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tv   BBC News  BBC News  March 9, 2022 10:00am-1:01pm GMT

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this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. as thousands scramble to safety after a temporary ceasefire, russia says there'll be a pause in its bombardment of kyiv and four other cities so that civilians can leave. it was so terrible and my parents... i left my parents in sumy. i hope i will see them another time. but, in the last few hours, air raid sirens have been sounding in and around kyiv, with unconfirmed reports of explosions. the us rejects an offer by poland to send all of its russian—made mig—29 fighter jets to ukraine, via us bases, saying it would raise serious concerns for nato.
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iamon i am on the border of poland with ukraine as refugees continue to flee russian�*s invasion. the heavy sanctions imposed on russia keep coming — heineken joins coca cola and mcdonald's are the latest household names to halt trading in the country. we bring you the story of the ukrainian orphans trying desperately to find a way out of the country. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the russians say they'll pause their bombardment of kyiv and four other cities so that civilians can leave. chernihiv, sumy, kharkiv
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and mariupol will all receive a temporary reprieve, according to a russian state news agency. several previous ceasefires have not been honoured. however in the last half hour the mayor of sumy said civilians in private cars have started leaving. in other developments, despite the evacuations, ukrainian officials say 22 people, including 3 children were killed in an overnight air raid in sumy. russian forces have gained ground in the south of ukraine but continue to meet fierce resistance and logistical problems in the north. explosions have been heard in kyiv in the last few hours. russia has confirmed that its foreign minister sergei lavrov and his ukrainian counterpart, dmytro kuleba, are set to meet in turkey on thursday. james reynolds has the latest details. for 12 hours, a ceasefirejust about held in the northern city of sumy, allowing 5000 civilians to escape into central ukraine.
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in this war, everyjourney involves risk and heartbreak. it's so terrible and my parents — i left my parents in sumy. i hope i will see them another time. this is the war that they were fleeing. russia promises further temporary ceasefires later today to allow evacuations from other cities, including chernihiv, kharkiv and also the besieged mariupol in the south. the exodus from the city of irpin, near the capital kyiv, is slow and agonising. more than 2 million civilians have now left the country. the united nations says more than a70 civilians have been killed in the invasion. to fight the russian army, poland proposes sending its fighter jets to a us air force base in germany. but the us is cool to the offer.
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it does not want to provoke a direct fight between its forces and russia. two powers each armed with nuclear weapons. so, instead, the us is focusing on cutting off russia. washington is now banning the import of russian oil. the uk says it will phase out russian oil imports by the end of the year, and the eu, which relies heavily on russian energy, plans to cut its use by two thirds. the sanctions are not enough, but do not listen to those who say sanctions do not matter. they already matter, they already matter for us. unfortunately, their effect is not that quick and swift as we would have expected, because every minute, every hour, a soldier or a civilian is dying in ukraine, while sanctions are discussed, then thought over, then slightly introduced. we need as this strong sanctions as possible immediately.
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in the southern city of 0desa, still controlled by ukraine, there are lighter moments. don't worry, be happy plays the band. perhaps easier said than done. the capital kyiv puts up whatever defences it can build. the russian army is just miles away and this city can sense its approach. james reynolds, bbc news. we are getting a statement from the deputy mayor of kyiv who says heat, water and power supplies and phone connections are working normally. the authorities hope to evacuate
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many more people from bombarded communities in the cape mag region. we will bring you more on what the deputy mayor is saying about the situation. we are expecting to hear now from the ukrainian president. translation: america bands in ports of oil, and gas from russia. prohibiting citizens from any investment in the russian fuel or energy sector. i am grateful to the president of the united states for this decision. for his leadership, for this most powerful signal to the whole world. it is very simple, every penny given to russia turns into bullets which are directed at other sovereign countries. either
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russia will respect international law and will not wage war, it will not have the money to start wars. the united kingdom is also banning the import of products. i am grateful to the prime minister for this position. to date, we managed to organise a humanitarian corridor from the city of sumy and hundreds of people were saved. but it is only i% of what needs to be done. it is what the ukrainian people expect. 0ur parable is ready. 0ur transport is ready. they fire at evacuation routes. they block the delivery of products to the people. all the cities where there are ukrainians,
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they are protesting against the occupants. please remember, we are with you no matter... the humanitarian corridors will still work. 0nly humanitarian corridors will still work. only time separates you from freedom. a short time. he was thanking president biden for the ban on oil and gas, saying every penny paid to russia turns into bullets which are in ukraine. before that we were... i was bringing you the line from the deputy mayor of kyiv, the ukrainian capital who says that heat, water, power supplies and phone connections are working normally, saying that he hopes the authorities can evacuate many more people from bombarded communities around cape mac.
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we asked our europe correspondent, jenny hill, for a sense of the mood in russia. we do not have that from russia, we will bring you that later, giving us a sense of how ordinary russians as well as the kremlin are responding to the latest sanction and restrictions. daniel rosney is on the poland ukraine borderfor us — we can speak to him now. huge numbers of people into surrounding countries, the majority going to poland. what awaits them when they arrive and how is poland coping with his influx of refugees? today alone more than 30,000 have crossed from ukraine into poland and along the border they come to train stations like this are refugee centres which is their first port of call where they come to charge their phones and laptops. even though they
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had left ukraine, they have relatives, friends there who they want to keep in touch with. behind me now you can see this is the place where people are handing out sim cards, because the phones here do not necessarily work with ag cards, because the phones here do not necessarily work with 4g so there is no free—roaming when you cross into poland from ukraine. every room is packed with supplies from sanitary towels to toiletries to food, hot drinks, it is a very cold on the border here. the temperatures are below zero with heavy snowfall and at either end of this huge train station there are 60 beds where people are sleeping, taking naps, mainly women and children. they have curtains to block out the daylight. they can get a little bit of rest after they made the journey from ukraine a little bit of rest after they made thejourney from ukraine into poland. you can see there is plenty
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of food, hot meals, hot drinks, it is really cold, the food is simple, meat, sausage, chicken and rice. people have travelled from across europe to help, volunteers are here to help people to take them to other parts of europe, people holding signs for northern poland offering to take them there. yesterday there were people hear from the to take them there. yesterday there were people hearfrom the uk who flew in on monday night, they were holding signs saying they would take people. they said they could not pronounce the names of the places but they just wanted to help. pronounce the names of the places but theyjust wanted to help. plenty of people from across europe want to help this refugees, poland has opened its doors, the small town is not accustomed to this level of people passing through and when they move on to where ever they do, some
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have a plan, some don't, they will be replaced as the numbers continue cross from ukraine. let's get more on the refugee situation in hungary. 0ur correspondent, nick thorpe, us the latest from budapest west railway station. behind me, we have had the first train arriving from the border this morning. this is the area after people have had something to eat or drink, they come out here. in the past few days we have seen this area transformed from a makeshift operation helping with accommodation and food into something more permanent. the containers are where people accommodation is organised. inside those containers you have a bank of young people, mostly volunteers, working for an
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organisation for migration aid. they are absorbing the offers of accommodation from the people of budapest and beyond. they are allotting families, women and children to different families who arrive at the station to pick them up. different places behind me, a pile of clothes and blankets, it is very cold, it's the end of winter, a lot of people donating warm clothes for people as they arrive from ukraine here at the west station. fix, ukraine here at the west station. a lot of the people who are going to be hazardous with local families? that's right, astonishingly generous outpouring of offers, half of my friends and acquaintances in the city and i have lived here for many years have already now got people from ukraine or expecting people from ukraine or expecting people from ukraine or expecting people from ukraine staying in their own homes or if they have a spare flat, putting them up there. there are
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issues like language, they do not share a common language, but another of the offers of hungarians i had never imagined they were so many people in the city who speak ukrainian or russian and they are a very important part of this operation so that people understand where they are going and if they want to travel on, where they can go on to. behind me, a lot of people wearing placards on their chest saying i am a translator, i am a volunteer, or can i help? written in ukrainian and in english. we asked our europe correspondent, jenny hill, for a sense of the mood in russia. vladimir putin keeps close control of what is going on in russia. if you speak to people who are looking
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at state—controlled tv or newspapers, they are being told the effects of sanctions will hurt the west more than they will hurt russia. the kremlin is prepared for all of the sanctions. and knows what to do about them. of course, though, russians can see for themselves that the country is becoming increasingly isolated. 0vernight we heard from major western brands, coca—cola, that they are pulling out. you can see that already in the shopping centres, some stores have put the shutters down. and of course mcdonald's which is iconic for many russians because many of them saw it as symbolic of a new relationship with the west when they came here in the early 90s as the iron curtain collapsed, that has announced it is pulling out too. russian people can see that this is happening, but how they feel about it is very much down to the narrative they are being given. my suspicion is that as the
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weeks go by and real economic hardship starts to bite as analysts around the world reject, people will be told it is another example of western aggression. there are people who look at independent news sources, the internet, social media, and they are first of all deeply concerned, horrified and ashamed about what is happening in ukraine and they are also deeply concerned about what it is going to mean for their country. the united states has dismissed a polish plan to send militaryjets to ukraine via an american airbase as "untenable". the polish government suggested sending more than 20 of its russian made mig—29 fighterjets to ukraine via an airbase in germany. but the americans say the plan would raise serious concerns for nato. here's our washington correspondent duncan kennedy it seems that ukraine was in search of more aircraft to combat the russians over ukraine airspace, maybe even attack some of the russian convoys. but it is not clear where the offer came from. did poland offer?
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did ukraine ask poland? either way, these 20 or 30 mig—29 jets appeared to be part of the deal that poland was offering to send to ukraine. no details are worked out how those planes are going to get to ukraine. but the whole deal had initially the backing of the americans, the secretary of state antony blinken was saying that if poland can get these jets to ukraine, america would backfill the polish aircraft with new american planes. but then, over the past day or so, the poles seem to have got a bit of cold feet about this. perhaps because they felt intimidated by what russia might do by way of retaliation, so yesterday, they came up with this alternative plan. and that is to send the planes to ukraine but via an american air base in germany. the ramstein air base in germany. and it's involving the americans and not sending them directly to ukraine that seems to have caused all the problems.
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joining me now is governor of mykolaiv 0blast, vitaliy kim. both have seen heavy fighting on the black sea coast. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news today. can you tell our viewers what the situation is where you are in terms of fighting? the situation is where you are in terms of fighting?— of fighting? the situation is serious but _ of fighting? the situation is serious but controlled. - of fighting? the situation is serious but controlled. the | of fighting? the situation is - serious but controlled. the enemy are trying to get closer to our city but they have not succeeded. the fighting is around the city, we are not close to 0desa, there is one 0pen road to 0desa, and we are going to defend. the enemy is exhausted, he has no diesel and ammunition, no
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motivation for the soldiers, i think the situation is not very bad for us. y ., the situation is not very bad for us. , ., , ., the situation is not very bad for us. i. , ., ., us. do you understand that the russians are _ us. do you understand that the russians are trying _ us. do you understand that the russians are trying to - us. do you understand that the russians are trying to encircle l us. do you understand that the i russians are trying to encircle the city? russians are trying to encircle the ci ? ~ , ., ., , city? we understood there but they have no chance, _ city? we understood there but they have no chance, we _ city? we understood there but they have no chance, we will _ city? we understood there but they have no chance, we will fight - city? we understood there but they have no chance, we will fight and l city? we understood there but theyl have no chance, we will fight and we will not give up, there is no such plan to encircle, and they know that also. ., , , , , ., plan to encircle, and they know that also. ., , , i, ., also. your result is very strong as we have heard _ also. your result is very strong as we have heard throughout - also. your result is very strong as i we have heard throughout ukraine, but the people fighting, the military and the territorial defence forces must be exhausted at the stage as well. pare forces must be exhausted at the stage as well-— stage as well. are a have very stron: stage as well. are a have very strong motivation, _ stage as well. are a have very strong motivation, we - stage as well. are a have very strong motivation, we are - stage as well. are a have very - strong motivation, we are sleeping, we are changing, we have warm houses, electricity, food, water, medicine, we have open magazines, we
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have a good rest and the enemy does not have this opportunity. we are not have this opportunity. we are not exhausted. we are strong—willed and we wanted to attack, but... 0ur commanders have not given us permission to attack. it is ok with our situation inside our army and civilians. ~ . , our situation inside our army and civilians. ~ ., , ., ., ., civilians. what is the humanitarian situation where _ civilians. what is the humanitarian situation where you _ civilians. what is the humanitarian situation where you are? - civilians. what is the humanitarian situation where you are? have - civilians. what is the humanitarian l situation where you are? have many people decided to leave the area to head west? i people decided to leave the area to head west? .., �* people decided to leave the area to head west?— head west? i can't say how many eo - le head west? i can't say how many peeple made _ head west? i can't say how many people made that _ head west? i can't say how many people made that decision - head west? i can't say how many people made that decision to - head west? i can't say how many i people made that decision to leave, to the west, but we have opened... they are bombing us, that is the biggest problem, they are bombing
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civilians. that is why people are going west, not because we have any catastrophe. we are afraid of bombs. it is a stable situation, food, water etc. this it is a stable situation, food, water etc— it is a stable situation, food, water etc. ~ , ., water etc. as you say, there are afraid of the — water etc. as you say, there are afraid of the bombs. _ water etc. as you say, there are afraid of the bombs. quite - afraid of the bombs. quite naturally. looking at the logistical issues, supply issues, are you getting supplies of weapons coming in from other countries? are they being funnelled through to you? are they arriving on a daily basis? give us a sense of where you are getting your supplies from. i us a sense of where you are getting your supplies from.— your supplies from. i cannot give ou an your supplies from. i cannot give you an answer — your supplies from. i cannot give you an answer because _ your supplies from. i cannot give you an answer because it - your supplies from. i cannot give you an answer because it is - your supplies from. i cannot give you an answer because it is a - you an answer because it is a secret. supplies for the civilian peaceful process, we have help from
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our government, from the office of the president, from ourfriends abroad, and in england also. we have abroad, and in england also. we have a lot of help from outside our city. about the weapons, i can't answer this question. about the weapons, i can't answer this question-— this question. that you are getting both humanitarian _ this question. that you are getting both humanitarian supplies, - this question. that you are getting i both humanitarian supplies, food. . . ? both humanitarian supplies, food...? i will not answer the second question. i will not answer the second question-— i will not answer the second cuestion. ., . ., question. you clearly are, you say that our question. you clearly are, you say that your forces _ question. you clearly are, you say that your forces are _ question. you clearly are, you say that your forces are well - question. you clearly are, you say| that your forces are well prepared, well armed, that your forces are well prepared, wellarmed, one that your forces are well prepared, well armed, one would assume those supplies are coming into you. what did you make of this suggestion from poland that it would try to get its mig—29 to ukraine via a us airbase in germany? the us are saying this would pose huge problems for the nato alliance, would you have
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welcomed that? i nato alliance, would you have welcomed that?— nato alliance, would you have welcomed that? i welcome the situation when _ welcomed that? i welcome the situation when this _ welcomed that? i welcome the situation when this guy - welcomed that? i welcome the situation when this guy will i welcomed that? i welcome the situation when this guy will be | situation when this guy will be closed because the main damage to civilians is from missiles and bombs. i would welcome that —— when the sky is closed. aeroplanes from poland given to us, that's ok. you appreciate — poland given to us, that's ok. you appreciate the _ poland given to us, that's ok. you appreciate the complications for nato and the response from the us. i am concerned about my region, i can answer the question about my region, the whole responsibility of our country, you should ask our president. he will give you an answer about this question. i’m president. he will give you an answer about this question. i'm sure ou heard answer about this question. i'm sure you heard the _ answer about this question. i'm sure you heard the address _ answer about this question. i'm sure you heard the address to _ answer about this question. i'm sure you heard the address to the - answer about this question. i'm sure you heard the address to the house | you heard the address to the house of commons in the uk yesterday, what was your reaction to what he had to say? i
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was your reaction to what he had to sa ? , . president. and the merge they are as o timistic? president. and the merge they are as optimistic? once _ president. and the merge they are as optimistic? once again? _ president. and the merge they are as optimistic? once again? you - president. and the merge they are as optimistic? once again? you remainl optimistic? once again? you remain o timistic? optimistic? once again? you remain optimistic? i — optimistic? once again? you remain optimistic? i must _ optimistic? once again? you remain optimistic? i must remain _ optimistic? once again? you remain optimistic? i must remain optimistic because i optimistic? i must remain optimistic because i know _ optimistic? i must remain optimistic because i know that _ optimistic? i must remain optimistic because i know that we _ optimistic? i must remain optimistic because i know that we will - optimistic? i must remain optimistic because i know that we will win. i because i know that we will win. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. in the uk, the government's response to the ukrainian refugee crisis has been heavily criticied by the country's opposition parties and even within the conservative party itself. in an attempt to target figures close to the kremlin, ministers are now making it a criminal offence for planes owned or chartered by russians to enter uk airspace. earlier i asked our chief political correspondent adam fleming about this. before it was russian airlines being banned from using british aerospace are landing at british airports. that is now being upgraded to a criminal sanction whereby it will be illegal for any russian
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owned or connected aircraft to fly over british air space or land or take off. and it already seems to be having an effect since the legislation was signed yesterday, because we understand that british authorities have grounded a luxembourg registered privatejett at farnborough airport, which is used by a lot of private aircraft, as they investigate whether it is in fact russian owned or had been used or was going to be used to transport russian passengers. although there is an area of sanctions where the effect will be felt much more slowly, and that is the new ban on the import of russian oil and oil products, which will mainly affect diesel. that will not come in until the end of this year, it is being phased in over a transition period and we think that the business secretary is going to be explaining all of this to mps in parliament later on today, and i'm sure he will have to defend the fact that it is not being introduced imminently. and i'm sure the government's defence will rely on the fact it will take time for supply chains to adapt. returning to the british
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government's response, there is a criticism that the government is making it unnecessarily difficult, some would say, for people fleeing ukraine who want to come to the uk to actually be able to make thatjourney. so what is the latest from the government on this? what is their response to the criticism. we were hearing criticism yesterday in parliament, including from conservative backbenchers, that the process that has been put in place for ukrainian nationals to come to the uk and join family members who are already here isjust too burdensome, too bureaucratic and too slow. it turns out those concerns were also being heard over the cabinet table yesterday when ministers had their regular meeting on a tuesday morning, when one after another they were asking questions of the home secretary, priti patel, of what she was doing. 0ne government source denied it was a pile on on the home secretary, but another said that everyone had questions about it, including whether the home office was the right department to be
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operating the system at all. bearing in mind that the second route for ukrainians to come to the uk, where they get sponsored by individuals or communities or organisations, which isn't up and running yet, is actually going to be run by a different department, the levelling up department, headed by michael gove. and a new minister for refugees has been appointed that is going to work in both the levelling up department and the home office, and we suspect that we could get details of that second route by the end of this week. we have heard eu plans to be independent of russian oil in eight years as the united states announces it bans imports of russian oil and gas, what impact would this have at international level and in terms of as consumers? for more on this, i'm joined by nathan piper, head of oil and gas
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research at investec. how much of an impact, let's talk about the us decision first of all, an immediate ban on oil and gas imports from russia. what impact will that have in revenues going into russia? will it squeeze them? i will give you a context and answer your question. russia is the third biggest oil producer in the world and the second biggest gas producer, trying to curtail those volumes will have wider implications on oil and gas prices globally. in the uk, the us and canada have all indicated they are going to limit, ban exports of russian crude oil, but none of them import very much russian oil, it is a bit of a exercise at the moment where those who do not import very much russian crude are going to sanction it, it pushes up prices, and we may have unintended consequences where sanctions
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increase the price, the volumes coming from russia stay the same. that is interesting, in terms of the eu plan to become independent of russian oil in the next eight years, and i believe the eu gets 40% of oil from russia, what are the key alternative sources for the eu and other parts of the world? will they be looking to do further trade with other countries that perhaps they have human rights issues with, for example? it have human rights issues with, for examle? . have human rights issues with, for examle? , ., �* ., example? it is not clear. before the reo olitics example? it is not clear. before the ge0politics of _ example? it is not clear. before the geopolitics of russia _ example? it is not clear. before the geopolitics of russia and _ example? it is not clear. before the geopolitics of russia and ukraine i geopolitics of russia and ukraine kicked off, the market was already tight. 0pec were handing back barrels and were not expecting to have spare capacity. the only countries with spare production capacity are saudi arabia. if we are looking to take out 5 million barrels per day which is what russia exported globally from the oil market, it is not clear where that is going to come from. the countries
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people are now trying to interact with and bring increased production from those locations are iran, venezuela. and a potentialfor the us shale industry to get drilling again. there are lots of unpalatable choices if we want less production from russia. those countries who can increase production have their own issues with their own regimes. you talked about _ issues with their own regimes. you talked about shell, there are going to be choices to be made which are not in keeping with various countries net zero targets. i want to talk more about the impact on regular consumers. the rac says petrol is going to top 1.60 litre this week here in the uk and could you anticipate that rising father along with the cost of heating homes, businesses etc?
