welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: moves are under way for an international summit to discuss ukraine as the us says it fears and imminent invasion by russia. the queen has tested positive for coronavirus and is said to be experiencing mild symptoms to this comes ahead of her 96th birthday and in her platinumjubilee her 96th birthday and in her platinum jubilee year. australia opens its borders to fully vaccinated travellers for the first time in almost two years. and after 16 days of competition, the winter olympics come to a spectacular end in beijing.

live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc world news. it's newsday. welcome to the programme. france has said moves are under way for a possible summit on ukraine involving the leaders of russia, ukraine, france and germany. presidents macron and putin — in an hour—long telephone conversation on sunday — also agreed to allow a contact group including ukraine, russia and the osce security organisation to meet in the next few hours to try to secure a ceasefire in eastern ukraine. earlier the us secretary of state, antony blinken, says the extension of military exercises by russia and belarus has made him more concerned about an imminent russian invasion of ukraine. sarah rainsford reports from kyiv.

these reports from kyiv. drills in belarus were meant these drills in belarus were meant to end with russian tanks rolling back to their bases. that all this firepower is now staying put, indefinitely. not farfrom ukraine's border. in a crisis that is all about signally —— signalling, this is russia refusing to de—escalate. let's take a moment to understand the significance of what we are talking about. it has been over 70 years and through those 70 years, as i said yesterday, there has been peace and security. we're talking about real possibility of war in europe.— of war in europe. russia is talkin: of war in europe. russia is talking up _ of war in europe. russia is talking up the _ of war in europe. russia is talking up the danger- of war in europe. russia is talking up the danger as l of war in europe. russia is i talking up the danger as well. helping to evacuate women and children from the breakaway regions of ukraine are controlled, claiming kyiv is planning an attack there. so resident macron phoned vladimir putin today. the kremlin did agree to continue seeking diplomatic solution but it's diplomatic solution but its troops are still in place

despite the threat of sanctions.— despite the threat of sanctions. ~ ., ., , ., sanctions. we have to accept at the moment — sanctions. we have to accept at the moment that _ sanctions. we have to accept at the moment that vladimir - sanctions. we have to accept ati the moment that vladimir putin is possibly thinking logically about this and does not see the disaster ahead. and i think it is vitalfor us all disaster ahead. and i think it is vital for us all now to get over what a catastrophe it would be for russia. but for russia this _ would be for russia. but for russia this is _ would be for russia. but for russia this is all _ would be for russia. but for russia this is all about - russia this is all about pulling ukraine back into its orbit. eight years ago, ukrainians came out in numbers on this very square to demand their independence. the right to decide their own future and direction without moscow. they played —— they paid a heavy price for that and the feeling is stronger than ever now. so they are preparing to resist here anyway they can to this was self—defence for women for a wartime scenario. pretty extreme but so are predictions of western governments in this

crisis. sarah rainsford, bbc news, kyiv. in other headlines — buckingham palace has announced that the queen has tested positive for coronavirus. she's said to be experiencing mild cold—like symptoms — but is expected to be able to continue with �*light duties' at windsor castle this week. the news came days after the queen marked 70 years since her accession to the throne — and ahead of her 96th birthday. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. windsor castle on wednesday. the queen meeting defence officials. the only hills issue then was to do with her mobility. then was to do with her mobility-— then was to do with her mobility. morning, your majesty- _ mobility. morning, your majesty. how _ mobility. morning, your majesty. how are - mobility. morning, your majesty. how are you? | mobility. morning, your- majesty. how are you? well, as ou can majesty. how are you? well, as you can see _ majesty. how are you? well, as you can see i— majesty. how are you? well, as you can see i can't _ majesty. how are you? well, as you can see i can't move. - majesty. how are you? well, as you can see i can't move. that i you can see i can't move. that exclamation, i can't move, is thought to indicate that she may be having knee or hip trouble. but now, after two years of careful shielding from the risk of covid it is clear

