through the first line of russian defences. our security correspondent frank gardner has been working with the bbc verify team to determine whether ukraine is making any significant process. ukraine's big counter offensive in the south is making progress, but how far have their troops really got and can they break through russia's defences to turn the tide of this war? let's just remind ourselves. the dark red area is the area occupied by russian forces. the purple area is ground that the ukrainians have recaptured. the russian defences consist of two major lines, each composed of several interlocking obstacles — trenches, anti—tank devices, minefields, all covered by artillery. the ukrainians have had to spend most of the last three months picking their way through minefields like this one. you can see the hidden mines circled in red here. and they're doing this on foot, sometimes at night, often underfire, hence the slow progress to date. they're also having to find their way through obstacles like this one, known as dragon's teeth, designed to stop tanks and armoured vehicles. but we do have confirmed sightings of ukrainian troops just beyond the first line of russia's defences. like this one, where russian forces are shelling ukrainian positions ina wood. we've geolocated that wood to this point on the map, just beyond that first line of russian defence. but, so far, it's only ukrainian infantry getting through. these yellow dots on the map show where those ukrainian troops have got to. what we're not seeing is big ukrainian armoured formations punching through and that's because, rather like this burning british challenger ii tank, supplied by britain, they are vulnerable to russia's mines and drones and anti—tank missiles. russia all this time has been moving in reinforcements. this drone footage we saw there was filmed by a russian airborne unit. we've geolocated the ground shown to being close to the town of verbove. but let's not forget that this battlefield is dynamic. it's constantly shifting. now, on the map it really doesn't look like ukraine has got very far in the past three months, but they are steadily wearing down the russian defenders and this is where they need to get to — the heavily defended town of tokmak. that would bring russia's main supply routes for crimea here within regular artillery range, potentially cutting off russia from its garrisons in illegally annexed crimea. if they can do that, then this whole counteroffensive can be judged a partial success and scenes like this will notjust be about a tactical victory, it will be a strategic one that could end up turning the tide of this war in ukraine's favour. china's top diplomat, wang yi, is visiting russia for security talks, as moscow continues seeking support for its war on ukraine. russian media said mr wang's trip would also lay the ground for president putin to make a landmark visit to beijing soon. mr putin has not travelled abroad since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged warcrimes in ukraine. live now to our asia pacific regional editor, celia hatton. wang yi hasn't been in thejob wang yi hasn't been in the job for long and now he is in moscow. what does he want out of this trip was to mark i think both sides are looking to re—establish where they stand with each other. to re-establish where they stand with each other.— with each other. wang yi was previously — with each other. wang yi was previously china's _ with each other. wang yi was previously china's foreign - with each other. wang yi was - previously china's foreign minister. there was somebody in the post in the interim. when wang yi last met with president putin, that was back in february, and many things have changed for both country since then. this will be a really important visit for china and russia to re—establish where they stand and to re—evaluate their relationship a little bit. re-evaluate their relationship a little bit. ~ , ., ., ~ ., little bit. when you mentioned wang yi's position. — little bit. when you mentioned wang yi's position, what _ little bit. when you mentioned wang yi's position, what is _ little bit. when you mentioned wang yi's position, what is going _ little bit. when you mentioned wang yi's position, what is going on - yi's position, what is going on inside china when it comes to these very important public facing positions like foreign minister. when i said lots of things have changed since february, i am partly referring to we have had two macro state councillors, the foreign minister and defence minister both have mysteriously disappeared from public view and been removed from their post without explanation. wang yi is now back in the post and he is in moscow. these two disappearances and removals, without a lot of warning or explanation from beijing, have caused a lot of concern internationally, but what is really going on inside china, both men were thought to be loyalists to the leader, both are thought to have been possibly guilty of some kind of corruption during their time is very close members of the cabinet. xi jinping has not travelled abroad very much. we didn't go to the 620 in india, he will not go to the un general assembly this month. that is raise questions about what is going on with xijinping. raise questions about what is going on with xi jinping._ raise questions about what is going on with xi jinping. there has been a lot of focus — on with xi jinping. there has been a lot of focus with _ on with xi jinping. there has been a lot of focus with kim _ on with xi jinping. there has been a lot of focus with kim jong-un - lot of focus with kim jong—un visiting russia and what he might have got out of that meeting and the changing kind of relationship that there might be between north korea, pyongyang and moscow. 