this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. our top stories... the head of russia's wagner group says its forces now surround most of bakhmut — the eastern ukrainian city that's been the focus of extensive fighting. we of extensive fighting. have practically

the white house confirms president biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest during a routine health screening. with the oscars a week away — we hear from some of those involved in the nominated british film living. idid not i did not feel daunted or oppressed by the originalfilm i did not feel daunted or oppressed by the original film or by the situation, ijust felt by the original film or by the situation, i just felt that i by the original film or by the situation, ijust felt that i was very fortunate. hello and welcome to bbc news. we begin in ukraine — where a senior official in the besieged city of bakhmut has said that there is fighting on the streets, but that russia hasn't taken control. the city — in the eastern donetsk region — has been almost destroyed during more than seven months of shelling. despite having little strategic value, its capture would mark moscow's first notable victory in half a year. meanwhile the authorities have

ordered some residents in kupiansk to leave, because of russian shelling from across the border. our reporter has the story. russia is getting closer to its first major victory in the half a year. in easter ukraine it is the waggoner group made up of tens of thousands of mercenaries and x convicts that has spearheaded the defensive. —— wagner group. they have cold on president zelensky to remove his troops from the city of bakhmut. �* ,, �* ~ remove his troops from the city of bakhmut. ~ ,, ~ ~ ., bakhmut. translation: we have -racticall bakhmut. translation: we have practically surrounded _ bakhmut. translation: we have practically surrounded bakhmut, l bakhmut. translation: we have i practically surrounded bakhmut, only one route out remains, if earlier we were fighting against a professional army, now we are seeing old people and children. give them a chance to leave the city. the city is surrounded. bakhmut is a fairly small town. before the invasion it had a population of

around 73,000 people. but moscow seesit around 73,000 people. but moscow sees it as a stepping stone to seize bigger cities further west. president zelensky has admitted that the situation in bakhmut is becoming more and more difficult. in another blow for ukraine, kyiv has ordered the immediate partial evacuation of a town in the north—east. families with children, people with disabilities, and those with mobility problems must leave, because of constant shelling by russian forces. the city was liberated from russian occupation last september, but russia is trying to take it back. but there is some good news for kyiv. the usjust announced but there is some good news for kyiv. the us just announced another military aid package for ukraine,

worth $400 million.— military aid package for ukraine, worth $400 million. together we work lockste to worth $400 million. together we work lockstep to supply _ worth $400 million. together we work lockstep to supply critical _ worth $400 million. together we work lockstep to supply critical security - lockstep to supply critical security assistance to ukraine, and everything that we have done in lockstep, military, air defence systems. after one year of relentless war kyiv says it urgently needs more weapons from the west to fight off russian aggression. this is crucial. ukraine fears that russia has amassed thousands of troops in the east, and is getting ready to launch eight major new offensive. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, in kyiv. what is the situation in bakhmut? according to the british ministry of defence ukrainian forces are now coming under what it calls severe pressure, particularly in the north of the city. they say that at the

moment ukrainian special forces are being deployed to dry to reinforce what increasingly look potentially like a rearguard action that is taking place in the city. at the same time, the institute for war, an independent us research group that looks at open source data, satellite communications and the like, they now say that the scene is set for ukraine to carry out what it calls a controlled fighting withdrawal. with notes that a couple of bridges in key locations have been destroyed by ukrainian forces, presumably with the intent of slowing the russian progress. at the same time there are reports of ukrainian forces digging trenches in the west and bringing other reinforcements up there. what we are seeing here i think is clearly an evolution in a battle for the city that has taken place over the city that has taken place over the last seven months at the cost of many thousands of lives. what would be the significance if it

fail? if you talk to ukrainians, talk to western military analysts, they all say there is little strategic value in bakhmut. it is not a massive military hub, or a mass of transport links, that if it were to fall, if ukrainian forces were to fall, if ukrainian forces were to fall, if ukrainian forces were to withdraw then it would be a rare piece of good news for the kremlin. they would make the most of that. they were, to victory. at the same time they would claim that it gives them a stepping stone to further territorial gain in eastern ukraine, in the donbas. that is challenged by military analysts who say it does not automatically mean that other cities will follow. but it clearly will be a piece of good news that the russians have sorely needed for many months. but it will come at a huge cost. it is widely understood that one of the strategic reasons for ukraine holding on to the city so hard is because of the sheer number of russian casualties

