this is bbc news. i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. britain's most senior police officer is to step down after london's mayor loses confidence in her leadership. president biden tells us citizens to leave ukraine now, warning "things could go crazy quickly" russian skater kamila valieva faces a fight for her future at the winter olympics after testing positive for a banned substance. celebrated for discovering hiv, but later sidelined by fellow scientists. french virologist luc montagnier has died aged 89. hello and welcome .

britain's top police officer dame cressida dick has resigned from herjob. her departure — two years earlier than expected came after she admitted the mayor of london sadiq khan had lost confidence in her ability to tackle failings within the force. as well as responsibility for the police service in london the role comes with a string of national responsibilities including leading counter—terrorism, liaising with foreign governments and police forces, and other duties concerning the security of the british state. our correspondent, james reynolds, has this report. the commissioner the commissioner and the commissioner and the the commissioner and the mayor the commissioner and the mayor once headed in the same direction, but they have now come to a sudden stop. following contact with the mayor of london today, it is

quite clear that the mayor has no sufficient confidence in my leadership of the metropolitan police service for me to continue as commissioner. he has left me no choice but to step aside. it has left me no choice but to step aside-— step aside. it is clear that the only _ step aside. it is clear that the only way _ step aside. it is clear that the only way to _ step aside. it is clear that the only way to start - step aside. it is clear that the only way to start to i the only way to start to deliver _ the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required — deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top of the metropolitan police. cressida dick has enjoyed a turbulent year. in march 2021, a serving police officer, used his police powers to kidnap sarah everard from a london street and then raped and murder her. the commission's officers broke up a vigil in her memory of those event organisers are glad to see her go. organisers are glad to see her io, , ., ., organisers are glad to see her go. good riddance. this is where the _ go. good riddance. this is where the work _ go. good riddance. this is where the work begins. i go. good riddance. this is i where the work begins. just where the work begins. just getting rid of cressida dick

doesn't make it a clean slate. there is years and years of systemic racism, sexism and homophobia and we need someone who is going to come in and recognise that.— recognise that. two officers were sent _ recognise that. two officers were sent to _ recognise that. two officers were sent to prison - recognise that. two officers were sent to prison terms l recognise that. two officers i were sent to prison terms for sending a bentley of messages and earlier this month reporters revealed offices at charing cross police station had shed racist and misogynistic messages. the mayor believed that the commissioner did not get the scale of the problem. the commissioner �*s allies disagree... crop one of cressida dick's most immediate task remains unfinished. her officers have yet to complete their inquiry into parties into downing street during lockdown so the met police investigates the

government as the government picks a new met commissioner. president biden has called on all american citizens remaining in ukraine to leave the country immediately. with russia continuing its military build—up along its border with ukraine, mr biden said that he would not send troops to rescue americans, if moscow invaded. he was making the comments in an interview with nbc news. here's our north american correspondent peter bowes. the white house has been telling americans to get out of ukraine for several weeks now so this is really the president, mr biden, reinforcing that message and this was a wide ranging interview. and certainly a warning not to travel to ukraine and those americans already in the country to leave and also suggesting if there was a russian invasion the work of the american consulate would be severely reduced and would

not be able to help americans get out of the country, so it was put to the president in the interview by the nbc presenter that there could be a scenario that there could be a scenario that american forces, us troops, would be sent into ukraine to help get americans out and joe biden said no, that would not happen and he gave this explanation as to why he did not want to see us forces or soldiers inside ukraine. that is a world war when americans and russians start shooting _ americans and russians start shooting at one another and we are in— shooting at one another and we are in a — shooting at one another and we are in a very different world that— are in a very different world that we've been in. not simply on behalf_ that we've been in. not simply on behalf of evacuating americans. how do you do that? how— americans. how do you do that? how do — americans. how do you do that? how do you _ americans. how do you do that? how do you even find them? i am hoping _ how do you even find them? i am hoping that— how do you even find them? i am hoping that if he's fooling us love — hoping that if he's fooling us love to — hoping that if he's fooling us love to go in there is nots going _ love to go in there is nots going to _ love to go in there is nots going to do anything that would negatively impact on american citizens — negatively impact on american citizens. what i've asked is that— citizens. what i've asked is that american citizens should leave, — that american citizens should leave, leave now. we are dealing _ leave, leave now. we are dealing with one of the largest armies— dealing with one of the largest armies in— dealing with one of the largest armies in the world and its

