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tv   BBC News  BBC News  March 14, 2022 9:00am-10:01am GMT

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this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the russian assault on ukraine continues as a residential block is shelled in the capital, kyiv — at least two people have died. despite the attacks, both sides cite progress in peace talks. president zelensky says he wants to speak with president putin personally. negotiations resume later. 2.7 million people flee ukraine to neighbouring countries. more than 1.75 million people have crossed poland's border since the war began. in the uk, plans to house ukrainian refugees in people's homes will be announced later today. households will receive £350 a month as a "thank you". the us warns china not to assist russia with military help and aid
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in evading international sanctions. beijing rejects the accusation. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. two people have been killed when a shell hit a block of flats in the ukraine capital kyiv in the early hours. several other people were wounded in the attack. firefighters are checking for survivors after fire the broke out in the nine—storey building. daily bombardments on the capital's outskirts have reportedly killed dozens of people in what appears to be an attempt by russian forces to cut off supplies to the capital. people who managed to escape the southern city of mariupol have been talking about desperate scenes as a result of the russian siege.
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shops and pharmacies were looted as food and water ran out. a column of about 100 private cars fled the city after russia shelled an agreed evacuation corridor. millions of people are fleeing the war to the neighbouring countries. according to the polish border guard agency, more than 1.75 million people have fled ukraine to poland since the war began. on sunday, 82,100 people crossed the border. about a million have remained in poland and officials there say the country is struggling to cope. representatives of russia and ukraine are expected to resume negotiations, with the aim of curtailing more than two weeks of conflict. delegates from the warring parties have been cautiously optimistic about the talks so far. a russian delegate said draft agreements could be reached. it's not clear what areas these would cover. graham satchell has the latest. an attack this morning
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in a district of kyiv, just a mile from the very centre of ukraine's capital city. these pictures from the emergency services at the scene. it confirms the worst fears of ukrainians that what has been happening to other cities is starting to happen to kyiv itself. look at mariupol. it has been pummelled, pounded, day after day by the russians. before and after satellite photos show the systematic obliteration of residential areas. the red cross has called the situation here a waking nightmare, and is today calling for immediate, urgent humanitarian action. people are running — urgent humanitarian action. people are running out _ urgent humanitarian action. people are running out of— urgent humanitarian action. people are running out of water, _ urgent humanitarian action. people are running out of water, food, - are running out of water, food, medicine, and every day they have to scramble to find something to survive on. a solution needs to be found in order to protect civilians, in order to allow them safe passage, those who want to leave the siri, or for humanitarian supplies to come
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in. —— leave the city. the russian shelling of major cities is intensifying and spreading. this is what is left of a kindergarten in the northeastern city of kharkiv. in chernihiv, a lucky escape and a delicate removal operation as this unexploded bomb is taken away. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has been a visible presence in kyiv every day, here visiting wounded troops in hospital, handing out medals, raising morale. more than 1300 ukrainian soldiers have now been killed in this war. president zelensky gave a hint that talks with the russians may be moving forward, as he demanded a meeting with vladimir putin. translation: representatives i of our countries' delegations speak by video link every day. 0ur delegation has a clear task — to ensure a meeting of the presidents, a meeting that i am sure people are waiting for. obviously, this is difficult,
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a hard path, but this path is needed and our goal is for ukraine to get the necessary result in this struggle, in this negotiation. but this strike on a military training basejust six miles from the polish and nato border shows the russians are in no mood to negotiate or climb down. it is a significant escalation. in kyiv, a minor miracle. irina's piano survived an airstrike undamaged. she plays it for the last time as her daughter films their wrecked house. irina and herfamily have now left ukraine. theyjoin more than 2 million people who have become refugees since this war started. graham satchell, bbc news.
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let's speak to our correspondent in kyiv, james waterhouse. what is the situation in chief now? —— in kyiv now. we what is the situation in chief now? -- in kyiv "ow-— -- in kyiv now. we have heard the loudest artillery _ -- in kyiv now. we have heard the loudest artillery fire _ -- in kyiv now. we have heard the loudest artillery fire that - -- in kyiv now. we have heard the loudest artillery fire that i - -- in kyiv now. we have heard the loudest artillery fire that i have . loudest artillery fire that i have heard yet in the 19 days of this war. i don't know if you can see, you can see the trails of a ground to air anti—aircraft missile going out. there has been continuous rumblings of artillery fire and now we are hearing it a lot closer. it is probably a defensive ukrainian position firing outward but it is where we are seeing the most concentrated fighting here in the capital, in the north—western direction, it is where we have seen that residential block directly hit this morning, where at least two people are known to have died. it is where we understand the majority of russian forces are. and it is not just on the outskirts of this city.
