good morning, welcome to breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. our headlines today. in the last hour, explosions have been heard in the western city of lviv — smoke can be seen in the direction of the airport, six kilometres from the city centre. on the front line in kharkiv, where ukrainian troops have held back russian advances for three weeks, despite heavy daily bombardment. outrage at p&0 ferries builds after 800 staff were sacked with plans to replace them with cheaper agency workers.

unions threaten legal action and demonstrations are planned at ports across the country. we'll be asking what rights workers have, after the mass sackings at p80. good morning and welcome to cheltenham, on gold cup day. all eyes are on whether rachel blackmore can become the first female to win the prestigious trophy — this year in front of a packed—out crowd. it isa it is a bit foggy for some this morning, a bit chilly, but it should clear and lots of sunshine over the next few days. all the details here on breakfast. it's friday, 18th march. in the last hour, air raid sirens and a number of explosions have been heard near ukraine's western city of lviv. a large plume of smoke can be seen coming from the direction of the airport, about four miles from the city centre. lviv�*s mayor says the

airport was not hit, but a building next to it was. we can speak now to our correspondentjonah fisher who is in lviv. i know these attacks have taken place in the last half hour or so. what more can you tell us? fix, place in the last half hour or so. what more can you tell us? a little bit loner what more can you tell us? a little bit longer ago. _ what more can you tell us? a little bit longer ago, about _ what more can you tell us? a little bit longer ago, about an _ what more can you tell us? a little bit longer ago, about an hour- what more can you tell us? a little bit longer ago, about an hour or i what more can you tell us? a little bit longer ago, about an hour or so ago, the air raid sirens sounded across lviv, people went into the bunkers, the basement. i don't know if you can see behind me... that black plume of smoke to the west of the city, that has been billowing for the last hour or so. that is in the direction of lviv airport. there is some confusion as to whether the airport itself has been hit by whether it is a building right next to the airport. we are still trying to the airport. we are still trying to get confirmation. but it looks like there has basically been a missile strike in or around lviv

airport and that in itself marks a significant shift here in western ukraine. that is the closest they have got, the russians, to hitting this city. if that turns out to be the case. but until now this has been largely seen as a safe haven and a hub for people fleeing the more intense fighting in the rest of the country. tell more intense fighting in the rest of the country-— more intense fighting in the rest of the country. tell us a bit about how --eole the country. tell us a bit about how peeple have — the country. tell us a bit about how people have reacted _ the country. tell us a bit about how people have reacted there. - the country. tell us a bit about how people have reacted there. i- the country. tell us a bit about how people have reacted there. i know. people have reacted there. i know this is onlyjust happening, it is relatively early in the morning there. i relatively early in the morning there. u, �* relatively early in the morning there. ., , relatively early in the morning there. �* . , ., there. i can't really tell you how --eole there. i can't really tell you how peeple are _ there. i can't really tell you how people are reacting _ there. i can't really tell you how people are reacting because - there. i can't really tell you how people are reacting because we| there. i can't really tell you how- people are reacting because we have literally come up from the air raid shelter to speak to you here on the roof, so we have not been out and about but what i can say is there has been a shift in mood here in lviv in the last few days. there was a missile strike on a military base that has in the past been used by nato forces by the border with poland at the weekend with at least

35 people killed. that really brought the war a lot closer in the minds of many people here in lviv and now this, as well. up until now, things have sort of carried on as normal. you can walk down the street, the cafes and restaurants are open. this may well change that and many people who have come to lviv to escape the conflict in kharkiv, in kyiv, in the southern parts of ukraine may now be starting to re—evaluate that decision. thank to re-evaluate that decision. thank ou ve to re-evaluate that decision. thank you very much. _ to re-evaluate that decision. thank you very much. we _ to re-evaluate that decision. thank you very much, we will _ to re-evaluate that decision. thank you very much, we will come - to re-evaluate that decision. thank you very much, we will come back. to re-evaluate that decision. thank. you very much, we will come back to you very much, we will come back to you later on when there is more information. these latest attacks come as vladimir putin has laid out his demands in exchange for a peace deal with ukraine. they include a commitment that ukraine will notjoin nato, as well as face—to—face negotitaions with president zelensky about the status of crimea and donbas. hywel griffith reports. lost in grief, and the grim reality of war. the people of ukraine have endured over three weeks of brutal bombardment and indiscriminate deaths.

in the northern city of chernihiv, according to its regional governor, as many as 53 civilians have been killed by russian forces since wednesday. after each air strike comes the search for life amongst the ruins. but while the aerial offensive is devastating, russia's progress on the ground seems to be stalling. according to the latest intelligence from the uk ministry of defence, counter—attacks by ukraine soldiers means russia can't get supplies to its forward lines. that may be why russia has been prepared to set out its terms for peace — demanding that ukraine be a neutral country that would notjoin nato. but it's assumed moscow also wants eastern parts of ukraine to be under its control, and for crimea to formally become part of russia. these are concessions president

zelensky may find hard to make. he is prepared to meet president putin face—to—face, but won't say what his terms will be. in his now daily address, he said it wasn't time to reveal the tactics for negotiating peace, sovereignty, and the integrity of the state. for now, it was better to work in silence. ukraine has had to draw on every possible reserve — untrained teenagers fighting alongside veterans. sergiy stakhovsky retired from professional tennis to take up arms for his nation. even if i will be capable of shooting, killing someone is marking you on your life. so i don't believe that any of the ukrainians are willingly doing it, but we don't have any choice. if we don't stand up, we don't have a country to defend. we don't have a country to live in. there are some who have to flee.

around 30,000 people have been able to leave mariupol in the south — leaving behind a sieged city where 90% of buildings have been damaged and destroyed. and in 0desa, they fear they may be next. families are being torn apart as they prepare for the unknown weeks — maybe months — ahead. hywel griffith, bbc news. ukraine's second city, kharkiv, has been under heavy daily bombardment by president putin's forces. it is in ruins and most of the city's 1.5 million residents have fled — but the ukrainian army is continuing to hold off the russian advance. 0ur correspondent quentin sommerville and camera journalist darren conway have been following the ukrainian army as they defend kharkiv. russia says it's demilitarising ukraine. instead, it's creating a wasteland. what it can't have, it destroys with vengeance.

these were family homes on the edge of kharkiv. civilians are daily targets in vladimir putin's war. suburban gardens have become battlefields... ..from europe's past. but here the men of ukraine's 22nd battalion have pulled off a miracle. they've stopped the might of the russian army at their city gates. ill—equipped and vastly outnumbered, three weeks on, they're still holding the line. russian boots have failed to gain hold here.

frustrated, they've sent troops elsewhere, leaving heavy artillery to bomb the city into submission. explosions. konstantin, a former air force pilot, has come out of retirement to fight. translation: this is the first line of defence for the city. _ if they get through here, they will enter kharkiv. that this road takes you from russia to the very heart of the city. but the heart of kharkiv and ukrainian resistance is still beating. just beyond this position, there is only open country. and russians, they've tried to punch through here again and again and again, and they've failed.

ukrainian armed forces are keeping them at bay. they've also tried to encircle this city. again, they've failed. so they're taking out their frustration with artillery, bombing not just. .. explosions. you can hear it. bombing not just these front lines, but also the entire population of kharkiv. a russian missile screeches above us. in this crater, six ukrainian soldiers died in a single strike. roman tells us, "they're chickens. they won't show themselves again, but we'll respond good and proper." and away from the front, no neighbourhood is safe.

russian grad rockets fall all around us. get in here! get in, get in! this is the reckless targeting of human life. to the south, the invaders are advancing. but here in ukraine's second city, kharkiv stands defiant while russia rages with incandescent fury. and russia knows hundreds of thousands of people are still living here.

explosions rumble. how do you keep out such horror? sasha and svetlana's apartment is now the front line. for the men and women of the ukrainian army, she has a message. translation: i'm very grateful to them for defending our land. | hold on, guys. we will always support you. explosions rumble. both of my daughters, and a granddaughter, are fighting for ukraine. quentin sommerville, bbc news, kharkiv, in eastern ukraine. we will have more coverage of all the events in ukraine. this morning we are hearing in the last hour there has been some shelling in the western city of lviv, our

correspondent is there so we will bring you right up to date on that story a little later on. demonstrations are expected in dover, liverpool and hull today, after p&o ferries sacked 800 workers with plans to replace them with cheaper agency staff. the company's services remain suspended for a second day — with concern over the possible effect on supply chains. simonjones reports. they say they've been betrayed. sacked p&o workers blocked the main road leading to the port of dover, after being fired via a video message. the company has made the decision that its vessels going forward will be primarily crewed by a third—party crew provider. therefore, i am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy. workers like this one in hull left bewildered. we didn't know what to do. we've been told via this video message, but we've not seen anything in writing,

there was no forewarning. we weren't told about anything beforehand, so it was... what do we do? security was sent in at the port of larne in northern ireland to ensure sacked workers left the ships — while in dover, agency workers moved in. one seafarer said when he was sent by an agency to a p&o ship in scotland, he left when he realised he was due to replace those who had lost theirjobs. we started feeling sick. we started feeling just nauseous because we knew what we were doing — we were taking those people's jobs. for the moment, p&o ships are going nowhere, as the company attempts to bring in a new workforce. unions say they will fight the plans. it's absolutely shocking to think that this would happen in this day and age, that a company like p&o and a company like dp world would do this to individuals. they're the heart of the community. but p&o says in its current state is not a viable business —

with annual losses of £100 million — and its survival depends on making swift and significant changes. it says it will offer enhanced compensation packages. the government has described the way workers have been treated as wholly unacceptable. it's warning of longer queues to get into dover, but it doesn't believe the supply of critical goods and services will be affected. simon jones, bbc news. simon is in dover for us this morning. good morning. it beggars belief, what is going on, and unsurprisingly demonstrations are expected today. yes, a huge amount of shock, and for a second day running there will be no p&o services between dover and calais, no services at all on any of its roots. what we are likely to see, though, those demonstrations here in dover, also in hull and liverpool. behind me we have three p&0 liverpool. behind me we have three p&o ferries moored up, they are going absolutely nowhere. the

demonstrations organised by the rmt union. the unions were completely blindsided by this announcement yesterday, as was the government, as weather workers. the first they knew that anything was wrong west when the ferries were ordered back to port yesterday morning and everyone told to get off the ferries. then there was that video announcement in which 800 staff were told theirjobs had gone and gone immediately. but behind p&o had been planning for this moment in secret. they had hired their own security staff with handcuffs. they have agency staff ready to be bossed in —— bussed in. there are questions about how legal this is. obviously the company will have taken its own legal advice, the unions say they may challenge this in court. we have seen big companies particularly in the travel sector in the past effectively fire people and then rehire them on different terms and conditions. what is so unusual

about this is the fact there was no consultation at all, even though the government says, for a company like this size, there should be 45 days of consultation before anyone is made redundant. i think a big gamble for p&o here isjust made redundant. i think a big gamble for p&o here is just what it is going to do to the reputation of the company. we have seen people on social media who have travelled regularly with the ferry firm in the past two are saying they will never buy a ticket with p&o once again, but the company taking a gamble here because they say at the moment they simply cannot carry on losing this amount of money. fuel prices are going up, there are other big costs in staffing, so they have decided to reduce staffing levels. their view is this is the only way to save the company. unions are saying you could have come and talk to us and we could have found a way forward together. could have found a way forward touether. ., , . ., ., ~ together. you very much for taking us throu . h together. you very much for taking us through that, _ together. you very much for taking us through that, simon _ together. you very much for taking us through that, simon jones - together. you very much for taking us through that, simon jones in . us through that, simonjones in dover. we can speak to our political

correspondent helen catt, who is in westminster this morning. it has happened. these staff have been sacked. they may well be turning round to government and asking what they are going to do. so far i am hearing that this is unacceptable, but in practical terms what can the government do? that certain is the _ what can the government do? that certain is the sense _ what can the government do? twat certain is the sense here in westminster. there is a unanimous agreement that what p&o have decided to do, particularly the way they have gone about it, is, as he said, unacceptable. if you sort the maritime minister robert courts in the commons yesterday speaking with barely restrained fury, his opposite number the transport secretary, shadow transport secretary, describing this as beneath contempt. the action of thugs. we know ministers have already had discussions with bosses at p&o, i would expect those, we would get more of those. the department for transport has said it will review if the government itself has any contract with p&o and update mps in due course but there is a real sense

from mps that somehow governments need to show it does not condone what has been happening here, and there is a real sense that it needs to do that. there is a real sense that it needs to do that-— to do that. thank you very much. here is a — to do that. thank you very much. here is a gorgeous _ to do that. thank you very much. here is a gorgeous picture - to do that. thank you very much. here is a gorgeous picture for. to do that. thank you very much. | here is a gorgeous picture for you this morning. that is the sunrise over london. just beautiful. i don't know how the cameras caught it but it makes the sun block starlike. if you are up in the early hours before the sun began to rise you would have noticed the full moon. it the sun began to rise you would have noticed the full moon.— noticed the full moon. it was indeed. stunning start to a stunning few days. this was the full moon just before it's set. it is march and clear skies have led to one issue this morning for some if you are about to head out across parts of england and wales. dense fog patches, the west across the western

half of england into eastern parts of wales. they will linger through a good part of the morning for a few but they will clear three. a bit of cloud pushing to the eastern coast of northern ireland through the day, still some cloud across a very fine north of scotland. for most, blue skies all day. a gentle breeze at the moment for many coming in from the moment for many coming in from the east or south—east, and that means we will see temperatures start to climb. a warm spring day for some. 13 to 16 degrees away from those immediate coasts down the north sea. in tonight, as the sky is clear we could see a frost form once again. greatest chance of fog across eastern parts of england, particularly the north east where the winds are that bit lighter. chilly start the weekend but saturday is looking dry, sunny and warm to the north of scotland. 16 degrees in fort william but there will be more breeze this weekend and a bit cooler on sunday. more details later. thank you very much.

leading many of today's papers is the move by ferry operator p&o to sack 800 of its workers and replace them with cheaper agency staff. the mail describes yesterday's events as a "mutiny". the paper reports that some of the security staff sent in to remove crew from ships were wearing balaclavas and carrying handcuffs. the express says p&o's behaviour was a "betrayal". the front page reports that one ship's captain, locked his ship down to stop workers being escorted off. the guardian reports that six countries — including the uk — have requested an urgent meeting of the un security council to discuss alleged war crimes in ukraine. also featured is a picture of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, who was reunited with her husband richard and daughter gabriella yesterday.

i think this is the first of their own selfie or of the family back together. and the telegraph reports on an alleged attempt by russian imposters to pose as the ukrainian prime minister in a video call with uk defence secretary ben wallace. it says that home secretary priti patel was also targeted. let's turn our attention back to ukraine and the refugee crisis. nearly two million refugees have crossed the border into poland, where they're able to work and access benefits, health care and education. 65,000 ukrainian children have already registered at polish schools and others are being offered preparatory classes to give them an introduction to the polish language. our correspondent danjohnson has been to a school in krakow, which welcomed its first ukrainian children a fortnight ago. there's little sign artem started

here only a fortnight ago. and victoria just last week. now they learn in a different language, get used to a new school, and try to make friends — all despite the added weight of running from war and being cut off from family. translation: i've lost my friends. they were scattered around the world. some of them are in poland, in different cities. some are in georgia, some in slovakia, in germany. but we communicate through apps. we are in touch. artem's concern is for his mum — who's here, helping the school translate. translation: i worry so much - about my relatives, about my mother, because they are so stressed. they were not ready to move from ukraine and leave their house, but the situation is like this and we have to get used to it. this is life.

my son is busy doing his work, trying his best to learn all the subjects. i feel pleased, glad and even surprised. even surprised, yes. you must be proud. yes, and i am proud! they say that they watch the news about the war all day long. - there are difficult days, but the teachers are alert. sometimes they seem to be very sad i and thinking about something else, | like they weren't here with us, but just trying to forget - about things they saw in ukraine. the head teacher says he's expecting many more children, and special introductory lessons start next week. this is a really impressive early effort to integrate some ukrainian children, but not every refugee kid has this chance yet, by any stretch. space in the classrooms is a real constraint,

and the language barrier is a serious difficulty. and, every day, more ukrainian children arrive. hundreds of thousands are already here. across town, there's space for mums to work and toddlers to play. like so many, kristina's on her own with three—year—old katyusha. she's growing up, she's becoming stronger, and... i hope she won't remember why it was that i'm trying to give it to her like an adventure — that we are on holiday, and we are visiting friends and we are just...travelling. but now, more and more often, she asks to go back to daddy and... ijust cannot explain her why we cannot do it at the moment,

i cannot find the right words, why it's not possible. singing happy birthday. children on the move sing happy birthday in many languages. krystyna'sjoined herfriend sophia, and her three daughters, to celebrate darina turning seven. translation: the children are fine when mum is fine. | when mum is calm and can manage everything like a game, then the children are ok with that. so are you fine? so—so! translation: i have no way out. i have three children. i am here alone. i have to pull myself together and do what i can do. young lives are being shaped, and milestones marked — away from home and without family. darina's birthday wish?

to be with her dad. danjohnson, bbc news, in krakow, poland. sense of normalcy. it is worth sa in: sense of normalcy. it is worth saying we _ sense of normalcy. it is worth saying we are _ sense of normalcy. it is worth saying we are talking - sense of normalcy. it is worth saying we are talking to - sense of normalcy. it is worth saying we are talking to a - sense of normalcy. it is worth i saying we are talking to a family sense of normalcy. it is worth - saying we are talking to a family a little later in the programme this morning here in the uk who one of the families who are being matched with a family from ukraine and we understand in theory that is when the first families will come here so we will find out how that is working in practice. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london. many of london's top tourist attractions are failing to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic, according to the group that represents them. the association of leading visitor attractions says places

like st paul's cathedral, westminster abbey, and the tower of london are all struggling with visitor numbers. they are most reliant on overseas tourism, which has yet to recover to pre—pandemic levels. outdoor attractions have proved more popular. a scheme that started during the pandemic to help refugee and overseas doctors work in the nhs has continued to help clinicians. the medical support worker scheme saw medics from all over the world join hospitals to help during covid. the royal london had a0 such staff — more then any hospital across the country. it's so stressful. first to come and work in the intensive care unit, it was very stressful. and also to see covid patients — like, to go in and see all patients, almost all of them are intubated — very sick patients. you might see some red noses today — it's the comic relief fundraiser. one of them is fight 4 change, set up by boxing champion

rebecca donnelly which uses sport to help vulnerable people make positive changes in their lives. they meet at the black prince hub in lambeth, and have formed a supportive community. because we're all, you know, in some sense or form, either homeless or have some form of addiction, you can'tjust stop being addicted to whatever it is — you have to find something to replace that time and that moment. and fight 4 change has really helped that. within the community, we can build each other up because we have a sense of who we are and where we've come from. if you're heading out on public transport, this is how tfl services are looking right now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning onto the weather with elizabeth rizzini. hello, good morning. today across the capital, it's looking very similar weather—wise to how it was yesterday. and to remind ourselves, here's chelsea embankment, hayes and, finally, notting hill as captured by our weather watchers in all of that sparkling early spring sunshine. that is set to continue today. if anything, it will feel a touch warmerfor most, too.

