this is bbc news, broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. i'm joanna gosling. our top stories... a russian invasion of ukraine is "highly likely". that's the assessment of the uk defence secretary, as more than a dozen countries urge their citizens to leave and diplomatic efforts intensify. thirteen people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses at a pub in east london. the uk prime minister's new chief of staff says the government will "take a step back" from people's lives post—pandemic and pursue a smaller state. canada's prime minister says all options remain on the table — as efforts continue to remove protesters blocking key trade routes. and it's the biggest day of the year for american football — super bowl 56 takes place in los

angeles. hello, and welcome to bbc news. us secretary of state antony blinken has said the "imminent" threat of russian military action in ukraine justifies evacuating the us embassy in kyiv. his words came after ukraine's president urged calm, saying the biggest enemy was panic. more than a dozen countries have urged their citizens to leave ukraine. there have been further attempts to defuse tensions in the region. in a phone call, presidentjoe biden warned russian leader vladimir putin of "swift and severe costs" if russia sends in troops. meanwhile, the uk defence secretary ben wallace compared recent western diplomatic efforts to stop an invasion to the appeasement of nazi germany.

with the latest — aruna iyengar reports. a frosty phone call between russia and the us has not yielded much — the two powers a long way apart. the defence secretary, ben wallace, has likened these diplomatic efforts to appeasement ahead of the second world war. he says russia is highly likely to invade ukraine and warns that russia's military presence on ukraine's borders is so large they could launch an offensive at any time. but russia does have over 100,000 troops massed on ukraine's borders. it accuses nato of not taking its security concerns seriously and wants the defence block to promise never to admit ukraine to its membership. russia has tried to play down the threat of its military presence, saying the us is whipping up hysteria over an imminent invasion.

war can take an unpredictable path, and we think if russia does act in the way that we fear it will, it will bring tremendous hardship and greater insecurity into the heart of europe, and that is a concern to all of us. there are fears that russia may initiate a so—called "false flag" operation. this might involve attacks on pro—russian groups in ukraine to create a pretext for an invasion. he has shown that russia will not be ignored. don't forget that only six months ago everyone was talking about china, particularly the biden administration. so putin has succeeded in getting his demands discussed publicly, being again the centre of attention and trying to demonstrate that russia is still a great power. despite the fact it is actually a declining power. if russia does invade, president biden says that nato countries will use sanctions to cripple the russian economy. nato is supplying weaponry to ukraine and other eastern european countries but says it will not land troops in ukraine. time is running out

for a peaceful solution. the us, the uk and other countries have told their citizens to leave ukraine immediately. aruna iyengar, bbc news. volodymyr ariev is a member of parliament for the main opposition party in ukraine — and gave his thoughts on the latest threat from russia. we are used to living in the permanent threats from russian federation side. but the troops surrounding ukraine are from russia, belarus borders, asc fleet in full readiness. so we understand that, if the rifle is on the stage, it shoots, says chekhov. 0ngoing

aggression could be the question in the scope of the war that can be in the scope of the war that can be in the next days. mr zelinsky tried to calm down people but we expect more talk of the ukrainian president to the population, and we understand that to reduce the level of threat, speaking to people, i don't think it's a good idea. we need honest information. that is why our political party have initiated yesterday urgent hearings in the parliament. but people on the streets, and very some people leave their families to a rural area and there is no panic in the shops. the

only thing that disappeared from the shops... let's speak to our correspondent james waterhouse is in the capital, kyiv. we were hearing from that politician, james, that there is no panic and the president has said the biggest enemy is panic. what is the latest from kyiv?— latest from kyiv? well, there are len of latest from kyiv? well, there are plenty of things _ latest from kyiv? well, there are plenty of things not _ latest from kyiv? well, there are plenty of things not happening, l plenty of things not happening, joanna, let's put it like that. there are military barricades, soldiers on street corners or sandbags being piled up. this morning is a crisp, fine day. people have been getting on the bus as normal, taking the many subway routes, plenty of shops underneath, going to work, going for a cup of coffee. there is a sense of normality. we have heard it over again, president zelensky saying don't panic, because that is their enemy's best friend. there has caused some frustration with some

