and johnny depp�*s legal battle with former wife amber heard has begun in the united states over allegations made by the actress about domestic abuse. good morning and welcome to bbc news. the uk has warned that fighting is likely to intensify in eastern ukraine over the next two or three weeks, with russian attacks staying focused on donetsk and luhansk. it comes as the british government has said it's investigating reports that chemical weapons were used against ukrainian fighters. let's take a look at some of the detail. there have been claims by ukraine's azov regiment defending mariupol that russian troops "used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against ukrainian forces and civilians" in the besieged southern port city. the us and uk have said they are investigating the reports which have been denied by pro—russian separatist forces. in march, the us presidentjoe biden said nato "would respond" if russia used chemical weapons in ukraine and said "the nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use". as more russian forces head to the east of the country for a major new offensive, further civilian deaths are being uncovered in the villages and towns close to the capital in the north that they used to control. we will be hearing more detailed following an address from the ukrainian president, he will be addressing the lithuanian parliament later. you can see the preparations on screen. i'd sooner that takes place we will go to that cheeky at the latest developments from ukraine and his response to those chemical weapons —— as soon as that takes place we will go to that you hear the latest developments from ukraine. at first, this from mark lobel a playground turned battleground in ukraine's east, where pro—russian troops claim to be liberating ukrainians held hostage. ukraine says russian tanks have begun advancing towards the eastern donbas region for a renewed offensive. as battle rages in the besieged city of mariupol, ukraine's azov regiment say russian drones have dropped chemicals causing breathing problems and vertigo—like symptoms after a pro—russian military spokesman threatened smoking out ukrainian defenders of a major steel plant there. translation: today, the occupiers issued a new statement _ which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror against ukraine and our defenders. one of the mouthpieces of the occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of mariupol. we take this as seriously as possible. i want to remind the world's leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the russian military has already been discussed. as britain's foreign secretary seeks to verify the claims, she says putin would be held to account for any callous escalation of this conflict. we are working urgently to understand whether or not chemical weapons have been used. and if they have, as the foreign secretary has said, the people responsible will be held to account. the use of chemical weapons is abhorrent, it does cross a line and all options are on the table for how we would respond. as the war approaches its eighth week, ukraine's deputy prime minister claims more than 500 female ukrainian civilians are in russian prisons. translation: they shave their heads. they check them every day, forcing them to undress and get naked. they humiliate their human dignity. i know facts of rape, i saw spines that had been beaten. so we have to act. we have to be strong and durable. we need to understand that the absolute evil is working against us. it's the evil that feeds on weakness. a mother's reaction as her son's body is recovered in front of her eyes close to kiev. explosion. hundreds more small explosive devices are being discovered in residential areas such as here in kharkiv, landing as people sleep. in this relentless war, where the fighting never stops. mark lobel bbc news. hamish de bretton gordon is a chemical and biological weapons expert. thank you forjoining us this morning on bbc news. these are allegations so far being made by this territorial group around the mariupol region. how do you go about gathering that evidence and what are the challenges in achieving it? it will be a challenge to get the evidence, obviously there is a lot on social media and the defence minister has commented. i am talking to a number of doctors, not in mariupol but surrounding areas, who are looking at this too. they will need to get some environmental earth —type samples and medical samples to confirm the allegations that some sort of nerve agent or toxic chemical has been used. it is rather out of the playbook that the russians have been using that face all worked so successfully in syria —— that they saw worked so successfully in syria. there was a suggestion yesterday that they might use white phosphorus, not a chemical weapon but it has similar attributes. it will be a challenge, for sure. ., ., ~' attributes. it will be a challenge, for sure. ., ., ~ ., ., for sure. you talk about syria, back in time russian _ for sure. you talk about syria, back in time russian has _ for sure. you talk about syria, back in time russian has been _ for sure. you talk about syria, back in time russian has been part - for sure. you talk about syria, back in time russian has been part of. for sure. you talk about syria, back| in time russian has been part of the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons along with the un joint investigative mechanism, are they still part of that? the russians _ they still part of that? the russians are _ they still part of that? the russians are part - they still part of that? the russians are part of- they still part of that? the russians are part of it - they still part of that? tue: russians are part of it added they still part of that? tte: russians are part of it added 2017 they they had no chemical weapons, but they attacked my hometown, salisbury, with chemical weapons just a year later. in effect the ukrainian government could request the organisation of the prohibition of chemical weapons to investigate but doing that in a war zone, somewhere like mariupol, would take time, so we need to rely on intelligence that nato is collecting and the ukrainian government is collecting so we can take a view on whether this is being used, and the response that will happen. we need to bolster the ukrainian military, especially the air force, to try to make sure these atrocities are less likely in the future.— likely in the future. carrying along the line of what _ likely in the future. carrying along the line of what action _ likely in the future. carrying along the line of what action was - likely in the future. carrying along the line of what action was taken l likely in the future. carrying along. the line of what action was taken in the line of what action was taken in the past and the conflict in syria, france, the uk, the us were directly involved in missile strikes on airfields where the aircraft that were distributing, when it was proven that chemical weapons had been used, they conducted missile strikes on those locations. is that something the western allies and nato would now consider if it were proven they had been used? t am nato would now consider if it were proven they had been used? i am not our da proven they had been used? i am not your day will— proven they had been used? i am not your day will go _ proven they had been used? i am not your day will go that _ proven they had been used? i am not your day will go that far, _ proven they had been used? i am not your day will go that far, i _ proven they had been used? i am not your day will go that far, i hope - your day will go that far, i hope what they will do is provide the intelligence to the ukrainian government of exactly where these key areas are to allow the ukrainian government air force and military to strike those targets and potentially also give them sophisticated and advanced weaponry in order to do that. i still think nato is trying very hard and should try very hard not to get directly involved with russia, that extends the conflict. the ukrainian military are doing a brilliantjob, they had defeated the russians in the north and we must enable them to hold them in the south so that hopefully, sooner rather than later, we can get everybody around the negotiating table to sue fulsome peace. mit? everybody around the negotiating table to sue fulsome peace. why is it ok to strike — table to sue fulsome peace. why is it ok to strike in _ table to sue fulsome peace. why is it ok to strike in syria _ table to sue fulsome peace. why is it ok to strike in syria but - table to sue fulsome peace. why is it ok to strike in syria but not - it ok to strike in syria but not russia? what is the difference? they proved there have been chemical weapons used and the allies launched missile strikes, why can't they do the same this time? whyjust leave it to the ukrainians? the the same this time? why 'ust leave it to the ukrainians?