this is bbc news, welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world. the headlines. nato has condemned russia for its dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric, a day after president putin said moscow would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in belarus. a state of emergency in mississippi after a powerful tornado kills at least 26 people. we after a powerful tornado kills at least 26 people.— after a powerful tornado kills at least 26 people. we go from one vehicle to the _ least 26 people. we go from one vehicle to the next _ least 26 people. we go from one vehicle to the next vehicle - least 26 people. we go from one vehicle to the next vehicle of- least 26 people. we go from one vehicle to the next vehicle of a l vehicle to the next vehicle of a building to building, we can hear screams and we could hear cries for help.

nato has condemned russia for what it called its "dangerous and irresponsible" rhetoric — a day after president putin said moscow would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in belarus. ukraine said the move would make belarus a nuclear hostage, destabilise it and strip it of its sovereignty. kyiv is also calling on the united nations for an urgent meeting of the security council. the secretary of the ukrainian national defence council said on twitter that the move was a step towards the �*internal destabilisation�* of belarus. and he said the kremlin had taken the country as a nuclear hostage. ukraine says the deployment violates nonproliferation commitments, something mr putin has denied. translation: we have already transferred - to belarus our well—known, very effective complex iskander. it can be a delivery vehicle as well. on april 3, we will start training the crews. onjuly 1, we will finish

the construction of the special repository to store the tactical nuclear weapon in belarus. our correspondent in kyiv hugo bachega elaborates more. spokesperson for nato saying that this announcement by president putin that russia would be sending nuclear weapons to belarus as dangerous and irresponsible and that nature was closely monitoring the situation. and i think, you know, this is the latest reaction to this announcement and this could be part of the russian strategy here. president putin, a number of senior russian officials have frequently talked about nuclear weapons, have even raised the possibility of of nuclear weapons being used here in ukraine. and they know that every time the nuclear issue comes up, it's likely to spark a lot of reaction, even concerns from all players involved in the conflict. so this is exactly what we're

seeing here today. nato's reaction to the announcement, some reaction from washington and also some reaction here from kyiv. a top adviser to president zelensky said president putin was too predictable and that all the president can do is, in his words, scare with tactics. so, in other words, saying that there was no surprise in this announcement. russia and belarus have been talking for quite some time about the possibility of of nuclear weapons being sent to belarus and again, suggesting that this is part of the russian strategy. we had some reaction from washington and perhaps it was an attempt to play down concerns that russia could be preparing to use nuclear weapons here in the country. a top us official said there was no indication that russia was preparing to do so and there was no reason for the us to change its posture when it comes to nuclear weapons. so apparently it seems that there was an effort there by washington to play down concerns that russia

could be preparing to use nuclear weapons here. and some experts saying that this could be an attempt by moscow to try to exploit western fears of a possible nuclear escalation here in this conflict. and hugo, we're now hearing from ukraine calling on the un for an urgent meeting of the security council. have we heard anything about that? is that likely to happen? yeah. i think this is a statement that was issued in the last hour or so by the ukrainian foreign ministry. and i think there's no surprise here that the ukrainians are saying that this is irresponsible, perhaps. again, words that have been voiced by a nato spokesperson that this is a dangerous rhetoric. and i think we heard from a top security official here in kyiv saying that moscow has taken belarus as a nuclear hostage. and i think perhaps it shows that the military cooperation between belarus

and russia is growing. obviously, belarus has been a key ally of the russian president in this war. it was used by russian forces in the early days of the invasion. so i think this is a reaction that is coming from from kyiv asking for the united nations security council to react following this announcement. i'm joined now by political expert olga dryndova, who's the editor in chief of "belarus—analysen" at the university of bremen. first of all, tell us what you think the reaction will be to belarus to this move and what it means for the people there in the country?- people there in the country? that's a aood people there in the country? that's a good question — people there in the country? that's a good question since _ people there in the country? that's a good question since we _ people there in the country? that's a good question since we don't - people there in the country? triat�*s a good question since we don't have that much information on the opinion polls in belarus as they are quite

dangerous for people to do. the information that we have nevertheless tells us that the majority, the absolute majority of belarusian people want belarus to stay neutral. the absolute majority actually does not want any russian nuclear weapons and also don't want the belarusian army to take part in this war against ukraine. this is only one side, the other side is what these people who do not want it cannot you do a better row since we are dealing with a huge wave of oppression which is lasting for over two years already and most of the people who have been active in belarus have been alreadyjailed or had to leave the country. so the recent wave of oppression might be connected also to the recent attempt of a drone attack on russian