very— armies in the world and its very difficult situation and things— very difficult situation and things could go crazy quickly. once — things could go crazy quickly. once again president biden expressing deep concern about what could happen if there is a russian invasion. find what could happen if there is a russian invasion.— russian invasion. and we are heafina russian invasion. and we are hearing the _ russian invasion. and we are hearing the latest _ russian invasion. and we are | hearing the latest intelligence assessment from this country that russia has the capability with those 100,000 troops and may be more than that on the border with ukraine that the capability is there to launch a full—scale invasion in the next 48 hours with tanks to be able to get keogh. the situation as described by the americans being very dire. let's get some of the day's other news. the man accused of setting south africa's national assembly on fire is to appeal his bail decision later. zandile christmas mafe is charged with housebreaking, theft and arson over the blaze injanuary, but has denied all the charges. police say they have a video confession from the 49 year old — evidence they say will be presented when the case

comes to trial. all abandoned wells in morocco will be surveyed following the tragic death of a five—year old boy earlier this week. rayan's plight at the bottom of a narrow thirty—two metre deep borehole gripped millions in morocco and beyond. a water ministry official said the survey was designed to prevent a repeat of the tragedy. he said those who have dug wells which flout regulations would be required to pay to make them safe. four people have been killed and anotherfour injured in an explosion at a petrochemical plant in south korea. it happened during a routine leak test at the refinery in the southern port city of yeosu. the blast comes as a new law's enacted which can see company management given large fines or imprisoned over industrial accidents. the 15—year—old skater at the centre of an olympic doping controversy faces a fight to stay at the winter games in beijing. it's now been confirmed that

kamila valieva tested positive for a banned substance before the games started. (laura scott is our sports news correpsondent we've got russia undermine of extraordinary talent and we have a drug scandal. tell us, what is the latest on the story. what is the latest on the sto . ~ ., ._ , what is the latest on the sto . ~ ., ., story. well, after days of speculation _ story. well, after days of speculation about - story. well, after days of speculation about the - story. well, after days of - speculation about the reasons for the delay to the medal ceremony in the figure skating scheme —— team that was won by the russian olympic committee involving kamila valieva the international testing agency said it acknowledged there was a need for an official statement needed given the heightened public interest and what they confirmed is that we and many other media understood to believe the case is that kamila valieva tested positive for a banned substance and to run through the chronology of what we know is that on

christmas day 2021 valieva was tested at the russian figure skating championships in saint petersburg and that sample had not been analysed and she was able to come to the beijing winter games where on monday she made olympic history, landing two quadruple jumps and helping the russian olympic committee to that gold medal which should have been awarded on tuesday but also on tuesday the swedish laboratory analysing that sample from christmas day came forward to say that that had tested positive for a banned substance, so valieva was provisionally suspended by the russian anti—doping authorities which meant the situation could not take place but then valieva appealed the provisional suspensions of the disciplinary commission and was successful in that appealed but now we have the international olympic committee and the international skating union exercising their right to appeal that decision to lift that suspension and thatis

to lift that suspension and that is now going to go to the court of arbitration for sport, and all of this needs to be done hastily because on tuesday, valieva is the favourite in the women's singles event at the figure skating here at the winter olympics and they need to know whether she can or cannot take part in that. whether she can or cannot take part in that-— part in that. absolutely. it's a question _ part in that. absolutely. it's a question of— part in that. absolutely. it's a question of timing - part in that. absolutely. it's a question of timing and - part in that. absolutely. it's a question of timing and of| a question of timing and of course valieva is russian but not competing for russia, it's the russian olympic committee and people will remember in the games that russia does have form when it comes to doping, yet russia were the people to ban herfirst, or at least ban her first, or at least suspend ban herfirst, or at least suspend her. ban her first, or at least suspend her.— ban her first, or at least suspend her. yes, this is a complex — suspend her. yes, this is a complex case _ suspend her. yes, this is a complex case but - suspend her. yes, this is a complex case but viewersl suspend her. yes, this is a i complex case but viewers will be forgiven for feeling a depressing sense of deja vu when they hear this news given we have a doping controversy at an olympics involving russia and it's worth noting there is and it's worth noting there is a 15—year—old at the heart of this but the games are

