this is bbc news. our top stories: police launch an investigation into whether parties at downing street violated covid rules. a spokesman says borisjohnson didn't think he had broken the law. more tough talk over ukraine — president biden says he'd consider personal sanctions on vladimir putin if russia invaded ukraine at least 46 people are killed as tropical storm ana hits madagascar and mozambique. thousands have had to leave their homes. coronavirus breaks out among crew on an aid ship headed for tonga, hampering relief efforts as authorities try to keep the islands covid—free.

welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the metropolitan police have launched their own investigation into the parties that took place inside downing street, to see if they broke covid rules. they've done so after receiving information from the internal inquiry, led by the senior civil servant sue gray. her report — seen as critical in deciding prime minister boris johnson's future — could be released as early as wednesday. our political editor laura kuenssberg has more. the law applies in every town, every city, every road, and every house, and in the sm postcode of number 10. and the police have concluded they've seen enough about what happened behind closed doors when the law was lockdown — that it merits

a full and proper look. i can confirm that the met is now investigating a number of events that took place at downing street and whitehall in the last two years. so, for only the second time in a century... can you survive the police investigation, borisjohnson? ..a serving prime minister will be investigated for what happened under his own roof, after months and months of claims about rule—breaking during a national emergency. i now call the prime minister. i believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters. but i want to reassure the house, mr speaker, and the country, that i and the whole government are focused 100% on dealing with the people's priorities. i'm told the police have been talking to the official who's been trying to get to the bottom of what happened for weeks and enough evidence about gatherings or parties in downing street is there for them to contemplate prosecutions. was it right to have a birthday

gathering in downing street, ms dorries? more than a dozen events, including a celebration and cake around the cabinet table for the prime minister's birthday, have emerged. will there be cake on the cabinet table today, miss truss? but when ministers were there around that same table this morning, borisjohnson made no mention of the police investigation he already had been told about. those loyal to him have been louder in recent days. the vaccine roll—out, the furlough programme, the economy having bounced back to pre—pandemic levels, the leadership of borisjohnson this country has had, has been so brilliant. but even before the police or official report, there have been plenty of private tory recriminations for the chaos. i have not been invited to any parties. all of it more fuel for the opposition parties. so, it seems, mr speaker, potential criminality has been found in downing street. what a truly damning

reflection on our nation's very highest office. we cannot go on with this chaotic government. will he advise his boss to do the right thing in the national interest and resign? can we please have a sensel of proportion over the prime minister being given a piece of cake in his own office - by his own staff? the timing and complexities of a police investigation could slow down the tory party's rush to judgement on borisjohnson. conversations among mps over there, who have the power to determine his future, may be put on pause. yet one former minister said, "there is no universe where a police investigation "into downing street is a good thing in the real world." the tories, who like to be seen as the party of law and order, are facing serious political disorder of their own. laura kuenssberg, bbc

news, westminster. britain is prepared to deploy troops to protect nato allies in europe, should russia invade ukraine. borisjohnson said vladimir putin would face "ferocious" ukrainian resistance. and president biden said he'd consider personal sanctions on mr putin if there were a russian invasion. our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley reports. the might of the russian army on display in its ally belarus, ukraine's northern neighbour, where military exercises are planned next month. moscow has been building up troops on ukraine's eastern border, too, and fears of a new war in europe are growing. the kremlin is still denying it'll invade, president putin keeping the world guessing about what his intentions really are. if russia invades ukraine, we would look to contribute to any new nato deployments to protect our allies in europe.

but if president putin were to choose the path of bloodshed and destruction, he must realise that it would be both tragic and futile. russia's now amassed around 100,000 troops near its border with ukraine, leading to huge international concern. moscow used to control much of the region, but many countries have sincejoined nato, the military alliance of european and north american countries of which the uk is also a part. and president putin has demanded that ukraine never be allowed to join nato. so the west is now ramping up its response, the defensive counter build—up growing by the day. warships and fighterjets from several nato members are now heading to eastern europe. this is american military equipment and munitions arriving in kyiv. it's been called "lethal aid". the us has now put 8,500 troops on alert to deploy at short notice if they need to. russia's also been threatened with unprecedented economic sanctions which could target president putin himself,

