welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. in moscow, east meets west as russia and france discuss ways of defusing the military crisis brewing in ukraine. both sides say the talks were constructive protestors in london harrass opposition leader sir keir starmer, as borisjohnson faces more calls to withdraw a false accusation he made against him in the house of commons. millions of voters in the philippines have three months to decide on their chosen candidate as campaigning for the presidential election gets underway. ottawa police face mounting criticism for not breaking up a truck drivers, anti—covid

protest that's brought the canadian capital to a standstill. a world first for medicine, as doctors help a man whose spinal cord was completely severed learn to walk again, with the aid of an electronic implant. what in the name of god is that? and the nominations are... hollywoood prepares for the announcement of which films are in the running for one of oscars' famous gold statues.

hello and welcome to the programme. amid growing concern worldwide about the situation in ukraine president macron has been holding talks in moscow with president putin. the efforts by the french president come after russia amassed more than 100,000 troops on the border with ukraine. mr macron said he hoped the talks would help reduce �*the risk of conflict�*. moscow has been clear that it won't allow any more expansion of nato as it seeks to minimise what it perceives as threats to its borders. separately to this, president biden has been hosting the new german chancellor, 0laf scholz as high level diplomacy took place inside the white house too. 0ur moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg has the latest. from one president to another, warm words. how are you? fine, just fine. how are you? but there'd be no cosy chat. socially—distanced summits is how the kremlin likes it. "emmanuel, i'm so pleased to

see you," said vladimir putin. behind the smiles, though, serious concerns. what worries the west is moscow's muscle flexing near ukraine — like these war games involving russia and belarus, and the russian troops massed near ukraine's border. what worries moscow is nato. it's demanding an end to nato enlargement to the east. signs of capitulation, not yet, but signs of capitulation? i think this is possible to make it the basis ofjoint steps. we

it the basis of “oint steps. we are it the basis of “oint steps. we it the basis ofjoint steps. we are aware today of the gravity of the — are aware today of the gravity of the situation and of the urgent _ of the situation and of the urgent and imperative necessity in the _ urgent and imperative necessity in the interests of everyone to find a — in the interests of everyone to find a pass of peace and stability in europe. just having the french president in town is being seen here as a diplomatic success for the kremlin. there's a very long but very colourful russian word, "nyeroka pazatny". it means quite literally, "no one wants to shake your hand." you're like a pariah. after russia's annexation of crimea eight years ago, vladimir putin was nyerokapazatny. world leaders avoided him like the plague. now, they're queuing up to meet him — today, it was president macron, in a week or so, it'll be the german chancellor — and the west is willing to discuss russia's security concerns. that's why moscow believes that coercive diplomacy is working. but what if diplomacy fails? america has sent these troops to poland to protect nato's

eastern flank in case of a russian military escalation in ukraine. and to signal transatlantic solidarity, german chancellor 0laf scholz flew to washington for talks on the crisis with president biden. if russia makes a choice i to further invade ukraine, we are jointly ready- and all of nato is ready. moscow insists that it is the victim here, that russia is a besieged fortress, threatened by america, by nato, by a ukraine hostile to moscow. what the west is struggling to work out is if diplomacy ends, what will russia do next? steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. here's the bbc�*s north america correspondent, david willis, with more on those talks between biden and scholz.

president biden went as far as to say if russia were to invade ukraine, there would be, as he put it, "no longer any nord stream 2 pipeline". america has been long opposed to the project, and this meeting at the white house today seems pretty crucial as far as establishing germany's position to the package of economic sanctions that the united states and europe are looking to unveil. today, 0laf scholz didn't go as far as mr biden in actually specifying what would happen to nord stream 2. he said he would put all options on the table, but he wouldn't get into specifics. when he was asked how he would actually bring an end to the nord stream 2 project in the event of a russian invasion, mr biden wouldn't go into specifics. but the german leader

did express, however, germany's strong commitment to economic sanctions, which is just what the united states was hoping to hear. germany has been criticised here for sending 5000 helmets, but nothing in the way of real military support to ukraine. that's attracted criticism from lawmakers of both parties here. germany also brought other countries from transferring german arms and equipment to ukraine, and the biden administration has been working very hard to co—ordinate a united european response to the russian aggression on ukraine's border. today, mr biden was full of praise for germany, saying it was a close ally and one that was completely reliable, and mr scholz affirmed his support, germany's support for european sanctions.