but this morning, it's another chilly start. patchy frost out there, also some patches of mist and fog around. it's thickest a little bit further west than us, but still some, particularly across western home counties. that will lift and clear fairly readily as we head through the morning. for most, a bright start to the day and we'll be keeping that sunshine throughout the day. just a bit more fairweather cloud as we head through the afternoon. more of an easterly breeze today. so it's a little cooler towards eastern areas of town. but for most, it is a touch warmer than yesterday — 15 or 16 degrees celsius. through this evening and overnight, looking at the clear skies, it stays dry, but it does turn rather breezy. too windy for any mist and fog to form or any frost, it is a milder start to saturday. the sunshine continues on saturday, but it does turn cloudier on sunday, and cooler. the chance of showers. temperatures rise again into the start of next week. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. bye for now.

hello, this is breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. let's bring you up—to—date with everything that has been happening in ukraine overnight. hywel griffith is here with us. there has been a lot happening in the past hour. aha, there has been a lot happening in the past hour-— there has been a lot happening in the past hour. a number of reports of strikes in _ the past hour. a number of reports of strikes in kyiv _ the past hour. a number of reports of strikes in kyiv which _ the past hour. a number of reports of strikes in kyiv which we - the past hour. a number of reports of strikes in kyiv which we have - the past hour. a number of reportsj of strikes in kyiv which we have yet to confirm. also, you will pick up on this, in lviv, we saw smoke in the background from our correspondence. we havejust got confirmation buildings around the airport, we understand, have been hit. this is from the town mayor. we saw earlier plumes of smoke on the horizon. it is believed to be around the airport. it is part of the russian air assault.

as we enter the 23rd day of the russian invasion, ukrainian counterattacks and logistical woes are said to be stalling things. the mod say russian forces have made no territorial advances and are maybe struggling with morale and logistical problems. so this map has not changed much over the past days but it does not mean the fighting has slowed. in lviv, a large plume of smoke has been coming from the direction of the airport, six kilometres from the centre. this video sent by a reporter. the mayor says the airport was not hit by the building next to it was. we will bring you more as we get it. in kyiv, these aerial shots show more buildings hit by shelling. no news on casualties in the capital this

morning yet. as many as 53 civilians have reportedly been killed in the northern city of chernihiv since wednesday. authorities there say mariupol remains under heavy assault. it is under siege. 30,000 have managed to get out in convoys of cars. president putin has laid out his demands to enter the war in a phone conversation with turkey, who have been acting as a go—between between russia and ukraine. russian demands fall into two macro categories. first he wants ukraine to promise not tojoin nato, something ukraine's president has already conceded. ukraine would also have to reduce its arms, protect the russian language in the country, and something called denazification which could involve the government promising to clamp down on neo—nazi

groups in the country. the second category is where the difficulty might live. in his phone conversation mr putin said it would need face—to—face negotiations between him and president zelensky before agreement could be reached on these points. president zelensky said he is prepared to negotiate face—to—face. less detail on this. the assumption is russia will demand control over the part of eastern ukraine and for crimea it illegally annexed in 2014 to be formally recognised as territory. a bitter pill for ukraine to swallow. no word from the ukrainian president on how he might respond to the demands but in his latest video address he had this to say. translation: it is not the time to reveal our tactics _ of negotiations, as well. negotiations for peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity of our state, our freedom. working more in silence than on television, radio or facebook. i think this is right.

the situation on the ground seems to be locked into a slow war of attrition that will bring more shocking images like this while the world waits and hopes maybe talks will eventually bring a ceasefire. we will discuss this throughout the programme. ukranian refugees wanting to come to the uk can start applying for visas to be sponsored by british families from today. more than 150,000 people have registered for the scheme by offering a room in their home or a vacant property, but there have been some delays in matching up refugees and sponsors. our special correspondent lucy manning has spoken to one family who hopes to house two sets of refugees. so we'll know how quickly the visa application process will take. they are making plans in the middle of war. last week, they had never even spoken. next week, they will be sharing a house.

i think it will be a good experience for me, and now i can continue to work with a ukrainian company online when i have a suitable computer. thinking about helping ukrainian people and support. you're very welcome, olga. we'll speak to you soon. you take care today. so we're going to have to paint the room. - graham, his wife melina and two children are opening up their kent home to olga, who works in video games, from kyiv, and nastja, an estate agent, and her mum, vita. one of the rooms is my office — my work from home space, if you like, which we're going to be redecorating. british families opening up rooms and hearts to those desperate enough to plead for strangers in a foreign country to take them in.

fears recalibrated when you've escaped russian shelling. what was it that made you decide that you wanted to have refugees come to stay at your house? it's just impacted us quite a lot and you can't stand by and watch something like this happen. it's a humanitarian crisis, isn't it? and i think a part of it maybe feels like we're standing up to a huge bully. i just don't think we can stand by and just let it happen without doing something. and what impact do you think it is going to have on you and your family day—to—day? i don't think it will be a detrimental one. i think also it will probably demonstrate to our daughter, you know, compassion, sympathy and empathy, which is not a bad thing. the system to bring ukrainian refugees into british people's homes has been simplified. now they'll have to go on the home office website, fill in their details, their sponsor's details and provide a passport photo. problems? well, the checks on those people they're staying with are going to be basic, and it's still a diy refugee system.

you still have to find your own matches at the moment. and how did you go about trying to find ukrainians to help? it has been really difficult, actually, and i think there's a lot of frustrated brits out there. i think there's an expectation you fill in a government website form and you kind of get in touch with someone straightaway. you have to proactively go out and look for people. their ukrainian guests will swap the hell of war and the pain of departure for the quiet of the countryside. but thousands more want to help. millions need it. but will this scheme manage to connect them? lucy manning, bbc news. we can talk about sport. a big day in horse racing. the cheltenham gold cup is happening. they have let you out on the course. i know, it feels special to be back in the first time in two years, on

gold cup day. on the famous cheltenham slope. you have to believe me, i think the fog will clear. 3:35pm this afternoon, 11 horses thundering up here, trying to win this prestigious trophy. it is like the world cup final ofjump racing, so prestigious. can rachel blackmore win. this time it will be extra special for her blackmore win. this time it will be extra specialfor her and blackmore win. this time it will be extra special for her and other jockeys because the will be a packed grandstand, waiting for this for two years. we can get the feel of the course. we are joined years. we can get the feel of the course. we arejoined by years. we can get the feel of the course. we are joined by the clerk of the course. how special has it been? louder, more emotional because of what the country has been through? this was the last big sporting event before the first

lockdown. it sporting event before the first lockdown. . , , ., sporting event before the first lockdown. , ., ., . lockdown. it has been a fantastic atmosphere- _ lockdown. it has been a fantastic atmosphere. record _ lockdown. it has been a fantastic atmosphere. record crowds. - lockdown. it has been a fantastic atmosphere. record crowds. it l lockdown. it has been a fantastic - atmosphere. record crowds. it shows people were really eager to get back to the festival and enjoy it again. it is also going on against the backdrop of the war in ukraine. you have done a lot to mark that this week and show support and thoughts. a lot of ukrainian flags yesterday afternoon. what else is going on today? it afternoon. what else is going on toda ? , ., ., , afternoon. what else is going on toda ? ., , . today? it started on tuesday. we renamed the _ today? it started on tuesday. we renamed the national _ today? it started on tuesday. we renamed the national hunt - today? it started on tuesday. we j renamed the national hunt chase today? it started on tuesday. we i renamed the national hunt chase in honour of the red cross ukraine appeal to encourage people to make donations to support that cause. flags around all week. jockeys have one armbands in the ukraine flag colours so doing everything we can to encourage people to support the appeal. fit. to encourage people to support the a- eal. �* , to encourage people to support the aueal. �* , ,,, to encourage people to support the a--eal.m ., appeal. a big sporting story today is rachel blackmore. _ appeal. a big sporting story today is rachel blackmore. she - appeal. a big sporting story today is rachel blackmore. she showed | appeal. a big sporting story today - is rachel blackmore. she showed last year she can handle the pressure of history. she won the grand national. second last year in the gold cup. what do you make of her chances? she

has had what do you make of her chances? sue: has had a great week. honeysuckle on tuesday winning the champion hurdle and she got a great reception. a fantastic festival last year. a shame the crowds were not here to enjoy that. they have supported her this week and she has great chances again. this week and she has great chances aaain. ., . ' this week and she has great chances aaain. ., . , , this week and she has great chances aaain. ., . ' , ., again. how much different is it for the jockeys _ again. how much different is it for the jockeys to _ again. how much different is it for the jockeys to have _ again. how much different is it for the jockeys to have the _ again. how much different is it for the jockeys to have the crowd, - again. how much different is it for the jockeys to have the crowd, as| the jockeys to have the crowd, as they thunder appear to the winning ways? j they thunder appear to the winning wa s? ., , , ., ,, they thunder appear to the winning wa s? ., ,, ., they thunder appear to the winning was? ., i, ways? i get to speak to the 'ockeys throu . hout ways? i get to speak to the 'ockeys throughout the i ways? i get to speak to the 'ockeys throughout the day t ways? i get to speak to the 'ockeys throughout the day and _ ways? i get to speak to the jockeys throughout the day and that - ways? i get to speak to the jockeys throughout the day and that is - ways? i get to speak to the jockeys throughout the day and that is one | throughout the day and that is one thing they all say, they enjoy riding here at the festival, the support the crowd gives. nothing better than the walk back down in front of the stands after a win. share front of the stands after a win. are ou front of the stands after a win. are you allowed _ front of the stands after a win. are you allowed to _ front of the stands after a win. are you allowed to give a tip? i - front of the stands after a win. are you allowed to give a tip? i can - you allowed to give a tip? i can t . i you allowed to give a tip? i can try- i think— you allowed to give a tip? i can try. i think rachel— you allowed to give a tip? i can try. i think rachel has - you allowed to give a tip? i can try. i think rachel has a - you allowed to give a tip? i can try. i think rachel has a great i try. i think rachel has a great chance. let's stick with rachel. from the racing here to the race to avoid relegation from the premier league.

there was drama at goodison park as everton scored foran for an unlikely win in the end. everton went down to ten men against newcastle last night in the second half. but alex iwobi's goal in the 99th minute sealed a massive victory. everton are seventeenth, three points from the relegation zone but frank lampard admitted he may have over celebrated a bit. i think i've broken a bone in my hand. after the goal, i realised, as the game settled, i've sort of settled. a bit shaken, a bit sore. but, you know what? for the three points we got in the end, not a problem. so i won't complain too much. part of the reason there was so much added time in the game was because a protester tied himself by the neck to the goal post. he was wearing a t—shirt that said "just stop oil" and was, after around eight minutes, cut loose and taken away by the stewards.

west ham also left it late to make it into their first european quarter—final since 1981. fittingly, ukrainian winger andriy yarmolenko scored an emotional winner in extra—time as they knocked out sevilla in the europa league also in the europa league, rangers lost on the night but reached their first european quarter—final in 14 years. ryan kent scored in a 4—2 aggregate victory over red star belgrade. leicester made it through to the europa conference league last 16. ben stokes smashed his way back into form in the second test between england and west indies. he got his eleventh century for his country to put england in control — they declared on 507 runs. there was also a great moment for debutant bowler matthew fisher who got his first test wicket with only his second delivery. west indies will resume this afternoon trailing by 436 runs.

a big day in terms of the future for chelsea with the final day for potential buyers to submit a bid to purchase chelsea. the club is available after owner roman abramovich was sanctioned and had his assests frozen for his alleged ties with russian president vladimir putin. well, since we're at cheltenham let's have a look at some of the possible runners and riders. lifelong chelsea fan lord coe is backing an offer led by former liverpool chairman sir martin broughton. the owners of the chicago cubs baseball team, the ricketts family, remain serious contenders. as does american businessman todd boehly and swiss billionaire hansjorg wyss. british property tycoon nick candy has the support of former player and manager gianluca vialli. while the ceo of saudi media, a chelsea fan, could table the biggest bid, links to the saudi state could prove unpopular. valued at around £2.5 billion, the club's wage bill

is £28 million a month. petr cech warned without a quick sale the club might not survive until the end of the season. that is a stark warning. a massive day for the future of chelsea. it is expected to go down to a final shortlist of three before making the final decision. at cheltenham, you will get the official forecast in a minute. it is foggy, it's a bit cold, but i think it will lift in time for the big race. studio: matt is the one to answer that. it will be a cracking day there later. a cold start. this is warwickshire a short while ago. just up warwickshire a short while ago. just up the road from mike it is a more gloomy picturejust like up the road from mike it is a more gloomy picture just like you see in worcestershire. with fog. the areas most prone to the fog this morning, across western england into the east of wales. and there could be the odd

patch elsewhere. some of the fog could linger to mid—morning but overall a cracking day. the cloud in the far north of scotland, showers should clear. most of you under blue skies this afternoon. maybe eastern northern ireland having loan cloud drift up. a breeze in the north west. under blue skies and strengthening sunshine it will feel pleasant in the afternoon after that cold start. 10—16 the expected high. tonight, clearskies, light winds. the breeze will pick up. the fog not as much an issue. if it is anywhere it will be towards north—east england, especially the vale of york. and temperatures up on last night but one or two will have frost. this high—pressure across much of europe. we are on the edge of it. around the edge you have more of it. around the edge you have more of a breeze, into saturday. still

have sunshine on saturday but turning windy which will impact how the day feels for some. this is how it plays out. fog will clear. saturday, blue skies. some cold sea temperatures in the north sea. and when the breeze coming in from the east it will take cold air into eastern coastal counties of scotland and england. feeling cooler here than today. in the west, the highest temperatures. the warmest of all, the far north—west of scotland, up to 17 celsius possible on saturday afternoon. with the breeze, it will be a colder day on sunday. we will not have frost. more cloud. the difference from saturday, more cloud in eastern areas. and an increasing chance of showers in east anglia and the south—east. the temperature in

norwich just 9 degrees. and the south—east. the temperature in norwichjust 9 degrees. and in the south—east. the temperature in norwich just 9 degrees. and in the west, temperatures down on saturday. showers will work northwards across eastern parts into sunday night. clearing into monday and next week, back to sunshine for many and note the temperatures. it will increase. they could approach 20 degrees for some on monday, tuesday and wednesday. you know how that weather makes me feel. i bet it has put a smile on your face. the decision by p&o to sack 800 crew members. what happens if a big company says in one day, you are sacked. something we have not heard in awhile and it begs a lot of questions. it does. people are grappling with

whether it is legal. a big company employee could be thinking, is this something i can face? the question now is what they have done, is it legal? yesterday without warning, 800 crew members were told by p&o they were being made redundant with immediate effect. this has an impact on p&o ferry routes between dover and calais, hull to rotterdam, liverpool to dublin and cairnryan in scotland to larne in northern ireland. no sailings for the next few days means huge disruption for passengers. to add insult to injury, unions say these images show buses of cheaper agency workers in hull waiting to board and take the crew members' jobs. it was tweeted by the local labour mp. some staff refused to leave and private security firms

were brought in to force them off. p&o says this drastic action is needed to save the business. it claims the ferry company is making a loss of £100 million a year for its owner — which is ultimately the dubai government. during the pandemic, demand for ferries nosedived. p&o did get some help — including cash to furlough staff during lockdown. but since then it's paid out hundreds of millions of pounds to shareholders. so the government turned down a recent request for more help. unions say they're planning legal action. i have been in this game 40 years. and the industry never ceases to surprise me and indeed shot me on occasion. this is a new low for a proud maritime nation like the uk. for a once proud company, p&o. it is truly shocking. i am absolutely stunned. so what are workers' rights? let's speak to an hr expert —

kate palmerfrom peninsula. is what p&o done, is it legal? in terms of issuing a settlement agreement to staff and say you have got by the 31st of march to sign and return this, if that member of staff does, that is a legally enforceable settlement agreement that prevents the employee from pursuing a tribunal claim. but that might not happen. what will be the next step? if it is a case of dismissing you via redundancy, which they have said, they have a lot of unfair dismissal claims on their hands because it has not been run properly. hf because it has not been run properly-— because it has not been run --roerl. ., ~ ,., ., ., , _ properly. if workers are not happy with the settlement, _ properly. if workers are not happy with the settlement, what - properly. if workers are not happy with the settlement, what would l properly. if workers are not happy i with the settlement, what would you advise them? hf with the settlement, what would you advise them? th with the settlement, what would you advise them?— advise them? if i were in their osition advise them? if i were in their position i _ advise them? if i were in their position i would _ advise them? if i were in their position i would hold - advise them? if i were in their position i would hold out - advise them? if i were in their position i would hold out and l advise them? if i were in their i position i would hold out and see what the ramifications were of not signing the settlement agreement because there has to be a next step. p&0 because there has to be a next step. p&o must have in their heads what they will do if employees do not

sign. i would wait and see what that brought. settlement discussions can be picked up should the employee not be picked up should the employee not be happy with the next step so i would hold out and wait.- be happy with the next step so i would hold out and wait. there is a sense the way _ would hold out and wait. there is a sense the way p&0 _ would hold out and wait. there is a sense the way p&0 have _ would hold out and wait. there is a sense the way p&0 have done - would hold out and wait. there is a sense the way p&0 have done this| would hold out and wait. there is a i sense the way p&0 have done this is sense the way p&o have done this is ethically very bad and unfair on staff. are there penalties that can be imposed on the company for what they have done?— they have done? certainly, the unfair dismissal _ they have done? certainly, the unfair dismissal claims - they have done? certainly, the unfair dismissal claims and - they have done? certainly, the unfair dismissal claims and a i unfair dismissal claims and a protective award. 90 days of pay for every employee they have not collectively consulted with. but likewise it seems they have not submitted an hr one to the secretary of state which is a form every employer needs to submit if they contemplate redundancies. so the government are aware of what is going on. not doing that, the action can be criminal prosecution. itruiheh can be criminal prosecution. when companies — can be criminal prosecution. when companies talk _ can be criminal prosecution. when companies talk about _ can be criminal prosecution. when companies talk about redundancy, for that to be a legitimate process,

