hello, i'm maryam moshiri. you're watching context on bbc news. russia says it will stop supplying gas to european countries it deems �*unfriendly�* — unless they pay for it in roubles. vladimir putin has signed the decree which will take effect on friday. european states are calling it blackmail. the financial system of western countries is being used as a weapon. the assets in dollars and euros are frozen so it makes no sense to use the currencies of these countries. meanwhile, president biden orders a major release of oil from america's strategic reserves in a bid to bring down prices at the pump. tonight with the context, orysia lutsevych, head of chatham house s ukraine forum and angela stent, senior fellow at the brookings institution and author of putin s world .

welcome to the programme. when talks kicked off this week in istanbul, russian negotiators said that troops would be pulled away from the capital kyiv — a "gesture of good will" is how they described it. but today the head of nato said russia is not keeping its pledge — and far from being a gesture of good will — the russian forces from around the capital are simply being redployed south, to donetsk and luhansk in the donbas region. and to mariupol. where there are still more than 100,000 people still trapped, under heavy russian bombardment for weeks. the ukrainian government is sending dozens of buses to the city from zaporizhzhia in a new attempt to bring people out and to deliver humanitarian aid. russia has declared a one—day ceasefire ,

but there is widespread scepticism , about russian intentions. we start our coverage in lviv — our correspondent anna foster is there. lets talk now about the humatiraian crisis in mariupol — think possible that we may see those trapped there getting let us start with mariupol which you mentioned in the idea that we may see this russian cease—fire tomorrow and a bit to try to bring some people out of there. we are told 45 buses have been sent and hopefully tomorrow the russians. firing and some people will be able to be brought out of that besieged city which don't forget has been without power for weeks. which don't forget has been without powerfor weeks. they which don't forget has been without power for weeks. they are struggling for water and for food and there were some striking images of hundreds of people lining up outside a supermarketjust hundreds of people lining up outside a supermarket just to hundreds of people lining up outside a supermarketjust to buy hundreds of people lining up outside a supermarket just to buy small amounts of food they had left. both

buses, 45 of them will be able to carry a large number of people but when you consider there if there it stayed 150,000 trapped in mariupol it would only really be a drop in the ocean. negotiations are still going on, they will not go ahead with this if they think there is any chance that those people will be fired upon, will be injured, the world will be watching tomorrow to see what happens there. in terms of ps as you mentioned in the areas i wash i said it would put strips away their exterior shutting happening in this syrians. the recordings reported in the last 2a hours shelling and the mayor said the bombardment of that area has continued. we have seen one small but perhaps significant russian pull—back and that is in chernobyl. a few weeks of the russian forces moved in there and took control effectively of that plan. also the town which is the nearby town where

the ukrainian chernobyl workers actually live. and today we were told by ukraine's atomic energy agency that the russians had pulled back from there. two convoys had left heading towards the ukrainian border. sell small indications that russia is putting back. president zelensky said last night that any pull—back in his eyes was more of a regrouping and less likely to be that the soldiers that equipment is being pulled out to be maintained to give the soldiers arrest and there was every chance it would come back again. in was every chance it would come back aaain. , ., ., ., ., again. in terms of the humanitarian crisis you're — again. in terms of the humanitarian crisis you're talking _ again. in terms of the humanitarian crisis you're talking about _ again. in terms of the humanitarian crisis you're talking about their - again. in terms of the humanitarian crisis you're talking about their in i crisis you're talking about their in mariupol, how much trust do you think there is amongst ukrainians that what the russians are saying they're going to do what actually happened this time?— they're going to do what actually happened this time? when you talk to --eole in happened this time? when you talk to peeple in cities _ happened this time? when you talk to people in cities like _ happened this time? when you talk to people in cities like lviv, _ happened this time? when you talk to people in cities like lviv, whoever- people in cities like lviv, whoever you speak to, their opinion of the russians perhaps understand to be of what they have seen the last few weeks is incredibly low and what

people have seen is russia really changing its mind, changing its position regularly saying it will do one thing and then doing something else. they have tried to establish the humanitarian corridor as before. there has been expectations that people would be able to move and the russians did not stop firing. when the time came. it was only a few days ago that we were reporting the humanitarian corridor is had stopped entirely because ukrainian intelligence had had what they said were credible sources telling them the russians may well fire on freeing civilians so while there is always hope that something like this will be successful whenever you talk to people here right now about what they think russia might do next is unpredictable and it's met with a huge degree of scepticism. let me brina in huge degree of scepticism. let me bring in this _ huge degree of scepticism. let me bring in this point. _ huge degree of scepticism. let me bring in this point. how _ huge degree of scepticism. let me bring in this point. how surprised i bring in this point. how surprised are you that there is so little trust right now in what the russians

say they will do? i trust right now in what the russians say they will do?— say they will do? i am not surprised at all because _ say they will do? i am not surprised at all because we _ say they will do? i am not surprised at all because we all— say they will do? i am not surprised at all because we all follow- say they will do? i am not surprised at all because we all follow russian | at all because we all follow russian rhetoric _ at all because we all follow russian rhetoric and their act and their words — rhetoric and their act and their words and _ rhetoric and their act and their words and they never match and they don't match _ words and they never match and they don't match for a long time. it is not a _ don't match for a long time. it is not a new— don't match for a long time. it is not a new phenomenon. just think for a review_ not a new phenomenon. just think for a review as _ not a new phenomenon. just think for a review as an— not a new phenomenon. just think for a review as an example of mh 17. the tragedy— a review as an example of mh 17. the tragedy of— a review as an example of mh 17. the tragedy of a _ a review as an example of mh 17. the tragedy of a ukrainian sky and everything russia does and especially the leadership in the kremlin— especially the leadership in the kremlin is here to basically obstruct _ kremlin is here to basically obstruct the truth but to persevere with their— obstruct the truth but to persevere with their strategy and there is also another tragic incident when the buses— also another tragic incident when the buses with volunteers that were going _ the buses with volunteers that were going to _ the buses with volunteers that were going to effectively people were shot and some people are dead and this is— shot and some people are dead and this is an _ shot and some people are dead and this is an ongoing process. if russians— this is an ongoing process. if russians were serious about letting civilians _ russians were serious about letting civilians out and observing the geneva — civilians out and observing the geneva convention and not conducting these _ geneva convention and not conducting these war— geneva convention and not conducting these war crimes they would have probably— these war crimes they would have probably agreed to mediation of france _ probably agreed to mediation of france and turkey, excuse me germany

