this is bbc news. i'm vishala sri—pathma. our top stories: fighting in the streets of bakhmut, as russian forces continue their attempt to capture the ukrainian city. the united nations and iran reach an agreement that would allow further inspections of tehran�*s nuclear programme. hundreds of iranian schoolgirls are targeted in a series of apparent poison gas attacks — aid agencies say they could have been singled out by religious groups. still no deal as un countries try to reach an agreement on a long—awaited environmental treaty to protect the high seas. and, prince harry describes writing his memoir as an act of service — he says he hopes sharing details of his life will help others.

once the book came out, i felt — i felt incredibly free. i felt a huge weight off my shoulders. hello and welcome to bbc news. ukrainian forces have come under increased pressure from russian troops in the besieged city of bakhmut which russia has been trying to capture in months of intense fighting. the deputy mayor of the city has told the bbc that the 4,000 civilians still living there — out of an original population of 75,000 - have no gas, electricity or water. thousands of russian troops have died trying to take the eastern city. if it falls, it would be the first russian victory of note in more than six months. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, james landale, reports from kyiv.

munitions explode this is bakhmut, or at least what's left of it, after some of the fiercest fighting since russia invaded ukraine. for more than six months, ukrainian forces have held off a ferocious onslaught, but now russian commanders are growing increasingly confident, including the leader of the mercenaries known as the wagner group, which have been at the heart of the assault. translation: we have - almost surrounded bakhmut. there's only one road that remains in and out of the city, the pincers are closing. before, we were fighting against the professional ukrainian army, but now we fight against old men and 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 prepare

for what western analysts call a "controlled fighting withdrawal" from parts of the city. local officials insist ukraine still controls bakhmut, but they accept there is now fighting in the streets. translation: the city is almost destroyed, i not a single building has remained untouched. currently there is no communication in the city so it's cut off. the russians are shelling everything. they want to destroy bakhmut like they did with mariupol. for sergei shoigu, russia's defence minister, making a flying visit to his forces in eastern ukraine, seizing bakhmut would be a rare military victory for him and his bosses in the kremlin. and perhaps a much—needed diplomatic boost after an international audience in india laughed at russia's foreign minister. you know, the war which we are trying to stop, and which was launched against us using ukraine...

audience laughs ..ukrainian people... but for now, ukrainian fighters on the ground in bakhmut still seem ready to fight their invaders every inch of the way, with russia paying a much higher and bloodier price. james landale, bbc news, kyiv. the united nations and iranian authorities have announced an agreement that would allow un officials to carry out further inspections of tehran�*s nuclear programme. the announcement was made at the end of a two—day visit to the capital, by the head of international atomic energy agency, rafael grossi. his trip followed the discovery of traces of uranium, enriched to an almost weapon—grade level, at an underground nuclear plant in iran. here's mr grossi speaking earlier, after he arrived back in vienna. in the first place, the interactions we have in the inspections, the normal inspection activity, and what is expected from iran.

in the second place, the issues related to some of the questions about which locations where we have been trying to find clarifications from iran. and finally, and very importantly, ourability to establish monitoring verification measures that we believe are indispensable as a very concrete and very tangible result of this important mission. the bbc�*s bethany bell has been monitoring events for us in vienna. iran and the iaea have issued a joint statement which says that iran is prepared to give more information and more access to un nuclear inspectors

who've been looking into past nuclear work by iran. and this announcement was made after a two—day visit by the head of the iaea, rafael grossi. and he said this included reinstalling monitoring equipment in some sites, including cameras. now, the iaea has also, in a separate development, been concerned about the discovery of traces of highly enriched uranium at iran's underground nuclear site at fordow. and the concern about this is because weapons—grade enriched uranium is 90% and what was discovered at fordow was 84%. and we know now, mr grossi says, that there will be 50% more inspections at fordow to try to get to

