this is bbc news. i'mjoanna gosling. the headlines at 9.00 — dozens of people trapped in a besieged steelworks in the ukrainian city of mariupol have been allowed to leave. there are hopes that more could be brought out today. changing the culture in westminster — all sides agree to talks as the focus switches to crucial elections across the uk on thursday. new zealand finally reopens its borders to more international visitors after one of the world's strictest covid lockdowns free range eggs return as hens are allowed back outside across the uk, after measures to control an outbreak of bird flu are relaxed.

good morning and welcome to bbc news. humanitarian workers in ukraine are preparing to welcome around 100 people who were allowed to leave a steelworks plant in the eastern besieged city of mariupol. they're expected to arrive in the nearby city of zaporizhzhia today, and there are hopes that more will be freed later. the un refugee agency has confirmed that more than 5.5 million people have now fled ukraine. tim muffett has the latest developments. daylight at last. after weeks in a maze of underground tunnels. it's thought around 1,000 civilians have been hiding beneath the azovstal steel plant in mariupol, sheltering from russian bombardment. supplies had been cut off.

conditions were desperate. yesterday, around 100 were evacuated. this child is six months old. he's spent nearly half of his life underground. translation: i can't believe it. two months of darkness. when we were in the bus, i told my husband, we won't have to go to the toilet with a torch and use a bag as a loo. the operation involved the un and the red cross. it's thought evacuees have been taken to both russian and ukrainian controlled areas. translation: ukrainians, - our defenders, today we finally managed to start the evacuation of people from azovstal. after many weeks of negotiation, after many attempts, different meetings, people, calls, countries, proposals, finally. earlier, president zelensky met nancy pelosi, the speaker of the us house of representatives. as well as moral support, america is providing $33 billion worth of economic,

humanitarian and military assistance. do not be bullied by bullies. if they're making threats, you cannot back down. that's my view of it. we're there for the fight. no—one expects that fight to end soon. the training of ukrainian troops continues. some have been getting to grips with new weapons like these short range anti—tank missiles. for others, after two months on the front line, it's time for a short rest. these troops are from the 81st brigade. translation: this is a good | opportunity for the boys to rest and to return to the fight with new energy, to recover physically, morally and psychologically. meanwhile, in venice, the ukrainian symphony orchestra has been performing at a concert for peace. the repertoire featured

a mix of music by italian and ukrainian composers. international harmony in stark contrast to life in ukraine. tim muffett, bbc news. the ukrainian military says it's continuing to prevent russian forces from advancing in parts of the donbas region. the eastern town of lysychansk is encircled on three sides by russian troops. most of the city's residents have left, with the last remaining in desperate conditions, under constant shelling. andrew harding sent this report. the russians are getting closer. their missiles landing to our left and our right as we take the last road into lysychansk, a farming town under siege. we're following a ukrainian army medic, 0live kravchenka. pointing out the town's latest lacerations. look here, bomb.

he's taking us closer to the front lines to a hidden base from where his teams scoop up casualties. several days, it's blood, blood, blood, blood. the russians are making a big push now. yeah, yeah. very, very. you'd say the fighting is getting a lot worse now? yeah, very extreme. very extreme and very dangerous. the army has taken over the local hospital. a soldier is brought in by ambulance with a head wound. "his injuries are severe," says the medic. "there's not much hope for him". upstairs, a sombre silence on the wards. you can see here the impact of this intense russian bombardment, which we're still hearing outside now, in fact. room after room of young men with concussion. faces dazed and haunted.

