But President Putin is certain to win six more years in office. The uks jobs problem why more than one in five working age adults arent looking for work. Well have a Special Report from our analysis editor ros atkins. And the story of the viral hanging granny. She became an Internet Sensation and well meet the man whos immortalised the moment in paint. All that to come on the programme tonight. We start with the war in ukraine. But at a meeting that took place thousands of kilometres from the front line. The gathering today of three european leaders could have major implications for the conflict. But there is a dilemma among the three leading Military Powers of Mainland Europe just how to maintain a unified response, when theres growing differences on what that response looks like. French president emmanuel macron, german chancellor olaf scholz, and polish Prime Minister donald tusk met in berlin today amid rumours of a rift between the french and german leaders. Its a clash between whats been described as mr macrons � newly hawkish� strategy and the more cautious approach of mr scholz. In the middle is poland playing mediator in discussions. The french president has angered some European Partners in recent weeks, by suggesting that the deployment of western troops could not be ruled out. On french tv last night, he said it wasnt his wish but � all these options are possible�. Today, he had this warning. Translation its our future, a security which is our security which is at stake in ukraine. We are doing this out of solidarity for the people of ukraine whose territorial integrity is being threatened. We are doing this to defend international law, and we are doing it because the security of europeans and of us is at stake in ukraine. That is mr macron. The german chancellor has come under pressure to extend his governments help, amid delays in the us over a military aid package. Olaf scholz has made it clear that german troops on the ground is a limit he was not prepared to cross. Today, the trio vowed more weapons for kyiv and step up production of Military Equipment along with partners in ukraine. It was a message to ukraine you can rely on us. And a message too to the kremlin. Translation a crystalclear signal goes to moscow. The russian president must know that our support for ukraine will not ebb. We stand united by ukraines side. Thank you for more on this, lets speak to dr Ulrike Franke who is a senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on foreign relations. Good to have you on the context tonight. This meeting coming out such a critical time, and as we have highlighted there, relations between these leaders strained, at best. There will be a lot of relief that there is some agreement tonight, even though it is not really a shifting in any of the official positions of these leaders. M0 shifting in any of the official positions of these leaders. No and that wasnt positions of these leaders. No and that wasnt necessarily positions of these leaders. No and that wasnt necessarily to positions of these leaders. No and that wasnt necessarily to be that wasnt necessarily to be expected but this meeting really was the to show unity and send a message of unity into the world. To show the ukrainians that europe stands behind them, show russia that even though there may be internal differences, europe remains united, and to some extent also show the Europeans International audiences these are all professional politicians so, yes, there are differences in view but overall we stand united behind ukraine. I think this was really the main goal of this meeting. They played it relatively safe, i would say, but overall i think that it was successful. Say, but overall i think that it was successful successful. Yes, i wanted to ask about that because successful. Yes, i wanted to ask about that because we successful. Yes, i wanted to ask about that because we know successful. Yes, i wanted to ask about that because we know the successful. Yes, i wanted to ask about that because we know the sorts of meetings, these sorts of announcements have multiple audiences, dont they . Not only of course ukraine at the centre of all of this, also these leaders will have an eye on domestic politics, too, what their electorate might think of what is going on. But clearly, as we highlighted, that message to the kremlin, how will it be viewed in moscow . In message to the kremlin, how will it be viewed in moscow . Be viewed in moscow . In the end moscow knows be viewed in moscow . In the end moscow knows that be viewed in moscow . In the end moscow knows that there be viewed in moscow . In the end moscow knows that there are moscow knows that there are differences between europeans but i think they also realise that overall europe remains united behind ukraine. They will certainly try to play on these differences but in the end they realise that europe isnt breaking apart over the differences that are there and the main message remains that the europeans, especially these big three continental European Military powers are united, and thats important. I think moscow also hears and understands that. Think moscow also hears and understands that. Ringing in their ears will be understands that. Ringing in their ears will be the understands that. Ringing in their ears will be the warning understands that. Ringing in their ears will be the warning this understands that. Ringing in theiri ears will be the warning this week from the nato secretary general, warning on thursday that ukrainians