let's speak to peter dickinson,

editor of ukraine alert at the atlantic council think tank. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. it appears president zelensky will receive a much warmer welcome from donald trump than many had expected. what do you think you can realistically expect to achieve from his visit to washington? i think one of the key issues as it will buy ukraine sometime. the comments coming from president trump and the white house have been deeply disturbing for ukrainians the last few weeks, this very sharp turn towards russia, the aggressive rhetoric against ukraine, it has really raised fears the american support for ukraine is under threat long term, we may face a scenario where ukraine would be pushed into a very pro—kremlin peace agreement which would place ukraine's entire existence as a nation under threat. now, this

deal, minimalsteel, it will potentially buy ukraine time it needs —— minerals deal. the deal—maker can parade his deal, we're notjust giving ukraine aid for nothing, we are getting something in return. jan zielinski is to ingratiate himself with the american president, and i am sure he will press him in the short term formal military —— zelensky. and in the long term security guarantees ukraine so desperately needs. how security guarantees ukraine so desperately needs.— security guarantees ukraine so desperately needs. how open do ou think desperately needs. how open do you think donald _ desperately needs. how open do you think donald trump - desperately needs. how open do you think donald trump is - desperately needs. how open do you think donald trump is to - you think donald trump is to provide a more military aid to ukraine as it waits for a peace agreement to be reached with russia? , .,, agreement to be reached with russia? , . russia? his most recent comments _ russia? his most recent comments suggest - russia? his most recent comments suggest he . russia? his most recent comments suggest he is russia? his most recent - comments suggest he is open to it, he said he will look at it and be prepared to provide aid until a peace deal or ceasefire at least can be signed. i think this deal, the actual details

of this minerals agreement are in some respects quite faint, but it does allow trump to be able to say he is protecting american interests and making sure america is not simply financing the retraining war getting nothing in return. —— the ukrainian war effort. that is what we will be looking for today, unlikely to be any agreement on a long—term security guarantee, but ukraine will be hoping they hear at least encouraging words and perhaps even confirmation military aid in the short term will continue.— will continue. the talks towards _ will continue. the talks towards ending - will continue. the talks towards ending the - will continue. the talks towards ending the war will continue. the talks i towards ending the war in ukraine between us and russia, can we see ukrainian officials being invited to the talks? well, at this stage, it does look like trump's position is for a bilateral negotiation, thatis for a bilateral negotiation, that is his style, he likes the idea of the big boys superpower

sitting down and talking to each other head to head, very

the october 7th attacks by hamas. the report highlights complacency towards hamas's secondary threat compared to iran and hezbollah. and the palestinian enclave. evacuated before civilians. he gave us this assessment about the report. they said, "oh, this isn't really serious, "hamas would never do

this, this is a fantasy, the israeli military actually had a document in 2022 called the walls ofjericho plan that shows exactly what hamas was going to do. and they poured cold water on it. the document didn't even get to the idf chief of staff. the night before or at any point in time. and what about the response itself, once the attack happened ? of failings there. you have 767 soldiers against 5,000 soldiers, so, you're outnumbered. powerful air force in the region.

so, the plans were not there. theyjust had no plan for a mass invasion. and so they weren't ready. and then there was a commander on the ground, general avi rosenfeld, who wouldn't admit to his superiors that he had been beaten already so they didn't figure out until about 12 noon that he was completely beaten. and so they start sending big reinforcements around iiam, so, by the time they're sending real reinforcements, was from the jerusalem speaking to my colleague taylor. 77

between israel and hamas on the next phase of the gaza ceasefire have begun in cairo. the first phase is set to expire on saturday, during negotiations. let's speak to our middle east correspondent, it has taken a while for talks to begin. what do we know is " ”gisfibeing’” ’ fis being discussed about what is beingfdiscussed the about what is beingfaiscuaaad the moment? about what is beingdiscussed i w— about what is beingdisc i the moment? at the moment? yes, indeed, these - were _ at the moment? yes, indeed, these - were delayed. - at the moment? yes, indeed, l these - were delayed. they these talks were delayed. they were to have a ee of weeks ago, indeed to couple of weeks ago, indeed to have been concluded by now if things had stuck the things had stuck to the original timetable. just a short statement that came out from the egyptian side. of fram the egyptian. 9135.ng , .,, to egypt flew! the egyptian. eieee qf w , .,, to egypt and qatar are course to egypt and qatar are important regional these important regional mediators. it said there were. israeli, qatari, and american, 7 and american, that egyptian and american, that have been in cairo have been meeting in cairo as well as talking 2.2 the next 77 the next stage 77 the next stage of 77 the next stage of the about the next stage of the ceasefire, looking ceasefire, already looking at ways to improve humanitarian