newspapers, in the sense that now is the time to be showing strength. not so much telling everyone to stay calm. president zelensky yesterday was at a military exercise in the south of the country. he was wearing a green uniform, if you like. that has been welcomed in some corners. but when you have the uk defence secretary comparing talks with a peace deal that came before the second world war, you are left in no allusion how serious things are being taken. president biden spoke to vladimir putin for an hour yesterday, reiterating that the consequences of an invasion would be devastating and it would lessen russia's status in the world. russia in turn has accused the west of stoking hysteria. so the political argument goes on, but as long as that argument does go on, the hope is that it prevents any further escalation. is that it prevents any further escalation-— is that it prevents any further escalation. ~ . , escalation. what is the view there on the response _

escalation. what is the view there on the response of— escalation. what is the view there on the response of western - on the response of western countries, notjust this talk of what might be about to happen but in terms of what is actually on the table? . �* , . terms of what is actually on the table? . v . , terms of what is actually on the table? ., �*, ., , ., ., ~ ., table? that's a bit of an unknown. for president _ table? that's a bit of an unknown. for president zelensky, _ table? that's a bit of an unknown. for president zelensky, the - table? that's a bit of an unknown. for president zelensky, the idea l table? that's a bit of an unknown. | for president zelensky, the idea of him making any concessions to russia is just not one he can swallow. it was a big election promise a couple of years ago that he could resolve this diplomatically, convince russia to pull back its presence. so the proposal from to pull back its presence. so the proposalfrom emmanuel to pull back its presence. so the proposal from emmanuel macron, to pull back its presence. so the proposalfrom emmanuel macron, for proposal from emmanuel macron, for ukraine proposalfrom emmanuel macron, for ukraine and russia to honour the minsk agreements, as until now failed peace deal. it would involve russia putting in place the conditions for a prisoner exchange and immunity for prosecution. ukraine would have to state local elections, which as far as they are concerned would give moscow a hand

in their politics. there is deadlock there. then we have had the continued military aid coming in. that has been welcomed, of course any kind of unity. what ukrainians keep saying is, i don't care how, they want things to de—escalate, they want things to de—escalate, they want things to de—escalate, they want troops to pull away, the areas to be in legal ukrainian control. what is clear, nato troops are being deployed to eastern europe but only to nato members, not here on ukrainian soil, should be there be an invasion or another type of escalation. fix, be an invasion or another type of escalation-— be an invasion or another type of escalation. �* , ., _, , escalation. a number of countries, the us and — escalation. a number of countries, the us and the _ escalation. a number of countries, the us and the uk, _ escalation. a number of countries, the us and the uk, have _ escalation. a number of countries, the us and the uk, have told - escalation. a number of countries, the us and the uk, have told their| the us and the uk, have told their nationals to get out of ukraine are now, saying that there will be no chance for countries to come to the rescue if people get trapped in the event of there being a conflict. are many people leaving? this event of there being a conflict. are many people leaving?— event of there being a conflict. are many people leaving? as far as the embassies are _ many people leaving? as far as the embassies are concerned, - many people leaving? as far as the embassies are concerned, yes, - many people leaving? as far as the embassies are concerned, yes, we| embassies are concerned, yes, we have seen staff leaving. both the uk

and us embassy. there is a core team remaining, including the ambassador. 0ut remaining, including the ambassador. out of those diplomatic buildings, people are staying. to be honest with you, it has not been immediately obvious to them the seriousness of the situation, in terms of the foreign office advice to citizens to get out of ukraine. their main concern has been the cancelling of flights, a bit of disruption happening today and tomorrow. but that sense of perjury is not being translated in kyiv at least. people are getting on with things. —— that sense of perjury. eight years of russian aggression since the annexation of crimea. that is a long time to be wondering what is a long time to be wondering what is going to happen, whether there is going to be in ariel bombardment as we are warned by the west.

