welcome to bbc news. our top stories. western officials say russia has mobilised enough troops to be able to invade ukraine at "the drop of a hat" — ukraine's president remains defiant. translation: they tell us that february the 16th will be - the day of the invasion. we will make this into unity day. so, what's motivating the kremlin, and what do ordinary russians think? we'll go to moscow to find out. also in the programme: canada's prime minister invokes emergency powers to try to end the protests against covid measures — they could extend to the freezing of protesters bank accounts. this is about keeping canadian

save and restoring confidence in our institutions. ivan reitman, acclaimed producer and director of comedies such as "animal house" and "ghostbusters" has died at the age of 75. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says his country is ready to fight for its freedom — as warnings persist of a russian invasion. president zelensky declared wednesday a day of national unity, after us intelligence suggested that could be the day russian forces attack. the british prime minister borisjohnson has beem speaking with president biden — the pair said that a crucial window for diplomacy" over the crisis remained. around 130,000 russian troops are massed on ukraine's border. russia's foreign minister also said there is "always a chance"

of a negotiated agreement. 0ur eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford is in kiev and sent this report. russia still building up its forces, so much so that western governments are saying an invasion could be launched within days now. there are warnings coming thick and fast. the ukrainian prime minister has addressed the nation, assuring ukrainians the country is confident, stronger than ever. that russia is trying to scare them, but they won't succumb. and the talks to defuse this crisis have been intensifying. today, it was the german chance's turning down, showing support for kyiv, seeking ways to get russia to pull back its troops. the

president underlined that will not be by ukraine dropping its right tojoin nato. tomorrow, the german leader heads to moscow. �* . ~ . ., moscow. are making it clear once again _ moscow. are making it clear once again here _ moscow. are making it clear once again here in _ moscow. are making it clear once again here in kyiv - moscow. are making it clear once again here in kyiv that| once again here in kyiv that ukraine's sovereignty and you territorial integrity are non—negotiable for germany. we therefore expect russia to take therefore expect russia to take the steps to de—escalate the current tensions. in the steps to de-escalate the current tensions.— current tensions. in russia, the foreign _ current tensions. in russia, the foreign minister- current tensions. in russia, the foreign minister were l current tensions. in russia, - the foreign minister were shown urging president putin to keep talking to the west. it is worth it, he said. but boris johnson spoke to the us president today, too, and both are still sounding the alarm. we are on the edge of a precipice but there is still time _ precipice but there is still time for— precipice but there is still time for president putin to step— time for president putin to step back and what we are urging _ step back and what we are urging is— step back and what we are urging is for everybody to engage _ urging is for everybody to engage in dialogue for conversation to take place and for the — conversation to take place and for the russians to avoid what ithink— for the russians to avoid what i think everybody, certainly everybody in the uk, thinks would — everybody in the uk, thinks would be a disastrous mistake. it would be a disastrous mistake. it can— would be a disastrous mistake. it can be — would be a disastrous mistake. it can be hard to make a connection between all the

politicians warning of imminent, all—out war, even the bombing of the city of kyiv. and how things actually feel here on the ground because even as the negotiations, the diplomacy continued. so does life here, pretty much as normal. although, beneath the surface, people say they are feeling increasingly nervous now. we met what we have to say and do, to be afraid every hour of our life. we don't want to live like that and we just want to live. you make the patient for anything. we make readers hope that our city will be safe and families will be safe. for now, the musicians play on. even the school trips have not stopped as ukrainians still cannot quite believe the worst predictions.

since the end of the cold war countries have applied to join nato, pushing it everfurther eastwards. ukraine is wanted to join for many years now and the west believes that russia may be willing to go to war to stop it. what is motivating the kremlin, then, in these crucial next hours? we report from moscow. eight years after russia annexed crimea, is moscow on the brink of another invasion of ukraine? the west seems to think so, but what's the kremlin's view? western leaders may be warning of an imminent russian military escalation in ukraine, but moscow dismisses