the us says, if he does give the order to invade. for russia, not only in terms of economic consequences and political consequences, but there will be enormous consequences worldwide. this would be the largest... if he were to move in with all those forces, it would be the largest invasion since world war ii. it would change the world. some in ukraine think the west is being alarmist. others are growing increasingly nervous. translation: we have to stick together - because we have enemies. 0ur big neighbour, russia, it is like a cancer on our soil. moscow today accused the americans of whipping up tensions over ukraine but suggested that diplomacy isn't dead yet. caroline hawley, bbc news. well, earlier i spoke to andrew weiss who's vice—president for studies at the carnegie endowment for international peace. i asked his thoughts on the different approach to russia being taken by european allies france

and germany as opposed to the us and uk. i think there is unanimity between washington and european partners and london that it would be far better to smother the russians in diplomatic conversations instead of seeing this conflict to turn violent. so, in the meantime, there may be disagreements about exactly how much pressure to bring to bear, both because it could be provocative, but also because it could provide the russians an excuse for walking away from the diplomatic conversation. is it as smart as saying we have a good cop, bad cop arrangement here, and the french and germans are playing the good cop? they're going to have discussions, i believe, in paris in what is known as the normandy format, so we'll get the russians together with the french, germans, and even ukrainians, i think president macron thinks he's having a phone call with vladimir putin on friday, so clearly they feel it's time

for them to step up. well, the reason they're stepping up is because everyone keeps saying that putin is the decider, whose view of what happens matters the most, but no—one is talking to him. so french president macron is essentially nominating himself to take the lead right now in engaging with putin. german chancellor scholz is still getting settled into his newjob. in the previous round of crisis in 2014, 2015, it was angela merkel who led much of the european interaction with the russians. we don't have someone with her strength, both within the european union as well as her credibility with the russians, working on behalf of the west right now, so there is a real deficit interlocutors and macron is trying to fill that. and that will be seen, and mr macron has his own strategic views as to how europe should be playing a role here, but that would also play in also to the view of vladimir putin as a master

of looking for weaknesses and the lack of a merkel is a weakness. absolutely. there is no doubt in the fact that there is no—one right now on the european landscape with putin's level of experience and his own institutional memory of how he got to this point is a huge liability. and, frankly, it's a challenge for the united states as well. like britain, the us—russian relationship is in tatters and there are very few interlocutors who are dealing on an intensive basis who are dealing with putin's inner circle, that is a real challenge as we head into what could be a very dangerous phase in this crisis in mid—february or later. can ijust, for a final thought, turn our attention to domestic politics in the us as well, we have mid—terms and we also have a biden who's playing hardball after a fashion and we've got donald trump who could quite easily be saying, "look, once again, the europeans are soft pedalling, we're expected to pick up the pieces

in a faraway part of the world," and that plays very well domestically, as an argument. i don't think the american people, i'm not an expert on us politics or paying that much attention to this crisis, i think the challenges that are in front of president biden are enormous, whether it's the pandemic or the economic recovery, the threat of inflation, et cetera. his challenge is he doesn't want vladimir putin to swamp his entire presidency with endless crises and challenges in the ukraine. the other part of this, which is important, is republicans themselves are split. there's a big congressional voice from the republican party saying biden is too soft, and then in the other hand you have fox news and trump saying russia is ourfriend. so what you're seeing, frankly, in the us, domestic political dysfunction is again an advantage for russia's putin. the more the west looks divided, the easier this will be for the russians.

let's get some of the day's other news. the us coastguard says it's looking for 39 people missing after a boat reportedly capsized off florida. the accident occurred on saturday but a survivor was rescued on tuesday. he said the vessel had sailed from the bahamas but had run into bad weather. sunday's quarterfinal at the african cup of nations will not be played at the stadium in cameroon where eight people died in a crush on monday. the confederation of african football president said there had to be an �*absolute guarantee' that fans would be safe. instead it will be played at another stadium in yaounde. nancy pelosi has confirmed she's going to run for re—election to congress and may still stay on as house speaker despite previously saying she would step down from leadership after 2022. the 81—year—old has served in congress since 1987 and says her decision to stand again was to defend american democracy through legislation on voting rights and other issues.