to evacuate _ france and turkey, excuse me germany to evacuate the people perhaps by sea it _ to evacuate the people perhaps by sea. it would have been the most secure _ sea. it would have been the most secure and — sea. it would have been the most secure and safe passage for civilians. _ secure and safe passage for civilians, mothers, children, elderly— civilians, mothers, children, elderly to— civilians, mothers, children, elderly to leave but they have not done _ elderly to leave but they have not done it _ elderly to leave but they have not done it. they use civilians as a shield — done it. they use civilians as a shield to — done it. they use civilians as a shield to coerce zelensky to capitulate. shield to coerce zelensky to capitulate— shield to coerce zelensky to caitulate. ~ ., ., i. ~ capitulate. what do you think the russians are _ capitulate. what do you think the russians are going _ capitulate. what do you think the russians are going to _ capitulate. what do you think the russians are going to do - capitulate. what do you think the russians are going to do next? i capitulate. what do you think the j russians are going to do next? is this a potential escalation or de—escalation around the corner? there is no de—escalation. to reinforce _ there is no de—escalation. to reinforce what _ there is no de—escalation. to reinforce what she _ there is no de—escalation. to reinforce what she said, - there is no de—escalation. to| reinforce what she said, don't listen — reinforce what she said, don't listen to— reinforce what she said, don't listen to what _ reinforce what she said, don't listen to what the _ reinforce what she said, don't listen to what the russians i reinforce what she said, don't . listen to what the russians say, watch _ listen to what the russians say, watch what _ listen to what the russians say, watch what they _ listen to what the russians say, watch what they do. _ listen to what the russians say, watch what they do. they- listen to what the russians say, watch what they do. they said l listen to what the russians say, watch what they do. they said a listen to what the russians say, i watch what they do. they said a lot of things. _ watch what they do. they said a lot ofthings, most— watch what they do. they said a lot of things, most of— watch what they do. they said a lot of things, most of which _ watch what they do. they said a lot of things, most of which they - watch what they do. they said a lot of things, most of which they havel of things, most of which they have no intention— of things, most of which they have no intention of— of things, most of which they have no intention of carrying _ of things, most of which they have no intention of carrying out. - of things, most of which they have no intention of carrying out. evenl no intention of carrying out. even the peace — no intention of carrying out. even the peace talks, _ no intention of carrying out. even the peace talks, the _ no intention of carrying out. even the peace talks, the so—called . no intention of carrying out. even i the peace talks, the so—called peace talks that _ the peace talks, the so—called peace talks that have _ the peace talks, the so—called peace talks that have been _ the peace talks, the so—called peace talks that have been going _ the peace talks, the so—called peace talks that have been going on, the l talks that have been going on, the ukrainians— talks that have been going on, the ukrainians are _ talks that have been going on, the ukrainians are genuinely _ talks that have been going on, the ukrainians are genuinely trying - talks that have been going on, the ukrainians are genuinely trying toi ukrainians are genuinely trying to work— ukrainians are genuinely trying to work out — ukrainians are genuinely trying to work out the _ ukrainians are genuinely trying to work out the peace _ ukrainians are genuinely trying to work out the peace agreement i ukrainians are genuinely trying to. work out the peace agreement and ukrainians are genuinely trying to - work out the peace agreement and the russians— work out the peace agreement and the russians are _ work out the peace agreement and the russians are not. _ work out the peace agreement and the russians are not. it's _ work out the peace agreement and the russians are not. it's not— work out the peace agreement and the russians are not. it's not serious- russians are not. it's not serious because — russians are not. it's not serious because the _ russians are not. it's not serious because the people _ russians are not. it's not serious because the people who - russians are not. it's not serious because the people who are - because the people who are representing _ because the people who are representing the _ because the people who are representing the russian i because the people who are i representing the russian side because the people who are - representing the russian side have very weak— representing the russian side have very weak links _ representing the russian side have very weak links to _ representing the russian side have very weak links to the _ representing the russian side have very weak links to the kremlin - representing the russian side have very weak links to the kremlin and | very weak links to the kremlin and there _ very weak links to the kremlin and there the — very weak links to the kremlin and there the officials _ very weak links to the kremlin and there the officials and _ very weak links to the kremlin and there the officials and make - there the officials and make decisions _ there the officials and make decisions. i— there the officials and make decisions. i think— there the officials and make decisions. i think they- there the officials and make

decisions. i think they are l there the officials and make - decisions. i think they are going to double _ decisions. i think they are going to double and i— decisions. i think they are going to double and i think— decisions. i think they are going to double and i think they— decisions. i think they are going to double and i think they are - decisions. i think they are going to double and i think they are still- double and i think they are still reeling — double and i think they are still reeling from _ double and i think they are still reeling from the _ double and i think they are still reeling from the fact _ double and i think they are still reeling from the fact of - double and i think they are still reeling from the fact of how- reeling from the fact of how badly the russian — reeling from the fact of how badly the russian military— reeling from the fact of how badly the russian military has— reeling from the fact of how badly the russian military has done - reeling from the fact of how badly the russian military has done andj reeling from the fact of how badlyl the russian military has done and i do believe — the russian military has done and i do believe they are _ the russian military has done and i do believe they are going to - the russian military has done and i do believe they are going to focusl do believe they are going to focus as they— do believe they are going to focus as they said — do believe they are going to focus as they said a _ do believe they are going to focus as they said a week _ do believe they are going to focus as they said a week ago _ do believe they are going to focus as they said a week ago they- do believe they are going to focus. as they said a week ago they would on the _ as they said a week ago they would on the dundas— as they said a week ago they would on the dundas region _ as they said a week ago they would on the dundas region and - as they said a week ago they would| on the dundas region and liberating and securing — on the dundas region and liberating and securing those _ on the dundas region and liberating and securing those regions - on the dundas region and liberating and securing those regions and - and securing those regions and taking — and securing those regions and taking my— and securing those regions and taking my territory _ and securing those regions and taking my territory and - and securing those regions and taking my territory and clearlyl taking my territory and clearly going — taking my territory and clearly going to — taking my territory and clearly going to completely— taking my territory and clearly going to completely control i taking my territory and clearly - going to completely control mariupol the of— going to completely control mariupol the of christ— going to completely control mariupol the of christ devastated _ going to completely control mariupol the of christ devastated now. - going to completely control mariupol the of christ devastated now. i- the of christ devastated now. i think— the of christ devastated now. i think that's _ the of christ devastated now. i think that's what _ the of christ devastated now. i think that's what they are - the of christ devastated now. i. think that's what they are doing. they— think that's what they are doing. they realise _ think that's what they are doing. they realise it _ think that's what they are doing. they realise it would _ think that's what they are doing. they realise it would be - think that's what they are doing. they realise it would be very- they realise it would be very difficult _ they realise it would be very difficult to — they realise it would be very difficult to take _ they realise it would be very difficult to take ps _ they realise it would be very difficult to take ps and - they realise it would be very difficult to take ps and theyl they realise it would be very. difficult to take ps and they as after— difficult to take ps and they as after a — difficult to take ps and they as after a few— difficult to take ps and they as after a few days _ difficult to take ps and they as after a few days they- difficult to take ps and they as after a few days they may - difficult to take ps and they as after a few days they may be i difficult to take ps and they asj after a few days they may be a difficult to take ps and they as - after a few days they may be a halt in that's— after a few days they may be a halt in that's what — after a few days they may be a halt in that's what i— after a few days they may be a halt in that's what i don't _ after a few days they may be a halt in that's what i don't think - after a few days they may be a halt in that's what i don't think i - after a few days they may be a halt in that's what i don't think i did - in that's what i don't think i did it is a _ in that's what i don't think i did it is a regrouping _ in that's what i don't think i did it is a regrouping of— in that's what i don't think i did it is a regrouping of forces - in that's what i don't think i did it is a regrouping of forces butl in that's what i don't think i did| it is a regrouping of forces but i don't _ it is a regrouping of forces but i don't see any— it is a regrouping of forces but i don't see any proof— it is a regrouping of forces but i don't see any proof that - it is a regrouping of forces but i don't see any proof that they. it is a regrouping of forces but i- don't see any proof that they intend to wind _ don't see any proof that they intend to wind us— don't see any proof that they intend to wind us down. _ don't see any proof that they intend to wind us down.— so while the fighting continues in ukraine, there has been a significant development in moscow — where vladimir putin has threatened to stop natural gas supplies — to what he called �*unfriendly countries' — unless they switch to payments in roubles from tomorrow.

