welcome to bbc news. i'm david eades. our top stories: the united states announces a diplomatic boycott of the beijing winter olympics because of china's record on human rights. china calls the boycott a pretentious act and insists it is against the spirit of the games. new york's mayor says all private—sector workers in the city must be vaccinated against the coronavirus, the strictest mandate yet. more evidence is given in the trial of ghislaine maxwell, the woman accused of helping the disgraced financier, the latejeffrey epstein. and we talk to the hollywood legend mel brooks who, at 95, is taking stock of his extraordinary career.

hello and welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the white house has fired its long sector salver against china. it has another diplomatic boycott of the games charger to start next february. move has been broadly moved welcomed across political divide in the us although does only apply to diplomatic and political figures, not to the athletes themselves who have been given the white house seal of approval to take part. beijing 2022. as the snow settles, olympic venues are taking shape, but the pinnacle of sport is no stranger to politics. with two months remaining, the

us has another diplomatic boycott, saying it won't contribute to the fanfare, nor pretend it is measures —— business as usual in the face of china's egregious human rights record. the biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the beijing 2022 winter olympics and paralympic games given the prc�*s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in xinjiang and other human rights abuses. there is precedent here, but the move falls short of the 1980 us—led boycott of the moscow games where team usa athletes were pulled from the competition. the athletes will be participating, we will be rooting for the athletes from home. i am an olympics obsessed person so i'm looking forward to doing that, but i think this isjust an indication that it cannot be business as usual, that not sending a diplomatic delegation sends that message. but is beijing paying attention? judging by the reaction of the foreign ministry in a press conference

prior to official confirmation from the us, labelling it wishful thinking, grandstanding and politically manipulative, the answer is yes. translation: what the us should do is to correct its attitude, - practice a more united olympic spirit, and take china's concerns seriously. do not politicise sports and stop calling for the so—called diplomatic boycott of the beijing winter olympics so as not to affect the dialogue and cooperation between china and the us in important areas. if the us insists on wilfully clinging to its course, china will definitely take resolute countermeasures. the uk and australia are among other nations considering a beijing boycott, a move backed by human rights organisations, which have long argued china should never have been awarded the games to begin with. as they edge closer, it seems concerns are reaching a crescendo. tanya dendrinos, bbc news.

iamjoined by i am joined by an olympic gold—medallist who represents athletes on the board of directors of the us olympic and paralympic committee. steve joins us from calgary in canada. thank you for your time. i wonder what your initial responses to the decision taken by the white house. i decision taken by the white house. ~ , house. i think given everything that is going — house. i think given everything that is going on _ house. i think given everything that is going on in _ house. i think given everything that is going on in the - house. i think given everything that is going on in the world i that is going on in the world today, i think it is for best case scenarios, because from an athlete's point of view, it is athlete's point of view, it is a shame it comes to this. it is a shame it comes to this. it is a shame it comes to this. it is a shame we live in a world these other kinds of actions governments take against each other, but ultimately we are happy from an athlete's perspective that we will not have any interference. the chinese — have any interference. the chinese message - have any interference. the chinese message was - have any interference. the chinese message was don't politicise sport. it sounds a little bit to me as if it was to agree you share that view,

and you have the white house referencing genocide in china to the uyghur community. isn't it incumbent on athletes as well to recognise what they are walking into?— walking into? absolutely. i think this _ walking into? absolutely. i think this is _ walking into? absolutely. i think this is something - walking into? absolutely. i think this is something we | walking into? absolutely. i- think this is something we have beenin think this is something we have been in communication with the administration for a better part of a year at this point. from a human rights violations to everything else we see happening overseas right now, ultimately, to the chinese point, i think they make a wonderful point of let's not politicise sport. politics and diplomats are politics and diplomats are politics and diplomats and those things sometimes get put in the same arena but ultimately they are separate, and i think that is what the administration is promoting at this point, that we will not politicise sport. what will happen and the athletes will be there. can i ask ou athletes will be there. can i ask you whether _ athletes will be there. can i ask you whether you - athletes will be there. can i ask you whether you think, | athletes will be there. can i i ask you whether you think, we have two months to go before the games themselves begin. as