let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines.... mourners in morocco have attended the funeral of a five year old boy who died after falling 32 metres into a well. rayan 0ram was trapped underground for four days, before being pulled out on saturday evening. the funeral ceremony was held at a cemetery near the boy's home village in northern morocco. israel's government will hold an independent inquiry into reports that police illicitly used spyware against aides of the former prime minister benjamin netanyahu and other public figures. it relates to the israeli—made pegasus hacking tool. the us have offered a reward of up to 10 million dollars for information leading to the identification or location of the leader of the islamic state militant group in afghanistan — sanullah gafari. washington believes he was behind the deadly bomb attack on kabul airport last

august. the sportswear giant nike has dropped the manchester united forward mason greenwood after his arrest on suspicion of rape. the 20—year—old was also held on suspicion of assault and making threats to kill, but later released on bail. britain's prime minister borisjohnson has condemned the harassment suffered on monday by the labour leader sir keir starmer who had to be escorted to safety by police, near the houses of parliament. there were shouts of �*traitor�* and someone can be heard shouting �*jimmy savile' — taken to be a reference to the false accusation made by borisjohnson — that sir keir, a former director of public prosecutions, had failed to prosecute savile for child sex offences. in his statement mrjohnson made no reference to the accusation despite calls

from senior aides and party colleagues for him to withdraw it in full. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg reports. this is not normal rough—and—tumble, but abuse and untrue accusations being hurled at the leader of the accusation — one false claim that he protected the paedophile jimmy savile. all shouting. keir starmer bundled to a police car. two arrests were made. it happened outside parliament, where, seven days ago, the prime minister made a false link between the two. look, i'm sure there were some people out there who already had conspiracy theories in their head, but the prime minister's given them a platform and permission, and that is tantamount to inciting them to these kind of horrific mobster activities. the prime minister wrongly suggested the labour leader had been involved in the decisions not to prosecute jimmy savile when he was the boss of public prosecutions. boris johnson clarified after an outcry, but he did not say sorry.

a lot of people have got hot under the collar and i understand why. let's be absolutely clear, i'm talking not about the leader of the opposition's personal record when he was dpp and i totally understand he had nothing to do personally with those decisions. the prime minister wrote online... but others in his own party want him to say much more. the former tory cabinet member julian smith said... there's no sign of that. borisjohnson�*s failure to apologise has already cost him one of his closest political confidants. munira mirza, who worked for the pm for more than a decade, quit last week in disgust. protests around here are nothing new —

for or against brexit, anti—lockdown, pro—public anger. but the prime minister may find himself accused of stirring up unacceptable behaviour, just when number ten hoped to calm things down. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. campaigning for presidential elections in the philippines is officially getting under way. the country's millions of voters will have three months to ponder which candidates to go for when election day finally arrives on the 9th of may. among the main candidates are the daughter of the country's notorious outgoing president, the son of a former dictator and a world—famous boxer. what should we expect? we can speak to howard johnson who was in manila. great to have you on the programme and what a colourful cast of characters. talk is through the main contenders and what the

main contenders and what the main issues are.— main issues are. let's start with the — main issues are. let's start with the son _ main issues are. let's start with the son of _ main issues are. let's start with the son of the - main issues are. let's start with the son of the formerl with the son of the former dictator, ferdinand marcos who declared martial law on the country and for two decades he ruled over it, controlling the courts, the media and businesses. people accused him of stealing up to $10 billion of stealing up to $10 billion of public money, money never fully given back to the philippine people and then three decades later his son is running for president and people are saying that the money was kept by him and used by him to rework the image and rebrand the family as heroes or villains and we have heard reports that cambridge analytica, the disgraced political campaigning firm were approached by bongbong marcos, stuff his campaign team deny and we are seeing, in my four years as correspond on here, social media used to change the narrative of the story. bongbong marcos says he wants to unify the country and is running alongside the daughter

of and they are the unique team running alongside the daughter of dutarte and they want to bring the country to mother and make it rise again. there is another candidate seen as a family orientated, going back to the rule of law, human rights a former lawyer and she is currently second in the polls behind ferdinand marcos junior and is starting her election campaign today in the south of the country and has popular support among the highly educated and the elite of the country and then also in the top three is manny pacquaio, the boxer, who we had a sore 112 major titles around the world and last but not least is moreno, a rags to riches stories of the man who came from the bottom in manila to now run for president. it’s

to now run for president. it's uuite a to now run for president. it's quite a table _ to now run for president. it's quite a table of _ to now run for president. it's quite a table of characters for voters to choose from, with three months to decide. what are some of the key issues that voters are thinking about in the lead up to the selection? the biggest issue is how to leave the country out of this economic recession. a crippling recession because of the coronavirus lock down here, one of the hardest in the world which made businesses here really suffer and also corruption is a big question and that is endemic here. it is riddled through all of political life here and that is something that people on the ground want to see removed. also, the south china sea and the west philippine sea, we seen incursions by china and into philippine waters and people would like to see their territorial demands pushed back against beijing and would like to see more more stringent effort there.—

to see more more stringent effort there. ., ., ., effort there. howard johnson on that story. _ effort there. howard johnson on that story. and _ effort there. howard johnson on that story, and lots _ effort there. howard johnson on that story, and lots more - effort there. howard johnson on that story, and lots more on - that story, and lots more on the website a piece that howard has written about the philippine selection for you to look at. the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations have continued with gun salutes fired around the uk to mark her 70—year reign. at noon the king's troop royal horse artillery fired a 41—gun salute at green park in london. there were also gun salutes at edinburgh castle and the tower of london. if you want to get in touch with me i'm on twitter — @bbckarishma you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... how an electronic implant has helped a man whose spinal cord was completely severed, learn to walk again. we have a special report.

