today at1pm... a warning that the government's mini—budget won't stop millions being pushed into poverty by the soaring cost of food and energy. the chancellor defends his plans. so, whilst i can't solve every problem, and i've always tried to be honest about that, where we can make a difference, i want to, and the plan we announced yesterday will put billions of pounds back in the pockets of hard—working british families. this is the biggest fall in living standards, this year, since the 19505. that's a disaster for working people, for the poorest people in society, who are struggling. and i'm ben brown, in lviv in western ukraine. a month after russia invaded this country, the president appeals for people around the world to come out on the streets and protest against the war.

in the occupied port city of berdiansk, the ukrainian military says it's destroyed a russian ship. world leaders gather for a series of emergency meetings to plan their next steps the boss of p&0 ferries has admitted that sacking 800 workers without consulting unions broke the law. also, on an official visit to jamaica, prince william says slavery "forever stains our history". i want to express my profound sorrow. slavery was abhorrent and it should never have happened. coming up on the bbc news channel... wales can move a step closer to qualifying for their first world cup in 64 years if they beat austria tonight.

good afternoon. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has defended his spring statement, after critics said he hadn't done enough to help families who are struggling with rising bills. one think—tank has warned that 1.3 million people will fall below the poverty line from april, even with the government measures announced yesterday. labour have called the policies a disaster for working families. yesterday, the chancellor announced that fuel duty would be cut by 5p per litre through to march next year. although national insurance payments are set to rise from april 6th, he said the threshold at which people will have to start paying ni will be raised by £3,000 from july. that means you'll need to earn at least £12,570 a year before paying any income tax

or national insurance. and mr sunak said he intends to cut the basic rate of income tax, the first reduction in 16 years, from 20% to 19% by 202a. here's our political correspondent, iain watson. the view from downing street the morning after the day before. rishi sunak had a spring in his step yesterday when he took 5p a litre off fuel duty, and he was pumped when he announced a pre—election income tax cut. but with living standards set to fall further than in any year since the 19505, today he faced accusations that he hadn't grasped the scale of the cost of living crisis. but he argued it helped millions of people by blunting the impact of his national insurance rise. raising national insurance thresholds, which is a tax cut for £330 for 30 million workers, and then getting round to cutting income tax,

those are all tax—cutting measures. we also cut tax for businesses to make it cheaperfor them to employ staff. it's the hardest part about this job, not being able to do everything that people would like you to do, but i can't make every problem go away, but where we can make a difference we want to, and that's what yesterday was about. even newspapers usually supportive of the government have been pushing for more help for hard—pressed families. many of my constituents in south dorset are already impoverished, we have deep pockets of deprivation and poverty and i fear that, have deep pockets of deprivation and poverty and ifear that, despite have deep pockets of deprivation and poverty and i fear that, despite the generous news by the chancellor and the tinkering he has done, they haven't gone far enough. the treasury would point out that many factors pushing up prices globally are beyond its control, but the opposition is accusing the chancellor of making the wrong political choices. there is now a big political dividing line between the government and the opposition. they are claiming that

the chancellor simply isn't doing enough to help consumers and is letting big corporations off the hook. next year, rishi sunak does intend to increase taxes on big business, but labour and the liberal democrats say what is needed is action now to tackle the profits of the big energy companies. what i would have done yesterday as chancellor would have been to introduce a windfall tax on the big profits being made by north sea oil and gas companies at the moment. overall we want a fairer tax system, don't we? we want to tax people who have these huge profits in the oil and gas companies and take taxes down for struggling families. the treasury has rejected that approach, arguing it would reduce much—needed investment in energy production. but even some of rishi sunak�*s own mps are saying privately he will have to expend more economic and political energy himself to tackle the current crisis. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. two years from now, most workers in the uk will be paying more tax, not less,

despite yesterday's promise to cut the basic rate of tax to 19% by 2024. that's according to analysis of the spring statement by the institute for fiscal studies. and with me is our economics correspondent, andy verity. why? you would have thought cutting the basic rate — why? you would have thought cutting the basic rate of _ why? you would have thought cutting the basic rate of income _ why? you would have thought cutting the basic rate of income tax _ why? you would have thought cutting the basic rate of income tax would - the basic rate of income tax would mean you pay less tax at the joke in the pack is inflation so, on the one hand, you have what was announced yesterday but, on the other hand, what was announced in november, namely that rishi sunak is going to freeze those thresholds. 0n the one hand, he is saying you will only pay national insurance when you get up to an income of £12,570, the same as income tax but, on the other hand, both those thresholds are going to stay where they are for the next fouryears. normally, if inflation is about 1%, it doesn't make much difference, but inflation is forecast this year to get up to 8.7%, so that means a much bigger