that the virus has penetrated windsor castle. several staff have tested positive and so has the queen. in a statement, buckingham palace said that her majesty is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at windsor over the coming week. she will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines. those light duties are expected to include continuing with the paperworkers head of state. shortly after the palace confirmed that the queen had covid she sent a message congratulating the team gb women's and men's teams curling teams on their medals at the winter games. the main concern of the queen's doctors will focus around the fact that she is nowjust nine weeks from her 96th birthday. paw; is nowjust nine weeks from her 96th birthday.— 96th birthday. any person of that a . e 96th birthday. any person of that age will _ 96th birthday. any person of that age will need _ 96th birthday. any person of that age will need to - 96th birthday. any person of that age will need to be - that age will need to be monitored fairly carefully and, also, i think given antivirals. we know that if you give antivirals early on you can substantially reduce the risk

of severe disease. the substantially reduce the risk of severe disease. the queen is thou~ht of severe disease. the queen is thought to _ of severe disease. the queen is thought to have _ of severe disease. the queen is thought to have been _ of severe disease. the queen is thought to have been fully - thought to have been fully vaccinated against covid and if she has given antiviral drugs they should protect against serious illness. political leaders were quick to tweet their good wishes. the prime minister said i their good wishes. the prime ministersaid i am their good wishes. the prime minister said i am sure i speak for everyone and wishing her majesty, the queen, a swift recovery from covid and a rapid return to vibrant good hills. the leader of the opposition tweeted on behalf of myself and the whole of labour uk, wishing her majesty the queen good hills and a speedy recovery. get well soon, mam. in recent days the princess wales —— the prince of wales and the duchess have tested positive. the prince has a ready made a full recovery. it is to be hoped that his mother will do the same. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. police in nepal have fired rubber bullets and tear gas as hundreds of people protested over a $500 million grant

going before parliament. nepal signed the millennium challenge corporation pact to fund infrastructure projects in 2017 and it has been a bone of contention between the us and china. groups opposing the us funding have said it undermines nepal's sovereignty. the dominican republic has begun the construction of a new barrier along its border with haiti, which extends for nearly 400 kilometres. the barrier will be much taller than the current fence and will be equipped with cameras and lights. president luis abinader said the new extended barrier would help to control migration, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. an international investigation by reporters into the banking giant, credit suisse, appears to show that its accounts held assets worth billions of dollars on behalf of clients with links to crime. the journalists found that the swiss bank held millions of dollars for heads of state, businessmen subject

to sanctions, and alleged human rights abusers from across the world. the bank denies all allegations. portuguese firefighters have still not been able to put out a blaze on a ship carrying thousands of luxury cars including porsches and bentleys. the vessel, called the felicity ace, is currently drifting in the atlantic ocean. it caught fire travelling to the us from germany. 22 crew members have been evacuated. australia is reopening its international borders to tourists today, nearly two years after they were closed at the start of the pandemic. fully vaccinated tourists will be able to enter the country without quarantine, except if they are visiting the state of western australia which remains sealed off. but will tourists come rushing back or will it take time for trust to be rebuilt with the potential risk of new virus variants in future? 0ur australia correspondent shaimaa khalil is in sydney.

i spoke to her earlier. she explained the significance of these changes.— these changes. what is happening _ these changes. what is happening today - these changes. what is happening today is - these changes. what isj happening today is that tourists from different parts of the world are now allowed to come in if they are fully jabbed, without quarantine, and this is a big change because since the beginning of the pandemic, the country was closed to tourists so provided they tested negative and provided that they are fully vaccinated, they can come into dig there has been a of celebration around different airports here in sydney, for example call ——, there were flowers and music and travellers were greeted with tim tams, the famous biscuits, and jars of veggie might. this and 'ars of veggie might. this tim and jars of veggie might. this tim tams _ and jars of veggie might. this tim tams are _ and jars of veggie might. this tim tams are some _ and jars of veggie might. this tim tams are some of - and jars of veggie might. this tim tams are some of my favourite biscuits. but that reaction, do you see that merit across australia? most people pleased by this decision? most people pleased by this decision?