there are several things, the consultation needed. that there are several things, the consultation needed. that was not done here- — consultation needed. that was not done here. for— consultation needed. that was not done here. for redundancies - consultation needed. that was not done here. for redundancies of i consultation needed. that was notl done here. for redundancies of 100 people or more there should be a minimum of 40 days of consultation. there has been no meaningful consultation. it is a two—way process where employees have the opportunity to put forward an alternative to the enforced termination. is it a fair process? no, based on that alone. redundancy means the work is no longer there and no longer a need forjobs but if you have agency workers ready to board the ships and carry on sailing, it suggests the work is there. , , ., there. the first test unfair dismissal _ there. the first test unfair dismissal in _ there. the first test unfair dismissal in terms i there. the first test unfair dismissal in terms of i there. the first test unfair i dismissal in terms of redundancy, has work of a particular kind diminished or stocked? with staff waiting to take up that work it indicates it has not ceased. that fails the test if that is the way forward with agency staff and leads

to an unfair dismissal claim on its own. ~ ., ., to an unfair dismissal claim on its own. ~ . ., ., to an unfair dismissal claim on its own. ~ . ., own. what about the video message, the way they — own. what about the video message, the way they were — own. what about the video message, the way they were told? _ own. what about the video message, the way they were told? does i own. what about the video message, the way they were told? does it i own. what about the video message, the way they were told? does it have j the way they were told? does it have to be in writing? _ the way they were told? does it have to be in writing? they _ the way they were told? does it have to be in writing? they have _ the way they were told? does it have to be in writing? they have been i to be in writing? they have been told of termination of employment and are terminated but the fairness has yet to be tested. i would say unfair, no consultation, no warning, no two—way conversation, no real explanation. the headlines of the losses made but no detailed explanation of the why and that is key and that is lacking. does explanation of the why and that is key and that is lacking.— key and that is lacking. does the law need to _ key and that is lacking. does the law need to be _ key and that is lacking. does the law need to be toughened i key and that is lacking. does the law need to be toughened up i key and that is lacking. does the law need to be toughened up to | law need to be toughened up to prevent this happening again? the prevent this happening again? tue: ramifications, prevent this happening again? he ramifications, the prevent this happening again? t'te: ramifications, the criminal prosecution, 800 potential unfair dismissal claims. the damage to reputation is enormous. the law is there to protect staff and they will have recourse to further action. in this case, p&o have chosen not to follow it and the risk for them is

high. follow it and the risk for them is hiuh. . follow it and the risk for them is hi h, ., ., ~' follow it and the risk for them is hiuh. . . ~ follow it and the risk for them is hiuh. ., ., . high. kate, thank you. we will follow this _ high. kate, thank you. we will follow this and _ high. kate, thank you. we will follow this and how _ high. kate, thank you. we will follow this and how it - high. kate, thank you. we will follow this and how it unfoldsl high. kate, thank you. we will. follow this and how it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london. many of london's top tourist attractions are failing to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic, according to the group that represents them. the association of leading visitor attractions says places like st paul's cathedral, westminster abbey, and the tower of london are all struggling with visitor numbers. they are most reliant on overseas tourism, which has yet to recover to pre—pandemic levels. a scheme that started during the pandemic to help refugee and overseas doctors work in the nhs has continued to help clinicians. the medical support worker scheme saw medics from all over the world join hospitals to help during covid. the royal london had 40 such staff —

more then any hospital across the country. it was so stressful. first to come and work in the intensive care unit, it was very stressful. and also to see covid patients — like, to go in and see all patients, almost all of them are intubated — very sick patients. you might see some red noses today — it's the comic relief fundraiser aiming to raise money for charities everywhere. one of them is fight 4 change, set up by boxing champion rebecca donnelly, which uses sport to help vulnerable people make positive changes in their lives. they meet at the black prince hub in lambeth. because we're all, you know, in some sense or form, either homeless or have some form of addiction, you can'tjust stop being addicted to whatever it is — you have to find something to replace that time and that moment. and fight 4 change has really helped that. within the community, we can build each other up because we have a sense of who we are and where we've come from.

well, if you're heading out on public transport this morning, this is how tfl services are looking right now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning. onto the weather now, with elizabeth rizzini. hello, good morning. today across the capital, it's looking very similar weather—wise to how it was yesterday. and to remind ourselves, here's chelsea embankment, hayes and, finally, notting hill as captured by our weather watchers in all of that sparkling early spring sunshine. that is set to continue today. if anything, it will feel a touch warmerfor most, too. but this morning, it's another chilly start. patchy frost out there, also some patches of mist and fog around. it's thickest a little bit further west than us, but still some, particularly across western home counties. that will lift and clear fairly readily as we head through the morning. for most, a bright start to the day and we'll be keeping that sunshine throughout the day. just a bit more fairweather cloud as we head through the afternoon. more of an easterly breeze today. so it's a little cooler towards eastern areas of town.

but for most, it is a touch warmer than yesterday — 15 or 16 degrees celsius. through this evening and overnight, looking at the clear skies, it stays dry, but it does turn rather breezy. too windy for any mist and fog to form or any frost, it is a milder start to saturday. the sunshine continues on saturday, but it does turn cloudier on sunday, and cooler. the chance of showers. temperatures rise again into the start of next week. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. now, though, it's back to naga and charlie. bye for now.

good morning, welcome to breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. our headlines today. in the last hour, explosions have been heard in the western city of lviv — smoke can be seen in the direction of the airport, six kilometres from the city centre. the city's mayor says several missiles have hit an aircraft repair plant, destroying its building. demonstrations are planned at ports across the country in outrage at p&o ferries, which sacked 800 staff to replace them with agency workers. it isa it is a bit ofa it is a bit of a foggy start to the day for some in england and wales especially, but plenty of sunshine to come for most and it will last to

the start of the weekend. all the details during breakfast. it's friday 18th march. there have been a series of explosions in western ukraine near to the city of lviv. the mayor says several missiles have hit an airplane maintenance plant, destroying the building. a large plume of smoke can be seen coming from the direction of lviv airport, about six kilometres from the city centre. these latest attacks come as vladimir putin has laid out his demands in exchange for a peace deal with ukraine. hywel griffith reports. lost in grief, and the grim reality of war. the people of ukraine have endured over three weeks of brutal bombardment and indiscriminate deaths. these latest images show the western city of lviv being targeted this morning, with smoke rising from an aircraft repair plant.

there are no reported casualties. in the northern city of chernihiv, according to its regional governor, as many as 53 civilians have been killed by russian forces since wednesday. after each air strike comes the search for life amongst the ruins. but while the aerial offensive is devastating, russia's progress on the ground seems to be stalling. according to the latest intelligence from the uk ministry of defence, counter—attacks by ukraine soldiers means russia can't get supplies to its forward lines. that may be why russia has been prepared to set out its terms for peace — demanding that ukraine be a neutral country that would notjoin nato. but it's assumed moscow also wants eastern parts of ukraine to be under its control, and for crimea to formally become part of russia.

these are concessions president zelensky may find hard to make. he is prepared to meet president putin face—to—face, but won't say what his terms will be. in his now daily address, he said it wasn't time to reveal the tactics for negotiating peace, sovereignty, and the integrity of the state. for now, it was better to work in silence. ukraine has had to draw on every possible reserve — untrained teenagers fighting alongside veterans. sergiy stakhovsky retired from professional tennis to take up arms for his nation. even if i will be capable of shooting, killing someone is marking you on your life. so i don't believe that any of the ukrainians are willingly doing it, but we don't have any choice. if we don't stand up, we don't have a country to defend — we don't have a country to live in. there are some who have to flee.

around 30,000 people have been able to leave mariupol in the south — leaving behind a sieged city where 90% of buildings have been damaged and destroyed. and in 0desa, they fear they may be next. families are being torn apart as they prepare for the unknown weeks — maybe months — ahead. hywel griffith, bbc news. our correspondentjeremy bowen joins us from ukraine's capital, kyiv. good morning to you. we understand, and you can tell us more, that some explosions have been heard in the city. explosions have been heard in the ci . . ., ., explosions have been heard in the ci . ., ., ., ~ , explosions have been heard in the ci . . ., ., . , , city. yeah, from the north west side which is where _ city. yeah, from the north west side which is where most _ city. yeah, from the north west side which is where most of _ city. yeah, from the north west side which is where most of the _ city. yeah, from the north west side which is where most of the military l which is where most of the military activity is. there is a sort of band of satellite towns out that way, about 15 kilometres away from where i am standing. there has been

constant military activity there. pretty much since the very beginning of all this, since day one.— of all this, since day one. these re orts, of all this, since day one. these reports. they — of all this, since day one. these reports, they are _ of all this, since day one. these reports, they are that _ of all this, since day one. these reports, they are that far i of all this, since day one. these reports, they are that far away l of all this, since day one. these | reports, they are that far away at the moment, what is the implication of that? for two weeks we have been talking about the convoy which was heading towards kyiv, we understand, and certain surroundings being occupied by russian troops. what are the implications now, does it feel closer? ., .. the implications now, does it feel closer? ., , ., , closer? no, in fact the implications of all of this— closer? no, in fact the implications of all of this is _ closer? no, in fact the implications of all of this is that _ closer? no, in fact the implications of all of this is that the _ of all of this is that the ukrainians around the capital by doing pretty well in military terms. they say that that convoy is a mixture of broken down vehicles, dispersed vehicles, vehicles they have smashed up. it is no longer a military issue. western analysts have said similar things, as well. the fact is i think it is very clear now that putin and his generals were expecting a pretty quick campaign, three orfour days,

expecting a pretty quick campaign, three or four days, decapitate the government, change the regime, sending the tanks. but did not factor in the level of resistance that there has been from the ukrainians. they didn't factor in the massive number of sanctions that they have suffered. and now there are increasingly well documented reports about not only large numbers of russian casualties dead as well as wounded, but also huge amounts of equipment being lost. the japanese have said that the russians have sent warships past their waters from their pacific ports in the russian far east with armoured vehicles on them, which presumably are going to take a longer route round to the black sea to bring in some reinforcements quite fascinating. tell us about what people, how people are reacting in kyiv at the moment. we had news of the course of those talks brokered by turkey's president, with vladimir putin, and

this list of demands that perhaps take the negotiation is a step closer to peace in ukraine. has that been filtered through there? yeah, i think it is about ten capital ps on those. there are a few rumbles behind me. pretty typicalfor the time of day. the sides are a long way apart and is a very fundamental issues like terrain. the amount of terrain that the russians have taken and held. would they give it back as part of a deal? things like that. nobody is holding their breath. i do think let's cross our fingers because if there is not some kind of a ceasefire deal then this capital city, the centre of which, where i am, is pretty much untouched, it is

at the mercy of long—range rockets. the ukrainians say one of their military priorities, which they claim to have achieved, is to keep artillery out of range but rockets that can be fired from russia or belarus or from aeroplanes a long way off, those things, the missiles i should say, those things cannot really be that easily defended against. they knocked them out of the sky but ones get through, as well. i think there is going to be a long haul in this work. itruihat well. i think there is going to be a long haul in this work.— well. i think there is going to be a long haul in this work. what is life like them now? _ long haul in this work. what is life like them now? are _ long haul in this work. what is life like them now? are people... in l long haul in this work. what is life l like them now? are people... in the morning, who do you see on the streets? usea people, do you see car is out and about?— is out and about? there are cars, and people- _ is out and about? there are cars, and people. people _ is out and about? there are cars, and people. people who - is out and about? there are cars, and people. people who are i is out and about? there are cars, and people. people who are here| is out and about? there are cars, i and people. people who are here now, most of them, unless they are physically unable to leave, want to be here, they want to be part of what is going on. to coin a phrase

they are keeping calm and carrying on. and while this city is in no sense normal, the water is on, the electricity is on, the internet is on the apply moving around. it is not besieged, the whole of the south is open, people can drive in and out. people feel here i think increasingly secure.- out. people feel here i think increasingly secure. good to talk to ou as increasingly secure. good to talk to you as always- _ you as always. a number of events already to catch up a number of events already to catch up with. let's go to lviv. our correspondent jonah fisher is there. some reports of explosions. ring us up some reports of explosions. ring us up to date. hat some reports of explosions. ring us u- to date. ., ., ., . , up to date. not far from the city, i am speaking _ up to date. not far from the city, i am speaking to — up to date. not far from the city, i am speaking to you _ up to date. not far from the city, i am speaking to you from - up to date. not far from the city, i am speaking to you from the i up to date. not far from the city, i am speaking to you from the city i am speaking to you from the city centre and until ten or 15 minutes ago we could see the smoke on the

horizon. that is the direction of lviv�*s main airport and we are being told that in the early hours of this morning, when the air sirens sounded across the city, there was a strike on buildingsjust across the city, there was a strike on buildings just next to lviv�*s airport, buildings that were used to prepare aircraft and that is what was targeted in what appears to have been a russian cruise missile strike. there are no casualties reported from it, the mayor office has told us there were not people in a facility at the time but this is quite a big dealfor lviv a facility at the time but this is quite a big deal for lviv because this is a place that is a safe haven, a place where people have been coming to escape the war in a mess of the country, place where people have been coming as a staging point on their way out of the country towards the european union. this is the closest that the war has got to this city in the west of the country, so i think a lot of people

will be evaluating what they do now, whether this is truly a safe place for them were aware that they need to perhaps move on again. just for them were aware that they need to perhaps move on again.- for them were aware that they need to perhaps move on again. just to be clear, to perhaps move on again. just to be clear. those — to perhaps move on again. just to be clear, those strikes, _ to perhaps move on again. just to be clear, those strikes, initial— clear, those strikes, initial strikes were some two hours ago now and since then it has been relatively calm popular. relatively calm yes, and since then it has been relatively calrr_ and since then it has been relatively cal and since then it has been relativel cal , ., ., relatively calm yes, we have not seen anything — relatively calm yes, we have not seen anything since _ relatively calm yes, we have not seen anything since then. i relatively calm yes, we have not seen anything since then. we i relatively calm yes, we have not| seen anything since then. we get relatively calm yes, we have not i seen anything since then. we get air raid sirens when there are possible strikes heading in this direction, so we received the all clear a short while after these strikes took place. for now, yeah. lviv is a beautiful city, looking across the lovely, lovely spring sunshine, the lovely, lovely spring sunshine, the lovely city, but sadly today was a day when the war came a lot closer, thatis day when the war came a lot closer, that is only four miles away, that explosion, so i date when lviv is having to adjust to a new reality

aboutjust how close this war is now to their lives. for aboutjust how close this war is now to their lives-— to their lives. for the moment, thank you _ to their lives. for the moment, thank you very _ to their lives. for the moment, thank you very much. - rescue teams in mariupol are still trying to find survivors under the rubble of a theatre which was being used as a bomb shelter by hundreds of people, including children, when it was attacked. more than 350,000 people are sheltering in basements and storage facilities and have been trapped in the city without heating, electricity and running water for the past two weeks. zoe conway has been speaking to three women who've been forced to flee their homes in mariupol. this is the apartment block in mariupol where yulia karpenko lived until last saturday. 17 years old, yulia lived there with her mother and stepfather. while we were cooking, we were also being bombed. like when you are cooking something and then you hear the sound "phsoo". this is like this sound. if you hear it's really loud, then you should lay on the floor,

lay on the ground and cover your ears and open your mouth. i mean, it sounds really crazy and it all felt like a big dream, more like a nightmare. this week theyjoined the thousands of people leaving the city. she says that, at checkpoints, russian soldiers would tell them to remove photos of destruction from their mobile phones. one soldier watched her video of her apartment block burning. i saw that they were a little ashamed. like, they were hiding their eyes. and they were talking — like, we didn't make this choice, like, it's not ourfault. but we didn't feel sorry for them. because it's hard to feel sorry for someone who has bombed your flat and who has left you without a home and may be without a hometown. yulia is heading to germany with her mother. but her stepfather must stay behind. 18—to—60—year—old ukrainian men can't leave the country.

how are they feeling about that idea of being separated? they are just sitting there a few tables from me. they are really stressed. and i think... i think they are really, really sad about it. but, like, there is no choice for us. thousands of people's homes in mariupol now look like this. everything they own destroyed. many are now living in basements, struggling to keep warm with no electricity. everywhere in mariupol there is evidence of russian attacks. but the kremlin claims it doesn't bomb cities, and claims it didn't bomb this theatre — where hundreds of people were sheltering. this video filmed last week shows women and children seeking refuge in the basement. it's still not clear how many people survived. maria grew up in mariupol. last christmas, she was at the theatre.

and there was a beautiful christmas tree on the main square, just near the theatre. i remember my childhood, when we were going to the theatre with my parents, with my sisters, with all my family. and i couldn't believe that it really happened. i am still now in this denial stage, because if i start thinking about all this horror, ijust can't live any more. this is maria with her beloved grandmother. for two weeks, she feared she was dead, trapped in her house in mariupol with no heating, surviving on bread and buckwheat as homes around her were shelled. she was finally rescued by a priest. she is a really strong woman and she was born in the beginning of the second world war, so it is unbelievable that she faces the war again. she had a strong spirit not to

surrender, and to fight to the end. and i really admire her and i want to hug her so, so much. and i dream about that. olena is talking to us from scotland. she believes that her mother, who lives in mariupol, still alive. but belief is really all she has to go on. she has not spoken to her, or her brother dmitri, for nearly three weeks. i don't know where they are. i don't know if it is still present tense i can use. i still would like to use present tense. i still believe that they are alive. i assume that they are trapped in stolichny. they don't have the car, so what would be the chance for them to escape? my mum is 83 — well, 83 she will be in two weeks.

does it mean that she will be celebrating her 83 years old in that nightmare? if she is alive, of course. how would she walk? she is still recovering from covid. so great is the agony of not knowing what has happened to herfamily, elena says she and her husband are barely sleeping. i'm just shouting across the world, if somebody could hear me. these people need help. i cannot even imagine how many people are dead, lying there now. how many young children, now. how many young children there are! they are probably... i don't know. they might not see tomorrow, even. they might not see tomorrow. ukrainian officials say more than 300,000 people remain in the city. many simply can't leave. they might not own a car, or they might simply not be well enough to cope with the perilous journey out of here. they are trapped. zoe conway, bbc news.

