welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines — the bbc has found evidence of russian troops using ukrainian civilians as human shields in villages just north of kyiv. they put them in that school, and they held them as human shields. a move to nuclear, wind and solar power — the uk government publishes its energy strategy to tackle soaring energy prices and reduce reliance on russian oil and gas. another record high for covid infections in china as shanghai's lockdown starts to bite. music. and the singer ed sheeran wins

a high court battle after he's accused of ripping off another artist's song. live from our studio in singapore. this is bbc news. it's a newsday. it's 6am in the morning in singapore and 1am in ukraine, where the bbc has found evidence of russian troops using civilians as human shields in villages just north of the capital, kyiv. some families have been telling us they were forced to leave basements where they were hiding and rounded up at gunpoint. they say they were then taken to a local school and held there for 2h hours as the russians tried to stop ukrainian forces taking back their village. our correspondentjeremy bowen has this report, and i want to warn you, it contains details you may find distressing.

deep in the forest, towards the border with belarus, ukrainian forces were securing the territory the russians have left. large areas are hard to reach as bridges are down and roads blocked by mines. on the the edge of the exclusion zone around chernobyl is a village. really swampy ground. everyone wanted to talk about the russians. bogdan showed a place where russian soldiers made him dig a shallow grave to bury a man they'd killed. and they had to sleep under these rags? he said that with four other young men, he was held as a prisoner for 15 days in the open, often bound and blindfolded, threatened with fake executions, then one shot him in the leg. translation: he put me on the bench, aimed his machine gun _

at me and shot my knee. it's because my younger brother was in the army. they found his military cap in photos. ukrainian soldiers and others said the russians had used civilians as human shields in the next village. it's a small place on a lake. the russians tried unsuccessfully to blow up the dam before they left. the people of the village are still traumatised by the russian occupation and by the 2a hours when they were held as human shields at the village school. ivan said it was chaos. children were crying, everyone was crying. how would you describe the experience? "vandals, fascists. i don't want to think about the russians.

they're not people." what happened that day? "they were getting bombarded, that's what," said ludmilla. she said at night the russians force them out of cellars where they'd been sheltering pointing their machine guns. they broke open the doors if people didn't answer them. on the 14th of march, there was heavy fighting in the area. the ukrainians were on the attack. the russians were losing men. that night, the russians went door—to—door in the streets around here and at gunpoint marched, estimates vary, 100—150 people people of all ages — old people, children as well — and they put them in that school and they held them as human shields. maria said she survived the second world war. "they were like the germans except they spoke russian, so i knew what they were saying." we were invited into the house.

maria, the great—grandmother, was left behind, terrified about the rest of the family, who were held in the freezing cold school gymnasium. marina said her daughter still show signs of anxiety. translation: l was afraid - we would all be shot in that gym. i was scared for my daughter. i don't have the words. i'm so frightened. machine guns, a two—year—old girl should not see this. i'm sorry. i'm going to cry. slowly this part of ukraine is being reconnected to the rest of the country. a temporary crossing has replaced a bridge the russians blew up as they retreated. many families were using the chance to get out of the war zone. this woman was desperate.

"we've been in a cellar for more than a month. my daughter has a new baby. they stole everything. i cut my hair so i wouldn't get raped." further down the road is a village destroyed in the fighting. the only person left is this man. he used to have a neighbour. he took us to his home. he died on his own three weeks ago while the village was in russian hands. animals have eaten the flesh from his head. he had basic medications, but it's not clear how he died. it is clear that the occupiers didn't help him. where ukrainian forces are back, evidence is accumulating that russian troops repeatedly broke the laws of war. the question is how the russians are treating civilians in the places which they still occupy.