the bottom of this. iran says that its nuclear programme is peaceful. and although it did acknowledge that there could have been what it called unintended fluctuations at fordow. mr grossi said he hoped that this was a new phase in relations between iran and the iaea. he said he had got concrete steps that had been agreed here, but other countries may be more sceptical, saying that iran has made such promises in the past and not delivered. will it deliver now, is the big question. the bbc bethany bell. staying with iran, and hundreds of schoolgirls in the country have been targeted, in an apparent poison gas attack. schools in at least 15 provinces were attacked on saturday. the incidents have been happening since november but have spread in scope and scale over the past week. nobody has been arrested and public anger is continuing to grow. you may find some

of this report by parham ghobadi distressing. mass poisoning of schoolgirls in iran, possibly with toxic gas. numerous schools in several provinces across the country were attacked on saturday. students who have fallen ill are being taken into an ambulance in karaj, a city near capital, tehran. this girl says she can't breathe. here in southern iran, some are taken into a hospital while coughing. hospitals are packed. a girl shouts. the principal is nowhere to be found. a student from tehran told us despite the smell of gas, they were kept indoors for a while. translation: they wouldn't let us leave the classrooms first, i although everyone was smelling the gas. when we finally went to the courtyard, they wouldn't let us leave the school, asking us not to worry, and they said the smell would go away.

they feared the news would make it to the media. here, an ambulance is seen inside the school, but worried parents are kept behind the closed doors. parents are furious. they chanted, "we don't want a child—killing regime." it shows they think hardline elements backed by the regime are behind this to prevent girls from going to school. concerned mothers have staged a protest in tehran. 0ne says they were dispersed from the ministry of education. but the iranian president put the blame on the west, calling the school poisoning hybrid warfare. translation: in this _ psychological and media warfare regarding schools, they are seeking to frighten our students and their parents. a distressed mother in central town of kashan shouts at an official, "why are you doing this to our children?" some suspect this is a revenge attack because the schoolgirls joined a protest

that swept the country in september. girls in iran have been fighting forfreedom. now, they are fighting for their breath. parham ghobadi, bbc news. the latest round of talks towards a united nations treaty governing the high seas has overrun its two—week deadline. for more than 36 hours, delegates in new york have been haggling over the question of how to share the potential benefits of newly—discovered resources collected beyond any country's territorial jurisdiction. they're hoping to draw up a new high seas treaty, which has been on the table for 15 years. the un defines high seas as parts of the ocean beyond a country's territorial waters. they form two—thirds of all the earth's oceans and nearly half of the entire globe is covered by high seas. experts say the treaty is essential because only i% of all high seas are protected. let's go to the un

headquarters in new york now where the negotiations are still ongoing. nichola clark is an 0ceans governance expert with pew charitable trust and she's been following the talks. thank you very much forjoining us. it sounds like it has been quite an intense couple of days. what is the sense you are getting about how the talks are going? it getting about how the talks are oiiin ? ., , , getting about how the talks are auoin ? . , , ., going? it has indeed been an intense couple _ going? it has indeed been an intense couple of _ going? it has indeed been an intense couple of days, - going? it has indeed been an intense couple of days, and l intense couple of days, and intense couple of days, and intense two weeks. we started these negotiations with a lot of optimism after five years of formal negotiating, we had a lot of hype and still have a lot of hype and still have a lot of hype and still have a lot of hope that this will be a moment where we finally bring the treaty across the line and this is obvious because delegates, after a long and gruelling two weeks, they spent the last day of negotiations turned into a 36 hours which we

are still in an hour. not 30 minutes ago we had the president of the negotiations came and said they are really close to a deal and has asked delegates if they could spent just 30 more minutes to try and bring it across the finish line and that is where we are now, we are waiting to see if they can spend these last couple of minutes before people's physical and mental capacity to get to the finish. in physical and mental capacity to get to the finish.— get to the finish. in terms of stickini get to the finish. in terms of sticking points, _ get to the finish. in terms of sticking points, like - get to the finish. in terms of sticking points, like you - get to the finish. in terms ofi sticking points, like you say, this has been going on for quite a while and we are aware of it, but what are the sticking point? absolutely, certainly one _ sticking point? absolutely, certainly one of— sticking point? absolutely, certainly one of the - sticking point? absolutely, | certainly one of the biggest sticking points is the principle of the thing and is related to the marine genetic resources and which legal regime should apply. to give an example that demonstrates this and the two sides, let's say hypothetically that and of course it is much more complex

