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narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news". ♪ >> this is bbc world news america. joe biden meets the family of alexei navalny in san francisco. in russia, his mother says she has been able to see his body. the bombing of gaza by israel continues as true stocks are prepared in paris. some hospitals in alabama stop ivf treatments after a court rules that frozen embryos are considered children. ♪

hello and welcome to world news america. joe biden has met the wife and daughter of the late russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, in california. he emphasized that navalny's legacy lives on in russia and around the world who are fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. the u.s. will announce a further round of sanctions on russia on friday. they could number in the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. the valley's -- navalny's mother says she has finally seen his body. she was taken to a mortgage on wednesday night where she was presented with a death certificate which she signed. his team says the document states that he died of natural causes.

>> they should have given me his body immediately, but they did not. they blackmailed me and put conditions on where, win, and how he could be buried. this was illegal. they received orders from the kremlin. they want it done secretly without a memorial service. they want to take me to the edge of a cemetery and say, here lies your son. i do not agree with that. i am recording this video because they srted threatening me. the investigators that if i do not agree to a secret funeral, they will do something to my sons body. the corpse is decomposed. i do not want special conditions. i want everything done according to the law. >> this saturday marks two years since russian troops were ordered to invade ukraine. this was the map back in february of 2022 when russia held crimea, which is annexed in 2014 and russian backed

separatists held a small section of southern ukraine. since then, the russian military has faced huge losses. the latest bbc estimate suggests more than 110,000 have died. while ukraine has endured the worst of the war, russian towns were also shelled and hundreds of thousands of men were drafted into the army. we take a look at how the country and its people changed during the war. >> we are two years into what has changed russia. and to set the country on a dark path. two years of war and heavy casualties. mobilization and mutiny. and repression. navalny dad in prison -- dead in prison. the president is looking confident. he sucked -- says the tide might be turning in s favor.

but what is his goal? >> he wants this world to live on his own terms. i do not think that he wants to have some kind of takeover of poland or the baltic states or western europe. he needs ukraine, bad. this is not enough for him. what is enough? this world must accept his rules. must accept his vision of the world. >> how things have changed. there was a time when russia and the west were talking about cooperation, partnership. >> the payton i met with -- putin i met with did good business. he is very different from this megalomaniac at the present moment. so the man who stood beside me in may of 2002 and said your claim is the sovereign, independent nations date which

will make its own decisions about security is not the man who says it is not a nationstate and that it should be wiped off the face of the earth. reporter: vladimir putin once said in a press conference that russia was squeaky clean. nothing has change the kremlin continues to claim that none of what is happening today is russia's fault. the west started this war. two years ago, it was the west that invaded ukraine. that was russia. how does the russian public see things? this is a town near moscow. the last two years of russia's history is all here in the park. the invasion of ukrai, these russian soldiers were killed than and portrayed as heroes. graffiti for a paramilitary group. and flowers in memory of navalny .

for the residence here, -- residents here, in two years, life has changed. >> our factories are making things now that we used to buy abroad. but i am sad for the young men. for everyone has been filled -- killed. she praises russian soldiers in ukraine admits that she lives in fear that her own son may be called up to fight. we need peace, she says, so that we do not have to fear what tomorrow will bring. these two years have changed the war memorial in the town square. there is a new section. dozens of names of local men killed in what the kremlin still calls a special operation, not a war. bbc news, moscow. >> a short time ago, i spoke

about all of this to a u.s. congressman who is the chair of the house intelligent committee. thank you for joining us. if we can start by discussing alexei navalny. we heard today that his mother has finally had access to her son that she has been told that his body will not be released to her and less she agrees to have a private burial or funeral ceremony. what is your reaction to that? >> this continues to show the thuggery of vladimir putin. when the announcement that navalny was dead was made at the munich security conference, his widow took the stage in disbelief. she met with the u.s. delegation and we expressed our sorrow. she gave the warning to the west to understand that vladimir putin's aggression against ukraine is not isolated. his attempts to take on the west and take on democracy and

authoritarianism, and of course now what is occurring with his mother and the constriction of his funeral. >> was there anything you could say to her about how the u.s. might be able to help her? >> we certainly gave our sorrow and condolences and support. she has a message now that people need to hear around the world. that is the danger of vladimir putin not being contained. the danger of the u.s. not answering as he seeks to impose authoritarianism upon democracies. as we saw with the voice of her husband, who was a voice for democracy and change, vladimir putin will not stop at anything. as we mourn his death, we really mourn what is occurring in russia. anchor: president biden said he will announce a new range of sanctions tomorrow. what does he need to do? >> already there have been significant sanctions against russia to try to have economic impact against their ability to

fund their weapons and military systems as they seek to impose their will on ukraine. as you know, vladimir putin has made statements that his goals are much farther than ukraine. he looks to eastern europe and the area of the former soviet union. we see even areas that are currently in nato that are at risk. the president in his resolve to increase sanctions is also making the point to congress that we are at a critical point. certainly we need to make sure that the house and senate delivers to the president's desk a bill that funds ukraine aid so they can continue their fight against vladimir putin. anchor: you and your colleagues have been unable to do that this far. what has changed that gives the confluence that that might happen? >> speaker johnson has said repeatedly that he supports ukraine funding. i have sat with him and the secretary-general of nato and president zelenskyy where he has