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i think we are living into a new paradigms. russia are such a big contributor globally that we are going to have to get used to higher oil and gas price is very longer period of time. this is not a spike, it is a shift and it is going to have a big impact. it is going to be higherfor have a big impact. it is going to be higher for longer, have a big impact. it is going to be higherfor longer, diesel and petrol higher for longer, diesel and petrol prices, higherfor longer, diesel and petrol prices, and i think the uk consumer probably isn't ready yet. we already know there's going to be an increase in energy bills, there is good to be an even larger increase in october, and i think issues around fuel poverty has to be addressed and governments have to be upfront with the populations if we want to limit exports from russia, we need to contend with higher oil and gas prices for quite some time to come. when economies are trying to recover from the health care costs of the covid pandemic, is there much evidence from around the world of ways that governments are trying to mitigate this increase in the cost of living? i mitigate this increase in the cost of livin: ? ., ,., of living? i mean, the uk government
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has riven of living? i mean, the uk government has given us — of living? i mean, the uk government has given us a — of living? i mean, the uk government has given us a £200 _ of living? i mean, the uk government has given us a £200 loan _ of living? i mean, the uk government has given us a £200 loan and - of living? i mean, the uk government has given us a £200 loan and small i has given us a £200 loan and small things around your council tax else and so on, but it is really difficult when the input cost is going so high, really to mitigate every single thing for the wider population. but these are the difficult questions everyone is going to have to grapple with, and those who are least able to pay are going to need a lot of help to cope with the increases in energy prices. nathan, thank you very much for your thoughts on all of that, from investec. since the outbreak of the war in ukraine, two million people have left the country — and the number is expected to rise. 13 days ago, many ukrainian citizens were going about their normal daily lives, now they have become refugees in neighbouring countries. lewis goodall has this report from the polish—ukrainian border. all throughout europe, all through the day, all through the night, journeys of mercy are being made.
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this german group of paramedics from frankfurt are making the 1,250 mile journey to the polish border to use their ambulance bus to help provide medical care to ukraine's refugees. we call it in germany ambulance bus — so there's a big bus that can take six people on the beds here and you can take medical care of them. like an emergency room on rolls. but the germans aren't the only samaritans on the road. indeed, the approach is full of people arriving with aid. this crossing, and everything that goes with it, has ballooned, even in the week since we first came here. this has become a village — albeit with no permanent inhabitants. just those on their way through, trying to work out what comes next.
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a process even set to music. surreally, almost no item can't be found, donated or abandoned at this weird frontier. 1.2 million have entered poland. and yet there are no refugee camps. that's because of people like kasia and marcin. poles who have taken in entire ukrainian families to their homes. a family of four has become seven. and to be clear, you do not know 0ksana? no. not at all. you've never met her before... never. ..she came to stay with you? when did she arrive? last wednesday, ash wednesday. do you know others who have done it? yes. actually, we are surrounded by people who did that. 0ur cousin who lives next door, yesterday he took a family of three as well. do you have any idea how long this arrangement will last? no—one does. so it's open—ended? that's what i told her when i picked her up at the train station. i said, "ok, you can stay with us as long as you need to."
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it isn't just the family thinking about the long—term. the polish authorities are seeking to integrate refugees at such speed that, in less than a week, 0ksana's kids have already been enrolled in a local school. in poland, we remember the second world war, yeah. and, for example, my grandfather, he was a soldier. and i believe that he survived because, at some point,
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some stranger helped him as well. this war, like that war, is hell. but now, as then, in hell's embers, everywhere you look there is light. the best and worst of us. the uncomfortable thing, when you really sit and think about it, is that one has to flow from the other. humanity in all its shades. lewis goodall. as well as the big organisations helping people get out of ukraine, helping refugees, there are many smaller organisations, families as you saw there. rodolfo caires is a brazilian living in dublin who has set up an aid group called "frente brazuca", or brazilian front with other brazilians across europe to help people out of ukraine into poland and other neighbouring countries. it isa it is a pretty remarkable thing that you are doing. how did you get
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started? ~ ., , ., started? well, it all started when i started? well, it all started when i started seeing _ started? well, it all started when i started seeing pictures _ started? well, it all started when i started seeing pictures of - started? well, it all started when i started seeing pictures of the i started? well, it all started when i started seeing pictures of the war, i started seeing pictures of the war, people suffering, people on the streets. without knowing where to 90. streets. without knowing where to go, with no spoon, in total despair. so i took a flight to poland the next day and then i rented a car and now i drive to ukraine, and now i am here helping people to cross the border to poland.— here helping people to cross the border to poland. were you already in contact with _ border to poland. were you already in contact with your _ border to poland. were you already in contact with your fellow - in contact with your fellow brazilians who are part of this group with you, helping people? yes. group with you, helping people? yes, we had a facebook _ group with you, helping people? yes we had a facebook group where people were asking for help, asking for a ride to poland, so ijust took a car and came, and then i am in contact with everyone who is in need of transportation and they contact us and then we come, pick them up and cross the border with them. ii and then we come, pick them up and cross the border with them.- cross the border with them. if there is such a thing _ cross the border with them. if there is such a thing as _ cross the border with them. if there is such a thing as a _ cross the border with them. if there is such a thing as a typical- cross the border with them. if there is such a thing as a typical day i cross the border with them. if there is such a thing as a typical day at i is such a thing as a typical day at the moment, what does it look like?
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so it starts really early in the morning, in poland, where we bite medicine, food and supplies. then we bring the supplies to ukraine, to distribute to people in need. so there are many people here who have no food, they don't have any food, they don't have any kind of shelter, they don't have any kind of shelter, they don't have anywhere to stay. so we distribute the food and the medicine we have in ukraine and then we pick people at the train station in lviv and we bring them back to poland. 0nce in lviv and we bring them back to poland. once in poland, we do the same thing over and over again. we buy supplies, bring them to ukraine and pick up people from ukraine to poland. 1. . ~ . and pick up people from ukraine to poland. 1, . ,, ., ., ., ., ., poland. back and forward. you have develo ed poland. back and forward. you have developed quite _ poland. back and forward. you have developed quite a _ poland. back and forward. you have developed quite a routine, - poland. back and forward. you have developed quite a routine, then. i poland. back and forward. you have l developed quite a routine, then. how many people have you brought out of ukraine into poland so far? weill. many people have you brought out of ukraine into poland so far?— ukraine into poland so far? well, we are a group — ukraine into poland so far? well, we are a group of— ukraine into poland so far? well, we are a group of two — ukraine into poland so far? well, we are a group of two drivers. _ ukraine into poland so far? well, we are a group of two drivers. we i ukraine into poland so far? well, we are a group of two drivers. we have l are a group of two drivers. we have already brought more than a0 people.
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myself, i have brought 18 in my car. so, yeah, it is a long journey from lviv to poland. it takes about 10—1a hours by car, so we can't really sleep, it is very tiring, but it is really worth it because we can deliver people too safely in poland. to have other people in your group helping to set up with accommodation or read things they might need? the problem right now it's really on the ukrainian side, because here ukrainians find it very hard to find accommodation and food. their needs are very hard to get filled in ukraine, but once we cross to poland there is really good help from the
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polish government. so they have set “p polish government. so they have set up centres where people can sleep, they can have food. whatever they need, they can get in these centres, including transportation, free transportation across poland by bus or by train. so they are really taken care of at these centres. so we bring ukrainians or brazilians or whatever to these centres, where then they are taken care of and then they can proceed with theirjourney. as long as they are out of ukraine, they are already in safety and that is our goal at the moment, to take as much people as possible out of ukraine. i as much people as possible out of ukraine. , ,., ~' as much people as possible out of ukraine. , ,., ~ ., as much people as possible out of ukraine. , ., , ., ukraine. i spoke to somebody from doctors without _ ukraine. i spoke to somebody from doctors without borders _ ukraine. i spoke to somebody from doctors without borders who i ukraine. i spoke to somebody from doctors without borders who is i ukraine. i spoke to somebody from doctors without borders who is in l doctors without borders who is in lviv as well, and you have huge international, multinational organisations like that working in
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this conflict. and then you have groups like yourself and your other friend who drives as well, just very small groups of people who have arrived in the region to offer help. have you come across lots of other people working in small groups to try to do their bit to help the refugees?— try to do their bit to help the refu . ees? , ., , ., refugees? yes, we have seen that eve one refugees? yes, we have seen that everyone is _ refugees? yes, we have seen that everyone is trying _ refugees? yes, we have seen that everyone is trying to _ refugees? yes, we have seen that everyone is trying to help - refugees? yes, we have seen that everyone is trying to help how i refugees? yes, we have seen that| everyone is trying to help how they can. i have seen volunteers just helping people carry bags at the train station, and they are just random people. i have seen people distributing food at the border, and they are not part of any organisation. they are sometimes locals, they are foreigners that come to ukraine. so there are big organisations doing massive work, but there is also many small anonymous people just doing whatever they can to help people that are around them, to make their lives a
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little bit easier. so, yes, i have seen a lot of people working and they don't belong to any organisation, but they are also helping and they are making a great difference here to help ukrainians improve a little bit their conditions.— improve a little bit their conditions. ., ,, . ., conditions. thank you so much for talkinr conditions. thank you so much for talking with _ conditions. thank you so much for talking with us. _ conditions. thank you so much for talking with us. really _ conditions. thank you so much for talking with us. really interesting| talking with us. really interesting to talk to you. frente brazuca, to help people move across ukraine to poland. here in the uk, the house of commons' home affairs committee is looking at government policy towards ukrainian refugees. it's been hearing evidence from the ukrainian ambassador, vadym prystaiko. let's hear some of what he had to say. we are happy that you managed to establish most of these layers of refugee response. i met yesterday
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with those people who are here, who already came to stay with their relatives and families. some of them i know personally. so these people are very happy and very thankful. but we are now coming to the most sensitive issue, how we open up more possibilities for those people who have no specific connections to the uk citizens, and now want to come here. i want to tell you right away that the natural place for ukrainians is closer to slavic tribes, nations like poland and slovakia, where people don't have any language barrier. they understand the culture, the religion. most ukrainians will naturally stay close to their homes, to their roots, because families unfortunately are now split. the women with kids fled ukraine when most of the men and women fight in
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their home. so this is very different psychological moment as well. we have to understand how it could be covered. yesterday, i talk to your secretary of education, offered the curriculum will be translated into ukrainian to allow kids, when and if they come, they will be immediately placed in schools. we also have our own system which we also use, and we don't believe that people will stay long enough to really be placed here and rooted here. i also had conversations with cbi, the review union of businesses here. they offered so many business opportunities, manyjob opportunities, many job opportunities, many job opportunities, to opportunities, manyjob opportunities, to allow ukrainians in dignified ways to earn their living, most of these people are well educated and have their own business ideas. most of them are in professions that can be done
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remotely, like it, the it sector is the strongest in our case. we are the strongest in our case. we are the number one destination for your business is in the world. second to india. you can understand how much we can take advantage of this established ties. the decision to allow them to be connected to the nhs and other services is very, very welcome, because we understand in most cases the kids have to be treated, psychologically first and there are some things as well. today we reached agreement with russians that humanitarian convoys will be allowed to leave some of the besieged cities. very difficult discussion. 0n besieged cities. very difficult discussion. on behalf of all those people waiting to be located, we have to do it. find people waiting to be located, we have to do it.— people waiting to be located, we have to do it. and that was vadym p staiko, have to do it. and that was vadym prystaiko, ukraine's _ have to do it. and that was vadym prystaiko, ukraine's ambassador l have to do it. and that was vadym| prystaiko, ukraine's ambassador to the uk. a couple of pieces of news to bring to you. we are hearing from ukraine's state power grid operator
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that russian forces have disconnected chernobyl nuclear power plant from the ukrainian grid. it has been fully disconnected as a result of russian troops's military actions, says the company. the quick set on going engagements make it impossible to carry out the repairs and restore power supply, the situation is being monitored and any changes will be reported accordingly." you may remember that russian troops captured chernobyl and the surrounding exclusion zone on the 2ath of february, the first day of the invasion of ukraine. ukrainian officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about russian troops spreading radioactive dust from the exclusion zone during their offensive in ukraine, with heavy vehicles driving over the area. so thatis vehicles driving over the area. so that is the latest on the situation at chernobyl. we are also hearing that the uk business minister is to make a statement to the house of
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commons a little later. we think about 1:30pm. that is on at the phase—out of russian oil imports, and we expect that to happen around 130 gmt. from the uk business minister, kwasi kwarteng. tens of thousands of children in ukrainian orphanages and foster care are desperately in need of a way out of the country. as russia's invasion approaches its third week, many of the children are forced to take shelter — without adequate food and water. zhanna bezpiatchuk of bbc ukrainian followed one group of children as they tried to flee the country with their guardians. apprehensive to go, yet fearful to stay, already these children are now in the war not of their own making. 300 of them are at kyiv station where they are trying to flee through a sea of people.