in an address to officials via videolink — the russian president said, if countries did not open rouble accounts — they will be deemed in breach of contract and the contracts cancelled. the financial system of western countries is being used as a weapon. western companies refuse to fulfil contracts with russian banks. assets in dollars and euros are frozen so it makes no sense to use the currencies in these countries. if russia follows through on cancelling contracts it could have huge effects on the energy sector. and president biden is using the levers of the us government to pump more oil into global energy markets and counter that issue. at the white house today, mr biden formally announced his plan to release1 million barrels of crude each day for the next six months, from the us strategic petroleum reserve. it's the largest such release in the history of america's stockpiles, and comes as americans face high gas bills on the road and at home. global energy prices have skyrocketed since russia's invasion of ukraine,

and mr biden says he says in his actions along with international cooperation will help bring those under control. i international cooperation will help bring those under control.- bring those under control. i have coordinated _ bring those under control. i have coordinated this _ bring those under control. i have coordinated this release - bring those under control. i have coordinated this release with - bring those under control. i have l coordinated this release with allies and partners around the world. already we have commitments from other countries to release tens of millions of additional barrels into the market. together they will supply over a million barrels a day. nations coming together to... and families in democracies around the world. david goldwyn was a top state department energy official in the 0bama administration. he's now president of goldwyn global strategies, an energy advisory consultancy and hejoins us now.

is this a good idea? it's a great idea. ithink_ is this a good idea? it's a great idea. i think it's _ is this a good idea? it's a great idea. i think it's really - is this a good idea? it's a great l idea. i think it's really important. looking at a disruption of nearly 3 million barrels a day and sell sanctioning of russian oil is a big number given that they are thin capacity that's why we are seeing the price reaction. you need to go bacon for a long period of time. if the allies were able to able to match this ideal my it would have a bigger impact. 3 million barrels a day would be placed nearly a third of that so i think it's very important if anything a bit overdue. it does take time for these reserves to make a big difference. i know there is that initial reaction of oil markets but with hindsight do you think they should have been done a lot earlier?— a lot earlier? festivities 30 million and _ a lot earlier? festivities 30 million and 50 million - a lot earlier? festivities 30 i million and 50 million barrels a lot earlier? festivities 30 - million and 50 million barrels and we need to see how the market was going to respond but now we had to endure data points. 0ne going to respond but now we had to endure data points. one is that they are not going to accelerate its

taper and it only did 400,000 barrels now so they're not going to accelerate. the second is looking at the response on industry and biologic american countries were happy to from a production we heard from the private equity companies and we will sit tight for a while so we have looked at the other places and decided it was not coming in so now we will use the strategic reserves for the orders for which they were intended riches to replace a so i think we need to see what the market was going to do but now they have seen the data and it's time to move. ~ . have seen the data and it's time to move, ~ ., have seen the data and it's time to move. . ., ., ., ~ ., have seen the data and it's time to move. . ., ., , . ., , move. we are looking at big changes in the oil market. _ move. we are looking at big changes in the oil market. is _ move. we are looking at big changes in the oil market. is there _ move. we are looking at big changes in the oil market. is there a - move. we are looking at big changes in the oil market. is there a way - in the oil market. is there a way back to the old race from this? i’m back to the old race from this? i'm not sure back to the old race from this? in not sure which oblates you are talking about. thinking back to 1973 but we are thinking of a disruption and supply tends to lag, it takes a while to do production even what they call short scale in short supply in the us can come online in

a year but largerfields supply in the us can come online in a year but larger fields take longer so he takes a while. this is what strategic stocks are for so if the russian situation results and if production increases and if demand is managed better the prices will decline in of course there is nearly 7 million barrels per day of new supply coming online and this year anyway from canada and brazil in the us and other countries but nobody anticipated that the million dollar per day supply disruption and citibank and major forecasters are expecting stock bills in the second half of the year as new supplies come online. what a bad name initiation is doing is bridging the gap between today and let me get a market response. let gap between today and let me get a market response.— gap between today and let me get a market response. let us bring in our anel market response. let us bring in our panel now- — market response. let us bring in our panel now. some _ market response. let us bring in our panel now. some people _ market response. let us bring in our panel now. some people are - market response. let us bring in ourj panel now. some people are arguing that all of this pressure to pump out more oil and get my gas is leaving the greener alternatives behind and it's detrimental to the way that many people thought we

should be moving which is towards more environmentally friendly methods of getting our energy. is that the case with all of this? this is one area _ that the case with all of this? this is one area how— that the case with all of this? this is one area how this _ that the case with all of this? try 3 is one area how this disrupted our previous plans and that's why i think we are waking up to a different world where they will be shock waves coming off that he aggression in ukraine across industries from food security to energy to humanitarian issues and migration and everything will be different from the role of private sector but i think it's important for viewers to understand that it's interesting that the russian said you could pay in roubles but it can continue paying n0 and you just have to open roubles and russians will be adding these foreign reserves because they need to replenish foreign reserves. they spent already 40 millionjust in one month so foreign reserves. they spent already 40 million just in one month so they need to replenish this. the question is whether the west will play by these rules and this is basically

for putin to show to russians at the latest he can find the last to his rear and the question is if you play that game i don't want to be his next race? if next race could be basically saying i am stopping receiving completely foreign currency and that you have to use the roubles accounts that you open and pay me in roubles. we should be very cautious because this is exactly what putin does. it's weaponisation of energy and it's also moving that it's not a reliable energy partner. this is something to rememberforfuture planning energy partner. this is something to remember for future planning for countries and energy security and private sector. d0 countries and energy security and private sector-— private sector. do you agree with that assessment _ private sector. do you agree with that assessment angela? - private sector. do you agree with that assessment angela? i - private sector. do you agree with that assessment angela? i think| private sector. do you agree with i that assessment angela? i think on the first question _ that assessment angela? i think on the first question some _ that assessment angela? i think on the first question some people - that assessment angela? i think on the first question some people are| the first question some people are arguing that with all of the shock waves from the result of the war and the sanctions it's going to accelerate the move towards echo arena life because the oil and gas are going to be in short supply in

the us they are trying to increase production a bit but that goes against the biden administration which is to focus on renewable. there could be a silver lining here eventually and it speeds up moving away from hydrocarbons. it also means however due to be play this rush i an energy superpower. i'm not sure it will be an energy superpower going forward. i think you up, even the germans realise they have to be in themselves slowly off consumption of russian oil gas and the 50 years the germans and italians have been importing increasing amounts of natural gas from russia they realise that has to stop. 0bviously natural gas from russia they realise that has to stop. obviously there are other customers but i think the combination of moving towards a greener world and the consequences of this war and and that's will be quite detrimentalfor of this war and and that's will be quite detrimental for russia. you heard angela _ quite detrimental for russia. you