now to south—east africa and a region that regularly has to cope with some of the world's strongest — and most violent — tropical storms. in the latest extreme weather event to make landfall, storm ana has killed at least 46 people in madagascar and mozambique with up to 50 injured. thousands of people have been made homeless. in neighbouring malawi the country lost most of its power because of flooding. stephanie prentice has this report: this is now home for these families in the madagascan capital. the crowded emergency accommodation site with no infrastructure, no privacy, and few resources. translation: the reason we're staying here is because - part of our house has collapsed. we asked for help. we can't live at home because it's flooded. if we leave here we've got nowhere to go and live.

translation: we had to leave because all the mattresses - are wet and our baby got sick. we didn't have a house and we had to come here. outside, the flooding has claimed thousands of homes and rescue agencies are still working their way in boats through what was once farmland to evacuate those who are trapped. while some have lost everything they own in this storm, many others lost their lives, with authorities working on recovery as well as rescue, searching for bodies in the floodwaters. the cyclone which formed he then moved to mainland africa, knocking out power for tens of thousands in mozambique and malawi. suddenly charcoal became like gold, as homes and businesses were plunged into complete darkness overnight. translation: immediately when the power went out, l customers came to buy charcoal, regardless of the quality. usually i make 3000 kwachas per day, but yesterday alone

i made 10,000. officials in mozambique also reporting some people found dead, with official tolls still coming in and saying more than half a million people have been impacted by the floodwaters. but despite attempts to get things back to normal, weather experts are forecasting another 4—6 powerful cyclones between now and late march. stephanie prentice, bbc news. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: eltonjohn�*s long goodbye gets even longer — the singer postpones farewell tour dates in dallas after testing positive for covid—19. the shuttle challenger exploded soon after lift—off. there were seven astronauts on board, one of them a woman schoolteacher. all of them are believed to have been killed.

by the evening, tahrir square, the heart of official cairo, was in the hands of the demonstrators. they were using the word 'revolution'. the earthquake - singled out buildings and brought them down in seconds. _ tonight, the search for any survivors. has an increasing desperation about it as the hours pass. i the new government is firmly in control of the entire republic of uganda. survivors of the auschwitz concentration camp have been commemorating the 40th anniversary of their liberation. they toured the huts, gas chambers and crematoria and relived their horrifying experiences. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines:

police launch an investigation into whether parties at downing street violated coronavirus rules. a spokesman says borisjohnson didn't think he had broken the law. president biden says he would consider imposing sanctions on president putin directly — if russia invades ukraine. a covid outbreak on board an australian warship loaded with humanitarian aid bound for tonga is hampering the relief effort following last weeks volcanic eruption and tsunami. 23 crew on board hmas adelaide have tested positive with the virus, meaning the ship will remain at sea to avoid taking the disease onto the islands. shaimaa khalil is in neighbouring fiji. the outbreak on board the australian navy ship is exactly what the tongan government has been nervous about. this is why, so far, the tongan authorities have been adamant that much—needed

supplies have been allowed in but that aid workers have not been allowed into the country. and this is because, as you say, covid—19 so far has been mostly outside this country, and they've only had one case. 0therwise, they've been covid—free. and what they don't want to do is they don't want to be dealing with the aftermath of the destruction, after the volcanic eruption and the subsequent tsunami, and only to invite covid—19 in with aid workers and aid. so they've been really careful and really reluctant about inviting personnel in, and then, case in point, what happened with the hmas adelaide — the australian navy ship that was carrying aid to tonga. 23 personnel have tested positive for covid—19, and now we've heard from the australian defence minister, peter dutton, who says, we're currently in conversation with the tongan authorities about what to do

next — whether we actually port and deliver the aid — including, crucially, chinook helicopters that could airdrop aid and supplies to further parts of tonga, or we just stand off. it is a very, very fine balance on what to do. there is crucial need for basic supplies, whether it's water supplies, shelter kits, food. we're only over a week after this has happened and i have been speaking to locals on the ground who say, look, water and food is what we're concerned about. but also there is a health risk about covid—19, and the australian authorities say the last thing they want to do is bring covid to tonga, especially given that neighbouring nations like fiji, for example, they are experiencing their third wave. kiribati has gone into lockdown. you're talking about the solomon islands and samoa already dealing with a spike in covid—19 cases.