you know, the women's tennis association has taken a very hard line with regard to the lack of information about what has happened to peng shuai, she has happened to peng shuai, she has completed in three olympics. what might the message be for other athletes? should they not be standing beside and behind one of their own? ., , i, , i, own? ultimately fast, we want to make sure _ own? ultimately fast, we want to make sure we _ own? ultimately fast, we want to make sure we are _ own? ultimately fast, we want to make sure we are focusing i own? ultimately fast, we want i to make sure we are focusing on their safety, to make sure we are focusing on theirsafety, making to make sure we are focusing on their safety, making sure peng shuai's safety and those who are responsible for her safety are responsible for her safety are taking all the steps they can. from an athlete's perspective, the best thing we can do is compete. that is how we honour each other and i completed at my final olympics in vancouver and we had an athlete from georgia that died and the best thing that we can do for each other at that point was honour that person. when it

comes to things like abuse, we support and we need to believe the people, the women and people going through what she's going through, and ultimately... going through, and ultimately. . .- going through, and ultimately... sorry to interrupt, _ ultimately... sorry to interrupt, that - ultimately... sorry to interrupt, that might| ultimately... sorry to - interrupt, that might make it harder to keep the line of, we are athletes and we want to take part, which is very understandable. at the same time, you welcome what the white house has done so far. would you welcome other countries setting in line with the white house position? every extra addition in terms of a weight of response perhaps make that much harder to have these games. i that much harder to have these names. ., �* ., games. i wouldn't say that i think a line _ games. i wouldn't say that i think a line of _ games. i wouldn't say that i think a line of athletes - games. i wouldn't say that i think a line of athletes are i think a line of athletes are athletes and they should just be focused on sport. i think athletes have the rights to do and say whatever they want. they are on a certain platform. they are on a certain platform. they can. when it comes to what

the biden administration is doing, i am supportive of anything that keeps the athletes on the playing field. if the biden administration had made a different decision, i would be supportive. it is ultimately what i want to make sure that happens is the paralympics of the pics, i want to make sure they compete. it is a very challenging situation. steve, thank you for your time. situation. steve, thank you for yourtime. good situation. steve, thank you for your time. good to see you. that's pick up on some of the other news for you now. the world health organization says there was a surge in malaria last year as a covid pandemic disrupted health services. it said there were iii million more cases in 2020 and two—thirds of the 69,000 additional deaths from malaria were attributable to the disruption to treatment and prevention. in an hourfrom now, everyone arriving into the uk will be

required to have taken a covid test at least 48—hour before they travel. people will be able to buy lateral load test, they are cheaper than the pcr tests. it is the latest in slowing the spread of omicron. my my clubs in france are to close forfour my clubs in france are to close for four weeks from this friday after a surgeon covid cases in the country. —— nightclubs. face masks will also be required in schools. let's stay on the topic. call it what you want, a pre—emptive strike possibly, a vaccine mandate. either way, the message for new yorkers is clear. even if you are in the private sector now, you have to get vaccinated if you want to go to work. the mayor of new york announced workers have until december 27 to have the jab. this is an an effort to stop rising cases of covid—i9

is new variant has been gaining a foothold. it is time. this is how we put health and safety first — by ensuring that there is a vaccine mandate that reaches everyone, universally in the private sector. a lot of folks say they believe in vaccination, but they are not quite sure how they can do it themselves. we are going to do it. a clear message there. what do you make of this latest move? it what do you make of this latest move? , .,, , , move? it is the most sweeping vaccine mandate _ move? it is the most sweeping vaccine mandate in _ move? it is the most sweeping vaccine mandate in the - move? it is the most sweeping vaccine mandate in the united| vaccine mandate in the united states. it is really quite fascinating. new york city is he just said is fascinating. new york city is hejust said is now requiring all private employees, over 100,000 people easily, to acquire at least one dose. another big change, children ages five to 11 will need one dose of vaccine starting december 27 to enter