heard angela has said in their race about the weaponisation of energy and the move towards green, do you agree with those assessments? doping agree with those assessments? aping the phenomenon _ agree with those assessments? aping the phenomenon we _ agree with those assessments? aping the phenomenon we are _ agree with those assessments? aping the phenomenon we are seeing right now where _ the phenomenon we are seeing right now where we to temporarily bridge the gap _ now where we to temporarily bridge the gap from an absence of gas is 'ust the gap from an absence of gas is just that — the gap from an absence of gas is just that. temporary. the primary drivers— just that. temporary. the primary drivers the — just that. temporary. the primary drivers the desire to get off the volatility— drivers the desire to get off the volatility of oil and gas and the desire — volatility of oil and gas and the desire to — volatility of oil and gas and the desire to have greener sources of energy— desire to have greener sources of energy and — desire to have greener sources of energy and the fact that institutional investors and bsg money— institutional investors and bsg money and pushing that direction aping _ money and pushing that direction aping those our inexorable forces and you _ aping those our inexorable forces and you see the eu doubling down on the greenfield and it may delay things— the greenfield and it may delay things a — the greenfield and it may delay things a bit in terms of emissions. they— things a bit in terms of emissions. they could — things a bit in terms of emissions. they could make a lot for the next six months — they could make a lot for the next six months in the next year but after— six months in the next year but after that— six months in the next year but after that i_ six months in the next year but after that i think they have seen the writing on the wall so in the us and in europe they are going to double — and in europe they are going to double down on energy transition and the developing around it will be a

bit the developing around it will be a hit of— the developing around it will be a hit of a _ the developing around it will be a bit of a different story. even gas is expensive and they don't have the capital— is expensive and they don't have the capital right now to turn over infrastructure and we will need a better— infrastructure and we will need a better strategy to get what was already — better strategy to get what was already weak in the developing world to the _ already weak in the developing world to the energy transition to get back on track— to the energy transition to get back on track but for the us you combine institutional motivation and environmental motivation and political— environmental motivation and political motivation and its care to energy— political motivation and its care to energy transition if the right national— energy transition if the right national security strategy as well as the _ national security strategy as well as the right appointment. definitely do not want to _ as the right appointment. definitely do not want to attend _ as the right appointment. definitely do not want to attend in _ as the right appointment. definitely do not want to attend in 1973 - do not want to attend in 1973 please. thank you for your time. now from tomorrow — if you live in england — and want to find out if your cough, sore throat — or runny nose might be covid — you'll have to pay for a test. the uk government's �*living with covid' plans means free testing will only continue for certain groups. if you think you might have coronavirus — you'll be urged to stay at home. it's a change that comes at what appears to be the height

another wave of coronavirus. gfx latest estimate suggest one in every 16 people latest estimate suggest one in every 16 people has covid in the uk — the government's chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance says a drop in precautionary behaviour could drive up infection rates, which — as shown by the latest data — are already high. let's speak to paul hunter — professor of medicine at the university of east anglia. thank you forjoining us. is this the right move at the right time to get rid of pretests when the number of cases is so high? i get rid of pretests when the number of cases is so high?— of cases is so high? i don't think it's ever the _ of cases is so high? i don't think it's ever the right _ of cases is so high? i don't think it's ever the right time _ of cases is so high? i don't think it's ever the right time but - of cases is so high? i don't think it's ever the right time but at - of cases is so high? i don't think i it's ever the right time but at some point we have to start by adding back on the amount of testing that we are doing in this country. i think as we are moving into spring, it is that at time as any. you are quite right. at the moment we are seeing more infections to week than we have pretty much seen at any time

in this pandemic. but there are signs that it's actually now past the peak and i think we can probably expect to see fairly substantial falls in numbers as we move through april. tote falls in numbers as we move through aril. ~ . . falls in numbers as we move through aril.~ . , , , falls in numbers as we move through arilr ., , , , ~' april. we are seeing places like shanahai april. we are seeing places like shanghai in _ april. we are seeing places like shanghai in china _ april. we are seeing places like shanghai in china still- april. we are seeing places like | shanghai in china still struggling with the pandemic. what is it that's happened there that has led to that compared to what we have seen here? the big difference is that those countries that are generally violating zero corporate strategy at some point you have to come out of that to return back to normal working and whatever you do if you follow a zero covid—19 strategy for some time and have a reasonable vaccine coverage you will see huge increases in case numbers and many of the pacific rim countries that have done pretty well until now in terms of keeping cases down our seeing infection rates that dwarf

the worst that we have seen in europe. the big difference if you look at new zealand which has still got relatively low death rates compared to hong kong which has got very high death rates is the effectiveness of their vaccination campaign. which has been very good in new zealand but in hong kong many older people particularly have declined to vaccine and i think that is what is driving the very high numbers of deaths that you are seeing in hong kong at the moment. if we see hospitalisations for example growing and we see those kind of issues do you foresee a time at any point to the restrictions could come back in the uk? it’s at any point to the restrictions could come back in the uk? it's very difficult to say _ could come back in the uk? it's very difficult to say yes _ could come back in the uk? it's very difficult to say yes or _ could come back in the uk? it's very difficult to say yes or no _ could come back in the uk? it's very difficult to say yes or no for the - difficult to say yes or no for the future much i would suspect we weren't seeing the pressures on hospitals that we have seen even in the last two months again during this pandemic. so, i am the last two months again during this pandemic. so, iam hopeful that we will never have to have those

sorts of restrictions again so i think that's a reasonable hope but time will tell.— estate of ka i kai estate of kaikai says it has nothing to apologise for in hosting the men's world cup. the chart takes place them around the country has been criticised for its human rights record and attitudes towards minorities as well as its workers conditions. i was sports editor reports now from qatar. the first world cup in the middle east and the first in winter is blooming interview. a flag raising ceremony for the teams are qualified as the countdown continues. the world of football in town for the draw despite all the controversy and the man in charge telling me it feels very real. it man in charge telling me it feels ve real. . . man in charge telling me it feels ve real. , , ., ., ., very real. it brings it home and for the next six _ very real. it brings it home and for the next six months _ very real. it brings it home and for the next six months i _ very real. it brings it home and for the next six months i think- very real. it brings it home and for the next six months i think it's - very real. it brings it home and for the next six months i think it's a i the next six months i think it's a matter of preparing and ready to

welcome the world. fiend matter of preparing and ready to welcome the world.— matter of preparing and ready to welcome the world. and with all its in... fans will— welcome the world. and with all its in... fans will be _ welcome the world. and with all its in... fans will be able _ welcome the world. and with all its in... fans will be able to _ welcome the world. and with all its in... fans will be able to attend - in... fans will be able to attend more than one match a day. named after the number of shipping containers used in its construction, stadium 974 is the worlds first transportable football arena able to be dismantled and reused somewhere else in the future. it is designed meant fewer building materials were used but it's the controversy over the human cost of all the developments here in qatar in recent years that continues to hang over the tournament. despite reforms, concerns persisted with the treatment of labourers especially on wider infrastructure projects. a football tournament in delhi this week involving migrant workers, one telling me more still needs to be done. , ., , , ., telling me more still needs to be done. , , ., ., ~ , done. our problem is our co-workers, toda 's done. our problem is our co-workers, today's difficult _ done. our problem is our co-workers, today's difficult situation. _ done. our problem is our co-workers, today's difficult situation. what's - today's difficult situation. what's the condition _ today's difficult situation. what's the condition like _ today's difficult situation. what's the condition like for—

today's difficult situation. what's the condition like for them? - today's difficult situation. what's the condition like for them? the| the condition like for them? the accommodation _ the condition like for them? iis: accommodation in one the condition like for them? i“is: accommodation in one room. the condition like for them? the - accommodation in one room. england to into the accommodation in one room. england go into the joy — accommodation in one room. england go into the joy that — accommodation in one room. england go into the joy that the _ accommodation in one room. england go into the joy that the favourites - go into the joy that the favourites having vowed to shine a light on discrimination in qatar were home that homosexuality is illegal and the manager meanwhile and recently described the choice of post as ridiculous. it's very important to perform the relevant research and to understand the issues, you know, as you speak. are you saying some haven't, then? i'm saying some people have made statements that, in my opinion, were ill—informed. we don't apologise for hosting the tournament. we aim for sustainable development on labour reforms, and other aspects as well that the world cup will allow to accelerate and develop. and there is always more work to be done. we've heard gareth southgate refer to the fact that he's concerned that some fans won't feel comfortable coming here. we have always said everybody's welcome, and we will ensure it is a welcoming environment, everybody will come, everybody will feel safe. with teams set to learn their fate, the focus is now likely to shift towards the football. the scrutiny off the field, however, is unlikely to fade.

