welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the metropolitan police have launched their own investigation into the parties that took place inside downing street, to see if they broke covid rules. they've done so after receiving information from the internal inquiry, led by the senior civil servant sue gray. her report, seen as critical in deciding prime minister boris johnson's future, could be released as early as wednesday. our political editor laura kuenssberg has more. the law applies in every town, every city, every road, and every house, and in the sw1 postcode of number 10. and the police have concluded they've seen enough about what happened behind closed doors when the law was lockdown — that it merits a full and proper look. i can confirm that the met is now investigating a number of events that took place at downing street and whitehall in the last two years. so, for only the second time in a century... can you survive the police investigation, borisjohnson? ..a serving prime minister will be investigated for what happened under his own roof, after months and months of claims about rule—breaking during a national emergency. i now call the prime minister. i believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters. but i want to reassure the house, mr speaker, and the country, that i and the whole government are focused 100% on dealing with the people's priorities. i'm told the police have been talking to the official who's been trying to get to the bottom of what happened for weeks and enough evidence about gatherings or parties in downing street is there for them to contemplate prosecutions. was it right to have a birthday gathering in downing street, ms dorries? more than a dozen events, including a celebration and cake around the cabinet table for the prime minister's birthday, have emerged. will there be cake on the cabinet table today, miss truss? but when ministers were there around that same table this morning, borisjohnson made no mention of the police investigation he already had been told about. those loyal to him have been louder in recent days. the vaccine roll—out, the furlough programme, the economy having bounced back to pre—pandemic levels, the leadership of borisjohnson this country has had, has been so brilliant. but even before the police or official report, there have been plenty of private tory recriminations for the chaos. i have not been invited to any parties. all of it more fuel for the opposition parties. so, it seems, mr speaker, potential criminality has been found in downing street. what a truly damning reflection on our nation's very highest office. we cannot go on with this chaotic government. will he advise his boss to do the right thing in the national interest and resign? can we please have a sensel of proportion over the prime minister being given a piece of cake in his own office - by his own staff? the timing and complexities of a police investigation could slow down the tory party's rush to judgement on borisjohnson. conversations among mps over there, who have the power to determine his future, may be put on pause. yet one former minister said, "there is no universe where a police investigation "into downing street is a good thing in the real world." the tories, who like to be seen as the party of law and order, are facing serious political disorder of their own. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. britain is prepared to deploy troops to protect nato allies in europe should russia invade ukraine. borisjohnson said vladimir putin would face "ferocious" ukrainian resistance. and tonight president biden said he'd consider personal sanctions on mr putin if there were a russian invasion. our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley reports. the might of the russian army on display in its ally belarus, ukraine's northern neighbour, where military exercises are planned next month. moscow has been building up troops on ukraine's eastern border, too, and fears of a new war in europe are growing. the kremlin is still denying it'll invade, president putin keeping the world guessing about what his intentions really are. if russia invades ukraine, we would look to contribute to any new nato deployments to protect our allies in europe. but if president putin were to choose the path of bloodshed and destruction, he must realise that it would be both tragic and futile. russia's now amassed around 100,000 troops near its border with ukraine, leading to huge international concern. moscow used to control much of the region, but many countries have sincejoined nato, the military alliance of european and north american countries of which the uk is also a part. and president putin has demanded that ukraine never be allowed to join nato. so the west is now ramping up its response, the defensive counter build—up growing by the day. warships and fighterjets from several nato members are now heading to eastern europe. this is american military equipment and munitions arriving in kyiv. it's been called "lethal aid". the us has now put 8,500 troops on alert to deploy at short notice if they need to. russia's also been threatened with unprecedented economic sanctions which could target president putin himself, the us says, if he does give the order to invade. for russia, not only in terms of economic consequences and political consequences, but there will be enormous consequences worldwide. this would be the largest... if he were to move in with all those forces, it would be the largest invasion since world war ii. it would change the world. some in ukraine think the west is being alarmist. others are growing increasingly nervous. translation: we have to stick together - because we have enemies. 