deliveries into gaza, the statement said. of course humanitarian aid has surged in the first stage of the ceasefire which began on the 19th of january. what we have also seen in the past six these exchanges taking also seen in the past six so ese exchanges taking also seen in the past six so that exchanges taking also seen in the past six so that 33 hanges taking place, so that silsraeli have been returned the gaza ”th; 652.5 ' eight” though 7 77 though returned 77 though returned dad. we had about 2000 palestinian have had about 2000 palestinian prisoners released from israeli jails —— returned dead. the nature of the talks substantive nature of the talks is about be the second stage is about to be the second stage of the ceasefire, that is is about to be the second stage of the ceé to ’ire, that is is about to be the second stage of the ceé to see that is is about to be the second stage of the ceé to see a |at is is about to be the second stage of the ceé to see a permanent end supposed to see a permanent end to the fighting, full israeli withdrawal from the gaza strip, return for the remainin eee bginaeee eeeeeee israeli hostages being brought back. there are about 60 back. there are still about 60 hgstagesee of them israeli hostages, 2a of them said be who remain in

gaza. the ceasefire is meant to hold one i the _ gaza. the ceasefire is meant to hold one l the first _ gaza. the ceasefire is meant to hold one l the first phase - hold one in the first phase elapses, truce between elapses, the truce between israel and is meant to isjrgel and her mass ismeant to how the people the 7 the region 7 the region feel that? in the region feel about that? there are some generally positive statements about the nature of talks, the fact are finally theyare'fi natty taking place. of theyare'finally taking place. of course people have but of course people have big particularly reservations, particularly what the israeli about what the israeli delegation may mandated to delegation may be mandated to agree. there is this question agree. there'isthis question about whether israel remark about whether israel really wants to resume fighting in gaza strip. we have had the m -romised a israeli promised a previous indicating he would prefer to have extension of first to have more hostage and phase to have more hostage and e eeee but phase to have more hostage and f finne— but hamas " ""ufilrkél'y"' ,,, unlikely to 77 7 unlikely to agree to that very unlikelyetoeagree to that the long term. it wants to in the long term. it wants to see the full end to the ou, oui' none

fighting. thank you, your none now, in jerusalem, _ fighting. thank you, your none now, in jerusalem, middle - fighting. thank you, your none | now, in jerusalem, middle east now, injerusalem, middle east correspondent. —— yolande knell, injerusalem. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are live with bbc news. visit to washington. we can now speak hejoins us from he joins us from westminster. a challenging trip for the prime challenging tfifi'fiif the effie to challenging crip'c�*er the effie to say challenging efifif-ef ffieeée ffifié to say the least. ifiélléfiegifieg efifif-ef ffieeée ffifié to say the least. how minister, to say the least. how much did achieve? he achieved what certainly achieved what appeared to be convivial appeared to be a very convivial meeting, a deal of meeting, a great deal of bonhomie and uncharacteristically he was quite tactile with the american president, touching him the president, touching him on the shoulder, hands, quite shoulder, shaking hands, quite warmly, to president warmly, succumbing to president trump's strong grip at certain 7 but if you look beyond, times. but if you look beyond, if you like, some of the body language and some of the mutual praise, how much was really

achieved on the key issues the prime ee e eee wanted to prime minister wanted to and most address? the first and most important was this idea of getting what called a getting what is called a backstop the us if there backstop from the us if there is a piece or ceasefire in is a piece of or ceasefire in ee: eee. to is a piece of or ceasefire in 2 on to sure ukraine, wa ntedetomake sure trump ukraine, wantedetomake sure trump would stay president trump would stay engaged he felt that engaged because he felt that would be the biggest bulwark would be'the biggest'bulwark any future russian againstany future russian" ” c' " in ukraine. againstany future russian" ” n' " in ukraine. he did quite get that. all ire got president 77 president trump 77 president trump was the from president trump was the idea that if they want there to exploit the country's mineral something he is resources, something he is discussing with president in washington today, zelensky in washington today, if they went in to that, if they went in te de that, , that would be of perhaps that would be enough of a disincentive for vladimir not to interfere in the putin not to interfere in the in the future. european 5 european leaders want certainly european leaders want to see a lot more than that. a couple of potential elsewhere a couple of potential on for the winds on trade for example, the president the prime president praised the prime ministerfor working president praised the prime minister for working very hard president praised the prime m talent for working very hard president praised the prime m talent to working very hard president praised the prime m talent to try rking very hard president praised the prime m talent to try to ng very hard president praised the prime m talent to try to persuade ii’d at talent to try to persuade him not to impose tariffs on at talent to try to persuade hirr uk. to impose tariffs on at talent to try to persuade hirr uk. he mpose tariffs on at talent to try to persuade hirr uk. he intends :ariffs on at talent to try to persuade

