this is bbc news i'm freya cole. our top stories: thousands are arrested in russia as supporters ofjailed opposition leader alexei navalny take to the streets. these things of riot police and detention suggest the kremlin is more worried than they are letting on. dutch police arrest tse chi lop, allegedy the head of one of the world's biggest drugs gangs. italy accuses coronavirus vaccine companies pfizer and astrazeneca of serious contract violations. and, tributes are paid to larry king, the american broadcaster and talk show host, who has died aged 87.

hello, and welcome to bbc news. russian police have detained more than 2,000 people at protests in support of the jailed 0pposition leader, alexei navalny. large gatherings have been taking place across russia, including the eastern cities of vladivostok and kha barovsk. in the siberian city of yakutsk, protesters braved temperatures of —50 degrees. the main demonstration was in the capital, moscow, from where our correspondent steve rosenberg reports. in moscow, in moscow, you in moscow, you can in moscow, you can feel in moscow, you can feel the in moscow, you can feel the angen in moscow, you can feel the anger. police had warned people, any protest would be broken up. any protester risked

arrest. but thousands came to pushkin square to support the kremlin�*s fiercest critic, alexei navalny. freedom to navalny, they cried, and russia without putin. 0n navalny, they cried, and russia without putin. on her way to the protest, mr navalny�*s wife, julia, was detained by police. so were hundreds of others, for taking part in what the authorities called an unsanctioned gathering. for years, the russian authorities made out that alexei navalny had minimal support across the country, that he was in no way a threat to him. but these scenes of riot police and detention suggest the kremlin is more worried than they have been letting on. in a direct challenge to vladimir putin, whom he accuses of ordering the nerve agent attack on him, alexei navalny returned to russia last weekend and was arrested for an alleged parole

violation. russia isn't investigating his poisoning, it is investigating him. the kremlin denies any involvement in the attack. there were pro— navalny rallies across russia today. things heated up in vladivostok. in yakutsk, it was -50 but vladivostok. in yakutsk, it was —50 but there were protests here, too. the kremlin rarely gives and too precious copy especially from the street. instead of compromise, expect a crackdown. it's estimated that more than ten thousand protestors also gathered in russia's second largest city, saint petersburg. you can see here riot police detaining people, as protestors chant "we are the power here!" let's take a listen to what they have to say. translation: i came to protest because i am — translation: i came to protest because i am worried _ translation: i came to protest because i am worried about - translation: i came to protest because i am worried about the l because i am worried about the future of my country. i love my

country and i love my people and i do not want my people to be so cruelly deceived by a person who imagines himself to be a czar, someone who is robbing our country. translation: i robbing our country. translation: ., �* ., translation: i don't want there to be peeple _ translation: i don't want there to be people who _ translation: i don't want there to be people who cling _ translation: i don't want there to be people who cling to - translation: i don't want there to be people who cling to their i to be people who cling to their positions — to be people who cling to their positions of power and don't let ordinary citizens breathe. if we — let ordinary citizens breathe. if we managed to get things to change. — if we managed to get things to change, that russia would be able — change, that russia would be able to— change, that russia would be able to reach a higher level of development like that of the west— development like that of the west and poverty would finally disappear. anna borshchevskaya is a senior fellow at the washington institute who specialises in russian politics. anna joins us from washington. thank you so much for your time. we havejust heard thank you so much for your time. we have just heard from some of the protesters, there was a large turnout of young people, just how much of that is a threat to president putin? certainly president putin feels threatened, otherwise there would not be such a massive

