this is bbc news. the headlines: novak djokovic tells the bbc he'd rather miss out on tennis trophies than have a covid—19 vaccine. in an exclusive interview, the world men's number one says he's not anti—vaccine, but believes in personal choice. are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the _ are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest _ are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest player— are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest player that- are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest player that ever. to be the greatest player that ever picked _ to be the greatest player that ever picked up — to be the greatest player that ever picked up a — to be the greatest player that ever picked up a racket _ to be the greatest player that ever picked up a racket statistically - picked up a racket statistically because — picked up a racket statistically because you _ picked up a racket statistically because you feel— picked up a racket statistically because you feel so _ picked up a racket statistically because you feel so strongly i picked up a racket statistically - because you feel so strongly about this because you feel so strongly about thisjab? _ because you feel so strongly about this “ab? , russia says it's pulling back some of its troops from the border with ukraine, germany's chancellor is meeting president putin at the moment. new figures show although wages went up at the end of last year,

pay isn't keeping pace with rising prices. the 15—year—old russian skater kamila valieva returns to the ice at the olympics after being cleared to take part despite failing a drugs test. and bristol zoo will move to a new home later this year, after 186 years on its current site in clifton. the world men's no 1 tennis player novak djokovic has told the bbc that he's prepared to sacrifice playing in competitions including wimbledon and the french open rather than have a covid—19 vaccine.

and the french open rather in an exclusive interview after losing his legal attempt to compete at the australian open, the 3a year old said he's not part of the anti—vaccine movement — but supports people's right to choose. the bbc�*s amol rajan sat down with him in belgrade. he is widely held to be the greatest player of his time, in an era already blessed with legends. but now he is the most controversial, too. have you received any vaccination against covid? i have not. why? i understand and support fully the freedom to choose whether you want to get vaccinated or not. sorry to interrupt, we have got vladimir putin speaking. translation: we vladimir putin speaking. translation: ~ ,. , , vladimir putin speaking. translation: ~ ,. ,, ., , translation: we discussed a number of issues regarding _ translation: we discussed a number of issues regarding bilateral— of issues regarding bilateral relations and we looked carefully at

certain important points of international agenda. certain important points of internationalagenda. germany certain important points of international agenda. germany is a key partner of russia and we would like to strengthen the relationship between the countries. i had the impression that the chancellor also wanted to continue that cooperation. first of all in the area of economic relationships, germany is second after china amongst the international partners of russia, and despite a difficult situation to do with the pandemic and covid and volatility on the international market, in the course of 2021 trade with germany rose to about $57 billion. the investment of the

russian federation in germany is in the region of 10 billion and there are about 4000 companies with german participation active in russia. i would like to say that these meetings between these business meetings between these business meetings between these business meetings between our german partners and russian partners will continue, at the business level, and this creates a wonderful atmosphere, business atmosphere, in the market which is useful for us business atmosphere, in the market which is usefulfor us because entrepreneurs very often come up with constructive proposals to improve investment in business relationships between the countries. we take into account of these proposals and we implement them in practical life, a special place in the bilateral economic relationships is the energy sector. since the 60s

of the 20th century, we have conducted a number of projects, amongst them a project, gas in exchange for pipes, and at the moment the russian federation is supplying about a third of demand of the energy demand of germany, in 2021 germany received 50 billion worth of russian gas and i would like to point out that even at a time of high exchange prices for gas, we continue to supply germany with gas at the rates according to the long—term contract. the regulator of germany is busy,

certifying the pipeline to germany, and since september last year the pipeline is ready to be in operation. this pipeline is there to strengthen energy security and help resolve a number of energy and ecology issues. this is a purely commercial project and there is no politics, no politics involved in this. i would like to also point out that we are happy to continue the supply of gas through ukraine, even after 2024, after the current contract for transit through this country expires. if there is demand from our european partners and if this makes economic sense. we see strong perspectives for expanding

german cooperation in other energy sectors including development and commercialisation of renewable energy. the dialogue on all of these issuesis energy. the dialogue on all of these issues is being conducted within the framework of the bilateral group and we are also strengthening cooperation with german partners in the field of climate change. we are creating a system of monitoring and absorption of gases that contribute to the climate change. and we are also discussing the opportunities to use hydrogen and other projects. we are working on improving our

humanitarian ties in the field of culture, education, and here we have the st petersburg dialogue and russian and german community, and there are a number of proposals that have been discussed in terms of security guarantees between russia, nato and other partners. we discussed the subject of the expansion of nato to the east and returning to the potential infrastructure at the level of 1997 when the foundation act was signed. russia cannot close its eyes to the

fact that the west and nato freely interpret the principal of equal and indivisible security. this principle i remind you, includes notjust the right to choose any alliance or block freely, but also there is an obligation not to strengthen its security at the expense of other countries. nato has an open door policy and we mentioned this at the press conference was before this when we announced the results of our negotiations with other european partners. the roles do not say that you have to accept new partners —— the rules do not say that you have

to accept new partners in nato. so, the legal agreements that we are proposing are there to alleviate the situation and release the pressure. the three basic russian requirements that were put forward have not been met by the response from our nato partners and other parties. there are a few ideas that need to be discussed and we proposed a few ideas to our partners on the issue of european security and certain systems of weapons, medium—range rockets and so on. we are prepared to discuss these issues and we are also prepared to conduct

negotiations but all the issues as we mentioned before need to be considered comprehensively. they should not be separated from other issues. of course, the topic of european security has been discussed in the context of the current situation, in the context of the situation, in the context of the situation with ukraine. as we know, ukrainian authorities refused to follow through on the minsk agreement, an agreement which was reached later on... there are a few principal elements like amnesty and special status for eastern ukraine. the former foreign minister of

germany proposed certain compromised measures and unfortunately they have not been achieved so far. also, the opportunities to reinstate the integrity, geographical integrity of ukraine, have been ignored. this opportunity through direct negotiations with these regions. there are a number of other issues. we talked about the iranians nuclear programme and at the level of the foreign ministry we are in constant contact and i would like to say that our positions are quite close on this matter. at the end i would like to thank the chancellor for this work and this productive dialogue.

thank you very much for your attention. thank you very much for your attention-— thank you very much for your. attention._ pool thank you very much for your . attention._ pool it thank you very much for your - attention._ pool it is attention. translation: pool it is im ortant attention. translation: pool it is important that— attention. translation: pool it is important that i _ attention. translation: pool it is important that i am _ attention. translation: pool it is important that i am in _ attention. translation: pool it is important that i am in moscow - attention. translation: pool it is | important that i am in moscow today and i would like to thank —— will it is important that i am in moscow today and i would like to thank the president for the stalks and we have not left out any topic —— for these talks. of course it is important that we talk with each other. both countries have close political and cultural ties. there are 90 active city partnerships between russia and germany regarding education and young people. germanyjust completed the year with more thou events around the country —— more than 1000 events around the country which will highlight the ties between the countries. our economic ties also

have great potential and we have already heard about this, especially with regards to decarbonisation, renewable energies and our responsibility with regards to climate change, this is something we need to approach together. and that is also something that is of central importance in the relations between germany and russia. we need to find a way to find climate neutrality in an industrialised world. another important pillar for our relations is that we need to create understanding between our countries in the wake of world war ii. we have already talked about the st petersburg dialogue. it stands for

understanding between russia and germany and i expressed my hope that in other high—level talks we will be able to find a solution to the current problem because we need a forum for open dialogue. and i hope that everybody can participate in this debate, who wants to. it is the space for civil society, it is becoming more difficult, and we would like to continue working together with partners that we have worked with in the past. it is a shame that this forum was not possible to continue because it helped with the understanding of forced labour in nazi germany. in our talks i also spoke about my

expectation that it could continue in russia, the bilateral interest, and we also discussed critical topics, and that is a sign of these talks and it is important, but of course my visit today must be seen in the context of the ukraine crisis, the most serious crisis that europe has faced for a long time. the military build—up on the border, of russian troops on the border with ukraine, this has formed obviously part of our talks and also the security guarantees that russia is demanding. i have explained the security situation as we see it. i expressed that the troop build—up is seen as a threat and of course we

are very concerned. there are more than 100,000 troops, russian troops, on the border with ukraine, and we cannot, we find this incomprehensible. so we need de—escalation, that is very important, and in these situations it is important to make sure that no war will follow. vladimir putin also talked about talks with the foreign and defence ministers and that diplomatic avenues have not been exhausted it so we need to work on a peaceful solution. and we havejust heard that some tropes have been withdrawn from the ukrainian border —— some troops. we are ready with all partners and allies in nato and

with russia to talk about concrete steps forjoint with russia to talk about concrete steps for joint security. nato with russia to talk about concrete steps forjoint security. nato has already called for concrete talks. the us is are also ready to hold bilateral talks. this dialogue will be held with mutual respect as we have agreed within the agreement, so territorial integrity is a must for all states as well as ukraine. that is non—negotiable. it is my wish that these issues will be discussed, that these issues will be discussed, that there will be a dialogue, and we must not come to a dead end. for

the german government, further military aggression on ukraine will lead to severe political, economic and geopolitical consequences. everybody knows this. such an escalation must be stopped. the search for diplomatic solutions is one of the main reasons i travelled to ukraine and to moscow today. president vladimir putin and myself agreed that the normandy format within the o ecc and the nato russia council is an important way forward and we need movement here and progress. therefore it is good that volodymyr zelensky confirmed that the trilateral contact group within

the trilateral contact group within the minsk process will continue and that all members will come together and that draft legislation on eastern ukraine will be presented. that is good progress and we should follow up on that. and i ask vladimir putin to send his negotiators with a positive mandate so that we can achieve progress and finally for us germans and all europeans, it is clear that security can only be achieved with russia and not against russia, but we are also united within nato and europe that the solution must be found, no matter how difficult and dangerous the situation is. i don't think it is hopeless. we all need to be brave

and responsible in our actions. that is what i but like to say my generation, for us war has become unthinkable in europe and we have to make sure it stays that way and that is my responsibility as the head of government. that there will be no military escalation. translation: journalists now have a chance to ask— translation: journalists now have a chance to ask questions. _ chance to ask questions. translation: - chance to ask questions. translation:— chance to ask questions. translation: ., , ., translation: vladimir putin you siunalled translation: vladimir putin you signalled that _ translation: vladimir putin you signalled that you _

translation: vladimir putin you signalled that you can _ translation: vladimir putin you signalled that you can see - translation: vladimir putin you | signalled that you can see dialogue but at _ signalled that you can see dialogue but at the — signalled that you can see dialogue but at the same time you criticised that the _ but at the same time you criticised that the german chancellor did not bring _ that the german chancellor did not bring enough with him and all europeans are asking the question, in spite _ europeans are asking the question, in spite of— europeans are asking the question, in spite of the eu relations with russia, — in spite of the eu relations with russia, will there be war with europe? _ russia, will there be war with europe? would you exclude war in europe? _ europe? would you exclude war in europe? and chancellor, how would you evaluate the situation after the talks you _ you evaluate the situation after the talks you have just held, has been progress. — talks you have just held, has been progress, the way that you expected and what _ progress, the way that you expected and what is — progress, the way that you expected and what is the next step translation: fits and what is the next step translation:— and what is the next step translation: �* , ., ., translation: as for the war in euro e, translation: as for the war in eur0pe. the _ translation: as for the war in europe, the german _ translation: as for the war in europe, the german chancellorl translation: as for the war in . europe, the german chancellorjust said that the people of his generation and i am among those

people, can hardly imagine a war in europe and he said that in relation to ukraine but nevertheless we were witnesses of a war in europe and this was initiated by nato against yugoslavia. it was initiated with the bombing of belgrade. we saw this. we saw this without any sanction from the security council of the united nations. so this was a bad example. but it did take place. this is number one. secondly, whether we want it or not, but of course we don't want it and this is why we have put forward the proposal to start the negotiation process where the results should be an

agreement of making sure equal security of everyone including our country. unfortunately, there was no constructive response to this proposal. nevertheless, we come from a position that even in the documents that were forwarded to us from nato and washington, there are elements that can be discussed. but these need to be discussed comprehensively with all basic issues that we highlighted today. we are hoping and i highlighted this to the chancellor, that this dialogue will work out, and depending on how the situation is going to develop, this will affect all other issues

that are involved in this and this will affect both us and you. translation:— will affect both us and you. translation: will where it is im ortant translation: will where it is important will _ translation: will where it is important will that _ translation: will where it is important will that we - translation: will where it is important will that we have i translation: will where it is important will that we have to | translation: will where it is - important will that we have to make use of all options and important will that we have to make use of all option— use of all options and that is the reason why _ use of all options and that is the reason why i _ use of all options and that is the reason why i said _ use of all options and that is the reason why i said that _ use of all options and that is the reason why i said that importantj reason why i said that important requirements are in place for the minsk— requirements are in place for the minsk process and that means that talks within the trilateral group will start— talks within the trilateral group will start with regard to these proposals and that this is the starting — proposals and that this is the starting point for a peaceful solution. both in the ukraine and the donbas region, what is important for me. _ the donbas region, what is important for me. is— the donbas region, what is important for me, is that the talks will take

place. _ for me, is that the talks will take place. with— for me, is that the talks will take place, with this trilateral contact group, _ place, with this trilateral contact group, to— place, with this trilateral contact group, to discuss what was agreed in minsk, _ group, to discuss what was agreed in minsk. and _ group, to discuss what was agreed in minsk. and i— group, to discuss what was agreed in minsk, and i would like to say once again— minsk, and i would like to say once again that — minsk, and i would like to say once again that the situation with yugoslavia was somewhat different. there _ yugoslavia was somewhat different. there was _ yugoslavia was somewhat different. there was mass murder and i'm glad that we _ there was mass murder and i'm glad that we now— there was mass murder and i'm glad that we now have a peaceful situation _ that we now have a peaceful situation in the balkans and that they are — situation in the balkans and that they are looking towards the european union, i think that is a good _ european union, i think that is a good sign — european union, i think that is a good sign-— european union, i think that is a - good sign._ according to good sign. translation: according to our estimates— good sign. translation: according to our estimates what _ good sign. translation: according to our estimates what is _ good sign. translation: according to our estimates what is happening - good sign. translation: according to our estimates what is happening in - our estimates what is happening in donbas today is genocide. translation: i donbas today is genocide. translation:— donbas today is genocide. translation: ., ., , , ., translation: i have a big question coverin: a translation: i have a big question covering a number _ translation: i have a big question covering a number of _ translation: i have a big question

covering a number of topics. - covering a number of topics. chancellor, _ covering a number of topics. chancellor, you _ covering a number of topics. chancellor, you came - covering a number of topics. chancellor, you came back. covering a number of topics. . chancellor, you came back from covering a number of topics. - chancellor, you came back from kyiv where _ chancellor, you came back from kyiv where you _ chancellor, you came back from kyiv where you met — chancellor, you came back from kyiv where you met with _ chancellor, you came back from kyiv where you met with volodymyr- where you met with volodymyr zelensky, _ where you met with volodymyr zelensky, and _ where you met with volodymyr zelensky, and in— where you met with volodymyr zelensky, and in your- where you met with volodymyr zelensky, and in your opinion, | where you met with volodymyr- zelensky, and in your opinion, does kyiv want— zelensky, and in your opinion, does kyiv want and — zelensky, and in your opinion, does kyiv want and are _ zelensky, and in your opinion, does kyiv want and are they— zelensky, and in your opinion, does kyiv want and are they going - zelensky, and in your opinion, does kyiv want and are they going to - kyiv want and are they going to follow — kyiv want and are they going to follow through— kyiv want and are they going to follow through on _ kyiv want and are they going to follow through on the - kyiv want and are they going to follow through on the minsk. follow through on the minsk agreement— follow through on the minsk agreement aimed _ follow through on the minsk agreement aimed at - follow through on the minsk agreement aimed at the - follow through on the minsk- agreement aimed at the peaceful resolution? — agreement aimed at the peaceful resolution? vladimir— agreement aimed at the peaceful resolution? vladimir putin, - agreement aimed at the peaceful resolution? vladimir putin, there was news — resolution? vladimir putin, there was news on _ resolution? vladimir putin, there was news on the _ resolution? vladimir putin, there was news on the partial- resolution? vladimir putin, there i was news on the partial withdrawal on troops — was news on the partial withdrawal on troops and _ was news on the partial withdrawal on troops and also _ was news on the partial withdrawal on troops and also news _ was news on the partial withdrawal on troops and also news where - on troops and also news where delegates _ on troops and also news where delegates asked _ on troops and also news where delegates asked to _ on troops and also news where delegates asked to recognise l on troops and also news where . delegates asked to recognise the eastern _ delegates asked to recognise the eastern ukrainian _ delegates asked to recognise the eastern ukrainian public- delegates asked to recognise the eastern ukrainian public and - delegates asked to recognise the eastern ukrainian public and also delegates asked to recognise the. eastern ukrainian public and also i would _ eastern ukrainian public and also i would like — eastern ukrainian public and also i would like to — eastern ukrainian public and also i would like to ask _ eastern ukrainian public and also i would like to ask both _ eastern ukrainian public and also i would like to ask both leaders - eastern ukrainian public and also i l would like to ask both leaders about nord stream — would like to ask both leaders about nord stream two. _ would like to ask both leaders about nord stream two. what _ would like to ask both leaders about nord stream two. what are - would like to ask both leaders about nord stream two. what are the - nord stream two. what are the prospects — nord stream two. what are the prospects for _ nord stream two. what are the prospects for finishing - nord stream two. what are the prospects for finishing this - nord stream two. what are the i prospects for finishing this project and what — prospects for finishing this project and what are _ prospects for finishing this project and what are the _ prospects for finishing this project and what are the threats? - prospects for finishing this project . and what are the threats? president putin, _ and what are the threats? president putin. another— and what are the threats? president putin, another question, _ and what are the threats? president putin, another question, mr- putin, another question, mr schroeder— putin, another question, mr schroeder is _ putin, another question, mr schroeder is one _ putin, another question, mr schroeder is one of-

