For the First Time Since itjoined nato, the swedish flag has been raised at nato headquarters. Theyve been taking part in the Largest Military exercise since the cold war, amidst warnings of a new threat to europe from russia following its full scale invasion from damning of ukraine. Jonathan beale reports from the arctic circle. Nato says its a bulwark for peace. But its preparing for war. This, just part of its massive Military Exercise taking place right across europe. And with newest members sweden and finland in no doubt as to why theyjoined. Being alone against russia is like, why take that risk when you canjoin nato . I personally feel a lot safer because now we have allies to depend on. In this scenario, theyve come to defend Northern Norway after its been invaded. Theyre not calling the enemy russia, but it is a near neighbour. The aim of this exercise is to demonstrate how nato would come to the aid of an ally under attack. It is the very principle of the alliance an attack on one is an attack on all. Butjust how likely is that . No one� s saying the threat is imminent russias preoccupied with its war in ukraine but it is moscows aggression thats sounding the alarm. The important thing is, its not if they will reinforce themselves, its how long will it take . Youre sure russia is a threat . Im sure that russia is the threat, yes. And that we need to become Even Stronger as an allied country in the upcoming five and ten years. Its those Living Closest who are most aware of the threat. The countrys now boosting defence spending, but also mentally preparing themselves for war. Both finland and norway share a border with russia. And theyve already strengthened their defences with a citizen army teachers, nurses and carpenters who are also part time soldiers. These are members of norways home guard, but its no dads army most are young and ready to fight. You know, in world war two, this county was burned down the whole county. So my grandparents, everyone, they had to flee. And, yes, if thats my option just stay here and fight and do something im trained for, id rather stay here and fight, yeah. I look at the newspaper more often now than i did before just to see if theres something something thats happened, or. Yeah, especially with russia. For these nordic allies, it is now strength in numbers. But for russia, its the mother of all Unintended Consequences more nato on its border. Jonathan beale, bbc news, the arctic circle. The un Secretary General has again called for a ramadan ceasefire in sudan. Its suffering from the biggest Displacement Crisis in the world, and aid agencies warn it risks becoming the Worlds Largest Hunger Crisis. Reports say a top general in sudans army rejected a ramadan ceasefire unless the rival rsf Paramilitary Group leaves civilian and public sites. Us officials are pushing to open more land routes for aid from Chad The Army had closed access points, saying the rsf was using it to transport weapons, and has only re opened one. The fighting there must end for the sake of the sudanese people who face hunger, horrors and untold hardships. In gaza, in sudan and beyond, its time for peace. I call on political, religious and Community Leaders everywhere to do everything in their power to make this holy period a time for empathy, action and peace. Earlier we spoke to michael dunford, the World Food Programmes regional director for eastern africa. He told us about the severity of the situation in sudan. We have an extraordinary problem on our hands in sudan at the moment, not only inside the country, but also across the region. 8. 4 Million People displaced inside, another 1. 9 million refugees escaping into places like chad and south sudan, countries that dont really have the capacity to meet their needs. The International Community must put pressure on all parties to the conflict, to ceasefire, as weve just heard to the conflict to ceasefire, as weve just heard from the Secretary General. Its essential that we have a cease fire which would allow humanitarian organisations such as the World Food Programme to scale up our operations massively. And that is the only thing that is going to provide any ability to prevent the Hunger Crisis that is looming as we speak. Were all coming up next month to the one Year Anniversary of the start of the conflict and all of the efforts to try and impose or agree a ceasefire or to allow the humanitarian access thus far have not succeeded. But we cant give up hope. We need to continue to put pressure and we need key members of the Security Council and others to ensure that progress is being made because without an end to the conflict. An end to the conflict, we are facing a devastating catastrophe in sudan. One of the conservative partys biggest donors has been accused of making racist remarks about the mp, diane abbott. Frank hester has accepted that he was rude but insisted his comments, made in 2019, had nothing to do with ms abbotts gender or skin colour. Here is our chief Political Correspondent with more. Frank esther runs correspondent with more. Frank esther runs a correspondent with more. Frank esther runs a Software Correspondent with more. Frank| esther runs a software company, correspondent with more. F� aia; esther runs a software company, and is one of the conservative partys biggest donors. Just last year, he gave the party £10 million, 5 million himself and £5 million through his company. It was at a meeting of that company back in 2019 where the guardian alleges he was talking about an executive from a rival firm and then went on to say that this, it is like trying not to be racist, but you see diane abbott on the tv and you just want to hate all black woman because she is there, and i dont hate all black women at all, but i think she should be shot. It is important to say that the bbc has not verified these remarks, that mr hester responded saying that he accepts he was rude about diane abbott in a private meeting several years ago, but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender or colour of skin. Also it is worth us noting that his team say that that response, that apology of sorts, is not a confirmation that he made the comments as quoted by the guardian. There is already a big row over missing westminster stop just moments after the guardians report 15, wes streeting, the Shadow Health secretary, stood up in the House Of Commons and said the comments were revolting, racist and inciteful. The tories have repeated the claim that the comments had nothing to do with Diane Abbotts gender or colour of skin. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. This is kathleens last Virtual World checkup. She has been recuperating at home after a hospital admission. Recuperating at home after a hospital admission. They are polite and efficient hospital admission. They are polite and efficient and hospital admission. They are polite and efficient and they hospital admission. They are polite and efficient and they listen. Hospital admission. They are polite and efficient and they listen. If and efficient and they listen. If they say it will be a visit, it is a visit. If they say no visit tomorrow, but it will be a phone call, a phone call. Tomorrow, but it will be a phone call, a phone call. Shes going to do her assessment. Call, a phone call. Shes going to do her assessment. The call, a phone call. Shes going to do her assessment. The idea i call, a phone call. Shes going toj do her assessment. The idea is sim le do her assessment. The idea is simple enough do her assessment. The idea is simple enough. Patients do her assessment. The idea is simple enough. Patients can do her assessment. The idea is. Simple enough. Patients can leave hospital and go home sooner. Their care uses a mix of technology and home visits. It frees up hospital beds, and patients prefer it. We dont beds, and patients prefer it. Dont often talk about the side effects of being in hospital and the implications of that. It is hugely disruptive for people, it is noisy, it is not a great place for people to recover, and there are also problems with infections. Overall, this is a really Good Initiative in the nhs. For more stories across initiative in the nhs. For more stories across the initiative in the nhs. For more stories across the uk, initiative in the nhs. For more stories across the uk, had initiative in the nhs. For more stories across the uk, had to i initiative in the nhs. For more i stories across the uk, had to the bbc news website. Youre live with bbc news. Joe biden has posted a new budget. It offers a contrast with Donald Trumps vision. Heres more from michele trumps vision. Heres more from michel , �. , michele present biden outlined his residential your michele present biden outlined his residential your budget michele present biden outlined his residential your budget pitch. Michele present biden outlined his residential your budget pitch. It. Residential your budget pitch. It includes higher taxes on the. Wealthy. As well as eight for israel. If it became law, it was a 3 trillion seven . 3 trillion. It would also push debt over 100 of gdp. By contrast, Donald Trumps Economic Vision is for more tariffs, pump more oil, and more. Present biden is trying to win over american is unhappy with the economy. Although this Budget Proposal has little chance of being approved by congress, it is a blueprint of what the future could hold if the democrats win in november. The value of bitcoin has reached an all time high. Now, the uks financial watchdog says it will loosen some of the rules. For the last two years, lines charting the value of bitcoin have mostly been in one direction. But in the last few weeks its all changed. Now this Virtual Currency is hitting new all time highs. The reason . Well, its mostly down to this place. Injanuary, traders from Us Investment giants were given the green light by us watchdogs to start selling products linked directly to bitcoin. As a result, theyve spent billions buying up coins. Further stoking the fire, today, uk financial Authorities Say they too are open to allowing some trading based on crypto assets. Some are now wondering just how far this Virtual Currency can go. Some people think that the potential of bitcoin is to replace all other currencies and there are shops and restaurants like this one in london that accept bitcoin. Ijust bought this £7 burger, for example, which was 0. 