"i've got three young children," he says. "i wish the shelling would just stop. we've all watched our brothers die in front of us." so what do this town's torments tell us about the wider war in eastern ukraine? there are signs that russian troops are being methodical and therefore perhaps more effective in their offensive in this region. they're pushing slowly forwards against this town and a dozen others in the donbas region. but there's still no sign that the kremlin�*s forces are about to deliver some kind of knockout blow. even here, a few civilians cling on. these parents saying they can't afford to flee. and nine—year—old masha is trying to take it all in her stride. the sound of the bombs? you're not scared?

she says, "because i'm the oldest girl, i'm not scared." good for you. inevitably, those left behind here have moved underground. this couple still wait for good news from their radio. so they're disagreeing here. she wants to go, but has no means of getting out. her husband wants to stay. "have you seen what's happened here? i don't know if we'll survive this," she says, voicing the fear that now hangs over this whole region. andrew harding, bbc

news, lysychansk. here, it's an important week for all political parties, as local elections take place in three days' time. politicians' behaviour has come under greater scrutiny in recent weeks. most recently, the conservative mp neil parish resigned after admitting he'd watched pornography in parliament. there are calls from senior mps for a radical overhaul of the culture at westminster. how much will the events of the past few weeks affect voters? 0ur political correspondent helen catt is here. helen, a big week in politics, isn't it? , , ~ ., helen, a big week in politics, isn't it? , , , it? yes, this week on thursday, thousands _ it? yes, this week on thursday, thousands of _ it? yes, this week on thursday, thousands of council— it? yes, this week on thursday, thousands of council seats - it? yes, this week on thursday, thousands of council seats will i it? yes, this week on thursday, i thousands of council seats will be “p thousands of council seats will be up for election across wales, scotland, much of england, and the northern ireland assembly also up for election, so that is a lot of voting happening across the country. and as you have said, in recent weeks we have seen a real focus on some of the things that have been going on inside the house of commons, inside westminster. this is where we find out what is going on outside, if you like, and what those

around the country think of what we have seen over recent months. so obviously, there are local elections, so clearly major local issues will have an impact on those individual results, but across the board, it will be seen as a national test of opinion. and if we look at england specifically, the last time this set of council seats were up for election in england was 2018, so this is the first time those suits have been contested under boris johnson, keir starmer, and ed davey, so there will be a lot of scrutiny on how they do in those places, particularly for example places where the conservatives took lots of votes of labour in the 2019 general election. there will be a lot of scrutiny on, is the tory vote still holding up, as borisjohnson�*s personal popularity is still holding up? have things like the frame for the downing street party affected things, only where he has handled ukraine? 0r things, only where he has handled ukraine? or how is keir starmer holding up in those areas where he needs to make the right inroads for a path for power to labour? —— the

fine for the downing street party? and will the liberal democrats win the rural seats they are looking for? mps are out there talking to voters, they will get a real sense of what is important, and of course the bigger issue that is a real massive national backdrop that all these elections are happening against, as rising bills, the cost of living, many of the parties have been campaigning hard on that, labour, the snp, the liberal democrats continued to press hard for that this week in the run—up to polling, borisjohnson and the conservatives looking more towards little shes as we head towards polling day on thursday. thank you, helen. -- looking _ polling day on thursday. thank you, helen. -- looking more _ polling day on thursday. thank you, helen. -- looking more towards - helen. -- looking more towards local issues. a record 2.7 million people have been referred for cancer checks by nhs england in the last year following a dramatic fall in numbers during the pandemic. at least 30,000 people are still waiting to start treatment.

charities have welcomed the increase in referrals, but warned of the "devastating" impact the covid backlog has had on cancer care. border force officers have intercepted several groups of migrants in the english channel in what is believed to be the first crossings in 11 days. more than 200 people are thought to have made the crossing, although exact numbers have not yet been confirmed. the ministry of defence is expected to give further details later, and says it is addressing the issue by cracking down on people smugglers. as muslims begin eid celebrations today, usually a time for big feasts and gifts, the rising cost of living has put a squeeze on some festivities. it comes as the charity islamic relief says the organisations it works with in the uk have experienced their busiest ramadan ever. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith reports. this time of year, a lot of people will be stocking up. a lot of meat items, a lot of dates, you know. abid has run a chain of supermarkets in leeds for decades. are you all right? service with a smile with no extra charge, eh? and he knows his customers inside out. this year's been a very

different and a very difficult year for people, especially in the month of ramadan. so over the last few weeks through ramadan, have people been spending less? people have been spending less, yes. they're very, very cautious. i mean, a person would normally come in and buy a box of tomatoes. they will only buy a few. spending is not as much as it was previous years, you know, in the month of ramadan. if this is normally your busiest time of year, are you worried about the future? definitely worried about the future, yes, because the eid festival is really inviting families together, really spending a lot on your family and your children. i would say this year, they won't be buying bulk, but everybody is feeling that pinch. so you have to get it, but probably less or something. i don't know. it's difficult. i've tried extra hours, to get more, but it's not happening. _ so there's nothing we can do.