tax rise than it would otherwise be, because inflation is roaring away. so there will probably be bigger pay rises, that will drag more and more people and more and more of their income above the threshold, so you are paying a low rate, 19p, on a lot more tax and income, and that will mean, according to the ifs, lots of people will pay more. so, whereas you have a tax cut of £6.3 billion, the tax rises because of inflation are going to amount to £20.1 billion. so you have a net effect that the chancellor is taking off household is £13.8 billion, and that something that the ifs has analysed, and pauljohnson, the director, spoke to us earlier. the increase in prices associated with high— the increase in prices associated with high inflation will definitely be here — with high inflation will definitely be here to stay so people are going to be hereto stay so people are going to feel_ be here to stay so people are going to feel poorer for a considerable period _ to feel poorer for a considerable period of— to feel poorer for a considerable period of time. hopefully, they will

start to _ period of time. hopefully, they will start to improve from a lower base after _ start to improve from a lower base after about — start to improve from a lower base after about 12 months, but that really _ after about 12 months, but that really does depend on inflation coming — really does depend on inflation coming under control. the other thing that's important to note is we have gone through an extra pre—period where real incomes, the amount your income can buy, won't be any higher in 2025 than it was in 2008, so an unprecedented 17 year period of living standards stagnating. year period of living standards stagnating— year period of living standards stauanatin. . ~' . , , stagnating. thank you, andy verity. that's it from _ stagnating. thank you, andy verity. that's it from me _ stagnating. thank you, andy verity. that's it from me for _ stagnating. thank you, andy verity. that's it from me for the _ stagnating. thank you, andy verity. that's it from me for the moment. i that's it from me for the moment. let's go to ben in the west of ukraine. one month ago today, russian troops invaded ukraine and shocked the world. since then, thousands of civilians, ukrainian soliders and russian troops have been killed. some cities, like mariupol, have faced a relentless russian bombardment and suffered almost complete destuction. president putin has never called it a war, but rather a "special operation"

to demilitarise his neighbour. these areas in red are the territory in ukraine where russian forces are. president zelensky has called it a "terrible, dark month of destruction" and urged people around the world to come out and protest against the invasion. today, leaders of the 30 nations in the nato military alliance are holding an emergency summit meeting in brussels. more on that in a moment. but first, our kyiv correspondent, james waterhouse, has this report from the ukrainian capital. at 5am on the 24th of february, this city woke up to the unthinkable. after months of gathering his troops on ukraine's borders and endless speculation over what he was planning, vladimir putin lodged his invasion. translation: i invasion. translation: ., . ., translation: i have decided to conduct a special _ translation: i have decided to conduct a special military - conduct a special military

operation. its aim is to protect people who have been subjected to torture and genocide from the kyiv regime for eight years. whoever tries to interfere with us or threaten our country should know that russia's response would be immediate and lead to such consequences that have never been experienced in history. the consequences that have never been experienced in history.— experienced in history. the noise of air strikes. — experienced in history. the noise of air strikes, police _ experienced in history. the noise of air strikes, police on _ experienced in history. the noise of air strikes, police on megaphones l air strikes, police on megaphones telling people to get to safety, the ofjets passing above the clouds, queues outside cashpoints and thousands of cars filling the roads out of the city. many people were afraid and most couldn't believe what was happening. many predicted kyiv would fall quickly. president zelensky would be removed and russia could achieve its goal. that goal hasn't yet been achieved and still isn't clear. president zelensky is still in power and, in a rare use of english, all for people to protest around the world.—

