this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm ben boulos. our top stories... explosions in lviv — smoke rises over the ukrainian city as russian rocket attacks continue. in poland, the us presidentjoe biden holds face—to—face talks with ukrainian government ministers and has this message for russia: nato stay absolutely, completely, thoroughly united. ukraine's president says his troops have dealt russian forces a series of powerful blows — and calls for urgent, meaningful peace talks. in other news... a ferry operated by p&0 has been detained in northern ireland because of fears about staff training. and tributes from across the music

industry for taylor hawkins — the drummer with the rock band the foo fighters — who's died at the age of 50. hello, welcome to the programme. explosions have been heard in the western ukrainian city of lviv this afternoon, as russian attacks continue. that's despite yesterday's claim from the kremlin that russian forces were moving to stage two of the invasion of ukraine, and would now focus on securing their gains in the eastern region of donbas. meanwhile, president biden has been holding face—to—face meeting with ukrainian government ministers, the first since the russian invasion of their country. he met ukraine's defence and foreign ministers in warsaw, before talks with the polish

president, andrzej duda. we'll have more from those talks in poland later — first this report from anna foster in lviv. a show of strength in a stalling offensive. this russian military video shows cruise missiles launching from the black sea. it claims ukrainian weapons and fuel supplies were destroyed in zhytomyr, but the russian advance is slow and hasn't come close to capturing the capital, kyiv. it says it will now focus on the complete liberation of the eastern donbas region. for some western officials, that is an admission of failure. but where russia is hitting, it is hitting hard. the deputy mayor of the besieged city of mariupol has told the bbc that people there are desperate and dying. some is dying of dehydration or lack of food. some is dying of lack of medicine, insulin and something like this, because people can't find medical help.

ukraine still says it is pushing russian forces back. it believes it could retake the city of kherson in the south, near nikolaev, which has seen fierce fighting. but president zelensky says more support is still needed. translation: it is injustice i that is the basis of what russia is doing against ukraine. as they exploit their privileged positions in international organisations, and the fear of the use of nuclear weapons. the fear that russia is constantly spreading. in poland, the us president joe bidenjoined talks between senior american and ukrainian officials. later, he will make a speech in warsaw, calling on the international community to oppose the russian invasion. the world now waits to see if this conflict really is about to enter a new phase, although russia is keen to show that it can and will continue its military campaign in ukraine.

live now to anna foster in lviv in western ukraine. anna, we havejust heard anna, we have just heard the summary in your report. what is the latest since you file back?— since you file back? well, since that report _ since you file back? well, since that report was _ since you file back? well, since that report was made _ since you file back? well, since that report was made a - since you file back? well, since that report was made a few- since you file back? well, since l that report was made a few hours since you file back? well, since - that report was made a few hours ago about 90 minutes ago here in lviv, the sirens sounded and we heard three explosions in a wooded area just in the suburbs here in lviv. we have just been told by the mayor that five people were killed in that russian air strike. but what we don't know yet is the precise location. what we can see very clearly actually on the horizon, it is visible across the centre of lviv are these big clouds of thick black smoke that have been billowing across the skyline ever since we heard those three explosions about 90 minutes ago.— 90 minutes ago. and, anna, this is obviously in — 90 minutes ago. and, anna, this is obviously in the _ 90 minutes ago. and, anna, this is obviously in the west _ 90 minutes ago. and, anna, this is obviously in the west of—

90 minutes ago. and, anna, this is obviously in the west of ukraine. i obviously in the west of ukraine. this is a city that up until this point has been relatively spared the worst of the russian onslaught. does this mark a turning point in the way this mark a turning point in the way this conflict is heading? weill. this mark a turning point in the way this conflict is heading?— this conflict is heading? well, it is interesting _ this conflict is heading? well, it is interesting because _ this conflict is heading? well, it is interesting because it - this conflict is heading? well, it is interesting because it seems | this conflict is heading? well, it i is interesting because it seems to mark a turning point which directly contradicts the turning point that we are expecting yesterday when russia announced that what they called the first phase of their operation was complete. and they said that they were going to focus their efforts now on the donbas region in the east of the country. as you quite rightly say, lviv here in the west, less than 100 kilometres from the polish border, has been really one of the places that people have fled to the sanctuary. when we have seen millions of people leaving ukraine, leaving the country and going somewhere safe, lviv for many of them has been the gateway out into poland. so when you look at the fact that russia said only yesterday that they were going to focus very much on the opposite side of the country,