there's mr mandela, mr nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps into a new south africa. iran's spiritual leader, ayatollah khamenei, has said he's passed a death sentence on salman rushdie, the british author of a book which many muslims say is blasphemous. the people of haiti have flocked to church to give thanks for the ousting of their former president, ba by doc duvalier. because of his considerable value as a stallion, - shergar was kept in a special secure box in the stud - farm's central block. shergar was driven away. in a horse box the thieves had brought with them. there stepped down from the plane a figure in mourning — elizabeth ii, queen of this realm and all her other realms and territories, head of the commonwealth, defender of the faith.

this is newsday on the bbc. a flurry of diplomacy to try to defuse the ukraine crisis — as president macron and vladimir putin hold face to face talks in moscow. protestors in london harass opposition leader sir keir starmer as borisjohnson faces more calls to withdraw a false accusation he made against him in the house of commons. truckers in the canadian capital 0ttawa have been ordered to stop honking their horns in an ongoing protest that has snarled up the city. the loud constant blare of truck horns has become one of the defining features of the movement — pushing back against covid restrictions. police are beginning

to crackdown on the protesters, following criticsm for a lack of action against them. 0ur correspondentjessica murphy sent this report from ottawa. they were told to get theirjab or get into quarantine, and this was the response. most canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the us regularly have already been vaccinated, but those who haven't are adamant they will never be, and their cause has fed into larger concerns over covid—19 restrictions in canada, with thousands of supporters joining the truckers. the chaos prompted the city's mayor to declare a state of emergency. we have a serious emergency where we have to put all options on the table, and that may include some violence. we want to minimise that, but at the end of the day, if people will not leave, they will be forced to leave. but that warning has not stopped the 500 trucks from continuing their protest. it's important for me to come here and fight for my freedom. i don't want to be told

what to do, to get an injection if i don't want to, to wear a mask if i don't want to. i don't want people telling me what to do. some of the businesses here downtown have closed and others say they've lost foot traffic. you can see behind me trucks going back blocks and barbecues and even bonfires. it's clear they plan to stay here for the long haul. residents say they're tired of the noise and disruption. today, a judge granted a ten—day injunction seeking to stop the truckers from honking their horns. i don't want them here, - they have no right to be here. they have done their protest. and they should have been sent home a long time ago. people and their shops, - we can't open because of them. police have tried to clamp down on fuel coming into the main protest area. for now, a gap remains between what the protesters want and what the government is willing to do. jessica murphy, bbc news, 0ttawa.

next, a remarkable medical breakthrough. a paralysed man has been able to walk, using an electrical implant, developed by swiss researchers. it is the first time, someone who'se spine has been completely severed has been able to restore the ability to walk. 0ur science correspondent, pallab ghosh, has the story. michel roccati was paralysed after a motorbike accident five years ago. his spinal cord was completely severed and he has no feeling in his legs. but he can now walk using a frame because of an electrical implant that's been surgically inserted on his spine. using a remote control, he's able to send signals to his leg muscles, which enables him to walk. it's the first time that someone this injured has been able to do this. michel, i can't believe that you were paralysed once. i know, it's very close to before the accident, yes. i stand up, i walk where i want

alone, i can do the stairs. david m'zee is another patient helping scientists with their research... it looks like it works! ..which has been published in nature medicine. they don't use the technology to help them walk in their everyday lives — instead, they use it to practise walking, which exercises their muscles. this is not the cure for spinal cord injury, but it is a critical step to improve people's quality of life. we are going to empower them with the ability to stand, maybe make some steps. it is not enough, it's not a cure, but it is a significant improvement, i believe, for the future. david and michel stroll together on the banks of lake geneva. so far, nine people have been successfully treated with the implant. david was one of the first people to have the implant. michel is the latest. both of them say that it's transformed their lives, and the hope is that

the treatment could benefit many more people. ready, set, go! at his home in zurich, david races with his one—year—old daughter, zoe. when david had his accident 12 years ago, he was just 22. he was paralysed, unable to walk and unable to have a child. regular walking with the implant has improved his health to such an extent that he was able to father a child last year. it was great fun. it's the first time i've been walking with her in that way — she with a baby walker, i with my walker. she could beat you! 0h, she can, and she even beats me without the walker, so it's a bit embarrassing! hey, david! hey, guys! good to see you, man. good to see you. how are you doing? i'm fine. the technology has helped david and michel do more in their lives, but it cost more than £100,000 for the first two years, and it'll need more improvements in clinical trials over several years before it can move out of the lab into the clinic.