_ it to the ukrainians? the key thing is the direct _ it to the ukrainians? the key thing is the direct confrontation - it to the ukrainians? the key thing is the direct confrontation with - is the direct confrontation with russian forces, if it is proved this is a chemical attack it would be russian drones and aircraft that deliver them, and a direct confrontation between nato and russia would i expect extends this conflict. t russia would i expect extends this conflict. ., ., , ., conflict. i apologise for interrupting _ conflict. i apologise for interrupting that - conflict. i apologise for interrupting that we . conflict. i apologise for| interrupting that we are conflict. i apologise for - interrupting that we are just conflict. i apologise for _ interrupting that we are just going to dip into the conference from president zelensky, he is addressing the lithuanian parliament. apologies. translation: the little alien nation. — apologies. translation: the little alien nation, i— apologies. translation: the little alien nation, i am _ apologies. translation: the little alien nation, i am grateful- apologies. translation: the little alien nation, i am gratefulfor- apologies. translation: the little alien nation, i am grateful for the i alien nation, i am grateful for the opportunity to address you from the ukrainian _ opportunity to address you from the ukrainian nation who always remember your sincere _ ukrainian nation who always remember your sincere readiness to support us in the _ your sincere readiness to support us in the hardest times for our state. you were — in the hardest times for our state. you were among the first who came to assist _ you were among the first who came to assist ukraine and you remain among those _ assist ukraine and you remain among those who— assist ukraine and you remain among those who care about peace and security— those who care about peace and security in — those who care about peace and security in europe. the fully fledged _ security in europe. the fully fledged war in ukraine launched by russiam _ fledged war in ukraine launched by russia... the values of those who were _ russia... the values of those who were used — russia... the values of those who were used as a basis to unite people in the _ were used as a basis to unite people in the european continent after world — in the european continent after world war ii, are they still alive, or are _ world war ii, are they still alive, or are these values outdated now and they could _ or are these values outdated now and they could be exhibits in the museum for tourists? — they could be exhibits in the museum for tourists? just an historic legacy— for tourists? just an historic legacy of— for tourists? just an historic legacy of europe somewhere in ancient — legacy of europe somewhere in ancient palaces or things which are set uo _ ancient palaces or things which are set uo but— ancient palaces or things which are setup. but there is not a clear set up. but there is not a clear answer— set up. but there is not a clear answer to— setup. but there is not a clear answer to these questions. it is really— answer to these questions. it is really the — answer to these questions. it is really the future of europe depending on those answers, whether the common response will be found. those _ the common response will be found. those liberated regions of ukraine, investigation is continuing of crimes— investigation is continuing of crimes committed by the russian federation almost on a daily basis we find _ federation almost on a daily basis we find mass graves, we collect evidence — we find mass graves, we collect evidence. thousands and thousands of victims. _ evidence. thousands and thousands of victims, thousands of cases of torture. — victims, thousands of cases of torture, bodies of dead people are still found — torture, bodies of dead people are still found in pits with their hands tied, _ still found in pits with their hands tied, bodies mutilated. there are villages— tied, bodies mutilated. there are villages that used to be quite big almost _ villages that used to be quite big almost empty, no inhabitants, hundreds— almost empty, no inhabitants, hundreds of children. we don't know the e> special operation planned in the kremlin — special operation planned in the kremlin. this is the story of fighting _ kremlin. this is the story of fighting for russian peace, this is what _ fighting for russian peace, this is what the — fighting for russian peace, this is what the russian army will be associated with, russian marines rating _ associated with, russian marines rating the — associated with, russian marines rating the 80s —— russian marines raping _ rating the 80s —— russian marines raping babies, russian propagandists excusing _ raping babies, russian propagandists excusing it, saying it did not happen— excusing it, saying it did not happen or if it happened it was in defence — happen or if it happened it was in defence of— happen or if it happened it was in defence of russian speaking people. and every— defence of russian speaking people. and every crime of this will be the responsibility of those russian propagandists, those who train, educate — propagandists, those who train, educate the military including those in europe _ educate the military including those in europe who until now still has not switched the russian propaganda from the tv channels. i wonder how the minister— from the tv channels. i wonder how the minister of defence of the russian — the minister of defence of the russian federation and other co—authors of the russian operation estimate _ co—authors of the russian operation estimate and assess those results of those _ estimate and assess those results of those crimes, those "heroic deeds" of the _ those crimes, those "heroic deeds" of the russian soldier. at the russian — of the russian soldier. at the russian minister of defence will invite _ russian minister of defence will invite this military to defend his kids. _ invite this military to defend his kids. his — invite this military to defend his kids, his grandchildren, to his home — kids, his grandchildren, to his home 0r— kids, his grandchildren, to his home. or do you really wanted it, mr minister? _ home. or do you really wanted it, mr minister? perhaps he is too afraid. everywhere — minister? perhaps he is too afraid. everywhere in ukraine the invaders have been— everywhere in ukraine the invaders have been to, in the orchards and gardens. — have been to, in the orchards and gardens, the bodies of people buried. — gardens, the bodies of people buried, people who were not taken to the cemeteries. in chernihiv and the sumy— the cemeteries. in chernihiv and the sumy region in the north of our state — sumy region in the north of our state all— sumy region in the north of our state, all the world remembers the name _ state, all the world remembers the name of— state, all the world remembers the name of the town of bucha but this isjust— name of the town of bucha but this isjust an _ name of the town of bucha but this isjust an example, a symbol of crimes— isjust an example, a symbol of crimes committed by the russian military, — crimes committed by the russian military, there are many more places where _ military, there are many