. downing street said he was also considering further economic and defensive support for ukraine. the signs are, as you've heard from president biden, - that they're at least planning - for something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. that is extremely concerning. and all the while, russian forces prepare and train.

these, the latest pictures from the country's defence ministry, showing russian war planes patrolling the border of belarus and ukraine. james landale, bbc news. let's cross to westminster and speak to our political correspondent, nick eardley. this cobra meeting taking place, who is likely to be in attendance? goad is likely to be in attendance? good afternoon. — is likely to be in attendance? good afternoon. it _ is likely to be in attendance? good afternoon, it will— is likely to be in attendance? good afternoon, it will be _ is likely to be in attendance? good afternoon, it will be the _ is likely to be in attendance? (13mm afternoon, it will be the foreign secretary, chairing that meeting, the prime minister as you head in james's package is visiting scotland, although we are told that he has cut short a visit that would have seen him stay overnight in the north of england tonight, to come back to london. he will get briefings from his intelligence chiefs later on today. i think it all paints a pretty bleak picture of the intelligence, that the uk government is getting. borisjohnson clearly concerned that invasion could come within the next 48 hours

or so. we have had a similar message at a meeting, a briefing for journalists from the by minister's official spokesman this morning. he was saying there is real concern what's going on at the border between russia and ukraine. there is grave concern, was the word he used, about the possibility of invasion within the next few days. i suppose in other ways for the uk, at the moment, it's a bit of a waiting game, to see what happens next. to see whether some of the diplomatic efforts, we were told are ongoing, whether they bear any fruit, whether russia takes any decisions within the next 48 hours or so, but the message from the government here is that they are going to urge moscow as much as possible to step back from the brink and to try and avoid a full—scale conflict with ukraine. but the allies, the nato allies,

prepared to offer moscow to do that? it's a really good question and i don't think there's a simple answer to it. one of the things downing street has been talking a lot about is the negative impact that invasion would have, both because we have heard borisjohnson say would have, both because we have heard boris johnson say this for weeks, he heard borisjohnson say this for weeks, he thinks the ukrainians would fight back, secondly, the uk and its allies have been talking about the prospect of further economic sanctions on key people with, close to president putin, that is being worked on as we speak and could come quickly if there was to be an invasion. there is already talk here about a recall of parliament if an invasion was to happen. but let's be honest about it, there is only so much that the uk can do. borisjohnson will hold talks with president biden later today, to discuss some of the strategies that the west are employing when it comes to russia, but as i say, the moment for downing

street certainly it is still a case of wait and see what happens over the next 48 hours. on the diplomatic front, do what you can to try to encourage moscow away from the prospect of invasion. our correspondent james waterhouse sent this update from kyev in the last hour on the key issue of whether or not ukraine willjoin nato. ukraine has, once again reasserted its intent, its long—term goal ofjoining nato one day, but what a way to get there. words matter if you are a diplomat, not least if there is a looming threat of being invaded. that said, ukrainian ministers know that they won't be joining the alliance anytime soon. the whole process takes years, one of the conditions is that you can't be at war. the country has been at war for eight years in the east, but signing up would also put it in direct conflict with russia. the kremlin has made that clear,

saying it would welcome a guarantee of notjoining, that it would ease their security concerns. joining nato, in the words of the uk's uk ambassador of ukraine, that is not going to happen by wednesday. we can speak to the bbc�*s caroline davies, who's in moscow. how much would tensions be diffused if this issue of future membership by ukraine would be addressed? this has been by ukraine would be addressed? ti 3 has been something that russia has said is one of its key demands when it first issued these proposed treaties with nato back in december. and the fact is russia has repeatedly said it views nato as being an aggressive force, a threat

to any of its expansion it considers to any of its expansion it considers to be even more and we heard from president putin who has been giving comments that were televised and he talked about the very dangerous expansion of nato, that has consistently been the message saying that this is the key issue on the table for it. however, we have also heard repeatedly from nato and the us that's not something they are willing to discuss, it's not up to russia to decide whether or not ukraine canjoin nato or not and in fact the west have been so adamant it's not something on the table, there has been suggestions russia have been using this as almost a strawman, that because the new american and nato would never remove this, they have changed their mind on this particular policy, ultimately they were setting themselves to be able to go through this diplomacy and then get a resolution which could be used as justification for worth. that's what some western analysts thought about it. in terms of what russia has said, we heard from the kremlin�*s

spokesperson earlier, he said that if this was on the table, it would address some of russia's concerns but he also acknowledged this was not kyiv�*s viewpoint and this was still in enshrined in kyiv�*s constitution. still in enshrined in kyiv's constitution.— still in enshrined in kyiv's constitution. ~ , ., still in enshrined in kyiv's constitution. ~' , ., ., constitution. we keep hearing that russia will face _ constitution. we keep hearing that russia will face debilitating - russia will face debilitating economic sanctions if there is any invasion. just who would be affected if those sanctions were to be imposed? i if those sanctions were to be imposed?— if those sanctions were to be imosed? ~ ., ., ~ , imposed? i think one of the key thins is imposed? i think one of the key things is to _ imposed? i think one of the key things is to talk _ imposed? i think one of the key things is to talk about _ imposed? i think one of the key things is to talk about how - imposed? i think one of the key i things is to talk about how russia is responding to the sanctions being put on the table. sergey lavrov has repeatedly said we don't respond to those and it has not gone down very well when these things are brought up. over the weekend some of the comments by the swedish, the russian ambassador to sweden, i won't use his exact words because that's not applicable at this time, of the day, but he basically said russia did not

care about these particular sanctions and some of the words i can see, he said new sanctions are not positive but not as bad as the west makes out. the previous sanctions that have been imposed which were on things like european cheese, they said they cannot have italian and swiss cheese but we have learned to make just as good russian cheese using italian and swiss recipes and ultimately he argued some of these sanctions had a positive effect on the economy and agriculture. russia being robust about the sanctions and trying to suggest even if they were enforced, they would not necessarily affect russia and the degree to which they had affect russia is very hard to be able to know for definite at the moment. �* ., ., , ., ~ ., moment. bizarre to be talking about cheese in this _ moment. bizarre to be talking about cheese in this context _ moment. bizarre to be talking about cheese in this context also _ moment. bizarre to be talking about cheese in this context also thank- cheese in this context also thank you for sparing our blushes, i'm sure we can read between the lines for some thank you very much. the motoring organisation the aa says the average petrol price across the uk hit a new record high over the weekend.

it stood at over £1.48 a litre, while diesel has now risen to over 151.5 pence a litre. the previous record prices were set in november last year. it's feared that rising tensions with russia over ukraine could impact supplies. our correspondent katy austin explains. tensions around ukraine aren't the only thing that had been pushing up wholesale prices. another big one is the resurgence in demand as global economies have reopened, but concerns around the potential for conflict have definitely driven those prices up further, because of the impact it could have on supply. it doesn't happen overnight, but these increases do feed through into the amount drivers who have paid for theirfuel at the pump, and motoring groups say that yesterday the average cost per litre of petrol went above £1.48, surpassing the previous record, set in november. diesel has also hit a record high.

the rac is predicting that records could now be set daily and it thinks retailers are keen to pass on the wholesale increases quickly, and aa said the cost of living crisis had been up yet another notch. this comes as households and businesses are facing various ci’oss pressures. inflation is at a 30—year high and increses to energy bills energy bills on the way. a long—awaited public inquiry, into one of britain's biggest miscarriages ofjustice, hasjust begun hearing evidence. more than 700 post office branch managers were wrongly convicted and thousands lost their businesses, when faulty accounting software, made it look as if money had gone missing from their tills, and they'd stolen it. here's charlotte gallagher. a moment for celebration, after years of anguish and struggle. jo hamilton, here on the right, is just one of the innocent people whose lives were ruined because of a faulty post office it system.

her conviction was quashed last year, but now it's time for answers from this public inquiry. i've had a criminal record for 13 years that i didn't deserve, and that impacts on your work, on your finances and everything. my mum and dad aren't here, they weren't here to see my conviction quashed, because they both had strokes and died, which i'm convinced was as a result of what happened to me. in total, 706 former sub—postmasters were convicted for crimes they didn't commit. slowly, those convictions are being overturned, 72 so far. but thousands more post office staff lost huge amounts of money, so the government will foot the bill for compensation. the it system at the centre of this scandal is called horizon, developed by the software firm, fujitsu. essentially, it couldn't add up properly, so post office managers were accused of stealing sums of money that never existed. lives were ruined,

families were torn apart. families were made homeless and destitute. reputations were destroyed. this public inquiry beginning today is aiming answer these questions. when did it become clear horizon wasn't working? and why did senior managers keep blaming sub—postmasters when the issues emerged? no—one has been held responsible so far. for the victims, the answers can't come soon enough. and there's been emotional evidence so far. i was the only man who ran the post office seven days a week. _ they did not pay me saturday, sunday. l i used to open the post officel at eight o'clock in the morning and shut at eight o'clock at night. of course, i took permission from the post office, - because it was such| a budding business. i said, "i'll work- seven days a week".

and i was the only post office in the country- which was running all seven days. the post office has said sorry to victims, but many people want more than an apology. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. our correspondent coletta smith gives some answers on what the wrongfully convicted want from this public inquiry. and that is accountability, because no—one has yet been held to account for what has happened to those individuals, from within the post office, fujitsu, who owned and sold the software to the post office, or indeed the government as a whole. we have heard at the inquiry that this is not going to be a dry inquiry into what they describe as an it project gone wrong, because as you have been hearing, as we have covered so often on bbc news, this is a story about people and the impact it has had on their lives. the first witness this morning to begin to give evidence. but it is the tip of the iceberg.

more than 2,000 people lost their businesses, were driven into bankruptcy because of this, and more than 700 were convicted, received criminal convictions, many were sent to prison as a result. and for them, it is notjust about getting those convictions overturned, or receiving financial compensation, but finding out why the post office held onto that belief that they could still use the software, as a basis for conviction, even though there were faults known within that system at the time. that's what this inquiry is trying to get to the bottom of, but it's going to take more than a year before any conclusions are reached. harjinter butoy and his wife ran the post office in the nottinghamshire market town of sutton—in—ashfield for five years. his life was turned inside out when he was arrested, charged and sent to jail for stealing £208,000. hejoins us now. you have said in the past that the prison sentence

that you were given was three years, three months, but it felt much longer. what's the ongoing impact that wrongful conviction has had on you? it that wrongful conviction has had on ou? ., , , that wrongful conviction has had on ou? , ., , ., you? it has destroyed our lives. to me, it felt — you? it has destroyed our lives. to me, it felt like _ you? it has destroyed our lives. to me, it felt like 14 _ you? it has destroyed our lives. to me, it felt like 14 years. _ you? it has destroyed our lives. to me, it felt like 14 years. everyday, | me, it felt like 14 years. everyday, ou must me, it felt like 14 years. everyday, you must be _ me, it felt like 14 years. everyday, you must be preoccupied - me, it felt like 14 years. everyday, you must be preoccupied with - me, it felt like 14 years. everyday, | you must be preoccupied with what next? , �* ., , you must be preoccupied with what next? , �* ., next? yes. i'm actually more stressed-out _ next? yes. i'm actually more stressed-out now _ next? yes. i'm actually more stressed-out now than - next? yes. i'm actually more stressed-out now than i - next? yes. i'm actually more stressed-out now than i was| next? yes. i'm actually more - stressed-out now than i was before, stressed—out now than i was before, because in my mind, i want somebody convicted on the other side now. we have got this public inquiry under way, had to wait a very long time for it. what are you hoping it will establish. ., , , for it. what are you hoping it will establish. , , ., establish. hopefully somebody on the ost office establish. hopefully somebody on the post office side _ establish. hopefully somebody on the post office side will _ establish. hopefully somebody on the post office side will be _ establish. hopefully somebody on the post office side will be convicted - post office side will be convicted and discharged, sent to prison the way i was. i5 and discharged, sent to prison the wa i was. , ., ., ., .,, way i was. is it all down to them as far as you — way i was. is it all down to them as far as you are _ way i was. is it all down to them as

far as you are concerned? - way i was. is it all down to them as far as you are concerned? the - way i was. is it all down to them as far as you are concerned? the post office took — far as you are concerned? the post office took the _ far as you are concerned? the post office took the contract _ far as you are concerned? the post office took the contract of - far as you are concerned? the post office took the contract of them . far as you are concerned? the post| office took the contract of them and decided to run it. to run the horizon system so you can't keep blaming them, it's the post office we need to be blamed.— blaming them, it's the post office we need to be blamed. those of us have been following _ we need to be blamed. those of us have been following the _ we need to be blamed. those of us have been following the story, - we need to be blamed. those of us| have been following the story, when we talk about it, we just say, "how many how can so many people have beenin many how can so many people have been in your position and somebody somewhere not ask the question, what's going wrong? " how do you think was allowed to happen? nobody will ever know — think was allowed to happen? nobody will ever know until _ think was allowed to happen? nobody will ever know until somebody - think was allowed to happen? nobody will ever know until somebody from . will ever know until somebody from the post office side decides to come up the post office side decides to come up and tell as the truth widely hit it all. they could have saved so many lives being and everything, ten years ago, told the truth. hose many lives being and everything, ten years ago, told the truth.— years ago, told the truth. how have ou years ago, told the truth. how have you managed _ years ago, told the truth. how have you managed to _ years ago, told the truth. how have you managed to rebuild _ years ago, told the truth. how have you managed to rebuild your - years ago, told the truth. how have you managed to rebuild your life? l years ago, told the truth. how have you managed to rebuild your life? i| you managed to rebuild your life? i haven't still. it's still the same, the way it was. i got my name cleared last year in april. itjust

feels the same. cleared last year in april. it 'ust feels the samei cleared last year in april. it 'ust feels the same. you have said you would like — feels the same. you have said you would like to _ feels the same. you have said you would like to see _ feels the same. you have said you would like to see somebody - feels the same. you have said you . would like to see somebody convicted for this. what other remedy would help you? my for this. what other remedy would hel ou? ~ , ., for this. what other remedy would hel ou? g ., ., , ., ., help you? my main one is that one. as lona help you? my main one is that one. as long as — help you? my main one is that one. as long as we _ help you? my main one is that one. as long as we get — help you? my main one is that one. as long as we get somebody - help you? my main one is that one. | as long as we get somebody charged for hiding all the evidence, i'm happy. for hiding all the evidence, i'm happy- i for hiding all the evidence, i'm happy. i think i will rest then. what about compensation? many people would argue that you would be due some kind of financial package. yes. some kind of financial package. yes, the compensation _ some kind of financial package. yes, the compensation is _ some kind of financial package. 1a: the compensation is there, it some kind of financial package. 12: the compensation is there, it is still in negotiation but we will get it eventually. but the three things for me, clearing my name, getting somebody charged on the other side for hiding all the evidence and lying in court, then i will take the compensation, i'm happy to take it then. ., . ., ., then. how convinced are you, how reassuring — then. how convinced are you, how reassuring are _ then. how convinced are you, how reassuring are you _ then. how convinced are you, how reassuring are you that _ then. how convinced are you, how reassuring are you that something j reassuring are you that something like this could not happen again? not convinced. the post office for you. running alongside with the government, we don't know what's going to happen. government, we don't know what's going to happen-— government, we don't know what's going to happen. what would it take for ou to going to happen. what would it take for you to be — going to happen. what would it take

for you to be convinced? _ going to happen. what would it take for you to be convinced? if - going to happen. what would it take for you to be convinced? if the - for you to be convinced? if the government — for you to be convinced? if the government full _ for you to be convinced? if the government full out _ for you to be convinced? if the government full out and - for you to be convinced? if the government full out and let i for you to be convinced? if it�*i2 government full out and let somebody else run it for them.— else run it for them. effectively rivatise else run it for them. effectively privatise it _ else run it for them. effectively privatise it or _ else run it for them. effectively privatise it or put _ else run it for them. effectively privatise it or put it _ else run it for them. effectively privatise it or put it at - privatise it or put it at arm's—length? privatise it or put it at arm's-length? got, privatise it or put it at arm's-lenath? . , m arm's-length? privatise it. got, a lot of people _ arm's-length? privatise it. got, a lot of people would _ arm's-length? privatise it. got, a lot of people would be _ arm's-length? privatise it. got, a lot of people would be surprised i arm's-length? privatise it. got, a. lot of people would be surprised by that. you think it would be safer in privatised hands?— that. you think it would be safer in privatised hands? yes. nobody can run it in any _ privatised hands? yes. nobody can run it in any government _ privatised hands? yes. nobody can run it in any government now. - privatised hands? yes. nobody can run it in any government now. this| run it in any government now. this will be a difficult _ run it in any government now. this will be a difficult thing for you to watch, but how important is it for you to hear other sub—postmasters and mistresses tell their story? i was watching it this morning and... it destroys you. think about bad memories. {iii it destroys you. think about bad memories-— it destroys you. think about bad memories. , : ,, ., memories. of course. but essential for us to hear— memories. of course. but essential for us to hear them, _ memories. of course. but essential for us to hear them, isn't _ memories. of course. but essential for us to hear them, isn't it? - memories. of course. but essential for us to hear them, isn't it? year. | for us to hear them, isn't it? year. it is, very — for us to hear them, isn't it? year. it is, very important. _ i know it very hard for you, we really appreciate you talking to us. thank you very much.—

