this is bbc news. i'm vishala sri—pathma. our top stories: russia claims a strategic victory in ukraine, saying its troops have captured the eastern town of soledar. brazil's supreme court says former presidentjair bolsonaro former president jair bolsonaro should former presidentjair bolsonaro should be investigated for the storming of congress. premier league footballer benjamin mendy is found not guilty of rape and sexual assault, but he faces a retrial on two counts. and sportswear giant adidas loses a court case to stop a fashion designer from using a four—stripe design.

hello and welcome to bbc news. russia says its forces have completed the capture of soledar — a small town in eastern ukraine that's been the focus of intense fighting. moscow called it an important step in its offensive which would allow russian troops to cut off ukrainian forces in nearby bakhmut. if russia's claims are true, it would be the first ukrainan town it has captured since july after six months of russian military setbacks. but ukraine's president zelensky says the battle in soledar is still under way. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, reports. a salt mining town under russian assault, soledar has become a story of carnage and contradiction. after months of bloody fighting, an attempt by russia to give a clear message. for the first time, a claim, to be in complete control, and that this town is the start

of something bigger. "the capture of soledar became possible due to the constant "destruction of the enemy," says russia's defence ministry. "by ground attack, aircraft, missiles, and artillery." but ukraine is saying... "fighting continues in soledar. "our troops are holding defence against the enemy." ukraine has resisted russia's attack here for months. the price is getting heavier. translation: we will never give up. - this is our soledar, our city, and we will not give it to anyone. ukraine is ours. as soon as we see the russian soldiers, we will hit them. the kremlin has not had anything to cheer about for the last six months since it last captured a major location. soledar would change that, but it's also why kyiv is hinting at a possible retreat, and that is because the last time

a city fell, russia made minimal gains and ukraine retook swathes of territory elsewhere. it's also why soledar is unlikely to alter the course of this war. we were in the nearby city of bakhmut last weekend, an urban battlefield that could not have felt further from the politics of control. ukraine is trying to portray its own momentum. translation: the aggressor must be defeated on the ukrainian land where he came, so that it won't be necessary to fight on the lands of other european nations later. we need to do it now so that russia does not get a break, does not have time to adapt and restore its strength. this year is crucial. more western weapons are on their way to ukraine. the fear is, without them, russia's advance might not stop at soledar. james waterhouse, bbc news, kyiv. let's speak to elisabeth braw now.

she's a resident fellow at the american enterprise institute, a conservative think tank in washington, where she focuses on defence. thanks very much forjoining us, elizabeth. firstly, it is interesting the timing of this all. russia talking about how important and significant this potential win is, but is? it’s potentialwin is, but is? it's important _ potentialwin is, but is? it's important that _ potential win is, but is? it�*s important that russia has not been able to capture any town little city for a long time. as the currentjust sped. but even more important is the fact that now the kremlin can tell the russian population that things are going away and the russian population is not going to say how big was the town, is it big enough to be satisfied? they will see that the russian forces have captured if that is in either case, have captured the town and i'll give hope and in turn encourage them or

entice them to support the war, because we should remark that the war was not going to last as long. even in russia, people's patience was wearing thin one young man were dying without any gains to show for it. ~ ., ,., ., without any gains to show for it. what sort of reaction will this development _ it. what sort of reaction will this development have - it. what sort of reaction will this development have in i this development have in washington, for example, and across the european union in terms of how now the west will react in terms of supply and military? it react in terms of supply and milita ? , react in terms of supply and military?— react in terms of supply and military? it is threw parts of that. military? it is threw parts of that- first — military? it is threw parts of that. first of _ military? it is threw parts of that. first of all, _ military? it is threw parts of that. first of all, | _ military? it is threw parts of that. first of all, i don't - that. first of all, i don't think anybody is overly alarmed because the conduct of war works that there is sometimes the side that seems to be winning and have meant him has to concede on a particular spot. and it regains momentum elsewhere. i don't think there is a lot of alarm in anti—western capitals regarding

this, but it will also accelerate the desire in western capitals to send more weapons to ukraine. we've seen in the past 2a hours with an acceleration in the thinking in germany, for example, about whether send tanks. if these two things are combined, we get more urgency from western capitals to finally get enough weapons to ukraine so they can achieve lasting progress and not have any of the setbacks anymore. d0 not have any of the setbacks anymore-— not have any of the setbacks an more. ., . ., anymore. do we have much detail on tax? there _ anymore. do we have much detail on tax? there are _ anymore. do we have much detail on tax? there are various - anymore. do we have much detail on tax? there are various media i on tax? there are various media reports on who is sending what. do you have much more detail? what we are hearing is that the uk, to its credit, went first and that we are sending tanks until the uk said it was sending tax, countries had been very reluctant to send modern tax because they were afraid that russia would see that as a step to remark my and would

