you're left to wonder why this report spends time making gratuitous and inappropriate criticisms of the president. this report, although it completely absolves him legally, _ the political damage is perhaps even harder to been — this hour, the german chancellor is in washington, at a moment whenjoe biden is facing perhaps the biggest crisis in his presidency. behind in the polls, facing criticism for his position on gaza, and now his mental fitness in question. we will bring you any public comments live. in gaza, there are up to 1.5 million civilians around rafah, who fear the war is coming to them. also tonight. the met police say they think the man they've been

looking for in connection to the the clapham chemical attack, has "gone into" the river thames. we'll bring you the latest on that. good evening. the german chancellor, olaf scholz, is in washington tonight, warning of the dangers of a russian victory in ukraine if allies don't quickly step up their military support. joe biden does not need persuading. but there is no progress on a foreign aid bill — the house speaker says he won't even put to the floor. wrapped up in that package is aid for israel. but last night, the president changed his position on the scale of the offensive in gaza, and has made it clear he does not support the impending assault on rafah, now home to over a 1.5 million palestinians. i'm of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the response in the gaza strip has been over the top.

eight months out from the election joe biden would dearly love a ceasefire in middel east, and last night signed a memorandum stipulating that those who receive american aid must comply with international humanitarian law. but the middle east is the least of his problems right now. the white house is still on damage control following the release of special counsel, robert hur�*s report into the handling of classified documents. it portrayed the president as feeble and forgetful. in the last hour the adminstration has mounted an angry rebuttal of the councels quotes "gratuituous comments". the report lays out example after example of how the president did not willfully take classified documents. the report lays out how the president did not share classified documents with anyone. the report lays out how the president did not knowingly share classified information with anyone. on page two, which i know you already, the report argues

the president willfully retained materials — but buried way later on page 215, the report says, and i quote, "there is in fact a shortage of evidence on these points." 200 pages later. put simply, this case is closed because the facts and the evidence don't support the theories here. our correspondent tom bateman is following all the events at the white house. that was a pretty fierce response from the administration tonight, tom. i from the administration tonight, tom. , , , ., , from the administration tonight, tom. , ., from the administration tonight, tom. , tom. i suppose it has to be, given the obvious _ tom. i suppose it has to be, given the obvious damage _ tom. i suppose it has to be, given the obvious damage its _ tom. i suppose it has to be, given the obvious damage its cause. - tom. i suppose it has to be, given . the obvious damage its cause. what's your sense, 24—hour song, of how the story is unfolding? it’s your sense, 24-hour song, of how the story is unfolding?— story is unfolding? it's really bad news for president _ story is unfolding? it's really bad news for president biden - story is unfolding? it's really bad| news for president biden because although there was the legal exoneration overall, although it was interesting that the specialist into the president, even going through that and saying that they believe there were things factually wrong, there were things factually wrong, the wrong emphasis and

contradictions between what the report set out in the first few pages and then what it said much, much further down. they're basically in a position that they always wanted to avoid, this issue are president biden's age and his acuity, his ability to perform the functions of office is once again backin functions of office is once again back in the spotlight. that political legal exoneration but a sort of political hand grenade tossed in at the beginning of an election year that we know is going to be very tumultuous and we expect those attacks to continue. republicans wasted no time in pouncing on this. now you have senior democrats attacking the factual basis of what was said in the report and the integrity of robert hur, the special counsel. it's a pretty tall order for them to

push this back because we know that voters have concerns about his age. the polling suggests that and certainly republicans are going to exploit it even further. that said it may be already baked into way that people are going to vote in what is a very polarised environment.— what is a very polarised environment. ~ . ., what is a very polarised environment. ~ . . ., environment. we are waiting for ictures environment. we are waiting for pictures of _ environment. we are waiting for pictures of olaf _ environment. we are waiting for pictures of olaf scholz, - environment. we are waiting for pictures of olaf scholz, who - environment. we are waiting for pictures of olaf scholz, who is i pictures of olaf scholz, who is arriving imminently at the white house. there will always be focused on a visit like that, as well there should be, because they stand so closely on the matters at hand, the ukraine and middle east. but for president biden he will be aware that the focus is not so much on the crises at hand but the responses to the questions he's asked.— the questions he's asked. that's true. the questions he's asked. that's true- some _ the questions he's asked. that's true. some of _ the questions he's asked. that's true. some of the _ the questions he's asked. that's true. some of the attacks - the questions he's asked. that's true. some of the attacks on - the questions he's asked. that's| true. some of the attacks on him today have focused on the issue of national security. we've now had three times in a week where president biden has misspoke in or