hirr uk. he intends to ffs on at talent to try to persuade hirr uk. he intends to do on at talent to try to persuade hirr uk. he intends to do so in eu -- at 7 eu —— at lunch. he talked the eu —— at lunch. he talked about the possibility of the trade deal, but it looks like it would be quite 7 w and ai, not and ai, not the z "wt'rfie’d'e’alf ' vitrazdfeideialfwhether it broad trade deal. whether it avoid tariffs remains to seen. 0ne seen. one area which keir be seen. one area which keir starmer will be pleased about itarmsr fillies elsa==daefiut he was on the was when he was on the domestic political criticism, the idea of effectively releasing back cha os islands from the chagos islands from and protecting the uk mauritius and protecting the uk us base diego garcia. the us base in diego garcia. the conservatives, uk, led conservatives, reform uk, led by nigel farage, critical by nigel farage. very critical giving up uk sovereignty, of giving up uk sovereignty, trump it looks —= = -= it is a lease, 140 like it is a long lease, 140 years, he will years, suggested he will be quite sympathetic to 1:72-— 7; 1:72—— 5 he had the caveat he although he had the caveat he to look more closely would have to look more closely at the details. i think there an ”an h n this an z ” altar was an expectation this deal with could be shot with mauritius could be shot down the us president and 77— it was far 7 it was far that certainly it waefar—frereethat , — ~ — ——— from keir starmer�*s

view coming back to the uk of view coming back to the uk as he has done in the past hour, he comes on some of the criticisms he was facing from opposition parties. very briefly. _ opposition parties. very briefly, _ the i opposition parties. veryl briefly, _ the uk briefly, confirmed the uk will host summit on this host a summit on ukraine this weekend. ., , host a summit on ukraine this weekend-— weekend. that is right. 18 european _ weekend. that is right. 18 european leaders - weekend. that is right. 18 european leaders will - weekend. that is right. 18 - european leaders will i there, european leaders. will lee there,— e .. .. ee . ,- -, between the european leaders. will lee there,— e .. .. ee . ,- e. between the prime {and 77 and president zelensky -nm attend the meetin,s t a both attend the meeting. because it certainly no than a job it is no more than a job when it comes to security guarantees for ukraine. they will be discussing they put more on the j on the american :— to provide administration'to provide �* security guarantees greater security guarantees and address themselves. and address the question of if question of what will happen if they fail so, extra they fail to do so, what extra resources extra security they fail to do so, what extra resources can xtra security they fail to do so, what extra resources can they security they fail to do so, what extra resources can they offer ty they fail to do so, what extra resources can they offer to guarantees can they offer to �*future russian deterfuture russian aggression? deter future russian aggression?- deter future russian an aression? flu [em flu mm correspondent, iain watson, thank you. andrew tate, the self—confessed misogynist and influencer, has told reporters that he and his brother, tristan, are innocent

the pair, who were arrested in romania three years ago, prosecutors. trafficking against them, which they deny, have not been dropped. bucharest, nick thorpe. romanian authorities saying about the manner in which they were able to leave romania? in the last few minutes. _ romania? in the last few- minutes. minister minutes, the romanian minister justice has called on to - ive to -ivea % m £7 7 to give a bit more about tire explanation about the in which the circumstances in which the were he is passports were returned. he is the remaining public are saying the remaining public are a full explanation. not owed affull eepla "ate" blot the owed affull esp'afla�*e" blot the prosecutors owed affull exo'a'fia�*o" blot the prosecutors but he doubtino the prosecutors. butrher , ~ ~ ~ ~ saying they explain is saying they must explain more, ratherthan is saying they must explain more, rather than the terse statement issued yesterday. justice minister also

romanian justice minister also that if romanianjustice minister also that if the tate brothers to back to romania facing these charges, serious against very serious charges against them, they riskjail. 0f very serious charges against them, they riskjail. of course if they not here, how jf they are not here; how might put 7 jf they are not here; how might put them into but 7 ”if but that 7 77 7 7 77but7th7atp7erhaps 77777 7777 there 77 7the7re7m7ig7ht777 77 7the7re7m7ig7ht7b7e7 in suggests there might be in terms of the negotiations going terms ofethe negotiations going perhaps in the back at on perhaps in the back rooms at a political level, perhaps they might some kind of agreement mgghiiae some kindof agreement the romanian and between the romanian and american administration that the americanjustice american administration that the american justice system make sure the 7 make sure the tate brother will make sure the tate brother returned to romania, which would be an interesting development, if that happens. thank you, nick thorpe, in bucharest. jeff bezos has announced plans for an all—female crew rocket.