jeremy bowen, bbc news, near ivankiv. the united states and western nations have responded to the allegations of war crimes against russia by imposing fresh sanctions. for more on president biden�*s response, here's our north america editor sarah smith in washington. there was quite an emotional response from president biden when he declared that what was happening in ukraine was nothing less than major war crimes. and he directly linked the atrocities in ukraine to new economic sanctions, saying russia must pay an immediate and severe price for what he called its sickening brutality. so, the us and uk have been working together on a new round of sanctions. both countries announcing today sanctions against russia's largest financial institution and also an outright ban on any new financial

investment in russia. as well as personal economic sanctions against economic sanctions against vladimir putin's two adult daughters and against some other oligarchs and politicians. the white house described this as a dramatic escalation in sanctions, and they believe the total package of sanctions imposed on russian now will shrink the economy by 15% as well as pushing the inflation rate up to 15% as well. at the same time, america has announced another $100 million of weaponry to go to ukraine, new javelin missiles, those shoulder—launched anti—tank missiles. it's been revealed they've been training ukrainian soldiers here as well in the use of switchblade drones and they will be going back to ukraine to teach others how to use them as well. in other headlines, the uk government has just published its energy security stategy. it's meant to help reach the net—zero target, tackle soaring energy prices and reduce reliance on russian oil and gas supplies. let's take a look at

some of the key points. the uk says it will collaborate with other countries like canada and the us to accelerate work on advanced nuclear techologies. it comes as the government plans a significant acceleration of nuclear energy, with the hope of up to 2a gigawatts to come from this source of power by 2050. on offshore wind, the plan outlines the ambition of producing up to 50 gigawatts of energy by 2030, which the government says would be more than enough to power every home in the uk. let's discuss this withjim watson, professor of energy policy at university college london. great to get you on the programme. in the first instance, what do you make of the energy strategy with my ambitious in scope but as i have much of an effect for people in their everyday lives. it is much of an effect for people in their everyday lives.— their everyday lives. it is not auoin to their everyday lives. it is not going to have _ their everyday lives. it is not going to have an _ their everyday lives. it is not going to have an immediate| their everyday lives. it is not - going to have an immediate effect and i've got mixed views about it. on the positive side, they are very

ambitious plans to increase the amount of renewable electricity which means it will burn less gas and reduce uk gas use was or where i think it's really missed a real opportunity is to help people insulate their homes and reduce the amount of energy they need to use to heat those homes, and that again would both reduce their bills would also reduce the gas use that we need for heating buildings in the uk and would also have the side effect of reducing our emissions as well. so i'm really puzzled as to what government has not taken the opportunity today more on that side. this is very much an energy supply strategy rather than thinking about the whole picture the board. fine strategy rather than thinking about the whole picture the board. one of the whole picture the board. one of the other aspects _ the whole picture the board. one of the other aspects that _ the whole picture the board. one of the other aspects that stood - the whole picture the board. one of the other aspects that stood out. the whole picture the board. one of the other aspects that stood out for me was the sort of nuclear plan and given the fact that there has been so much debate recently about reducing the dependence on russian energy, source of the rush of energy, source of the rush of energy, do you see that ambition, the nuclear plan, as part of the debate on that? is

the nuclear plan, as part of the debate on that?— debate on that? is part of the debate, but is _ debate on that? is part of the debate, but is very _ debate on that? is part of the debate, but is very much - debate on that? is part of the debate, but is very much in l debate on that? is part of the i debate, but is very much in the debate on that? is part of the - debate, but is very much in the long term box if you think about short—term things government can do, medium term up to five years, long term is ten years plus. so we have won the reactor being built. it still not going to come on for a few more years he amped and under new plans it's announcing in strategy, it talks about itasca between now and 2050 m is over 25 years to get to that target in the strategy of 25% of our powerful through that time, the power and only being used for things we use for it now but actually for most of the vehicles in the country probably will be electric at that time and most of our heating will be too. so it's ambitious but is not really going to start to have a massive effect for a few years yet. start to have a massive effect for a few years yet-— start to have a massive effect for a few years yet. and 'ust looking more broadly — few years yet. and 'ust looking more broadly across the — few years yet. and just looking more broadly across the world, _ few years yet. and just looking more broadly across the world, do - few years yet. and just looking more broadly across the world, do you - broadly across the world, do you think the conflict in ukraine has accelerated the need for governments around the world and notjust the uk to find these alternatives sources of energy? it to find these alternatives sources of ener: ? , . to find these alternatives sources ofener: ? , . of energy? it very much has was a bit is made _ of energy? it very much has was a bit is made a _ of energy? it very much has was a bit is made a very _ of energy? it very much has was a bit is made a very big _ of energy? it very much has was a bit is made a very big impact - of energy? it very much has was a bit is made a very big impact and l of energy? it very much has was a | bit is made a very big impact and if you look at the you and your opinion

