hello, i'm anna foster, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. germany's foreign minister has said ukraine should be supplied with "more long—range weapons". annalena baerbock was speaking after talks with britain's foreign secretary lord cameron. he said he believed you achieve peace "by demonstrating that putin cannot win." lord cameron's visit to berlin comes days after russian media published an intercepted call between senior german military officials, which included details of britain's operations in ukraine. britain and germany are two of the biggest contributors. we are playing our part but we both

know we must ask ourselves and all of our allies, what more can we do, what more ammunition can be provided, what extra production can we invest in, what weapons do we have to help the ukrainians in this fight? and we have been discussing this today. and there is the question about what we can do in terms of medium and longer range missiles. i make this point, because it is a sovereign decision for every country, but in terms of what britain has done, i know what we have given to the ukrainians has helped them resist this appalling invasion and fight back against russian aggression. in ukraine itself, russian forces are advancing in the east, and many who live there are packing their belongings, and moving away. ukraine says its forces are holding on, but in the donetsk region, several villages have been captured after invading forces took the town of avdiivka, and there are fears more settlements could follow. james waterhouse has been to meet families living just behind the frontline. eastern ukraine is being eroded. russian forces are approaching taking village after village.

and for the people living here, death or occupation feels imminent. valeriy and his grandson denys have taken up the offer of evacuation. their home in toretsk is in russia's sights. here, it's making its size and ammunition reserves count. ukrainian forces are going backwards. and with valeriy�*s town now constantly shelled, it's time to go. translation: i lived my life already. - but i need to save the little one. police take them to kostyantynivka, a place of relative safety — but increasingly less so. the city is used to being close to the battlefield, but its risk of being captured is growing. when ukraine liberated territory more than a year ago, there was hope.

but the tide hasn'tjust changed — it's approaching. now there is fear that cities like kostyantynivka will be gradually destroyed and its people will be forced to flee. this is what russia does when it tries to take ukrainian territory, and this is what moscow still calls liberation. for tetyana and her daughter, mariya — maybe notjesse the dog — strikes on the city leave them with a difficult choice. translation: we are tired all day. we have bad moods and panic attacks, constant depression. it's scary to go outside. so are you both going to leave? translation: i've already left twice. l what's the point? it's scary everywhere, everywhere. the whole country is on fire. while tetyana is staying, mariya is already sending her belongings west. today, it's the tv — taking the route she and her

son eventually will. translation: i hope she will follow. my mum only has us and we only have her. in nearby kramatorsk train station, the faint sounds of artillery provide a sobering reception, as well as a reason to leave. for all of the geopolitics, the donetsk region is at the coalface of russia's invasion — and its people are feeling it more than ever. translation: a year ago, we still hoped we would . receive help from the west and that the counter—offensive would work. not any more. people used to believe, but not any more. ukraine hopes its east will once again be somewhere safe to live. but right now it's not clear what people will be returning to. james waterhouse, bbc news, the donetsk region.

the war in gaza was also high on the talks today in berlin. britain's foreign secretary has urged hamas to accept the hostage deal on offer after its delegation left talks in cairo without making any progress on a ceasefire in gaza ceasefire. lord cameron also spoke about the desperate situation for many civilians in gaza, facing famine and disease , and said it's time for the international community to do more for them. we worked incredibly closely together on this issue of how we get more aid into gaza. and i completely agree with what annalena has said. yes, we must look at the options on the sea, we must look at options as we have done of delivering aid by air, as we have done recently but the jordanians, but nothing must distract us from the fact that ultimately, if we want to avoid famine, if we want to avoid disease come if we want to help people in gaza, we need 500 trucks a day, that means more crossing points. it means simpler logistics. it means stopping sending back items

that would be perfectly harmless. it means making sure there is proper d—confliction inside gaza so we can get this aid around. it means more visas for the un staff so they are able to help deliver these things. this need, really, is urgent. i made these points to the minister gantz when i met him yesterday and i make these points again today to urge all parties — of course, it's notjust the isreali's there's others involed — but all parties, principally the israelis to make this happen and make this happen now. let's speak to our correspondent wyre davis, who's injerusalem. before we talk about the talks that are happening in cairo, let's touch on what lord cameron was seen in berlin today because we hear the messages strongly from the uk and the us and others about more aid getting into gaza, but not a great deal seems to be changing. people might wonder why. lard deal seems to be changing. people might wonder why.— might wonder why. lord cameron's lanauuae might wonder why. lord cameron's language is — might wonder why. lord cameron's language is almost _ might wonder why. lord cameron's language is almost unprecedented | language is almost unprecedented amount certainly in the last 20 years or so from a british foreign