made statements of his commitment to ensure that the eight gets to ukraine. -- aid gets to ukraine. have another issues for gettin it out. as a result of meetings that took place this weekend, congss will be placing this at number one. to make sure this aid gets out of congress and get into the hands of those who are fighting for democracy. anchor: what does that look like? separating out of the border measures package from the ukrainian funding? >> i think there will be separate votes for the different elements because there are individuals who support some of the packages and not all of the packages. in the end, this will be one package and it needs to get to the president's desk. anchor: for all you said about speaker johnson's being committed, they have failed to schedule a vote on this. has he given you any indication of a timeline for when that might happen? >> this is been a difficult path

largely due to infighting of a very small individuals on the republican side who have continued to threaten the speaker. we lost kevin mccarthy to that same small group that is really in the way of ukraine and israel aid and the u.s. getting its own funding done for its own military for this year. speaker johnson is putting together his package to make sure he has support both from democrats and republicans to get through the senate and onto the president. anchor: time is ticking in terms of funding the government and avoiding a shutdown. to answer that point? >> as we going to the beginning of march and into the second week, it will be critical that we get this done. i think speaker johnson has pulled his team together and we will probably see some significant legislative work that hits the house floor in order to make these important timelines. anchor: part of that package and

everything you will be voting on, there is also aid to israel, he military aid to gaza. we have seen a change in a language from the president and his administration officials in a call for a temporary cease-fire, which we had not seen before. do you support that? >> i think right now we need to be focused on the house side of getting this package out to israel to know they have the resources. i think there are ongoing negotiations in respect to hostages. we have been in and out of the area. at times these efforts resulted in the last cease-fire. there may be opportunities for both a cease-fire and the hostages being released. overall we have to make sure the terrorists in hamas who hold the palestinians in gaza hostage themselves but are also a threat to israel. anchor: would you support his

call for a temporary cease-fire? >> i think we have to look at what is happening in gaza things are evolving. the house needs to be focused not on whether there should be a cease-fire about whether or not the u.s. gets its funding out the door to israel. anchor: just the broader u.s. position in the region. we have heard so many times they desire to avoid conflict spreading. we have the u.s. military involved in operations around the red sea. what is your view of where that is going? does that need to be stepped up or changed in any way? >> our focus has to be to understand that this is iran and their proxies. no matter what name you put on them, they are all the result of these franchises of iran. they fund them, train them, direct them. many times they are identifying targets themselves by continuing in their training of these individuals to destabilize the area.

there have been attacks on commercial shipping areas, saudi arabia, the u.s. in iraq and syria and israel. all of these areas, the instability is because of what iran is doing. anchor: representative mike turner, chairperson of the house intel committee, thank y for being with us on bbc news. the white house says efforts toward a deal where hamas will free hostages held in gaza are going well, even as israel's bombing campaign continues. a national security spokesperson made the remarks on thursday as joe biden's advisor on the middle east met the israeli defense forces. israel will send a delegation to paris for truce talks this weend. the team will be granted more authority to try to make progress on a deal. the white house could not confirm or deny that the act --

director of the cia will also attend the talks. israel is carrying out some of his heaviest bombardments in gaza so far, mostly targeted at the southernmost city. the health ministry says 97 people were killed overnight. israel also targeted gaza city in the north. these are images of the aftermath of the bombing. the u.k. airdropped for tons of food, fuel, and medicine, part of a deal with jordan. aid organizations say this is not enough. this was the first airdropped in war began. they were floated down to a hospital by the royal jordanian air force. our middle east correspondent was on board the plane as the aid was dropped down and he sent this report. reporter: it is not for the faint of hearted.

17,000 feet rightly above gaza. the royal jordanian air force getting their oxygen ready before the cargo doors open. their payload is vital aid desperately needed in the drop zone below, northern gaza. some last-minute adjustments to the parachutes and gps trackers which will deliver it to a tiny clear patch of land below them. supplies for a jordanian run hospital. >> [indiscernible] reporter: they have done this mission a dozen times. for the first time, it is british aid being launched into the strip. inside these pallets, fuel, medical supplies, and ration packs, all paid for by the u.k. this is the last two terms of

british aid on their way to northern gaza. it has been turned into a wasteland. there are still 300,000 palestinians remaining there. the u.n. says the situation is too dangerous on the ground. it is a small drop in the chasm of gaza's need. but it at least managed to get through. it landed right on target. anchor: for more on the prospect of success from the talks, i spoke to a retired u.s. diplomat and the president emeritus of the council on foreign relations. thank you for being with us on bbc news. if we can start with this breaking news that the israelis are to send a delegation to talks in paris around some kind of temporary cease-fire. what do you think has changed

