and, iran faces international condemnation after executing two more anti government protesters. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. in ukraine vladimir putin had said his forces would stop fighting for 36 hours so orthodox christians could celebrate christmas this weekend. the ceasefire was supposed to run from 9am yesterday morning to 9pm today uk time. but kyiv dismissed the ceasefire, as a russian tactic to regroup its soldiers. and while millions of ukrainians and russians were able to enjoy the festivities, fighting continued along a front line which spans 700 miles. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, producer siobhan leahy and cameraman paul francis have sent this report from the eastern city of bakhmut on the front line. you leave civilisation behind on the journey to bakhmut. we are heading to one of the most hostile parts of the front line. and coming into view is a city in the middle of it. the russians are just a mile away. uk
a manuscript thief, who tricked the likes of margaret atwood and ian mcewan into sending him unpublished works, has pleaded guity in court to wire fraud. hello and welcome to the programme. the ceasefire in ukraine declared by russia, for the orthodox christmas has come to an end. clashes between ukrainian and russian forces continued throughout the 36 hour period. president zelensky said vladimir putin s offer was deceitful he said peace in ukraine would only be restored when russian forces were expelled. and moscow said it reserved the right to return fire if its troops were attacked. our correspondent, james waterhouse along with producer siobhan leahy and cameraman paul francis sent this report from the eastern city of bakhmut, on the front line. you leave civilisation behind on the journey to bakhmut. we are heading to one of the most hostile parts of the front line. and coming into view is a city in the middle of it. the russians are just a mile away. ukraine
on the journey to bakhmut. we are heading to one of the most hostile parts of the front line. and coming into view is a city in the middle of it. the russians are just a mile away. ukraine is fiercely defending here. invading forces have thrown everything at the city, leaving it almost deserted. braving it above ground is a ukrainian soldier. translation: the situation is tense. l there are explosions and strikes coming from the enemy s side. they promised a ceasefire but we don t see it. we don t feel or see it. they said one thing but in reality it is different. few expected the ceasefire to hold anyway. it was announced by russia in the first place and ukraine was never going to engage but there is still heavy shelling coming down from the russian side. ukraine is holding onto this city and it s not going to want to let go any time soon. in bakhmut, those who flinch are in the minority. sergei tries to patch up what he can. translation: you would not wish this on your wors
for the first time in three years china lifts quarantine rules for people arriving from abroad. and is this the sound of hidden treasure? hopeful hunters follow a map marking the spot where german soldiers are believed to have buried valuables worth millions. hello and welcome to the programme. clashes have continued in eastern ukraine throughout the day despite the russian ceasefire to mark the orthodox christmas. ukraine dismissed the pause in hostilities as a tactic to allow russian troops to regroup. russian forces are on the edge of bakhmut they ve been rying to take it since the summer, in an attempt to push further west, but the city hasn t fallen. our correspondent, james waterhouse along with producer siobhan leahy and cameraman paul francis sent this report from bahkmut, on the front line. you leave civilisation behind on the journey to bakhmut. we are heading to one of the most hostile parts of the front line. and coming into view is a city in the middle
metal detectors beep. and is this the sound of hidden treasure? hopeful hunters follow a map marking the spot where german soldiers are believed to have buried valuables worth millions. hello and welcome to bbc news. after nearly three years of covid lockdowns, china is scrapping its quarantine rules for travel from sunday. but as soon as restrictions were eased over the last few weeks, infections started to spread rapidly causing many countries to introduce compulsory covid tests for travellers from china. there are also concerns that china s borders are opening just as the country prepares to celebrate its annual lunar new year. for more on this story i m joined now by the bbc s martin yip who s at the hong kong zhuhai macau bridge checkpoint. thank you forjoining us, martin. how are people feeling about these restrictions being eased fairly quickly? we have heard travellers from china can visit abroad and now these restrictions being eased for inward visitors. restricti