more places where they— military, there are many more places where they have managed to get hold and in _ where they have managed to get hold and in any— where they have managed to get hold and in any village the invaders did the same — and in any village the invaders did the same things as in bucha. what is happening _ the same things as in bucha. what is happening in the east of our country whether— happening in the east of our country whether russian troops are still there _ whether russian troops are still there, what is happening in the south, — there, what is happening in the south, we _ there, what is happening in the south, we can't even imagine what is happening _ south, we can't even imagine what is happening in— south, we can't even imagine what is happening in the city of mariupol, and another town which has almost been _ and another town which has almost been destroyed by the russian army. it is been destroyed by the russian army. it is obvious — been destroyed by the russian army. it is obvious there are more horrific— it is obvious there are more horrific crimes to be discovered, although— horrific crimes to be discovered, although russian contests negate the crimes— although russian contests negate the crimes committed by the army. the insinuation— crimes committed by the army. the insinuation they say is that this is fake and — insinuation they say is that this is fake and stage, they are lying even to the _ fake and stage, they are lying even to the clear— fake and stage, they are lying even to the clear facts. the clear evidence _ to the clear facts. the clear evidence. nothing strange here, no surprise _ evidence. nothing strange here, no surprise, they have always done that, _ surprise, they have always done that, but — surprise, they have always done that, but they change their tactics in relation — that, but they change their tactics in relation to the territories where russian _ in relation to the territories where russian troops still are. they don't keep— russian troops still are. they don't keep the _ russian troops still are. they don't keep the bodies in the streets, they take them _ keep the bodies in the streets, they take them away and burn them, they do mass _ take them away and burn them, they do mass deportations from occupied regions, _ do mass deportations from occupied regions, they have deported hundreds of thousands of people, place them, they have _ of thousands of people, place them, they have seized documents, tortured them _ they have seized documents, tortured them how— they have seized documents, tortured them. how many of those are killed it is not— them. how many of those are killed it is not known yet. they placed them _ it is not known yet. they placed them in — it is not known yet. they placed them in the nations of russia and they forbid — them in the nations of russia and they forbid them to move from there and it— they forbid them to move from there and it is— they forbid them to move from there and it is obvious this is an effort to get— and it is obvious this is an effort to get rid — and it is obvious this is an effort to get rid of— and it is obvious this is an effort to get rid of evidence of russian war crimes — to get rid of evidence of russian war crimes in ukraine. is it possible _ war crimes in ukraine. is it possible the russian military are doing _ possible the russian military are doing it — possible the russian military are doing it without orders from their commanders? it is not possible. is it possible — commanders? it is not possible. is it possible that russian political leaders — it possible that russian political leaders are not aware of the consequences, it is not possible and it is happening in our ukrainian breath— it is happening in our ukrainian breath and _ it is happening in our ukrainian breath and soil. they are confident the world _ breath and soil. they are confident the world will forget about this, well— the world will forget about this, we'll forgive them ovaljust turn away— we'll forgive them ovaljust turn away from — we'll forgive them ovaljust turn away from this plane —— or willjust turn away— away from this plane —— or willjust turn away from this blame. the logic is quite _ turn away from this blame. the logic is quite simple, everybody needs to trade _ is quite simple, everybody needs to trade, everybody needs gas, everybody would like to make use of the russian markets. this is the way they think— the russian markets. this is the way they think it — the russian markets. this is the way they think it moscow. naturally if all of _ they think it moscow. naturally if all of europe had been so principled and respectful as you do in live the way they— and respectful as you do in live the way they are, and we are proud of you, _ way they are, and we are proud of you. im— way they are, and we are proud of you, i'm confident the russian leadership would not even blame of hoping _ leadership would not even blame of hoping this would be forgotten —— as you do— hoping this would be forgotten —— as you do in— hoping this would be forgotten —— as you do in lithuania. they would not be here _ you do in lithuania. they would not be hereto — you do in lithuania. they would not be here to make this decision. but what _ be here to make this decision. but what we _ be here to make this decision. but what we are — be here to make this decision. but what we are seeing in reality, the european — what we are seeing in reality, the european union is discussing the six package _ european union is discussing the six package of— european union is discussing the six package of sanctions against russia for the _ package of sanctions against russia for the war— package of sanctions against russia for the war that the world has not seen _ for the war that the world has not seen since — for the war that the world has not seen since world war ii, and it is still not — seen since world war ii, and it is still not clear whether oil will be sanctioned. even after those mass killings— sanctioned. even after those mass killings in— sanctioned. even after those mass killings in bucha and other places, even _ killings in bucha and other places, even being — killings in bucha and other places, even being aware of the mass deportation of people, the planned destruction of ukrainian cities with russian _ destruction of ukrainian cities with russian missiles, some european countries — russian missiles, some european countries cannot decide whether to limit the _ countries cannot decide whether to limit the purchase of russian energy _ limit the purchase of russian energy. hundreds of european companies continue still to do business with russia and demonstrate their unwillingness to stop funding their unwillingness to stop funding the military machine of russia. and this is— the military machine of russia. and this is happening now when the blood is still— this is happening now when the blood is still fresh in the hands. what is testifying — is still fresh in the hands. what is testifying to that, if they started seriously — testifying to that, if they started seriously discussing the impact of sanctions. — seriously discussing the impact of sanctions, it means the world has not realised how serious this situation _ not realised how serious this situation. there is no certainty that— situation. there is no certainty that russian war crimes will be stopped — that russian war crimes will be stopped if there are big european corporate — stopped if there are big european corporate and businesses even in the midst— corporate and businesses even in the midst of— corporate and businesses even in the midst of the — corporate and businesses even in the midst of the russian military campaign who are not ready to move out from _ campaign who are not ready to move out from russia, it means leo sending — out from russia, it means leo sending a _ out from russia, it means leo sending a signal, wait a little bit and then— sending a signal, wait a little bit and then you can continue business as usual— and then you can continue business as usual -- — and then you can continue business as usual -- it— and then you can continue business as usual —— it means they are sending — as usual —— it means they are sending a _ as usual —— it means they are sending a signal. as usual -- it means they are sending a signal.