00009 bitcoin. But the way prices are going now, who knows what itll be worth tomorrow . I dont think were going to see bitcoin becoming a genuine currency, but i think were seeing it become as a recognised and potentially widely used investment asset. People buying it to save for the longer term and to benefit from the price rises. Bitcoin was created by an anonymous Internet User in 2009 to make sending money as easy as sending an email, all without needing any financial institutions. Bitcoin transactions are processed by a huge network of volunteers who use computers to check transactions as a reward. Who use computers to check transactions. As a reward, theyre automatically given new coins. Right now, the demand for those coins seems to be higher than ever, and many bitcoin fans are celebrating their new found riches. Others, though, are wondering with caution which way the notoriously unpredictable line will go next. Joe tidy, bbc news. The Prime Minister of haiti, a real henry has called for calm after announcing his resignation. In the last few minutes, he has said that haiti wants peace, need sustainability and Sustainable Development and to rebuild democratic institutions. He says he is asking all haitians to remain calm and ask for peace and stability to come back as soon as possible. Lets speak tojean martin bauer, World Food Programme country director for haiti. He isjoining us from the capital Port Au Prince. Can you tell us how bad the humanitarian situation is at the moment in haiti . I humanitarian situation is at the moment in haiti . Humanitarian situation is at the moment in haiti . I need to clarify that i am moment in haiti . I need to clarify that i am in moment in haiti . I need to clarify that i am in the moment in haiti . I need to clarify that i am in the second moment in haiti . I need to clarify that i am in the second city, that i am in the second city, about 150 kilometres from Port Au Prince. The situation in Port Au Prince and got quite dramatic, with the city being surrounded by groups and arms. In the port itself, it was looted a few days ago. It is impossible to get in and out of Port Au Prince at this time. There has been an upsurge in violence, leading to massive population displacement. Im quite concerned about the humanitarian climate in Port Au Prince. What concerned about the humanitarian climate in portauprince. What kind of work is wfp climate in portauprince. What kind of work is wfp able climate in portauprince. What kind of work is wfp able to climate in portauprince. What kind of work is wfp able to do . Climate in portauprince. What kind of work is wfp able to do . Were of work is wfp able to do . Were doinu of work is wfp able to do . Were doing everything of work is wfp able to do . Were doing everything we of work is wfp able to do . Doing everything we possibly can in relation with the options we have on hand. We have been deploying a hot meal service to people who have had to flee their homes when these armed groups attacked specific neighbourhoods. They will tend to burn the house as a residence so that they never come back. We are dealing in Port Au Prince alone with more than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes with nothing but the shirts on the back. Inaudible the violence is also affected parts of haiti, it has been nationwide, and were trying make sure that our programmes remain running. Weve been able to provide support for about 160,000 school meal programmes. The programme has very short supply change. We dont have issues with bottlenecks and structure such as the port run routes. That is making it possible for us to continue these programmes. We fed about 152,000 haitians. White pledges is not an issue with security . Gang violence is rife. There is a tight correlation between both, because hunger invites humanitarian. It impacts farming, and has impacts on peoples ability to buy food they require. All of these factors have been undermined, and im quite worried about what comes next. We need is a return to security, we need stability, we need humanitarian access, and we also need more donors to step up to fund this. Weve talked about how important it is to have security in haiti. People do not know it is grossly underfunded. The United Nations Security Plan for haiti was only 35 funded last that is not enough. We need people to step up now. � enough. We need people to step up now. ~. ,. ,. , now. And the caribbean summit on the crisis, an additional now. And the caribbean summit on the crisis, an additional 150 now. And the caribbean summit on the crisis, an additional 150 million crisis, an additional 150 million was announced for a un backed force to aid the country. How quickly do you think that will get to you, and will be enough . Than . You think that will get to you, and will be enough . You think that will get to you, and will be enou~h . � ,. ,. ,. , will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. Will be enough . Any announcement is welcome the will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. The issue will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. The issue is will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. The issue is that will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. The issue is that we will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. The issue is that we have i will be enough . Any announcement is welcome. The issue is that we have a | welcome. The issue is that we have a humanitarian Response Plan that is 674 humanitarian Response Plan that is 671; million for this year, so were going to need much more support. In the case of haiti, it