and they brought us a very ambitious plans to accelerate lots of things they were doing already and in the meantime trying to get some of their gas from other sources close—ups of the european union as a whole, 40% of their gas comes from russia, or s in the uk, is less than 5% so very different situation. so this invasion of ukraine has really accelerated lots of those measures towards alternatives but alternative supplies of gas but also to gas in the medium to longer term and it began to make a big difference to strategy and the truth will come when we actually see some differences in the amount of gas being used to cross those economies. jim watson there, professor of energy policy, that you so much willingness on the programme with your thoughts. willingness on the programme with your thoughts-_ we turn next to china, which has reported its highest daily total of covid—i9 cases since the pandemic began, with more than 20,000 new infections. those figures come as the country's largest city, shanghai, begins a new round of mass testing on its population of 25 million people.

the city's lockdown has now been extended into a second week as the authorities pursue what's been called a "zero—covid" strategy. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell has more on the situation in shanghai. there's been another round of mass testing started of everybody in that city. the problem is if you test positive, it means you must go to a centralised isolation facility, even if you have no symptoms. now these facilities are at times squalid, and so many residents are saying why can't we just stay at home and isolate? well, at the moment, they're not being allowed to do that. a big part of the problem, too, has been that children are getting separated from their parents. even small babies are being taken away from their parents if they test positive. overall, this is a massive challenge for china's zero—covid approach because it's notjust the locked down cities where we're seeing cases, there are cases all over the country now. how many more times can china keep

locking down cities, keep shutting off big portions of its economy? and they could be even making it worse for themselves by continuing to just lock down and refusing to even slightly adjust this zero—covid approach at the moment. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme, ed sheeran wins a legal battle over claims part of his track shape of you was copied from a song by another artist. 25 years of hatred and rage as theyjump up on the statue. this funeral became a massive demonstration of black power,

of power to influence. today is about the promise of a bright future, a day when we hope a line can be drawn under the bloody past. i think that picasso's i works were beautiful, they were intelligent, and it's a sad loss - to everybody who loves art. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our main story for you today — the bbc has found evidence of russian troops using ukrainian civilians as human shields

in villages just north of kyiv. staying with that story, the us has given $1.7 billion of military aid to ukraine since russia invaded. earlier, my colleague laura trevelyan spoke to admiraljohn kirby, the press secretary for the us defense department. she asked him if the us will give ukraine the long—range weapons it needs to defend itself against russia's aggresion. we are working very closely with allies and partners throughout europe and even around the world who have these heavier systems you're talking about, long—range air defence, for example. we're working closely with them to see what we can do to help them get those kinds of systems into ukraine, and we think that of all of the ones that we've been talking about, those long—range air defence, those are the ones that the ukrainians really need most and are using quite effectively the most inside ukraine. is the biden administration

