renewable, sustainable and local heat sources. that would include things like ground source heating connected to district heating. low—carbon district heating works best in towns and cities. these schemes in gateshead and london are just the start. many more will be needed if the uk is going to meet its climate change targets. rebecca morelle, bbc news, gateshead. one of the highlights of the racing calendar, the cheltenham gold cup, takes place this afternoon — with rachael blackmore hoping to make history by becoming the first female jockey to win the race. our sports correspondent andy swiss is at cheltenham. yes, welcome to cheltenham where the early morning fog has cleared and we have glorious sunshine for the big

race of the festival, the gold cup, which gets under way at half past three. and there is a real sense of anticipation because last year, remember, the gold cup had to be behind closed doors because of covid — this year tickets have sold out in record time and we are expecting more than 70,000 fans inside the course. as for the race itself, could we see another bit of history for rachael blackmore? last year she became the first female jockey to win the grand national. could she become the first female jockey to win the gold cap? she has an excellent chance on a horse who finished second in last year's race. all eyes will be on rachael blackmore and the gold up when the and it was saying the early morning mist and fog is cleared, that was some of it that we had across the peak district. and it has pretty much gone everywhere now. most of us have clear blue sky skies, with a little fare with a cloud expected to bubble up through this afternoon. the fine weather is brought to us by

this intensifying high pressure. it's not going to budge at all, which means the weather will not just be dry today, throughout the weekend, but most of next week, perhaps for most of this month. yes, it is going to be a prolonged spell of dry weather. today most of us have the sunshine, a bit of cloud here and there, a patch of low cloud and mist coming onto the coastline of county down keeping things cool in here, but otherwise for most of us it's a warmer afternoon. temperatures peaking at around 15 or 16 celsius in that lovely spring sunshine. tonight the breeze picks up, it won't be quite as cold as last night, the frost a little more patchy and restricted to northern areas, not as much mist and fog either. perhaps the bailiff yorke, eastern areas of scotland blown to a little murk later. lots of sunshine for saturday, quite windy, sunday will have more cloud and it will start to turn cooler, perhaps a few showers and parts of east anglia.

this is a picture of saturday, lots of sunshine. we have pretty gusty winds on the way, particularly towards their headlands and coast of south—west england. gusts could reach a0 or 50 mph. it could still be pretty gusty out and about here. the winds will be flowing across the cool waters of the north sea wed sea temperatures are only around seven or eight so winds will be chilled as they reach eastern scotland, eastern england, and temperatures here around 11 or 12. further west the temperature is higher, 15 or 16 celsius, perhaps into north—west scotland some valley is getting loaded up sunday, there will be more cloud around at the cloud will tend to thicken across east anglia, may be other piece parts of eastern england, to bring scattered showers. could be some soft tail mixed in. though still the emphasis is on a lot of dry weather, still with sunshine. the best night across

western areas, but it will start to feel cooler, 12 or 13. the fine weather is set to stay for a long time yet. that's all from the bbc news at one — so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. good afternoon, it's 1.30pm and here's your latest sports news. it's the final day of the cheltenham festival and the gold cup is the prize everyone wants to get their hands on. 0ur correspondent lizze greenwood hughes is at cheltenham, and lizzie there have been huge crowds all week and we're expecting record numbers today? we are the can't say exactly right know if it will be read today but we think wreckers crowds all week and i

can see it as a sell out today. the weather is beautiful in the pick of the days in terms of the weather and in terms gold cup day, the crescendo to the cheltenham festival and the finale to the jump racing season. it is impossible to overstate just how important the reputations of the trainers and jockeys and horses and you can become immortalised a few win the gold cup which is happening today at half past three. in recent years it has been dominated by the irish and the whole of the festival for the last four years and if you look at the betting markets most people think that will be the same this year with leading and rachael

blackmore isjoined by stablemate minella indo and the new kid on the block galvin. let's hear what barry geraghty thanks. this is to get them here with a full _ geraghty thanks. this is to get them here with a full house _ geraghty thanks. this is to get them here with a full house and _ geraghty thanks. this is to get them here with a full house and all - here with a full house and all restrictions lifted and the energy and the atmosphere and form an incitement and you have two levels of the winners enclosure —— the excitement. it is like nowhere else. you mentioned rachael blackmore. do you have a tip for us was

mark if you don't want to go for the irish, protektorat. i’m mark if you don't want to go for the irish, protektorat.— mark if you don't want to go for the irish, protektorat. i'm not sure who won the hurdle _ irish, protektorat. i'm not sure who won the hurdle but _ irish, protektorat. i'm not sure who won the hurdle but the _ irish, protektorat. i'm not sure who won the hurdle but the britain - won the hurdle but the britain versus ireland competition is led by ireland 11 points to ten of which is far less good than most people thought was that i think most people thought was that i think most people thought of the irish would run away with it but we will have all the action with the gold cup winner when it happens here on bbc news. holders chelsea will face 13—time winners real madrid in the quarterfinals of the champions league. manchester city will play atletico madrid, while liverpool tackle benfica and bayern munich take on villarreal. the three premier league clubs are among the favourites for european glory this season and managed to avoid each other in the quarterfinal draw.