— sending a signal. studio: ukrainian president volodymyr _ sending a signal. studio: ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky - president volodymyr zelensky addressing the little wage in parliament. he has been detailing what he described as the story of russian so—called peace and its forces, the investigations that continue into the use of russian propaganda, also detailing some really upsetting stories, the desecration and concealment of corpses, deportation of ukrainians to try to avoid detection of russian crimes and interestingly saying russia is confident the world will forget what they have done and forgive them because ultimately the realities of the world dynamics mean that the world would want to trade with russia. our correspondent dan johnson in lviv in the east of ukraine was listening, just summarise what president zelensky had said so far?— had said so far? detailing the crimes he _ had said so far? detailing the crimes he believes _ had said so far? detailing the crimes he believes the - had said so far? detailing the l crimes he believes the russian military has committed against his country and his people, talking about things like civilians being taken hostage, effectively held prisoner, lifted from ukraine, taken to russia and held in camps, the targeting of civilians, the mass graves being discovered daily, the sort of thing that went on around russian occupation around kyiv and his fear that that is happening on a bigger scale in areas to the east still under russian occupation and the places that mindful within the sites of the advancing russian troops in the east of the country as they build up their military equipment, their troops, they build up their military equipment, theirtroops, in expectation of further attacks and intensification of the conflict as they try to move further west from those eastern strongholds. i think president zelensky is aware that given the calm situation around kyiv there is potential for the given the calm situation around kyiv there is potentialfor the global interest to perhaps switch away from ukraine, for people to get the idea that the worst of the fighting is over. there has been a war in the east of the country for eight years, people have become hardened to some degree, but i think he wants to remind international leaders and his own people that there is still a huge fight and he needs no sanctions on russia to be more effective and he needs the military aid to his own defence forces to keep up in order to resist that further russian advance —— he needs those sanctions on russia to be more effective. we have been successes in repelling russian advances at the east of the country the president zelensky saying he needs more supply of the different weapons to help out resistance and stop the russians advancing further into ukraine and potentially committing more war crimes. . ~ potentially committing more war crimes. ., ,, , ., potentially committing more war crimes. . ~' , ., , potentially committing more war crimes. ., ,, , ., , . potentially committing more war crimes. ., 4, , . crimes. thank you very much, dan johnson. breaking _ crimes. thank you very much, dan johnson. breaking news _ crimes. thank you very much, dan | johnson. breaking news concerning the former conservative minister crispin blunt. he made comments yesterday around the tory mp who was found guilty of abusing a teenage boy. he deleted the original statement and has published a retraction on twitter which i will read to you, essentially saying "on reflection i have decided to retract my statement defending imran ahmad khan, iam sorry my defence of him has been a cause of concern and significant upset not least to victims of sexual offences." adam fleming has been following this story. give us a background as to where we got where we are now?— we are now? imran ahmad khan was elected as a — we are now? imran ahmad khan was elected as a conservative _ we are now? imran ahmad khan was elected as a conservative mp - we are now? imran ahmad khan was elected as a conservative mp and - elected as a conservative mp and wakefield in the 2019 general election, the first conservative to hold that seat in the 1930s, but his election triggered some memories from a boy who was 15 in 2008 who said he was sexually assaulted by the mp, he was then charged and yesterday convicted. in the meantime he had been suspended from the conservative party and on conviction he was expelled. one of his friends as the former prisons minister crispin blunt who purchased statement on his website last night saying the trial had been a miscarriage ofjustice and his friends was a victim of outdated tropes about lgbt identity in the muslim community. that was met with quite a lot of controversy so the conservative party said it did not agree with those comments, a series of opposition mps resigned from lgbt+ global issues group that crispin blunt was the chair of this morning we had conservative sources saying they had spoken to crispin blunt overnight and expected him to retract what he said, thenjames heappey the armed forces minister completely distance the government from what crispin blunt had said. they are not something that i associate myself with, and they are certainly not the view of the government. the government recognises that mr khan was found guilty yesterday in a court of law and that guilt, therefore, is proven. whatever he goes on to do in terms of an appeal is a matter for him. i have no idea what crispin is referring to in his statement but he is definitely not speaking for the government. if crispin blunt wanted to continue as a conservative member of parliament he was left with no choice, not only deleting his comments but putting out a new statement retracting them and distancing himself from them. do you think this is the _ distancing himself from them. do you think this is the end _ distancing himself from them. do you think this is the end of _ distancing himself from them. do you think this is the end of the _ distancing himself from them. do you think this is the end of the matter - think this is the end of the matter or has a lot of damage being done? crispin blunt has offered to resign as a cherub that lgbt+ global issues group, i imagine lots his colleagues will take him up on that —— resign as the chair of. there will be plenty of conservative backbenchers worried about the effect this will have on the conservative party's image, i think that is why the conservative party issued the statement so quickly and applied so much pressure to have overnight and at least got the retraction they wanted very quickly.— at least got the retraction they wanted very quickly. adam fleming in westminster. — wanted very quickly. adam fleming in westminster, thank _ wanted very quickly. adam fleming in westminster, thank you. _ victims of rape and sexual assault are being failed by a collapse in prosecutions and poor provision of support services — that's according to a group of mps. the home affairs committee says the government's plans to improve lack ambition — and that it could miss its target after the number of rape offences recorded in england and wales last year reached a record high. lauren moss reports. emily hunt has been a campaigner against sexual violence ever since she was filmed while naked and unconscious one night by a man she had onlyjust met. emily advised the uk government on its rape review last year, a review which mps think will miss its targets to improve prosecutions. we have over 120,000 rapes a year in our country and we are not prosecuting enough of them, and too many rapists are going on to do it again. rape is a horrible, intimate crime, and you feel like your life is being pulled apart. and, you know, 50% of rape victims develop ptsd and... i don't really think that anyone can really understand what it feels like to have your control so completely