still opposed to slovakia sending those s—300 missile systems and to poland sending those mig fighters to the ukrainians? well, there was never an opposition from the biden administration on either of those types of transfers. clearly we were just in slovakia not long ago. secretary austin talking to his counterpart there, but obviously these are national decisions that these countries have to make. but the united states has stood in the way of no—one who might want to make a national decision, a national provision of those kinds of systems into ukraine. the s—300 is one that the ukrainians know how to use. they use it quite effectively. they're comfortable with it. they're trained on it. and it could be of great use inside ukraine, but again that would be a decision for slovakia or any other nation to make, not something that the united states would dictate. we certainly wouldn't have

or try to exercise any kind of veto. we want all nations who can help ukraine defend itself to do exactly that. but you were concerned that mig fighters from poland would escalate the conflict. you're no longer concerned about that? our concern was that the proposal was for the migs to get transferred to the united states and then for the united states to move them in. we never had an objection if another nation with mig jets wanted to provide those mig jets to ukraine. that wasn't something that we were opposed to at all. these are national decisions, sovereign decisions. we would respect that. what we didn't want to approve was the transfer to us for then us to transfer it in. and there was concern inside the intelligence community that should the united states be the one to provide fixed—wing fighter aircraft, that that could be misconstrued by mr putin as an as an escalatory measure. and i think we can all

understand that this war is bad enough as it is. and having it escalate to become a conflict between two nuclear powers, the united states and russia, not only is that not good for our national security, it's not good for the ukrainians either. the top us military officer said on tuesday this war could go on for years. is it the assessment of the pentagon that we're heading for a stalemate? well, we believe that it's definitely the violence has not come down, and we believe that the russians are reprioritising to the eastern part of ukraine and to the southern part of ukraine. this is an area, as you well know, that the ukrainians and the russians have been fighting over now for eight years. so, there's a possibility, if in fact they redouble their efforts in that part of ukraine, and that's going to be the priority, that this could become a protracted conflict. nobody wants to see that be the result, of course, and this war could end today if mr putin would do the right thing and sit down in good faith with president zelensky and the ukrainian negotiators and work out a diplomatic solution here that respects ukrainian sovereignty.

he doesn't appear to be willing to do that, and because he's now going to reprioritise in the east, this could escalate the conflict in that part of ukraine and perhaps even prolong it. how long, we just don't know. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. a sri lankan government minister has rejected calls for the resignation of president gotabaya rajapaksa. the country is going through a deep economic crisis. crowds have been protesting for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortages of gas, food and other basic goods. the deputy to hong kong's chief executive, carrie lam, has said he's willing to replace her when she stands down in june. john lee, a former security chief, says he is available if approved by the chinese government. he oversaw the police response to widespread pro—democracy protests in 2019. a security guard at the british embassy in berlin has been charged with nine offences under the official secrets act, all relating to passing on information useful to russia. david ballantyne smith, a british national who was living in potsdam,

is due to appear in court on thursday after being extradited back to the uk. ed sheeran has won a high court copyright battle over his 2017 hit shape of you. ajudge ruled on wednesday that the singer—songwriter had not plagiarised the 2015 song oh why by sami chokri. mr chokri, a grime artist who performs under the name sami switch, said sheeran was a magpie and claimed the famous "oh i" hook in sheeran�*s track was "strikingly similar" to an "oh why" refrain in his own track. here they are played back—to—back. take a listen. #oh|,oh|,oh| # i'm in love with your body # oh i, oh i, oh i...#

# oh why, oh why, oh why, oh # why do i put myself through this? # oh why, oh why...# shape of you was the uk's best—selling song of 2017 in the uk and is spotify�*s most—streamed ever. after the ruling, ed sheeran posted a video on his instagram account. here's some of what he said. whilst we're obviously happy with the result, i feel like claims like this are way too common now and have become a culture where a claim is made with the idea that settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court even if there's no basis for the claim. it's really damaging to the songwriting industry. for more on this, i am joined now byjeff peretz, arts professor at the clive davis institute of recorded music at new york university. in the first instance, listening to what ed sheeran just said they does he have a point the claimant for two, and are damaging to the industry? two, and are damaging to the indust ? ' :: :: , two, and are damaging to the indust ? ' :: :: f , two, and are damaging to the indust ? ' :: :: , , ., ., , industry? 10096. if these frivolous claims no industry? 10096. if these frivolous claims go through, _ industry? 10096. if these frivolous claims go through, they _ industry? 10096. if these frivolous claims go through, they inhibit. claims go through, they inhibit creativity _