we're joined now from lviv by alex wade — who is an emergency co—ordinator for the humanitarian aid charity, medecins sans frontieres. very good morning to you. i assume you couldn't see that report that went out in a moment to go but there were some very harrowing images in there. the damage to marry a mariupol. you have an operation there, what is your assessment of there, what is your assessment of the situation? tt there, what is your assessment of the situation?— the situation? it is an absolute disaster at _ the situation? it is an absolute disaster at the _ the situation? it is an absolute disaster at the moment. i the situation? it is an absolute disaster at the moment. this i the situation? it is an absolute | disaster at the moment. this is the situation? it is an absolute i disaster at the moment. this is a crisis on a massive scale, the last estimate i heard was around 350,000 people still trapped who don't have access to water, to food, who don't have access to medical services. we already know that many people have died from the violence, from the shelling in residential areas, areas

that should never have been hit. also people have started dying from lack of access to continuing medical care. they need insulin or other medical services. this is a disaster unfolding in front of our eyes and getting worse every day. haifa unfolding in front of our eyes and getting worse every day.- getting worse every day. how is medecins sans _ getting worse every day. how is medecins sans frontieres i getting worse every day. how is medecins sans frontieres able i getting worse every day. how is| medecins sans frontieres able to operate in a situation like that? are you able to operate, your teams? currently inside of mariupol are not able to operate because the situation has become too chaotic and far too dangerous to send in teams and ask them to operate, it would be putting their lives at risk and doctors and nurses cannot treat patients if they themselves are dead. we had a team which was there before the war started, a project there since 2014 when the conflict began and our team has been doing everything they can to stay safe and stay alive. some have been able to make it out in the last couple of days as they have been convoys

leaving the city, we hope to see that safe passage continues and continues at all time. we hope it is not a momentary window that they have which will close but rather innocent civilians and noncombatants should be allowed safe passage at all times. ., ., ,. , ., all times. you have described how hard it is, if— all times. you have described how hard it is, if possible _ all times. you have described how hard it is, if possible for _ all times. you have described how hard it is, if possible for your- hard it is, if possible for your teams to get into a city like that. i understand a lot of the work you are doing at the moment in the places you can get to his preparing medical teams on the ground for mass casualties and that obviously is more likely as white missiles rain down on more ukrainian cities —— check out more missiles rained down. we are working to access, this is something we were trying to do in mariupol and weight loss that access for almost two weeks now. we are working with local health systems and hospitals to train them and share expertise we have from working in conflict zones all over the world

when you receive potentially dozens of wounded all at once. you can have highly trained incredibly confident doctors and nurses, but to receive so many wounded at once doesn't usually happen in normal society and so to have the skills to be able to triage incredibly rapidly and make decisions very quickly to save as many lives as possible, also with limited resources, is a particular skill set we can share locally. teilii skill set we can share locally. tell us a little bit _ skill set we can share locally. tell us a little bit about logistics in terms of getting medical supplies in, as well. how is that working out? i assume it is very, very different according to where you are working within ukraine. taste different according to where you are working within ukraine.— working within ukraine. we have local suppliers — working within ukraine. we have local suppliers we _ working within ukraine. we have local suppliers we have - working within ukraine. we have local suppliers we have been i working within ukraine. we have i local suppliers we have been working with. but the medical supply system throughout the country has been disrupted so sources are drying up, as well. we are bringing in trucks and trucks are supplied internationally, crossing the border from poland and other in through lviv and be dispersed through other

areas. we have a logistical hub in dnipro. in mariupol, if an opportunity opened where a safe passage into the city where possible, we are already close and we can send in trucks and personnel if security allows. we are trying to be as mobile and is close to the conflict as possible so we can access whenever there was windows of opportunity opened up. thahk access whenever there was windows of opportunity opened up-_ opportunity opened up. thank you ve much opportunity opened up. thank you very much for— opportunity opened up. thank you very much forjoining _ opportunity opened up. thank you very much forjoining us, - opportunity opened up. thank you very much forjoining us, good i opportunity opened up. thank you i very much forjoining us, good look to you and those working in the area. alex wade with medecins sans frontieres explaining how they are trying to work in a very challenging situation. demonstrations are expected in dover, liverpool and hull today, after p&o ferries sacked 800 workers with plans to replace them with cheaper agency staff. the company's services remain suspended for a second day — with concern over the possible effect on supply chains. simonjones reports.

they say they've been betrayed. sacked p&o workers blocked the main road leading to the port of dover, after being fired via a video message. the company has made the decision that its vessels going forward will be primarily crewed by a third—party crew provider. therefore, i am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy. workers like this one in hull left bewildered. we didn't know what to do. we've been told via this video message, but we've not seen anything in writing, there was no forewarning. we weren't told about anything beforehand, so it was... what do we do? security was sent in at the port of larne in northern ireland to ensure sacked workers left the ships — while in dover, agency workers moved in. one seafarer said when he was sent by an agency to a p&o ship in scotland, he left when he realised he was

due to replace those who had lost theirjobs. we started feeling sick. we started feeling just nauseous because we knew what we were doing — we were taking those people's jobs. for the moment, p&o ships are going nowhere, as the company attempts to bring in a new workforce. unions say they will fight the plans. it's absolutely shocking to think that this would happen in this day and age, that a company like p&o and a company like dp world would do this to individuals. they're the heart of the community. but p&o says in its current state its not a viable business — with annual losses of £100 million — and its survival depends on making swift and significant changes. it says it will offer enhanced compensation packages. the government has described the way workers have been treated as wholly unacceptable. it's warning of longer queues to get into dover, but it doesn't believe the supply of critical goods and services will be affected. simon jones, bbc news.

we're joined now by simon calder, who is travel correspondent for the independent. good morning to you. you look at what has happened and it beggars belief. how is p&o going to be able to get away with this? belief. how is p80 going to be able to get away with this?— to get away with this? well, it is absolutely _ to get away with this? well, it is absolutely dickensian _ to get away with this? well, it is absolutely dickensian in - to get away with this? well, it is absolutely dickensian in terms i to get away with this? well, it is| absolutely dickensian in terms of industrial relations. i think what has probably happened here is that dp world, the dubai —based company which owns p80, somebody in an office there has looked at the numbers and just said, well, this isn't any good, impose a solution that will work for us. and they somehow come up with this idea that you tell all the ships to tie up in dover, in hull, in liverpool, in line, then you move all the workers often say, sorry, you have given decades of loyal service but that counts for nothing and now we have

some new workers who are much cheaper and they are coming in. it simply isn't going to work. legally they may be able to do it because they may be able to do it because the contracts, i understand, that the contracts, i understand, that the seafarers have here are based in jersey and under international maritime law this can happen but i think the court of public opinion is simply saying you cannot carry on like this, and frankly if p80 doesn't come up with an alternative to this herbal treatment of their workers, i am to this herbal treatment of their workers, iam not to this herbal treatment of their workers, i am not sure how many customers they will have to. well, this is the next _ customers they will have to. well, this is the next point. _ customers they will have to. well, this is the next point. people i this is the next point. people power, as well as... i mean, that will play out, won't it, as people witness what p80 is doing? but also what service will customers receive now? that what service will customers receive now? �* ., , ., now? at the moment things are quite tric , now? at the moment things are quite tricky. anybody _ now? at the moment things are quite tricky. anybody trying _ now? at the moment things are quite tricky, anybody trying to _ now? at the moment things are quite tricky, anybody trying to sail- now? at the moment things are quite tricky, anybody trying to sail on i now? at the moment things are quite tricky, anybody trying to sail on a - tricky, anybody trying to sail on a p&0 ferry, if you are going from dover to calais, another company is

taking the passengers and things are flowing fairly quickly, looking across the docks. other routes are a lot trickier. p&o are actually saying, we will be up and running and may a week or so and you will get better service. and nobody i have spoken to can figure out how you can have the decades of experience, expertise, professionalism that these seafarers have shown here and at the other ports around the country and suddenly bring in new workers aren't much worse conditions and then say, here we are, it is the same service. it simply doesn't work and i imagine that p&0 it simply doesn't work and i imagine that p&o ferries is now realising what a catastrophic move they have made, and they will be rethinking. can ijust very made, and they will be rethinking. can i just very quickly say, this made, and they will be rethinking. can ijust very quickly say, this is nothing to do with p&o cruises! the two companies split up 20 years ago.

p&0 two companies split up 20 years ago. p&o cruises are sailing perfectly normally. p&0 cruises are sailing perfectly normall . �* , ., p&0 cruises are sailing perfectly normall . �* ,, p&0 cruises are sailing perfectly normall . �* , ., ., , normally. are you said that, it is alwa s normally. are you said that, it is always good _ normally. are you said that, it is always good to _ normally. are you said that, it is always good to get _ normally. are you said that, it is always good to get some - normally. are you said that, it is always good to get some clarityl normally. are you said that, it is - always good to get some clarity from you, although clarity at the moment, we will still be waiting for that bit more when it comes to p&o. you so much. we are speaking to a james heappey, the armed forces minister, in a few minutes. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm victoria hollins. many of london's top tourist attractions are failing to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic according to the group that represents them. the association of leading visitor attractions says places like st paul's cathedral, westminster abbey and the tower of london are all struggling with visitor numbers. they are most reliant on overseas tourism which has yet to recover to pre—pandemic levels. a scheme that started during the pandemic to help refugee and overseas doctors work in the nhs

has continued to help clinicians. the medical support worker scheme saw medics from all over the world join hospitals to help during covid. the royal london has a0 such staff, more then any hospital across the country. it was so stressful. first to come and work in the intensive care unit, it was very stressful. and also to see covid patients — like, to go in and see all patients, almost all of them are intubated — very sick patients. you might see some red noses today — it's the comic relief fundraiser aiming to raise money for charities everywhere. one of them is fight 1! change, set up by boxing champion rebecca donnelly, which uses sport to help vulnerable people make positive changes in their lives. they meet at the black prince hub in lambeth. because we're all, you know, in some sense or form, either homeless or have some form of addiction, you can'tjust stop being addicted to whatever it is — you have to find something to replace that time and that moment.

and fight 1! change has really helped that. within the community, we can build each other up because we have a sense of who we are and where we've come from. if you're heading out on public transport, this is how tfl services are looking. there's a good service on the tubes. the weather now with elizabeth rizzini. hello, good morning. today across the capital, it's looking very similar weather—wise to how it was yesterday. and to remind ourselves, here's chelsea embankment, hayes and, finally, notting hill as captured by our weather watchers in all of that sparkling early spring sunshine. that is set to continue today. if anything, it will feel a touch warmerfor most, too. but this morning, it's another chilly start. patchy frost out there, also some patches of mist and fog around. it's thickest a little bit further west than us, but still some, particularly across western home counties. that will lift and clear fairly readily as we head through the morning. for most, a bright start to the day and we'll be keeping that

sunshine throughout the day. just a bit more fairweather cloud as we head through the afternoon. more of an easterly breeze today. so it's a little cooler towards eastern areas of town. but for most, it is a touch warmer than yesterday — 15 or 16 degrees celsius. through this evening and overnight, looking at the clear skies, it stays dry, but it does turn rather breezy. too windy for any mist and fog to form or any frost, it is a milder start to saturday. the sunshine continues on saturday, but it does turn cloudier on sunday, and cooler. the chance of showers. temperatures rise again into the start of next week. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. bye for now. hello, this is breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. around this time we tried to put

together everything that has happened overnight. take us through what we know so far. in lviv, the largest city in western ukraine, a large plume of smoke can be seen coming from the direction of the airport, about 6km from the centre. this video was sent by one of our reporters there. lviv�*s mayor says the airport was not hit but a building next to it was. no casualties have been reported so far. in kyiv, these aerial shots show buildings hit by shelling this morning in a northern suburb of the capital. an explosion was heard according to an eyewitness but no information about the attack yet and no news of any casualties. the latest assessment by the mod here in the uk says russia has made minimal progress over the last week, stalling outside kyiv, failing to supply their forward lines.

but cities like kharkiv and maripol are still encircled, and being shelled heavily. in total, the un says 3.2 million people have now left ukraine. so how will this end? president putin has laid out his demands to end the war in a phone conversation with turkey, who are acting as the go—between with russia and ukraine. the russian demands fall into two categories. firstly, he wants ukraine to promise not tojoin nato — something that ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky has already conceded. ukraine would also have to reduce it's stash of arms, protect the russian language in the country and there is something called denazification, which could involve the government promising to clamp down on neo—nazi groups in the country. the second category is where the difficulty will lie, and in his phone call, mr putin said that it would need face—to—face negotiations between him and president zelensky before agreement could be

reached on these points. mr zelensky has said he's prepared to negotiate with him one—to—one. less detail on this. the assumption is that russia will demand control over parts of eastern ukraine and for crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014, to be formally recognised as its territory — a bitter pill for ukraine to swallow. no word yet from the ukrainian president on how he might respond to these demands, but in his latest video address overnight he said this. translation: it is not the time to reveal our tactics _ of negotiations, as well. negotiations for peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity of our state, our freedom. working more in silence than on television, radio or facebook. i think this is right. so the situation on the ground seems to be locked into a slow war of attrition, which will bring more shocking images like this. we know president biden will today urge china not to provide russia

with military equipment when he speaks to president xi today. it shows you the whole world is watching and has a stake in what's unfolding in ukraine. thank you. we're joined now from westminster by armed forces minister, james heappey. good morning. you have regular updates most mornings. what can you tell us about the picture you are seeing on the ground in ukraine? the reali is seeing on the ground in ukraine? the reality is that seeing on the ground in ukraine? tta: reality is that on seeing on the ground in ukraine? t'ta: reality is that on the seeing on the ground in ukraine? tta: reality is that on the big map, the picture looks exactly the same as it has the last week. russia is making no real progress. as a headline that would give you cause for optimism. but i think what exists beneath the surface is a number of besieged cities, kharkiv, mariupol, where

there is unimaginable suffering because the tactics are now to launch artillery indiscriminately into those cities and not to really care, apparently, who is underneath artillery when it falls. the other development which is to be expected but is still a concern is strikes into the west of the country. it is very much a part of war that you go after each other�*s supply lines and so it is not something i think it is unexpected but the reality is it is a new development and clearly will be a concern for those living in the west of ukraine. can be a concern for those living in the west of ukraine.— be a concern for those living in the west of ukraine. can you bring us up to date on what _ west of ukraine. can you bring us up to date on what munitions, - west of ukraine. can you bring us up| to date on what munitions, weapons, the uk has provided, and also, is there an increase in weaponry we are supplying to ukraine? yes. there an increase in weaponry we are supplying to ukraine?— supplying to ukraine? yes, very much. supplying to ukraine? yes, very much- stuff _ supplying to ukraine? yes, very much. stuff is _ supplying to ukraine? yes, very much. stuff is flowing _ supplying to ukraine? yes, very much. stuff is flowing forward l supplying to ukraine? yes, very. much. stuff is flowing forward now at great volume. the anti—tank

weapon has been what we have sent in greatest volume because it has such an incredible utility. we have sent through also other things from small arms ammunition, communications equipment, largeranti—tanks arms ammunition, communications equipment, larger anti—tanks weapons systems. javelin, of which the americans have sent thousands in addition. the secretary of state announced on monday that we are now in the process of training up ukrainians on the use of the star streak anti—aircraft missile system and those systems will arrive in ukraine imminently. as i have said, the disappointing thing is i cannot say when, where and how and i am sure viewers will understand why. leaving aside anti—aircraft missiles which have yet to be sent, this weaponry you are talking about, is it in active use by the ukrainian

military? it in active use by the ukrainian milita ? ., ., ., . ., military? not the anti-aircraft stuff. military? not the anti-aircraft stuff- the _ military? not the anti-aircraft stuff. the training _ military? not the anti-aircraft stuff. the training of - military? not the anti-aircraft| stuff. the training of ukrainian military has started. i cannot tell you where and who is being trained. that has begun. so that as the weapon systems arrive, they are training on simulators and when the systems arrive, which is imminent, they will be ready to go and use those. everything else is in ukraine and put to enormous effect. we have seen lots of content on social media of ukrainian soldiers shouting god save the queen as they fire missiles at russian armour. i'm not sure... that is not something necessarily to celebrate because the effect is utterly lethal but it shows how grateful ukrainian forces are for support the uk is providing. we are caettin a

support the uk is providing. we are getting a clearer— support the uk is providing. we are getting a clearer sense _ support the uk is providing. we are getting a clearer sense from - support the uk is providing. we are getting a clearer sense from our . getting a clearer sense from our team. you may have seen images brought back. this is around kharkiv, which is an area very badly affected. they have been with forces. and watching how they are operating. clearly outnumbered, and to a degree outgunned in terms of missiles but they are having a manifest impact on the progress of russian troops, which is clearly something putin had not expected. that is exactly right. in a purely military sense, what the russians have achieved so far is if you like the easy hit. manoeuvring over open countryside is the bit where you're armoured of superiority matters. when you are trying to take cities, the anticipated casualty level would be the lives of five attackers for every one defender, such are the

odds stacked in favour of the defender. from the vietnam era there is analysis that shows if you're fighting in cities where you are not just against the opposing army but against a civilian population that wants to resist, that ratio can be one defender to 14 attackers' lives. what russia has in front of it, now it has cities encircled, is the reality that at some point, the artillery barrage will have to stop. if they want to invade ukraine they will eventually need to enter those cities and when they do, what stands in front of them is utterly gruesome. president putin i do not think cares about that, but the russian people will, the mothers of soldiers will. i think the more we can reach out to the russian people and show them just how awful the loss of russian life is and how awful and indiscriminate the loss of ukrainian life, the more pressure could be put on putin to realise he

has failed in his endeavours. what stands in front of him is even worse than what has happened and it is time to stop. flan than what has happened and it is time to stop-— than what has happened and it is time to stop. can i ask about what we have heard _ time to stop. can i ask about what we have heard pretty _ time to stop. can i ask about what we have heard pretty much - time to stop. can i ask about what we have heard pretty much the - time to stop. can i ask about what l we have heard pretty much the first time through negotiations through vladimir putin what his demands are. this was in conversations yesterday with the turkish delegation. amongst the demands, there may come a time where the uk is asked, may be by ukraine, to be some form of guarantor. if they demilitarise, they have less weaponry. the backstop position could be a request to the uk and others, maybe outside of a nato or eu agreement, that somehow we are involved, we are a backstop to protect ukraine in the event of some future russian military action. is that untenable

as far as the uk is concerned? how could that request if it comes in be dealt with? t could that request if it comes in be dealt with? ., ., ~' could that request if it comes in be dealt with?— dealt with? i do not think anything is off the table _ dealt with? i do not think anything is off the table in _ dealt with? i do not think anything is off the table in terms _ dealt with? i do not think anything is off the table in terms of- dealt with? i do not think anything is off the table in terms of what i is off the table in terms of what the uk and allies would be willing to do in order to facilitate a peace deal. and what part we might play in guaranteeing that peace deal in the future. what i know is people who must have the agency in drawing out that peace deal in the first place is the russian government and ukrainian government. the russian government can choose to stop being as belligerent, and i am really sorry... the ministry of defence does this sometime. sorry. .. the ministry of defence does this sometime.— does this sometime. there will shortly be _ does this sometime. there will shortly be a — does this sometime. there will shortly be a test _ does this sometime. there will shortly be a test of _ does this sometime. there will shortly be a test of the - does this sometime. there will shortly be a test of the fire - does this sometime. there will. shortly be a test of the fire alarm. i shortly be a test of the fire alarm. lam _ shortly be a test of the fire alarm. lam really— shortly be a test of the fire alarm. i am really embarrassed. - shortly be a test of the fire alarm. ! am really embarrassed. do- shortly be a test of the fire alarm. i am really embarrassed. do you i shortly be a test of the fire alarm. - i am really embarrassed. do you want me to come back in a few minutes when they have stopped testing the fire alarms in our building? is it for your safety that you need... ? do you know it is a test