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in the neighbouring region, moscow is being accused of targeting the supply and humanitarian roots which until now has been seen as safer and if we take another step out and look at ukraine as a whole, this is part of russia widening its operations as it tries to target locations across the western flank of ukraine, somewhere which until now had escape the fighting. find somewhere which until now had escape the fiaahtin. �* ., somewhere which until now had escape the fiuuhtin. ~ . the fighting. and what impact potentially — the fighting. and what impact potentially could _ the fighting. and what impact potentially could that - the fighting. and what impact potentially could that attack l the fighting. and what impact. potentially could that attack on the fighting. and what impact - potentially could that attack on the airbase very close to the polish border have? how important is that airbase in bringing supplies into ukraine? ~ , ., airbase in bringing supplies into ukraine? , ., _ . ukraine? well, it is more symbolic, to be honest _ ukraine? well, it is more symbolic, to be honest with _ ukraine? well, it is more symbolic, to be honest with you. _ ukraine? well, it is more symbolic, to be honest with you. if _ ukraine? well, it is more symbolic, to be honest with you. if you - ukraine? well, it is more symbolic, to be honest with you. if you look. to be honest with you. if you look at it, it is around ten miles from the polish border and it was a military base used by nato, nato instructors and international forces, including ukraine's very own army, and for russia, that symbolises ukraine's continued cooperation with the west militarily
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and in terms of cooperation. by it being targeted yesterday, 30 reported missiles landing on it, at least 35 people being killed in that very attack, through that happening, through people... it is an attack that would have been felt by people in neighbouring poland. it poses difficult questions. it brings this expanding war within the borders of ukraine to the doorstep of the european union and nato. and this was why president zelensky again is calling for a no—fly zone to be enforced over his country because his argument now is that a missile could very much land on a nato state such as poland. the uk government this morning has said a single toecap boot by russian forces inside nato would be an act of war. but the appetite from the alliance to this point has been low to get involved in this war because they say it would lead to a much greater escalation across europe. but it does mark and intensity in the
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fighting that is increasing and it is arriving very much at the doorstep of the west. james, thank ou ve doorstep of the west. james, thank you very much- _ doorstep of the west. james, thank you very much. james _ doorstep of the west. james, thank you very much. james waterhouse l doorstep of the west. james, thank l you very much. james waterhouse in you very much. james waterhouse in kyiv. the western ukraine city of lviv has so far been a relatively safe haven for many ukrainians fleeing the violence. but as we've been reporting, russian missile strikes have now hit a military base just sixty kilometres away. 0ur correspondent jonah fisher is there. we had air raid sirens for a second night here in lviv. they went off at 2:20am, and about an hour or so ago, there was another siren giving us the all—clear so people could leave their underground bomb shelters and emerge into the bright winter sun here. but yeah, there has been a sense in the last day or two that what had until now been a relatively safe part of ukraine, western ukraine, relatively unaffected
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by the conflict and a route out for people fleeing the more intensive fighting in the central, southern and eastern parts of this country, that that might be changing. we had strikes on an air strip in ivano—frankivsk yesterday. and more significantly, perhaps, this strike on this military base just near the border with poland, a very significant military strike. it was a base that the british and nato had used for training with the ukrainian army and perhaps a signal there from the russians that western ukraine is no longer going to be on the fringes of this conflict, and perhaps that they are going to now look to try and target what has been their biggest route, really, for western support in terms of weapons and supplies to come into ukraine from the european union. they sing ukraine national anthem. "ukraine's glory and freedom have not yet perished. luck will still smile
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on our fellow ukrainians." in lviv's rynok square, the first two lines of the national anthem have an added poignancy. outmanned and alone, ukraine resists russia's bloody, steady advance. under attack from land and air, more than 2 million people have fled. vera and svenislava are still very much here. vera, will you stay or will you go? translation: i will stay. we will all stay. translation: my husband and i are 78. we will keep standing until the end, on what is our land. the protective cladding on lviv's statues tells a different story, of a senseless conflict
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getting ever closer. for the first two and a half weeks of this war, this western part of ukraine has been relatively calm, a safe haven and a route out for those trying to flee the conflict. but there have been signs in the last days that that might be changing. airstrips have been hit and sunday saw this military base near the polish border attacked, with 35 people killed. it had been used by british and nato forces for training exercises. the message to the countries supplying ukraine with weapons very clear. in the south, the areas that russia has managed to take continue to show remarkable defiance. crowd chants.
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"russian soldier, fascist occupant," the crowds in kherson chanted as they marched past the tanks. there will be no quick and easy victory for the russians in ukraine. people still are going out onto the streets, doing fairly normal things. yesterday was... felt a pretty busy day here in lviv, people going to cafes and shops. but i think there is a shift taking place. we have had those air strikes. i think people, you know, obviously, the fact people are having to go down into the bomb shelters does have an impact on how people feel about how safe this is. it is notjust a route out of the country. quite a few rich people from kyiv, it has to be said, have come here to go to hotels and effectively move their homes to here. some people have moved in with families here so not everybody has chosen to leave ukraine entirely. lviv has been a place where some
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have chosen to try and come and base themselves and see what transpires. but yeah, things are changing. it has to be said that the ground forces that we have seen gather around other big ukrainian cities like kyiv and kharkiv, well, that is still quite a long way off here, but the fact that there are targets here being hit from the air, and it seems like we may now be going to see those air raid sirens going off on a regular basis here, certainly, will be changing the way people look on this city as a safe haven, a place where they can base themselves without fear of the conflict coming right up to the front door. joining me now is lesia vasylenko, a ukrainian mp. she sent her three children to safety with her sister abroad, while she remained in ukraine