crackdown, otherwise he would not have tried to poison alexei navalny to begin with. it is too early to say if this goes as a fundamental existential challenge to his regime but certainly these protest show how much frustration has been bubbling up underneath the surface and frankly this is a combination of a whole host of other issues that are now coming up to the surface. let's talk a little _ coming up to the surface. let's talk a little bit _ coming up to the surface. let's talk a little bit about _ coming up to the surface. let's talk a little bit about social - talk a little bit about social media, just how much have platforms like youtube played a huge role in navalny�*s rise to power, in some sense, and these protest? power, in some sense, and these rotest? , ., , protest? they have played a key role. protest? they have played a key role- really. _ protest? they have played a key role. really, if— protest? they have played a key role. really, if you _ protest? they have played a key role. really, if you think - protest? they have played a key role. really, if you think back. role. really, if you think back to the original rise of alexei navalny, back in late 2011, early 2012, massive protests broke out in russia and it was really social media and the internet that, among others, has given these protesters and

alexei navalny that platform. it was really at that point that the kremlin began looking more seriously at the ring the internet and social media quite and you said earlier that it is perhaps too early to tell but there are problems bubbling under the surface, what do you think the kremlin will do now. i expect a massive crackdown and we already see this happening, we've seen thousands of protesters detained and beaten. i imagine more of that, unfortunately, will be coming and the big question is, what is going to happen to alexei navalny himself. find is going to happen to alexei navalny himself.— is going to happen to alexei navalny himself. and anna, tell us a little bit _ navalny himself. and anna, tell us a little bit more _ navalny himself. and anna, tell us a little bit more about, - navalny himself. and anna, tell us a little bit more about, the i us a little bit more about, the huge numbers we are seeing right across the country, just how significant is that? it is how significant is that? it is very significant _ how significant is that? it 3 very significant because, for one thing, two points here. first, there have been really quite sustained protests in russia's far east all the way back in the summer and the length for which they have been sustained is really quite remarkable. and second, typically, protests and russia

usually happen in moscow and st petersburg but not the far east and the fact that really if you think back months ago, that this is spreading much further throughout the country is quite difficult. ~ �* . throughout the country is quite difficult. ~ ~ ., ., ~ difficult. well, anna, thank ou so difficult. well, anna, thank you so much _ difficult. well, anna, thank you so much for— difficult. well, anna, thank you so much for your - difficult. well, anna, thank you so much for your time. | difficult. well, anna, thank. you so much for your time. we will be watching this story as it developed.— will be watching this story as it developed. thanks for having me. two tremors could be felt and chill a a few minutes apart stopping the first was a quake of magnitude seven of antarctica. the second quake with a magnitude of 5.6 struck near the border with argentina, about 30 kilometres east of the capital santiago. details are still coming in and it is not clear whether the quakes caused any damage but of course we will keep you up—to—date on that one. dutch police have arrested the alleged head of an asian drugs syndicate on a warrant issued by australia. tse chi lop — a chinese—born canadian national — is listed as one of the world's most wanted fugitives. he was detained on a stopover

in the netherlands on friday. our correspondent, phil mercer joins me now from sydney. what can you tell us about this case? , ., , case? this man is the alleged head of one of the _ case? this man is the alleged head of one of the biggest - head of one of the biggest drugs gangs in the world. this is an individual, as you say, born in china with canadian citizenship who has been tracked by australian authorities from as early as 2008. australian investigators believe that the syndicate, this man allegedly leads is responsible for 70%, 70%, of all the drugs, all the illicit drugs coming into australia, so tse chi lop was detained, as you say at an airport in amsterdam on friday at the request of australian authorities and they are now expect to request that he be

sent back here to australia to face trial. sent back here to australia to face trial-— face trial. and the australian government _ face trial. and the australian government spends - face trial. and the australian government spends a - face trial. and the australian government spends a huge l face trial. and the australian - government spends a huge amount of money on cracking down on illicit drugs entering its country, this has been considered a huge win for them? this is a man who was one of the most wanted men in the world and investigators believe that the organisation he allegedly leads, it's known as the company or the grandfather syndicate is the dominant force in the drugs trade across asia. across asia, the illicit drug market is estimated to be worth $70 billion, so this is a man who police believe is a significant part of that operation. what happens now is that australia will formally request that tse chi lop is sent back to australia to face justice, but those wheels can