taken away from you as a result of a crime and then have your control also... feel like you have your control taken away from you through the criminaljustice system as well. the home affairs committee says it has little confidence that a government pledge to return to 2016 prosecution levels by 2024 will be met and court delays, harmful evidence gathering processes and poor provision of support services are stopping people from seeking justice. in the year to september 2021, more than 63,000 rape offences were recorded in england and wales — the highest ever. but the number of prosecutions has fallen in the past five years, from 5,000 in 2017 to 1,500 in 2021. cross—party group of mps have branded the figures truly shocking and completely unacceptable. this report, following on from the reports of her majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and other statements that have been made about current performance on rape, is a wake up call to all the agencies in this field, that what you are doing is not enough. what we are doing is not properly resourced and the victim survivors are just not going to getjustice at all, given the efforts that are currently being made. the home affairs committee is calling for significant funding to make a national impact. it wants counselling and independent legal advice to be made available to victims and survivors and specialist rape units created in all police forces. the government says there has been a modest increase in the number of charges for rape, but campaigners say more change is needed and fast. it's gone beyond being failed at this stage, they are being harmed by the criminaljustice system and i do not believe that we are on track and i do not believe that what's been outlined by the government is enough to change the situation as it is. and i have real worries for survivors that are caught up in this process for four, five, six seven years. in a statement, a government spokesperson says, "they're clear much more needs to be done and they are recruiting more sexual violence advisers and boosting funding for victim support services by at least {a40 million over the next three years." but for survivors of sexual violence, the wait for justice continues for now. lauren moss, bbc news. dame diana johnson is chair of the home affairs select committee. shejoins us now on bbc news. thank you forjoining us. good morning. good morning. you forjoining us. good morning. good morning-— good morning. could i first start off with your— good morning. could i first start off with your reflections - good morning. could i first start off with your reflections on - good morning. could i first start off with your reflections on the i off with your reflections on the report? t off with your reflections on the re ort? ~' . ., off with your reflections on the re ort? ~ . ., ., , report? i think the committee was shocked really _ report? i think the committee was shocked really when _ report? i think the committee was shocked really when we _ report? i think the committee was shocked really when we started i report? i think the committee was shocked really when we started to | shocked really when we started to look at this area. we knew things were bad, we knew the government had recognised they were bad and had the end—to—end rape review and could come up with a series of proposals. but we all felt it was too little, and we needed to be far more ambitious command that actually was reflected in a recent report by the inspectorate for the police and cps who also said they needed to be a radical shift, they needed to be a complete change really in the way that we deal with the investigation and the prosecution of rape cases. we have very clear recommendations which we hope the government will take on board and implement. the first thing mainly is to have the specialist rape units in every police force. two fifths of police forces in this country do not have specialist rape units, and we know where they are. they make decisions better, delays are reduced and communication with complainants is much better. the other issue is about the support for complainants. we have heard cases can drag on for a very long time and people need support. we need to understand what is happening, they need to have counselling, need to have independent legal advice, so they need to understand what the police are doing when they ask, for example, for their digital devices to be given in, so the police can look at what messages etc were in the digital devices. often that means that people don't know what's happening, and then they choose what's happening with the case, so two thirds of cases are stopped because the complainant, after long delays and all the other burdens decides not to proceed. and that is not right, that is not providing justice for those complainants. t justice for those complainants. i wonder if we could just go back to the specialist rape units, there are some you said, but not enough. what does a rate per unit look like and why is it important? what resources are there? tt why is it important? what resources are there? ., ,, . ., , are there? it will have specially trained officers _ are there? it will have specially trained officers who _ are there? it will have specially trained officers who are - are there? it will have specially l trained officers who are equipped are there? it will have specially - trained officers who are equipped to deal with this. obviously it is a very difficult criminal offence, rape, and serious sexual assault, so they will be specifically trained and it seems to us on the committee and it seems to us on the committee and from all the evidence we have taken, that specialist training is so important. we have asked the government to tell us how many police officers have that specialist training, and we were not able to find that out. so that's another issue that we need to make sure that we have data about the number of officers who have the specialist training. because when a complainant goes to the police it is much better if you have someone who understands and knows how to start the investigation, how to treat the complainant and everything that goes with it. so two fifths of police forces don't have that at the moment and we think that should be a baseline, really, all police forces should have that specialist unit. you mentioned about the support that is needed for complainants, particularly in terms of understanding what is happening. what else is behind the unwillingness for complainants to come forward? tithe unwillingness for complainants to come forward?— unwillingness for complainants to come forward? ., , , , come forward? one of the issues we came across — come forward? one of the issues we came across was _ come forward? one of the issues we came across was when _ come forward? one of the issues we came across was when people - come forward? one of the issues we came across was when people see . come forward? one of the issues we i came across was when people see the long delays before you get a case to court, the intrusion into your personal life that people are said to us they felt they were being investigated rather than the person they were making the complaint against. so i think that can be off—putting to complainants to stop people coming forward in the first place. and then those who do come forward, bravely come forward and make their complaint, find the whole process very long and drawn out. and that's why it is important, and we are pleased the government has put more money into the independent sexual violence advisors who work alongside people who have made a complaint but we know that rape crisis in 2021 add 10,000 people waiting to get help. the other issue is we need to map out what is going on around the country, what support is available, and that's why we think it is important to have an independent commissioner like we have for domestic abuse who can take up have for domestic abuse who can take up this type of work and hold accountable all the agencies and map out where the gaps are and promote theissues out where the gaps are and promote