Gay men can donate blood in Canada

Canadian health officials have removed a ban on blood donations from gay men, one that has long been condemned as homophobic. The old rule prevented donations from men who have had sex with other men within three months of giving blood. The UK lifted its own ban last year. France, Greece, Israel, Hungary, Denmark and Brazil have also lifted restrictions. We hear from gay men who have recently donated blood.

We continue to bring you the latest lines on the war in Ukraine. The country’s leader, President Zelensky accuses Russia of trying to humiliate the United Nations by launching a missile attack on the capital Kyiv, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres was there for talks. The Ukrainian government says an operation is planned to evacuate civilians from a huge steel plant in Mariupol, the last area of the city holding out against Russia.

Also, fears are growing that Moldova and Transnistria could be drawn into the Ukraine conflict. The country’s deputy prime minister has said that Moldova is facing “a very dangerous new moment”. He warned that unnamed forces were seeking to stoke tensions following a series of explosions in the Russian-controlled territory of Transnistria this week. We hear a conversation with people from the region.

And, a former Afghan general has told the BBC that he and many other former soldiers and politicians are preparing to launch military operations against the Taliban. Lieutenant General Sami Sadat said eight months of increasingly harsh Taliban rule had led them to believe that it was the only solution. We hear from our correspondent.

(Photo: A man donating blood. Credit: Getty Images)