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and when trains do arrive, it's a battle to get in in order to get out. so they wait for hours in the freezing cold after dark. no matter that some of them have severe disabilities. they split up, going in various directions, to anywhere safe. one of the coordinators says it was terrifying at the station. really, people are scared. and you can hear alarms ringing. and you can feel and hear a bomb exploding. it's a horrible situation. but it's more horrible that children hear this and cry and they don't understand what is happening around. he is trying to get children out of danger zones to safe meeting points. and then out of ukraine. but we have a lack of buses,
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we have a lack of food, we have a lack of hygiene. everything. everything in the country is under strain. as russia's invasion continues, it's hard enough for a single family to get their kids out of the country. but the task of helping tens of thousands of vulnerable children find safety is almost an impossible one. and thousands of them are taking shelter. we have 20 children, of which six... all their gardens can do is appeal for help. we really need your help to get to poland. one of the trains arrives in warsaw. with only about two dozen
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of the original 300. and as polls receive them, relief is written on their faces. translation: it was a hard trip. everyone was worried. there was a lot of stress. we didn't even know who would be there to help us at the end. at the end of a 2a—hourjourney, they're exhausted but on the way to their temporary homes. the next day, they can afford to smile and play, feeling protected. other countries will also take them in. but no—one knows how they will get there. for now, these lives are safe, but their futures are uncertain. sport, and a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. holly hamilton is there. one person
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who has been thinking about children in ukraine is andy murray. i who has been thinking about children in ukraine is andy murray.— in ukraine is andy murray. i think we are seeing _ in ukraine is andy murray. i think we are seeing quite _ in ukraine is andy murray. i think we are seeing quite a _ in ukraine is andy murray. i think we are seeing quite a bit - in ukraine is andy murray. i think we are seeing quite a bit of- in ukraine is andy murray. i think we are seeing quite a bit of this l we are seeing quite a bit of this over the past few weeks, sport really trying to do what they can, send a message to ukraine. and they are watching, like we are, seeing everything that has been going on. and yes, andy murray is the first saying he will be donating his prize money for the rest of the season to help those children in ukraine. he is already an ambassador for unicef, but now he is working with the charity to provide medical supplies and development kits to those in ukraine. he says, as a father, the images of children suffering have promoted him to take action. the last couple _ promoted him to take action. the last couple of— promoted him to take action. the last couple of weeks has been brutal. — last couple of weeks has been brutal. it_ last couple of weeks has been brutal, it has been tough, and i can't _ brutal, it has been tough, and i can't imagine what it must be like having _ can't imagine what it must be like having to — can't imagine what it must be like having to live through that. i obviously _ having to live through that. i obviously have children myself and, when _ obviously have children myself and, when i _ obviously have children myself and, when i see — obviously have children myself and,
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when i see kids suffering, i find that especially difficult to watch. and there is obviously... you feel kind _ and there is obviously... you feel kind of— and there is obviously... you feel kind of helpless in a situation like this, _ kind of helpless in a situation like this. but— kind of helpless in a situation like this, but for me that is the best way that— this, but for me that is the best way that i— this, but for me that is the best way that i can help, to try to draw attention— way that i can help, to try to draw attention to — way that i can help, to try to draw attention to it and try and raise as much _ attention to it and try and raise as much money as i can. so attention to it and try and raise as much money as i can.— attention to it and try and raise as much money as i can. so we should be seeinr much money as i can. so we should be seeing andrew— much money as i can. so we should be seeing andrew murray _ much money as i can. so we should be seeing andrew murray competing i much money as i can. so we should be seeing andrew murray competing at i seeing andrew murray competing at indian wells. novak djokovic's name has appeared in the draw, however whether he can play is still unclear. the world number two, who earlier this year was deported from australia due to his vaccination status, has not yet withdrawn despite needing proof of the vaccine to enter the us. he may be hoping there's a change in the entry rules in the next a8 hours, but if he does have to withdraw then the balance of the draw will be affected, with andy murray a potential beneficiary. football once again put
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on a show of support for the people of ukraine ahead of the champions league tie at anfield. liverpool players lined up next to a banner saying peace before the second leg of their last 16 tie against inter milan. the hosts went on to lose the game 1—0, but still go through winning 2—1 on aggregate. baynern munich are also through to the quarterfinals after thrashing rb salzburg 7—1. in the icc women's world cup, defending champions england suffered a shock defeat at the hands of west indies this morning. it's their second defeat of the tournament and it came as a result of some costly mistakes in the field after west indies had set them 226 for victory — six drop—catches made that score bigger than it should've been as england fell seven runs short. that's all the sport for now.
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one other story this hour — australia's prime minister is to declare a national emergency in response to severe flooding on the country's east coast, which has killed 20 people. courtney bembridge reports. in australia's largest city, sydney, it's been raining for 16 consecutive days. and more heavy downpours are on the way. flash flooding has turned roads into rivers and left homes teetering on the edge. the driveway of this house was swept away by the force of the water. tens of thousands of residents have left their homes, and, with roads under water, some found other ways to get around. the prime minister, scott morrison, declared a national emergency, giving the government extra powers to deploy the defence force. it's estimated the recovery will cost billions of dollars. this is sydney's wettest summer in three decades.
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look, we know it's going to rain, but how much rain we're going to get, god knows how much is going to come down. when the heavens open up, they come down. look at how much rain. we weren't expecting that. i never see the water before coming so fast. when i come, when i get out from the car, 30 centimetres, ao centimetres up to here. in ten seconds, more than half a metre. experts say the flooding emergency has been made worse by climate change and el nino weather phenomenon which increases the likelihood of rain and cyclones. while the east coast deals with severe flooding, the west coast of the country has been sweltering through its hottest summer on record. and has been fighting a string of intense
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bushfires. as the country prepares to head to the polls in a couple of months, these images will be front of mind for voters asking whether their leaders have done enough to address climate change. much more coming up on bbc news on the war in ukraine and the refugee situation throughout the day. you are watching bbc news. hello again. the weather over the next few days is turning milder, notjust by night but also by day. what's happening today is we've got a weather front in the west. now, that's producing some heavy and persistent rain. it's a windy day as well, with gales, even severe gales, across the outer hebrides, but they will slowly ease through the day. you can see the wind direction is coming from the south, so milder air is coming our way, but we've got a cold undercurrent coming in later on to the west. so this morning's cloud continues to break up, more of us seeing some sunny spells. the persistent rain continuing. the winds easing through the day across scotland and also northern ireland. but these black circles representing
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the strength of the wind gusts tells you that it's still going to be a blustery day, really, wherever you are. temperatures eight in the north to 12 or 13 in the south. average temperatures at this time of year are roughly eight in the north to about ten in the south. now, through this evening and overnight, here's our weather front, and as that cold air cuts in, we'll see some snow on the hills of scotland, there will be a lot of cloud around, still some spots of rain, although our weather front is weakening, and there will be some fog forming across north—west scotland and western parts of northern ireland. cooler in the north—west compared to further south and east. so, tomorrow we've got the remnants of our weather front with us, producing all of this cloud. again, some spots of rain. there will also be showers coming up from the channel islands, getting into dorset and hampshire in the midlands, then later in the day into northern england. we'll see breaks in the cloud and some sunshine, and where we've got the breaks for the longest is where we could have temperatures up to 15 degrees. but generally our range is about eight to 12.
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into friday, a weatherfront coming into the west overnight on thursday — will continue to push northwards and eastwards through the day. there will be some heavy rain in that. and then behind it, a return to showers, some of which will be heavy with hail and also some thunder and lightning. temperatures 8—13 degrees. then, as we move from friday into the weekend, you can see the front�*s crossing us, this area of low pressure coming in our direction as well, and that means that we will see some rain and also some showers at times through saturday and sunday. the other thing is, on sunday especially, it will be that bit windier but it will still be relatively mild.
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this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. it was so terrible and my parents... i left my parents in sumy. i hope i will see them another time. but, in the last few hours, air raid sirens have been sounding in and around kyiv, with unconfirmed reports of explosions. the us rejects an offer by poland to send all of its russian—made mig—29 fighter
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jets to ukraine, via us bases, saying it would raise serious concerns for nato. iamon iam on po i am on po than's borders with ukraine as volunteers help refugees fleeing russia's invasion. heineken joins coca cola and mcdonald's as the latest household names to halt trading in the country. and the world's most famous undiscovered shipreck — the endurance — which was led by sir ernest shackleton — has now been found. the russians say they've pause their bombardment of kyiv and four other cities so that civilians can leave. chernihiv, sumy, kharkiv and mariupol will all receive a temporary reprieve, according to a russian state news agency.
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several previous ceasefires have not been honoured. however in the mayor of sumy said civilians in private cars have started leaving. in other developments: depsite the evacuations ukrainian officials say 22 people, including 3 children were killed in an overnight air raid in sumy. russia has confirmed that its foreign minister sergei lavrov and his ukrainian counterpart, dmytro kuleba, are set to meet in turkey on thursday. in the past few minutes, the ukrainian power grid says russian forces have disconnected the closed nuclear facility at chernobyl, which they say could prevent cooling equipment from functioning. our first report comes from our correspondent louisa pilbeam. as the snow falls, still they come today. 1.2 million refugees and counting have crossed the border
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into poland. millions more could try to leave ukraine. confirmation this morning from the uk transport minister that 760 visas have been granted to ukrainian seeking tojoin family in the uk. critics say more needs to be done.— family in the uk. critics say more needs to be done. there is a lot of ve hard needs to be done. there is a lot of very hard working _ needs to be done. there is a lot of very hard working british - needs to be done. there is a lot of. very hard working british diplomats, ngos, volunteers, people working with the british government on the ground organising this and trying to get things set up and as i say, with 6000 appointments a day available now, we should see the processing rate increase. now, we should see the processing rate increase-_ rate increase. meanwhile, for12 hours, a ceasefire _ rate increase. meanwhile, for12 hours, a ceasefire just - rate increase. meanwhile, for12 hours, a ceasefire just about i rate increase. meanwhile, for 12. hours, a ceasefire just about held in the northern city allowing 5000 civilians to escape into central ukraine. in this war, everyjourney involves risk and heartbreak. so involves risk and heartbreak. sr terrible and my parents. i left my parents. i hope i will see them another time.—
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another time. this is the devastation _ another time. this is the devastation left - another time. this is the devastation left behind l another time. this is the l devastation left behind by another time. this is the i devastation left behind by those another time. this is the _ devastation left behind by those who escaped. a hospital in eastern ukraine destroyed. this is the worried that they were fleeing. russia promises further temporary ceasefire later today to allow evacuations from other cities including hi keith and mauripol in the south. the exodus from the city near the capital is slow and agonising. more than 2 million civilians have now left the country. the un says that more than a70 civilians have been killed in the invasion. to fight the russian army, poland proposes sending in fighter jets to a us air force base in germany. but the us it is cool to the offer. it does not want to provoke a direct fight between its forces and russia. two powers both
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armed with nuclear weapons. instead, the us focuses on cutting off russia. washington is banning the import of russian oil. i am grateful ersonall import of russian oil. i am grateful personally to _ import of russian oil. i am grateful personally to the _ import of russian oil. i am grateful personally to the president - import of russian oil. i am grateful personally to the president of i import of russian oil. i am grateful personally to the president of the l personally to the president of the united _ personally to the president of the united states, president biden for his leadership, for this most powerful— his leadership, for this most powerful signal to the whole world. it is powerful signal to the whole world. it is very— powerful signal to the whole world. it is very simple. every penny paid to russia — it is very simple. every penny paid to russia turned into bullets and shells _ to russia turned into bullets and shells. . to russia turned into bullets and shells. , , ., , shells. the uk says it will phase out russian _ shells. the uk says it will phase out russian oil _ shells. the uk says it will phase out russian oil imports - shells. the uk says it will phase out russian oil imports by i shells. the uk says it will phase out russian oil imports by the i shells. the uk says it will phase l out russian oil imports by the end of the year. the capital, kyiv, picked up whatever defences it can build. the russian army is just miles away. this city can sense its approach. this city can sense its approach. 0ur europe correspondent, jenny hill, has been getting a sense of the mood in russia. it depends who you ask, of course. as you know, vladimir putin keeps pretty tight control over what people can see, read and hear about what is going
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on in ukraine and how it is going to affect russia itself. if you speak to people who are looking at state—controlled tv or newspapers, they are being told the effects of sanctions, for example, will hurt the west more than they will hurt russia, that the kremlin is prepared for all of the sanctions and knows what to do about them. of course, though, russians can see for themselves that the country is becoming increasingly isolated. 0vernight, we heard from major western brands, coca—cola, starbucks, l'0real, that they are all pulling out. you can see that already in the shopping centres some western stores have put the shutters down. and of course, mcdonald's, which is really quite iconic for many russians, because many of them saw it as symbolic of a new relationship with the west when it set up shop here in the early �*90s,
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as the iron curtain collapsed. that has announced it is pulling out, too. so, russian people can see that this is happening, but i think how they feel about it is very much down to the narrative they are being given. my suspicion is that, as the weeks go by, and as real economic hardship starts to bite, as so many analysts around the world predict it will, people will be told here that this is another example of western aggression. there are people here, of course, those who look at independent news sources, who look at the internet, social media, and they are first of all deeply concerned, horrified and ashamed about what is happening in ukraine, and they are also deeply concerned about what that is going to mean for their country. let's go live now to lviv in western ukraine — and join my colleague yalda hakim. how is it today? what are people been telling you about how they are feeling around the situation in the whole country?— whole country? well, people here have opened _ whole country? well, people here have opened their _ whole country? well, people here have opened their doors, - whole country? well, people here have opened their doors, their. have opened their doors, their homes, their art centres, the cultural sectors, their genes to the
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influx of internally displaced people who are fleeing places like mauripol, kharkiv, areas in their north—east in the south of the country. here in lviv it has become a hub, a centre for all of those people who are fleeing. they have got 200,000 people here but it is also become a hub for where the sort of resistance that exists here. the national revival. you will see the statue just behind national revival. you will see the statuejust behind me national revival. you will see the statue just behind me which national revival. you will see the statuejust behind me which is national revival. you will see the statue just behind me which is of the famous, well known ukrainian writer who himself was a symbol of national revival. people have gathered here today for his birthday. there is a choir there are now. people are trying to show a sense of unity because in many ways they feel quite helpless about what is happening to those in other parts of the country. the constant bombardment, the shelling, because,
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of course, that has not happened here but of course everyone is concerned about the security situation. i put those questions about the influx of people coming here, about the resistance, the security, to be mayor of lviv. have a listen. city of lviv, help protect unesco, this capital of culture of ukraine. but taliban destroyed historical heritage in afghanistan. i am ready. and today, we make maximum for protect my city, my citizens' historical heritage. i am optimist. i believe our victory. never give up. 0nly victory, together with democratic countries. very special moment — totalitarian system, democratic system. and ukraine, special place for this for this war.
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ukrainian people today like david, and goliath attacked david. david, victory. that was the mayor of lviv. tens of thousands of people are getting on trains, by foot, by over the border trying to get into poland where my colleague is. it is a lot quieter than it has been this morning because this is where they will come, they will charge their phones, get supplies, hot meals, hot water, then they will go on. there volunteers across europe coming here to help. we can speak two of them now. anna from the polish city, what have you been doing here?—
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have you been doing here? trying to --reare have you been doing here? trying to prepare conditions. _ have you been doing here? trying to prepare conditions. especially i have you been doing here? trying to prepare conditions. especially for i prepare conditions. especially for mother— prepare conditions. especially for mother and children and the youngest ones: _ mother and children and the youngest ones. the _ mother and children and the youngest ones, the infant. we are special rooms— ones, the infant. we are special rooms for— ones, the infant. we are special rooms for them and preparing food and just— rooms for them and preparing food and just trying to make them to feel safe and _ and just trying to make them to feel safe and comfortable because they have three, four, five days to travel — have three, four, five days to travel. ., , ., ., , ., travel. lots of young mothers and children here. _ travel. lots of young mothers and children here. you _ travel. lots of young mothers and children here. you travelled i travel. lots of young mothers and children here. you travelled from| children here. you travelled from the united kingdom. why did you make the united kingdom. why did you make thejourney? to the united kingdom. why did you make the “ourne ? ., . the united kingdom. why did you make the “ourne ? ., , ., , the journey? to be honest, i felt em ath the journey? to be honest, i felt empathy not _ the journey? to be honest, i felt empathy not just _ the journey? to be honest, i felt empathy not just for _ the journey? to be honest, i felt empathy not just for the - the journey? to be honest, i felt i empathy not just for the ukrainians empathy notjust for the ukrainians but the polish doing such a fantasticjob and i had a bit of experience from the military and i wanted to do my bit. i see myself more as a european and notjust a sort ofjingoistic brit. what have you been doing? i have been down in the south where have been working on a distribution centre where we have in putting together all foodstuffs and clothes, helping ukrainian families. the mayo there is fantastic. he has managed to
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accommodate 2000 families in the city and coming up yet of the border there is a lot more support needed for anna and the team appear now with so many people coming in. taste with so many people coming in. we see a lot of volunteers from across europe coming here. are you need of more people to help? yes. more people to help? yes, definitely. _ more people to help? yes, definitely. there _ more people to help? yes, definitely. there are i more people to help? yes, definitely. there are some | more people to help? yes, i definitely. there are some days more people to help? yes, definitely. there are some days i'm not sleeping for 30 or ao hours. i can stay— not sleeping for 30 or ao hours. i can stay because i see that there is no one _ can stay because i see that there is no one to _ can stay because i see that there is no one to do — can stay because i see that there is no one to do the job for those people — no one to do the job for those people and you can't move down the corridor— people and you can't move down the corridor without being asked for some _ corridor without being asked for some help. it corridor without being asked for some help-— corridor without being asked for some hel. , ., , ., , some help. it is not 'ust volunteers b q with some help. it is not 'ust volunteers by q with m _ some help. it is not 'ust volunteers by q with hi theirs. i some help. it is notjust volunteers by q with hi theirs. their _ some help. it is notjust volunteers by q with hi theirs. their fire i by q with hi theirs. their fire service people just walking by q with hi theirs. their fire service peoplejust walking past there. service people 'ust walking past there. . service people 'ust walking past there. , ., there. there is always something so, eah, there. there is always something so, yeah. definitely. _ there. there is always something so, yeah, definitely, i— there. there is always something so, yeah, definitely, iwould _ there. there is always something so, yeah, definitely, i would say, - there. there is always something so, yeah, definitely, iwould say, it i there. there is always something so, yeah, definitely, iwould say, it is i yeah, definitely, i would say, it is very tiring — yeah, definitely, i would say, it is very tiring and exhausting so after some _ very tiring and exhausting so after some days — very tiring and exhausting so after some days you are drained physically and mentally as well so we have to also recharge our batteries. as more refu:ees also recharge our batteries. as more refugees coming _ also recharge our batteries. as more refugees coming to _ also recharge our batteries. as more refugees coming to this _ also recharge our batteries. as more refugees coming to this border- also recharge our batteries. as more refugees coming to this border with l refugees coming to this border with ukraine along with them all becoming volunteers from across europe like anna and david who just want to do their bit to help in that they can.
