i'm sally bundock, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. as the war in ukraine enters its second month, the country's president calls for a show of support around the world. come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities stop in the name of peace. become with ukrainian symbols to support ukraine, to support freedom, to support life. nato says it'll double the number of battle groups deployed on its eastern flank in response to russia's invasion. a siege without end. we talk to one of the survivors of mariupol — the ukrainian city under relentless russian shelling. millions have fled the country

in just a few weeks, most heading to poland. we'll report from the border with ukraine. i. i, madeline albright. and tributes are paid to madeline albright, america's first female secretary of state, who's died at the age of 8a. the uk government spells out its spending plans with the cost of living rising ever faster. we will have analysis of the spring statement later in this hour. hello and welcome. it's exactly a month since russia defied expectations and invaded ukraine. a month in which ukraine has resisted the russian onslaught. in a speech to mark the occasion, president

volodymyr zelensky appealed, in english, to people all over the world to come out onto the streets on thursday to show their support for ukraine. he said russia's war was not just against ukraine, but the freedom of people everywhere. it comes as nato is expected to agree to send more troops to eastern europe at an emergency meeting in brussels on thursday. for the latest, here's gareth barlow. for ukrainians, it's the war that should never have begun. for president putin, it's the special military operation that was supposed to take days. but a month on, the brutal conflict continues. in the face of superior forces, ukrainian soldiers and civilians are digging in, preparing the capital, kyiv, for the full force of moscow's military might. but despite overwhelming odds in some areas, russian forces are being pushed back. from official sources with information, right now, the small city, makariv, and almost whole irpin

already in the control of ukrainian soldiers. for residents of cities like mariupol, daily life has become death. with each week, a frustrated russian army has increasingly sought to grind down ukrainian morale and the very fabric of ukraine itself. and as western arms pour in, the country's president has sought to get the message out of the devastation caused by the russian invasion. on wednesday, in his nightly address, addressing the world in english, volodymyr zelensky called for people to unite. come in the name of peace. come with ukrainian symbols to support ukraine, to support freedom, to support life. come to your squares, your streets. make yourselves visible and heard. say that people matter, freedom matters, peace matters, ukraine matters. the conflict has seen nato bolster its presence along its eastern flank.

around 40,000 forces are now gathered there, and on thursday, after flying into brussels, president biden will meet with allies to discuss deploying more troops close to the conflict. i expect leaders will agree to strengthen nato�*s posture in all domains with major increases to our forces in the eastern part of the alliance. 0n land, in the air and at sea. despite continued talks between russia and ukraine, there's no sign president putin is prepared to back down and end the suffering inflicted on ukraine. but despite the grief and bloodshed the country has already endured, months on, there is no sign ukrainians are prepared to back down in the defence of their country. gareth barlow, bbc news.

for more on the significance of president zelensky latest appeal, here's our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. let me just first remind viewers, the speech that he recorded in the early hours of february 2a which was just hours before russia invaded ukraine. he was sitting in his office in his suit and he said he had tried to contact president putin but he only got silence and he appealed in russian to the people of russia to stop the invasion which was also met with silence. in the early hours of march 2a, here in kyiv he's recorded another address in his fatigues tonight outside presidential buildings and he has appealed in english to people around the world saying this is notjust a fight against ukraine, this is a fight for freedom,

the freedom of the world and he's called on people around the world to leave their offices, schools, homes, to take ukrainian symbols, to go into streets and squares and basically show that they will fight this war because he has said only the world can defeat this war. it's a big gamble to see, we have already seen a response in many countries around the world and now he is again upping the stakes to say if it really matters to you, show it. he's a man who was a former entertainer, he understands that in a war there is a narrative about the war and the war unfolding on the ground and tonight he has shown that he understands that more than most. well, on the ground in ukraine, the port city of mariupol is still under intense russian bombardment. around 100,000 civilians are now trapped there without food, water or power. 0ur correspondent wyre davies has been speaking to a survivor of the attack on the city's theatre where hundreds of civilians including children had been taking shelter.

maria walked for four days to escape mariupol. without money, a car orfamily, she has nothing. she's the first known survivor of the mariupol theatre attack to speak about what happened. translation: the theatre was j completely packed with people. there was no space to lie down. people were just sitting. it was clear that this was a shelter, people knew this. also, there was massive signs saying "children" that were made on both sides of the theatre. where were you at the exact time of the attack? translation: we were getting our breakfast, . and by breakfast, i mean, we were getting some boiled water. someone brought me some pieces of fish, i think, to feed the dogs. when they finished eating, i went outside to the water tank to get a bowl of water for them. this is when the shell landed. i saw that it landed just where i'd been sitting.