retaliate and finally the uk said it would send some. now germany seems to be on the verge of announcing it too is sending tanks, as is very highly respected leopard tanks that would make a big difference in ukraine, has been reluctant to send them so far and now an interesting development in germany is the defence minister seems to be about to resign. she was somebody who was very reluctant to send heavy weaponry to ukraine, so the tide seems to be turning in germany as well. what about where you are in the us? what's interesting is there is a new congress now, newly elected members of congress and it will be fascinating to watch whether the ad ukraine coalition, for lack of a better word, is louder in this congress than the last congress which if you remember in the last congress there was

enormous support to ukraine in both parties, and some did not want to send weapons or wanted to send limited weapons, was essentially the far left, and the champion right. we will see how the new congress pans out. it in its first days still but considering how overwhelming the support for military assistance for ukraine was in a previous congress, i don't think you need to worry that it has completely, that the majority has completely vanished in this congress. i’m vanished in this congress. i'm sure we will— vanished in this congress. i'm sure we will clothe _ vanished in this congress. i'm sure we will clothe this fellow —— follows closely. elisabeth braw in washington. the supreme court in brazil has agreed to include the right wing former presidentjair bolsonaro in the investigation into the storming of government buildings in brasilia last sunday. the violence was carried out by thousands of radical bolsonaro supporters who continue to claim that october's election was rigged. mr bolsonaro briefly posted a video questioning the legitimacy of the vote, which was won by his rival,

luiz inacio lula da silva. the former president is in florida and didn't take part in the inauguration ceremony of his successor. with me now is the bbc world service's americas editor, leonardo rocha. thank you very much forjoining us. it's interesting timing because it's a good few days on sin storming happened and lots of questions were raised and clearly it is still stirring. why now?— clearly it is still stirring. why now? clearly it is still stirring. wh now? , ,, why now? this is a ma'or step. what we why now? this is a ma'or step. what we had * why now? this is a ma'or step. what we had here _ why now? this is a ma'or step. what we had here is h why now? this is a major step. what we had here is the - what we had here is the prosecutors began an investigation on monday, the attack on the presidential palace, congress and supreme court took place on sunday. on monday and sunday the turn of the government changed in they opened an investigation. many other people are being investigated. businessmen, officials. the question was always delegate to present a scenario? was he involved? was the evidence? what happens now? prosecutors earlier today asked for president bolsonaro, the former president, to be

included, unless there was a video he posted online and took out straight after in which he said the elections were rigged. for him, the head of supreme court was also the head of the electoral commission, said by saying that the elections were rigged, without proof, he was committing a crime, he was attacking an institution, he was attacking the supreme court, and attacking brazilian democracy, which are safeguarded by the constitution.- safeguarded by the constitution. ., ,, , constitution. how can supreme court in brazil— constitution. how can supreme court in brazil go _ constitution. how can supreme court in brazil go about - constitution. how can supreme court in brazil go about doing l court in brazil go about doing anything if mr bolsonaro is in the us? , ,, ., the us? he is in the us and there is a — the us? he is in the us and there is a big _ the us? he is in the us and there is a big question - the us? he is in the us and. there is a big question mark, he will come back to brazil. he left before the end of his term. he is under another investigation, him and his children, who are politicians. he denies any involvement with that, say i had nothing to do with that. but this battle over the election and electoral system has been going on for a long time since he was elected,

there is an electronic voting system which is prayed internationally. he has been questioning that an people said he has been preparing the attack encase he was defeated in the election which happened in the election which happened in october. there is a question mark, will he be extradited if is eventually indicted, it's a long way off. he had also applied for italian citizenship. if you got italian citizenship. if you got italian citizenship and went to italy, he wouldn't be able to be extradited by italy. it's a big question mark and there is a question mark and there is a question mark and there is a question mark also by the government of luiz inacio lula da silva, the left—wing leader who has been in powerfor less than two weeks. it’s who has been in power for less than two weeks.— than two weeks. it's not a treat than two weeks. it's not a great start _ than two weeks. it's not a great start to _ than two weeks. it's not a great start to his - than two weeks. it's not a - great start to his premiership. thank you forjoining us. more than 30 tornados have struck the southern united states killing at least seven people in alabama and georgia. officials are searching for bodies in ruined buildings and the full extent of the damage is being assessed. states of emergency have been declared in alabama and

