this is bbc news. the headlines: the un's head of humanitarian affairs has made an emotional plea for civilians in ukraine to be spared, describing how millions of ordinary lives have been shattered. ukraine blames russia for continuing to bombard major towns. moscow's offer of humanitarian corridors into its territory had earlier been rejected. a ukrainian delegation has met russian counterparts on the border with belarus for a third round of talks. moscow says it will accept nothing short of ukraine's surrender. us secretary of state antony blinken is visiting eastern european nations. refugees are continuing to escape the fighting into neighbouring countries. since the invasion began, more than 1.7 million people — most of them

women and children — have fled the country. those are the headlines. this war has affected millions, but it is notjust people feeling the impact. animals of all shapes and sizes are suffering as well. some people are hoping to send their pets abroad. others are still trapped in ukraine. when the war began, this couple had west to lviv. they brought with them their pet cat, charlie stop it proved to be a stressful journey for the whole family. he is playful, he is not required, he likes to play. it was hard to transport him in the cage because he is very active. ourtrip the cage because he is very active. our trip lasted a0 hours. it was really hard for him. , u, hours. it was really hard for him. , h, ., ., him. they came here to a shelter — him. they came here to a shelter that, _

him. they came here to a shelter that, before the l shelter that, before the invasion, only took in wild animals. now it has become a staging post for people fleeing the violence and want their pets to be safe and sound. we are making — pets to be safe and sound. - are making them secure for secure travel, and we are going to try and take as many animals as we can out, back to latvia, back to europe, back to safety. no such safety for this jaguar, or this black panther. they live in the luhansk region of ukraine. you can question the rights or wrongs of keeping animals like these as pets, but their owner, a doctor, won't leave them behind. translation: i leave them behind. translation: . ., ., translation: i decided i am not auoin translation: i decided i am not going anywhere — translation: i decided i am not going anywhere without - translation: i decided i am not going anywhere without my - going anywhere without my children. i am going anywhere without my children. iam not going anywhere without my children. i am not going anywhere. if there is a possibility to leave with my children, only then will i leave. if i die, i die. children, only then will i leave. ifi die, i die. back in lviv, they— leave. ifi die, i die. back in lviv. they say _ leave. ifi die, i die. back in lviv, they say they will - leave. ifi die, i die. back in lviv, they say they will stay | lviv, they say they will stay in ukraine. as for charlie, the

hope is once the war ends, they will all be reunited. now on bbc news, the travel show. this week on the travel show, i'm in the alps, where the debate over these continues. vast energy use, vast water use are the typical impacts of artificial snow. we are day—tripping in historic bath. i think it's one of the most romantic cities in the uk, so let's go. and flying high in africa's sub—sahara.

this week we're in serre chevalier to see what the future holds for this stuff. now, it may not look it right now, but snow is becoming a real problem. and here in the alps, they're warming faster than the global average, and with tourists and skiers like myself demanding better quality snow and longer seasons, resorts here are having to turn towards artificial snow to extend their seasons and to guaranteed better quality ski days. beijing was the first winter olympics to be 100% reliant on the creation of artificial snow. 222 million litres of water were needed to create the snow conditions and that's the equivalent of 85 olympic—sized swimming pools. one snow gun alone can create the equivalent of ten lorry loads

in just one hour. but artificial snow is not new. back in 1980, lake placid was the first olympic games to use the stuff, but the growth and reliance at sochi and pyeongchang showed that this is a growing problem for winter sports and ski resorts alike. snow cannons essentially create artificial snow, and since the 1980s, ski resorts noticed that the snow was coming later and there was less of it and it melted sooner. so to adapt to that, they started to create artificial snow to sustain their business, essentially. so, noise pollution, abstraction of water from natural river systems, vast energy use, vast water use are the typical symptoms or impacts of artificial snow. so, of course, alpine resorts rely on the ski season, especially now after a rough couple of years. but to keep areas like this going

in the face of climate change is a delicate balance. which is why i've come here, in particular, to see what they're doing about it. the alps has 35% of the world's ski resorts and attracts around 120 million tourists each year. here on the french side of the mountains in serre chevalier, they say it's important to direct skiers to areas where there's natural snow rather than relying on creating it. we think that if we adapt us, we will be able to ski for a long time, and for us, the solution is not to do more and more snow, it is to make a good choice. to understand that we have one earth, wind turbine, we have electric turbine, and we have solar panels and it works very well and we will produce 30% of all the power, the energy we need in serre chevalier. the water is coming from the valley. we want to take just

what we need, and not more. as winters with unreliable snow become more common, so does artificial snow. on the other side of the alps in ischgl, austria, they see the use of machines as essential to supplement demand. the beijing winter olympics have promised to be 100% renewable in the energy used, and in ischgl, like other resorts, they are turning to renewables for snowmaking.