you used spend £50 and you can see, oh my gosh, bought loads of stuff. now you spend £50 and you look at the bag, like, what did you buy? what is it? are you 0k? breaking the fast at sundown this ramadan has become a struggle for many. ok, so they're doing eid cards and stuff and your mum's going to get her display ready. so rifhat has been organising free community iftar meals for anyone in need. but what happens at christmas? i mean, you know, people obviously go into debt. they want to try and give their children and their loved ones a good present, a good christmas. and we want to do exactly the same. we want to give a good eid. we want to give nice presents to our children. the families that we're working with, they don't have that. now, we've seen families born and bred in britain on state benefits who've never turned to a charity for help. and one of the families in particular who's here this evening, they've actually felt embarrassed. they've actually said that we get invited to break fast with people and we normally have people

in our house, but we can't reciprocate that. lots of those here tonight have told me they're glad of the extra help at this special time. yeah, to be honest, it's very nice and we enjoy it, to be honest. and the kids are enjoying it. it's such a lovely feeling that we can help somebody and just bring a smile to their face. although the tables might look different for many this year, the prayers of gratitude through ramadan and into eid remain the same. coletta smith, bbc news, in leeds. let's return to our top story — more attempts are expected to be made today to rescue ukrainian civilians who've been trapped in an industrical complex in the beseiged city of mariupol for weeks. they're expected to arrive in the nearby city of zaporizhzhia today, and the un refugee agency has confirmed that more than 5.5 million people have now fled ukraine. let's speak to joe inwood, who is in lviv.

what is the latest you are hearing on the evacuation from mariupol? 10c! on the evacuation from mariupol? 100 --eole, on the evacuation from mariupol? 10131 people, as on the evacuation from mariupol? 1122 people, as we on the evacuation from mariupol? 122 people, as we have been reported, who were brought out yesterday, in a number of different processes. the first news we got was that they were being taken to a town on the russian border. that caused some concern at first, because we were told we were going to a separatist processing station, and we thought maybe that would be seen as a breach of the agreement that they could go back to ukraine, but in his address last night, president zelinsky has said that those people, the ones who want to, are being allowed to go to zaporizhzhia, neutrino control territory, one of the negotiating position is that you trim inside. they have not arrived yet as we understand, that we should say a lot of this is happening in secret, they are not giving running updates on the process, but i think once we see those people arrive in zaporizhzhia,

that will give some confidence to the ukrainian authorities and four people still stuck inside the steel plant that it is safe for them to come out. plant that it is safe for them to come out-— plant that it is safe for them to come out. �* ., ., , , _ come out. and what does this say about the diplomacy _ come out. and what does this say about the diplomacy going - come out. and what does this say about the diplomacy going on - about the diplomacy going on behind the scenes? this is a real shift in position, isn't it?— position, isn't it? absolutely, i think the position, isn't it? absolutely, i thinkthe first— position, isn't it? absolutely, i think the first thing _ position, isn't it? absolutely, i think the first thing it - position, isn't it? absolutely, i think the first thing it says - position, isn't it? absolutely, i think the first thing it says is i think the first thing it says is that diplomacy is an option. we have seen before this a number of attempts at humanitarian corridors, time and again we have said they are happening, and time again that they have failed. this is the first one where there has been some movement, and i think it is interesting, it is worth pointing out this is the first one that has had the involvement of the united nations and the red cross really fully involved with it. i think that tells us that, if we are going to have any negotiation here, we are going to need particularly united nations involved would be my guest. i think it is worth pointing out, though, that what we are talking about here is a very small number of people, a limited humanitarian situation. we are a long way away from talking about