is not about guns or security versus food, we just need more sustained support to be able to make a difference we are quite concerned that we will not be able to sustain it unless we get donations in the next few days stop donations in the next few days stop do you think there are resignation of a real henry and his call for calm will make a difference to the situation there . Irate calm will make a difference to the situation there . Situation there . We are very security conscious situation there . We are very security conscious at situation there . We are very security conscious at their i situation there . We are very security conscious at their World Food Programme. We make sure that we do distribution, they are done in a way that secure communities themselves. We are looking at developments. The night seems to have been calm in Port Au Prince. We are watching and being cautious at present. Are watching and being cautious at resent. , ~ ,. , are watching and being cautious at resent. ,. ,. Lets get some of the other news of the day now. A former Boeing Employee who raised concerns about the companys standards has been found dead in the us. He was giving evidence against boeing in the days before his death. It was said he died from a self inflicted wound. Police are investigating full stop donald trump has criticised a bill that could ban the use of tiktok in the us. He says such a move would give an unfair advantage to facebook owner meta. Lawmakers are set to vote on a bill this week that would. Air b bs says it will ban most indoor Security Cameras in the property it lists. It follows complaints that they would be found in areas where guests would expect privacy. The new policy comes into effect at the end of april. French experts and fired x rays at a violent, hoping to find the secret to its sound. The aim was to create a 3d model of the violin, both to conserve it and to understand why play so beautifully. Irate conserve it and to understand why play so beautifully. Conserve it and to understand why play so beautifully. We know much more about play so beautifully. We know much more about the play so beautifully. We know much more about the health play so beautifully. We know much more about the health of play so beautifully. We know much more about the health of the more about the health of the instrument, this for us was very important, because paganini himself said, i leave my violin to the city of genoa that it be perpetually preserved. That was part of his will. Now we are better able to understand the instrument and better able to conserve the instrument. While we have been on air, we have been watching the ship that left larnaca in cyprus. Details of that story on a website. It is taking is 200 tonnes of food to jazz up from cyprus and a Pilot Project that is open up a new sea route of aid to gaza, which is on the brink of famine. Now, what do morecambe and wise, Frank Sinatra and the beatles all have in common . Theyve all performed in blackpool and this week the towns illustrious history of entertainment is being celebrated with a new multi Million Pound attraction. The museum, called show town, will open to the public on friday but our arts correspondent David Sillito has been given a Sneak Preview of whats on offer. Every year when summer comes round. Off to the sea i go. I dont care. Hello and welcome to blackpool. Yes welcome to blackpool, and showtown. Hello, sir. With me little stick of blackpool rock . A new multi Million Pound attraction telling the story of blackpools place in the history of entertainment. Wheres Charlie Cairoli . Hes here. Im leaning on a lamp post at that corner of the street, in case. The girls took me round somewhere. I think its round this way. Is it . I think its round this way. Oh, right. Oh, here we go and i invited a blackpool connoisseur to test it out. Youre enjoying this, arent you . I really am its, er. Its fantastic, really is. Its round here oh, here you go. Go on, do a bit of the buddy holly i love him doing this. Go on, do buddy holly . Syd little of little and large. Born in blackpool. Peggy sue. And, in the � 70s and � 80s, top of the bill. 1979. Wow. Your heyday. Two shows a day look at that 6 10 and 8 50. You were doing two shows a day . Yeah, yeah. How many days a week . Six days a week. Thats what you did. And then you got sunday off . No you went to scarborough or somewhere like that and did a one night show. You were working seven days a week, two shows a day . Seven days a week, yeah. That was always the go in the � 60s. Ali bongo, Norman Wisdom frank carson look at that. Oh, theres no business. And sid knows his stuff. He really has. There you are Charlie Cairoli. Look at that. Met everyone, beginning with the towns most famous clown. Charlie cairoli is a legend, you know . So you played with the cairolis . Yes keith harris and orville. He hated. He hated that green duck. They always hate the thing that made them famous. Its amazing you know. He hated the duck . He didnt like the duck, no, no. And that was just the beginning. Victoria wood she was our guest on our radio show. Even vic and bob. We actually did their tv show. Everybody that was anybody played blackpool. However, blackpool these days isnt quite what it was. It is a familiar story in seaside towns of britain, but this is a chance to remember what made this place