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 claims its forces now surround most of bakhmut — the eastern ukrainian city that's been the focus of intense fighting. we've practically surrounded bakhmut. only one route out of the city remains. if earlier we were fighting against the professional army, now we are increasingly seeing old people and children. police in australia say they've made one of their biggest ever drug busts, seizing cocaine worth $1 billion us dollars. and the ceremony injerusalem to consecrate the oil that will be used to anoint king charles during his coronation in may.

ukrainian and russian forces are fighting in the northern suburbs of the city of bakhmut — which has been battered by seven months of fighting. oleksandr marchenko, the deputy mayor, confirmed the street clashes, but said the russians haven't taken control. western analysts say the scene has been set for ukrainian forces to carry out a fighting withdrawal. a british defence ministry update said ukrainian soldiers are digging new trenches west of the city and are being reinforced by elite troops. the capture of bakhmut would be the first russian victory of note in more than six months of fighting. meanwhile, according to the supreme commander of nato troops in europe, general christopher cavoli said the scale of the war is unbelivable — with 2,000 large battle tanks destroyed, more than 200,000 russian soldiers and over 1,800

officers killed or wounded. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, james landale, sent this report from the capital, kyiv. this is bakhmut or at least what is left of it after some of the faces fighting since russia invaded ukraine. for more than six months russian shells and missiles have rained down on the city. thousands of russian soldiers have died trying to seize it and now their commanders are growing increasingly confident. translation: we have almost surrounded bakhmut. there is only one road that remains in and out of the city. the pincers are closing. before we will fighting are closing. before we will fighting a professional ukrainian army but now we fight against old men and boys. now we fight against old men and he 5. ~ . . now we fight against old men and bos. ., , now we fight against old men and bos. ., , boys. ukrainian forces are still defending _ boys. ukrainian forces are still defending the _ boys. ukrainian forces are still defending the city _ boys. ukrainian forces are still defending the city street - boys. ukrainian forces are still defending the city street by i boys. ukrainian forces are still - defending the city street by street and reports suggest reinforcements are being sent in. but these russian

troops say the ukrainian army is destroying bridges like these, potentially to propel for what western analysts call a controlled fighting withdrawal from parts of the city. local officials insist ukraine still controls bakhmut but accepts there is now fighting in the streets. translation: the city is almost destroyed, not a single building remains untouched. the bridges are destroyed, currently there is no communication in the city so it is cut off. the russians are shelling everything, they have no goal to save the city. they want to destroy bakhmut.— no goal to save the city. they want to destroy bakhmut. russia broadcast ictures of to destroy bakhmut. russia broadcast pictures of its — to destroy bakhmut. russia broadcast pictures of its defence _ to destroy bakhmut. russia broadcast pictures of its defence minister- pictures of its defence minister making a rare flying visit to his forces in eastern ukraine. for him and the kremlin, seizing bakhmut would be a rare victory and they hope a stepping stone to gaining more territory. but for now ukrainian fighters on the ground still seem ready to fight them every

inch of the way, with russia paying a much higher and bloodier price. james landale joined us james landalejoined us earlier and gave us this update. as we have heard it is pretty confusing but there is clearly growing confidence amongst russian commanders in terms of what they are sung publicly. british military officials are saying ukrainian forces are coming under increasingly severe pressure. they say there are indications ukrainian forces are destroying bridges, the suggestion being that is designed to slow the russian progress. also british military officials say russian troops are making advances in the north and ukraine is saying in elite forces to counter that they are. the suggestion is that russia is making some games finally and that potentially, at least two western analysts, we might be at that stage where ukraine is potentially ready to make what they call a controlled

fighting withdrawal. there are reports of trenches being dug in the west of the city so in other words, potentially we could be at that stage where ukraine decides the price of defending bakhmut, the cost in their own lives of their troops is now too great and they might begin a stage withdrawal but we are not there yet, that is merely the analysis of western officials on the basis of the available information. let's speak to dr patrick bewree, a senior lecturer in security at the university of bath, british army captain and a former nato analyst. thank you forjoining us. what is your analysis of the situation in bakhmut on the ground? former army ca tain. bakhmut on the ground? former army captain- good — bakhmut on the ground? former army captain. good afternoon. _ bakhmut on the ground? former army captain. good afternoon. what - bakhmut on the ground? former army captain. good afternoon. what you - captain. good afternoon. what you have seen is politically to lenski and the defence ministry in ukraine saying that they are coming under increasing pressure and then you see