putin, another question, mr schroeder is one of the - putin, another question, mr- schroeder is one of the members of gazprorn _ schroeder is one of the members of gazprorn and — schroeder is one of the members of gazprom and this _ schroeder is one of the members of gazprom and this created _ schroeder is one of the members of gazprom and this created a - schroeder is one of the members of gazprom and this created a lot - schroeder is one of the members of gazprom and this created a lot of i gazprom and this created a lot of criticism — gazprom and this created a lot of criticism in — gazprom and this created a lot of criticism in europe, _ gazprom and this created a lot of criticism in europe, what- gazprom and this created a lot of criticism in europe, what would l gazprom and this created a lot of . criticism in europe, what would you say to— criticism in europe, what would you say to this? — criticism in europe, what would you say to this?— criticism in europe, what would you say to this?_ first, i criticism in europe, what would you | say to this?_ first, in say to this? translation: first, in relation to the _ say to this? translation: first, in relation to the voting, _ say to this? translation: first, in relation to the voting, i _ say to this? translation: first, in relation to the voting, i was - say to this? translation: first, in relation to the voting, i was told - relation to the voting, i was told just before the press conference about this, and the partial withdrawal of troops from our military drill areas. as for military drill areas. as for military and political branch of power, i can't really comment on this, although the voting is connected to this aspect. our members of parliament are guided by public opinion and they feel that

public opinion and they feel that public opinion and they feel that public opinion in that relation, majority of our citizens, they support citizens of donbas and they are hoping that the support will change the situation for the better for these people. the projects for drafts of law provided one of them, and the second draft was to address the president directly and recognise those, and it was an open vote, a free vote, and party discipline did not really work and did not really play here. a majority of members of parliament supported the resolution of the opposition party, the communist party. i would like to say

that we have to do everything possible to resolve the donbas problem but we have to do this as the chancellor mentioned, based on all the opportunities to resolve all other issues and the context of all other issues and the context of all other questions, when we hope our partners in europe and across the ocean will influence the president of the ukraine to resolve this peacefully. as for nord stream two, i spoke about this with the chancellor in the —— and in the beginning of 2000s we had an agreement with ukraine. there was

representatives from the german government, and i was representing russia, and we signed an agreement. to create an international consortium, russia, ukraine, germany, and possibly other european partners, to create a consortium which would take over the transit system, not to buy it, but to manage it. and to develop that system, the energy system, develop it and maintain it. and then ukraine refuse that agreement. after this there was issues of security, of supply to germany and the german representative supported nord stream one. today germany is receiving 55

billion cubic metres of gas through that route, and the gas is supplied under long—term contracts, which are, as i mentioned, three, four, or five, or seven times lower, in terms of price. seven times lower at the peak than the current price. a german consumer, industrial and domestic, they are receiving gas from russia five times cheaper currently. so if a german citizen opened his wallet and if you ask him, is he ready to pay three, four, five times more for the gas that he is currently being? if he does not want to pay that, they should be grateful to the earlier representative, it is the result of his work. as for his participation

in the board of gas, today a lot of people in europe are concerned whether they would get regular supply of russian energy resources in europe generally and in germany in europe generally and in germany in particular. if the decision is taken to accept him as a board member. this would be, first of all, to ensure control from an independent expert, as he is, a very well respected individual, whose aim is to protect the interest of his own country, germany and europeans will have somebody who will be able to influence the decisions. and of

course get the objective information directly. i think this is a benefit to our mutual cooperation, i think we should be happy with this fact. whether this would be done or not is a question, i think they've got elections injune, but i think it would be great to have this independent expert. as for nord stream two, the representation on the board of directors is a natural kind of consequence of his work. he is the chairman of nord stream, and there are five german companies participating in the financing of this project, including large energy german companies. so nord stream to is ready since december last year, ready to be commercially launched,

and the german regulator has to approve it and they are preparing to make that decision to use that route. translation: , ., ., , route. translation: , ., ., translation: the question was about the minsk agreements. _ translation: the question was about the minsk agreements. everybody - translation: the question was about| the minsk agreements. everybody must uphotd _ the minsk agreements. everybody must uphold the _ the minsk agreements. everybody must uphold the agreements, the government of ukraine, the russian government, germany and france, who are involved _ government, germany and france, who are involved in — government, germany and france, who are involved in this political process _ are involved in this political process. and that is why it is so important — process. and that is why it is so important that everybody makes a contribution, so there is a draft legislation which is important to discuss — legislation which is important to discuss how the three big issues will be _ discuss how the three big issues will be resolved. and which relate to the _ will be resolved. and which relate to the stein mart formula and then

the whole — to the stein mart formula and then the whole thing will be discussed within— the whole thing will be discussed within the trilateral format. that is what — within the trilateral format. that is what has been agreed, and this process— is what has been agreed, and this process should be supported by everyone — process should be supported by everyone and should not be delayed or obstructed. everything has been written _ or obstructed. everything has been written down and i hope that everyone will agree and support what has already been agreed. that is my wish and _ has already been agreed. that is my wish and the conditions for this are there. _ wish and the conditions for this are there. and — wish and the conditions for this are there. and if— wish and the conditions for this are there, and if everybody has the will to do— there, and if everybody has the will to do this, — there, and if everybody has the will to do this, it— there, and if everybody has the will to do this, it can be accomplished. if to do this, it can be accomplished. if we _ to do this, it can be accomplished. if we ignore — to do this, it can be accomplished. if we ignore or violate the minsk agreement, what has been voted on in the russian _ agreement, what has been voted on in the russian parliament today becomes

reality— the russian parliament today becomes reality it _ the russian parliament today becomes reality it would happen, then the process— reality it would happen, then the process would come to an end and that would — process would come to an end and that would be apolitical disaster. —— a political disaster. everybody woutd _ —— a political disaster. everybody would need — —— a political disaster. everybody would need to return to the minsk agreement. with regard to nord strearn — agreement. with regard to nord stream to, i don't want to make any comments _ stream to, i don't want to make any comments on a former politician, he does _ comments on a former politician, he does not _ comments on a former politician, he does not speak for the german government, and with regard to the pipeline _ government, and with regard to the pipeline itself, we all know what is happening, we have made a commitment that gas— happening, we have made a commitment that gas transport in europe functions with nord stream one, and we witt— functions with nord stream one, and we will make sure this happens. we want to— we will make sure this happens. we want to make sure that we have

peaceful— want to make sure that we have peaceful developments in europe and that there _ peaceful developments in europe and that there will not be a war over ukraine — that there will not be a war over ukraine if— that there will not be a war over ukraine. if it does happen, there will be _ ukraine. if it does happen, there will be far— ukraine. if it does happen, there will be far reaching consequences. we know— will be far reaching consequences. we know what needs to be done in that case — we know what needs to be done in that case i— we know what needs to be done in that case. i think everybody else knows that as well. everybody knows what is _ knows that as well. everybody knows what is going on and understand the political— what is going on and understand the political realities that would come into play — political realities that would come into play. that is why it's important we do everything to prevent— important we do everything to prevent this situation from occurring. we need to find a peaceful— occurring. we need to find a peaceful solution, we need to be potiticat— peaceful solution, we need to be political leaders. we don'tjust point _ political leaders. we don'tjust point at — political leaders. we don'tjust point at each other, but that everybody makes a contribution to maintain _ everybody makes a contribution to maintain peace. next, michelle fisher— maintain peace. next, michelle fisherfrom maintain peace. next, michelle fisher from dpa.

translation: ., ~ , ., fisher from dpa. translation: ., ., . ., translation: thank you, chancellor. you have already _ translation: thank you, chancellor. you have already addressed _ translation: thank you, chancellor. you have already addressed one - you have already addressed one question. — you have already addressed one question. that _ you have already addressed one question, that there _ you have already addressed one question, that there have - you have already addressed one question, that there have beenl question, that there have been difficult — question, that there have been difficult topics _ question, that there have been difficult topics that _ question, that there have been difficult topics that you - question, that there have been difficult topics that you have i difficult topics that you have discussed _ difficult topics that you have discussed with _ difficult topics that you have discussed with president - difficult topics that you have i discussed with president putin. difficult topics that you have - discussed with president putin. you mentioned — discussed with president putin. you mentioned memorial, _ discussed with president putin. you mentioned memorial, amongst- discussed with president putin. you . mentioned memorial, amongst others. there are _ mentioned memorial, amongst others. there are other— mentioned memorial, amongst others. there are other topics, _ mentioned memorial, amongst others. there are other topics, like _ mentioned memorial, amongst others. there are other topics, like the - there are other topics, like the case _ there are other topics, like the case of— there are other topics, like the case of navalny, _ there are other topics, like the case of navalny, corky - there are other topics, like the case of navalny, corky startedl case of navalny, corky started today, — case of navalny, corky started today, the _ case of navalny, corky started today, the russian— case of navalny, corky started today, the russian cyber- case of navalny, corky started i today, the russian cyber attacks, have _ today, the russian cyber attacks, have you — today, the russian cyber attacks, have you also _ today, the russian cyber attacks, have you also discuss _ today, the russian cyber attacks, have you also discuss these - today, the russian cyber attacks, i have you also discuss these issues? -- a case _ have you also discuss these issues? -- a case started _ have you also discuss these issues? —— a case started today. _ have you also discuss these issues? —— a case started today. how- have you also discuss these issues? —— a case started today. how were i —— a case started today. how were these _ —— a case started today. how were these received _ —— a case started today. how were these received by— —— a case started today. how were these received by president - —— a case started today. how were these received by president putinl these received by president putin and how— these received by president putin and how would _ these received by president putin and how would you _ these received by president putin and how would you evaluate - these received by president putin. and how would you evaluate german russian _ and how would you evaluate german russian relations _ and how would you evaluate german russian relations in— and how would you evaluate german russian relations in general? - russian relations in general? president _ russian relations in general? president putin, _ russian relations in general? president putin, i— russian relations in general? president putin, i would - russian relations in general? president putin, i would likei russian relations in general? l president putin, i would like to russian relations in general? - president putin, i would like to ask about— president putin, i would like to ask about the _ president putin, i would like to ask about the troop _ president putin, i would like to ask about the troop withdrawals - president putin, i would like to ask about the troop withdrawals that. about the troop withdrawals that took place — about the troop withdrawals that took place today, _ about the troop withdrawals that took place today, how _ about the troop withdrawals that took place today, how will - about the troop withdrawals that took place today, how will this . took place today, how will this continue — took place today, how will this continue in _ took place today, how will this continue in the _ took place today, how will this continue in the next _ took place today, how will this continue in the next days - took place today, how will this continue in the next days andl took place today, how will this - continue in the next days and weeks? will continue in the next days and weeks? witt further— continue in the next days and weeks? will further trips— continue in the next days and weeks? will further trips be _ continue in the next days and weeks? will further trips be withdrawn? - continue in the next days and weeks? will further trips be withdrawn? can i will further trips be withdrawn? can you exctude, — will further trips be withdrawn? can you exclude, rule _

will further trips be withdrawn? can you exclude, rule out, _ will further trips be withdrawn? can you exclude, rule out, any- will further trips be withdrawn? can you exclude, rule out, any any- you exclude, rule out, any any attack — you exclude, rule out, any any attack on _ you exclude, rule out, any any attack on ukraine? _ you exclude, rule out, any any attack on ukraine? and - you exclude, rule out, any any attack on ukraine? and one i you exclude, rule out, any any- attack on ukraine? and one question about— attack on ukraine? and one question about ukraine's — attack on ukraine? and one question about ukraine's membership- attack on ukraine? and one question about ukraine's membership of- about ukraine's membership of natom — about ukraine's membership of nato... chancer— about ukraine's membership of nato... chancer olaf— about ukraine's membership of nato... chancer olaf scholz, i about ukraine's membership ofj nato... chancer olaf scholz, as about ukraine's membership of- nato... chancer olaf scholz, as well as other— nato... chancer olaf scholz, as well as other heads — nato... chancer olaf scholz, as well as other heads of _ nato... chancer olaf scholz, as well as other heads of state _ nato... chancer olaf scholz, as well as other heads of state of _ as other heads of state of government— as other heads of state of government have - as other heads of state of government have ruled . as other heads of state of. government have ruled out as other heads of state of - government have ruled out any as other heads of state of _ government have ruled out any kind of guarantee — government have ruled out any kind of guarantee that _ government have ruled out any kind of guarantee that ukraine _ government have ruled out any kind of guarantee that ukraine will- government have ruled out any kind of guarantee that ukraine will not i of guarantee that ukraine will not 'oin of guarantee that ukraine will not join -- _ of guarantee that ukraine will not join —— chancellor— of guarantee that ukraine will not join —— chancellor olaf— of guarantee that ukraine will not join —— chancellor olaf scholz. . of guarantee that ukraine will not. join —— chancellor olaf scholz. what would _ join —— chancellor olaf scholz. what would you _ join —— chancellor olaf scholz. what would you say— join —— chancellor olaf scholz. what would you say to _ join —— chancellor olaf scholz. what would you say to a _ join —— chancellor olaf scholz. what would you say to a moratorium? - would you say to a moratorium? translation: _ would you say to a moratorium? translation: titte— would you say to a moratorium? translation:— would you say to a moratorium? translation: ~ ., ., ~ ., translation: we have talked about many topics- — translation: we have talked about many topics- my _ translation: we have talked about many topics. my position _ translation: we have talked about many topics. my position on - translation: we have talked about many topics. my position on mr- many topics. my position on mr navatny— many topics. my position on mr navatny is _ many topics. my position on mr navalny is clear. a conviction is not acceptable in our opinion and i have _ not acceptable in our opinion and i have already said that.

