this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or 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 have practically surrounded bakhmut. only one exit from the city remains. we are seeing other people and children. police in australia say they've made one of their biggest ever drug busts, seizing cocaine worth one billion us dollars. with the oscars a week away — we hear from some of those involved in the nominated british film �*living'. concept wasn't a remake. it was this

thing with bell in it. i did concept wasn't a remake. it was this thing with bell in it.— thing with bell in it. i did not feel daunted _ thing with bell in it. i did not feel daunted or— thing with bell in it. i did not feel daunted or oppressed i thing with bell in it. i did not| feel daunted or oppressed by thing with bell in it. i did not - feel daunted or oppressed by the original— feel daunted or oppressed by the original fell by the situation. i 'ust original fell by the situation. i just felt— original fell by the situation. i just felt that i was very fortunate. 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 half a year. in eastern ukraine it is the wagner group made up of tens of thousands of mercenaries and x convicts that has spearheaded the defensive. they have cold on president zelensky to remove his troops from the city of bakhmut. translation: we have practically surrounded bakhmut, only one route out remains, if earlier we were fighting against a professional army, now we are incresignly seeing old people and children. give them a chance to leave the city. the city is surrounded. bakhmut is a fairly small town. set in farmland. before the invasion it had a population of around 73,000 people.

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 us just announced another military aid package for ukraine, worth $400 million. together we work lockstep to supply critical security assistance to ukraine,

and everything that we have done in lockstep, ammunition, artillery, 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 a major new offensive. i spoke to earlier our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, in kyiv and asked about the latest 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. it 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 last seven months at the cost of many thousands of lives. what would be the significance if it fail? significance if it fell? if you talk to ukrainians, talk to western military analysts,

they all say there is little strategic value in bakhmut. massive transport links, that if it 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 would call it a 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, you know, 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 inflicted 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. 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 that is being reflected on the ground. the deputy mayor of bakhmut spoke to the bbc today's programme this morning about the situation in the city. i talk to the general staff of the armed forces of ukraine every morning and evening and right now, there is fighting city and there are also street fights but, thanks to the ukrainian armed forces, they still haven't taken control over the city and thanks to the ukrainian armed forces, ukraine are still having control of the city. approximately, there are 4000 or

4500 civilians in the city. but this is a very approximate count and we do not know for sure. it is very unsafe in the city and the entire population that is staying there right now is living in shelters. there is no water or gas or electricity and we have given heaters to everybody who stays in the city so that we can support the local population. mps investigating the conduct of the former british 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 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, taking evidence and even gone on a tour of number 10. the report says the evidence suggests breaches of guidance would have been obvious to mrjohnson at the time he was at the gatherings. i believe that what we were doing was implicitly within the rules, and that's why i said what i said in the house of commons and that is why, i thank the committee for their labours, and i'm sorry it has all been going on for so long, but there has been no contempt here. # happy birthday to you... # mrjohnson was fined for attending a party on his birthday in 2020. not here, but this party has late in the day in the cabinet room. the report includes whatsapp messages which suggested to some of those who advised him concerned when the story came out. his director of communications

message to number 10 official saying, "i'm struggling to come up with the way this one is in the rules in my head." the number 10 official suggested reasonably necessary for work processes. a director of communications replied, not sure that one works, does it? also blows another great gaping hole in the pm's account, doesn't it? but it is what mrjohnson told parliament that is the subject of investigation. the committee says there is evidence that he may have misled it when he told mps about claims which have since been proven to be true of a party held in number 10 in december 2020. i have been repeatedly 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 commons may also have been misled when mrjohnson failed to tell

the house about his own knowledge of the gatherings where the rules or guidance had been broken. it said it appears mrjohnson did correct the statements mrjohnson repeatedly made and did not use the well—established procedures of the house to correct something that is wrong at the earliest opportunity. sir keir starmer who was in northern ireland earlier, was scathing. i think the evidence of wrongdoing by boris johnson is already pretty damning. i think it's important to bear in mind that rishi sunak, at the time, was honestly very close to all of this and sat on his hands. and i think first and foremost of the families, not just those that lost loved ones, but also all the other families who were obeying the rules and changing their lives, whilst those in government were not even following their own rules. the labour leader has himself caused a row and enraged some conservative mps after he offered a top job as his chief of staff

to the civil servant who investigated partygate sue gray. she resigned from the civil service but will wait for advice from the appointments watchdog before taking up the role. as for boris johnson he will have the chance to put his case to the privileges committee in person later this month before they reach their final conclusions. our political correspondent charlotte rose gave me this update this committee has been published by a cross—party group of mps within the british parliament. they were 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. now, they said they had based their report on a