the military in terms of these bridges having been destroyed, one in the west and one to the north—east. that is about slowing the russians down if they are trying to encircle the city. essentially, they are in a difficult situation because they are under increasing pressure and what they want to do is try to get out with as much of their forces as they can and then re—establish defensive lines further to the west. there are a few principles, a fighting withdrawal is difficult to do. i did one in my own training and i totally messed it up. i imagine at this scale. but there are a few principles, one the ukrainians will be trying to do. command and control and leadership probably the most important one. they had to maintain control of everything, all the moving parts, they will probably try to keep a screen to keep the russians engaged.

they need to have deception to keep them guessing, because then they would make a hasty attack and try to catch them off—guard. they need a rear guard etc. there is a whole principle which go into a fighting, controlled fighting withdrawal which the ukrainians have been trying to effect but it's a difficult, difficult operation to do really well. ~ , , ., difficult operation to do really well. ~ , ., 1, ~ , difficult operation to do really well. ~ ., ~ , ., well. with the loss of bakhmut be a si . nificant well. with the loss of bakhmut be a significant setback? _ well. with the loss of bakhmut be a significant setback? there - well. with the loss of bakhmut be a significant setback? there is - significant setback? there is argument over how strategic it is. i think the ukrainians are at a strategic level still playing a blinder. bakhmut is now ruined, so putin is welcome to it. unfortunately there has been a huge political, well, more a blood sacrifice which has made it more politically significant and that is why you have seen such a stand—off there on both sides. but

strategically, it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. even in the battle in the east, it has been about sucking in resources on the russian side and giving the ukrainians the best chance of destroying those resources in a set piece battle. as you zoom out, the ukrainians have prepared defensive lines further west. and the land between bakhmut and the west rises if you go in a straight line, so that is a good area, obviously higher land is easier to defend so i would imagine they would be establishing defensive lines around there. had be establishing defensive lines around there.— be establishing defensive lines around there. ., ., ., around there. had to leave it there for timely reasons _ around there. had to leave it there for timely reasons but _ around there. had to leave it there for timely reasons but thank - around there. had to leave it there for timely reasons but thank you i around there. had to leave it there | for timely reasons but thank you so much for your analysis of that. 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 one billion us dollars. the joint operation with the united states has led to 12 arrests

linked to a mexican cartel. phil mercer reports. australian police say the drugs were intercepted by us authorities. off the coast of ecuador in november. the large haul of cocaine was bound for western australia. investigators substituted the illicit cargo with plaster of paris, a fine white powder. the shipment was dropped into the indian ocean west of perth and monitored by drones and helicopters. and monitored by drones and helic0pters-_ and monitored by drones and helicopters. and monitored by drones and helicoters. ., , ., helicopters. over a number of weeks our officers — helicopters. over a number of weeks our officers assisted _ helicopters. over a number of weeks our officers assisted to _ helicopters. over a number of weeks our officers assisted to reconstruct i our officers assisted to reconstruct those identical packages and drop 1.2 tonnes of those drugs into the ocean a0 miles off the coast. fieer ocean 40 miles off the coast. over the next few _ ocean 40 miles off the coast. over the next few days, _ ocean 40 miles off the coast. over the next few days, the _ ocean 40 miles off the coast. over the next few days, the police watched as the criminal syndicate with alleged links to a mexican cartel used two boats to find and retrieve the consignment.

surveillance images show one of the vessels telling the other after it had washed up on a beach where two men were arrested. other suspected members of the gang were later detained at a harbour in perth, the western australian state capitol. the police also stopped a vehicle on a highway several hundred kilometres away where they found a large amount of cash. 12 people have been arrested including a 39—year—old man from the united states. law enforcement authorities say australia's appetite for illegal drugs makes it a potentially lucrative destination for traffickers but not this time. this hall is estimated to be about half of australia's annual consumption of cocaine. phil mercer, bbc news. the special oil, which will be used to anoint king charles at his coronation in may, has been formally consecrated at a ceremony injerusalem.

