this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. president biden says he's convinced that putin has made the decision to invade ukraine, with an attack on the capital, kiev, expected in the coming days. lam i am calling out russia's plans loudly and repeatedly, not because we want a conflict but because we are doing everything in our power —— power to prevent them from moving. president putin will watch military exercises involving ballistic and russian nuclear forces on saturday. moscow says the drills are not a threat to anyone. storm eunice leaves a trail of death and destruction in the uk and northern europe.

and a former minnesota police officer has been sentenced to two years in prison over the fatal shooting of a black motorist daunte wright last april. hello and welcome. president biden has said he is convinced that the russian president vladimir putin has made the decision to invade ukraine, with an attack on the capital, kyiv, expected in the coming days. it comes amid fears of a serious escalation in ukraine, where there has been more artillery bombardment across the frontlines in the east of the country. ukraine and the us has accused russia of mounting a campaign of disinformation.

the self—declared people's republics of donetsk and luhansk have been fighting the ukrainian army in the east for the past 8 years, in a conflict that has claimed more than 1a,000 lives. the west fears president putin couild use an incident in the separatist republics as a pretext to invade ukraine. our correspondent orla guerin has been to the frontline village of trudivske and sent this report. an increasingly grim horizon in eastern ukraine. we headed to the front lines, where shelling has intensified. a prelude, perhaps, to much worse to come. the village of trudivske is in the line of fire. emotions were rawjust hours after shells rained down. alexander basilev is lucky to be alive. he was at home with his wife

when a shell landed in their garden. they started up the hill, he says. the last shell fell here. now all the mud is inside my house. the attack here was part of a flare—up along the front line today. the village is on ukrainian soil, but some here sympathise with moscow and put the blame on ukrainian troops. they insist it was russian—backed rebels nearby, and say president putin is laying a trap. we think it's a provocation, she says. because there is shelling of civilian areas where there are no army positions. the enemy wants to provoke the ukrainian army. the tension has been increasing here, and the communities living on the front line, the risks and the suffering are increasing also.

the warnings about an invasion keep coming, but whether or not that happens, communities here are already trapped in a war of attrition. and across the front line in the breakaway capital of donetsk, sirens wailing after the authorities announced women and children would be evacuated to russia. separatist leader denis said the operation was arranged today, friday the 18th, because ukraine would soon attack. but a bbc analysis of the metadata shows this footage was recorded two days ago. tonight, video has emerged showing small numbers boarding buses, apparently bound for russia. the west has long feared that president putin would use the separatist areas as a pretext for an attack on ukraine. it looks like the stage is being set for something.

orla guerin, bbc news, eastern ukraine. as we heard, prince and joe biden said he is convinced russia will attack in the coming days. —— presidentjoe biden. we have reason to believe the russian — we have reason to believe the russian forces are planning to and intend _ russian forces are planning to and intend to — russian forces are planning to and intend to attack ukraine in the coming — intend to attack ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days. we believe _ coming week, in the coming days. we believe that _ coming week, in the coming days. we believe that they will target the ukrainian kyiv, a city of 2.8 million _ ukrainian kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people. we are calling _ million innocent people. we are calling out russia permit plans loudly — calling out russia permit plans loudly and repeatedly not because we want a _ loudly and repeatedly not because we want a conflict but because we are doing _ want a conflict but because we are doing everything in our power to remove — doing everything in our power to remove any reason that russia may -ive remove any reason that russia may give to _ remove any reason that russia may give to justify remove any reason that russia may give tojustify invading ukraine and prevent— give tojustify invading ukraine and prevent them from leaving. make no

mistake. _ prevent them from leaving. make no mistake. if— prevent them from leaving. make no mistake, if russia pursues this plan, _ mistake, if russia pursues this plan, it— mistake, if russia pursues this plan, it will be responsible for catastrophic and needless war of choice _ catastrophic and needless war of choice. united states and our allies are prepared to defend every inch of nato territory and any threat to our collective _ nato territory and any threat to our collective security as well. we will not send _ collective security as well. we will not send troops but we will continue to support the ukrainian _ but we will continue to support the ukrainian people. you but we will continue to support the ukrainian people.— but we will continue to support the ukrainian people. you estimates say russia has amassed _ ukrainian people. you estimates say russia has amassed up _ ukrainian people. you estimates say russia has amassed up to _ ukrainian people. you estimates say russia has amassed up to 190,000' russia has amassed up to 190,000 troops around the borders with ukraine, the border with russia and belarus. and what it causes the most significant military mobilisation since the second world war ended. world leaders are meeting in munich for its annual security conference this weekend. russia is among them and that is that the first time in two decades. international correspondent needs to set is there. the closest to war in europe for years. these shots being fired in russia's