that have been infected they are. one of ukraine's senior commanders said recently, that their estimate is that for every seven russian deaths, there has been one ukrainian. if that is an accurate ratio that means that many thousands of russian soldiers have died there. speaking of the russians, the russian defence minister has visited the front line, is that right? yes. there are reports that the russian defence minister has visited parts of russian forces in the donbas in eastern ukraine. the reason this is noteworthy, it is quite unusual for a very senior russian commander to pay a visit to their troops. russian commander to pay a visit to theirtroops. it russian commander to pay a visit to their troops. it is not something thatis their troops. it is not something that is done a great deal, but clearly the russians are making the most of it, they are putting out pictures of the general putting medals on soldiers chests, things

like that. but it shows an increasing focus, they want to give the impression that things are beginning, the tide spinning to turn in their way, that is the impression they want to give. it is not one thatis they want to give. it is not one that is being reflected on the ground. thank you for bringing us to date. police in australia say they've made what's thought to be the country's biggest ever drug bust, seizing cocaine with a street value of a billion us dollars. the joint operation with the united states has led to 12 arrests linked to a mexican cartel. our correspondent phil mercer in sydney has more. us authorities intercepting a huge consignment of cargo allegedly bound for western australia. the authorities here in australia then substituted that cargo for fake drugs and dropped it out into the indian ocean about 40 nautical miles

from the city of perth, western australia. there they waited. they put their packages and surveillance by drones and helicopters. eventually, it is alleged, that drugs syndicate members on boats game searching for these packages, and in the end about a dozen people were arrested. and the authorities here in australia see that this consignment is the biggest drugs hall australia has ever had. mps investigating the conduct of the former prime minister borisjohnson, say he may have misled parliament multiple times over gatherings at downing street during the pandemic. our political correspondent, helen catt reports. did borisjohnson did boris johnson know did borisjohnson know more about lockdown parties in downing street than he told mps? for months now mps on the privileges committee have been building a picture. they have studied photos with lots of booze, but little social distancing. they

have taken evidence from witnesses, even gone on a tour of number ten. they say in their report that evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to mrjohnson at the time he was at the gatherings. i obvious to mrjohnson at the time he was at the gatherings.— was at the gatherings. i believed that what we _ was at the gatherings. i believed that what we were _ was at the gatherings. i believed that what we were doing - was at the gatherings. i believed that what we were doing was - was at the gatherings. i believed i that what we were doing was within the rules, that is why i said what i said in the house of commons, that is why i thank them for their labours, i am sorry it has been going on so long, but there has been no contempt here. mrjohnson was fined for attending a party on his birthday in 2020. not here, but this party held later in the day in the cabinet room. the report includes whatsapp messages which suggested some of those who advise him we are concerned when the story came out. his director of communications mrs day number ten official saying, communications mrs day number ten officialsaying, i

communications mrs day number ten official saying, i am struggling to come up with amy this one is in the rules in my head. the number ten official suggested, reasonably necessary for work purposes. the reply... but it is what mrjohnson told parliament that is the subject of the investigation. the committee says there is evidence that he may have misled it when he told mps about claims that have since been proven to be true that the party held a number ten december 2020. i held a numberten december2020. i have been repeatedly assured since these allegations in march that there was no party, and that no covid rules were broken, and that is what i have been repeatedly assured. the committee says the comments may also have been misled when mr johnson failed to tell the house about his own knowledge of the gatherings where the rules of guidance had been broken. it said...

sir keir starmer, who was in northern ireland earlier, was scathing. i northern ireland earlier, was scathinu. ~ . northern ireland earlier, was scathinu. ~' . ., scathing. i think the evidence of wrongdoing _ scathing. i think the evidence of wrongdoing by _ scathing. i think the evidence of wrongdoing by boris _ scathing. i think the evidence of wrongdoing by boris johnson - scathing. i think the evidence of wrongdoing by boris johnson is| wrongdoing by borisjohnson is already pre—damning. it is important to bear in mind that rishi sunak at the time was obviously very close to all of this and sat on his hands. i think, first and foremost, of the families, notjust those that lost loved ones, but also all the other families who were obeying the rules, changing their lives, whilst those in government were not even following their own rules. then labour leader has himself caused a row and enraged some conservative mps after he offered a top job as chief of staff to the civil servant who investigated partygate, sue gray. she has resigned from the civil service and the wait for advice from the appointments watchdog before taking