0ur worrying is that with the chinese? i pyongyang and moscow. our worrying is that with the chinese?— is that with the chinese? i think that really _ is that with the chinese? i think that really caught _ is that with the chinese? i think that really caught china - is that with the chinese? i think that really caught china off - is that with the chinese? i think. that really caught china off guard is that with the chinese? i think i that really caught china off guard a little bit. for decades, china has been north korea's main benefactor. they have been the main distributor of food and fuel assistance. they have been the ones that other countries have looked to to call on when they wanted to lean on beijing and ask them to rein in north korea. this has really changed things, this newly re—established relationship between russia and north korea. we had a four—day visit by kim jong—un to russia, it received a lot of attention the russian media and in north korea and i think china is a little alarmed. anything that changes north korea, this unstable country right on its border, is always going to cause concern in beijing. always going to cause concern in bei'inu. . ~' ,, always going to cause concern in bei'inu. . ~ i. ., always going to cause concern in bei'inu. . ~' ., ., always going to cause concern in bei'inu. . ~ ., ., , officials in libya say at least three 6reek rescue workers died in a road accident as they were travelling from benghazi to derna. seven others were critically injured. a week after catastrophic floods ravaged the city, rescue teams are still pulling out bodies from ruined buildings and the sea. 0ur correspondent anna foster reports. it's one of the most vital jobs in derna and one of the most distressing. doctors and detectives gather each day in this hospital car park to process the dead. a black body bag is carefully unzipped. expert hands gently probe, taking measurements orfinding identifying marks. many victims are now beyond recognition, but their dna is taken and logged in case there are still families alive to find them. many thousands are officially missing, like mohammed's sister and her husband. when he went to find them after the floods, their house had been washed away. he's heard nothing from them since. translation: i saw cars coming down. l i came out running. i thought that was it, that i'm going to die. 0ur neighbours, we could see them waving flashlights, and in just a few moments the light went out and they disappeared. that was the hardest thing. he showed me a video he took that night as the water gushed in. they ran up to the roof to escape the raging torrent. international aid is now arriving in derna in earnest. flights are carrying vital medical supplies from around the world. and although earth and debris have enveloped these streets, there are still points of light. this is such a stark contrast to the mud and dirt that covers so much of this city. piles of colourful clothes brought here to be donated to people who really need them. this is libyans helping libyans in one of their worst moments of crisis. alhamdulillah! translation: praise be to god, everything is good. _ they've sent lots of aid. a week on from this disaster, survivors are finding comfort where they can in a place that has lost so much. anna foster, bbc news, derna. let's go back to our top story now, that a woman who has accused british comedian and presenter russell brand of sexual misconduct has described his response to the allegations "insulting." he's denied any wrong following the publication of the claims by uk news outlets channel 4 and the times newspaper. it is laughable that he would imply this is some kind of conspiracy. he is mainstream. he is very much part of the mainstream media. wejust happens to have a youtube channel where he talks about conspiracy theories to an audience that laps it up. it may sound cynical but i think he was building himself an audience for years for people who would then have great distrust of any publication that came forward. we knew it was common for a long time. as for him denying that anything nonconsensual happened, that is not a surprise to me. he did was consensual, but he didn't deny that he had a relationship with a 16—year—old. so, for women alleged sexual assault between 2006 and 2013. he said that relationships have always been consensual. let's talk to our entertainment correspondent, colin paterson. so, more details coming out. the culture secretary has just set a few hours ago that's... what are we hearing from the police? the hours ago that's. .. what are we hearing from the police? the police have been telling _ hearing from the police? the police have been telling us _ hearing from the police? the police have been telling us that _ hearing from the police? the police have been telling us that they - hearing from the police? the police have been telling us that they have | have been telling us that they have approached the times and channel 4, comedy organisations suited this investigation, not to launch an investigation, not to launch an investigation but to make sure that the people who have made these accusations know the procedure if they want to go to the police. this is very different to scotland yard saying they are launching an investigation. they have approached the people who did these investigations to say can you let your contributors knew that this is how they would approach us if they want to. we will have to wait and see if those people do.