it was organised by a right—wing group, but plenty of other people turned up because it was an opportunity to treat the national flag around your shoulders and chant in honour of your country. so we are seeing a lot more of that. there are plenty of people out and about in the centre of town, and it is a peaceful morning today. look at the weather, it is totally at odds with what is happening in a more global scale. . ~ what is happening in a more global scale. ., ~ i. what is happening in a more global scale. . ~' ,, , what is happening in a more global scale. ., ~ i. , . at least 13 people have been injured after a mezzanine floor collapsed at a pub in east london. firefighters rescued seven people who became trapped after the incident at the two more years bar in hackney wick yesterday. paramedics said three people were seriously hurt and 10 more had minor injuries. hal, a mental health worker from stratford, was on the mezzanine floor went it collapsed. it wasn't what we saw

but what we heard. suddenly there was this earthquake—like rumble and before we knew it, suddenly the floor gave away and we all started to sink and quite fast. everyone began to scream, and we tried to process it because you never, ever are prepared for anything like this and thankfully the ambulance arrived within ten minutes or so. the prime minister's new chief of staff, steve barclay, has said the government will take a "step back" from people's lives and pursue a smaller state. writing in the sunday telegraph, mr barclay says that while public health interventions and vast amounts of spending were right during the pandemic, it's time for what he calls a "more enabling approach". 0ur political correspondent

charlotte rose has the latest. i think it means that the government will no longer be telling people how to live their lives, but also that the treasury will be less willing to open up its wallet. steve barclay who is of course a cabinet member but now also the prime minister's new chief of staff says in this article that the nation has spent £400 billion during the pandemic and supported more than 11.5 million people through the furlough scheme. of course, we heard borisjohnson speaking in parliament last week. he said he wanted to end the remaining covid restrictions as soon as possible. and i think that this intervention also signals a shift that the government is going to be taking more of a back seat and that businesses, communities and individuals themselves will have to take more personal responsibility which will be music to the ears of many backbenchers, certainly on the conservative side. of course, this coming week, borisjohnson will be doing a tour of the uk, talking about the government's levelling up agenda, so expect to see plenty of pictures of him wearing hard hats

and also images of new manufacturing centres across the country. he will also be hoping to leave behind those rows about downing street parties and of course that questionnaire he's been asked to fill in by the metropolitan police about those events. voting is under way in switzerland to decide whether to tighten tobacco laws — including a ban on advertisements anywhere that young people might see them. campaigners say the country has been slow to adopt measures due to lobbying by tobacco companies. 0ur correspondent, imogen foulkes, reports from bern. switzerland, a byword for good health and clean air but two million people here, almost one quarter of the population, smoke. most started when they were teenagers. every year 9,500 people die from the tobacco—related illness foot of a cost billions on health and economic costs. that's why it is so important people to limit advertising,

discounts and sponsoring. switzerland lags far behind the rest of europe over tobacco control. in a survey of 80 countries, it ranked second to last. campaigners blame lobbying by the industry. the words biggest tobacco companies have headquarters in switzerland. they contribute $6 billion a year and 11,000 jobs to the swiss economy. those opposing the ban say it could open the door to restrictions on advertising other things. sugar, alcohol, even switzerland's beloved sausages. we are in an era where all advertising is likely to be banned. obviously, for the swiss business community, this is a serious problem. a really fundamental problem. the swiss government sides with business. it's calling for a no to the ban, but opinion polls suggest

voters think differently. over 60% want an end to tobacco advertising. as ever, in switzerland, where all big policy goes to a vote, the swiss are deciding on other things, too. a proposed ban on animal testing and new subsidies for the media. but the key outcome today is likely to be switzerland finally calling time on big tobacco. imogen foulkes, bbc news. a russian invasion of ukraine is "highly likely". that's the assessment of the uk defence secretary, as more than a dozen countries urge their citizens to leave and diplomatic efforts intensify. thirteen people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses at a pub in east london. the uk prime minister's new chief of staff says the government will "take a step back" from people's lives post—pandemic