up appointments watchdog before taking up the role. as for borisjohnson, he will have the chance to put his case to the privileges committee in person later this month, before they reach their final conclusions. i am nowjoined by our political correspondent charlotte rose. former british prime minister boris johnson under renewed pressure over lockdown parties. this has been published by a cross—party group of mps in the british parliament. they are not looking at the issue of lockdown parties per se. we had all of those investigations last year. they have now concluded. what they are specifically looking at is the question of whether borisjohnson misled mps by the statements that he made in parliament. the cd base their report on a number of different things. one photograph they have received, e—mails, on 46 whatsapp messages that the have been supplied by borisjohnson's lawyers, and also by interviewing 23

eyewitnesses. in response to publication of this report borisjohnson said it vindicated him. he said, despite all the information that the committee has been looking into, they have found no evidence that he misled parliament. but if you actually read the report that is not what the committee seems to be saying. the most difficult line in there for the prime minister as this one. it says, the evidence strongly suggests that breaches of the guidance would have been obvious to mrjohnson at the time he was at the gatherings. he was heard in that package, some of those speaking in the commons, where he said, no rules were broken, the rules were followed at all times. the committee saying, it should have been clear to him that that was not the case as you say, he will have an opportunity to put his case to this committee. they are going to be meeting on 20th of march. they say they have lots of follow—up questions for him. what happens after that, they had to decide if he misled the british house of parliament. if they find that he has, then there can be a range of

different sanctions which mps would have to vote on, which could involve him being suspended. the thing on from borisjohnson, more in the papers today about former health secretary, british elle secretary, matt hancock. what is happening there? we have seen over the past few days revelations in the telegraph have come about as a result of leaked whatsapp messages. they were given to the telegraph by the journalist who had been working with matt hancock to write a book, his pandemic diaries. she was given these whatsapp messages. we have had this extraordinary insight into what happens when matt hancock realised that there was going to be this expose on the front of the sun newspaper that showed he was having an affair and breaking covid lockdown rules in his own office. we get this sense of their behind—the—scenes scramble that is going on between him and his advisers. there is an attempt to justify his behaviour, and to

suggest that it was within the guidelines around workplaces. as a badge and employs it to him that guidance is that you should be one metre apart, and clearly, the adviser says, they were not. there is also an exchange with matt hancock is very angry that someone has been observing him in his office on cctv, and then has leaked this footage to the sand. you can see he is angry, because there is a lot of caps being used in these messages. then the extraordinary message between matt hancock and george osborne, the former uk chancellor. mr hancock sense him his proposed video of his resignation, where he has set out that he has standing down, and asked mr osborne for his opinion, what does he think, ok in tone and content? george osborne replied he should take out the word love, which matt hancock has used in relation to his aide, to come up with who he was having an affair,

and cc should mention his family and apologise to them. in response to these messages matt hancock said there is nothing new, they have all been handed over to the covid inquiry. he added it was intrusive and inappropriate to publish them. —— extraordinary stuff. thank you. the headlines. a senior official in the besieged ukrainian city of bakhmut has told the bbc there's fighting on the streets as troops struggle to prevent its fall to russian forces. police in australia have revealed details of an undercover operation leading to what's believed to be the country's biggest ever drugs bust. the white house says president biden had a cancerous skin lesion successfully removed from his chest last month. the president's doctor says no further treatment is required. the lesion was spotted during a routine health check and a biopsy confirmed it was a common form of skin cancer which does not normally spread. our north america correspondent, peter bowes, has more details.

president biden had his annual physical last month. we were told the bottom line from the doctor's report was that he was fit for duty. we were told that he had this lesion removed, some tissue was sent away for testing, the result of that there is now in, as you say, it was determined that it was cancerous, a form of cancer that does not easily spread to other parts of the body. we are told that the president does not need any further treatment. that he is healing nicely on the spot on his chest with the lesion was removed. and that the doctors will of course continue to monitor his health. this is the most common form of skin cancer. in fact, this is the most common form of skin cancer. infact, it this is the most common form of skin cancer. in fact, it is one of the most common forms of all cancers,