0ur big neighbour, russia, it is like a cancer on our soil. moscow today accused the americans of whipping up tensions over ukraine but suggested that diplomacy isn't dead yet. caroline hawley, bbc news. we can now speak to andrew weiss, who's vice—president for studies at the carnegie endowment for international peace. he previously served as director for russian, ukrainian, and eurasian affairs on the national security council. andrew, security council. thanks forjoining us. i'm andrew, thanks forjoining us. i'm intrigued as to what you think the position is regarding the west, because we have a fairly bold approach coming from the us and the uk and clearly a far more, perhaps you'd say, measured, but more of a dialogue approach coming from the key players within the eu, the french and the germans. inaudible. well, i'm sorry, andrew, will call you to a halt there, we're not hearing you.— call you to a halt there, we're not hearing you. i'm so sorry. that's fine. _ not hearing you. i'm so sorry. that's fine. we _ not hearing you. i'm so sorry. that's fine. we have - not hearing you. i'm so sorry. that's fine. we have you - not hearing you. i'm so sorry. | that's fine. we have you now. so same question. i that's fine. we have you now. so same question.— that's fine. we have you now. so same question. i was going to say i'm _ so same question. i was going to say i'm not _ so same question. i was going to say i'm not sure _ so same question. i was going to say i'm not sure that - so same question. i was going to say i'm not sure that is - so same question. i was going to say i'm not sure that is the | to say i'm not sure that is the right way to lay out what western powers are trying to do. i think there is unanimity between washington and european partners and london that it would be far better to smother the russians in diplomatic conversations instead of seeing this conflict to turn violent. so, in the meantime, there may be disagreements about exactly how much pressure to bring to bear, both because it could be provocative, but also because it could provide the russians an excuse for walking away from the diplomatic conversation. i5 the diplomatic conversation. is a smart as saying we have a good cop, bad cop arrangement here at the french and germans are playing the good cop. they're going to have discussions, i believe, in paris in what is known as the normative format, so we'll get the russians together with your friends, germans, and even ukrainians, ithink friends, germans, and even ukrainians, i think president macron thinks he is having a phone call with vladimir putin on friday, so clearly they think it is time for them to step up. think it is time for them to step urn-— think it is time for them to step up— think it is time for them to ste--u.~ , step up. well, the reason they are stepping — step up. well, the reason they are stepping up _ step up. well, the reason they are stepping up is _ step up. well, the reason they are stepping up is because - are stepping up is because everyone keeps saying that vladimir putin is the decider, whose view of what happens matters the most, but no—one is talking to him. so french president macron is essentially nominating himself to take the lead right now in engaging with putin. the german chancellor is still getting settled into his newjob still getting settled into his new job stop still getting settled into his newjob stop in the previous round of crisis in 2014, 2015, it was angela merkel who led much of the european interaction with the russians. we don't have someone with her strength both within the european union and the credibility with the russians working on behalf of the west right now, so there is a real deficit interlocutors and crime is trying to fill that. find is trying to fill that. and that will _ is trying to fill that. and that will be _ is trying to fill that. and that will be sent, - is trying to fill that. and that will be sent, and i is trying to fill that. and | that will be sent, and mr macron has his own strategic views as to how europe should be playing a role here, but that would also play into the view of a vladimir putin as a master of looking for weaknesses and the lack of angela merkel is a weakness. absolutely. there is no doubt the fact that there is no—one right now and european landscape with vladimir putin's level of experience and his own institutional memory of how he got to this point is a huge liability. and frankly it's a challenge for the united states as well. like britain, the us russian relationship is in tatters and there are very few interlocutors who are dealing with an intense basis who are dealing with putin's inner circle, that is a real challenge fuligni as we head into what could be a very dangerous phase in this crisis in mid—february later. can dangerous phase in this crisis in mid-february later.- in mid-february later. can i turn your— in mid-february later. can i turn your attention - in mid-february later. can i turn your attention to - in mid-february later. can i. turn your attention to domestic politics in the us as well, we have mid—terms and we also have a bite who was playing hardball after a fashion and we have got donald trump who could quite easily be saying" look, once again, the europeans a soft paddling, we are expected to pick up the pieces in a faraway part of the world, and that plays very well domestically, as an argument. i plays very well domestically, as an argument.— plays very well domestically, as an argument. i don't think the american _ as an argument. i don't think the american people, - as an argument. i don't think the american people, i'm - as an argument. i don't think| the american people, i'm not as an argument. i don't think i the american people, i'm not an expert on us politics or paying attention to this crisis, think the challenges in front of president biden are enormous, whether it is the pandemic of the economic recovery, the threat of inflation, et cetera. his challenges he doesn't want vladimir putin to swamp his entire presidency with endless crises and challenges in the ukraine. the other part of this is republicans themselves are split. there is a big congressional voice from the republican party saying that biden is too soft, and the other hand you have fox news and trump saying russia is our friend. what you think, frankly, in the us, political dysfunction is again an advantage for russia's putin. more the west looks divided the easier this will be for the russians.