�*welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore,

i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. a high—stakes virtual summit as president biden warns vladimir putin that russia will be hit with tough economic sanctions if it escalates its military involvement in ukraine. as to pursue diplomatic channels, we will have every contingency, including through the preparation of a specific responses to russian escalation, should they be required. in the uk, leaked footage appears to show downing street officials joking about a covid christmas party last year — at the prime minister's residence — that could have breached lockdown rules. a saudi man suspected of involvement in the killing of saudi journalist, jamal khashoggi, is arrested in paris. and, the prime minster on the front line of climate change, we meet samoa's feeya may naomi mata'fa as part of the bbc 100 women series. live from our studio in singapore. this is bbc news. it's newsday. it's seven in the morning in singapore, 6 in the evening in washington and 2 am in moscow — where the presidents of the us and russia spent two hours talking about what the white house called �*a range of issues�*. but one topic dominated the discussion — and that's ukraine. white house officials say president biden made clear the �*deep concerns�* of the us and its european

allies over russia�*s escalation of forces near ukraine. during a briefing after that meeting, the us national security adviserjake sullivan told reporters what would happen if russia attacked. in the event that there is a further invasion into ukraine a military it ukraine, obviously are many of our partners and baltic allies from romania, poland, other countries will be increasingly concerned about the security and territorial integrity of their countries. they will be seeking, we expect additional capabilities and potentially additional deployments and the united states will be looking to respond positively to those things in the event that there is a further incursion into the ukraine. is a further incursion into the ukraine. well our state department correspondent barbara plett usher has more on what type of sanctions the us could impose although he did say there were measures that the western not been prepared to take in 2014 when russia

invaded crimea, we understand what they�*re talking about as various forms of financial sanctions and also the north stream to gas pipeline from russia to europe could be a possible target. he also mentioned other actions. he said if there was an invasion that the us would increase its supply of defensive materials which includes weapons to ukraine. there�*s already a pipeline for that. and that the americans would fortify their allies in eastern europe with extra capabilities and deployments. again, they are already us troop deployments rotating in and out of eastern europe�*s sense the 2014 crimea invasion to give them extra training and support. but that would be stepped up if there was another russian invasion. jon donnison in moscow told us what the russian president had hoped to gain from the meeting. his priorities was that he wanted some sort of legal guarantee that ukraine would not be allowed to join

nato and that is something that he has been asking for quite some time the americans have been saying that they do not want to give that guarantee and there�*s absolutely no suggestion from his statement that barbara was talking about that they�*re going to offer it in were not expecting it. the issue for president putin is if you like how he was going to kind of, step back from that redline that he had given. i have to say that in that statement from the americans, there wasn�*t really much encouragement, really, for the russians. we have no statement from the kremlin. we are expecting when any time now within the next few hours. nothing yet, but the next few hours. nothing yet, but the best you can get from the statement from the white house was they were going to agree to continue to get their teams to keep working on this. matthew rojansky is a leading analyst of us relations with russia and ukraine, and director of the wilson

center�*s kennan institute. hejoins me from washington dc. wonderful to have you shown the programme, we�*ve heard both sides from our correspondence in the us and in moscow. president biden warning of tough economic sanctions as is been expected if russia escalates that military action in the ukraine. is this enough of a deterrent?— the ukraine. is this enough of a deterrent? ~ , , ., deterrent? well, the first question i would ask — deterrent? well, the first question i would ask is _ deterrent? well, the first question i would ask is whether _ deterrent? well, the first question i would ask is whether or - deterrent? well, the first question i would ask is whether or not - deterrent? well, the first question i would ask is whether or not the l i would ask is whether or not the russians intend to invade. we know with certainty that their position with certainty that their position with enough troops to do some very lethal damage and indeed to, as jake sullivan pointed out very clearly, because all of europe to become nervous and really to enhance the situation. it does mean they will do it and i think in part when vladimir putin may be up to here is to