wider peace talks there come out any common ground, i think the reason we have had some success here is because both sides could see that having the civilians out of this area is to their advantage. find having the civilians out of this area is to their advantage. and as ou sa , area is to their advantage. and as you say. it _ area is to their advantage. and as you say. it is _ area is to their advantage. and as you say. it isjust _ area is to their advantage. and as you say, it isjust a _ area is to their advantage. and as you say, it isjust a small - area is to their advantage. and as you say, it isjust a small part - area is to their advantage. and as you say, it isjust a small part of. you say, it is just a small part of the picture, and concerns are growing, actually, further afield to moldova and the intelligence sources saying the prospect of an invasion of there because it would make an attack on a debtor in southern ukraine easierfor attack on a debtor in southern ukraine easier for russia. attack on a debtor in southern ukraine easierfor russia. —— an attack on 0desa. ukraine easier for russia. -- an attack on 0desa.— ukraine easier for russia. -- an attack on 0desa. yes, this was in the times — attack on 0desa. yes, this was in the times newspaper _ attack on 0desa. yes, this was in the times newspaper this - attack on 0desa. yes, this was in l the times newspaper this morning, the times newspaper this morning, the russians might be looking at launching an attack on moldova itself, a real widening of the conflict, that would be extraordinary. the talk had been around an area, a sliver of land on the eastern border of moldova, between moldova and ukraine. it has been declared independent since the 19905, been declared independent since the 1990s, and you have about 1500 russian troops there. there had been

some talk, people wondering why they were not getting involved in the war, but some talk of them coming in to the western border of ukraine and pushing towards the crucial port city of 0desa, so allowing a pincer movement on 0desa, but that has not happened. now this report, which really i find extraordinary, is the idea that they might be invading moldova. i don't know, we do not have anything to suggest that is the case other than the reporting of the times, as far as i'm aware, but that would be an extraordinary elevation, it would make it truly an international war.- it would make it truly an international war. , ., ., , international war. joe, thanks very much. research suggests the impact of repetitive concussions in sport, especially in women, will have dire consequences for some people in later life. the government is now taking steps to standardise concussion policy for both sexes and for all sports and ages. in the uk, new rules building on guidelines already in place in scotland are expected to be announced later this year that will dictate how long players must stay away from participating after a concussion. and a new scanning technology

is being trialled. 0ur health editor hugh pym reports. it's a game we love, but what are the risks? you've got to stay on the side this time, let's go. thursday night training for actonians women's team. there are concerns about concussion and long—term injury. from repetitive heading and collisions. people can see the serious risks that are coming over time. early research shows women can be more vulnerable than men. it only takes two people to go up for a headerfor a ball, you get each other�*s heads instead of the ball, you're fully focused on winning that. it's time that now something serious happens about it, and there is more awareness, and it is good that it is finally arising, especially ahead of the euros this summer. just put your head back slightly towards me, a bit more. jess is trying out a new brain scanning device, one of several being developed around the world. click the mouse when you

hear the high pitch. the idea is that sports clubs could scan all players at the start of the season, using these images for comparison if an injury occurs. looking at how the brain has been affected and when it is safe to start playing again. you can stop now, relax, open your eyes, have a little rest. there is growing concern in rugby as well. just last week, england world cup winner steve thompson revealed he no longer remembers the victory because of his early onset dementia, caused, he says, by head injuries in his playing career. my five—year—old, she came and sat on my knee, she sort of looked at me, she gave me a kiss and then she kissed me on the head and i said, "what's that for, darling?" she went, "0h, you've got a poorly head so i'm going to kiss it better." his world cup colleague ben kay along with other former players has regular scans in research funded by alzheimer's society to chart his brain health. the team downstairs are going to look at this.

this is an absolutely normal scan, there is no sort of health problems. now there is a push to come up with standard rules for handling concussion in all contact sports for men, women, and children. the speed, the strength of these players is increasing all the time. and that can only lead to more injury, unless we know how to deal with it. the teachers, the coaches, the referees at the junior levels — everybody has to understand it, going down to the parents and the doctors, the gps. so how did jess get on with her trial run with the scanning device? so your scan with these data is going to look like that, like the one at the front, the baseline. nice and normal. nice. you've got a brain! hopefully! it's early days for the technology. more studies are needed to assess if it might help. new uk—wide concussion rules are due to be drawn up later this year, building on what is in place in scotland. the aim is letting people play their favourite sport while keeping them safe.