military is surveillance aircraft organised by the so—called belarusian activists who are actually gets a belarusian state. so people in belarus are scared of the oppression and i doubt they will have any rights on the streets, unfortunately. we have any rights on the streets, unfortunately.— have any rights on the streets, unfortunatel . ~ . ., ., unfortunately. we are hearing that --eole unfortunately. we are hearing that people claiming — unfortunately. we are hearing that people claiming that _ unfortunately. we are hearing that people claiming that belarus - unfortunately. we are hearing that people claiming that belarus is - people claiming that belarus is losing its sovereignty. what's response to that?— response to that? that's unfortunately _ response to that? that's unfortunately also - response to that? that's unfortunately also not i response to that? that's. unfortunately also not the response to that? that's - unfortunately also not the first time that we are hearing that and also the fact that now he has agreed to station nuclear technical on belarus is unfortunately the continuation of ascendancy. i would say that his regime has become dramatically dependent on the russian leadership after 2020, after the weston reaction that came after

that and also after belarus becoming. the dependence of the belarusian leadership issues which means that it endangers a solitary of the country so we can say that legally, belarus is not occupied by russia but politically we have seen dependence is huge and we don't the dependence is huge and we don't even know whether they will have control over the nuclear weapons once they are stationed in belarusian territory. it is very dangerous for the country. coastguards in tunisia say 29 people aere now known to have drowned when the two vessels were heading to italy — as part of a surge in crossings that's seen several other boats sink, and dozens more reach the italian island of lampedusa. four other boats have gone down in the region in the last three days amid an unprecedented series

of departures from north africa. president biden has declared a major emergency in the state of mississippi, where a tornado has left hundreds homeless. this is the moment on friday when the wind barrelled through a school in the area, captured by cctv cameras inside. and these are the latest drone pictures after the tornado struck — carving a path of destruction 170 miles long. at least 25 people were killed in mississippi and one person in alabama. dozens have been injured. our north america correspondent sophie long reports from mississippi.

this is rolling fork, a small, close community in mississippi. there is little left. they've lost loved ones, their homes, everything. we get storms like bad rain or, you know, probably high winds or something. but we never experience nothing like this where it can wipe out a whole town. you know, schools, children, you know, parents, loved ones. it wiped out everything. these girls said they came back to look for their belongings. they didn't find much. this is what remains of people's homes here in rolling fork. you can see washing machines, signs of a life that took place here before the tornado struck in the middle of the night. many people were sleeping. you can imagine just how terrifying that must have been. it meant many didn't hear the alerts. oh, man.

dearjesus, please help them. ran in the bathroom, closed the door and jumped in the tub. _ francisco said the only warning he had was the noise of the wind, a sound that will haunt him forever. it was terrifying. and it was like something that i i never want to go through again. i never want to experience that again in my life, - but i made it through it. but it was scary. he survived by sheltering in his bathroom, the only bit of the house that's still partially standing. there is some long term resentment here. mississippi is the poorest state in america, and some feel forgotten by leaders in the nation's capital. excuse my language. damn, you forgot about us? just because we already last in everything? you forgot about us. that's not right. that is very heart wrenching. other than we lost everything and we feel that we don't have support from the superior people also. president biden described

what happened here as heartbreaking and said he and the first lady are praying for those who had lost loved ones. but people here are asking for more than prayers and emergency relief. they want long term support. sophie long, bbc news, rolling fork, mississippi. us vice president kamala harris has arrived in ghana as part of a three nation tour of africa. the visit is part of a diplomatic push by the biden administration to deepen ties with the continent amid competition from china and russia. after visiting ghana, she will be going to tanzania and zambia. on her agenda are trade, security and the promotion of democracy. the first protest has taken place in hong kong since china imposed sweeping restrictions on the rights and freedoms of people living in the territory. the small rally was closely monitored by the police.

demonstrators had to wear numbered tags and were banned from wearing masks. they took to the streets to campaign against a land reclamation project that will be used to build rubbish collection facilities. the sale of laughing gas to the public is to be banned as part of a wider government crackdown on anti—social behaviour to be announced tomorrow. the gas — nitrous oxide — has legitimate uses in medicine and dentistry as an anaesthetic, but when taken as a psychoactive drug the government says it's use is contributing to anti—social behaviour. here's our political correspondent helen catt. it is the sort of behaviour that cost thousands to clean et al. confirmed that it also has nitrous oxide or laughing gas in its