i was outside and survived only because there was some man nearby. he heard the shell falling, grabbed me by the collar, pinned me between the ground and the wall and covered me with his body. we were sprayed with broken glass and concrete. i was stunned, probably even concussed, because i fell unconscious several times since. when the dust settled a bit, i cleared my eyes. i saw injured people around. i tried to make my way inside. the dogs were the family for me. they were everything i had left. i could not find a way to get inside, to at least find out whether they are alive or dead. i sincerely hope they died instantly. maria says there were at least a thousand people inside the theatre. while russia denies targeting civilians and says it wasn't responsible,

what maria saw suggests otherwise. translation: | don't know | how many people died, sorry. there were some rooms in there. those were allocated for families with children. that part of the theatre is completely gone. partially deafened by the blast, her back in pain, maria now relies on the kindness of friends. she worries for her grandmother in mariupol and mourns her dead pets. at just 27, it's difficult to stay strong. wyre davies, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. let's get some of the day's other news: military sources in yemen say a senior general has been killed in a car bomb attack in the southern port city of aden. major—general thabet jawas was a commander of the saudi—led coalition forces fighting the rebels to restore president hadi's internationally recognised government.

rescuers in china have found one of the two black box recorders from a passenger plane that crashed on monday with more than 130 people on board. the box was badly damaged, and it wasn't immediately clear whether it was the cockpit voice recorder or the one tracking flight data. no survivors have been found, although the search of the wreckage continues, despite being hampered by rain. us senate democrats have defended ketanji brown jackson, presidentjoe biden�*s nominee to become the first black woman on the us supreme court, on the third day of her confirmation hearing. republicans resumed attacks on herjudicial record and sought to paint her as a liberal activist. cars have been swept away in paraguay�*s capital asuncion as heavy rains and floods lashed the south american country. streets in the capital turned to rivers. cars were immersed in water up to their roofs, and many vehicles were washed away.

more than 3.5 million people have now fled ukraine, more than two million of them crossing into poland. 0ur correspondent mark lowen has been in poland since the first day, and sent this report from the border. it's been a month a month seeing other parts and standing up. forweeks seeing other parts and standing up. for weeks on the only changes warmer weather, the arrivals keep coming, seeking safety from some don't understand welcomed where poland can put them, this a school, smile and because the

ready. inside volunteers bring comfort after an exhausting journey. julia fled kyiv her husband staying to fight. children are killed and teenage girls raped, we had to leave. they were shooting at the cars as we try to escape. we prayed as we try to escape. we prayed as we try to escape. we prayed as we drove. it's good here but we want to go home. ijust want this to end. we want to go home. i “ust want this to with this to end. the trauma on the youngest _ this to end. the trauma on the youngest could _ this to end. the trauma on the youngest could take _ this to end. the trauma on the youngest could take years - this to end. the trauma on the youngest could take years to l youngest could take years to show and last a lifetime. 0lga's little ones already feel it. olga's little ones already feel it. , olga's little ones already feel it. y ., , ,, , it. they were asking why helicopters _ it. they were asking why helicopters were - it. they were asking why helicopters were flying. | it. they were asking why - helicopters were flying. why there were sirens. why people were dying. i had to explain it in a way that didn't hurt them. at the start of the invasion we watched as pan prompted an immediate first rush to escape but these are people who didn't want to leave thinking they

could stick it out that bombs might stop. but they didn't stop and 3.5 million refugees later there is a growing feel of the long—term about this with all the challenges that will entail. destination, warsaw �*s population is up by faith, new arrivals given id numbers and school places. they have a journey to safety but their country still has no passage to peace. mark lowen, bbc news on the poland — ukraine border. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: seeking some escape from the trauma — how ukrainian children find solace in paper, pencils and crayons. applause i'm so proud of both of you. let there be no more wars or bloodshed between arabs and israelis.

with great regret, _ the committee have decided that south africa be excluded . from the 1970 competition. recites islamic blessing streaking across the sky, the white—hot wreckage from mir drew gasps from onlookers on fiji. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: as the war in ukraine

enters its second month, the country's president calls for demonstrations of support around the world. nato says it'll double the number of battlegroups deployed on its eastern flank in response to russia's invasion of ukraine. jamaica's prime minister has told the duke and duchess of cambridge that his country is moving on and intends to become an independent nation. andrew holness has been meeting prince william and kate on their visit to the caribbean marking the queen's platinum jubilee. 0ur royal correspondent jonny dymond reports from kingston. today looked like business as usual. the duke and duchess at a teacher training college, pursuing kate's passion for early years learning. but first, from the jamaican prime minister, a public reminder that he wants an end to the british monarch's role as head of state.