the holy oil, which previously contained animals extracts, our royal correspondent nicholas witchell explains more. 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 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 anglican bishop. the 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. 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. the daily telegraph has published more leaked whatsapp messages about the former health secretary, matt hancock. they appear to show that mr hancock and his staff agonised for hours over whether or not he broke covid guidance when he kissed his aide. mr hancock also criticises the then chancellor's eat out to help out scheme. the revelations come as 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. let's talk to now henry hill, the deputy editor of conservative home. thank you so much forjoining us.

how do you think all of this will affect how the conservative voter base views the party? it’s affect how the conservative voter base views the party? it's obviously cuttin: base views the party? it's obviously cutting across _ base views the party? it's obviously cutting across what _ base views the party? it's obviously cutting across what was _ base views the party? it's obviously cutting across what was a _ base views the party? it's obviously cutting across what was a very - base views the party? it's obviously j cutting across what was a very good week for rishi sunak. his windsor framework, this deal to try to ameliorate the problems with the northern ireland protocol seems to have gone down very well and yet, here we are at the weekend and who are we talking about? borisjohnson. that is not what downing street will have wanted. there is a hard core of borisjohnson supporters and some of them may feel vindicated by his energetic rebutting of these concerns, but for the most part, this is not the image the party want to be projecting. this is not the image the party want to be prejecting-_ to be pro'ecting. what does it do to an to be projecting. what does it do to an ho es to be projecting. what does it do to any hepes he _ to be projecting. what does it do to any hopes he might _ to be projecting. what does it do to any hopes he might have _ to be projecting. what does it do to any hopes he might have becoming| any hopes he might have becoming central to politics, making a return to it? does this quash his chances?

borisjohnson is unquestionable boris johnson is unquestionable simply borisjohnson is unquestionable simply because he just refuses to go away but this is a reminder to any mps who might have been on the middle ground, the committee of borisjohnson supporters, four mps boris johnson supporters, four mps who borisjohnson supporters, four mps who might have been tempted to maybe think borisjohnson is the solution, this story is a reminder of why he left office in the first place. in left office in the first place. in terms of the job offer for sue gray and the criticism that has come from various conservative voices about that, do you think any of those criticisms and concerns wash with conservative voters or is it a case of actually people have already made their mind up about where they stood on the party gate anyway? the people who believe it — on the party gate anyway? the people who believe it was _ on the party gate anyway? the people who believe it was a _ on the party gate anyway? the people who believe it was a stitch _ on the party gate anyway? the people who believe it was a stitch up, - on the party gate anyway? the people who believe it was a stitch up, it - who believe it was a stitch up, it is further evidence to their mind is

that it is further evidence to their mind is thatitis is further evidence to their mind is that it is but for everyone else there is no suggestion and no evidence sue gray's personal prerogative is in question. there are broader concerns about having a civil servants who has been in such a role but most sites are baked in at this point. a role but most sites are baked in at this point-— at this point. you touched on it earlier about _ at this point. you touched on it earlier about the _ at this point. you touched on it earlier about the week - at this point. you touched on it earlier about the week that - at this point. you touched on it i earlier about the week that prime minister rishi sunak has had with some of his successes. but do you think all of this about boris johnson, what effect do you think they have on how rishi sunak is viewed by party members? again, it's an own helpful— viewed by party members? again, it's an own helpful reminder _ viewed by party members? again, it's an own helpful reminder for _ viewed by party members? again, it's an own helpful reminder for the - an own helpful reminder for the party and the called party members who support borisjohnson but it comes down to how he handles this because this story, whilst it is cutting across his good news story about northern ireland, it is a reminder of the sort of leadership