— easier this will be for the russians. �* ., ~ , ., russians. andrew, thank you very much indeed _ russians. andrew, thank you very much indeed for- russians. andrew, thank you very much indeed for your i very much indeed for your analysis. very much indeed for your analysis-— let's get some of the day's other news. the us coastguard says it's looking for 39 people missing after a boat reportedly capsized off florida. the accident occurred on saturday, but a survivor was rescued on tuesday. he said the vessel had sailed from the bahamas but had run into bad weather. sunday's quarterfinal at the african cup of nations will not be played at the stadium in cameroon, where eight people died in a crush on monday. the confederation of african football president said there had to be an �*absolute guarantee' that fans would be safe. instead it will be played at another stadium in yaounde instead. nancy pelosi has confirmed she's going to run for re—election to congress and may still stay on as house speaker, despite previously saying she would step down from leadership after 2022. the 81—year—old has served in congress since 1987 and says her decision to stand again was to defend american democracy through legislation on voting rights and other issues. tropical storm ana has killed at least 46 people in madagascar and mozambique, with the authorities in madagascar saying 65,000 people have been made homeless. in malawi, the country lost most of its power because of flooding. stephanie prentice has this report. this is now home for these families in the madagascan capitol. the crowded emergency accommodation site with no infrastructure, no privacy, and few resources. translation: ., ,., �* translation: the reason we're sta in: translation: the reason we're staying here _ translation: the reason we're staying here is — translation: the reason we're staying here is because - translation: the reason we're staying here is because part - translation: the reason we're staying here is because part of l staying here is because part of our has collapsed. we asked for help. we can't live at home because it's flooded. if we leave here we've got nowhere to go and live. translation: ~ ., ., go and live. translation: ., ., ., translation: we had to leave because all— translation: we had to leave because all the _ translation: we had to leave because all the mattresses - translation: we had to leave because all the mattresses are| because all the mattresses are wet and — because all the mattresses are wet and our baby got sick. we didn't— wet and our baby got sick. we didn't have a house and we had to come — didn't have a house and we had to come here.— to come here. outside, the - flooding has claimed thousands of homes and rescue agencies are still working their way in boats through what was once farmland to evacuate those who attract. while some have lost everything they own in this storm, many others lost their lives, with authorities working on recovery as well as rescue, searching for bodies in the floodwaters. the cyclone which formed he then moved to mainland africa, knocking out power for tens of thousands in mozambique and malawi. suddenly charcoal became like gold, as homes and businesses were plunged into complete darkness overnight. translation: ., , translation: immediately when the ower translation: immediately when the power went — translation: immediately when the power went out, _ translation: immediately when the power went out, customers i the power went out, customers came to buy charcoal, regardless of the quality. usually oh 3000 watches per day, but yesterday alone i'm may 10,000. day, but yesterday alone i'm may 10.000.— may 10,000. officials in mozambique _ may 10,000. officials in mozambique also - may 10,000. officials in i mozambique also reporting may 10,000. officials in - mozambique also reporting some people found dead, with official goals still coming in and saying more than half a million people have been impacted by the floodwaters. but despite attempts to get things back to normal, weather experts are forecasting another 4- experts are forecasting another 4— six powerful cyclones between now and late march. stephanie prentice, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: it took more than 300 people to rescue him. the story of a man trapped in a welsh cave for 54 hours. the shuttle challenger exploded soon after lift—off. there were seven astronauts on board, one of them a woman schoolteacher. all of them are believed to have been killed. by the evening, tahrir square, the heart of official cairo, was in the hands of the demonstrators. they were using the word 'revolution'. the earthquake - singled out buildings and brought them down in seconds. _ tonight, the search for any survivors. has an increasing desperation about it as the hours pass. i the new government is firmly in control of the entire republic of uganda. survivors of the auschwitz concentration camp have been commemorating the 40th anniversary of their liberation. they toured the huts, gas chambers and crematoria and relived their horrifying experiences. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: police launch an investigation into whether parties at downing street violated coronavirus rules. a spokesman says borisjohnson didn't think he had broken the law. let's return to our top story. it's no surprise that the news here in britain is currently dominated by the two inquiries into whether a series of gatherings at downing street and across government broke strict covid restrictions, but how is the row over lockdown parties and prime minister borisjohnson's level of involvement in them being perceived outside the uk? joining me from washington is daniel lippman, white house and washington reporter for politico. daniel, good to see you. this is the sort of crisis that keeps on giving from our perspective. another party, another event, another party. has it hit home in the us? i think a lot of americans who pay attention to british news, i think they are plugged into this. they are kind of gobbling up this. they are kind of gobbling up the news. but for the average american, they face inflation worries, supply chain shortages, covid surges and they haven't probably listened in on this and read about it as much as people who love britain and are paying attention to what boris johnson and are paying attention to what borisjohnson is up to, and so they have more immediate concerns about their own lives, and are less concerned about the domestic politics of a foreign country. i the domestic politics of a foreign country. i suppose if ou did foreign country. i suppose if you did do _ foreign country. i suppose if you did do comparisons, - foreign country. i suppose if| you did do comparisons, you would be looking at a situation in the united states, where, let's face it, leaders have had events and parties and they've been prepared to run a little bit roughshod over what might the recommended measures to take in restrictions, and that is the difference here, isn't it? it is the law this is the advice. , ~ , , ., advice. yes, americans seem to have taken _ advice. yes, americans seem to have taken the _ advice. yes, americans seem to have taken the pandemic - advice. yes, americans seem to have taken the pandemic much l have taken the pandemic much less seriously, in large parts, where we won't ordered to stay at home in terms of actual — you know, you get a fine if you go out. there were plenty of parties at the white house under the trump administration that became super spreader events where lots of people got covid and theyjust did not care that much. former president trump, he tested positive from one of those interactions, and even in the biden administration, the interior sector, biden administration, the interiorsector, his biden administration, the interior sector, his chief of staff, back last year, before many americans were vaccinated, she planned her own party at the interior department, and she was subsequently fired from the white house. and so that's kind of an indication that the biden administration takes it more seriously, but we still see thousands of people dying every day. see thousands of people dying every day-— see thousands of people dying eve da. , , . every day. yes, absolutely. can i 'ust every day. yes, absolutely. can ijust ask _ every day. yes, absolutely. can ijust ask you. _ every day. yes, absolutely. can i just ask you, this _ every day. yes, absolutely. can i just ask you, this is _ i just ask you, this is happening, of course, among other things at a time of heightened international political tension, which brings joe biden and borisjohnson together in terms of a dialogue and a diplomatic approach towards russia and ukraine. would it make much difference if borisjohnson had to step aside and someone else come in on those sorts of issues?- on those sorts of issues? well, obviously _ on those sorts of issues? well, obviously you _ on those sorts of issues? well, obviously you don't _ on those sorts of issues? well, obviously you don't want - on those sorts of issues? well, obviously you don't want to - obviously you don't want to sometimes change horses midstream, but it doesn't seem like the west has a great handle on blocking prudent from in invading ukraine if he wants to, and so i don't think it would make a huge difference. but i think this kind of underlines the importance of the relationship and trying to have a united front against russia. but i don't think it makes that much difference, but it would obviously — president biden has a relationship with prime minister borisjohnson. prime minister boris johnson. they prime minister borisjohnson. they trust each other, they have known each other for years, and so that helps them really rally the west against russian aggression.- really rally the west against russian aggression. yes, well, certainly not — russian aggression. yes, well, certainly not trying _ russian aggression. yes, well, certainly not trying to - russian aggression. yes, well, certainly not trying to jump - certainly not trying to jump the gun here at all, but very interesting to know what the thaw might be. thank you, daniel. a covid outbreak on board an australian warship loaded with humanitarian aid bound for tonga is hampering the relief effort following last week's volcanic eruption and tsunami. 23 crew on board hmas adelaide have tested postive with the virus, meaning the ship will remain at sea to avoid taking the disease onto the islands. shaimaa khalil reports from neighbouring fiji. the outbreak on board the australian navy ship is exactly what the tongan government has been nervous about. this is why, so far, the tongan authorities have been adamant that much—needed supplies have been allowed in but that aid workers have not been allowed into the country. and this is because, as you say, covid—19 so far has been mostly outside this country, and they've only had one case. otherwise, they have been covid—free. and what they don't want to do is they don't want to be dealing with the aftermath of the destruction, after the volcanic eruption and the subsequent tsunami, and only to invite covid—19 in with aid workers and aid, so they've been really careful and really reluctant about inviting personnel in. and then, case in point, what happened with the hmas adelaide — the australian navy ship that was carrying aid to tonga. 23 personnel have tested positive for covid—19, and now we've heard from the australian defence minister, peter dutton, who says, "we're currently in conversation with the tongan authorities about what to do next — whether we actually port and deliver the aid — including, crucially, chinook helicopters that could airdrop aid and supplies to further parts of tonga, or we just stand off." the man who spent more than 50 hours underground after being badly injured while caving in the brecon beacons has been back to meet some of the volunteers who saved his life. george linnane fell last november and broke his leg, jaw and several ribs, leaving him in agony and wondering if he would ever get out. more than 300 volunteers from around the ukjoined the extraordinary rescue effort. 