welcome to bbc news — i'm rich preston our top stories. the us urges russia to formally announce that it won't invade ukraine, as fears mount that it's preparing to create a pretext for war. but let me be clear — i am here today not to start a war, but to prevent one. more than a hundred people are now known to have died in floods and mudslides in brazil as the search continues for those missing. southern britain braces for one of the fiercest storms in years — and a red weather warning means storm eunice could pose a risk to life. and canadian police warn protesting truckers in ottawa that action to clear them

from the city centre's streets is "imminent". welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. president biden has said the threat of a russian invasion of ukraine remains "very high" and could take place within days, despite moscow's claim to be pulling troops from its borders. his message was echoed at a nato summit in brussels, where western leaders said that farfrom withdrawing, russia had in fact added troops. and in a heated un security

council meeting, the us secretary of state warned russia may be trying to engineer a pretext for an invasion — there have been reports that pro—russian forces have shelled a village and hit a kindergarten in eastern ukraine. here's our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford heading right for the front line. ukraine's president went to meet the troops today and we went with him. if there is an all—out russian invasion, then these positions could be right in its path. so a bit of a morale boost for the soldiers on whom so much might depend. tea and chat with their president. one man even admitted his parents are nervous and keep calling him. just this morning, police had to bundle children to safety after their kindergarten was hit by a missile. ukraine reported a surge in shelling today by forces backed by russia. here, a music room left in ruins. i have to tell you that the picture is very grim. we fear very much that that is the kind of thing we will see more of over the next few days. it's quiet right now but you only have to walk

through these trenches in the middle of what used to be a holiday village to realise that, for all the talk of the risk of conflict, this country is already at war. still, western leaders are warning that russia plans to escalate. every indication we have is they are prepared to go into ukraine, attack ukraine. so volodymyr zelensky had a shout out for the navy today, too. he's trying to keep the nation calm under immense pressure, including from those hinting ukraine will have to make concessions to pacify russia. i just want to understand from you if ukraine is in any way ready to drop its ambition ofjoining nato? it's not ambition, we lost 15,000 people, yes, you know, from the very beginning of this war. it is not ambitions, it isjust our life. people decided to do something they want. it's not about nato, it's about the future of the people. at the un, there was no sign

anyone else was softening their position either. russia still insisting nato was the threat on its border. we have been warning the ukrainian government of all that is coming. and here today, we are laying it out in great detail with the hope that by sharing what we note with the world, we can influence russia to abandon the path of war and choose a different path, while there is still time. ukraine has already paid heavily for standing up to russia. it knows all about the risk. but the warning from here is that any concessions in this crisis are dangerous, because moscow always wants more. sarah rainsford, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. john negroponte served as us ambassador to the united nations from 2001—2004 and as director of national

intelligence from 2005—2007. thank you very much for being with us. what is your view on the response from the biden administration so far?- the response from the biden administration so far? well, i think they — administration so far? well, i think they played _ administration so far? well, i think they played their - administration so far? well, i think they played their hand i think they played their hand quite well. i think the strategy of revealing as much as possible of what they know, about russia's intentions has brought everything to bear publicly and i think this idea of talking about the enormous economic consequences for russia would be whether to invade i think has also been important that president putin wants to continue to be a major supplier of natural gas to western europe and carry out the gas pipeline project and

all those type of things. you have to weigh that as he decides whether or not to invade. i5 decides whether or not to invade. , , ., invade. is there something in the immediate _ invade. is there something in the immediate short-term i invade. is there something in i the immediate short-term that the immediate short—term that america and its allies can offer russia to put the brakes on this? i offer russia to put the brakes on this? ., �* ~ ., �* ., on this? i don't know. i'm not sure there — on this? i don't know. i'm not sure there is. _ on this? i don't know. i'm not sure there is. i— on this? i don't know. i'm not sure there is. i have - on this? i don't know. i'm not sure there is. i have heard - sure there is. i have heard some murmurings on the ukrainian side that they're not necessarily interested in rushing their application to nato membership. but it is very hard to negotiate when you've got a gun pointed against your head and to mobilise a couple hundred thousand troops right on the board of another country and then give every indication that you are about to invade, it seems be one of the first