dan roan, bbc news, doha. do you think these big sporting events give credibility to countries with questionable human rights records? ~ , , , , records? absolutely. these events are big soft — records? absolutely. these events are big soft power— records? absolutely. these events are big soft power exercise. - records? absolutely. these events are big soft power exercise. they i are big soft power exercise. they are big soft power exercise. they are here to basically project that countries would like to projects. their modernity, innovation, belonging to the world but underneath of course if you scratch the surface you feel these problems emerging and we have seen those problems emerging in beijing olympics and russia in 2014, massive violations of migrant workers, forced resettlement of people and discontinues happening. so where is the silver lining of all of this? we have to follow—up. the silver lining of all of this? we have to follow-up.— the silver lining of all of this? we have to follow-up. thank you. it's been good — have to follow-up. thank you. it's been good to _ have to follow-up. thank you. it's been good to talk— have to follow-up. thank you. it's been good to talk to _ have to follow-up. thank you. it's been good to talk to you. - have to follow-up. thank you. it's been good to talk to you. coming |

have to follow-up. thank you. it's i been good to talk to you. coming up next, do russian oligarchs have a secret weapon and we will discuss in the next ten minutes. hello there. well, it may well have felt like we've gone back a season from spring into the middle of winter, with some snow around. we started off with around six centimetres of snow in parts of west yorkshire, one of the snowiest parts of the uk. and, with snow showers continuing to feed in through the day, often they have big, chunky flakes of snow like these, with temperatures a few degrees above freezing — that helps snowflakes kind of stick together. so for quite a few areas, we have seen some snow, and there's more of that to come as we look at the forecast overnight, as well, particularly for eastern scotland, eastern areas of england, and especially kent, where we're looking at a zone of heavy, persistent showers moving in here. so there could be several centimetres of snow in places

overnight, with temperatures diving below freezing — a widespread and sharp frost. well, we're looking at the risk of some icy stretches to take us into friday. now those showers across the southeast are reluctant to pull away. across the northwest of the uk, we've got a weather front that'll be bringing some snow to highland scotland, but, as that pushes to the southwest of scotland and northern ireland, there's a tendency for it to turn more to sleet and to rain. 0therwise, sunshine and showers, those showers wintry pretty widely. temperatures similar, but the winds not as strong across eastern areas, so perhaps not feeling quite as bitterly cold. now, looking at the forecast through friday night now, our weather front continues to push southwards, bringing some hill snow into wales. again, with temperatures diving below freezing, we've got a risk of icy stretches once again, but perhaps not quite so cold in the west, with temperatures perhaps not quite so low here. now saturday morning, we start off with hill snow in wales — that feature moves southwards, bringing a mixture of rain, maybe a little bit of sleet and snow across the moors. otherwise, it's another day of sunshine and showers, perhaps then the showers turning heavy with a bit of hail mixed in with them.

temperatures generally coming up an odd degree, but still pretty chilly for april, 9—10 celsius your top temperature. second half of the weekend sees some further changes, though. we start the day with some sunshine — however, it turns cloudier for the north with a weather front moving into northern scotland, bringing outbreaks of rain here through the day. cloud builds elsewhere. could see a few areas of mist and fog around the coast in the hills, and maybe an odd patch of drizzle, as well. temperatures still disappointing, but coming up to about 11 at best.

you're watching context on bbc news. no sign of any withdrawal from kyiv just yet as the head of nato says russia is not keeping its pledge to scale down military operations in the ukrainian capital. jens stoltenberg said russian units were being redeployed. how britain's strict libel laws are being used by the rich and powerful including russian oligarchs. the us house investigation —— in the us — the house committee investigating the capitol hill riots the capitol hill riots expands its investigation to examine the possible culpability of a broad

range of figures involved in former president trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 elections. and house prices are rocketing both sides of the atlantic. just what is going on? tonight with the context, our north america correspondent, anthony zurcher. britain's strict libel laws are increasingly being used to close down journalistic investigations. that's according to evidence given to lawmakers in the house of lords today. in the past few months, there have been a string of legal actions brought by russian oligarchs in the uk. many of them have been directed against one book, putin's people by catherine belton. the term that campaigners have invented for these sort of law suits — which try to block publication of information in the public interest — is slapps — strategic lawsuits against public participation. and, although the acronym came from the us, britain leads the world in them, according to a recent study. let's bring in susan coughtrie of the british think tank the foreign policy centre. she's the founder of the uk anti—slapp coalition — and she was one of the people

who gave evidence at today's house of lords committee hearing into britain's libel laws. thank you so much forjoining us. how are libel laws in this country being used?— how are libel laws in this country beini used? . ,. , . being used? thank you very much. well, we believe _ being used? thank you very much. well, we believe they _ being used? thank you very much. well, we believe they are - being used? thank you very much. well, we believe they are being . well, we believe they are being misused and that is the problem that we are seeking to address. particularly in the context of russia and kleptocracy, we are concerned to see that. london has become a hub for dirty money and for services that can be used to shut down and suppress information. information about that wrongdoing and that money flow. recent case in —— recent cases like the one you mention are kind of in the public domain, we are actually concerned that this is effectively the tip of

the iceberg. a lot of cases never reach the court because of the level of legal intimidation and the concern that journalists face of legal intimidation and the concern thatjournalists face over the high cost and the length and process it would take to get to court. even if they believe what they are writing is true, the imbalance of power and the reach of the super—rich with deep pockets who want to avoid public scrutiny completely disarms them. i’m want to avoid public scrutiny completely disarms them. i'm sure that is what — completely disarms them. i'm sure that is what many _ completely disarms them. i'm sure that is what many people _ completely disarms them. i'm sure that is what many people are - that is what many people are wondering, if you are journalist and you are sure of your facts, what is there to fear? it you are sure of your facts, what is there to fear?— there to fear? it is the cost and exense there to fear? it is the cost and expense and — there to fear? it is the cost and expense and the _ there to fear? it is the cost and expense and the resources. - there to fear? it is the cost and i expense and the resources. time there to fear? it is the cost and - expense and the resources. time and time again we see in cases that reach the court do not really off and get to trial. they are drawn out for as long as possible. in catherine belton's case, she had publishers, but it was costing into the millionsjust publishers, but it was costing into the millions just to get to the stage where it did not reach a full

trial. if that is the challenge that you are facing as an investigative journalist and you are writing stories and you are met with legal threats often the threats of right to reply. you might be met with a letter threatening libel and may be a number of other forms of gdp are. you have to weigh up whether you are prepared to keep going even if you have your facts in order because it will take a long time before you are in front of a judge to prove it. some people may argue, it is unsurprising, if you like, that people, even those with a lot of money want to keep their reputation, defend themselves, so to speak. absolutely. and i think in democratic societies it is important to be able to defend your reputation