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and picked up a weapon to help defend her country. she's currently in strasbourg as part of a ukrainian diplomatic delegation. welcome. thank you forjoining us. what is your reaction to the attack on the airbase so close to the polish border, do you see that as an escalation was yellow it was just a matter of time before it was attacked, it is a military base so essentially all military bases in ukraine are a target. the essentially all military bases in ukraine are a target. the same as some government _ ukraine are a target. the same as some government buildings - ukraine are a target. the same as some government buildings and l ukraine are a target. the same as l some government buildings and the same are some obvious targets of military operations. i don't understand why they didn't evacuate a military base but this is something entirely to be taken up once the war has ended. i am disappointed by the fact that this attack happened so close to the polish border, it should be setting off alarm bells and red flags for all of the nato member states. it is notjust all of the nato member states. it is not just that attack but also the
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drones filled with explosives which hit a suburb in zagreb, the capital of croatia, a drone sent by the russian military. that should also ring alarm bells in nato member states and actually, make clear that nato cannot stand aside from this war, that war is going to hit nato one of these days very hard and it is better to be prepared and it is better to act now on the territory of ukraine to provide deterrence and to push putin back into russia, out of ukraine and away from nato country borders, for the world to remain more or less a safe place. what would you like nato to do? {iii what would you like nato to do? of course, ukrainians are appealing, time and again, for a no—fly zone. we are doing this because millions of our children are dying and our women and our civilian population. but we are also doing this because
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we can responsibly say to the whole world as i am saying now that there is no way we can keep the whole of the territory of ukraine safe, with all of the hazardous facilities, which are located in the territory of ukraine, including five nuclear power stations and 15 nuclear reactors. this such a situation if left without extra protection of our skies and extra defence and security means on the ground, this can lead to devastating circumstances for the whole world, to a nuclear catastrophe of unimaginable scale. in ukraine, we would love to protect ourselves and we are doing the best we can but it is impossible for us to guarantee that safety and security at the moment and this is why we are asking for help from other responsible governments. what other responsible governments. what do ou sa other responsible governments. what do you say to — other responsible governments. what do you say to their— other responsible governments. what do you say to their concerns that nato involvement could escalate the
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situation into potentially catastrophic areas, bearing in mind the nuclear threat from russia? i just described to you the situation with the nuclear power stations in ukraine, that is the real nuclear threat from russia, not putin pressing the red button. there are enough deterrence in this world for him to abstain from pushing that button, and putin, the fact that he understands russia will be under attack and moscow and his coming will be under attack or his bunker or wherever he is, but nato states being involved, saying it will escalate the situation, well, i am sorry, for eight years, because this war against sorry, for eight years, because this waragainst ukraine sorry, for eight years, because this war against ukraine started by russia and not on the 24th of february, 22 to but on the 20th of a brake on the 2014, so for eight years, ukrainians were hearing all the time, russia needs to stay in
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the time, russia needs to stay in the council of europe, for example, because we need a dialogue and it will irritate russia, or we cannot do this because it will irritate russia. and still, russia just got irritated and just escalated the military activities to unprecedented levels and is now massacring the population of ukraine and destroying... so it has to be set as a given, russia is a very irritable country, and it does not matter how you behave, it is still going to get irritated and we are still going to come under attack so it is about time we all admit this is world war iii, that's it, and it is better to act sooner rather than later to prevent all of the civilian casualties which are bound to happen if inaction is maintained their weight is now.— if inaction is maintained their weight is now. if inaction is maintained their weiaht is now. ., ~ , . weight is now. thank you very much, sor , we weight is now. thank you very much, sorry. we were _ weight is now. thank you very much, sorry, we were having _ weight is now. thank you very much, sorry, we were having some - weight is now. thank you very much, sorry, we were having some trouble | sorry, we were having some trouble with the sound but we could hear lily clearly. does michael hear you
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clearly. millions of people have left ukraine for safety over the last 18 days. the un high commissioner for refugees says the number has reached 2.6 million people as of saturday; making it the largest movement of refugees in europe since world war ii. here in the uk, there has been cricitism of the speed at which the government has set up schemes to allow people to come here from ukraine. later today, the uk housing secretary will unveil a plan which will pay people £350 a month to provide accommodation in their homes to those fleeing the war. let's speak to the mayor of london, sadiq khan. welcome. thank you forjoining us. . london already has the largest expat ukrainian population, in terms of refugees coming to stay with relatives or otherwise, what would you anticipate for london? weill. you anticipate for london? well, aood you anticipate for london? well, good morning- — you anticipate for london? well, good morning. we _ you anticipate for london? well, good morning. we know- you anticipate for london? well, good morning. we know we - you anticipate for london? -ii good morning. we know we have more than half of those ukrainian brits who live in our country are in london and they make a massive contribution to our city. we have had over the last few days and
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weeks, councils, londoners, businesses, hotels and others wanting to do more, asking how they can help but frustrated by the delay in the visas and so forth being processed and the lack of information about the support we would receive. i would expect the vast majority of those who eventually arrive from ukraine to come to london and we are keen to play our part in supporting what is clearly a humanitarian crisis that requires us to do much more than we have so far. it requires us to do much more than we have so far-— have so far. it always comes down to numbers when _ have so far. it always comes down to numbers when people _ have so far. it always comes down to numbers when people talk _ have so far. it always comes down to numbers when people talk about - numbers when people talk about refugees. do you have a view in your mind of whether there should be limits? to mind of whether there should be limits? ., , ., ., ., ., limits? to give you an idea of the scale of what _ limits? to give you an idea of the scale of what we _ limits? to give you an idea of the scale of what we did _ limits? to give you an idea of the scale of what we did last - limits? to give you an idea of the scale of what we did last year, i limits? to give you an idea of the| scale of what we did last year, we took in london more than 3000 of those fleeing afghanistan. in previous years, we have taken thousands of those fleeing syria. i suspect there will be a demand for many, many thousands in london.