all of that as hype, hysteria. and if you look at the way the state media here has been covering the ukraine story, you'll see that the picture presented to the russian public is the polar opposite of how the west sees things. so, according to that kremlin picture, russia has no plans for an invasion — instead, it's america who's the aggressor and pouring weapons into ukraine, it's nato that's threatening russia by expanding eastwards. still, that doesn't explain why russia is massing more than 100,000 troops right now near ukraine's border — and why it launched a large—scale military exercises in the region. so what is vladimir putin's aim? that is a difficult

question to answer, because no—one's quite sure. some in the west think this is all about russia trying to force ukraine back into moscow's orbit. some believe the kremlin's objective is much wider — to carve out a new sphere of influence for itself in europe, basically to dismantle the post—cold war european security order, to push nato back. today, with moscow sensing a lack of unity in europe and perhaps feeling that america is too busy with problems at home, a resurgent russia may feel that this is the moment to take action. but if there was all—out war with ukraine, how would the russian public react? it's hard to see the public here supporting a large—scale conflict with ukraine. many russians have said to me that they see ukrainians almost like brothers. there are very deep cultural, historical ties. war is the last thing

that people want here. but it won't be the public that decides this. it'll be the president. so what happens next? well, that may depend on whether president putin is willing to compromise over ukraine and european security — even if he doesn't get everything he wants, like an end to nato enlargement eastwards. whether he's willing to reach a deal or determined to continue with coercive diplomacy. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. melinda haring, from the atlantic council in washingtonjoins me now. as you join is, we'rejust hearing the us state department that it hearing the us state department thatitis hearing the us state department that it is now urging american citizens in belarus to leave immediately, due to the build—up of russian troops along the border there with ukraine. can i ask you that question, what do you think putin was my ultimate aim is here? is it invasion or is this all part of a carefully constructed coercive diplomacy to get the west to back off? putin wants more than ukraine. he is using ukraine as a level. you want to end the drive and

you crave is that we want to divide he wants to humiliate the vest and rewrite the rules of the architecture. he wants to be the boss in europe. it is all of the above.— all of the above. given that, what you — all of the above. given that, what you expect _ all of the above. given that, what you expect to - all of the above. given that, what you expect to happen l all of the above. given that, - what you expect to happen next? we've got wednesday been held up we've got wednesday been held up as the day of imminent strike. would you go along with that? ., ., ., that? for a while, i thought that? for a while, i thought that putin _ that? for a while, i thought that putin was _ that? for a while, i thought that putin was going - that? for a while, i thought that putin was going to - that? for a while, i thought that putin was going to go i that? for a while, i thought i that putin was going to go all in. there was a lot of compelling reasons. he sees weakness everywhere in a really good year 2021, i can make the argument i think pretty persuasively, but i've been thinking about it. i more and more convinced that it is going to sit on the border and ministers for the next couple of months. and he can turn up the volume and turn down the volume as he pleases. so you can get what he wants without amazing and without more punitive international sanctions. i think that it is fine. i don't really expect to

see anything on wednesday. there would be a reality should russia invade. that is, you invade, you perhaps move as far as kyiv and then what do you do? try to hold on to a country that does not want you there? this a country of 41 million people. this a country of 41 million --eole. ., , people. that is right. physically _ people. that is right. physically try - people. that is right. physically try to - people. that is right. physically try to take | people. that is right. - physically try to take about one third of the country. you go down to kyiv be hard to taken hold, go to 0dessa, he could use the air force, it is a piece of cake, honestly. we can't hold fight, ukrainians will resist and he knows that. and that is his ability to take a huge swot. if he does go in, he abuses power. everyone is paying attention to putin right now. he is on the front page of every newspaper and he loves this attention. he's been treated by a big international player once again.—

player once again. there is a reali , player once again. there is a reality, nonetheless, - player once again. there is a l reality, nonetheless, whether ljy reality, nonetheless, whether by air sea or land, russia has a capability here. i'm interested in looking at the military hardware that they have on offer which is a large part of why biden and boris johnson are suggesting that something isjust about johnson are suggesting that something is just about to happen. something is 'ust about to ha - en. . something is 'ust about to ha en. . ., happen. the intelligence that surely ominous, _ happen. the intelligence that surely ominous, right? - happen. the intelligence that surely ominous, right? more| surely ominous, right? more than 100,000 russian troops surrounding ukraine on three side to the north—east and south. he can do what he wants. these 30,000 troops in belarus. their 140 miles from here. you can roll into kyiv and there is lot of scary indications that he may do it. sincejuly, putin wrote a long winded essays ukraine is not a real country but my historic land sitting ukraine. that the cranium president is not legitimate. there is more rhetoric coming out of moscow. he did not get the deal that he thought he