great when it really was, for millions, the home of entertainment. There is such a lot to celebrate in blackpool, and were here to do just that. Its not the richest of towns now. This is a reminder of just how extraordinary the place is, isnt it . I think thats really fair to say. Yeah, blackpool is quite easily knocked, to be honest. It is a town that is well worn, well used, and in real need i of additional development. Look stan laurel� s hat. Orville and his silver disc. And, of course, strictly so how many shows are we talking about in the � 60s, � 70s . Oh, you had 25 shows. So 25 venues . Venues, yeah, yeah. But thats not 25 shows, though. No sometimes they had multiple shows a day. I mean, thats thousands and thousands of people, isnt it . Absolutely. More than the west end in london. Oh, bigger than the west end . Yeah, yeah. So that you could have more bums on seats in blackpool per day than you could at the west end in london. Newsreel after dark, lancashires favourite resort becomes a blackpool of light. Its the Illuminations and everybodys welcome who prefers the blackpool prom to the albert halt absolutely everyone seems to have played blackpool. Weve got the beatles, Frank Sinatra, lady gaga, cilla. Sweep squeaks. Oh, sooty and sweep, of course. Because. Whats that . Yeah, youre proper blackpool talent. Sweep squeaks. Youre from blackpool . Sweep squeaks. 19. . 1948 . sweep squeaks. So this is your 75th anniversary year . Sweep squeaks. Ah, youre looking. Well, youre looking pretty good, actually, for being 75 years old. Sweep squeaks. Sweep squeak sings. Oh, i do like to be beside the seaside and syd. Youre enjoying this, arent you . Iblinkin am its miles better than i thought it would be. He didnt want to leave. Yeah, really is. David sillito. Sweep squeaks. Bbc news. Sweep squeaks. Blackpool. Sweep squeaks. Time for the weather with carol. Hello again. Todays turning out to be fairly cloudy and also wet, the heaviest rain across england and wales, and that will be quite slow to clear. And as we go through this week, although its turning milder, there will be spells of rain. Now, if we take a look at the rainfall accumulation chart, you can see the key is here. Weve got a lot of dark blues in the chart, meaning 20 to 30 millimetres of rainfall. But locally weve got the bright greens, which is even more than that, and its falling an already saturated ground, exacerbating the risk of localised flooding. So a lot of cloud on the cards today. For most of us its been producing some rain. But even as the rain pushes steadily eastwards behind it will have a legacy of cloud, murky, dank conditions, hill and coastal mist and fog. The brightest skies with some sunshine will be across the far north of scotland. Temperature wise, seven in lerwick to 13 in belfast, birmingham, london and plymouth. Now as we go through the evening and overnight, we start off on a largely dry note, but weve got two Weather Fronts. Heres the first one pushing eastwards, taking some rain. Heres the second one moving south eastwards, Bringing Heavier Rain Across Scotland and Northern Ireland, eventually into the far north of northern england. The wind picking up behind it, but a very mild night ahead of it. So tomorrow we start off with this rain again, slowly sinking southwards. There will still be a fair bit of cloud ahead of it, but well see some breaks in the cloud tomorrow with some sunshine. Whereas for scotland and Northern Ireland its going to be windy with sunshine and showers, gales across the far north, temperatures 8 to 15 degrees. But in the sunshine in the south east, we might see a little bit higher than that. Wednesday night into thursday, our Weather Front retreats northwards once again taking its rain with it. Theres another one coming in from the atlantic as well. So thursday is looking fairly cloudy, wet as the rain moves northwards. Showery rain coming in from the west pushing eastwards. These are the temperatures eight to about 16 Degrees North to south. Again, in any breaks in that cloud, we might see a little bit higher. And thats illustrated here. Weve got this South Westerly Wind coming in across much of the country, but note how weve got more of a north westerly in the far north. So here temperatures will dip temporarily. So the outlook remains unsettled with rain or showers. Live from jerusalem, this is bbc news. The bbc sees evidence that staff at Nasser Hospital In Gaza were mistreated by Israeli Forces we will bring you a special report. A ship loaded with 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid has left cypruss larnaca port for gaza. Also on the programme. Hatelys Prime Minister also on the programme. Hatelys Prime Minister ariel also on the programme. Hatelys Prime Minister ariel henry also on the programme. Hatelys Prime Minister ariel henry resigns| Prime Minister ariel henry resigns and calls for calm after Gang Violence plunge the country into chaos. And american Singer Songwriter eric carmen, known for their hit single all by myself, has died. Hello, im anna foster. You are live with bbc news. I am here injerusalem, where we start with a special report. The bbc has seen evidence that doctors, nurses and other Hospital Staff were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital medical duties when Israeli Forces overran the Nasser Hospital In Gaza last month