and remember, not too long ago they were covid—19—free as well, so it'sjust a scenario that the tongans want to avoid at all costs right now. but it is a very, very difficult balance right now between a desperate need for humanitarian aid and public health concerns. this is a rather different story. sir eltonjohn has said he's massively disappointed to have had to cancel two concerts in dallas after testing positive for covid. the gigs were part of his farewell yellow brick road world tour, but the singer reassured fans on instagram that he was fully vaccinated and boosted, and only suffering mild symptoms. i'm joined now by dan singer, entertainment editor for dallas morning news. thanks very much forjoining us. good to hear that sir elton john is coping pretty well. i don't suppose that is a huge amount of comfort for his fans

in dallas who presumably go to the back of that queue waiting for the concert.— for the concert. this is one of the most _ for the concert. this is one of the most anticipated - for the concert. this is one ofj the most anticipated concerts in this year and it is also one that was originally announced for 2020, so these fans have been waiting for a long time and it looks like a little longer now. i and it looks like a little longer now.— and it looks like a little lonaernow. , longer now. i don't suppose there is any _ longer now. i don't suppose there is any idea _ longer now. i don't suppose there is any idea of - longer now. i don't suppose there is any idea of dates i longer now. i don't suppose l there is any idea of dates yet but is there much idea about how sir eltonjohn contracted covid? how sir elton john contracted covid? ~ ., �* ., ., . ., covid? we don't have a clear idea of that _ covid? we don't have a clear idea of that right _ covid? we don't have a clear idea of that right now - covid? we don't have a clear idea of that right now but. covid? we don't have a clear l idea of that right now but what we do know is that on saturday which was his last concert in houston, it does show that his keyboard player tested positive for covid and that is why they were unable to perform. we don't know if that is the connection here but something that you mentioned. sir connection here but something that you mentioned.— that you mentioned. sir elton john is a big _ that you mentioned. sir elton john is a big name _ that you mentioned. sir elton john is a big name and - that you mentioned. sir elton john is a big name and a - that you mentioned. sir elton john is a big name and a big i john is a big name and a big draw that over the course of, as you mentioned, it has been two years for people waiting for him to be able to perform in dallas. i presume you have

had this time and again, our raft of stars who have had to just cry off. it raft of stars who have had to just cry off-— just cry off. it is true, it has been _ just cry off. it is true, it has been an _ just cry off. it is true, it has been an ongoing i just cry off. it is true, it - has been an ongoing issue. when the global concert industry decided to bring back shows, especially in the us late last year, it was the expectation that cases would be coming down and things will be able to proceed with the 0ma crime wave, it hasn't been like that —— 0micron. people are still committed to doing shows but what we're saying is that the postponements, delays and cancellations are going to be persistent issues as long as the shows are happening amid this pandemic. find the shows are happening amid this pandemic.— this pandemic. and the difference _ this pandemic. and the difference here - this pandemic. and the difference here is -- i this pandemic. and the difference here is -- is| this pandemic. and the i difference here is -- is it this pandemic. and the - difference here is -- is it is difference here is —— is it is been cancelled because sir elton has got it and that makes it that much harder in terms of the organisers. the people involved in putting it all on. they have very short notice to be told it isn't happening. absolutely true. some of the public frustration around that stems from the fact that

postponed dates all the rescheduling of dates are not rescheduled immediately and people are left waiting at the organisers of the show are left with their hands tied because when they have to make a split decision there is no time to reschedule.— decision there is no time to reschedule. i'm sure we'll get there eventually. _ reschedule. i'm sure we'll get there eventually. they - reschedule. i'm sure we'll get there eventually. they you i reschedule. i'm sure we'll get| there eventually. they you for joining us. the economy in uganda has fully reopened almost two years after the closure for some businesses. bars, nightclubs, theatres and other sections of the entertainment and night economy had been officially closed since march 2020. as nightlife returned to kampala, the bbc�*s patience atuhaire went for a night out. ugandan can laugh and dance again. for many here this is the first time they are victory out for a night of fun in almost two years. such venues have lost income and valuable years in that time. and performers had to get innovative by creating content