than this but let's say hypothetically you discovered the cure for cancer in a sponge only found in international waters. now, one says that freedom of the high seas should apply and we should be able to go and access these resources freely and not have to worry about sharing any benefits from them because wood had a cure for cancer bit benefit enough for cancer bit benefit enough for humankind. 0n the other hand, other countries saying that these belong to all of us and that means that any benefit derived from genetic resources in these areas should be shared with humankind. 50. in these areas should be shared with humankind.— with humankind. so, 'ust briefl , with humankind. so, 'ust briefly. why fl with humankind. so, 'ust briefly, why is it i with humankind. so, 'ust briefly, why is it so h with humankind. so, just- briefly, why is it so important in terms of how it will help biodiversity? can you sum it up? biodiversity? can you sum it u . ? ., biodiversity? can you sum it u? ., ., . ., , biodiversity? can you sum it u? ., ., , ., up? there are actually four elements _ up? there are actually four elements that _ up? there are actually four elements that this - up? there are actually fouri elements that this package treaty has to cover and in addition to marine genetic

resources it is also meant to be addressing to enable a new international body to establish marine protected areas in the high seas and set standards and guidelines for the conduct of an environmental impact assessment and to mitigate and prevent any significant adverse thinks taking place. also technology transfer to help a more equitable global ocean governance paradyne.- more equitable global ocean governance paradyne. let's hope it all ioes governance paradyne. let's hope it all goes well _ governance paradyne. let's hope it all goes well and _ governance paradyne. let's hope it all goes well and we _ governance paradyne. let's hope it all goes well and we will- it all goes well and we will hear results. thank you very much forjoining us. let's get some of the day's other news. 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 states have been evacuated to schools and

community centres. large release of taken place across israel for the ninth consecutive week in protest of the plans to overhaul the judicial system. tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in tel aviv where police used water cannons to clear the crowds. there were also some clashes injerusalem. this is bbc news. the headlines. fighting in the streets of bakhmut as russian forces continue their attempt to capture the ukrainian city. the united nations and iran reach an agreement that would allow further inspections of tehran�*s nuclear programme. tunisian director youssef chebbi has won the top prize at the fespaco — that's africa's largest film festival, which ended saturday in burkina faso's capital 0uagadougou. thousands of film—makers from across the continent took part in the festival, which started a week ago.

nicolas negoce is my colleague with bbc afrique and joins us live from 0uagadougou. how has it all gone? it sounds very exciting. it how has it all gone? it sounds very exciting-— very exciting. it was really nice and — very exciting. it was really nice and exciting. - very exciting. it was really nice and exciting. more i very exciting. it was really i nice and exciting. more than very exciting. it was really - nice and exciting. more than a week, 170 films made by africans were showcased to the population. fespaco as you said is the biggest african film festival, the first edition took place here in burkina faso in 1969 and since then, each two years, film lovers gather here in burkina faso to exchange, to talk, to discuss about the future of african cinema. �* ., , �* about the future of african cinema. �* .,, �* , cinema. and it hasn't been the most smooth _ cinema. and it hasn't been the most smooth week _ cinema. and it hasn't been the most smooth week in - cinema. and it hasn't been the most smooth week in terms i cinema. and it hasn't been the most smooth week in terms ofi most smooth week in terms of security in burkina faso? tell us about that. it’s

security in burkina faso? tell us about that.— us about that. it's usual to hear every _ us about that. it's usual to hear every day _ us about that. it's usual to hear every day about - us about that. it's usual to hear every day about an i us about that. it's usual to - hear every day about an attack here in burkina faso but for the past few days, it has been pretty calm in the country. i would like to remind the fact that burkina faso is touched by a jihadist group, especially in the north of the country. 10,000 people were killed during the past seven years and 2 million people were displaced because of the insecurity and here in the capital, thousands of people gathered for this, the 28th edition of fespaco and everything happened with this movie. 50 everything happened with this movie, . ~' everything happened with this movie. ., , ., movie. so back to the festival, in terms of _ movie. so back to the festival, in terms of the _ movie. so back to the festival, in terms of the big _ movie. so back to the festival, in terms of the big winners, i in terms of the big winners, who were the standouts for you? sorry, the big prize of the