secretary, focusing very much on the israelis and specifically when it comes to aid. the facts on the ground are the reasons why. more than 18 children of reported to be dead from malnutrition, one in six children under the age of two is reported to be severely malnourished in parts of northern gaza, and there is a looming manager in crisis which is a looming manager in crisis which is on the verge of getting a lot worse. people in gaza are just dying from the effects of bombing and shelling but also from the effects of hunger and starvation and is an untenable situation. the focus is on the israelis to allow more aid in and on average about 100 trucks a day are getting in but it is not nearly enough to feed it nearly 300,000 people in northern gaza and the million or so in southern gaza. israelis have military ambitions as well, and that's what by mr benjamin netanyahu speaking to cadets over

the last hour, said anyone who thinks will not continue our military campaign in gaza, not to do so would mean losing the war and that would not happen under the force of international pressure. that pressure to allowed it in, not continue assault on southern gaza, is falling on deaf ears when he comes at a play minister, but there may be others in the israeli administration who maybe differ with him on this. ~ . .,, him on this. where are we with those talks between — him on this. where are we with those talks between the _ him on this. where are we with those talks between the qatari _ him on this. where are we with those talks between the qatari and - talks between the qatari and egyptian brokered talks that are happening in cairo which were supposedly hopefully achieve a humanitarian cease—fire ahead of ramadan? humanitarian cease-fire ahead of ramadan? , ., humanitarian cease-fire ahead of ramadan? , . ., , ., humanitarian cease-fire ahead of ramadan? , . ., ., humanitarian cease-fire ahead of ramadan? ., ., :: ramadan? the plan was for a 40 day cessation in — ramadan? the plan was for a 40 day cessation in hostilities _ ramadan? the plan was for a 40 day cessation in hostilities which - cessation in hostilities which perhaps would have led to a longer cease—fire, and would have allowed more aid in, but the preconditions laid down by israel for hamas to release the hostages that are still alive and might be released in the

event of a future deal wasn't forthcoming, so israel refused to even join the talks in cairo. hamas has its own conditions, wanting his rose to leave certain areas in gaza and the rights of citizens in gaza to return to their home areas in the north in the event of a cease—fire, so they are obstacles stopping a cease—fire at the minute but with ramadan around the corner, it's a very tense time of year, particularly when there is conflict between israel and the palestinians and there is increasing urgency and pressure to get this cease—fire organise. back on the age front, it looks like there's —— aid front, it looks like there's —— aid front, it looks like there's —— aid front, it looks like they're stepping up the eardrops and there is even talks of getting aid in from the sea via cyprus and international plans to get aid in by the sea, and there is a plan despite the fighting to get it in, but what would really work, they say, the brits and the americans and the aid agencies, is to stop the fighting.

a leading economic think tank has criticised wednesday's uk budget, saying that despite the 2p cut in national insurance, average households are still likely to be worse off at the end of this year than they were five years ago. the institute for fiscal studies also says the budget did not tackle leader of the opposition sir keir starmer went on the attack when looking at the budget.— looking at the budget. unable to shake off the — looking at the budget. unable to shake off the tory _ looking at the budget. unable to shake off the tory client - looking at the budget. unable to i shake off the tory client chaos that dragged _ shake off the tory client chaos that dragged us into recession and had a tax burden— dragged us into recession and had a tax burden on the backs of working people _ tax burden on the backs of working peeple and — tax burden on the backs of working people and maxed out the nations credit_ people and maxed out the nations credit card — people and maxed out the nations credit card-— people and maxed out the nations credit card. . j _, ., , credit card. have they? economies such as the — credit card. have they? economies such as the one _ credit card. have they? economies such as the one who _ credit card. have they? economies such as the one who reviewed - credit card. have they? economies such as the one who reviewed the | credit card. have they? economies . such as the one who reviewed the way we report on economics warned against leaning too heavily on the idea that governments finances are like a credit card. they point out that countries don't retire or die like us and have you been able to print money when your finances run