and pursue a smaller state. protests against covid regulations are continuing in canada, where traffic has been brought to a standstill at a key trading route with the united states. police were called in to clear the blockade which has been going on for nearly a week. jessica murphy reports. it didn't take that many vehicles to block the busiest land border crossing in canada, but it's taking hours for police to clear the ambassador bridge blockade. for the moment, the officers are trying negotiation tactics as they try to get protesters to leave peacefully after six days of demonstrations. their message that they tried to send from the very beginning has clearly lost its way and i don't think the people here — notjust the police, but i don't think the people in our community or on the other side of the border — are interested in hearing it any more. who are you protecting? with a vital trade route interrupted, the province of ontario declared a state of emergency on friday that brought in penalties like heavy fines and possible jail time for those participating in the blockades. that came into force hours later alongside a court granted injunction to

remove the protesters. it took just days for the blockade on the ambassador bridge to put a squeeze on the supply chains and car—makers on both sides of the border. it's an economic link between the us and canada. hundreds of millions of dollars in trade cross the border there each day. copycat protests in europe and around the world have sprung up in recent weeks, with supporters calling for an end to covid—19 restrictions. this is grassroots people with their children and grandparents and parents coming together and saying, "hey, my rights and my freedoms are being infringed and denied here." drop the mandates, we go home. 15 minutes, we're gone. facing growing pressure from the white house and at home, prime ministerjustin trudeau made this vow on friday. so, make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed.

but despite efforts to get dug—in protesters to leave, demonstrations continue nationwide. protests in ottawa are entering their third weekend now, with demonstrators and their trucks continuing to block much of the city centre. government officials are meeting to discuss these ongoing protests, but for the moment there is no clear end in sight. jessica murphy, the bbc news, 0ttawa. it's the biggest day of the year for american football fans — as they gear up for super bowl 56. with a crowd of more than 70,000 and more than 100 million people expected to watch around the world — the adverts and the famous half—time show are as important as the game itself. sophie long reports from the city hosting tonights match — los angeles. the first super bowl was played in los angeles in 1967. now football's coming home — to a brand—new stadium which just happens to be the most expensive sporting venue on the planet. a spectacular backdrop for the grand finale of this quintessential american sport. it's unbelievable. as soon as the kick—off happens, you just feel like you're almost in a movie. you know? no—one can believe...

the tickets, by the way, are like $7,000. itjust feels like you're in the most exclusive nightclub in the history of the world. right? and you'll see the most famous people in the world sitting in the upper deck. with ticket prices like that, of course, not everyone can go. we are super excited to be going to the game on sunday. and how do they feel that you are going to get to go and you're not taking them? it's so unfair! so there's some conflict at home but we've told them that the super bowl is not for them, but that we are definitely going to take them to another game next season. catherine? with an audience that could exceed 100 million, super bowl commercials are huge star—studded affairs, with 30—second slots selling for millions. watch the coffee. and then, of course, there is the half—time show. # in the city... you got snoop dogg, maryj, dr dre,

eminem and kendrick lamar. it doesn't get any better than that. # guess who's back? i've been keeping it all the way real. i'm not trying to be egotistical or anything like that, but who else could do this show here in la? mm—hm. no—one. that's a fact. who else could perform the half—time show other than these amazing artists that we've put together for this thing? but the spectacular is taking place in a city with rising crime and a homelessness crisis. many encampments have been cleared, leading to claims that some of the thousands living on the streets are being shoved into the shadows. this is a sense of community for them, and it may be hard for those of us that are housed to think through that, but there is a hierarchy, there are belongings. so when they're asked to move and they're forced out of that community, even if it is on the street, it creates additional trauma.