translation: i understand my guest is offerin: translation: i understand my guest is offering me — translation: i understand my guest is offering me the _ translation: i understand my guest is offering me the opportunity - translation: i understand my guest is offering me the opportunity to - is offering me the opportunity to answer the questions. first of all, as for how russia will proceed, rush it will proceed according to the plan. what is this plan going to consist of? it will be based on real situation in the field. who is able to answer how it is going to develop? at the moment, nobody. it does notjust depend on others, but we are aiming, we are trying to find agreement with partners —— it does notjust depend on as. we would like to resolve them through diplomatic means. which means which questions we discussed already, the non—expansion of nato to the east,

moving back to the position of 1997, and also not placing the strike weapons near our borders. i think it's all clear. we are also prepared to discuss other questions that are contained in the answer we receive, but we would like to discuss them in the context comprehensively with other important questions. as for... the second part of the question, what was... ? ijust scribbled something here. translation: i something here. translation: ., , translation: i mentioned the troop withdrawals from _ translation: i mentioned the troop withdrawals from the _ translation: i mentioned the troop withdrawals from the border - translation: i mentioned the troop withdrawals from the border with -

withdrawals from the border with ukraine, — withdrawals from the border with ukraine, and— withdrawals from the border with ukraine, and nato_ withdrawals from the border with ukraine, and nato expansion. . ukraine, and nato expansion. translation: _ ukraine, and nato expansion. translation:— ukraine, and nato expansion. translation: , ., ., ., translation: yes, as for withdrawal, i think i did translation: yes, as for withdrawal, i think i did give _ translation: yes, as for withdrawal, i think i did give an _ translation: yes, as for withdrawal, i think i did give an answer. _ translation: yes, as for withdrawal, i think i did give an answer. as - translation: yes, as for withdrawal, i think i did give an answer. as for - i think i did give an answer. as for nato expansion, you said something beautiful, you said that they say ukraine will be a part of nato in the coming years. what does that mean, they say? over the last 30 years we've been told they would beat no expansion of nato at all, and today we see infrastructure of nato right on our doorstep. and this question is being discussed about ukrainejoining nato. they say is not going to happen tomorrow, is it going to happen the day after tomorrow? what is it going to change

for us in terms of historic perspective? we are hearing that ukraine is not ready tojoin nato today, and at the same time they are saying that it will not be accepted tomorrow. will it be accepted when it is ready? when it will be made ready? it may be too late for us then. we need to resolve this question now. we need to resolve this now over the course of these negotiations. and this is our position, and we hope very much that our concern will be heard by our partners and taken seriously. translation: good afternoon, first . uestion translation: good afternoon, first ruestion to translation: good afternoon, first question to mr— translation: good afternoon, first question to mr putin. _ translation: good afternoon, first

question to mr putin. during - translation: good afternoon, first question to mr putin. during the - question to mr putin. during the meeting — question to mr putin. during the meeting yesterday— question to mr putin. during the meeting yesterday with - question to mr putin. during the meeting yesterday with lavrov, i question to mr putin. during the i meeting yesterday with lavrov, you talked _ meeting yesterday with lavrov, you talked about — meeting yesterday with lavrov, you talked about guarantees _ meeting yesterday with lavrov, you talked about guarantees for- meeting yesterday with lavrov, you talked about guarantees for russia | talked about guarantees for russia and said _ talked about guarantees for russia and said there _ talked about guarantees for russia and said there is _ talked about guarantees for russia and said there is potential- talked about guarantees for russia and said there is potential for- and said there is potential for negotiations _ and said there is potential for negotiations. does _ and said there is potential for negotiations. does that - and said there is potential forj negotiations. does that mean and said there is potential for- negotiations. does that mean that russia _ negotiations. does that mean that russia is— negotiations. does that mean that russia is going _ negotiations. does that mean that russia is going to— negotiations. does that mean that russia is going to enter— negotiations. does that mean thatj russia is going to enter protracted negotiations— russia is going to enter protracted negotiations over— russia is going to enter protracted negotiations over the _ russia is going to enter protracted negotiations over the course - russia is going to enter protracted negotiations over the course of- russia is going to enter protracted negotiations over the course of a i negotiations over the course of a number— negotiations over the course of a number of— negotiations over the course of a number of years. _ negotiations over the course of a number of years, because - negotiations over the course of a - number of years, because washington is not _ number of years, because washington is not realty— number of years, because washington is not really replying _ number of years, because washington is not really replying to _ number of years, because washington is not really replying to the _ number of years, because washington is not really replying to the three - is not really replying to the three points— is not really replying to the three points that — is not really replying to the three points that were _ is not really replying to the three points that were put _ is not really replying to the three points that were put forward - is not really replying to the three points that were put forward by. points that were put forward by russia? — points that were put forward by russia? second, _ points that were put forward by russia? second, to— points that were put forward by russia? second, to the - points that were put forward by- russia? second, to the chancellor, the question— russia? second, to the chancellor, the question on— russia? second, to the chancellor, the question on the _ russia? second, to the chancellor, the question on the closing - russia? second, to the chancellor, the question on the closing down . russia? second, to the chancellor, | the question on the closing down of r6 e the question on the closing down of rd e in— the question on the closing down of rd e in germany, _ the question on the closing down of r6 e in germany, we— the question on the closing down of r6 e in germany, we would - the question on the closing down of r6 e in germany, we would like - the question on the closing down of r6 e in germany, we would like to| rg e in germany, we would like to continue _ rg e in germany, we would like to continue broadcasting _ rg e in germany, we would like to continue broadcasting in— rg e in germany, we would like to continue broadcasting in germanyl rg e in germany, we would like to . continue broadcasting in germany and we are _ continue broadcasting in germany and we are hoping — continue broadcasting in germany and we are hoping to _ continue broadcasting in germany and we are hoping to resolve _ continue broadcasting in germany and we are hoping to resolve this - continue broadcasting in germany and we are hoping to resolve this any - we are hoping to resolve this any attractive — we are hoping to resolve this any attractive way~ _ attractive way. j translationz attractive way. translation: ~ ,. ,,

attractive way. translation: ,. ,, , translation: we did discuss this cuestion, translation: we did discuss this question. we _ translation: we did discuss this question, we talked _ translation: we did discuss this question, we talked about - translation: we did discuss this question, we talked about it - translation: we did discuss this question, we talked about it in - question, we talked about it in russia, and rt, rt in germany. i do not want to go into details, not to complicate the situation, but we did agree that we would think on how to resolve these issues. second, as for the impossible protracted negotiations that would lead nowhere, this is exactly why i met with a foreign minister yesterday and with military leaders. we are thinking about this and we are concerned about this, and our concerned about this, and our concern is that the negotiation process on what was proposed by us

on the significant matters that were proposed by us, this process might be extended without any basis by our partners. this would make our situation worse. make it worse in the same way as it has been made worse over the course of the last few years. things that we understand, things that we monitor, questions that we are going to discuss with our partners. this is something that we are not going to accept. translation: , , ., translation: first the question about rt that _ translation: first the question about rt that you _ translation: first the question about rt that you asked. - about rt that you asked. applications can be made, which has not been _

applications can be made, which has not been done, and then the authorities will process these applications, and this on the basis of laws _ applications, and this on the basis of laws that are in existence. and everybody — of laws that are in existence. and everybody can be certain of this. but there — everybody can be certain of this. but there is a legal procedure, and i but there is a legal procedure, and ijust_ but there is a legal procedure, and ijust want— but there is a legal procedure, and ijust want to say something about the situation of the talks. the positions _ the situation of the talks. the positions are different, that is clear. — positions are different, that is clear, that is why the talks took so lon- clear, that is why the talks took so tong and _ clear, that is why the talks took so long and that is correct. but it's good _ long and that is correct. but it's good that— long and that is correct. but it's good that we are talking and i think it's right _ good that we are talking and i think it's right that the eu and nato have responded — it's right that the eu and nato have responded to the letters from russia, — responded to the letters from russia, and it's a good sign that even _ russia, and it's a good sign that even though russia does not agree with the _ even though russia does not agree with the response, we are talking, and the _ with the response, we are talking, and the same is we do not agree with everything _ and the same is we do not agree with everything russia says, but there are points — everything russia says, but there are points that are worth talking about— are points that are worth talking about and — are points that are worth talking about and what we need now, so that

their situation will not become dangerous, we know that there are approaches to have talks where we can discuss — approaches to have talks where we can discuss important topics. first of all. _ can discuss important topics. first of all. the — can discuss important topics. first of all, the crisis in ukraine and the minsk— of all, the crisis in ukraine and the minsk process that everybody shoutd _ the minsk process that everybody should adhere to and that we need to discuss _ should adhere to and that we need to discuss matters with each other. and that is— discuss matters with each other. and that is also— discuss matters with each other. and that is also the same at the topic of nato _ that is also the same at the topic of nato expansion. nato expansion is not realty— of nato expansion. nato expansion is not really on the agenda. it is not a topic— not really on the agenda. it is not a topic that — not really on the agenda. it is not a topic that will come up while we are in— a topic that will come up while we are in office. i think it could take

longer, — are in office. i think it could take longer, but _ are in office. i think it could take longer, but not forever. and therefore _ longer, but not forever. and therefore we have the task to make therefore we have the task to make the point _ therefore we have the task to make the point that when you come to a political— the point that when you come to a political understanding without anyone — political understanding without anyone having to give up their principles, that is the responsibility that we have towards our country and that is also the matter. — our country and that is also the matter, when we talk about security and co—operation in europe, when we discuss _ and co—operation in europe, when we discuss transparency or arms control, _ discuss transparency or arms control, that is the wish of everyone. and nato has given a positive — everyone. and nato has given a positive response. so that as a starting — positive response. so that as a starting point, we should make use of the _ starting point, we should make use of the starting point to fulfil our responsibilities.

with this we finish our press conference.— with this we finish our press conference. . ., . ., ., conference. that was chancellor olaf scholz of germany _ conference. that was chancellor olaf scholz of germany and _ conference. that was chancellor olaf scholz of germany and vladimir- scholz of germany and vladimir putin, of russia, holding that press conference. we have been watching bbc news, we have followed all the way through that news conference. we will play our interview with djokovic a little later in the afternoon. you may have questions, if you do have one about the crisis in ukraine we'd love to hear it. to get in touch with those, we are answering as many as we can at 4:30 today. stay with us on bbc news. i'm joined by dr eleanor bindman, senior lecturer in eastern european studies at manchester metropolitan university. thank you for your patience. what struck you most? was there any sense

of a meeting of minds between those two men? i of a meeting of minds between those two men? ., of a meeting of minds between those two men? ~' ., of a meeting of minds between those two men? ~ ., ,., two men? i think to some extent there was- _ two men? i think to some extent there was. obviously _ two men? i think to some extent there was. obviously they - two men? i think to some extent there was. obviously they both i there was. obviously they both talked first of all about very close economic ties that exist between russia and germany and the also mentioned the back three pipeline and in quite a lot of detail, it is vitally important to both in economic terms. they both highlighted the fact there are still further possibilities for more negotiation, both on the issue of nato activity in europe and expansion, but also crucially on the status of these contested territories in niche ukraine, donetsk and other regions, where we will probably see some of the practical negotiations take place in the coming days and weeks. taste practical negotiations take place in the coming days and weeks. we are lookin: at the coming days and weeks. we are looking at a — the coming days and weeks. we are looking at a map — the coming days and weeks. we are looking at a map designed - the coming days and weeks. we are

looking at a map designed back- the coming days and weeks. we are looking at a map designed back in i looking at a map designed back in december that shows the region, and the point we should make when we look at this map, which we will put up look at this map, which we will put up right now hopefully, this is the donbas region, made up of lohan skinny north and donetsk in the south, the two bits of ukraine effectively that have declared themselves independent, but that is not recognised by most of the world, but i think the two voted today to get the russians to sort of annexed them in this talk of genocide which vladimir putin has raced for a race again today —— duma. that very much ups the ante about the status of the area and i suppose crates the that thatis area and i suppose crates the that that is the bit of ukraine that the may choose to occupy. i that is the bit of ukraine that the may choose to occupy.— that is the bit of ukraine that the may choose to occupy. i think that is true and — may choose to occupy. i think that is true and that _ may choose to occupy. i think that is true and that was _ may choose to occupy. i think that is true and that was always - may choose to occupy. i think that is true and that was always the - may choose to occupy. i think that i is true and that was always the case that if there were to be any kind of further military intervention beyond what russia has already done in that part of ukraine, it was most likely to happen precisely there, rather than any kind of full—scale invasion of the rest of ukraine. there is

obviously a lot of fast—moving developments with this comedy fact putting up as they mention what he terms as genocide taking place —— developments with this, the fact putting mentioned what he terms as genocide. russian separatist rebels on one side that control part of ukrainian territory that is not recognised are not currently officially recognised by russia either as being independent. the mac to vote today was to ask the president to move forward with the formal recognition of those territories —— the duma vote. he said this proposal, he'd essentially just been made aware about but once to pursue the minsk agreements, which currently govern the status of those regions and the actions of all parties, including russia, within the framework of that conflict. that is quite interesting, that indicates at least in the short term he is not going to recognise them as independent, and he is certainly not planning on formally annexing them

and making them part of the russian federation. abs, and making them part of the russian federation. �* , ., and making them part of the russian federation. . , ., , ., , federation. a bit of breathing space there. this talk _ federation. a bit of breathing space there. this talk of _ federation. a bit of breathing space there. this talk of the _ federation. a bit of breathing space there. this talk of the minsk - there. this talk of the minsk agreement, this is a kind of hastily kind of attempt to get some resolutions of quite, gated issues after crimea was annexed. everyone is assumed that crimea is in russia and going to stay in russia now, this is difficult for ukraine presumably. the west has already tolerated seeing a bit of ukraine disappear. there must be a certain amount of nervousness, if it came to the crunch with the west really act any way that was sufficient to stop that happening again say in the donbas region? i that happening again say in the donbas region?— that happening again say in the donbas reuion? ~ . �*, ., ., ., donbas region? i think that's a good cuestion, i donbas region? i think that's a good question, i think _ donbas region? i think that's a good question, i think they _ donbas region? i think that's a good question, i think they would - donbas region? i think that's a good question, i think they would not - donbas region? i think that's a good question, i think they would not be l question, i think they would not be willing and very little was done in the context of the crimean annexation. it's worth pointing out these donbas regions are really quite different from crimea, crimea has always had majority russian speaking population, but many of the

people living there already had russian citizenship, and it is where the black sea fleet, russia's able fleet, was always based there and had been for many decades. any sense that was a slightly easier proposition. the issue with the donbas is the rebel separatists who are involved in this conflict only control around a third of the territory there. they have aspirations to control more, and thatis aspirations to control more, and that is one of the reasons the conflict continues there. but they are actually not controlling as much as they would like, and the ukrainians are busily resisting this and trying to defend their own control over the territory that remains. it is a much more complex situation in some respects than the crimea situation was. i think that's one of the reasons why, given there's been conflict in the donbas region for a number of years, since 2014, even during all that time while russia has provided many resources to the rebels there, they have never during that time decided to formally recognise them as independent or to absorb them,

annexed them and bring them into the russian federation in the way they did with crimea.— russian federation in the way they did with crimea. thank you for your atience did with crimea. thank you for your patience and _ did with crimea. thank you for your patience and i'm _ did with crimea. thank you for your patience and i'm glad _ did with crimea. thank you for your patience and i'm glad you - did with crimea. thank you for your patience and i'm glad you were - did with crimea. thank you for your| patience and i'm glad you were able to stay with us. that is really helpful. if you have a question, we would like to hear from you. if you have a question, we would like to hearfrom you. get in if you have a question, we would like to hear from you. get in touch. let's pause, is not good news with the weather. good afternoon. we are likely to see some damaging and disruptive winds this week brought on to storms. already named storm dudley has an amber warning attached to it from the met office. that is in force for wednesday and eunice arrives on friday, really packing a punch. so two storms we are keeping a very close eye. one already brewing up in the atlantic.

for the rest of the day we have a ridge of high—pressure bringing rain and drier and brighter weather. the rain drags its heels further south east and brings its way back in before dusk. temperatures will be a smidgen higher than yesterday. temperatures not really the story — yes, we will have a temporary frost overnight in the north and we will seek heavy rain turned to snow briefly. temperatures above freezing even when the rain clears away because winds will pick up. that will blow in more rain on wednesday, we could have issues of hill snow further north in the morning and then damp and drizzly weather comes in. the story is about the wind. even though it is very mild for many during the day on wednesday except the far north, the winds by the afternoon will be in force. it will be felt by all but we expect

the most damaging winds to be across parts of central and southern scotland, northern ireland and northern england. that is where the strongest winds are, 80—90 mph, causing damage and disruption but it will affect other parts of scotland and further south into england and wales as well. snow may be an issue in north scotland. things will then slowly quieten down during the day on thursday, a bit of a respite and it is relatively mild. but that respite does not last because this will develop very rapidly and it has got a lot of energy as it rises rises through the shores. in northern ireland, england, wales and southern scotland, you might notice significant snow blowing around. a snow blowing around. number of warnings in force. you can find out more detail on the website.

this is bbc news. the headlines: vladimir putin says he does not want a war in europe — and is open to discussions about security. the kremlin says it's withdrawing some troops from the border with ukraine, but borisjohnson says the latest intelligence is not encouraging. translation: we don't want it and this is why we _ translation: we don't want it and this is why we have _ translation: we don't want it and this is why we have put _ translation: we don't want it and this is why we have put forward - translation: we don't want it and this is why we have put forward the | this is why we have put forward the proposal to start the negotiation process. novak djokovic tells the bbc he'd rather miss out on trophies and titles than have a covid—19 vaccine. in an exclusive interview, the world men's number one says he's not anti—vaccine, but believes in personal choice. are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest player that ever.

picked up a racket, statistically, because you feel so _ strongly about this jab? yes. new figures show although wages went up at the end of last year, pay isn't keeping pace with rising prices. 15—year—old russian skater, kamila valieva, tops the table in the womens' figure skating short programme at the winter olympics, as she returns to the ice despite failing a drugs test. bristol zoo is 100 years old and so the animals celebrate. and bristol zoo will move to a new home later this year, after 186 years on its current site on the edge of the city. russia's president, vladimir putin,

says he's prepared to continue dialogue on missiles and other security issues with the west, after holding talks in moscow with german chancellor olaf scholz as tensions remain high in eastern europe. but nato says it has seen no signs of de—escalation of the crisis, despite moscow announcing the withdrawal of some of its troops from the ukrainian border. at his news conference in moscow, mr putin says moscow is proposing moves to alleviate the crisis. he has told journalists that: russia doesn't want war in europe. but he says russia's basic requirements are not being met. and he claims there are mass violations of human rights in ukraine. translation: the three basic requirements _ translation: the three basic requirements from _ translation: the three basic requirements from the - translation: the three basic| requirements from the russian translation: the three basic- requirements from the russian side have not been met by our nato partners and other allies. there are

a few ideas that need to be discussed and we have proposed a few ideas to our partners on the issue of european security and certain systems of weapons, medium—range rockets and so on. we are prepared to discuss these issues and we are also prepared to conduct negotiations but all the issues as we mentioned before, they need to be considered comprehensively. they should not be separated from other issues. of course, the topic of european security has been discussed in the context of the current situation, in the context of the situation, in the context of the situation with ukraine. as we know, ukrainian authorities refused to follow through on the minsk

agreement and on the agreement which was reached later on. there are a few principal elements, reform, amnesty and special status for eastern ukraine. the former foreign minister of germany proposed certain compromised measures but unfortunately they have not been achieved so far. earlier, nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg said he hasn't seen any signs of reducing russian military presence on the ukrainian borders. there are signs from moscow that diplomacy should continue.