restaurants, to enter cultural restau ra nts, to enter cultural attractions, restaurants, to enter cultural attractions, basically more indoor activities. the mayor is leaving office in a few weeks. he is taking a very much pre—emptive strike against the omicron variant, against covid. a lot of questions about enforcement, will this be in the courts? president biden tried to require employees nationwide, employers to mandate vaccines. that has been held up. a lot of outstanding questions right now as new york city takes the most aggressive step to fight covid in the united states. , ., united states. interesting that bill deblasio — united states. interesting that bill deblasio does _ united states. interesting that bill deblasio does it _ united states. interesting that bill deblasio does it does - united states. interesting that bill deblasio does it does as i bill deblasio does it does as he is leaving in hands over to derek adams. i don't suppose that will change too much in the short—term. do you think is fair? i the short-term. do you think is fair? ~' ,., the short-term. do you think is fair? ~ , fair? i think some people well. there are _ fair? i think some people well. there are a _ fair? i think some people well. there are a lot _ fair? i think some people well. there are a lot of— fair? i think some people well. there are a lot of questions. i fair? i think some people well. there are a lot of questions. a| there are a lot of questions. a lot of new yorkers are vaccinated, by the vaccination rate is high. another big change moving from one dose to

two doses as a requirement to enter most indoor venues, there are a small number of people who have had allergic reaction to the vaccine who might have trouble getting a second dose so they will need a medical exemption or something like that. overall, new yorkers have accepted the vaccine mandates, but really, the move to the private sector is a bit different. public sector employees have been required, but will small businesses who have four or five employees? one or two won't get into, what will they do, what fines will be needed? how much will the city managers? it is up to the neck mayor, eric adams, to handle it. bill deblasio will be gone so it is going to be his endeavour to take it on. we shouldn't _ his endeavour to take it on. we shouldn't forget that new york was very badly hit, let's talk about the first time around is thatis about the first time around is that is the right expression, and i suppose there would in understanding about the importance of protecting one

another in terms of covid and omicron, whatever it might be. what about the eventuality of lifting all these restrictions? how anxious are new yorkers about it? . , . how anxious are new yorkers about it?— how anxious are new yorkers about it? ., , ., ., , about it? that is a really good question- _ about it? that is a really good question- i — about it? that is a really good question. i wrote _ about it? that is a really good question. i wrote a _ about it? that is a really good question. i wrote a piece - about it? that is a really good question. i wrote a piece back in october, what are the metrics for lifting mandates? i'm really existed, to tell you the truth. i think a lot of new yorkers are still worried about covid so they are still willing to accept the mandates. in a few months, five months, even longer, at what point will you not be required to show your vaccination status, most activities and everyday life, thatis activities and everyday life, that is an open question. we have a lot of people coming for the holiday season from out of town come out of the country. some countries have not vaccinated children. the restaurant industry has raised the question as well, if you have a child who has five, six, seven years old, they need a

dose to dine out with their families on december 27 and a lot of states are not rated children yet. 20% of new york city children are vaccinated, and some countries have not vaccinated children yet. these questions must be worked out. it is very ambitious and very understandable given the threat of covid, but again, so much needs to be resolved. b, of covid, but again, so much needs to be resolved.- of covid, but again, so much needs to be resolved. a lot of sco -e needs to be resolved. a lot of scene for _ needs to be resolved. a lot of scope for confusion _ needs to be resolved. a lot of scope for confusion as - needs to be resolved. a lot of scope for confusion as well i scope for confusion as well is some frustration as well. ross, thank you very much forjoining us. thank you very much for “oining us. . ~' thank you very much for “oining us. . ~ , ., thank you very much for “oining us. ., ~' i., ., thank you very much for “oining us. ., ~ ., ., thank you very much for “oining us. ., ~' i., ., ., a us. thank you for having me. a second woman _ us. thank you for having me. a second woman who _ us. thank you for having me. a second woman who says - us. thank you for having me. a j second woman who says jeffrey second woman who sasteffrey epstein sexually abused her has been testifying in the ghislaine maxwell trial in new york. ms maxwell who was a close confidant of epstein, has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of sex trafficking and other charges. jeffrey epstein, who was a convicted sex offender, died in a new york prison cell in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges in a federal case. we have been following events in court. kate's age was a real