things they have to do is stand down, pull back a bit and say they are willing to give the negotiating process some kind of chance because otherwise, again, it is like having a gun at your head. it again, it is like having a gun at your head.— at your head. it feels like both sides _ at your head. it feels like both sides are _ at your head. it feels like both sides are trying - at your head. it feels like both sides are trying to l at your head. it feels like - both sides are trying to prove themselves. someone is going to have to capitulate somewhere. mr lincoln and his counterpart are provisionally due to meet in europe next week. what might each man be looking forfrom the other? it each man be looking for from the other?— the other? it is good going to meet and _ the other? it is good going to meet and i — the other? it is good going to meet and i think _ the other? it is good going to meet and i think they - the other? it is good going toj meet and i think they should, every possible diplomatic angle should be explored and considered in this very, very tense situation. obviously, one thing up for discussion might be revival of some aspect of the minsk processor though that does not deal directly with the issue of nato membership. but it does deal with the issue of

the situation in eastern ukraine. it might be a question of what might be done for ukraine in the economic area if they were stand down the troops and try to pursue more constructive alternatives. for example. could the government of ukraine decide to emphasise strengthening its eastern ties and possiblyjoining the and possibly joining the european and possiblyjoining the european economic union and prioritise that rather than prioritising nato membership. will have to leave it there. thank you very much for being with us. i appreciate it. i appreciate it. let's get some of the day's other news. french commanders are speaking with mali's military officials to organise the retreat of french troops from the country. france and military allies have

said they will leave mali after almost a decade there fighting islamist insurgents around west africa, and move to niger instead. the dutch prime minister, mark rutte, has apologised to the indonesian people for the dutch military�*s systematic and widespread use of torture and extreme violence against those fighting for independence in the nineteen— forties. mr rutte said the conclusions of a historical review were painful, but his government accepted responsibility. rescuers in eastern afghanistan are trying to reach a boy who's been trapped in a village well since wednesday. the operation comes less than two weeks after a similar — unsuccessful — attempt to rescue a child from a moroccan well gripped the world. the five—year—old boy, named haidar, is wedged deep inside the well, but is still able to move his arms and upper body. to brazil now where alarms have sounded in the city of petropolis, warning residents of intense rain in the hours to come.

a month's worth of rain fell in a matter of hours on tuesday and now this new bad weather has forced the search and rescue mission to be temporarily stopped. christopher hassan lives with his wife and two children in the city of petropolis and hejoins me from there now. we have got this news in the last couple of hours of alarm sounding again. what is the picture where you are? i was able to just _ picture where you are? i was able to just get _ picture where you are? i was able to just get home. - picture where you are? i was able to just get home. i - picture where you are? i was able to just get home. i was| able to just get home. i was out in the street for most of the day helping with clean—up and the rains started and they started coming down really hard again, similarto what started coming down really hard again, similar to what we saw on tuesday. thunder and lightning, and just a lot of rain ina lightning, and just a lot of rain in a short amount of time and what the problem was today as the river has overflowed even quicker because all of the damage, all of the roads that have eroded the mud, the houses, the cars that are in the houses river now so there is immediate flooding and we're

still waiting for more mud slides due to happen at any moment. slides due to happen at any moment-— slides due to happen at any moment. ., i. ., ~ .,, , moment. can you talk as they wa ou moment. can you talk as they way you are — moment. can you talk as they way you are and _ moment. can you talk as they way you are and what - moment. can you talk as they i way you are and what happened on tuesday when the rain first came down?— on tuesday when the rain first came down? , , .,, ., came down? tuesday i was home workin: came down? tuesday i was home working from _ came down? tuesday i was home working from home _ came down? tuesday i was home working from home with - came down? tuesday i was home working from home with my - came down? tuesday i was home working from home with my wife | working from home with my wife and kids were at school and it started raining and you remember the rainforest and it rains in the somerset started of normal and then it got heavier thunder and lightning and then we lost power and started looking around and thinking wow, this is really getting bad. then it did not start when we started checking social media. then we started seeing reports of mudslides inserted hearing screams of mudslides and then it was kind of a scary moment there where we knew that kids were safe in school where they were. we knew we were safer we were so we kind ofjust locked down for a little bit until the rain stopped and then after they stopped, it still took a few