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there is no cap. it isjust an issue of what the government is going to do to support us. what do i mean by that? many of those who, they traumatised, will need medical support, many of them will need children so we need to make sure there is space in schools and support given to them. we need to make sure there is sufficient housing but also the wraparound support these families receive. i am full of admiration for all of those londoners and all across the country who have offered to provide a room in their home for those fleeing ukraine. they will need support, not just financially but the wraparound support required and that is why we are asking the government not simply to speed up a very complex and cumbersome and clunky visa process but also to provide the tangible assistance we will need to provide adequate and decent care to those who will make london their temporary home before hopefully being able to go back to their proper home in ukraine. ,, ., , , ., ,, ukraine. separately but obviously related, i wonder _ ukraine. separately but obviously related, i wonder whether - ukraine. separately but obviously related, i wonder whether you . ukraine. separately but obviously i related, i wonder whether you share the concerns of keir starmer about the concerns of keir starmer about the peerage that was given to evgeny lebedev? mil the peerage that was given to evgeny lebedev? �* ~ ., ., .,
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lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev is _ lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev is what _ lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev is what i _ lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev is what i have - lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev is what i have seen - lebedev? all i know about lord lebedev is what i have seen in | lebedev? all i know about lord i lebedev is what i have seen in the press and the media and i think there has to be transparency in relation to these issues. serious allegations have been made. they are only allegations. i think the right thing to do is for the house of lords appointments committee to look into this, for there to be a proper review and investigation to make sure the right decision was made because clearly, serious allegations have been levied at lord lebedev and it is right and proper they are looked into.— it is right and proper they are looked into. ., ~ , ., , . looked into. thank you very much, sadi: looked into. thank you very much, sadiq khan- _ i'm joined now by maxine taylor, who says she will open up her home to people fleeing ukraine. thank you forjoining us. why do you want to do that?— thank you forjoining us. why do you want to do that? thank you very much for invitin: want to do that? thank you very much for inviting me — want to do that? thank you very much for inviting me to _ want to do that? thank you very much for inviting me to participate. - want to do that? thank you very much for inviting me to participate. i- for inviting me to participate. i just feel i would like to do my bit with regard to ukraine. you said earlier, this is the biggest refugee crisis since world war ii, with over 2.5 million refugees fleeing ukraine. i think everyone is trying to step up in the uk. ifeel frustrated it has been slow. i am delighted there is now going to be a
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scheme announced today but i am very interested in the structure that is put in place around that as a homeowner.— put in place around that as a homeowner. �* ., ., homeowner. and so what are you offerin: , homeowner. and so what are you offering. how _ homeowner. and so what are you offering, how many _ homeowner. and so what are you offering, how many people - homeowner. and so what are you offering, how many people could | homeowner. and so what are you - offering, how many people could you take in? i offering, how many people could you take in? ., ., ., , , take in? i have got two spare rooms in my home- — take in? i have got two spare rooms in my home- i'm _ take in? i have got two spare rooms in my home. i'm not _ take in? i have got two spare rooms in my home. i'm not in _ take in? i have got two spare rooms in my home. i'm not in london, - take in? i have got two spare rooms in my home. i'm not in london, i'm| in my home. i'm not in london, i'm 30 miles south of london, near guildford. i don't think london is the be all and end all, i think people from all over the uk would like to contribute and i think on this, may be the government has missed the heartbeat of much of the nation so far and i hope they are going to catch up with it so i could offer two room.— offer two room. how many people otentiall offer two room. how many people potentially could _ offer two room. how many people potentially could that _ offer two room. how many people potentially could that be? - offer two room. how many people potentially could that be? three? | offer two room. how many people | potentially could that be? three? it de-ends potentially could that be? three? it depends entirely, _ potentially could that be? three? it depends entirely, i'm _ potentially could that be? three? it depends entirely, i'm interested . potentially could that be? three? it depends entirely, i'm interested in | depends entirely, i'm interested in what the matching service is going to be like, how local authorities are going to be supported and going back to what sadiq khan was saying in relation to access to education and primary care but very importantly, mental health support for a lot of these people who are going to be deeply traumatised, i think that is going to be important. it is notjust about think that is going to be important. it is not just about the think that is going to be important. it is notjust about the room, it is about the infrastructure support and the wraparound service which is going to be here and there are lessons to be learned from the
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afghan refugee situation last year, which happened at the most incredible speed but not well. we had one afghan refugee come through my local authority, waverly, and thatis my local authority, waverly, and that is all at present. so the £10,500 they are talking about, it will be interesting to see how quickly it is available, it is essential it is made available now, i think, for each individual refugee and so local authorities can access that cash and use it now. find and so local authorities can access that cash and use it now. and what about the financial _ that cash and use it now. and what about the financial offer _ that cash and use it now. and what about the financial offer to - about the financial offer to households, £350 per month? does that make a difference? for households, £350 per month? does that make a difference?— that make a difference? for me personally. _ that make a difference? for me personally. no. _ that make a difference? for me personally, no, but— that make a difference? for me personally, no, but what - that make a difference? for me personally, no, but what i - that make a difference? for me personally, no, but what i thinkj that make a difference? for me l personally, no, but what i think it will do is make a big difference for a lot of people. what is important in this scheme as well is the detail of it. £350, is that going to be part of taxable income? it must be discounted from that, surely, it has to be essential. another important dimension to this is about council tax because for people who live on their own, as we know, there is a 25% discount. is that going to be
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waived? . . ~ 25% discount. is that going to be waived? . ., ~ ,., 25% discount. is that going to be waived? . ., ~ y., , 25% discount. is that going to be waived? . ., ~ , . waived? . thank you very much indeed for “oininu waived? . thank you very much indeed forjoining us- — waived? . thank you very much indeed forjoining us. you're _ waived? . thank you very much indeed forjoining us. you're watching - waived? . thank you very much indeed forjoining us. you're watching bbc- forjoining us. you're watching bbc news. good morning. it has been a chilly start to the day—to—day but last night lots of us or in the north of the country the aurora borealis. for the country the aurora borealis. for the next few days, the weather really will have a springlike feel to it. it is generally going to be dry, mild by day and chilly nights with some frost and patchy mist and fog and also some rain during the course of wednesday, which could prove to be persistent and heavy in places. this where front today has been producing a few showers this morning and we have got another weather front across the north of the country doing the same thing. as we go through the course of the morning, that will continue. you can see the direction this weather front is taking, producing the showers, moving steadily eastwards but a few showers crossing the channel islands
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and also getting on towards kent and essex later. but in between, a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine. light breezes but a brisk breeze across the far north—west of scotland. temperatures today ranging from about eight in the north to 14 in south. as we head through the evening and overnight, showers will clear away. there will be clear skies and once again we will see some frost and patchy mist and fog and still brisk winds across the north—west where we have got a weather front not too far temperatures falling away too, for example, freezing across midlands. tomorrow, after the cold start, a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine. a weather front coming in from the west, introducing rain with cloud building out of it, turning sunshine in scotland and northern ireland hazy but for the rest of england and wales, a lot of blue skies and the temperatures responding. we could see 16 degrees in london in light wind that will feel pleasant but still the brisk wind across the north—west of scotland. into wednesday, our weather front in the north sinks southwards and we have
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got a weather front moving northwards and this one from the south moving north is going to drag in some milderair south moving north is going to drag in some milder air with it as well. but it is also dragging in all this rain and it will eventuallyjoin forces with the front coming south. this one is a cold front so behind it, the air turns cold and we will see some snow on the hills in scotland. not as windy a day but cool in the north, six in aberdeen, to 14 in london. then as we head on into the latter part of the week, on thursday, we start off cloudy and wet in the south—east before it clears, and a ridge of high present —— high pressure building on and things will settle down. for most of us, we will see some sunshine but at times, weatherfronts us, we will see some sunshine but at times, weather fronts trying to bring some rain into the north west.