this gives grounds for cautious optimism. but so far, we have not seen any sign of de—escalation on the ground. the prime minister has been chairing a cobra meeting on the crisis in ukraine this morning and after the meeting he spoke to the media — let's take a listen. last night going into today, clearly there are signs of a debate matic opening and that has always been an opportunity to talk —— of a diplomatic opening. there are grounds for a conversation about ukraine, with ukraine, and that is good. we are seeing a russian openness to conversations, but on the other hand the intelligence we are seeing today is still not encouraging. we have got russian field hospitals being constructed near the border with ukraine, in

belarus, which can only be construed as preparation for an invasion, and there are more battalion groups being brought closer to the border with ukraine. according to the intelligence that we are seeing, so mixed signals at the moment and all the more reason for us to remain very tough and very united, especially on the economic sanctions. and what we are doing, the uk has been out in the lead for a while, what we are doing is targeting particular russian banks and russian companies, and making sure that we take steps, take even more steps, to unpeeled the facade of russian property holdings, whether it is in the city or elsewhere, in london or elsewhere, unpeeled the facade of russian ownership of companies, and also take steps to stop russian companies from raising capital on london

financial markets, which is a very tough package of sanctions. it is ready to go if there is, if russia is so reckless as to invade ukraine. borisjohnson speaking earlier. labour leader keir starmer says there needs to be a "very tough line on sanctions" from the government after today's cobra meeting. it is not entirely clear what is happening on the border. anything that the _ happening on the border. anything that the escalates this is welcome but we _ that the escalates this is welcome but we don't know what this is yet. what _ but we don't know what this is yet. what i _ but we don't know what this is yet. what i do — but we don't know what this is yet. what i do know and it is very important _ what i do know and it is very important for all of us allies to stand — important for all of us allies to stand together in the face of russian _ stand together in the face of russian aggression and to be absolutely clear about the determination to face down russian aggression. what i want to see coming — aggression. what i want to see coming out is a clear and united ptan _ coming out is a clear and united ptan to— coming out is a clear and united plan to stand up to the russian aggression here standing with our allies— aggression here standing with our allies and — aggression here standing with our allies and standing as one united

kingdom, — allies and standing as one united kingdom, and whatever other arguments and quarrels we might have with the _ arguments and quarrels we might have with the prime minister, when it comes— with the prime minister, when it comes to — with the prime minister, when it comes to standing up for the sovereignty of ukraine and standing up sovereignty of ukraine and standing up to russian aggression, we stand as one _ up to russian aggression, we stand as one united kingdom, that is what i as one united kingdom, that is what iwoutd _ as one united kingdom, that is what iwoutd tike — as one united kingdom, that is what i would like to see, very tough tine. _ i would like to see, very tough tine. it — i would like to see, very tough tine. it is — i would like to see, very tough line, it is important russia knows they witt— line, it is important russia knows they will be serious consequences if it does— they will be serious consequences if it does take action. —— there will be. it does take action. -- there will be. ,, . and if you have a question about the crisis in ukraine we'd like to hear from you. get in touch with us using the hashtag bbc your questions — and we'll be answering some of those queries today in your questions answered. the world men's no 1 tennis player novak djokovic has told the bbc that he's prepared to sacrifice playing in competitions including wimbledon and the french open rather than have a covid—19 vaccine. in an exclusive interview after losing his legal attempt to compete at the australian open, the 34 year old said he's not part of the anti—vaccine movement — but supports people's right to choose. the bbc�*s amol rajan sat down

with him in belgrade. he is widely held to be the greatest player of his time, in an era already blessed with legends. but now he is the most controversial, too. have you received any vaccination against covid? i have not. why? i understand and support fully the freedom to choose whether you want to get vaccinated or not. i have not spoken about this before and i have not disclosed my medical record and my vaccination status because i had the right to keep that private and discreet. but as i see there is a lot of wrong conclusions and assumptions out there, i think it's important to speak up about that

and justify certain things. on december 16, djokovic tested positive for covid but only found out, he said, after mixing with young tennis players the following day. when he arrived in australia onjanuary the fed he was held at the border. onjanuary the 6th, his visa was cancelled and he was detained. four days later on january the 10th, a judge overturned that decision, releasing him to compete. but four days after that on the 14th of january, australia's immigration minister again cancelled his visa on grounds of public safety. djokovic appealed but lost and left australia on the 16th of january. i was never against vaccination. me, as an elite professional athlete, have always carefully reviewed, assessed everything that comes in from the supplements, food, water that i drink, sports drinks,

anything really that comes into my body as a fuel. what do you say directly to anti—vaccination campaigners around the world who proudly declare novak djokovic is one of us? i say that everyone has the right to choose to act or say whatever they feel is appropriate for them. and i have never said that i am part of that movement. based on all the information that i got, i decided not to take the vaccine as of today. so do you have... as of today? yes. i keep my mind open because we're all trying to find collectively a best possible solution to end covid. what would you say to the ordinary australian listening to you now and says, based on what they see in the news, this guy thinks he's above the law, that he doesn't have to abide by the same rules as everybody else?

australia has been through one of the most severe lockdowns we had since the beginning of the pandemic so i can only imagine how hard it was for australians and i sympathise and empathise with all the people and i understand there has been lots of frustrations from australian people towards me and towards the entire situation and the way it was dealt with. i would like to say that i always followed the rules. the world number one insists that he did obey the rules in trying to enter australia and distanced himself from the anti—vax movement. as things stand, if this means that you miss the french open, is that a price you would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price i am willing to pay. and if it means you miss wimbledon, that's a price you are willing to pay? yes. ultimately, are you prepared to forego the chance

to be the greatest player that ever picked up a racket, statistically, because you feel so strongly about this jab? yes. i do. why, novak, why? because the principles of decision—making on my body are more important than any title, or anything else. i'm trying to be in tune with my body as much as i possibly can. cos a lot of people around the world would see the experience you've had and see the public outcry, the headlines, the detention, the legal disputes, and they mightjust say, "novak, mate, just take the damnjab." "it doesn't hurt, it means you can play anywhere, "it keeps you safe, it keeps everyone else safe, too. "we all do things that we don't want to do and are hesitant "about, what's so hard

about a bit of medicine?" i respect everybody�*s decision to get vaccinated or do anything that they really think is correct for them. i hope that people will respect my decision not to get vaccinated. and as i mentioned before, i have to repeat it again, i will have to accept and i take all the consequences of my decision and i will probably not be able to play a lot of tournaments. djokovic insists he's keeping an open mind but for now shows no sign of changing it. amol rajan, bbc news, belgrade. our health correspondent jim reed is with me. djokovic says he wants more info but there's lots of data out there. it begs the question, what information might be able to persuade him? what other things we can say with confidence about

vaccination and maybe the things we could say are still debated? in terms of vaccination, could say are still debated? i�*i terms of vaccination, djokovic made the argument it is about personal choice and he says he is not anti—vax and his key argument, his key reason for not taking the covid vaccine appears to be the idea that he doesn't feel he really knows enough about it at the moment. as you have made the point, it begs the question, what more information does he need? let me give you one example, the pfizer vaccine, available in serbia and also in the uk, completed successful clinical trials involving 44,000 people across germany and the us, the first part of that trial, and then it was approved for emergency use originally as all the vaccines were but last summer the fta in the us approved it forfull use but last summer the fta in the us approved it for full use so people who say it is still an experimental

vaccine, that has been approved now in the united states in the same way that other vaccines have been. it is worth pointing out, if we look the statistics, if you look at the world population as a whole, 62%, of the entire world population have now had at least one dose of a vaccine, that is 5 billion people over the last 14 months, and if you look at research from november last year, thisjust looks look at research from november last year, this just looks at europe, look at research from november last year, thisjust looks at europe, and the numbers are quite conservative if anything, and it saved at least 470,000 lives.— if anything, and it saved at least 470,000 lives. that is an estimate but these often _ 470,000 lives. that is an estimate but these often are, _ 470,000 lives. that is an estimate but these often are, i _ 470,000 lives. that is an estimate but these often are, i suppose. - 470,000 lives. that is an estimate but these often are, i suppose. it i but these often are, i suppose. it is the best analysis with the data. that comes from a world health organization study and they only look at people over 60 and they did not look at whether the vaccine also

saves lives by not spreading the virus, but clearly regulators would say the vaccine is highly effective and safe. ., , ., say the vaccine is highly effective and safe. .,, ., ., and safe. people have said to me, it is all fine to — and safe. people have said to me, it is all fine to say _ and safe. people have said to me, it is all fine to say there _ and safe. people have said to me, it is all fine to say there were - is all fine to say there were clinical trials but the whole process was concertina and because the crisis was so great and people were so desperate to find a solution, so is the argument scientists now put, it may have been concertina but we have used it so widely and in so many cases, that the real data has almost made the question of whether it is experimental and how long the research was almost irrelevant because they have now tested it for real? , . , ., , ., real? the first argument is what you said, the real? the first argument is what you said. the real— real? the first argument is what you said, the real world _ real? the first argument is what you said, the real world data _ real? the first argument is what you said, the real world data is - real? the first argument is what you said, the real world data is key - real? the first argument is what you said, the real world data is key and l said, the real world data is key and we have already seen 14 months of real—world data on these vaccines which is not to say that in the future, some very rare long term side effect might emerge. but they are likely to be exceptionally rare,

when you look at other vaccines, any problems occurred fairly soon after people have first been vaccinated. the other argument scientists would make is that the way the clinical trial process was speeded up was not to speed up the science involved in that clinical trial but to eliminate some of the waiting between each stage because normally you do phase one, phase two, and between the stages you would get funding and you would be recruiting volunteers and doing this kind of stuff but they shortened those aspects. at the same time they were also producing and manufacturing vaccines before it was approved that were ready to go. you will not have — approved that were ready to go. you will not have heard this but this is the health secretary sajid javid who has given his response to the interview with novak djokovic. the reason you can have, once again

millions— the reason you can have, once again millions of— the reason you can have, once again millions of spectators for sport including — millions of spectators for sport including of course tennis, whether it is in— including of course tennis, whether it is in australia or wimbledon in the future, — it is in australia or wimbledon in the future, that is because of the success— the future, that is because of the success of— the future, that is because of the success of vaccination programme, and it— success of vaccination programme, and it is— success of vaccination programme, and it is interesting to note that mr djokovic thinks it is ok for sport— mr djokovic thinks it is ok for sport spectators and his fans to take _ sport spectators and his fans to take the — sport spectators and his fans to take the vaccine which allows him to rat take the vaccine which allows him to get back— take the vaccine which allows him to get back to — take the vaccine which allows him to get back to play the sport in front of them _ get back to play the sport in front of them and earn millions and 0k get back to play the sport in front of them and earn millions and ok for him to— of them and earn millions and ok for him to have — of them and earn millions and ok for him to have them take the vaccine but the _ him to have them take the vaccine but the vaccine is not ok for him. i think— but the vaccine is not ok for him. i think he _ but the vaccine is not ok for him. i think he should reflect on his decision _ think he should reflect on his decision. . , , ., decision. that is the message that the government _ decision. that is the message that the government have _ decision. that is the message that the government have said, - decision. that is the message that the government have said, if- decision. that is the message that the government have said, if you | the government have said, if you have had doubts, think again. yes. have had doubts, think again. yes, are ou have had doubts, think again. yes, are you making _ have had doubts, think again. yes, are you making the _ have had doubts, think again. ye: are you making the decision to have had doubts, think again. 12: are you making the decision to be vaccinated purely for your own personal health decision which is justified for many people or are you making it in a wider context, thinking about other people you might protect, this is the same conversation when we talk about children being vaccinated that is going on, so interesting he brings that up. one interesting thing, is

mr djokovic himself therefore at greater risk because he hasn't been vaccinated? he confirmed in the interview that he has already been infected with the virus covid twice and he is pretty low risk because he and he is pretty low risk because he a professional athlete and he is 34 and relatively young. i looked at some of the figures and if you have had previous infection with the omicron variant, the latest data is you reduce your risk of another infection by about 45%, and if you then add on top of those previous infections, three doses of the vaccine, that increases to about 75%, so it does, those vaccines do offer extra protection above and beyond infection. what we don't know is how the figures will fade over time and that is what scientists are looking at at the moment. that time and that is what scientists are looking at at the moment.- looking at at the moment. that is onaroin looking at at the moment. that is ongoing research, _ looking at at the moment. that is ongoing research, i— looking at at the moment. that is ongoing research, i guess. - looking at at the moment. that is| ongoing research, i guess. thanks forjoining us.

the inquest into the death of the footballer emiliano sala has begun at bournemouth coroner's court. emiliano sala died in a plane crash in the english channel injanuary 2019, after being bought by cardiff city from nantes in a £15 million transfer deal. the footballer�*s brother, dario sala, has flown over from argentina to be at the inquest. wages in the uk are growing — but are still not keeping up with the rising cost of living. figures from the office for national statistics for october to december show that people's pay fell in real terms by 0.8%. job vacancies are at a record high, with unemployment now at 4.1%. but as our economics correspondent andrew verity reports there are some signs of pay rises accelerating. it's the tightestjobs market the current workforce has ever seen.

it is true that household incomes are being squeezed by the fastest price inflation in 30 years, and, this year, that squeeze will get tighter, but it's not true that you can't do anything about it. i'd like to get into a warehouse work, but with a company like yourself. samuel robertson is one of the record numbers of people quitting their old job to find a new one. a dad at 19 years old, he needed something steadier than working in a bar. within ten minutes of coming to this job fair, he got an offer. it's ideal, really, come in, get a job, wait for a phone call and start work immediately. when you are going through shops and stuff like that, you tend to see a lot of places that have vacancies in the stores and everything. at this covid—secure recruitment fair, it is not the job—seekers that are anxious — it's more the employers who cannot you tend to see a lot more people are applying for a large number ofjobs, so we struggle to have people showing up for interviews. we could invite 15 people to an interview and only five would show up. i'm not saying the quality of people that we do have come through the door, that's not decreased at all. if anything, we are seeing stronger candidates.

we're just struggling to get people to show up. average earnings were up in 2021 by 3.7%. not enough to keep up with price inflation. but more up—to—date figures from employers' payrolls indicate pay was up by 6.3% injanuary compared to a year before. those figures say earnings were 10.3% higher than they were before the pandemic. job—seekers are now playing a much stronger hand to boost their pay than they have been able to in decades. if you look at the so—called quits rate, resignation rate, whether it is people leaving theirjob for anotherjob orjust leaving the job market entirely, that is now at a rate we have not seen since the global financial crisis. and it is clear that firms are desperately looking to fill vacancies, with a number of surveys telling us businesses are finding it difficult to get workers. the tightjobs market also slows business down, because employers don't have the staff to meet all the orders coming in. that puts the brakes

on economic activity, even as inflation is taking off. in the city, traders now anticipate the bank of england will raise interest rates again next month to the highest level they have seen since 2009. andy verity, bbc news. now back to our top story regarding the situation in ukraine. vladimir putin has been talking to the german chancellor this afternoon and he said he was ready to continue discussing ukraine but the issues are linked and cannot be separated. let's speak to our moscow correspondent, caroline davies. ina in a sense nothing new out of this but it comes in the context of some big moves that russia is making in terms of troops movement and also political pressure within the tumour.