it is surprising that we see this air strike here this afternoon. find air strike here this afternoon. and what is happening on that front? you mention the people using lviv as a gateway to flee to safety elsewhere. is that still happening or has that slow down now?— slow down now? well, officials in poland said _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said that _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust in _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust in the - slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust in the last . poland said thatjust in the last few days it has slowed down. there maybe a few reasons for that. 0bviously maybe a few reasons for that. obviously in the early stages of this conflict people were able to move quite freely, there were people who had cars were able to drive. i mean, we saw those huge crowds of people trying to get onto trains out of here in lviv. 0f people trying to get onto trains out of here in lviv. of course there are still people in besieged cities in places like kharkiv and maria —— mariupol. there is a reason why these numbers of slowed down is that

these numbers of slowed down is that the people who are stuck in his worst affected areas quite simply right now cannot leave because it is too dangerous. 0k. right now cannot leave because it is too dangerou— too dangerous. 0k. anna, for the moment thank— too dangerous. 0k. anna, for the moment thank you _ too dangerous. 0k. anna, for the moment thank you very _ too dangerous. 0k. anna, for the moment thank you very much. i too dangerous. 0k. anna, for the i moment thank you very much. anna foster there are correspondent in lviv. all this as president biden continues his visit to poland. he's expected to deliver a speech in the capital warsaw within the next couple of hours, but he's already met refugees and the mayor of warsaw. let's have a listen to some of what he had to say. the single most important criteria in this time of changing worlds. so much is changing, notjust here but in other parts of the world, is that nato stay absolutely, completely, thoroughly united. that there be no separation in our points of view. that whatever we do, we do in unison and everyone, everyone comes along. i'm confident that vladimir putin was counting on being able to divide

nato and be able to separate the eastern flank from the west. to be able to separate nations based on past histories. but he hasn't been able to do it. we've all stayed together. 0ur correspondent mark lowen is in warsaw. mark, a visit by the us president a key member of nato, a lead member of nato going to one of its easternmost members for this meeting with ukrainian government ministers. the optics of it certainly not subtle. no, certainly designed to shore up nato's eastern flank here in poland. the talks with the polish president that happened this morning and president biden then went to see some of the new arrivals, some of the refugees at warsaw stadium. he was very tender really with some of the refugees. he picked up a little

girl in his arms and he spoke to women who had just arrived from kharkiv, from mariupol, but this is the core of the agenda today, those meetings with the ukrainian defence and foreign ministers of the first face—to—face meeting with them since the war began. and actually some have even interpreted the fact that ukrainian high officials have come here possibly is a sign of confidence on the part ukrainians. and then talks with the polish president which they are said to have discussed a desire by poland to speed up the transfer of military hardware from the us to poland to actually reassure this country that is feeling jittery. the present is said to have asked for a faster delivery of fighter jets said to have asked for a faster delivery of fighterjets of said to have asked for a faster delivery of fighter jets of the patriot missile defence system and tanks that they had ordered from the americans. and then president biden will give what is being built by the house as a major speech which will speak to the states of this moment.

so, yes, very symbolic moment and visit by president biden. i so, yes, very symbolic moment and visit by president biden.— visit by president biden. i note that the ukrainian _ visit by president biden. i note that the ukrainian foreign - visit by president biden. i note - that the ukrainian foreign minister had said they had received additional pledges from the us on developing defence cooperation. did they give any details on what that looked like? and crucially, if they are at all considering the request from the ukrainian president to enforce some sort of no—fly zone or try and restrict the aerial bombardment? i try and restrict the aerial bombardment?— try and restrict the aerial bombardment? . ., bombardment? i mean, all the anal sis bombardment? i mean, all the analysis really _ bombardment? i mean, all the analysis really is _ bombardment? i mean, all the analysis really is that _ bombardment? i mean, all the analysis really is that the - bombardment? i mean, all the analysis really is that the idea l bombardment? i mean, all the. analysis really is that the idea of analysis really is that the idea of a nato no—fly zone isjust analysis really is that the idea of a nato no—fly zone is just not going, i was going to say not going to fly, if you're pardon the unintentional pun. it is not going to happen because it will require nato troops on the ground, which the alliance is not willing to do. so for example when poland floated the idea a couple of weeks ago the idea