would with the ukrainian prime minister. i think he may do something. you may not do it on wednesday. he wants ukraine to give up its aspirations for nato membership nato has been firm. the west has been firm and ukraine has a firm. they are not going to do it so how does he get what he wants? can get what he wants buddha sitting in the border and scaring everyone to death. he does not have to go in. the package of international sanctions would be very, very harmful to the russian economy. will have to wait to see what he does but for now thank you very much for your assessment. the canadian prime minister, justin trudeau, has invoked rarely used emergency powers to try and end protests against covid measures. demonstrations have taken place across the country, including this one at the busiest border

crossing between the province of british columbia and the united states. here's some of what mr trudeau said.trudeau vows to freeze anti—mandate protesters' bank accounts. without a court order, banks will be able freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests. he said the police would be given "more tools" to imprison or fine protesters and protect critical infrastructure.using the powers for the first time in half a century. the emergencies act is not something that's been used ever. but it exists for a reason. invoking the emergencies act is never the first thing a government should do, nor even the second. the act is to be used sparingly and as a last resort. right now, the situation requires additional tools not held by any other federal, provincial, or territorial law. david willis has more on the story. the second time in canadian history that measures of this kind have been implemented in peace time. the political optics of this forjustin trudeau are somewhat sketchy. these measures enable the government to override constitutional rights and of course he has long been

one who has campaigned and championed the human rights of his citizens. mr trudeau has said he not intending to bring in the army, to bring in military troops at this stage but by invoking the emergency act, he will basically be giving the police powers to augment their ranks, to have powers to arrest people and clear the blockade. there will also be new powers conferred under this act, for example, to block the insurance of certain truck drivers who are involved in these blockades and the ability to freeze the bank accounts of those who are using crowd—funding platforms to fine and these measures that are going on in canada. mr trudeau said it was essential to do this

in the interests of national security. stay with us on bbc news, still to come... the us suspends all imports of mexican avocados over threats made to an american inspector, inside the country. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the last soviet troops were finally coming home, the withdrawal completed in good order but the army defeated in the task it had been sent to perform. he has been murdered. that has a terrible effect on the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions on the streets. one wonders who is next.

as the airlift got under way, there was no letup from the eruption itself. lava streams from event low in the crater flow down to the sea on the east of the island, away from the town for the time being. it could start flowing again at any time. the russians heralded their new generation space station with a spectacular night launch. they call it mir, the russian for peace. this is bbc news, the latest headlines... ukraine's president zelensky says his country is ready to "fight for its freedom" — as warnings persist that an attack by russia may be imminent. canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau invokes rarely used emergency powers in an attempt to end protests against covid measures. mexico's avocado industry is huge, worth around $2.4 billion a year and with the us as its key export market. but the american department of agriculture has suspended all avocado imports from mexico until, it says, the safety of american

inspectors is guaranteed. on saturday, one inspector working in mexico received a threatening text on his phone. all mexican avocado imports to the us come from the state of michoacan where violent gangs often extort growers. i'm joined now by carrie kahn, npr's international correspondent based in mexico city. thank you forjoining us. can you just explain what has happened, the extent of this threat, as we understand it? irate threat, as we understand it? we don't know _ threat, as we understand it? - don't know a lot about the threat. the united states department of agriculture said it was threat. the mexican department of agriculture said the inspector received the threat via the telephone so we don't really know much more. they have not said anything more about that. it they have not said anything more about that.— they have not said anything more about that. it is not the first time _

