this is bbc news the headlines the winter olympics open in beijing ending chinese pride and international controversy. the president of china and russia meet ahead of the opening ceremony as the two countries move closer together in the face of western pressure and pledged to oppose further needs... downing street insists borisjohnson is still in control — after another conservative mp calls on him to go — and the resignation of a fifth senior adviser. emergency workers in morocco say they are hopeful they'll soon reach a five year old boy who's been trapped for four days in a deep well. this is the scene live —

where huge crowds have gathered — hoping for a positive outcome. china's president xijinping has declared the winter olympics open at an unusually low—key ceremony, due to the pandemic and a diplomatic boycott over human rights abuses. the main venue is the birds nest stadium, already familiar to sports fans after it was the main focus for the 2008 summer olympics. the opening ceremony was overseen by film director jang imo who was also behind the ceremony in 2008. but spectators were thin on the ground because of strict covid restrictions. and few world leaders made the trip to beijing. our correspondent steve mcdonell is in beijing and following the action.

it's a real party atmosphere. typical beijing pubs full of families and little kids and couples and older people who come here to watch the opening ceremony on the big screen. part of the reason this pub and how many others in the city are fullest because this is how you get a community feeling of the games. the general public cannot buy tickets for the opening ceremony orfor anything else in games for that matter the two covid—19 restrictions. it's a pity it's not the games people would've liked in terms of being able to go and watch events in terms of having international teams mixing with the general public and walking around beijing but that is what it is in this time of covid—19 so they have turned up here and make the most of the and everyone is feeling pretty happy and thrilled with things and they seem to enjoy the opening ceremony.

putin from russia and imran khan from pakistan but not that many other world leaders. very different from the 2008 games and people will be making their comparison to have so many fewer number of world leaders in the birds nest stadium. also a much more scaled—down event. lots of kids involved, more of a happy community feel rahter than dramatic drums and stuff that you had at the 2008 games. officials will be hoping two things, one that covid—19 does not spread too far inside the olympic venues because they are picking up dozens of athletes every day testing positive who are not able to participate in the games. the other thing i will be hoping is now the sport and the controversy in terms of human rights abuses and in terms of the potential for athletes to get up and disrupt the games to protest if they win a medal they will be hoping that

sort of thing does not take centre stage and it would be for sporting prowess and the worlds great athletes in these winter events that will inspire this nation and people all around the world. one high—profile world leader who did attend the opening ceremony was russian president vladimir putin, who also held talks with president xi. the two countries issued a joint statement, describing the talks as "very warm" and outlining several new policy agreements. both nations also warned against what they called nato's �*cold war ideology�*. the meeting was xi�*s first �*in person�* chat with any world leader in nearly two years. the two men have met 37 times since taking power, more than any other heads of state. vladimir putin told xi jinping that the two countries had established an �*unprecedented�* relationship. they have a history of trade deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. russia says it�*s prepared to supply

china with more oil and gas. derek grossman, senior defence analyst at foreign affairs think tank — the rand corporation, explains the geopolitical importance of the relationship between the two leaders. it is very important for global politics because vladimir putin over the last several years and xi strengthen their personal ties but their state to state ties with their common adversary being the united states and abroad west that seems poised against them from their perspective. and so what i think we saw over the last day with vladimir putin travelling to beijing to meet with xi for the opening of the olympics was a very symbolic event to demonstrate that these two authoritarian leaders continue to deepen their ties to try to make the world safer for authoritarianismn worldwide.

how will this coming together be viewed by the nato allies for instance and other western powers? i think it�*s very interesting to note that vladimir putin and xijinping released a joint statement. the russian version talks about how china and russia are aligned on the need to stop nato enlargement but the chinese version of that statement did not mention nato and did not mention the ukraine either so there may be a little bit of a difference there in terms of beijing versus moscow�*s perspective but on the whole chain certainly supports russia to handle affairs within its sphere of influence which is the post—soviet space specifically so long as moscow respects beijing�*s ability to do what it wants with in its sphere of influence. you mentioned the careful wording from china. china also enjoys a close relationship with ukraine.