that rishi sunak has made a point of putting behind the party. he is saying he is steadying the ship, trying to offer a more professional brand of leadership and again, if he make sure this is fire walled off and doesn't take ownership of it, it is a reminderfor members and doesn't take ownership of it, it is a reminder for members that however much they might have liked borisjohnson, he came with serious downsides and there is a reason his government ended up imploding. horse government ended up imploding. how stead do government ended up imploding. how steady do think that ship will remain in the of continuing leagues overformer health remain in the of continuing leagues over former health secretary matt hancock's whatsapp messages? to an extent that will _ hancock's whatsapp messages? to an extent that will depend _ hancock's whatsapp messages? trr an extent that will depend what is in them. obviously some of that might make uncomfortable reading for the former chancellor because he was chancellor at the time and therefore he was involved in some of those decision—making but ultimately, he was relatively sceptical of a lot of the lockdowns which i think for the conservatives, that is no bad thing

and unless there is a big smoking gun, the lockdown story is a pre—rishi sunak story and matt hancock and borisjohnson are both on the back benches and i don't think the government will suffer particularly. think the government will suffer particularly-— unite has defended notjoining other health unions in suspending strike action by ambulance workers planned for england next week. unison and gmb called off their walkouts after the government agreed to re—open pay talks for both this and the next financial year. unite says it rejected the talks because the government's pre—conditions were unreasonable. 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 a1,000 people from six states have been evacuated to schools and community centres. malaysia is facing 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 five thousand children had been abused by clergy since 1950. 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 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. the government will announce soon where it wants to build a ground—breaking power station: one where the carbon dioxide that's produced at the plant is also captured and then buried, which stops most of the gas — which is a main driver

of climate change — being released into the atmosphere. our environment correspondent jonah fisher has more. the story of the kent b is the story of the uk's energy past, present and possible future because of all the talk of wind and solar, there is a problem that keeps the industry up at night. fin problem that keeps the industry up at niuht. .,, problem that keeps the industry up atniuht. at night. on those days when the wind isn't blowing, _ at night. on those days when the wind isn't blowing, the _ at night. on those days when the wind isn't blowing, the sun - at night. on those days when the wind isn't blowing, the sun isn't i wind isn't blowing, the sun isn't shining, when it is cold, dark and still they will need to be other sources of power.— still they will need to be other sources of ower. a , . ., sources of power. batteries, nuclear and hydrogen _ sources of power. batteries, nuclear and hydrogen will— sources of power. batteries, nuclear and hydrogen will form _ sources of power. batteries, nuclear and hydrogen will form part - sources of power. batteries, nuclear and hydrogen will form part of - sources of power. batteries, nuclear and hydrogen will form part of the l and hydrogen will form part of the solution but the government has committed to building a new type of power station. one that continues burning the fossil fuels that got us into this mess. to take a closer look, i climbed up one of the two carbon dioxide emitting gas powered plants. here on top of the cooling

tower where you get a real sense of the energy transition here in kent b. overthere the energy transition here in kent b. over there those amounts, they are the leftovers from when there was a coal fired are the leftovers from when there was a coalfired power station here. you can see the wind turbines along the horizon and just down there, that could very well be the site for the uk's first ever gas—fired power station where the carbon dioxide is captured. the idea behind a carbon captured. the idea behind a carbon capture power station is that instead of releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere where it contributes to climate change, the gas is captured and transported underground. in this case beneath the northsea. brute underground. in this case beneath the northsea-_ the northsea. we are looking at robabl the northsea. we are looking at probably doubled _ the northsea. we are looking at probably doubled the _ the northsea. we are looking at probably doubled the cost - the northsea. we are looking at probably doubled the cost of. the northsea. we are looking at probably doubled the cost of an | probably doubled the cost of an unabated gas powered station. that hiuh cost unabated gas powered station. that high cost has _ unabated gas powered station. that high cost has helped carbon capture backin high cost has helped carbon capture back in the past and there are those now who argue the money would be better spent on more renewables and