slipped up on the names or his recollection of who foreign leaders are. all of that is now in the background. on the issue of substance, you're right, you have this significant crisis over security now raging in two parts of the world and these have become interlinked. olaf scholz�*s visit to washington encapsulates this. because what the administration is desperate to do is get the funding secured, the military funding secured, the military funding secured for ukraine but at the same time they are faced by repeated public and attempts to disband this. they're failing so far to get it through congress and they are saying that if the weapon supply dries up to ukraine from the us, you've got a major crisis on your hands, opening the door to vladimir putin. olaf scholz is saying exactly that. that's what he's come to washington to say. writing in a wall street

editorial, saying it threatens the entire liberal order if the funding isn't put back in the system. yeah we'll talk later _ isn't put back in the system. yeah we'll talk later about _ isn't put back in the system. yeah we'll talk later about the - isn't put back in the system. yeah we'll talk later about the european countries that are now on a war footing. with respect to the middle east, your speciality, did you detect yesterday a change in position from the president? this comment that the response in the gaza had been over the top, does that suggest that the american patience is wearing a bit thin, now? it absolutely das and the answer to that question is yes, the messaging is shifting. it always evolves but in the last week we've seen clear irritation and frustration that president biden has with mr netanyahu now starting to feed in more and more to the public messaging. you had antony blinken speaking in tel aviv on his trip to

the middle east talking about the fact that he said that hamas's the dehumanisation of israelis did not give the israelis the right to dehumanise palestinians. very strong language, used in tel aviv. then president biden saying that, he was asked a question about the middle east and he said it's a bit over—the—top, when talking about the israeli response. so that a significant. the interesting thing here is about, well, there's always been some criticism especially from the progressive, left—wing democrats that the administration hasn't used its h in terms of its weapons supplied to israel to get them to rein in the military operation —— hasn't used its

leverage. there is this executive action that means countries receiving weapons from america will have to sign a waiver to say that they will abide by international he area law. that will be assessed and there's a congressional process to assess it now. that's interesting. that's a new development. we are waitin: for that's a new development. we are waiting for those _ that's a new development. we are waiting for those pictures - that's a new development. we are waiting for those pictures from - that's a new development. we are waiting for those pictures from the white house. thank you for now. we are certainly heading into a new and dangerous cycle of the war in gaza. the israeli infantry is now preparing an assault on rafah, where they suspect the homes leadership has been hiding. it is the main crossing into egypt through which most of the aid comes in. and for the past three months it has been the place israel has advised palestinians to flee. so right now there is around one and half million people living in rafah, in overcrowded shelters, sprawling makeshift tents, food extremely scarce, clean water scarcer, there is barely any sanitation no medical supplies.

jan egeland is the secretary general of the norwegian refugee council. there is no water. i mean, the few bottled water there would be is with exorbitant prices. still, still, the us, the uk and germany and all of the allies of israel has not been able even to fix the access system of humanitarian aid to gaza, so we're still having 100—200 trucks per day, which is a third of what is needed. we're desperate. we're angry. we are sharing the pain of our colleagues here, and i know these people. they're scared to death, and this operation must stop. we have no more words. look for yourself, leaders of the world. this madness must stop. let's speak to brad bowman, senior director of the centre

on military and political power at the foundation for defence of democracies. i know you've been standing by for us. there's no question that he holds the uk, us and germany responsible for this. well that be the topic for conversation this evening at the white house, how they bring this to a close? i evening at the white house, how they bring this to a close?— bring this to a close? i have no doubt that _ bring this to a close? i have no doubt that the _ bring this to a close? i have no doubt that the two _ bring this to a close? i have no doubt that the two leaders - bring this to a close? i have no doubt that the two leaders will| doubt that the two leaders will discuss that among many other topics. but for my part i think it's important to remind viewers that none of this would be happening if hamas had not committed the single worst date slaughter ofjewish worst date slaughter of jewish people worst date slaughter ofjewish people since the holocaust. there was a ceasefire and hamas chose to break it. by the way, israel's goals here are two destroy hamas and release the hostages. if you give hamas a safe haven in rafah then you have failed to destroy hamas and you