this won't have been what the duke and duchess were expecting. the prime minister did campaign on a pledge to make jamaica a republic, but to speak to the couple like this in front of the cameras is pretty strong stuff. if offence was taken, they certainly weren't showing it. but the prime minister's words are a reminder that the ties between britain and the far—flung realms depend on present—day politics as much as the long links of history. jonny dymond, bbc news, kingston, jamaica.

the former south korean president, park geun—hye, is heading home for the first time since she was jailed for corruption four years ago. ms park smiled as she was released from a seoul hospital. she was pardoned in december, but has been in hospital suffering from an undisclosed illness. the prosecutor who played a key role in her conviction, yoon suk—yeol, was elected president earlier this month. president biden has led tributes to the former us secretary of state, madeleine albright, who's died at the age of 8a. he described her as a force for decency and freedom. in the 1990s, she was a champion of nato expansion. 0ur washington correspondent, nomia iqbal, looks back at her life. madeleine albright was a trail—blazer. so help me god. congratulations, madam secretary. in 1997, she became american�*s top diplomat, the first female to do so.

but her story began outside america. the daughter of a czech diplomat, herfamily fled prague from the nazis when she was a year old. a decade later, herfamily was granted political asylum in the us. her childhood would go on to shape her views and her policies. 0n the political stage, madeleine albright was the face of us foreign policy during the president clinton years. she pursued what she called "aggressive multi—lateralism", pushing for intervention in the wars that tore apart yugoslavia. she was a major influence on us policy in the middle east, clashing with saddam hussein over sanctions on iraq. he called her a serpent, and so began her use of jewellery to make a diplomatic point, starting with a snake. russia's president putin once said he knew what the mood of a meeting would be by looking at her left shoulder. the 84—year—old supported getting other women in higher positions. she backed hillary clinton in 2016 with a comment that some considered controversial. she later apologised for it.

just remember — there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other! arriving in europe tonight, president biden said in a statement that madeleine albright was a force and hers were the hands that turned the tide of history. there was also a tribute in the un from those who have followed in her footsteps. she left an indelible mark on the world and on the united nations. our country and our united nations are stronger for her service. 0nly last month, she warned that if president putin invaded ukraine, it would be an historic error. madeleine albright was raised in a time when eastern europe was in crisis, to only see that crisis return during herfinal days. madeleine albright, who's died at the age of 8a.

now let us bring you all the latest sports news. hello, i'm mimi fawaz, and this is your sports news. fellow players have been reacting to the shock news that the world number one women's player ashleigh barty has announced she's retiring at the age of 25. barty has been explaining her decision at a press conference in australia. she won three grand slams, including this year's australian open, and said she was leaving the sport to chase other dreams. world number two iga swiatek said she cried when she heard the news, but was pleased barty was doing what she wanted with her career. now to the women's champions league, wherejuventus had a stunning comeback as they beat european giants lyon in the first leg of their debut champions league quarterfinal tie. the seven—time winners lyon were 1—0 up when they were reduced to ten players. cristiana girelli equalised in the 71st minute forjuventus, before substitute agnese bonfantini sealed victory minutes after coming on.

russia hasjoined the uk and republic of ireland football associations in expressing an interest in staging the european championships in 2028. russia has also thrown its name in the hat for 2032 tournament, despite being banned from international football. russian clubs and national teams are currently suspended by fifa and uefa because of the country's invasion of ukraine, pending the outcome of an appeal to the court of arbitration for sport. turkey's fa has announced it has submitted its own expression of interest. england captain harry kane says he wants to "shine a light" on issues around qatar, where the 2022 world cup will be held. there are concerns about the human rights record of a country that was awarded the world cup in 2010. kane was asked whether there should have been a different host for the tournament. 0bviously that decision is not ours, that is kind of taken out

of our hands. i guess there is an argument for both sides, you know, of it being somewhere else and being in another country. the important thing is that it country. the important thing is thatitis country. the important thing is that it is going to be in a and it is shining a light on that country and hopefully that will help make change and, yeah, as a player and as a nation we can only try and move that forward in the right direction —— kattar. there's a busy day of world cup qualifying ahead around the world. wales face austria later on thursday. gareth bale says wales will use the hurt of previous near misses as inspiration for their world cup play—off semi—final. they've come close on several occasions, but haven't made it to the tournament since 1958. the welsh captain says they will have to give 100% and have no regrets. it is something that i would love to achieve for myself and my country, for the fans of wales. wejust

