be going well for the russians? well, definitely not. definitely not. although i am not a military expert, i think it is quite visible but this very much advertised winter, spring offensive has been over, i believe. nowi winter, spring offensive has been over, i believe. now i got the news that some russian troops are retreating their current positions. so perhaps the russian troops in ukraine are getting ready for our ukrainian counteroffensive. we may only hope that this counteroffensive will be more successful.— will be more successful. sorry, did ou sa will be more successful. sorry, did you say you _ will be more successful. sorry, did you say you heard _ will be more successful. sorry, did you say you heard that _ will be more successful. sorry, did you say you heard that russian - you say you heard that russian troops were retreating from where? bakhmut? no, there was some news in social networks, i cannot say they are confirmed, but some units may change their positions. further from

the front lines. maybe it is not promising. the front lines. maybe it is not promising-— the front lines. maybe it is not ”romisin. ~ ., ., ~ promising. what do you think the russians are _ promising. what do you think the russians are fighting _ promising. what do you think the russians are fighting for? - promising. what do you think the russians are fighting for? right l russians are fighting for? right now? well... _ russians are fighting for? right now? well... there _ russians are fighting for? right now? well... there are - russians are fighting for? e grit now? well... there are different russians who will fight. and they have different goals, and different understanding of the situation. some are fighting because they are told to fight. people who do not want to carry any responsibility for their own decisions, which is the responsibility of higher levels, so the auto to fight and they do that. loosely professional military. others, mobilised people, they think they are fighting the nazis in ukraine, ukrainian population, saving them from the nazi regime and so on. something that may be this

war is not good, may be that it is somehow wrong but since we have no other way out but to press forward, push forward, to try to win. so it is a little bit doomed, the understanding on this. it is not that optimistic. _ understanding on this. it is not that optimistic. what - understanding on this. it is not that optimistic. what do - understanding on this. it is not that optimistic. what do you i understanding on this. it is not. that optimistic. what do you think the circumstances are which might lead president putin to come to the negotiating table?— negotiating table? first, i believe that it can be if— negotiating table? first, i believe that it can be if he _ negotiating table? first, i believe that it can be if he sees _ negotiating table? first, i believe that it can be if he sees that - negotiating table? first, i believe that it can be if he sees that he i that it can be if he sees that he has something tangible that he could sell to his audience, as a victory. so it would be a kind of a victory for him. then he will be ready to

negotiate. i don't think that it is acceptable ukraine, and acceptable for the entire world, supporting ukraine. the other option is a president putin has no other way out but to negotiate at least something to help him stay in power. but it is quite difficult to imagine the situation because i believe that president putin does not see any possibility for himself to negotiate, his defeat, so to speak. the only thing he is going to negotiate is his total victory over the west, over nato. flan negotiate is his total victory over the west, over nato._ negotiate is his total victory over the west, over nato. can you see an end to this _ the west, over nato. can you see an end to this while _ the west, over nato. can you see an end to this while he _ the west, over nato. can you see an end to this while he is _ the west, over nato. can you see an end to this while he is in _ the west, over nato. can you see an end to this while he is in power? - end to this while he is in power? yes. while he is in power, he will be fighting this war, because this

war becomes the only pillar for israel, as long as this war is in place, his position is more or less secure. —— for his ruling. if place, his position is more or less secure. -- for his ruling.- secure. -- for his ruling. if he is defeated. _ secure. -- for his ruling. if he is defeated, what _ secure. -- for his ruling. if he is defeated, what does _ secure. -- for his ruling. if he is defeated, what does that - secure. -- for his ruling. if he is defeated, what does that mean | secure. -- for his ruling. if he is i defeated, what does that mean for him? if defeated, what does that mean for him? , ., ., , him? if he is defeated and his defeat is understandable - him? if he is defeated and his defeat is understandable to i him? if he is defeated and his - defeat is understandable to anybody in russia so it cannot be concealed by propaganda or presented as a minor setback, then he may face discontent and disaffection from his own people in the russian elite, in the kremlin, and it may lead to some kind of revolt against them. or it may not. i cannot predict.- kind of revolt against them. or it may not. i cannot predict. there is the possibility- _ may not. i cannot predict. there is the possibility. thank _ may not. i cannot predict. there is the possibility. thank you - may not. i cannot predict. there is the possibility. thank you very - may not. i cannot predict. there is l the possibility. thank you very much for talking to our audience this evening. thank you. that's all from us tonight. have a lovely easter weekend.