this particular skin cancer. around 3.6 million cases are diagnosed every year in this country. there will be many people who will understand what the president has gone through over the last few weeks. we also know that before he became president, joe biden had a number of similar lesions removed from his body. there has been severe flooding in malaysia in the southern state ofjohor near neighbouring singapore. police said at least four people have died since wednesday, including a man whose car was swept away by floodwaters and an elderly couple who drowned. nearly 41,000 people from six state have been evacuated to schools and community centres. malaysia is facing unprecedented continuous torrential rain from the monsoon season. let's get some of the day's other news. the roman catholic church in portugal has promised to take steps to deal with its history of child sex abuse. it follows a highly critical report that found that nearly 5,000

children had been abused by clergy since 1950. the head of the united nations nuclear watchdog is meeting officials in tehran, after un inspectors detected samples of uranium that had been enriched to near weapons—grade level at iran's underground fordo nuclear plant. tehran says it restricts uranium enrichment, but acknowledged that what it called "unintended fluctuations" may have occurred. a un report says gang—related violence in haiti has reached levels not seen in decades. in a new assessment the organisiation says criminal gangs that control many parts of haiti are getting more access to sophisticated weapons and ammunition. a ceremony has taken place injerusalem to consecrate the oil that will be used to anoint king charles during his coronation in may. the service was carried out at the church of the holy sepulchre — which was built on the site wherejesus is said to have been crucified. our royal correspondent,

nicholas witchell reports. it is the most sacred moment of the coronation service. at the coronation of the late queen elizabeth she was shielded from view by a canopy as she was annointed with holy oil. yesterday at the church of the holy sepulchre injerusalem, the oil to be used at the coronation of king charles was consecrated. it has been made from olives harvested from the mount of olives, and perfumed with traditional oils and orange blossom. it was brought to the church, built on the spot where it is believed christ was crucified, to be blessed by the patriarch and the anglican archbishop ofjerusalem. the consecration of the oil for the enthronement and the coronation brings about something of the deep and profound meaning both to king charles, to the church injerusalem, to the holy land, and i think to the whole world.

the oil will be brought to westminster abbey in london, where at the coronation service, and in line with ancient tradition, it will be used to anoint the king and the queen consort. the academy awards takes place next weekend. as acting royalty gather in hollywood, among them will be veteran british actor — bill nighy, who has been nominated for an oscar for the first time for his role in living. a bureaucrat resigned himself to an ordinary life, but when he is told he's about to die, he realises he has forgotten how to live. it is an adaptation of a film made in kazuo

ishiguro's native japan within 70 years ago. for me the eureka moment was, what if bill nighy was in this film, at the centre of it? suddenly i can see how this film could work. if bill nighy had not been in that they were not have been persuaded to do it. for me the concept was not a remake of the film, it was this thing with bill on it. the other thing, it should feel like a british movie from the 1950s. find should feel like a british movie from the 1950s.— should feel like a british movie from the 1950s. �* ., , ., �* ., from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a dream come _ from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a dream come true _ from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a dream come true to _ from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a dream come true to have _ from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a dream come true to have a - from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a dream come true to have a part - from the 1950s. and for you, bill, a j dream come true to have a part like this written for you, or is it a huge amount of pressure? it is more ofthe huge amount of pressure? it is more of the former. _ huge amount of pressure? it is more of the former, and _ huge amount of pressure? it is more of the former, and a _ huge amount of pressure? it is more of the former, and a little _ huge amount of pressure? it is more of the former, and a little bit - huge amount of pressure? it is more of the former, and a little bit of- of the former, and a little bit of the latter. but, weirdly, because

i'm quite good at manufacturing pressure, i did not feel daunted or oppressed by the original film pressure, i did not feel daunted or oppressed by the originalfilm of the situation. ijust oppressed by the originalfilm of the situation. i just felt that i was very fortunate, beyond lucky, to be considered in those terms, not least by kazuo ishiguro. the result is a quintessentially british study in restraint. from written word, to delivery. a sweetly sentimental drama unfolds as mr williams befriends a young employee who effortless exuberance inspires him to leave something lasting, and give life meaning in the face of death. it has led to first—time oscar nominations for both men, in careers that collectively spanned more than eight decades. you have been very well recognised in your work, you have one the nobel

