this is bbc news. uk confirms it is sending storm shadow cruise missiles to ukraine to help with their counteroffensive. these weapon systems gives ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against the continued russian brutality. we will bring you the latest on the ground from president zelensky about the possible counteroffensive against russian forces. the pakistan supreme court ordered the release of the former prime minister imran khan sang his arrest on tuesday was illegal. —— saying. the bank of england hiked interest rates, to their highest in nearly 15 years.

eurovision fever heats up with 16 countries taking to the stage in liverpool later for the second semifinal. hello and welcome to the programme. we start with the war in ukraine and confirmation from the british defence secretary that storm shadow cruise missiles are being sent to ukraine. the missiles have a long—range capability and are typically launched from the air. the move prompted an instant response from the kremlin saying the decision would require an adequate response from the russian military. we will hear from of the from the russian military. we will hearfrom of the un's humanitarian coordinator in ukraine but first we have ben wallace in the house of commons.

in december i informed the house i was developing options to respond to russia's continued aggression and today i can confirm the uk is sending storm shadow missiles to ukraine, storm shadow is a long—range conventional only precision strike capability and it compliments the long—range system already gifted including harpoon missiles as well as ukraine's own neptune cruise missile and longer range munitions elsewhere gifted. the donation of these weapon systems gives ukraine the best chance of defending themselves against russia's continued brutality especially the deliberate targeting of ukrainian civilian infrastructure which is against international law. the use of storm shadow will allow ukraine to push back russian forces based within ukrainian sovereign territory. we can now speak to a nato analyst and a defence expert from the university of bath. your assessment

of this particular move? goad of this particular move? good afternoon- — of this particular move? good afternoon. it _ of this particular move? good afternoon. it is _ of this particular move? good afternoon. it is an _ of this particular move? good afternoon. it is an interesting i afternoon. it is an interesting development in terms of giving the ukrainian forces approximately around 100 miles of extra stand—up capability so looking at the range of the storm shadow, and there are a few variables within the missile range, around 300, and it has taken them along to a long time to be able tojerry rig these them along to a long time to be able to jerry rig these are the ukrainian jets and we do not know what the range is, and neither do the russians, which is half the thing, but let's say it is around 150 miles at least which will give the ukrainian forces the chance to strike the 100 miles extra into russian held ukrainian territory. previously they had relied on the

himars and you could argue the toss as to whether this is actually long—range but the russians have been using the calibre which has a range of 82,000 miles, so maybe it is medium range, but it will make the russians in the days before this spring offensive, it will force them to disperse and one thing they want to disperse and one thing they want to be able to do is concentrate where they think the ukrainian offensive will come. it is dispersal and it makes them think twice and it pushes them back the way the himars did when that was introduced last year. do did when that was introduced last ear. p, did when that was introduced last ear. ~ ., , , did when that was introduced last ear. ~ ., , year. do we know the numbers of these missiles _ year. do we know the numbers of these missiles to _ year. do we know the numbers of these missiles to be _ year. do we know the numbers of these missiles to be sent - year. do we know the numbers of these missiles to be sent or- year. do we know the numbers of these missiles to be sent or are l these missiles to be sent or are they already there in situ? it sounded like from what ben wallace said they had already sent some and the deliveries were ongoing and the interesting thing is the timing. why would you say it if you could keep it a secret and then use it to

better effect? you might want to mask with the heads of the russians, thatis mask with the heads of the russians, that is a valid cause of action, or you know the russians know they have already got them, for example —— you might want to mess. already got them, for example -- you might want to mess.— might want to mess. does it change the dynamic — might want to mess. does it change the dynamic on _ might want to mess. does it change the dynamic on the _ might want to mess. does it change the dynamic on the ground? - might want to mess. does it change the dynamic on the ground? it - might want to mess. does it change the dynamic on the ground? it has l the dynamic on the ground? it has the dynamic on the ground? it has the potential— the dynamic on the ground? it has the potential to _ the dynamic on the ground? it has the potential to make _ the dynamic on the ground? it has the potential to make the - the dynamic on the ground? it has the potential to make the extra i the potential to make the extra hundred miles pushes things back and the storm shadow is designed basically to bust a bunker and this will be important where the russians have got bunkers and defence in depth and the ukrainians are looking to push through it so this has the potential to make a big difference and it is almost as far as the arms system which the ukrainians have been looking for for the last year from the americans which is about 185 miles. so it does have the potential to change things and i think the uk has a about 800 of them but it would not be giving all of