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thank you so much forjoining us from poland. we have some latest pictures to bring you. 22 people, we understand, among them, three children were killed in a russian air attack. that is in the north—east. russia and ukraine have agreed a temporary ceasefire and these are the pictures we have from these are the pictures we have from the city. we hope this will allow civilians to flee. some are arriving here in the eastern ukrainian city. during previous attempts to provide safe routes out russian forces have been accused of sharing by roots. fighting continues north and north—west and russian forces are continuing their offensive. ukraine says its troops are holding their positions and we have just had a statement from the kremlin spokesperson who said the us has launched an economic war against
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moscow describing on slots against the country an economic war, de facto war being waged, he said. this is where we leave our viewers on bbc two. stay with us on the news channel and bbc world. now amid the ongoing war in ukraine, we have seen remarkable resilience it was said this would be to a dangerous scenario. poland, this is highly undesirable and potentially dangerous scenario. so we will bring you more from moscow when we hear it. now amid the ongoing war in ukraine, we have seen remarkable resilience from the ukrainian people. in the eastern city of kramatorsk, halo trust, a charity organisation which removes debris left behind
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by war, such as land mines, have turned their regional headquarters into temporary accomodation while also distributing medical kits to those who are injured. live to donetsk 0blast in eastern ukraine, and we can speak to maryna who works at the organisation. good morning. nice to see you. yesterday night we had a huge explosion happening somewhere. that was the very moment when my sister was the very moment when my sister was telling a bedtime story to her three years old child and we had to grab all our staff three years old child and we had to grab all ourstaff and three years old child and we had to grab all our staff and hid in the basementjust to see grab all our staff and hid in the basement just to see what would happen next. it is terrifying and we
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are horrified but we try not to panic. are horrified but we try not to anic. . , ., are horrified but we try not to anic. ., i. ., ., are horrified but we try not to anic. ., , ., ., ., ., ., , panic. have you managed to get any slee -. panic. have you managed to get any sleep- yes. — panic. have you managed to get any sleep- yes. we _ panic. have you managed to get any sleep. yes, we have _ panic. have you managed to get any sleep. yes, we have managed i panic. have you managed to get any sleep. yes, we have managed but . panic. have you managed to get any| sleep. yes, we have managed but we were woken — sleep. yes, we have managed but we were woken up— sleep. yes, we have managed but we were woken up not _ sleep. yes, we have managed but we were woken up notjust _ sleep. yes, we have managed but we were woken up notjust the _ sleep. yes, we have managed but we were woken up notjust the usual- were woken up notjust the usual alarm sounds but we had a huge explosion and it is not that much on the news like mauripol or kharkiv or kyiv but the situation is getting a bit worse. we keep hearing the sirens more open so it makes me feel anxious. �* , ., ., , ., ., ., anxious. are you able to get hold of friends and — anxious. are you able to get hold of friends and family _ anxious. are you able to get hold of friends and family and _ anxious. are you able to get hold of friends and family and colleagues i anxious. are you able to get hold of friends and family and colleagues in other parts of the country quite? other parts of the country as friends and family and colleagues in other parts of the countr- other parts of the country as you know i other parts of the country as you know i work _ other parts of the country as you know i work for _ other parts of the country as you know i work for a _ other parts of the country as you know i work for a trust _ other parts of the country as you know i work for a trust in - other parts of the country as you | know i work for a trust in ukraine and we stay in touch with our colleagues. unfortunately we all
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are. someone fled to other countries but there are some people doing a greatjob helping people who suffer from this situation. i5 great job helping people who suffer from this situation.— from this situation. is there a risk of improvised _ from this situation. is there a risk of improvised explosive _ from this situation. is there a risk of improvised explosive devices i of improvised explosive devices because of the conflict? yes. of improvised explosive devices because of the conflict? yes, there is. it is because of the conflict? yes, there is- it is quite _ because of the conflict? yes, there is. it is quite huge. _ because of the conflict? yes, there is. it is quite huge. the _ because of the conflict? yes, there is. it is quite huge. the improvisedj is. it is quite huge. the improvised explosive devices, people don't know about, and we take into account right now they cannot conduct usual activities. i mean, clear landmines. now we do as much as possible to prevent people from handling devices
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by themselves. we try to send different educational materials. we did a digital campaign and it was seen by over 17 million people and it is really dangerous but we try to educate in these difficult times. i know you are happy with more immediate needs by telling headquarters into temporary accommodation. has that offer been taken up by people at what are their stories? . taken up by people at what are their stories? , , , ., stories? yes, we re-equipped our office into — stories? yes, we re-equipped our office into a _ stories? yes, we re-equipped our office into a place _ stories? yes, we re-equipped our office into a place where - stories? yes, we re-equipped our office into a place where we i stories? yes, we re-equipped our office into a place where we can i office into a place where we can provide people with accommodation. we put there sunbeds and some basic items and so there are lots of people who ask us to provide them with a place as well as shelter there are so unfortunately it is quite a popular place right now and
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we have quite a strong medical team. we have some personnel who are medically trained her paramedic so they conduct first aid training is for people, how to react in these conditions as well. we distribute some medical supplies to peoplejust to make sure, just to help people. to stay safe and forjoining us and sharing some of the work the halo trust is doing as well. thank you.— here in the uk, the house of commons' home affairs committee is looking at government policy towards ukrainian refugees. it's been hearing evidence from the ukrainian ambassador, vadym prystaiko. 0ur political correspondent david lockhart wallace was watching that committee. what was said?
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the ambassador to the uk from ukraine were speaking to a committee of mps specifically about refugee policy for people fleeing the region. he stressed that people coming to the uk did not want to be a burden here. they were highly skilled. he actually said he did not expect the numbers to be that high and he also stressed that he does not expect refugees coming to the uk to ultimately become rooted here. he said they are needed back home and this is over to help rebuild the country. he said that under the family system one of the schemes, the visa schemes for refugees coming to the uk, he thought at least 100,000 ukrainians could come under that system. that is have about the uk government are saying. they say 200,000. he did say he was frustrated at how bureaucratic the process can be. add how slow it can be. we appreciated the need to do security checks but said some of the
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people we are talking about our children and he said problem with the visa process for the uk predated the visa process for the uk predated the war in ukraine. he pointed out that, when he came to the country, his wife had real problems getting her own visa and he referred to those reports of migrants, refugees coming from ukraine, reaching calais in france and then being unable to get to the uk. he made reference to those reports when he spoke to mps. if you can, vote for some temporary leasing of these rules to allow people to get here. we will take care of. i do despite many of them to come. just, everybody of you, i don't want to see these pictures of people banging at the in cali and scratching the doors that are quite, quite sealed. brute scratching the doors that are quite, quite sealed-— quite sealed. we will be live to brinr quite sealed. we will be live to bring clarity — quite sealed. we will be live to bring clarity to _ quite sealed. we will be live to bring clarity to the _
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quite sealed. we will be live to bring clarity to the situation i quite sealed. we will be live to i bring clarity to the situation there but after last night's are credibly passionate address, looking ahead now to prime minister's questions, how would you describe the mood of mps? . how would you describe the mood of mps? , ., ., ., ., ., mps? there is great admiration for president zelensky. _ mps? there is great admiration for president zelensky. the _ mps? there is great admiration for president zelensky. the house i mps? there is great admiration for president zelensky. the house was united in a standing ovation for his address via video link. of course the question of the process of getting refugees into the uk is causing consternation and the opposition is really stressing that things have to be made easierfor people fleeing the region. i expect that as an issue that will come up this afternoon and we will hear from borisjohnson on that matter. not something that is going away at the moment and something that will continue for days to come yet. undoubtedly, thanks so much, david. good to see you. the uk has so far approved just 760 visas for ukrainians
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fleeing the conflict. 22—thousand applications have been made and there's been criticism that the process is too slow and too complicated. it comes after there was confusion over whether a visa processing office in france had been set up or not. the home secretary priti patel has been under pressure to resign after she told the house of commons that a visa application centre had been set up but it later emerged that had not yet happened. let's cross to our correspondent phil mackie who is in lille. what is the situation there? just as confusin: what is the situation there? just as confusing on _ what is the situation there? just as confusing on the _ what is the situation there? just as confusing on the ground, _ what is the situation there? just as confusing on the ground, really, i what is the situation there? just as confusing on the ground, really, asl confusing on the ground, really, as it appears to be back home. in lille, there was talk yesterday there would be a pop up visa processing centre here by today. this morning, i think, the view was that it was still a possibility. we spoke to the mayors office and they said the first they knew about it was when they read about it in the
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british media and when we said it might be opening today they knew nothing about it at all so it is very, very confusing. nobody quite knows what is going on. there would be some sense in having it here. it is much closer to calais which is obviously the main port of demarcation to the uk. it is much closer than brussels or paris which is why people have to go at the moment. in fact, is why people have to go at the moment. infact, i is why people have to go at the moment. in fact, i was talking to at—year—old who is a youth hostel in calais with her mother and younger brother. her dad lives in bedding so there waiting to get across that of their right calais initially thinking they would be able to go visa free. they have been stuck for a few days and yesterday they had to go to paris to provide documentation and forfingerprints to go to paris to provide documentation and for fingerprints to be taken. this is part of this process. the reason being given is that they don't want too many people getting stuck in paris. it becomes a chokehold. lots of criminal gangs operate in that area and there is a heavy police presence because of that criminal gangs. people traffickers. they don't want to get the refugee situation is confused, if you like. the key thing is to try
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and make sure that this process works well for ukrainians. at the moment it doesn't appear to be. it does appear to be very confusing, people are slightly baffled. there was a youth hostel. there are a lot of family staying there and when i asked whether or not any british officials had been there to talk to them the answer was that they had not seen anybody. she speaks pretty good english so she is acting for a translator for a lot of other ukrainian families who don't speak english and it is a very difficult situation. there was not enough room for everyone last night and one family had to sleep in the car outside the hostel. it is a difficult situation, car —like situation and lots of mixed messages and frankly, here in lille, they don't know much more than we do about is going to happen next. thank ou so about is going to happen next. thank you so much — about is going to happen next. thank you so much for— about is going to happen next. thank you so much for updating _ about is going to happen next. thank you so much for updating eyes. we have been seeing on independence square, an orchestra playing. and the kyiv symphony, we understand. a
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real sign of and the latest from ukraine is that a fresh ceasefire where there has been heavy bombardment is in place. it is expected to allow more civilians there, more people to try to flee to safety. do stay with us. hello again. the weather over the next few days is turning milder, notjust by night but also by day. what's happening today is we've got a weather front in the west. now, that's producing some heavy and persistent rain. it's a windy day as well, with gales, even severe gales, across the outer hebrides, but they will slowly ease through the day. you can see the wind direction is coming from the south, so milder air is coming our way, but we've got a cold undercurrent coming in later on to the west. so this morning's cloud continues to break up, more of us seeing some sunny spells. the persistent rain continuing. the winds easing through the day across scotland and also northern ireland. but these black circles representing the strength of the wind gusts tells you that it's still going to be a blustery day, really,
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wherever you are. temperatures eight in the north to 12 or 13 in the south. average temperatures at this time of year are roughly eight in the north to about ten in the south. now, through this evening and overnight, here's our weather front, and as that cold air cuts in, we'll see some snow on the hills of scotland, there will be a lot of cloud around, still some spots of rain although our weather front is weakening, and there will be some fog forming across north—west scotland and western parts of northern ireland. cooler in the north—west compared to further south and east. so, tomorrow we've got the remnants of our weather front windows, producing all of this cloud. again, some spots of rain. there will also be showers coming up from the channel islands, getting into dorset and hampshire in the midlands, then later in the day into northern england. we'll see breaks in the cloud and some sunshine, and where we've got the breaks for the longest is where we could have temperatures up to 15 degrees. but generally our range is about eight to 12. into friday, a weatherfront
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coming into the west overnight on thursday — will continue to push northwards and eastwards through the day. there will be some heavy rain in that. and then behind it, a return to showers, some of which will be heavy with hail and also some thunder and lightning. temperatures 8—13 degrees. then as we move from friday into the weekend, you can see the front�*s crossing us, this area of low pressure coming in our direction as well, and that means that we will see some rain and also some showers at times through saturday and sunday. the other thing is, on sunday especially, it will be that bit windier but it will still be relatively mild.
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this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... russia says there'll be a pause in its bombardment of kyiv and four other cities so that civilians can leave. it was so terrible, and my parents, it was so terrible, and my parents, i left my parents and to me. i hope they will see them another time. but, in the last few hours, air raid sirens have been sounding in and around kyiv, with unconfirmed reports of explosions. the us rejects an offer by poland to send all of its russian—made mig—29 fighter jets to ukraine, via us bases,
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saying it would raise serious concerns for nato. heineken joins coca cola and mcdonalds as the latest household names to halt trading in the country. we bring you the story of the ukrainian orphans trying desperately to find a way out of the country. the deputy prime minister of ukraine says russia has a-reed a ceasefire. says russia has agreed a ceasefire. she has used moscow to stick to what it has promised. in several cities, including outlying parts of kyiv.