the issues around where we need to put additional funding and resource in. , w' , put additional funding and resource in. , w , ., ., in. very quickly, i read quite an upsetting _ in. very quickly, i read quite an upsetting paragraph _ in. very quickly, i read quite an upsetting paragraph what - in. very quickly, i read quite an upsetting paragraph what takes in. very quickly, i read quite an - upsetting paragraph what takes place in the process as a destructive cycle in the dynamics that take place between the victim, the police of the cps, the second guessing that takes place in terms of which case it should be dropped that has the strongest case. is that a culture thatis strongest case. is that a culture that is difficult to change? t strongest case. is that a culture that is difficult to change? i think it can be overcome _ that is difficult to change? i think it can be overcome and _ that is difficult to change? i think it can be overcome and the - it can be overcome and the recommendations we are making i think will help that. the government recognise there is a problem and they have their end—to—end rape review and their scorecards that they are holding the different agencies to account but we need a fundamental shift in this. what the government are doing at the moment isn't enough and we have to put the complainant at the centre of this to make sure they are supported, there is a proper investigation and the cases can move through to the cps and through to court and justice can be done for these complainants. dane diana johnson. _ be done for these complainants. dane diana johnson, thank— be done for these complainants. dane diana johnson, thank you for your time. if you have been affected by sexual violence there are details of organisations in the uk that offer information and support. just go to bbc.co.uk/actionline. or you can call forfree, at any time, to hear recorded information on 0800 077 077. workers in the uk have seen living standards fall for the third month in a row. that's because — while wages are rising — prices are still rising faster, according to the latest officialfigures. in the three months to february, average pay in the uk went up by 1t% — compared to a year earlier. but real wages fell by 1% — when you take inflation into account. last month, inflation hit 6.2% — and figures out tomorrow are expected to show another rise. we can speak now to our economics correspondent andy verity. let's discuss those figures. we will get a better feel for what is happening tomorrow, but i suspect people are already feeling it in the pocket. people are already feeling it in the ocket. . people are already feeling it in the ocket. , , .,, people are already feeling it in the tocket. , , ., , ., pocket. yes, people are feeling it in the pocket _ pocket. yes, people are feeling it in the pocket and _ pocket. yes, people are feeling it in the pocket and when _ pocket. yes, people are feeling it in the pocket and when they - pocket. yes, people are feeling itj in the pocket and when they open their bills to come through the door from the energy companies and they wince, and we're all going to in the coming months when see those bills, and it's going shopping, when we see the high cost of fuel, partly because of the war in ukraine, but partly because the global economy has reopened after the global pandemic there is a lot of demand for goods and services, that means lots of demand for transportation as well and the fuel that goes with it. those are all pushing up prices on our supermarket shelves and also we are seeing the prices of services rise and we are seeing wages rise. it's the most inflationary picture we have really seen in 30 years. and as you mention we expect further inflation tomorrow. it is in that light that you look at the pay rises. 1t% is the average pay rise, not bad compared to the last 15 years, 1t%, but then you look at inflation, as you mentioned at the last count to 6.2%, and in the period covered by these stats, 5%, which is why you have a 1% fall in living standards, i think a lot of people will be saying, only 1%, it feels like a lot more than that, but you have to remember it is averaged across the whole economy. it is the story we have been reporting for the last 15 years. i can remember reporting in 2011, for example, after the global financial crisis that was when the squeeze on living standards really began. and so although we had a bit of respite between 2017 and 2021, the pandemic and its aftermath pitched us back into that squeeze on living standards. all in all it is going to amount to the worst decade for improvements in living standards, the worst 15 years, that we have really ever had on economic record. the implications of that are huge. if consumers are driving economic growth because they don't have the money, what does? is it public spending? is it investment by the private sector? that is really what rishi sunak has been gambling on, that investment from the private sector will take the place of public spending, and that will be what drives economic growth. but so far we are not really see any huge sign of that. we are seeing some investment but not enough to get the economy motoring. ok. investment but not enough to get the economy motoring.— economy motoring. ok, andy verity, we will leave — economy motoring. ok, andy verity, we will leave it _ economy motoring. ok, andy verity, we will leave it there _ economy motoring. ok, andy verity, we will leave it there for _ economy motoring. ok, andy verity, we will leave it there for now, - we will leave it there for now, thank you. the us state department has instructed its nonemergency consular staff based in the chinese city of shanghai to leave as a stringent covid lockdown affecting 26 million people causes increasing hardship. the instructions were issued despite the authorities announcing a plan to ease some restrictions. video posted in recent days on social media show angry residents saying that after three weeks of lockdown, they are running out of food. our correspondent stephen mcdonell joins me from beijing. it sounds as if people have had enough. it sounds as if people have had enou:h. ~ , ., , it sounds as if people have had enouh.. , . ., , it sounds as if people have had enou:h.~ , . ., i, enough. when people certainly seem to have had enough, _ enough. when people certainly seem to have had enough, they _ enough. when people certainly seem to have had enough, they don't - enough. when people certainly seem to have had enough, they don't have | to have had enough, they don't have enough provisions. the problem isn't so much there is enough food in the city of shanghai, it is that there are not enough drivers to get the food the last mile or two to people's doorsteps. if you lockdown a city of 25 million people, you would think that you might make drivers sort of similar to police or other emergency workers, and in that way keep them out of being locked down at home but they haven't done that and so there are not enough people to deliver provisions. to the people to deliver provisions. to the people who are locked down. you mentioned the decision by the us government by the way to remove all nonessential staff from the shanghai consulate. we have just heard from the chinese foreign ministry that solemn representations have been made with the us government, that is sort of diplomatic speak for an official complaint from beijing to washington. i guess the chinese government is worried that this appears internationally like the situation is out of control in shanghai. there is a good bit of news in that city today, though. today for the first time since april in terms of official numbers the daily cases have come down. i will give you the numbers, symptomatic cases, those who have to go to hospital, yesterday, 1318, today 994. asymptomatic cases, symptomatically is are those that have to go to hospital, yesterday, 1318, today broadcast interrupted by interference. he expects within ten days there will be no more infections apart from people already in those specialist isolation facilities. but with tens of