sights. the tiny silver canisters which carry it, often left scattered across public spaces. if which carry it, often left scattered across public spaces.— across public spaces. if you walk throu . h across public spaces. if you walk through any _ across public spaces. if you walk through any urban _ across public spaces. if you walk through any urban part, - across public spaces. if you walk through any urban part, you - across public spaces. if you walk through any urban part, you will| across public spaces. if you walk - through any urban part, you will see these little silver canisters which is the evidence of people regarding public spaces as areas of drug—taking. people should feel that they spaces are being looked after in a way that it means that they are safe for children.— safe for children. ministers have not et safe for children. ministers have not yet made — safe for children. ministers have not yet made clear _ safe for children. ministers have not yet made clear what - safe for children. ministers have not yet made clear what the - safe for children. ministers have l not yet made clear what the detail of the ban would be. it is already illegal to supply the gas for its psychoactive effect. labour also says it would back a crackdown. i think we want to see banned well because it does cause a huge amount of n, disruption and of anti—social behaviour. of n, disruption and of anti-social behaviour. ., ,., of n, disruption and of anti-social behaviour. ., , of n, disruption and of anti-social behaviour-— behaviour. labour is accusing ministers _ behaviour. labour is accusing ministers of _ behaviour. labour is accusing ministers of stealing - behaviour. labour is accusing ministers of stealing its - behaviour. labour is accusing j ministers of stealing its ideas behaviour. labour is accusing - ministers of stealing its ideas for another part of its anti—social

behaviour plan. introduction of something the government is calling immediatejustice. it something the government is calling immediate justice. it was something the government is calling immediatejustice. it was he people who commit vandalism, for example, have to start repairing the damage within 48 hours of being told to do so. if the damage is ready being fixed, they will be given other tasks such as pedicab litter and they have to wear hi viz. it will begin in ten areas of england and wales. anti—social behaviour are shown up in government and opposition polling is a concern for voters and one which they feel is being ignored. with elections on the way, it's an issue that may now become a lot more visible. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's betty. hello. good afternoon — euro 2024 qualifiers continue today northern ireland are in action later against finland. before that though, england are back at wembley to host ukraine, in their second qualifing game

following their win over italy on thursday. our sports correspondent nesta mcgregor is there for us. a few fitness concerns that england, including phil foden being out. yes. including phil foden being out. yes, we should sketch _ including phil foden being out. yes, we should sketch the _ including phil foden being out. yes we should sketch the official team news and about 45 minutes. in the last hour, i have had at manchester city midfielder phil foden is out of the squad. he left this morning, he has appendicitis. it means between luke shaw's redcar italy in the week and the chelsea defender rhys james having to leave the squad, gareth southgate only has 20 fit players to choose from. i'm concerned that we're hearing that leicester city midfielderjames madison could be one of those players that benefits from the lack of players to choose from the lack of players to choose from and he could start his first game for his country. madison went to the world cup but was injured and play single minute. we can guarantee

that hurricane will the squad. in mid week, he took his international tally to 54, surpassing wayne rainey and he will be presented with a special golden boot ahead of today's game. special golden boot ahead of today's came. ~ . special golden boot ahead of today's ame, ~ ., . ., special golden boot ahead of today's amer ., , . special golden boot ahead of today's tame. ~ ., , . ., special golden boot ahead of today's game. what can expect from ukraine because it is — game. what can expect from ukraine because it is their _ game. what can expect from ukraine because it is their first _ game. what can expect from ukraine because it is their first match - game. what can expect from ukraine because it is their first match of - because it is their first match of the qualifying campaign? yes. because it is their first match of the qualifying campaign? yes, a lead will be favourites. _ the qualifying campaign? yes, a lead will be favourites. england _ the qualifying campaign? yes, a lead will be favourites. england is - the qualifying campaign? yes, a lead will be favourites. england is rated i will be favourites. england is rated fifth in the world, ukraine is 26. you want to add that ukraine will be playing with a sense of national pride, given the situation in the country and the invasion by russia. the former players at the whole country will be rushing and exposing events like this, i hope and sense of national pride. that might be the incentive that the ukrainian players need to give it a go and testing them. especially gareth southgate does play without starting 11 as

well. . , ' manchester city have moved above chelsea in the wsl after a 2—0 win this afternoon. city look the lead through this brilliant effort from filippa angeldahl. they then added a second on the half hour mark through lauren hemp and that's how it stayed. city are now level on points with united at the top, but are second on goal difference. currently, france are winning. it's been a bad day for the men in the miami open. he was ranked 13 players

below evans. it means that evans has now lost his first match at his last four tournaments. british number one cameron norrie was later beaten. britain's top player and world number play 12. women's ipl has just got going between the delhi capitals. which includes englands alice capsey and nat sciver—brunts mumbai indians — you can keep up to date with that on the bbc sport website. and that's all the sport for now.