turn very, very slowly. but as far as australia is concerned, this is a significant moment in law enforcement. italy has accused pfizer and astrazeneca of serious contract violations, after the companies announced they would not be able to deliver their coronavirus vaccines as agreed. prime minister giuseppe conte said the delays were unacceptable. the two companies have said production problems have forced them to cut the amount of vaccine doses they can deliver. the bbc�*s tim allman reports. salvation in a syringe. the covid vaccination programme is being rolled out across the world. millions of people have already had their firstjab and aliens more awaiting their turn. but are enough doses being provided? in italy, the answer to that question is

apparently, no. the country's prime minister insists that is unacceptable. giuseppe conte says: and it's not just and it's notjust italy. belgium's vaccine task force says it will receive fewer than half the number of covid—19 vaccines at expected in the first three months of the year. pfizer and astrazeneca have warned they would be able to deliver the amounts promised due to production problems. and in a new twist, the new york times is reporting that pfizer plans to provide fewer vials since they discovered they could extract an extra dose from each vial that was only supposed to contain five. at supposed to contain five. at the supposed to contain five. git the end of the day it is important to recognise that

pfizer and other large pharmaceutical companies are for—profit companies and they have a responsibility to their shareholders to try to extract the maximum amount of profit that they can. but the maximum amount of profit that they can-— that they can. but the country insists that it is fair because the contracts are dosed on —— based on doses, not vials, and it is a lucky discovery means more doses will meet dominic reach more people. but until the majority of people are vaccinated the fight against the virus will have to take other forms. a against the virus will have to take otherforms. a nighttime curfew in the netherlands. the weight may mean more lives are being lost. thousands of people have joined demonstrations across brazil to demand the resignation of presidentjair bolsonaro. protesters say he hasn't done enough to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and blame him for the slow rate of vaccinations, which only started last week. more than 215,000 people have died of covid—19 in brazil, the second highest in the world. car and bicycle rallies

were held in cities across the country, including rio dejaneiro and sao paulo. the situation is particularly bad in amazonas state, where oxygen shortages caused the deaths of around 100 patients who contracted a new, more contagious strain. new zealand health officials are investigating their first case of community transmission in five months. it relates to someone who was recently released from the country's strictly—managed hotel quarantine system for people arriving from abroad. new zealand has been one of the most effective countries at managing the pandemic, with many people able to live their lives largely as they did before the outbreak began. the venezuelan president, nicolas maduro, says he is hoping to turn the page and rebuild relations with the us, based on the principles of mutual respect and dialogue. he said he would work with president biden to remove economic sanctions imposed by the trump administration and rebuild his country's economy.

relations between the two countries have been strained for over a decade, but they deteriorated sharply under donald trump, who labelled mr maduro a dictator and openly supported efforts to have him replaced by the opposition leader, juan guaido. this is bbc news. the headlines: russian police have arrested thousands of people in dozens of cities across the country to halt protests in support ofjailed opposition leader alexei navalny. dutch police at schiphol airport have arrested tse chi lop, the alleged head of one of the world's biggest drugs gangs. senior doctors in the uk have called on the government to shorten the gap between the first and second doses of pfizer—biontech coronavirus vaccinations. the doctors union, the bma, said the gap of a maximum 12 weeks is "difficult to justify" and said it could potentially undermine the effectiveness of the jab. however, the government argues it could save more lives by allowing more people

to receive a firstjab. our health correspondent anna collinson reports. they are used to taking care of others, but they are now the ones being looked after. today, thousands of help and social care workers, —— today, thousands of health and social care workers, like here in glasgow, had been receiving their coronavirus vaccine. you get the vaccines out. obviously, do your dosage counting. and from scotland to south wales and the llyn peninsula, this pilot aims to reach those who are unable to travel to the larger sites. very pleased, and looking forward to the next one. but while the rollout rolls on, so do questions about the gap between the first and second dose. siren wails. as pressure intensified on hospitals in december, the dosage gap was extended to 12 weeks. the uk's chief medical officer said millions of the most vulnerable were more likely to become severely ill without a jab, and this was the best way to reach more of them quickly.