more about that. it is not the first time is _ more about that. it is not the first time is it? _ more about that. it is not the first time is it? in _ first time is it? in relatively recent times, there have been incidents which put us inspectors on the line. this is the most _ inspectors on the line. this is the most egregious _ inspectors on the line. this is the most egregious incident i the most egregious incident that we have seen. there is one hell that they can earn points a few years ago but this is the first time that the us is actually banned exports and as you said, it is the only state in mexico that is registered and allowed to export products to the us so that means all other cattle exports to the us have been banned. whitebait thatis have been banned. whitebait that is a big hit for a lot of people. a huge amount of money at stake. what responses been within mexico, whether local or political? it is a big hit. as you said, more than $2.4 billion a year that money flows in a lot of corners of that state in mexico. it was interesting today listening to the president. he has a morning

press conference and he was asked about the temporary suspension. he said he did not address the security concerns that we are hearing from the us officials. instead, what he talked about was he was implying that there was some sort of conspiracy that there are economic and commercial political interests behind this band. and that mexican avocados are so good that inferring this that the us would not want to compete with them. and that there are other interests that were in the barn. irate there are other interests that were in the barn.— there are other interests that were in the barn. we will have to leave it _ were in the barn. we will have to leave it there. _ were in the barn. we will have to leave it there. thank - were in the barn. we will have to leave it there. thank you i to leave it there. thank you very much indeed for explaining the avocado issue there between mexico and the us. you the avocado issue there between mexico and the us.— mexico and the us. you are welcome- — you are welcome. britain has reaffirmed its sovereignty over the chagos islands on the day the mauritian flag was raised for the first time

on the disputed archipelago. the mauritian government has warned britain not to remove the flag from the indian ocean islands, saying it would be a provocation. 0ur africa correspondent andrew harding sent this report from the chagos islands. is this idyllic archipelago still british territory? today, the government of mauritius said no. a mauritian delegation, visiting the remote chagos islands for the first time, put up a flagpole and then raised their nationalflag, politely but provocatively staking claim to territory held by britain for half a century. this being part of mauritius, it deserves to have a flag here, so that when people come, they know that they are entering mauritian territory. the mauritians then sang their national anthem, a little softly, but don't mistake that for a lack of determination.

mauritius has won worldwide support, its prime minister sending this recorded message. as the state with sovereignty over the chagos archipelago, mauritius will ensure a wise stewardship of its territory. applause. the mauritians are already acting like it is a done deal, bringing in these international experts to map their new maritime borders, surveying this reef to see if it might actually count as an island. i haven't seen any dry land yet. no dry land. no. that's not good news, then, for the mauritians? well, the legal aspects, i'll leave them to the lawyers. and the mauritian lawyers have been busy. they have won two victories at the united nations. under international law,

britain is illegally occupying these islands. the british and the americans say their priority here is security, that if the uk surrenders sovereignty over this strategic archipelago, before long, the chinese navy could be muscling in here. but the mauritian government insists they won't allow that to happen. but this isn'tjust about sovereignty and security. also visiting chagos today, islanders who were forcibly removed from their homes here by britain, 50 years ago. it is a rare chance to visit their ancestors' graves. "it is in such a mess. it makes me sad", says rosamund. and although the chagossians are not united on this, the group raises another mauritian flag, in defiance of britain. andrew harding, bbc news, on the chagos islands. the british foreign, commonwealth and development office has said it has established a £40 million support fund for displaced chagos islanders to run over

a ten—year period. although there are further claims that very little of that money has been distributed. tributes have been paid to the film director and producer, ivan reitman, who has died aged 75. he was best known for the comedy ghostbusters — as well as other box office hits of the 1980s and 90s including animal house, twins and kindergarden cop. lizo mizimba looks back at his life. # if there's something' strange in the neighbourhood.# the supernatural comedy was a phenomenon. # ghostbusters!# director ivan reitman knew exactly _ what audiences wanted when teenagers became cinema's most lucrative audience