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hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: the russian assault on ukraine continues as a residential block is shelled in the capital, kyiv — at least two people have died. despite the attacks, both sides cite progress in peace talks — president zelensky says he wants to speak with putin personally. negotiations resume later. 2.7 million people flee ukraine to neighbouring countries. more than 1.75 million people have crossed poland's border since the war began. in the uk, plans to house ukrainian refugees in people's homes will be announced later today. households will receive £350 a month as a "thank you".
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the us warns china not to assist russia with military help and aid in evading international sanctions — beijing rejects the accusation. good morning. the us says china will face harsh consequences if it aids russia in its invasion of ukraine. it comes after us officials told a number of newspapers that russia asked china for military equipment. the chinese foreign ministry says it's "fake news" and us disinformation. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell joins me from beijing. so is the chinese government saying that russia has not asked for help? that is a good question. i havejust come from the foreign ministry briefing here. of course, we asked several times about this, for clarification, and the message coming from the chinese foreign ministry was that it was fake news.
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or that the us had been constantly spreading disinformation about china, recently. given ample opportunity it was never said that such a request has come from russia to china. he says it is fake news, does that mean there has been in a request for military assistance from moscow to beijing? it could be nit—picking, it could be a get out ofjailfree card, to nit—picking, it could be a get out ofjail free card, to say it is fake news because there is perhaps some aspect of the reports that beijing doesn't think is accurate. however, nothing was made along those lines, but interestingly, we also had the foreign ministry spokesman repeating this claim today that the us embassy in kyiv had deleted all of these documents relating to pathogens and research in biological labs in
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ukraine. when i asked the foreign ministry spokesman district spokesman, white was that these were deleted, checked on the website for the us embassy of kyiv and they all seem to be there to me. i asked if he had checked the website. you just said he had received different information, but we said, how about you go and check now? if it turned out that such documents are there, might you go on twitter and correct the record, because he has been spreading this line that these documents have been pulled down. you just dodged the question. again, these suggestions were made about biological this and that, but it is all kind of very vague and smearing the us. when the victim if this information, and whether we are constantly seeing some of the worst aspects of the kremlin disinformation and propaganda, being repeated, without question, by the chinese government, being published
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widely here, by the chinese state—run media, on social media, by the presenters of the chinese government, the way that social media was controlled. also, it is having the effect of swinging large parts of the chinese population in behind the war effort. what they are hearing here is that this is a border dispute that russia was entitled to do because of nato expansion. they are not seeing the images of the worst carnage being inflicted by the russian government. the chinese government is playing a very dangerous game here. on the one hand, drumming up support for vladimir putin's invasion while says the rest of the world, no, we're just partial impartial observers. and we could act as some sort of intermediaries. —— impartial observers. the foreign ministry asked about what they are doing to bring about this piece, but no response and that either. so bring about this piece, but no response and that either. so in that context, response and that either. so in that context. then. _ response and that either. so in that context, then, presumably - response and that either. so in that context, then, presumably it - response and that either. so in that
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context, then, presumably it is - context, then, presumably it is impossible to know whether if there were to be requests for assistance from russia, whether china would give it? from russia, whether china would live it? , ., ., from russia, whether china would ive it? , ., give it? yes, we ask that as well toda . give it? yes, we ask that as well today- what _ give it? yes, we ask that as well today. what are _ give it? yes, we ask that as well today. what are your _ give it? yes, we ask that as well today. what are your future - give it? yes, we ask that as well l today. what are your future plans, might you give assistance? no answer to those either, just more comments that china calls on all sides to show restraint and what have you. for people in ukraine, the government there, they are saying, what do you mean by showing the straight? how do you show restraint? it would be like urging the chinese army to show restraint when a van invaded, orsomething army to show restraint when a van invaded, or something like that. —— japan invaded. it isjust a bit of a mantra from the chinese government. they are moving through quite a minefield here. on the one hand, they are putting his face forward to one side of the word, the world, being impartial, may be bringing about peace, but inside china, drumming up the support for vladimir
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putin's war effort by spreading some of the worst propaganda and false information coming out of the kremlin. ., ,., ., , , kremlin. how important is china's role in terms _ kremlin. how important is china's role in terms of _ kremlin. how important is china's role in terms of the _ kremlin. how important is china's role in terms of the pressure - kremlin. how important is china's role in terms of the pressure it i role in terms of the pressure it could put on russia to end this war and also the support that it could give and the impact of that? this is crucial. china _ give and the impact of that? this is crucial. china is _ give and the impact of that? this is crucial. china is uniquely _ give and the impact of that? this is crucial. china is uniquely placed. i crucial. china is uniquely placed. it is the one a powerful country that has some sway with moscow and you would think that potentially, if the president of china was to go on the president of china was to go on the front of eleanor putin saying that he had to stop this, full control, the war is terrible, is not what we expected, it is destroying the global economy, international flights have been disrupted, what have you. —— vladimir putin. tens of thousands of people being killed, that might have some effect, but the chinese government is giving no indication yet that it will be prepared to use this influence.