no—one is more pleased than the tourism and travel sectors to they have been devastated by these lockdowns, by the international closed borders for two years. tourism has become one of australia's fastest growing markets. it actually contributed about $32 billion in 2019. that is the kind of loss that the tourism sector has endured, the loss in jobs, of course, and when the country started to open up domestically we did see domestically we did see domestic tourism come back but it was nowhere near what international tourism has done for the industry to so there is a bit of cautious —ism, remember, china and new zealand, australia is biggest to international markets are still very limited to outbound travel so that will still make a difference and also, i think, there is a general sense of apprehension, if you will, among international tourists. there has been two years of strong borders, strict covid

rules. fortress australia image will take time to wear off and i think the tourism sector does have a lot of convincing to do when it comes to international tourists. for more on this we can speak to margy 0smond who's the chief executive officer of the tourism and transport forum australia. she joins us from sydney. great to have you on the programme. a big day for the tourism sector, as we just heard from our correspondent. but also a lot of trust that will need to be rebuilt with international travellers. some of the key priorities for your sector? ~ ., ., ., , sector? well, without a doubt i think that _ sector? well, without a doubt i think that confidence _ sector? well, without a doubt i think that confidence rebuild i think that confidence rebuild will be a critical part of the brand rebuilding but there are other more practical aspect of this. things like aviation, many of the international airlines that took the bulk of the capacity out of the australian market to other parts of the world,. many of

the state governments and we certainly hope the federal government as well, putting money into aviation re— attraction for. in new south wales they have 120 million, in queensland, 200 million in the potjust to attract queensland, 200 million in the pot just to attract airlines back. potjust to attract airlines back. ., , , ., ., back. how badly has australia been hit by — back. how badly has australia been hit by the _ back. how badly has australia been hit by the border - back. how badly has australia | been hit by the border closures in regards to the tourism and travel sector?— travel sector? international visitation — travel sector? international visitation to _ travel sector? international visitation to australia - travel sector? international. visitation to australia amounts to something like $4 billion a month so if you string that out over two years, and that is just direct benefit, that does not include the ancillary circles within circles on that, everything from taxi drivers to to venues, so it is has had a significant impact. but the other part of the exercise, like many industries around the world, we lost the generation of skilled workers, the people who no longer saw a career in our sector with borders closed

and that is not unique to australia but it is a significant problem. additionally, before christmas this year we asked many businesses, before 0micron was obvious, what they thought their business would look like in the first part of 2022. something like one third of them did not think they would be here at the beginning of 2022. so the industry has structural recovery to do as well. ~ , structural recovery to do as well. g ,, ., well. my goodness. one third of them! that _ well. my goodness. one third of them! that is _ well. my goodness. one third of them! that is a _ well. my goodness. one third of them! that is a dramatic - them! that is a dramatic statistic. when you look at the fact that australia needs to attract more tourists back to the country, with china still closed off, how do you go about doing that?— doing that? our two biggest markets are _ doing that? our two biggest markets are china, - doing that? our two biggest markets are china, which i doing that? our two biggest markets are china, which is| markets are china, which is still close, and new zealand, because of visiting friends and family and business traffic across the tasman. they will not be travelling until the middle of the year. so, wisely, the major destination agencies and tourism australia have focused their attention elsewhere. so the uk, europe,

the us, i think i really going to be, they will be the targets for us in the short term and while we are seeing a bit of a surge in bookings out of the border reopening announcement, which, of course, is the important thing, you need that message to get out around the world that we are open again and we have missed you and please come back, most of those bookings are for the second half of this year. i bookings are for the second half of this year.— half of this year. i think you have made _ half of this year. i think you have made that _ half of this year. i think you have made that message i half of this year. i think you i have made that message loud and clear. thank you so much for joining us, mardi. i clear. thank you so much for joining us, mardi.— joining us, mardi. i have to show you. _ joining us, mardi. i have to show you. as _ joining us, mardi. i have to show you, as well, - joining us, mardi. i have to show you, as well, these l joining us, mardi. i have to i show you, as well, these are what were being distributed at the airport this morning to everybody getting off the plane. everybody getting off the lane. ., ., , ., everybody getting off the lane. ., ., ., plane. that was worth the extra 15 seconds- _ plane. that was worth the extra 15 seconds. thank _ plane. that was worth the extra 15 seconds. thank you - plane. that was worth the extra 15 seconds. thank you for i 15 seconds. thank you for showing us. if you want to get in touch with me about any of the stories, certainly that story that we just shown you on twitter and looking forward to hearing from you. you are watching newsday on the bbc.