them to ukraine as you can imagine. a final thought about what is happening on the ground because the head of the wagner group posted on social media earlier that the ukrainian counteroffensive was in full swing with ukrainian forces attacking flanks near bakhmut and they are trying to uphold their positions despite an ammunition shortage, they said. is it your view that the spring offensive is still to come in its full entirety or do you think there is every likelihood that the beginnings of it have already started? we that the beginnings of it have already started?— that the beginnings of it have already started? we are in the shaina already started? we are in the shaping operation _ already started? we are in the shaping operation phase - already started? we are in the shaping operation phase and l already started? we are in the i shaping operation phase and that already started? we are in the - shaping operation phase and that is what that would be, increased activity across the board in different places, trying to distract and take russian forces away from where you are going to attack, and where you are going to attack, and where you are trying to tie forces down, so they cannot move, and then strike when the time and the place of your choice, and bakhmut,

although it is incredibly symbolic and politically significant, tactically and strategically, it is not that important. therefore it is more of a shaping operation designed to fix russia. bakhmut could end up being the centre of gravity of a counteroffensive but it would not be a full attack, i think they would try to encircle it. but i think we are in the shaping phase of the next operation. are in the shaping phase of the next oeration. ., w' are in the shaping phase of the next oeration. . a ., are in the shaping phase of the next oeration. . ., ., ~ ., operation. patrick, good to talk to ou. operation. patrick, good to talk to yon thanks _ operation. patrick, good to talk to yon thanks for— operation. patrick, good to talk to you. thanks forjoining _ operation. patrick, good to talk to you. thanks forjoining us. - operation. patrick, good to talk to you. thanks forjoining us. we - operation. patrick, good to talk to i you. thanks forjoining us. we can flesh out the final point because before the uk announcement the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky warned the country needs more arms to be delivered ahead of any spring offensive against russian forces. where the push will happen remains a tightly guarded secret but russian forces have fortified their defences along the front line which runs for 1500 kilometres from the

southern regions of kherson up to the donbas region. president zelensky said the ukrainian army still needs supplies including armoured vehicles which are only arriving in batches, he said. so, mr president, i've been here for a few weeks, and i think almost every conversation i have had has touched on the issue of this much—anticipated ukrainian counteroffensive. are you ready for this counteroffensive? translation: mentally, - we're ready, in terms of how motivated our military are, we're ready. in terms of enough personnel in our brigades, we are ready. in terms of equipment, not everything has arrived yet. that's my answer. so you are still waiting for weapons, and the military equipment that was promised to arrive? translation: yes, we are still expecting some things. -

they will reinforce our counteroffensive, and most importantly, they will protect our people. we are expecting armoured vehicles, they arrive in batches. we can advance with what we have got, and i think we can be successful. but we will lose a lot of people. i think that is unacceptable. we need to wait, we need a bit more time. let me talk about something that happened last week, because moscow accused ukraine of trying to assassinate president putin. was ukraine behind that alleged attack? translation: no, clearly we were not behind it. - they are always looking to do something that would look like justification. "you do this, and we do this in response." but it didn't work. not even for their own people at home. so, who was behind it?