batteries. if better spent on more renewables and batteries. , ., ., , ., batteries. if you translate pound for ound batteries. if you translate pound for pound you — batteries. if you translate pound for pound you will _ batteries. if you translate pound for pound you will get _ batteries. if you translate pound for pound you will get a - batteries. if you translate pound for pound you will get a better. for pound you will get a better output from a power plant that functions based on renewables and is supported by storage than a fossil fuel power plant that has a carbon capture attached to it. the demolition _ capture attached to it. the demolition in _ capture attached to it. the demolition in 1991 - capture attached to it. the demolition in 1991 of - capture attached to it. the demolition in 1991 of the towers of the cold fire power station at the end of an era. now the village awaits a government decision as to what comes next. green pioneer or costly white elephant? the uk's first carbon capture gas plant will either be here or further north on teesside. 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. british author kazuo ishiguro who wrote the screenplay has also been nominated. if he wins, ishiguro will be only

the third person to ever win both a nobel prize and an oscar. they've been talking to our la correspondent, sophie long. 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. with a lead role specifically written for bill nighy. for with a lead role specifically written for bill nighy. for me, the eureka moment _ written for bill nighy. for me, the eureka moment was _ written for bill nighy. for me, the eureka moment was what - written for bill nighy. for me, the eureka moment was what if - written for bill nighy. for me, the eureka moment was what if bill i written for bill nighy. 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.

i was iwas up i was up to my neck writing a novel anyway. 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. and for you, bill, a dream come true to have a part like this written for you, or is it a huge amount of pressure? it is more 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 of the situation. ijust 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 won 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 marvellous.

it is exciting for myself and for my family, and for everybody back home. i had an invasive medical procedure recently. before he performed this invasive procedure, the dr said, i have never done this to an oscar nominee before, then he did something truly invasive, which i'm not going to describe, because it would make you all feel uneasy. but that is the effect it has had in my life. this man, until yesterday was living a sale of existence. iso i so very much do not wish to do so. time for your weather forecast now with louise. plenty of spring flowers to brighten up our weekend but if you look to the skies it is all about shades of grey. a lot of cloud around, particularly to the

west. a few breaks here and there but a scattering of showers across north and east facing coasts. in terms of the feel of the weather, 6-9 . the terms of the feel of the weather, 6—9 . the breeze will freshen through the night and that could drive in more showers across exposed coasts. turning increasingly wintry to the tops of the mountains. we keep the cloud but we cannot rule out a little touch of light frost here and there. a chilly start to sunday. a largely grey one, plenty of showers on exposed coasts and more widespread showers start to develop across the far north of scotland. temperatures between six and eight or 9 degrees, indications of the colder air starting to arrive into the northern isles. from sunday night into monday morning it will turn increasingly cold and windy which means we are also going to

increase the risk of some snow and some ice around. that is because we have arctic air starting to push on from the north. the high pressure is starting to slip away from the uk and we have this weather front arriving. it is a cold front introducing cold air behind so to start with it will be rain as it pushes self and then a frequent rash of showers into northern scotland and potentially in north—east england. here temperatures for— 6 degrees. ahead of it monday nine or ten. the remnants of that front eases during the early hours of tuesday. tuesday will be a case of sunny spells and scattered showers, shower �*s most frequent crimes the north and east coast. and accompanied by a brisk northerly wind, it will feel more like close to freezing. that will be quite a shock to the system. if you have outdoor plants next week, it is worth keeping abreast of the weather

story, particularly one into tuesday where snow and ice could be issue across north—east scotland and north—east england.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the head of russia's wagner group claims its forces now surround most of bakhmut — the eastern ukrainian city that's been the focus of intense fighting. translation: we have - practically surrounded bahkmut.

only one route out of the city remains. if earlier we were fighting against a professional army, now we are increasingly seeing old 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 british government is preparing to announce where the uk's first carbon capture power station will be built — but will the technology make a difference? and the ceremony injerusalem to consecrate the oil that will be used to anoint king charles during his coronation in may. with the oscars a week away, we hear from some of those involved in the nominated british film living. for me, the concept wasn't a remake of this kurosawa film, it was this thing with bill in it. i didn't feel daunted or oppressed by the original film or by the situation, ijust felt that i was very fortunate. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for witness history: lgbt special.