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instead it kind ofjust is putting this line is that they are somehow in the middle, that russia's adjustment, security concerns should be recognised, so should the ukraine's territorial boundaries be recognised? that all site —— site should show restraint, we're getting into this constant mantra, no indication that it would do anything proactive, certainly nothing publicly that we are seeing in terms of ringing about peace there. i should add that the chinese government is saying that in our own way, we aren't doing things for bringing about peace, china. they keep asking others things and they get no information on perhaps there are things going on behind closed doors but we don't know about here. —— that we don't know about. in moscow, hundreds have continued to take to the streets in protest against the invasion.
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but the price of resistance continues to be high, as the kremlin has imposed brutal crackdowns on independent media, and banned people from describing the conflict in ukraine as a �*war�*. dissent is even punishable by prison. caroline davies reports. she chants. chanting for peace in russia can get you detained. in moscow today, anyone suspected of protesting was quickly swept away. the atmosphere here in the square is really quite tense. obviously, police officers are outnumbering protesters by far and at the moment, you see a sudden surge in activity and the police will run and grab people and carry them and put them into police vans behind me. this location had been shared on social media, so the police were prepared. while the press were tolerated, some tried to stop us filming too closely. "get back", this officer shouts.
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even wearing a yellow press vest did not stop some from being taken by police. since the end of february, thousands of people have been detained for protesting so far. it in a country of over 140 million, these are not mass movements. in moscow, the authorities are taking no chances with columns of police vans, barricades and document checks and in president putin's russia there is no space for dissent. caroline davies, bbc news, moscow. representatives of both russia and ukraine are expected to resume negotiations via video link with the aim of curtailing more than two weeks of conflict. delegates from the warring parties have been cautiously optimistic about the talks so far. here's our correspondentjenny hill in moscow for more on this.
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what can you tell us? as you say, i am a -- there _ what can you tell us? as you say, i am a -- there is— what can you tell us? as you say, i am a -- there is a _ what can you tell us? as you say, i am a -- there is a cautious - what can you tell us? as you say, i i am a -- there is a cautious optimism am a —— there is a cautious optimism from both sides and from the russian side. in recent days, we have heard from a member of the delegation who is involved in the talks, saying that the positions of both sides has moved closer together. sounded optimistic that there might be good outcomes here. it is interesting if you dig deeper here because actually, of all the talks which have taken place so far, nothing has come out, other than the desire to keep on talking, which of course, some would say is grounds for optimism in its self, but i think you also have to question what the kremlin once at this stage. we know that putin has told his people that he is engaged in a special military operation, not a war, which is solely focused on trying to make sure that the russian speaking populations of eastern ukraine are to protect, defend and from what he would say is the aggression of the government in a queue. he is presently rather keen to ensure russian people, who are now starting
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to learn that russian soldiers are dying. —— kyv. in this war. it will go on forever. i think that there is an element of the optimism that is being published here about these talks. that is designed to tell russians that have is a serious and that he wants to make sure this comes to an end, but i think it is really important to note that moscow's position, essentially, hasn't changed. the demands it makes of ukraine are currently demands which ukraine considers acceptable, it wants crimea which russia annexed in 2014, to be recognised internationally as russian. it once the so—called independence of parts of eastern ukraine recognised, ie, most analysts would say recognised as russian. that is before you go into the broader aims that putin may be thinking about. last night on state tv, it was telling everyone that ukraine is a risk to russia because it is trying to acquire nuclear weapons. we had about accusations of ukraine trying to
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develop biological weapons, all to use against russia. that is the narrative from the kremlin and that's before you get into the risk that nato is set to pose to russia. beyond all of that, the talks will continue, we'll have to wait and see what happens, but i think it is also worth bearing in mind that the foreign ministry here this morning made it very clear of who it will blame if these negotiations don't go anywhere. the quote is further progress will depend on kyiv�*s willingness to seek compromise. might like the reports that russia has asked china for military support —— support, wejust has asked china for military support —— support, we just took it all corresponded in china, singing is very unclear what's china's position is on this. �* ., ,., ., ., , is on this. and also what china is doinu is on this. and also what china is doing dramatically _ is on this. and also what china is doing dramatically to _ is on this. and also what china is doing dramatically to try - is on this. and also what china is doing dramatically to try to i is on this. and also what china is doing dramatically to try to stop | doing dramatically to try to stop the war. what are the reports there from russia in terms of whether russia has asked for support from china? , ., , . ,., china? there is no such report here. my understanding —
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china? there is no such report here. my understanding is _ china? there is no such report here. my understanding is that _ china? there is no such report here. my understanding is that a _ china? there is no such report here. my understanding is that a chinese | my understanding is that a chinese official has now dismissed these reports which came from the us as being false. i cannot speak of course with the situation in china, but china does play a very interesting role at the moment. it has not come out publicly to support vladimir putin's campaign, but it is rather sitting on the fence, at the moment. russia is clearly rather keen to have its support. it was interesting over the weekend, the finance minister talked about russia's reserves, financial reserves, and it said that sanctions mean that half of those reserves are now effectively frozen, but some of those reserves he said were in chinese currency, and i think the hopein chinese currency, and i think the hope in the kremlin is that china will be helpful in terms of continuing to trade and so on, despite pressure from western allies, the us, on it to perhaps take a different course of action.