but some senior doctors want the intervalfor the pfizerjab reduced to six weeks. that would still allow many more people to have a first dose, compared to a three—week interval, but at least it would be in keeping with international best practice guidance. there is no other nation internationally that has adopted a 12—week delay. data suggests the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is still effective when doses are given 12 weeks apart, but pfizer only has data for the first three weeks. even so, many scientists have defended the uk's current approach, calling it "a balance of risks". i totally support the decision to extend the gap between doses. i think looking at the evidence in total, i think that is strongly supportive of that. and i think on this particular occasion, the bma has probably got it wrong. ministers say the current process is the right move and will be particularly keen to reassure anyone who has concerns.

this mosque in birmingham is the first in the uk to become a vaccination centre — one more measure to try and reach the most vulnerable. anna collinson, bbc news. britain's prime minister boris johnson has spoken tojoe biden in what appears to be the new us president's first conversation with a european leader since he entered the white house on wednesday. the white house says president biden conveyed his intentions to strengthen the special relationship between the two countries. for his part, borisjohnson welcomed the united states rejoining the world health organization and the paris climate agreement. thousands of hong kongers have been ordered to stay in their homes as authorities battle an outbreak in one of its poorest and most densely packed districts. the order injordon, kowloon is unique as it lasts until all those living in the area have been tested. hong kong's coronavirus infections surpassed the 10,000 mark, with 81 new cases reported on saturday.

aru na iyengar reports. this is the district ofjordon, home to around 10,000 people, high population density here combined with old, decaying buildings and inadequate sewage may have created the perfect conditions for a covid hot spot. 160 cases have been discovered here since the start of the year. now, the government has moved in, residents living in multiple housing blocks are banned from leaving their apartments until every single resident has been tested. it's the most dramatic measure the hong kong government has taken since the pandemic hit the city. we would like to minimise _ pandemic hit the city. we would like to minimise the _ like to minimise the inconvenience that will be caused to the residents and the store owners. that's why we would like to make sure that this operation can finish in 28

hours. a , this operation can finish in 28 hours. x, , ., hours. many living here are ethnic minorities _ hours. many living here are ethnic minorities from - hours. many living here arel ethnic minorities from south asia, a community that often faces discrimination and poverty. but there is broad support for the move. this poverty. but there is broad support for the move. this is a ositive support for the move. this is a positive response _ support for the move. this is a positive response because - support for the move. this is a positive response because if. positive response because if you find out, it's good for whoever gets positive, they can have treatment.— have treatment. once the compulsory _ have treatment. once the compulsory testing - have treatment. once the compulsory testing for - have treatment. once the | compulsory testing for the entire _ compulsory testing for the entire area has been completed, then— entire area has been completed, then the — entire area has been completed, then the order will be lifted and people will be allowed to id and people will be allowed to go out — and people will be allowed to no out. ' . . , and people will be allowed to aoout. , ., , go out. officials will only lift the restrictions - go out. officials will only lift the restrictions once | lift the restrictions once everyone is tested and results are returned. more than 3000 officers have been mobilised to enforce the measures. those who don't comply could face a fine of over 3000 us dollars and six aruna iyengar, bbc news. one of the giants of american broadcasting, larry king, has died. he was 87. larry king is best known for hosting a nightly talk show on cnn, which ran for 25 years.