hugh pym, bbc news. free—range eggs will be back on supermarket shelves as measures which were introduced to curb bird flu cases are being dropped from today. farmers and egg producers have been forced to keep chickens inside since november, because of the worst outbreak of avian flu the uk has ever seen. sarah rogers is at a farm in denbighshire for us. as you said, that sort of hen lockdown has finished, but bio—security is still paramount because it info has not gone away, so i have to wear this suit today, i have to go through the footstep comedy disinfectant, and you have got to keep distance. —— go through the foot dip, the disinfectant. there are 32,000 hens in here, but they do not want to come out yet. these hens have been inside since

november. — these hens have been inside since november, so it is a bit of a shock for them _ november, so it is a bit of a shock for them that the doors are open, so -ive for them that the doors are open, so give them _ for them that the doors are open, so give them ten days, they will be out. ~ , ., . ., give them ten days, they will be out. ~ , ., _, ., out. when they do come out, where will they go? _ out. when they do come out, where will they go? the — out. when they do come out, where will they go? the sense _ out. when they do come out, where will they go? the sense of - out. when they do come out, where will they go? the sense of got - out. when they do come out, where will they go? the sense of got 40 i will they go? the sense of got 40 acres to rome, _ will they go? the sense of got 40 acres to rome, they _ will they go? the sense of got 40 acres to rome, they have - will they go? the sense of got 40 acres to rome, they have got - will they go? the sense of got 40 i acres to rome, they have got trees, hedges. _ acres to rome, they have got trees, hedges. and — acres to rome, they have got trees, hedges, and they have got all that, after laying an egg in the morning, they can _ after laying an egg in the morning, they can go — after laying an egg in the morning, they can go out and have the rest of they can go out and have the rest of the day— they can go out and have the rest of the day off — they can go out and have the rest of the day off. so they can go out and have the rest of the day off-— the day off. so when actually see free range _ the day off. so when actually see free range eggs _ the day off. so when actually see free range eggs back— the day off. so when actually see free range eggs back on - the day off. so when actually see free range eggs back on the - the day off. so when actually see - free range eggs back on the shelves? it'll probably take a week, so from then producing today to being picked up then producing today to being picked up and _ then producing today to being picked up and packed and sticking to be supermarkets, between five and seven days _ supermarkets, between five and seven days a _ supermarkets, between five and seven da s. . ., supermarkets, between five and seven da s. �* ., ., supermarkets, between five and seven da 5. r ., ., ., , supermarkets, between five and seven da s. . ., ., ., supermarkets, between five and seven das. ., ., ., days. a lot of farmers are saying with the cost _ days. a lot of farmers are saying with the cost of _ days. a lot of farmers are saying with the cost of feed _ days. a lot of farmers are saying with the cost of feed going - days. a lot of farmers are saying with the cost of feed going up, l days. a lot of farmers are saying i with the cost of feed going up, that this flock might be their last. how is it impacting you, what is your situation?— situation? the ukraine crisis is costin: situation? the ukraine crisis is costing us _ situation? the ukraine crisis is costing us over _ situation? the ukraine crisis is costing us over £400 - situation? the ukraine crisis is costing us over £400 a - situation? the ukraine crisis is costing us over £400 a day - situation? the ukraine crisis is| costing us over £400 a dayjust situation? the ukraine crisis is - costing us over £400 a dayjust on feed alone, — costing us over £400 a dayjust on feed alone, plus other consumables such as _ feed alone, plus other consumables such as energy and labour, so it is a huge _ such as energy and labour, so it is a huge cost — such as energy and labour, so it is a huge cost that we are having to