around the world. come with ukrainian — around the world. come with ukrainian symbols _ around the world. come with ukrainian symbols to - around the world. come with | ukrainian symbols to support ukraine, to support freedom, to support life. come to your squares, yourstreets, make support life. come to your squares, your streets, make yourself visible and heard. ,, ., ., . , ., and heard. russian forces on the outskirts of _ and heard. russian forces on the outskirts of the _ and heard. russian forces on the outskirts of the city _ and heard. russian forces on the outskirts of the city continue - and heard. russian forces on the outskirts of the city continue to l and heard. russian forces on the l outskirts of the city continue to be plagued by supply and moral issues according to the uk ministry of defence. in towns like irpin, ukrainian troops could even surround them, it thought. kyiv, like so many other europeans cities, was full of choice, life and noise. the fast moving shadow of this war has left feeling quiet and hollow. you can see it but no longer feel it. translation: we see it but no longer feel it. translation:— see it but no longer feel it. translation: ~ ., ., ., translation: we are waiting for the victo . we translation: we are waiting for the victory- we are _ translation: we are waiting for the victory. we are waiting _ translation: we are waiting for the victory. we are waiting for— translation: we are waiting for the victory. we are waiting for peace - translation: we are waiting for the victory. we are waiting for peace in i victory. we are waiting for peace in our ukraine. but right now it's on a daily basis, fear of, i don't know, bombs. �* ., , ,

daily basis, fear of, i don't know, bombs. i, ,, ., daily basis, fear of, i don't know, bombs. ,, ., ., , bombs. bombs are continuing to pull on other surrounded _ bombs. bombs are continuing to pull on other surrounded ukrainian - on other surrounded ukrainian cities, like chernihiv and mariupol in the south—east, where the russians have made the most gains but also suffered big losses, later things between 7000 and 111,000 russian soldiers have been killed. as vladimir putin continues to be frustrated, the question is how many more lives will be lost or destroyed. more than 3.5 million people have now fled ukraine in the month since the war began, with more than two million of them crossing into poland, although the number has been falling in recent days. our correspondent mark lowen has been there since the first day and sent this report from the border. it's been a month of lives ripped up, a generation driven out, certainty torn apart. a month that we've been here seeing the heartbreak of the sick forced to flee. but compassion, too, of hearts and homes opened.

of the democratic world standing up to the aggressor. four weeks on, the only change is warmer weather. the arrivals keep coming, seeking safety from a war some don't understand. welcomed where poland can put them. this, a school, a smile for the kids at the ready. inside, volunteers bring comfort after an exhausting journey. yulia kirilenko and her sons fled kyiv, her husband staying to fight. translation: children were killed and teenage girls were raped. - we had to leave. they were shooting at the cars as we tried to escape. we prayed as we drove. it's good here, but we want to go home. i just want this to end. the trauma on the youngest could take years to show and last a lifetime. olga's little ones already feel it.

translation: 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 panic prompted the immediate first rush to escape. but these are the people who didn't want to leave, thinking they could stick it out, that the bombs might stop. but they didn't stop and more than 3.5 million refugees later, there's a growing feeling of the long term about this, with all the challenges that that will entail. destination warsaw, whose population is up by almost a fifth. 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. so, here we are, one month into this war, with the russian advance stalled and thousands of its troops dead. ukrainian forces meanwhile

are counter—attacking. our security correspondent, frank gardner, has this assessment of the russian military campaign and the problems its troops have encountered. so just why has it gone so badly for russia in these first few weeks of the war? well, there are a number of reasons. there is a strength of the ukrainian resistance. most of the population has rallied round their government, with troops using western supplied weapons like javelin and stinger missiles. and when it comes to getting inside big cities, russia doesn't have enough troops to take on the defenders in most cases. here's their charismatic president, volodymyr zelensky, a one—time comic actor who has rallied the nation, refusing to leave the capital even though there is a bounty on his head. then there's poor russian tactics. russian commanders on the ground have largely failed to take full advantage of all the tools at their disposal. things like armoured

vehicles, artillery, rocket launchers, helicopters — all of which, when combined with infantry, can have massive effect but which the russians have failed to master. the russian air force is 15 times bigger than ukraine's, yet they have failed to achieve supremacy in the skies. and finally, there's poor russian logistics and communications. russian soldiers have not always maintained their vehicles properly, meaning that many of them are breaking down. and when it comes to radios, a lot of them don't work, forcing them to use mobile phones which can be easily intercepted by the ukrainians. many of the russian soldiers fighting in ukraine thought they were just going on exercise like this one in belarus. that didn't give them enough time to prepare for battle. exercises never prepare troops properly for combat, so they were not combat—ready, and that puts real strain on the non—commissioned officers, the sergeants and the corporals, to get things ready in time, make sure the troops do theirjob properly. and in the russian army,