number of different things. one photograph that they have received. in e—mails. 146 whatsapp messages that they've been supplied by boris johnson's lawyers and also by interviewing 23 eyewitnesses. in response to the publication of this report borisjohnson said that it vindicated him. he said that despite all the information the committee is looking into they found no evidence that he misled parliament but if you actually read the report that is not what the committee seems to be saying and i think the most difficult binding there for the prime minister is this one. assess the evidence strongly suggests that breaches of the guidance would have been obvious to mrjohnson at the time he was at the gatherings. now, we heard on the package of the clips

of borisjohnson speaking in the comments were he said no rules were broken. the rules were followed at all times. the committee saying it should have been clear to was not the case. as you say, he will have an opportunity to put his case to this committee. they're going to meet on the 20th of march and say they have some follow—up questions for him. what happens after that, they have to decide if he misled the british house of parliament. if they find that he has there could be a range of different sanctions which mps would have to vote on which could involve him being suspended. moving on from borisjohnson, more in the papers today about the former health secretary matt hancock. what is happening there? we health secretary matt hancock. what is happening there?— is happening there? we have seen over the past _ is happening there? we have seen over the past few _ is happening there? we have seen over the past few days _ is happening there? we have seen over the past few days these - over the past few days these revelations in the telegraph that have come about as a result of leaked whatsapp messages. they were given to the telegraph by the journalist isabel oakeshott who had been working with matt hancock to write a book, his pandemic diaries. she has given these whatsapp is over and we have had this, well, extraordinary insight into what happened when matt hancock realise that there was going to be this expose on the front of the sun newspaper showing that he was having an affair and that he had been breaking covid lockdown bills in his own office and we get this sense of the behind the screens scramble that is going on between him and his advisers. there is an attempt to

justify his behaviour and suggest that it was within the guidelines around workplaces. his advisers then point out to him is the guidance is usually one metre apart and clearly the adviser says they were not. there is also an exchange when matt hancock is very angry that someone has been observing him on his office on cctv and that has leaked this footage to the sun. you can see he is angry because there are a lot of caps locks been used in those messages and then you have this extraordinary exchange between matt hancock and george osborne the former uk chancellor. mr hancock sent him his proposed video of his resignation pay is going to set out why he is standing down of what he is doing that and asks mr osborne for his opinion, what does he think?

the video seem ok in tone and content? george osborne replies that he should take out the word love which he is used in regard to his aid with whom he was having his affair and says should be mentioning his family and replying to them. in response to these messages, matt hancock said there is nothing new, that they've all been over to the covid inquiry. he added it was highly intrusive and inappropriate to publish them. 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. 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, rafael grossi, 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. diplomats say mr grossi hopes to persuade iran to increase its cooperation with un inspectors.

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. the american actor tom sizemore has died aged 61. he was best known for appearances in the films saving private ryan and the relic. he was rushed to hospital after collapsing at his los angeles home two weeks ago where it was found he was suffering from a brain aneurism. he appeared in a number of action films in the 1990s. but his career became overshadowed by serious problems with drug abuse and he served time injail for possession and for domestic violence.

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. so much so that at the coronation of the late queen elizabeth, she was shielded from view by a canape as she was anointed by holy oil. yesterday, at the church of the holy sepulchre in jerusalem, 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 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 anglican bishop. the

patriarch and anglican bishop. tie: consecration patriarch and anglican bishop. tue: consecration for the patriarch and anglican bishop. tue consecration for the oil of the enthronement and coronation brings about something of a deep and profound meaning, both to king charles, to the church injerusalem, to the holy land and i think to the whole world. i'd make the oil will be brought to westminster abbey in london at the coronation service and in line with ancient tradition, it will be used to anoint the king and the queen consort. i'm joined now by suzannah brecknell, co—editor of civil service world. if you could take me to your thoughts on what has come out in the headlines and what has been in the news. ~ ., ., .,