for sure? t need. .. ? do you know it is a test for sure?— need... ? do you know it is a test for sure? ., ~ ., , ., , ., for sure? i do know it is a test and i am embarrassed _ for sure? i do know it is a test and i am embarrassed it _ for sure? i do know it is a test and i am embarrassed it is _ for sure? i do know it is a test and i am embarrassed it is the - for sure? i do know it is a test and i am embarrassed it is the case. i | i am embarrassed it is the case. i can persevere but it will go on 30 seconds or more, i'm afraid. t will! seconds or more, i'm afraid. i will carry on- — seconds or more, i'm afraid. i will carry on- we _ seconds or more, i'm afraid. i will carry on. we will _ seconds or more, i'm afraid. i will carry on. we will let _ seconds or more, i'm afraid. i will carry on. we will let the _ seconds or more, i'm afraid. i will carry on. we will let the noise - carry on. we will let the noise carry on. we will let the noise carry on. we can still hear you. i wanted to draw attention to p&o. you are the armed forces minister, but you are the government representative today. i have heard from ministers they are outraged and angry and everything that has happened is unacceptable. that does not mean anything to someone who found out they were sacked immediately, escorted from a ship and they do not have a job. the government looks hopeless in this situation inasmuch as there is nothing you can do. is that the reality? t nothing you can do. is that the reali ? ~ ., , ., , reality? i think that is the reality and i think— reality? i think that is the reality and i think you _ reality? i think that is the reality and i think you are _ reality? i think that is the reality and i think you are right - reality? i think that is the reality and i think you are right to - reality? i think that is the reality and i think you are right to say i reality? i think that is the reality i and i think you are right to say the government because my anger will mean little to those who have been

sacked in such an appalling way. it does not mean it is not right for me to sit here and look at the camera and say i do feel very sorry for thosepeople and i think kenya have behaved disgracefully and they should have given more —— p&o have behaved disgracefully. it is not something the government could have stopped p&o from doing and focus must be on supporting those who have lost theirjobs. t must be on supporting those who have lost theirjobs-— lost their 'obs. i appreciate your hones lost theirjobs. i appreciate your honesty in _ lost theirjobs. i appreciate your honesty in that _ lost theirjobs. i appreciate your honesty in that respect. - lost theirjobs. i appreciate your honesty in that respect. anyone j honesty in that respect. anyone listening to you, seeing what is happening, might think i work for a big company, i always thought that for whatever reason because of legislation, whatever, i had certain protections on how i am told if i get noticed. this lends a lie to that. as i understand, there was talk of legislation that meant it

was outside of the law to sack one bunch of people and immediately take on cheaper people. i thought there was a possibility that could become a legal issue, but that was rejected recently. are there not options on the table for that? that recently. are there not options on the table for that?— the table for that? that is true. there was _ the table for that? that is true. there was a _ the table for that? that is true. there was a bill— the table for that? that is true. there was a bill brought - the table for that? that is true. | there was a bill brought forward the table for that? that is true. - there was a bill brought forward as a piece of backbench business to end the practice of fire and rehire as it is called. the reality is in the government view, whilst the process, the practice of firing and rehiring is despicable and something the government disagrees over, the scope of that bill was too broad and would have had in our view consequences for business that would have been unreasonable and damaged the employment market. i know colleagues in the department for business are looking at how we do clamp down on this behaviour because it is

increasingly common. there is a reality that as we enter into a period where there is inflation and there will be a challenge to cost of living, inevitably there will be a growing number of disputes over pay and so obviously, colleagues in the department for business are looking at how we make sure workers are protected and supported and businesses cannot behave as p&o did yesterday. businesses cannot behave as p&0 did esterda . , ., . .., yesterday. there is not much we can be certain about _ yesterday. there is not much we can be certain about at _ yesterday. there is not much we can be certain about at the _ yesterday. there is not much we can be certain about at the moment - yesterday. there is not much we can be certain about at the moment but| be certain about at the moment but we can be certain the fire alarm system in the ministry of defence is indeed operational. i am sorry. it happens. thank you. just reality. we managed to have control over the fire alarm status here. nothing between 6am and 9:15am. is that right? we will see. let's

hope that remains true during your few minutes. good morning. a stunning couple of days on the way. this was the scene in glasgow with blue skies and more of that to come. at the moment, fog patches around. it is especially dense in areas marked in yellow across west midlands, south—west england and eastern wales. it makes for a sluggish commute. the fog will probably clear by mid to late morning and then it is sunshine for the majority. cloud hugging the coast of eastern northern ireland. baby showers in the far north of scotland. with a lighter wind, blue skies overhead, strengthening sunshine, it will feel pleasant. a high of 13—16 for the majority. tonight turning cold quite quickly. a touch of frost for one or two. the

breeze picking up. too much frost. andy. —— the reason we have the dry weather, high pressure is in charge. we are on the periphery of it and thatis we are on the periphery of it and that is why we will have more of a breeze developing. turning windy as we go through saturday. blue skies overhead for just about all. the morning fog will quickly clear in eastern england and then it will be a day of blue skies from dawn to dusk. north sea temperatures on the colder side. when you factor in the breeze tomorrow, coming in from the east, eastern districts of scotland and england will feel colder. temperatures 9—12. on the western side, sheltered from the breeze. may be up to 17 in parts of north—west

scotland. not quite as high as that into sunday. there will be more cloud around. especially in eastern areas. in the west, plenty of sunshine, the exception probably south—west england and the channel islands. cloud building up in eastern areas. slim chance of a shower in east anglia later. feeling colder along the coast. showers working northwards on sunday night and then cleared to leave us dry and warm start to next week. favourite gary barlow song? my favourite gary barlow song? my word, that is on the spot. i can only think of take that ones. do you want to see how gary barlow has responded to you failing in that response? i'm glad you did not choose a song that was not mine. that would have been worse. gary barlow is here. you have

brought a keyboard. tl gary barlow is here. you have brought a keyboard.— gary barlow is here. you have brought a keyboard. it does not work. it brought a keyboard. it does not work- it did _ brought a keyboard. it does not work. it did not _ brought a keyboard. it does not work. it did not stop _ brought a keyboard. it does not work. it did not stop charlie - brought a keyboard. it does not i work. it did not stop charlie trying to -lua in work. it did not stop charlie trying to plug in a _ work. it did not stop charlie trying to plug in a laptop- _ work. it did not stop charlie trying to plug in a laptop. you _ work. it did not stop charlie trying to plug in a laptop. you need - work. it did not stop charlie trying to plug in a laptop. you need to i work. it did not stop charlie trying | to plug in a laptop. you need to be careful where _ to plug in a laptop. you need to be careful where you _ to plug in a laptop. you need to be careful where you are _ to plug in a laptop. you need to be careful where you are putting - to plug in a laptop. you need to be careful where you are putting that. it might not bring everything to live. , . , , it might not bring everything to live. , ., , , ., , it might not bring everything to live. , , ., live. explain, this is a bit of your histo . live. explain, this is a bit of your history- very _ live. explain, this is a bit of your history. very personal. - live. explain, this is a bit of your history. very personal. it - live. explain, this is a bit of your history. very personal. it was i live. explain, this is a bit of your| history. very personal. it was my entry into — history. very personal. it was my entry into music. _ history. very personal. it was my entry into music. i— history. very personal. it was my entry into music. i got _ history. very personal. it was my entry into music. i got this i history. very personal. it was my entry into music. i got this for i entry into music. i got this for christmas when i was 11. this was the day it began. once that door opened and i have never been able to... the feeling i had when i first played this never left. [30 to. .. the feeling i had when i first played this never left.— to... the feeling i had when i first played this never left. do you think we should get _ played this never left. do you think we should get gary _ played this never left. do you think we should get gary barlow - played this never left. do you think we should get gary barlow to i played this never left. do you think we should get gary barlow to play. we should get gary barlow to play something we cannot hear. t am something we cannot hear. i am -la in: something we cannot hear. i am playing the _ something we cannot hear. i am playing the theme _ something we cannot hear. i am playing the theme tune - something we cannot hear. i am playing the theme tune to i something we cannot hear. t —h playing the theme tune to the show now. ~ , , ., ., now. when i see you with that, it feels like it _ now. when i see you with that, it feels like it is _ now. when i see you with that, it feels like it is your _ now. when i see you with that, it feels like it is your comfort i feels like it is your comfort blanket. it feels like that to me.

when you were coming in chatting, it was like a real comfort to you. we have seen your show is something completely different. you are telling a story in the theatre of your life. you always go back to the keyboard. it is that moment of your pores and a safety net. t did keyboard. it is that moment of your pores and a safety net.— pores and a safety net. i did my first m pores and a safety net. i did my first gig at _ pores and a safety net. i did my first gig at 11- — pores and a safety net. i did my first gig at 11- l— pores and a safety net. i did my first gig at 11. i have _ pores and a safety net. i did my first gig at 11. i have not - pores and a safety net. i did my| first gig at 11. i have not stopped since. i have spent many years making music on stage. but they show you have been to see, you kindly came to watch me when we were in manchester, it is the flip to that. there is a lot of chat, storytelling. minimum music in it. when i return to that place of music, it is so natural.- when i return to that place of music, it is so natural. why are you doin: the music, it is so natural. why are you doing the show. — music, it is so natural. why are you doing the show, it _ music, it is so natural. why are you doing the show, it is _ music, it is so natural. why are you doing the show, it is called - music, it is so natural. why are you doing the show, it is called a i doing the show, it is called a different stage.— doing the show, it is called a different stage. this idea started four ears different stage. this idea started

four years ago- — different stage. this idea started four years ago- i— different stage. this idea started four years ago. i started - different stage. this idea started four years ago. i started playing l four years ago. i started playing gigs when i was very young. i used to play every night of the week. nowadays, we do a tour every three, four years. nowadays, we do a tour every three, fouryears. i nowadays, we do a tour every three, four years. i wanted something to fill in that gap between tours. something that was not music based. i came up with the idea for this show. it has taken a long time to work out what it was and how do you portray a life story with bits of music, chat, and i think you will agree we go through all the emotions, me included, on the night. there are great anecdotes in the stories. your early days of playing in nightclubs. around here. the working men's clubs. that in nightclubs. around here. the working men's clubs.— in nightclubs. around here. the working men's clubs. that was the route back — working men's clubs. that was the route back then. _ working men's clubs. that was the route back then. that _ working men's clubs. that was the route back then. that was - working men's clubs. that was the route back then. that was the i working men's clubs. that was the l route back then. that was the route to get to where you wanted to go to. get experience, get out there, gig

night after night and hopefully someone will spot you.- night after night and hopefully someone will spot you. were you doin: someone will spot you. were you doing requests — someone will spot you. were you doing requests at _ someone will spot you. were you doing requests at that _ someone will spot you. were you doing requests at that point? i doing requests at that point? numbers. requests, open mic nights. it was an amazing experience. it was the groundwork. it was an amazing experience. it was the groundwork-— the groundwork. interesting you said... the groundwork. interesting you said- -- did _ the groundwork. interesting you said... did your _ the groundwork. interesting you said... did your dad _ the groundwork. interesting you said... did your dad by - the groundwork. interesting you said... did your dad by you i the groundwork. interesting you | said... did your dad by you that? your dad gave you key advice. it seems simple now, but it did not always go swimmingly on stage. t do always go swimmingly on stage. i do not think it always go swimmingly on stage. t if not think it does for anyone. even with the show i am doing right now, a tuesday night is different to friday, different to a sunday matinee. that is the wonder of theatre. it is a theatrical show. you get something different every night. but rehearse and be prepared. that was my dad's advice and it has always stuck with me. especially this show. this is a detailed, a real... when i do my music shows, i

warm up, do exercises. with this i meditate before going on. you have to get your mind together. you meditate before going on. you have to get your mind together.— to get your mind together. you talk about our to get your mind together. you talk about your dad _ to get your mind together. you talk about your dad and _ to get your mind together. you talk about your dad and your— to get your mind together. you talk about your dad and your dad - to get your mind together. you talk. about your dad and your dad passing. you talk about very personal moments. ifound it interesting you talk about very personal moments. i found it interesting that i knew nothing about this and when i see social media and see what people comment on, they don't give anything away. it is like an intimate but trusted environment. you have chosen to put a lot of yourself out there, which is quite a thing to do. there were times. _ which is quite a thing to do. there were times, especially _ which is quite a thing to do. there were times, especially some i which is quite a thing to do. there were times, especially some of. which is quite a thing to do. ii—t” were times, especially some of the subjects we go to, when i thought i would have to record my voice and just sit and listen on stage. as time has gone on, i have found it has been therapeutic doing the show. as well as the fantastic, the funny, the sides of my life where success

has been around me, the darker times and the sad times, it has been lovely to sit and talk it through on a nightly basis. lovely to sit and talk it through on a nightly basis-— lovely to sit and talk it through on a nightly basis. how has your family reacted to you _ a nightly basis. how has your family reacted to you sharing _ a nightly basis. how has your family reacted to you sharing your- a nightly basis. how has your family reacted to you sharing your life? i i reacted to you sharing your life? i brought my mum because i reacted to you sharing your life? t brought my mum because i thought she would be the one to struggle watching the show. i brought her to the last dress rehearsal. i was worried about her. she watched the show and she came for the following six nights. she loved it. that was a relief because i wanted it to be a celebration of everyone who is in it. ., .., , celebration of everyone who is in it. ., , ., celebration of everyone who is in it. you can tell us what you wish sittin: it. you can tell us what you wish sitting here _ it. you can tell us what you wish sitting here live _ it. you can tell us what you wish sitting here live on _ it. you can tell us what you wish sitting here live on television i sitting here live on television about the tricky parts of your time, some of which people will know about and some they will not. but it is brave to stand on stage and talk through bits of your life. respect for that. through bits of your life. respect

forthat. it through bits of your life. respect for that. it is a big deal. t through bits of your life. respect for that. it is a big deal.- for that. it is a big deal. i have done books. — for that. it is a big deal. i have done books, autobiographies. | for that. it is a big deal. i have. done books, autobiographies. it for that. it is a big deal. i have i done books, autobiographies. it is a very different thing writing something down to saying it on stage. with some of the issues i talk about during the show, it is also quite a big thing for man to be also quite a big thing for man to he stood on stage talking about some of these things. there is a part of it... i do not want to get too deep, but it is important some of these things being said. as well as the music and career people know about, with any human being, there is a parallel course that is going on which is in here, which is the things you are feeling, take onto stage with you that no one would ever have known. tl is stage with you that no one would ever have known.— ever have known. it is a bit like ou ever have known. it is a bit like you have _ ever have known. it is a bit like you have a _ ever have known. it is a bit like you have a pact _ ever have known. it is a bit like you have a pact with _ ever have known. it is a bit like you have a pact with the - ever have known. it is a bit like i you have a pact with the audience. you are sharing with them and it is in the moment. parts of the story people are familiar with. robbie williams looms... he pops up

periodically. not in person but a manual story. periodically. not in person but a manualstory. he periodically. not in person but a manual story. he is there a lot. yes. we call them brothers, take that band members. they are a big part of the story but robbie's story alongside mine was a big talking point at one point. nowadays, it is of great humour to me. i try to bring out the humour in this. putting it together has been a lot of fun. you have sat in my audience. they are the best audience. they sit quietly, get on their feet. they get a chance to go through all the emotions on this evening. find a chance to go through all the emotions on this evening. and you live them emotions on this evening. and you give them a _ emotions on this evening. and you give them a bit _ emotions on this evening. and you give them a bit of _ emotions on this evening. and you give them a bit of music. - emotions on this evening. and you give them a bit of music. could i emotions on this evening. and you | give them a bit of music. could you imagine what they would be like? i am just chatting. tl is imagine what they would be like? i am just chatting.— am just chatting. it is my safe lace, am just chatting. it is my safe place. the _ am just chatting. it is my safe place. the place _ am just chatting. it is my safe place, the place i _ am just chatting. it is my safe place, the place i go - am just chatting. it is my safe place, the place i go back- am just chatting. it is my safe place, the place i go back to l am just chatting. it is my safe i place, the place i go back to you and i am ok for minute.- place, the place i go back to you and i am ok for minute. what about

now, what about _ and i am ok for minute. what about now, what about music? _ and i am ok for minute. what about now, what about music? will- and i am ok for minute. what about now, what about music? will this i now, what about music? will this tour go to a lot of places and get bigger? part of it is the intimacy. i think the venue size is right. we are small, 600—900. a small, intimate venue. the big news today is we are about to announce the west end in september, end of august into september and tickets go on sale next week. i am excited because i wanted it to be well received. i think we are hitting all the right notes and it feels like it is time to go into london.— notes and it feels like it is time to go into london. hitting the right notes. are to go into london. hitting the right notes- are you _ to go into london. hitting the right notes. are you in _ to go into london. hitting the right notes. are you in touch _ to go into london. hitting the right notes. are you in touch with i notes. are you in touch with the boys? btu! notes. are you in touch with the bo s? �* ~ boys? all the time. i think we will be doinu boys? all the time. i think we will be doing something _ boys? all the time. i think we will be doing something next - boys? all the time. i think we will be doing something next year. i boys? all the time. i think we will| be doing something next year. we boys? all the time. i think we will- be doing something next year. we did the last tour in 2019. for the band, the last tour in 2019. for the band, the covid has to be in the background because we play big venues and we need everyone to be safe. will there be new music? t