my country, for the fans of wales. we just have to do kind of it has been a long time, but, no, it will be a regret, but, no, it will be a regret, but it will be a regret if we don't give it 100%. so the main thing for us as we go out on the pitch, all of us give 100%, don't leave anything left in the tank, and i think once you have done that it will not be any regret regardless of the results —— regrets. in europe, portugal and cristiano ronaldo face a fight to qualify for the world cup. they take on turkey in their play—off semi final on thursday. the portuguese team trained at porto's estadio do dragao ahead of the match. they're missing several key defenders for the game. that means that turkey have a chance according to their manager stefan kuntz, who is worried about more thanjust ronaldo in the portuguese side. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, mimi fawaz, and the rest of the sport team, goodbye. thanks to the team. as we've heard, it's one month

since the russian invasion of ukraine began. an unknown number of people have been killed, millions more have been forced to leave their homes. the war has been particularly traumatic for the children of ukraine. but some are seeking comfort in an artistic way, as the bbc�*s tim allman reports. how do you explain war to a child? and how do they process the horror they are witnessing? for two ukrainian parents, one answer is to offer a creative outlet with paper, pencils and crayons. they set up a social media account to let children use art as a way to channel the trauma of war. we definitely feel an urgent need to give them a safe space so they can switch their focus with reality from this war, from tanks, from bombs, from missiles. hundreds of drawings, all of them from ukrainian children. some showing family and friends, some showing angels.

some showing tanks. one girl from 0dessa drew a portrait of her mother who is now serving in the army, trying to protect her hometown. this picture is really like a beautiful woman, this brave and strong woman. she must protect herself. as the war goes on, more paintings drawings and illustrations will surely follow. their message is crystal clear. like only a child can convey. tim allman, bbc news. we have plenty more for you here on bbc news. all the top business stories. we will be looking at what new sanctions may announced with regards to russia and the war in ukraine.

we will also look at the spring statement, all the analysis and commentary this morning, there is plenty of it, we will talk you through all of that as well. so stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. this fine, settled spell of spring weather is set to go on for several more days, with some warm sunshine by day. the nights still rather chilly with some frost and fog in places. 0ne subtle change, a bit more cloud in the north of the uk thanks to this weather front, a very weak affair. for the most part, high pressure is holding firm, and that is what's keeping things fine. but we are going to get off to quite a chilly start to the morning with those clear skies overhead, one or two fog patches around, some general mistiness here and there. that should tend to lift, and then we will see a lot of sunshine across england and wales, just the small chance for a shower, especially over high ground in northern england. more cloud for scotland and northern ireland, the odd spot of rain,

but even here, there will be some sunny spells. temperatures north to south, well, maybe 12 degrees for stornoway, but 18, 19, possibly 20 further south. but with that stagnant air, high pressure in charge, very light winds, air pollution is likely to be a problem. high levels of air pollution, particularly across eastern parts of england. as we go through thursday night, again, temperatures will drop away under the clear skies. there will be some fog patches here and there, more cloud rolling into northern ireland and parts of western scotland. towns and cities typically staying just above freezing, but one or two places in the countryside will drop below, and then for friday, well, more of the same. more sunshine and just a little patchy cloud for england and wales. northern ireland and scotland tending to see a little more cloud, especially up to the northwest. some rain for the northern isles, temperatures getting up to highs of 19, maybe 20 degrees in the sunniest spots. and high pressure is set to stay with us into the weekend. this front up to the north always bringing a bit more cloud, maybe some showery rain for shetland and for 0rkney. there will be some patches of low cloud and fog elsewhere as well, particularly around some of the coasts, but some good spells of sunshine. temperatures dropping back maybe a little bit, 15 to 18 degrees. sunday morning could well start with some areas of low cloud and fog, perhaps most especially

towards the southeast of england, tending to burn back towards the coasts. lots of sunshine, temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees. but into next week, quite a big change on the way. we will develop northerly winds and we will bring some much colder air southwards across the uk, so the temperatures will be much, much lower than they have been, and there could even be some wintry showers in places.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. show of strength. president biden�*s in brussels for talks on toughening sanctions, and helping europe kick its russian energy habit. rouble trouble. putin says russia will start demanding payment for gas in its own currency, sending european gas prices soaring. hard times. the biggest squeeze on uk household budgets since records began, but is the government doing enough to help? plus — digital change for a good cause. we look at the rapid rise of �*micro—donation�*