still to come on the programme: a stunning closing ceremony marks the end of the beijing winter olympics. prince charles has chosen his bride. the prince proposed to lady diana spencer three weeks ago. she accepted, she says, without hesitation. as revolutions go, this had its fair share of bullets. a climax in the night outside the gates of mr marcos's sanctuary, malacanang — the name itself symbolizing one of the cruellest regimes of modern asia. the world's first clone has been produced of an adult mammal. scientists in scotland have produced a sheep called dolly using a cell from another sheep. citizens are trying to come to| grips with their new freedom. warren beatty and faye dunaway announced to the world that the owner of the best film was la la land. the only trouble was it was not. the mistake was put right in the middle of gushing speeches by the makers of the musical. not for 20 years have locusts been seen in such numbers in this part of africa.

some of the swarms have been ten miles long. this is the last time the public will see this pope. very soon, for the sake of the credibilty and authority of the next pope, benedict xvi will, in his own words, "be hidden from the world for the rest of his life." this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines: the us secretary of state, antony blinken, says the extension of military exercises by russia and belarus has made him more worried that an invasion of ukraine is imminent. queen elizabeth tests positive for covid—19. in 85—year—old monarch is said to have only mild symptoms. —— 95—year—old. in the uk, the government prepares to unveil a new plan on living with covid in england, which includes dropping the legal requirement for people to self isolate if they test positive. the prime minister's also indicated that he wants to reduce the amount of testing.

here's our health editor hugh pym. everyday life with covid has involved many guidelines on how to keep safe — that won't change. but the big shift tomorrow will be the announcement that remaining laws governing public behaviour are set to be scrapped in england, including the requirement to self—isolate after testing positive. and pcr testing sites will be wound down, though the government says the ability to monitor the virus will be maintained. free lateral flow test kits are likely to be cut back, with availability only for those most at risk and that could prove controversial. we need resilience but we don't need to keep, for instance on testing, we don't need to keep spending at a rate of £2 billion a month, which is what we were doing in january. the key thing is that people have access to free testing, they know their status and they do the right thing by staying at home. scotland's health secretary said the uk government must continue to fund testing in any nation where there is health advice to keep it.

more generally, there is a plea for detailed and comprehensive guidance for the public. restrictions can end but we need that to happen with provisions for people that are clinically vulnerable. we need that for happen for those that need to take time off work to be able to do that safely, both for their health and their finances. so there needs to be an awful lot of planning around this. the latest survey by the office for national statistics suggests thatjust under three million people in the uk had the virus in the week ending february the 12th. that was lower than the peak, but still relatively high. but with daily covid hospital admissions, there has been a continuing downward trend from over 2000 at one stage, to closer to 1000 a day. and the nhs is trying to move forward after intense covid pressure. it is time to recover. it is time to try and get things back to normality.

i'm afraid this virus is with us, you know, we are inevitably going to see more variants emerge in the fullness of time. but we have better tools of dealing with this, both in the community and in the hospital. hospital staff will hope that responsible public behaviour will continue, as the government's plan for living with covid is implemented. hugh pym, bbc news. the beijing winter olympics has drawn to a close with a lavish firework display. the games contained plenty of controversy, including a doping scandal concerning a 15—year—old russian figure skater. one of the stories of the games was double gold medal success for an athlete competing at her fifth games. team gb picked up two medals, both in curling. but the games themselves struggled to cut through with tv audiences. 0ur correspondent stephen mcdonell is in beijing and looks back at the games.

and so beating's winter olympics has come 0lympics has come to an end. for ordinary people this is as close as they can get. i am sure you can see the barrier and the police here stopping members of the public getting any closer to the main stadium. but the fireworks are going off, up in the air, and for that reason we have had people from the local community come out or try to spin the camera around to try to get a bit of a look at them to take photos of the fireworks, to feel like they are part of the event. you know, you haven't been able to buy tickets to go to the winter olympics because of covid. so 0lympics because of covid. so in coming to see the fireworks people can really feel that they are part of these games. beating's 0lympics they are part of these games. beating's olympics will be remembered for the russian skater who was able to compete, despite taking a banned substance —— beijing's. for the