hours for the waters to recede before we could even leave our trying to get our kids. we before we could even leave our trying to get our kids.— trying to get our kids. we can see now some _ trying to get our kids. we can see now some of _ trying to get our kids. we can see now some of the - trying to get our kids. we can see now some of the picturesj see now some of the pictures from those first few hours. do you know anyone caught up in this directly?— this directly? that is something _ this directly? that is something we - this directly? that is something we are i this directly? that is - something we are finding out every couple of hours. i was just cleaning up yesterday with a guy that my brother—in—law works with and be spent holiday together working and i estimate the end of the day, how family? and he told me that his daughter was last in one of the buses swept into the river. fortunately, he can say that, at least her one—year—old daughter was able to be pulled out of the window before she was swept away. but we are talking about our kids been trapped at school, these teachers that stayed with the kids. some stayed overnight because parents could not get them, the teachers got home and found they had no homes. their homes were gone. these are the stories we are starting to see

the next couple of days. you been helping _ the next couple of days. you been helping with _ the next couple of days. you been helping with the clean—up operation along with fire officials and other rescue workers. what is at the authorities doing to help people? it authorities doing to help --eole? , ., authorities doing to help eo le? , ., ., authorities doing to help --eole? ., ., , authorities doing to help n-eole? ,., ., ., ,., people? it is an all hands on deck situation. _ people? it is an all hands on deck situation. the - people? it is an all hands on | deck situation. the president is coming tomorrow and you've got military. everyone that can help is here so today there was a big focus on the neighbourhood where there is imminent mudslides. giant rock ready to come down and take down the neighbourhood so crews are making sure everyone was out of that area so i stayed clear and spent my day in neighbourhoods that were hard to get to buy a car, went buy mountain bike, just helping out friends and local businesses clean—up their shops, houses, anything i can do, just donate anything i can do, just donate a pair of really, today.- a pair of really, today. thank ou a pair of really, today. thank you very _ a pair of really, today. thank you very much _ a pair of really, today. thank you very much for _ a pair of really, today. thank you very much forjoining - a pair of really, today. thank

you very much forjoining us. thank you very much forjoining us. communities across the south west of england and south wales are bracing themselves for the full force of one of the fiercest storms in years, as the met office issues its most serious red weather warning — meaning a risk to life. gusts could reach up to 90 miles per hour when storm eunice hits this red zone in the coming hours with warnings of flying debris, damage to homes, power cuts and major travel disruption. and in the rest of the country, there's an amber warning for wind across much of england and wales. there are also less severe alerts for wind and snow in much of scotland, the north of england and northern ireland. here's our science editor rebecca morelle. storm eunice hasn't yet hit, but it is already making its presence felt.

in weston—super—mare, the floodgates are shutting, ready for whatever the weather will throw at them. they're also preparing ahead in st ives. we have got our flood defence boards that go on the front the pub. with sandbags behind them. hopefully we'll stop the sea coming in. and the met office has issued a rare red weather warning for friday morning for parts of south west england and south wales, meaning there is a danger to life. it's going to be a bad one. as long as people take notice of the winnings, don't take any risks, don't get washed away, life is more precious than a photograph. what is making storm eunice so potent is a combination of events — it is being driven an extremely active jet stream, blowing at more than 200 miles an hour, high up in the atmosphere. this is creating very strong winds, forecast up to 90 miles an hour in exposed areas, and 70 to 80 miles an houron land. which is unusual for the south of the uk. the problem is, this is coinciding with a spring tide on friday morning, measuring up to 12.8 metres — that's more than a0 feet — in some areas, which could bring storm surges at the coast and result in flooding inland. meteorologists are concerned because the storm will hit in the morning, when people

are out and about. the wind strength will be stronger than we would normally see in these kind of spells and it's going to hit highly populated areas. it's going to have a really big impact. our recommendation, if you don't have to travel tomorrow, if you don't have to go out and about, is to stay indoors. eunice comes straight after another storm, dudley. just north of lockerbie, a tree fell on overhead cables. in hertfordshire, roads were blocked, and in south wales, this wind turbine couldn't cope with the costs. but is climate change affecting storms? the met office says they haven't seen compelling trends of increased storminess, but the impact of warming may become clearer over time. this was the damage caused by the great storm of 1987, where winds reached more than 100 miles an hour. forecasters say storm eunice shouldn't be as bad, but it could still be the strongest storm we've seen for many years.

we have got the army on standby, so if they are needed, they will be able to swing into action, so everyone, all of our emergency teams, are keeping in very close contact. the defences are at the ready. schools are closing and train services cancelled. the country is bracing itself for what lies ahead. rebecca morelle, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: letting it all out — meet the us �*moms' who get rid of pent—up stress by screaming at the tops of their lungs. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the last soviet troops were finally coming home — the withdrawal completed in good order, but the army defeated in the task it had been sent to perform. malcolm has been murdered.