translation: | think | they did it themselves. that was president zelensky speaking earlier and we will return for updates from ukraine. we will get more analysis of what is happening at the consequences of that uk move. the supreme court in pakistan has ordered the release of imran khan, the former prime minister. they have deemed his arrest on tuesday as illegal. there was tight security around the supreme court in islamabad but there was no repeat of the fighting between imran khan and's supporters and the police which happened after he was arrested. we can now get the latest

from lahore. our correspondent is following this story and it has been a dramatic intervention by the supreme court?— a dramatic intervention by the supreme court? a dramatic intervention by the sureme court? , , supreme court? yes, definitely. on tuesday when _ supreme court? yes, definitely. on tuesday when he _ supreme court? yes, definitely. on tuesday when he was _ supreme court? yes, definitely. on tuesday when he was arrested, - supreme court? yes, definitely. on tuesday when he was arrested, last night his legal team filed an application to the supreme court. saying that his arrest was illegal. and we have seen in the remarks today from the supreme court during the hearing, they said that from the premises of the supreme court you cannot arrest anyone because the person who is coming to the supreme court he or she must be coming to seek relief from the court so you cannot arrest that person from the court premises. so making that ground, the court order to release imran khan, and they also said imran khan has got to present himself in front of the islamabad high court.

but we have still not seen him but i suppose the question it begs is, is this enough to enter the street protests for imran khan supporters or is it likely to fuel them?- or is it likely to fuel them? there is an interesting _ or is it likely to fuel them? there is an interesting comment - or is it likely to fuel them? there is an interesting comment that i or is it likely to fuel them? there - is an interesting comment that imran khan also made after the order that was passed... khan also made after the order that was passed- - -_ was passed... inaudible he said he _ was passed... inaudible he said he has _ was passed... inaudible he said he has nothing i was passed... inaudible he said he has nothing toi was passed... inaudible i he said he has nothing to do was passed... inaudible - he said he has nothing to do with the protests and he always talked about peace. not only this, up to the decision announced by the supreme court, there were reports coming in from islamabad and lahore and different parts of the country, that the protesters had again come out onto the roads but then forces... out onto the roads but then forces- - -— forces... inaudible the military - forces... inaudible the military is - forces... inaudible the military is still. forces... inaudible - the military is still there on forces... inaudible _

the military is still there on the streets... they have been reports of shelling in islamabad but the supreme court ordered to release mr khan and his protesters are celebrating on the streets but so far we have not heard about any major incidents happening right now. we will leave it there. apologies because that was a difficult line to lahore but you got a sense of the immediate reaction from the supreme court. now two interest rates in the uk and we saw the move in the us from the federal reserve only yesterday and today the uk with the bank of england at the same, they have raised interest rates by a quarter of 1% up to 4.5%. they are now at their highest level in almost 15 years. uk is affected by rising

prices and across the globe other countries are taking a similar approach, we have also seen a rise in interest rates. the inflation rate here is stubbornly high, 10.1% in march this year. the uk's chancellor of the exchequer gave this response to that latest rise. although it is obviously good news that the bank is now not predicting a recession this year, it is very challenging for families with mortgages to see interest rates going up but unless we tackle rising prices the cost of living crisis willjust prices the cost of living crisis will just continue prices the cost of living crisis willjust continue and that is why it is essential we stick to our plan to halve inflation and if we do that we can bring certainty back to family finances. the bank of england is predicting we will hit the inflation target, there's never been anything automatic about hitting it, thatis anything automatic about hitting it, that is why it is so important if we are going to bring certainty back to family finances, stop prices rising, that we stick to our plan to halve it. ~

that we stick to our plan to halve it. . _, that we stick to our plan to halve it. . ,, that we stick to our plan to halve it. we can speak to a president at queens college _ it. we can speak to a president at queens college cambridge and i it. we can speak to a president at queens college cambridge and al queens college cambridge and a former director of the international monetary fund. thanks forjoining us. your reaction to this move? $5 us. your reaction to this move? sis expected and us. your reaction to this move? s expected and i us. your reaction to this move? sis expected and i do not us. your reaction to this move? is expected and i do not think the bank of england had much choice because inflation is too high and we have indication it is becoming more persistent and anything else would have had even more collateral damage and unintended consequences. inflation was supposed to be coming down by now so why does it remain so stubbornly high compared to say the us or other european countries? aha, us or other european countries? couple of issues. the level and the persistence, let's start with the second, inflation that refuses to come down as you would want is proving to be a phenomenon on all over the advanced countries and that is because central banks started late and as a result inflation has