police are hunting a sex offender whoescaped from jail in boston, in lincolnshire. paul robson, who's 56, was serving a life sentence after being branded "a menace to females," but was in an open prison. caroline bilton reports from boston. tell us more about this story. the alarm was — tell us more about this story. the alarm was raised _ tell us more about this story. ii2 alarm was raised at tell us more about this story. ti2 alarm was raised at 7am yesterday morning here at the open prison on the outskirts of boston. when it became clear that robson was missing. 56—year—old robson was serving a life sentence for the attempted rape and indecent assault of a woman. this was a serious offence, he had got into her home through the cat flap and had put a pillowcase over her head and attacked her at knife—point. lincolnshire police describing him today as dangerous. also admitting that he could be anywhere in the country right now. this is an open prison here on the outskirts of

boston, a category d, and its use as a minimum security prison. the ministry ofjustice said it is only used to house prisoners who have been risk assessed and deemed suitable for an open prison and yet today, lincolnshire police haveissued and yet today, lincolnshire police have issued a statement in which they have said that robson is a dangerous six offender and while he presents a particular danger to women and young children, they believe he can cause real harm to anyone that he comes across. they have asked that if anyone sees robson, that they do not approach him and they do not try to apprehend him. lincolnshire police have told us that they are pursuing different lines of inquiry, but they are very keen to talk to anybody who may have seen paul robson and to let them know via 999, but clearly questions being asked today as to why such a dangerous offender was here at this open prison in lincolnshire. thank

ou ve open prison in lincolnshire. thank you very much- — the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has confirmed he's received death threats, following boris johnson's false claim, that he failed to prosecute the paedophile jimmy savile. sir keir had to be shielded by police from an angry mob outside parliament last week, and says the prime minister's slur has "fed into" a "right—wing conspiracy theories." police are investigating, the online death threats. the world anti—doping agency, says it's disappointed by the decision to allow a 15—year—old russian figure skater who failed a drugs test, to continue competing at the winter olympics. kamila valieva's positive result in december, only came to light last week, after she'd helped russia win the team skating event in beijing. the court of arbitration for sport has ruled that, because of her age, and the timing of the test result announcement, she should be treated as an exceptional case. laura scott has the latest from beijing. cleared to skate, but not cleared of scandal.

kamila valieva returned to the ice under the scrutiny of the world, after the court of arbitration for sport ruled the 15—year—old should be able to continue competing in beijing, despite testing positive for a banned substance. no provisional suspension should be imposed on the skater. in particular, the panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the olympic games would cause her irreparable harm. the panel said a series of exceptional circumstances were behind its decision, including that valieva is only 15 and the fact that her positive drugs test results came back midway through these games, 44 days after the sample was taken, meaning she had little time to mount a defence. the world anti—doping agency said it was disappointed by the decision, because its rules don't allow exceptions to be made to mandatory provisional suspensions, including for minors. meanwhile, the us olympic and paralympic committees said this appears to be another chapter

in the systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by russia. it is damaging. it's very damaging, but at the same time, you want to think that now maybe, yet again, we're at this point where something will be done, in order to make sure that nothing like this can happen again. the international olympic committee announced that there won't be a medal ceremony in the figure skating team event, which was won by the russian olympic committee, including valieva. and there are other ramifications, too. should miss valieva finish amongst the top three competitors - in the women's single skating competition, no flower- ceremony and no medall ceremony will take place during the olympic winter games, beijing 2022. - a week since making olympic history on the ice, valieva is hoping to wow the world again with her skills. but she does so in the most controversial circumstances. laura scott, bbc news, beijing.

the duchess of cornwall is self—isolating, after testing positive for covid—19. in a statement, clarence house said, "we continue to follow government guidelines". the duchesses' husband, the prince of wales, cancelled an event, after testing positive for the virus on thursday. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. two named storms. packing a punch, standardly, all the warning details on the website. as for the rest of the day, we have a weather front meandering south, quite a cello northerly wind following behind with some showers but actually temperatures a smidgen above where they should be. they will fall like, through the evening and overnight under a brief ridge of high pressure, not long as you can see towards midnight when we get the next band of rain and hill snow

edging in from the atlantic. temporarily, temperatures will dip away, i see patches, tied at chilly in eastern england with brightness but that will fade quickly as the weather front fades. but that will fade quickly as the weatherfront fades. sunny but that will fade quickly as the weather front fades. sunny spells and scattered showers. it is feathery. that the warnings on the website.

hello. this is bbc news. the headlines... as fears continue to grow of a russian invasion of ukraine, the foreign secretary will lead a meeting of the government's emergency cobra committee this afternoon — and borisjohnson warns russian military action could be imminent. the signs are, as you've heard from president biden, that they are at least planning for something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. german chancellor olaf scholz has been meeting ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, as part of diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions — and urges russia to take up offers up offers of dialogue. the public inquiry opens into the wrongful convictions of hundreds of sub—postmasters, accused of theft because of a faulty it system. we need compensation for everybody, we need justice for everyone. we need some people to at least face the consequences

of what they've done to us. 15—year—old russian skater, kameela valieva, will continue to compete in the winter olympics, despite failing a drugs test in december. the aa says the average price of petrol at pumps across the uk hit a new record at the weekend, reaching more than 148—pence per litre. ghostbusters! and, ivan reitman, director of comedy hits like ghostbusters, has died. he was 75. sport now. good afternoon. we start with the winter olympics, day ten is drawing to a close in beijing — one of great britain's medal hopes are in action right now. one of great britain's medal hopes but things have not been going to

plan for brad hall and nick gleeson in the two—man bobsleigh event. they lost time from their first run and after their first two they're currently 11th. it's been a good day for britain's men's curling team. they got their fifth win of the round robin stage with a very close victory over switzerland — winning 6—5 with the final stone. team gb's women are in action right now in their round robin match. they're facing canada — one of the favourites for gold before the games begun. and it's canada who lead 6—3 in the final end. there's finally been some good news for team gb on the slopes — where there'll be two brits in tomorrow's slopestyle final. 17—year—old kirsty muir

here and her british team mate katie summerhayes made it through qualifying. muir finished in sixth and will be hoping for even more tomorrow, while summerhayes qualified in tenth. disapointment though for katie ormerod — who failed to qualify for the final in the big air qualifying. despite not progressing, she said she was happyjust to be competing for gb at the games after all her injury problems. i'v e i've had to work extremely hard just to even get year and four years ago i didn't know it was possible to even snowboard again after breaking my heel so i feel so proud of everything i've done to be able to work toward getting here and now i'm here competing for great britain and i'm just hoping that everyone back home saw— snowboarding is and it's amazing the amount of support i've had as well from everyone back home —— saw how awesome snowboarding is.

in the premier league, newcastle's hopes of avoiding relegation from the premier league — have been setback. the club's confirmed today that kieran trippier�*s fractured his foot. the defender scored the only goal in their win against aston villa yesterday — and has played a key role in their recent run of three successive wins. european football's governing body uefa says it'll give away 30 thousand free tickets to fans of the teams involved in this season's major european club finals. this year's champions league final is at the gazprom stadium in russia — and each finalist will receive 5,000 tickets per club, with 4,000 going to both sides in the europa league final. finalists in the europa conference league and the women's champions league will get 3000 tickets each. uefa says the offer is a reward for support during the pandemic. the party may still be ongoing in los angeles —

and this is what it meant to rams supporters in los angeles on sunday night. the rams are only the second team to win a super bowl in their own stadium after the tampa bay buccaneers did it last year. victory also vindicates their decision to return to los angeles from st louis six years ago. former great britain player and coach johnny whiteley has died at the age of 91. whiteley was part of test series wins over australia with the lions as both player and coach, and was part of three world cup squads between 1954 and 1960. he also won the championship and played in challenge cup finals with hull for whom he scored 156 tries in 417 games, and coached both hull fc and hull kr. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. that's bbc.co.uk/sport

let's return to the public inquiry into one of britain's biggest miscarrages ofjustice — where more than 700 post office branch managers were wrongly convicted of theft. one of those imprisoned after being wrongly convicted was tracy felstead, who was sent to hollowayjailfor three months, when she wasjust 19. last year, along with 71 others, her conviction was overturned. hayley hassell, from the bbc�*s file on four programme, has been following her story. i'm feeling loads of different emotions. i'm scared. scared of what's on the other side of those gates. i'm angry. it needs to be done. it needs to be put to bed. at the age of 19, tracy was prosecuted and sent to holloway prison for stealing more than £11,000, something we now know

was due to a faulty computer system called horizon. she's come back here today for the first time in 20 years, in the hope that this will somehow help with her recovery. this is my cell. this is your cell? yeah, that's my bed. i remember saying to a girl, i hadn't done the crime. and she said, oh, none of us have. see... you couldn't even protest your innocence in here. i never thought i could come here, ever. tracy spent several weeks in this group cell, before being moved to one of her own. this was my cell, cell 21. it's now 20 years since you were in this prison. how has your life changed by being here? although it's made me

the person i am today, it's, it's made me not the person i want to be. i don't want to be that person who is scared of noises, who, you know... it broke my marriage down. it's taken it's toll. no amount of money will ever change what happened. the only thing i can do now is look forward to the next 20 years. i always say to my children, neverjudge a book by its cover. you don't know what somebody�*s been through. and now i understand that sometimes people are sent to prison for crimes they didn't commit. i still feel very surreal that i've just done that. i want closure for everybody. people to be compensated, fair and final compensation. we need answers as to who knew what, when and why.

you can hear more about tracy's story, on file on four, in �*first class scandal,�* on bbc radio 4, at 8pm tomorrow night, or at any time, on the bbc sounds app. it'll be two years tomorrow since the tv presenter caroline flack took her own life, a month before she was due to stand trial over the alleged assault of her partner. her mum christine has always criticised the decision by police to charge her, which the bbc now understands will be the subject of an internal investigation. our special correspondent, lucy manning, reports. cheering. brand—new series of love island, the wait is finally over... - caroline flack — we watched her on—screen. but those who really knew her wanted answers about her death. two months before the tv presenter killed herself, she had been charged with assaulting her boyfriend. two years on, her mother still doesn't have the answers about the way the police treated her. do you think she was treated

differently because of who she was? totally. ijust think, erm, it was because who she was, yeah. it was because she was a celebrity? yeah, yeah. prosecutors originally said caroline should just be cautioned, but the met pushed for the presenter to be charged. the coroner later said she took her own life because she was facing prosecution and feared the publicity. but it's now two years, and i've still not got an answer. and how does that leave you and the family feeling? it leaves us really... really sad and really angry, because, you know, you want to know why they charged her. she couldn't get over that, she couldn't see a way out. and that was, it was down to that.

her mother put these questions to the met. she was so dismayed with their response, she complained to the police watchdog. it found the met�*s response was not reasonable and proportionate, telling mrs flack... "i do not consider your complaint has been fully addressed." it has ordered the met to do a proper investigation. what do you think about the fact that the police watchdog have forced the met to investigate your queries properly? i think it's disgusting, but i think it's typical of the met as we see it now. there's no trust at all, no trust at all. the met has said it is rare to give a caution in a case of domestic abuse. the force told us the police watchdog found it had answered seven areas of mrs flack's complaint, but it had been directed to reinvestigate why it had appealed the decision to caution ms flack.

our thoughts and sympathies remain with caroline's family, it said. but mrs flack feels her daughter, who had self—harmed that night and had mental health issues, was badly let down. she was fun, she just had these really dark times. as i say, usually she could get out of it, especially on telly. she loved herjob. i'm doing it for caroline, because there was so much negative press around, and it won't bring her back, i know it won't bring her back, but i've got to do it for her. the uk tax authority has seized three non—fungible tokens as part of a probe into a suspected vat fraud involving 250 alleged fake companies. nfts are a way of owning original digital images that can be bought and sold, but have no tangible form of their own. well, three people have been

arrested in the first seizure of an nft by uk law enforcement. andrea baronchelli is a professor at city university in london and token economy lead at alan turing insitute. thank you forjoining us. it is worth at this stage repeating, if you would, what an nft is. tift worth at this stage repeating, if you would, what an nft is. nft is a unit of data. _ you would, what an nft is. nft is a unit of data, data _ you would, what an nft is. nft is a unit of data, data stored _ you would, what an nft is. nft is a unit of data, data stored on - you would, what an nft is. nft is a unit of data, data stored on a - you would, what an nft is. nft is a unit of data, data stored on a block| unit of data, data stored on a block chain, and they are used to establish the ownership and the whole history of some linked goods which can be digital, digital object or a physical object. 50 which can be digital, digital ob'ect or a physical objecti or a physical ob'ect. so how suitable are _ or a physical object. so how suitable are they, _ or a physical object. so how suitable are they, then, - or a physical object. so how suitable are they, then, as| or a physical object. so how| suitable are they, then, as a vehicle for avoiding taxation? thea;r vehicle for avoiding taxation? they are extremely _ vehicle for avoiding taxation? they are extremely suitable _ vehicle for avoiding taxation? ti2 are extremely suitable at vehicle for avoiding taxation? ti21 are extremely suitable at the moment for two main reasons. first of all, they are in fact contracted in them

self, and at the moment, globally, we lack regulations. these are very flexible objects that are difficult to describe for regulatory bodies. the second part is that they are part of the boom of the market, it is only dated one year ago, and now there is some sort of... activity going on. and you have these digital images that suddenly are worth millions, and of course this can be a perfect tool if you want to wash money, launder money, avoid taxes, do fake donations, for example, to charities, saying that this image is worth one million and you are donating it to have tax rebates, so there is this double nature, lack of regulation and intrinsic flexibility

on the one hand, and booming market at the moment. 50 a on the one hand, and booming market at the moment-— at the moment. so a seizure like this may prompt _ at the moment. so a seizure like this may prompt what _ at the moment. so a seizure like this may prompt what in - at the moment. so a seizure like this may prompt what in terms l at the moment. so a seizure like| this may prompt what in terms of at the moment. so a seizure like i this may prompt what in terms of a change in the law a new regulation? this is very interesting, we don't know too much yet about what is going on with the specific case. as far as i know, this is the first time not only that the hmrc but in the world there has been a seizure like this. and it will be very interesting to understand whether hmrc is considering nft is something we know that should have obeyed regulations that exist or if this is the case a little on the edge and therefore new regulations will be prompted by this case itself. at the moment we don't have evidence to judge. moment we don't have evidence to 'udue. ~ ., ., ., moment we don't have evidence to 'udae.~ ., ., ., judge. who with the regulator bay that would look _ judge. who with the regulator bay that would look after _ judge. who with the regulator bay that would look after nfts? -- i

judge. who with the regulator bay i that would look after nfts? -- who with the regulator— that would look after nfts? -- who with the regulator be? _ that would look after nfts? -- who with the regulator be? you - that would look after nfts? -- who with the regulator be? you can - that would look after nfts? -- who l with the regulator be? you can trade them and they would be treated... capital gain tax. from the point of view of the creator, this can be treated as income. the regulations from the fiscal point of view perhaps is not to challenge, what is interesting is to see what kind of checks will be asked to marketplaces. in marketplaces for crypto currencies there is all sorts of legislation, know your customer and money laundering that at the moment is lacking for many nft marketplaces, so that will be interesting.— interesting. there have been warnin . s interesting. there have been warnings about _ interesting. there have been warnings about being - interesting. there have been warnings about being very i interesting. there have been - warnings about being very careful if you are tempted to invest in bitcoin. how much does that apply to buying nftsprobably ten times more,

i would say, in the sense that the level of of scams you can experience... level of of scams you can experience. . ._ level of of scams you can experience... level of of scams you can exerience... ., ,.. , level of of scams you can exerience... ., , experience... the level of scams you can experience _ experience... the level of scams you can experience by — experience... the level of scams you can experience by buying _ experience... the level of scams you can experience by buying nfts - experience... the level of scams you can experience by buying nfts is - can experience by buying nfts is much greater from the very beginning. for example a typical problem nowadays as there is that i can create an nft, claiming that a piece of art was created by me, and i am associating me to this contract and i sell you the contract and the ownership. however, it is very easy for me, for example, to say that i'm the creator of the mona lisa and i'm selling you the mona lisa. in the case of the mona lisa you would recognise that piece of art, but it is very tricky to know whether i'm actually the creator of the piece of art myself and this is just the first step. the other big point is that we are probably in a bubble, a very fast growing market for nfts and we don't know what happens when there is a correction to this

market. simply because we have never observed it. in the case of bitcoin you can see the worst—case scenario i lose 30%, 40%, 50%. which is not good. in the case of nfts, however, you are the owner of a jpeg image somewhere and while the collections are likely to survive, what happens to some other ones, we don't know. it's not impossible that the value of what you own goes to zero. in any case, to go back to your question, if you need to pay attention when investing bitcoin, pay much more attention if investing in nfts. i think i will leave it well alone. thank you very much. going nowhere near them. thank you very much. going nowhere nearthem. breaking news... thank you very much. going nowhere near them. breaking news... we are hearing the us presidentjoe biden is going to speak to borisjohnson

at around 5:38 hour time this afternoon as part of the ongoing intense diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions between russia and ukraine. we know of course that the foreign secretary liz truss is hosting a meeting of the emergency cobra committee to discuss that very issue and so no doubt there will be an update between the white house and downing street later today. you are watching bbc news. the foreign secretary will lead a meeting of the government's emergency cobra committee this afternoon, in response to growing fears of a russian invasion of ukraine a public inquiry has started into how a faulty computer system led to the wrongful convictions of hundreds of post office managers. 15—year—old russian figure skater, kamila valieva, will be allowed to carry on competing at the winter olympics in beijing — despite failing a drugs test.