he was being treated in hospital after testing positive for covid—19. daniella relph looks back on his life. for more than 60 years, he interviewed everybody who was anybody. tonight, the legendary liza minnelli on marriage. would you marry again? are you nuts?! ..oscar winners. .. start spreading the news — the legendary liza minnelli is here. tonight, exclusive. ..presidents. .. tonight, a candid conversation with president george w and laura bush from the white house. do you ever think you would say, "maybe i was wrong?" the decision to remove saddam hussein was the right decision. not friends any more! ..if you were in the public eye, you came to the court of larry king. were you with the president at times, when — intimately, and he would also be conducting affairs of state? the story that he was on the phone, talking to congressmen? uh, yes. it's the witching hour, miami beach's midnight flyer

programme. . . born in brooklyn, he rose to fame in his 20s as a disc jockey in florida, spoofing his role in this 1960s tv crime series based in miami. hey, creep! from the nation's capital, you're listening to the larry king show. by the 1970s, he was broadcasting his late—night radio show coast to coast... across the united states, this is the larry king show, coast to coast... and simply letting the conversation unfold. i like spontaneity — that's the kind of broadcaster iam. i'm coming on the air, saying, "good evening, my guest tonight is..." i have no idea what that question's going to be. five great reasons to check out larry _ five great reasons to check out larry next _ five great reasons to check out larry next week. in the 1980s, king joined a new 24—hour tv news station, cnn, gently probing everyone from donald trump... rumblings in the trump camp point as far as the presidency. could the manhattan magnate be eyeing the white house or is he just calling a bluff? i have no intention of running for president,

but i have a point to get across — we have a great country, but it's not going to be great for long if we continue to lose $200 billion a year. when the man says... ..to frank sinatra. i tremble every time i walk out from the wing onto the stage because i keep thinking to myself, "i wonder if it'll be there." after leaving cnn, those famous braces could be seen, until recently, on larry king now. they go, "cut! what is she doing? !" his new talk show was criticised for being syndicated on the russian—sponsored tv network rt. people don't expect you to be sitting at certain board... —— board tables. -- board tables. who says that? but with guests like oprah, larry king proved that, even in his 80s, he still had unrivalled pulling power. us broadcaster and talk show host larry king, who has died at the age of 87.

mark geragos is a well—known lawyer who's represented the likes of colin kaepernick and michaeljackson. he was a friend of larry king and hejoins me now from los angeles. mark, thank you so much for your time. we have been speaking to so many of larry's good friends. tell us, what kind of friend was he to you? well, you know, we met professionally and i think i must have gone on his show hundreds of times and he became what i would consider a close friend over the years and both his time at cnn and after, and he was fiercely loyal to his friends and the guy that you saw on tv, part of what his charm was that he was authentic and i have not talked to him for a couple of weeks, since he went in, but the fact that he lived such a rich life and had

such an outpouring of support, i think speaks volumes about it. �* �* ., it. and you've mentioned in the ast that it. and you've mentioned in the past that he _ it. and you've mentioned in the past that he too _ it. and you've mentioned in the past that he too wanted - it. and you've mentioned in the past that he too wanted to - it. and you've mentioned in the past that he too wanted to be l it. and you've mentioned in the past that he too wanted to be a j past that he too wanted to be a criminal defence lawyer. why do you think that is? i criminal defence lawyer. why do you think that is?— you think that is? i think he had a wonderful— you think that is? i think he had a wonderful identity - you think that is? i think he had a wonderful identity or| had a wonderful identity or affinity for the underdog. and that really is what criminal defences. he told me on multiple occasions but one of the things that — if he had to live another life and choose another profession, it would have been as a criminal defence lawyer. i think he loved the idea of defending the indefensible or being the david to the corporate goliath. hind to the corporate goliath. and larry claims _ to the corporate goliath. and larry claims to _ to the corporate goliath. and larry claims to have - to the corporate goliath. and larry claims to have played a part in your career. we have an old photograph which i believe you have sent through to our producers, of, after a you have sent through to our producers, of, aftera big you have sent through to our producers, of, after a big case you one. can you talk us through, we have that on—screen. can you talk us through that moment? i on-screen. can you talk us through that moment? i won a 'u trial through that moment? i won a jury trial back— through that moment? i won a jury trial back in _ through that moment? i won a jury trial back in 1999 - through that moment? i won a jury trial back in 1999 with - jury trial back in 1999 with bill clinton's erstwhile