were not running out of courage, they are running out of ammunition. He went on, this isjens stoltenberg, saying the shortage was one of the reasons why russia had made recent advances on the battlefield. They will be mindful of that. We know mr macron will also say this is not a war that europe can afford to lose. So there are again lots of different elements at play here. It is hard to see how they can be united when they still, for now, seem a very long way away when it comes to books on the ground. When it comes to books on the round. When it comes to books on the i round. , � when it comes to books on the round. , � ~. Ground. So, i dont think that the boots on the ground. So, i dont think that the boots on the ground ground. So, i dont think that the boots on the Ground Question ground. So, i dont think that the boots on the Ground Question is i ground. So, i dont think that the i boots on the Ground Question is the most important one. Even these leaders have said as much and emanuel macron has of course not proposed boots on the ground, he just hasnt excluded it in an effort to remain ambiguous and keep the strategic ambiguity. Yes, there are differences in view on certain things, but as you just alluded to, the one thing that ukraine really needs right now is ammunition, Material Command out of this meeting today, and more importantly also out of the previous meetings in paris and within the European Union context came a few very important messages about Buying Ammunition together, about producing more, even inside ukraine, and i think this is more important than the debates about hypothetical boots on the ground which isnt even what ukraine is asking for now. I think they concentrated on the right thing rather than on the disagreements, on kind of very specific things that arent the most important question at the moment. At the moment. Yes, those are the secifics, at the moment. Yes, those are the specifics. As at the moment. Yes, those are the specifics. As you at the moment. Yes, those are the specifics, as you said, at the moment. Yes, those are the specifics, as you said, about at the moment. Yes, those are the specifics, as you said, about the i specifics, as you said, about the war in ukraine. At this rift is politically very difficult as well, isnt it . There is a real danger, a potential danger, that if there is not a consensus on some, that dispute could spill over into other areas, areas unrelated to what is going on in ukraine. Yes areas, areas unrelated to what is going on in ukraine. Areas, areas unrelated to what is going on in ukraine. Yes and no. To be uuite going on in ukraine. Yes and no. To be quite honest, going on in ukraine. Yes and no. To be quite honest, france going on in ukraine. Yes and no. To be quite honest, france and going on in ukraine. Yes and no. To i be quite honest, france and germany in particular have had rough months in particular have had rough months in the past. And its notjust about ukraine and about this kind of latest weather boots on the ground are a topic or not. France and germany disagrees on Energy Policy within the European Union, on Defence Policy efforts more widely. So you can basically ask where is the spill over happening . Which direction is it going . I think it is clear that there are differences between france and germany on a number of things but this is why they tries so much to show this image and this picture of unity and why it is so important. We really should remind listeners that you can have disagreements between friends but that doesnt mean that the french it breaks apart, or that the coalition itself breaks apart. So as much as we need to talk things through and as much as some things really are seen differently in paris and berlin, we also need to remind ourselves of the big picture, the two countries, and indeed the three with poland. Two countries, and indeed the three with poland with poland. Doctor Ulrike Franke, Senior Policy with poland. Doctor Ulrike Franke, senior Policy Fellow with poland. Doctor Ulrike Franke, senior Policy Fellow at with poland. Doctor Ulrike Franke, senior Policy Fellow at the senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on foreign relations, thank you for your time. Officials in the ukrainian city of odesa say at least 20 people have been killed in Russian Missile attacks on a residential area. The governor of the Black Sea Port said another 75 people were wounded. Earlier, the kremlin said ukraine had carried out attacks in the region of belgorod in southern russia, and accused kyiv of attempting to disrupt russias president ial election. All this happened while russians have been heading to the polls Vladimir Putin the only serious candidate in the president ial elections and certain to win. The three day voting exercise, comes a month after the death of the main russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, whilst he was being detained in an arctic prison. The kremlin is widely deemed to have been responsible for his death. The countrys only independent Election Monitoring Organisation has been deemed a � foreign agent� and banned. Our russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports. Russia� s democracy is the best in the world, the kremlin says. And at Polling Station 38 in moscow, we found a choice of candidates, and plenty of voters. Democracy in action, right . Not quite. Realistically, only one man can win this. Vladimir putin the man who� s been on russia� s political stage for the last quarter of a century. Vladimir