the film director and producer, ivan reitman, who made the comedies, "ghostbusters", "twins" and "kindergarten cop", has died at his home in california. he was 75. born in what is now slovakia, he grew up in canada, with his big break coming in 1978, producing the comedy, national lampoon's animal house. our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, looks back at his life. # if there's something' strange in the neighbourhood. ghostbusters was a phenomenon. # ghostbusters! when teenagers became cinema's most lucrative audience in the 1970s and 1980s, reitman had an almost unique understanding of their tastes. he slimed me. that's great! toga, toga, toga! his first big success was producing the raucous national lampoon's animal house in 1977. the movie, about an out—of—control fraternity, incorporated some of reitman's own experiences of college and helped begin audiences�* tastes for gross—out comedy.

i'm a zit — get it? he turned to directing. his working relationship with bill murray, which reached its peak with ghostbusters, began with reitman directing him in films like meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you been, soldier? training, sir! what kind of training, son? army training, sir! he also developed a strong partnership with arnold schwarzenegger. reitman cast him injunior, kindergarten cop, and theirfirst film together, twins. my name isjulius, and i�*m your twin brother. 0h, obviously! the moment i sat down, i thought i was looking into a mirror! have you missed us? and last year, he produced ghostbusters sequel afterlife. he was a filmmaker who changed the course of cinema forever. ivan reitman who�*s died at the age of 75.

it sounds like the sort of nightmare that keeps actors awake at night — walking out on stage, not knowing their lines, and without a single rehearsal. but that�*s exactly what a host of celebrities including sir ian mckellen and dame emma thompson are doing on purpose, in order to save a theatre. matt graveling went along to watch the show. it is a performer�*s worst nightmare. you are on stage but you don�*t know your next line. phew. just in time. but it was not that he had forgotten his work... because he�*s never seen it. instead, in this unique show, a man hiding in a side room was feeding these one—liners. you were the last person to see

the captain alive, were you not? myjob is not to be nervous. there are the ones normally who are nervous and it is so sweet because these are people at the top of their game coming in and saying... ah! but also if there is a mistake you have not anticipated, making sure they feel as supported as possible as quickly as possible. the show is being performed at the park theatre in north london. this intimate venue with around 200 seats like many others was hit hard by the pandemic but they are hoping these shows will help to their running costs. with a little help from 41 different celebrity inspectors including gillian anderson, sanjeev bhaskar, emma thompson, sue perkins, ross kemp, ronan keating and maureen lipman. i think lots of people think, surely we give them the

script really and it is a gimmick we are saying that but the reality is that is the joy of the ask, there is no preparation, you have never seen the script and i call them up, this is the concept, you need to turn up at 7.30 you give up a couple of hours of your day, you don't have to prepare anything. a recent study by sheffield university estimates the arts, culture and heritage sectors suffered a 60% decline during covid restrictions, so selling out these fundraising shows has been a lifeline. i have not done anything like it before, every show is different every night so acting in it, it keeps you on your toes and you have to react to anything put in front of you. and it is notjust the cast are being kept on their toes. with audience members completely unaware of who they will be seeing until the show starts. really enjoying it, having a good time, really missed being in an audience.

i wasn't expecting it to be so unprepared. it is so very obvious. | quite a lot of the time, you don't| know what is going on. lots of fun, | it feels cruel watching them being | played with by the other actors but it is a lot of fun.— today? i think almost anyone rises i to the occasion. it is a bit like i doing charades. kind of wonderful and terrifying at the same time. even though you have this thing in your ear, you are speaking as the _ guy reading the lines is simultaneously. and you might miss something that in this situation, whatever you do will be great. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. two storms will impact the uk this week. the first one, dudley, arriving on wednesday

and lasting into thursday, and then eunice on friday. now both storms will cause some damage and disruption. the reason that we�*re seeing such powerful low pressures coming in is the strength of the jet at the moment, the jet stream in the upper atmosphere, driving those deepening lows across oui’ shores. slightly different areas affected, which i�*ll talk about in just a moment. but for the rest of the day, we�*ll continue to see this rain easing southwards, wintry showers following in the north and sunny spells, and the breeze is starting to ease away. but it is a little on the chilly side compared with yesterday, even though temperatures are actually a bit above average for early february or mid february. then the showers, the rain continues to ease away to start tonight. under a ridge of high pressure, the winds fall light. we�*re likely to see some frost temporarily and even some ice where we�*ve had the day�*s rain. but as you can see, soon after midnight, the next area of rain and hill snow is marching in off the atlantic. it�*s a very, what we call, mobile weather picture this week, with one area of rain after another and strong winds too. so initially, some brightness in the south east, that fades.

the rain drags its heels to clear here and in the far north, but in between sunnier spells and a scattering of showers and temperatures very similar to those of today. but indeed, by the end of the day tomorrow, already the next area of rain, the next weather system is approaching the west of ireland. that�*s this area of low pressure. that�*s the first storm, that�*s dudley. it looks really nasty across parts of scotland, northern ireland and northern england by the time we get to tea—time. initially, we�*ll see some dry weather first thing before that rain becomes more widespread, a little bit of hill snow as well to be found here. but look at how mild it is across southern parts — england and wales — 16s and 17s, potentially. but it has prompted an orange warning, an amberwarning from the met office, this storm because we�*re expecting winds to 90 miles an hour in some exposed locations, but hitting the likes of southern and central scotland, northern england and northern ireland, even into thursday morning. so really giving quite a battering here. then it quietens down later

thursday before the next storm winds itself up. this one could affect areas further south across much of england and wales, but also fringing into northern ireland, scotland, with a significant amount of snow and blizzards to go with it in the north. the warnings are on the website.

this is bbc news, i�*m martine croxall. the headlines... as fears continue to grow of a russian invasion of ukraine, the foreign secretary will lead a meeting of the government�*s emergency cobra committee this afternoon, and borisjohnson warns russian military action could be imminent. the signs are, as you�*ve heard from president biden, that they�*re at least planning for something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. following talks with the german chancellor in kyiv, the ukrainian president says he�*s counting on europe to support its bid tojoin nato. but he accepted ukraine may never join the military alliance. the public inquiry opens into the wrongful convictions of hundreds of sub—postmasters, accused of theft because of a faulty it system. we need compensation for everybody, we need justice for everyone. we need some people to at least

face the consequences of what they�*ve done to us. 15—year—old russian skater kamila valieva will continue to compete in the winter olympics, despite failing a drugs test in december. the aa says the average price of petrol at pumps across the uk hit a new record at the weekend, reaching more than 148 pence per litre. ghostbusters. anybody see a ghost? and ivan reitman, director of comedy hits like ghostbusters, has died. he was 75. good afternoon. foreign secretary liz truss will lead a meeting of the government�*s emergency response committee

to discuss the russian and ukraine tensions. western nations have again made it clear to moscow, that any military action will result in massive sanctions that would have serious consequences for the russian economy. the g7 group of the world�*s most developed countries, including britain, made the warning as a spokesman for ukraine�*s president insisted his country�*s ambition is still tojoin nato, as set out in its constitution, despite the ukrainian ambassador to britain suggesting otherwise, as a means of avoiding war. russia has long wanted ukraine to drop it�*s desire tojoin the military alliance. moscow now has up to 130,000 troops encircling ukraine, but maintains it has no plans to invade. our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, reports. kyiv this morning. another day in a cosmopolitan european capital, normal life continuing, despite the dire warnings of invasion, but is this the calm before the storm?

hello, mr chancellor. olaf scholz, germany�*s new chancellor, hopes not. he arrived in ukraine for talks with the country�*s president. he is due in moscow tomorrow to see president putin, looking for ways out of a confrontation the west fears could end in russian invasion. european leaders say the threat is real, and could affect the whole of europe. i think it�*s extremely serious, and tensions are very high, because, as you heard already, russian forces are at the ukrainian border at a high readiness, and there are more than 100,000 of them. ukraine has summoned russian officials to a meeting of the organization for security and cooperation in europe to explain its military build—up. last night, ukraine�*s ambassador in london suggested one possible concession. he told the bbc his country might give up the goal of nato membership to avert war.

this morning, he took it all back. we are not a member of nato right now, and to avoid war, we are ready for many concessions, and that is what we are doing in our conversations with russia. but it has nothing to do with nato, which is enshrined in the constitution. the kremlin, which says russia�*s security would be threatened by ukrainejoining nato, said abandoning the goal would help address its concerns. but a spokesman said russia—us relations were on the floor. the prime minister, in scotland today, is due to visit more european capitals this week, to show his support for nato allies. downing street said he was also considering further economic and defensive support for ukraine. the signs are, as you've heard from president biden, - that they're at least planning - for something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. that is extremely concerning. and all the while, russian forces prepare and train.

these, the latest pictures from the country�*s defence ministry, showing russian war planes patrolling the border of belarus and ukraine. james landale, bbc news. how did the cobra meeting go? it's how did the cobra meeting go? classified. how did the cobra meeting go? it's classified- is _ how did the cobra meeting go? it's classified. is russian _ how did the cobra meeting go? it's classified. is russian invasion - classified. is russian invasion imminent? — classified. is russian invasion imminent? i _ classified. is russian invasion imminent? i said _ classified. is russian invasion imminent? i said on - classified. is russian invasion imminent? i said on the - classified. is russian invasion imminent? i said on the tv i imminent? i said on the tv everything _ imminent? i said on the tv everything that _ imminent? i said on the tv everything that we - imminent? i said on the tv everything that we know i imminent? i said on the tv| everything that we know en imminent? i said on the tv - everything that we know en that at the moment which is that russian forces are in place, but that�*s not to say that diplomacy cannot yet succeed, it�*sjust prudent to say that diplomacy cannot yet succeed, it�*s just prudent to warn british citizens of the imminence of what could happen.— british citizens of the imminence of what could happen. pretty dangerous riaht now? what could happen. pretty dangerous right now? do _ what could happen. pretty dangerous right now? do you — what could happen. pretty dangerous right now? do you feel _ what could happen. pretty dangerous right now? do you feel like _ what could happen. pretty dangerous right now? do you feel like you - what could happen. pretty dangerous right now? do you feel like you have | right now? do you feel like you have a proper— right now? do you feel like you have a proper uk — right now? do you feel like you have a proper uk response _ right now? do you feel like you have a proper uk response lined - right now? do you feel like you have a proper uk response lined up? - right now? do you feel like you have i a proper uk response lined up? what do ou a proper uk response lined up? what do you mean — a proper uk response lined up? what do you mean by _ a proper uk response lined up? what do you mean by uk — a proper uk response lined up? do you mean by uk response? a proper uk response lined up? what do you mean by uk response? whatl a proper uk response lined up? what i do you mean by uk response? what are ou thinkin: do you mean by uk response? what are you thinking right _ do you mean by uk response? what are you thinking right now— do you mean by uk response? what are you thinking right now if— do you mean by uk response? what are you thinking right now if rush _ do you mean by uk response? what are you thinking right now if rush hour- you thinking right now if rush hour do invade — you thinking right now if rush hour do invade in— you thinking right now if rush hour do invade in the _ you thinking right now if rush hour do invade in the next— you thinking right now if rush hour do invade in the next couple - you thinking right now if rush hour do invade in the next couple of. do invade in the next couple of days? — do invade in the next couple of days? i— do invade in the next couple of da s? .,

i think we have done that, the travel advice has changed but we have been very clear that the uk won�*t play an active part in any conflict with rush hour, that is a very important message to be sending because the risk of miscalculation is high and it�*s important that we avoid that. thank you. the is high and it's important that we avoid that. thank you. the armed forces minister _ avoid that. thank you. the armed forces minister speaking - avoid that. thank you. the armed forces minister speaking a - avoid that. thank you. the armed forces minister speaking a short i forces minister speaking a short time ago. we can speak to the bbc�*s caroline davies, who�*s in moscow. all sorts of intense diplomatic efforts involving many countries taking place. what�*s the latest from the kremlin? taking place. what's the latest from the kremlin?— the kremlin? certainly a continuing effort from the _ the kremlin? certainly a continuing effort from the west _ the kremlin? certainly a continuing effort from the west to _ the kremlin? certainly a continuing effort from the west to make - the kremlin? certainly a continuing effort from the west to make sure l effort from the west to make sure this dialogue continues and we heard from president putin earlier who had a very heavily choreographed meeting with sergey lavrov, his foreign minister, they were at the end of

very long tables and during the course, president putin leaned in and asked do you think it is worth continuing to have these diplomatic discussions, are we being folding to endless dialogue about trying to find a solution? of course i think a lot of people would have held their breath at sergey lavrov replied yes there is a chance to find some form of resolution that it�*s still worth continuing to have these conversations. that�*s also a positive sign because the biggest fear here is that either side but particularly the west are concerned rush hour might walk away and so long as these diplomatic efforts are going on, they hope that the worst—case scenario can be averted. but how candid has putin been about what would avert any military action? , ., , action? president putin and rush hour in general— action? president putin and rush hour in general have _ action? president putin and rush hour in general have constantly. action? president putin and rush . hour in general have constantly said one of the main thing is we are concerned about is nato and nato expansion. back in december they

provided draft treaties to the us and nato, stipulating several things but the key thing they put forward was that they wanted a guarantee that ukraine was not going to be able tojoin nato. that that ukraine was not going to be able to join nato. that has that ukraine was not going to be able tojoin nato. that has been something that has been key to rush hour�*s position, all the way through these discussions and it�*s something that the us and nato has said is not something they are going to change their view on. that�*s not something that up for discussion. rush hour cannot decide to have a veto on watch countries decide to join nato or not and in fact the reason that has come up so consistently, some suggested it was a strawman argument put forward by rush hour, knowing full well that the us and nato would potentially even taking further action because they have found a diplomatic solution. have not. that�*s what a lot of western analysts have argued. the point is

diplomacy continues, rush hour continues there is increasing numbers of troops on the border with ukraine making many people in ukraine, the us and nato countries very nervous. for the moment, thank you very much. let�*s speak to our correspondent james waterhouse in the ukrainian capital, kyiv. there seems to be confusion coming out of various ukrainian government officials and representatives about this issue of nato membership. what have they settled on? b, this issue of nato membership. what have they settled on? b. bit this issue of nato membership. what have they settled on?— have they settled on? a bit of a mixed start. — have they settled on? a bit of a mixed start, but _ have they settled on? a bit of a mixed start, but the _ have they settled on? a bit of a mixed start, but the ukrainian l mixed start, but the ukrainian officials have doubled down on the assertion that their membership of nato in the future at some point is a non—negotiable. this is after their uk ambassador told the bbc that they might be willing to shelf it in pursuit of peace. president zelensky very keen to clarify that,