issue of contention between the prosecution and the defence. she was 17 at the time of the alleged abuse, which is the age of consent in britain. and so the judge instructed the jury that any of the sex acts she testified about were not to be considered illegal acts. instead, the prosecution really used her to lay out their argument about how ghislaine maxwell really was central to jeffrey epstein's world, and specifically, this effort of grooming young girls for sexual abuse. and so, kate detailed how she first met ghislaine maxwell at 17 years old at her townhome in london. she went there for tea and she said they immediately really felt at ease with each other. she said she wanted to be like ghislaine maxwell when she was older. ghislaine maxwell allegedly told her that her boyfriend, jeffrey epstein, could help her with her music career. but kate says that when she went back the next time and all the times after that, ghislaine maxwell allegedly instructed her to give jeffrey epstein a massage,

which turned into a sexualised massage. she says at that point, the alleged abuse continued for years, and she was even asked by maxwell to recruit other "young cute girls," she says she put it. she said she didn't do that, but ms maxwell of course has denied all of the allegations, and in cross—examination, the defence really tried to pick holes in kate's memories, saying at the time she was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, and questioned whether her memories could be trusted. she said that she remembered everything very well because those were significant moments in her life. they also questioned whether she was in this for money, saying that she got millions of dollars from the epstein victim compensation fund. but kate, again, said she had no financial stake in this trial. you are watching bbc news. stay with us. still to come: the bbc�*s 100

women list is being published wiht a special focus on afghanistanm, and we have that list. john lennon was shot at the entrance to the dakota building, in the centre of new york. there's been a crowd here standing in more or less silent vigil and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th ceasefire of this war ended at the walls of the old city of dubrovnik. this morning, witnesses said shells were landing every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. imelda marcos, the widow of the former president i of the philippines, hasi gone on trial in manila. she's facing seven charges of tax evasion, estimated i at £120 million.

she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had been reached amicably. you are watching bbc news with me david eades. our main story to sour... the united states announces a diplomatic boycott of the beijing winter olympics because of china's record on human rights. the bbc�*s 100 women list is rubbished on tuesday. it celebrates the achievements of women from grassroots activists through to global leaders and half of this year's list is dedicated to women from afghanistan. we have this special report. every year, the bbc names 100 inspiring and influential women

as part of the bbc 100 women season. and this year, for the first time, 50 of these women are from one country. afghanistan. this year's season will recognise the stories of afghan women. the scope of their bravery and their achievements. after the taliban took control of the country earlier this year. over the next four days, the bbc 100 women will also share the stories of women around the globe who are hitting reset and creating lasting change. 2021 has been a year when many women, especially those in afghanistan, have had to reinvent their lives. women's rights activist and one of the women named on today's list spoke to me in kabul. the trouble that afghanistan is in right now, apart from the whole political whatever, is poverty, it is brain drain, a collapse of society in a country

on the verge of becoming in pieces, of being destroyed. you've become the public face of afghan women afghanistan. someone who's remained and calling on others to come back. but what are they coming back to? what they're coming back to is not really very, very, very different from what they have left. that's something i want to tell them. but by not working on it and by not being around and by not raising our voices and by not asking the right questions at the right time, and by not bringing everything to the attention of the ones that are taking care of things, whether they are the taliban, afghans, the international community, it can get a lot worse. for them to come back now, we can start working again and make things happen again for afghanistan. because i'm sure there's going to be a day when taliban are going to realise that without women, it's just not going to happen. and are you willing to work within the sharia system?

they are saying, we allow anything, as long as it's within sharia. we really want to make sure that whatever it is that the sharia says, it's not the interpretation only of a group of people. that's not what we want. there's a lot of islamic countries, they have women in them. how do they thrive? we want to be a thriving, beautiful, a successful muslim country. what is wrong with that? and if the taliban don't listen? well, they have to listen if they want to survive! do they want to survive? afghanistan is a country, and we have to keep it as a country and make it better. do they want to understand this? if they do, then they will work at it. if they don't, then they'll do with the doing right now and afghanistan will disappear.