absorb _ a huge cost that we are having to absorb at — a huge cost that we are having to absorb at the moment, and unfortunately that will have to be passed _ unfortunately that will have to be passed on to the customers, otherwise we will not be able to carry— otherwise we will not be able to carry on — otherwise we will not be able to car on. . , . otherwise we will not be able to car on. ., , ., ., ., carry on. that is a huge amount, isn't it, carry on. that is a huge amount, isn't it. as _ carry on. that is a huge amount, isn't it, as well, _ carry on. that is a huge amount, isn't it, as well, extra _ carry on. that is a huge amount, isn't it, as well, extra per- carry on. that is a huge amount, isn't it, as well, extra per day? l isn't it, as well, extra per day? but some positive news that today the chickens are out, and free range eggs will be back available. we can see a couple in the distance, not quite the mass exodus, but however there are predictions that chicken might become as costly, if not more, as beef, the office for national statistics have said that the price has gone up around 19% in the past couple of years. so a bit of turbulence for the industry, but we will take that positive for today, and hopefully they will come out sooner rather than later.- and hopefully they will come out sooner rather than later. yeah, it was nice watching _ sooner rather than later. yeah, it was nice watching those - sooner rather than later. yeah, it was nice watching those three i sooner rather than later. yeah, it i was nice watching those three come out, i thought there might be a steady stream, but the rest clearly feeling a little bit nervous. let's take a look, there is another one, they are slowly realising it is ok to leave the barn where they have been trapped for a while. kind of

reminiscent of all of us, we all changed our habits and feelings and expectations in a lockdown. anyway, they are free to go, and no doubt more of them will come out through the day. the first international tourists have arrived in new zealand after coronavirus restrictions were eased. its borders were closed for more than two years, but now people from more than 60 countries — including the uk — are able to visit if they are vaccinated and test negative. joining me now is donna howells, who lives in new zealand, but is originally from merthyr tydfil. thank you very much forjoining us. thank you very much forjoining us. thank you very much forjoining us. thank you for having me. its, thank you very much forjoining us. thank you for having me. a pleasure. what all the — thank you for having me. a pleasure. what all the sudden _ thank you for having me. a pleasure. what all the sudden liberation - what all the sudden liberation mean for you and yourfamily? mr; what all the sudden liberation mean for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting _ for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting to _ for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting to go _ for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting to go to _ for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting to go to la - for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting to go to la for- for you and your family? my daughter has been waiting to go to la for two l has been waiting to go to la for two years, she was due to fly out the week that lockdown began, so she is actually leaving on sunday, and gets to go to la and make music there, so it is a really great experience for

the boarders to be open for our family. a, the boarders to be open for our famil . �* w' the boarders to be open for our famil . �* x' ., the boarders to be open for our famil. . ., ., the boarders to be open for our famil.�* ., ., family. a quick word about your daughter. _ family. a quick word about your daughter. she _ family. a quick word about your daughter, she has _ family. a quick word about your daughter, she has started - family. a quick word about your| daughter, she has started doing pretty well, hasn't she? did she win the local x factor or something like that? ,, ., , ., ., the local x factor or something like that? ,, ., ., , ., ., that? she was on a programme called 60 seconds. — that? she was on a programme called 60 seconds, the _ that? she was on a programme called 60 seconds, the final— that? she was on a programme called 60 seconds, the final is _ that? she was on a programme called 60 seconds, the final is on _ that? she was on a programme called 60 seconds, the final is on friday, - 60 seconds, the final is on friday, we will have to see it how she gets on, but she got to the final. goad on, but she got to the final. good luck to her- _ on, but she got to the final. good luck to her. what _ on, but she got to the final. good luck to her. what hasn't - on, but she got to the final. good luck to her. what hasn't been - luck to her. what hasn't been like? that is a clear example, somebody looking out to the at that key stage of life, getting to a certain point and then suddenly the shutters came down, and really new zealand has been amongst the places with the longest and tightest restrictions. what has it been like living with that? 1 what has it been like living with that? 4' what has it been like living with that? ~ , ., that? i think being involved in the arts, it has _ that? i think being involved in the arts, it has been _ that? i think being involved in the arts, it has been really _ that? i think being involved in the arts, it has been really difficult i arts, it has been really difficult for many friends that we have working in the arts. however, we are also really aware that we haven't