but it�*s, he has also said in a press conference with german chancellor olaf scholz that it won�*t happen any time soon, if at all. so thatis happen any time soon, if at all. so that is the first thing we have heard that in the public space. a number of reasons for that, typically it takes years to join, one of the conditions is that you cannot already be in a conflict, ukraine has for the past eight years in the east of the country, and signing up would also effectively put ukraine in direct conflict with russia. the kremlin made that perfectly clear last week. moscow has also jumped on the mixed messaging, saying it would help ease their security concerns. a bit of a mixed morning for president zelensky, and his government, but diplomacy has been resumed with his meeting with olaf scholz.— meeting with olaf scholz. diplomacy noes on, meeting with olaf scholz. diplomacy goes on. how _ meeting with olaf scholz. diplomacy goes on. how is _ meeting with olaf scholz. diplomacy goes on, how is life _ meeting with olaf scholz. diplomacy goes on, how is life in _ meeting with olaf scholz. diplomacy goes on, how is life in ukraine - goes on, how is life in ukraine being affected by all of this? life noes on being affected by all of this? life goes on as _ being affected by all of this? l152

goes on as normal. it being affected by all of this? i t2 goes on as normal. it has been a beautiful day for the last two days, i don�*t know if you can still see the clear skies behind me. it�*s easy to see what there is not. there are not sandbags, military checkpoints, we have not seen any soldiers today for example. for ukraine�*s capital, at least, it is still a political story. there are still intense discussions going on, some newspapers detecting an invasion on wednesday which in the eyes of president zelensky is incredibly unhelpful. he is still trying to install calm and if you look at things on face value, that seems to be working. if you talk to ukrainians, some are avoiding the news, some are tired of the endless speculation and it is difficult to ignore. it does have an impact when you have got 130,000 russian troops manoeuvring along the seat of the south or east or northern borders. it does take an, but there is always a backdrop. ukrainians are used to

this tension, i think that�*s why we are seeing people getting on with their day—to—day, getting on a bus, going to work, going home, and the like. :, ~' going to work, going home, and the like. . ~ i. going to work, going home, and the like. :, ~ ,, y going to work, going home, and the like. . ~ i. , . the motoring organisation, the aa, says the average petrol price across the uk hit a new record high over the weekend. it stood at over £1.48 a litre, while diesel has now risen to over 151.5 pence a litre. the previous record prices were set in november last year. it�*s feared that rising tensions with russia over ukraine could impact supplies. our correspondent katy austin explains. tensions around ukraine aren�*t the only thing that had been pushing up wholesale prices. another big one is the resurgence in demand, as global economies have reopened, but concerns around the potential for conflict have definitely driven those prices up further, because of the impact it could have on supply. it doesn�*t happen overnight,

but these increases do feed through into the amount drivers here pay for theirfuel at the pump, and motoring groups say that yesterday the average cost per litre of petrol went above 148 pence, surpassing the previous record, set in november. they say diesel has also hit a record high. it says, daily and it thinks retailers are keen to pass on the wholesale increases quickly, and aa said the cost of living crisis had been up yet another notch. this does come as households and businesses are facing various cost pressures. inflation running at a 30—year high and increses to energy bills on the way. the headlines on bbc news... the foreign secretary will lead a meeting of the government�*s emergency cobra committee this afternoon, in response to growing fears of a russian invasion of ukraine. a public inquiry has started

into how a faulty computer system led to the wrongful convictions of hundreds of post office managers. 15—year—old russian figure skater, kamila valieva, will be allowed to carry on competing at the winter olympics in beijing, despite failing a drugs test a long—awaited public inquiry into one of britain�*s biggest miscarriages ofjustice has just begun hearing evidence. more than 700 post office branch managers were wrongly convicted and thousands lost their businesses, when faulty accounting software, made it look as if money had gone missing from their tills, and they�*d stolen it. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. a moment for celebration, after years of anguish and struggle. jo hamilton, here on the right, is just one of the innocent people whose lives were ruined because of a faulty post office it system. her conviction was quashed last year, but now it�*s time for answers from this public inquiry.

i�*ve had a criminal record for 13 years that i didn�*t deserve, and that impacts on your work, on your finances and everything. my mum and dad aren�*t here, they weren�*t here to see my conviction quashed, because they both had strokes and died, which i�*m convinced was as a result of what happened to me. in total, 706 former sub—postmasters were convicted for crimes they didn�*t commit. slowly, those convictions are being overturned, 72 so far. but thousands more post office staff lost huge amounts of money, so the government will foot the bill for compensation. the it system at the centre of this scandal is called horizon, developed by the software firm, fujitsu. essentially, it couldn�*t add up properly, so post office managers were accused of stealing sums of money that never existed. lives were ruined, families were torn apart.

families were made homeless and destitute. reputations were destroyed. this public inquiry, beginning today, is aiming answer these questions. when did it become clear horizon wasn�*t working? and why did senior managers keep blaming sub—postmasters when the issues emerged? no—one has been held responsible so far. for the victims, the answers can�*t come soon enough. and there�*s been emotional evidence so far. i was the only man who ran the post office seven days a week. _ they did not pay me saturday, sunday. i i used to open the post officel at eight o'clock in the morning and shut at eight o'clock at night. of course, i took permission of the post office, _ because it was such| a budding business. i said, "i'll work- seven days a week." and i was the only post office in the country- which was running all seven days. the post office has said sorry

to victims, but many people want more than an apology. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. well, jo hamilton featured in that report and was accused by the post office of taking £36,000 from the village shop she ran in hampshire. she has been speaking at the inquiry this afternoon. she described those moments when she thought she would end up injail. moments when she thought i moments when she thought was being told i proba go i was being told i probably wouldn�*t go to prison, but i didn�*t realise the odds were 75%. it was just... and i had been told to look remorseful, and i sat there and thought," i said 75%? "she said you have got to prepare your shop to be without you because you will be unemployable if you go to prison and she said this is a really serious offence. i said she said this is a really serious offence. isaid i know. so i she said this is a really serious offence. i said i know. so i looked, i was sad, i was terrified, actually. i was sad, i was terrified, actually-—

i was sad, i was terrified, actuall. ., , actually. so you packed a bag 'ust in case? i didn'ti actually. so you packed a bag 'ust in case? i didn't come * actually. so you packed a bag 'ust in case? i didn't come home. h actually. so you packed a bag just in case? i didn't come home. i- in case? i didn't come home. i hu: red in case? i didn't come home. i hugged my — in case? i didn't come home. i hugged my mum _ in case? i didn't come home. i hugged my mum and - in case? i didn't come home. i hugged my mum and dad - in case? i didn't come home. i- hugged my mum and dad goodbye and in case? i didn't come home. i— hugged my mum and dad goodbye and my husband. and my boys. charlotte gallagher is with us now. these are ordinary people running a post office counter, not any huge amounts of money often end their lives have been destroyed by this. they have been completely broken by a faulty id system which could not do its basic function which was to add up how much money they were taking. at the end of the week, this horizon system gave them a figure which was often wildly wrong, some sub—postmasters felt if it was a few hundred pounds, £20, they try to make it up themselves. but sometimes they were £10,000 short at the end of the week. they try to contact people in the post office, no reply, sometimes had police knocking on their door. these were people who consider themselves pillars of the

community all of a sudden carted off by the police, cell doors closed behind them and some of them went to prison and they did absolutely nothing wrong. i woman who was eight months pregnant 20 prison, a 19—year—old went to prison, people with very young children all of a sudden had to say goodbye to their kids and were locked up injail and got absolutely no support from the post office. someone who appeared at the inquiry earlier said he felt he could not be a proper parent to his children because he felt so ashamed that people thought he had stolen all of this money. people who lived near him, neighbours and friends and they thought they had stolen it and it was a faulty computer system. even those people who have cleared their names and had these convictions quashed, they are still waiting for what they believe is meaningfuljustice. . waiting for what they believe is meaningfuljustice.— waiting for what they believe is meaningfuljustice. meaningful 'ustice. , no one has been new — meaningfuljustice. , no one has been held responsible _ meaningfuljustice. , no one has been held responsible at - meaningfuljustice. , no one has been held responsible at the - meaningfuljustice. , no one has. been held responsible at the post office or fujitsu and that�*s what this inquiry is to find out. first of all, who in the post office in senior management knew what was

going on, at what point and also why where they still pushing for sub—postmasters to be prosecuted? also at fujitsu they designed and then sold the system. we have heard from a former employee who said they knew there were issues at the start with this system, it was not calculating sums correctly, so this inquiry cannot hold anyone criminally responsible but it can see documents and evidence that have never been previously disclosed and then we could see following on from that civil action. the post office has said sorry, but for people like we have heard from, it�*s not enough. they say their lives have been completely destroyed.- they say their lives have been completely destroyed. even financial compensation _ completely destroyed. even financial compensation would _ completely destroyed. even financial compensation would not _ completely destroyed. even financial compensation would not bring - completely destroyed. even financial compensation would not bring back. compensation would not bring back those lost years, and it would have to come from the taxpayer. yes. those lost years, and it would have to come from the taxpayer. yes, the post office ebay _ to come from the taxpayer. yes, the post office ebay cannot _ to come from the taxpayer. yes, the post office ebay cannot afford - to come from the taxpayer. yes, the post office ebay cannot afford the i post office ebay cannot afford the compensation bill which is about £1 billion, so it will come from the taxpayer. the government, us, will foot the bill for something that should never have happened and interestingly, jo hamilton said when

investigators came to her house, they said no one else has been in this position, you are the only sub—postmaster who has had this happen to them and of course we now know that was completely wrong and hundreds more people were in the same situation.— hundreds more people were in the same situation. ., ,, , ., , . police are hunting a sex offender whoescaped from jail in boston, in lincolnshire. paul robson, who�*s 56, was serving a life sentence after being branded �*a menace to females�* but was in an open prison. for more on this, we spoke to our reporter, caroline bilton the alarm was raised at 7am yesterday morning, here at the north sea camp open prison on the outskirts of boston. when it became clear that robson was missing. 56—year—old robson was serving a life sentence for the attempted rape and indecent assault of a woman. this was a serious offence, he had got into her home through the cat flap and had put a pillowcase over her head and attacked her at knife—point. lincolnshire police describing him today as dangerous.

also admitting that he could be anywhere in the country right now. this is an open prison, here on the outskirts of boston, of the lincolnshire fens and its used as a minimum security prison. the ministry ofjustice said it is only used to house prisoners that have been risk—assessed and deemed suitable for an open prison and yet, today, lincolnshire police have issued a statement in which they have said that robson is a dangerous sex offender and while he presents a particular danger to women and young children, they believe he can cause real harm to anyone that he comes across. they have asked that if anyone sees robson, that they do not approach him and they do not try to apprehend him. lincolnshire police have told us that they are pursuing different lines of inquiry, but they are very keen to talk to anybody who may have seen

paul robson and to let them know via 999, but clearly questions being asked today as to why such a dangerous offender was here at this open prison in lincolnshire. joining me now is richard garside, director of the centre for crime and justice studies. thank you very much forjoining us this afternoon. tell us a little bit about open prisons. who they tend to be used for, what conditions exist? there is about 1012 open prisons across england and wales. actually i think all of them are in england but i might be wrong about that. they have places for about 4500—5500 prisoners, a relatively small amount of total prison population, close to 80,000, the vast majority of prisoners are not in open conditions and that is different in other countries, have much higher rates of

open prison capacity, finland is a good example. it�*s a mixture of people. to be in an open prison, first of all you need to have been judged by the prison service to be a low risk to other prisoners and to the general population, and also at low risk of escape or abscond from. we don�*t know obviously the circumstances of this particular prisoner and why he may be had open conditions but the prison service will have judged, conditions but the prison service will havejudged, he conditions but the prison service will have judged, he will have gone through rigorous assessment and he will have beenjudged through rigorous assessment and he will have been judged safe it will will have been 'udged safe it will surrise will have been judged safe it will surprise people _ will have been judged safe it will surprise people because - will have been judged safe it will surprise people because he - will have beenjudged safe it will surprise people because he was on licence because of another previous conviction when he was convicted in 2000. we cannot talk about the specifics but why might someone, how might someone with that background end up in an open prison?— end up in an open prison? typically, somebody who _ end up in an open prison? typically, somebody who has _ end up in an open prison? typically, somebody who has served _ end up in an open prison? typically, somebody who has served a - end up in an open prison? typically, somebody who has served a very . end up in an open prison? typically, i somebody who has served a very long sentence, including for some very

serious offences, and this is obviously the case in this individual, towards the end of their sentence, typically they might be moved to open conditions because they are due for release relation anyway. moving them to more open conditions, to enable them to adjust to as it were a less high secure total institution feel. as they prepare for being released back into the community. once they are released back into the community they can face significant supervision and restraint and restrictions on their liberty including where they are allowed to live, who they can see and so on. we don�*t know about this prisoner. my guess would be that he was approaching the end of his sentence, in any case, and moved to open conditions to prepare for release. why he would have absconded we don�*t know. we do know that for this particular present, there are two or three people are year who abscond from this particular prisoner. it�*s very uncommon. the vast majority of

cases when prisoners do abscond, they are caught fairly quickly. ilirui’heh they are caught fairly quickly. when they are caught fairly quickly. when the are they are caught fairly quickly. when they are caught. — they are caught fairly quickly. when they are caught, in _ they are caught fairly quickly. when they are caught, in an _ they are caught fairly quickly. when they are caught, in an open - they are caught fairly quickly. when they are caught, in an open prison, what might you the consequences? almost inevitably, if you are in open condition and abscond, unless there is a very, very good reason why that might have been the case, and even then, you are normally expected to return to much more close and secure facilities and i imagine that will be what happens in this particular case.— this particular case. thank you very much for talking _ this particular case. thank you very much for talking to _ this particular case. thank you very much for talking to us. _ the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has confirmed he�*s received death threats, following borisjohnson�*s false claim, that he failed to prosecute the paedophilejimmy savile. sir keir had to be shielded by police from an angry mob outside parliament last week, and says the prime minister�*s slur has "fed into" a "right—wing conspiracy theories." police are investigating, the online death threats.

the world anti—doping agency says it�*s disappointed by the decision to allow a 15—year—old russian figure skater who failed a drugs test to continue competing at the winter olympics. kamila valieva�*s positive result in december only came to light last week, after she�*d helped russia win the team skating event in beijing. the court of arbitration for sport has ruled that, because of valieva�*s age and the timing of the test result announcement, she should be treated as an exceptional case. laura scott has the latest from beijing. cleared to skate, but not cleared of scandal. kamila valieva returned to the ice under the scrutiny of the world, after the court of arbitration for sport ruled the 15—year—old should be able to continue competing in beijing, despite testing positive for a banned substance. no provisional suspension should be imposed on the skater. in particular, the panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the olympic games would cause her irreparable harm.