-- yes, plenty to talk about, and we had plenty — -- yes, plenty to talk about, and we had plenty of _ -- yes, plenty to talk about, and we had plenty of comments _ -- yes, plenty to talk about, and we had plenty of comments from - -- yes, plenty to talk about, and we had plenty of comments from the i -- yes, plenty to talk about, and we| had plenty of comments from the us and the uk over the weekend, talking about an and the uk over the weekend, talking aboutan imminent and the uk over the weekend, talking about an imminent invasion by russia into ukraine which could come in the course of the next few days, and the fact that it's a diplomatic process are still ongoing and that both sides were happy to sit around what was a very large table to talk about this and continue to talk about this, this is seen as being positive here. but in terms of multiple different things going on, a lot of discussions during the course of these talks, sounded quite similar to what we have heard over the course of the last few weeks with these discussion points, so president putin bring up the point that they did not feel many of their security issues, russia's biggest security issues, russia's biggest security concerns, had not been addressed and were still not being addressed and were still not being addressed by nato, but his big concerns are about whether nato might expand and whether ukraine would join nato and he wants a cast—iron guarantee that ukraine would notjoin nato which is

something the us and nato have said is not on the table. during the course of these discussions, quite interestingly, president putin said he had been told ukraine was not about to join nato he had been told ukraine was not about tojoin nato in he had been told ukraine was not about to join nato in the he had been told ukraine was not about tojoin nato in the near future but that still was not enough for him at so this has been a point of contention throughout these talks, that much of the west has been accused about why this is suddenly an issue now, because ukraine is not about to join suddenly an issue now, because ukraine is not about tojoin nato, but we now know from vladimir putin, that even that reassurance is not enough and that he wants a cast—iron guarantee. multiple other points also going on through the course of today, about the troop movements, so russia this morning produced footage of tanks that appeared to be leaving from the military drills, they said, and going back to their bases, but we have heard scepticism about that from jens stoltenberg of nato, and we have also heard about scepticism from prime minister borisjohnson talking about this, saying they have not really seen a de—escalation at

the border with ukraine and russia have also talked about the fact that, yes, they said last week that once the troops are finished with the drills they were going to leave and come back to their bases but that russia retains the right to move their troops around and of course these troops are not here because they are intending on planning an invasion, they say. fin planning an invasion, they say. on the question of troops, a lot of talks from russia about these exercises which are due to be concluded on the 25th of fabry, i think about what is russia going to do after that point if there has been no further development on the diplomatic front? if they keep saying that they are there because it is their territory and they can move their troops where they want? that is a good point. this is what people are going to watch closely because russia says after the drills are over the troops will go back to their bases, so will they do that? that will be watched very closely over the course of the next couple of days to see what happens next and

we have not been given an indication of what happens next. in we have not been given an indication of what happens next.— of what happens next. in terms of the rerion of what happens next. in terms of the region you _ of what happens next. in terms of the region you talked _ of what happens next. in terms of the region you talked about - of what happens next. in terms of the region you talked about and l of what happens next. in terms ofl the region you talked about and we had the discussion about the minsk agreement in the course of that conference, the donbas region, so this political pressure from this, is it real or part of the theatrics that the kremlin is organising to show that they are only responding to the feeling of the russian people and they are not creating a crisis, it is russian people who feel threatened? it it is russian people who feel threatened?— threatened? it was really interesting _ threatened? it was really interesting to _ threatened? it was really interesting to hear- threatened? it was really . interesting to hear president threatened? it was really - interesting to hear president putin odds language about this and this is obviously the situation where the russian state has voted to ask president putin to recognise a couple of states, separatist held areas in ukraine, as people's republics, but whether president putin will do that, we don't know,

but he was asked about this in the press conference and he said that our members of parliament are guided by public opinion and the majority of our citizens support the citizens of our citizens support the citizens of donbas and hope support will change the situation for these people for the better. what he did not do is go as far as saying that he was going to represent and accept this particular thing put to him by the state but he said we should resolve the donbas issues but in the framework of the minsk agreement. some suggest he is stepping away from the suggestion of recognising these separatist held areas as being people's republics and others have suggested he is almost potentially threatening that if they don't get some form of agreement for the minsk agreement to be enforced in the way they want, potentially there might still be something on the table, so this is clearly a bargaining chip that president putin is having on his back pocket at the very least. caroline, thanks forjoining us. i

suspect you will be talking to us more about that later on. it is a region known as donbas collectively. we will be answering your questions on that at 430. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. hello. we have got a couple of storms coming your way this week. we have got storm dudley first of all. for the rest of the day, the rain is clearing away, and we have some rain coming back into the west of england later in the west of england. temperature is about average for the time of year. limited frost across the north overnight where they will be further snow on the rain band coming in, and a brief respite and more rain as the winds start to escalate tomorrow. very mild indeed. we have a lot of energy tied up in

dudley, and the most lively wins from wednesday afternoon until midnight —— lively winds. like me some hello. this is bbc news. the headlines... vladimir putin says he does not want a war in europe — and is open to discussions about security. the kremlin says it's withdrawing some troops from the border with ukraine, but nato says it hasn't seen de—escalation yet. translation: we don't want it and this is why we have put forward the | proposal to start the negotiation process. novak djokovic tells the bbc he'd rather miss out on trophies and titles than have a covid—19 vaccine. in an exclusive interview, the world men's number one says he's not anti—vaccine,

but believes in personal choice: are you prepared to forgo the chance ito be the greatest player that ever. picked up a racket, statistically, because you feel so _ strongly about this jab? yes. new figures show although wages went up at the end of last year, pay isn't keeping pace with rising prices. 15—year—old russian skater, kamila valieva, tops the table in the womens' figure skating short programme at the winter olympics, as she returns to the ice despite failing a drugs test. well, it's now 186 years old — and the inhabitants of bristol zoo are packing their trunks, as the attraction moves to a new home later this year. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster.

good afternoon. the russian figure skater kamila valieva, who failed a drugs test in december, returned to the ice in beijing in the last hour and topped the standing in the individual short programme. the 15—year—old claims that the failed test was down to contamination from her grandfather's heart medicine. the court of arbitration for sport ruled yesterday that a provisional suspension should not be re—imposed allowing her to carry on competing at the winter olympics. she made a slight error in her routine with her opening triple axel but was still given the highest score by the judges going ito the free skate on thursday. she has already won team gold for the russian olympic committee last week, but the medals for that have been withheld, as will any in this competition should she make it onto the podium, as investigations into the circumstances of her positive test continue. she fought back tears at the end of her routine as she was cheered on by fellow russians, but her particiaption hasn't

been welcomed by others. it is shocking and it is disappointing. in the history of the olympics, somebody with a positive test has been allowed to compete. i think it ruins the integrity of the olympics, i think people at home are left scratching their heads. i think all of our hearts are breaking that this is a 15—year—old girl. all around it is a sad situation, for her and all of the competitors here. great britain's natasha mckay had a fall in her first routine and failed to qualify for the free skate on thursday. only the top 25 going through and she was 28th out of 30 skaters, great britain's curlers have a good day, the men are through to the semi—finals after a morale boosting 7—6 win over sweden. victory against the world champions, who have also qualified, means that bruce mouat�*s team will definitely finish in the top four. they have two more round robin

matches to play, against the russian olympic committee and canada who are also in the top four at the moment. we've got two tough games still to come, the russians and the canadians as well. to win those two games and get to the semifinal would be the best situation for us, so we will obviously have to come out and play really well to beat both of them. we are very chuffed with that performance so if we do that again, we will beat them. and team gb's women beatjapan10—4 to keep their medal hopes alive. they're now in a strong position to finish in the top—four with two more matches to play against china and the russian olympic committee. britains first medal won't come in the two man bob. that's after brad hall and nick gleeson flipped over on their penultimate run. they lost control towards the end and slid over the finish line on their side, both walked away unhurt and complete

a clean fourth finishing the competition in 11th place. they'll now regroup for the four man event. remarkably, germany went onto take a clean sweep of the medals in the two man bob — the first time in the event. in an exclusive interview, novak djokovic has told the bbc he'd rather miss major tournaments than be forced to take a covid vaccine. the 20 time grand slam champion, was deported from melbourne ahead of the australian open last month, after initailly being granted entry with a medical exemption. he has distanced himself from the anti—vax movement but says that �*deciding what goes into his body is more important than any title'. the views he is outlining comedy distrust— the views he is outlining comedy distrust of— the views he is outlining comedy distrust of putting anything foreign into his _ distrust of putting anything foreign into his body is not something you strengthen overnight, it is a long held view — strengthen overnight, it is a long held view. he had a lot of problems with breathing difficulties and injury— with breathing difficulties and injury problems when he was in his

late teens— injury problems when he was in his late teens and early 205 and he completely transformed hi5 late teens and early 205 and he completely transformed his career, he thinks, — completely transformed his career, he thinks, because he went gluten—free, cut out dairy, reduced to sugar— gluten—free, cut out dairy, reduced to 5ugar intake, 5tart5 gluten—free, cut out dairy, reduced to 5ugar intake, starts the day with a warm _ to 5ugar intake, starts the day with a warm gla55 to 5ugar intake, starts the day with a warm glass of water and a couple of spoons _ a warm glass of water and a couple of 5poon5 of manuka honey because he's a _ of 5poon5 of manuka honey because he's a student of spoons of manuka honey because he's a student of the chinese medicine _ he's a student of the chinese medicine body clock and he believes that in— medicine body clock and he believes that in the _ medicine body clock and he believes that in the early hours of the morning. _ that in the early hours of the morning, roundabout breakfast time, the large _ morning, roundabout breakfast time, the large intestine i5 morning, roundabout breakfast time, the large intestine is being detoxified, and that is what you need _ detoxified, and that is what you need a — detoxified, and that is what you need a glass of room temperature water~ _ need a glass of room temperature water he — need a glass of room temperature water. he is very consistent on this matter. _ water. he is very consistent on this matter. this — water. he is very consistent on this matter, this is not something new, this is— matter, this is not something new, this is not— matter, this is not something new, this is not a — matter, this is not something new, this is not a story he has concocted to fit— this is not a story he has concocted to fit these — this is not a story he has concocted to fit these particular circumstances. it is the way he has run his— circumstances. it is the way he has run his career— circumstances. it is the way he has run his career throughout. it's a big night in the champions league with the start of the knockout stages. 16 clubs left. paris st—germain are taking on real madrid, whilst manchester city are away at sporting lisbon. the premier league leaders were beaten by chelsea in last season's final. city have never been european champions and it's become

an annual quest under pep guardiola to finally crack this competition. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. hard to fathom what the hell this girl went through in the months before she died. 16 months old when her mum's partner murdered her. her mum and partner were jailed. there has been a consequence in leading to a review in the number of people who were actually affected by it in terms of the staffing at bradford council. there were 124 vacancies filled by 173 members of agency staff when the review began, and this, combined with a 38% increase in caseload since 2018, affected the stability of the workforce. that is the finding of a review

conducted into what was happening at bradford social services. i'm joined by dr rayjones, former director of wiltshire social services and professor of social work at kingston university. it's good to speak to you, you and i have spoken before about this case in particular. what is striking for you about the rate at which bradford was dependent on agency staff in the period in the run—up to star hobson? obviously applies to all the cases, not just obviously applies to all the cases, notjust hers. is obviously applies to all the cases, notjust hers-— not 'ust hers. is exceptional but i'm notjust hers. is exceptional but i'm afraid _ notjust hers. is exceptional but i'm afraid not _ notjust hers. is exceptional but i'm afraid not unique. _ notjust hers. is exceptional but i'm afraid not unique. right - notjust hers. is exceptional but i i'm afraid not unique. right across the country at the moment there is a great deal of difficulty in recruiting, but in particular retaining social workers working at the sharp end of children's social services, they are trying to help families, out there helping to protect children as well. it's a really difficultjob, a fraughtjob, emotionally very demanding, intellectual very demanding, having to try make sense of sometimes not complete information about what is within families and taking really serious decisions. it is stressful,

difficult and i'm afraid, the moment, recruiting and retaining social workers to stay at that front line is a task right across the country which we are struggling with. it country which we are struggling with. , :, , country which we are struggling with. ,. , with. it starts right across the count , with. it starts right across the country. is — with. it starts right across the country. is it _ with. it starts right across the country, is it fair _ with. it starts right across the country, is it fair to _ with. it starts right across the country, is it fair to say - with. it starts right across the country, is it fair to say it - with. it starts right across the country, is it fair to say it is l country, is it fair to say it is that much harder in local authority areas where there have been high—profile child deaths? if areas where there have been high-profile child deaths? if you are a social _ high-profile child deaths? if you are a social worker— high-profile child deaths? if you are a social worker and - high-profile child deaths? if you are a social worker and you - high-profile child deaths? if you| are a social worker and you know that if something awful happens to reach out and you had any contact or involvement at all, there is a danger you suddenly become in the frame for all the blame and hostility, which are sometimes projected toward social workers when something awful happens. you know thatis something awful happens. you know that is a possibility, and after a time i'd say, it is quite waiting and that is why people may not be staying in the job for as long as we would like —— quite wearing. if you are in an authority like bradford, it also poverty and deprivation, it is harder to do thejob

it also poverty and deprivation, it is harder to do the job you need to do to do it well you have not got the time to do it. when the inspectorate comes in and says you're not a very good job, the conference was down even more. there are a whole number of reasons why we are a whole number of reasons why we are not in the position we need to be at the moment. can are not in the position we need to be at the moment.— are not in the position we need to be at the moment. can i ask you from the other end — be at the moment. can i ask you from the other end of _ be at the moment. can i ask you from the other end of this, _ be at the moment. can i ask you from the other end of this, as _ be at the moment. can i ask you from the other end of this, as it _ be at the moment. can i ask you from the other end of this, as it were, - the other end of this, as it were, you were involved in training social workers. what is the supply of would—be social workers like? is a silly profession people want to come into? a lot of people presumably go into? a lot of people presumably go into this with a degree of idealism, is notjust a job, necessarily. h0. is not 'ust a “ob, necessarily. no, social is notjust ajob, necessarily. no, social workers _ is notjust ajob, necessarily. no, social workers are _ i5 notjust a job, necessarily. iirr, social workers are really fired up, theissueis social workers are really fired up, the issue is not recruitment or the quality of people who are coming through to training social workers, the recruitment issue is not the big issue, the big issue is retention. after two, three, for five issue, the big issue is retention. after two, three, forfive years doing thejob, people after two, three, forfive years doing the job, people are getting burnt out and worn down, really distressed and dismayed they cannot do the work they need to do because of the pressure that is around them,

and there are concerns of seeing colleagues going under and being blamed when some thing bad happens and after three orfour blamed when some thing bad happens and after three or four years, blamed when some thing bad happens and after three orfour years, i'm afraid we have had quite a lot of turnover of people leaving the profession, moving away from social care with children, may be moving into other areas of social work but moving from that real sharp end of being with children and families when there is real difficulties and dangers as well. it is not that we have difficulty recruiting, and this is not the quality, they are good people. is not the quality, they are good --eole. ., , ., ., people. one more question, we are tirht for people. one more question, we are tight for time. _ people. one more question, we are tight for time, this _ people. one more question, we are tight for time, this has _ people. one more question, we are tight for time, this has been - people. one more question, we are tight for time, this has been taken. tight for time, this has been taken over the social services department with an independent board and trust, suppose we separate from the council, is there anything they can do that is different from what the council is doing? it is do that is different from what the council is doing?— council is doing? it is no quick fix, it council is doing? it is no quick fix. it will— council is doing? it is no quick fix, it will take _ council is doing? it is no quick fix, it will take 18 _ council is doing? it is no quick fix, it will take 18 months - council is doing? it is no quick fix, it will take 18 months to i council is doing? it is no quick i fix, it will take 18 months to two years to stabilise the workforce, it maybe change the culture of the organisation, making it saferfor people to stay there and do the job they need to do. no quick fixes, it

will take 18 months to two years. thank you very much. scientists say pollution of the world's rivers from medicines and pharmaceutical products poses a "threat to global health". researchers tested water in more than a hundred countries and a quarter of the samples had levels of drugs which were unsafe for aquatic life. paracetamol, nicotine, caffeine and epilepsy and diabetes medicines were widely detected. i'm joined by drjohn wilkinson, a geography and environment research fellow at york university and the leader of this study. it is fairto it is fair to say that this in itself is interesting, the epilepsy drugs anti—diabetic drugs are the ones you found most commonly and most widely. most thank ones you found most commonly and most thank you for having me on because of it is interesting, with particular note to those two drugs, the epilepsy drug... it is particular note to those two drugs, the epilepsy drug. . ._ the epilepsy drug... it is a particularly _ the epilepsy drug... it is a particularly stable - the epilepsy drug... it is a i particularly stable compound the epilepsy drug... it is a - particularly stable compound in the environment so once it gets into the water tends to stay there for quite a long time. whether that be to the sediment or being taken up into

plants, that varies quite a bit. in the case of the therapeutic dose of this drug, used to treat type two diabetes mainly, it's quite high so it's not surprising it enters our bodies, is not completely metabolised and enters the aquatic environment by inadequate removal during waste water treatment. the scale of this _ during waste water treatment. the scale of this research is impressive, in any sense what's perhaps most striking is you're doing something really nobody seems to have done before, even though we have been through the natural process of what our body does, pumping pharmaceuticals into rivers and streams for decades. yes. pumping pharmaceuticals into rivers and streams for decades.— and streams for decades. yes, on this scale this _ and streams for decades. yes, on this scale this has _ and streams for decades. yes, on this scale this has never - and streams for decades. yes, on this scale this has never been - and streams for decades. yes, on. this scale this has never been done before, so of the 104 countries we studied as a consortium of 127 authors, 36 of these countries had never been studied for pharmaceuticals, naturally reflective of the fact that the instrumentation that is involved in doing this work, it's incredibly expensive. it is not available in the majority of places around the