safe. will there be new music? i hope so. safe. will there be new music? i hope so- are _ safe. will there be new music? i hope so. are you _ safe. will there be new music? i hope so. are you writing - safe. will there be new music? i hope so. are you writing at i safe. will there be new music? i hope so. are you writing at the i hope so. are you writing at the moment? _ hope so. are you writing at the moment? not _ hope so. are you writing at the moment? not yet, _ hope so. are you writing at the moment? not yet, but - hope so. are you writing at the moment? not yet, but we i hope so. are you writing at the moment? not yet, but we will| hope so. are you writing at the i moment? not yet, but we will be. what has changed _ moment? not yet, but we will be. what has changed in _ moment? not yet, but we will be. what has changed in the _ moment? not yet, but we will be. what has changed in the way i moment? not yet, but we will be. what has changed in the way you | what has changed in the way you right now? you with a driving force in the beginning with the writing and others are involved? we in the beginning with the writing and others are involved? we write as and others are involved? we write as a team. it and others are involved? we write as a team- it is — and others are involved? we write as a team. it is exciting _ and others are involved? we write as a team. it is exciting because - and others are involved? we write as a team. it is exciting because the - a team. it is exciting because the last album was a greatest hits celebrating 30 years of music. it did feel like a big line we drew under our time. this is a big moment. i think we can be brave with our new music now. i am excited for that and excited to get back on stage with the guys. haw that and excited to get back on stage with the guys. how often do ou have stage with the guys. how often do you have a — stage with the guys. how often do you have a pinch _ stage with the guys. how often do you have a pinch yourself - stage with the guys. how often do | you have a pinch yourself moment? the show, there is so much about you as a young lad the show, there is so much about you as a young [ad and the dreams of a career. and it has happened. all of it has happened. difficult bits along the way, of course. but do you

have a lot of that? i along the way, of course. but do you have a lot of that?— have a lot of that? i love it, i love my _ have a lot of that? i love it, i love my job. _ have a lot of that? i love it, i love my job, love _ have a lot of that? i love it, i love my job, love what - have a lot of that? i love it, i love my job, love what i - have a lot of that? i love it, i love my job, love what i do. | have a lot of that? i love it, i | love my job, love what i do. i have a lot of that? i love it, i - love my job, love what i do. i get a love myjob, love what i do. i get a thrill every night i walk on the stage still. when i sit with this, i get that same feeling i got that first christmas when i was 11. i love music, i love the audiences. i am fortunate to still be able to do this. ~ ., ., ,., am fortunate to still be able to do this. what about collaborations? if ou had a this. what about collaborations? if you had a name? _ this. what about collaborations? if you had a name? you _ this. what about collaborations? if you had a name? you have - this. what about collaborations? if you had a name? you have written music for others. is there someone slightly unexpected you might be talking to or thought about working with? not really. you would not say anyway. who has said no to you? anyway. who has said no to ou? , who has said no to you? the big moments for — who has said no to you? the big moments for me, _ who has said no to you? the big moments for me, i _ who has said no to you? the big moments for me, i sang - who has said no to you? the big moments for me, i sang with . who has said no to you? the big i moments for me, i sang with paul mccartney, who was incredible. i have with eltonjohn, who was my hero. ifeel i have with eltonjohn, who was my hero. i feel i am have with eltonjohn, who was my hero. ifeel i am 0k. have with eltonjohn, who was my hero. ifeel i am ok. my band is the most important thing. i cannot wait for next year and kicking all that

off again. i for next year and kicking all that off aaain. for next year and kicking all that off a . ain. . for next year and kicking all that off aaain. ., , , for next year and kicking all that off a.ain_ ., , , off again. i feel i am pretty good. has anybody _ off again. i feel i am pretty good. has anybody said _ off again. i feel i am pretty good. has anybody said no? _ off again. i feel i am pretty good. has anybody said no? do - off again. i feel i am pretty good. has anybody said no? do you - off again. i feel i am pretty good. | has anybody said no? do you know what? i do not do duets very often. whenever i have asked, i have always been nicely received so no at this point but i am sure it is coming. i am disappointed we did not have the correct charger for the keyboard. next time. no one said bring the charger. next time. no one said bring the charuer. , , "5:1 next time. no one said bring the charuer. , h's: , charger. this is 1980, this thing. the did charger. this is 1980, this thing. they did have — charger. this is 1980, this thing. they did have batteries - charger. this is 1980, this thing. they did have batteries in - charger. this is 1980, this thing. they did have batteries in the i they did have batteries in the 19805. it they did have batteries in the 19805. , ., ., ., 19805. it is more getting the audio in. we will work _ 19805. it is more getting the audio in. we will work it _ 19805. it is more getting the audio in. we will work it out _ 19805. it is more getting the audio in. we will work it out next - 19805. it is more getting the audio in. we will work it out next time. l in. we will work it out next time. the show is really good. i thoroughly enjoyed it. gary's show is called a different stage and is touring now. stay with us, headlines coming up.

good morning, welcome to breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. 0ur headlines today. explosions have been heard in the western city of lviv. smoke can be seen in the direction of the airport, six kilometres from the city centre. the city's mayor says several missiles have hit an aircraft repair plant, destroying its building. no casualties have been reported. further bombing is heard in northern parts of the capital kyiv. outrage at p&0 ferries builds after 800 staff were sacked, with plans to replace them

with cheaper agency workers. unions threaten legal action and demonstrations are planned at ports across the country. we'll be asking what rights workers have, after the mass sackings at p80. good morning from cheltenham, and a golden start to a gold cup day with the first horses out on the course, where rachel blackmore will be aiming to be the first female jockey to win the prestigious race — and this year back in front of a packed grandstand. the fog is starting to clear in cheltenham. it will mini for a few hours for some and then sunshine throughout the day to the start of the weekend. your full forecast here and breakfast. it's friday 18th march. there have been a series of explosions in western ukraine near to the city of lviv. the mayor says several missiles have hit an airplane maintenance plant, destroying the building.

there have been no casualties reported. a large plume of smoke can be seen coming from the direction of lviv airport, about six kilometres from the city centre. these latest attacks come as vladimir putin has laid out his demands in exchange for a peace deal with ukraine. hywel griffith reports. lost in grief, and the grim reality of war. the people of ukraine have endured over three weeks of brutal bombardment and indiscriminate deaths. these latest images show the western city of lviv being targeted this morning, with smoke rising from an aircraft repair plant. in the northern city of kyiv, more

ruins. there are no reported casualties so far. but while the aerial offensive is devastating, russia's progress on the ground seems to be stalling. according to the latest intelligence from the uk ministry of defence, counter—attacks by ukraine soldiers means russia can't get supplies to its forward lines. that may be why russia has been prepared to set out its terms for peace — demanding that ukraine be a neutral country that would notjoin nato. but it's assumed moscow also wants eastern parts of ukraine to be under its control, and for crimea to formally become part of russia. these are concessions president zelensky may find hard to make. he is prepared to meet president putin face—to—face, but won't say what his terms will be. in his now daily address, he said it wasn't time to reveal the tactics for negotiating peace, sovereignty, and the

integrity of the state. for now, it was better to work in silence. ukraine has had to draw on every possible reserve — untrained teenagers fighting alongside veterans. sergiy stakhovsky retired from professional tennis to take up arms for his nation. even if i will be capable of shooting, killing someone is marking you on your life. so i don't believe that any of the ukrainians are willingly doing it, but we don't have any choice. if we don't stand up, we don't have a country to defend — we don't have a country to live in. there are some who have to flee. around 30,000 people have been able to leave mariupol in the south — leaving behind a sieged city where 90% of buildings have been damaged and destroyed. and in 0desa, they fear they may be next. families are being torn apart as they prepare for the unknown weeks — maybe months — ahead. hywel griffith, bbc news.

0ur correspondent james waterhouse is in kyiv, where explosions have been heard this morning. good morning. bring us right up to date with what you have experienced there this morning.— there this morning. well, around 7:30am, there this morning. well, around 7:30am. again. _ there this morning. well, around 7:30am, again, this _ there this morning. well, around 7:30am, again, this week, - there this morning. well, around 7:30am, again, this week, we i there this morning. well, around . 7:30am, again, this week, we heard continuing rolling thunder coming from the northwestern direction, which is what we have had every morning. and once again we have had reports of a residential block directly hit by falling shrapnel from an intercepted missile flying overhead. we talk about the effectiveness of kyiv�*s ground to air missile systems. they are clearly working but there is a cost to that, as well, and what happens is that the shrapnel falls and causes devastation in a very localised area, so we have had one report of death as well as four injuries. but this is a city, along

with one to the south frustrating the russian advance, not allowing them to surround the city. this is them to surround the city. this is the assessment given by western officials who say the invading forces are having problems with morale, the logistical problems, jets are flying very carefully in their words to avoid the city's defences. even in cities that i surrounded like kharkiv, sumy, they are being heavily bombarded but you keep hearing from ukrainian authorities that they are continuing to hold. as you havejust seen inte marry to the south—east in mariupol, the resistance is thought to be softening after weeks of holding out under siege. tell softening after weeks of holding out under siege-— softening after weeks of holding out under sieae. , ., ., ,., ., under siege. tell us more about how --eole are under siege. tell us more about how people are reacting _ under siege. tell us more about how people are reacting there _ under siege. tell us more about how people are reacting there in - under siege. tell us more about how people are reacting there in terms i people are reacting there in terms of those people who are choosing to

leave for whatever reason and those who are choosing to stay and to prepare to fight. it is who are choosing to stay and to prepare to fight.— prepare to fight. it is one of anuer, prepare to fight. it is one of anger, really. _ prepare to fight. it is one of anger, really. before- prepare to fight. it is one of anger, really. before this i prepare to fight. it is one of- anger, really. before this invasion, people were holding out for some kind of political solution, for some kind of political solution, for some kind of political solution, for some kind of success through diplomatic talks, where concessions could be agreed and peace would prevail. this is a country which has been at war for eight years, we have to remember that, in the east of the country. this invasion hasjust engulfed everything else that was happening. but now when you speak to people it is the main emotion is anger, they have gone through the shock of this invasion, the trauma of being separated or even losing loved ones, and now when you talk about russia to people by what vladimir putin is demanding in terms of ukraine having to be neutral, writing into its constitution that it will neverjoin nato, when you discuss that with people they are just dismissive and

it is hard to fathom the idea that peace talks are continuing with a country, with a leader, vladimir putin, who has been the aggressor in this war. it is a very difficult opening gambit. it this war. it is a very difficult opening gambit.— opening gambit. it is really interesting, _ opening gambit. it is really interesting, the _ opening gambit. it is really interesting, the phrases i opening gambit. it is really. interesting, the phrases you opening gambit. it is really - interesting, the phrases you use around people's emotions because, as you well know, we know a little more because of what putin has said to the turkish delegation about what his demands are. some of which i deemed to be more within the realm of ukraine to give away, notwithstanding the emotions attached to it, and so much more difficult. how much do people know about that process that is ongoing, even as the missiles are striking? i think something has cut through. if you talk to most people, not everybody is tuned into politics. there is a lot to get across and i think the issue of nato membership for eu membership, which the majority of the country wants, as a sort of taken a sideline which you

are right to point out that there are right to point out that there are certain terms, certain use of languages, which cut through. so when you hear vladimir putin talk about the denazification of ukraine, this is one of his demands still, made against the ukrainian leader, who isjewish himself, who has lost relatives to the holocaust. he talks about protections for the russian language as another demand. in ukraine, most people can speak russian, many use it as their first choice language. there is no need to protect it, people use it, they are free to do so, they flip between the two languages sometimes and that is what is jarring to people, very challenge to their everyday life when they say, well, that is just not the case. we are not run by nationalists, we are not being used as human shields in order to prevent our recent liberators coming in to free us, it is totally at odds with their day—to—day lives and that is what is cutting through now when

they are saying, look, this just is not computing, why would we make such a concession? the pressure for president zelensky here is that his country is the one under attack and as long as russia is frustrated, a lot of these concessions could partly be to do with vladimir putin saving face, being able to go back to his people and say, look, i have achieved my goal, i will pull out of look at what we have gained. is like officially recognising crimea could be easier to swallow, perhaps, along with possible future nato membership. we have seen president zelensky call that very idea. it is this other language of conceding, protecting russian language, of denazify in the country, which is just incredibly, incredibly difficult for people to swallow. always good to hear your insight, james, thank you very much. let's find out more now about the explosions which have been heard near ukraine's western city of lviv. 0ur correspondent jonah fisher is there. good morning to you. the

significance of this is that lviv is so far west in ukraine and the explanation as to why they would be explosions there is... ?_ explosions there is... ? well, it looks like _ explosions there is... ? well, it looks like it _ explosions there is... ? well, it looks like it was _ explosions there is... ? well, it looks like it was a _ explosions there is... ? well, it looks like it was a building - explosions there is... ? well, it looks like it was a building right next to the airport here in lviv but was struck as dawn broke here. there was struck as dawn broke here. there was a huge plume of smoke all over the western side of lviv this morning. as to why that in particular has been targeted, well, we have seen a few things hitting western ukraine in the last week or so stop an airbase being used in the past by nato troops for training, and also another airstrip. it is possible that what we are seeing is attempts by the russians to hit the supply of weapons into ukraine. everyday we hear of fresh commitments from nato countries to provide anti—aircraft missiles, anti—tank weapons into ukraine. they have caused you have to get here somewhere, somehow, and so by

hitting aircraft buildings —— these of course have to get here somehow. by of course have to get here somehow. by hitting air bases of the russians are perhaps trying to make it harder for those weapons to flow into this country. for those weapons to flow into this count . ., ~ ,., for those weapons to flow into this count . . ~' ,, , for those weapons to flow into this count . ., ~ y., , . for those weapons to flow into this count . ., ~ , . ., country. thank you very much, jonah fisher there — country. thank you very much, jonah fisher there for _ country. thank you very much, jonah fisher there for us _ country. thank you very much, jonah fisher there for us in _ country. thank you very much, jonah fisher there for us in lviv. _ nearly two million refugees have crossed the border into poland, where they're able to work and access benefits, healthcare and education. 65,000 ukrainian children have already registered at polish schools and others are being offered classes to give them an introduction to the polish language. 0ur correspondent danjohnson has been to a school in krakow, which welcomed its first ukrainian children a fortnight ago. there's little sign artem started here only a fortnight ago. and victoria just last week. now they learn in a different language, get used to a new school, and try to make friends — all despite the added weight of running from war

and being cut off from family. translation: i've lost my friends. they were scattered around the world. some of them are in poland, in different cities. some are in georgia, some in slovakia, in germany. but we communicate through apps. we are in touch. artem's concern is for his mum — who's here, helping the school translate. translation: i worry so much - about my relatives, about my mother, because they are so stressed. they were not ready to move from ukraine and leave their house, but the situation is like this and we have to get used to it. this is life. my son is busy doing his work, trying his best to learn all the subjects. i feel pleased, glad and even surprised. even surprised, yes. you must be proud. yes, and i am proud!

they say that they watch the news about the war all day long. - there are difficult days, but the teachers are alert. sometimes they seem to be very sad i and thinking about something else, | like they weren't here with us, but just trying to forget - about things they saw in ukraine. the head teacher says he's expecting many more children, and special introductory lessons start next week. this is a really impressive early effort to integrate some ukrainian children, but not every refugee kid has this chance yet, by any stretch. space in the classrooms is a real constraint, and the language barrier is a serious difficulty. and, every day, more ukrainian children arrive. hundreds of thousands are already here. across town, there's space for mums to work and toddlers to play.

like so many, krystyna's on her own with three—year—old katyusha. she's growing up, she's becoming stronger, and... i hope she won't remember why it was that i'm trying to give it to her like an adventure — that we are on holiday, and we are visiting friends and we are just...travelling. but now, more and more often, she asks to go back to daddy and... ijust cannot explain her why we cannot do it at the moment, i cannot find the right words, why it's not possible. singing happy birthday. children on the move sing happy birthday in many languages. krystyna'sjoined herfriend sofia,

and her three daughters, to celebrate darina turning seven. translation: the children are fine when mum is fine. | when mum is calm and can manage everything like a game, then the children are ok with that. so are you fine? so—so! translation: i have no way out. i have three children. i am here alone. i have to pull myself together and do what i can do. young lives are being shaped, and milestones marked — away from home and without family. darina's birthday wish? to be with her dad. danjohnson, bbc news, in krakow, poland.

let's pick up on a story of how it affects people in the uk. you will know many ukrainian refugees want to come to the uk and can start applying for visas to be sponsored ljy applying for visas to be sponsored by british people who they didn't previously know from today. you may remember at the weekend we spoke to tony and sabrina, who are among 150,000 people who have signed up to offer a spare room or vacant property. breakfast�*s jayne mccubbin is catching up with them this morning. good morning, lovely sunny morning there and hopefully for this family, a sunny welcome home to people who really do need help.— really do need help. yeah, they really do need help. yeah, they reall do really do need help. yeah, they really do and — really do need help. yeah, they really do and it _ really do need help. yeah, they really do and it is _ really do need help. yeah, they really do and it is beautiful- really do need help. yeah, they| really do and it is beautiful here in driffi in yorkshire —— driffield. tony and sabrina are to a perhaps more than 150,000 people. they are starting to kick into action many people over. today is the date these

families in ukraine can apply for visa. good morning to both. we will come in and meet the family. lead us through. this is dave, can you see him? he through. this is dave, can you see him? , , through. this is dave, can you see him?_ come - through. this is dave, can you see him?_ come and - through. this is dave, can you see l him?_ come and meet him? he is friendly. come and meet everybody- — him? he is friendly. come and meet everybody- today — him? he is friendly. come and meet everybody. today is _ him? he is friendly. come and meet everybody. today is rather - him? he is friendly. come and meet everybody. today is rather exciting. | everybody. today is rather exciting. you have been waiting for today and more importantly the family you want to bring into your home has been waiting for today stocks rare to bring into your home has been waiting for today stocks— waiting for today stocks we are really excited, _ waiting for today stocks we are really excited, the _ waiting for today stocks we are really excited, the website - waiting for today stocks we are really excited, the website is l waiting for today stocks we are - really excited, the website is going live today. — really excited, the website is going live today, so we are ready to put our details — live today, so we are ready to put our details in for the family. to a- -l our details in for the family. apply for our details in for the family. trr apply for the visa. before we have a proper chat, have a look at this little recap on everything you guys have been doing to get ready for this moment. late last night, as most settled down for the evening, the edge family were hard at work. look at this — all go with the edge family. how is it going, tony? well, it's coming along. we've got some paint on the walls, as you can see. a work in progress.

it's definitely a work in progress. this is one of two rooms they're preparing to bring lydia, vitali and their two children into the uk. sabrina and tony edge are here in the studio. we first heard their story on sunday. i'm so overwhelmed and this family, it's like something from from the god, you know. and we just want you to be with us, safe, so we can drink coffee, so we can go out and just do the things that we've spoken about, and the things that we have in common. when do you think the family could be in? we'd like them over next week, but we don't think that's going to happen. so, hopefully, the week after next. you've just got to get past this visa stage. yeah. and they're not out of danger. it's quite important that we get them out of the country into safety. hi! more than 150,000 families in the uk have applied to do this, but it's not yet clear how long this process will take.