fespaco was given to the tunisian director youssef chebbi for his film called ashkal. it is a thriller taking place in a district of genius. —— tunis.. a very important film. sira took second place, made by fespaco and the third seed, was a kenyan film. that's the three most important prizes of the competition but you also had a documentary, tv series and unintelligible.- had a documentary, tv series and unintelligible. sounds so excitini , and unintelligible. sounds so exciting, thank— and unintelligible. sounds so exciting, thank you _ and unintelligible. sounds so exciting, thank you for - and unintelligible. sounds so exciting, thank you forjoining . exciting, thank you forjoining us. 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 us$1 billion. the joint operation with the united states has led to 12 arrests linked to a mexican cartel. from sydney, phil mercer reports. australian police say the drugs were intercepted by us authorities off the coast of ecuador in november. the large hall of cocaine was bound for western australia. investigators substituted the illicit cargo with plaster of paris, a fine white powder. shipment dropped into the indian ocean west of perth and monitored by drones and helicopters. 0ver monitored by drones and helicopters. over a number of weeks out officers from the transnational see risk crime squad and other offices recreated those packages and dropped 1.2 ton of those drugs into the ocean a0 miles off the coast. 0ver into the ocean a0 miles off the coast. over the next few days,

the police watched as a criminal syndicate with alleged links to a mexican cartel used two boats to find and retrieve the consignment. surveillance images showed one of the vessels towing the other after it had washed up on a beach where two men were arrested. 0thers —— other suspected members of the gang—related detained at a harbour in perth. the western australian state capital. the police also stopped a vehicle on a highway several hundred kilometres away. they found a large amount of cash there. 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 traffickers but not this time. this hall is estimated to be about half of australia's annual consumption of cocaine —— the haul.

phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. prince harry has described writing his book spare as an act of service and says he hopes that sharing details of his life will help others. in a livestreamed conversation with a trauma specialist, the prince said he's not a victim and has never looked for sympathy but has always felt different to the rest of his family and is grateful he'd been able to move to california. here's our royal correspondent daniela relph. a bit like i've sat through a therapy session, or watched someone else's therapy session. it lasted around 90 minutes and it was very much that kind of mood in the room. it was in california — the pictures we've seen. not at their home, but at another location. it felt very much like prince harry again opening his soul and talking in detail about how he felt emotionally about his family, about trauma, his mother, about the royal family. everybody watching this online conversation had to buy a ticket and when

you bought a ticket, as i did, you also got a copy of the book spare and it was very much built around what he said in the book. again, talking about some of the issues that he raised within that book. he talked, as we heard there, about the book being an act of service, he felt, saying that by sharing his trauma, explaining how he felt about the world and his family, he hoped that that would perhaps help other people. so, what also struck me, actually, during it was how comfortable harry looked in this situation. he's very comfortable with the language of therapy. in some of those interviews that we saw around the publication of spare injanuary, he seemed a little ill at ease at times, a bit less comfortable with a more interviewer and interviewee situation. this was clearly circumstances and an event that he was much more at ease with and he spoke very openly. so, did we learn anything new? well, it's kind of what we didn't learn, in some ways, that is new in this. right. in terms of what we did learn, it really was building on the kind of things

that he said in the book. he talked again about what it had been like living within the royal family, how he felt trapped within the royal family — as a child, he said, he didn't get a lot of hugs, nobody touched him very much. there was an emotional and physical distance that he very much did not want to repeat with his own two children, archie and lilibet. he said he wanted to smother them with hugs and kisses to feel like there was a big emotional connection there — something he felt was lacking. but what we didn't get any information on was some of the hard facts around what is going on the moment. he barely mentioned his father — really only in the context of his own childhood. he didn't mention his stepmother, camilla, queen consort. he didn't mention his brother, william, the prince of wales, and he wasn't asked at all about the state of their relationship at the moment, whether they'd talked, whether there had been any contact. he also wasn't asked whether he was coming to his father's coronation in may. so some big gaps in the conversation, in many ways very insightful, but