cheers! but it is a new way forward for researchers. pallab ghosh, bbc news, lausanne. awards season is upon us and in a matter of hours we'll find out which actors and filmmakers are nominated for this year's 0scars. lady gaga could see a nomination in the best actress category for her role in �*house of gucci�*, while will smith is predicted to be in the lineup for the best actor award for �*king richard�*. this year, 10 films will be nominated for the academy�*s top category — best picture. among the favourites is sir kenneth branagh�*s powerful memoir of childhood �*belfast�*. he says he would have it decided by christmas. when is he coming _ decided by christmas. when is he coming back? _ decided by christmas. when is he coming back? at _ decided by christmas. when is he coming back? at the - decided by christmas. when is - he coming back? at the weekend. we are going _ he coming back? at the weekend. we are going to — he coming back? at the weekend. we are going to the _ he coming back? at the weekend. we are going to the pictures, - we are going to the pictures, he is taking us to tt diddy bang bang. he is taking us to tt diddy bang bang-— he is taking us to tt diddy ban: banu. ~ . ., he is taking us to tt diddy ban: bani. ~ . ., ., bang bang. what in the name of god is that? _ bang bang. what in the name of god is that? it's _ bang bang. what in the name of god is that? it's a _ bang bang. what in the name of

god is that? it's a flying - bang bang. what in the name of god is that? it's a flying car- god is that? it's a flying car and it goes _ god is that? it's a flying car and it goes over _ god is that? it's a flying car and it goes over the - god is that? it's a flying car and it goes over the cliff . god is that? it's a flying car| and it goes over the cliff and you nearly fall out of your seat. do you want to come? if god had wanted me to see flying cars he _ god had wanted me to see flying cars he would have given me blinking _ cars he would have given me blinking wings. and jane hill will present a special programme — as the oscar nominations are announced — on the bbc news channel in the uk and bbc world news at 13:10 gmt on tuesday. children who watch and listen to c—beebies bedtime stories in the uk have been used to celebrities like dolly parton, ryan reynolds and orlando bloom on their screens. and now they can look forward to a story read by the duchess of cambridge this weekend. kate has been recorded reading �*the owl who was afraid of the dark�* byjill tomlinson, to mark children�*s mental health week. the episode will be screened on the bbc�*s channel for young children next sunday in the uk, that�*s all for now. stay with bbc world news.

hello there. we have a battle of the — hello there. we have a battle of the air— hello there. we have a battle of the air mass is taking place this week— of the air mass is taking place this week and certainly for the next _ this week and certainly for the next few— this week and certainly for the next few days we will have a north—south divide, much colder air across — north—south divide, much colder air across northern areas with wintry— air across northern areas with wintry showers but further south _ wintry showers but further south are very mild indeed for the time — south are very mild indeed for the time of year.— the time of year. and there will be some _ the time of year. and there will be some sunshine - the time of year. and there i will be some sunshine around. the dividing line between the cold air to the north and the mild air to cold air to the north and the mild airto the cold air to the north and the mild air to the south is this where the front which will be hanging around through central parts of the country throughout tuesday, so they can cloud for northern ireland, southern scotland, northern england and outbreaks of rain and to the north of it brighter with sunshine and blustery showers and these are wintry on the hills of scotland and it will be windy. further south, also quite breezy but dry with sunny spells and a bit more cloud

free wales and south—west england. a blustery day as you can see across the board but gus will be reaching in excess of 50 mph into the northern isles. temperatures in single digits for the north of the whether front of the south of it, 11, may be 1a degrees, so very mild particular where you get sunny spells. through tuesday the whether front hangs through central areas with outbreaks of rain, slowly pushing southwards into england and wales and to the north of it again, further snow showers and these will be blustery, accumulating snow on the hills of scotland, very windy here, breezy in the south where it will stay mild. into wednesday, the weather front slowly pushes southwards across england and wales and again the mild air from the south of it. but more areas will be in the colder air on wednesday so that will be scotland, northern ireland, northern england, perhaps north wales later in the day and plenty of snow showers across scotland and significant accumulation across the scottish hills and it will be very windy with gusts of 60

miles an hour in northern scotland. a breezy day for all but the weather front will bring more cloud across southern england and south wales where it will remain very mild. the mild air eventually gets pushed out to where the weather front slips into the near continent and keeping an eye on this feature, this little low pressure that could bring gales and snow to northern scotland through thursday but on friday a ridge of high pressure builds in to settle things down, so it is turning colderfor all settle things down, so it is turning colder for all into thursday and you could see single figure values there. it is a chilly day on friday but lighter winds with some sunny spells and the return of overnight frost.