in trouble? seven aside from the analogy, we are high by historical standards in debt for the uk, but higher than most of the years since the 70s. in the last 15 years we have had major recessions and a once in a year pandemic and a war in europe and the government has chosen to get us through each of these. that's hundreds of billions for the pandemic and cost—of—living support but the uk aren't the only ones because even after all of that, or debt levels aren't unusually high by international standards. when you look at major advanced economies here, the uk is near the bottom. the trouble is that interest rates have been rising for the last year or two. foryou been rising for the last year or two. for you and me and for governments around the world, and if you're paying higher rates on a bigger pile of debt, you would be paying a loss of interest. the government is expecting to be

spending our own 3.5% of all the money in the economy on debt interest payments in the five years after the pandemic, nearly double the rate of the five years before, i difference worth tens of billions of pounds. when you have chosen to promise that you will get the national debt back down eventually, as both labour and the conservatives of done, it means you're facing difficult choices to make your sums add up. live now to westminster — and our political correspondent hannah miller. welcome to the programme. what followed has there been from yesterday's budget?- followed has there been from yesterday's budget? today is the battle for the _ yesterday's budget? today is the battle for the airwaves, - yesterday's budget? today is the battle for the airwaves, the - battle for the airwaves, the reaction on how it will all be perceived, that really starts to solidify. the reaction from the leading economic think tank, the institute for fiscal studies, is particularly interesting. they suggested the government isn't being transparent about what they called the eye watering and the tough choices facing the country. and that

splits into two key areas. the first is the government wanted to talk about tax cuts and what was announced yesterday in terms of the cuts to national insurance contributions and the that workers in the uk pay, they say that was kind of genuinely significant but you cannot get away from the fact that people in the uk would be worse off than they were at the start of the parliament post up they say taxes was into his highest proportion of national income for decades. the second part of that is also about public service spending. unprotected departments in the uk, things like council and courts and further education, facing cuts, they say have up to £20 billion, staggeringly hard choices, our court incident institute for fiscal studies. they added that the next parliament could be the most difficult of any for 18 years as politicians try to grapple with the

economic reality that the country is in. the government and the language you are here and both from the government and opposition yesterday, perhaps might not quite leave you with a sense of that reality. you mentioned _ with a sense of that reality. you mentioned the _ with a sense of that reality. you mentioned the cuts _ with a sense of that reality. you mentioned the cuts in national insurance, there has been a bit of an eye controversy hasn't there? yesterday, the government announced a 2p cut to national insurance, as i say, which is a text that is paid by workers. but they also suggested that they would like to go further and signal intent, they would like to abolish national insurance completely. it striking that they want to talk about what they might do in the future, rather than what they actually did do yesterday, and they actually did do yesterday, and the government is saying that is because people who are working in the uk effectively pay to texas. they are double taxed, paying income tax and national insurance, they describe is as unnecessarily

complicated and also unfair. they say they want to simplify that. there'll be many people who agree that the system in that sense it is comp a gated but what is has created is a situation where the government cannot seem to answer questions about how exactly they would do that and where as they would find the labour party is using the opportunity to suggest that it is an unfunded commitments of over £46 billion. they described that a staggering, the labour party wanted to suggest that people, that the government isn't being responsible with peoples money. it certainly is a key question that the conservative party would have to answer if they do want to go into a general election with the policy about moving towards abolishing national insurance. they state they will not do it by excessive borrowing, and would only do it at a time when it can be afforded and public services can be afforded and public services can still continue in a high—quality, but how exactly the intent to move to that position

where one type of text is completely got rid of, however many people might think it is a sensible idea, how they intend to pay for it, is a huge unanswered question. thank you, hannah miller — huge unanswered question. thank you, hannah miller live _ huge unanswered question. thank you, hannah miller live in _ huge unanswered question. thank you, hannah miller live in westminster. - around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk.. three teenage boys have been found guilty of killing 16—year—old mikey roynon. mikey — from kingswood in bristol — was stabbed with a large zombie knife during a row at a house party in bath last year. jurors found one boy guilty of murder and the other two guilty of manslaughter. they can't be named for legal reasons. a committee of mps has concluded that the post office is not fit to run the compensation schemes for sub postmasters wrongly convicted because of the horizon it scandal. the business and trade committee said it was a disgrace that 80 % of the money for redress payments still hadn't been spent. the nationwide building society has reached an agreement to buy