aren't going to get the hostages back. that is in no way dismissive of the extraordinary human suffering of the extraordinary human suffering of innocent palestinians but lets put blame where it belongs. as a former us military officer it's not very often that the us military, in terms of ground operations, would tell our adversarial what we are going to do next. there are two combatants, one, the idf, the other is hamas. hamas wants to use palestinians as human shields and that's one of the reasons why the horribly higher death toll in gaza is so high. shill horribly higher death toll in gaza is so hiuh. �* ., horribly higher death toll in gaza isso hiuh. . ., . horribly higher death toll in gaza issohiuh.�* ., . , is so high. all of which is true. the question _ is so high. all of which is true. the question for— is so high. all of which is true. the question for the _ is so high. all of which is true. the question for the world - is so high. all of which is true. - the question for the world leaders who are resolutely standing behind israel's right to respond is how and where it ends. the problem it seems forjoe biden and olaf scholz at least is that the prime minister, netanyahu, says it doesn't end until

hamas is totally eradicated. many people think that's just an impossible goal. people think that's 'ust an impossible goal.h people think that's 'ust an impossible goal. yeah from the beginning--- — impossible goal. yeah from the beginning- -- by _ impossible goal. yeah from the beginning... by the _ impossible goal. yeah from the beginning... by the way, - impossible goal. yeah from the beginning... by the way, it - impossible goal. yeah from the beginning... by the way, it has| impossible goal. yeah from the - beginning... by the way, it has been israel's plan from the beginning to move into the south. i know for a fact this has been the plan from the beginning. yes, they told palestinians to move south and that's what they did and now many are in the areas where they have this final focus. but a key point is that the weapons that hamas used on october seven, almost all of them came across from egypt. in addition to needing to destroy hamas, they also need to go after the tunnels that hamas leaders are using to escape and also bring in additional weapons so they can prepare for the next october seven. the reality is that israel feels it has to do this. the question is, how can we help the civilians who are caught in the crossfire while also helping israel

achieve its objectives that it's determined to achieve. that's where i think the serious policy discussion is. ab, i think the serious policy discussion is.— i think the serious policy discussion is. . . , ., discussion is. a great question. there are _ discussion is. a great question. there are many _ discussion is. a great question. there are many civilians - discussion is. a great question. there are many civilians in - discussion is. a great question. | there are many civilians in rafah who have no way to go and that's the important point. on that issue, seeing the scenes we saw around khan yunis, that executive order that tom was talking about, you understand from the american perspective the limitations that are put on military aid. is that leverage that americans have to rein it in, somewhat? i would give the biden administration high marks to get the weapons it has needed to defend itself but over time there's been increasing public pressure coming from the present and his administration on the israelis and this is part of it. i worked this issue in the us senate for up

to nine years and all of these measures are already in place to do these things, so there's a lot of political theatre here, to be blunt. big surprise, because president biden is in election season, it is silly season in washington. so often you do things to act like you are doing something new when you are doing something new when you are doing it for political effect. it's because the president is confronting a lot of pressure from the progressive left to be seen to be putting more pressure on israel. the bottom line is that if israel stopped short then hamas will live to fight another day and we'll see more october seven attacks. what to fight another day and we'll see more october seven attacks. what he sinned more october seven attacks. what he signed yesterday. _ more october seven attacks. what he signed yesterday, damage _ more october seven attacks. what he signed yesterday, damage control - more october seven attacks. what he signed yesterday, damage control forj signed yesterday, damage control for the likes of the arab americans in michigan who the ministration went to see, who have concerns about this. this is a token gesture to them, is it?— this. this is a token gesture to them, is it? i'm saying there's a lot of political _ them, is it? i'm saying there's a lot of political theatre. - them, is it? i'm saying there's a lot of political theatre. i - them, is it? i'm saying there's a lot of political theatre. i haven't| lot of political theatre. i haven't seen the text. i'm telling you that

there already mechanisms to do what they want to do. fin there already mechanisms to do what they want to do— they want to do. on the basis of what we talked _ they want to do. on the basis of what we talked about _ they want to do. on the basis of what we talked about with - they want to do. on the basis of what we talked about with tom | they want to do. on the basis of. what we talked about with tom and the fallout from the report yesterday, some of america's closest allies might be looking nervously here and wondering if the president is up to the job and deed would be “p is up to the job and deed would be up to thejob is up to the job and deed would be up to the job for another term up to the age of 86. what would you say to those countries who are looking on nervously? i’d those countries who are looking on nervousl ? �* ,, ., those countries who are looking on nervousl ? �* . ., nervously? i'd say we are a democracy _ nervously? i'd say we are a democracy and _ nervously? i'd say we are a democracy and the - nervously? i'd say we are a democracy and the people | nervously? i'd say we are a i democracy and the people are nervously? i'd say we are a - democracy and the people are going to decide. the fitness of the two candidates is a question in the political debate. former president trump is trying to use it against president biden. some of the news over the last 2a hours is unhelpful to biden but in our democracy the voters will decide. i would say that to the nervous europeans and others looking on, democracy is not always clean and pretty but the