prize for literature, how does an oscar nomination compare? it compares pretty well. the nobel prize is like a european fairy story. you go to some kind of european palace covered in snow to meet kings and queens. this is the real hollywood dream, kind of thing. it feels like you have come to the middle of the american dream. it feels very good. it is middle of the american dream. it feels very good-— feels very good. it is marvellous. it is feels very good. it is marvellous. it is exciting _ feels very good. it is marvellous. it is exciting for _ feels very good. it is marvellous. it is exciting for myself _ feels very good. it is marvellous. it is exciting for myself and - feels very good. it is marvellous. it is exciting for myself and for i feels very good. it is marvellous. | it is exciting for myself and for my family. _ it is exciting for myself and for my family. and — it is exciting for myself and for my family, and for everybody back home. i had family, and for everybody back home. i had an— family, and for everybody back home. i had an invasive medical procedure recently _ i had an invasive medical procedure recently. before he performed this invasive _ recently. before he performed this invasive procedure, the dr said, i have _ invasive procedure, the dr said, i have never— invasive procedure, the dr said, i have never done this to an oscar nominee — have never done this to an oscar nominee before, then he did something truly invasive, which i'm not going _ something truly invasive, which i'm not going to describe, because it would _ not going to describe, because it would make you all feel uneasy. but that is— would make you all feel uneasy. but that is the _ would make you all feel uneasy. but that is the effect it has had in my life.

this life. - this man, nfe. — this man, until yesterday life. this man, until yesterday was livin- this man, until yesterday was living a sale of existence. you are all up to date for now. you can reach me on twitter. that is all for now. it is staying in chile through the rest of the weekend, colder weather to come next week. today we hang on to come next week. today we hang on to cloud for the rest of the day. —— it is staying very cold for the rest of the weekend. a few light showers for scotland, coming to eastern parts of england. other areas may well be dry but there will be a lot of cloud. temperatures match where they have been over the past few days or so. we keep cloudy skies for much of the

country overnight. maybe if a few more showers arriving. if the cloud does break here and there then we will see some frost. for the most part, temperatures by early sunday morning, two or three celsius. expect a good deal of cloud tomorrow. may be a few more showers breaking out through the day. we could see something a bit brighter, some sunshine for a while. central and southern scotland, perhaps into northern ireland, later in the north—west of english. winds will be light. pictures will be a shade lower. next week will feel colder. the stronger wind arriving. that will bring the risk of snow and ice. a northerly wind strengthening over the next week, a coming all the be down from the arctic will push southwards across the uk, bringing with it a wintry chill as well. that colder air starts to arrive in northern scotland on sunday night.

a mixture of rain, sleet and snow, that will move across scotland, away from northern ireland on monday, into northern england and north wales. to the south, temperatures nine celsius. moved to the north, much colder, showers turning more wintry. at the time we get to tuesday, that is what is left of that weather front across southern parts of england. otherwise, sunshine. snow showers coming in on that strong winds from the arctic. many parts of the country may be dry with some sunshine. factor in the strength of the winter, it will feel significantly colder. and we have the risk of some snow and ice as well. widespread frost as we head into next week. most of the snow and ice expected to be across northern and eastern parts of scotland, and the north—east of england, that could lead potentially to some travel disruption.

this week on the show. keeping it caribbean. it this week on the show. keeping it caribbean. , ., , caribbean. it is a proper melting ot. a caribbean. it is a proper melting pot- a little _ caribbean. it is a proper melting pot. a little cake! _ caribbean. it is a proper melting pot. a little cake! around - caribbean. it is a proper melting pot. a little cake! around the i caribbean. it is a proper melting i pot. a little cake! around the world in seven days. _ pot. a little cake! around the world in seven days, we _ pot. a little cake! around the world in seven days, we follow _ pot. a little cake! around the world in seven days, we follow one i pot. a little cake! around the world in seven days, we follow one man's incredible journey. the in seven days, we follow one man's incredible journey.— incredible “ourney. the wind really makes it incredible journey. the wind really makes it bite. _ incredible journey. the wind really makes it bite. it _ incredible journey. the wind really makes it bite. it is _ incredible journey. the wind really makes it bite. it is called - incredible journey. the wind really makes it bite. it is called when i incredible journey. the wind really | makes it bite. it is called when the wind _ makes it bite. it is called when the wind blows — makes it bite. it is called when the wind blows-— are in new york, asking if the american dream had a sound, could this be it?