naval exercises in the black sea. but so close to ukraine's southern coast, and much bigger than ukraine's home fleet. a shot across the bow to kyiv. and a country now surrounded by moscow's military might. 0n the northern border, another show of force. exercises with belarus. today in moscow president putin met the belarusian leader, closest of friends. the long table used for visiting western leaders is gone. president putin tells him they will both participate in new drills tomorrow, and sends a message to nato too. translation: i must state that these exercises - are purely defensive in nature and do not threaten anyone. a much different message here in munich. us and nato allies shoulder to shoulder, condemning what they call russian aggression. no wonder russia's foreign minister stayed away this year.

i think president putin has been a little bit surprised at the way that nato has come together, the european union has come together. we have come together individually, as partners. we come together institutionally. either way, whichever path president putin chooses, we'll be ready to respond. one big question dominates this conference. will russia invade ukraine again? the nato secretary general has seen the same intelligence as the us and british officials who believe it's imminent. there's no certainty about the intentions of russia. but a high probability there could be something tomorrow, given what you've seen in the intelligence? i think it is very important to just describe the facts. and the facts is that we have russian armed forces amassed at the border of ukraine that are ready to invade without any warning time. and that is a very dangerous situation. in all this danger,

there is still talk of diplomacy. and russia releases images like this, to claim it's pulling out its tanks, pulling away from this brink, but this crisis still teeters dangerously on the edge. lyse doucet, bbc news, munich. i'm joined now by graham allison. he's a professor of government at harvard university and former assistant secretary of defense in the clinton administration. thank you for being with us on bbc news, i think i am right in saying that a few weeks ago you were giving a four to one against there being any military action during the periods of the olympics. the olympics is almost over, the next 1a or 15 hours or so, what you think the prospects are now?- or 15 hours or so, what you think the prospects are now? well, about a month ago. — the prospects are now? well, about a month ago. the _ the prospects are now? well, about a month ago, the administration - the prospects are now? well, about a

month ago, the administration began| month ago, the administration began saying that invasion was imminent, i looked at all the indicators i could and came to a country conclusion and as you say have been betting and actually if it were to happen before the end of the olympics, i will lose a little bit of money, i have been giving four to one of it is not going to happen. it is a way of indicating why i think a failure to understand the unlikely that it was highly unlikely putin would ever rein on china's parade, celebration of the olympics, i think most people missed that. what about after that? i still would say i am not betting on anything happening before the end of the olympics, so that is the 20th, this weekend. what about after that? i heard what president biden said this afternoon, and obviously he has a lot of information that i

don't have and his proper position that putin has already decided on the targets might be kyiv, it is, you know, it is a big alarm bell. it is still puzzling to me, and i haven't had time to process it entirely, but i still am sceptical. i think that if i were betting on a multi hit, istill would make i think that if i were betting on a multi hit, i still would make it more likely that not that russia doesn't invade. though it certainly could. and the fact that it has troops massed on the border, it could invade at any time and the fact that as president biden said again today, the us nor any other nato members are going to come and fight for ukraine, ukraine will be crushed quickly by russia if russia

decides to question it, so it could happen. the reason why i have been sceptical is that i think, i don't think putin was to have it after he gets it. think putin was to have it after he nets it. ., �* , think putin was to have it after he nets it. ., v ., think putin was to have it after he nets it. . �*, ., think putin was to have it after he ets it. . �*, ., , think putin was to have it after he nets it. . �*, ., , ., gets it. that's a good... is a russian _ gets it. that's a good... is a russian leader, _ gets it. that's a good... is a russian leader, he - gets it. that's a good... is a russian leader, he knows. gets it. that's a good... is a | russian leader, he knows his gets it. that's a good... is a - russian leader, he knows his own history, he only have to look at afghanistan, sometimes you bite off things bigger than you can chew. thank you for talking to us. and congratulations on your bet. several people have been confirmed to have died in the netherlands, ireland and belgium, and three people in the uk whose vehicles were hit by falling trees. cornwall was one of the first areas hit this morning. as storm eunice swept in from the antic, the water was