in the europa league, west ham face lyon, whilst rangers face braga. it's day1 of the world indoor athletic championships in belgrade and gb�*s katarina johnson—thompson and darryl neita are both in action. reigning champion johnson—thompson, has not competed since withdrawing from the olympic heptathlon with a leg injury last summer, but received an invite from world athletics to compete in belgrade. meanwhile, darryl neita qualified for the 60m semifinals this morning, and the heats have put her in a confident mood. that was good, first round at the way and i'm feeling confident. it was nice to get on the track today and my first time seeing the track and my first time seeing the track and i am happy with my first round and i am happy with my first round and i'm sure my coach will be too. . england fast bowler mark wood has been ruled out of the rest of the test series against the west indies.

scan results have confirmed wood has a right elbow injury and needs to return to the uk for specialist treatment. england are in control of the second test. yesterday they declared on 507 runs. which starts at two o'clock. we will continue with situation in ukraine and the ministry of defence gave an update which says that three weeks after the russian invasion it has largely stalled on all fronts. it says that the vast majority of russian forces have made minimum progress in last few days

statement goes on to say — ukrainian resistance remains staunch, and well—coordinated. and it also notes the vast majority of ukrainian territory, including all major cities, remains in ukrainian hands. for both ukraine and russia electronic warfare and the use of drones are crucial. my colleague ben brown has been exploring this with two experts: electronics warfare expert, dr tom withington, and the military analyst, matt smith. ukraine has invested quite heavily in recent years and its own uav capabilities and it has its own indigenously developed systems and what has been happening there as they have been taking those systems, adapting and weaponised in them and using them to great effect on the battlefield. ~ . ,

using them to great effect on the battlefield. ~ ., , ., battlefield. where have they got the drones that they _ battlefield. where have they got the drones that they are _ battlefield. where have they got the drones that they are using? - battlefield. where have they got the drones that they are using? some . drones that they are using? some from turkey _ drones that they are using? some from turkey and _ drones that they are using? some from turkey and some _ drones that they are using? some from turkey and some they - drones that they are using? some from turkey and some they have l drones that they are using? fin? from turkey and some they have built themselves and the defensive capability within ukraine is quite sophisticated and they have a range of systems that go from fairly small, some reconnaissance designs to quite larger systems like pd2, a tactical vehicle with a much more sophisticated sensor system and can go longer distances it may also be possible to deploy weapons. these hea du possible to deploy weapons. these heavy duty drones _ possible to deploy weapons. these heavy duty drones can _ possible to deploy weapons. these heavy duty drones can drop - possible to deploy weapons. these heavy duty drones can drop anti—tank grenades and ciba thermal cameras and often attack the russians as they sleep?—

and often attack the russians as the slee? ~�* , . _ they sleep? the uab is incredibly versatile system _ they sleep? the uab is incredibly versatile system so _ they sleep? the uab is incredibly versatile system so you _ they sleep? the uab is incredibly versatile system so you can - they sleep? the uab is incredibly versatile system so you can take | they sleep? the uab is incredibly| versatile system so you can take a small copter full of employers of —— explosives and flight into something. but i think we will see specialist munitions being used and also tactics that allow ukrainians to evade whatever defences the russians have up there and be able to be very effective.— to be very effective. john, let's talk to you _ to be very effective. john, let's talk to you about _ to be very effective. john, let's talk to you about what - to be very effective. john, let's talk to you about what the - to be very effective. john, let's - talk to you about what the russians are doing are failing to do because they don't seem to be able to counter this ukrainian drone warfare very effectively. we counter this ukrainian drone warfare very effectively-— very effectively. we are seeing drone warfare _ very effectively. we are seeing drone warfare used _ very effectively. we are seeing drone warfare used more - very effectively. we are seeing drone warfare used more and i very effectively. we are seeing - drone warfare used more and more, the last year con flight abaci jaan. —— abacijaan. the russians have

been using their own anti—aircraft guns and missiles and should also attack parts of the radio spectrum drones depend on to fly. they typically use a radial length from the pilot on the ground to the pilot in the air and two to three gigahertz band with means that that is a similar bandwidth to what we would use for our mobile phones in our everyday lives and the drones themselves also use a gps link with to get information in that position from a satellite so in theory by jamming those two radio links you should be able to knock the drone out of the fight and the loss of control through those radial length should either cause the —— radio links should either cause the drone