appearing on the banner of the russian olympic committee because russia was found guilty of running a state—sponsored doping programme from 2011 until 2015 and that involved london 2012 and saatchi in 2014 and they have been serving a form of sanctions ever since and in tokyo last summer and they are competing under the banner of the russian olympic committee and it was already a source of controversy given that they have been been aware that they have been been aware that russian countries where their colours and hearing tchaikovsky when they win that mean they are russia in all but name but this is once again in doping controversy involving russia at an olympics. thank ou ve russia at an olympics. thank you very much- _ heading back where it belongs — the painting looted by the nazis now being returned to the family of its original owners.

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 bbc news, the latest headlines. britain's most senior police officer is to step down after london's mayor loses confidence in her leadership. president biden tells us citizens to leave ukraine now, warning "things could go crazy quickly" now to canada, where the chaos caused by the trucker protests is spreading. two us—canada border points have been affected, including the ambassador bridge, one of the most important trade corridors between the two countries. car makers say it's affecting production. samira hussain has the latest from ottawa. for yet another day lorry drivers, furious at vaccine dates and covid restrictions have blocked the busiest border crossing in north america.

itjust keeps going on and on. the economic impact could be serious. a quarter of all trade between canada and the us happens here or it did until angry truckers intervened. we want freedom. you cannot force things on people. many people have lost things with these lockdowns and with the mandates. the protests are forced to have the worlds largest car—maker is to suspend operations, a financial burden that has caught the attention of the white house. i think it's important for everyone in canada and the us is to understand the potential impact of this blockage on workers, on supply chains and that is where we are most focused. it's the focus for local businesses in ottawa where the original trucker protest continues to obstruct daily life and commerce but for the police force attentions turn to the impending confrontation. on wednesday they started warning truckers they would be arrested

and forcibly removed if they don't leave their own. the response to the threat could dramatically change the carnival atmosphere which has prevailed, all of which seems strange in a country and political system once renowned for its good manners. both canada's protesters can be removed from the roads and then businesses will likely bounce back and as covert is starting to recede, so do the restrictions but the anger it has provoked might not be easily reversed. i've been speaking to stephanie carvin, a former national security analyst, and now, associate professor at ca nada's carleton university. i asked for her thoughts on the governments handling of the protests. it's mind—bogglingly bad. from the beginning they seem to have misunderstood the nature of this movement, which, of course, has been driven by extremists who turned to extremist tactics and then seem to be stunned and had no

response and that municipal level in ottawa they have tried to say there is no policing solution and federal involvement required but at the federal level they have said that this is a police matter and while they will support police and provide additional resources they don't want to get involved. and at least where i live in ontario the government has been largely absent in the first major action they took was a few hours ago when they have moved to try and stop or at least freeze the money and some of these large crowdfunding campaigns we've seen that, honestly, the government seems at a loss to ask and they are suffering as a result. you talk about crowdfunding campaigns but how significant have they been to the movement which meanwhile, france and belgium have promised tough action to prevent planned protests this weekend, along the lines of those in canada. motorists intending to block roads into the french capital to show their anger about coronavirus restrictions have been threatened with fines and jail terms.

also more police in new zeland are to be deployed outside parliament as anti vaccine demonstartors gather there for a fourth consecutive day. over 100 people were arrested on thursday as protestors demonstrated about compulsory vaccinations for health workers, teachers and other occupations. demonstrators have blocked nearby streets with cars and pitched tents, saying they will stay for days if they have to. more than ninety per cent of eligible people in new zealand have had the covid jab. the french virologist, luc montangier, who won the nobel prize for medicine for his co—discovery of the virus that causes aids, has died at the age of 89. stephanie prentice reports. he was the man who helped tackled the fear, damage and