the panel said a series of exceptional circumstances were behind its decision, including that valieva is only 15 and the fact that her positive drugs test results came back midway through these games, 44 days after the sample was taken, meaning she had little time to mount a defence. the world anti—doping agency said it was disappointed by the decision, because its rules don�*t allow exceptions to be made to mandatory provisional suspensions, including for minors. meanwhile, the us olympic and paralympic committees said this appears to be another chapter in the systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by russia. it is damaging. it's very damaging, but at the same time, you want to think that now maybe, yet again, we're at this point where something will be done, in order to make sure that nothing like this can happen again. the international olympic committee announced that there won�*t be a medal ceremony in the figure skating team event, which was won

by the russian olympic committee, including valieva. and there are other ramifications, too. should miss valieva finish amongst the top three competitors - in the women's single skating competition, no flower- ceremony and no medall ceremony will take place during the olympic winter games, beijing 2022. - a week since making olympic history on the ice, valieva is hoping to wow the world again with her skills. but she does so in the most controversial circumstances. laura scott, bbc news, beijing. commentator: clean as a whistle. liz truss has been giving details in the meeting she hasjust liz truss has been giving details in the meeting she has just held with government ministers on the situation in the ukraine. she began with the advice which is to british people living in the country. i have 'ust people living in the country. i have just chaired _ people living in the country. i have just chaired a _ people living in the country. i have just chaired a cobra _ people living in the country. i have just chaired a cobra meeting. - people living in the country. i have just chaired a cobra meeting. we i people living in the country. i have i just chaired a cobra meeting. we are very clear there could be an eminent

russian invasion of ukraine and our first priority is protecting british citizens, british citizens need to leave now while commercial routes are still available. the leave now while commercial routes are still available.— are still available. the language from the us _ are still available. the language from the us and _ are still available. the language from the us and uk _ are still available. the language from the us and uk has - are still available. the language i from the us and uk has escalated are still available. the language - from the us and uk has escalated in terms _ from the us and uk has escalated in terms of— from the us and uk has escalated in terms of the russian threat in recent— terms of the russian threat in recent days. terms of the russian threat in recent days-— terms of the russian threat in recent days. terms of the russian threat in recent da s. ~ , ., , ., recent days. why do you believe a russian invasion _ recent days. why do you believe a russian invasion is _ recent days. why do you believe a russian invasion is so _ recent days. why do you believe a russian invasion is so imminent? | recent days. why do you believe a i russian invasion is so imminent? we are fully aware that there could be are fully aware that there could be a russian invasion almost immediately. that is why british citizens do need to leave ukraine, but we are also pursuing a path of diplomacy and de—escalation, that is why the prime minister and i are travelling around europe this week, thatis travelling around europe this week, that is why we are working to persuade the russians to remove their troops from the border, because a war would be disastrous. you talk about diplomatic solutions, what does that look like? we you talk about diplomatic solutions, what does that look like?— what does that look like? we are ve clear what does that look like? we are very clear that — what does that look like? we are very clear that russia _ what does that look like? we are very clear that russia is - what does that look like? we are very clear that russia is the i very clear that russia is the aggressor in the situation. they have 100,000 troops lined up on the

ukrainian border. they need to de—escalate because it will be a cost to russia if they invade ukraine, both in terms of the cost of a long—running war, but also the sanctions that we would impose, which would be severe and would target oligarchs, companies across russia. : , , target oligarchs, companies across russia. ., . ., , russia. critics say the sanctions the uk have _ russia. critics say the sanctions the uk have considering - russia. critics say the sanctions the uk have considering the i russia. critics say the sanctions i the uk have considering the passive never been fully permitted so this may be a lot of tough top in terms a deterrent is pretty ineffective? —— considered in the past. we deterrent is pretty ineffective? -- considered in the past.— deterrent is pretty ineffective? -- considered in the past. we have 'ust assed it considered in the past. we have 'ust passed it toughest i considered in the past. we have 'ust passed it toughest legislation i considered in the past. we have just passed it toughest legislation ever i passed it toughest legislation ever against russia, not only able to target companies with direct effect on you but any body or company that has a bearing on the russian state and that would seriously destabilise the russian economy. the payments minister said — the russian economy. the payments minister said today _ the russian economy. the payments minister said today that _ the russian economy. the payments minister said today that european i minister said today that european economies need to get nord stream out of the blood stream, without derek? hill —— was that he dig? the

prime minister is right, we need to reduce dependence on russian gas in europe and find alternative sources. you talk about the renewed diplomatic push and your meeting last week ended in what some may consider a pretty insulting press conference? how did you feel at? i went to russia to deliver a very clear message that it is russia who is the aggressor, they have 100,000 troops on the ukrainian border and if they stage an incursion into ukraine, that would have a damaging effect on the russian people and the russian government. of course the russians didn�*t like what i had to say, but i see it nevertheless, and i want them to desist and i want them to be aware that there will be severe costs of an invasion. you see an invasion — severe costs of an invasion. you see an invasion is _ severe costs of an invasion. you see an invasion is imminent, _ severe costs of an invasion. you see an invasion is imminent, is- severe costs of an invasion. you see an invasion is imminent, is there i an invasion is imminent, is there still a diplomatic solution? —— you say. the element there is always a choice, but the choices for vladimir putin. he choice, but the choices for vladimir putin. , ., , ., putin. he needs to understand there would be severe _

putin. he needs to understand there would be severe costs _ putin. he needs to understand there would be severe costs if _ putin. he needs to understand there would be severe costs if he - putin. he needs to understand there would be severe costs if he invadesl would be severe costs if he invades ukraine and those would be felt by russian companies, by oligarchs, and ultimately the russian people. he needs to de—escalate, take his trips away from the border. needs to de-escalate, take his trips away from the border.— needs to de-escalate, take his trips away from the border. minsk, is that ossible,? away from the border. minsk, is that possible,? president _ away from the border. minsk, is that possible,? president macron - possible,? president macron suggesting reviving the minsk agreement could be a witch to avoid invasion? is agreement could be a witch to avoid invasion? , ,., ., agreement could be a witch to avoid invasion? , ., , , ., invasion? is important russia holster what _ invasion? is important russia holster what it _ invasion? is important russia holster what it agreed - invasion? is important russia holster what it agreed in i invasion? is important russia holster what it agreed in the l invasion? is important russia i holster what it agreed in the past, in the 1994 bit appears to avoid invasion? is important russia holster what it agreed in the past, in the 1994 budapest agreement they agreed to protect the sovereignty of ukraine, we need to implement the minsk protocols but the first part of that is that russia need to remove their heavy weaponry from ukraine and they need to create a ceasefire, they have not done either of those things, and those are points i made to minister lateral in moscow last week. we points i made to minister lateral in moscow last week.— moscow last week. we have heard boris moscow last week. we have heard iforis johnson _ moscow last week. we have heard boris johnson is _ moscow last week. we have heard boris johnson is due _ moscow last week. we have heard boris johnson is due to _ moscow last week. we have heard boris johnson is due to speak-

moscow last week. we have heard boris johnson is due to speak at i borisjohnson is due to speak at 5:38 this evening to president biden. good afternoon. there�*ve been mixed fortunes for great britain�*s curlers with the men beating switzerland 6—5 to leave them one win away from the semi—finals but team gb�*s women have a tougher task ahead, they may well need to win all three of their remaining matches after losing to canada 7—3. eve muirhead�*s team next play japan tomorrow morning: we are still well and truly in the competition, we�*ve got three games left and need to get three wins out there and of course we�*ll be doing everything we can to get those three wins. i think we can get too down after that loss and we still need to stay positive, because as i say, we weren�*t bad, like, wejust weren�*t on the right side today. it�*s been a familar story at these games — another of great britain�*s medal hopes has had a tough day — this time.

in the two man bobsleigh. things did not got to plan for brad hall, the pilot, and nick gleeson. after their first two runs they�*re in 11th place, making mistakes on both runs. they�*ll need to be almost perfect tomorrow if they�*re to be in the mix for the bronze medal. as frustrating, we wanted to be a few places higher but made a couple of mistakes in the middle of the track, unfortunately we are not higher up but we don�*t deserve to be at the moment, so hope to go back and see where we went wrong and try to make the corrections for tomorrow. there�*s finally been some good news for team gb on the slopes — where there�*ll be two brits in tomorrow�*s women�*s freeski slopestyle final. 17—year—old kirsty muir here and her british team mate katie summerhayes made it through qualifying. muir finished in sixth and will be hoping for even more tomorrow, while summerhayes qualified in tenth. muir and summerhayes are two of the medal hopes — as is james woods, who�*s set to compete in the freestyle skiing slopestyle event tomorrow but things

aren�*t looking good for him at the moment. woods became the first british man to win a world championship gold on snow three years ago and finished fourth at the last world champiionships here. butjust hours before the slopestyle event he�*s put out a message on social media saying he�*s "full of painkillers and strapped up in bed" because of a back injury and is unable to move. he added.. "hopefully i wake up from a good sleep feeling ready for action." talking of injury concerns — newcastle�*s hopes of avoiding relegation from the premier league have suffered a setback today. the club�*s confirmed that kieran trippier�*s fractured his foot. the defender scored the only goal in their win against aston villa yesterday and has played a big part their recent run of three successive wins. european football�*s governing body uefa says it�*ll give away 30,000 free tickets to fans of the teams involved in this season�*s major european club finals. this year�*s champions league final is at the gazprom stadium in russia — and each finalist will receive

5,000 tickets per club, with 4,000 going to both sides in the europa league final. finalists in the europa conference league and the women�*s champions league will get 3000 tickets each. uefa says the offer is a reward for support during the pandemic. and former great britain rugby league player and coach johnny whiteley has died at the age of 91. whiteley was part of test series wins over australia with the lions as both player and coach, and was part of three world cup squads between 1954 and 1960. he also won the championship and played in challenge cup finals with hull for whom he scored 156 tries in 417 games, and coached both hull fc and hull kr. that�*s all the sport for now. i�*ll have more for you in the next hour.

coleen rooney has been refused permission to bring a high court claim against rebekah vardy�*s agent as part of an ongoing legal battle between the footballers�* wives over an online post. here in the studio is david sillito, our arts correspondent. wind the clock back and tell us how this began. wind the clock back and tell us how this bean. : .,, wind the clock back and tell us how this bean. . .,, 11" ., , this began. october 2019, a very famous post _ this began. october 2019, a very famous post by _ this began. october 2019, a very famous post by coleen _ this began. october 2019, a very famous post by coleen rooney, l famous post by coleen rooney, alarmed by what she thought was a leaking of private stories from a private instagram account, and what she said she does was that she had fed fake stories on this instagram account and had reduced it down to one person. at the end, the famous words it was rebecca fardy�*s account, essentially pointing the finger at rebecca fardy, wife of jamie vardy. and rebecca fardy is suing herfor libel. there have been a number of twists and turns and we haven�*t even got to the actual case, which will be beginning on the 9th

of may —— rebecca vardy. today was about the agent at the time. one of the feelings was that if it was not vardy it might have been the agent that had access and may have leaked the story, and so coleen rooney was wanting to be able to bring a case of misuse of private information against caroline watt because if vardy was found not to have been a correct then it would look as though it was vindication on vardy�*s side, this is what coleen rooney�*s lawyers are suggesting and she wanted to see i want to at least prove it was caroline watt dated the leaking, if it was hard at it, so concrete it already. in orderfor this it was hard at it, so concrete it already. in order for this case to go ahead on the 9th of may, it was decided that the case can�*t be brought at the same time. that�*s as far as we got with that. then there

is a much more complicated issue of whatsapp messages, instagram messages, thousands upon thousands, 90 hours have been spent going through them and this was a question of which of the messages that were inadvertently revealed to coleen rooney�*s lawyers... a large number of messages have been redacted but there was a mistake apparently at, and they haven�*t been redacted, and one of these has a message from vardy, would love to lick the stories. , whatever that is about the context will be decided. another one, what would happen if they found it we had done it and they were talking about and they were talking about the access to accounts any message from carly moore. this was a story but a footballer they were

referring to in court as mr x. all these messages, today was about 200 paragraphs discussing what search terms and whose messages could be actually gone through before we get to this case. i won�*t go through it all. there is one paragraph that i think does rather standout, and it was about vardy�*s disclosure of documents, and thejudge said we have to bear the background about the disclosure so far with these four specific points, one is that she was asked to come up with all her audio and image whatsapp messages, but as she was transferring them, a mysterious delete button got hit and the forensic expert in charge of it said it was somewhat surprising that all of it disappeared and was not backed up of it disappeared and was not backed up in the cloud. carolyn�*s phone was

asked for and it went overboard in the north sea because of a large wave, hertwitter the north sea because of a large wave, her twitter account was deleted, so these were the background issues. also one final message to andy hall of the sun, which people know exists, but that appears to have been deleted as well, so all these things the judge says need to be borne in mind, the background to all of these whatsapp messages so far. the 9th of may, we are expecting both of them in court. we are on tenterhooks. as you�*ve been hearing, the foreign secretary has led a meeting of the government�*s emergency cobra committee, as fears of a russian invasion of ukraine continue. liz truss says russian military action could come almost immediately, but a diplomatic solution is still possible. well, on the ukraine border,

russia has now positioned a force of up to 100 thousand troops — there are also a reported 30,000 close to the belarus—ukraine border. joining me now is sir mark lyall grant who was the uk national security adviser from 2015 - 2017. still diplomatic options available, and what might they be? there still diplomatic options available, and what might they be? there is a lot of diplomatic _ and what might they be? there is a lot of diplomatic activity _ and what might they be? there is a lot of diplomatic activity going i and what might they be? there is a lot of diplomatic activity going on, | lot of diplomatic activity going on, as you�*ve heard. the next step, if you like, is scholz going to moscow tomorrow. i think what they are thinking is in addition to what putin has already achieved out of this crisis, which is of his own making, but nonetheless he has achieved a certain amount in terms of being the centre of attention and the starters, —— the starters. going back to the immense agreements of 2014, because those have something for everyone, something for ukraine and something for russia. if there is to be a diplomatic solution it is

likely to be based on implementation of minsk and may be a sort of private assurance that ukraine is unlikely to join nato for the foreseeable future. not a guarantee that it never will but an acknowledgement it is not likely to happen in the nearfuture. itrai’hat acknowledgement it is not likely to happen in the near future.- happen in the near future. what is contained in _ happen in the near future. what is contained in the _ happen in the near future. what is contained in the minsk _ happen in the near future. what is contained in the minsk agreement| contained in the minsk agreement that might actually help? the roblem that might actually help? the problem with _ that might actually help? ti2 problem with the immense agreements as they are ambiguous, there was to agreements, the first a little clearer than the second, and they are not consistent with each other, but essentially what it said was that there would be a ceasefire because this was at a time when the fighting was continuing, that russia would withdraw all its heavy armaments from the conflict area, and in exchange there would be a move towards a federation within ukraine with elections being held,

where bigotry comes in is the russian interpretation of the —— were an bid —— ambiguity comes in, a say over the constitution of ukraine, that is something the ukrainian authorities have never accepted. in ukrainian authorities have never acceted. , ., ., ukrainian authorities have never acce ted. , ., ., ., accepted. in your view, at what oint accepted. in your view, at what point would _ accepted. in your view, at what point would we _ accepted. in your view, at what point would we be _ accepted. in your view, at what point would we be able - accepted. in your view, at what point would we be able to i accepted. in your view, at what point would we be able to say i accepted. in your view, at what i point would we be able to say yes, we are past the point of worrying about an invasion? worrying about some kind of military action? it has felt very much that the warnings are about the next couple of days. i think it's the next couple of weeks think it�*s the next couple of weeks at a critical, i think if one gets to the end of this month without a further military activity, then i think there is a very good chance that it will not happen. the reason people are focusing on this week is because the beijing olympics are coming to an end at the end of the week, the belarus russian military

exercises are coming to an end and russia has all the troops and logistical back—up available that it needs for full—scale invasion. logistical back—up available that it needs forfull—scale invasion. so i think the next two weeks really are critical. ., , , ., critical. for president putin to save face _ critical. for president putin to save face with _ critical. for president putin to save face with his _ critical. for president putin to save face with his domestic i critical. for president putin to - save face with his domestic audience has to take something back so it doesn�*t look like a climb—down if he pulls the troops back? i doesn't look like a climb-down if he pulls the troops back?— pulls the troops back? i don't think so uuite pulls the troops back? i don't think so quite as — pulls the troops back? i don't think so quite as much. _ pulls the troops back? i don't think so quite as much. for— pulls the troops back? i don't think so quite as much. for russia, i pulls the troops back? i don't think| so quite as much. for russia, faces not such a big issue as it is for some countries, and we slightly see this through a western analysis that he has marched the troops of the top of the helen can�*t march them back again without doing something. if you look at it from the russian point of view, six months ago everyone was talking about china, and president biden�*s administration in particular wasn�*t concerned about euro, wasn�*t concerned about russia, it was all about china. now president putin has made himself centre stage, having these long

discussions with president biden, had scholz go to moscow, made himself a centre of attention and thereby promoting russia as a great power. that is an achievement for him. at the same time he has also got his demands although some of them are unacceptable out there being discussed and on the table. he may get a reinvigoration of the minsk agreement, which as i say has some benefit for him, and lastly he has actually managed to get china more or less on—board and russia and china have drawn a bit closer together as a of this conflict, with china supporting russia�*s case and blaming nato for the escalation. putin has achieved quite a bit already, and if he gets in addition something on the minsk agreement plus a sort of private assurance that ukraine will notjoin nato for a while, that may well be enough for him to withdraw his troops.

the headlines on bbc news... speaking after a meeting of the government�*s emergency cobra committee, the foreign secretary warns that a russian invasion of ukraine could come �*almost immediately�*. a public inquiry has started into how a faulty computer system led to the wrongful convictions of hundreds of post office managers. the aa says the average price of petrol at pumps across the uk hit a new record at the weekend, reaching more than 148—pence per litre. fuel prices have hit a new record high across the uk, according to the aa. over the weekend petrol reached over £1.48 a litre — while diesel has now risen to over £1.51 and a half a litre. with me to discuss this is huw dixon, professor of economics at cardiff university.