whipped into huge waves and coastal areas saw the highest gust. i whipped into huge waves and coastal areas saw the highest gust.— areas saw the highest gust. i don't know what the _ areas saw the highest gust. i don't know what the actual _ areas saw the highest gust. i don't know what the actual wind - areas saw the highest gust. i don't know what the actual wind speed l areas saw the highest gust. i don't| know what the actual wind speed is but you can barely stand up in it. i am guessing it is 80, 90 miles but you can barely stand up in it. i am guessing it is 80,90 miles an hour on top of the cliff. the am guessing it is 80, 90 miles an hour on top of the cliff.— hour on top of the cliff. the sea state along _ hour on top of the cliff. the sea state along the _ hour on top of the cliff. the sea state along the south _ hour on top of the cliff. the sea state along the south coast - hour on top of the cliff. the sea state along the south coast was frightening, the isle of wight recorded a gust of 122 miles an hour. in hampshire, a man and his 20s died when the van he was in hit a tree. the driver was also seriously injured.- a tree. the driver was also seriously injured. a tree. the driver was also seriousl in'ured. , .,, seriously in'ured. oh, my gosh! 0h, m cosh! seriously injured. oh, my gosh! oh, my gosh! and _ seriously injured. oh, my gosh! oh, my gosh! and it _ seriously injured. oh, my gosh! oh, my gosh! and it wasn't _ seriously injured. oh, my gosh! oh, my gosh! and it wasn't just - seriously injured. oh, my gosh! oh, my gosh! and it wasn't just trees i my gosh! and it wasn't 'ust trees fallin: , my gosh! and it wasn't 'ust trees failing. that t my gosh! and it wasn't 'ust trees fautng. that is h my gosh! and it wasn't 'ust trees falling, that is the _ my gosh! and it wasn't just trees falling, that is the spiral - my gosh! and it wasn't just trees falling, that is the spiral of - my gosh! and it wasn't just trees falling, that is the spiral of st - falling, that is the spiral of st thomas's church in wales being destroyed. near bristol, a speed limit on the m4 prince of wales bridge wasn't enough to keep traffic moving. what is thought to be the first time ever, both bridges across the severn estuary are closed because of the high winds. but the

severe flood warnings here have now expired. thankfully, the worst—case scenario wasn't realised. temporary flood defences were not tested but authorities say it isn't over yet. today, as serious as it is, and it really is a serious, severe event today, but on the back of this, we've got more rain coming so they could be possible it is a further flooding as the week pans out so let's get today out of the way first and then let's make sure that all of our infrastructure, all of our defences are still in good shape. tats defences are still in good shape. as the day wore on, the storm headed east, for the first time ever, the south—east of england and london were also in a red warning area. in north london, a woman in her 30s died when a tree fell on a car she was a passenger in. the man who was driving was taken to hospital. a few miles away, the wind ripped off the roof of the 02 arena, leaving a

gaping hole. 1000 people had to be evacuated from the site. in merseyside, another passenger and vehicle was killed. debris blown in the wind smashed through the windscreen of a van, fatally injuring a man in his 50s. the north of england and parts of scotland also had some so that heavy snow. this morning's rush—hour was difficult but things later improved. storm eunice will be remembered for its mountainous seas, went damage, and loss of life, a violent weather system which wreaked havoc across the british isles. we will be live in ottawa as police in the canadian capital move to out protesters.

nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the last soviet troops were coming home, the withdrawal completed in good order but the army defeated in the task it had been set to perform. the murder has a terrible effect on the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions in the streets. one wonders who is next. as the air lift got under way, there was no letup in the eruption itself. lava streams from a vent low in the crater flow down into the sea from 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 have called it mir, the russian for peace.

this is bbc news, the latest headlines president biden says he's convinced that putin has made the decision to invade ukraine with an attack on the capital, kyiv, expected in the coming days. storm eunice leaves a trail of death and destruction across the uk and northern europe. the former minnesota police officer who killed daunte wright — a black driver — when she confused her handgun for her taser, has been sentenced to two years in prison. kim potter was convicted of first degree manslaughter for shooting 20—year—old daunte wright outside the city of minneapolis. his death came as another white police officer was standing trial for the murder of george floyd, and sparked several days of demonstrations. barbara plett usher reports.

this this is one of the saddest cases... the case was about the killing of a young man, and about a police officer of 26 years who made a fatal error. i am so sorry that i brought the death of your son. kim potter turned to the family as she begged for forgiveness. daunte wright was a 20—year—old man of mixed race. last april, police pulled him over in his car. he tried to flee, and potter reached for her taser but grabbed her gun by mistake. he died laterfrom injuries. the shooting triggered days of protests in a city on edge over the murder of another black man killed by police, george floyd. she took our baby boy. with a single gunshot through his heart, she shattered mine. - daunte wright's mother urged the court to hold kim potter accountable for taking a life, but the judge said this case was not the same as other high police killings. 0fficer potter made a mistake that ended tragically.