world, is not an equal distribution. it's very expensive equipment. many places around the world, places but we have found have some of the highest concentrations in the world have been very poorly studied in the last couple of decades, in terms of pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment. let pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment-— environment. let me ask you about the potential— environment. let me ask you about the potential damage _ environment. let me ask you about the potential damage that - environment. let me ask you about the potential damage that is - environment. let me ask you about the potential damage that is done i environment. let me ask you about. the potential damage that is done by this to marine and aquatic life. there is some evidence on this, isn't it, this isn'tjust you any sense a sort of warning about the worst possible scenario, we know some of these chemical compounds do have a real effect?— have a real effect? yeah, you have to remember— have a real effect? yeah, you have to remember these _ have a real effect? yeah, you have to remember these are _ have a real effect? yeah, you have to remember these are chemicals. have a real effect? yeah, you have . to remember these are chemicals that are specifically designed to have biological effects. and they act on the same molecular mechanisms in oz as they do in organisms exposed to them in the aquatic environment, so there is a lot of work being done in there is a lot of work being done in the space right now, but typical effects reported in literature range from behavioural abnormalities in fish exposed to antidepressants, all the way up to selection for

antimicrobial resistance, the likes of the who rates amongst the top ten largest threats to human global health at the moment. the largest threats to human global health at the moment.- largest threats to human global health at the moment. the fear that if these antibiotics _ health at the moment. the fear that if these antibiotics get _ health at the moment. the fear that if these antibiotics get into - health at the moment. the fear that if these antibiotics get into other. if these antibiotics get into other products, come back into our bodies, eventually through the kind of natural processes of nature, we will become resistant, they will become resistant, the viruses and so on will become resistant to any kind of treatment. �* .. ., will become resistant to any kind of treatment. a. ., .., will become resistant to any kind of treatment. ., , treatment. bacteria can become resistant to _ treatment. bacteria can become resistant to the _ treatment. bacteria can become resistant to the entire _ treatment. bacteria can become resistant to the entire bacterial. resistant to the entire bacterial medication we used to treat infection, that is the real threat here. resistant bacteria don't divide by border restrictions, so... it is only a fight away from reaching the uk. wright i'm being clumsy with my language, i'm referring to bacteria, very point of view to rephrase it, it is important people understand the distinction, i clearly didn't. people understand the distinction, i clearly didn't-— clearly didn't. people would think water treatment _ clearly didn't. people would think water treatment and _ clearly didn't. people would think water treatment and sewage -

clearly didn't. people would think. water treatment and sewage plants, surely they can kind of deal with this problem before it gets into the water supply? you this problem before it gets into the water supply?_ water supply? you are right, they can. it is water supply? you are right, they can- it is not _ water supply? you are right, they can. it is not all— water supply? you are right, they can. it is not all a _ water supply? you are right, they can. it is not all a message - water supply? you are right, they can. it is not all a message of- water supply? you are right, they i can. it is not all a message of doom and gloom. we have the solutions to and gloom. we have the solutions to a lot of these problems already. it is a matter of implementing them and advocating to government that we implement them. for example, we are quite good at treating waste water in europe and north america, and that reflects on some of the concentrations that we found in the study, but there are many parts in the world where that infrastructure specifically in some of the lower middle income countries we studied is prohibitively expensive and complicated to put in place, even in the uk there are only a few minorities of waste water treatment plants, tertiary treatment steps, activated carbon filtration, using ultraviolet light to act on some of these chemicals even further than modern waste water plants do, but those solutions exist already, it's a matter of implementing them more. hopefully your research will help

encourage people to do just that. thank you so much for talking to us. thank you so much for talking to us. thank you, it's my pleasure. helpless, ignored and isolated — these are some of the common feelings reported by partners during and after miscarriage. a review of pregnancy loss services is england is currently investigating the lack of support for the partners of women who miscarry; it's expected to make recommendations later this year. our global health correspondent, tulip mazumdar, has been to meet dads in essex. i felt completely alone and i was the only one in the world going through this. people acted as if because my baby didn't arrive, she didn't die and we didn't actually lose a baby, but we very much that. the best thing people did after we lost our— the best thing people did after we lost our son henry was acknowledged that he _ lost our son henry was acknowledged that he existed. these men share more than just a level of football. they have all lost babies.

some died early on in pregnancy, others within days of being born. during and after a loss, the focus is quite rightly on the woman. support for men is practically nonexistent. matt and his wife, lauren, have suffered four miscarriages, including two late losses. it crushed me. i went to do some shopping is and i would cry in the car on the way to the shops, or i would cry in the shower or on the toilet because that was the only time i was alone. i think people don't think that miscarriage affects men as much as it does. miscarriages can range from a loss with brooding over a number of weeks to woman losing but very quickly and becoming extremely unwell. —— losing blood. during a late miscarriage, mothers may give birth to their tiny babies, with their partners watching on. we don't all kind of sit around and discuss our losses.

it is just that absolute knowledge that everyone has experienced what you are going through. there is no pressure to grieve. when we are training, we are doing the grieving. what are men up against when it comes to dealing with this kind of loss? it is toxic masculinity, big boys don't cry, man up. use the stereotype of being strong for your— use the stereotype of being strong for your partner _ we are talking about stillbirth, about baby loss... after meeting at the football club, they came up with an idea of a pod cast for grieving dads. hearing us tell each other everything allows other dads to feel like they can tell people what they are going through. it is rough and it is awful, but that thing you are really scared about will be all right.

all remaining covid legal restrictions in northern ireland are expected to be removed from today and replaced by guidance. it means there will be no longer be a legal requirement to wear a facemask — or for people going to a nightclub to show a covid certificate. ministers say the omicron variant isn't putting significant pressure on hospitals — but warned that the virus hadn't gone away. hospitality firms have welcomed the change. the government has announced a cap on the costs faced by people who live in flats with flammable cladding or other safety defects. ministers say no—one will have to pay more than 15 thousand pounds in london and 10,000 pounds in the rest of england. home developers who also refuse to pay the costs of removing unsafe cladding could have planning permission and projects blocked under government plans. one of the uk's oldest zoos, bristol zoo — has announced that it's leaving its current home at the start of september. it's been at the site in clifton for 186 years —

but from the autumn will relocate to the wild place near cribbs causeway. here's laura jones. not the best morning for a trip to the zoo — but the flamingos at least don't seem to mind the rain. like many of the aniamls here, they've been a firm favourite with generations of bristolians — but things are changing. we've known for a while that this place will be closing — but today we found out exactly when. it is an emotional day. saturday the 3rd of september is going to be the last day that visitors can come to bristol zoo gardens and we are keen to capture everybody�*s memories and experiences of visiting over the years. for hundreds and thousands of people this is you will have a special this zoo will have a special place in their hearts. it has always been a popular place for first dates, engagements, even weddings. bristol zoo is 100 years old...

the zoo first opened its doors back in 1836 — and over the decades has grown and become a must—see attraction for anyone visiting the city. back in the day, it boasted polar bears, giraffes — even an elephant. but times have changed — and questions about the rights and wrongs of keeping animals captive have meant a new focus. so, from september many of the animals here willjoin others from around the world at the wild place — with a renewed focus on conservation. zoos have a really important place, particularly with biodiversity loss that the planet is facing. up to 80% when we move to the new zoo will be in conservation programmes related to work we are doing in the field. when it closes, part of the site will be sold and used for housing — but parts of the site will remain.

the gardens will be maintained and open to the public for free, a children's play area will be built — and the iconic zoo entrance will become the clifton conservation hub. leaving, the zoo hopes, a legacy for generations to come. laura jones, bbc points west, bristol. they've been villified, arrested and denounced for their long campaign to stop sewage being dumped into the sea — but now the story of a group of swimmers from scarborough is going to hit the big screen. the group, known as the sons of neptune, fought a furious battle to clean up their local waterways in the 1980s and 90s. our arts correspondent, david sillito, has been to meet them. do you ever worry about what's in that water? no, i don't, but my son does. he tells me not to. why? he says it's dangerous. that question, "is it safe to swim?", is what it's all about. back in the �*80s, scarborough was the scene of a long and furious battle over sewage. the sons of neptune, a group of local sea swimmers, said the waters weren't safe. the council, yorkshire water and local businesses disagreed. the sons' campaigning antics became national news and, 40 years on, it's all being turned into a film, and so i got the old gang back together. well, we live in an

absolutely beautiful town. there's nowhere better than scarborough. we've got two fantastic bays. and then someone comes along and wants to poison our waters. their stunts and protests went on for years. they even managed to get arrested when they took to the thames, but their arguments won the day. they and other protest groups helped encourage a new european bathing water directive that led to the building of a treatment plant. the water quality now is excellent. thank you. excellent, excellent. so victory? yes, yes, yes. it took a long time and it took a big fight. but not everyone in the town thought they were heroes — far from it. many thought they were a bit barmy and, even worse, bad for business. would it be fair to say that some people in the town have hated you? oh, yes. probably an understatement, really. many felt they were exaggerating the problems. 30 years on, i met one

of the councillors who'd had his own tussles with the sons. many people in the town thought they were barmy and bad for business, didn't they? well, yes, yes, they did do. and they were characters. but, there again, i suppose i was a character. and, you know, this is democracy. they were right, weren't they? let's say 90%. and now, it's all going to be turned into a film and it would be fair to say they're rather pleased. they want to spread a message. we want other people to do what we did and, believe me, it works, it works. the sons of neptune — the happy victors of scarborough's sewage war. david sillito, bbc news, scarborough. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. we are likely to see some damaging and disruptive winds this week

already named storm dudley has an amber warning attached to it from the met office. that is in force for wednesday and eunice arrives on friday, really packing a punch. so two storms we are keeping a very close eye. one already brewing up in the atlantic. for the rest of the day we have a ridge of high—pressure bringing rain and drier and brighter weather. the rain drags its heels further south east and brings its way back in before dusk. temperatures will be a smidgen higher than yesterday. temperatures not really the story — yes, we will have a temporary frost overnight in the north and we will see heavy rain turn to snow briefly. temperatures above freezing even when the rain clears away because winds will pick up. that will blow in more rain on wednesday, we could have issues of hill snow further north in the morning and then damp

and drizzly weather comes in. the story is about the wind. even though it is very mild for many during the day on wednesday except the far north, the winds by the afternoon will be in force. it will be felt by all but we expect the most damaging winds to be across parts of central and southern scotland, northern ireland and northern england. that is where the strongest winds are, 80—90 mph, causing damage and disruption but it will affect other parts of scotland and further south into england and wales as well. snow may be an issue in north scotland. things will then slowly quieten down during the day on thursday, a bit of a respite and it is relatively mild. but that respite does not last because this will develop very rapidly and it has got a lot of energy as it rises rises through the shores. in northern ireland, england, wales and southern scotland, you might notice significant

snow blowing around. a number of warnings in force. you can find out more detail on the website.

this is bbc news. the headlines: vladimir putin says he does not want a war in europe — and is open to discussions about security. the kremlin says it's withdrawing some troops from the border with ukraine. nato says they have yet to see evidence of de—escalation. translation: we don't want it and this is why . we have put forward the proposal to start the negotiation process. novak djokovic tells the bbc he'd rather miss out on trophies and titles than have a covid—19 vaccine. in an exclusive interview, the world men's number one says he's not anti—vaccine, but believes in personal choice. are you prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest player that ever.

picked up a racket, statistically, because you feel so _ strongly about this jab? yes. new figures show although wages went up at the end of last year, pay isn't keeping pace with rising prices. 15—year—old russian skater, kamila valieva, tops the table in the womens' figure skating short programme at the winter olympics, as she returns to the ice despite failing a drugs test. | archive: bristol zoo is 100 years old and so the animals celebrate. and bristol zoo will move to a new home later this year, after 186 years on its current site on the edge of the city.

hello and welcome. russia's president vladimir putin says he's prepared to continue dialogue on missiles and other security issues with the west, after holding talks in moscow with german chancellor olaf scholz, as tensions remain high in eastern europe. but nato says it has seen no signs of de—escalation of the crisis, despite moscow announcing the withdrawal of some of its troops from the ukrainian border. at his news conference, mr putin says moscow is proposing moves to alleviate the crisis. the russian president has told journalists that russia doesn't want war in europe. but he says russia's basic requirements have not been met by nato and that it has an obligation not to strengthen its security at the expense of other countries. and he claims there are mass violations of human rights in ukraine.

translation: the three basic- requirements from the russian side have not been met by our nato partners and other allies. there are a few ideas that need to be discussed and we have proposed a few ideas to our partners on the issue of european security and certain systems of weapons, medium—range rockets and so on. we are prepared to discuss these issues and we are also prepared to conduct negotiations but all the issues, as we mentioned before, they need to be considered comprehensively. they should not be separated from other issues.

of course, the topic of european security has been discussed in the context of the current situation, in the context of the situation with ukraine. as we know, ukrainian authorities refused to follow through on the minsk agreement and on the agreement which was reached later on. there are a few principal elements, judicial reform, amnesty and special status for eastern ukraine. the former foreign minister of germany proposed certain compromised measures but, unfortunately, they have not been achieved so far.

earlier, nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg said he hasn't seen any signs of reducing russian military presence on the ukrainian borders. there are signs from moscow that diplomacy should continue. this gives grounds for cautious optimism. but so far, we have not seen any sign of de—escalation on the ground. the prime minister chaired a cobra meeting on the crisis in ukraine this morning and after the meeting spoke to the media — let's take a listen.

last night, going into today, clearly there are signs of a diplomatic opening and that has always been an opportunity, to talk. there are grounds for a conversation about ukraine, with ukraine, and that is good. we are seeing a russian openness to conversations, but on the other hand the intelligence we are seeing today is still not encouraging. we have got russian field hospitals being constructed near the border with ukraine, in belarus, which can only be construed as preparation for an invasion, and there are more battalion tactical groups being brought closer to the border with ukraine, according to the intelligence that we are seeing. so, mixed signals at the moment and all the more reason for us to remain very tough and very united, especially on the economic sanctions. and what we're doing, the uk has been out in the lead for a while, what we're doing is targeting particular russian banks and russian companies, and making sure that we take steps, or take even more steps, to unpeel the facade

of russian property holdings, whether in this city or elsewhere, in london or elsewhere, unpeel the facade of russian ownership of companies, and also take steps to stop russian companies from raising capital on london financial markets. it's a very tough package of sanctions. it's ready to go if there is, if russia is so reckless as to invade ukraine. we have some and the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her on three separate occasions,

which is which is virginia giuffre we understand they have reached an agreement. thejudge in new york said her claim could continue, despite his, the prince's argument that effectively she had no claim to bring because she had reached an earlier settlement with jeffrey epstein before his death some years ago. and it was reached in florida, which meant her case against anyone else could not be pursued, thejudge did not agree and he gave permission for the case to continue which meant the stage was set for disclosure which meant both sides asked to document and information from the other side and then, and the prince was determined to do this, he was going to appear probably before a hearing in london which would be held under us jurisdiction hearing in london which would be held under usjurisdiction but involve the lawyers of virginia giuffre and his own. and that would

happen. clearly this agreement, assuming it is firmed up and approved by the court, which it has got to do, for the case to discontinue, that will never happen, it would mean. some kind of settlement in principle between the duke of york and virginia giuffre. the prince after that court hearing in january, the prince after that court hearing injanuary, it the prince after that court hearing in january, it was announced the prince after that court hearing injanuary, it was announced by buckingham palace that he was effectively losing all of his titles which she gave back to the queen and then after the ruling by the judge it was announced he would no longer be styled as his royal highness and indeed that effectively he has withdrawn altogether from any public role in the affairs of the royal family. it is not expected he will play much of a role if any in the celebrations of the queen's jubilee this year. just to reconfirm what has been announced, we only have the barest of has been announced, we only have the ba rest of details has been announced, we only have the barest of details because this is out of court documents filed in the

us, and as our correspondence have discovered in this case, they don't tell you when the court documents are going to go online and they do not give you any warning, it can happen morning, noon or night, any day of the week. this is an agreement in principle between prince andrew and the woman who says he had sexually abused her when she was a teenager, which he denies, and will doubtless continue to deny, but some kind of agreement or settlement in principle which is likely to involve two things, really, one is presumably court costs and potentially damages, the experts will know better than us, some kind of settlement of court costs, which for the money that virginia giuffre would have spent if she had lost the case but would have hoped to get if she had won in terms of a judgment against prince andrew, so some kind of financial settlement, and this is the interesting bit, the bit likely

to be most problematic for the prince, what form of words could be agreed between the parties, between prince andrew and virginia giuffre, what form of words will be acceptable to both sides to bring this case to a close. the impression has been given by the legal team of virginia giuffre in the course of this process that it wasn't enough for them to win a case and damages against prince andrew. remember, it is a civil case, it is no question of prison time or a conviction, this is a civil case brought privately, but the question is, what form of words will be acceptable to both prince andrew who denies that he sexually abused her and to virginia giuffre who says she was sexually abused by him, what form of words could they both agree on that would mean they could bring this case to an end? so a settlement in principle is one thing but nailing it down with specifics is another and it is likely that the process will take