declare that the era of fighting over the ukraine in a certain sense is over. he recognises that he has lost the opportunity to control outcomes in ukraine, but establish a new dividing line in europe. which is a scary process but it�*s been more long—term than imminent. is a scary process but it's been more long-term than imminent. given what ou more long-term than imminent. given what you have — more long-term than imminent. given what you have described, _ more long—term than imminent. given what you have described, what do you think the russians would�*ve made of this meeting as said earlier, but the statement so far. but did they give her they wanted out of this? vladimir putin wanted the meeting itself and he said quite explicitly that russia would like to have a security dialogue with the united states and nato and the president agreed to that. there�*s very little cost for having that conversation. i do not expect that russia�*s demands for a redline or some kind of

promise of no further expansion of nato or any other western institution, that this would ever be agreed to. but the composition can be had. with the united states have delivered to todd�*s message about sanctions. and i think this message we heard from jake sullivan about the need, though looking favourably of providing reassurances including rotation of troops to european allies is a good message as well. the united states, but he wanted to deliver out of the conversation. by then vladimir putin got what he wanted in the conversation in the opening to the broader european security dialogue as well. thank you so much forjoining us on newsday. french police have arrested a saudi national suspected of involvement in the murder ofjournalist jamal khashoggi in 2018.

the suspect was arrested at an airport in paris. mr khashog—ji, who was a prominent critic of the saudi regime, wrote for the washington post. he was murdered at the saudi consulate in istanbul. his body was later dismembered. but the saudi arabian embassy in paris says the thirty three year old saudi national is not linked to the case and should be released immediately. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner, told us more about the saudi national arrested near paris. he isa he is a person who is a 33—year—old member of the saudi royal guard of the infrastructure around the crown prince. he was sanctioned already by the west as somebody who was named in taking part of the hit team that murdered jamarcus — jamaal. they held a very secretive behind closed doors trial, the sentence five people to death and

commuted those to 20 year prison life sentences in prison and their view is nothing to see here, move along. tricking human rights groups disagree. this is a real culprits of this got clean with it and the human special reporter has been calling for a full investigation. turkey issued a number of international arrest warrants of which this is one. arrested due to a turkish warrant and it would be really interesting to see what france does because this is potentially quite a diplomatic minefield for france. they have a very good relationship with saudi arabia and the president has recently been there and was the first major was leader to meet the crown prince since that murder, was publicly and does lots of deals that they would like inside saudi arabia. there is a flurry of phone between riyadh and paris in saying that you really don�*t want to do this because this isn�*t going to be good for france if you do this. but of the

course of love runs its way, it is possible he could even be extradited to turkey to stand trial, should be very embarrassing for the saudis. to the uk now, and it�*s emerged that senior government staffjoked about holding a christmas party last year in breach of covid restrictions —— just four days after a controversial drinks party is alleged to have taken place at the prime minister�*s residence in downing street. drinks party is alleged to have taken place at the prime minister�*s residence in downing street. a video recording leaked to itv news appears to show borisjohnson�*s spokesperson at the time fielding questions about the party in a mock news conference. no 10 insists no party took place. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg reports party? what party? the party the number ten said did not happen. and the building were borisjohnson subtype covid—19 rules are always followed. the party last year that the guests told us had food, drinks

and games. and the party that we now seem to see downing street staff joking about a few days later. this was a practice press conference for allegra, this hired as the prime ministers chris spokesperson. i went home. in ministers chris spokesperson. i went home- in the — ministers chris spokesperson. i went home. in the video _ ministers chris spokesperson. i went home. in the video attained - ministers chris spokesperson. i went home. in the video attained by - ministers chris spokesperson. i went home. in the video attained by itv . home. in the video attained by itv news, home. in the video attained by itv news. laughing — home. in the video attained by itv news, laughing in _ home. in the video attained by itv news, laughing in response - home. in the video attained by itv news, laughing in response to - home. in the video attained by itv news, laughing in response to a i news, laughing in response to a question from an adviser about the downing street drinks. is cheese and wine 0k at a time and socialising for everyone was meant to be strictly off—limits? it for everyone was meant to be strictly off-limits?— strictly off-limits? it was a business — strictly off-limits? it was a business meeting. - strictly off-limits? it was a business meeting. it - strictly off-limits? it was a business meeting. it was l strictly off-limits? it was a l business meeting. it was not socially distanced stop by the fictional party was a business meeting, she says laughing about the office those making the rules, not following them. find office those making the rules, not following them.— office those making the rules, not following them. and the real world outside number _ following them. and the real world

