Hello, im rajini vaidyanathan. We start here in the uk. Defence secretary grant shapps said it would be irresponsible to carry on Pumping Money into the h52 high speed rail line if costs had spiralled and there was a perfectly legitimate question about its sequencing. Mr shapps, the uks former transport secretary, told the bbc s Victoria Derbyshire that costs had increased significantly, citing inflation as having been part of that. He stressed that hs2 was not the be all and end all for northern transport projects. On hsz, we do have to respond to the budgets on hsz, we do have to respond to the budgets that have been hit not only by coronavirus but by the war in ukraine by coronavirus but by the war in Ukraine I By Coronavirus but by the war in ukraine. Ithink by coronavirus but by the war in ukraine. I think any responsible government looks at that and says, does this government looks at that and says, does this still stuck up for what the country requires in terms of where the coun
Hello, im rajini vaidyanathan. Its been described as the new High Speed Railway that will form the backbone of britains transport network. But there are now questions over the future of the h52 project which had planned to connect london, the midlands and the north of england. The uk government says it would be crazy not to review the project given soaring costs due to the war in ukraine and a rise in inflation. Defence secretary, and former transport minister grant shapps told the bbc the government would need to make serious decisions on how affordable it is. The hs2 project was originally due to link london with manchester and leeds, via birmingham. There is speculation that the link between birmingham and manchester may be under threat as costs have increased significantly. The line to leeds has already been scrapped. With more, heres our political correspondent, jessica parker. Hsz hs2 is this enormous rail project, and they actually already scrapped a bit of the leg of the line t
Hello. A warm welcome. The fate of Ethnic Armenians in disputed Nagorno Karabakh is hanging in the balance, as their leaders say most will likely leave their historic homeland now controlled by azerbaijan. The region is internationally recognised as part of azerbaijan, but large parts of it have been controlled by Ethnic Armenians for three decades. Tens of thousands of armenians have sought refuge in the main city, stepanakert, many of them gathering at the airport. Some aid has reached the enclave, but food, medicine and fuel are all in short supply. In new york, azerbaijans Foreign Minister told the Un General Assembly that baku was determined to reintegrate Karabakh Armenians as equal citizens. But his armenian counterpart demanded the un establish a mission in the region to prevent further killings of Ethnic Armenians. The bbc s olga ivshina is one of the first journalists to have reached the region since this weeks hostilities began. She sent us this report. This is the first tim
Policing after a large number of metropolitan Police Officers stepped back from firearms duties. Their decision is linked to the case of an armed officer who was charged with the murder of a man. 24 year old chris kaba was unarmed when he was shot and killed in south london last year. A met Police Officer appeared in court on thursday. Joe inwood has this report. Chris kaba was unarmed when he was shot and killed in streatham. He was driving a borrowed car. According to police, the vehicle had previously been linked to an incident involving a gun. Chris kaba was hit by a single bullet fired by a Police Officer. There was widespread outrage at his death, especially amongst londons black community. Last week, his family were in court to see a Police Officer who is only being referred to as nx121 charged with murder. They welcomed the prosecution, but its been met with concern by many of the officers colleagues. In total, its thought more than 100 Firearms Officers have handed in whats kn