are you looking forward to hopefully getting on the website tomorrow so we can get all the process sorted out? yes, because maybe after midnight, i will find out some _ more information about, - yes, how to apply, what to do, what documents to have. you know, we're just keeping our fingers crossed, as you know. we're getting everything ready for you when you come. have you painted the walls? yes, we're doing the painting. we filmed it. good luck tomorrow. fingers crossed, fingers crossed. thank you so much. thank you. can't wait — can't wait. to see you and hug you. you're going to be here soon. brilliant. there is genuine, genuine enthusiasm and excitement to get vitali and

liliia over. people will be feeling this frustration that it is such a slow start and a slow trickle when you look at what is happening elsewhere in europe. let's chat to you. you feel frustrated, don't you? we do. we made this decision three weeks _ we do. we made this decision three weeks ago _ we do. we made this decision three weeks ago and we thought it would be a lot quicker than it has been. we have _ a lot quicker than it has been. we have had — a lot quicker than it has been. we have had to — a lot quicker than it has been. we have had to wait for the government scheme _ have had to wait for the government scheme to— have had to wait for the government scheme to come out. it goes live today— scheme to come out. it goes live today but — scheme to come out. it goes live today but we still don't know how [on- today but we still don't know how long it _ today but we still don't know how long it will take once it goes live. the family— long it will take once it goes live. the family are looking to you for answers and you don't have them. it is an embarrassment. we matched three _ is an embarrassment. we matched three weeks— is an embarrassment. we matched three weeks ago. _ is an embarrassment. we matched three weeks ago, we _ is an embarrassment. we matched three weeks ago, we are _ is an embarrassment. we matched three weeks ago, we are ahead - is an embarrassment. we matched three weeks ago, we are ahead ofl is an embarrassment. we matched i three weeks ago, we are ahead of the government— three weeks ago, we are ahead of the government scheme, _ three weeks ago, we are ahead of the government scheme, and _ three weeks ago, we are ahead of the government scheme, and we - three weeks ago, we are ahead of the government scheme, and we are - three weeks ago, we are ahead of the government scheme, and we are still| government scheme, and we are still no further— government scheme, and we are still no further forwards. _ government scheme, and we are still no further forwards. the _ government scheme, and we are still no further forwards.— no further forwards. the indication is that there _ no further forwards. the indication is that there might _ no further forwards. the indication is that there might be _ no further forwards. the indication is that there might be thousands l no further forwards. the indication | is that there might be thousands of people arriving next week but we just don't know at this stage. irate just don't know at this stage. we don't and it is notjust about just don't know at this stage. we don't and it is not just about that. the easy— don't and it is not just about that. the easy part is when they get here, say here _ the easy part is when they get here, say here is— the easy part is when they get here, say here is our house, here is your

room: _ say here is our house, here is your room, welcome to our life, make yourself — room, welcome to our life, make yourself comfortable. there is more to it than _ yourself comfortable. there is more to it than that. we have to help them _ to it than that. we have to help them integrate into the community, we want _ them integrate into the community, we want to— them integrate into the community, we want to help them get into work because _ we want to help them get into work because they want to work, want to make _ because they want to work, want to make sure — because they want to work, want to make sure their room has all the things— make sure their room has all the things they will need because they are coming with a suitcase. all of these _ are coming with a suitcase. all of these things take time, there is a logistic— these things take time, there is a logistic operationjust these things take time, there is a logistic operation just for us, let alone _ logistic operation just for us, let alone then arranging their flight over. _ alone then arranging their flight over. so— alone then arranging their flight over, so timescales are important, plus they— over, so timescales are important, plus they are in an area of danger, notiust_ plus they are in an area of danger, notjust through the plus they are in an area of danger, not just through the war but through lack of— not just through the war but through lack of food, petrol and other risks that are _ lack of food, petrol and other risks that are commonplace in ukraine and moldova _ that are commonplace in ukraine and moldova at— that are commonplace in ukraine and moldova at the moment. each day that .oes moldova at the moment. each day that goes past _ moldova at the moment. each day that goes past is _ moldova at the moment. each day that goes past is another day that they are in— goes past is another day that they are injeopardy, them and their children — are in jeopardy, them and their children. ., ., ., ., , children. you want to get the family over as soon — children. you want to get the family over as soon as _ children. you want to get the family over as soon as possible. _ children. you want to get the family over as soon as possible. these - children. you want to get the family | over as soon as possible. these guys have tried to put themselves in the minds of the family to say, what would we want in their situation? what are you thinking? you think they will want to come here and start to work, don't you? liliia works as _ start to work, don't you? liliia works as an — start to work, don't you? liliia works as an english _

start to work, don't you? liliia works as an english teacher i start to work, don't you? liliia works as an english teacher so she is doing _ works as an english teacher so she is doing online _ works as an english teacher so she is doing online lessons _ works as an english teacher so she is doing online lessons and - works as an english teacher so she is doing online lessons and wants. works as an english teacher so she. is doing online lessons and wants to do that— is doing online lessons and wants to do that when— is doing online lessons and wants to do that when she _ is doing online lessons and wants to do that when she comes _ is doing online lessons and wants to do that when she comes here. - is doing online lessons and wants to do that when she comes here. we i is doing online lessons and wants to i do that when she comes here. we have contacted _ do that when she comes here. we have contacted the _ do that when she comes here. we have contacted the local— do that when she comes here. we have contacted the local schools _ do that when she comes here. we have contacted the local schools and - do that when she comes here. we have contacted the local schools and make i contacted the local schools and make them aware _ contacted the local schools and make them aware that _ contacted the local schools and make them aware that there _ contacted the local schools and make them aware that there are _ contacted the local schools and make them aware that there are the - contacted the local schools and make them aware that there are the two i them aware that there are the two .irls them aware that there are the two girls coming — them aware that there are the two girls coming here, _ them aware that there are the two girls coming here, and _ them aware that there are the two girls coming here, and luckily- them aware that there are the two girls coming here, and luckily we i girls coming here, and luckily we have _ girls coming here, and luckily we have some — girls coming here, and luckily we have some interviews _ girls coming here, and luckily we have some interviews lined - girls coming here, and luckily we have some interviews lined up i girls coming here, and luckily we| have some interviews lined up for vitalii, _ have some interviews lined up for vitalii, so — have some interviews lined up for vitalii, so we _ have some interviews lined up for vitalii, so we just _ have some interviews lined up for vitalii, so we just need _ have some interviews lined up for vitalii, so we just need a - have some interviews lined up for vitalii, so we just need a date, i have some interviews lined up for| vitalii, so we just need a date, we need _ vitalii, so we just need a date, we need the — vitalii, so we just need a date, we need the ball— vitalii, so we just need a date, we need the ball rolling. _ vitalii, so we just need a date, we need the ball rolling. they- vitalii, so we just need a date, we need the ball rolling. they want. vitalii, so we just need a date, we| need the ball rolling. they want to .et need the ball rolling. they want to get the _ need the ball rolling. they want to get the children _ need the ball rolling. they want to get the children into _ need the ball rolling. they want to get the children into the _ need the ball rolling. they want to get the children into the schools i get the children into the schools and get — get the children into the schools and get a — get the children into the schools and get a routine _ get the children into the schools and get a routine back— get the children into the schools and get a routine back for- get the children into the schoolsj and get a routine back for them. scheme — and get a routine back for them. scheme only— and get a routine back for them. scheme only works... _ and get a routine back for them. scheme only works... this - and get a routine back for them. scheme only works... this is - and get a routine back for them. scheme only works... this is a l and get a routine back for them. - scheme only works... this is a phase one, four weeks into the war and we are in phase one and this to work you can't bring a family into the uk unless you have a name. you have a name, once you have a name sponsor, cannot come into the uk unless they have the visa and that is what is happening today, which is why today is so significant. haste happening today, which is why today is so significant.— is so significant. we will get our details into _ is so significant. we will get our details into the _ is so significant. we will get our details into the website, - is so significant. we will get our. details into the website, hopefully once that — details into the website, hopefully once that goes in there will be some sort of— once that goes in there will be some sort of message that says the process— sort of message that says the process has started and this is when we can— process has started and this is when we can expect some sort of outcome. there _ we can expect some sort of outcome. there was— we can expect some sort of outcome. there was so— we can expect some sort of outcome. there was so much... it is a

strange, there is a war, the pictures from ukraine are so awful that there was so much joy on that seam call last night and ifelt that there was so much joy on that seam call last night and i felt a bit uncomfortable —— vitalii zoom call. they are going through hell but... it call. they are going through hell but... , ., , ., but... it is the same for us. liliia and the family _ but... it is the same for us. liliia and the family are _ but... it is the same for us. liliia and the family are coming - but... it is the same for us. liliia and the family are coming across but... it is the same for us. liliia i and the family are coming across as if they— and the family are coming across as if they are _ and the family are coming across as if they are ok but we know they are not because there are other times we are talking _ not because there are other times we are talking to them when they are into years. — are talking to them when they are into years, the children are upset. the day— into years, the children are upset. the day before yesterday they went back to _ the day before yesterday they went back to their place to pick up some stuff and _ back to their place to pick up some stuff and one of the children was standing — stuff and one of the children was standing in the flat seeing their life and — standing in the flat seeing their life and they are walking away from it. life and they are walking away from it they— life and they are walking away from it they are — life and they are walking away from it. they are walking away from their life and _ it. they are walking away from their life and they don't know when they will he _ life and they don't know when they will be back, when they will see it. we are _ will be back, when they will see it. we are preparing for that and they come _ we are preparing for that and they come because we need to make things as comfortable for them as we can. good _ as comfortable for them as we can. good luck— as comfortable for them as we can. good luck with the days ahead. we will keep in touch with them, obviously. back to you. thank you very much- _

ofcom says it has revoked the kremlin—backed tv station rt�*s licence to broadcast in the uk with immediate effect. it follows an investigation into the impartiality of rt�*s coverage of the russian invasion in ukraine. the media regulator says it does not consider rt to be fit and proper to hold a uk licence and cannot be satisfied that it is a responsible broadcaster. there has been a response from rt itself. it says it has been falsely judged by ofcom and the regulator has shown it is nothing more than a tool of the british government. rt has not been available in the uk since the eu and its broadcasting on eu territory because we were using the same mast to get it here. breakfast is on bbc one until 9:15, then it's time for morning live.

sara and gethin can tell us what's on today's programme. good morning. we will do it together, absolutely. happy red nose day. coming up on morning live... they were our go—to during the pandemic. subscriptions such as tv streaming, fitness apps and shopping services. but now we're returning to normality — our consumer champion— matt allwright will be telling us how to stop wasting money - and get cheaper deals. that's right, one in five of us are paying for subscriptions we don't use, wasting up to £200 a year on average. i'm going to show you how to scrub your subs and even save money on the ones you need. plus, a third of people suffer. from irritable bowel syndrome and it's twice as common in women as it is in men _ dr punam is here to tell us why your five a day i could be making it worse. and it happens every 30 days and tonight's the night. punam's also been investigating if there's any truth that the lunar cycle affects human behaviour, after one police force even insisted

on putting extra hobbies on the beat during a full moon. also this evening, | it's red nose day. yay! just me, then? sir lenny henry is dropping - in to tell us why, despite people having less in their pockets, they are being more - generous than ever. sir lenny willjoin in, you know he will _ and chef romy gill is going to be showing us how to make red nose day—themed biscuits with some thrifty money—saving tricks and tips to decorating like a pro — including using a sandwich bag to ice them! very good. plus, as it's a friday, _ neiljones is here to put a smile on your face with a work—out - of all the moves from the week. yes, it will be some routine. see you at 9:15. thank you so much. have a good programme. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm victoria hollins.

in a london—led county lines crackdown, the met police has safeguarded more than a 100 vulnerable children and arrested almost 250 people in a single week. held last week, operation orochi seized guns, knives and vehicles along with class a and b drugs worth more than £4 million. the operation also saw 25 referrals made for potential victims of human trafficking. many of london's top tourist attractions are failing to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic according to the group that represents them. the association of leading visitor attractions says places like st paul's cathedral, westminster abbey and the tower of london are all struggling with visitor numbers. they are most reliant on overseas tourism, which has yet to recover to pre—pandemic levels. a scheme that started during the pandemic to help refugee and overseas doctors work in the nhs has continued to help clinicians. the medical support worker scheme saw medics from all over the world

join hospitals to help during covid. the royal london has a0 such staff, more then any hospital across the country. it was so stressful. first to come and work in the intensive care unit, it was very stressful. and also to see covid patients — like, to go in and see all patients, almost all of them are intubated — very sick patients. if you're heading out on public transport this morning, this is how tfl services are looking. on the tube there are minor delays on the victoria line. and for all the latest travel news where you are, tune into your bbc local radio station for regular updates throughout the morning. onto the weather now with elizabeth rizzini. hello, good morning. today across the capital, it's looking very similar weather—wise to how it was yesterday. and to remind ourselves, here's chelsea embankment, hayes and, finally, notting hill as captured by our weather watchers

in all of that sparkling early spring sunshine. that is set to continue today. if anything, it will feel a touch warmerfor most, too. but this morning, it's another chilly start. patchy frost out there, also some patches of mist and fog around. it's thickest a little bit further west than us, but still some, particularly across western home counties. that will lift and clear fairly readily as we head through the morning. for most, a bright start to the day and we'll be keeping that sunshine throughout the day. just a bit more fairweather cloud as we head through the afternoon. more of an easterly breeze today. so it's a little cooler towards eastern areas of town. but for most, it is a touch warmer than yesterday — 15 or 16 degrees celsius. through this evening and overnight, looking at the clear skies, it stays dry, but it does turn rather breezy. too windy for any mist and fog to form or any frost, it is a milder start to saturday. the sunshine continues on saturday, but it does turn cloudier on sunday, and cooler. the chance of showers. temperatures rise again into the start of next week.

i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. bye for now. hello, this is breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. a moment in the morning when we bring you up—to—date with everything happening in ukraine. it has been a busy morning. hywel griffith is here with us. in lviv, the largest city in western ukraine, a large plume of smoke can be seen coming from the direction of the airport, about six kilometres from the centre. the mayor says the airport was not hit but a building next to it was. no casualties have been reported so far. up until now, western ukraine has been quieter than the rest of the country and has been used as a safe haven, a hub

for people fleeing. in kyiv, these shots show another building hit this morning in a northern suburb of the capital. an explosion was heard according to an eyewitness — it is believed that a russian missle was brought down by air defences casuing shrapnal to fall. there are reports of one death and four wounded, the latest assessment by the mod here in the uk says russia has made minimal progress over the last week — stalling outside kyiv, failing to supply their forward lines. but cities like kharkiv and maripol are still encircled, and being shelled heavily. in total, the un says 3.2 million people have now left ukraine. so how will this end? president putin has laid out his demands to end the war in a phone conversation with turkey, who are acting as the go—between with russia and ukraine. the russian demands fall into two categories.

firstly, he wants ukraine to promise not tojoin nato — something that ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky has already conceded. ukraine would also have to reduce its stash of arms, protect the russian language in the country and there is something called denazification which could involve the government promising to clamp down on neo—nazi groups in the country. the second category is where the difficulty will lie, and in his phone call, mr putin said that it would need face—to—face negotiations between him and president zelensky before agreement could be reached on these points. mr zelensky has already said he's prepared to talk, one—to—one. less detail on this, but the assumption is that russia will demand control over parts of eastern ukraine and for crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014, to be formally recognised as its territory — a bitter pill for ukraine to swallow. no word yet from the ukrainian president on how he might respond to these demands,

but in his latest video address overnight he said this. translation: it is not the time to reveal our tactics _ of negotiations, as well. negotiations for peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity of our state, our freedom. working more in silence than on television, radio or facebook. i think this is right. so the situation on the ground seems to be locked into a slow war of attrition, which will bring more shocking images like this. we know president biden will today urge china not to provide russia with military equipment when he speaks to president xi today. it shows you the whole world is watching and has a stake in what's unfolding in ukraine. we can turn attention to p&o. you will have heard the news about the ferry company sacking 800 workers with plans to replace them with agency staff, which they say will be

cheaper. and there are expected be protest against that today across the country. the services team remains suspended for a second day. there are concerns about the effect on supply chains. simonjones is in dover. we had james heappey on earlier, and a question was put to him what can be done, and the answer is not very much. and what accountability is there that p&o ferries, we should make clear is not cruises, is facing. make clear is not cruises, is facina. �* , ., make clear is not cruises, is facina. �* i. .,, make clear is not cruises, is facina. �* ,, .,, ., facing. anyone hoping the government were auoin facing. anyone hoping the government were going to — facing. anyone hoping the government were going to intervene _ facing. anyone hoping the government were going to intervene in _ facing. anyone hoping the government were going to intervene in this - facing. anyone hoping the government were going to intervene in this in - facing. anyone hoping the government were going to intervene in this in a - were going to intervene in this in a big way would have been disappointed hearing a minister on bbc breakfast in the past hour. he described what p&0 had in the past hour. he described what p&o had done to workers as disgraceful but added there was nothing the government could do to prevent p&o taking those actions. it

is a beautifully sunny morning in dover. but really this is a town reeling from the shock of the announcement made yesterday. it is thought around 500—600 of the 800 staff sacked live in the dover area. at the port, there are three p&o ferries tied up. they will not be going anywhere today. they may not going anywhere today. they may not go anywhere the next ten days or so according to the government as p&o tries to sort out the situation, bringing in those workers. p&o said it has to act and the company is losing too much money and it says it is the only way to secure its long—term future. is the only way to secure its long-term future.— is the only way to secure its long-term future. is the only way to secure its lonr-term future. . ., . ., , ., ,, long-term future. simon jones, thank ou. the big question this morning is what legal options workers have ben's looking at this one for us. it begs fundamental questions.

people asking what if my employer suddenly did the same about my situation? that's right. are big enough situation for the 800 affected and others thinking hang on, i thought there was protection against this sort of thing. strong condemnation on the programme but a recognition not a lot the government can do to intervene. we expect demonstrations at ports across the country after labour and unions call yesterday's actions by p&o shameful. we spoke to mhra expert earlier he said if it were her, she would not sign the settlement agreements offered. she said the company could face unfair dismissal claims or criminal prosecution for the way it gone about this. let's speak to mark dickinson from the maritime trade union nautilus international. what is the situation this morning?