outside number ten, _ following them. and the real world outside number ten, pups - following them. and the real world outside number ten, pups have - following them. and the real world l outside number ten, pups have been closed, socialising with strictly off—limits as covid—19 to court again. locked on his back, the are fines for holding parties and on that day, 562 people lost their lives to the virus.— that day, 562 people lost their lives to the virus. three, two, one. the problem _ lives to the virus. three, two, one. the problem for _ lives to the virus. three, two, one. the problem for boris _ lives to the virus. three, two, one. the problem for boris johnson - lives to the virus. three, two, one. the problem for boris johnson was | the problem for borisjohnson was not just that a few dozen of the problem for borisjohnson was notjust that a few dozen of his staff got together at the laughter about it now revealed, but all we, he has not been straight about what went on stop by this was prime ministers questions we could go and a notable non—denial. all ministers questions we could go and a notable non-denial.— a notable non-denial. all guidance was followed _ a notable non-denial. all guidance was followed completely. - a notable non-denial. all guidance was followed completely. a - a notable non-denial. all guidance| was followed completely. a refusal to live was followed completely. a refusal to give more _ was followed completely. a refusal to give more detail. _ was followed completely. a refusal to give more detail. we _ was followed completely. a refusal to give more detail. we continue . was followed completely. a refusal| to give more detail. we continue to follow the guidance. _ to give more detail. we continue to follow the guidance. and _ to give more detail. we continue to follow the guidance. and today's. l follow the guidance. and today's. that i can tell— follow the guidance. and today's. that i can tell you _ follow the guidance. and today's. that i can tell you is _ follow the guidance. and today's. that i can tell you is that - follow the guidance. and today's. that i can tell you is that all- follow the guidance. and today's. that i can tell you is that all the l that i can tell you is that all the guidelines— that i can tell you is that all the guidelines were observed. tonight, outraae guidelines were observed. tonight, outrage from _ guidelines were observed. tonight, outrage from the _ guidelines were observed. tonight, outrage from the opposition. - guidelines were observed. tonight, outrage from the opposition. the i outrage from the opposition. the ublic outrage from the opposition. the public followed the rules and many of them _ public followed the rules and many of them did — public followed the rules and many of them did not _ public followed the rules and many of them did not see _ public followed the rules and many of them did not see their— public followed the rules and many of them did not see their loved - public followed the rules and many. of them did not see their loved ones over christmas, _ of them did not see their loved ones over christmas, some _ of them did not see their loved ones

over christmas, some of— of them did not see their loved ones over christmas, some of them - of them did not see their loved ones| over christmas, some of them didn't see their_ over christmas, some of them didn't see their loved — over christmas, some of them didn't see their loved ones _ over christmas, some of them didn't see their loved ones again. - over christmas, some of them didn't see their loved ones again. they- over christmas, some of them didn't see their loved ones again. they had the right— see their loved ones again. they had the right to — see their loved ones again. they had the right to expect _ see their loved ones again. they had the right to expect the _ see their loved ones again. they had the right to expect the government i the right to expect the government to follow_ the right to expect the government to follow the — the right to expect the government to follow the rules _ the right to expect the government to follow the rules and _ the right to expect the government to follow the rules and we now- the right to expect the government. to follow the rules and we now know the government— to follow the rules and we now know the government broke _ to follow the rules and we now know the government broke the _ to follow the rules and we now know the government broke the rules, - to follow the rules and we now know. the government broke the rules, they partied _ the government broke the rules, they partied and _ the government broke the rules, they partied and now— the government broke the rules, they partied and now they're _ the government broke the rules, they partied and now they're laughing - partied and now they're laughing about— partied and now they're laughing about it — partied and now they're laughing about it. they're _ partied and now they're laughing about it. they're treating - partied and now they're laughing about it. they're treating the - about it. they're treating the public — about it. they're treating the public with _ about it. they're treating the public with contempt. - about it. they're treating the public with contempt.- about it. they're treating the public with contempt. boris johnson is tried to lead _ public with contempt. boris johnson is tried to lead us _ public with contempt. boris johnson is tried to lead us a _ public with contempt. boris johnson is tried to lead us a merry _ public with contempt. boris johnson is tried to lead us a merry dance - is tried to lead us a merry dance and try to claim that these things did not happen. these positions, i would say are untenable. acquired from number _ would say are untenable. acquired from number ten _ would say are untenable. acquired from number ten tonight. - would say are untenable. acquired from number ten tonight. a - would say are untenable. acquired - from number ten tonight. a statement only as we have repeatedly stated, there was no christmas party. covid—19 rules have been followed at all times. but there is genuine concern and the tory party itself. can that position hold through a silent night? let�*s bring you some breaking news. and it�*s just been announced that australia will not send officials to the beijing winter olympics —prime minster scott morrison said