crash or go back to its point of origin or land safely and why the russians are not attacking the radial length is puzzling. d0 russians are not attacking the radial length is puzzling. do you think they did — radial length is puzzling. do you think they did not _ radial length is puzzling. do you think they did not expect - radial length is puzzling. do you think they did not expect it - radial length is puzzling. do you think they did not expect it did l radial length is puzzling. do you i think they did not expect it did not know the ukrainians had this many drones in such large numbers that are able to perform so effectively? they have no excuse because they should have seen this in previous conflicts that drones would be a big issue and it is something they have had to face in syria for almost ten years. if you look towards nato, it is pouring millions into drone defences on the battlefield to make sure deployed forces are not at risk from either very high end military systems are things people make in the garages such as a quad copter that you buy from a hobby shop with

explosives on them. why they have not been able to engage with these weapons is so far one of the great mysteries of these —— this war. in terms of overall military significance this could be quite crucial in the battle for ukraine because they are not going to get the no—fly zone they want and they are asking for from nato but this gives them an element of aerial power. gives them an element of aerial ower. ~' , gives them an element of aerial ower. ~ , ., ~ ., .,, gives them an element of aerial ower. ~ , ., ~ ., , power. the key for ukraine as they can sustain — power. the key for ukraine as they can sustain operations _ power. the key for ukraine as they can sustain operations until - power. the key for ukraine as they can sustain operations until the - can sustain operations until the russians get their air defence systems up and running again? they haven't been able to have any significant amount of air space control within ukraine and the systems used just though have ithink been surprisingly effective because a lot of people were expecting in a high conventional war such as we are

seeing in a contested airspace uavs would not survive very long because not particularly manoeuvrable and don't really have any way of protecting themselves against being targeted by aircraft or sophisticated air defence systems. i think from a ukrainian perspective the uavs at the higher level will be crucial as long as the airspace remains relatively uncontested. find remains relatively uncontested. and the are remains relatively uncontested. and they are also _ remains relatively uncontested. and they are also able to get in more supplies of drones and the need spare parts and i gather drone enthusiasts in the west have been sending in spare parts and supplies. it speaks to the point about how their range of capabilities is so enormous. you can be very effective with relatively unsophisticated

systems, particularly if the things you are targeting armoured and i think we have seen the last few weeks examples of lightly armoured, particularly supply convoys being attacked by systems and those are very vulnerable to uav attack. a little bit of information coming through from downing street about a phone call borisjohnson had this morning with president zelensky of ukraine. numberten morning with president zelensky of ukraine. number ten are saying that borisjohnson reiterated his boris johnson reiterated his admiration borisjohnson reiterated his admiration for the steadfast resistance of the ukrainian people and said the entire united kingdom stands with ukraine and he added

that he was committed to working with allies at a nato meeting scheduled for next week to discuss stepping up military support to ukraine. they discussed the ongoing peace talks with the prime minister offering his support for the possession of ukraine and saying essentially the uk will continue to exert pressure at all levels to oppose the act of aggression by vladimir putin including sanctions, legal aid and diplomatic action. those are some of the ways in which borisjohnson those are some of the ways in which boris johnson gave those are some of the ways in which borisjohnson gave support to president zelensky on that phone call a little earlier this morning. in terms of the situation the country itself we have been talking about the bombing of the theatre and

mariupol where theatre was bombed and many people was sheltering in the basement of it. president zelensky and others saying that about 130 people are believed to have been pulled out from the theatre alive but mainly, many hundreds more were sheltering in that basement. depending on which news agencies should look at some say as many as 1300 people may still be trapped inside that theatre but certainly we know many, many hundreds are believed to be trapped. also a short while ago president vladimir putin has been talking. it is the anniversary of the takeover of crimea by russia eight years ago and he has been addressing crowds in moscow as russia celebrates what it

is calling the reunification of crimea. translation: to liberate people who started in donbas an ukraine and this is the main objective. i ukraine and this is the main objective-— ukraine and this is the main objective. ukraine and this is the main ob'ective. , , ., , objective. i remember these words from the bible. _ objective. i remember these words from the bible. there _ objective. i remember these words from the bible. there is _ objective. i remember these words from the bible. there is no - objective. i remember these words from the bible. there is no other. from the bible. there is no other love rather than someone gives the soul for their friends words from the scriptures. and we are seeing the heroic deeds of our guys in this operation. heroic deeds of our guys in this operation-— heroic deeds of our guys in this 0 eration. . ., ~ heroic deeds of our guys in this 0 eration. . ., ,, ., operation. vladimir putin talking at the rall in operation. vladimir putin talking at the rally in moscow _