days, weeks, maybe longer, to actually get, but it sounds like neither party wants to take this to court. virginia giuffre said she wanted a court hearing and was determined to get one and the prince said he was determined to face the lawyers and be questioned and cross—examined on what relationship if any he had. there is a photograph that exists of virginia giuffre with the prince but the prince says he can't recall meeting her and therefore he has also denied the claims made against him including that they had sex. we will bring you more on that story. it has just developed in the last five minutes. we have a bit more detail. the content of the court documents, this is an audio recording, this is a statement of the court has made. this is the full text, virginia giuffre and prince andrew have reached an out—of—court settlement, and the parties will file a

stipulated dismissal upon virginia giuffre receipt of the settlement, the some of which has not been disclosed, and prince andrew intends to make a substantial donation to her charity in support of victims rights. prince andrew has never intended to malign her character and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. it is known that jeffrey epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. prince andrew regrets his association with epstein and commends the bravery of virginia giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and for others. he pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and by supporting its victims. that's the statement which has been issued by the us court and has just been statement which has been issued by the us court and hasjust been made available to journalists and has

just been published. interesting that one of the criticisms that was made when the duke of york gave an interview to newsnight was that he did not talk about victims of epstein and focused very much on the allegations against him. but this very much specifies that the prince has acknowledged what happened and that virginia giuffre is a victim of sexual abuse and also that his former friend jeffrey epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years, it says. prince andrew regrets his association with epstein and commends the bravery of virginia giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and for others. we will not be getting any details of how much the settlement will be but he is also making a donation to her charity which supports the campaign for victims rights. it is very important that he is acknowledging in this

that he is acknowledging in this that virginia giuffre is an established victim of abuse. and that she has suffered unfair public attacks. there is no reference at all in this to the allegation she made specifically against him which he has always denied, remember, that he has always denied, remember, that he sexually abused or that he ever had sex with her at all and he even questioned whether he had met her. and he cast doubt on the veracity of the photograph which had him with his arm around her with ghislaine maxwell, a friend of epstein's who was convicted on charges of procuring young women forjeffrey epstein. the photo was taken in her property in london, but he said he did not remember beating her. —— he did not remember beating her. —— he did not remember meeting her and he questioned the provenance of the

photograph. we have come a long way since then, and there was the prospect of him appearing in court but that is not now going to happen. we are told it was a settlement in principle and there is a lot of detail in the statement. let's move... i will read this again because i did not take it all in... virginia giuffre and prince andrew have reached an out—of—court settlement and the parties will find a stipulated dismissal upon virginia giuffre's receipt of the settlement, the some of which has not been disclosed, and prince andrew intends to make a substantial donation to her charity for victims rights and prince andrew has never intended to malign her character and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. it is known thatjeffrey epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years and prince andrew regrets his association with epstein and commends the bravery of virginia

giuffre and other survivors in standing upfor giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. he pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and by supporting its victims. a second document which is a letter addressed to thejudge second document which is a letter addressed to the judge in the case in new york says, we write jointly with counsel for defendant to advise the court that the parties reached a settlement in principle of the above—referenced action, and the document goes on to say that the parties involved plan to fight a stipulation of dismissal of the case within 30 days. the letter is signed by the lawyer of virginia giuffre and concludes that they appreciate the time and effort the court has devoted to this matter. so that stipulation of dismissal of the case is effectively a formal request by the parties together for the judge to close proceedings. ultimately it

is a court case and it is the judge who decides but i can't think of any previous case where two sides have agreed to proceedings and the judge has not gone right ahead to end them. we know he thought there was sufficient merit in her claim for it to go to a full hearing and we know that the prince said he was determined to have his day in court and defend his reputation. but in terms of what has been announced by the court, it is basically an agreement in principle that the proceedings will come to an end and the payment of monies which are not being disclosed from the prince to virginia giuffre which effectively will cover her legal costs, presumably, but what we don't know is whether there will be any sum for damages. on the basis of the impugning of her reputation, not necessarily by the prince, but by others and what she has had to put up others and what she has had to put up with in terms of attacks on her character because she has gone ahead

with the case. it also acknowledges first that she is a victim, an established victim of sexual abuse, and that epstein abused countless young girls and trafficked them and thirdly acknowledges her efforts and will involve a payment to a charity of her naming. she has a charitable institution of her own, i think, involved in helping victims and protecting victims rights, so this is a big recognition of what epstein had done and his criminal behaviour and a regret from prince andrew, a regret of his relationship with epstein. we heard him say before, of course, that he did not approve of epstein but he defended their friendship. he said it was not one he wanted to walk away from because of things they had done, that they ceased to be his friend and he was ashamed of them, but it does say prince andrew regrets his association with epstein and commends the bravery of virginia

giuffre and other survivors in standing upfor giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. it says he never intended to malign the character of virginia giuffre and he accepts that she has suffered both as an accepted, established victim of abuse and as a result of the unfair public attacks. prince andrew, its estimate regrets his association with epstein and commends the bravery of the victims. worth saying that in terms of this, that we know in terms of what this case has involved, it has come at a huge price to prince andrew's reputation. effectively it has destroyed his public role and removed his involvement in any charities and organisations, his military titles, commanders in chief of regiments, bearing in mind he did have military service, serving in the falklands walk, for example, but all of those things have effectively gone —— the falklands war. he also

represented the uk in international trade, lobbying for britain and banging the drum for businesses to invest in the uk, but all of that has gone, at various stages, but the most brutal stage came last month when buckingham palace effectively cut him off in terms of a public row and he was no longer able to use the title his royal highness and i doubt in light of the settlement they will be any question of that being restored, and he becomes a low profile private sector. it has been said that he is the favourite child of the queen but we won't see much of the queen but we won't see much of him in the course of the celebrations to mark the queen's 70 years on the throne. in some ways the case has overshadowed the run up to those commemorations and buckingham palace will hope that now it has been brought to an end that people will park that and they won't keep going on about prince andrew and they can focus on the celebrations marking the queen's

jubilee, but it is fair to say the case has been one of the most disturbing the royal family has had to deal with in recent years and for the prince to be associated with a man like epstein has clearly caused reputational damage to him but we don't know how much reputational damage there has been to the monarchy. prince andrew's role as a public figure which goes back nearly 40 years, in terms of the falklands war, that public role has come to an end. he is no longer a figure it will be seen at major public events and he won't be seen at public events representing the queen or forming during performing this role with prince charles and others —— or performing this role, for example, with prince charles and others, here on the balcony. there has been no suggestion that that could change

when the monarch changes because this event has cast a serious shadow, although we don't know any more to the background of this photograph. her claim was that he sexually abused her at some point during her visit to london and on a couple of other occasions, and she was at the time at 17 which was not against the legal age of consent in this country but was in new york which is the other case where he was alleged to have committed, and also on jeffrey epstein's alleged to have committed, and also onjeffrey epstein's private island in the caribbean. these are the men together in new york and this photograph was taken after epstein had previously been convicted for sexual crimes. prince andrew said he showed loyalty to his friend but he flatly denied ever having committed any sex acts or seen anything untoward when he was staying in

epstein's company and actually being involved in this. just to update you, we have a confirmation of an outline settlement between —— outlined settlement between virginia giuffre who had accused prince andrew of sexually assaulting her on three occasions, when she was involved in jeffrey three occasions, when she was involved injeffrey epstein's circle, this is a settlement between virginia giuffre and prince andrew. the court was going to have formal hearings beginning in the next few months and we were at the stage of disclosure where both sides would disclose information asked by the other sides which would form the backbone of the legal hearing. prince andrew we are told was prepared to appear as the subject of these proceedings in the case brought against him and he would have given evidence and he would have given evidence and he would have been sworn on oath and it would have been sworn on oath and it would have been sworn on oath and it would have been in front of a judge and it would have been a britishjudge but they would effectively have been

sitting, the proceedings, in an american court, but it would have been taking place in this country rather than new york. and the lawyers would question and cross examine him and it could have been on some very intimate details, not only on the allegations but also on the claim that the prince had made when he said that one of the reasons he denied what virginia giuffre accused him of was that she said he sweated heavily and that he had sweated heavily and that he had sweated heavily and that he had sweated heavily when they were dancing at a london nightclub, and the prince told newsnight in his interview a couple of years ago that this was impossible because he had a medical condition that meant that in the years is concerned he was not able to sweat, a problem he had, a medical problem, and therefore it made her evidence unreliable. it meant she was mixing him up with someone else, that was the implication of his rebuttal, but that would have been one of the

areas that the representatives of virginia giuffre would have wanted to explore in any examination of prince andrew as a witness in those proceedings. that will now not happen. we will probably hear no more of this specific allegation and it would be very surprising indeed if anything further comes of this from the prince, whatever it many attached having to settle with someone, the reality is he has averted what would have been a very difficult and embarrassing appearance for him, even if he won the case, all of the dirty linen being thrown out in public in this way would have been humiliating and it must have been part of the calculation for buckingham palace in the decision it made in effectively casting prince andrew adrift from the firm as they like to call it, the firm as they like to call it, the organised business of the monarchy in this country and the family. this was a pre—emptive strike so that whatever came out of

the proceedings they would have been sufficiently distant from them, great if he had won but slightly closed off and separate if he had lost. the palace could have said, terrible thing, nothing to do with us. they made those decisions. given the fact he has now settled it seems it is unlikely that any of that will be reversed so prince andrew faces his future life as a private citizen, unable to use things like the title is royal highness, and not likely to appear at any public events. the exception might be something like the funeral of his mother when that happens eventually, but in terms of formal public events in which the british monarchy is playing a ceremonial role, that has gone, and that will have gone from prince andrew's life. there is no going back after these allegations and the settlement of this court case. let me remind you just to be

clear, i'm talking about some breaking news this afternoon, within the last 20 minutes, from a court in new york, virginia giuffre, the woman seen in this photograph with prince andrew, 30 odd years ago, who claims that she was sexually abused by him on three occasions when she was a teenager, roughly around the time this photograph is alleged to have been taken, and it has been agreed between the two of them, the lawyers representing virginia giuffre and prince andrew, an out—of—court settlement. they will file a stipulated dismissal upon the receipt of the settlement fort virginia giuffre, and prince andrew intends to make a substantial donation to her charity which supports victim rights and prince andrew has never intended to malign the character of virginia giuffre and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. it is known that

jeffrey epstein it was a friend of prince andrew and is now dead traffic countless young girls over many years and prince andrew regrets his association with epstein and commends the bravery of virginia giuffre and other survivors in standing upfor giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. he pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and supporting its victims. of course, prince andrew is a father of two daughters and they have prominent public roles themselves in the royal family and we assume that will not be affected by what has happened to their father because they play not a high profile role but a small role in the royal family's public affairs and they can't be blamed for the problems their father has experienced. but it is an important statement that prince andrew is going to support the efforts of all of those who are campaigning to protect women's rights and the victims of sex

trafficking. you are watching bbc news. with that breaking news involving prince andrew and virginia giuffre. we are welcoming viewers across the world for the breaking news this error that prince andrew and virginia giuffre have reached an out—of—court settlement of her claims that prince andrew, a member of the british royalfamily, sexually abused her on three occasions when she was a teenage girl. in a statement issued in a new york court within the last half an hour, both sides have reached a settlement and will agree a dismissal of the case, once he has given money to her, the some of which is not being disclosed. he will also make a substantial donation to charity in the interests of victims' rights. prince andrew

said he intended to malign virginia giuffre's character and accepts she was a victim of abuse and unfair public attacks on her and it acknowledges the prince's former friend jeffrey epstein, who killed himself while in prison facing legal action for sexual abuse and the trafficking of minors, that he did indeed traffic countless young girls over many years. prince andrew says he regrets his association with jeffrey epstein and commence the bravery of virginia giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. he pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and by supporting his victims. we hope shortly to be talking to our home affairs correspondent, who is an expert on this case and has been following the ins and outs of this for some time. we will get them up

to us as soon as we possibly can. just a reminder if you have just joined us, and as viewers internationally have joined us, joined us, and as viewers internationally havejoined us, a member of the british royalfamily, prince andrew, also known as the duke of york, has reached an out—of—court settlement in new york this afternoon, a long—running legal case. you may recall that virginia giuffre had claimed and brought a private prosecution, remember this is not a criminal proceeding, a private prosecution, she was suing effectively prince andrew the duke of york, saying he had sexually abused at three times, once in you are, once in london, where this photo is alleged to have taken place, and in the third occasion it was in the caribbean on an island owned byjeffrey epstein. jeffrey owned by jeffrey epstein. jeffrey epstein owned byjeffrey epstein. jeffrey epstein was a successful financier, well known in new york circles, lots of people where his friend, they all deny they saw a new anything that was going on untoward. among those

friends, ghislaine maxwell, the daughter of the former british publisher the late robert maxwell. she has been jailed publisher the late robert maxwell. she has beenjailed and is currently serving time in new york after a court recently convicted her of charges related to allegations that she procured young girls forjeffrey epstein's sexual use. the photograph, we had a wider version than the one at moment, you would actually the see ghislaine maxwell in the background of the photograph. prince andrew, when interviewed by the bbc two years ago, the only interview given about the case, said at the time he was not sure about the provenance of the photograph, did not remember it being taken, didn't indeed ever remember having met virginia giuffre. i guess he remembers now who she has, he certainly knows who she is, even if there is no acknowledgement in that statement released so far that the prince committed any act against her. there is nothing in the statement that relates to that. whether that will appear in the final stipulation of dismissal, this

is an outline agreement, and when i said at the beginning of this about 40 minutes ago, that this was an outline settlement, i think the point is that these terms have been a great subject to the money being paid. so providing the prince hangs over the money, then the two sides will go into court and —— their laurels were going to court and tell thejudge formally laurels were going to court and tell the judge formally that they will be in a situation where they can bring the proceedings to an end —— their lawyers will go into court. they still need the judge in lawyers will go into court. they still need thejudge in new lawyers will go into court. they still need the judge in new york to formally end proceedings, but effectively with this statement, those proceedings have now come to an end to all intents and purposes. they will go no further and we will not see that process of appearing in court, in which the prince, probably in the hearing in london but conducted under the authority of york court, would have been facing not only his own barrister, but also an advocate, lawyer and attorney

from the united states, probably david boyes who represents virginia giuffre, who would have cross—examined him, challenged his evidence, pushed him and pushed him on the relationship, if there was a relationship. when you put all of that together, it is not hard to see why the prince would not have really wanted this to go to court, and no one in the royalfamily wanted this to go to court, and no one in the royal family would want it to go to court. the prince's public position when he lost his attempt to have the proceedings thrown out about a month or so ago was that his lawyer said he was ready to defend his reputation at court, answer charges he felt were scurrilous and untrue, knock the case back. it hasn't happened now. it is a question now trying to establish what the reputational damage is for the prince, also what virginia giuffre will say. they have to agree, both sides. that's the formality. how much that ties in terms of interview she does, article she writes from appearances. doubtless they will be crying out

for interviews in the media. now that these proceedings are over, in a sense she is free to talk about it. we are just connecting the technology to our home affairs correspondent. dominic has been following this case with a lot of effort and is well aware of the detail of it and he is the man who can actually bring us in on this. thanks very much forjoining us. i know you only known about this as long as we have. we've been talking about it for about half an hour. what strikes you when you look in the course of this document that has been published, two documents that have appeared on the court website? this is a pretty seismic development. only days ago we were hearing from team prince andrew, his team, that he was prepared to go into give his evidence under oath on the 10th of march, look into the

whites of the eyes of virginia giuffre's lawyers and give his account of events. that is always a critical moment in a civil case such as this, because what that account is down under oath, can be used in trial, and lots of lawyers have been following this and saying over the course of the last six months, that was going to be a critical moment when prince andrew would have to decide whether or not he really wanted this to go to trial, because once you have given your evidence under oath, that can be used against you in court, and lo and behold, we had this extraordinary turn of events here, where as many people have been predicting from day one, the duke of york and virginia giuffre have settled this case before it has got to the doors of the court. i think it's really interesting when you look at the settlement statement, if you bear with me while i look at on the screen to my left ear, there's a couple of things. the first thing that's really important is to take into account about what prince andrew has said about virginia giuffre's character. in his

statement today he says he has never intended, prince andrew has never intended, prince andrew has never intended to malign virginia giuffre's character and accepts she has suffered and is an established victim of abuse and a result of unfair public attacks. what's really interesting about that, bear with me, a quote from earlier in the case. "during the early part of the case. "during the early part of the case —— when his lawyers were trying to get the case thrown out, prince andrew's lawyers filed the following words. these were worth that were filed with his commission. "it is unfortunate and undeniable the sensationalism and innuendo that prevailed over the truth stop virginia giuffre has initiated this baseless lawsuit against chris andrew to achieve another payday at his expense." that accusation couldn't be clearer from prince andrew through his lawyers in court,

yet today in his settlement he is saying that her character cannot be maligned, she is an established victim of abuse. he stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing on his part, but in essence by saying that her character cannot be maligned, she is an established victim of abuse, she is —— he is accepting in essence what she has been saying has truth, even though he maintains so far that he has not been guilty of any wrongdoing. this is an interesting turn of events. lots of people have been speculating about whether or not virginia giuffre would settle without some kind of wording which would acknowledge things about your character and what she stood for, even if the settlement or an outcome would not necessarily basically land prince andrew with the accusation of being an abuser himself. that hasn't