georgia. james clayton reports. america applies like extreme weather shows no sign of abating. here in alabama a scene of devastation as a tornado ripped through communities. the deadly tornado focused on the area of selma, famous for its civil rights marts. the billing winds blew approved and destroyed homes. the tornado hit the car, it's bad out here.— the tornado hit the car, it's bad out here. it's bad. others have come — bad out here. it's bad. others have come back _ bad out here. it's bad. others have come back to _ bad out here. it's bad. others have come back to find - bad out here. it's bad. others have come back to find their i have come back to find their properties destroyed. i have come back to find their properties destroyed. i think i was blessed _ properties destroyed. i think i was blessed with _ properties destroyed. i think i was blessed with enough - properties destroyed. i think i l was blessed with enough sense to get out of here before the tornado hit i've lost everything that i owned but other than that i've got my life and i'm in good health. the ferocity of the winds here caught people off guard. there were reports of several mobile homes being launched into the air. on the west coast in california, the heavy rains continued to fall. roads have

been swallowed by rivers and landslides causing disruption, and even isolating communities. here in monterey, the salinas river burst its banks, flooding the surrounding area. there are concerns that entire towns could be cut off here. in san francisco itjust keeps reading and raining and raining. the ground here is totally sudden, there is nowhere for the water to go. plenty more rain forecast, it is better to be further flooding. james clayton, bbc news, san francisco. the manchester city footballer benjamin mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, after a six—month trial at chester crown court. jurors failed to reach verdicts on two other charges, meaning he will now face a retrial later this year. another man was also found not guilty of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers. our north of england correspondent, danny savage, reports.

he was the millionaire footballer who had the world at his feet, but what now for benjamin mendy? cleared of the majority of charges against him, but facing a retrial on two others a jury couldn't decide upon. so, come to the darkness. mendy lived here, a mansion in a prosperous cheshire village — where the court heard he ignored lockdown rules and had parties. his trial heard he told one woman it would be her privilege to sleep with him. he would meet them in restaurants and nightclubs, arguably charm them with his strong french accent, and bring them back here. a country house, where the prosecution claimed some women felt vulnerable, scared and isolated. but a jury concluded that he wasn't guilty of six alleged rapes said to have happened here. and here is, like, the cinema place. this is mendy giving a guided tour of his gilded life.

in court he gave evidence in his defence, insisting he hadn't forced anyone to do anything. mendy was a member of a world cup—winning squad and won the premier league with manchester city. despite being cleared of many charges, it's hard to see him resurrecting his career any time soon. one of the interesting things that came out of the trial was his own defence lawyer saying, effectively, his career in football in this country is over. and that was a recognition that in terms of the behaviour that came out in the trial and the way that he, by his own admission, treated women, it makes it very, very difficult to employ him. benjamin mendy�*s solicitor today said the player is delighted at being unanimously acquitted of eight out of ten charges he faced and that he looks forward to clearing his name in relation to the other two charges, so he can start rebuilding his life. danny savage, bbc news, chester.

ona on a visit to washington, japan's prime minister has warned that russia's invasion of ukraine has opened up a new era in the world. fumio kishida said russian aggression could cause similar acts, around asia especially, with president biden forcing strong support forjapan�*s recent announcement for japan's recent announcement that forjapan�*s recent announcement that would double defence spending over the next five years. the anti—apartheid activist frene ginwala, who became the founding speaker of south africa's first democratically elected parliament, has died at the age of 90. during the 1960s and �*70s she lived in exile in mozambique from where she helped many prominent members of the banned african national congress escape abroad. president cyril ramaphosa said the country was mourning the passing of a formidable patriot. milton nkosi a senior research fellow at africa asia dialogues a think tank based in johannesburg, looks back at her legacy. freni ginwala was

a struggle stalwart. she was born on the 25th of april in 1932, in a province which has since transformed now in post—apartheid south africa. but at the time the province was called transvaal. she was young, bright and feisty, and she came from an indian family background. her grandparents moved from india, from the parsi community to south africa, and she became quite early on in her young life, a political activist being a formidable leaderfor the anc. she studied law at the university of london and also went on to study in oxford, where she completed a doctorate in philosophy. she was south africa's first speaker of parliament after the end of apartheid led by nelson mandela. she served from 1994 to 200k. when she was in tanganyika,