whatever the costs, and the amount of money changing hands is monumental, la and its legendary rap royalty are ready. it's super bowl showtime. sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. 0ne super fan who'll be staying up to watch here in the uk is antony bullick. hejoins me now. thank you forjoining us. you are already, i can see... pare thank you forjoining us. you are already, i can see...— already, i can see... are you excited? _ already, i can see... are you excited? ridiculously - already, i can see... are you. excited? ridiculously excited. already, i can see... are you . excited? ridiculously excited. it already, i can see... are you - excited? ridiculously excited. it is the game that we all look forward to as american football fans. imitten the game that we all look forward to as american football fans. when and wh did as american football fans. when and why did you — as american football fans. when and why did you get _ as american football fans. when and why did you get into _ as american football fans. when and why did you get into american - why did you get into american football? i why did you get into american football? ., ., ~ .. football? i got into american football? i got into american football when _ football? i got into american football when i _ football? i got into american football when i was - football? i got into american football when i was at - football? i got into american | football when i was at school. football? i got into american i football when i was at school. i football? i got into american - football when i was at school. i was a complete sports nut. i started following all of the american sports, as well as the sport over here. and american footballjust really stuck with me. mas here. and american football 'ust really stuck with mei here. and american football 'ust really stuck with me. was it to the su er really stuck with me. was it to the super bowl? _ really stuck with me. was it to the super bowl? the _ really stuck with me. was it to the super bowl? the super— really stuck with me. was it to the super bowl? the super bowl - really stuck with me. was it to the super bowl? the super bowl is . super bowl? the super bowl is obviously something that cuts through people who might not be thinking about american football the rest of the year. mi; thinking about american football the rest of the year.— thinking about american football the rest of the year. my earliest memory

of american — rest of the year. my earliest memory of american football _ rest of the year. my earliest memory of american football is _ rest of the year. my earliest memory of american football is a _ rest of the year. my earliest memory of american football is a super - rest of the year. my earliest memory of american football is a super bowl| of american football is a super bowl where the new england patriots won the last kick of the game, and from there it is just really stuck with me and i started following the philadelphia eagles and i was fortunate enough to get to the super bowl myself four years ago. what fortunate enough to get to the super bowl myself four years ago. what was that like? actually _ bowl myself four years ago. what was that like? actually being _ bowl myself four years ago. what was that like? actually being there? - bowl myself four years ago. what was that like? actually being there? it - that like? actually being there? it was incredible. _ that like? actually being there? it was incredible. the _ that like? actually being there? it was incredible. the atmosphere i that like? actually being there? it| was incredible. the atmosphere in the run—up to the game, it was one of adrenaline and pure joy. and then as soon as that ball was kicked off, i was just a bag as soon as that ball was kicked off, i wasjust a bag of as soon as that ball was kicked off, i was just a bag of nerves. find as soon as that ball was kicked off, i wasjust a bag of nerves. i was 'ust a bag of nerves. and how are i wasjust a bag of nerves. and how are ou i wasjust a bag of nerves. and how are you feeling _ i wasjust a bag of nerves. and how are you feeling tonight? _ i wasjust a bag of nerves. and how are you feeling tonight? because . are you feeling tonight? because your team are in the game tonight. no, there are not. tonight i am going to enjoy watching it as a neutral ijust hope for a really good game. there are lots of really intriguing storylines that are going to play out tonight. what intriguing storylines that are going to play out tonight.— to play out tonight. what should --eole to play out tonight. what should people but _ to play out tonight. what should people but look _ to play out tonight. what should people but look out _ to play out tonight. what should people but look out for? - to play out tonight. what should people but look out for? de - people but look out for? de cincinnati _ people but look out for? the; cincinnati bengals, who people but look out for? li2 cincinnati bengals, who are one of the teams in the super bowl, this could be their first ever super bowl win. 0n the opposite side, we have

the rams, who recently moved from st louis, where they won the super bowl, to los angeles where they have not won a super bowl. we have got the quarterback for the cincinnati bengals, who is only in his second year of playing professional football, who could lead his team to glory. football, who could lead his team to alo . ., , football, who could lead his team to tlo _ ., , ., football, who could lead his team to alo . ., , ., ., ., glory. your focus to their own what is auoin glory. your focus to their own what is going to — glory. your focus to their own what is going to be _ glory. your focus to their own what is going to be happening _ glory. your focus to their own what is going to be happening on - glory. your focus to their own what is going to be happening on the - is going to be happening on the pitch. and that is what it is all about. and yet, everything around it is the stuff as well that people talk about. even the adverts become cultural sensations. theo;t talk about. even the adverts become cultural sensations.— cultural sensations. they do. it is a hue cultural sensations. they do. it is a huge spectacle. _ cultural sensations. they do. it is a huge spectacle. super- cultural sensations. they do. it is a huge spectacle. super bowl - cultural sensations. they do. it is - a huge spectacle. super bowl becomes more then what is happening on the pitch. we are talking about how many tweets per second are going out from a marketing point of view, the ad spending, and of course the half—time show. but when you are there in person, the amount of events and family activities that take place, or certainly took place when i was there four years ago, was