news. around the 500 great appointment? _ news. around the 500 great appointment? yes, - news. around the 500 great appointment? yes, there i news. around the 500 great. appointment? yes, there are news. around the 500 great - appointment? yes, there are so news. around the 500 great _ appointment? yes, there are so much speculation. — appointment? yes, there are so much speculation. isn't _ appointment? yes, there are so much speculation, isn't there? _ appointment? yes, there are so much speculation, isn't there? and - appointment? yes, there are so much speculation, isn't there? and what - speculation, isn't there? and what you make the situation? t speculation, isn't there? and what you make the situation?— you make the situation? i think there are a _ you make the situation? i think there are a couple _ you make the situation? i think there are a couple of _ you make the situation? i think there are a couple of issues - you make the situation? i think there are a couple of issues to| there are a couple of issues to tease out in the news and i think there is, on the one hand, kind of legitimate question, legitimate concern that this creates a tricky moment for the civil service. for someone on her profile and seniority to move into a role with the opposition, definitely requires a proper process around it and proper consideration of how that should be donein consideration of how that should be done in a way which minimises the risks of conflict of interest so there are legitimate concerns and have definitely spoken to officials who feel, despite there having a great respect for sue, perhaps reservations about her decision to make this move and on the other hand, a lot of controversy. politicians, some performative outrage, politicians including boris johnson who for months used sue as her integrity as a shield when it

was politically convenient to do so and now find it politically convenient to question that integrity. convenient to question that inteuri . �* ., convenient to question that inteuri .�* ., , , integrity. and of course, boris johnson now _ integrity. and of course, boris johnson now is _ integrity. and of course, boris johnson now is being - integrity. and of course, boris johnson now is being accused | integrity. and of course, boris i johnson now is being accused of knowing what he was doing now and he was breaking the rules and the restrictions. what do you make of that? 50 restrictions. what do you make of that? 4' restrictions. what do you make of that? ~ ., _ �* ., that? so i think, obviously i'm not -a to that? so i think, obviously i'm not party to everything _ that? so i think, obviously i'm not party to everything that _ that? so i think, obviously i'm not party to everything that the - party to everything that the privilege committee has been seen but we saw in their report that they were publisher today a lot of evidence that is new evidence and evidence that is new evidence and evidence that is separate from the evidence that is separate from the evidence that is separate from the evidence that sue gray gathered so decided that she was a labour stooge you are set up the follow boris johnson and has fed that into the privilege committee, i think that is laughable because a privilege committee is talking about looking into, as you say, subtly but importantly different issue around

what boris johnson importantly different issue around what borisjohnson knew importantly different issue around what boris johnson knew and importantly different issue around what borisjohnson knew and what he told parliament at different points during the partygate scandal and i think, you know, it will remain to be he responds to this questioning from the committee and what the kind of broader outcome of that is but the key issue for me is to separate what the privilege committee is doing with what sue did and the investigation she carried out last year. matt hancock, the former health secretary, he is in the headlines as well about breaking restrictions. what are your thoughts there? i think it is a very interesting one for the civil service. it is difficult when you're only seeing that partial record of communication. it is a huge record of communication but whatsapp messages arejust one of communication but whatsapp messages are just one part of the communication that we have with our team which will involve other strands as well and for civil servants it is interesting and what information is within that that relates to them perhaps personal information, information that matt hancock did not have a right to give to oakeshott and subsequently to the

telegraph so there are a lot of interesting issues around what is happening with that data. but i think, for myself, when you'rejust seeing this partial conversation to the whatsapp though it does raise some of the interesting questions about how policy was made, what the conversations were around the decision that that time, personally, i think, decision that that time, personally, ithink, it decision that that time, personally, i think, it is kinda better to wait until we can see that in a more rounded context, perhaps only see the evidence coming out from the inquiry although i understand the frustration along how long that is likely to take. 0k. frustration along how long that is likely to take.— frustration along how long that is likel to take. ., ~ ., ., ., likely to take. 0k. to know how long that will take? _ likely to take. 0k. to know how long that will take? actually, _ likely to take. 0k. to know how long that will take? actually, sorry, - likely to take. 0k. to know how long that will take? actually, sorry, i - that will take? actually, sorry, i got so carried away that i wanted to see more questions but thank you veryjoining us. and you can reach me on twitter. i'm @louisapilbeamtv

it is staying chilly through the rest of the weekend, colder weather to come next week. today we hang on to cloud for the rest of the day. 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 much where they have been over the past few days or so. we keep cloudy skies for much of the country overnight. maybe a few more showers arriving. of the country overnight. if the cloud does break here and there then we will see some frost. for the most part, temperatures by early sunday morning, will be a chilly 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, with some sunshine for a while. central and southern scotland, perhaps into northern ireland, and later in the north—west of english. winds will be light tomorrow. pictures will be a shade lower, 6 or 7. 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, air 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 is bbc news, the headlines: 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 have practically surrounded bakhmut. only one exit from the city remains. we are seeing other people and children. police in australia say they've made one of their biggest ever drug busts, seizing cocaine worth one billion us dollars. 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'