partner, susan mcdougal, and right after that, i appeared on the show and then he sent me an autographed picture, if you will, that said "mark, i made you. love, larry." and i prominently displayed it in my office and hejokingly, over the years, would keep me about it. kid, i made you. and i think it is somewhat ironic, he was in broadcasting literally from the time i was born, a63 years, and he died today, which ironically also is father's birthday so he has book ended both my birth and my father's death. a g both my birth and my father's death. ~ ., , both my birth and my father's death. ~ ., . ., death. mark, lovely connection and thank _ death. mark, lovely connection and thank you _ death. mark, lovely connection and thank you so _ death. mark, lovely connection and thank you so much - death. mark, lovely connection and thank you so much for- and thank you so much for joining us and providing that tribute to your good friend larry. tribute to your good friend lar . . g tribute to your good friend lar . ., ~' , ., that's all we have time for, you can reach me on twitter. i'm @freya ? cole. goodbye for now.

hello. after one of the coldest nights of the winter so far, sunday brings some significant and disruptive snow to parts of england and wales, and some of us in northern ireland as well. a very cold, frosty start to the day. icy patches, a few fog patches out there, too. and an area of sleet and snow initially for south—west england, parts of wales, northern ireland, but will push further east across southern england towards the south—east, across more of the midlands during the day as well, before stalling and then just pulling away southwards on into sunday evening and clearing. this is ten o'clock in the morning, though. south—west england, some may brighten up here with a few wintry showers but as the snow moves east and within the zone of falling snow here, and again into parts of northern ireland, several centimetres, even to low levels, more into the hills, so certainly some difficult travel conditions. northern england and scotland seeing some sunny spells —

a scattering of wintry showers towards the north—west of scotland. but it is scotland, northern england, perhaps northern counties of northern ireland that sees sunday's driest and sunniest weather. but for the rest of england into wales, southern parts of northern ireland, cloud, some outbreaks of snow here, again, some difficult travel conditions. some uncertainty about how far north into the midlands and perhaps east anglia the snow is going to reach so we'll need to watch that as well. temperatures just hovering close to freezing where you've got the snow. get some sunshine around, 2—a degrees. and then the outbreaks of snow gradually clearing away during sunday evening. icy conditions following on behind. where you get the show pushing in towards scotland, —— where you get the showers pushing in towards scotland, perhaps northern ireland and northern england, icy places going into monday morning. and another widespread frost as monday begins. one or two fog patches potentially towards south east plenty of wintry showers towards northern and western scotland, a few for northern ireland, north—west england, north wales. some will push a little further south—eastwards during the day but driest and sunniest towards the south and east of the uk on what will

be another cold day. and then changes — tuesday, weather front from the atlantic coming into the cold air so, again, some further rain, sleet and snow pushing north—eastwards. and then further weather fronts coming our way from midweek, introducing milder atlantic air, but the winds are going to pick up and we will see further spells of rain. so all parts from midweek will be turning milder but also windier and wetter. and if you are in a flood—affected area, that is something you are going to need to follow very closely as we go through the week ahead.

this is bbc news. the headlines: russian police detained more than 2000 people at protests in support of the jailed opposition leader alexei navalny. large gatherings took place across the country, from moscow to vladivostock. riot police dragged away demonstrators who pelted them with snowballs. navalny was almost killed in a nerve agent attack last year. dutch police at schiphol airport have arrested the alleged head of one of the world's biggest drugs gangs, on a warrant issued by australia. tse chi lop is a chinese—born canadian national, said to be the head of a syndicate known as the company. italy has accused pharmaceutical companies pfizer and astrazeneca of serious contract violations, after the companies announced they would not be able to deliver their coronavirus vaccines as agreed. the italian prime minister, giuseppe conte, says the delays are doing enormous damage

to italy and other european countries.