which is now tanzania. she was sent by the former anc leader oliver tambo to go and pick up nelson mandela, who had come to tanganyika at the time for military training to fight the scourge of racial oppression of apartheid. so she was quite an instrumentalfigure. beyond being an academic herself, she was also the spokesperson of the african national congress at a time when women's roles were quite limited. so she was a leader in her own right. adidas has lost a court case to stop a fashion designer from using a four—stripe design. the sportswear brand argued that luxury brand, thom browne inc's design was too similar to their three stripe design. browne responded, arguing that consumers were unlikely to confuse the two brands partly due to the different number of stripes. so where does this outcome now leave adidas?

well we can now speak to fashion and retail intellectual property attorney deborah greaves of withers bergman law practice. thank you forjoining us. it sounds like adidas are quite protective over the stripes and assorted defensiveness is costing quite a bit because they pursued this line of questioning and legal battles for some time now stop that's correct, and they've been primarily successful in doing it. with this case, it's been going on for a while but their relationship with thom browne, they've gone for this sort of line that, "you are copying what we're doing," for a new year's. why is it, why is it very hard for them to win a case, do you think is to mark —— a few years. i case, do you think is to mark -- a few years— case, do you think is to mark -- a few years. i think stripes are not something _ -- a few years. i think stripes are not something that - -- a few years. i think stripes are not something that are i are not something that are particularly unique in fashion, just like maybe polkadots or a heart. while has —— added ace

has dominated three stripes, are trying to dominate for stripes and all kind of stripes and it'sjust stripes and all kind of stripes and it's just such a basic element in fashion, it's difficult claim ownership in every variation of a stripe. it also prevents competition and is generally expanding the trademark beyond what they have registered stop adidas have pursued a couple of hundred cases like this before. with; pursued a couple of hundred cases like this before. why do they keep _ cases like this before. why do they keep doing _ cases like this before. why do they keep doing that, - cases like this before. why do they keep doing that, and - cases like this before. why do i they keep doing that, and given that it's quite hard to prove its uniqueness. i that it's quite hard to prove its uniqueness.— that it's quite hard to prove its uniqueness. i think some of those cases — its uniqueness. i think some of those cases were _ its uniqueness. i think some of those cases were actually, - those cases were actually, probably very similar to the adidas three stripe trademark. so in those cases, there was a likelihood of consumer confusion, they could have been counterfeit cases as well. so the combination of infringement

and counterfeit. there were some cases where the other party mayjust not have had the resources to fight with adidas. maybe it was to stripes, or three stripes in a different direction but whatever the case, it was going up against a huge mega corporation and not everybody has the resources to take on adidas. d0 everybody has the resources to take on adidas.— take on adidas. do you find, in our take on adidas. do you find, in your line _ take on adidas. do you find, in your line of _ take on adidas. do you find, in your line of work, _ take on adidas. do you find, in your line of work, is _ take on adidas. do you find, in your line of work, is this - your line of work, is this quite common, this pursue all of intellectual property in the fashion world? i of intellectual property in the fashion world?— fashion world? i think it's very common _ fashion world? i think it's very common but - fashion world? i think it's very common but i - fashion world? i think it's very common but i don'tl fashion world? i think it's - very common but i don't think that there are, i believe that adidas has more than average cases, enforcing their intellectual property, especially the three stripe mark. there is a lot of enforcement in the industry but there is quite robust.—

there is quite robust. thank ou there is quite robust. thank you very — there is quite robust. thank you very much _ there is quite robust. thank you very much for _ there is quite robust. thank you very much forjoining i there is quite robust. thankj you very much forjoining us there. he was one of the leading lights of the premier league when it began in the early 1990s. talented, eccentric and a real character. but now the former manchester united forward eric cantona says big money is ruining the game and the premier league has lost its soul. now an actor and art enthusist, he's co—curated an exhibition of paintings looking at major figures in the sport who've used their fame to change society. nick robinson has that story. for the man they still call the king, football was always much more than a game. it was an art form and eric cantona believes art should always make a statement as it does in this new exhibition of paintings of great sports men and women who changed things off as well as on the pitch. football is an art, from my point of view. we can use football in sport because you have a great