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russia has been accused of shelling all of the exit routes. live to ljubljana, and we can speak now to danilo turk, former president of slovenia and president of club de madrid, forum of former heads of states and governments. could you first give us your emotional reaction to what you are seeing in ukraine? my emotional reaction to what you are seeing in ukraine?— seeing in ukraine? my emotional reaction is _ seeing in ukraine? my emotional reaction is very — seeing in ukraine? my emotional reaction is very strong. _ seeing in ukraine? my emotional reaction is very strong. i - seeing in ukraine? my emotional. reaction is very strong. i remember my meetings with the students and professors of that great university, and aims extremely sad and angry to see this beautiful city being sheued see this beautiful city being shelled and other places, other cities in ukraine. it's a terrible war and a terrible destruction. what war and a terrible destruction. what do ou war and a terrible destruction. what do you believe _ war and a terrible destruction. what do you believe at _ war and a terrible destruction. what do you believe at this _ war and a terrible destruction. what do you believe at this moment could de—escalate the situation? i do you believe at this moment could de-escalate the situation?— de-escalate the situation? i think the corridors. _ de-escalate the situation? i think the corridors, the _ de-escalate the situation? i think the corridors, the humanitarian . the corridors, the humanitarian corridors is the right beginning. it
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should be insisted, with the help of humanitarian organisations, that they are kept and they are expanded so that the humanitarian assistance in flowing to the affected areas. most importantly, diplomatic action should be intensified. it is good that china has stepped in on monday, and they will try to help, and that is good because they can be a good and useful facilitator. is good because they can be a good and usefulfacilitator. and is good because they can be a good and useful facilitator.— and useful facilitator. and yet, china has _ and useful facilitator. and yet, china has neither _ and useful facilitator. and yet, china has neither condemned l and useful facilitator. and yet, i china has neither condemned nor condoned the invasion. do you think they can act as an impartial negotiator?— they can act as an impartial negotiator? precisely for that reason. negotiator? precisely for that reason- they _ negotiator? precisely for that reason. they are _ negotiator? precisely for that reason. they are in _ negotiator? precisely for that reason. they are in a - negotiator? precisely for that l reason. they are in a different position than anybody else and they are listened to in moscow, so they have a certain amount of leveraged that nobody else has. iloathe have a certain amount of leveraged that nobody else has.— that nobody else has. who can influence she's _ that nobody else has. who can influence she'sjumping - that nobody else has. who can influence she'sjumping to - that nobody else has. who can influence she'sjumping to get| that nobody else has. who can - influence she'sjumping to get him influence she's jumping to get him
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involved? influence she's 'umping to get him involved? , ., , ., ., , involved? they have been already, in addition to the _ involved? they have been already, in addition to the statements _ involved? they have been already, in addition to the statements of - involved? they have been already, in addition to the statements of the - addition to the statements of the foreign minister, and some european leaders, president of france and the chancellor of germany, and i think that should be intensified so that the diplomatic initiatives start and they have to start soon.— the diplomatic initiatives start and they have to start soon. russia has ut they have to start soon. russia has put forward — they have to start soon. russia has put forward a _ they have to start soon. russia has put forward a series _ they have to start soon. russia has put forward a series of— they have to start soon. russia has put forward a series of proposals, i put forward a series of proposals, you will know. there are talks taking place with ukraine and the foreign ministers in turkey today we understand. one of them is that ukraine becomes a neutral country and gives up its demand tojoin nato. what would you advise ukraine comes to those demands from measure if it is a way to stop the fighting? these kind of ideas were around before. they are not new. they were not listened to. maybe this time
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there will be taken seriously. there is good ideas in my opinion. they can lead to a change in european security infrastructure and architecture in a positive way. i believe this should be made in a way that would be sustainable. i think the model of last here. after ten years after the world war ii roster became permanent neutral, as she has become an important linchpin between east and west. that is something that should be looked at today. i’m that should be looked at today. i'm sor to that should be looked at today. i'm sorry to interrupt, but you do believe ukraine should give up its desire tojoin nato. russia would like that enshrined in their constitution, that they will never ask to join nato._ ask to join nato. nato made a mistake in _ ask to join nato. nato made a mistake in 2008 _ ask to join nato. nato made a mistake in 2008 by _ ask to join nato. nato made a mistake in 2008 by making i ask to join nato. nato made a mistake in 2008 by making a | ask to join nato. nato made a - mistake in 2008 by making a very clear promise to ukrainian georgia
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to become members of nato at some point in the future. that was never followed up by anything serious and that mistake by nato should be remedied today. i've always thought that ukrainian membership of nato is not a good idea. probably now we have to look at all the options that are there and serious, including the one about permanent. do are there and serious, including the one about permanent.— one about permanent. do you think the sanctions _ one about permanent. do you think the sanctions need _ one about permanent. do you think the sanctions need to _ one about permanent. do you think the sanctions need to go _ one about permanent. do you think the sanctions need to go further? l the sanctions need to go further? you are relying on russia for 30% of gas imports, 30% of oil. you are relying on russia for 3096 of gas imports, 3096 of oil.— you are relying on russia for 3096 of gas imports, 3096 of oil. should they be met? the — gas imports, 3096 of oil. should they be met? the sanctions _ gas imports, 3096 of oil. should they be met? the sanctions are _ be met? the sanctions are understandable because there is a greater outrage against the russian invasion, but we have to understand that we know the experience from the past. sanctions are very difficult to suspend and lift later. we have to suspend and lift later. we have to think about strengthening sanctions immediately but also
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thinking about the conditions which will have to be in place to lift sanctions in the future. finally, this is clearly _ sanctions in the future. finally, this is clearly a _ sanctions in the future. finally, this is clearly a tragedy - sanctions in the future. finally, this is clearly a tragedy for - this is clearly a tragedy for ukraine and most of the world stands with ukraine. but you also see it as being a tragedy for russia, too, and that generation of young russians who thought they were going to have very different lives?— very different lives? absolutely. this is a great _ very different lives? absolutely. this is a great tragedy _ very different lives? absolutely. this is a great tragedy for - very different lives? absolutely. | this is a great tragedy for russia. it is described in much detail and books, but we see it now happening, and it will have an enormously negative and tragic effect of the people in ukraine and also in russia clearly. the future of russia should be different. should be friendly to neighbours and should be relaxed, should be free from this irrational fearfor should be free from this irrational fear for its security. that irrational fear is the fact. we have
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to understand it is very factual. ways have to be found to deal with that, but furthermore, and later, the tragedy that is now unfolding will affect russians very very seriously. will affect russians very very seriously-— will affect russians very very seriousl . . ~' , . will affect russians very very seriousl . ., ~ , . ., seriously. thank you very much for 'oinin: seriously. thank you very much for joining us- — seriously. thank you very much for joining us. president _ seriously. thank you very much for joining us. president of _ seriously. thank you very much for joining us. president of slovenia. l joining us. president of slovenia. thank you for having me. let's get a check on how global markets have been absorbing the latest developments related to the war in ukraine. ben boulos is here. let's get down to business, and we begin with further sanctions against russia, which has sent oil prices northwards once again. it comes after the us and uk announced they were banning russian oil, and the eu said it's ending its reliance on russian gas. the move sent the price of brent crude above $130 per barrel. however, it's already having an impact across the world. petrol prices are currently at record highs in the us and the uk, and experts warn they could go even higher.
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so, who will make up for the shortfall? well, one option is venezuela. the association that represents venezuelan oil companies told the bbc that the country could potentially raise its production levels by 400,000 barrels a day. away from oil, we've also seen more major brands, such mcdonald's, coca—cola and starbucks announce they are halting their operations in russia. all three firms said they would continue to pay their staff. and this is how the financial markets have reacted to the news today. the rouble is under pressure after fitchratings warned russia is likely to soon default on its debts, as it downgraded the country's bonds further into "junk" territory. oil prices easing just slightly, but we are seeing a little bit of recovery on the equity markets in
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london and frankfurt. both up in the first half of trading today. we're nowjoined by bill browder, who's the ceo of hermitage capital management. do you think the sanctions we have seen so far, particularly on oil and gas from the united states and then europe phasing out its reliance on russian energy go far enough to provoke a change of course by putin? i don't think that anything is going to change his course, other than the moment when he runs out of resources to do this. and so, as we'll know, russia is effectively an oil and gas country. 50% of their exports come from oil and gas, so, yes, as this starts to bite, it will start to reduce his ability to wage this war as the money starts to dry up. but i don't think we should ever think to ourselves, by doing this, we can say i've changed my mind, i'm going to turn my tanks around and go back to
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russia. that's not going to happen. no matter what we do. it's about cleaning his resources that we economic retaliation from russia. do you think we can take that to mean that they won't, or that they are still figuring out how to respond to the us and the eu? the?r still figuring out how to respond to the us and the eu?— still figuring out how to respond to the us and the eu? they are trying to fiaure the us and the eu? they are trying to figure out _ the us and the eu? they are trying to figure out what _ the us and the eu? they are trying to figure out what they _ the us and the eu? they are trying to figure out what they are - the us and the eu? they are trying to figure out what they are going i the us and the eu? they are trying | to figure out what they are going to do to retaliate. as far as i saw yesterday, they are now talking about suspending the exports of certain commodities that we need from russia, which in some ways is just helping us sanction them even more. they are self sanctioning. but thatis more. they are self sanctioning. but that is a first emotional reaction. i'm sure they will do other things. the thing is to look for would—be expropriation of foreign businesses and assets, other types of hacking, cyber attacks. there are lots of
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things in their arsenal. putin is not a man who shows restraint and we should expect that he will retaliate, and we should be gripping ourselves in preparing ourselves for that because this is what we have to do in order to stop him from escalating further and eventually confronting us on a nato border. you've got the big picture decision by governments, for example the decisions on oil and gas, on the other hand you've got the individual decisions by big brands and companies to stop operating in russia. in terms of the impact on the way people in russia view what is going on, is that the more significant one, when they find that their favourite drinks or fast food is no longer available?— is no longer available? people in russia are _ is no longer available? people in russia are all _ is no longer available? people in russia are all amazed _ is no longer available? people in russia are all amazed at - is no longer available? people in russia are all amazed at how- is no longer available? people in i russia are all amazed at how their life has changed in all different ways. you're right. all of a sudden, you can't go to mcdonald's or get coca—cola. but also you can't take up coca—cola. but also you can't take up more than $10,000 out of the bank
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any more. your credit cards no longer work. any more. your credit cards no longerwork. everything any more. your credit cards no longer work. everything is now 50% more expensive because of the devaluation and the inflation. life every single russian is different and worse and reallyjust effectively gone from europe to north korea inside russian in a matter of two weeks.— north korea inside russian in a matter of two weeks. what a thought. thank ou matter of two weeks. what a thought. thank you very — matter of two weeks. what a thought. thank you very much. _ as well as oil and gas, russia is one of the world's biggest exporters of some of the most vital raw materials, including wheat, gold, palladium and aluminium. the london metal exchange suspended nickel trading on tuesday after prices more than doubled to surpass $100,000 per metric tonne. some experts are concerned that further sanctions or bans on exports from russia could harm western economies. we're nowjoined by colin hamilton, who's the managing director
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of bmo capital markets. do you think there is any prospect of applying the same sorts of measures we have seen the gas and oil to these commodities or not? we are oil to these commodities or not? - are seeing consumers self selecting many coaches not to buy russian material. if you were a purchasing manager you would be nervous about taking that on your books at the moment. some of the key ones, nickel, very hard to get away from. the other one, the previous speaker mentioned that we are seeing russia total about restricting exports of raw materials, palladium which is crucial to the car manufacturers. we could see more restrictions around there. these commodities supply chains which are already stretched even prior to the russian invasion. in the way that decisions on oil have a direct effect on the amount
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people pay for oil and petrol at the pumps and energy bills, what would any sanctions and decisions and commodities have on people's own personal pockets? it commodities have on people's own personal pockets?— personal pockets? it has a tax on the consumer. _ personal pockets? it has a tax on the consumer. we _ personal pockets? it has a tax on the consumer. we are _ personal pockets? it has a tax on the consumer. we are trying - personal pockets? it has a tax on the consumer. we are trying to l the consumer. we are trying to convince someone not to buy commodities at these prices. that is trying to destroy demand. we are trying to destroy demand. we are trying to destroy demand. we are trying to bring demand back to a level that the will can cope with and their price levels in the supply chain are very distant objective. it adds another element to the inflationary pressure. we are seeing, and it does come down to the consumer by the end of the day, durables, and we would expect to see... what worries me most is inflation and the impact that could have an emerging markets as we had through the year.—
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through the year. thank you very much. through the year. thank you very much- we _ through the year. thank you very much. we will— through the year. thank you very much. we will keep _ through the year. thank you very much. we will keep an _ through the year. thank you very much. we will keep an eye - through the year. thank you very much. we will keep an eye on i through the year. thank you very much. we will keep an eye on all through the year. thank you very - much. we will keep an eye on all the developments and how it is affecting the economic sides of things for you. that's it from me for the moment. thank you so much. we have some breaking news to bring you. electricity supplies to the power plant at chernobyl have been cut and it is one that radioactive substances could be released because that might it will be sees it was seized by russian troops nearly two ago. monitoring data has ceased from the plant. i'm joined now by galushchenko german, ukraine's minister for energy. it so good to have you with us can you tell us exactly what you are hearing, what you are getting on the situation right now at chernobyl?
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that's right, the information concerning their supply is through, so now we understand that we need to do as quickly as we can to repair the electricity supply there to ensure that the old security measures could be enforced in the station. unfortunately, the station is not... it occupied by russian forces, and we also asked the international atomic agents to participate actively in all these issues concerning the nuclear in ukraine and the the objects by the russian.
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ukraine and the the ob'ects by the russian. ., ~ ., ., , russian. doing do we know if any radioactive _ russian. doing do we know if any radioactive substances _ russian. doing do we know if any radioactive substances are - russian. doing do we know if any radioactive substances are being| radioactive substances are being released from chernobyl right now? we don't have this information right now. the problem is that we have no access. the monitoring system at this stage, and of course we cannot physically go to chernobyl to see what happened. but we don't have information at this stage that the irrigation go somewhere. if the electricity supply _ irrigation go somewhere. if the electricity supply has _ irrigation go somewhere. if the electricity supply has been - irrigation go somewhere. if the electricity supply has been cut, is there a back—up? is there a way of fuelling it? we there a back-up? is there a way of fuelling it?— fuelling it? we need to repair it is seen as we _ fuelling it? we need to repair it is seen as we can. _ fuelling it? we need to repair it is seen as we can, but _ fuelling it? we need to repair it is seen as we can, but ukraine - fuelling it? we need to repair it is seen as we can, but ukraine and i fuelling it? we need to repair it is i seen as we can, but ukraine and all nuclear objects have this system of a back—up in case. it has the stability to maintain, contain for
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several days using the generators. just to clarify, there are emergency diesel generators?— diesel generators? yes, of course. we have these _ diesel generators? yes, of course. we have these diesel _ diesel generators? yes, of course. we have these diesel generators i diesel generators? yes, of course. l we have these diesel generators and all nuclear objects.— all nuclear ob'ects. however staff there? nave — all nuclear objects. however staff there? have you _ all nuclear objects. however staff there? have you had _ all nuclear objects. however staff there? have you had any - all nuclear objects. however staff there? have you had any word i all nuclear objects. however staff - there? have you had any word because there? have you had any word because there are reports that they are not being treated well by russian soldiers? ., .., ., , being treated well by russian soldiers? ., ., , ., soldiers? you can imagine they are there for almost _ soldiers? you can imagine they are there for almost 14 _ soldiers? you can imagine they are there for almost 14 days _ soldiers? you can imagine they are there for almost 14 days in - there for almost 14 days in chernobyl, and of course they are very exhausted, i might say, even physically a medic mentally exhausted, but they are still doing their work. they are really very brave staff. their work. they are really very brave staff-— their work. they are really very brave staff. there is obviously a desperate _ brave staff. there is obviously a desperate need _ brave staff. there is obviously a desperate need now— brave staff. there is obviously a desperate need now because i brave staff. there is obviously a desperate need now because of| brave staff. there is obviously a i desperate need now because of the concern to perhaps get the i ate ea
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to get some outside observers in. we to get some outside observers in. - applied to the eu and all international forums, applied to the eu and all internationalforums, and applied to the eu and all international forums, and what we ask despite closing the sky into supporters in this to close the sky, we also asked for some remissions that could be present. as you know, ukraine is a state with nuclear generation. we have four big nuclear, and that is why we make an idea to put the eu and un mission to be present at each nuclear object. can you tell us what is happening at europe's biggest nuclear plant? the
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russian europe's biggest nuclear plant? ila: russian soldiers of there, so the staff is working. of course, people also have five days of occupation. but people are maintaining the station and working every day. what we see is that they are still at the station, and there is a question of the pressure to people in the mental exhaustion. , . . , exhaustion. they are mentally exhausted- — exhaustion. they are mentally exhausted. absolutely. is i exhaustion. they are mentally exhausted. absolutely. is it i exhaustion. they are mentally i exhausted. absolutely. is it clear what damage was caused from the russians shelling a few days ago? it is clear it was shelled. it was also a lot of weapons which they wrote to the station and this is also the situation. when the weapons appeared
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in the nuclear station, that is of course the danger. but from our side, the staff do their work and still operate the station and are trying to minimise the threats. iurethral trying to minimise the threats. what is our trying to minimise the threats. what is your greatest _ trying to minimise the threats. what is your greatest fear _ trying to minimise the threats. what is your greatest fear right now when it comes to these nuclear stations that the russians are in control of? the fear is that we need to protect, effectively, all our nuclear stations, and that is really, not the only the question of ukraine, but the question of europe and i would say the question of the world, to ensure that all nuclear objects are protected safely, and that is why we raise this issue, i repeated away, —— i repeated again, a no—fly zone over ukraine.