could a situation emerge where it would have to choose between ukraine and russia? i think it�*s pretty clear from chinese foreign minister statement the other day that the russian and chinese foreign ministries are actively coordinating their ukraine policy and beijing express understanding and support for moscow�*s position and so i think if russia does wind up militarily invading ukraine i think you will get at a minimum rhetorical support from china and on the higher end an extension or vetoing of different resolutions that may come before it as part of the un security council. china does have a unique opportunity here because it�*s very close friends with russia but it also has a good relationship with ukraine. may it be able to take on the role of peaceful

negotiator? i don�*t know that beijing wants to necessarily opening that can of worms but i think it has unique opportunity to do so. china�*s president also gave his support to russia�*s security and foreign policy aims, at a time when many in the west fear that president putin is planning to invade ukraine. and china gave its backing to russia�*s demand that nato halt its expansion. amid the heightened tension over ukraine, the us has begun deploying troops to countries in central and eastern europe. on thursday, troops left fort bragg military base in south carolina, with 2,000 troops heading to poland and germany, and another 1,000 already in germany moving to romania. earlier we spoke to nato�*s secretary general, yens stoltenberg. he shared his concerns. we have seen china and russia working more and more closely together both in diplomatic fields and the un security council and elsewhere but also in the military field where they have more exercises

to get their way they operate my together and more recently thejoint naval exercise together with iran in the indian ocean. so they are close and if anything that makes it even more important that we stand together north america and europe in nato because together we are 50% of the world military might and as long as we stand together we are all safe. we have been proven right in our intelligence on continued russian military build—up in and around ukraine. of course there is still uncertainty what russia will do but what we all do know is that there is a significant ongoing military build—up by russia and we know that they have used military force

against ukraine before and we see this threatening rhetoric ready see if we don�*t do exactly what they are seeing there will be consequences. the military build—up and rhetoric on their track record they�*ve used against ukraine before that makes the danger for the military invasion by russia into ukraine a real danger that we need to prepare and address. while the world worries about a potential new russian invasion of ukraine, communities in the east of the country are counting the cost of a conflict which has already dragged on for years. since 2014, some 14,000 people have been killed, among them soldiers and civilians. our international correspondent orla guerin reports — from the city of kramatorsk — on one family and their loss: it was a funeral for a hero, a fallen soldier in the wire ukraine a fallen soldier in the war ukraine

is already fighting. he wasjust 22. he was killed on the front line in december by russian backed separatists. mourned by loved ones and by his hometown. his mother is consoled by one of his brothers in arms who was standing right beside him when the sniper�*s bullet pierced his helmet. butressed by her husband, anna remembers their eldest son. a boy who was funny, kind, a bit naughty, who grew up to love football. and defend his homeland. of course we did not expect it was going to turn out this way. but i am proud of my son.

because he gave his life for his country. he gave his life for ukraine. for the people and for his family. that�*s why i�*m so proud of my boy. he made this video just weeks before his death. the song says my heart aches, i don�*t believe you�*re gone. his father, a pastor, wonders if somehow he sensed what was coming. sometimes i feel that perhaps he was expecting to die. because he spent the last two days of his holiday with us. and he made that video.

when he was boarding the bus he said i have a heavy heart, i don�*t want to leave. but i said, son, you have to, you made a decision. so you have to go. now they mourn and worry, their city was shelled in 2015, they fear a new phase of war would dwarf the suffering so far. but for them, the worst has already happened. a beloved son is gone. as another conservative member of parliament calls for a vote of no confidence in borisjohnson�*s leadership, downing street is denying that the prime minister has lost control. the mp said the prime minister�*s position had become untenable since details had emerged about gatherings held during lockdowns.

the development puts further pressure on mrjohnson — who has also been dealing with the fallout of five resignations from his number ten team. our political correspondent iain watson reports. are the normal rules of politics being turned on their head? boris johnson delivered an 80—seat majority yet some of his own mps are openly talking about whether he should be leaving downing street for good. she�*s a fighter and a quitter — elena narozanski has represented england at boxing. today she dealt the prime a blow by resigning from his policy unit. she is a close ally of mirza, the number ten policy chief who left yesterday, one boris johnson�*s closest aides who had worked for him for a decade. both resignations were unforeseen in government and ministers had to put a brave face on the downing street departures. the people going are