that has a terrible effect for the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions in the streets. one wonders who is next. as the airlift got under way, there was no let—up in the eruption itself. lava streams from a vent low in the crater flow down to the sea on the east of the island, away from the town for the time being. it could start flowing again at any time. the russians heralded - their new—generation space station with a spectacular night launch. _ they've called it mir — l the russian for "peace".

this is bbc news, the latest headlines. satellite images show an �*increase' in russian troops on the ukraine border, despite moscow's claim that forces are withdrawing. and a judge in new york rules that donald trump must answer questions under oath as part of an investigation into fraud — along with two of his children. reports from canada say key organisers of the truck protest in the capital, ottawa, have been arrested. earlier police warned protestors of �*imminent action' to clear them from the area and end a crisis that prime ministerjustin trudeau warns is threatening public safety. large numbers of officers have been seen moving into the city centre. in the past few days we have been communicating directly with the unlawful protesters. you tell them they must leave and warn them the consequences of disobeying these rules. we want to end this unlawful protest peacefully and safely.

we want to end this unlawful protest peacefully and safely. a new york state judge has ruled that former president, donald trump, and two of his children, must comply with subpoenas issued by the state's attorney—general — and answer questions under oath. the trump organisation is being investigated over whether it improperly stated the value of its real estate assets to obtain more favorable loans, insurance rates and tax benefits. this is a civil case investigating the organisation's business dealings. what does this latest ruling in for the case? this dealings. what does this latest ruling in for the case?- ruling in for the case? this is bi deal ruling in for the case? this is big deal in — ruling in for the case? this is big deal in his _ ruling in for the case? this is big deal in his case. - ruling in for the case? this is big deal in his case. this - big deal in his case. this means that trump could have two testify in these depositions. this is something that him and his lawyers have been fighting a lot in recent weeks and months. this is a good decision for the investigators. it is a big dealfor the investigators.

at the same time, this is not by any means case closed. this is an early step in this new york attorney general investigation. this investigation. this investigation will still have to become a lawsuit which it is not now. it would be a civil lawsuit which is different from a criminal lawsuit and so a big dealfor the a criminal lawsuit and so a big deal for the investigators but not case closed. a long way to go. not case closed. a long way to a 0- ., not case closed. a long way to no. ., ,, , ., , go. you say the billing means mr trump _ go. you say the billing means mr trump would _ go. you say the billing means mr trump would have - go. you say the billing means mr trump would have to - go. you say the billing means i mr trump would have to testify that it mr trump would have to testify thatitis mr trump would have to testify that it is america so that i have to anything, does he? imagine could plead the fifth to avoid self—incrimination. this is what his son did in the same investigation when he testified. something like 500 times he invoked this fifth amendment right. it is important to remember that trump has been deposed before in other cases and once estimated he had been deposed at least 100 times and by some estimates he has been involved in 3500 lawsuit so he is

someone who knows his way opposition. and so you will know how to behave and his lawyers are advising him so if he does have to sit, by the way, donald trumpjunior is also part of the buildings he would have to sit to. they would have to sit to. they would have to sit to. they would have to sit there the entire time and say nothing. this is not his first radio. has it been any response from mr trump or has it been any response from mrtrump orthe has it been any response from mr trump or the organisation in response to this latest ruling? ever seen anything specific but they will keep saying what they have been saying for a long time. this is political, that is a witchhunt. it is the same thing that he has been facing for a long time and that's why i don't think this will necessarily hurt him with his supporters. because he is done such a good job of building this narrative that any attempt to take him down ijust part of the same mainstream witchhunt and so, you know, he got the

rush investigation into impeachment. this isjust more evidence that he can show as supporters of why they should supporters of why they should support him and while this might take time away from any re—election campaign, this narrative could end up helping. from a legal perspective, does it impact on him from returning to the presidency?— to the presidency? legally speaking. _ to the presidency? legally speaking, connected - to the presidency? legally| speaking, connected valen to the presidency? legally - speaking, connected valen can still hold the office of president of the united states does not. it could take up time during the crucial months of a real election campaign, but legally speaking, i don't see this hurting him too much. it is important to remember there are two different investigations happening. the new york attorney general investigation which is the one we're talking about and the one