been allowed to migrate from a few products to the goods sector as a whole and also services and wages which makes it less interest—rate sensitive. uk inflation is also twice that in the us and higher than in europe and that speaks to issues on the supply side. in particular, one we have had nagging productivity relative to other countries, we have decided to rewire our international relationships and supply chains after brexit, and then third is we have a very inflexible labour market. that is why the level of inflation is higher than elsewhere inflation is higher than elsewhere in the stickiness of inflation is proving a problem for the us and europe as well. —— but the stickiness. europe as well. -- but the stickiness.— europe as well. -- but the stickiness. ., . ., , stickiness. the top economic adviser ofthe stickiness. the top economic adviser of the itank — stickiness. the top economic adviser of the itank of _ stickiness. the top economic adviser of the bank of england _ stickiness. the top economic adviser of the bank of england said - stickiness. the top economic adviser of the bank of england said there - of the bank of england said there was a reluctance to accept in the uk

that yes, we are all worse off, so how much of all of this is actually in the control of the bank of england?— in the control of the bank of enrland? . , ., england? whether it is the control ofthe england? whether it is the control of the itank _ england? whether it is the control of the bank of _ england? whether it is the control of the bank of england _ england? whether it is the control of the bank of england or - england? whether it is the control of the bank of england or not, - england? whether it is the control| of the bank of england or not, they have got to react. they have the responsibility to deliver low and stable inflation and we have not had low and stable inflation. what those comments and most other economists will agree on is whatever the bank of england does is necessary but not sufficient. the bank of england on its own cannot deliver 2% inflation and it needs help from the government and it needs help on the supply side to make the supply side more responsive so it will persist, the bank of england, but it will not succeed unless it gets out. tell the bank of england, but it will not succeed unless it gets out.- succeed unless it gets out. tell me more briefly _ succeed unless it gets out. tell me more briefly about _ succeed unless it gets out. tell me more briefly about the _ succeed unless it gets out. tell me more briefly about the exact - succeed unless it gets out. tell me | more briefly about the exact nature of that help and do you anticipate a further rise? i do of that help and do you anticipate a further rise?— further rise? i do think it is likely that _ further rise? i do think it is likely that we _ further rise? i do think it is likely that we will - further rise? i do think it is likely that we will get - further rise? i do think it is likely that we will get one | further rise? i do think it is - likely that we will get one more increase in interest rates injune

to 4.75% and then the back of a mid—will wait and observe the impact of interest—rate policy. —— and then the bank of england will wait and observe. getting nice words on the government in terms of increasing the flexibility of the labour market and attracting more people in the labour force and doing and attracting more people in the labourforce and doing more on childcare and doing more infrastructure but these words have got to be followed by sustained action. in order to improve the site ply site. we cannot get to the inflation target by suppressing demand —— in orderto inflation target by suppressing demand —— in order to improve the supply side. if we do, the people on the street will be facing the risk of recession and we do not want that to happen. irate of recession and we do not want that to ha en. . ., of recession and we do not want that to hauen. . ., ., ., ., to happen. we have got to leave it there but thanks _ to happen. we have got to leave it there but thanks for _ to happen. we have got to leave it there but thanks forjoining - to happen. we have got to leave it there but thanks forjoining us. - there but thanks forjoining us. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news. now to

some other stories. stephen tomkinson has been cleared of punching a man outside his house in whitley bay in the early hours of the morning two years ago. mr tompkinson — who's appeared in films such as brassed off and in the itv drama dci banks — was accused of punching karl poole in the head. ajury found ajuryfound him a jury found him not ajury found him not guilty. hospitals have failed to hit key targets to tackle the backlogs in cancer care and routine treatment. new milestones were set by the government to bring down waiting lists which soared during the covid pandemic and health care bosses say cute progress has been made given the demands of the recent winter and industrial action —— say cute