richard hughes, the chairman of the cpr told bbc that the richard hughes, the chairman of the opr told bbc that the living standards won't recover to pre—pandemic levels for another five or six years. he said brexit meant the country's economic output was about 4% lower than it would have been had the uk remained in the eu. but, speaking on the same programme, the cabinet minister michael gross of the country had become poorer because of the pandemic and the war in ukraine. joining me now, told me through this. we seem to be getting differing opinions here. did mr gove take any response that is that brexit had a part play at all? he: judged that in a way but he did acknowledge whether the government had rows play in the wider economic situation. he said one can away do better but he did insist that the government was doing everything it could to tackle the cost of living crisis including introducing a windfall tax on oil and gas firms

which the government is using to help pay for its clean to lower household energy bills. michael gove because my overall view on this was 20 rocks, the pandemic followed by 2o rocks, the pandemic followed by the war in ukraine which pushed up the war in ukraine which pushed up the cost of food. if the war in ukraine which pushed up the cost of food.— the cost of food. if we hadn't had the cost of food. if we hadn't had the war, the cost of food. if we hadn't had the war. the _ the cost of food. if we hadn't had the war, the impact _ the cost of food. if we hadn't had the war, the impact that - the cost of food. if we hadn't had the war, the impact that it - the cost of food. if we hadn't had the war, the impact that it had i the cost of food. if we hadn't had | the war, the impact that it had on fossil_ the war, the impact that it had on fossil fuel— the war, the impact that it had on fossil fuel prices and on other supplies— fossil fuel prices and on other supplies as well, including food, if we hadn't — supplies as well, including food, if we hadn't had the covid pandemic, then we _ we hadn't had the covid pandemic, then we would have been in a position— then we would have been in a position where our growth rate would be significantly higher. just position where our growth rate would be significantly higher.— be significantly higher. just took me through _ be significantly higher. just took me through the _ be significantly higher. just took me through the wider _ be significantly higher. just took me through the wider context i be significantly higher. just took me through the wider context of these comments?— me through the wider context of these comments? earlier, richard hu~hes these comments? earlier, richard hughes who _ these comments? earlier, richard hughes who is _ these comments? earlier, richard hughes who is the _ these comments? earlier, richard hughes who is the chairman - these comments? earlier, richard hughes who is the chairman for i these comments? earlier, richardl hughes who is the chairman for the office of budget response ability described how the uk was in the middle of the biggest squeeze on living standards on record. he is at the living standards were not expected to recover to pre—pandemic levels for another five to six years. the challenge for the uk is we are the net importer of food and

energy and as we are talking about bare, those prices are soaring so the outcome of that, it leaves us poorer and worse off as a country. he was also asked how much stronger the economy would have been if we had remained in the eu, he said that in the long run, brexit reduces are in the long run, brexit reduces are in the long run, brexit reduces are in the net output. safi na of safina of one of the last black veterans of the second world war has been moved to a bigger venue. he died alone at his west london flat last year. 18 i was due to take place on wednesday in a chapel that fits 140 people but a successful appeal for mourners. fits 140 people but a successful appealfor mourners. flight fits 140 people but a successful appeal for mourners. flight sergeant peter brown is now set to get the

sendoff he desires. he had travelled thousands of miles from jamaica to join the raf in 1943, trying as the wireless operator. he served as a crew member on lancaster bombers, one of 450 young black men from the caribbean, africa and parts of the uk, to fly with the raf during the second world war. described as among the brightest and the best. last december, he died alone in his flat in west london. he had no known relatives. the campaign was launched to find people who knew him to attend his funeral. westminster council has tweeted, following the incredible response in the public, the funeral flight sergeant peter brown will be moved to ensure those who wish to pay their respects are able to do so. his life and military career were due to remembered in a chapel that could hold 140 people this wednesday but is date and a bit bigger venue are being arranged. his neighbours remember him fondly. each

and eve neighbours remember him fondly. em and every person knows him. so he was a good guy. he and every person knows him. so he was a good guy-— was a good guy. he flee lancaster bombers as _ was a good guy. he flee lancaster bombers as a _ was a good guy. he flee lancaster bombers as a radio _ was a good guy. he flee lancaster bombers as a radio operator- was a good guy. he flee lancasterj bombers as a radio operator which must _ bombers as a radio operator which must have — bombers as a radio operator which must have taken, you hear about the casualty— must have taken, you hear about the casualty rate from the raf, crows, but took _ casualty rate from the raf, crows, but took some courage, i couldn't have _ but took some courage, i couldn't have done — but took some courage, i couldn't have done it myself. westminster council said its working closely with the ministry of defence to ensure that mr brown is given a fitting surface. simonjones, bbc news. stay at home, save lives, it's news. stay at home, save lives, its three years ago since refers how that message and we enter the first covid lockdown. most of us have now resumed our normal lives but there are still many living with the