thousands of daily cases, that does seem pretty optimistic too many people here. stephen mcdonell, from beijing, thank you. at least 25 people have died in landslides and floods in the philippines caused by tropical storm which hit the country's eastern and southern regions on sunday. authorities say they've recovered 25 bodies so far. our philippines correspondent howard johnson has the latest. this tropical storm has taken many by surprise because it was at the lowest level, signal one, so the authorities were not that concerned about it. but it's a very precipitous storm. we have seen in some parts nearly 300 millimetres of rain dumped on areas. the winds are not that high, so it's not like other storms that we see batter houses. this one is all aboutjust dumping incessant rain. since sunday, it has been doing that. we have seen on social media street is absolutely inundated with water, there have been landslides in the leyte and samar area, particularly baybay city was badly affected. more than 20 people died when there were landslides there. and this is an area that is prone to landslides. it has come during holy week, a time when normally families would go back to the provinces to celebrate with their loved ones. but at the moment many people are stranded at ports because there's no sea traffic at the moment as well. that's been restricted because of the conditions. and many people are reaching out on social media, saying that they need aid and they need support. that was howard johnson. the headlines on bbc news. as russia advances on ukraine's eastern donbas region, the uk and us say chemical weapons may have been used by russian forces in mariupol. former conservative minister crispin blunt has retracted his statement supporting fellow mp, imran ahmad khan, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. victims of rape and sexual assault are being failed by �*a collapse in prosecutions�*, according to a group of mps demanding reforms. in the us, britney spears has announced she is pregnant, months after she escaped the legal arrangement that gave her father control over many aspects of her life. the singer told her 40 million instagram followers she was having a baby with partner sam asghari. the 40—year—old, who has two teenage sons, also revealed she suffered depression during a previous pregnancy said she "won't be going out much" following her announcement. a libel case — brought by the hollywood actor johnny depp against his former wife amber heard — will start hearing evidence today. the latest legal battle between the pair results from an article she wrote about domestic abuse — although he wasn't specifically named, depp said it implied that he was an abuser. our entertainment correspondent david sillito reports from the us state of virginia, where the trial is taking place. fairfax, virginia, and the fans have arrived for the beginning of this court case betweenjohnny depp and his former wife amber heard. the heart of this libel trial, allegations of repeated assault. this is of course the second time they've met in court arguing over the issue. it was in the summer of 2020 that johnny depp tried to sue the sun over an allegation he was a wife—beater. he lost the case. the judge ruled that the case was substantially true. johnny depp said the judgment was perverse and bewildering. so two accounts of a marriage that are diametrically opposed. and the previous judgment was overwhelmingly in amber heard's favour. so this, second attempt to try to restore a reputation. and the jury has today been to tell their families they could be here for seven weeks. forjohnny depp the judgment in london had an immediate impact. he was, for instance, dropped from the fantastic beasts movie. but many of his fans have remained loyal. hopefullyjust being here, knowing that we support him, that we care enough to show up and make plans for this kind of thing will encourage him and support him to go through this ordeal. and for amber heard, who didn't even namejohnny depp in the article in question in the washington post, another long court case, challenging her account of suffering abuse and assault. david sillito, bbc news. the union which represents border force workers says staff shortages will mean a very difficult summer lays ahead at airports and ports, and that staffing levels were so bad that incentives were being offered for working shifts at heathrow airport. meanwhile, there's continued disruption at the port of dover, as ferry operators work to clear freight backlogs and process passengers despite reduced fleet capacity. and with the upcoming easter getaway this weekend, the roads are expected to be busy too. let's discuss all of this with our business correspondent simon browning. that perfect storm we heard about last week seems to be continuing, if the weather might be better. but let's start with the airports, what is the situation? latte let's start with the airports, what is the situation?— is the situation? we have a rail transort is the situation? we have a rail transport conundrum _ is the situation? we have a rail transport conundrum at - is the situation? we have a rail transport conundrum at the - is the situation? we have a rail - transport conundrum at the moment. as you said, a stark warning from the head of the immigration service union, lucy moreton, who looks after the border force officials at the airport. we have seen all of these queues for a couple of weeks, is basically passenger demand has researched after the pandemic. we have seen lots of people going back into airports, but the problem is there just aren't enough staff at there just aren't enough staff at the moment to cope with this might be huge volumes of us who want to go back to travel again, who want to get back to the costa del sol, back to the beaches and get back to see families again live overseas. the problem is there are huge staffing crunches and the airport, this goes for border force officials that check our passports when we arrive at the airport, and as we have heard this morning lucy moreton from the immigration services union, says we are going into this summer and this weekend catastrophically understaffed, a big concern for those that are running airports, and especially airlines and operators who have been desperate to seek passengers coming back of their revenues increase again, and all of a sudden they are short of staff to process people, so it is not the best news. lucy moreton has again said they are offering huge incentives for staff from scotland who are not working to come and work at heathrow to clear the backlog. airports are under a lot of pressure and one recruiter has said this morning that one problem has been that brexit has not helped with the issue we are facing at the moment, we had a natural attraction from individuals from the european market would apply for vacancies in the uk airports and since brexit we have lost some of that talent pool and that some of the reasons why some of these airports are so short of staff at the moment.— these airports are so short of staff at the moment. let's finish off with the orts, at the moment. let's finish off with the ports, felixstowe, _ at the moment. let's finish off with the ports, felixstowe, but- the ports, felixstowe, but particularly dover, damaging reports on the front of the ft basically saying the uk was at risk of losing its reputation because of the situation, eu holy is refusing to come to the uk. that has been a problem for many, many, many transport operators in the last two years because of the delays, because of brexit at the border now, i have just had a text this morning from one of the transport operators i speak to regularly and he said to me again last week was an absolute nightmare, 40 hours waiting to cross the channel, it was much better yesterday but delays are starting to back up again, dfds one of the big operators that crosses the channel, has said, just we did in the last hour, that it is running to time. this has all been caused by p&0 removing its ships from services on the channel and we have seen a big crunch in supply. one of those p&0 vessels is being inspected by the maritime and coastguard agency and they updated me that the inspection is still ongoing and there is no update, but they are hoping commander thought is that when he and i would guess that vessel back into service we will see more channel crossings.