claims go through, they inhibit creativity. if a young artist is unable — creativity. if a young artist is unable to _ creativity. if a young artist is unable to emulate and explore and experiment with the sounds they know and have _ experiment with the sounds they know and have grown up with and how are they to start? you said in the opening — they to start? you said in the opening when he said that there is a similarity— opening when he said that there is a similarity between these two melodies, but they are indeed not the same — melodies, but they are indeed not the same mathematically full so therefore there's a link to this. ultimately it must be really hard to be able to prove that somebody has nicked your worker copied the melody in your work. what is an artist to do if he or she indeed feels that's the case? , ., , do if he or she indeed feels that's the case? , ., ' , do if he or she indeed feels that's the case? , . ' ., , ., the case? they are different ways to look at it- if— the case? they are different ways to look at it. if melody _ the case? they are different ways to look at it. if melody at _ the case? they are different ways to look at it. if melody at the same - the case? they are different ways to look at it. if melody at the same in i look at it. if melody at the same in the first place? and if it's not, that_ the first place? and if it's not, that conversation does not need to take place — that conversation does not need to take place. in the us, intent is not really— take place. in the us, intent is not really part of the issue. if you can subconsciously, when george harrison accidentally stole the chiffons he's so fine, _ accidentally stole the chiffons he's so fine, he — accidentally stole the chiffons he's so fine, he heard it said your right and wrote — so fine, he heard it said your right and wrote a — so fine, he heard it said your right and wrote a check. so it's difficult to get _ and wrote a check. so it's difficult to get to — and wrote a check. so it's difficult to get to that point of can you

prove — to get to that point of can you prove that he heard and can you prove _ prove that he heard and can you prove that — prove that he heard and can you prove that he heard and can you prove that he was actively trying to lift somebody else's intellectual property. they're only seven notes in a major— property. they're only seven notes in a major scale so if i give you seven legos and i think seven we put them together, every fifth time we will probably have three of them in the same _ will probably have three of them in the same row. it is not mean i still when _ the same row. it is not mean i still when anything from you. so the same row. it is not mean i still when anything from you.— the same row. it is not mean i still when anything from you. so much of art though is — when anything from you. so much of art though is about _ when anything from you. so much of art though is about being _ when anything from you. so much of art though is about being influenced | art though is about being influenced and inspired by the previous bodies of work that come before you. i'm thinking in literature as well as in our in general. how much of that is being considered in the sorts of discussions?— being considered in the sorts of discussions? ., �* , ._ ., discussions? that's the way the art and creativity _ discussions? that's the way the art and creativity work. _ discussions? that's the way the art and creativity work. we _ discussions? that's the way the art and creativity work. we know - discussions? that's the way the artj and creativity work. we know there is a such _ and creativity work. we know there is a such thing as an original idea. every idea — is a such thing as an original idea. every idea come from two previous ideas _ every idea come from two previous ideas in _ every idea come from two previous ideas in all— every idea come from two previous ideas in all great art stands in the back— ideas in all great art stands in the back of— ideas in all great art stands in the back of his — ideas in all great art stands in the back of his influences in the amount of space _ back of his influences in the amount of space one can get from their influences _ of space one can get from their influences determines the success or the residents of the piece of art. but without the ability to pay all mosh _ but without the ability to pay all