virgin money in a deal worth 3 billion pound deal — which would see the brand eventually disappear. it would create one of the uk's largest mortgage and savings groups. nationwide said it would not make any material changes to virgin money's seven—thousand—three—hundred employees �*in the near term'. you're live with bbc news. a woman accused of the manslaughter of her new—born baby has said that she did nothing but "show her love". constance marten has started giving evidence in her trial, where she and her partner mark gordon face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence. the body of their child was found in a shed in an allotment in brighton last year. our correspondent helena wilkinson joins us live from the old bailey. helena, what have we been hearing in that evidence today? the helena, what have we been hearing in that evidence today?— that evidence today? the 'ury have sent the that evidence today? the 'ury have spent the last i that evidence today? the 'ury have spent the last nearly _ that evidence today? the 'ury have spent the last nearly six _ that evidence today? the jury have spent the last nearly six weeks - that evidence today? the jury have spent the last nearly six weeks in i spent the last nearly six weeks in this trial hearing all about constance marten, she has been in

the dock, also hearing about the prosecution case against her and her partner, mark gordon. the prosecution case is that the couple exposed their baby daughter, victoria, to dangerous conditions, which the prosecution say ultimately led to her death. well, today, the jury led to her death. well, today, the jury got to hear from constance marten, as she entered the winston —— witness box. at the time, she was tearful, she wept at times, as she told jurors about the moments her baby daughter, she realised her baby daughter had died. she said that she and mark gordon and her daughter were camping in a tent on the south downs in the east sussex last january, and she said she had her daughter in herjacket and then fell asleep. when she woke, she realised victoria wasn't alive. she was asked by her barrister if she knowingly

exposed her daughter to dangerous conditions. constance marten replied no and she was wiping away tears at that point. the jurors then heard her talk about and say that when she realised that their baby was dead, she woke up mark gordon and they try to resuscitate her, and constant smart inset in the docs that i didn't expect —— except that she was not a lie. earlier in the trial, mr gordon was asked if —— miss martin was asked if she did anything to harm may be victoria, and the best askedif harm may be victoria, and the best asked if they did anything cruel to baby victoria, constance marten replied she did nothing but show her love. the trial continues and the two defendants denied the charges. that was helena wilkinson at the old bailey. some breaking news to bring you. we

are starting to get some detail about us presidentjoe biden state of the union address later today. the announcements that the us military will deliver humanitarian assistance being part of that speech. in the last week, the us has started humanitarian aid drops into gaza, and there should be around 500 trucks a day of egg winning but since the work again on the 7th of october the amount of aid getting in is far, far less than it needs to be and humanitarian groups and organisations have warned of impending starvation in some cases. the us have said they will know construct this port on the mediterranean coast, but the detail of that would be particularly interesting, because we have seen as well peoples desperation lead into, in some cases, aid convoys being

swarmed by people, so how they will get that aid off the ships and into gaza and deliver its is detailed that i think people will be waiting to hear. this of course will come in the state of the union address later. some big topics at the forefront of us voter minds will be no doubt be discussed. economy, immigration, bordersecurity and no doubt be discussed. economy, immigration, border security and aid for ukraine and israel as well.

from his club down in florida during the speech. a big moment where we're setting out the stage for the general election on the issues that will dominate — immigration, economy, perhaps even things like abortion and fertility treatment — all these on the agenda for both parties.

the woman who accused the principal of the red bull formula one racing team, christian horner, of "inappropriate and controlling behaviour", has been suspended on full pay. mr horner — who denied the allegations — was allowed to remain in his role after the claims were rejected. it's understood the complainant, an employee of the milton keynes—based team, has been suspended on full pay. red bull racing has declined to comment. 0ur sports news correspondent laura scott is following developments. well, bbc news has learnt that the complainant who made the allegations against christian horner was suspended from her role at red bull racing earlier today. and now our understanding is that that is linked to the outcome of the investigation that carried out by an external barrister brought in by red bull, the parent company, into the allegations of inappropriate behaviour that she'd made against horner, who she was working with at the formula 1 team. a red bull racing spokesperson said us today that the company cannot comment on this internal matter. now, last week, red bull — this is the team's parent company — announced that the grievance against horner had been dismissed following what it called a rigorous investigation, but it made clear that the complainant did have a right of appeal.