she never intended to hurt anyone. kim potter murdered my son, and he died april 11. _ today the justice system - murdered him all over again. a system that still sees justice in black and white, the family said. this is the problem with our justice system today. - white women tears - trumps, trumpsjustice. amidst growing outrage, the state's attorney general has urged everyone to accept the judgment. no—one has won, he said. we have all lost. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. the brazilian president, jair bolsonaro, has said emergency funds amounting to $0.5 million will be released to help rebuild the city of petropolis which was devastated by torrential rains and landslides on tuesday.

123 people are now known to have died and more than 100 more are still missing. flying over the city in a helicopter, bolsonaro said it looked like a war zone. 0ur south america correspondent katy watson is there. there has been little letup here. there has been little letup here. the rain still keeps coming. residents who haven't already left our living dangerously. 0nce residents who haven't already left our living dangerously. once again, the sirens sounded, warning people to leave now or face the threat of more mudslides. in the centre of the area, another search site, three people missing at this gym. it people missing at this gym. it starts to rain again, that increases the chances of another mudslide affecting the teams who are working. plus, it is really hard—working in the rain, it makes everything much more risky. the the rain, it makes everything much more rism-— more risky. the recovery operation is still ongoing. — more risky. the recovery operation is still ongoing, the _ more risky. the recovery operation is still ongoing, the immediate - is still ongoing, the immediate concern will be finding those who

are still missing. the authorities having blamed tense rains about it was unprecedented. but one of the causes was in look at the houses still at risk, millions of brazilians live like that with little oversight from the state. it is not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last. for more than 100 people who have been displaced, this school is now home. 13—year—old mariano is one of them, she narrowly escaped the mudslides. i them, she narrowly escaped the mudslides— them, she narrowly escaped the mudslides. , ., , ., , mudslides. i looked up and my house started shaking. _ mudslides. i looked up and my house started shaking, she _ mudslides. i looked up and my house started shaking, she tells _ mudslides. i looked up and my house started shaking, she tells me. - mudslides. i looked up and my house started shaking, she tells me. i - mudslides. i looked up and my house started shaking, she tells me. i ran l started shaking, she tells me. i ran up started shaking, she tells me. i ran up to my neighbour and you could see the entire mudslide, it was like a waterfall. ., ., the entire mudslide, it was like a waterfall. . ., ., ., , waterfall. marianna and her family are safe, waterfall. marianna and her family are safe. but _ waterfall. marianna and her family are safe, but history _ waterfall. marianna and her family are safe, but history has _ waterfall. marianna and her family are safe, but history has repeated | are safe, but history has repeated itself her mum, who is now helping the community get back on estate. 26 years ago, mudslide killed her mother. she wasjust 15 years ago, mudslide killed her mother. she was just 15 at the time. we can't afford to live anywhere

else _ we can't afford to live anywhere else. nobody ever imagined it would be so _ else. nobody ever imagined it would be so dangerous. i don't believe in the authorities, i believe in power of the people. authorities have _ power of the people. authorities have to — power of the people. authorities have to look out for asma. many teo . le have to look out for asma. many people here _ have to look out for asma. many people here feel— have to look out for asma. many people here feel like _ have to look out for asma. many people here feel like her, - have to look out for asma. many people here feel like her, they i have to look out for asma. it’isfiy people here feel like her, they are forgotten and have little faith anything will change. for now, though, this community that has been ripped apart is doing everything to come together. in the past hour, it's been confirmed that the uk prime minister borisjohnson has handed in his legal questionnaire to police relating to allegations of lockdown parties. borisjohnson's aides confirmed he has complied with a police request for his answers to be submitted within a week of receiving the form. london's metropolitan police are examining whether covid restrictions were broken by parties in downing street and other government buildings. around 50 people have been sent formal questionaires by the police.