institutions here are pretty strong. we had a bit of a stress test over the last few years and i'm cautiously optimistic that they will continue to hold. fin cautiously optimistic that they will continue to hold.— continue to hold. on that issue of ukraine aid, _ continue to hold. on that issue of ukraine aid, before _ continue to hold. on that issue of ukraine aid, before i _ continue to hold. on that issue of ukraine aid, before i let - continue to hold. on that issue of ukraine aid, before i let you - continue to hold. on that issue of ukraine aid, before i let you go, l ukraine aid, before i let you go, clearly that will be uppermost in olaf scholz�*s mind. the senate are staying behind for the weekend to try and get a stand—alone aid package through. can you see a scenario over the next week where it passes congress? i scenario over the next week where it passes congress?— passes congress? i see a scenario where you — passes congress? i see a scenario where you see — passes congress? i see a scenario where you see a _ passes congress? i see a scenario where you see a positive - passes congress? i see a scenario where you see a positive result i passes congress? i see a scenario where you see a positive result in | where you see a positive result in the us senate, from my view. we have ukraine, israeland the us senate, from my view. we have ukraine, israel and taiwan and the indo—pacific being netted together with the border issue dropping down. i can see that passing the senate. the test vote was 67 votes, so that's the baseline. i think they can build and pass it in the senate. what happens in the house, well, the house is quite a circus, these days. a lot will depend on what former

president trump is saying to portions of the republican caucus in the house and whether the republican foreign committee leaders can inform the rank and file about the american interest and in my view it is not to abandon ukraine as it is confronting naked aggression from vladimir putin. ~ �* naked aggression from vladimir putin. �* . ~ naked aggression from vladimir putin. ~ �* . ,, ., . ~ . putin. we'll talk more about ukraine in the programme. _ putin. we'll talk more about ukraine in the programme. good _ putin. we'll talk more about ukraine in the programme. good to - putin. we'll talk more about ukraine in the programme. good to get - putin. we'll talk more about ukraine in the programme. good to get your| in the programme. good to get your thoughts. we are still looking for pictures from the white house. when we get is to biden and all the shots together we will bring you those pictures. —— and olaf scholz. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. rishi sunak paid more than half a million pounds in tax last year on total earnings of more than £2.29 million. the prime minister paid uk tax on his salary as an mp, his ministerial salary,

interest from savings with a us bank, and investment gains on a us—based fund. several premier league managers have expressed concerns about a proposal to trial sin binning players and issuing blue cards. under the proposal players who break certain rules would be banished from the pitch for ten minutes. but it's now thought officials will spend more time discussing the proposals before a meeting of football's law makers next month. he claims he was removed because of his beliefs about gender including the view that biology is real and immutable. thejudgment the view that biology is real and immutable. the judgment upheld political parties's mites to dismiss boat people whose views differ. —— right to dismiss. london's metropolitan police believe

the man they were hunting for a chemical attack in clapham ten days ago, is dead. in the past hour, police said their main working hypothesis was that abdul shokoor ezedi had "gone into" the river thames — though no body has yet been found. ezedi, 35, who had "significant injuries to the right side of his face", was last seen on chelsea bridge on 31 january, just hours after the attack in clapham. he is wanted for attempted murder after a woman and her two children were injured by a corrosive liquid. it's feared the woman will lose the sight in one eye. here's our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford. chelsea bridge at 11.30 last wednesday night. this is the last cctv image police have been able to find of abdul ezedi. they have scoured other cameras and footage from buses, but have found nothing more. so they now believe he went into the water, and is probably dead. as gets on to chelsea bridge he crosses the bridge more than once, and then when he gets