putin faces no serious challenger. His fiercest rivals are in exile or in prison. Not that this woman, whose son is fighting in ukraine, wants any change at the top. Of course i voted for putin, she says. I trust him. Across the country, there are Polling Stations that don� t look or sound like Polling Stations. And there is voting in parts of ukraine which are under Russian Occupation what russia calls its new territories. The Ukrainian Government called the election here illegal. Polls close on sunday night. Expect a putin landslide. Unpredictability is very much a feature of life now in russia, but that does not apply to elections. The political system here is built around one man, Vladimir Putin, and the kremlin tightly controls that system, including elections. So mr putin� s re election is not in doubt. It� s absolutely impossible to say about our president ial election that this election is fair and free. Politician Boris Nadezhdin had tried to get on the ballot but was barred from running, he claims, because his calls to end the war were becoming popular. We have propaganda and we have a myth that everybody in russia supports putin, and everybody in russia supports the special military operation. It� s really not the fact. And my Election Campaign showed that a lot of people are against putin� s politics and a lot of people are against the special military operation. You won� t hear the kremlin saying that. This is an election designed to show that Vladimir Putin has the full support of his people. Steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. Let� s cross over to kyiv to speak to Maria Avdeeva who is a Security Researcher and founder of the european expert association. On March The 18th Russians will wake up On March The 18th Russians will wake up to what we expect to be six more years of President Putin as president of the country. How will other World Leaders be looking at these elections, given that he is, as we have said, the only real candidate . As we have said, the only real candidate . ,. Candidate . These are socalled elections candidate . These are socalled elections. In candidate . These are socalled elections. In fact, candidate . These are socalled elections. In fact, there candidate . These are socalled elections. In fact, there is candidate . These are socalled elections. In fact, there is no. Elections. In fact, there is no democracy, there is no free will, there is no choice, so we can hardly call these elections. And everyone already knows who will be the only winner the. Vladimir putinjust voted for himself in his bunker. It was online voting for him for the first time. So this is all a show and the show is meant to legitimise putin for his own population to show that he is somehow supported and that he is somehow supported and that he is somehow supported and that he has power inside russia. So this is all staged and the main audience is in russia because no one else around in the world believes in these elections or sees them as fair and general as the Election Process at all. ,. , and general as the Election Process at all. ,. ,. At all. There is an additional d namic at all. There is an additional dynamic in at all. There is an additional dynamic in this at all. There is an additional dynamic in this vote at all. There is an additional dynamic in this vote of at all. There is an additional. Dynamic in this vote of course, at all. There is an additional dynamic in this vote of course, 4. 5 dynamic in this vote of course, li. 5 million voters in the four recently occupied ukrainian territories. I know you� ve been speaking to some of the People Living in those territories. What are they telling you about the process . The situation there is very you about the process . The situation there is very critical you about the process . The situation there is very critical and there is very critical and threatening. I have talked to people who are fleeing from the occupied territories to ukraine and one of the reasons they did this is because they were forced to first get russian passports and second to vote on the so called election. So this means that there is like a military man along with the Election Committee member going from door to door knocking on people� s doors in the occupied territories and demanding their vote. And of course the only vote can be for putin when you have a Military Presence and someone overlooking how you vote. This meant that people tried to hide and not to take part in this as much as they can. But sometimes they are forced, and ijust look at the numbers of the Russian Election commission. They have showed that already more than 30 of the people have voted and most of this number is also in the occupied territories, the territories recently occupied by russia. ~. , the territories recently occupied by russia. ~. ,. , the territories recently occupied by russia. ~. ,. , russia. What is your assessment of wh the russia. What is your assessment of why they are russia. What is your assessment of why they are encouraging, russia. What is your assessment of why they are encouraging, or russia. What is your assessment of why they are encouraging, or in russia. What is your assessment of| why they are encouraging, or in your words, asking people to vote in this way when there are so few political opponents to President Putin . Why is it important that russia sees that they go to vote . It important that russia sees that they go to vote . Well, for putin and his reaime they go to vote . Well, for putin and his