there was then a leak of alleged text messages purporting to involve christian horner. now, he has tried to maintain a business—as—usual approach to his work as team principal and chief executive of red bull racing, despite intense scrutiny and calls for more transparency on the investigation by fellow team principals and partners of red bull racing. but he was at the bahrain grand prix last weekend, which was won by red bull racing. he cut a defiant figure there as he appeared alongside his spice girl wife, geri homer, and he said to reporters that he would be remaining as team principal and chief executive and that he retained the support of the team's partners and stakeholders. we also heard from jos verstappen, the father of the team's driver, max verstappen, who said that this whole controversy was driving the team apart. yesterday, max verstappen appeared at a press conference and said that his father wasn't a liar.

now, we are due to hear from christian horner later today ahead of this weekend's saudi arabia grand prix. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. this afternoon's weather is looking dry for the bulk of the country. cloud will vary a lot though, from place to place. we have seen some mist and low cloud loiter across parts of the midlands, like here in shropshire. the best of the sunshine generally today is once again across western areas, although there are a few breaks in the cloud across the south, as well. sunny skies, then, across parts of highlands of scotland today. a lovely picture from the nairn area sent by weatherwatcher rothesay. thanks for that. there's a vanishingly small chance of catching a shower today across parts of england, and wales, for the vast majority of the country, just stays dry. keeping a lot of cloud, though, across eastern areas of scotland, eastern areas of england, with still some mist patches loitering throughout the afternoon in to parts of coastal

aberdeenshire. 0vernight tonight that feed of cloud will continue to affect the north sea coast of england and scotland, probably a few clearer spells for a time across the south, a few patches of rural frost are possible, but otherwise temperatures generally a degree or so less cold than it was last night. 0n into friday's forecast, low pressure to the south—west, high pressure to the north—east, the pressure gradient, the isobars squeezing together a bit more closely. and so, it's going to be a windier day. it's the isobars and the pressure gradient that make the winds blow in the first place. the strongest winds will be up and to the west of high ground. the uk's only named wind, the helm wind, will be blowing across fell and into cumbria, gusts could reach around 40 or maybe 50 miles an hour, up into the west of high ground. so it will be quite a blustery kind of day and that wind will make it feel a little bit cooler. 0n into the weekend, the low pressure to our south still influencing our weather, still bringing the threat of some patches of rain. probably the greatest threat will be across parts of wales, south—west england and northern ireland through the course of saturday.

north—west scotland favoured for staying dry with some sunshine. eastern scotland will probably have quite frequent showers working into the hills, so it could turn out to be quite a wet day here. some bright or sunny spells coming through and temperatures for the most part around about average for the time of year. 0n into sunday's forecast, again, there is the threat of seeing some rain at times, but it won't be raining all day. the rain is likely to be patchy in nature, the best of any sunshine again, probably towards the north—west of scotland. that's the forecast for now.

this is bbc news. the headlines— lord cameron has called on western countries to do more to support ukraine including provide longer range missiles. he was speaking after talks in berlin with germany's foreign minister. a public inquiry has been announced to the police investigation of emma caldwell�*s murder almost 20 years ago. and navigating the seas with no one on board — we talked to the team behind robotic ships. and children across britain have been ditching their uniforms because it's britain have been ditching their uniforms because its world book day, but are the costume pressures breaking the bank for some families?

piers paul. hi, anna. max verstappen was fastest ahead of the saudi arabian grand prix, but the controversy surrounding this man, christian horner, rambles on. the woman who accused him of inappropriate behaviour has been suspended by the team. allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour have been made against the 50—year—old which he denies. spokesperson says the company cannot comment on an internal matter. brighton and hove albion fans have been stabbed. the wounded fans were taken to hospital with non—life—threatening injuries. the first leg gets under way shortly, as does liverpool against sparta prague

in the czech capital.