the chinese government has not yet made any attempts to respond to several issues raised by australia including alleged human rights abuses. this of course follows the announcement earlier this week that the united states will not send diplomats to the games. we�*ll bring you more on this as we get it. the british government has been defending its evacuation of people from afghanistan when the taliban took over — after a whistle blower at the uk foreign office called it �*dysfunctional and chaotic�*. he said it was clear some of those left behind had since been murdered by the taliban. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale reports. this was kabul airport last summer as thousands sought to flee the advancing taliban. amid chaotic scenes, britain and other western powers tried to evacuate those they could,

but according to a whistle—blower, there was chaos in london, too. the foreign office crisis centre was handling requests from people fearing the taliban because of their links to the uk. raphael marshall said the process of choosing who could be evacuated was dysfunctional. he said up to 150,000 people applied for evacuation, but he estimated fewer than 5% of these people have received any assistance. it is clear that some of the those left behind have since been murdered by the taliban. 0ne weekend in august, when these afghans were trying to get up, mr marshall said there was too few staff, and on saturday, he was the only one monitoring the cases and emails. mr marshall said there was too few staff, and on saturday, he was the only one monitoring the cases and emails. he said staff lacked expertise in afghanistan and soldiers brought in to help couldn�*t access computers. mr marshall singled out dominic raab, who said delayed taking decision is alme s

until he had all the facts. he suggested he did not understand the situation. a claim mr raab denies. in terms of presentation, of course with the volume of claims coming in, - i make no apology for saying i needed the clear facts- for each case so we could make swift decisions. - the prime minister visiting a prison said today the evacuation it is the story of the system that just was not working. and asked the men responsible, why?— men responsible, why? wiping the civil service — men responsible, why? wiping the civil service crisis _ men responsible, why? wiping the civil service crisis is _ men responsible, why? wiping the civil service crisis is completely - civil service crisis is completely filled in this, what this failure look like?— look like? we successively evacuated. _ look like? we successively evacuated. this _ look like? we successively evacuated. this is - look like? we successively evacuated. this is about . look like? we successively evacuated. this is about a | look like? we successively - evacuated. this is about a system, the bureaucratic _ evacuated. this is about a system, the bureaucratic civil _ evacuated. this is about a system, the bureaucratic civil service - the bureaucratic civil service system that should be running a proper crisis centre fully staffed. we went through the gears and

putting — we went through the gears and putting more people in. what both government and whistle blower agree is that not must have people were evacuated in the summer and there are many afghans with links to britain who have yet to leave and still face danger. you�*re watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. the prime minster on the front line of climate change —— we meet samoa�*s fee—ya may naomi mata�*fa as part of the bbc 100 women series. john lennon was shot at the entrance of the dakota building in the centre of new york. there�*s been a crowd here standing and putting on a silent vigil and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th cease—fire of this war

ended at the walls of the old city. witnesses say that the shells were landing every 20 seconds. people up celebrating the passing of a man they hold 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. the widow of the former president of the philippines has _ gone on trial in manila. i she is facing seven charges of taxl evasion, estimated as £120 million. she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. they said the decision had been reached amicably. this is newsday on the bbc. in singapore. our main headline. a high—stakes virtual summit as president biden warns vladimir putin that russia will be hit with tough economic sanctions if it escalates its military involvement in ukraine.