it is not on the ski industry or visitors to solve this problem on their own, and there is a desire to protect what they have now. but can artificial snow ever be a long—term solution? i think it's always going to require vast amounts of water, always, because that is what snow is, after all, and sure, the shift to renewable energy

are welcome, but we will still need ways to make sure that the artificial snow does not melt and that will cause impacts as it leaches back into the soil. so we can make improvements, but let's not misunderstand — artificial snow cannot be environmentally friendly, it never will be. i see the resorts that are often dependent on expensive polluting artificial snow needing to diversify into other forms of tourism. a great opportunity in summer tourism for them. but for now, though, with the spirit of adaptation in mind, some resorts are putting rivalries aside and working with competitors to help spread best practice across the industry. of course, we are very happy and we need to welcome other ski resorts, even if they are not from the same company as us, to explain what we did and to give them all the figures. it's not the solution to everything, but we are thinking that if everybody do the same, it is the beginning

of a solution to the big goals we have to achieve. right, well, if you're heading to the slopes and keen on keeping yourfootprint small, here's some things you can think about. this season saw the launch of the travelski express train. you can take the train direct from london to moutiers and st maurice in france. a shuttle service is then provided as part of the package to take you to six nearby resorts, omitting the need to fly or rent a car. now, who wouldn't want to ski under the looming matterhorn? well, good news — the swiss ski village of zermatt is reachable by train and it's car—free, but they do have horse—drawn sleighs and electric buses get around. plus, when the ski lift system needs new cables, the old ones are recycled to make bridges for

remote communities in myanmar. next up is kaprun in austria where all the ski lifts run on renewable energy. also, hydropower pumps water from the reservoir to the snow cannons. when it melts, the water goes back to the hydro station, producing more energy. finally, over in america, park city in utah is working on being carbon neutral, running on 100% renewable electricity for all its city operations this year. it's also invested in an 80—megawatt solar farm due to be completed in 2023. stay with us, because still to come, we are day—tripping in bath. my name is marcus alfridius maximus. very pleased to meet you. just remind me what year it is? it's 213 ad. and flying high in ghana.

so, don't go away. welcome back to a very sunny serre chevalier, and you might be wondering why you can see a few brown patches behind me. well, that's because it has not snowed here in almost a month. but that hasn't stopped the skiers and snowboarders coming out in full force. next this week, we are in the uk with a new series looking at how some of the country's biggest attractions are planning to come roaring back in 2022. and we're starting in the south—west of england. as restrictions relax again, i am travelling across the uk to see how ready the country's top attractions are, to meet the people getting us excited about travel again, and hear their plans for the new normal. my first stop is a couple of hours' train ride from the capital.

so, iam in bath. now, what do i know about the city? well, it's a spa town and it's super famous for its roman baths. it used to get really busy with coach tours from london and i think it's one of the most romantic cities in the uk, so let's go. i'm told that the perfect way to start my day in bath is with a sally lunn bun. so i've arranged to pick one up with a local photographer who'll help me get my bearings. the actual recipe of the sally lunns bun comes along with the deed of the house itself, so you can only get the recipe if you own the house. and they've been making them since the 1680s. i cannot wait to try! ta—da! i have got lemon curd. i have the classic — cinnamon butter. it is actually really good. they are really good, yeah!

so, what was bath like during covid and the pandemic? it was weird, to be honest, because bath is known for its tourism so we're used to seeing the streets for the people and visitors from all over the world. as a photographer, for me, it had a silver lining because it meant i could go out and get really amazing photos of the city that were just impossible to do before. but are you ready for things to go back to normal now? yeah, definitely! i've had the bit where it was quiet and i am ready for people to come back. so i have one day in bath — what are the main spots to hit? the roman bath and the thermae bath spa both use the ancient water, and it is what bath got its name for. the architecture here is also really famous. i would recommend going up to royal crescent, for example. also, bath abbey. have a walk around and taking in the city because it is really pretty. clearly, i am spoilt for choice. but i know where i want to hit first. the ancient roman bathhouse, which has been on this site for 2,000 years. check this out —