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away, -- i repeated again, a no-fly zone over ukraine.— zone over ukraine. thank you very much. zone over ukraine. thank you very much- very _ zone over ukraine. thank you very much- very good _ zone over ukraine. thank you very much. very good to _ zone over ukraine. thank you very much. very good to have - zone over ukraine. thank you very much. very good to have some i much. very good to have some clarification there and to have your thoughts. just hearing about some of europe's new biggest nuclear facilities there. a soldier from the coldstream guards has gone absent without leave and it's thought he may be trying to make his way to ukraine. it follows newspaper reports that a 19—year—old serviceman had left his windsor barracks and bought a ticket to poland over the weekend. our defence correspondent jonathan beale is here. what more do we know about this young man? the what more do we know about this young man?— what more do we know about this ouna man? ~ , , ., , . young man? the ministry of defence is not confirming _ young man? the ministry of defence is not confirming that _ young man? the ministry of defence is not confirming that a _ young man? the ministry of defence is not confirming that a soldier- young man? the ministry of defence is not confirming that a soldier has l is not confirming that a soldier has gone missing, but an army source has told me that a member of the coldstream guards has gone, it is believed to poland to make its way to ukraine now. there is big concerning the british military that serving british soldiers, and let's make a difference between
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veterans... veterans are travelling. we know that. it is different if they are active military personnel. we know that from the note that was sent out by the head of defence people in the uk last week. lieutenant generaljames swift who said these personnel are at risk of being taken hostage by the russian military and being used for propaganda emit purposes of losing their lives and giving the mistaken impression to the russian authorities that they have been sent by british personnel to engage in the hostilities. the worry is that these soldiers may go and fight. they may be captured by the russians, and the russians will then say this as evidence that nato is directly involved in this conflict. and they don't want that to happen. i think, you and they don't want that to happen. ithink, you know, this and they don't want that to happen. i think, you know, this one example at the moment, there are fears there may be others. the chain of command
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have been told to report any absence immediately for the service police to investigate. i think also the british authorities have told british authorities have told british —— polish security guards and bodyguards to look out for british military trying to make their way to ukraine. the british military trying to make their way to ukraine.- british military trying to make their way to ukraine. the us are sa inc their way to ukraine. the us are saying they _ their way to ukraine. the us are saying they don't _ their way to ukraine. the us are saying they don't want _ their way to ukraine. the us are saying they don't want their i their way to ukraine. the us are i saying they don't want their airbase use. is there a way of pollen doing that on their own unilaterally without using the airbase suggested. i think the original idea was that poland would send somehow to ukraine those make fighterjets in the us would provide f—16jets as those make fighterjets in the us would provide f—16 jets as a replacement. but what has happened essentially is that poland is saying we are not going to do this on our own. we are going to send them to a us base in germany, so groping and other nato allies, and that is the problem that the us has highlighted. this essentially involves other nato
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members and they all have to agree on this and they have not.— members and they all have to agree on this and they have not. thank you ve much on this and they have not. thank you very much for— on this and they have not. thank you very much for being _ on this and they have not. thank you very much for being with _ on this and they have not. thank you very much for being with us. - on this and they have not. thank you very much for being with us. to i on this and they have not. thank you very much for being with us. to stay| very much for being with us. to stay with us for our continuing coverage on bbc news. hello again. the weather over the next few days is turning milder, notjust by night but also by day. what's happening today is we've got a weather front in the west. now, that's producing some heavy and persistent rain. it's a windy day as well, with gales, even severe gales, across the outer hebrides, but they will slowly ease through the day. you can see the wind direction is coming from the south, so milder air is coming our way, but we've got a cold undercurrent coming in later on to the west. so this morning's cloud continues to break up, more of us seeing some sunny spells. the persistent rain continuing. the winds easing through the day across scotland and also northern ireland. but these black circles representing the strength of the wind gusts tells you that it's still going to be a blustery day, really,
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wherever you are. temperatures eight in the north to 12 or 13 in the south. average temperatures at this time of year are roughly eight in the north to about ten in the south. now, through this evening and overnight, here's our weather front, and as that cold air cuts in, we'll see some snow on the hills of scotland, there will be a lot of cloud around, still some spots of rain although our weather front is weakening, and there will be some fog forming across north—west scotland and western parts of northern ireland. cooler in the north—west compared to further south and east. so, tomorrow we've got the remnants of our weather front windows, producing all of this cloud. again, some spots of rain. there will also be showers coming up from the channel islands, getting into dorset and hampshire in the midlands, then later in the day into northern england. we'll see breaks in the cloud and some sunshine, and where we've got the breaks for the longest is where we could have temperatures up to 15 degrees. but generally our range is about eight to 12. into friday, a weatherfront coming into the west overnight on thursday — will continue to push northwards
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and eastwards through the day. there will be some heavy rain in that. and then behind it, a return to showers, some of which will be heavy with hail and also some thunder and lightning. temperatures 8—13 celsius. then as we move from friday into the weekend, you can see the front�*s crossing us, this area of low pressure coming in our direction as well, and that means that we will see some rain and also some showers at times through saturday and sunday. the other thing is, on sunday especially, it will be that bit windier but it will still be relatively mild.
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this is bbc news. the headlines. the ukraine deputy prime mininster says a twelve—hour ceasefire has been agreed in six of the areas worst affected by fighting, to allow civilians to escape. it was so terrible and my parents... i left my parents in sumy. i hope i will see them another time. but, in the last few hours, air raid sirens have been sounding in and around kyiv, with unconfirmed reports of explosions. the ukrainian government warns radioactive substances could be released from the former nuclear power plant at chernobyl after its electricity supply was cut. the country's energy minister said he us unclear on exactly what was happening at the site.
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live now to the house of commons where borisjohnson is on his feet for prime minister's questions. we will be doing even more in the coming days to protect the people of ukraine. my right honourable friend the defence secretary will be setting out more details for the house later on. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition to duties with the house i will have further such meetings later today. mr; with the house i will have further such meetings later today. my son ben died from _ such meetings later today. my son ben died from a _ such meetings later today. my son ben died from a aortic— such meetings later today. my son ben died from a aortic dissection l such meetings later today. my son| ben died from a aortic dissection at age 44 leaving a wife and two young children, a condition that kills people every year needlessly. more than die on the race. most people do not know anything about this condition until it devastates a
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family like mine. so many of these cases are preventable. by identifying those at risk and early and accurate diagnosis. with the prime minister commend the work of the aortic dissection charitable trust in working with all aspects of the patient pathway about this condition, and in particular, will he commit to public funding for research into the diagnosis of aortic dissection and enter genetic screening for it. mar; aortic dissection and enter genetic screening for it.— aortic dissection and enter genetic screening for it. may i say how very sor i screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am — screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am as _ screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am as i _ screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am as i am _ screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am as i am sure _ screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am as i am sure the - screening for it. may i say how very sorry i am as i am sure the whole l sorry i am as i am sure the whole houseis sorry i am as i am sure the whole house is for the loss of her son ben. she is a passionate advocate for this work and i thank the aortic dissection charitable trust. she is obviously completely right that accurate, fast diagnosis and treatment is crucial. and that is why i am very pleased that the national institute for health and research is looking to do further work in this area and my right honourable friend the secretary of state for health will meet her at his earliest convenience.-
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state for health will meet her at his earliest convenience. thank you, mr speaker- — his earliest convenience. thank you, mr speaker. the _ his earliest convenience. thank you, mr speaker. the typical _ his earliest convenience. thank you, mr speaker. the typical energy i his earliest convenience. thank you, mr speaker. the typical energy bill i mr speaker. the typical energy bill is going up by £700 next month. and thatis is going up by £700 next month. and that is because of pressures before russia invaded ukraine. the chancellor's solution, a £200 loan for every household paid back in mandatory instalments over five years. the big gamble behind that policy was that energy costs would drop quickly after a short spike. that bets now looks certain to fail. when will the prime minister forced the chancellor into a u—turn? ihe. the chancellor into a u-turn? the. m ri ht the chancellor into a u-turn? the. my right honourable _ the chancellor into a u—turn? the. my right honourable friend the chance i set out plans to help families with energy costs, with unprecedented measures to abate council tax by £150 in addition to all the other schemes we are putting forward. and i can tell the house
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that, yes, he is absolutely right that, yes, he is absolutely right that we need to meet the long—term impacts of the spike in energy prices and that is why i will be setting out on energy independence plan for this country in the course of the next few days to ensure that we undo some of the damage of previous decisions taken not least by the labour government to invest in, not to. not to invest in nuclear, mr speaker. and so that we prepare our people for the long term at a sustainable cost efficient energy supply. mr at a sustainable cost efficient energy supply-— at a sustainable cost efficient ener: su--l. ~ energy supply. mr speaker, i don't think the prime _ energy supply. mr speaker, i don't think the prime minister _ energy supply. mr speaker, i don't i think the prime minister understands the mess he is a full—time working families are facing a £700 bike in april. they won't even receive their £200 loan from the chancellor until october. the wholesale price of oil and gas is now ballooning. so, by
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october, when the loan finally comes in, household bills are set to shoot up in, household bills are set to shoot up by another thousand pounds. it is a total mess. so i asked again, when is the prime minister going to force the chancellor to u—turn? if it is the prime minister going to force the chancellor to u-turn?_ the chancellor to u-turn? if it is askin: the chancellor to u-turn? if it is asking for _ the chancellor to u-turn? if it is asking for the _ the chancellor to u-turn? if it is asking for the chance _ the chancellor to u-turn? if it is asking for the chance to - the chancellor to u-turn? if it is asking for the chance to u-turnl the chancellor to u-turn? if it is i asking for the chance to u-turn the asking for the chance to u—turn the support that we are giving to families and households i think. i think he is absolutely out of his mind! we are going to continue to give people support throughout this difficult period as we did throughout the coronavirus epidemic, mr speaker. with unprecedented levels of support. we have a £200 discount on bills. £250 nonrepayable reduction in council tax in £144 million extra to help council support vulnerable families with their energy bills. altogether, mr speaker, there is a £20 billion
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package of financial help that we are giving the british people and we will continue to do more. i think a u—turn is the last thing we want. we u-turn is the last thing we want. we will see u—turn is the last thing we want. - will see how long that position lasts. let me try and. let me try and help the prime minister. let me try and help the prime minister by coming at it from a different angle. before russia invaded ukraine, north sea oil and gas companies were making bumper profits. bp made £9.5 billion. shell made £14 billion. in their own words, more money than they know what to do with. since, then, the international price of oil and gas has skyrocketed and so will their profits. one with the premise admit he has got this badly wrong? put a windfall tax on their super profits and use the money to cut household energy bills. mr speaker, the net result _ household energy bills. mr speaker, the net result of—
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household energy bills. mr speaker, the net result of that _ household energy bills. mr speaker, the net result of that was _ household energy bills. mr speaker, the net result of that was to - household energy bills. mr speaker, the net result of that was to be i the net result of that was to be deceived oil companies put their prices up yet higher. and what we are. and, mr speaker, make it more difficult for them to do what we need them to do which i think, by the way, mr speaker, they are doing very responsibly at the moment, divesting from dependence on russian oil and gas and that is the way forward for this country. it is to take a sober, responsible to end our dependence on hydrocarbons altogether and particularly russian hydrocarbons. we are taking steps to rectify some of the steps made by the labour government and have a long—term sustainable energy supply policy. that is what this country needs. ., . , , ., , needs. protecting energy profits, not working _ needs. protecting energy profits, not working people. _ needs. protecting energy profits, not working people. does - needs. protecting energy profits, not working people. does that i needs. protecting energy profits, | not working people. does that not say it all? britain can't afford
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another crisis like this. we need to improve our long—term energy security. that starts with supporting renewables but the conservatives have effectively banned new onshore wind. as a direct result of their short—sighted approach, we are using more gas every year than we import from russia. that is ludicrous. so, will the prime minister relax planning laws, and the block and onshore wind and stop supporting policies that make us so dependent on foreign gas. it is thanks to the policy is that this government has pursued that we actually own they are dependent on russian gas for 3% of our gas needs.
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unlike virtually every other european country, mr speaker. it is thanks to the massive investment that we have had in renewables, mr speaker, that, as i've said many times in this house, the saudi arabia of wind power produces more offshore wind than any other country in the world. and i think you just, by the way, i think it is committed to supporting, this may be news to some of but he just committed to supporting more nuclear power. great news. there is morejoy in heaven, mr speaker, there is morejoy in heaven over one sinner repented, mr speaker than over 100. and those with the people, mr speaker, who cancelled our nuclear efforts at the time they were in power. they did completely the wrong thing. i'm delighted to welcome them now into the fold. ., q delighted to welcome them now into the fold. ., .g ., ,., delighted to welcome them now into the fold. ., .g ., , the fold. come off it! labour is pro-nuclear- — the fold. come off it! labour is pro-nuclear. this _ the fold. come off it! labour is pro-nuclear. this prime i the fold. come off it! labour is l pro-nuclear. this prime minister pro—nuclear. this prime minister cannot get a single brick laid of a new nuclear plant. energy security
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is notjust about new nuclear plant. energy security is not just about supply. new nuclear plant. energy security is notjust about supply. it is also about reducing demand. our housing stock is the least efficient in europe. that is why labour set out a plan to upgrade and 90 million british homes that desperately needed. within a decade. saving families £400 on their energy bill and cutting uk gas imports by 15%. whereas all the government have as a failed policy, taking all their announcements together, it will take 75 years to deliver the upgrades that we need. that is a lifetime when we need urgent action. it is the prime minister going to get on with it? mr the prime minister going to get on with it? ~ ,,, ., ~ , with it? mr speaker, i 'ust remind the house that i with it? mr speaker, i 'ust remind the house that underi with it? mr speaker, ijust remind the house that under the - with it? mr speaker, ijust remind the house that under the labour. the house that under the labour government, our nuclear output fell from 25% to about 10% of our energy needs. it was because of the
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decisions that are fated. we are now going to rectify it, mr speaker, and we are helping households. yet about the cost of energy bills. we are helping to the tune of £9.1 billion. now, why can this government afford to do that? why can we afford to put huge carp quantities of taxpayer money into supporting household energy cost? will tell you why. because you've got the fastest growth in the g7 and don't forget that if we had listened to captain hindsight we would have stayed in lockdown and we would never have achieved it, mr speaker. 12 lockdown and we would never have achieved it, mr speaker.— lockdown and we would never have achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in ower and achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in power and that _ achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in power and that is _ achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in power and that is the _ achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in power and that is the best - achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in power and that is the best he i achieved it, mr speaker. 12 years in power and that is the best he can i power and that is the best he can do? the ukrainian people, the ukrainian people. mr speaker, the ukrainian people. mr speaker, the ukrainian people. mr speaker, the ukrainian people are fighting for democracy. we must stand with them. that means taking the toughest possible measures against putin. and let's be honest. there will be cast here at home. it can withstand those
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costs and we must by using a windfall tax to keep bills down for working people. by starting a new area of energy policy. never again at the mercy of a dictator. supporting new nuclear after years of neglect. sprinting on renewables and onshore wind. and years of dither and delay. so why is the prime minister offering the same failed energy policy that casters into the security crisis and allowed bills to rocket? mr into the security crisis and allowed bills to rocket?— into the security crisis and allowed bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are. i bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are- i wanted — bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are. i wanted to _ bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are. i wanted to hear— bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are. i wanted to hear the _ bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are. i wanted to hear the answer- bills to rocket? mr speaker, what we are. i wanted to hear the answer but| are. i wanted to hear the answer but standin: are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up — are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up is _ are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up is not _ are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up is not going _ are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up is not going to - are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up is not going to catch i are. i wanted to hear the answer but standing up is not going to catch my| standing up is not going to catch my eye. standing up is not going to catch my eye in— standing up is not going to catch my eye in fact, — standing up is not going to catch my eye. in fact, it has the opposite effect — eye. in fact, it has the opposite effect. prime minister.- eye. in fact, it has the opposite effect. prime minister. what we are 'uminu as effect. prime minister. what we are jumping as the _ effect. prime minister. what we are jumping as the failed _ effect. prime minister. what we are jumping as the failed energy - jumping as the failed energy policies that left us without enough nuclear power. and what we are going
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to do is go forward with policies that allow this country to be independent in our energy supply and maximising renewables, mr speaker, like making sure that we use transitional hydrocarbons and going for nuclear as well. i am overjoyed that labour now seems to occupy position but what we will also do, mr speaker, and i. year, he has been supportive. as a house of commons we work together to maintain our opposition to vladimir putin's vile war in the ukraine. and together with the toughest possible economic sanctions by maintaining our military support for the people of ukraine i have no doubt that although there will be dark days ahead and difficult times, mr speaker, we will come through it stronger and i have no doubt that vladimir putin will fail and we will succeed in restoring a sovereign and independent ukraine.— succeed in restoring a sovereign and independent ukraine. thank you, mr seaker. independent ukraine. thank you, mr speaker. private _ independent ukraine. thank you, mr speaker. private two _