breaking news from around the world 24 breaking news from around the world 2a hours a day — this is bbc news. liz says she believes the met is now moving in the right direction. i do think that if the public can see that people are being sacked,

or they are held to account for what they've done, we can move that forward. but it's a huge task to undertake, but the public need to see that that's being done. the met commissioner says the public should judge them on the actions it's taking and is confident about reforming the force. helena wilkinson, bbc news. around the world and across the uk — this is bbc news. he may be 100, butjohn�*s memory is as bright as his medals. he may be 100, but john's memory is as bright as his medals.— as bright as his medals. obviously, caettin as bright as his medals. obviously, getting to 100 _ as bright as his medals. obviously, getting to 100 is — as bright as his medals. obviously, getting to 100 is pretty _ as bright as his medals. obviously, getting to 100 is pretty good - as bright as his medals. obviously, getting to 100 is pretty good in - as bright as his medals. obviously, getting to 100 is pretty good in my| getting to 100 is pretty good in my line of business. people don't last that long. line of business. people don't last that lont. , ., .,, line of business. people don't last thatlon. ,, ., that long. john was responsible for tart etin: that long. john was responsible for taratetin a that long. john was responsible for targeting a bomb _ that long. john was responsible for targeting a bomb in _ that long. john was responsible for targeting a bomb in calais, - that long. john was responsible for targeting a bomb in calais, which l

targeting a bomb in calais, which hitler planned to use for a huge attack on london. it hitler planned to use for a huge attack on london.— hitler planned to use for a huge attack on london. it was 'ust john's skills that his * attack on london. it was 'ust john's skills that his £22,000 _ attack on london. it was just john's skills that his £22,000 bomb - attack on london. it was just john'sl skills that his £22,000 bomb landed pretty— skills that his £22,000 bomb landed pretty much about five metres from the edge _ pretty much about five metres from the edge of the bunker —— 22,000 lb. william _ the edge of the bunker —— 22,000 lb. william organise a birthday flight pass, a signal at a tribute to the man believes to be the last surviving wartime aircrew member of the dambusters squadron. you're live with bbc news. to north korea now, where, if you'll recall, borders were shut in 2020 in response to the pandemic, which made entry into the country virtually impossible. security measures have since been increased, and punishment for those trying to cross to south korea have become even more frightening. the number of those arriving safely in south korea dropped to just 67 people last year. our seoul correspondent, jean mackenzie, has spoken to a woman called songmi — one of the few who've

managed to escape. there are days song—mi still doesn't believe she's living with her mother. what she has endured to be here made it seem like this day would never come. song—mi was four years old when her mother tried to escape north korea, with her strapped to her chest. her mother was caught, and sent to prison. when she was released, she decided to escape again. she decided to escape again — this time, alone. song—mi was left with her grandparents, but shortly after, they died, leaving song—mi to fend for herself. translation: i made a living by foraging for herbs - in the mountains and selling them. i was just trying to survive for the day without starving to death.

it would take years before song—mi's mother was able to arrange her daughter's own treacherous escape, across the river to china. translation: before you cross the river, i you're supposed to be scared. the river is deep and the current is strong. we could have died. but the thought of getting to my mother felt like i was throwing away a heavy burden and flying away. after 11t years apart, the pair have reunited in south korea. but song—mi has never asked her mother why she left — until now. translation: i was nine - when you came back from prison. why did you escape then? translation: i wanted to bring you with me at first, _ but the broker said no children. if we got caught, both of us would have suffered again.

so i asked your grandparents to watch you for a year. but much more time has passed. translation: i see. translation: i knew the morning she left. | i rememberjust lying in bed, crying. what would you like to say to your daughter? what would you like her to know? translation: i want to say that i didn't abandon you. _ i made a choice to leave first, to give you a better life. this choice might seem unthinkable, but these are the lengths people must go to to escape north korea, and it's only getting tougher. jean mackenzie, bbc news, in seoul. amazing report there.

time to take a look at some other stories making headlines in the uk. a man has beenjailed for a minimum of 20 years for killing his pregnant wife by pushing her a 50—foot cliff edge at arthur's seat in edinburgh. 31—year—old fawziyahjaved died when kashif anwar pushed her from the rocky outcrop while on holiday in september 2021. he initially claimed he'd slipped and accidentally bumped into her. hundreds of people living with inherited breast or prostate cancer could now benefit from a targeted therapy on the nhs in england and wales. some 800 people will be eligible for the treatment which involves the drug olaparib, which is designed to treat specific cancers linked to faulty versions of genes. an mp has been suspended by the conservative party after a newspaper published a video of him offering to lobby for a fake firm. scott benton was filmed by undercover reporters appearing to explain how companies and mps can avoid registering corporate hospitality. commons rules mean mps must disclose

hospitality worth £300 — or about $370 — or more. buckingham palace says it will cooperate with an independent study into the links between the british monarchy and the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. the research is being carried out by the university of manchester with historic royal palaces. the palace said, king charles takes the issues "profoundly seriously" the palace said king charles takes the issues "profoundly seriously" and the royal household will grant access to its archives, with the study due to be completed in 2026. arley gill is chairman of grenada's national reparations commission. he explained what action he wanted from the palace. we would want and demand that that profound sorrow be converted into an apology for acceptance that