and have access to justice, that is absolutely key. but it is very worrying for our society if those who are accused of wrongdoing and corruption are using those proceeds from the illicit funds to attack media by taking these legal challenges against them. this feeds into law enforcement processes. what we see ifjournalists fold in the face of this pressure, we create a vacuum of information that is taken away. and this is a form of reputation laundering and the reason you do it is because you don't want visit formation picked up by banks or law enforcement agencies who might be seeking to investigate further. �* ., ., ., , further. i'm going to also bring in anthon 's further. i'm going to also bring in anthony's worker _ further. i'm going to also bring in anthony's worker now. _ further. i'm going to also bring in anthony's worker now. anthony, |

anthony's worker now. anthony, everyone says that america can be seen as quite a leticia is society. is this problem prevalent in the states as well?— is this problem prevalent in the states as well? ., ., ., states as well? you mentioned that the term slapp _ states as well? you mentioned that the term slapp came _ states as well? you mentioned that the term slapp came from - states as well? you mentioned that the term slapp came from the - states as well? you mentioned that i the term slapp came from the united states. _ the term slapp came from the united states. so— the term slapp came from the united states. so it _ the term slapp came from the united states, so it is a problem, even though— states, so it is a problem, even though we — states, so it is a problem, even though we have much more robust libel law— though we have much more robust libel law protection, you have to prove _ libel law protection, you have to prove malice in order to be successfully prosecuted for libel. but back — successfully prosecuted for libel. but back in 2016, an online website gawker— but back in 2016, an online website gawker was— but back in 2016, an online website gawker was sued by professional wrestler— gawker was sued by professional wrestler hulk hogan. and just this year sarah — wrestler hulk hogan. and just this year sarah palin sued for libel. it was thrown — year sarah palin sued for libel. it was thrown out of the court, but still that— was thrown out of the court, but still that cost the new york times millions— still that cost the new york times millions of— still that cost the new york times millions of dollars to defend and took all— millions of dollars to defend and took all of its editors to come into court _ took all of its editors to come into court and — took all of its editors to come into court and testify about the process behind _ court and testify about the process

behind their stories. it was a very real hassle — behind their stories. it was a very real hassle for the new york times. and it could — real hassle for the new york times. and it could conceivably have a chilling — and it could conceivably have a chilling effect on how american meeting — chilling effect on how american meeting copy as —— american media companies _ meeting copy as —— american media companies cover politicians. meeting copy as -- american media companies cover politicians.- companies cover politicians. should libel laws even _ companies cover politicians. should libel laws even matter _ companies cover politicians. should libel laws even matter any - companies cover politicians. should libel laws even matter any more? i libel laws even matter any more? absolutely they should. it is important to defend your reputation and that is not what we are talking about really hear. we are talking about really hear. we are talking about a legal... a misuse of the law to suppress matters of public interest things that should be debated in our society. and we want to see a mechanism put in place during anti—slapp law to ensure that there is a filter for these type of cases at an early stage before they really rack up costs and go on for so long that they are such a deterrent for journalists so long that they are such a deterrent forjournalists being able to publish. we want to find a way...

0ften to publish. we want to find a way... often we see libel law only access by the super—rich, so a change in the system would also make it more equalfor the system would also make it more equal for those who do want to genuinely address issues around their reputation. {liiq genuinely address issues around their reputation.— genuinely address issues around their reputation. 0k, it has been really good _ their reputation. 0k, it has been really good to — their reputation. 0k, it has been really good to talk _ their reputation. 0k, it has been really good to talk to _ their reputation. 0k, it has been really good to talk to you both. | really good to talk to you both. thank you for your time. as we've been discussing western intelligence has confirmed that russian units are not withdrawing. rather being redeployed. jens stoltenberg said russian units were not withdrawing, but being redeployed in an attempt to reinforce its offensive in the east. rustem umerov is a ukrainian mp. he has been involved in some of the negotiations with moscow. he was even one of the ukrainian negotiators reportedly poisoned alongside roman abramovich. he spoke with me a short time ago,

and i asked him how hopeful he is of peace talks being successful. at this stage, it is more than 30 days we are in fight and we have have several rounds of negotiations. at the end of the day, we are coming to some sort of collective security agreement articles that we are trying to negotiate and then get back to the public opinion through the referendum and putting it to our parliament to ratify. also at the same time, we are having consultations with our international partners whether they be —— whether they would be willing to become a guarantor. everything is happening simultaneously with different dimensions, with different passages and tracks. the hope is... haifa

dimensions, with different passages and tracks. the hope is... how much trust ou and tracks. the hope is... how much trust you have _ and tracks. the hope is... how much trust you have in _ and tracks. the hope is... how much trust you have in russia _ and tracks. the hope is... how much trust you have in russia sticking - and tracks. the hope is... how much trust you have in russia sticking to i trust you have in russia sticking to what it agrees to?— trust you have in russia sticking to what it agrees to? well, we already mentioned that _ what it agrees to? well, we already mentioned that we _ what it agrees to? well, we already mentioned that we came _ what it agrees to? well, we already mentioned that we came to - what it agrees to? well, we already i mentioned that we came to collective security guarantees because russia did wrong in 2014 by breaking all the bilateral and international laws and invading our territory. so that is why we went to the collective security agreements and at this stage, we will need our partners as a guarantor to be able to find the new security architecture. we will be willing to justify a new collective security agreement if only our partners also agreed to be part of it. only our partners also agreed to be art of it. ., ., , ., part of it. you have been involved in the negotiations. _ part of it. you have been involved in the negotiations. how - part of it. you have been involved in the negotiations. how is - part of it. you have been involved in the negotiations. how is the i in the negotiations. how is the tension and atmosphere been in the room when you've been there? well.

room when you've been there? well, it started very _ room when you've been there? well, it started very tense. _ room when you've been there? well, it started very tense. it _ room when you've been there? well, it started very tense. it was - room when you've been there? well, it started very tense. it was not - it started very tense. it was not easy. but it takes courage to find solutions, to meet because we have been given a task to find a solution. i am treating this as work and trying to do all my best to find, as i said, a political and diplomatic resolution to this brutal invasion. ,., , ., invasion. there were reports that earlier on in _ invasion. there were reports that earlier on in the _ invasion. there were reports that earlier on in the negotiations - invasion. there were reports that| earlier on in the negotiations with russia that you yourself was actually poisoned. how are you doing? are you 0k? were you poison? i do feel now better. i feel good. there was a situation like this, but my colleagues who are more competent

in this are analysing it. i'm hoping that in the shortest period of time they will finalise it and i will be able to comment on it more thoroughly. now — plenty of us politics to pick over with anthony zurcher, but let's start with the decision taken by federal prosecutors to substantially widen their investigation into the storming of the us capitol — to examine the possible culpability of a broad range of figures involved in former president trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 elections. give us some detail. what do they mean by expanding this already large investigation? and why now? i think the are investigation? and why now? i think they are going _ investigation? and why now? i think they are going to — investigation? and why now? i think they are going to look _ investigation? and why now? i think they are going to look at _ investigation? and why now? i think they are going to look at the - they are going to look at the organisation and the money behind the attempts to dispute donel spewed