— see if those people do. russell brand performed _ see if those people do. russell brand performed at _ see if those people do. russell brand performed at wembley l see if those people do. russell. brand performed at wembley park theatre on saturday after the allegations were made. he is due to continue his tour. is it thought that that would happen or are some of these venues considering pulling out? . �* , of these venues considering pulling out? . �*, ., ., ., out? that's right. tomorrow night in windsor, out? that's right. tomorrow night in windsor. the — out? that's right. tomorrow night in windsor, the theatre _ out? that's right. tomorrow night in windsor, the theatre royal, - out? that's right. tomorrow night in windsor, the theatre royal, russellj windsor, the theatre royal, russell brand is supposed to be continuing his tour. we have approached a venue to see if any firm decision has been made and they have not got back out the way. there are all kinds of ethical and financial implications for these venues. the church continues on to portsmouth at the weekend, and then wolverhampton next week. there are still three dates of this tour to go. russell brand has his own outlets to get his own voice out because every weekday at five o'clock year in the uk he goes on the internet to let his thoughts on the internet to let his thoughts on theissues the internet to let his thoughts on the issues of the day be known. there will be a lot of interest today to see if that daily broadcast goes ahead on the rumble platform, as it has done for so many months. what was the response will be performed at wembley? we what was the response will be performed at wembley? what was the response will be erformed at wemble ? ~ ., ., �* �* performed at wembley? we had our bbc correspondent — performed at wembley? we had our bbc correspondent pretty _ performed at wembley? we had our bbc correspondent pretty much _ performed at wembley? we had our bbc correspondent pretty much in _ performed at wembley? we had our bbc correspondent pretty much in the - correspondent pretty much in the front row and they said there was a standing ovation that went on for three minutes, people wanting to show their support for russell brand. in that interview with woman's hour, alice, not her real name, she spoke about how she believes over the last few years russell brand has been trying to cultivate this fan base, devoted followers, so if ever there was allegations that came out against him, those devoted followers would think it was a conspiracy against him and said he not believe them. it is also worth pointing out that show at wembley went ahead before the broadcast of dispatchers, the show on channel 4, which made the allegations along with the times and the sunday times. those people were standing up for russell brand before they fully understood the allegations against him. we have to keep repeating the fact that russell brand has denied all the allegations, and said that any sexual relationships he had in the past were consensual.— sexual relationships he had in the past were consensual. thank you. we do have a live — past were consensual. thank you. we do have a live page _ past were consensual. thank you. we do have a live page on _ past were consensual. thank you. we do have a live page on the _ past were consensual. thank you. we do have a live page on the bbc- past were consensual. thank you. we do have a live page on the bbc news| do have a live page on the bbc news website following all the different allegations that have been made by alice, this woman he had a relationship with russell brand when she was 16. we have summarised some of that interview for you on the website. she said she has come forward to try to protect other women as well. it is all there for you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. - st ives bay is one of the jewels in the crown of the country's tourism, but there's a controversial experiment planned. so we will be removing about 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. and in order to do that, we will add a little bit more than 400 tonnes of magnesium hydroxide into the ocean. a much smaller scale trial took place last year and conservationists think even this may have had consequences. kind of six weeks later, the seals did something extraordinary. they moved from one site, not emptying that site, but they moved from that site, to a beach which they've never used as a haul—out before. there is no provable link between the two incidents, and the canadian company state they couldn't detect any change in the water's chemistry right next to the exit of the pipe. the experiment is awaiting approval from the environment agency, so whether the project goes ahead or not remains up in the air. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. - you're live with bbc news. the us military has lost one of its f35 fighterjets and want people to help them find it. they're asking for the public�*s assistance in locating the jet, which disappeared on sunday afternoon, while flying over the southern state of south carolina. courtney bembridge has more from our newsroom. this is not just this is notjust any fighterjet, it is one of the world? most advanced. each one costs about 80 million us dollars, so it is a big thing to lose. 0n dollars, so it is a big thing to lose. on sunday afternoon, one fighterjet lose. on sunday afternoon, one fighter jet lost contact over lose. on sunday afternoon, one fighterjet lost contact over south fighter jet lost contact over south carolina. fighterjet lost contact over south carolina. we don't have any information over what happened, but officials said there was some kind officials said there was some kind of mishap. it happened over the southern state of south carolina. i want to show you in more detail what that area looks like. if we zoom in on the map you have the city of charleston here and just north of it you have these two lakes. these are the focus of the current search for that aircraft. 0fficials the focus of the current search for that aircraft. officials say that based on the latest information that this is the area of interest. of course they have also asked for the help from the public to help find this. we are told that the transponder which would usually help them locate atjets in this situation is not working. lots of questions about this story, articulated pretty well by one south carolina republic who said how in the hell do you lose are f35? there has been a response from the air base involved in this, thejoint base involved in this, thejoint base at charleston, saying that the aircraft is designed to be very stealthy and that it has different coatings and designs that make it more difficult than a normal aircraft to detect. this search is very much ongoing and members of the public are being asked to look for it. we do know that the jet has been described as stealthy. perhaps this is a case of it being a little bit too stealthy. new research suggests the social media platform snapchat was involved in nearly half of all online grooming crimes recorded by police in england and wales in the past year. figures obtained by the nspcc show there were more than 2,000 known cases of sexual communication with a child on the platform. the nspcc is part of a global coalition of more than 100 sexual absuse survivors, families and child safety experts. they are demanding tech companies take responsibility to protect children on their sites. local pubs — a mainstay of british social life for centuries — have faced a slump in business since the coronavirus pandemic. official figures show that in the first half of this year across england and wales, up to two pubs a day have closed. joining me now is kate nicholls, chief executive at uk hospitality, the uk's main trade body for hospitality. will there be a rise in new pubs opening that differ from traditional pubs? it is an astonishing number, and it is notjust pubs, it is across hospitality. we thought 6,000 hospitality. we thought 6,000 hospitality venues close and close for good. this is reflected in some of the intense cost pressures they are facing across the uk as a whole, soaring energy bills, sky food price inflation, labour shortages. all this puts pressure on the costs going into the business, rising three times faster than we are passing on to the consumers. if you did that you might lose customers. to squeeze in the middle is intense. for many of these businesses it is the final straw, they have handed back the keys and we are losing these valuable community assets for good. these valuable community assets for aood. , ., ., ,., ., these valuable community assets for aood. , ., ., ., . ., good. tell us more about that. what does the local— good. tell us more about that. what does the local pub _ good. tell us more about that. what does the local pub name _ good. tell us more about that. what does the local pub name to - good. tell us more about that. what does the local pub name to a - does the local pub name to a community?— does the local pub name to a community? the local pub is so important. _ community? the local pub is so important, culturally, _ community? the local pub is so - important, culturally, economically. quite often it is the last business standing in the rural location. 0ften standing in the rural location. often it also provides vital community services, it hosts meetings, community events. it is a grassroots musical comedy venue. it provides food, therefore a food supply change for local farmers, manufacturers. it is the hub around which a lot of life in the uk revolves and it is also a job generator and income generatorfor generator and income generator for the generator and income generatorfor the local community. these are really important cultural assets. u nfortu nately really important cultural assets. unfortunately what we have seen recently is that because of the pressures of the economic environments that are driving those cost price inflation pressures, these pubs are closing and nobody is coming in to take over them. and the pastor might have seen that then you're going to new ownership, now when the business fails it is closing for good and not reopening. can anything be done? yes, business rates relief, local