absolutely incredible, in the week running up to the event.— absolutely incredible, in the week running up to the event. there are i think around — running up to the event. there are i think around it _ running up to the event. there are i think around 4 million _ running up to the event. there are i think around 4 million people - running up to the event. there are i think around 4 million people who l think around it million people who will watch the super bowl in the uk. that is a lot of people but it is obviously not the sort of community of support that you would get in the united states. do you have a group of fans who you will be watching it with? do many of your friends get your enthusiasm and excitement for it? , ., ~ ., x ,, your enthusiasm and excitement for it? _, . it? they do. the whatsapp group will be ve , it? they do. the whatsapp group will be very. very — it? they do. the whatsapp group will be very. very busy- — it? they do. the whatsapp group will be very, very busy. through - it? they do. the whatsapp group will be very, very busy. through the - be very, very busy. through the years, i have developed a community of fellow eagles fans, or fellow nfl fans, who i have connected with on social media as well. so it is not just the friends i have grown up with, i have made new friends through it as well. it with, i have made new friends through it as well.— with, i have made new friends through it as well. it is good to talk to you- — through it as well. it is good to talk to you- i — through it as well. it is good to talk to you. i hope _ through it as well. it is good to talk to you. i hope you - through it as well. it is good to talk to you. i hope you enjoy i through it as well. it is good to l talk to you. i hope you enjoy the game. and you, if you are watching. you are watching bbc news.

we've got a strong jett stream now coming out of the north america, little bubbles helping to develop areas of low pressure. all this cloud which is spilling its weight northwards and eastwards. plenty of rain so far across western areas, easing off a little bit through the rest of the afternoon. and slowly across the western fringes of wales. after a dry day for some across east anglia and the south—east, the rain will push here. strongest of winds in the south, touching gale force at times. quite a wet afternoon across parts of eastern scotland, but the

further north you go some hazy sunshine and the letter of the winds. because air is coming off the south and south—west, we will be above where we should be at this stage in february. a mild evening across east anglia and the south—east. 0utbreaks across east anglia and the south—east. outbreaks of rain continuing here into the night. elsewhere, rain will come and go. with winds then switching to a northerly direction for scotland and northern ireland, here is where we have the clear skies. there could be some frost and ice are added to the start of the new week. the commute on monday, no area to begin with. showers turn fewer in number. quite a noticeable breeze making it feel rather cool. claudia st across parts of england and wales. taking away early sunshine and brightening up in the north. scotland and northern continue to be a story of sunshine. some snow over the hills. wendy down

the eastern coasts. it will feel colder than that. constructed tuesday, some snow across the scottish mountains. eventually the far north of england. 0utbreaks scottish mountains. eventually the far north of england. outbreaks of rain pushing its way southwards and eastwards and stalling by the end of the day. temperatures up to ten or 11 degrees. another chilly one across parts of scotland and northern ireland. gales are severe gales, but it winds from the atlantic. throughout this week, as you can see from my forecast, a fairly changeable one. expect some dry weather but a lot of rain at times and strong winds, too.

this is bbc news. the headlines... a russian invasion of ukraine is �*highly likely�*. that's the assessment of the uk defence secretary, as more than a dozen countries urge their citizens to leave and diplomatic efforts intensify. thirteen people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses at a pub in east london. the uk prime minister's new chief of staff says the government will "take a step back" from people's lives post—pandemic and pursue a smaller state canada's prime minister says all options remain on the table — as efforts continue to remove protesters blocking key trade routes. let's have a look at the sport. england take on italy this

afternoon in the last of this weekend's six nations ties..