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independent ukraine. thank you, mr speaker. private two decades - independent ukraine. thank you, mr speaker. private two decades tens i speaker. private two decades tens what have been trying to build a reservoir in my constituency that would be over 30 metres high and cover the equivalent of over 2500 football pitches. there is been a shadow over the local community who don't think they've proven the need for this proposal. does my right honourable friend agree that if a company seeks to do something like this it has to show why it is needed, why it is better than the alternatives, and what the environmental impact will be. they cannot behave as though it is inevitable whether the local community want it or not. i inevitable whether the local community want it or not. i think my honourable — community want it or not. i think my honourable friend. _ community want it or not. i think my honourable friend. he _ community want it or not. i think my honourable friend. he is _ community want it or not. i think my honourable friend. he is a _ community want it or not. i think my honourable friend. he is a fantastic i honourable friend. he is a fantastic champion for his constituents. as i understand it, the decision on the reservoir is not actually been made we would expect thames water to consult further on the proposal and i know that they will have heard the points that my honourable friend has rightly made. points that my honourable friend has rightly made-— points that my honourable friend has riahtl made. ., ~ rightly made. thank you, mr speaker. there are now — rightly made. thank you, mr speaker. there are now 14 _ rightly made. thank you, mr speaker. there are now 14 days _
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rightly made. thank you, mr speaker. there are now 14 days into _ rightly made. thank you, mr speaker. there are now 14 days into 's - rightly made. thank you, mr speaker. there are now 14 days into 's war- there are now 14 days into 's war and in that time, i have tried to work constructively with the uk government and they will continue to continue to seek to do this. however, nobody should support this government when it comes to the response to the refugee crisis. 760 visa approvals in two weeks is disgraceful. in that time, poland has taken over 1.2 million refugees. hungary has taken over 190,000 refugees. germany has taken over
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50,000 refugees. italy over 7000 refugees lit up ireland, country of just over 5 million people has given sanctuary to three times as many refugees as the united kingdom. these numbers don't lie. they tell a devastating truth. does the prime ministerfind it devastating truth. does the prime minister find it acceptable that his home secretary overseen one of the slowest, most bureaucratic and incompetent refugee responses in the whole of europe? i incompetent refugee responses in the whole of europe?— whole of europe? i think everybody sympathises _ whole of europe? i think everybody sympathises with _ whole of europe? i think everybody sympathises with the _ whole of europe? i think everybody sympathises with the plight - whole of europe? i think everybody sympathises with the plight of i sympathises with the plight of refugees and this government wants to do everything we can to welcome them and that is indeed what we are doing. the numbers are almost 1000, as i speak to him today. and they will rise very sharply, mr speaker, they are uncapped. we expect those numbers to rise to the region of the hundreds of thousands as vladimir putin doubles down in his taxi will go further, mr speaker. and there will be routes by which the whole country can offer a welcome to people from ukraine, vulnerable people from ukraine, vulnerable people fleeing from ukraine. in my right honourable friend the secretary of state for levelling up will be setting out that route in the course of the next few days. this government has a proud, proud record. we have done more to
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resettle vulnerable people than any other european country since 2015. i don't think the prime minister understands the scale of the challenge or the urgency. these are people fleeing war crimes. torn apart from their families as their homes are shelled and the home secretary is blocking them with endless paperwork. this is notjust incompetence. this is ideology. in the face of the biggest refugee crisis in europe since the second world war, the uk government won't set aside the hostile environment
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and, by the way, we are seeing the hostile environment this afternoon. they might want to quiet down a bit. we've seen this too many times from a tory home office. the windrush scandal. bill. the uk home office is raising barriers and bureaucracy when we should be offering care and compassion. prime minister, do not let the history of failure repeat itself. scotland stands ready to offer sanctuary and refuge so, will the prime ministerjoined with the rest of the european continent and waive the visa restrictions for refugees fleeing war in ukraine? this country has an unparalleled record. just since i have been prime minister look at the number to be taken from afghanistan, from hong kong, mr speaker. he lectures the home secretary. this is a government unlike any other. the deputy prime minister, the home secretary are directly descended from refugees. and we understand how much refugees have to give to this country and we understand how much this country has to gain from welcoming refugees and we will be generous and we are being generous, mr speaker. and we are making sure that in those neighbouring countries, the uk is out in front given the humanitarian
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assistance and we are in every capital, mr speaker. this country is leading in every respect but we are also the single biggest donor of humanitarian aid to the uk in —— make ukraine warzone, humanitarian aid to the uk in —— make ukraine war zone, and humanitarian aid to the uk in —— make ukraine warzone, and he humanitarian aid to the uk in —— make ukraine war zone, and he should be proud. i make ukraine war zone, and he should be roud. .., be proud. i commend the prime minister's _ be proud. i commend the prime minister's response _ be proud. i commend the prime minister's response to - be proud. i commend the prime minister's response to this i minister's response to this ukrainian crisis by people across the country are genuinely concerned on a response on refugees. in the bureaucracy, and the tone of our response. you are shown with vaccines that government change really comes from the very can urge him to look again at resetting our policy and taking control of a more humane approach to those women and men fleeing from the ukraine. i thank you very much and i thank him for the work he does in this area but i hope you will have had what i
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have just said in but i hope you will have had what i havejust said in my but i hope you will have had what i have just said in my earlier a nswer to answer to the leader of the snp which is that this government, unlike any other in our understanding of what refugees can give and the benefits to this country and we want, and we have done more than any other to resettle vulnerable people since 2015. i think that there is a huge opportunity now for us to do even now and my right honourable friend the secretary of state for levelling up the secretary of state for levelling up will be setting out a route by which the british people, notjust a family reunion route which can run into the hundreds of thousands but also a route by which in this country can offer a home to people fleeing ukraine and my right honourable friend will be setting that out in the course of the next few days. the minister will be acutely aware of the pressures
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facing households across the united kingdom including in northern ireland with the rapid increase in the cost of heating homes and running a motor vehicle. heating a home has increased, more than doubled for many households in northern ireland in recent weeks. will the prime minister commit to bring forward a package of measures designed to help households including a cut in vat, and home heating, fuel, reducing or cutting excise duty on fuel for motorists and will he ensure that those measures apply to northern ireland where the northern ireland protocol once again presents a problem in this government taking control over the affairs of all of the united kingdom. with a decision that the treasury take apply to the whole of the united kingdom? we treasury take apply to the whole of the united kingdom?— treasury take apply to the whole of the united kingdom? we will make sure that we _ the united kingdom? we will make sure that we do _ the united kingdom? we will make sure that we do everything - the united kingdom? we will make sure that we do everything to i sure that we do everything to support the people of the whole of the united kingdom including northern ireland and we have already extended a further 250 million to help the people of northern ireland with the costs of heating. excises on fuel have been frozen for the last 12 years and we will ensure
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that the people of northern ireland continue to be protected along with everybody in the uk from the cost of living crisis. how should be in no doubt that the pressures on energy will continue. we need a pan uk solution and that is what we are going to be setting out. the world has changed- _ going to be setting out. the world has changed. energy _ going to be setting out. the world has changed. energy security i going to be setting out. the world has changed. energy security is i has changed. energy security is vital but so too is food security. our food and vital but so too is food security. ourfood and drink vital but so too is food security. our food and drink manufacturers and those in the food chain prove their work during the pandemic. given the importance to our country of the sector and the need to ensure its competitiveness, its resilience and a high degree of self—sufficiency, with the payments and now take the opportunity to review many of the proposed bigotry by dozens such as the promotional and marketing restrictions that could adversely affect this important sector at this quotable time? is affect this important sector at this quotable time?—
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quotable time? is absolutely right that food security _ quotable time? is absolutely right that food security is _ quotable time? is absolutely right that food security is a _ quotable time? is absolutely right that food security is a crucial i that food security is a crucial issue and it is affected, of course, by the cost of energy. in the energy inputs into agriculture certainly something that we need to address. there is also a separate issue to do with childhood obesity. the house passed measures already in the autumn, the ones to which he refers. we are giving the industry more time to adjust to the impact of those measures. prime minister, in addition to the increase in fuel prices, our constituents are reporting to us that the energy companies are doubling standing charges. in france, energy supply company edf has had energy price rises to domestic customers cut at 4% but this government's price plan allows them to into the juice pay
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increases to uk customers by 54%. we increases to uk customers by 5496. we have an increases to uk customers by 54%. we have an overall cap and obviously, edf is incorporated differently in the uk from its incorporation in france but we will do everything we can to abate the costs of energy across the country, as we already are, mr speaker. but what it needs is a short—term and long—term energy strategy so that we have sustainable supplies. strategy so that we have sustainable su lies. strategy so that we have sustainable su -lies. ., ., strategy so that we have sustainable su lies. ., .,, . supplies. soon after i was elected i found out that _ supplies. soon after i was elected i found out that an _ supplies. soon after i was elected i found out that an eight _ supplies. soon after i was elected i found out that an eight bed - found out that an eight bed community hospital in my constituency was replaced by a zero bed unit, something councillors had known about and said nothing about during the election campaign. working with my local nhs trust, new 16 bed unit is now in the final stages of planning and as part of this government's building plan. can
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the prime minister confirm it is full steam ahead and will he kick—off the building works to plan goes ahead by the end of next year? yes, mr speaker. iam goes ahead by the end of next year? yes, mr speaker. i am delighted there will be a new hospital and i congratulate him on the work is done to lobby for it. it proves that this government is getting on with the job. i government is getting on with the 'ob. . , government is getting on with the 'ob. ., , , ., ., , job. i have 'ust been to a very harrowing — job. i have just been to a very harrowing meeting _ job. i have just been to a very harrowing meeting with i job. i have just been to a very i harrowing meeting with families affected. they have members of families in care homes and hospitals and they suffered unjustifiable denial of access to those loved ones and have been massively restricted and have been massively restricted and it continues despite the postcode environment. the prime
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minister be prepared to introduce legislation and make access to loved ones in care homes and hospitals in a legal right and not at discretion of the care home or the hospital concerned. i of the care home or the hospital concerned-— of the care home or the hospital concerned. . ~' , ., , . of the care home or the hospital concerned. ., ~ , ., , . ., concerned. i thank you very much and i think everybody _ concerned. i thank you very much and i think everybody understands - concerned. i thank you very much and i think everybody understands the - i think everybody understands the anguish of people who have not been able to see their loved ones during the pandemic. we have relaxed the restrictions in care homes as he knows. i would be very happy to offer meeting for him and the relevant health ministers to discuss his further concerns. find relevant health ministers to discuss his further concerns.— his further concerns. and the government _ his further concerns. and the government has _ his further concerns. and the government has stopped - his further concerns. and the . government has stopped issuing golden visa so they cannot be exploited by oligarchs and crime lords but some could already be here living in luxury london penthouse flats they bought with the dirty cash so what the prime minister pledged that anybody, will he pledge that anybody who is put on the sanctions list in the coming days and is already in the uk on a golden visa will have it ripped up so they can be thrown out?—
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visa will have it ripped up so they can be thrown out? yes, mr speaker. i can tell him — can be thrown out? yes, mr speaker. i can tell him and _ can be thrown out? yes, mr speaker. i can tell him and i _ can be thrown out? yes, mr speaker. i can tell him and i thank _ can be thrown out? yes, mr speaker. i can tell him and i thank the - can be thrown out? yes, mr speaker. i can tell him and i thank the house i i can tell him and i thank the house with what he's done to accelerate economic crime measures because we will be able to put aside the veil of anonymity and the ownership of these luxurious dwellings to which he refers will be exposed and yes, we will be able to take away their ability to remain in this country. as energy cost spiral i want to raise the issue for people who use extra electricity to charge electric wheelchairs are to run ventilators or a stairlift. it is not right that with disability or a serious medical condition should face unmanageable debt or go without food to pay the costs of electricity on which they absolutely rely. the need of your cut to their bills right now so wise and the prime minister looking at
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drawing on the profits of the north sea oil and gas companies to help the most vulnerable families with those costs. i the most vulnerable families with those costs— the most vulnerable families with those costs. ., ~ , ., , . those costs. i thank you very much. she faces a — those costs. i thank you very much. she faces a very _ those costs. i thank you very much. she faces a very important - those costs. i thank you very much. she faces a very important issue . those costs. i thank you very much. | she faces a very important issue and clearly the spike in energy prices is going to full most heavily on vulnerable people such as the ones that she is mentioned and we certainly be looking at ways to abate their costs. i do certainly be looking at ways to abate their costs.— certainly be looking at ways to abate their costs. i do know what i have done — abate their costs. i do know what i have done to _ abate their costs. i do know what i have done to deserve _ abate their costs. i do know what i have done to deserve that. - abate their costs. i do know what i i have done to deserve that. residents in a village in my constituency are currently facing the prospect of a quarry being given planning permission with 144 lorries per day in this congested area with one—vote access. will my right honourable friend agreed to meet with me to discuss how we can tighten regulations and where quarries can be built and take into account the health implication, environment and local communities? he health implication, environment and local communities?— local communities? he is a great chamion local communities? he is a great
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champion for— local communities? he is a great champion for eastleigh _ local communities? he is a great champion for eastleigh and - local communities? he is a great champion for eastleigh and the l champion for eastleigh and the planning framework is robust and should ensure that quarries do not have an adverse impact on the environment or on health but i will make sure he gets a meeting with the relevant minister to discuss his concerns further. mr relevant minister to discuss his concerns further.— relevant minister to discuss his concerns further. mr speaker, we have seen. _ concerns further. mr speaker, we have seen. in _ concerns further. mr speaker, we have seen, in recent _ concerns further. mr speaker, we have seen, in recent weeks, - concerns further. mr speaker, we have seen, in recent weeks, have serious and dangerous russia's about influence in britain can be. we have seen that putin actively seeks to influence the culture, media and politics of democratic nations. our national security is of the greatest importance and betting cannot become home to those that prop up putin and his wife. with that in mind, has the prime minister ever overruled security service advice when appointing appear to the other place? appointing appear to the other lace? ., ~ .«r appointing appear to the other lace? ., ' .w' �* place? no, mr speaker. and, actually. _ place? no, mr speaker. and, actually. the _ place? no, mr speaker. and, actually, the kremlin - place? no, mr speaker. and, actually, the kremlin has- place? no, mr speaker. and, . actually, the kremlin has singled out the uk for being in the lead on
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global sanctions and, and, and leading the world in defiance of the odious war that putin is leading in ukraine. in yesterday president zelensky grew true on the words of churchill in the chamber. as we salute the courage of the people in ukraine it reminds me that we can meet the freedom today, but only because of those in the second world war who defended us from annihilation. among them is my friend, flight lieutenant colin bell who flew his plane in 50 missions in nazi germany. he is with us today. on saturday, he celebrated his hundred and first birthday. will the prime ministerjoined me in
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wishing him a very happy birthday and thank him for what he did and allowing us to be here today? i think the whole house will want to join me in thanking him and wishing colin bell and very happy ioist birthday. colin bell and very happy 101st birthda . ., ~ ~ colin bell and very happy 101st birthda. ., ~ birthday. thank you, mr speaker. peo - le birthday. thank you, mr speaker. people across _ birthday. thank you, mr speaker. people across these _ birthday. thank you, mr speaker. people across these islands - birthday. thank you, mr speaker. people across these islands have| people across these islands have displayed remarkable generosity, including in the isle of bute where we have been overwhelmed by offers of goods and homes and shelter. allowing women and children to come here lags far behind the desire of people here to provide them with a roof and a bed. does not the prime minister feared that when this war is concluded, and despite whatever else it may have done, that his government will stand accused of lacking the one thing the ukrainian
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people needed most, decent human human humanity? i people needed most, decent human human humanity?— people needed most, decent human human humanity? i really don't think that question — human humanity? i really don't think that question reflects _ human humanity? i really don't think that question reflects the _ human humanity? i really don't think that question reflects the views - human humanity? i really don't think that question reflects the views of i that question reflects the views of people around the world, nor does it reflect reality, because this government has done more than any other european country to support people in, by way of direct bilateral humanitarian aid, mr speaker, and we have two very generous schemes for allowing people to come to this country. this is a government that believes in welcoming people fleeing from zones of conflict, and mr speaker, if he shakes his head, look at our record. look at what we've done just in the last two years. he should be proud of what we've done.— last two years. he should be proud of what we've done. thank you, mr seaker. of what we've done. thank you, mr speaker- we _ of what we've done. thank you, mr speaker. we are _ of what we've done. thank you, mr speaker. we are pleased _ of what we've done. thank you, mr speaker. we are pleased to - of what we've done. thank you, mr l speaker. we are pleased to welcome by the prime minister and the secretary of state from blackpool the day after the launch of his white paper. when you meet with me
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to discuss how blackpool is notjust a taste for innovation for levelling up but can show the impact it can have on the community that i represent? i have on the community that i represent?— have on the community that i represent? i thank him for his wonderful— represent? i thank him for his wonderful work— represent? i thank him for his wonderful work in _ represent? i thank him for his wonderful work in blackpool. represent? i thank him for his. wonderful work in blackpool for represent? i thank him for his - wonderful work in blackpool for the communities he represents, and it was fantastic to be with him and to see the increase in the extension and upgrading of the tram network in blackpool that will help to drive the economy and help to bring high wage, high skilljobs injust the economy and help to bring high wage, high skilljobs in just the way we hope to do that across the whole of the uk as we get on with levelling up. in whole of the uk as we get on with levelling lip-— whole of the uk as we get on with levelling up. in the months before world war u, _ levelling up. in the months before world war ii, the _ levelling up. in the months before world war u, the uk _ levelling up. in the months before world war ii, the uk talking - levelling up. in the months before world war ii, the uk talking over| world war ii, the uk talking over 60,000 jewish refugees fleeing nazi persecution. over half a century ago, we took him over 70,000 ugandans expelled by eddie amin. since then, bosnians escaping jennison to side and syrians