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thank you very much, jenny. let's go back to that russian missile strike on a ukraine military base near the border with poland yesterday. poland says the strike was "highly provocative" and "an attempt to threaten nato". 35 people were killed in the strike. i'm joined now by dr peter caddick—adams, he's a war professor and nato historian, and the director of the international think tank, the defence and international security institute. hejoins us from he joins us from another ground hejoins us from another ground in croatia. thank you forjoining us. do you see thank you for “oining us. do you see this as an thank you forjoining us. do you see this as an escalation? _ thank you forjoining us. do you see this as an escalation? and _ thank you forjoining us. do you see this as an escalation? and certainlyl this as an escalation? and certainly a lot of countries would interpret it as an escalation, but this works on two levels. it is a tactical strike using cruise missiles by russia to interrupt the flow of supply of all those anti—tank weapons and anti—aircraft military that are coming from the west into
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ukraine. that is one of the bases which nato personnel work training ukrainian troops before the war began. so it makes personal sense for rash to assume that this is where the weapons are coming into, and being stockpiled. this is a tactical strike in that sense, but this is 50 miles from the polish border, strategically, it would make the polish extremely nervous. —— 15. this is russia sailing very close to the wind. they have nothing to lose. it will make a lot of the nato allies extremely concerned, but this is just another notch on a long list of the russian federation's tactics, which are all different forms of terror. �* ., , , ., ., , terror. another issue that was raised by _ terror. another issue that was raised by a — terror. another issue that was raised by a ukrainian - terror. another issue that was raised by a ukrainian mp i terror. another issue that was raised by a ukrainian mp who | terror. another issue that was | raised by a ukrainian mp who i terror. another issue that was i raised by a ukrainian mp who i spoke to earlier, when she was talking
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about the escalation, and she said that real attention needs to be paid to what happens in croatia, which is where you are speaking to us from, where you are speaking to us from, where a russian drone went down, having passed over romania and hungary and croatian officials, they are criticising nato for being a slow reaction to that military drone that apparently flew all the way from the war zone in ukraine, over those nato member states, before crashing. it crashed in an urban zone of the croatian capital, but no one was injured. how seriously would you take that in terms of the indication of what could happen that could then bring nature into the conflict? fin could then bring nature into the conflict? , ., , ., conflict? on its own, it is not significant. — conflict? on its own, it is not significant, the _ conflict? on its own, it is not significant, the drone - conflict? on its own, it is not significant, the drone was i conflict? on its own, it is not significant, the drone was a i conflict? on its own, it is not i significant, the drone was a very old one, we do not know who fires it, probably russia, and it crashed
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in an uninhabited area when it ran out of fuel. it does underline the point is that this conflict is almost impossible to contain. the eu, un and nato policy is containment. this is why there is enormous objection to a no—fly zone because it is impossible then to predict where this would go if other countries are involved directly in the fighting. you are out of the playbook. this is clearly the biggest crisis since the second world war, is the biggest military mission the russians have ever undertaken since 1945, and we are out of any kind of scenarios that have been thought about or contemplated in recent years, and thatis contemplated in recent years, and that is the worry. the possibility of military overspill into neighbouring countries is very, very high indeed. to a certain extent,
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other countries are already being involved with taking refugees, that's very much to russia's advantage, putin's recognising civilians fleeing in terror, just as much as they are being targeted in their tower blocks or in their hospitals. the point is, all the time, we are moving closer to some kind of military overspill which everyone is very nervous about. almost impossible to prevent, however. 50 almost impossible to prevent, however. ., ., almost impossible to prevent, however. . ., almost impossible to prevent, however. ., g, ., however. so what then do you think ofthat however. so what then do you think of that policy _ however. so what then do you think of that policy of _ however. so what then do you think of that policy of containment, i however. so what then do you think of that policy of containment, in i of that policy of containment, in terms of whether nato could or should get involved now which is honestly what ukraine was to happen? —— want to happen. mata honestly what ukraine was to happen? -- want to happen-— -- want to happen. nato won't get involved, -- want to happen. nato won't get involved. the — -- want to happen. nato won't get involved, the short _ -- want to happen. nato won't get involved, the short term. - -- want to happen. nato won't get involved, the short term. you i -- want to happen. nato won't get involved, the short term. you can | involved, the short term. you can look at this of buying time, 180 puts together a policy of what it might do —— while at nato. and of the nato alliance put together, the
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what if scenarios. there is a huge reluctance to pre—empt this, by nato getting involved first. russia knows what the boundaries are, in terms of the nato articles of association, article five, an attack on one country is an attack on all. it all depends on how you define an attack. it does include cyber warfare now, but how do you define that? we had an americanjournalist but how do you define that? we had an american journalist who was killed the other day, he wasn't associated with the military, but if you have a third party nationals who start to be killed in ukraine, and what about foreign volunteers who are in uniform from other countries? it starts to get very, very murky indeed. there will come a point, and make make make —— it may be with weapon use, whether nato may draw a line, but nato is being very tight—lipped about this, because of the history of previous red lines,
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and i'm thinking syria. the moment you say something you're not prepared to back it up, you are giving support to the other side. there is probably a bit of negotiation behind the scenes, hide all the nato partners, of exactly what they are prepared to do and when and if. what they are prepared to do and when and if-_ what they are prepared to do and when and if. ., ,, y., , . ., when and if. thank you very much for “oininu us. when and if. thank you very much for joining us. thank _ when and if. thank you very much for joining us. thank you. _ as we've been reporting, 2.75 million people have so farfled the war in ukraine, according to the most recent un figures. most are going into neighbouring countries to the west, with more than1 million crossing into poland. our correspondent, mark lowen, sent this report from zamosh, where people in the town are working hard to provide refugees with accommodation, food and some sense of a normal life. for the children of war, open arms are mightier than the fist. young ukrainians, eased into life in poland with a karate class —