death spreading through the 1980s as the aids epidemic unfolded around the world, baffling scientists. the virus can be passed during sexual intercourse with an infected person. luc montagnier isolated human tissue from a neck gland in 1983 and was able to draw the link between a virus in it and aids. he battled to be recognised as the first scientist to reach this conclusion, eventually receiving a nobel prize recognition in 2008 for his work. it is a frequent statement saying that nobel prize winners are less productive after receiving the nobel prize, so i will try not to show this. he went on to develop a specialism in exploring cures for viral diseases but also became a pariah within the medical community for supporting non—scientific theories. in 2020, this translated to a popularity with modern anti—vaccine movements as he denounced covid vaccines and claimed covid—19 was made in a lab. despite this, tributes are pouring in with love from his work and with love from emanuel macron for his contribution to the fight against aids.

an australian icon — the koala — has now been classed as endangered. the number of koalas have fallen sharply along much of the east coast due to land clearing, bush fires and disease. scientists say the population in the state of new south wales has decreased by up to 60 percent in the past 11 years. let's hearfrom australia — dr kellie lee, executive director of non—profit research group, science for wildlife, is in the blue mountains to the north—west of sydney. (dtl)how can the species recover when its home callers have gone from no listing to endangered in a

decade? �* , . listing to endangered in a decade? 3 . , , listing to endangered in a decade? �*, ., , , decade? it's a pretty grim day to see the _ decade? it's a pretty grim day to see the endangered - decade? it's a pretty grim day to see the endangered listing| to see the endangered listing today and it's been a combination of threats so habitat loss is the key driver and they certainly prefer good soil types but there is one disease that has impacted populations and certainly the summer fires we saw two years ago haddon devastating impact across the eastern states. let's take the first reason, loss of habitat, i wonder where it leaves the recovery effort for this species. how do you get to increase in population and takes pieces of the endangered list if they have nowhere to live? absolutely. that is a _ nowhere to live? absolutely. that is a big _ nowhere to live? absolutely. that is a big challenge. - nowhere to live? absolutely. that is a big challenge. a - nowhere to live? absolutely. that is a big challenge. a lot| that is a big challenge. a lot of areas of the koalas do prefer habitats and soil types that people prefer for development and agriculture so there's been a net loss of habitat in the last couple of decades and it's been exhilarating every year and under the increase protections the hope is the decisions are

in the favour of the koalas and the habitat lost the stems. and we also have inside protected areas that are hopeful but with climate change as it is an added challenge as well. than added challenge as well. an inuui added challenge as well. an inquiry so — added challenge as well. an inquiry so koalas could become extinct by 2050 so what needs to be done to prevent it from happening? ads, to be done to prevent it from happening?— to be done to prevent it from happening? a lot needs to be done and _ happening? a lot needs to be done and we _ happening? a lot needs to be done and we have _ happening? a lot needs to be done and we have to - happening? a lot needs to be done and we have to manage| happening? a lot needs to be - done and we have to manage them so some of the work we are doing here is looking at potential climate refugees and we are trying to work out how to manage koalas under increasingly in temm of pus fires so we need to see the threat and of the other protected areas but also to stem that habitat loss and we have to stop sometime soon and we have to do it while we have some koalas left and now they're in danger of it is not

enough to hang on to what we have a left and we need to actively increase population numbers which means more habitat as well.— numbers which means more habitat as well. how hopeful are ou habitat as well. how hopeful are you that _ habitat as well. how hopeful are you that things - habitat as well. how hopeful are you that things can - habitat as well. how hopeful are you that things can be i are you that things can be turned around? if are you that things can be turned around?— are you that things can be turned around? if there is any animal we _ turned around? if there is any animal we can _ turned around? if there is any animal we can say _ turned around? if there is any animal we can say that - turned around? if there is any animal we can say that will. animal we can say that will turn things around, a high level of community willis increasing in order to try and conserve them in new south wales and there's been a statement that they want to double the numbers of koalas and reverse the trend by 2050 and reverse the trend by 2050 and we need to see how that is implemented on the ground because it is a big ask and there's certainly a lot of tree planting and various things going on but the key thing now is to hang on to the koalas we haveis is to hang on to the koalas we have is to conserve the forest and their habitats right now and their habitats right now and stop those losses. lode