given how prime minister netanyahu had earlier rejected attending these talks and rejected the hamas position just a few days ago? >> there are probably several explanations. one is the return of the hostages. this is a minimum priority. it is a strong nearly difficult for the israeli government to juify a stance where they do not participate in these talks. we are not talking about a permanent cease-fire. the united states has been circulating an alternative resolution in new york which among other things calls for a temporary cease-fire in the return of the hostages. it takes a lot for the israelis to be at cross purposes with the u.s. my guess is that all of these ings came together to explain the evolution of the israeli stance. anchor: as you mentioned, the change in language from the u.s.. we have seen the strengthening

of the position in recent days. does that development indicate perhaps tt the u.s. is not just speaking more forcefully about this but pushing israel more forcefully as well? >> what it also shows is the u.s. is perhaps willing to stake out a position independent of israel. for the last few months, the u.s. has advertised persuasion, trying to lead the israelis to do this or not do that. as we have seen for the most part with the exception of lifting some aid into gaza, u.s. influence has been minimal. i think you're beginning to see signs of a more independent u.s. position that will not give israel a veto over what the u.s. says or does. anchor: the beginning of ramadan is 2.5 weeks away. that is the date the israelis have put as a hard deadline for hostages being returned. do you think that date is achievable at this point? >> that is one of those

impossible to answeruestions. if people wanted an agreement, they can have it in a day. ti is not the issue. the real question is the willingness of both sides to cut a deal. anchor: an invasion of rafah where millions of displaced people are taking shelter will result in a greater loss of life and injuries that we have seen to this point. you are talking about the u.s. taking out an independent position. at what point eu think the u.s. would have to start reconsidering its support for israel should that invion happened with the expected loss of life? >> this resolution the u.s. is circulating opposes that kind of large military operation in that part of gaza. the egyptians oppose it vehemently because they worry about a spillover into egypt. a lot would depend on how the israelis went about it.

i would imagine people in congress calling for certain limits or conditions put on the use of certain ordinances. or large numbers of casualties. i don't think the u.s. will revisit the basics of its relationship with israel. i think the bigger cost will be american public opinion. large swaths of america are good growing -- growing alienated from what israel is doing. this could cause real problems for president biden because he is dependent on the support of younger americans, arab americans, muslim americans. they would be deeply opposed to this. anchor: the president emeritus of the council for foreign relations, thank you so much for joining us on bbc news. >> thanks for having me. anchor: at least three major health care facilities in alabama have paused ivf procedures after a top court ruled the frozen embryos could legally be considered children.

president biden called the court ruling outrageous and unacceptable. he said make no mistake, this is a direct result of the overturning of roe v. wade. my message is the vice president and i are fighting for your rights, fighting for the freedom of women, families, and doctors who care for these women and who will not stop until we restore the protections of roe v. wade and federal law for all women in every state. our north american correspondence sent this report from alabama. reporter: fertility treatments is the only way to have children for her. she has one son and wants to expand her family, but her life has now been upended. >> i understand the idea of attaching a motion to the embryos. they signify potential, the dream of a child. but you cannot cuddle an embryo. you cannot breast-feed an

embryo. reporter: alabama's supreme court decision was issued in wrongful death cases brought by three couples. they had frozen embryos destroyed in an accident at a fertility clinic. the court used an already established law here to decide that unborn children are children even tside the womb. the chief justice went further, invoking the bible in his judgment, saying human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy god who uses the destruction of his image as an affront to himself. the ruling did not ban ivf, but the decision has created confusion on how to use and store embryos. one of the state's biggest fertility clinics has stopped the procedures. >> i have had to call several patients yesterday and tell them that we were not able to father and andrea in transplant -- in embryo in transplant. their bodies are ready. they are ready to go. reporter: alabama is a deeply

conservative state with very strict antiabortion laws. there are those who oppose abortion and describe themselves as pro-life. they welcome the ruling. but there are those who are conflicted. >> i think the pro-life community in general would support ivf. i have kno and worked with him many people who have done ivf and have had children and it works very well for them. at t same time, they would think abortion is wrong. reporter: pro-choice groups fear this is similar and other states that have strict antiabortion laws may follow alabama, marking a new chapter in america's bitter battle over reproductive rights. bbc news, alabama. anchor: remember, you can find more on all of the days news at our website. and to see what we are working on at any time, check us out on your favorite social media platforms.

from all the team here, thank you for watching world news america. we will see you soon. take care. narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... man: bdo. accountants and advisors. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: "usa today" calls it, "arguably the best bargain in streaming." that's because the free pbs app lets you watch the best of pbs anytime, anywhere.

wow, you get to watch all your favorite stuff. it's to die for. now you won't miss a thing. this is the way. the xfinity 10g network. made for streaming. geoff: good evening. i'm geoff bennett. amna: and i'm amna nawaz. on the “newshour” tonight, continued israeli airstrikes flatten parts of rafah as negotiators make progress for a ceasefire in gaza. geoff: the fight over spending on capitol hill intensifies, pushing the country ever closer to a government shutdown. amna: and the state of the war in ukraine nearly two years into russia's invasion. >> this year is clearly looking like a year during which ukraine is going to focus most likely much more on holding and defending, trying to rebuild and reconstitute the force, and