the sergeants and the corporals are renowned for their inefficiency, their corruption and the bad relationships they have with the soldiers. so everything that could go wrong more or less did go wrong. and today, a small victory for ukraine on the sea of azov. its forces claim to have destroyed a russian amphibious landing ship. russia still has plenty more ships, but the fact that ukrainians are still fighting back one month on shows russia has grossly underestimated them. frank gardner, bbc news. live now to our moscow correspondent, caroline davies. from president putin's point of view, this war is not going as he had planned or hoped. is he likely to change strategy do you think? fin is he likely to change strategy do ou think? , .,. , you think? on the surface, there is no suggestion _ you think? on the surface, there is no suggestion that _ you think? on the surface, there is no suggestion that the _ you think? on the surface, there is no suggestion that the authoritiesl no suggestion that the authorities are apologetic or have changed their view on this at all, and that is in the face of unprecedented sanctions,

of runs on their foreign currency reserves, of international companies leaving russia like mcdonald's. and while the rest of the world cuts off russia, the kremlin is cutting off anyone that disagrees with it. we have seen media outlets here closed, we have seen social media channels like facebook and instagram blocked, thousands of people arrested for protesting. if you are to turn on any state media, you will hear the same lines again, that russia is right, that russia brings peace, that ukraine is the one to blame regardless of what the rest of the world thinks, regardless of the images we see coming out of ukraine. divert, deflect, deny. the kremlin has doubled down on its stance here, and as a result russia is a different and far more isolated place. different and far more isolated lace. ., ., ., ~ different and far more isolated lace, ., ., ., ~' ,., different and far more isolated lace, ., ., ., ~' y., , place. caroline, thank you very much. caroline _ place. caroline, thank you very much. caroline davies, - place. caroline, thank you very much. caroline davies, our- place. caroline, thank you very - much. caroline davies, our moscow correspondent. the head of nato, jens stoltenberg, has said vladimir putin made a "big mistake" by invading ukraine and had undestimated the strength

and bravery of the ukrainian people. this morning, president biden has joined borisjohnson and other nato leaders in brussels for an emergency summit to try and find solutions. nick beake sent this report. joe biden back in europe as it faces its biggest security crisis since the second world war. the west trying to find a path to peace in ukraine. today all roads lead to brussels where nato allies are deciding how best to deal with vladimir putin, a man in the us president now calls a war criminal. britain says sanctions on russia should get tougher. the britain says sanctions on russia should get tougher.— britain says sanctions on russia should get tougher. the harder our sanctions, that _ should get tougher. the harder our sanctions, that offer _ should get tougher. the harder our sanctions, that offer our _ should get tougher. the harder our sanctions, that offer our economic| sanctions, that offer our economic device around the putin regime, the more we can do to help the ukrainians, ithink more we can do to help the ukrainians, i think the faster that this thing can be over.— ukrainians, i think the faster that this thing can be over. good morning to all of you — this thing can be over. good morning to all of you and _ this thing can be over. good morning to all of you and welcome _

this thing can be over. good morning to all of you and welcome to - this thing can be over. good morning to all of you and welcome to this - to all of you and welcome to this extraordinary nato summit. and these are extraordinary _ extraordinary nato summit. and these are extraordinary times. _ extraordinary nato summit. and these are extraordinary times. western - are extraordinary times. western allies fear russia may be prepared to use chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons in ukraine, and so nato is sending greater protection against such an attack. ukraine's president once again called for more help so that his country can survive. translation: ~ ., ., ., translation: we are in on equal terms for over _ translation: we are in on equal terms for over a _ translation: we are in on equal terms for over a month, _ translation: we are in on equal terms for over a month, i - translation: we are in on equal terms for over a month, i keep . terms for over a month, i keep repeating this in order to save people and our towns. ukraine needs military support without limitation because russia uses all its arsenal against us without limitation. today's meetings of western leaders is all about projecting strength, showing they are standing up to president putin in the face of his aggression. the western military alliance is keen not to escalate this conflict any further, and so while it will continue to send weapons to ukraine, there won't be

any nato troops on the ground and there won't be any nato planes in there won't be any nato planes in the sky. but nato is deploying more troops to eastern europe. exactly what president putin said he wanted to avoid before he invaded ukraine. nato's core task is to protect and defend our allies. we have increased our military presence in the eastern part of the alliance. the our military presence in the eastern part of the alliance.— part of the alliance. the west is on heightened — part of the alliance. the west is on heightened alert. _ part of the alliance. the west is on heightened alert. this _ part of the alliance. the west is on heightened alert. this afternoon, | heightened alert. this afternoon, more urgent meetings in brussels of g7 leaders and the european union. we don't yet know what impact this diplomatic effort will have on this war or on the fate of the ukrainian people. nick beake, bbc news, nato ho. straight now to kyiv and our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. a month of war, a month of absolute horror in this country. you have been there throughout, what are your reflections? tithe