happened in the settlement. there is no admission of liability in the settlement. virginia giuffre is clearly going to walk away feeling that her character here has been restored. i think that's really interesting.— interesting. there is a lot of technicality _ interesting. there is a lot of technicality in _ interesting. there is a lot of technicality in the _ interesting. there is a lot of i technicality in the documents, interesting. there is a lot of. technicality in the documents, i think we can see some of them now issued on the website. they way the us court seem to work as they don't give anybody any warning the stuff is coming, just sort of appears once they are ready to put it out there. in terms of what you are talking about there, how large a kind of collapse of the prince was my position does this represent, do you think? ~ , ., �* position does this represent, do you think? ~ �* ., ~ ., ., think? when you're talking about a damaaes think? when you're talking about a damages case. _ think? when you're talking about a damages case, there _ think? when you're talking about a damages case, there are _ think? when you're talking about a damages case, there are various i damages case, there are various things and play in any sort of damages case. the first is can you afford to go to trial? everyone assumes that a prince of the realm, nine to whatever he is in line to the throne, has resources behind him, perhaps access to fight it out

if he believes that is the right way forward. many people don't fight out civil damages case, and their lawyers would often advise them not to because it is damaging both to their character. the second issue with this is you have to calculate the potential harm and damage to your own character as well, perhaps by settling early and quickly, even if that is a settlement without admission of liability, whether or not that is basically the best course of action. going back to an earlier statement, prince andrew's lawyers tried to get this case thrown out through a series of technicalities, said virginia giuffre could not actually saw him because of a proceeding settlement in relation tojeffrey epstein in florida. that was competitively thrown out by the manhattan judge last month. we had another series of

technical challenges to this case, whether or not it actually breached his constitutional rights as a defendant in the manner it had been put together, all of those thrown out. in effect he was left with very few options. those options were to not take part in the case. if that has happened, they would have been a summaryjudgment against him. he would have automatically lost the case and the court would have found him effectively that he did commit acts of abuse against virginia giuffre. you go to trial and put his trust in thejury giuffre. you go to trial and put his trust in the jury on the backs will come out there, that is risky because virginia giuffre only has to win on the balance of probabilities, 51% if you think about in those terms. the third is to settle, and thatis terms. the third is to settle, and that is why lawyers very often advise their clients, settle the case, find some form of wording that the claimant can live with, that suits their ends, and if money needs to change hands as well, do the money thing as well as you can get this behind you and get on with the rest of your life, otherwise it will

be hanging over you and become like an open wound which will potentially never be healed in your life. thea;r never be healed in your life. they talk in this _ never be healed in your life. they talk in this court _ never be healed in your life. they talk in this court document about filing a stipulated dismissal once she received a settlement. they are not telling us how much the settlement is. effectively, presumably, that is the cover things like legal costs of bringing the case so far. is there much chance of a slip at this stage with the expectation now be that this case is over? . �* , , , , over? yeah, i'm pretty sure this case will be _ over? yeah, i'm pretty sure this case will be over— over? yeah, i'm pretty sure this case will be over now, - over? yeah, i'm pretty sure this case will be over now, because. case will be over now, because lawyers acting for both sides would not want to make a mistake at this late stage. there would have been a lots of detailed private undertakings, in the preceding weeks, to get to this point. to work out what the settlement would look like. i suspect, out what the settlement would look like. isuspect, i don't out what the settlement would look like. i suspect, i don't know, out what the settlement would look like. isuspect, i don't know, but out what the settlement would look like. i suspect, i don't know, but i suspect that the money may have been an easier issue in this than the actual wording. an easier issue in this than the actualwording. it's an easier issue in this than the actual wording. it's interesting when you look at this, were not

quite clear whether there is actually two sums of money involved here because the statement says it talks about parties will file a dismissal on virginia giuffre's receipt of a settlement, the some of which are not disclosed, and prince andrew intends to make a substantial donation to virginia giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights. it is a little bit ambiguous, the language there, but that could be two different sums. i suspect there has been a lot of wrangling over that wording, where prince andrew accepts he has never attempted to malign virginia giuffre's character, someone he previously accused of going for a payday against him. very often in these cases, if wording that really matters more than the cash. obviously the cash can be helpful to people, on circumstances, but when you're talking about cases we are talking about someone's character and what they said in the fact they are seeking some kind of justification by the court that they

are speaking the truth, that wording really matters. virginia giuffre's lawyers hinted back injanuary that she would be in the market for a settlement, but they talked about her needing some kind of satisfaction, and i thought at the time they are hinting that they want to move on this, and if they can get a deal with prince andrew over words which accept she is a victim of abuse and has been a victim of abuse in the past in relation to epstein, then maybe they will be able to live with that, even if that settlement does not come with an admission from prince andrew himself. it is a really interesting, curious form of words here, but quite often this is what happens in these cases. thank ou so what happens in these cases. thank you so much — what happens in these cases. thank you so much for— what happens in these cases. thank you so much for that. _ what happens in these cases. thank you so much for that. just _ what happens in these cases. thank you so much for that. just a - you so much for that. just a reminder, whether you're watching in the uk already world, this is bbc news. with the breaking news this error that prince andrew has settled the legal claim brought by virginia giuffre against them. destroying a

legaljournalist giuffre against them. destroying a legal journalist who giuffre against them. destroying a legaljournalist who has covered the case. lucio, what do you make of this? had this become inevitable once prince andrew had lost his efforts to have the case thrown out? is hard, i am very surprised. i did not think we would see the settlement. virginia and her lawyers had said they were not willing to accept the settlement, in the past, so this is a surprise to me, but there are lots of different reasons this could have happened. as you said, after he failed to get this case dismissed, prince andrew, and i'm sure everyone behind the scenes, would have been doing absolutely whatever they could to try and settle this case. they would have been pulling out all the stops, because they just wanted been pulling out all the stops, because theyjust wanted to avoid these allegations being aired publicly. i think once the came down, once he was denied his motion to dismiss the case, things will

have changed from prince andrew's perspective, and would have changed what he is able to offer virginia giuffre. that might be why we are in this position now. as we havejust been hearing, some interesting wording in the settlement. iloathed wording in the settlement. what particularly _ wording in the settlement. what particularly weeps _ wording in the settlement. what particularly weeps out _ wording in the settlement. what particularly weeps out for - wording in the settlement. what particularly weeps out for you? what strikes you most when you look at the phrases they have managed, through errors and days of negotiation, to come to? eleanor i'll tell you, i cannot even imagine the negotiations that went into this. . ., , ., ., this. that went into this one long paragraph- _ this. that went into this one long paragraph- it _ this. that went into this one long paragraph- it is — this. that went into this one long paragraph. it is surprising - this. that went into this one long paragraph. it is surprising to - this. that went into this one long paragraph. it is surprising to me, out of settlements, as we know, are most often used to keep things private and avoid admissions of guilt, and this is not an admission of guilt, but to something. he has given her something. of guilt, but to something. he has given hersomething. in of guilt, but to something. he has given her something. in this wording, he says he acknowledges

virginia giuffre is an established victim of sexual abuse, and he also says we knowjeffrey epstein trafficked countless girls, so to sing a couple of things, seeing this happened, i accept this happen, jeffrey epstein did this and i was associated with them. it then goes on to say prince andrew regrets his association with jeffrey on to say prince andrew regrets his association withjeffrey epstein. it is not an admission of guilt, but it is not an admission of guilt, but it is not an admission of guilt, but it is not something i would expect to see in an out—of—court settlement like this, so it's somewhere in between, and in some ways you can see that that wording, because virginia giuffre has always said this is about accountability for her, and there is some degree of accountability in the settlement. in accountability in the settlement. in terms of reputation, it'5 accountability in the settlement. in terms of reputation, it's fair to say that the wording enhances virginia giuffre's reputation, doesn't it?—

virginia giuffre's reputation, doesn't it? ~ , ., doesn't it? absolutely. it says that she is an abuse _ doesn't it? absolutely. it says that she is an abuse victim _ doesn't it? absolutely. it says that she is an abuse victim and - doesn't it? absolutely. it says that she is an abuse victim and that - doesn't it? absolutely. it says that| she is an abuse victim and that she has been a victim of public attacks, and size prince andrew commence her bravery for coming forward. and that prince andrew commends the bravery of all survivors for coming forward. certainly this is him saying to her this is real, this happen to you, i acknowledge that, and i acknowledge your bravery. that part as well is not something you would expect to see in something like this, and i think that would have been very important to her. and because we know that she did not want to settle this case, i think it seems obvious to me that these words are what we should be focusing on in terms of what may be tipped the scales and in terms of what convinced her to accept a settlement, because she was always very clear she wasn't interested in financial settlement, and i think these words are what make it notjust a financial settlement. make it not 'ust a financial settlement.—

make it not 'ust a financial settlement. , , , settlement. and she can be accused of havin: settlement. and she can be accused of having folded _ settlement. and she can be accused of having folded without _ settlement. and she can be accused of having folded without getting - of having folded without getting anything out of this. —— she can't be accused. her reputation, indirectly or by implication if you have the prince acknowledging she is a victim, acknowledging that epstein abused countless girls, it kind of says he regrets his friendship with epstein, it is damaging to how he looked before these words, in terms of the image she was projecting, and both very strong rebuttals of the claims, he hasn't acknowledged them, we have to be clear, but in the past he said he did not regret his friendship with epstein, he felt want to stand by one's friends. absolutely and i think that will be a huge thing for virginia giuffre, she is sad to see him come out again and again and deny that he regrets being friends withjeffrey epstein, deny he has ever met her, not that

in this wording he admits to having met her, but this is definitely very different from what we saw in his interview with the bbc. for him to be coming out and saying that countless girls were abused by jeffrey epstein and that he regrets having anything to do with him, that is a huge 180 from him, and it's in the legal document now, and it's really significant, i think. i also think the word "countless" is very important. that says there is more to come. to have been trained that word count this in a legal document —— to have enshrined. it is a nod to the fact there are more victims out there. prince andrew himself has now acknowledged that, and this story is not over, whether or not this agreement means prince andrew's involvement is essentially over.

lucia, thank you very much. we are grateful to you for following this and talking to us about it and about the settlement. let's speak now to the settlement. let's speak now to the former us attorney for the eastern district of new york city, thank you forjoining us. were you expecting a settlement? you expect it still going to go to oral hearings?— it still going to go to oral hearinas? . ., . , hearings? thanks for having me. this is a key stage — hearings? thanks for having me. this is a key stage in the _ is a key stage in the proceedings where you would expect to see a settlement. write as discovery is about to really take out, right as you have prince andrew... moira, i'm so sorry to — you have prince andrew... moira, i'm so sorry to interrupt, _ you have prince andrew... moira, i'm so sorry to interrupt, we _ you have prince andrew... moira, i'm so sorry to interrupt, we are - you have prince andrew... moira, i'm so sorry to interrupt, we are having i so sorry to interrupt, we are having some technical problems with your voice, it sounds like, i know you're not, but it seems that you are using some vocal device, so there's obviously a bit of a problem between the line in new york on this. the

line, we will get back to you as soon as we can. thank you so much. we will hearfrom soon as we can. thank you so much. we will hear from her in just a few moments. let me remind you, whether you are watching in the uk or around the world, this is bbc news. the breaking year is this error that prince andrew, a member of the british royalfamily has prince andrew, a member of the british royal family has reached an out—of—court settlement with virginia giuffre, the young women who accused him when she was a teenager of sexually assaulting her on three occasions. there has been no admission by the prince of any liability, he has always denied the allegations, but any detailed statement issued in the last hour through the court in the united states, new york, where these proceedings have been brought by mess virginia giuffre comedy to say they will agree a dismissal, once virginia giuffre has received money, the amount of which is undisclosed, presumably covering her legal costs

—— miss virginia giuffre. prince andrew plans to make a substantial donation to virginia giuffre's intended charity. he has never intended charity. he has never intended to malign virginia giuffre's character, except she has suffered as an established victim of abuse and a result of unfair public attacks. the photograph you're seeing now is when the prince said he did not remember being taken. indeed he said before he had never even met virginia giuffre. there is nothing in his statement that alters that position. that was a photograph taken in new york. it is known the statement had jeffrey epstein, prince andrew's friend, acknowledges he traffic numbers young girls, and commends the bravery of virginia giuffre another girls for standing up... says he regrets his association with epstein and that he demonstrates he regrets about supporting the fight against the

evils of sex trafficking and supporting its victims. a second document has been issued by the court which says that mike advise the court that the parties reached a settlement of the above referenced action. the second doc city parties involved plan is the provision of this mess of the case within 30 days, signed by virginia giuffre's lawyer who concludes we appreciate the time and effort the core is devoted to this matter. moira, former assistant attorney for eastern district of new york, i hope we can hear you now. what strikes you most about this case, where you expecting them to reach a settlement rather than its going to court? this is the -e rather than its going to court? this is the type of _ rather than its going to court? ti 3 is the type of case where you expect them to reach a settlement. here the allegations were so extreme,

virginia giuffre seemed like she was going to be a very compelling witness, and the evidence as it is presented was going to be very difficult for prince andrew to dispute, so once you have a situation where there is lots of motions to dismiss, where you know you're going to be facing an intrusive deposition process, where there is a very small likelihood you would actually succeed at trial, this is a really adventitious time for prince andrew to try and seek a settlement in this case. —— adventitious. ih settlement in this case. -- adventitious.— settlement in this case. -- adventitious. , ., ., adventitious. in terms of what has come out of _ adventitious. in terms of what has come out of this _ adventitious. in terms of what has come out of this statement, - adventitious. in terms of what has come out of this statement, how. adventitious. in terms of what has i come out of this statement, how do you read the form of words used, where does this leave the two parties in this case?— where does this leave the two parties in this case? what you see here is that _ parties in this case? what you see here is that there _ parties in this case? what you see here is that there was _ parties in this case? what you see here is that there was an - parties in this case? what you see here is that there was an attempt | parties in this case? what you see i here is that there was an attempt to reach a settlement that virginia giuffre could live with. she is someone who had already been burned through a settlement process before and was obviously important for her

to have prince andrew acknowledge something about the victims in this case. he did not go so far as to admit the allegations, obviously thatis admit the allegations, obviously that is something he could not have done without facing severe criminal ramifications if he had infect admitted that. i don't think any lawyer would have advised him that he could have entered into a settlement where he actually apologised for committing battery or being involved in some way sexually with virginia giuffre when she was under age, with virginia giuffre when she was underage, but with virginia giuffre when she was under age, but what we saw was him going basically as far as he could legally, accepting jeffrey epstein as a true criminal, somebody he should not have been involved with, recognising there have in fact been countless victims of epstein. can i countless victims of epstein. can i 'ust raise countless victims of epstein. can i just raise this _ countless victims of epstein. can i just raise this question, _ countless victims of epstein. can i just raise this question, because i expect people watching this interview, certainly in the uk and other countries as well will be

curious about this? you are a former attorney for new york, eastern district, if you saw a case like this settled at this stage and it is a civil case, would it raise questions it would be to go should we be looking back at this, should we be looking back at this, should we be looking at whether there was any criminal activity? should be at least be reviewing a case in light of the civil settlement of this kind? —— should we at least sometimes, yes, as a federal prosecutor there are certainly times when you see a civil settlement and then afterwards there is engagement. i will say the successful trial against ghislaine maxwell, had inducted jeffrey epstein before his death, they were clearly looking at prince andrew and had they been able to amass enough evidence to charge him, i believe that they would have.

one thing i think could have happened, had additional evidence come out at the civil trial that could have been used in a criminal prosecution of prince andrew, that would have made a difference, but where it stands now, i doubt the settlement would have any impact on a prosecution of prince andrew. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. let's bring you more on that story. a short time ago i spoke to the home affairs correspondent for the bbc who gave his thoughts on the implications of the settlement, both for virginia giuffre and prince andrew. this is a pretty seismic development. days ago we were hearing from team prince andrew, his team that was prepared to go into deposition basically to give evidence under oath on the 10th of march. basically looking into the

whites of the eye of virginia giuffre lawyers and give his account of events. it's always a critical moment in a civil case like this because once that account is down, under oath it can be used in trial. lots of lawyers have been following this have been saying over the course of the last six months or so is that, that was going to be the crystal moment where presenter would have to decide whether or not he really wanted this to go to trial. once you've given your evidence under oath, that can be used against you in court. and lo and behold with this extraordinary turn of events here where as many people have been predicting from day one the duke of york and virginia giuffre settled this case before it got to the doors of the court. i think it's really interesting when you look, if you bear with me i'll look at it on my screen to my left ear. a couple of things here, the first thing i think is really important is to take into account about what prince andrew said about virginia giuffre's character. let's put the catch to

1's eye for the moment. in a statement today he