in the 1970s and 1980s. he slimed me. toga, toga, toga! his first big success was producing the raucous national lampoon's animal house in 1977. the movie, about an out—of—control fraternity, incorporated some of reitman's own experiences of college and helped begin audiences' tastes for gross—out comedy. i'm a zit — get it? he turned to directing. his working relationship with bill murray, which reached its peak with ghostbusters, began with reitman directing him in films like meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you been, soldier? training, sir! what kind of training, son? aaaarmy training, sir! army training, sir! he also developed a strong partnership with arnold schwarzenegger. reitman cast him injunior, kindergarten cop, and their first film together, twins. my name isjulius, and i'm your twin brother. 0h, obviously! the moment i sat down, i thought i was looking

into a mirror! have you missed us? and last year, he produced ghostbusters sequel, afterlife. he was a filmmaker who over the decades changed the course of cinema forever. # i ain't afraid of no ghost.# let's get some of the day's other news. the us accountancy firm mazars says it can no longer �*stand behind' ten years of financial statements, for the trump 0rganisation — and has severed ties with its client. the declaration — revealed in court documents — covers financial statements up to the year 2020. the statements are crucial to legal cases alleging the former president and his company exaggerated the value of its assets. mr trump denies wrongdoing. a study of nearly 260 rivers around the world has detected potentially toxic levels of pharmaceutical drugs in a quarter of them. researchers said drugs used to treat epilepsy and diabetes were the most widely found — they believe the scale of pollution threatens wildlife

and could affect human health. hello there. a very powerfuljet across the atlantic will pick up areas of low pressure and deepen them into storms later this week. notjust one named storm, but two are heading our way. before this very windy weather arrives, we'll find some spells of rain, again, coming infrom the atlantic, you can see all that cloud that's pushing in from the west. and, after a wet start in scotland in the morning, we'll see that rain pushing up toward the northern isles. we've got this rain pushing its way towards southeastern parts of england, where it could stay a bit wet into the afternoon. but away from here, many places will brighten up — there'll be some sunshine, a few showers, mainly in scotland, where they could be a bit wintry in the hills. it will be a slightly cooler day here, but again, elsewhere, we'll find temperatures up

to 9—10 celsius. it does cloud over in the afternoon in northern ireland, and that cloud will continue to thicken into the evening. rain soon arriving, and that rain will push its way quickly eastwards overnight. could be a bit more snow perhaps over higher parts of northern scotland, it'll still be quite cold here, but elsewhere it should be fairly mild, the rain having cleared away by wednesday morning. but it's only a brief respite because we'll find more rain coming in from the atlantic, mainly affecting northern and western areas of the uk. and ahead of that rain, it'll be extremely mild on wednesday across more southeastern parts of the uk, temperatures at 17 celsius. but the winds will be strengthening through the day, and they will continue to strengthen as we head into the evening and overnight — that's because storm dudley is arriving, it races to the north of scotland with the strongest winds to the south of the storm itself. and, whilst it'll get very windy in most areas, this is where the core of strongest winds is expected to be. this is where we have this amber wind warning from the met office — gusts of 80mph or so could bring some damage and some disruption, as well. the winds do gradually ease during thursday as the storm races away. we've got a few showers and some sunshine, some wetter weather in scotland, a mixture of rain and some snow

to higher levels, as well. temperatures around 6—7 celsius here, highs of 12 in the south east of england. things get windier, though, as we head towards the end of the week. the next named storm — this is storm eunice — this area of low pressure will deepen. there's still a lot of uncertainty about the track, but it'll bring some very windy weather to much of the country, particularly so across england and wales. and further north in the colder air, particularly in scotland, there's likely to be some snow and some blizzards.

this is bbc news, the headlines...

western officials say russia has mobilised enough troops to be able to invade ukraine at the drop of a hat. in a phone call, joe biden and borisjohnson agreed a deal was still possible. moscow has dismissed the warnings of an invasion — it's foreign minister said on monday diplomacy is far from exhausted. canada's prime minister has invoked emergency powers to try to end the weeks of disruptive protests against covid measures. the emergencies act gives the government enhanced authority for 30 days, including the power to prohibit public gatherings and travel. the us accountancy firm mazars says it can no longer stand behind ten years of financial statements, for the trump 0rganisation — and has severed ties with its client. the statements are crucial to legal cases alleging the former president and his company exaggerated the value of its assets. mr trump denies wrongdoing. now on bbc news, professional

photographer conor mcdonnell