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| Russian attacks hit Ukraine nuclear power plant |
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It has been tense overnight after it emerged a nuclear power plant - the largest in Europe - caught fire in Ukraine as the war intensifies. Russia’s attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant caused a blaze at a training facility but there were fears it could spread to the plant itself. It didn’t, to the relief of everyone nearby and beyond. It has been secured and radiation levels are normal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has since accused Russia of "nuclear terror", and the attack has been condemned by world leaders. Mr Zelensky says Russia became the first country in history to try and bomb a nuclear power plant. This is on top of the port city Mariupol remaining under siege, and as amateur Ukrainian fighters prepare to fight in Kyiv, where Russian forces are expected to arrive within days. There's also drone footage of further destruction in a nearby town. Russia has so far only seized one major city - Kherson in southern Ukraine. And negotiators from both sides have now agreed to organise corridors to evacuate civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin insists the war is "going to plan".
Defensive weapons are being sent to Ukraine to help with the war effort but the West continues to respond with sanctions. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wants an agreement from the international community to step up support. She's meeting other foreign ministers later to look at ways to maintain pressure on Mr Putin. Today is "one of the biggest days of diplomacy", says Ms Truss, and allies are prepared to "tighten the vice around Putin's war machine". This move follows an announcement of sanctions on two more Russian oligarchs. The US is also taking measures against two more Russian oligarchs, in line with the goal to "maximise the impact" on Mr Putin, President Joe Biden says. Russia’s communication authorities, meanwhile, are reportedly limiting access to the BBC's Russian Service in the country and two other news outlets have been blocked. Follow developments on our live page.
Our latest explainers on the conflict: - Analysis Five ways the war might end
- Watch On board a Nato spy plane monitoring Russian activity
- Guide Understanding day eight
- Overview How seven days have transformed lives
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| Ukraine war will cut global growth, World Bank warns |
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| As Europe's dependency on Russian oil and gas is likely to be discussed at the meeting UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is attending in Brussels later, concerns about the impact of the war on the global economy are also surfacing. The war in Ukraine is a catastrophe for the world which will cut global economic growth, says the president of the World Bank. David Malpass stressed that the biggest concern is "about the pure human loss of lives" but warned the conflict has come at a "bad time for the world because inflation was already rising". The economic impact, he says, stretches beyond Ukraine's borders. Food prices have been pushed up, especially as Russia and Ukraine are big food producers. There are also rises in energy prices which "hit the poor the most, as does inflation", he adds. Ros Atkins has looked at how Russian gas and oil connects to war in Ukraine. | |
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| Space junk on collision course with Moon |
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| A three-tonne piece of space junk is hurtling through space at 5,800mph. The discarded part of a rocket - which astronomers say is Chinese, though China denies it - was first spotted from Earth in 2015. There was no interest in it because it wasn’t an asteroid. Seven years later, scientists predicted it would crash into the Moon - and now it’s hours away from doing just that. It’s expected to hit at 12:25, with a minor impact. But scientists hope to study the 10-20m-wide crater and the plumes of dust created. Read more here. | |
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| |  | | | Vessels criss-crossing multiple trade routes around the the globe generate a staggering 3% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions - about the same volume as Germany. The EU is working hard to cut those CO2 emissions with several schemes designed to make using fossil fuels more expensive. But the problem for shipping firms is that alternative, or "greener" fuels are still only produced in tiny quantities compared with traditional marine fuel.
Nevertheless, Maersk has made the decision to order 12 ocean-going ships which run on methanol. Each costs $175m (£130m) and is capable of carrying 16,000 containers. "We think this will unlock the scaling that needs to happen," says Jacob Sterling, Maersk's head of decarbonisation innovation and business development. | |
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| | Adrienne Murray | Technology of business reporter | |
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| | | | Fears the "worst is yet to come" in Ukraine appears on the front of some of this morning’s papers. It's an assessment made by French President Emmanuel Macron after speaking to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. It's a "chilling warning", says the Daily Telegraph, as the Times reports Mr Putin "vows total victory" of Ukraine. A plea to stop the suffering is made by the Daily Express, which comes amid a call by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky for talks with Mr Putin, says the Daily Mirror. The Daily Mail, referring to Mr Putin, asks: "Who’ll rid the world of this ranting madman?" Read the newspaper review in full here - it contains some distressing images. | |
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| | | | | Covid All rules in Wales could be axed on 28 March |
| | | | | | Cricket Legendary Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh dies |
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| If you do one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Need something different? |
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| A constant struggle between motorists and a ford in Nottinghamshire has become a bit of a hit. The ford floods and often becomes impassable but that doesn’t stop drivers. Their attempts have been caught on camera, and those videos have racked up millions of views. We’ve got some here.
They were one of the big hitters of the 1980s, and they’re back with a battle on their hands. Tears For Fears could bag themselves their first number one album in 33 years but one thing stands in their way - knocking rapper Central Cee's 23 off the top spot. There’s not much in it. Take a look.
And finally to a story about two friends on a mission to help support men who are struggling with their mental health. They’ve set up a coffee club where they can have a chat. Twenty-six turned up at their first session. Read more here. | |
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| On this day |  |
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