the list is out. you can go to our website and see the huge list. nobel laureates, all of them, all on the website. have a look. hollywood mel brooks is bill going strong. he is 95 years old and the man behind leasing saddles and the producers and many, many others. he has written his own autobiography, all about me. he recounts the highlights of his life in show business and his marriage to anne bancroft. i know the word can be overly used but mel brooks is a legend, a movie legend, a musical legend and a comedy legend. all of the awards. he has won them all, many times over. # springtime for hitler and germany. # springtime for hitler and germany-— germany. mel brooks was fearless- _ germany. mel brooks was fearless. he _ germany. mel brooks was fearless. he broke - germany. mel brooks was fearless. he broke every i germany. mel brooks was i fearless. he broke every rule.

but he kept to the ones for lockdown, even telling his son max to go away. i’m lockdown, even telling his son max to go away.— lockdown, even telling his son max to go away. i'm going, i'm anoin. max to go away. i'm going, i'm going- love — max to go away. i'm going, i'm going. love you. _ max to go away. i'm going, i'm going. love you. he _ max to go away. i'm going, i'm going. love you. he has- max to go away. i'm going, i'm going. love you. he has been i going. love you. he has been locked in. _ going. love you. he has been locked in, writing _ going. love you. he has been locked in, writing his - locked in, writing his autobiography and after some persuasion, let me into talk about it. it all starts in brooklyn. about it. it all starts in brooklyn-— about it. it all starts in brooklyn. about it. it all starts in brookl n. , , , brooklyn. everybody in my buildini brooklyn. everybody in my building worked _ brooklyn. everybody in my building worked in - brooklyn. everybody in my building worked in the i brooklyn. everybody in my- building worked in the garment sector and ifigured i would probably end up there too. my unclejoe probably end up there too. my uncle joe looked probably end up there too. my unclejoe looked a little like you, a little better looking. changed my life. he says mel, i said yes, unclejoe, he said, how would you like to see a cole porter musical on broadway called anything goes? what an experience! when the show was over! experience! when the show was over i said joe, i'm not going to go into the garment centre, i'm going to go into show business! i want to do what they were doing on that stage. and they never deviated from

that plan. show business. i was going into show business. don't ou ever going into show business. don't you ever want _ going into show business. don't you ever want to _ going into show business. don't you ever want to become i going into show business. don't you ever want to become a i you ever want to become a butterfly? don't you want to spread — butterfly? don't you want to spread your wings and flap into glory?! — spread your wings and flap into glory?! we you are going to jump— glory?! we you are going to jump on— glory?! we you are going to jump on me, you are going to jump— jump on me, you are going to jump on— jump on me, you are going to jump on me! i know you are going— jump on me! i know you are going to— jump on me! i know you are going tojump on me! jump on me! i know you are going to jump on me! going to “ump on me! filming the going to jump on me! filming the producers _ going to jump on me! filming the producers taught - going to jump on me! filming the producers taught mel i going to jump on me! filming l the producers taught mel about a valuable lesson about how to handle studio producers. he turns to handle studio producers. the: turns to me and said i will give you another $25,000 if you get rid of that career guy. he says he is just, get rid of that career guy. he says he isjust, he isjust funny looking, there is no leading man here. i said ok. i said tojoseph, he is out. you said to joseph, he is out. you didn't? element _ said to joseph, he is out. you didn't? element is _ said to joseph, he is out. you didn't? element is that i said tojoseph, he is out. you didn't? element is that he is out, he is gone. and that was a lesson. . . , out, he is gone. and that was a lesson. . ., , ., out, he is gone. and that was a lesson. . .,, ., , out, he is gone. and that was a lesson. . ., ., lesson. that was a lesson, a ireat lesson. that was a lesson, a great lesson _ lesson. that was a lesson, a great lesson for _ lesson. that was a lesson, a great lesson for me, - lesson. that was a lesson, a great lesson for me, lying i lesson. that was a lesson, a j great lesson for me, lying to the studio.—