property taxes that are paid and currently the government covers 75% of those. that has been a lifeline to keep them going. that comes to an end in march and that needs to be extended. we also need to look at our tax rates, the vat that our businesses pay. reducing that for hospitality, having a special rate for hospitality would give a vital lifeline to ensure that these businesses can write out the uncertain times that they are facing, the cost of living crisis, and then come through and continued to what they do best which is stimulating growth and investment across the uk. let's take you back to these live pictures from libya, from the port city of ghana, which we have been hearing over the past week has been devastated by the flooding that has occurred there. —— at the port city of derna. it is really difficult to get into derna because infrastructure has been very badly damaged. there is a lack of clean drinking water. there is not even a fully functioning hospital. all of that debris has to be moved as well. it is really hard to get into derna. we have been speaking to the international organisation for migration who say that they think more than 10,000 people have been displaced. these are people traumatised who are in need of basic supplies, water and accommodation. it is hard to track them down to give them the support they need because of the damage to the infrastructure. these are live pictures coming to us from derna. the un general assembly, which we know is about to happen in new york, we have live pictures coming to us from there. this room is about to be full of world leaders who will gather over the next few days. the climate crisis, the war in ukraine, will feature prominently. we usually see about 140 world leaders and state representatives who descend on the general assembly to address them. it is the general debate that most people look forward to and watch. that will happen tomorrow, followed by two weeks of meetings. it is all change with the weather this week. it will be wet and windy. we did see storms last night. in swinton there was a month's worth of rainfall in one hour. there have been some reports of flooding over the last 24 hours. parts of devon have been pretty badly affected. this week will be unsettled. it is down to a strong jet stream blasting across the atlantic at 150 miles an hour. this strong jet stream sponsor areas of low pressure and then they get squirted away eastwards across the uk. today we have seen a band of rain putting its way eastwards. it will be a day of sunshine and showers. the showers frequent across the west of scotland and northern ireland. bigger gaps between the showers in wales and england. it will stay quite breezy. 0vernight tonight the showers fade away but later in the night we are looking at a zone of heavier rain moving back in from the west. temperatures overnight quite mild in the south, cooler and fresher in the north. 0ver cooler and fresher in the north. over the next couple of days we will see large rainfall totals building in, particularly across the hills of the north west of england. tuesday is a wet and windy kind of day. 6usty winds for the vast majority have those winds can peak at around 60 miles an hour in the north—west of wales. 0ur temperatures generally into the high teens for many of us. five days ago hurricane lee was spinning around out in the atlantic. since then it is turned into a normal area of weather. while the remnants of that old hurricane are tied in with this area of low pressure moving its way across the uk on wednesday. another bout of wet and windy weather on the way. when squally and gustyjust and windy weather on the way. when squally and gusty just ahead and windy weather on the way. when squally and gustyjust ahead of and windy weather on the way. when squally and gusty just ahead of this weather front, squally and gusty just ahead of this weatherfront, which is a cold squally and gusty just ahead of this weather front, which is a cold front moving across england and wales. we could see strong winds for west of scotland with gusts up to 60 or 70 miles an hour. itjust depends how deep that area of low pressure is. over the next few days it stay wet and windy. saturday is probably your best chance of staying dry. to allegations of rape and sexual assault is insulting. the comedian has strongly denied the claims. but one woman who says she was 16 when she had a relationship with him, has been angered by his response — her words are spoken by an actor. i think it's insulting and it's laughable that he would even imply that this is some kind of mainstream media conspiracy. he is not outside the mainstream. also on the programme this lunchtime... five police officers deny gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing after the stop and search of the british sprinter bianca williams and her partner. a big clean up begins in the south west of england after torrential rain brought flash flooding. and a special display by world war ii spitfires for a group of british military veterans. coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news... joe root is added to england's squad for the one—day series against ireland — as he tries to find some form ahead of next month's world cup. good afternoon. a woman who's accused the comedian and presenter russell brand of sexual assault says his response to the allegations