are workers on board the ships? most of our members. _ are workers on board the ships? most of our members, the _ are workers on board the ships? i’j�*ifisii of our members, the crew have left the ships now. under intense pressure and provocation, security guards employed with handcuffs to remove them in a very intimidating way. remove them in a very intimidating wa . ~ .,, remove them in a very intimidating wa . ., . ., remove them in a very intimidating wa. ., . ., ., way. most of the crew have now left. what are you — way. most of the crew have now left. what are you hearing? _ way. most of the crew have now left. what are you hearing? what - way. most of the crew have now left. what are you hearing? what is - way. most of the crew have now left. what are you hearing? what is the i what are you hearing? what is the latest from those affected? thea;r what are you hearing? what is the latest from those affected? they are shocked. it latest from those affected? they are shocked- it is _ latest from those affected? they are shocked. it is disorientating, - latest from those affected? they are shocked. it is disorientating, it - latest from those affected? they are shocked. it is disorientating, it is - shocked. it is disorientating, it is incredibly worrying time for them. as your reporter said. they live in the communities. it has a huge knock—on effect notjust for those directly affected. shock, horror, shamefulactions directly affected. shock, horror, shameful actions by the company, illegal actions by the company, and we will challenge it all the way. the government said this morning there is nothing really it can do, it cannot force companies to keep people on if it does not want to. it

has a point? the horse has bolted on that. we need the company to look at the protections in place. fire and rehab —— this fire and rehire. sack and attack would be more appropriate in this case. what i am calling on the government to do, what i have called on the maritime minister to do in a call with him is to get the parties round the table to see if we can recover the situation. there was no consultation with members, no consultation with the unions. the government did not know. the maritime coastguard agency, the regulator, did not know. no one was prepared. no one has had an opportunity to make a case to work with the company. pm} opportunity to make a case to work with the company.— opportunity to make a case to work with the company. p&0 might have handled the — with the company. p&0 might have handled the process _ with the company. p&0 might have handled the process badly, - with the company. p&0 might have handled the process badly, even i handled the process badly, even wrongly, but if it is losing £100

million a year it says the business would not be viable and if it shut down workers would lose theirjobs anyway. is it a better situation to be offered compensation? aha, anyway. is it a better situation to be offered compensation? a business that does not — be offered compensation? a business that does not make _ be offered compensation? a business that does not make money _ be offered compensation? a business that does not make money does i be offered compensation? a business that does not make money does not i that does not make money does not have much of a future, that is right. we need a profitable industry. i do not have access to the company books. i do not know what their current economic case is. there have been bad times and good times. this industry is a roller—coaster. i do not want to make light of it, but i have not met a shipowner in my a0 years in this industry who willingly acknowledges they make money. there have never been good times according to most shipowners. i am sceptical. but the essential proposition is correct. i am not sure anybody would think this is the way to go about a restructuring. and to bring in

agency crew on lower terms and conditions into a country, an island nation, a proud maritime nation with a maritime strategy which the government was launching. there is a strong component in that to grow the industry and support that, invest and put government money in, which p&0 and put government money in, which p&o have had over the years to support and grow our industry and our coastal communities. this policy has been shattered by the actions of this company. has been shattered by the actions of this company-— this company. mark, we will have to leave it there. _ this company. mark, we will have to leave it there. the _ this company. mark, we will have to leave it there. the position - this company. mark, we will have to leave it there. the position for i leave it there. the position for these 800 workers is now weighing up whether they accept the settlement, potentially go to a tribunal after rejecting it, which could take a long time to resolve, and in the meantime, how do they survive? no work. we can take you to cheltenham.

mike is there. they have made the mistake of letting you hold the trophy. always amazes me these places let you do that. they never learn. i have got gloves on. as someone who has not won the gold cup, you have to wear special gloves. it is so i can handle this amazing bit of history, one of the smallest in world sport, the trophy, but one of the most prestigious. this one dates back almost 100 years. he was handed back to the course a couple of years ago. it had been with a private owner since the 70s and they had a replacement trophy for the years in between. it is back in the hands of the course ready to be handed to the winner this afternoon. one of the great sporting events of the year. can it be rachel blackmore, the first female jockey to live this trophy?

she won the grand national, so she could do. around half a kilogram, tiny trophy. the plinth with all the names and winners on the bottom does weigh more. i have to wear the gloves because i am not a winner. someone who can touch it with their bare hands, two time winner of this trophy. shall we do a swap? it is incredible- _ trophy. shall we do a swap? it is incredible. really _ trophy. shall we do a swap? it 3 incredible. really is. so much history. i have only met it in the past couple of years. i won the gold cup in 2005, 2013.18 past couple of years. i won the gold cup in 2005, 2013.— cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. wh is cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. why is this _ cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. why is this such _ cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. why is this such a _ cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. why is this such a special- cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. why is this such a special race? i cup in 2005, 2013. 18 carat gold. | why is this such a special race? it is the blue riband. rachel won on honeysuckle, massive races. but today, the gold cup is the one. the

ultimate test. cheltenham, the stiffest track, fences, everything, such a difficult race. so much quality in it this year. we have a two times winner, last year's winner. and we have a runner up. with rachel blackmore. you have the english contenders with a massive chance. it is a quality field. people ask of rachel blackmore can do it. she put history to bed by winning the grand national. first female jockey to do that. can she go one better than last year when she was second? she one better than last year when she was second?— one better than last year when she was second? ,, ., , ., ., . ., . was second? she has a great chance. the ground — was second? she has a great chance. the ground has _ was second? she has a great chance. the ground has firmed _ was second? she has a great chance. the ground has firmed up _ was second? she has a great chance. the ground has firmed up since i the ground has firmed up since wednesday. i do not think the pace will be as strong this year which will be as strong this year which will suit her horse. you will be as strong this year which will suit her horse.— will be as strong this year which will suit her horse. you come up here, will suit her horse. you come up here. the _ will suit her horse. you come up here, the famous _ will suit her horse. you come up here, the famous slope, - will suit her horse. you come up here, the famous slope, and i will suit her horse. you come upj here, the famous slope, and the crowd is back again unlike last

year, the first time in two years. what difference does it make? it is magic. the crowds all week. the decibels level through the roof. the gold cup, this is the one everyone wants. this play —— place will go ballistic. wants. this play -- place will go ballistic. ~ ., , wants. this play -- place will go ballistic. ~ . , , ., ballistic. what is your tip? i really like... _ ballistic. what is your tip? i really like... last _ ballistic. what is your tip? i really like... last year's i ballistic. what is your tip? i i really like... last year's winner? there could be history. i will let take the trophy away. from the race here, to the race at the bottom of the premier league to avoid relegation. my goodness, this could go all the way to the winning post. everton, what a night for them last night. they finally got a win. and in dramatic fashion against newcastle. it had looked bleak for everton because they went down to

ten men in the second half against newcastle. alex iwobi's goal in the 99th minute sealed a massive victory. everton are seventeenth, three points from the relegation zone but frank lampard admitted he may have over celebrated a bit. i think i've broken a bone in my hand. after the goal, i realised as the game settled, i've sort of settled. a bit shaken, a bit sore. but, you know what? for the three points we got in the end, not a problem. so i won't complain too much. part of the reason there was so much added time in the game was because a protester tied himself by the neck to the goal post. he was wearing a t—shirt that said "just stop oil" and was, after around eight minutes, cut loose and taken away by the stewards. west ham also left it late to make it into their first european quarter—final since 1981. fittingly, ukrainian winger andriy yarmolenko scored an emotional winner in extra—time as they knocked out

sevilla in the europa league also in the europa league, rangers lost on the night but reached their first european quarter—final in ia years. ryan kent scored in a a—2 aggregate victory over red star belgrade. leicester made it through to the europa conference league last 16. you are up—to—date with the football. england and the west indies, that test continues today. back here at cheltenham, the sun is starting to poke through. i am looking for that special tip to give you as our emotions are stirred by the tannoy. i am going back to my yorkshire roots. oh i had better give the gloves back. hopefully, somewhere soon, matt can magic some proper sunshine here. i think we can

get the word from the horse's mouth very soon. studio: we can. more jazz hands, please. your wonky —looking left thumb looks very odd with those gloves on. i would not make a good magician, either. the gloves of got dirty. trust you. enjoy it. it was quite eerie with the music playing and the fog. will it lift? festivalgoers will be wondering. they will have a cracking day. no magic required to get rid of the fog. it looks gloomy at the moment. this is the scene in birmingham but the fog will clear in the next hour or two. the fog will clear in the next hour ortwo. it the fog will clear in the next hour or two. it is here the fog is worst and patches elsewhere. blue skies for and the rest of the day with cloud drifting up to the east of northern ireland. and at times for

the western isles and shetland but for most, with blue skies, and light wind in the south, a pleasantly warm spring afternoon. fresherfurther north where we have the stronger breeze which will pick up tonight. what that will do, it. the fog performing so widely. most likely across north—east england, particularly the vale of york. elsewhere, clear skies into the night. the greatest chance of frost across parts of scotland into northern england. saturday is looking cracking. blue skies for many. warmest in the west. may be17 degrees for sun. the wind will be colder on sunday. a chance of a shower later but for the majority, a dry weekend ahead. last question of the morning. favourite george aastra song?

probably the one he has out at the moment, anything for you. tiger lily. do you want to see the reaction? that was brilliant. i do you want to see the reaction? that was brilliant.— that was brilliant. i am rightfully shut u- that was brilliant. i am rightfully shut up now- _ shut up now. it is like a full on endorsement from the bbc weather department. george ezra, welcome. you are in salford because you are part of tonight's big event. comic relief. we came up last night. we have some bits throughout the day. the cherry on the cake is comic relief tonight. what will you be doing? i will be performing. anyone

for you. doing? i will be performing. anyone for you- we — doing? i will be performing. anyone for you. we can _ doing? i will be performing. anyone for you. we can see _ doing? i will be performing. anyone for you. we can see a _ doing? i will be performing. anyone for you. we can see a little - doing? i will be performing. anyone for you. we can see a little bit i for you. we can see a little bit now. # i could be anything you want of me # in the darkness of the night # baby, let me be your light # i can love you, i could be anything you want of me # and in the darkness of the night, baby, let me be your light # be your light. # well i gave her love but it wasn't enough # so she called me up just to call it off # i can't afford to make that mistake this time # and if you're flying over the serengeti # tiger lily, don't forget me. # the way i am, not the way i was. # when i could be anyone, anyone, anyone, anyone. it is funny when we have artists here. some people watch closely their own work. the here. some people watch closely their own work.—

their own work. the others look literally the _ their own work. the others look literally the other _ their own work. the others look literally the other way. - their own work. the others look literally the other way. which i their own work. the others look l literally the other way. which one was i? i thought _ literally the other way. which one was i? i thought you _ literally the other way. which one was i? i thought you were - literally the other way. which one | was i? i thought you were looking. literally the other way. which one i was i? i thought you were looking. i was. was i? i thought you were looking. i was- when — was i? i thought you were looking. i was- when i— was i? i thought you were looking. i was. when i have _ was i? i thought you were looking. i was. when i have seen _ was i? i thought you were looking. i was. when i have seen the - was i? i thought you were looking. i was. when i have seen the video i was i? i thought you were looking. i| was. when i have seen the video the first time i don't really see it again. so it is kind of oh, yes. and for all of us, we have had this quiet period and, this year, we have thrown ourselves back into it. all of that, the video is... part thrown ourselves back into it. all of that, the video is. . .— thrown ourselves back into it. all of that, the video is... part of the new stuff you _ of that, the video is... part of the new stuff you have _ of that, the video is... part of the new stuff you have been - of that, the video is... part of the new stuff you have been writing l of that, the video is... part of the | new stuff you have been writing is reflecting on difficult times everyone has had.- reflecting on difficult times everyone has had. reflecting on difficult times eve one has had. ., ., , everyone has had. how have things been for you? _ everyone has had. how have things been for you? it _ everyone has had. how have things been for you? it is _ everyone has had. how have things been for you? it is less _ everyone has had. how have things been for you? it is less about i everyone has had. how have things been for you? it is less about the i been for you? it is less about the reflecting on... what happened was, had the lockdown not come around and despite the difficulties that came with it, what it afforded me was being on this whirlwind adventure for eight years or so, and then it was an opportunity to kind of makes sense of all of that. also, and i speak to friends about this, it is the idea of asking yourself what it

is you do, why you do it, how you do it, and all of those things. when i sit and listen to the record, the album, the first half is this kind of festival feeling, party, album, the first half is this kind of festivalfeeling, party, which is where we exist when we perform. that is how performance feels for us. and the second half is a little more reflective. the second half is a little more reflective-— the second half is a little more reflective. . ., ., , ., reflective. having had that period of reflection _ reflective. having had that period of reflection to _ reflective. having had that period of reflection to take _ reflective. having had that period of reflection to take stock, - reflective. having had that period of reflection to take stock, i i of reflection to take stock, i suppose, will it change the way you go into touring and performing this time around? it is like life has been split by covid.— time around? it is like life has been split by covid. before and after. i been split by covid. before and after- i do _ been split by covid. before and after- i do a — been split by covid. before and after. i do a good _ been split by covid. before and after. i do a good job _ been split by covid. before and after. i do a good job and i been split by covid. before and after. i do a good job and do i been split by covid. before and after. i do a good job and do in j been split by covid. before and i after. i do a good job and do in the past of being overwhelmed by the idea of touring and find it intimidating and scary. why? because you make yourself vulnerable in some ways. on the one hand you want to

perform, and suddenly you are going, hey, i am over here. look at me, aren't i great? you will love this. and when you are on stage it is oh, look at me. you can have control of that but everything that comes with it, you don't really have... ifelt, am i doing this right, a lot of the time. and so had kind of built—up touring as this intimidating thing in my head. but touring as this intimidating thing in my head-— touring as this intimidating thing | in my head._ that in my head. but that was it. that has changed _ in my head. but that was it. that has changed now? _ in my head. but that was it. that has changed now? hugely. i- in my head. but that was it. that has changed now? hugely. i was| in my head. but that was it. that i has changed now? hugely. i was like, snap out of it. you do the best thing in the world. you love this. that is the thing. and those two things can exist together, you can love something and it can be intimidating, but enjoy it. can love something and it can be intimidating, but enjoy it. intimidating, but en'oy it. can i askaboutfi intimidating, but en'oy it. can i ask about your i intimidating, but enjoy it. can i ask about your distinctive i intimidating, but enjoy it. can i ask about your distinctive singing voice. was there a moment in time, tell me if this is a stupid question, how old are you when that voice popped up and you thought i

have a thing here, or somebody said to you you have a voice, a distinctive sound? i to you you have a voice, a distinctive sound?- to you you have a voice, a distinctive sound? ., ., , distinctive sound? i do not remember an one distinctive sound? i do not remember anyone saying — distinctive sound? i do not remember anyone saying anything. _ distinctive sound? i do not remember anyone saying anything. certainly i distinctive sound? i do not remember anyone saying anything. certainly my| anyone saying anything. certainly my family, more what i had was they let me crack on and do it. i must have been ia. it was not deliberate. i was trying to sound like people i liked. i was fake as a teenager and then you learn your own voice. when i hear my first album to the second album i hear my voice has changed. you do not talk like you sing. sometimes you meet someone, i suppose like rod stewart, and when you talk, you think i can hear what you talk, you think i can hear what you sound like on your albums. is that completely natural? you you sound like on your albums. is that completely natural?- that completely natural? you are softly spoken- — that completely natural? you are softly spoken. and _ that completely natural? you are softly spoken. and i _ that completely natural? you are softly spoken. and i have - that completely natural? you are softly spoken. and i have a i softly spoken. and i have a high—pitched giggle. when i laugh. my high—pitched giggle. when i laugh. my voice when i am talking is different. but i feel now how icing

is how i sing. it is what feels natural to me now. it is how i sing. it is what feels natural to me now.— naturalto me now. it is performance, _ naturalto me now. it is performance, you i naturalto me now. it is performance, you are l natural to me now. it is performance, you are performing. also, when you start, i was a kid when i started and it is an opportunity to be something else. yes. and play around with being something. yes. and play around with being something-— yes. and play around with being somethina. �*, ., ,, ., something. let's talk about red nose da . something. let's talk about red nose day- sometimes _ something. let's talk about red nose day. sometimes there _ something. let's talk about red nose day. sometimes there is _ something. let's talk about red nose day. sometimes there is an _ something. let's talk about red nose day. sometimes there is an element| day. sometimes there is an element of chaos around. how is that as a performer? you like to know what you're doing and who is on before. do you have to go with the flow? just go with the flow. my memory of comic relief as a kid was we would do cake sales and things in the evening with friends and family. i have never played it. that is exciting to do. if it is that is fine. ~ , ., exciting to do. if it is that is fine. ~ i. exciting to do. if it is that is fine. ~ ., , fine. where you good at selling cake? was _ fine. where you good at selling cake? was i — fine. where you good at selling cake? was i good? _ fine. where you good at selling cake? was i good? i— fine. where you good at selling cake? was i good? iwas- fine. where you good at selling cake? was i good? i was a i fine. where you good at selling. cake? was i good? i was a child. fine. where you good at selling i

cake? was i good? i was a child. it was family — cake? was i good? i was a child. it was family friends. _ cake? was i good? i was a child. it was family friends. it _ cake? was i good? i was a child. it was family friends. it would - cake? was i good? i was a child. it was family friends. it would be i was family friends. it would be really bad if i had not sold the cakes. did they eat them? one or two. ifeel you have been around a long time and i mean that in the best possible way. you started young. 17, 18, and things kicked off. , ., ., started young. 17, 18, and things kicked off-— kicked off. yes, and at the time, and this is _ kicked off. yes, and at the time, and this is the _ kicked off. yes, and at the time, and this is the way _ kicked off. yes, and at the time, and this is the way it _ kicked off. yes, and at the time, and this is the way it should i and this is the way it should happen, you feel you have it figured out. and then you look back and you did not at all. i feel very fortunate. that is part of what this record is. i have worked with the same people to make it. and you go, oh, this is the result of being given ten years to explore one thing. and to improve on it. i do not take that for granted. that is something ifeel lucky not take that for granted. that is something i feel lucky for. not take that for granted. that is something ifeel lucky for. it is not take that for granted. that is something i feel lucky for.- something i feel lucky for. it is a aood something i feel lucky for. it is a good philosophical— something i feel lucky for. it is a good philosophical way - something i feel lucky for. it is a good philosophical way to - something i feel lucky for. it is a good philosophical way to finish. have a good night tonight. thank you

for getting up early. irlat have a good night tonight. thank you for getting up early-— george will be performing tonight on comic relief from 7pm on bbc one and his new album, gold rush kid, will be released on 10th june. you're watching bbc breakfast. it's 8.59.

this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. a series of explosions in western ukraine near the city of lviv — with smoke rising out of the city centre. ukraine's capital kyiv continues to be targeted by russian airstrikes. a residential neighbourhood in a nothern district has been shelled. in the east, the ukrainian army holds off the russian advance in the second city of kharkiv, despite heavy daily bombardment. we have a report from the frontline. they've tried to punch through here again and again and again and they've failed. ukrainian forces are keeping them at bay. two million people have

fled ukraine to poland since the war in ukraine began, with the majority being