see the water bubbling up? that is water coming straight from the king spring, which runs under the city, and the thermal waters go straight into the roman baths. the year before covid, 1.3 million people visited the site, but during the pandemic, numbers fell by over 70%. things are beginning to pick up again, however, when the centurions come back in town. what is your name? i am marcus alfridius maximus, pleased to meet you. what brings you here? i am here recovering, primarily, from my wounds i suffered north of the frontier. and what year is it? 213 a.d. ok, so with the exception of my new roman friend, you cannot swim in the great bath any more. but across the road, you can still experience the same natural spring — with a dash of chlorine. well, this is certainly a step up from how the romans did it! am i right that this is rainwater that fell

in 8000 bc? yes, that's correct, and it fell about 10,000 years ago and permeated through to the hot rocks about 2km and it is gushing out at about a million litres a day. and have you had to adjust how many people come in, compared to before? certainly, during sort of the earliest restrictions, we can only welcome half of the guests that we would normally be able to welcome. and i think the interesting thing about the restrictions and changes during covid — some of the measures we've kept in place because they actually improve the customer experience. well, after a relaxing spa, i need to step up the pace, so i've hired an electric bike to get me to my final spot in time. this packs a punch, this electric bike! the 18th—century royal crescent is a must—see destination in bath.

it was even a central location for the recent smash hit netflix series bridgerton, bringing a renewed screen tourism here. things easy for the museum at number one royal crescent. thomas, my dear, as i assured you, the house would not be so dusty... we have talking mirrors. now, modern technology melds into this georgian house for a completely new visitor experience. here, a georgian family were having breakfast and we got to hear a little bit of their conversation. for your sisters, he is a good match. so, what adjustments have you had to make since reopening? well, the impact of the pandemic meant that we lost 90% of our income overnight and also had to completely transform the way in which the museum operates. we used to rely a lot on volunteers. 0h! my hands are shaking! sister! so, these projections,

how did they come about? we were lucky, we secured a cultural recovery grant and that funding enabled us to bring in new technology to create this film and soundscapes through the house. and the other important thing about what we've created here is the infrastructure investment means we can create lots more different stories. either go and live with your bluestocking idol or stop talking so much of her! i did not mean that. hamlet is to be - performed later in life. one of the things that was really important to us is that we think about georgian life, that luxury, that wealth but also, being very open and honest about where it came from and, really, the reality of the transatlantic slave trade, what that meant for bath, what that meant for the people that were living here and make sure that we were being very transparent about those connections and then enabling our audiences to form their own opinions about that. it seems bath is more than ready to have its visitors back.

with high hopes that this summer will see at least half of their international tourist numbers return. well, my whistle—stop tour of bath is complete. it's been beautiful, it's been historic, it's been delicious, but the sun's setting so it's time to catch my train home. cat moh, day tripping in bath. right, for something totally different now, and we are off to west africa. ghana is known for its superb countryside, beaches and wildlife, but it is not necessarily associated with adventure sports. well, one man is trying to change all of that and he's doing it mid—air. we've been to meet him. as tourism to west africa booms, ghana is reaping the benefits. the first country in sub—saharan africa to gain independence, ghana is often described as one of the most accessible countries on the continent.

drawn in by its vast beaches, rich culture and abundant wildlife, it welcomed over1 million visitors in 2019 alone. adventure sports, however, are not what ghana is commonly known for. but partly thanks to one man, that image is changing. so my first paragliding experience was around 2003-200a. jonathan was one of the first ghanaian paragliding instructors. i think adventure sports comes to me naturally, so i would prefer to be in the wild than to in the city. and i feel more at home and i feel more alive if i'm doing this kind of sport. someone else who has taken to the outdoors is maria. she came back to ghana two years ago as part of ghana's year of return. the aim of this action—packed year was to commemorate

the a00th anniversary of the arrival of the first recorded enslaved africans in the united states, and to encourage the ghanaian diaspora to return to their roots. i was born in ghana but at the age of six, my parents moved me to the us. and i called atlanta, georgia my home for over 28 years. so, when i came and saw the people, the culture, the richness and the beauty of this country, i knew that i had to find a way to move back. returning to ghana allowed maria to discover a new side to herself. i never knew there was an adventure side to me until i moved here and realised that i actually want to be out. i've discovered a whole new side to adventure while living here and it's actually now become my way of life.