back to the centre he appears to be moving from the railings, back to the pavement, and looking over the edge of the railings, so, distinct change in how he has been moving about. ezedi is the only suspect in a horrific attack on a 31—year—old woman and her two daughter. he is suspected of throwing concentrated caustic soda on them and hurling the three—year—old to the ground. the attack happened at 7.25 last wednesday night in clapham in south london, from there ezedi headed north to king's cross, buying water at tesco, then he headed south to tower hill and the river thames. and every time he was filmed on cctv after that, he was walking west, along the river, ending up at chelsea bridge. officers have been told by experts that if he has died in the river, with the rapid current it may take a month to find the body and in truth, it might never be found. friends of the woman he's suspected of attacking have released this image of her and her daughter on a fundraising page

with their faces obscured by hearts. detectives say she is very poorly and unable to talk to them. she is unaware that the suspect is thought to have gone into the riverfrom chelsea bridge. our reporterjoins us. there is no body and no proof of what happened. only indications. when the police say things like this they mean. thea;r say things like this they mean. they are keeping — say things like this they mean. they are keeping an _ say things like this they mean. iie: are keeping an open say things like this they mean. tie: are keeping an open mind. say things like this they mean. i““i21: are keeping an open mind. the investigation will continue. the crucial part is that cctv. they have a good picture of what happened in the four hours following the attack last wednesday night. abdul ezedi in central london, wandering around, they say, with purpose, ending up along the line of the thames. he gets to chelsea bridge, his behaviour changes, he paces up and down, leaning over the railings and then the cctv trail goes dead. that's why they think it's pretty

indisputable that he then went into the river. interesting actually because we asked them, they said that they enlisted the help of a behavioural scientist who looked at how he was walking, the body language, and exchanges at chelsea bridge, consistent with someone who they say had perpetuated a horrific attack and was considering taking his own life. attack and was considering taking his own life-— his own life. does that mean the search is off? _ his own life. does that mean the search is off? the _ his own life. does that mean the search is off? the investigation l search is off? the investigation will continue. _ search is off? the investigation will continue. they _ search is off? the investigation will continue. they point - search is off? the investigation will continue. they point out i search is off? the investigation will continue. they point out it| will continue. they point out it wasn'tjust will continue. they point out it wasn't just cctv, will continue. they point out it wasn'tjust cctv, there were other leads. that's why they had eight search warrants the issue of which three used armed police. other intelligence used. they need to look at the victim who is still in hospital and they haven't had a chance to talk to her yet. thank ou. we chance to talk to her yet. thank you- we are _ chance to talk to her yet. thank you. we are going _ chance to talk to her yet. thank you. we are going straight - chance to talk to her yet. thank you. we are going straight to i chance to talk to her yet. thank l you. we are going straight to the white house, we have pictures of the meeting between president biden and olaf scholz. this is a recording that hasn't started yet. i can give

you a couple of lines from the briefing. they are discussing ukraine funding. we have been talking about that over the last half—an—hour. biden telling chancellor scholz that we have to get the funding passed. they discussed strengthening nato which is a key concern for the europeans. they are looking at some of the statements from those who support president trump and there are fears expressed on this programme, indeed, that in time to come, former president trump might walk away from nato if he were elected in november. all of that is being discussed. and i would think as well that they will shortly be talking about the middle east as well because the two parties have been strong backers of israel's role in gaza. we will bring you that video..., here it is.

are you ready? we are good. welcome back, thank you _ are you ready? we are good. welcome back, thank you for _ are you ready? we are good. welcome back, thank you for making _ are you ready? we are good. welcome back, thank you for making the - back, thank you for making the effort to be here. you know, two years ago you and i met here and we said that the us and germany have to act together and we been doing that and we are continuing. you know, congress have yet to pass the necessary security spending package. house members have been somewhat reluctant. it is politics.— reluctant. it is politics. president biden is talking _ reluctant. it is politics. president biden is talking to _ reluctant. it is politics. president biden is talking to olaf— reluctant. it is politics. president biden is talking to olaf scholz. i reluctant. it is politics. president. biden is talking to olaf scholz. we will say goodbye to our viewers on cbs. i will say goodbye to our viewers on cbs. ., ., ., ~ _, will say goodbye to our viewers on cbs. ., ., ., ~ ., cbs. i want to thank you for your leadership- _ cbs. i want to thank you for your leadership. and _ cbs. i want to thank you for your leadership. and you've _ cbs. i want to thank you for your leadership. and you've done - leadership. and you've done something otherfolks leadership. and you've done something other folks couldn't have