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escaping assad. but this week, the home office turned away hundreds of ukrainian refugees escaping prudence bums because they did not have the right paperwork. —— putin's bums. does he not see that this flies in the face of providing sanctuary, and since the home office it clearly isn't up to the task, will the prime minister sending armed forces personnel to speed up the process so that ukrainian refugees can come here quickly and safely? mr speaker, i thank him very _ here quickly and safely? mr speaker, i thank him very much, _ here quickly and safely? mr speaker, i thank him very much, and _ here quickly and safely? mr speaker, i thank him very much, and the - here quickly and safely? mr speaker, | i thank him very much, and the whole house wants to do as much as we can end as fast as possible, but what he says about the uk as i'm afraid completely wrong. because we have these centres open in warsaw, budapest and prague, these centres open in warsaw, budapestand prague, in these centres open in warsaw, budapest and prague, in moldova and bucharest and elsewhere. we have
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already got 1000 people in under the existing system. that number will climb very sharply. look at what we have done already. 15,000 from afghanistan, another 4000 application from hong kong, chinese, and i think there are about 25,000 from syria. no one has been turned away, mr speaker. we want to be as generous... mr speaker, it is important to have checks. let me make this point to the house. i think there has the do understand, there are some people who would like to dispense with cheques altogether and simply to waive people through. i've got to say, and they hear the voices on the benches opposite, i do think that that is irresponsible, and that is not the approach we should be taking. but countries have different arrangements. we should
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have no doubt, the kremlin has singled out this country for the approach we're taking. it would not be right to expose this country to unnecessary security risk and we will not do it, mr speaker. we are going to be generous as we possibly can be, but we must have cheques. mr; can be, but we must have cheques. m community can be, but we must have cheques. ij�*i�*i1: community in can be, but we must have cheques. ii1: community in tipton came together can be, but we must have cheques. i’i1' community in tipton came together in sunday to celebrate —— to commemorate the 100 years of the girls murdered by the owner of that factory. we acknowledge the proud but also the pain of our industrial heritage. can i ask my right honourable friend to reaffirm his commitment to the black country to ensure we honour the legacy of those girls in that factory 100 years ago. the one where he can do that for my community in tipton is to come to tipton and see that beating heart of the black country who will welcome
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him with open arms. mr the black country who will welcome him with open arms.— the black country who will welcome him with open arms. mr speaker, long ao, when him with open arms. mr speaker, long ago. when i — him with open arms. mr speaker, long ago. when i was _ him with open arms. mr speaker, long ago. when i was a _ him with open arms. mr speaker, long ago, when i was a reporter, _ him with open arms. mr speaker, long ago, when i was a reporter, tipton - ago, when i was a reporter, tipton was on my beat many years ago, and wild horses would not keep me away from tipton. i'll be there.— from tipton. i'll be there. thank ou, mr from tipton. i'll be there. thank you, mr speaker. _ from tipton. i'll be there. thank you, mr speaker. prime - from tipton. i'll be there. thank. you, mr speaker. prime minister, from tipton. i'll be there. thank i you, mr speaker. prime minister, i have a constituent who is elderly parents are seeking refuge in the united kingdom from ukraine. her parents are both in their 80s. they have made it to hungary. they went to the visa application centre as instructed by the home office and were told come back on the 22nd of march. then, and only then, will their biometrics be processed. that is the harsh reality. no spin, no subs diffusion. when will refugees from ukraine be welcome into the united kingdom? i
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from ukraine be welcome into the united kingdom?— from ukraine be welcome into the united kingdom? i thank him. if he would be kind _ united kingdom? i thank him. if he would be kind enough, _ united kingdom? i thank him. if he would be kind enough, i— united kingdom? i thank him. if he would be kind enough, i would - united kingdom? i thank him. if he would be kind enough, i would be l would be kind enough, i would be grateful if he would pass me the details of the case he mentions and i would be happy to give it to my right honourable friend. we are moving heaven and earth, mr speaker, because we understand the value to this country of refugees. we also understand the imperative of helping people fleeing a war zone in terror. that is why the people of this country want to open their arms, and we are going to help them to do it, mr speaker, with a new humanitarian route in addition to the new route we have already set up, the family reunion route. that alone could bring hundreds of thousands of people here. i think the whole house understands that. we will do even more through the new humanitarian route. in britain does that response
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to refugees fleeing the conflict in ukraine featuring heavily there. ian blackford, the snp leader in the house of commons, calls on the slowest, most bureaucratic and slowest, most bureaucratic and slowest in the whole of europe. he said it was about ideology as well. you had from one of their senior backbenchers asking the prime minister to look at the tone of britons response and for a more briton's response and for a more humane response. we are going to hear now from the defence secretary ben wallace making a statement on ukraine. ., ., ben wallace making a statement on ukraine. ., ,, , ., ben wallace making a statement on ukraine. ., ,, i. .., ., ben wallace making a statement on ukraine. ., ,, ., ~ ukraine. thank you come and mr seaker. ukraine. thank you come and mr speaker- the _ ukraine. thank you come and mr speaker. the situation _ ukraine. thank you come and mr speaker. the situation on - ukraine. thank you come and mr speaker. the situation on the - ukraine. thank you come and mr - speaker. the situation on the ground is grey. as we can recall on the 24th of february, forces of the russian army unprovoked crust into ukraine sovereign territory along three main accesses, rich in armour has attempted to occupy ukraine. the
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plan was to reach and encircle kyiv, and the border and link from the south by the forces in mariupol. russian high command committed 65% of their entire land russian high command committed 65% of their entire [and forces and indisputably are in possession of overwhelming firepower and armour. it is estimated that the start of this invasion, they had between 110 and 120 battalion tactical groups dedicated to the task, compared to approximately 65 in ukraine. their missile stocks gave even greater strengths to reach ukraine a distance. however, what they did not possess and still do not is the moral component so often needed for victory. mr speaker, after 14 days of war, according to the ukrainian general staff, of war, according to the ukrainian generalstaff, on of war, according to the ukrainian general staff, on the 6th of march,
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russian included 109 artillery system, 15 multiple launch rocket systems, 44 aircraft, 11,000 soldiers who have lost their lives needlessly. there are numerous reports of surrenders and desertions by the ever growing disillusioned russian army. but to be clear, mr speaker, these are ukrainian figures. i have to caution the house. we have not verified them by defence intelligence or by other means. if the initial russian objectives, i have an ounce and has that it objectives, i have an ounce and has thatitis objectives, i have an ounce and has that it is our assessment they have been successful in achieving only one. russian forces are in charge of kherson and southern ukraine, the currently encircle mariupol and cocoa butter not in control of them. in addition, theirfirst
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cocoa butter not in control of them. in addition, their first objective of targa getting ukraine air defences failed. the ukrainian armed forces have put of a strong defence while mobilising the whole population. president putin's arrogant assumption that he would be welcomed as a liberator has deservedly crumbled as fast as his troops and morale. for our part, the united kingdom continues to play a leading role in supporting ukraine. on the 17th of january i matched the house the governments intention to supply military aim —— military aid to ukrainian armed forces. armour, boots, ear defenders and ration packs. forthe boots, ear defenders and ration packs. for the first time, it also included weapon systems. the initial supply was to be 2000 new like anti—tank weapons, small arms and ammunition. mr speaker, in response to further acts of aggression by russia, we have increased that supply. i can update their house that as of today, we have delivered
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3615 and will continue to deliver more. there will be a small consignment of anti—tankjavelin missiles as well. i want to ensure the house that everything we do is bound by the defensive systems and calibrated not to escalate to a strategic level. britain was the first european country to supply lethal aid and a0 is pleased that not long after a military aid donor conference that many more countries decided to do the same. from right across europe, the donations came. i like to highlight the netherlands, sweden, denmark, romania, the baltic states, belgium and slovenia for their leadership. we should not ignore the significance of the german government in joining ignore the significance of the german government injoining us on a change of stance and donating such aid. donations are not enough. the delivery of aid to the front line is just as important. here again,
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britain is needed. because a long—time cat canada, united states and sweden, we have invested in building ukrainian military capacity since 2015 and find ourselves being able to coordinate the delivery alongside our partners. as their conflict intensifies, the russians are changing their tactics, and so the ukrainians need to, too. we can all see the horrific devastation inflicted on civilian areas by russian artillery and air strikes. indiscriminate and murderous. it is vital, therefore, that ukraine maintain its ability to fly and suppress russian air attack. to date, the international community has donated over 900 men reported missiles and varying types that make the capability needs strengthening. in with response to ukrainian request, the uk has taken the decision to explore anti—air
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missiles. we believe that the system will remain within the definition of defensive weapons but will allow the ukrainian foster better defend their skies. we shall also be increasing the supplies of rations, medical equipments and other non—lethal military aid. as with any wall, the civilian population is suffering horrendous hardships. calling to the ministry of education, 211 schools have been damaged or destroyed and media footage shows russian strikes hitting kindergartens. the german administration reported that russian air force was deploying unguided bombs to targets in the city. civilians in mariupol have now been without water and power for almost a week. president zelensky talked of children dying of thirst. today, the estimated number of ukrainian civilians killed or injured now
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stands at over a thousand. the true figure is expected to be at much higher and i'm afraid worse is to come. it is for that reason uk will increase its funding to ukraine to 220 million which includes 120 million of humanitarian aid. this will make the united kingdom the single biggest unilateral humanitarian donor to ukraine. we also support humanitarian work with the polish and romanian governments on the borders. as i said, mr speaker, in my last statement, we still believe it is worth trying to build diplomatic pressure on russia. this week, my good friend the prime minister met the prime minister of canada and the netherlands and poland. he spoke to the leaders of france, germany and the united states and prime ministers to hungary, slovakia and the czech republic. in the g7, and attended nato ministers earlier this month. president putin should and can be in
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no doubt the international community is united against his actions. it remains strong and will not back down. as well as providing direct military support to ukraine, we continue to bolster our contribution towards nato's collective security. later ministers will gather next week in brussels to discuss the next steps. the uk is doing its bit in providing military support and reassurance to its allies. we are currently supplying significant air power to nato, including increasing air patrols with both typhoon and f 30000 and 80 policing. we have also deployed additionalfor 30000 and 80 policing. we have also deployed additional for typhoons to cyprus and sent an additional 800 troops to estonia. over there last week, apache helicopters were involved in exercising in estonia. the eastern mediterranean, hms
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northumberland is taking part in a deployment,. on monday, hms prince of walesjoined hms deployment,. on monday, hms prince of wales joined hms albion and exercise called response in multinational exercise of the coast of norway. we have put more than 1000 or more british troops and ready to support humanitarian responses in the body and can't trees. it is important at this time that in order to maximise our reassurance and resilience that we coordinate through nato and the supreme allied command of europe. few of us would not be moved by president zelensky�*s speech yesterday. his people are fighting for their very survival. his country is united against the aggression, and it is indeed his country present darkest hour. yesterday, i saw
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footage of a russian armoured train bristling with guns headed towards mariupol. a brave single woman from ukraine ran to that train and shouted slava ukrainian. unmoved, and intimidated by the guns, the woman's bravery should inspire us all. i know many of our speakers and colleagues are fearful of what happens next. president putin and the kremlin continue to threaten countries who offer help to ukraine. the military campaign will i'm afraid get more brutal and indiscriminate. mr speaker, it is my firm to believe that our strength to stand up to such bullying is my firm to believe that our strength to stand up to such bullying, from our alliances. as long as we stand united as a house and international community, the kremlin threat cannot hurt us. which is to take strength from people right across europe who are standing soldier tish —— shoulder to shoulder to protect our
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democracy and free press. can i think their _ democracy and free press. can i think their defence _ democracy and free press. can i think their defence secretary i democracy and free press. can i think their defence secretary and his team for the way he has kept us on all sides updated and informed. and i think in for his statement this afternoon. president zelensky spoke for his country when he told us yesterday, we will not give up, and we will not lose. his address, like his leadership, was deeply moving and deeply inspiring. ukrainians are showing massive bravery, both militant tree and citizens alike, and we must do all we can to support their assistance. so the government has labour�*s full backing for military and intelligence assistance to ukraine to defend itself. i welcome the defence secretary's statement today.
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the detail of the further weapons and equipment britain has been able to provide ukraine to defend itself. i welcome the role we are playing in coordinating help from other countries to ukraine. can i attempt to conclude the examination he is now giving to the provision of starstruck missiles as quickly as possible? these are exactly the sort of ground to air missiles needed to defend against russian air attacks. can i ask him more broadly, are the supplies to ukraine solely from uk stockpiles? is the mod purchasing also from other countries to respond to ukrainian need. have other than non—nato and non—european countries with other weaponry and air forces yet been involved? it is clear that
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president putin miscalculated on the resolve of the ukrainian military and on the strength of his own russian forces. putin planned for a short campaign without the provision of logistics for protracted fighting and occupation. so what is the mod assessment of how far the russians have now rectified this. i think he said 65%, but could he confirm what proportion of russian forces that were our new crane 's borders and off the coast have now been deployed into ukraine? this is only still week two. russia has such crushing firepower. putin has such with utter ruthlessness that we must expect more than one of his military objectives to be taken over the next few weeks. we must expect greater brutality and still further civilian casualties. our thoughts and prayers are with the residents of kyiv and
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those of the great ukrainian cities as they face encirclement and bob mark —— bombardment from russian forces. whatever the short—term, must make sure he fails in the longer run. for ukrainian resistance, tougher sanctions, more help, wider international isolation, justice for the war crimes being committed, and above all, lasting western unity. we must be ready to deal with the consequences of this invasion, mr speaker, for many years to come. it is however, clear, that putin has also miscalculated on the international resolve to isolate russia and on the strength of western and nato unity. our labour commitment to nato is unshakeable and the government again has our full support for rhian forcing nato
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nations on the alliance eastern border with russia. the labour leader and ifly border with russia. the labour leader and i fly out tonight to tallinn to reassure estonia of the united uk determination to defend their security and to thank our british forces deployed there from the royal tank regiment and the royal welsh battlement. it was labour's post—war secretary ernest bevan who, in particular its article five commitment to collective defence. today is the anniversary of his birth in 1881. let president putin be no doubt that up commitment to article five is absolute. him not mistake nato's restraint for any lack of resolve. mr speaker, nato's responsible force has been activated as the defence secretary said in
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response to this nato aggression. we welcome the dees tale of the uk contribution to that. but what is the role of the uk led joint expeditionary force? what is the role they can play? is it not time for nato to issue and initiate directive to the supreme allied commander to plan future options as part of overhauling nato necessarily for the decade ahead. could the secretary confirm what i think you said is that the 1000 uk troops put on standby before the invasion are still in britain, still on standby, and we foresee no request for the humanitarian help they would decide to respond to? mr speaker, it is not thejob of british to respond to? mr speaker, it is not the job of british forces to protect the job of british forces to protect the home secretary or bailout border force especially at this critical time of conflict. yesterday, the defence secretary said help for
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ukrainians fleeing the war had not been quick enough. shadow defence secretaryjohn healey responding to the statement by defence secretary john wallace, talking about armoury it has applied to ukraine. he talked about £220 million worth of aid from the uk to ukraine, that includes humanitarian aid, but he said he still believed it was worth trying to build diplomatic pressure on russia. continuing coverage of the situation in ukraine throughout the day here on bbc news. right now, here is the weather with helen addicts. that cloud is breaking in eastern areas, and for the next few days, even though there will be a lot of crowd ploughed around, most of the rain will be across the western side of the uk,
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these vents weakening as they come across this high—pressure further ease. with winds from the south, it should remain mild for most. breaking in the east in cambridge are here and a little sunshine here ahead of the weather front in the west of wales. but that weather front is creeping its way eastwards accompanied by some baleful swings. they are easing their scales across scotland transferring to the north and some of that rain will turn to snow across the highlands and the grampians. a windy and rather wet afternoon across parts of northern ireland and much of southern and western scotland and then creeping into their western reaches of england and wales. where the sun comes out further east, 13 or 14 celsius is mild for the time of year. overnight, that front will week significantly as you can see. still by the coast of northern ireland, but from northern ireland to the north of scotland, they are prone not only to thrust here but some patchy dense fog. for many,
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particularly for wales and england it will be a mild night once again because we have all those southerly winds that the remnants of our weather front which will still be around on thursday as well. there is day looks as though the weather front will continue to weaken. a few splashes of rain here. eastern sunshine breaking through and further west as well. a much brighter day in northern ireland. a much brighter day for western scotland and western wales as well. eastern areas is where we will see the real warmth, perhaps up to 16 celsius on thursday. we still keep those winds from the south on friday, but it they are brisker again with the approach of the next weather front. again with the approach of the next weatherfront. it looks again with the approach of the next weather front. it looks like a more active weather front again. although we will see some brightness across the east in the uk again it is starting to fade. heavy showers for wales in the south—west even some rumbles of thunder here. it looks more unsettled and looks breezy as well. as we head into the weekend,
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well. as we head into the weekend, we will see that rain clearing the way, but we do have more to come over the weekend.
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today at one, we are live in ukraine, where it's hoped a fresh ceasefire will allow more civilians to flee from besieged cities to relative safety. up to 7,000 people have left the city of sumy over the last 24 hours, and humanitarian corridors will be in place there and in four other cities where previous efforts have failed. every day is worse and worse, they are making it worse for civilians. and we need... every day can be the last for our relatives left behind. shelling and fighting is continuing in some areas but ukraine claims russia's military advance has slowed. the kremlin says the us has declared economic war on russia following bans on the imports of oil.

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