of sending polish fighter jets to ukraine, to be deployed in ukraine via an american air base, the americans came out and said we were not consulted about this, we cannot do that. the americans are very wary about the russians seeing any military assistance as a direct military assistance as a direct military confrontation between russia and nato. even though of course what we are seeing is pretty much a proxy war anyway between nato and russia with all the hardware going into ukraine. we wait to see what the americans will do more after the meeting with the ukrainian defence and foreign ministers. certainly i think ukrainians will be pushing for more hardware, for fighterjets. but so pushing for more hardware, for fighter jets. but so far nato fighterjets. but so far nato is certainly reluctant to eat out. just one side bar, ben, if i may, about the —— is certainly reluctant to do that. the polish president is a donald trump man, he was not liked

by president biden. so i think it is very interesting to see these two men shoulder to shoulder now in the face of russian aggression. and if vladimir putin was hoping to exploit western divisions that actually the invasion of ukraine has brought the west much closer together. and seeing president biden here in warshaw giving a key speech in the country that was behind the iron curtain, part of the warsaw pact, is very much a sign of unity in the face of kremlin aggression. in one of its largest military exercises in recent years, nato has been simulating its response to an attack on a member state. it's been taking place in norway, which shares a border with russia and was planned before the invasion of ukraine. but as our defence correspondent jonathan beale reports, the war has given the training a sharper focus. gunfire. another neighbour of

russia has been invaded. this is northern norway, but it is just an exercise — a test for nato allies to come to its defence. something nato says it will do to protect a member state, though not for ukraine. but what's happened in ukraine has suddenly made this training feel more real. an exercise like this, it's really good to have, uh, to prove to countries like russia and other foreign states that you don't want to mess with nato. i think there have been some discussions about if the co—response should take place, but i think it's more important to do it now than ever. and what signal does it send to russia, do you think? that we're willing to fight. we will not give up our land. exercise cold response in norway is one of nato's largest, involving 30,000 military personnel from 27 countries.

it was planned long before russia invaded ukraine, but russia's been building up its military presence in the arctic, too — one reason why british and american marines are also stepping up their training here in this harsh, unforgiving environment. president putin wanted less nato near his border. what he's getting is more. notjust more exercises like this, but thousands more nato troops stationed along nato's eastern flank, all the way from the baltic to the black sea. it's notjust nato allies taking part. so are finland and sweden, with a long history of neutrality. but both countries have seen a recent surge in public support tojoin nato. russia's war in ukraine is forcing more of europe to pick sides. the military is ready, if the political decision — and there is a decision tojoin, but it's not up to us

to make that decision. russia's war in ukraine has sent shockwaves throughout the world. i met borisjohnson yesterday... and the head of nato, who met troops taking part in cold response, says the consequences will be felt for many years to come. president putin is getting exactly the opposite of what he wants. he wants less nato at his borders, he's getting more nato at his borders. he wants to divide nato. he has actually united, is uniting nato. but there's still a limit as to what nato is willing to do. it stands ready to defend its members, but it won't be using its military power to intervene in ukraine. jonathan beale, bbc news, narvik, norway. sean corbett is a recently retired senior royal air force officer and the ceo of strategic advise company intsight global. these military exercises, how much

we read into the significance those first of all? i we read into the significance those first of all? ~' ., we read into the significance those first of all? ~ ., ., ., . first of all? i think not too much at this stage- — first of all? i think not too much at this stage. as _ first of all? i think not too much at this stage. as you said - first of all? i think not too much at this stage. as you said in - first of all? i think not too much at this stage. as you said in the | at this stage. as you said in the clip, these were preplanned and would have been planned very much in advance. however, ithink would have been planned very much in advance. however, i think you are seeing an additional impetus and of course that is all added to by the deployments forward of some of the equipment. we have seen the patriots for instance going down to poland and now i see the uk have offered the sky sabre system, air defence system as well. so this is all part of a much bigger play to bolster the eastern flank of nato. in of a much bigger play to bolster the eastern flank of nato._ eastern flank of nato. in this decision. _ eastern flank of nato. in this decision, or _ eastern flank of nato. in this decision, or rather _ eastern flank of nato. in this decision, or rather the - eastern flank of nato. in this - decision, or rather the purported announcement that the kremlin has given, about focusing on stage two of its invasion and that being in the donbas in the eastern part of