i�*m imagining there are a lot of factors at play here. run through them for us, if you would. yes. them for us, if you would. yes, firstly i'd _ them for us, if you would. yes, firstly i'd like — them for us, if you would. yes, firstly i'd like to _ them for us, if you would. yes, firstly i'd like to say _ them for us, if you would. yes, firstly i'd like to say whilst i them for us, if you would. yes, firstly i'd like to say whilst it's i firstly i�*d like to say whilst it�*s true petrol prices are at an all—time high, we have to, we�*ve been there before. petrol prices are very variable and they react to supply and demand, and in fact, even though there is an all—time high in terms of the price you pay, if you look at prices in the past relative to the prices that were there then, they were even higher back in 2010, 11, and 2007. i think the current crisis, as it the big increase we had, the record low since the first lockdown when petrol was as low as £1 ten. the current price of almost £1 50 represents a big increase in almost two years. i thought it was worth

putting in perspective the increase in prices. it is part of a general energy crisis, really. otherforms of energy have had bigger increases, as we�*ve seen, may be gas and electricity and so on. these are more widely consumed, have a much bigger impact on the cost of living thanjust bigger impact on the cost of living than just petrol bigger impact on the cost of living thanjust petrol and bigger impact on the cost of living than just petrol and they are consumed by households and firms and used by firms to supply gas to households and so on. we can say energy is the main driver of the increase in inflation we are seeing, petrol is a very visible part of it because you see the price every time you will develop, and indeed we expect to see inflation peak this april and it is going to remain high for the rest of this year and going into 2023 as well and will remain well above the bank�*s 2% target for at least 18 months. in terms of the

factors, partly it�*s what�*s affecting everything, supply chain issues. they are affecting the energy sector. as elsewhere, it�*s affecting everything. there is also the great resignation, the fact the labour supply in the world has fallen for various reasons, and lastly, you�*vejust fallen for various reasons, and lastly, you�*ve just had fallen for various reasons, and lastly, you�*vejust had recently fallen for various reasons, and lastly, you�*ve just had recently the issues in ukraine, there is geopolitical tensions. issues in ukraine, there is geopoliticaltensions. in issues in ukraine, there is geopolitical tensions. in the ukraine and the south china sea which has not gone away, although not in the headlines, and if either of those flares up it will inevitably lead to an increase in energy prices across the world. those things... watch that space. very briefly, you are doing myjob for me, i�*m just sort of sitting here and lapping it all up. i will ask you one final and brief question if i may. when we see petrol and diesel going up like this, to what extent does it push people faster towards electric vehicles? hopefully it will ush

towards electric vehicles? hopefully it will push them _ towards electric vehicles? hopefully it will push them faster _ towards electric vehicles? hopefully it will push them faster towards i it will push them faster towards electric vehicles, but of course one problem there is electricity is going up in price as well. the relative price of the fuels will remain the same, but hopefully, yes, it would be great if everyone started taking up electric vehicles. that�*s something we can all look forward to. that's something we can all look forward to-_ forward to. good to talk to you, thank you _ forward to. good to talk to you, thank you very _ forward to. good to talk to you, thank you very much. _ schools and colleges in udupi in karnataka state are partially re—opening today. they have been closed for nearly a week following protests over the hijab ban. karnataka�*s high court will resume hearing a petition from a group of female muslim students from udupi to have the ban lifted, after six female students were barred from entering college premises for wearing hijabs. divya arya has the latest. there are restrictions on people assembling and protesting outside schools and colleges as they reopen until grade ten across the state of karnataka.

this pre—university college for women is where it all began. when students from classes 11 and 12 raised the demand that they be allowed to wear hijab inside their classrooms. now, when talks between the students, their parents, the school administration, the local government failed to reach a breakthrough, the students approached the karnataka high court — with that same request. now, a three member bench in the karnataka high court is hearing their plea to be allowed to wear hijab inside classrooms. in an interim order, the court has said that while the matter is being heard, students refrain from wearing any religious clothing or symbols inside their classrooms. but that demand spread from this preuniversity college to other colleges and universities across the state, and even colleges that had allowed muslim girls to wear hijab inside their classrooms started passing orders restricting them. non—muslim students wore saffron shawls, gathered inside the college, raised slogans and protested the muslim students,

after which, last week, the government decided to shut down all schools and colleges to maintain peace and harmony in the state. divya arya, bbc, udupi, karnataka. the film director and producer, ivan reitman, who made the comedies, "ghostbusters", "twins" and "kindergarten cop", has died at his home in california. he was 75. born in what is now slovakia, he grew up in canada, with his big break coming in 1978, producing the comedy, national lampoon�*s animal house. our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, looks back at his life. # if there�*s something�* strange in the neighbourhood. ghostbusters was a phenomenon. # ghostbusters! when teenagers became cinema�*s most lucrative audience in the 1970s and 1980s, reitman had an almost unique understanding of their tastes. he slimed me. that's great! toga, toga, toga!

his first big success was producing the raucous national lampoon�*s animal house in 1977. the movie, about an out—of—control fraternity, incorporated some of reitman�*s own experiences of college and helped begin audiences�* tastes for gross—out comedy. i'm a zit — get it? he turned to directing. his working relationship with bill murray, which reached its peak with ghostbusters, began with reitman directing him in films like meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you been, soldier? training, sir! what kind of training, son? army training, sir! he also developed a strong partnership with arnold schwarzenegger. reitman cast him injunior, kindergarten cop, and theirfirst film together, twins. my name isjulius, and i�*m your twin brother. 0h, obviously! the moment i sat down, i thought i was looking into a mirror! have you missed us?

and last year, he produced ghostbusters sequel afterlife. he was a film—maker who changed the course of cinema forever. ivan reitman who�*s died at the age of 75. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. two storms will impact the uk this week. the first one, dudley, arriving on wednesday and lasting into thursday, and then eunice on friday. now both storms will cause some damage and disruption. the reason that we�*re seeing such powerful low pressures coming in is the strength of the jet at the moment, the jet stream in the upper atmosphere, driving those deepening lows across oui’ shores. slightly different areas affected, which i�*ll talk about in just a moment. but for the rest of the day, we�*ll continue to see this rain easing southwards, wintry showers following in the north and sunny spells, and the breeze is starting to ease away. but it is a little on the chilly side compared with yesterday, even though temperatures

are actually a bit above average for early february or mid february. then the showers, the rain continues to ease away to start tonight. under a ridge of high pressure, the winds fall light. we�*re likely to see some frost temporarily and even some ice where we�*ve had the day�*s rain. but as you can see, soon after midnight, the next area of rain and hill snow is marching in off the atlantic. it�*s a very, what we call, mobile weather picture this week, with one area of rain after another and strong winds too. so initially, some brightness in the south east, that fades. the rain drags its heels to clear here and in the far north, but in between sunnier spells and a scattering of showers and temperatures very similar to those of today. but indeed, by the end of the day tomorrow, already the next area of rain, the next weather system is approaching the west of ireland. that�*s this area of low pressure. that�*s the first storm, that�*s dudley. it looks really nasty across parts of scotland, northern ireland and northern england by the time we get to tea—time. initially, we�*ll see some dry weather first thing before that rain becomes more widespread, a little bit of hill snow as well to be found here.

but look at how mild it is across southern parts — england and wales — 16s and 17s, potentially. but it has prompted an orange warning, an amberwarning from the met office, this storm because we�*re expecting winds to 90 miles an hour in some exposed locations, but hitting the likes of southern and central scotland, northern england and northern ireland, even into thursday morning. so really giving quite a battering here. then it quietens down later thursday before the next storm winds itself up. this one could affect areas further south across much of england and wales, but also fringing into northern ireland, scotland, with a significant amount of snow and blizzards to go with it in the north. the warnings are on the website.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 4... the foreign secretary says a russian invasion of ukraine could come "almost immediately." speaking after a meeting of the government�*s emergency cobra committee, liz truss warned of severe sanctions against russia, but said a diplomatic solution is still possible. there is always a choice, but that choice is for vladimir putin. he needs to understand that there would be severe costs if he invades ukraine. and those costs would be felt by russian companies, by oligarchs and ultimately, the russian people. the german chancellor says he expects clear steps on de—escalation from russia. he�*s been speaking after talks with ukraine�*s president in kyiv, who admits his country may never join the nato alliance. the public inquiry opens into the wrongful convictions of hundreds of sub—postmasters,

accused of theft because of a faulty it system. we need compensation for everybody, we need justice for everyone. we need some people to at least face the consequences of what they�*ve done to us. 15—year—old russian skater, kamila valieva will continue to compete in the winter olympics, despite failing a drugs test in december. the aa says the average price of petrol at pumps across the uk hit a new record at the weekend, reaching more than 148 pence per litre. ghostbusters. hey, anybody see a ghost? and ivan reitman, director of comedy hits like ghostbusters, has died. he was 75.

foreign secretary liz truss aid the government was, "very clear foreign secretary liz truss said the government was, "very clear there could be an imminent invasion of ukraine," after holding a meeting of the government�*s emergency response committee. she repeated a call for britons to leave ukraine while commercial routes are still available. meanwhile, a spokesman for ukraine�*s president has insisted that his country�*s ambition is still tojoin nato, as set out in its constitution, despite the ukrainian ambassador to britain suggesting otherwise, as a means of avoiding war. russia has long wanted ukraine to drop it�*s desire tojoin the military alliance. moscow now has up to 130,000 troops encircling ukraine, but maintains it has no plans to invade. our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, reports. kyiv this morning. another day in a cosmopolitan european capital, normal life continuing, despite the dire warnings of invasion, but is this the calm

before the storm? hello, mr chancellor. olaf scholz, germany�*s new chancellor, hopes not. he arrived in ukraine for talks with the country�*s president. he is due in moscow tomorrow to see president putin, looking for ways out of a confrontation the west fears could end in russian invasion. european leaders say the threat is real, and could affect the whole of europe. i think it�*s extremely serious, and tensions are very high, because, as you heard already, russian forces are at the ukrainian border at a high readiness, and there are more than 100,000 of them. ukraine has summoned russian officials to a meeting of the organization for security and cooperation in europe to explain its military build—up. last night, ukraine�*s ambassador in london suggested one possible concession.

he told the bbc his country might give up the goal of nato membership to avert war. this morning, he took it all back. we are not a member of nato right now, and to avoid war, we are ready for many concessions, and that is what we are doing in our conversations with russia. but it has nothing to do with nato, which is enshrined in the constitution. the kremlin, which says russia�*s security would be threatened by ukrainejoining nato, said abandoning the goal would help address its concerns. but a spokesman said russia—us relations were on the floor. the prime minister, in scotland today, is due to visit more european capitals this week, to show his support for nato allies. downing street said he was also considering further economic and defensive support for ukraine. the signs are, as you've heard from president biden, - that they're at least planning - for something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. that is extremely concerning.

and all the while, russian forces prepare and train. these, the latest pictures from the country�*s defence ministry, showing russian war planes patrolling the border of belarus and ukraine. james landale, bbc news. our political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster. taking place. it has not place against a backdrop of its lack its strategy of the uk allies is to

say that this could be potentially next but at the same time trying to stop it happening is warning moscow russian president but if this does happen, significant cost, the course of russian oligarchs from sanctions introduced by keith. have no, liz we are very clear that russia is the aggressor in the situation. they have 100,000 troops lined up on the ukrainian border. they need to de—escalate because it will be a cost to russia if they invade

ukraine, both in terms of the cost of a long—running war, but also the sanctions that we would impose, which would be severe and would target oligarchs, companies across russia. the uk government that netted, actress for what happens i would expect the prime minister to travel abroad in the next few days to eastern europe to try and talk to some of the uk�*s allies to try and as liz truss says, de—escalate the situation. it is that waiting game at the moment, and the uk is hoping that those warnings have some impact. that those warnings have some im act. �* that those warnings have some imact. �* , , , that those warnings have some imact. , , , . .,, impact. but besides the sanctions that have been _ impact. but besides the sanctions that have been talked _ impact. but besides the sanctions that have been talked about i impact. but besides the sanctions that have been talked about for. that have been talked about for weeks now, in practical terms, what more will britain and its allies

really do to help ukraine? it�*s more will britain and its allies really do to help ukraine? it's a really do to help ukraine? it's a really good _ really do to help ukraine? it's a really good question. _ really do to help ukraine? it's a really good question. we i really do to help ukraine? it�*s —. really good question. we know that british troops have been training up some of their ukrainian counterparts, but there is no real talk of any involvement from nato military salary in ukraine, if russia was to invade. so it is quite hard to answer that question, we�*ve been asking downing street what it will do in terms of specific sanctions, not talking about the specifics at the moment but does insist they will be costly. the other thing the prime minister was talking about this morning was reducing reliance on russian gas. that is particularly acute for countries like germany, which have been building new pipelines to russia to get cheaper gas into the country. that seems to be a bit of a twin pronged message from the prime minister. one was that simply the uk and its allies need to move away from that dependence, but of course

that has a cost for russia as well, and part of that message will be saying, look, were not going to do the same sort of business with you. there was talk over the weekend of trying to make russia an international pariah if it was to go ahead with an invasion of the ukraine, but you ask a perfectly legitimate question, which is what more would the uk and its allies do? i think at the moment there is not really an answer. the hope year and the hope in london and other western capitals is that some of the warnings over the last few weeks are being listened to by russia, but i come back to that point, at the moment for borisjohnson and for the uk government, is a waiting game. i asked our moscow correspondent, caroline davies, what the latest was from the kremlin. there is certainly a continuing effort from the west to make sure this dialogue continues.

and we heard from president putin earlier who had a very heavily choreographed meeting with sergey lavrov, his foreign minister, they were at the end of very long tables and during the course, president putin leaned in and asked do you think it is worth continuing to have these diplomatic discussions, are we being pulled into endless dialogue about trying to find a solution? of course i think a lot of people would have held their breath at sergey lavrov replied yes there is a chance to find some form of resolution that it�*s still worth continuing to have these conversations. that�*s also a positive sign because the biggest fear here is that either side but particularly the west are concerned russia might walk away and so long as these diplomatic efforts are going on, they hope that the worst—case scenario can be averted. but how candid has putin been about what would avert any military action? president putin and russia

in general have constantly said one of the main thing they are concerned about is nato and nato expansion. back in december they provided draft treaties to the us and nato, stipulating several things but the key thing they put forward was that they wanted a guarantee that ukraine was not going to be able to join nato. that has been something that has been key to rush hour�*s position, been key to russia�*s position, all the way through these discussions and it�*s something that the us and nato has said is not something they are going to change their view on. that�*s not something that up for discussion. russia cannot decide to have a veto on watch countries decide to join nato or not and in fact the reason that has come up so consistently, some suggested it was a strawman argument put forward by russia, knowing full well that the us and nato would never potentially even taking further action

because they hadn�*t found a diplomatic solution. that�*s what a lot of western analysts have argued. the point is diplomacy continues, russia continues to say it there is increasing numbers of troops on the border with ukraine making many people in ukraine, the us and nato countries very nervous. the german chancellor olaf scholz has been meeting the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky in kyiv. he urged russia to engage in dialogue. translation: we also seek great value in discussion we are all states concerned can talk to each other on an equal footing in order to resolve security issues on the basis of european cooperation. we call on russia to make use of the existing offers of dialogue. let�*s speak to our correspondent james waterhouse in the ukrainian capital, kyiv.