progress. —— say huge progress. you are live with bbc news. donald trump has ridiculed the woman who won the sexual suit against him for sexual abuse and deformation. in a live interview, the former us president dismissed ejean carroll as a "whackjob", despite a jury finding against him. he also said he would consider parting people who were convicted of the 6th of january insurrection on capitol hill. our north america correspondent nomia iqbal is in washington for us now. take us through some of the reaction to that. . . , ., , to that. huge criticism of this live event and this _ to that. huge criticism of this live event and this was _ to that. huge criticism of this live event and this was a _ to that. huge criticism of this live event and this was a town - to that. huge criticism of this live event and this was a town hall, i to that. huge criticism of this live event and this was a town hall, a | event and this was a town hall, a traditional format in which these networks use to interview politicians and they have an audience who asked them questions. cnn hosted it and donald trump has not been on the network for years and he spent a lot of time

disparaging of the network and calling it fake news but the audience that was there were truth be told pretty supportive of the former president and they applauded when he came in and gave him a standing ovation and they laughed with his jokes if standing ovation and they laughed with hisjokes if you can call them jokes. they clapped a lot. there is criticism, is this how cnn managed to convince him to come on in the first place? throughout the live event donald trump was incredibly self—assured and he rewrote history and was not honest about a lot of stuff and attacked e jean and was not honest about a lot of stuff and attacked ejean carroll, the writer who had won five minute dollars of damages —— $5 million of damages for the sexual abuse and deformation of her. used a term to basically describe her as unhinged. normally you leave office and you

say, i'm _ normally you leave office and you say, i'm going back home to my family. — say, i'm going back home to my family. but— say, i'm going back home to my family, but my poll numbers went up and they— family, but my poll numbers went up and they did so with the other fake charge _ and they did so with the other fake charge because they are doing this for election interference. this woman, — for election interference. this woman, i_ for election interference. this woman, i don't know her, i have no idea who _ woman, i don't know her, i have no idea who she — woman, i don't know her, i have no idea who she is. but woman, i don't know her, i have no idea who she is.— woman, i don't know her, i have no idea who she is. but he was pictured with her and — idea who she is. but he was pictured with her and even _ idea who she is. but he was pictured with her and even though _ idea who she is. but he was pictured with her and even though he - idea who she is. but he was pictured with her and even though he gave i idea who she is. but he was pictured| with her and even though he gave no evidence during the civil trial, in a deposition he confused her with his former wife. he was also asked about the 6th of january capitol hill riots and there is a big investigation going on to his role investigation going on to his role in that and a lot of people have been convicted on federal offences in connection to the tax. he was askedif in connection to the tax. he was asked if he would pardon any of them. i asked if he would pardon any of them. ., . ., ., ., , them. i am inclined to pardon many of them and — them. i am inclined to pardon many of them and i _ them. i am inclined to pardon many of them and i cannot _ them. i am inclined to pardon many of them and i cannot say _ them. i am inclined to pardon many of them and i cannot say for - them. i am inclined to pardon many of them and i cannot say for every l of them and i cannot say for every single _ of them and i cannot say for every single one — of them and i cannot say for every single one of them because a couple of them _ single one of them because a couple of them probably got out of control. if i of them probably got out of control. if i get— of them probably got out of control. if i get in_ of them probably got out of control. if i get in i_ of them probably got out of control. if i get in i will most likely, i would — if i get in i will most likely, i would say— if i get in i will most likely, i would say it would be a large portion— would say it would be a large portion of them, you know. the host

did her very — portion of them, you know. the host did her very best _ portion of them, you know. the host did her very best to _ portion of them, you know. the host did her very best to challenge i portion of them, you know. the host did her very best to challenge him i did her very best to challenge him but how can you fact check donald trump in real time? that has been the criticism of this whole event in the criticism of this whole event in the first place. the immediate reaction is that donald trump did very well in the sense that he probably has boosted his chances of getting the nomination for the republican party to be their presidential candidate and the defence of cnn is, this is why we wanted to interview him because he is such a significant person. it is not entirely bad news for the democratic party either because he said a lot of stuff during the live event which they can certainly use as fodder for their election campaign and as soon as the whole thing was over president biden said on twitter, it is simple, folks, do you want four more years of that? thanks forjoining us. we can now