canadian police have arrested at least 70 people as they begun clearing out hundreds of truck drivers from ottawa who have staged a three—week protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital. earlier officers handed out flyers — telling drivers to leave the city or face arrest. it comes just days after canada invoked emergency powers to break up demonstrations. joing us now from ottawa is freelance investigave journalist justin ling who's been covering the protests. justin, what have you seen? it is a bit of a strange situation, to be totally honest. just behind me is wellington street, where the parliament buildings are. i was just outside, and far away down the street is where the main confrontation between the occupiers and police is taking place. basically, you have a line of police

backed up by a heavy tactical vehicle by a line of mounted officers, and they are very, very slowly inching forward, taking back the city, in essence. they are kind of track by track going through, pulling people out of their vehicles, smashing windows if necessary, or arresting those who refuse to leave, but beyond that line, there is still a whole occupation going on. ijust walked down the street, there is music playing, people are selling t—shirts, there is a kind of festive atmosphere in the air, it is one of the most bizarre crowd control situations i think i have ever been in. ~ ., , situations i think i have ever been in. . . , , . , ., situations i think i have ever been in. ., ,. situations i think i have ever been in. we have seen pictures of a man i int in in. we have seen pictures of a man lying in the — in. we have seen pictures of a man lying in the slow, _ in. we have seen pictures of a man lying in the slow, passive _ lying in the slow, passive resistance before the police took him. how far do these protesters represent broader opinion where the majority of the country have gone for vaccination?—

for vaccination? they don't, they sim tl for vaccination? they don't, they sim-l do for vaccination? they don't, they simply do rrot — for vaccination? they don't, they simply do not represent - for vaccination? they don't, they simply do not represent a - for vaccination? they don't, they simply do not represent a large i simply do not represent a large portion of this country. we know that for a fact. 0pinion polls slowly slow —— show that the vast majority of country never supported this occupation and as it has gone on, even if you are supported. winner that 90% of those eligible have been vaccinated, we know that vaccine mandates and vaccine passports remain extremely popular in a country where folks have really stepped up to fight back against covid—19. these people represent a gamut of use, some opposed to that vaccine mandates, don't like the idea of requiring people to get vaccinated. some of the more rabid, we know there is elements of far right and anti—vaccine conspiracy theories. right and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. , , ., ~ right and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. , , . ~' , ., right and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. , ., ,, , ., ., theories. justin, thank you for talkint theories. justin, thank you for talking to _ theories. justin, thank you for talking to us, _ theories. justin, thank you for talking to us, justin _ theories. justin, thank you for talking to us, justin langer i theories. justin, thank you for | talking to us, justin langer live theories. justin, thank you for . talking to us, justin langer live in ottawa. thank you for your company 0ttawa. thank you for your company here on bbc news. we will have more news at the top of the hour, this is

bbc news from london. hello. the strongest gusts of all the needles was 122 mph, provisionally the strongest wind gust ever recorded in england but plenty of other places, including gatwick and heathrow airport had their strongest winds in 15 or 20 years. further north, winds were less of a feature but snow came down turning parts of scotland into a one to wonderland. now, ourstorm scotland into a one to wonderland. now, our storm system is sliding quickly away but there is more unsettled weather on the way for the

weekend. we will have more wet and windy weather but nothing quite as stormy as we have seen of the last 24—hour is also. during saturday, outbreaks of rain pushing in from the west, is no other high ground in wales. there will be some sunshine to be had as well, temperatures north to south between four and 11 degrees. during saturday night, this first area of rain clears away eastwards, still some residual rain and snow moving across scotland and then a more active weather system moves in from the west, heavy rain and once again some strengthening winds but with a cloud with the outbreaks of rain it will be turning really quite mild as we head into the first part of sunday morning. for sunday, we find ourselves between these two weather fronts in an area of windy cloudy and at times wet weather but wild —— mild weather, that could mount some of the snow in scotland,

that could cause flooding issues and through the afternoon we will see cloud and rain continuing to affect parts of england and wales, especially around western hills, brightest charts skies with showers. gusty winds again, not as windy as it has been but it could hamper any clear up operations. temperatures, ten to 1a degrees, though northern areas will turn chilly as the day moves on. more wet and windy weather, not as severe as it has been. keep up—to—date with the latest weather warnings on our website.

this is bbc news, the headlines.

president biden has said russian forces plan to attack the ukrainian capital, kyiv, in the coming days — adding he believes president putin has already decided to authorise such action. the former us police officer who killed a black driver daunte wright when she confused her handgun for her taser has been sentenced to two years in prison, a penalty below the state guidelines. several people have been confirmed dead as storm eunice hits the uk and northern europe. severe winds have shut down transport and schools, and cut off electricity supplies. in canada, police in the capital 0ttawa have been clearing protesters — after a three—week blockade by groups opposing vaccine mandates.