some missing from facts. any mention of the royal household? i don't think there will be any, i think it will be as it has been with all of these things, particularly after the publication, they took the position i think because they were so much and so many allegations in so many allegations in so many allegations and some anything said that there really wasn't point in them having anything to say back. point in them having anything to say back-— to say back. could you tell us very quickly _ to say back. could you tell us very quickly who _ to say back. could you tell us very quickly who is _ to say back. could you tell us very quickly who is gabor- to say back. could you tell us i very quickly who is gabor mate and why did he choose to be interviewed by him? he and why did he choose to be interviewed by him?- and why did he choose to be interviewed by him? he is an author and — interviewed by him? he is an author and also _ interviewed by him? he is an author and also an _ interviewed by him? he is an author and also an author- interviewed by him? he is an. author and also an author with penguin random house who published the book so i need connection there but also a specialist in grief and trauma, something of a therapist in himself, so there was a match there in terms of the situations in the conversation that the two men found themselves discussing so i think there was a feeling it would be a good match for this kind of concept and kind of chat. daniela relph. the premier li cricket tournament has taken place in

india, the inaugural match. it kicked off with the mumbai africans thrashing the good arata giants by a massive margin. arata giants by a massive man in. ~ margin. the three-week tournament _ margin. the three-week tournament involves - margin. the three-week tournament involves big| margin. the three-week - tournament involves big names and big money and big audiences although it is half the size of the men's version of the tournament and the investment and attention of the women's game is unprecedented. league bosses describe it as a landmark day for female cricketers and players hope it will raise sport's profile. let me take you to beijng now — these are live pictures of the opening of china's annual parliamentary session. it's the start of nine days of meetings in which they're assessing the past year and looking ahead to the next. the chinese premier li keqiang is delivering the government's work report, including a target for economic growth. he and a number of other officials and ministers are expected to be replaced during the session by president xi loyalists. the chinese leader himself is due to be confirmed as president for a third term. this is after he secured five more years as head of the communist party

and military last october. hello. this picture is fairly indicative of the day and if you look at the satellite you can see how extensive the cloud has been. some breaks across north east england and parts of scotland but also showers and drawing your attention to the speckled cloud in the far north—east, potentialfor speckled cloud in the far north—east, potential for some snow showers waiting in the wings to arrive later on monday. through the next few hours, we keep the blanket of cloud for many, some coastal showers to the west and east, persistent ones in the far north—east of scotland but because of the cloud around on

whole, temperatures should just say up into low single figures but it will be a chilly start to the sunday morning once again, another grey and gloomy day, almost a repeat performance of saturday's story with some coastal showers around but largely quiet and temperatures sitting between six and nine celsius, just that little bit colder in the northern isles as the cold air starts to descend. i care pushing its way steadily southwards as we go into monday, so really from monday onwards you will start to see the difference to the feel of our weather —— artic air. if you haven't already heard it will turn cold and windy and snow and ice could be an issue particularly to the far north and east. likely as we go through the day on monday that this weather front will introduce colder air, turning the rain ahead of the front into snow showers behind it, especially across the far north and east of scotland and north east england. to the south of it, will keep those temperatures around generally

7-9 but temperatures around generally 7—9 but that sinks its way steadily sound so we start to start on tuesday with some sunny spells, cold and frosty and yes, further snow showers across northern and eastern coasts and those temperatures will struggle, four or five degrees but factor in the strength and direction of the wind and it will feel noticeably colder so you will need to wrap up warm. looks likely that we will see the cold snap continuing through the middle part of the week as well. so if you've got outdoor travel plans monday into tuesday, be aware that there is the potential for snow and tuesday, be aware that there is the potentialfor snow and ice in the north—east.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the russian army and wagner mercenaries are putting increasing pressure on ukrainian soldiers to withdraw from the eastern city of bakhmut. the city's deputy mayor has said thousands of civilians are living in shelters without access to electricity or water, as the fierce street fighting continues. the united nations and iran have reached an agreement that would allow un officials to carry out further inspections of tehran�*s nuclear programme. the nuclear watchdog held talks in tehran, after the discovery of uranium, enriched to near weapons grade level at an underground site. also in iran, the government has said it will investigate the recent spate of poison attacks, targetting schoolgirls.