distinguished public servants but the prime minister wanted change and he said there would be change, and we are seeing that change now. the chief of staff at number 10 dan rosenfield, seen on the left, communications directorjack doyle and senior civil martin reynolds are also leaving number ten. they were expected to go in response to the initial report from sue gray on lockdown gatherings. the remaining staff in downing street attended another gathering today, a pep talk from the prime minister. i am told he quoted from the lion king saying "change is good". some sceptical mps suggested either the prime minister himself would need to change or they might need to change the prime minister. we want this to work but i think, for myself, i am deeply troubled by what is going on and we all know if a prime minister does not ship up they have to shape out, and that is what happened when this prime minister took over. another mp, aaron bell, confirmed he had submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister

saying the breach of trust makes his position untenable. for some tory mps it is not a matter of if but when they will call for a vote of no—confidence. it takes only 5a to trigger the vote but 180 win. some of the prime minister�*s long—standing critics are wary about rushing in because under party rules if they fail to oust borisjohnson, he cannot be challenged for another year. in politics, as in comedy, timing is everything. another factor holding some mps back from pushing borisjohnson out of number ten is a question of who would move in. next—door—neighbour rishi sunak distanced himself from downing street gatherings and the controversial comments about keir starmer, but his allies say that does not mean he has given the nod to a leadership contest. borisjohnson has written to all tory mps promising to work more closely with them and, in a sign he wants to stay at number ten, he declares,

"we will deliver together". a former member of the house of lords has beenjailed for five and a half years for child sex offences. lord ahmed of rotherham carried out the assaults on two children in the 1970s when he was a teenager. there are now calls for him to be stripped of his title. the 64 year old was tried under his real name, nazir ahmed. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: queen elizabeth marks her platinum jubilee viewing some quirky cards and gifts — celebrating her 70 years as monarch.

this is news, the latest headlines... the official opening of the winter olympics has taken place in beijing amid chinese pride and international controversy.

the presidents of china and russia meet ahead of the opening ceremony — as the two countries move closer together in the face of western pressure and pledge to oppose further nato expansion. olly foster has all the sport. they went in and pick opening ceremony took place inside the bird nest stadium. the olympic torch was placed in the centre of a giant snowflake and there it will stay for the next 60 days of competition. i organisers say one of the goals of these games is to unite humankind. the ioc has been heavily criticised for awarding the games to china because of their human rights record. as our sports correspondent and beastly success for other reasons these are able into games like no other. it�*s been one of the most controversial backdrops of major sporting events that i can

remember. firstly because of covid—19. the restrictions here are much tighter than they were at the tokyo olympics last summer when there was a degree of freedom here. everyone involved in the games is effectively locked in a bubble. he cannot go anywhere apart from your accommodation for the family is. that said, there have still been positive covid—19 cases mainly at beijing airport as people arrive but the authorities are confident they are keeping it under control. also because of covid—19 there are no tickets being sold to the general public, on the specially invited spectators are able to attend and finally there is the issue of china�*s human rights record. a number of countries including great britain and the usa have launched a bit dramatic boycott of these games because of china�*s human rights records. it�*s described build—up of these games as controversial would be something of an understatement. it an fa cup weekend in england. the fourth round stage in the first ties

into the second half. manchester united taking on the championship side middlesbrough at old trafford. chris and renaldo put the first half and at the wide butjames chris and renaldo put the first half and at the wide but james gave them and at the wide but james gave them a half—time lead with a defective effort. it�*s about half and i would to play. manchester united is meeting 1—0. the africa cup of nations comes to the clothes this weekend between egypt and senegal. we will see liverpool stars go head—to—head. they put their place in the final after beating the host cameroon on penalties. he did not need to take one. the host was very poorin need to take one. the host was very poor in the shoot—out. they will face senegal who have a manet has one of their main attacking threats. liverpool manager will be watching from afar and says he�*s looking forward to seeing his two stars come face—to—face. it forward to seeing his two stars come face-to-face-— face-to-face. it would be exciting. it's obviously _ face-to-face. it would be exciting. it's obviously not _ face-to-face. it would be exciting. it's obviously not so _ face-to-face. it would be exciting. it's obviously not so easy - face-to-face. it would be exciting. it's obviously not so easy because | it�*s obviously not so easy because we have to watch the game and we will be really happy after one and

the other one much less so. so the pressure in the tournament and the pressure in the tournament and the pressure a half on their shoulders is massive and how they deal with it i am proud of them.— i am proud of them. that's all you sorts i am proud of them. that's all you sports for — i am proud of them. that's all you sports for now- — emergency workers in morocco are hopeful they�*ll soon reach a five year old boy who�*s been trapped for four the days in a deep well. the child, who�*s called rayan, slid more than thirty metres into the shaft, while his father was repairing it. the shaft is narrow — so rescuers are digging a large hole parallel to it to reach the boy, as helena wilkinson reports. this sunday the queen will become the first british monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee, marking a 70—year reign. a series of events to mark the occasion will take place throughout the year. for the queen, sunday —