let�*s get the latest on the new coronavirus variant 0micron. the world health organization says there�*s no indication that it causes more severe disease than the dominant delta strain. the heavily mutated variant was first reported by south africa last month and has since spread to every continent, except antarctica. early evidence suggests it is highly transmissible but possibly milder than other strains. well, wednesday marks the one year anniversary when this happened: margaret keenan, from coventry, england — became the first person in the world to receive a covid—19jab — in this case the pfizer vaccine — outside of clinical trials. a year on, more than eight billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered, in at least 197 countries worldwide. so, where are we with the global distribution of vaccines —

and will they need to be updated with the spread of new variants — like 0micron. from melbourne we�*rejoined by doctor kylie quinn an immunologist from the royal melbourne institute of technology how much is this new variant highlighted the inequality in terms of how vaccines have been distributed? i of how vaccines have been distributed?— of how vaccines have been distributed? ~ , ., �* distributed? i think, when you're lookin: at distributed? i think, when you're looking at rolling _ distributed? i think, when you're looking at rolling vaccines - distributed? i think, when you're looking at rolling vaccines out. distributed? i think, when you'rel looking at rolling vaccines out and the most efficient way for a highly transmissible, highly infectious disease, it is clear that you need to have a global focus, disease, it is clear that you need to have a globalfocus, rather than a local focus of your vaccine facilities. we clearly need to be doing a betterjob in ensuring that we have better support and distribution so these vaccines, particularly within the lower and middle income countries. the

situation is still developing and we are still unclear as to how disease severity, how efficacy and vaccines and medications are affected. but while we�*re still gathering that information, it is important we go back to the fundamentals of what we know and against officers of coronavirus, masking, testing and isolation and vaccines. so, vaccines may have a bit of protection but it is unlikely that we will lose protection and benefits of these vaccines, especially for things like severe disease. it is important that individuals continue to seek out vaccines, but with the import of the world a greater effort into ensuring equal distribution of these vaccines. equal distribution of these vaccines-— equal distribution of these vaccines. ., ,, ., . vaccines. doctor quinn, we are much further along — vaccines. doctor quinn, we are much further along in _ vaccines. doctor quinn, we are much further along in terms _ vaccines. doctor quinn, we are much further along in terms of— vaccines. doctor quinn, we are much further along in terms of vaccine - further along in terms of vaccine distribution and manufacturing than we were at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. but why is

getting them where we need them to be such a problem still? 2021, getting them where we need them to be such a problem still?— be such a problem still? 2021, we had some challenges _ be such a problem still? 2021, we had some challenges will- be such a problem still? 2021, we had some challenges will supplierj had some challenges will supplier vaccines, certain vaccines. and in 2022, it looks like that is going to shift the challenges of distribution as well. distribution is incredibly challenging enough to raise a huge infrastructure to support getting vaccines out there and there are many reasons. vaccines out there and there are many reasons-— vaccines out there and there are many reasons. vaccines out there and there are man reasons. ., ., many reasons. doctor quinn there, i a oloaise, many reasons. doctor quinn there, i apologise. we _ many reasons. doctor quinn there, i apologise, we seem _ many reasons. doctor quinn there, i apologise, we seem to _ many reasons. doctor quinn there, i apologise, we seem to have - many reasons. doctor quinn there, i apologise, we seem to have lost - apologise, we seem to have lost communications with her the research fellow at the school. we will try to get back to her as we can. she is the first woman to be prime minister of samoa in the south pacific. feeya —may naomi mata—affa has been in politics since the age of 27. and she�*s just been named on the bbc�*s list of the 100 most inspiring and influential women from across the globe. megha mohan has been talking to her.