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joy to distract from trauma — and a lesson that the greatest strength comes from peace. my father might be fighting. i don't know. i don't have message from him. dariy hasn't heard from his dad for three days. in poland, it's very cold here, but we want to go back home because home is home. when we in activities like karate class, or something else, we forget about war on at the moment. but when it ends, we remember again and we understand we must do all what we can do to help our people in ukraine. the class is in zamosc, whose world heritage beauty is a far cry from the horror across the border. but the town knows suffering. half its pre—war population werejews, most killed. and while the mayor says echoes
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of history make locals welcoming, it has its limits. translation: polish people seem infinitely ready to give, _ but it will end one day. we thought we would get support from the government and the eu, but we were left alone. we need financial help, or the quality of our hospitality will drop drastically. this is ukrainian borscht. ah! ukrainian borscht for the ukrainians. for now, the welcome is as warm as the cooking. all the food in this restaurant given to the refugees. orders have become donations. but the owner says he's running out of cash. it's nice to see this. i can't believe that polish people can do it like this. how long could you continue doing this for, do you think? i think from this day it will be maximum two weeks. delivered to the reception centre, feeling the strain of the influx, new arrivals sorting new lives, but encouraged to move on elsewhere to relieve this choke point. in the space of a fortnight, small towns have become refugee hubs,
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up to 5,000 arriving here every day. and the authorities fear they lack the resources and supplies needed to sustain this for weeks or even months, in what's already become the biggest movement of refugees since the second world war. one polish town of so many, transformed in two weeks, wondering how many will come tomorrow, and how long it can cope. mark lowen, bbc news, zamosc. mark lowen sent this update from jaroslaw in poland — near the border with ukraine close to where yesterday's attack on military base in yavoriv took place. there are some reports that the military base that was struck was one where some foreign soldiers were being trained or receiving equipment. foreigners had come into fight with ukraine and of course putin and the kremlin have warned that military equipment coming from nato countries into ukraine would be
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seen as a little misfoot —— legitimate target, set that pat perhaps was the motivation behind the strike. whatever it was, it has raised concerns notjust for ukrainians in the west of the country, who had hoped that the western part of ukraine was safer thanit western part of ukraine was safer than it was happening elsewhere, but of course, for poland, for example, because if the fighting intensifies around western ukraine, that could spark a second wave of refugees to come across the border. this country, poland, has already welcomed over 1.7 million people crossing the border from welcomed over 1.7 million people crossing the borderfrom ukraine, there are growing concerns here about the strain that has been placed and if there is a second wave of refugees across the border, that will only increase those concerns. we spent a couple of days a very beautiful border town which is about two hours north of here. it is close to the border, a town that has a population of 60,000 people. the mayor told us that sometimes up to 35,000 people per day are coming through that town, the reception centre has about 5000 people per day
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passing through it. it is really struggling, the volunteers are exhausted, they are running out of space at the centre, and in other shelters, and in private homes as well. one municipal official there said she is worried about refugees having to sleep on the streets. the polish are extremely proud of the welcoming hospitality that they have shown to the ukrainians so far, they are beginning to really feel the strain and they are calling for more help from the european union as i think that even though most of the ukrainians we have spoken to so that they hope to be able to return home from ukraine to shake to ukraine soon, there is no sign of this war ending any time soon. the polish are beginning to plan for the long term, how to shelter people, how to integrate them within polish society integrate them within polish society in the long term. that is because a complete different question, then the temporary shelter they have had to give up until now. let mejust let me just tell you that we're just hearing 4000 visas have now been issued through the british government's ukrainian family scheme. you're watching bbc news.
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good morning. for some of us, there's been a beautiful sight to there's been a beautiful sight to the day. as you can see from this picture, taken earlier in staffordshire. it has been a chilly start and we have mortally starts to come as we go through this week, with some frost, patchy mist and fog, but mild by day. this week, generally speaking it is going to be dry, but we are looking at them is persistent rain on wednesday, this morning we have some showers coming on across the channel islands, some parts of southern england and also another with a front bringing some heavier showers across northern ireland, was in scotland pushing eastwards, moving into northern england as we go through the day. we can see the track of where the showers have been, and where they are heading, coming up across the channel islands, getting in across
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parts of southern england. that process will continue. we see some across kent, and into essex for the afternoon. it will brighten up in a northern ireland meanwhile as the rain moves across scotland, and northern england. for most of us, we're looking at my twins to but brisk winds in the north—west, some sunshine in the north—east, and lots of sunshine across parts of lincolnshire, the midlands, wales, and yorkshire with top temperatures between 8—14. this evening, most of the showers, if not all, will clear away, and under clear skies it will be another cold night. some frost, patchy mist and fog forming, around, and soon a brisk wind in the north—west. these are the overnight lows, so it is going to be a cold start the day on cheese a few head out early. it will be mostly dry and sunshine, but it was the front making some in the outer hebrides and in the west of northern ireland, slowly pushing east, with more cloud building ahead of it. any sunshine in scotland and northern ireland will turn hazy. we hang onto the
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light winds and the sunny skies, and england and wales, with top temperatures of 16 degrees, which will feel quite pleasant. on wednesday, the weather front continues to push southwards as a cold front, we have another moving northwards, both are bearing rain. the one in the south moving north is going to bring mild conditions with it, but some are persistent rain. as they meet, the rain will turn heavier. it is a cold front, so the cold air comes in behind it, so we will see some snow on the hills. winds are not as strong, with temperatures at six in the north tip may be 14 in the south, so down it just a notch or two on what looking out on tuesday. the outlook beyond that, the front clears with the south—east, with the rain are going with it. to many of us it will be dry.
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this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the russian assault on ukraine continues as a residential block is shelled in the capital, kyiv — at least two people have died. despite the attacks, both sides cite progress in peace talks. president zelensky says he wants to speak with vladimir putin personally. negotiations resume later. a pregnant woman injured in the russian bombing of a maternity hospital in mariupol has died, along with her baby. 2.7 million people flee ukraine to neighbouring countries. more than 1.75 million people have crossed poland's border since the war began. in the uk, plans to house ukrainian refugees in people's homes will be announced later today. households will receive £350 a month as a "thank you".

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