—— donald trump's... they want to see if there was financial support or planning of those demonstrations. with the knowledge that these would turn violent. from the very beginning they were notjust looking at the events on the day of january six, they wanted to look at what was happening in the months ahead, when donald trump started to contest the election, when he had a team of lawyers challenging in all of these states and whether any of that was done with the knowledge that it could possibly turn violent. you ask why now, i think that part of it is because they see this as a building block process. they want to prosecute the people who stormed the capital first, prosecute the people who stormed the capitalfirst, find prosecute the people who stormed the capital first, find out prosecute the people who stormed the capitalfirst, find out who capital first, find out who their connections were, if they get convictions be able to use their testimony to go up the food chain. it is what you see in any kind of large prosecution of some sort of conspiracy or crime. and this is the

largest prosecution of its kind in american history. i think there is also political pressure here that there are a lot of people on the left who are getting frustrated with the justice department, left who are getting frustrated with thejustice department, and also with merrick garland. they want to see people higher up be held accountable for what happens. they do not want to see this and with prosecutions of a florist from texas or a lorry driver from or a lorry driverfrom 0hio. they want to see the higher—ups responsible. want to see the higher-ups responsible.— want to see the higher-ups resonsible. ., ., . responsible. you also have jared kushner cooperating _ responsible. you also have jared kushner cooperating with - responsible. you also have jared kushner cooperating with the - responsible. you also have jared . kushner cooperating with the house committee. and this week they voted to hold two trump aids for not cooperating. can you give us a status update on where that stands now? ~ . , ., status update on where that stands now? ~ ., , ., ., status update on where that stands now? . ., y., ., , status update on where that stands now? ~ ., ., , , status update on where that stands now? ., ., , now? what you are seeing is some of the testimonies, _ now? what you are seeing is some of the testimonies, some _ now? what you are seeing is some of the testimonies, some of— now? what you are seeing is some of the testimonies, some of the - the testimonies, some of the documents leak out into the press, which suggest that there is momentum building in this investigation, that they are getting information and are able to interpret it and find holes

in it and i think people are surprised how much this committee has turned up. they are targeting specific people who i think they want to hear more from. they want their testimony, they want to compel it. and that is why you see these contempt of congress being voted on in the committee and possibly voted on in the full house of representatives. i think there might be a recommendation for prosecution, criminal referral coming out of it, but that will put it back in the lap of the justice department. congressional investigations is a political beast, it's not a criminal one. that something that prosecutors in the justice one. that something that prosecutors in thejustice department one. that something that prosecutors in the justice department will one. that something that prosecutors in thejustice department will have to handle. in the justice department will have to handle. �* . in the justice department will have to handle. 3 . .. in the justice department will have to handle. �*, ., ,, ., ~ ,, to handle. let's talk about mike pence. to handle. let's talk about mike pence- he's _ to handle. let's talk about mike pence. he's been _ to handle. let's talk about mike pence. he's been laying - to handle. let's talk about mike pence. he's been laying out - to handle. let's talk about mike pence. he's been laying out his| pence. he's been laying out his freedom agenda. freedom from what? what is he hoping to achieve? i

think he wants freedom from donald trump's shadow. what he is planning it is pretty clear that he wants to run from our president. the brochure he put out, the video he put out it looks like the kind of thing you release when you are planning a presidential run. i think he wants to lay out his agenda. most of it is boilerplate republican stuff. talking about social issues, abortion, about taxes, but also focusing on foreign policy interest. interesting left on china and not russia. when you listen to a lot of republicans they view china as a much more important strategic adversary van russia. they don't really want to talk about russia even after the invasion of ukraine. i think it is going to be a challenge for him because it will be a crowded field and if donald trump runs, he's going to be able to put a lot of pressure on mike pence and is not going to be a fan of his

challenge. he wants to lay out his agenda and there might be some not thrilled at that and they are looking at the midterms and they don't want any agenda, they want people to vote for them and against the democrats. you look at president gearing up for presidential bids, ron desantis, rick scott, all of them are doing this groundwork laying in order to set up for a run next year. laying in order to set up for a run next year-— next year. let's balance this out a little bit. hillary — next year. let's balance this out a little bit. hillary clinton _ next year. let's balance this out a little bit. hillary clinton and - next year. let's balance this out a little bit. hillary clinton and her. little bit. hillary clinton and her camper in a bit of hot water. how hot is the water? tell us more. it is a fine that was levied. a fine was brought against him about how they funded the steel dossier which contained a lot of unfounded allegations about donald trump's ties to russia. it was originally

funded by conservatives during the primaries when there was a lot of conservatives running against donald trump. but then the democrats picked up trump. but then the democrats picked up on it and put money into it to keep it going. and the results were shopped around to criminal investigators and politicians and journalists before the election in 2016. what the clinton campaign and the dnc were fine for was the money they were giving to a law firm and not disclosing that that money was being spent on opposition research, they said it was on legal fees, which is going to make a lot of conservatives, a lot of hillary clinton's critics angry because they see this as a another attempt to do mischievous behind—the—scenes manoeuvring to fund research on donald trump and they will see it as part of this broader effort to take down donald trump.— part of this broader effort to take down donald trump. anthony, stay with us. down donald trump. anthony, stay with us- right _ down donald trump. anthony, stay with us. right now— down donald trump. anthony, stay with us. right now i _ down donald trump. anthony, stay with us. right now i want _ down donald trump. anthony, stay with us. right now i want to - down donald trump. anthony, stay with us. right now i want to talk i with us. right now i want to talk about house prices. for years we have been told that

it's only a matter of time until the bubble bursts — that prices plummet, that house prices become more affordable. but year on year they continue to rise. here in the uk, the latest data from nationwide today revealed that the average price of a home rose by 14.3% over the last year — the biggest annual rate of growth in more than 17 years. and it's a similar situation in the us. the average house price went up 17% last year, the strongest annual rise in at least two decades — and is expected to rise a further 10% this year. on average, a house in the uk now costs almost $350,000. in the us, it's around $375,000. josh ryan—collins is head of finance and macroeconomics at the ucl institute for innovation and public purpose. thank you forjoining us. let me ask you first of all, what is the

current house price rise driven by, do you think? i current house price rise driven by, do you think?— do you think? i think it is a combination _ do you think? i think it is a combination of— do you think? i think it is a combination of factors. - do you think? i think it is a - combination of factors. you've got this fairly unique situation we have had during the pandemic of people being forced to stay at home, not being forced to stay at home, not being able to go on holiday, not being able to go on holiday, not being able to go on holiday, not being able to go out and buy things, go to restaurants hence they have been building up their savings. supported of course by the comprehensive furlough scheme that we had that prevented mass job losses. and at the same time, people spending more time at home, they want to have more space. there is an obvious indication that the rise in house prices is being driven by people moving to a bigger houses or moving out of the cities, into less built up cities. added to that, you have had very low interest rates and you have had the additional stimulus of stamp duty cut, which has inched

up of stamp duty cut, which has inched up house prices even further. a multiple of different factors together. multiple of different factors to . ether. �* ., , multiple of different factors totether. �* ., , ., , ., together. and now interest rates are now on their — together. and now interest rates are now on their way _ together. and now interest rates are now on their way up. _ together. and now interest rates are now on their way up. do _ together. and now interest rates are now on their way up. do you - together. and now interest rates are now on their way up. do you think. now on their way up. do you think thatis now on their way up. do you think that is going to put that kind of pressure on the housing market or do you not think that is going to happen? also, given the situation in the uk, how does it differfrom the united states in terms of how reliant we are on the housing market to move our economy forward? i think the risks for— to move our economy forward? i think the risks for the _ to move our economy forward? i think the risks for the uk are _ to move our economy forward? i think the risks for the uk are higher- the risks for the uk are higher because we are more dependent on the housing market. we have a lot more people employed either in real estate or in construction relative to other sectors in the us. and i think there is a real risk that if interest rates go up, this could have a negative effect on the economy. i don't think there is so much risk of another financial crash because banks are better categorised than they were in 2008. but there is