and their habitats right now and stop those losses. we will leave it there _ and stop those losses. we will leave it there for _ and stop those losses. we will leave it there for the - and stop those losses. we will leave it there for the moment | leave it there for the moment but thank you forjoining us today. belgium's leading art museum has returned a painting that it's held for more than seventy years — after it was looted by the nazis. the work belonged to a jewish couple who fled their home in frankfurt in 1938. throughout europe there are still many works of art that have yet to be returned to the descendants of their original owners. the bbc�*s tim allman reports. in a mountain cave, herman goering's secret treasure trove was located by american soldiers. nobody knows how much art was looted by the nazis. thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of paintings and sculptures. the original owners, dead or missing. but decades later, at least one work of art is going back to where it belongs. flowers by the german artist lovis corinth was the province of erin meyer when they left behind before they fled to

belgium then britain before the war began. but returning it to the descendants was not an easy task. the family doesn't have an image of the painting and i assume they know it comes from the meier family, so both parties have to come together to make a connection. this entire exhibition is of works likely to have been stolen by the nazis and many museums and galleries have been criticised for not doing enough to return them stop. these works all have different stories but we have put them together because they are all linked to the war. and they all pose a problem of provenance in some way, and it was important to highlight the problem. this is not a simple exercise. no, but the family of gustaf and emma meyer believe it

is vital nonetheless. it's certainly not the best start to a newjob. a newly—employed russian art gallery guard has been accused of doodling on a soviet—era painting that he was responsible for overseeing. this is the painting in question — "three figures" by anna leporskaya. the abstract figures are usually "eyeless", but during a visit to the yeltsin center in december two visitors spotted eyes drawn on in ballpoint pen. the security guard has since been fired and the police have opened a criminal investigation. the exhibition curator told a russian news website that the guards motives were unknown, but it's thought he suffered from some kind of a lapse in sanity.

you can reach me on twitter — i'm @vfritznews hello again. this time yesterday we were looking at some hill snow in scotland causing a few issues on some of the higher scottish roots and some strong winds gusting at 70 mph in the western isles but a cover of show left over the hills and this was courtesy of this area of cloud, the low pressure currently working across the north sea to bring some fairly windy weather to the netherlands through friday. in the atlantic, we have the next weather system waiting to come into the start of the weekend but between that and that, we get that, an area of high pressure that will be bringing some fine weather our way for friday. however, over recent hours, as the high pressure has edged in, the number of showers has dwindled and a few left in

north—western areas and with the combination of clear skies and light winds allowing a widespread frost, there could be a few icy patches around and the lowest temperatures in aberdeenshire getting down to 10 celsius and a freezing cold start to the day on friday but beautiful winter sunshine for most of you through most of the day, and some isolated showers across the north west and through the day you will see the weather turn cloudy in northern ireland. temperatures? we are looking at highs close to the seasonal average, about six in glasgow and nine for cardiff and london. there will be rain developing on friday night and into saturday the rain will affect parts of england and wales but doesn't reach the south—east of england and east anglia, where it will stay bright and breezy but there will be strong winds for many of us and for scotland and northern ireland, frequent showers and some bright spells between the showers. temperatures a little bit higher, between eight and 10 degrees making it a mild day but perhaps not feeling so given the strength of the winds. talking of winds, the next area of low pressure on

sunday looks also set to bring more wet and windy weather our way. the rain might end up further northwards but not reaching northern scotland where there will be showers around but otherwise the rain will be heavy and it will be a windy day with gales across southern parts of england and wales and through the english channel gusts of around 50 or 60 miles an hour, strong enough to bring down a few tree branches and there might be localised disruption on sunday from the system. next week looks unsettled, often wet and windy, but it does turn very mild for a time. that is your weather.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a festive fail. did growth slow in december? will find out later today when the latest economic numbers are published. ajump in us inflation. up to 7.5 % injanuary — the biggest increase in prices in four decades. to mars and beyond: elon musk delivers an update on the development of the starship — the worlds largest re—usable rocket system. and why this weekend is the biggest advertising event of the year in the us. we look closer at the money behind the superbowl and how cryptocurrency palys a bigger role.