done,... military aid to ukraine, which is really important to start up which is really important to start up right now. today we'll discuss the work we will do together to strengthen nato ahead of the 75th nato summit. also the latest developments in the middle east, including the hostages. we have negotiations going on, increased life—saving humanitarian assistance in the gaza strip and preserving the space for an enduring peace, a two state solution down the road. so, thank you very much for being here, we have a lot to talk about.- we have a lot to talk about. thank ou for we have a lot to talk about. thank you for having _ we have a lot to talk about. thank you for having me _ we have a lot to talk about. thank you for having me and _ we have a lot to talk about. thank you for having me and having - we have a lot to talk about. thank you for having me and having the | you for having me and having the chance _ you for having me and having the chance to — you for having me and having the chance to continue our conversations. we have continuously worked _ conversations. we have continuously worked all— conversations. we have continuously worked all the time. yes, germany and the _ worked all the time. yes, germany

ahd the us— worked all the time. yes, germany and the us have a role to keep peace in the _ and the us have a role to keep peace in the world — and the us have a role to keep peace in the world. this is especially so, looking _ in the world. this is especially so, looking at— in the world. this is especially so, looking at the russian aggression against _ looking at the russian aggression against ukraine which is still ongoing _ against ukraine which is still ongoing. when we saw this ridiculous interview— ongoing. when we saw this ridiculous interview that putin gave, we understand that he's always telling a lot of— understand that he's always telling a lot of lies about the of this war because — a lot of lies about the of this war because it's so easy to understand why he's— because it's so easy to understand why he's doing it. he wants to get part of— why he's doing it. he wants to get part of the — why he's doing it. he wants to get part of the territory of his neighbours. just imperialism. i think— neighbours. just imperialism. i think it's — neighbours. just imperialism. i think it's necessary that we do our best to _ think it's necessary that we do our best to support ukraine and give them _ best to support ukraine and give them the — best to support ukraine and give them the chance to defend their country — them the chance to defend their country. so i'm very happy that in europe _ country. so i'm very happy that in europe we — country. so i'm very happy that in europe we make now decisions to give the necessary financial support and that germany was ready to increase its support — that germany was ready to increase its support and weapon delivery and hopefully— its support and weapon delivery and hopefully congress, the house will follow _ hopefully congress, the house will follow you and make a decision on giving _ follow you and make a decision on giving the — follow you and make a decision on giving the necessary support. because _ giving the necessary support. because without the support of the united _ because without the support of the united states and without the

support — united states and without the support of european states, ukraine will not _ support of european states, ukraine will not have the chance to defend its own _ will not have the chance to defend its own country. i think it's very good _ its own country. i think it's very good that— its own country. i think it's very good that we are working together, looking _ good that we are working together, looking at _ good that we are working together, looking at the situation in the middle — looking at the situation in the middle east and especially working on the _ middle east and especially working on the two state solution which is necessary— on the two state solution which is necessary for lasting peace and i'm sure that _ necessary for lasting peace and i'm sure that the us and germany are aligned _ sure that the us and germany are aligned. we sure that the us and germany are alitned. ~ ., sure that the us and germany are alitned. ~ . ., sure that the us and germany are alitned. ~ . . ., aligned. we are, we are. i would like to add _ aligned. we are, we are. i would like to add another— aligned. we are, we are. i would like to add another point. - aligned. we are, we are. i would like to add another point. the i like to add another point. the failure of the us congress, if it occurs, not to support ukraine, is close to criminal neglect. it is outrageous. kissinger was right when he said... europe has not looked over is shoulder and look at russia until now. so much is at stake. thank you all very much. thank you

very much. reporters shout questions. president biden and chancellor scholz being asked questions. he said it would be close to criminal neglect if we didn't fund the war effort in ukraine. good to see that the fire at the white house is so well drawn. plenty of tackle! you're watching bbc news. hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. as ukraine approaches the second anniversary of russia's invasion, its troops are short of ammunition, artillery and soldiers, and little ground has been

gained by either country. play more to come on that. sport, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's lizzie greenwood—hughes. thanks. we're starting with football, and premier league managers have given short shrift to any ideas about bringing blue cards into the elite english game. the sport's lawmakers, ifab, are considering a possible trial of the cards, which would be given out by referees to temporarily send players to a sin bin for cynicalfouls. blue cards are already being used at grassroots level for dissent, but the premier league has already ruled them out for now. and liverpool'sjurgen klopp is one of many managers today who've made it clear they're not in favour of the idea. they want to test it. i have no problem with testing.

but if that's the first step to agreeing or already being sure