the studio. mel matt and bancroft _ the studio. mel matt and bancroft in _ the studio. mel matt and bancroft in 1961 - the studio. mel matt and bancroft in 1961 during i bancroft in 1961 during research —— rehearsals for the perry como show. his life changed forever. b5 perry como show. his life changed forever.- perry como show. his life changed forever. as she was on sta . e changed forever. as she was on stage ringing — changed forever. as she was on stage ringing beautifully. i- stage ringing beautifully. i saw her backstage and we talked and never stopped seeing her and never stopped seeing her and talking to her for the next 45 years. —— singing beautifully. 45 years. -- singing beautifully.- 45 years. -- singing beautifully. 45 years. -- singing beautifull . ., , beautifully. one of his most cherished — beautifully. one of his most cherished awards _ beautifully. one of his most cherished awards is - beautifully. one of his most cherished awards is the i beautifully. one of his most i cherished awards is the middle of arts that he received from barack obama. the president was a big fan of camo blazing saddles. a big fan of camo blazing saddles-— a big fan of camo blazing saddles. ., m saddles. he loved the film. he loved the _ saddles. he loved the film. he loved the film _ saddles. he loved the film. he loved the film and _ saddles. he loved the film. he loved the film and he - saddles. he loved the film. he loved the film and he cheated. j loved the film and he cheated. it was listed for 16 and above and he cheated. # jhov the other kids wild. mel brooks fell _ # jhov the other kids wild. mel brooks fell in _ # jhov the other kids wild. mel brooks fell in love with words and music when he was five years old. he chose this for his first performance. and he has been singing it ever since. # baby, because baby, look at you now.

mel rooks, as he would put it, his life in bad taste. —— mel brooks. thank you for watching bbc news. bye—bye. hello there. we await the arrival of the second named storm of the season. storm barra will bring the worst of the weather during tuesday as windy weather develops widely. added to that later on snow and blizzards over some of the hills in the north. this is the centre of the storm approaching western parts of ireland. it will push a band of heavy rain northwards and eastward across the uk. but ahead of that we start the day with a frost widely and some icy patches in western scotland and the northwest of england. a very cold start then. we've got that rain sweeping its way across northern ireland, wales and the southwest in the morning, the winds picking up as well. that will be followed by some

sunny intervals in heavy, blustery showers in the afternoon as that band of wetter weather continues to push its way northwards and eastwards. may make double figures again in the southwest but it's much colder elsewhere, especially northern england and scotland where into that cold air the rain will fall as snow. particularly in the hills, a couple of centimetres, peak district, pennines, cumbria and the fells. heavier snowfall, blizzards likely in the southern uplands and that snowy weather will work its way up into the highlands later on in the day as the main rain band sweeps away from eastern parts of england, heavy showers strongest winds are likely to be through the irish sea, english channel, gust 70, 80mph near coast. generally 40 or 50 or so but could get windier around some north sea coast in the evening. now, after steaming into the uk, storm barra isjust going to stall overnight and into wednesday, and it will weaken as well. wednesday is still a windy day, just not as windy. the strongest winds are going to be in south wales and the southwest of england.

and around that area of low pressure, showers or longer spells of rain rotating with some brief glimpses of sunshine. but it's still cold, temperatures around 5—7 . by the time we get to thursday our storm really is no more. it's continuing to weaken, the winds are continuing to drop. this band of rain from the atlantic will arrive into northern ireland later in the day. but otherwise, it's a much quieter day on thursday. a fair bit of cloud around, many places are going to be dry, some sunshine at times but we're still in cold air, temperatures typically at sixes and sevens.

you're watching bbc news with me, david eades. these are the headlines: the biden administration has announced it will not be sending any diplomatic or other official us representation to the beijing winter olympic games in february next year. the white house press secretary, jen psaki, said the decision had been taken in the light of china's human rights abuses. new york's mayor says all private sector workers in the city must be vaccinated against the coronavirus in the strictest mandate to be imposed anywhere in the us. city employees are already required to be vaccinated. at the trial in new york of ghislaine maxwell for sex trafficking, a witness has said the defendent told him to take two underage girls to the house of the disgraced financier, jeffrey epstein. ms maxwell pleas not guilty to the charges against her. those are the headlines.