regime its they go to vote . Well, for putin and his regime its important they go to vote . Well, for putin and his regime its important to they go to vote . Well, for putin and his regime its important to show i his regime it� s important to show that he still has support. For example, when he probably will announce general mobilisation in russia he will show that this decision is supported because as they will say in russia, 90 voted for putin. The temporarily occupied territories, this is not a vote at all, this is an operation to make people under pressure and come and do this illegitimate act, the participation in the process that is forced for them by the occupying power. So in the temporarily occupied territories it is important for russians to show that they have power on these people. This is why they are forcing them to come, or come to their houses to vote. Maria, alwa s come to their houses to vote. Maria, always good come to their houses to vote. Maria, always good to come to their houses to vote. Maria, always good to talk come to their houses to vote. Maria, always good to talk to come to their houses to vote. Maria, always good to talk to you. Come to their houses to vote. Maria, always good to talk to you. Thank. Always good to talk to you. Thank you forjoining us live from kyiv, Maria Avdeeva, Security Research and founder of the european expert association. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Let� s look at some other stories making news. Labour have accused rishi sunak of � chickening out� of announcing the date of the next General Election. The Prime Minister had ruled out holding an election on the second of holding an election on the 2nd may, the same day as local elections in england and previously said his Working Assumption is that an election would be in the second half of the year. Mps will get a 5. 5 pay rise from april, meaning their annual salary will increase to over £91,000. The independent Parliamentary Standards Authority says the decision was in line with the award recently agreed for senior civil servants, adding that it aims to be fair both for mps and the public. Food Delivery Firm hellofresh has denied taking subscriptions from customers who say they had cancelled their accounts. Some customers say their accounts were reactivated with money taken for orders they had not made. They say that just logging on to the app reactivated their accounts. Hellofresh says money was taken only when customers made a quote a proactive decision to do so. You� re live with bbc news. There are signs of growing disquiet in the Biden Administration at the lack of progress in halting the conflict between israel and hamas. Secretary of state Antony Blinken has said the United States needs to see a clear plan for israel� s proposed assault on rafah, including how civilians will be moved out harm� s way. In washington, President Biden has praised a speech made by the Us Senate Leader Chuck Schumer in which he said the israeli Prime Minister was a threat to peace and called for new elections. Amid the us pressure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu� s office has said israel will send a delegation to qatar for peace talks. All this coming as a ship carrying Food Supplies for gaza is waiting off the coast, in a test run of what is hoped will become a new route for aid into the territory. Here are the pictures of the aid that has just arrived in gaza. According to the us Charity World central kitchen the ship contained 130 pallets of humanitarian equipment, 115 tonnes of food and water which will be distributed to the northern gaza strip. The vessel underwent a comprehensive Security Inspection according to israeli military. Cyprus, the nearest European Union member country to gaza has said that a second bigger vessel is now being prepared. Let� s get more on the comments made by president to the us in washington, President Biden has praised a speech made by the Us Senate Leader Chuck Schumer in which he called for elections to be held in israel. Do you have any comments on senator schumer� s comments . He do you have any comments on senator schumers comments . Do you have any comments on senator schumers comments . He contacted my staff about the schumers comments . He contacted my staff about the speech, schumers comments . He contacted my staff about the speech, i schumers comments . He contacted my staff about the speech, i will schumers comments . He contacted my staff about the speech, i will not staff about the speech, i will not comment on that. He made a good speech and he expressed serious concern shared not only by him but by Many Americans. Concern shared not only by him but by Many Americans. Lets go live to washington by Many Americans. Lets go live to washington to by Many Americans. Lets go live to washington to speak by Many Americans. Lets go live to washington to speak to by Many Americans. Lets go live to washington to speak to our by Many Americans. Lets go live to washington to speak to our north l washington to speak to our North America correspondent nomia iqbal. We are getting a sense of a change of rhetoric, something President Biden was supporting in the comments he made earlier today. How have they gone down . I he made earlier today. How have they one down . ~ he made earlier today. How have they gone down . Gone down . I think it was interesting gone down . I think it was interesting because gone down . I think it was interesting because what| gone down . I think it was interesting because what