This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Jackie Lennon and in the early hours of Friday, the 17th of February, these are our

main stories.

The leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has said he's prepared to let Russia launch

attacks again from his territory.

The United Nations is appealing for $1 billion to help victims of the earthquakes in Turkey.

And President Biden says the object, shot down over North America in recent days, appear

to have nothing to do with China.

Also in this podcast, we look at one of the world's most dangerous migration routes.

In Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces into Ukraine almost a year ago, he used Belarus

as a launch pad to attack Kiev.

Now the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said he's ready to let Moscow use his

country again to launch a new offensive.

He was speaking to a small group of foreign journalists in Minsk, among them was our Russia

editor, Steve Rosenberg.

Few people know Vladimir Putin as well as Alexander Lukashenko does.

Did something that President Putin hasn't done since invading Ukraine?

He took questions from the Western media.

One year ago, I say to Mr. Lukashenko, you let Russia use your country as a staging

ground for the invasion of Ukraine.

Are you prepared to do so again?

Yes he replied, I'm ready to do that.

...