— into service we will see more channel crossings. thank you very much indeed. _ channel crossings. thank you very much indeed. watching _ channel crossings. thank you very much indeed. watching this, - channel crossings. thank you very much indeed. watching this, it. channel crossings. thank you very much indeed. watching this, it is l channel crossings. thank you very i much indeed. watching this, it is an important period for families, isn't it? thank you. breaking news concerning the situation in ukraine. there are reports via the reuters news agency that president putin has said that by carrying out a the military operation in ukraine, we are protecting russia. we had no other choice. this is coming via interfax. let me double—check i think we have another line here, president putin says the clashes with the anti—russian forces in ukraine were inevitable. it was a question of time, and that is reuters again via the tas news agency. ukraine's president zelensky has also been speaking this morning, so i'm just showing you the latest pictures there on the screen. president zelensky has been addressing the lithuanian parliament, and in it are very similar things to what we have been hearing, but an update on some of the investigations that have been taking place in terms of the crimes committed by russian forces detailing some truly horrific details and stories, hundreds of cases of rape and torture. a russian propaganda, and the desecration of the concealment of corpses as well. we are going to be discussing this further, so stay with us on bbc news. let's move on now. from star wars to blade runner, science fiction writers have long been fascinated by the idea of robots living alongside people. in reality, that's a long way off — but in the mean time scientists are trying to understand what makes a robot likeable. our science correspondent richard westcott has more. come on, wake up, bb8. how do you make a robot likeable? ah! sorry! sorry, sorry, sorry. it's a simple enough question... you're just being grumpy now. ..but it needs complex science to find an answer. if we are going to live with robots in the future, we have to make them likeable. we have to give them strong characters. this is casper here. now i know casper is a little bit intimidating to look at but that is consciously designed in. the lack of expression. because they use casper to talk with kids with autism. he'd normally have hair and clothes on as well. but casper is not the centrepiece of this research. bb8 is. hello! and they use bb8 to test what people like in a robot. come on. here is the experiment in action. first, scientists at the university of hertfordshire asked volunteers to play with a simple reactive robot. the same robot was then programmed with an algorithm to make it playful and curious. and they compared what people thought. so yes, this is the starting idea, but it's the first of its kind. so we put it on a simple robot. we know now with comparing it with humans who interact with the reactive robot and with the curious robot, we know now that they find this robot more sociable, right, and from here we know, ok, if we have this element in a robot people mightjust be more likeable towards this robot and more receptive, more happy that it was around them. something we don't quite know now how we can do that, how is the acceptance of robots? so, daniel, basically you are making a football team full of robots to win an international competition, is that it? indeed. it's a first step, but the team says it could still be decades before you've got a robot sharing your home. it's probably the hardest environment you can imagine because it is so unstructured, unpredictable. it can change, and there are many actors in it, which you can't regulate. in a company you could make rules about how things are placed and where people can go. you can't do that in a household. i do love the idea that a robot could beat anyone in the world at chess but it can't clean a shelf. yes! so, a real bb8 is years off, but learning what people will accept is the first step to designing a likeable companion for your house. so he's hiding. yes! laughter richard westcott, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. i say it is important, because it really is. hello. good morning, good to see you, and it's lovely to be here this morning with you all. what we start with is the weather for the easter weekend. at the moment it looks like it is going to be warm across the often dry and bright with some sunshine, the greatest chance of seeing some rain at times will be in the north and west if it happens, and there will be coastal mist and mist and fog, and low cloud lingering across parts of the west coast and english channel. so if you're heading there, that will depress the temperature and probably depress the temperature and probably depress you if you are planning a weekend. but do keep in touch because that could change. this morning rain is pushing northwards across scotland and england and wales. this band will have some heavy bursts in it and possibly the odd rumble of thunder. eradicating the early brightness across northern england. but as the rain pushes into the northern isles it will brighten up the northern isles it will brighten up across the highlands and also the west of scotland. you can already see the rain starting to make inroads into southern scotland and northern ireland, and also northern england, wales and the midlands. we have got a lot of dry and sunny weather in the south—east and that will continue through the day and later on the cloud will break up across the southwest and here we are expecting to see some sunshine. breezy along the north sea coastline, and also the northern isles command that will take the edge off the temperatures here. generally, looking at about 11—19 or 20 degrees. yesterday heathrow got up 20 degrees. yesterday heathrow got up to about 19. pollen levels today, we are talking tree pollen, are moderate across much of england and wales, we expect that to rise to hype tomorrow across england and wales, and then as we head through the evening and overnight, the band of rain pushes steadily northwards. behind it a little bit of clearing in the sky, some patchy mist and fog forming but there will be low cloud, coastal mist and fog lapping on shows across the shores of western england and west wales. it will not be a cold night as a result, with all of this going on and the cloud cover as well, so we start off on a cloudy note tomorrow. the rain eventually pushing away into the northern isles. the cloud should start to break up and then we will see some sunny spells developing. but equally there will also be some showers developing, and some of those in england and way could be heavy and thundery. tomorrow more widespread warmth will cross our shores, we are looking at 14 degrees in edinburgh and newcastle, highs of 18-20 in in edinburgh and newcastle, highs of 18—20 in the south—east. that will continue as we head into the easter weekend. this is bbc news, these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. i'm nikola sibiak. as russia advances on ukraine's eastern donbas region, the uk and us say chemical weapons may have been used by russian forces in mariupol. use of chemical weapons is abhorrent, it does cross a line and all options are on the table for how we would respond. in his latest address to a foreign parliament, president zelensky tells lithuanian mps that more mass graves have been found. —— that mass deportations of civilians are taking place in areas occupied by russian forces. former british conservative minister crispin blunt has retracted his statement supporting fellow mp imran ahmad khan who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. victims of rape and sexual assault are being failed