been there throughout, what are your reflections? ., ~' been there throughout, what are your reflections? ., ,, ., ., reflections? one month like no other here for ukraine, _ reflections? one month like no other here for ukraine, the _ reflections? one month like no other here for ukraine, the rest _ reflections? one month like no other here for ukraine, the rest of - reflections? one month like no other here for ukraine, the rest of europe | here for ukraine, the rest of europe and far beyond. we have never seen a war where so many around the world wanted to stand up and be counted. politicians, pop stars, sports stars, people of goodwill the world over. and they have been affected too by this war in ukraine. rising food and energy prices, but of course the greatest pain has been here in ukraine. even the capital kyiv where about half the population of the city felt they had no choice but to flee. half the children across this country were forced to leave their homes, and of course the southern city of mariupol now described as hell on earth, and it is not the only one. but if we think back to one month ago when there was disbelief and dread in the city that russian forces would be right here in a matter of days, what do you feel now? a palpable sense of pride

and patriotism, but also anxiety too. the same questions which started this invasion, what does president putin want to achieve in this war and what will it take to stop it, still hang over the start of the second month of this war. lyse doucet, thank you very much indeed. our chief international correspondent. that is it from me, back to studio in london. thank you very much. the chief executive of p&o ferries has admitted that the decision to sack 800 workers without consulting unions broke the law. peter hebblethwaite said he chose not to consult because he didn't believe there was any other way to do it. he also said he would make the same decision again because the business as it was wasn't viable — and now it is. speaking to a committee of mps, mr hebblethwaite said the move was the only way

to save the company. mick lynch from the rmt rail union told the same committee that p&o had "made flagrant breaches of the law". here's our business correspondent, theo leggett. arriving to face mps, the boss of p80, a arriving to face mps, the boss of p&o, a week after making 800 workers redundant without notice. peter hebblethwaite didn't get an easy ride. the chair of the joint transport and business committee set the tone from the outset. share transport and business committee set the tone from the outset.— the tone from the outset. are you in this mess because _ the tone from the outset. are you in this mess because you _ the tone from the outset. are you in this mess because you don't - the tone from the outset. are you in this mess because you don't know. this mess because you don't know what you are doing or are you just a shameless criminal? ihla what you are doing or are you 'ust a shameless criminal?�* what you are doing or are you 'ust a shameless criminal? no answer there but he did admit — shameless criminal? no answer there but he did admit breaking _ shameless criminal? no answer there but he did admit breaking the - shameless criminal? no answer there but he did admit breaking the law- shameless criminal? no answer there but he did admit breaking the law by. but he did admit breaking the law by not consulting with unions. there but he did admit breaking the law by not consulting with unions.— not consulting with unions. there is absolutely no _ not consulting with unions. there is absolutely no doubt _ not consulting with unions. there is absolutely no doubt we _ not consulting with unions. there is absolutely no doubt we were - not consulting with unions. there is l absolutely no doubt we were required to consult _ absolutely no doubt we were required to consult with the unions. we chose not to— to consult with the unions. we chose not to do— to consult with the unions. we chose not to do that because we believe... you chose _ not to do that because we believe... you chose to — not to do that because we believe... you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult — you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult but _ you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult but we _ you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult but we are _ you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult but we are and - you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult but we are and will - not to consult but we are and will compensate everyone involved for that _ compensate everyone involved for that. , . , . ,, compensate everyone involved for that. , . , that. the ferry crews were sacked so the could that. the ferry crews were sacked so they could be _ that. the ferry crews were sacked so they could be replaced _ that. the ferry crews were sacked so they could be replaced with - that. the ferry crews were sacked so they could be replaced with cheaper| they could be replaced with cheaper agency workers. the