consequences. as jamie colson reports. from this evening, i must give the british people are very simple instruction. you must stay at home. ., , , , , , , home. people stripping the shelves of basic foods _ home. people stripping the shelves of basic foods because. _ home. people stripping the shelves of basic foods because. we - home. people stripping the shelves of basic foods because. we see - home. people stripping the shelves of basic foods because. we see a i home. people stripping the shelves| of basic foods because. we see a lot of basic foods because. we see a lot of death, a — of basic foods because. we see a lot of death. a lot _ of basic foods because. we see a lot of death, a lot of _ of basic foods because. we see a lot of death, a lot of patience _ of basic foods because. we see a lot of death, a lot of patience you - of death, a lot of patience you can't _ of death, a lot of patience you can't see — of death, a lot of patience you can't see their relatives so we have to be _ can't see their relatives so we have to be their— can't see their relatives so we have to be their relatives for them. it to be their relatives for them. [it was to be their relatives for them. was an to be their relatives for them. it was an invisible enemy that fattened all our lives. a new virus that began it spread into every home, hospital and it changes how we all lived our lives. in some cases, forever. ., ., ~' lived our lives. in some cases, forever. ., , , .

24—year—old used. we first filmed kelli on a covid ward before she was discharged home. since then her recovery has been slow, despite support from a long covid clinic. she still has daily struggles, emotional and physical, from the ordeal. it is a fraction of the ways to live, the way i am living. it has made me disabled. i can only walk so far. i can't do much. i want to do it. my body won't let me. infection from the virus was indiscriminate, but it was the elderly and vulnerable who faced the greatest risks. in england alone, more than 186,000 deaths have been recorded where covid—19 is listed as one of the causes. it was the development of vaccines and effective treatments that helped turn the tide.

good morning. professor dinesh saralaya is a respiratory consultant at bradford teaching hospitals, and part of the team that bore the brunt of successive covid ways. he led a research team that played a vital roll in delivering three vaccines and seven treatment trials. we must be proud of our work and we are in a better position now thanks to all the research that went on. we saved lives every day. if we didn't have treatments or vaccines, we would see people still dying from covid—19. now the number is small. many people talk about the pandemic as if it is in the past. what is your view? covid is not in the past. it is still amongst us. we are not completely out of it. we're still seeing patients with covid—19. the illness is much more minor than we first saw three ago. the virus is circulating, but a highly vaccinated population at a new population,

we aren't seeing the harmful effects that we saw in 2020. in the three years since the first lockdown, the virus has exacted a terrible toll in terms of the lives it is taken and those it is damaged. and while the threat of covid has been weakened, the virus has not yet gone away. jamie coulson, bbc news. now on bbc news the weather. things are turning colder through the few days. further south, it has been a different story.— the few days. further south, it has been a different story. some spells of sunshine — been a different story. some spells of sunshine developing _ been a different story. some spells of sunshine developing but - been a different story. some spells of sunshine developing but still- of sunshine developing but still some rain to clear away from south—east england through this afternoon and behind it, negative cloud. many will see some bright or sunny spells. still those wintry showers in north—east england and scotland. certainly a colderfeeling date compared to yesterday,

particularly for north sea coasts with a biting north—easterly wind. many dry tonight as many of their wintry showers not to fade. we could see some cloud across parts of wales and south—west england and maybe one or two light showers. temperatures at or above freezing but for many, temptingly below freezing. as a cold, frosty but mainly dry start the new week things turn wet and windy but also very mild free wednesday and thursday. high pressure as a dominant features without the new week. our next atlantic system waiting, the match of monday it's mainly dry and any wintry showers for the coast starting to fade. also some cow developing across parts of wales and south—west england. here pictures in double figures, high is it best of 69 celsius. three monday night and

into tuesday bring a spell of rain. we could see some snow here every tuesday morning and that bane of rain exchanges eastwards. temperatures up slightly compared to monday but given the cloud and the rain, still a cool feeling day and those south—westerly winds up to strengthen further as we head into wednesday and thursday, more atlantic france pushing across. some of the week ahead, a court cold frosty start to the week and also much milder.