rappelling off of suspension bridges, quad biking, climbing some of the highest peaks and mountains, the beautiful views — breathtaking! everything is so new to me! up until recently, the only place you're likely to see paragliders in ghana is at the kwahu easter festival. the paragliding festival has been taking place for about 15 years now. every child in kwahu will you they have seen a paraglider before. it's the only part of the country where children have seen paragliders — no other place. it is so popular to the extent that the whole street will be choked with more than thousands of people. as well as boosting the local economy, the festival provides good exposure for the sport. but up until recently, all of the pilots travelled from america and europe to fly in the festival. when you fly over the houses and you getting closer — around 300, a00m — you could hear the children

shouting your name. seeing a ghanaian doing it gives them an inspiration that they could do also this at one point in their lifetime. over the years, the perception of people to adventure sports and paragliding in general has been like, "oh, this is not something for us". but that trend is changing. you have more ghanaians coming in to fly. there's a demand for it. it has the landscape for it. today, i am going paragliding and i'm nervous, i have to be honest! and i actually did not know that that was something that was offered here until i learned ofjonathan's story, which is that he is the first ghanaian to have a licence here in ghana, and that made me want to support his business more. are you excited? i'm excited! walking. keep walking. walking. keep walking, go! go, run. run. run! wow!

yes. whoa! this is so crazy! crash! wow! iwas scared — i'm not even going to lie. when he said, "go," i — my heart was, like, about to jump out of my chest. but as soon as we got into the sky and i sat down

and felt the calmness of the wind, my whole energy changed. i honestly feel like if i can do this, i can do just about anything! right, well, that's it for this week. coming up next time — rajan is in ireland to celebrate the centenary of arguably the country's most famous and notoriously challenging novel. and finding outjust how you move an entire library of very old and very fragile books. whoa! look at this! the ceiling is incredible! and it goes on and on for a long, long way — this must be at least 60 metres or something? you can catch more of our recent adventures on the bbc iplayer. and don't forget, we are on social media, too. you can find us on facebook and instagram — just search bbc travel show. but until next time, from all of us here in the french alps, it's bye—bye.

hello. a frosty but sunny start to tuesday across many parts of the country. but tuesday signifies the start of things changing for the rest of the week, replacing the sunshine with a bit more cloud. often going to be quite windy at times with all that wind, slightly milder air pushing its way in, but also some wet conditions now, mainly in the west. and that shows up on our forecast rainfall chart for the week — the blue colours here a sign that atlantic is trying to push its way in. but notice how some eastern areas could stay predominantly dry. and it's all down to high pressure holding on here — atlantic low pressure system starting to push its way in, but being kept at bay. just be wary, though, that

dividing line could fluctuate a little bit through the week. but that's the scene for today, with winds picking up as those areas of high and low pressure get closer together. it'll feel particularly chilly out there — not only a widespread frost, but that added wind chill to go with it. the compensation is lots of sunshine around first thing in the morning, and most places will be dry. but the sunshine turns hazy in the west, the cloud thickens up, skies turn greyer through the morning into the early afternoon, outbreaks of rain in northern ireland, eventually to parts of wales and the southwest, maybe just 1—2 showers ahead of it, that rain arriving in western scotland by the end of the day. and it's in the west where we see the strongest of the winds, could gust around a0—50 mph and, even though it's a south—to—southeasterly wind, bringing in slightly milder conditions than we've seen through the past few days. factor in the wind, probably won't feel that much different. but a dry end to the day for eastern areas but, through the evening, we see the cloud, outbreaks of rain pushing its way northwards and eastwards. not a huge amount of rain on it, though, it fizzles out — it means a milder night, then, to take us into wednesday, but more weather fronts starting to push their way in. but they will start to drag in even milder air, up from the mid—atlantic

as they work closer and closer, and so temperatures should rise a little bit further. as i said, though, frost—free on wednesday, varying amounts of clouds, some sunshine around for many at times to begin, with the exception being northern ireland, western scotland. a rather wet day to come here, some of that rain will be heavy at times, strong to gale—force winds once again. much of eastern wales good parts of england stays dry with some sunny spells, highs around 12—13 celsius. those temperatures could rise a little bit further as we go through into thursday. as you can see still, the areas of low pressure ganging the way up, but fizzling out as they run into that high—pressure system. so it does look like thursday, the driest, brightest day of the week by and large. friday, a bit more rain coming ourway.

this is bbc news. our top stories: russian attacks on ukrainian cities show no sign of letting up, civilians are trapped. the un's humanitarian chief urges all sides to ensure they can get to safety. this includes allowing safe passage for civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis in the direction they choose. hundreds line up, hoping to escape to the west. moscow suggests they can go straight to russia or belarus. ukraine called the move "completely immoral." where they can, they escape the fighting into neighbouring countries. it's now the fastest—growing refugee crisis in europe since world war ii.