they could be replaced with cheaper agency workers— they could be replaced with cheaper agency workers. the average rate of hourl -a agency workers. the average rate of hourly pay is — agency workers. the average rate of hourly pay is 5.50. _ agency workers. the average rate of hourly pay is 5.50. that _ agency workers. the average rate of hourly pay is 5.50. that is _ agency workers. the average rate of hourly pay is 5.50. that is below - hourly pay is 5.50. that is below the national _ hourly pay is 5.50. that is below the national minimum _ hourly pay is 5.50. that is below the national minimum wage - hourly pay is 5.50. that is below the national minimum wage of. hourly pay is 5.50. that is below i the national minimum wage of this country, how do you reconcile that? where we are governed by the national— where we are governed by the national minimum wage, we will absolutely pay that. this is international seafaring model, consistent with models throughout the globe and our competitors. but unions the globe and our competitors. unions had the globe and our competitors. emit unions had already told mps what they thought the company was trying to do. . , they thought the company was trying to do. ., , ., ., ., to do. that is what p&o are aiming to do. that is what p&o are aiming to achieve. — to do. that is what p&o are aiming to achieve. to _ to do. that is what p&o are aiming to achieve, to kill _ to do. that is what p&o are aiming to achieve, to kill our _ to do. that is what p&o are aiming to achieve, to kill our employment| to achieve, to kill our employment law is something has got to be done about it today. the prime minister said he is going to prosecute. this government has got to intervene now, impound these ships and get our people back to work. meanwhile, p&o ferries stand — people back to work. meanwhile, p&o ferries stand idle, _ people back to work. meanwhile, p&o ferries stand idle, services _ people back to work. meanwhile, p&o ferries stand idle, services on - people back to work. meanwhile, p&o ferries stand idle, services on most i ferries stand idle, services on most routes are suspended as new crews are trained up. eventually they will sail again but the political storm stirred up by their actions shows no sign of dying down. theo leggett, bbc news.

the two police officers who strip—searched a 15—year—old black girl at her school in east london have been moved from roles where they have any dealings with the public. protests followed the incident back in 2020, which a safeguarding review said was unjustified and racism was likely to have been a factor. the teenager, identified only as child 0, is suing the force and her school. prosecutions have been launched over alleged health and safety failings relating to the croydon tram crash in which seven people died in 2016. the office of rail and road said it was prosecuting transport for london, first group—owned tram operations limited, and the tram driver. 50 one people were injured. 51 people were injured. prince william has expressed his profound sorrow about slavery in a speech injamaica. he was speaking on the last day of his visit to the country. earlier, jamaica's prime minister, andrew holness, told the duke and duchess of cambridge

that he wanted his country to become a republic. this report from our royal correspondent, jonny dymond, contains flash photography. in swept the couple for dinner with the great and the good ofjamaica. ever since this trip was announced, a question hung over it. how would william address the issue of slavery, the brutal exploitation of hundreds of thousands of enslaved africans whenjamaica was run by britain? i strongly agree with my father, the prince of wales, who said in barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history. i want to express my profound sorrow. slavery was abhorrent, and it should never have happened. this has been quite a political part of the caribbean tour, because earlier the jamaican prime minister made very clear to the couple in front

of the cameras that he wanted an end to the role of the queen as the head of state here and to the constitutional link to britain. jamaica is, as you would see, a country that is very proud of our history and very proud of what we've achieved. william tried to answer some of the questions about britain's past injamaica with his speech. less clear is what the royal family's future, if any, is in a truly independentjamaica. jonny dymond, bbc news, kingston. england beat pakistan overnight

to move a step closer to a place in the semi—finals of the women's cricket world cup in new zealand. england, who are the defending champions, lost their first three games but have totally bounced back. jo currie was watching the match. the scenario for england a simple one, a win needed to keep their world cup hopes alive. after winning the toss, their decision to bowl first paid off from the very first ball. absolutely perfect start! and more wickets followed. there was the odd hiccup in the field. that's a shocker. but england's bowling unit, spearheaded by katherine brunt, were putting on a show. after a terrible start to the tournament, the defending champions were finally making their mark, as they demolished pakistan for a woeful 105 all—out. with a tantalising target in their sights, england's openers will have been relishing their opportunity. however, danni wyatt survived an early scare. wyatt though started to find some form, something that's been evading her so far this tournament.

as she first brought up her half century before she and captain heather knight calmly steered england to a comfortable nine—wicket victory. today was a special day and one we have been really aiming towards, getting a complete game in with bat, ball, in the field, and we will definitely take a lot of confidence from this. that result leaves them with their fate in their own hands, now knowing that a win against bangladesh on saturday will secure their spot in the knockout stages. jo currie, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. good afternoon. aren't we being spoiled at the moment? this is a glorious picture and it is sheffield. this was just a couple of hours ago, not hardly a cloud in the sky and really glorious. the high pressure is still with us and will do into the weekend as well, but there are some subtle differences today. you see this little frontal

system toppling across