how much comfort do you believe the ukrainian government is deriving from these ongoing efforts of diplomacy? i from these ongoing efforts of diplomacy?— from these ongoing efforts of diloma ? ~ ., ., , ., ., diplomacy? i think outwardly a lot. the have diplomacy? i think outwardly a lot. they have long _ diplomacy? i think outwardly a lot. they have long said _ diplomacy? i think outwardly a lot. they have long said these - diplomacy? i think outwardly a lot. they have long said these public i they have long said these public signs of unity, this open diplomacy improves the country�*s standing on the negotiating table team table for any potential peace negotiation. privately, expectations are running pretty low. olaf scholz who has been criticised for being ambiguous in the past said he did support ukraine�*s journey the past said he did support ukraine�*sjourney and the past said he did support ukraine�*s journey and said he would support planned tough sanctions on russia, should they invade. of course that would be welcomed but what president zelensky wants is for sanctions to happen now because of what russia has already done with the annexation of crimea eight years ago and backing militants in the east of the country which moscow denies. that said, it does matter

continuation of talks in the sense that olaf scholz is going to moscow tomorrow, meeting with president putin himself, it keeps the flow of dialogue going. president zelensky was asked would you evacuate yourself and your family given what the west is describing as a significant week we find ourselves in? he said no i would not. he urged all the cracks who fled the country to come back for the sake of their work. —— oligarchs. a lot was said in this meeting but it was not exactly anything new for anyone who has been tuning in for the past few weeks. is has been tuning in for the past few weeks. , ~ ., ., has been tuning in for the past few weeks. , ,, ., ., ., weeks. is the ukrainian government now come to _ weeks. is the ukrainian government now come to a _ weeks. is the ukrainian government now come to a united _ weeks. is the ukrainian government now come to a united position i weeks. is the ukrainian government now come to a united position over| now come to a united position over whether they will, won�*t, can�*t, cannotjoin nato? there have been mixed messages coming out about that that one of the critical things president putin does not like the idea of. :, �* , president putin does not like the idea of. . �*, .. , president putin does not like the idea of. . �*, , , idea of. that's exactly it. it is one of russia's _ idea of. that's exactly it. it is one of russia's red _ idea of. that's exactly it. it is one of russia's red lines, i idea of. that's exactly it. it is one of russia's red lines, it i idea of. that's exactly it. it is i one of russia's red lines, it wants a guarantee that ukraine will never

join the nato alliance. nato has long said it's up to individual countries to make their decision, make that decision for themselves. it's their sovereign right. ukraine, the majority of ukrainians want to join nato, they have done for some time. but they acknowledged today president zelensky double down effectively saying that still priority. enshrined in our concentration, it's the grounds on which i was elected, that is still in the pipeline. he did say he hopes it happens but it might never happen or would that effect. this is after some confusion, him his ambassador to the uk said the country was prepared to shelve those ambitions which probably raise a few ministerial eyebrows this end because that's politically unfathomable for this ukrainian government. after a confusing start they have double down, reiterated their position, realistic that is it's not going to happen this week. ukraine will notjoin nato this week

in the words of the ambassador. mar in the words of the ambassador. nor in the words of the ambassador. nor in the words of the ambassador. nor in the short — in the words of the ambassador. nor in the short or medium—term if you listen to a lot of commentators. for the moment, thank you for now. matthew bryza is the former us ambassador to azerbaijan. thank you very much forjoining us. how encouraged are you by the idea that diplomacy might still work? quite encouraged. first of all, diplomacy has been working. president putin's classic way of conducting foreign policy which i know having negotiated during the russian invasion of georgia and having worked very closely with foreign minister sergey lavrov is to have as many options on the table as possible. to use the threat of military force in this case massive military force in this case massive military force in this case massive

military force to achieve political objectives, preferably without attacking. because actual warfare is risky and costly and including russian military lives which is not a popular idea in russia itself, especially if there are going to be ukrainians killed because as putin himself has claimed, russia and ukraine are one nation. so diplomacy, because of the solidarity of the nato alliance in imposing costs as foreign secretary liz truss has so clearly and helpfully made clear, has declared russia i think from invading or re—invading ukraine up from invading or re—invading ukraine up to this point. now, with that amazing visual of putin —like a russian sour, i million miles away from his foreign minister, and seeing or hearing that maybe we can continue these discussions, that is staged of course. that's for the russian people to see that maybe he is going to have to back down now and find a way forward. find a way

to not re—invade ukraine, and come up to not re—invade ukraine, and come up with a political set of achievements that he can sell to the russian people. that's still may not happen. if the nato alliance looks like it's splitting and it will not impose sufficient costs on russia, then i think he will go ahead with then i think he will go ahead with the military action. maintaining solidarity of nato in saying we're going to impose very high costs is essential to deter warfare. irate going to impose very high costs is essential to deter warfare. we have 'ust heard essential to deter warfare. we have just heard that _ essential to deter warfare. we have just heard that eight _ essential to deter warfare. we have just heard that eight more - essential to deter warfare. we have just heard that eight more us - essential to deter warfare. we have just heard that eight more us f-15l just heard that eight more us f—is fighterjets have arrived in poland today to take part in nato air policing, because of these trips of russian troops being, encircling ukraine. how risky is it to keep ramping that up? in this way by the us or any of the other nato allies for that matter? i us or any of the other nato allies for that matter?— for that matter? i think it's the wa to for that matter? i think it's the way to minimise _ for that matter? i think it's the way to minimise risk. - for that matter? i think it's the way to minimise risk. again, . way to minimise risk. again, vladimir putin, as liz truss said,

he is the one who created this crisis out of thin air. there was no threat to russia from ukraine except a political threat to vladimir putin's own survival in russia because a successful democratic ukraine that wants to join nato as a humiliation to putin, so he has decided as a leader of russia he is willing to risk thousands, tens of thousands of deaths of civilians, men, women and children because i feel threatened in terms of my own political position at home. what nato is doing is not saying we're going to threaten russia and anyway, it says we want to be clear, communicate with the clearest possible message, which is if a russian soldier takes one footstep into nato territory, where we are all pledged to defend each other if attacked, there will be a military response, so do not misinterpret this, mr president putin. if you touch any nato territory you will get war. but nato as a defensive alliance, if you re—enter ukraine,

nato will not use military force because ukraine is not a member of nato combat you will suffer at diplomatic year relation of more and more nato forces in nato countries that are in the east, meaning poland and the baltic states, that a big political cost for president putin, he is waiting and maybe that's why sergey lavrov said it's time to stick with the negotiations. find sergey lavrov said it's time to stick with the negotiations. and of course punitive _ stick with the negotiations. and of course punitive states _ stick with the negotiations. and of course punitive states sank - stick with the negotiations. and of course punitive states sank if - stick with the negotiations. and of course punitive states sank if the l course punitive states sank if the allies follow through with that. what marriage do you believe in revisiting the minsk agreements which would perhaps see a very different landscape in ukraine that might with federated states, with elections taking place, separately in those areas, how might that ease this situation? if in those areas, how might that ease this situation?— this situation? if you could get the ukrainian government _ this situation? if you could get the ukrainian government and - this situation? if you could get the ukrainian government and the - this situation? if you could get the - ukrainian government and the russian government to agree to a change in the minsk accord, then it would be very helpful. it would be useful as

a fig leaf for president putin to de—escalated, to say we're going back to the table on the minsk agreement, to be honest, the minsk accords, those are obscure agreements that are not what russia is really focused on. moscow is using ukraine's noncompliance with the minsk report as a pretext to threaten this massively invasion to achieve something bigger which is not only why ukraine would never join nato but is also the demand that nato will roll back its military presence in eastern european states which only happened after russia last invaded ukraine. so russia is in breach of its own commitments to the minsk agreement as well. russia was supposed to pull back its military forces from the ukrainian border, instead, not only does it still have a military presence although denied in eastern ukraine, it has never pulled out those forces or its heavy weapons, but russia has now on the contrary

moved hundred and 30,000 troops to its borderland with ukraine. that would be a good sort of pretext to negotiate a de—escalated. russia, let's talk when moving forces that, ukraine let's talk about you and this political provision of the minsk report which is humiliating for ukraine to savour separatist regions that have gained such political strength because of russian forces on the ground even though those russian forces denied that they are russian, but now these separatist regions get to vote on ukraine's future and will vote for ukraine's future and will vote for ukraine never tojoin nato. that means putin would essentially win anyway, he would get his political objective without firing a shot by having the minsk accord implemented. this is what president is's way out is. you cannot say he will give up on the ukraine giving up onjoin nato. it's a constitutional objective, but he can say let's figure out how to implement the

minsk report on both side which will factor will give the bombast to republics, veto over ukraine's nato membership and that will for better or worse de—escalated the situation. thank you very much for your insight. thank you very much for your insiaht. . ~ thank you very much for your insiaht. ., ~ i. the motoring organisation the aa says the average petrol price across the uk hit a new record high over the weekend. it stood at over £1.48 a litre, while diesel has now risen to over 151.5 pence a litre. the previous record prices were set in november last year. it's feared that rising tensions with russia over ukraine could impact supplies. concerns around the potential for conflict have definitely

another big one is the resurgence in demand, as global economies have definitely economies have reopened, but concerns around the potential for conflict have definitely driven those prices up further, because of the impact it could have on supply. it doesn't happen overnight, but these increases do feed through into the amount drivers here pay for theirfuel at the pump, and motoring groups say that yesterday the average cost per litre of petrol went above 148 pence, surpassing the previous record, set in november. they say diesel has also hit a record high. the rac is predicting that records could now be set, it says, daily and it thinks retailers are keen to pass on the wholesale increases quickly, and aa said the cost of living crisis had been up yet another notch. this does come as households and businesses are facing various cost pressures. inflation running at a 30—year high and increses to energy bills on the way. petrol retailers association has issued a statement by its executive director gordon balmer. "as it has been widely publicised, the tensions between russia

and ukraine have pushed the price of oil to a seven—year high. as the situation unfolds over the coming days, the price of oil will be subject to further volatility. other key factors to consider include continued tightness in the oil market and the dollar—sterling exchange rate. the pra, which represents independent retailers, will continue to ensure that the price of fuel is as competitive as possible". the pra represents independently owned forecourts which accounts for around 65% of forecourts and about 35% in terms of market share. a long—awaited public inquiry, into one of britain's biggest miscarriages ofjustice, has begun hearing evidence. more than 700 post office branch managers were wrongly convicted and thousands lost their businesses, when faulty accounting software, made it look as if money had gone missing from their tills, and they'd stolen it. here's charlotte gallagher. a moment for celebration, after years of anguish and struggle. jo hamilton, here on the right, is just one of the innocent people whose lives were ruined because of a faulty post office it system.

her conviction was quashed last year, but now it's time for answers from this public inquiry. i've had a criminal record for 13 years that i didn't deserve, and that impacts on your work, on your finances and everything. my mum and dad aren't here, they weren't here to see my conviction quashed, because they both had strokes and died, which i'm convinced was as a result of what happened to me. in total, 706 former sub—postmasters were convicted for crimes they didn't commit. slowly, those convictions are being overturned, 72 so far. but thousands more post office staff lost huge amounts of money, so the government will foot the bill for compensation. the it system at the centre of this scandal is called horizon, developed by the software firm, fujitsu. essentially, it couldn't add up properly, so post office managers were accused of stealing sums of money that never existed.

lives were ruined, families were torn apart. families were made homeless and destitute. reputations were destroyed. this public inquiry, beginning today, is aiming answer these questions. when did it become clear horizon wasn't working? and why did senior managers keep blaming sub—postmasters when the issues emerged? no—one has been held responsible so far. for the victims, the answers can't come soon enough. and there's been emotional evidence so far. i was the only man who ran the post office seven days a week. _ they did not pay me saturday, sunday. l i used to open the post officel at eight o'clock in the morning and shut at eight o'clock at night. of course, i took permission of the post office, _ because it was such| a budding business. i said, "i'll work- seven days a week." and i was the only post office in the country-

which was running all seven days. the post office has said sorry to victims, but many people want more than an apology. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. well, jo hamilton featured in that report was accused by the post office of taking £36,000 from the village shop she ran in hampshire. she has been speaking at the inquiry this afternoon. she described those moments when she thought she would end up injail. i was being told i probably wouldn't go to prison, but i didn't realise the odds were 75%. it was just... and i had been told to look remorseful, and i sat there and thought... and i said, "75%?" she said, "yeah, you better take your bag packed, you have got to prepare your shop to be without you, make sure it runs, because you will be unemployable if you go

to prison," and she said, "this is a really serious offence." isaid, "i know." so i looked, i was sad, i was terrified, actually. so you packed a bag just in case... i didn't come home. i hugged my mum and dad goodbye and my husband. and my boys. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has confirmed he's received death the world anti—doping agency, says it's disappointed by the decision, to allow a is—year—old russian figure skater who failed a drugs test, to continue competing at the winter olympics. kamila valieva's positive result in december only came to light last week, after she'd helped russia win the team skating event in beijing. the court of arbitration for sport has ruled that because of her age, and the timing of the test result announcement, she should be treated as an exceptional case. laura scott has the latest from beijing. cleared to skate, but not cleared of scandal. kamila valieva returned to the ice under the scrutiny of the world, after the court of arbitration for sport ruled the is—year—old should be able to continue

competing in beijing, despite testing positive for a banned substance. no provisional suspension should be imposed on the skater. in particular, the panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the olympic games would cause her irreparable harm. the panel said a series of exceptional circumstances were behind its decision, including that valieva is only 15 and the fact that her positive drugs test results came back midway through these games, 44 days after the sample was taken, meaning she had little time to mount a defence. the world anti—doping agency said it was disappointed by the decision, because its rules don't allow exceptions to be made to mandatory provisional suspensions, including for minors. meanwhile, the us olympic and paralympic committees said this appears to be another chapter in the systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by russia. it is damaging. it's very damaging,

but at the same time, you want to think that now maybe, yet again, we're at this point where something will be done, in order to make sure that nothing like this can happen again. the international olympic committee announced that there won't be a medal ceremony in the figure skating team event, which was won by the russian olympic committee, including valieva. and there are other ramifications, too. should miss valieva finish amongst the top three competitors - in the women's single skating competition, no flower- ceremony and no medall ceremony will take place during the olympic winter games, beijing 2022. - a week since making olympic history on the ice, valieva is hoping to wow the world again with her skills. but she does so in the most controversial circumstances. laura scott, bbc news, beijing. commentator: clean as a whistle. now it's time for a look

at the weather with helen willets. it's not a very good week, not much love with the weather for the coming few days. two storms on the way, look at the strength of the whence and in highly populated areas, accompanied by some heavy rain to boot. we have some rain with us at the moment, using its way southwards across the eastern side of england. showers behind and some sunshine, chilly breeze keeping temperatures around a bit average for the time of year. 7—9— ten. we are starting to see the showers is often western areas and under a ridge of high pressure for a time this evening and overnight, won't see many of those this week. a touch of frost as the sky is clear. not long after midnight before the next band of rain, hail orsnow

midnight before the next band of rain, hail or snow marching from the atlantic and temporarily some frost, could be some brightness in eastern areas first thing but it is not going to last because that weather front will sweep its way and with rain for most of her brighter skies insurers follow. one storm wednesday, thursday, another coming on friday. warnings online. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines... the foreign secretary says a russian invasion of ukraine could come 'almost immediately�*. speaking after a meeting of the government's emergency cobra committee, liz truss warned of severe sanctions against russia, but said a diplomatic solution is still possible. there is always a choice, but that choice is for vladimir putin. he needs to understand that there would be severe costs if he invades ukraine. and those costs would be felt by russian companies, by oligarchs and ultimately, the russian people.

the german chancellor says he expects clear steps on de—escalation from russia. he's been speaking after talks with ukraine's president in kyiv — who admits his country may never join the nato alliance the public inquiry into a faulty it system that led to the wrongful convictions of hundreds of post office managers hears about the impact on workers and theirfamilies. lives were ruined, families were torn _ lives were ruined, families were torn apart — lives were ruined, families were torn apart. families were made homeless — torn apart. families were made homeless and destitute. reputations were destroyed. is—year—old russian skater, kameela vali—eeva, will continue to compete in the winter olympics, despite failing a drugs test in december. the aa says the average price of petrol at pumps across the uk hit a new record at the weekend, reaching more than 148—pence per litre. ghostbusters!