operation. vladimir putin talking at the rally in moscow and _ operation. vladimir putin talking at the rally in moscow and we - operation. vladimir putin talking at the rally in moscow and we will. operation. vladimir putin talking at| the rally in moscow and we will now hear from the ukrainian the rally in moscow and we will now hearfrom the ukrainian president because i can see president zelensky is still talking. translation: i am grateful all of the initiatives all over the world not only at the state level but also the public level, grateful to swedish public not to serve the russian vessels and this is a good example that should be followed by all civic structures and trades unions and civic associations. if trades unions and civic associations.— trades unions and civic associations. ., ., , , associations. if we do not punish russia now _ associations. if we do not punish russia now other _ associations. if we do not punish russia now other parts _ associations. if we do not punish russia now other parts of - associations. if we do not punish russia now other parts of the - associations. if we do not punish i russia now other parts of the world they will launch places, states where we are dreaming of subjugating neighbours and it is vital for potential aggressors to see that warming is only losses are not a

single game. it is necessary for the europeans to block ports for all russian vessels, for all russian vessels follow the russian military ship and it is necessary all western businesses leave the russian market and not to cover with the cheap pr their eagerness for gains such as nestle are doing. we have humanitarian corridors in sumy and other places and the route from the besieged mariupol. the russians are doing everything they can to prevent the route of people. we have managed to save more than 35,000 people from mariupol and we continue rescue

operations forever drama theatre was blown up in mariupol and used as a shelter. as is known now, we have managed to have rescued more than 130 people but under the ruins there are many more residents of mariupol and in respect of all difficulties we will continue the operation. in kharkiv the situation is very complicated and the invaders continue to destroy tones and our team is doing everything to organise a humanitarian corridor to those towns and cities and provide water and medication and food and and i asked the secretary of the security council to draft a decision to speed up council to draft a decision to speed up to maximise the delivery of goods from abroad, first of all food and

fuel that satisfy the basic needs of the society. war is not the time for bureaucrats and officials from different branches to complicate lives of people, we want to simplify maximising customs processing, if we need to remove exercises and custom duties we are ready to remove them. if it is necessary to remove the custom officers who actually do not understand what is necessary we are ready to do that as well. so our borders should be open for everything that ukrainians need and i expect these decisions by the end of the day and then we need the support from the mp5. everybody should work for ukraine and only for the defence of the state and not for the defence of the state and not for the sake of ambition are

bureaucracy, everything from defending ukraine. isigned bureaucracy, everything from defending ukraine. i signed a decree for 130 military including the order for 130 military including the order for the commander of the army from the start of the incursion, he is managing the defence of kyiv and thanks to him the enemy last much equipment and managed to liberate 30 settlements in the kyiv region, which were temporarily occupied with enemy. the commander of the tank battalion defending the dullness region —— might —— donesk region

stop the russian advance and another leader managed to save 31 ukrainian defenders and continues performing her duties and mariupol. glory to all leaders, glory to ukraine. that was president _ all leaders, glory to ukraine. that was president zelensky with his updater on the progress of the rescue operation in mariupol. we have been focusing a lot on that in the last hour with the news about 130 people had been rescued from the bombed theatre but still enormous concern because many hundreds of people i believed in all likelihood to still be trapped and we know that more broadly in that vital port city of the conditions are absolutely wretched and so to see if any more

people can be rescued from the theatre. he did say that about 35,000 people overall have been got out of the city but condition so unspeakably grim they are that it is a truly desperate situation in that particular city as we know. we are keeping an eye on all of this and this on the day that presidentjoe biden is having his first formal phone call with his chinese counterpart, the two leaders having a first conversation since russia invaded ukraine and the result of that very important as well given the potential influence of china and we went to see what emerges as a result of the phone call between those two men as well. much more coming up with continuing coverage on the situation in ukraine on bbc news throughout the afternoon. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes.

the early morning mist and fog we had to start the day has cleared and most of us have sunshine through the day there will be a little bit of fear weather cloud for a time but a glorious day with lots of spring sunshine. it will be fairly gusty across south—west england and western areas of scotland but otherwise warmer than yesterday and temperatures 13 and glasgow and up to 16 in london and cardiff as well. overnight tonight with more of a breeze around not as cold and not as much mist and fog but that could still be a few patches of fog through the vale of york and perhaps into parts of eastern scotland. a cool start to saturday morning with mist and fog not lasting long. for most of us are glorious there with lots of sunshine. gusty winds across south—west england and the cool waters of the north sea will mean eastern areas will feel chilly with the warmest weather across the west.

this is bbc news. i'mjames reynolds, live in lviv. this is bbc news. russia carries out an air strike near the western ukrainian city of lviv. smoke was seen rising from an aircraft maintenance plant — no—one was hurt. lviv's governor condemns the strike. translation: the enemy strike against lviv is further proof - that it doesn't fight ukrainian troops, it fights its people. children, women, refugees, nothing is sacred for them. ukraine's capital, kyiv, continues to be targeted by russian air strikes.