for paying corporate clients. companies came and people are home so they came to us and we gave them our services. iltu’ith home so they came to us and we gave them our services.- gave them our services. with a dusk to dawn _ gave them our services. with a dusk to dawn having _ gave them our services. with a dusk to dawn having been - gave them our services. with a | dusk to dawn having been lifted people could go out and about again. people could go out and about a.ain_ ., ., , ., people could go out and about aaain. . ., , ., ., again. ugandans love. most of our love is— again. ugandans love. most of our love is expressed - again. ugandans love. most of our love is expressed during i our love is expressed during the night. we enjoy our lives so we have been missing this. do you know if you are inside, all the — do you know if you are inside, all the stuff in your head, the work — all the stuff in your head, the work but— all the stuff in your head, the work. but if you come out here, you experience, at least you have — you experience, at least you have music, you forget some stuff — have music, you forget some stuff. we're very happy. in the

first month — stuff. we're very happy. in the first month street _ stuff. we're very happy. in the first month street would - stuff. we're very happy. in the first month street would have | first month street would have been quiet and empty. someone is —— some businesses have been able to weather the storm but others have closed their doors forever. while the government still expense —— may expect some coronavirus measures like social distancing be observed, some through all courses into the wind with average cases 300 per day, uganda is not out of the woods yet. the night—time entertainment sector is a contributor to jobs entertainment sector is a contributor tojobs in entertainment sector is a contributor to jobs in the economy but it can also be another breeding ground for another breeding ground for another wave of the pandemic. patience atuhaire, bbc news, kampala. covid dominates our story here as well in the uk and that is british prime minister boris johnson who is waiting for the verdict about the parties that took place during lockdown.

that could be delivered during the course of the day and comes as the met police have just announced that they are also investigating the legality of those gatherings. this is bbc world news. hello there. wednesday brings the promise of a bit more brightness. some sunshine, even, across parts of england and wales after what has been a very stagnant and cloudy and cold few days. you can see that haze of grey on the earlier satellite picture. bright white cloud up to the north—west, though. that's indicative of frontal systems approaching, eventually bringing some rain into scotland and northern ireland, with a strengthening wind. so, through wednesday, england and wales having a better chance of some sunny spells, although towards the south—east corner it may stay cloudy for a good part of the day. strengthening winds across northern areas. rain just getting into northern ireland, certainly setting in across western and north—western scotland through the afternoon. gusts of wind in excess of 50 mph in exposed north—western parts. but milder than it has been, certainly across england and wales — eight, nine, ten degrees.

northern ireland and scotland up to ten or 11. through wednesday night, it will turn very, very windy in the far north. gales, even severe gales, close to the northern isles. 0ur band of cloud and increasingly light and patchy rain will be sinking its way southwards through the night. with some fairly windy weather, and relatively cloudy weather as well, temperatures should stay above freezing in most places. so, into thursday, this frontal system pushing its way southwards, taking cloud and patchy rain across england and wales. low pressure still close to the north—east of scotland, so a very blustery start to the day here. that wind will only slowly ease as the day wears on. 0ur band of cloud and patchy rain clinging on for a time across southern counties of england. it should clear out into the english channel by the afternoon to allow brighter skies to develop. some showers feeding in on the north—westerly breeze. temperatures for most of us

between seven and 12 degrees. now, thursday night could get a little bit chilly, this ridge of high pressure building in. that could allow for some frost and some fog, but there's another frontal system approaching from the west. that'll be freshening up the winds as we go through the day, particularly across northern ireland and scotland. rain getting into north—west scotland. some rain at times, but not all the time. could be quite windy and generally, particularly on saturday, very mild.

this is bbc news,

the headlines: police have launched an investigation into the parties that took place inside downing street during lockdown. it's after the civil servant leading an internal inquiry passed information on to officers. number 10 says borisjohnson thinks he did not break any laws. president biden has said he's prepared to impose sanctions on his russian counterpart vladimir putin directly, if moscow invades ukraine. it's the first time that western powers have suggested that measures they've threatened against moscow could go right to the top of the kremlin. at least 46 people have been killed in madagascar and mozambique as tropical storm ana brought torrential rains and flash flooding to coastal parts of east africa. the island of madagascar suffered a mudslide with 65,000 people left homeless. malawi lost most of its power across the country because of flooding.

now on bbc news, it's hardtalk.