a risk in particular of the cost—of—living crisis that we are facing with rising energy costs. due to it happening in ukraine. people have to commit more and more of their income to paying off debt as interest rates go up. so they will be spending even less on buying stuff and keeping the economy taking over. i think there is a real risk of a slowdown in the housing market, but is probably not as severe as in 2008. d0 but is probably not as severe as in 2008.,-,. but is probably not as severe as in 2008. ,., , ., but is probably not as severe as in 2008.,-,. , . -, .~ 2008. do you see a house market crash happening _ 2008. do you see a house market crash happening at _ 2008. do you see a house market crash happening at any _ 2008. do you see a house market crash happening at any point - 2008. do you see a house market crash happening at any point in i 2008. do you see a house market| crash happening at any point in the near to medium term future? we have been talking about it for years that the market is not going to go on like this forever, yet he keeps doing it. like this forever, yet he keeps doin: it. ., , , . , like this forever, yet he keeps doin it. ., , , . , ., ., doing it. house prices now have reached a _ doing it. house prices now have reached a record _ doing it. house prices now have reached a record level - doing it. house prices now have reached a record level relative i doing it. house prices now havel reached a record level relative to incomes. this seems very surprising when you think about how much

economic damage there has been over the last few years. you have to think about the fact that better off people, most of them have been saving more than usual and as i said, they have been putting that money towards bigger houses and increasing demand in the housing market. on the other hand, people, poor people now need much bigger deposits and are finding it even how order to get on the housing ladder. so what we are seeing is a housing market increasingly unequal and it is driving inequality. richer people are just getting richer and is driving inequality. richer people arejust getting richer and poor people are just getting poorer and realising that they're not going to be able to buy until they get into their late 40s or even 50s. and that's a situation difficult for people to get their head around. we are going to bring in anthony. the situation in the us, helps prices

are on average similar to the uk. but what are the key difference is that you see?— but what are the key difference is that you see? you have seen prices to that you see? you have seen prices t o u i that you see? you have seen prices to u- b that you see? you have seen prices go up by double _ that you see? you have seen prices go up by double digits _ that you see? you have seen prices go up by double digits in _ that you see? you have seen prices go up by double digits in major - go up by double digits in major urban— go up by double digits in major urban areas where people want to live _ urban areas where people want to live the — urban areas where people want to live. the united states is a very large _ live. the united states is a very large country. there are places where — large country. there are places where you _ large country. there are places where you can still afford a house fairly— where you can still afford a house fairly recently, but the problem is people _ fairly recently, but the problem is people don't necessarily want to live there — people don't necessarily want to live there. there was a hope i think that people — live there. there was a hope i think that people would be able to move to some _ that people would be able to move to some of— that people would be able to move to some of the smaller towns across the country. _ some of the smaller towns across the country. he _ some of the smaller towns across the country, be able to work remotely and be _ country, be able to work remotely and be able to use the internet in order— and be able to use the internet in order to — and be able to use the internet in order to live their lives there and a much _ order to live their lives there and a much more affordable way, but that has not _ a much more affordable way, but that has not really panned out that way. you talk _ has not really panned out that way. you talk about interest rates, that has taken — you talk about interest rates, that has taken a — you talk about interest rates, that has taken a very real bite here in the us— has taken a very real bite here in the us making it much harder to afford _ the us making it much harder to afford a — the us making it much harder to afford a home.— the us making it much harder to afford a home. ~ ., ,, afford a home. well, thank you both so much for— afford a home. well, thank you both so much forjoining _ afford a home. well, thank you both so much forjoining us. and - afford a home. well, thank you both so much forjoining us. and thank. so much forjoining us. and thank you to all the viewers at home

watching and in the uk. bbc news at ten. forthose watching and in the uk. bbc news at ten. for those watching on world, it is bbc news america. stay with us on bbc news. goodbye. hello there. well, it certainly felt like winter, even though we are meant to be heading deeper into spring. we've had some heavy snow around and across parts of west yorkshire, picked up 6cm of snow as we started the day on thursday. where the snow showers came along, they came along in pretty big flakes of snow because temperatures generally were a couple of degrees above freezing, that helps the snowflakes kind of stick together. a very snowy scene here as well. that is in north yorkshire. 0n the satellite picture, we've got loads more of those snow showers to come in for thursday night and then we've got an area of thicker cloud, a weather frontjust to our northwest. that is going to bring a spell of snow into the highlands of scotland quite quickly on friday morning. the other feature, of course, with the morning is that it is going to be a cold start to the day with a widespread sharp

frost and where we have seen showers overnight, that will certainly lead to some icy surfaces around eastern areas, notably in parts of kent where we could also see some fairly significant snow for a time overnight and into the early part of friday morning. here is the snow then pushing into the highlands of scotland. this system, as it works in, it's got a tendency for it to turn to rain or sleet as it works into southwest scotland and into northern ireland as well. the showers will continue to have a wintry flavour across eastern areas. cold again, but the wind is not quite as strong, so probably not feeling quite as bitter across those eastern areas. friday night, we will probably see some hills snow working across wales, there might even be a few flakes on the system by the time it gets into parts of southwest england. of course, where we see those showers we are looking at the risk of some icy surfaces and a frost again will be pretty widespread. so for saturday morning, may be a little bit of rain, sleet and a bit of snow towards the moors of southwest england, otherwise it is another day of sunshine and showers. again, the showers will tend

to drift in land as the day goes by, some of them can be quite heavy maybe with a bit of hail mixing. temperatures on saturday, just starting to edge up a little bit. we are looking at highs more of around nine or 10 celsius, maybe a seven for aberdeen. the second half of the weekend, coming round to the top of our area of high pressure, it is to the west of us at the moment. there is this warm front. that is going to be bringing some rain with it into scotland as we go through the day. turning wet here, elsewhere, it should be a bright start to the day, with some sunshine and in early morning frost. the cloud will tend to build up, we will probably see a little bit of light rain or drizzle around our northwest coasts and hills where it will also turn quite murky with some mist and fog patches. those temperatures going up another degree. highs of 11 or so. into next week, we get something of a battle zone across the uk. mild airfor the most part, but cold air still hanging on across the northeast and so the threat of snow might not entirely have gone away next week. that said, for monday, it does look like it will be generally a mild day with outbreaks

of rain moving south and eastwards across the country. probably not amounting a much across eastern areas, but it looks like it could be quite wet into the northwest. temperatures, reaching a high of 13 or 14. it is turning milder, but here it is just six. for tuesday, the mild air is aimed towards the west of the uk, we've got a plunge of colder air coming down across the northeast. and where these two meet, well, we could be looking at a spell of snow at least for a time. that is possible over the hills of scotland, but certainly down towards the southwest, very mild. 13 or 14 degrees, so the cold spell will come to an end for many of us, but we could see a bit more snow for some into next week.

tonight at ten, president putin is accused of blackmailing the west over supplies of russian gas. angered by western sanctions he says russia will only sell gas to hostile countries if they pay in russian currency. translation: the financial system of western countries is being used as a weapon. in ukraine new attempts are made to get aid delivered to thousands in mariupol after weeks of russian bombardment. we'll have the latest on the state of the conflict and the claims that president putin is being misled by his own intelligence services. also tonight, we talk to more victims of the failings in england's maternity services. ministers are promising sweeping reforms. millions over budget and they will be five years