0ur correspondent hywel griffith reports. little did i know it was going to turn into a 50, 60—hour epic — whatever it was. you know, i could have never come out of there again. this is where george linnane's life changed in an instant — 0gof nynnon ddu, britain's deepest cave system, somewhere he'd been dozens of times before. but last year, deep underground, the rock beneath him crumbled and he fell into the darkness. the first thing i knew about it was this instantaneous feeling of legs whirling around in midair and arms grabbing for something. 0ne second i was caving. the next minute the world went mad. it all went black, and two minutes later, i woke up in a very different state to when i'd started. george broke his leg, jaw and several ribs. he was bleeding heavily. as a friend went for help, he wrestled with the pain. did you think that you might not survive? honestly, yes, at times. it was kind of dark times initially, i guess, until the help started arriving. what followed was britain's longest ever cave rescue. in all, 300 volunteers from across the uk turned out to help. they included becky, a doctor with a local rescue team, who was one of the first to help him. my immediate thought was there's the chance that he's not going to survive this. and then the thought also went through my mind that i'm the only medical professional here and that, if he does become more unwell, that everyone's going to be looking to me to do something. so, yeah, it was a big weight of responsibility. after 54 hours underground and being carried on a stretcher for 3,500 metres, this is the exit where george finally came to the surface. from here, he was transferred into a rescue vehicle, then into an ambulance, then on to hospital. but his journey to a full recovery is going to be a long one. george still faces months of treatment but is determined to return to caving and become a rescue volunteer, joining the team which saved him. if there was a message that you wanted to give them, the people who turned out and travelled to come and help you, what would it be? i would just say thank you from the bottom of my heart, really, and i'd also just let them know that the beer that i owe them is on the way. yep, it's in the pipeline. hywel griffith, bbc news at 0gof nynnon ddu. he had better make sure he gets them that year. hello there. wednesday brings the promise of a bit more brightness. some sunshine, even, across parts of england and wales after what has been a very stagnant and cloudy and cold few days. you can see that haze of grey on the earlier satellite picture. bright white cloud up to the north—west, though. that's indicative of frontal systems approaching, eventually bringing some rain into scotland and northern ireland, with a strengthening wind. so, through wednesday, england and wales having a better chance of some sunny spells, although towards the south—east corner it may stay cloudy for a good part of the day. strengthening winds across northern areas. rain just getting into northern ireland, certainly setting in across western and north—western scotland through the afternoon. gusts of wind in excess of 50 mph in exposed north—western parts. but milder than it has been, certainly across england and wales — eight, nine, ten degrees. northern ireland and scotland up to ten or 11. through wednesday night, it will turn very, very windy in the far north. gales, even severe gales, close to the northern isles. 0ur band of cloud and increasingly light and patchy rain will be sinking its way southwards through the night. with some fairly windy weather, and relatively cloudy weather as well, temperatures should stay above freezing in most places. so, into thursday, this frontal system pushing its way southwards, taking cloud and patchy rain across england and wales. low pressure still close to the north—east of scotland, so a very blustery start to the day here. that wind will only slowly ease as the day wears on. 0ur band of cloud and patchy rain clinging on for a time across southern counties of england. it should clear out into the english channel by the afternoon to allow brighter skies to develop. some showers feeding in on the north—westerly breeze. temperatures for most of us between seven and 12 degrees. now, thursday night could get a little bit chilly, this ridge of high pressure building in. that could allow for some frost and some fog, but there's another frontal system approaching from the west. that'll be freshening up the winds as we go through the day, particularly across northern ireland and scotland. rain getting into north—west scotland. in fact, some quite heavy rain through the north—west highlands. further south and east, increasing amounts of cloud. best of the sunshine in eastern counties. eight or nine degrees along the east coast of england. more like ten or 11 for western parts of the uk. the weekend looks unsettled and changeable. some rain at times, but not all the time. could be quite windy and generally, particularly on saturday, very mild. this is bbc news. the headlines: police have launched an investigation into the parties that took place inside downing street during lockdown. it's after the civil servant leading an internal inquiry passed information on to officers. number 10 says borisjohnson thinks he did not break any laws. president biden has said he's prepared to impose sanctions on his russian counterpart vladimir putin directly, if moscow invades ukraine. it's the first time that western powers have suggested that measures they've threatened against moscow could go right to the top of the kremlin. at least 46 people have been killed in madagascar and mozambique as tropical storm ana brought torrential rains and flash flooding to coastal parts of east africa. the island of madagascar suffered a mudslide with 65,000 people left homeless. malawi lost most of its power across the country because of flooding.