ukraine, what is the significance of that? and does it look from what we are seeing as though that is actually what they're doing or it not tally? actually what they're doing or it not tall ? , , . , not tally? this is an interesting one actually. — not tally? this is an interesting one actually, one _ not tally? this is an interesting one actually, one to _ not tally? this is an interesting one actually, one to watch. - not tally? this is an interesting one actually, one to watch. i i not tally? this is an interesting i one actually, one to watch. i think the most significant thing about it though is that it wasn't actually putin that made that announcement, it was the deputy chief of the general staff. and what that allows putin to do is just disavow himself from that statement if that is in fact not what he in turns. it would be important militarily because if i took on too many axes at the moment. they have oversupplied the —— overstretch their supply lines. donbas makes sense because it would reduce their supply lines. if they do that though they will need a significant reorganisation with talking probably ten days or so to be able to achieve that. but that is by no means, it is very early days yet. we don't know if that is happening or not. find yet. we don't know if that is happening or not. and despite the kremlin saying —

happening or not. and despite the kremlin saying this, _ happening or not. and despite the kremlin saying this, in _ happening or not. and despite the kremlin saying this, in the - happening or not. and despite the kremlin saying this, in the last i kremlin saying this, in the last couple of hours we have heard these explosions in the west of the country in the city of lviv. do you think this could be deliberate sort of confusion creating tactics to try and be saying one thing and doing another deliberately to cause uncertainty about their strategy? there will be a little bit of that, yes, but i think the location tells a story for itself. president biden is not that far away anyway so it might be sending a bit of a message. but lviv is a route out of his refugees but also a route in almost certainly for equipment and resupply is from nato. and we have seen a little bit more, there has been some shocking indiscriminate targeting but we have seen some more deliberate targeting of ammunition dumps and of facilities. this all speaks to the sustainment of the

ukrainian forces as well as the russian forces.— russian forces. and then i understand _ russian forces. and then i understand you _ russian forces. and then i understand you yourself i russian forces. and then i i understand you yourself have russian forces. and then i - understand you yourself have held senior positions within nato in the past. in terms of what we are seeing and the way that nato members are working together and have been pulled together by all this, do you feel that their cooperation, their response, the relationships are stronger perhaps than resident putin expected there would be?— expected there would be? almost certainl . expected there would be? almost certainly- itut— expected there would be? almost certainly. but i _ expected there would be? almost certainly. but i think _ expected there would be? almost certainly. but i think there - expected there would be? almost certainly. but i think there is - expected there would be? almost certainly. but i think there is a i certainly. but i think there is a cause and effect here. —— president putin. i think putin's actions have catalyse that to happen. there will be a huge amount of planning going on in the last few weeks but the latest summer and then the next one injune will be literally to underscore that solidarity. as well as to rubber—stamp some of the planning and some of the full deployments are already ongoing. find deployments are already ongoing. and then the significance of president

biden being in warshaw to meet ukrainian government ministers and also to give a speech is one of the leading, if not the pre—eminent member of the nato alliance. what you make of the optics, the message all that sends of all this happening in one of the most eastern members of the alliance? i in one of the most eastern members of the alliance?— of the alliance? i think that is predominantly _ of the alliance? i think that is predominantly reassurance. l of the alliance? i think that is - predominantly reassurance. obviously predominantly reassurance. 0bviously poland are taking the big brunt of certainly the refugee side but also some of the equipment that has been going into ukraine. and of course it is to meet the grannies. there is a practical side to it but also the messaging to all those eastern states that are right on the buffer with putin that we are serious about helping you. fiiq with putin that we are serious about helping yon-— with putin that we are serious about helinu ou. . ~' , . helping you. 0k. thank you very much for our helping you. 0k. thank you very much for your time — helping you. 0k. thank you very much for your time and _ helping you. 0k. thank you very much for your time and for _ helping you. 0k. thank you very much for your time and for speaking - helping you. 0k. thank you very much for your time and for speaking to - helping you. 0k. thank you very much for your time and for speaking to us i for your time and for speaking to us on bbc news.

in the afghan capital kabul, around two dozen, largely female, protesters have held a rare demonstration calling on the taliban to reopen girls' secondary schools. the group has been condemned for making a last—minute u—turn earlier this week and ordering them to remain shut. secunder kermani reports from kabul. open the doors of girls schools, education is our right, they chant, while the taliban watch on. these women are incredibly brave. others who have protested against the taliban have been detained by the group. aren't you afraid being here? translation: when it comes| to standing up for the freedom of my country and the girls who want to go to school, i am willing to die. we are here for our daughters right to an education. without that right we are dead anyway. on this occasion the taliban allowed

the protest to continue. their last—minute decision early this week to close girls secondary schools just hours after they reopened has been widely condemned. in most of the country, only younger girls, along with all boys, are being allowed into the classroom. translation: i want our generation to be free and to flourish, _ notjust to shed tears at home and be unable to study. when i saw the videos of young school girls of young school girls crying, it hurt my gut. i felt i needed to do something for them and raise my voice. the taliban have been criticised internationally too. they say they're going to prepare a new islamic plan for girl schools. but they are facing real anger. at home and abroad.

secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. the united states has called for tougher international sanctions on north korea, following its latest missile test. washington's ambassador to the un accused pyongyang of �*increasingly dangerous provocations', after the north korean leader, kim jong—un, oversaw the launch of its largest ever inter—continental ballistic missile. it's one of the biggest and most expensive yachts ever built — longer than a football pitch — with a disco that turns into a swimming pool. reports suggest it belongs to president putin, but its true ownership is wrapped up in secrecy. it's now in dock in italy but hasn't been seized by the authorities, unlike some other yachts belonging to oligarchs. angus crawford has been trying to unravel the mystery. the scheherazade, the ultimate in yacht chic, a billionaire's plaything. the question is, which billionaire? it's still not clear if that's

president putin himself or one of his close friends. 140 metres in length, difficult to hide as it's refitted in this italian dock. it's thought to have cost more than $700 million to build. there are two helipads on there, nine decks of luxury, enough room for you to entertain 19 of your closest, personal friends and the taps in the bathrooms? well, they're gold, of course. paolo is furious. he's a local union boss. the boat, he says, is cloaked in secrecy. translation: it's totally cut off. silent. they wish to say nothing, to hide. but should workers have to hide, or should we work in the open and be proud? the russian crew and british captain disappeared overnight, replaced by a brand new team.

we're told it's protected by armed guards, and workers have to strip and go through a metal detector before they can even get on board. locals who know the shipyard well are split about what should happen. she thinks it should be confiscated and the money used for something good. he says it will never be seized, the authorities hands are tied. it is his, you know, he has paid for it and they have produced it. so maybe make sure that it doesn't go into anything that can be used for war, military or that. but if it is a leisure yacht, i don't think it should be taken from him. but if it isn't seized when the refit is done, it'll leave. the scheherazade secrets sailing with her. angus crawford, bbc news, marina di carrara, italy.

you can reach me on twitter — i'm @benmboulos. hello. a glorious day for many, you can hardly believe it is only the end of march when we see sights like this, not a cloud in the sky. there are some showers to be found, mostly across the northern and western isles. this is the western isles earlier on this morning. that is because we have that cloud stubbornly sitting there unfortunately spoiling the sunshine. a little bit of fair weather cloud developing across southern scotland down to north west england as well, but the emphasis is dry, settled and sunny with light winds continuing through the afternoon and once again the temperatures peaking quite widely — mid to high teens. don't forget, when you're off to bed tonight, put the clocks forward an hour, we lose an hour sleep and emerge tomorrow in british summer time,

so what a surprise to see there will be a little more cloud for many of us, spilling in off the north sea, particularly anywhere south of hull down towards the south—east. that cloud will act as our friend through the night, preventing temperatures from falling quite as far as they have been, but does mean it could be a rather grey and gloomy start for some on mothering sunday, the cloud tending to nudge further westwards, thinning and breaking for some glimpses of sunshine, but the best of the sunshine for sunday looks likely to be further north and west. that is where the highest values will be, 18 degrees perhaps in one or two spots, cooler where that cloud lingers along north sea coasts. as we move out of sunday into the start of a new working week, a weather front starts to slip across the top of the weakening high, running down to the north sea. that will bring more in the way of cloud, a few scattered showers, some could be hefty across north—east england in particular, we could start the day on monday with a lot of low cloud, mist

and fog which will be slow to lift. the highest values perhaps down towards the south, 16 degrees, starting to get colder, only 6 degrees across lerwick. the colder air will be the story as we move through the week, pushing its way gradually south, accompanied by a northerly wind, it will feel certainly much different. in fact, we are going to close out the month of march with temperatures just below the average for the time of year and we could see some of those showers turning increasingly wintry. that's it, enjoy the sun.

this is bbc world news, the headlines: more russian shelling of ukrainian targets — this is the scene in the western city of lviv after explosions were heard there. president biden — who's in poland for talks on russia's invasion of ukraine — says ignoring the crisis would come back to bite the us. earlier, he held his first face—to—face meeting with ukrainian government ministers since start of the war. the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, has urged russia to engage in serious peace talks. he claimed more than 16,000 russian troops had been killed, including senior officers.

a ferry operated by p&0 has been held