President Biden was essentially saying there was we knew the speech was coming because yesterday when Chuck Schumer made the comments on the senate floor, at that time President Biden had not specifically commented but the white house did say Chuck Schumer was entitled to his opinions but it didn� t reflect the administration� s position on israel. It is worth remembering that Chuck Schumer is a top democrat in the senate but not part of the cabinet. In terms of how his comments have been received, they have sent shock waves, i would say, around washington because it� s the most significant criticism by a top us leader and Chuck Schumer is a high ranking official, the highest ranking jewish official ever and he has embraced israel for decades throughout his political career. He attended a pro israel march after october seven supporting the state here in dc. It� s worth remembering that he did obviously come as we know, criticised Benjamin Netanyahu but he also said hamas was an obstacle to peace and those who support hamas, he said that far right radical israelis in society and government were a problem and he also said that another obstacle was the palestinian president , president of the palestinian authority, mahmoud bass. His comments have divided democrats, and we have seen huge criticism. Divided democrats, and we have seen huge criticism huge criticism. Mahmoud abbas. President biden, huge criticism. Mahmoud abbas. President biden, it huge criticism. Mahmoud abbas. President biden, it wasnt huge criticism. Mahmoud abbas. President biden, it wasnt very huge criticism. Mahmoud abbas. President biden, it wasnt very easy j President Biden, it wasn� t very easy to hear in that clip but he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by Many Americans and prison biden will have an eye on the election coming down the line in november. President biden. He the line in november. President biden. ,. , biden. He will. There is growing anuer b biden. He will. There is growing anger by the biden. He will. There is growing anger by the public biden. He will. There is growing anger by the public towards biden. He will. There is growing | anger by the public towards what biden. He will. There is growing i anger by the public towards what is happening. He suffered a protest vote at the michigan primary where you had many people coming out voting uncommitted. I was in michigan, it is a key swing state, there is a key arab American Population there who at the time said that they would not vote for biden. That anger has not subsided but it� s worth mentioning that it� s notjust but it� s worth mentioning that it� s not just that particular voting bloc, there are many young people, there are a young jewish people as well who are angry about it. I met some of them outside the white house. This was ahead of the state of the Union Address a couple of weeks ago where they were sitting down creating a blockade. So mr biden will be aware of it, especially in an election year, as you say. Thank you very much, nomia iqbal in washington. Staying in the us the prosecutor in donald trump� s Election Fraud case in georgia has been told she can stay on the trial if the lawyer she had an affair with quits. Well, tonight he� s done just that. Special prosecutor nathan wade has resigned. The former president and his Co Defendants had tried to get fani willis disqualified. Saying her relationship with nathan wade whom she hired had compromised the integrity of the case. Today in a 23 page ruling judge mcafee disagreed, but said the situation did create an Appearance Of Impropriety, while there was a need to make proportional efforts to cure it. Mr trump� s lawyer responded, saying they� ll use all Legal Options available as we continue to fight to end this case. Let� s speak to clark cunningham. He� s a Law Professor at Georgia State university. Good to have you with us. He is resigned tonight but is of the story, is it . Resigned tonight but is of the story. Is it . Story, is it . No, not at all. I think it story, is it . No, not at all. I think it is story, is it . No, not at all. I think it is possible story, is it . No, not at all. I think it is possible that think it is possible that our District Attorney in atlanta may find she has won the battle but perhaps lost the war because the Central Question is going to be will the case against donald trump and georgia go to trial before november, hopefully before the General Election season begins . And that we still do not know. The reason is trump and his Co Defendants have indicated they will appealjudge mccaffrey� s decision and that appeal could delay the case long enough so that it could delay the case long enough so thatitis could delay the case long enough so that it is put off until we don� t get to it until the election, that is the most serious consequence here. A � is the most serious consequence here. A ~. Is the most serious consequence here. ~. ~. , is the most serious consequence here. A ~. ,. Is the most serious consequence here. ,. Here. Mcafee. That is a tactic former president here. Mcafee. That is a tactic former President Trump here. Mcafee. That is a tactic former President Trump is here. Mcafee. That is a tactic former President Trump is used | former President Trump is used before to delay things, to buy him time and one would assume it buys him votes here. Deeply embarrassing for the prosecution, isn� t it . It is for the prosecution, isnt it . It is worse than forthe prosecution, isnt it . It 3 worse than embarrassing