sports man who has been brave enough to try to change things, even the first black player to play for england. and the same thing with socrates in brazil. trying to promote democracy. to fight dictatorship and trying to promote democracy. eric cantona helped propel manchester united to trophy after trophy in the 1990s. his goals are still revered but football, sport, has changed so much since then. it is not only football, it is modern life. winter olympic games in asia, have been given to saudi arabia, which is unbelievable. it seems that money can buy everything. success these days is oiled

with millions from the arab world. the saudis are helping to turn newcastle into winners again. manchester city's rise to the top was funded by abu dhabi, and arsenal's emirates stadium is sponsored by dubai. if i was in england today, i would support a club in second division, i think. in a better atmosphere of football. i love football and i love the atmosphere of football and i do know why some clubs change their stadium to be a bigger stadium. i think arsenal, when they left highbury, they left their soul. but he hopes that the new stars will use their influence beyond the world of sport. i'm very optimistic and i really believe in the new generations. the message of this powerful exhibition in eric cantona's adopted home is that sport can be about so much more than money. it can be about hope. and evenjustice. nick robinson, bbc

news, at the national football museum in manchester. we will leave you with a chilly reminder that winter is just getting started in some parts of the world.— of the world. this dish froze in the siberian _ of the world. this dish froze in the siberian winter i of the world. this dish froze | in the siberian winter before of the world. this dish froze l in the siberian winter before a person could even take a bite. this weekend the temperature will drop as low as —65 celsius, —85 fahrenheit. a reminder of our top story, russia says its forces have completed the capture of soledar, small town in eastern ukraine that has been the focus of intense fighting. moscow called it an important step in their offensive which would allow russian troops to cut off ukrainian forces in nearby bakhmut. in russia's claims are true, it would be the first ukrainian town it is captured sincejuly after six months of russian military setbacks but

ukrainian president says a battle in soledar is still under way. you can reach me on twitter. thank you for watching. well, so far, january 2023 has been very wet indeed, with above average rainfall for many. we've seen some localised flooding. river levels running very high, some of them breaching their banks altogether across southern and western parts of the uk. so a number of flood warnings continue, remain in force across the uk. head online to see where they are. however, as we move through this weekend, the rain will clear away. we'll turn a bit brighter, but a very different feel to the weather. for part two of the weekend and into next week, things are set to a much colder the risk of ice, snow and frost. now this area of low pressure bringing wet and windy weather across much of the uk to start saturday. early on saturday that rain will be very heavy and persistent across southern western areas, up to 70 millimetres of rain.

in fact, the northern half of scotland will see clear spells and scattered showers, which will be of a wintry flavour as it will be cold here but milder further south. it's a very wet, windy start to our saturday morning across much of the country venture that rain will tend to clear away, but it'll leave a legacy standing water, atrocious road conditions exacerbated flooding as well across some southern and western areas. but it brightens up into the afternoon. plenty of showers rattling through the northern half of the uk. wintry on the hills. it'll be colder here. the last dregs of the milder air hold on across the south—east. but it doesn't last through saturday night. the colder air wins out, clear spells, blustery showers, long spells of rain across the northern half of the country. increasingly wintry, notjust to higher ground, even down some lower levels across northern scotland. it will be a chilly night across the board. so sunday's looking colder. we're all in that arctic air. then you can see from the blue colours here, the white speckles indicating snow showers, which will be affecting primarily the northern half of scotland. this weather front will bring a mixture of rain, perhaps a bit of sleet over high ground for parts of northern ireland

into parts of north wales, northwest england into the midlands as well. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine, top and tail of that weather front. but there will be some snow showers feeding into northern scotland. some of these down to lower levels as it will be a cold day right across the board. single figure values there factor in the wind. so into next week, it stays much colderfor a time. the risk of overnight frost and ice, an increasing chance of snow in places. some of that snow might be disruptive sunday night into monday, particularly across central and southern parts of the uk. but the general theme is as we move through the week, temperatures begin to recover again towards the end of the week.

this is bbc news. the headlines: russia is claiming a rare victory in what's become a war of attrition in ukraine. it says it's captured the eastern salt—mining town of soledar, though ukraine says fighting is continuing. the town had been pumelled for weeks in one of the most intense battles of the war. brazil's supreme court has decided that prosecutors should investigate the role of the former president jair bolsonaro in the storming of congress. the violence was carried out by thousands of radical bolsonaro supporters who continue to claim that october's election was rigged. the former president is in florida.

the manchester city footballer, benjamin mendy, has been found not guilty of raping four women.