what they have done is a crime against humanity and they should make some repair with regards to the harm that was caused by the actions and the involvement in the slave trade and slavery. so, we're hoping that this research will trigger the discussion of reparative justice in the castle of the british monarchy and indeed, in the parliament of the british government in the soonest possible time. i asked our royal correspondent, sarah campbell, how significant this is. what we know so far is that it's historic royal palaces, which is effectively a charity which looks after royal palaces, has become a partner in this research project which is being carried out by a researcher at the university of manchester. and the details we know about the project itself are that she, camilla de koning, is exploring, among other things, the links between the british

monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. and the royal household is supporting this research, and they're doing that by opening up access to the royal connection and the royal archives. we know that this study was started in october 2022, so that was just a month after king charles seceded the throne, and it's due to be completed by september 2026. now, as any follower of the english premier league knows, football at the top level is a pretty ruthless business. but it can also make for some pretty extraordinary pretty extraordinary turnarounds. chelsea havejust appointed frank lampard as the temporary head coach. as the temporary head coach, which is amazing given he was fired by the same club injanuary 2021 — and by his subsequent employer everton, earlier this year. no wonder the man himself looks delighted. i didn't think i'd

never be in the seat. i'm a confident person, i want to work hard. i understand the game. and this club, obviously, i had a big connection with. if i'm honest, it wasn't my thought one day i would be back here as chelsea manager because myjob is to be as good a manager i can be. unfinished business sounds a bit hollywood. sounds a bit hollywood, it's like you're looking for a great line. i want to work and i want to help this club as much as i can. that's the great comeback story. before we go, i want to show you some footage which is going viral online of a surprise animal appearance during ramadan prayers in algeria. a live broadcast captured the moment a confident cat leapt onto an imam, who was in the middle of leading an evening prayer. the catjumped onto his chest and eventually scrambled up onto his shoulders, where it proceeded to make itself comfortable. in spite of the distraction, the imam kept his composure and carried on before the cat eventually lost interest, jumped down and sauntered off.

that brings us to the end of newsday. thanks so much for watching and do stay with bbc news. hello there. the weather for the easter weekend is looking pretty decent for many of us. a lot of places will stay dry and there'll be plenty of sunshine around, too. the temperatures creeping up, particularly easter sunday looks to be a warm one across southern areas. however, it's all changed by the time we head into the bank holiday, easter monday. it turns more unsettled thanks to this area of low pressure. but high pressure dominates the scene, as you can see, for good friday. it starts off chilly, though, with some frost around, early mist and fog, which will clear quite quickly. as the temperatures rise into the afternoon, could see some fairweather cloud bubbling up — that could spark off the odd shower across southeast england. a bit of cloud just rolling in off the north sea for northeast england, eastern scotland, and along north sea coasts, it'll be quite chilly with an onshore breeze. otherwise, elsewhere

after that chilly starts, it's the low to mid—teens for most of us. and then, through friday night into the early part of saturday, temperatures again tumble across central, southern and western areas where skies are clearest. it's particularly cold there, i think, for west midlands, central wales, but eastern scotland, eastern england, more cloud here, so not quite as cold as will be further west. into saturday, then, very little change, high pressure dominates the scene. this weather front getting a little bit closer to northern ireland, but it stays away, i think, throughout the day. so, plenty of sunshine once again through the morning, into the afternoon, a bit of cloud bubbling up — that could just produce the odd shower here and there. but most places will stay dry and there's temperatures ranging from around 11—15 degrees again. quite chilly, though, across north east scotland, with the onshore breeze. easter sunday looks to be a little bit warmer. a bit more clouds to the east, and then to the west, this weather front starts to bring more of a breeze.

outbreaks of rain to northern ireland, the far west of scotland, later in the day. but for the rest of the country, that sunshine around southerly winds, it could be quite warm — up to around 17 degrees in the mildest spots. then it's all changed for bank holiday monday. this weather front spreads across the country with some fairly gusty winds, as it does clear through during the second part of the day, it brightens up sunshine and blustery showers, some of them will be fairly heavy. temperatures coming down a touch, particularly in the north and the west — highs of 10 to around 13 or m degrees for most. and then, the upcoming new week looks unsettled, low pressure always nearby. it'll stay quite showery. a bit of sunshine around, too, but it will be noticeably cooler.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main stories for you at the top of the hour, when newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. today, i'm in wiltshire, southern england, farming country, where the serene rural views belie deepening economic anxiety. because right now agriculture is under enormous pressure. spiralling costs, shortages of labour, and a demand that farmers produce more at less cost to the environment.

my guest today is minette batters, she farms right here,