turn to a story making headlines in the uk because after months of cancelled trains and repeated complaints of poor service, the company which runs rail services across the north of england and parts of scotland has lost its contract. the network will now be run by the government. it is the fourth rail operator to be nationalised since 2018. our transport correspondent katy austin reports. this comes after months and months of complaints from passengers about daily cancellations and the impact of that on their lives. transpennine has come under criticism from the number of trains it has removed from timetables on the night before due to staff shortages and it accounts for one in six of its services for the month of march, the highest in the country, but a slight improvement from the previous month. the company had put problems down to a variety of factors including high staff sickness and a lack

of an overtime agreement with the drivers union aslef and insisted a recovery plan was starting to work. the transport sector remark harbour said —— the transport secretary mark harper said by removing the contract and bringing the operator under government control, it would be a chance to reset relationships with staff, trade unions and passengers. but he cautioned it would not be a silver bullet. because of the level of control the government already has over the rail network, in practical terms, in a way, not much will change. but mayors in the north of england say they hope it will provide the opportunity for a fresh start. katy austin, there. she was talking about the mayors in that part of the country reacting to this that part of the country reacting to thi ., , ., ~ ., ., this and we will be talking to one of those a _ this and we will be talking to one of those a bit _ this and we will be talking to one of those a bit later. _ this and we will be talking to one of those a bit later. we - this and we will be talking to one of those a bit later. we have i this and we will be talking to one | of those a bit later. we have news coming in relating to a charge

against a former aide of andrew cuomo. we will have more on that later. do not go away. hello again. risk of some flooding this afternoon. enough of the plane spotting and now onto the cloud spotting. many of the clouds are turning into thunderclouds, and the big problem is the storms will be slow—moving because there's not

much wind moving them along so there is the threat of localised flash flooding. you are likely to see showers across the pennines. that'll be very widespread here and some of them torrential and also draped around the coast of east anglia, a few across the south downs because the storms are slow moving. rainfall totals can build up 20 to 50 millimetres of rainfall in the space ofjust an hour or two. that is why we could see some flash flooding this afternoon. now, overnight, the showers do clear off as we start to draw in some cooler cloudier weather from the north sea and that will tend to lower the temperatures. and so we're not going to see the same amount of showers around for friday, that's for sure. but it's a different type of weather we'll have across the north sea regions. a lot of low clouds start the day. a weak weather front bringing some patches of light rain across east anglia, pushing towards the midlands, south east england and central southern england.

now away from that, there will be some sunshine for scotland, northern ireland, western parts of england and for wales. and in the sunshine it's going to feel warm tomorrow with highs up to 18 degrees or so. but feeling cool around the north sea coast. the weekend? well, we start off with high pressure across the uk on saturday and with that we could see temperatures go as high as 22 degrees, which would make it the warmest day of the year so far. however, we really shouldn't get too excited by 22 because at this time of the year, in previous years, we've already had much warmer spells of weather. more typically, temperatures reached 25—26 degrees by this time of the year, so it has been relatively cool. now, saturday, we start off with a bit of cloud, but there will be some sunshine coming through widely. the highest temperatures, scotland and northern ireland, that's where we could see the temperatures hit 22c in the best of the sunshine. make the most of that on saturday because it's all change on sunday. it looks like it's going to turn a lot cloudier with outbreaks of rain and cooler weather conditions extending in from the northwest. that's the weather for now.

this is bbc news. the uk confirms it is sending storm shadow cruise missiles to ukraine to help with their counter offensive. the donation of these weapons give ukraine the best chance of defending themselves against russia's continued brutality. pakistan's supreme court orders the release of former prime minister, imran khan saying his arrest on tuesday was illegal. the bank of england follows the federal reserve and hikes and hikes interest rates — they're at their highest in nearly 15 years. and eurovision fever heats up. 16 countries take to the stage in liverpool later for

the second semi final.