and its 31st overall. it's believed the rocket will carry its passengers to the karman line — the internationally recognised boundary of space. before returning to earth. the last recorded all—female spaceflight was in 1963. former nasa astronaut cady coleman told the bbc i have been looking forward to such a for a long such a thing for a really long and i think that for me meeting sally ride... it never occurred to to an occurred to me to become an astronaut myself until i saw someone a little bit like me we need to have a range of and we need to have a range of role so i think

role models so i think commercial space flights commerc'ral space flights and like commerc'ralspace flights and like this where flights like this one where they are all women all they are all women but all very different from each other, i that out that you think thotpointo out that you not to think thatpointa out that you not to a certain way do not have to be a certain way to have a certain dream. i think it is a pivotal flight and certainly a veryjoyous these women are qualified. that was a former nasa _ let - qualified. that was a former nasa _ let us - qualified. that was a former l nasa _ let us update qualified. that was a former l nas on - let us update qualified. that was a former l nas on . pope's ft us update qualified. that was a former l nas on . pope's health. late live 7 live pictures from the are live pictures from the in the hospital in rome. the latest update from the vatican said, as in the past days, the night 7p27§§e7d777 7 7 7 7527572577 afi7d7 7 7 7 7537572577 afi7d7 7 to... is now resting. the statement coming in two ago. of coming in two hours ago. of have been getting 77777updates 77 77777777update7sf7rom77 7777777l7ipdate7sf7rom7th7e7777 77 77 updates from the vatican daily updates from the vatican the health of the pope --e... , for eeee. , for two has been hospitalised for two weeks now. he went weeks now. he initially went into hospital suffering a respiratory tract infection, of7 7 of course of cou7rse that infection 777 7777and7 77 7777 7 777 7777and7he77 7777 7 777m iié7de7v7éii>§e7d7 in 7 in both lungs. at the

pneumonia in both lungs. at the moment what we understand from the vatican is that the pope a quiet night and he is now had a quiet night and he is now resting, but of course there worries about his are renown about his. health ' " ' the pope are renown about his. health" " ' the pope being 88 years and 77 and the 77 and the vatica7n 7 and the vatica7n say7s old, and the vatican says recovery take -m news. stay with watching bbc news. stay with us. hello. we leap into meteorological spring tomorrow, but whilst the weather is looking fine for most of the time by day, with some in the north and west, though, we will see that continued risk of frost and fog. roost certainly today. underneath it, light winds where we saw the fog earlier. across the north—west of scotland — could turn to gale

force gusts across the hebrides later, as this area of cloud and a few showers push their way in. afternoon and temperatures, 9—11 celsius, on parfor where we should be at the end of february. but of course, that sun is getting a bit stronger, so you will notice the benefit out there. we go into this evening and overnight, the fog in east anglia and the south—east. in western scotland and northern ireland, outbreaks of rain pushing in. eastern scotland should stay largely dry but the blue colours indicating a widespread frost for england and wales into the start of the weekend. eastwards. in through saturday, working its way southwards. eastern scotland and northern ireland, cloud, outbreaks of rain and drizzle. it edges its way into northern england and north wales later in the day, a few spots of light rain. the sunshine turns hazy and certainly more cloud compared with today.

for some of you. north of scotland. remnants of saturday's front breaking up across northern england, north wales and northern ireland. could not rule out the odd isolated shower, but for the vast majority, it will be a dry southern parts of england and wales in particular. high pressure is still with us. but for most of the uk, next week, we going to spring

hello, this is bbc news, the president trump says he's made �*lots of progress' on ending russia's war in ukraine, as sir keir starmer returns we visit a us supermax jail — as the uk government

hello, i'm katherine byaruhanga. to ease pressure. a texas prison scheme to combat the problem. isn't enough on its own to tackle the issue. 0ur senior uk correspondent sima kotecha has more. behind bars texas style. and it's an eye—opener. never seen anything quite like this in terms of scale. football pitches.

and that's the same number of inmates here —