and, ivan reitman, director of comedy hits like ghostbusters, has died. he was 75. sport now. good afternoon. there've been mixed fortunes for great britain's curlers on day ten of the winter olympics in beijing. the women's play—off hopes have been dented by a 7—3 loss to canada. it means eve muirhead, vicky wright, jen dodds, and hailey duff may well need to win all three of their remaining matches to qualify for the semi finals. they next play japan tomorrow morning. we are still well and truly in the competition, we've got three games left and need to get three wins out there and of course we'll be doing everything we can to get those three wins. i think we can't get too down after that loss and we still need to stay positive, because as i say, we

weren't bad, like, wejust weren't on the right side today. britain's men remain one win away from the semi finals of the team curling event. it was a close contest with switzerland and they needed bruce mouat to clear out the swiss red stone in the final end to secure a 6—5 victory. it's been a familar story at these games — another of great britain's medal hopes have struggled — this time in the two man bobsleigh. things did not got to plan for brad hall, the pilot, and nick gleeson. after their first two runs they're in 11th place. but they can still turn things around, though they'll need to be almost perfect tomorrow if they're to get a medal it's frustrating, we wanted to be a few places higher but made a couple of mistakes in the middle of the track, lost speed so unfortunately we are not

higher up but we don't deserve to be at the moment, so hope to go back and see where we went wrong and try to make the corrections for tomorrow. there's been some good news for team gb on the slopes — where there'll be two brits in tomorrow's women's freeski slopestyle final. i7—year—old kirsty muir here and her british team mate katie summerhayes made it through qualifying. muirfinished in sixth and will be to do even better tomorrow, while summerhayes qualified in tenth. muir and summerhayes are two of the medal hopes — as is james woods, who's set to compete in the freestyle skiing slopestyle event tomorrow but things aren't looking good for the former world champion at the moment woods finished fourth at the last winter olympics butjust hours before the slopestyle event he's put out a message on social media saying he's "full of painkillers and strapped up in bed" because of a back injury and is unable to move. he added... "hopefully i wake up from a good sleep feeling ready for action." and just one more line to bring you from the winter games — there was disapointment today for katie ormerod — who failed to qualify for the final in the big air. she finished 25th after falling

on two of her three runs. four premier league players who play for argentina have been given two match international bans following the abandoned world cup qualifier against brazil last september. tottenham's cristian romero and giovani lo celso — who joined villarreal on loan injanuary — and aston villa pair emiliano martinez and emiliano buendia were accused of giving false information on their covid—i9 declarations when entering brazil for the game. there's been a setback for newcastle in their fight against relegation from the premier league. the club's confirmed that kieran trippier�*s fractured his foot. the defender scored the only goal in their win against aston villa yesterday. and has played a big part their recent run of three successive wins. and former great britain rugby league player and coach johnny whiteley has died at the age of 91. whiteley was part of test series wins over australia with the lions as both player and coach, and was part of three world cup squads between 1954 and 1960. he also won the championship and played in challenge cup finals

with hull for whom he scored 156 tries in a17 games, and coached both hull fc and hull kr. that's all the sport for now. a state in southern india has re—opened some schools today after being closed for the past week following protests over female students not being allowed to wear hijabs, or head—to—toe burqas, in class. hijabs, or head—to—toe burqas, schools and colleges in the indian state of karnataka partially re—opened today — after being closed for the past week following protests over the wearing of hijabs in classrooms. it coincides with the state's high court resuming its hearing on the issue. the row was sparked after six female students were barred from entering college premises for wearing hijabs. what led to the ban in the first

place? what led to the ban in the first lace? ~ . what led to the ban in the first lace? . ., ., what led to the ban in the first lace? ~ ., ., ., ., , place? we are on ground zero, this is the place — place? we are on ground zero, this is the place where _ place? we are on ground zero, this is the place where students - place? we are on ground zero, this is the place where students of - place? we are on ground zero, thisl is the place where students of grade ii and 12th is the place where students of grade 11 and 12th in what is called a pre—university college, really a school, the demand of being allowed to wear a hijab. just a headscarf inside their classrooms. once the school refused and all efforts of making any talks did not lead to a breakthrough, so the high court... as well as keeping in mind in this state it is fairly common for girls to wear head scarves inside their passion, especially in private run schools, but in government run schools, but in government run schools like this when the rules are not very clear and as we have been reporting over the past ten days, theissue reporting over the past ten days, the issue really caught the fancy of students across notjust this region but even in places outside, which are muslim dominated, in other parts of india. find are muslim dominated, in other parts of india. �* . , are muslim dominated, in other parts of india. �* .,, ., ., of india. and it has gone all the wa to of india. and it has gone all the way to court? — of india. and it has gone all the way to court? indeed, - of india. and it has gone all the way to court? indeed, becausel

of india. and it has gone all the - way to court? indeed, because they felt, and i have _ way to court? indeed, because they felt, and i have spoken _ way to court? indeed, because they felt, and i have spoken to _ way to court? indeed, because they felt, and i have spoken to many - felt, and i have spoken to many muslim girls since i live here —— since i arrived you, they say it is a right of expression, constitutional right, but that is not found favour with a loss of their classmates. this place where i am right now, there are 10% muslims to around 85% hindu in the state, obviously they are a small minority, but they have been peacefully studying with tender classmates in school for many years stop what we saw was shocking visuals of non—muslim students waiting saffron shawls in protest to the muslim girls asking that they should be allowed to wear the hijab, and it has really shocked people in the community here, which is that what has generally seen a very peaceful coexistence of communities, neighbourhoods and businesses, and it is common to see men in black and headscarves on the street. critics say this is indicative not of the of the community trying to assert their

right to education and to religious expression, but really the conservative elements of both the hindu and muslim communities using impressionable young minds... remember these are children not even the 18 years of age, to push their political agendas and gain popularity within their communities. you mention the political agenda, there are widespread elections in india this year. may to feature in some of those campaigns? it has already featured _ some of those campaigns? it has already featured in _ some of those campaigns? it has already featured in those - some of those campaigns? it 1:3 already featured in those campaigns because india's largest state by population currently has a month—long schedule voting going on, today was the second round of voting, and that place is known for hindu muslim clashes, conservative religious beliefs and it has been mentioned in rallies by leaders there, and this date itself is going to go to elections next year so all

kinds of allegations being made and those are the real political agendas behind the issues of education and the rights of muslim women. police are hunting a sex offender who escaped from jail in boston, in lincolnshire. paul robson, who's 56, was serving a life sentence after being branded 'a menace to females' but was in an open prison. for more on this, we spoke to our reporter, caroline bilton the alarm was raised at 7am yesterday morning, here at the north sea camp open prison on the outskirts of boston. when it became clear that robson was missing. 56—year—old robson was serving a life sentence for the attempted rape and indecent assault of a woman. this was a serious offence, he had got into her home through the cat flap and had put a pillowcase over her head and attacked her at knife—point. lincolnshire police describing him today as dangerous. also admitting that he could be

anywhere in the country right now. this is an open prison, here on the outskirts of boston, of the lincolnshire fens and its used as a minimum security prison. the ministry ofjustice said it is only used to house prisoners that have been risk—assessed and deemed suitable for an open prison and yet, today, lincolnshire police have issued a statement in which they have said that robson is a dangerous sex offender and while he presents a particular danger to women and young children, they believe he can cause real harm to anyone that he comes across. they have asked that if anyone sees robson, that they do not approach him and they do not try to apprehend him. lincolnshire police have told us that they are pursuing different lines of inquiry, but they are very keen to talk to anybody who may have seen paul robson and to let them know via 999, but clearly questions

being asked today as to why such a dangerous offender was here at this open prison in lincolnshire. lincolnshire police have reiterated that advice for the public to stay away from paul robson, and to refer any sightings of him to the police. our advice to members of the public is that they should not try to apprehend him or approached him, as he poses a risk to members of the public. what they should do if they see him is call the police and they should report what they've seen, where he is and make sure that they themselves stay in a position where they are not too close to him. trying to keep that distance from him and just advise the police that they have seen him and if possible, a description, or a vehicle where he is nearby, passing the information because it could be really critical in terms of helping us identify where he is. we really do need the public�*s help. i've been speaking

to richard garside from the centre of crime and justice studies. there is about ten or 12 open prisons — there is about ten or 12 open prisons across england and wales, i think_ prisons across england and wales, i think all— prisons across england and wales, i think all of— prisons across england and wales, i think all of them are in england. they— think all of them are in england. they have — think all of them are in england. they have places for about 4.5 to 5.5 thousand presenters, a relatively small part of the total prison— relatively small part of the total prison population, close to 80,000, so the _ prison population, close to 80,000, so the vast _ prison population, close to 80,000, so the vast majority of prisoners are not— so the vast majority of prisoners are not in— so the vast majority of prisoners are not in open conditions. that is different— are not in open conditions. that is different in— are not in open conditions. that is different in other countries, they have _ different in other countries, they have much— different in other countries, they have much higher rates of open prisons. — have much higher rates of open prisons, finland is a good example. it is a _ prisons, finland is a good example. it is a mix— prisons, finland is a good example. it is a mix of— prisons, finland is a good example. it is a mix of people. to be an open prison, _ it is a mix of people. to be an open prison, first — it is a mix of people. to be an open prison, first of all you have to be judged _ prison, first of all you have to be judged hy— prison, first of all you have to be judged by the prison service both to be low— judged by the prison service both to be low risk— judged by the prison service both to be low risk to other prisoners and the general population and have low risk of— the general population and have low risk of escaping and scrunching. we don't _ risk of escaping and scrunching. we don't know— risk of escaping and scrunching. we don't know the circumstances of this particular— don't know the circumstances of this particular prisoner and why he may be particular prisoner and why he may he in _ particular prisoner and why he may he in open — particular prisoner and why he may be in open conditions but the prison

service _ be in open conditions but the prison service will— be in open conditions but the prison service will have judge that through rigorous _ service will have judge that through rigorous conditions. the duchess of cornwall is self—isolating after testing positive for covid—19. in a statement, clarence house said "we continue to follow government guidelines". the duchesses' husband, the prince of wales, cancelled an event after testing positive for the virus on thursday. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has confirmed he's received death threats, following boris johnson's false claim, that he failed to prosecute the paedophile jimmy savile. sir keir had to be shielded by police from an angry mob outside parliament last week, and says the prime minister's slur has "fed into" a "right—wing conspiracy theories." police are investigating, the online death threats. coleen rooney has been refused permission to bring a high court claim against rebekah vardy�*s agent as part of an ongoing legal battle between the footballers' wives over an online post. our arts correspondent david sillito has been giving me an update:

in 2019a in 2019 a very famous post by coleen rooney, she had been alarmed by what she thought was the leaking of private stories from a private instagram account, and what she said she did was she had fed fake stories on this instagram account and had reduced it down to one person, and at the end the famous words, it was rebekah vardy�*s account, essentially pointing the finger at rebekah vardy, wife ofjamie pointing the finger at rebekah vardy, wife of jamie vardy. and rebekah vardy is suing her for libel. there have been a number of twists and turns, and we haven't even got to the actual case, which will, we understand, begin on the 9th of may. today was all about two things, one, about rebekah vardy�*s agent at the time. one of the feelings was if it wasn't rebekah vardy it might have been her agent who actually had access to private

instagram account and leaked the story to the sun and so coleen rooney was wanting to be able to bring a case of misuse of private information against the agent, because if rebekah vardy was found not to have been nearly care, then it would look as though it was vindication on rebekah vardy�*s site, this is what coleen rooney's lawyers are suggesting and she wanted to say, i want to at least prove it was the agent that the if it was her that did it. complicated already, but in orderfor this that did it. complicated already, but in order for this case to go ahead in the 9th of may, it was decided that that case cannot be brought at the same time. that's as far as we got with that. then there is the much more complicated issue of whatsapp messages, instagram messages, thousands upon thousands, 90 errors have been spent so far going through them all, and this was a question of which of the messages that were inadvertently revealed to

coleen rooney's lawyers. a large number of messages had been redacted but there appears to have been a mistake and they weren't redacted, and then the question of course was, would this be admissible evidence? one of these messages has the words from rebekah vardy would love to leak those stories. who that's about what it's about, the context, all that will be decided. there is another one about what would happen if they found out that we'd done it? and they talking about the question of access to accounts and a message from the agent saying, well, maybe we see it was an old laptop and one of the girls in the office had access to, and this was a story about a footballer who they are referring to in court as mr x. i told you it was getting complicated. all these messages, today was all about hundred 98 paragraphs discussing what search terms and whose messages could be actually gone before we get to this case. i

won't go through it all. there is one paragraph i think does rather standout. it was a plough rebekah vardy�*s disclosure of documents and the judge said we have to bear the background of disclosure so far only four specific points, one that she was asked to come up with all her audio and image whatsapp messages, but as she was transferring them, a mysterious delete button got hit and the forensic expert in charge of it said it was somewhat surprising that all of it disappeared and was not backed up in the cloud. the agent's phone she was asked for, and it went overboard in the north sea because of a large wave. her twitter account was deleted and these where the background issues. one final message

to andy hall of the sun which people know exists, but that appears to have been diluted as well. all these things the judge says need to be borne in mind with background, all of these whatsapp messages so far. the 9th of may we are expecting both of them in court.— of them in court. excellent background _ of them in court. excellent background there. - the film director and producer, ivan reitman, who made the comedies, "ghostbusters", "twins" and "kindergarten cop", has died at his home in california. he was 75. born in what is now slovakia, he grew up in canada, with his big break coming in 1978, producing the comedy, national lampoon's animal house. our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, looks back at his life. # if there's something' strange in the neighbourhood. ghostbusters was a phenomenon. # ghostbusters! when teenagers became cinema's most lucrative audience in the 1970s and 1980s, reitman had an almost unique understanding of their tastes. he slimed me. that's great! toga, toga, toga!

his first big success was producing the raucous national lampoon's animal house in 1977. the movie, about an out—of—control fraternity, incorporated some of reitman's own experiences of college and helped begin audiences�* tastes for gross—out comedy. i'm a zit — get it? he turned to directing. his working relationship with bill murray, which reached its peak with ghostbusters, began with reitman directing him in films like meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you been, soldier? training, sir! what kind of training, son? army training, sir! he also developed a strong partnership with arnold schwarzenegger. reitman cast him injunior, kindergarten cop, and theirfirst film together, twins. my name isjulius, and i'm your twin brother. oh, obviously! the moment i sat down, i thought

i was looking into a mirror! have you missed us? and last year, he produced ghostbusters sequel afterlife. he was a film—maker who changed the course of cinema forever. ivan reitman who's died at the age of 75. one of the highest profile sporting events in the world, american football's super bowl, has been won by the los angeles rams, who beat the cincinnati bengals. prince harry and hollywood stars including charlize theron, jennifer lopez and ben affleck, watched from the stands, along with an estimated global audience of well over a hundred million people. for the first time, the event famed for its half—time entertainment, featured a celebration of hip hop, with performances from snoop dogg, maryj blige, and eminem. here's our los angeles correspondent, sophie long. it was the day la had been waiting for, as the super bowl came back to its birthplace. i got the rams, i got the bengals.

rams, bengals, rams, bengals... rams, baby! wheyy!! rams! bengals! time! the super bowl has come back to los angeles! - dwayne the rockjohnson injected excitement before kick—off. turns out that wasn't necessary. stafford, into the end zone! the rams were first to score and lead into half—time. then, in a matter of minutes, the brand—new sofi stadium was transformed into a california house party for the first hip—hop half—time show, set on a glittering map of los angeles. dr dre and snoop dogg opened, 50 cent made a surprise appearance, in more ways than one. maryj blige dazzled. compton local kendrick lamar took over.

then the crowd of more than 70,000 lost it to eminem. it had been billed as the super bowl�*s best ever. maryj blige killed it. dr dre, eminem, thank you for representing the culture, and we love all y'all. all y'all are amazing. cincinnati put up a mighty fight. it looked like the trophy would be theirs, until the rams scored a touchdown less than two minutes before what became a dramatic, and for the bengals, heartbreaking end to the game. well, it was the hollywood ending that people in the city of angels had been dreaming of. the cincinnati bengals, the cinderella of the super bowl for so long, may have finally made it to the ball, but they are now leaving empty—handed. it's for the city! comeback king, baby! cincinnati is a good team, - we've got a lot of years to come, we're going to be a great team in the future _ what an epic game, that last touchdown just really nailed it,

it was a phenomenal game. we're from la, this was our day. and one hip—hop and rams fans will neverforget. sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. two storms will impact the uk this week. the first one, dudley, arriving on wednesday and lasting into thursday, and then eunice on friday. now both storms will cause some damage and disruption. the reason that we're seeing such powerful low pressures coming in is the strength of the jet at the moment, the jet stream in the upper atmosphere, driving those deepening lows across oui’ shores. slightly different areas affected, which i'll talk about in just a moment. but for the rest of the day, we'll continue to see this rain easing southwards, wintry showers following in the north and sunny spells, and the breeze is starting to ease away. but it is a little on the chilly

side compared with yesterday, even though temperatures are actually a bit above average for early february or mid february. then the showers, the rain continues to ease away to start tonight. under a ridge of high pressure, the winds fall light. we're likely to see some frost temporarily and even some ice where we've had the day's rain. but as you can see, soon after midnight, the next area of rain and hill snow is marching in off the atlantic. it's a very, what we call, mobile weather picture this week, with one area of rain after another and strong winds too. so initially, some brightness in the south east, that fades. the rain drags its heels to clear here and in the far north, but in between sunnier spells and a scattering of showers and temperatures very similar to those of today. but indeed, by the end of the day tomorrow, already the next area of rain, the next weather system is approaching the west of ireland. that's this area of low pressure. that's the first storm, that's dudley. it looks really nasty across parts of scotland, northern ireland and northern england by the time we get to tea—time. initially, we'll see some dry weather first thing before that rain becomes more widespread, a little bit of hill snow as well to be found here.

but look at how mild it is across southern parts — england and wales — 16s and 17s, potentially. but it has prompted an orange warning, an amberwarning from the met office, this storm because we're expecting winds to 90 miles an hour in some exposed locations, but hitting the likes of southern and central scotland, northern england and northern ireland, even into thursday morning. so really giving quite a battering here. then it quietens down later thursday before the next storm winds itself up. this one could affect areas further south across much of england and wales, but also fringing into northern ireland, scotland, with a significant amount of snow and blizzards to go with it in the north. the warnings are on the website.

this is bbc news, i'm clive myrie. the headlines at 5pm... as fears grow of an imminent russian invasion of ukraine, borisjohnson warns "we are on the edge of a precipice" as he prepares to speak to president biden within the hour. the signs are, as you've heard from president biden, that they are at least planning something that could take place as early as in the next 48 hours. the public inquiry opens into the wrongful convictions of hundreds of sub—postmasters, accused of theft because of a faulty it system. we need compensation for everybody, we need justice for everyone. we need some people to at least face the consequences of what they've done to us.

the teenage russian skater, kamila valieva, will continue