samoa, in the south pacific. one of the many island nations where climate change is an imminent threat. this village was settled along this beachfront. but you will see now that most of the village have relocated to higher ground. samoa�*s first female prime minister, fiame naomi mata�*afa, is on the front line. as things stand, her island is projected to experience a sea—level rise of up to 15 centimetres by 2030. she believes the global response to tackling covid could be a blueprint for the climate crisis. that�*s a very clear example of what we can do when they are pushed to act. how do we capture that sense of urgency? and the needed collaboration for climate change? neighbouring pacific island

fiji became the first in the world to introduce a climate relocation fund. tukuraki was the first of non—coastal village to be permanently moved. liti is from there. a landslide and two cyclones obliterated her previous home and liti sheltered in this cave during extreme weather events. liti, this is the cave where you stayed? although liti now has a new home, she still keeps supplies in the cave as insurance. across the world, it�*s estimated one person a second is forced to flee their home because of climate—related weather events. that number is alarming. it is three times as many people that were displaced by war and conflict. back in samoa, the prime minister

says climate issues are a problem notjust for governments, but for humanity. it�*s not rocket science. no—one else will save us. we have to save ourselves. the un has said 97% of the pacific island population is vulnerable to sea—level rise, on account of living close to the coast. success or failures of climate talks will be seen here first. samoa will be a bellwether for the planet�*s future. megha mohan, bbc news. tuesday marked the 80th anniversary of the japanese attack on the us naval base in pearl harbour, hawaii. presidentjoe biden visited the world war two memorial in washington to observe the anniversary. the attack on december 7, 1941, killed 2,390 americans. malaya, guam, the philippines, wake island and midway island were also attacked and japanese forces had begun invading thailand hours earlier.

that�*s all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello. it will remain pretty wild and windy for some of you as we go through into tonight. some of the strongest gusts today from storm barra have been across some western coasts. these are some of the daytime gusts we have seen. 86mph into the evening at aberdaron in gwynedd. the storm itself is going to start to decay during the next 24 hours, the the but you can see what a potent feature this is. but you can see what a potent feature this is. this hook of cloud is a telltale sign of a pretty deep and quite stormy low pressure system. bore the brunt across parts of southwest ireland, but it�*s going to slowly move eastwards as we go through the night and gradually start to weaken. but as we head into the end of the day, strongest of the winds, wales, parts of southwest england, through the channel islands and up towards the far northeast of scotland. blustery for a time, but winds falling lighter in scotland, northern england later.

some slow—moving showers here, but you can see around that area of low pressure some batches of showers and longer spells of rain, particularly across parts of western wales. it�*ll feel cold enough for a bit of sleet and snow over the hills, plus if you get any clear skies for long enough, there could be frost or ice on the ground into the morning. but the big picture, storm barra, as we go into wednesday, is of low pressure which has now ground to a halt across the uk, but slowly starting to weaken. strongest of the winds around the peripheries, so again, shetland, parts of wales and towards the southwest is where we see the strongest of the winds, widespread gales here. bit blustery elsewhere — lightest winds, northern england and across scotland. mixture of sunshine and showers for wednesday, but some longer spells of rain still possible across parts of wales and northern ireland, and a chilly day for all. those showers, longer spells of rain continue to revolve around what�*s left of storm barra as we go through into wednesday evening and overnight, but it decays further into thursday, and with those isobars starting to become less numerous, it means the winds will be lighter. it means a greater chance of frost and fog thursday morning. a lot of dry weather on thursday, some sunny spells and a bit

of cloud across scotland, northern ireland. one or two showers, but turning wider. weakening weather front goes in. temperatures in single figures for most, and another cool day as we go through into friday. showers most prominent in the west, but by saturday, it looks like cloudy conditions will come in. rain in the north and west, and something milder, and that will gradually push northwards across most areas as we go into sunday. latest weather warnings for storm barra remain online.

this is bbc news, the headlines.

president biden has told vladimir putin of his deep concern about russia�*s build—up of forces near ukraine and warned of strong economic sanctions in the event of military escalation. during a two—hour virtual summit, mr biden reiterated his support for ukraine�*s sovereignty. it�*s emerged that senior number ten staffjoked about holding a christmas party in breach of covid restrictions. it comes just four days after a controversial drinks party is alleged to have taken place in downing street last december. a saudi man suspected of involvement in the murder of the saudi journalist jamal khashoggi has been arrested at a paris airport. he faces extradition to turkey. donald trump�*s longtime former adviser steve bannon is to go on trial injuly. he�*s facing criminal charges over his defiance of congressional inquiry into the deadly attacks on the us capitol injanuary.