really. Judge mcafee made the decision that based upon what is called an Appearance Of Impropriety test the District Attorney willis and her entire team would have to be removed. He actually made that ruling but he created an exit ramp, they would not be removed if nathan wade, the independent contractor who has received over 700,000 for working on the case while having a romantic relationship with the District Attorney, if he resigned, and he has done so. So because of that off ramp they didn� t get disqualified but certainly came very close. The Question Trump will raise on appeal if he is allowed to appeal is if the Appearance Of Impropriety is if the Appearance Of Impropriety is that severe, does getting rid of nathan way to do enough to restore Public Confidence . L nathan way to do enough to restore Public Confidence . Public confidence . I suppose that is the question Public Confidence . I suppose that is the question. You Public Confidence . I suppose that is the question. You could Public Confidence . I suppose that is the question. You could say Public Confidence . I suppose that is the question. You could say this the question. You could say this plays right into President Trump osmond hands, facing 91 charges, four separate cases outstanding but none of them seem to be affecting his chances in november. Let� s his chances in november. Lets remember his chances in november. Lets remember of his chances in november. Lets remember of special his chances in november. Let� s remember of special importance to the case in georgia, this would be the case in georgia, this would be the only trial that would be on television. And so if that trial went forward, it theoretically could go for as soon as the spring because all the other cases are on hold, then the entire nation would be watching. And that could affect the results of the election. Perhaps in trump� s favour, but perhaps the trial in georgia by itself would be the factor that would cause trump to lose the election. The stakes could hardly be higher. Me lose the election. The stakes could hardly be higher. Hardly be higher. We will keep a close e e hardly be higher. We will keep a close eye on hardly be higher. We will keep a close eye on that. Hardly be higher. We will keep a close eye on that. Clark hardly be higher. We will keep a close eye on that. Clark cunningham, professor at Georgia State university. We will follow the twists and turns in that as it proceeds, if indeed it does. Nathan wade, special prosecutor, resigning tonight. We will see whether that� s enough to resume that case. We will find out but it could delay to be on the november president ial election. Stay with us, more context coming up shortly. I� ll be back with the headlines. Hello. We� ve seen some cloud and some rain across most parts of the uk today, but that cloud has slowly but surely been breaking. And, as the skies continue to clear overnight tonight, it� s going to get quite cold in fact, it� ll be a frosty start to the weekend for some. By the end of the weekend, though, we will flip our fortunes, it will feel much milder. Along the way, we� ll see some spells of rain, but also some spells of sunshine. So, we� ve had quite a lot of cloud today, showers or longer spells of rain, but all tending to Drift Away Eastwards and notice this clear gap. So, through tonight, largely clear, starry skies, bit of cloud just plaguing these eastern coasts for a time. Eastern coasts for a time. One or two showers in northern scotland, cloud, and some rain into the South West Of England by the end of the night. But under those clear skies, there� ll be a few mist patches. Temperatures will drop away around or below freezing in places. So, yes, a cold and frosty start to saturday morning underneath this slice of clear weather, this ridge of high pressure. However, it won� t last long because our next frontal system will already be approaching from the west. That will bring cloud, it� ll bring outbreaks of rain but, as it moves its way northwards and eastwards, it will introduce ever milder air. That process of mild air wafting northwards continues through saturday and on into Saturday Night, actually. But for saturday daytime, cloud and some splashes of Rain Spitting Across Western Parts Northern Ireland likely to see the heaviest of the rain, then getting into south west scotland. Further north and east, holding on to some increasingly hazy sunshine. These are the temperatures by the middle of tomorrow afternoon. But for some spots in the north of the uk, those temperatures will rise even further through Saturday Night this frontal system bringing some quite heavy rain eastwards, with that feed of south westerly winds continuing. So let me show you the temperatures for Sunday Morning compared with saturday morning, starting on a frosty note, Sunday Morning, starting in double figures for quite a few places. There will be a band of rain to clear away from eastern parts, then we� ll see the cloud breaking to some extent to give some spells of sunshine, scattered showers out towards the west. But temperatures on sunday afternoon north east scotland, up to 15 16 celsius, it may be that Eastern England gets to 16 17. Very mild indeed, even feeling warm in any sunshine. Into next week, still some changeable conditions, rain at times, some spells of sunshine. But broadly speaking, we� re expecting it to stay mild. Hello. You� re watching the context on bbc news. Has levelling up levelled off already
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