mosh and to re—filter and repurpose, art would _ mosh and to re—filter and repurpose, art would stop existing. so mosh and to re-filter and repurpose, art would stop existing.— art would stop existing. so do you think some _ art would stop existing. so do you think some sort _ art would stop existing. so do you think some sort of _ art would stop existing. so do you think some sort of rule _ art would stop existing. so do you think some sort of rule should be| think some sort of rule should be brought into stop these kinds of claims in the future?— claims in the future? that's a tricky question _ claims in the future? that's a tricky question because - claims in the future? that's a tricky question because who l claims in the future? that's a - tricky question because who would make _ tricky question because who would make those rules? i think that the climate _ make those rules? i think that the climate is — make those rules? i think that the climate is definitely shifting in there — climate is definitely shifting in there are those who think that they can quickly— there are those who think that they can quickly make some money by claiming — can quickly make some money by claiming that the similarities are indeed _ claiming that the similarities are indeed some sort of theft. but i worry— indeed some sort of theft. but i worry about the more restriction atways— worry about the more restriction always makes me a bit nervous we are trying _ always makes me a bit nervous we are trying to— always makes me a bit nervous we are trying to protect creativity and promote — trying to protect creativity and promote creativity. so the more the le-al promote creativity. so the more the legal system gets its grip on it, the more — legal system gets its grip on it, the more chances for it to unnecessarily fulfil that mission. jeff, amerika's pop musicologist, thank you so much forjoining us on the programme with your thoughts, a collocated issue as you say about art and creativity. this all the time we have for you on newsday at

this hour thank you forjoining us. do stay with bbc news the latest headlines. hello. i think skies like this on thursday — large cumulus clouds — and over the high ground, certainly the possibility of some wintry showers. but wherever you are on thursday, there's a chance of catching a little bit of rain. but there'll be lengthy sunny spells, too, so it's not all bad. but the weather is unsettled, and you can see low pressures there moving off the atlantic in our direction. one such area of low pressure currently crossing the uk, giving a spell of some very windy weatherfrom northern ireland through the irish sea, but particularly windy around the lancashire coastline around merseyside. northern parts of wales, gusts of wind here approaching 60 mph for a time during the early morning, and also across the highlands of scotland, the cold northerly wind bringing a covering of snow

across the hills there. now the temperatures early on thursday morning, three celsius in aberdeen, eight celsius in london. and then this is the picture through the day — lhe low pressure is out in the north sea by this stage, but on the backside of it, the winds are coming in from the north. so it's a cold wind, are really gusty wind, it really will feel very chilly. these are the gusts of wind approaching, 40—50 mph in places. so with temperatures of only around seven celsius, it really will feel very nippy on the north sea coast — only seven there in newcastle. and again, i said those showers could be wintry across the high ground. further south, i think the sunny spells will be most prolonged, so actually feeling pretty decent in the southwest. now this is the following night — so thursday night into friday — the possibility of some rain grazing the south of the country. here temperatures will be four celsius, but for the rest of us the following night, it will be quite frosty. so a chilly start to friday morning, the possibility of some rain along

the southern counties, and also the possibility of further wintry showers across scotland, mostly across the hills there. but i think, again, lots of sunny spells on the way, and disappointing temperatures between 8—12 celsius so below the average for the time of the year. here's the outlook, then, as we head over the next few days and into the weekend — it will calm down, i think saturday is actually not a bad day for most of us. sunday will become more unsettled once again. that's it from me, bye—bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the bbc has found evidence of russian troops using civilians as human shields in villages just north kyiv. some ukrainian families were forced to leave the basements where they were hiding in and were rounded up at gunpoint. the us and britain has imposed new sanctions against russia in response to alleged atrocities in ukraine. president putin's two adult daughters and the family of the foreign minster sergey lavrov are among individuals targeted by washington. a move to nuclear, wind, and solar power. the uk government publishes its energy security stategy to tackle soaring energy prices and reduce reliance on russian oil and gas supplies. and with the city of shanghai now in a second week of a new lockdown, china has reported more than 20,000 new covid cases — the highest daily

total since the pandemic began.