in which there was this ruling. and the manhattan district attorney investigation which is attorney investigation which is a criminal case which could have different repercussions on this other one moving along at a parallel pace but no, a convicted criminal in the us, believe it or not, can still be president. believe it or not, can still be president-— believe it or not, can still be president. ., ,, , ., , . president. thank you very much forjoining _ president. thank you very much forjoining us- — thank you very much forjoining us. it's undoubtedly been a tough couple of years for many. there's a hardly a person on earth who hasn't been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. in the us state of virginia — a group of mothers have found an unusual way to cope with the stresses and strains — as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. sometimes you just have to let it all out. these women are part of the mums and screen movement. when they feel stressed they had to a local hill and scream into the night at the top of lungs. and they feel so much better for doing so. ~ , . feel so much better for doing so, �* , ., ., feel so much better for doing so. ~ , ., ., .., so. mums have done so much on the pandemic—

so. mums have done so much on the pandemic and _ so. mums have done so much on the pandemic and carried - so. mums have done so much on the pandemic and carried a - so. mums have done so much on the pandemic and carried a lot i the pandemic and carried a lot and ifelt very the pandemic and carried a lot and i felt very isolated and unconnected with people. with journey and frustrations and coming out and just letting it 90, coming out and just letting it go, just as so therapeutic. the mums to _ go, just as so therapeutic. the mums to be — go, just as so therapeutic. the mums to be following in the footsteps of this man, an advocate of primal scream therapy. he believes neuroses was caused by the repressed pain of childhood trauma and screaming as a helpful treatment. his theories have some high—profile celebrity supporters including former beatlejohn lennon and someone who could screen a very deep voice, the actorjames earl jones. beginning in boston, this movement is spreading across the states. it is good to talk, it is even better to scream. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @richpreston

storm eunice is bearing down on the uk. and all indications are this will be a dangerous, disruptive, and damaging storm. in fact, a met office red warning is in force — that means there's a danger to life. the storm system has been developing — you can see it here on the earlier satellite picture, this hook of cloud indicative of a storm that's been deepening and strengthening rapidly. this area of low pressure passing across the uk — and on its southern flank with all the isobars, the white line squeezing together — that is where we have the potential for damaging winds. especially across coastal parts of southwest england and south wales — met office red warning here, gusts of up to 90mph, very rough seas and coastal flooding are likely.

and then, we also have this much bigger amber warning area. and still the potential for some really disruptive and dangerous weather here, as well — gusts of wind up to 80mph. rain and wind quickly spreading northwards through the early part of friday, snow for western counties of northern ireland, high ground of northern england, and up into scotland, as well. but the winds peaking through the morning across some coasts of wales in the southwest, with gusts up as high as 90mph. some very rough seas, also very rough seas through the english channel. and those strong winds will be working eastwards through the day — even inland spots of eastern and southeastern england seeing gusts of 70—80mph — that is very unusual. further north, it won't be as windy, but snow is likely to cause issues. some hill snow for parts of northern ireland and northern england, significant snow in scotland, could see up to 30 centimetres, settling over high ground — that snow coming down very quickly is likely to cause transport impacts and some power cuts, as well. temperatures the least of our worries, but really cold in the north where that snow is falling. now, things will only very slowly calm down during friday evening, we'll see some wintry showers pushing in from the northwest. and then, for saturday, a band of rain pushing in from the west potentially with some snow, especially over high ground in the north. it will be a windy day —

not as extremely windy as friday, but still potentially windy enough to hamper any clean—up efforts. temperatures between 3—10 celsius. and we stick with a fairly blustery theme as we head into sunday. some brisk winds across the uk, outbreaks of heavy rain, but mild, 9—13 celsius.

this is bbc news. the headlines.

ukrainian officials have accused russia—backed separatists of striking a nursery in eastern ukraine, as reports emerge of continuing clashes there with ukrainian forces. but a senior ukrainian official said there was no full scale military operation by russia. the american secretary of state says russia should make clear that it will not invade ukraine. alarms have sounded in the brazilian city of petropolis, warning of intense rain just days after devastating mudslides left at least 117 people dead — dozens are still missing but with water levels rising search and rescue operations have been called off. three days of mourning have been declared. canadian police are reported to have arrested a key organiser of the week—long truck protest against coronavirus restrictions in the capital ottawa. officers have been handing out flyers telling drivers to leave the city or face arrest. the police say action to remove the truckers from the streets is iminent. in 1976, john curry

became the olympic, world and european champion in figure skating.