suffered like other countries have, like you have in the uk. we have a close family member who has been seriously impacted by covid, and thatis seriously impacted by covid, and that is back in wales, and we haven't really had to deal with that in new zealand. it is only the last few months with 0micron that people have actually caught it. so we are really lucky, and we are very aware of that, although we have had restrictions, we have been very fortunate. restrictions, we have been very fortunate-— restrictions, we have been very fortunate. ., ., ., . ., , fortunate. are you aware of changes in outlook amongst _ fortunate. are you aware of changes in outlook amongst those _ fortunate. are you aware of changes in outlook amongst those you - fortunate. are you aware of changes | in outlook amongst those you know? maybe yourself, in terms of, you know, there have been so many restrictions, freedoms have not been there, and perhaps habits will change, expectations, desires will change, expectations, desires will change in terms of what we can do going forward? 1 do change in terms of what we can do going forward?— change in terms of what we can do going forward? i do think that, you know, going forward? i do think that, you know. everybody — going forward? i do think that, you know, everybody reacts _ going forward? i do think that, you | know, everybody reacts differently, and for myself, i enjoyed having

extra time with my family, i felt thatis extra time with my family, i felt that is something i got that was a positive out of it. we also had a yearfor positive out of it. we also had a year for the world was struggling with covid, and we had, apart from not being able to leave the country, we pretty much got on as usual, and we pretty much got on as usual, and we were really lucky. it is just in recent months that things have been harder, but we still have not experienced the deaths that other countries have, so that has been difficult, ithink countries have, so that has been difficult, i think we try to be circumspect about that and just have that gratitude. that circumspect about that and 'ust have that gratitude.— that gratitude. that is great, thank ou so that gratitude. that is great, thank you so much- _ that gratitude. that is great, thank you so much. donna _ that gratitude. that is great, thank you so much. donna howells, - that gratitude. that is great, thank| you so much. donna howells, thank you. you so much. donna howells, thank ou. ., ~' you so much. donna howells, thank ou. ., ~ , ., the duchess of sussex's animated show about a young girl has been dropped by netflix. the streaming service has cancelled development of pearl as a way of cutting costs. the show is one of several projects being dropped. three new photographs of princess charlotte have been released to mark her seventh birthday. the pictures were taken in norfolk this weekend by the duchess of cambridge. they show charlotte —

who is the second eldest of william and catherine's three children — sitting among bluebells and, in one photo, hugging her pet cocker spaniel 0rla. and a quick reminder — we'll be taking your questions on menopause for your questions answered live tomorrow at 11.30, where we'll have expert guests to answer the questions you send in, whether that's to understand what menopause is or the symptoms to look out for. you can get in touch on twitter using the hashtag bbc your questions, or you can email us. yourquestions@bbc.co.uk i will be here tomorrow putting those questions to the experts. we spoke about it last week, and there was clearly a big appetite to talk about it some more. so do get in touch and i will ask us questions to the experts. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. over the next few days, for many of us, we are looking at quite a bit of cloud at times,

some showers, but equally there'll be some sunny spells as well. today's no exception. we've got a weak weather front crossing scotland, northern ireland and northern england, producing some showery outbreaks of rain at times, especially southern scotland and northeast england as we go through the afternoon. but we will see some holes in that cloud develop and, a little bit of sunshine coming through with temperatures 7—17 degrees. through this evening and overnight, our weather front continues south, taking its patchy rain with it. there will be a lot of cloud around. some breaks across northeast scotland here, temperatures could fall away to about one or two degrees. but for most, we're going to be frosty tonight. ——frost—free. but it leads us into tomorrow and another cloudy start, with the showers continuing to push steadily southwards, brighter breaks coming in across some western areas could also spark off some heavy showers through the day, and a new weather front will bring some rain in across western scotland and northern ireland later. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines withjoanne gosling. dozens of people trapped in a besieged steelworks in the city

of mariupol have been allowed to leave.