accession day — is always spent in quiet reflection. it is the day her father, george the 6th, passed away — and she acceded immediately to the throne. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. the letters, the newest one. she�*s nearly 96 now, not quite as robust physically as before. a monarch looking back over 70 years and three previous jubilees. simple, but ingenious. they�*ve been decades during which she�*s given much, but one thing above all. stability in times of war and peace, in times of social calm and social disruption. stability in times of pandemic. and increasingly, across the world, she has become, i think, a world symbol of stability and strength. and according to the archbishop of canterbury, she has provided leadership by example. at the funeral of her husband of 70—something

years, she sat alone. that was leadership. it was doing the right thing, it was duty. it set an example. from the earliest moments of her reign, doing the right thing has been instinctive. for all the grandeur of her position, she�*s understood that respect has to be earned. her ultimate quality has been humility. i think the most successful royals nowadays are the humble ones who understand that they�*re part of something bigger than them. archive: her majesty moves to king edward's chair, - over which a splendid canopy... elizabeth�*s reign began the moment her father died, but it was at the coronation when she sat on king edward�*s throne, that she became the anointed sovereign, set apart on the path of duty for the remainder of her life. the britain to whose

throne elizabeth ascended, on that february day in 1952, was a very different country to the one of today. yet britain�*s core, then as now, was the monarchy. and the young woman who was crowned on this ancient throne has done her utmost to uphold both, crown and country. you�*d never have said in �*52 that in 70 years, the monarchy would actually be, in many ways, more successful and more of a centre of national attention than ever. and the fact that it is, i think, is down to her. the past year has been difficult for her. there has been personal sadness and family pain. now, a milestone no other british monarch has achieved. by most, she is loved. by almost all of the rest,

she is profoundly respected. and around the world, she has lived a life that has made a difference. nicholas witchell, bbc news. you can read more about her 70 year reign and get details of all the other stories on our website. don�*t forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter — i�*m @kacungira with sleep in seven parts this morning it was a hint it was going to be a cold day. we have snow showers for the north and west. the cold arctic air stays with us through the night so frosty and there are some windings on the

website. a satellite picture shows you where they showers have been packing in northern and western areas and that will continue through this evening. in between, clear skies and temperatures tumbling away and it will turn frosty in many areas he in the north and west ahead of this approach and whether funds which will top up the snow levels because the snow showers will continue in the north as well. it will be treacherous in places particularly where the services are damp and showers continue with the ice. a cold start saturday morning but a bright start in southern and eastern areas close to the area of high pressure but you can see these tightly packed isobars and it would be a windy weekend and we�*ll return to the atlantic wind flow so bringing in returning the amount of air across the british isles as he goes through saturday. in the far north it will be the cold air turning later in the day and snow risk as we talked about on this letter finds as it pushes east. it will sweep the cold air out of the

way. pushing south and eastern areas may escape bright morning sunshine including crowd and dreams making it feel cold. it would be a windy day with tears in the north and west. closer to the area of low pressure. it will not feel that much milder thanit it will not feel that much milder than it has today. but nine or ten if higher than today. the cold air returns to the north during the evening behind element of fun so you can see how temperatures will be seesawing. the rental place south but it may linger in southern areas into sunday morning. there is a? about how quickly it will clearly. a cold night with frost north and snow showers to come here with linda showers. towards sunday morning the weather funds will be with us still and hanging around in the south and west. a bit of crowd for a lingering further went to showers getting in the north and west and windy and we could have deals with the english channel during the course of sunday.

still feeling pretty cold as well. temperatures five through 10 celsius. they will be more on the website.

this is bbc world news, the headlines... the winter olympics opening ceremony has taken place in beijing, signalling the official start of the games. but the run—up to the event has been fraught with controversy, with many countries staging a diplomatic boycott. just ahead of the opening ceremony, the leaders of china and russia met in beijing. xijinping and vladimir putin said they support each other�*s security and foreign policy aims. china backed russia�*s demand that nato halts any expansion.

downing street insists borisjohnson is still in control,