ethnic chinese, —— ethnic chinese fresco who was born and raised in the us but represented china and went on to win two gold medals and de silva. forthe to win two gold medals and de silva. for the snow, to win two gold medals and de silva. forthe snow, people worried it would all be man—made snow, but instead the snow came down in the mountains, so much so that get events had to be postponed. as for covid, they were concerned it would hinder the games, but organisers were able to stop the spread of the virus inside the spread of the virus inside the giant covid bubbles and still stage a very successful winter olympics games. stephen mcdonell reporting on that story for us. michael payne is former director of marketing for the international olympic committee. he gave his thoughts about the impact of the games. i think it was an absolute miracle that the games took place in the middle of a global pandemic. china was probably one of the very few countries that could pull it off. i think the athletes were very relieved

that the games, they had their moment in the olympic spotlight. the venues were stunning, and the games went off remarkably smoothly. but we all were locked up in the middle of a bubble. it was surrounded by people in hazmat suits. it was like walking into the scene of a disaster movie. and none of the athletes' family and friends were there, you are not able to connect with the chinese people, and thatis with the chinese people, and that is a key part of the magic of the olympics. but the price that had to be paid of staging the games in the middle of a pandemic. the games in the middle of a pandemic— the games in the middle of a andemic. ~ . ., ., ., pandemic. michael, how most of the kamila _ pandemic. michael, how most of the kamila valieva _ pandemic. michael, how most of the kamila valieva affair - the kamila valieva affair overshadow the games, and when that happened, the controversy, what was the reaction among some of the people you were watching the games with? it is a complicated _ watching the games with? it is a complicated story _ watching the games with? it 3 a complicated story and a story thatis a complicated story and a story that is far from over. the athletes, i think, that is far from over. the athletes, ithink, supported the io si's decision to say that she shouldn't compete, but

the ioc was overruled by the court of arbitration for sport. i was to compete in the team event, the short programme, and she is by far the greatest figure skater the world has ever seen, figure skater the world has everseen, but figure skater the world has ever seen, but then when she went on to compete in the long programme, the pressure had clearly got to her and she collapsed and the reaction from her coaches was very strange, to say the least. the decision, the story will go on as to what sanctions may be imposed, but the bigger issue, frankly, is what to do with russia and the ongoing problems of doping. they had already been sanctioned and i think the ioc will have to review again what goes on there.— goes on there. yes, michael, movin: goes on there. yes, michael, moving away _ goes on there. yes, michael, moving away from _ goes on there. yes, michael, moving away from that i moving away from that controversy, what performances really caught your attention at the games, really stuck out for you? i the games, really stuck out for ou? ~ , ., the games, really stuck out for ou? you? i think you probably depends— you? i think you probably depends on _ you? i think you probably depends on where - you? i think you probably depends on where you i you? i think you probably l depends on where you live. you? i think you probably i depends on where you live. if you are in britain it would be

the curling, if you are finished it would be the ice hockey. i think lindsey jacobellis, competing on her fifth games, having been expected to receive medals in the previous four, she failed, she came home from beijing with two. eileen wu, the american chinese freestyle screen, another controversy over her nationality, but her remarkable achievement to pull three medals in freestyle. irene., getting herfifth medals in freestyle. irene., getting her fifth gold medals in freestyle. irene., getting herfifth gold medal m5 0lympics. then you have the human stories, winning the gold medal in the same event as his father in calgary 88, or the american ryan cochrane bringing home silver medal, 50th anniversary of his mother winning medals. these human stories make the olympics special. stories make the olympics secial. , , , a ., special. just briefly, michael, what does — special. just briefly, michael, what does the _ special. just briefly, michael, what does the future - special. just briefly, michael, what does the future hold i special. just briefly, michael, what does the future hold for| what does the future hold for the winter olympics or 0lympic the winter olympics or olympic games, given declining television audiences? i think

the outlook _ television audiences? i think the outlook is _ television audiences? i think the outlook is very _ television audiences? i think the outlook is very bright, i the outlook is very bright, notwithstanding some of the media commentary. we have the next winter games coming back to the alps, you've got canada, america, switzerland all talking of bids for 2030. and have a great of cities for the summer games, paris, los angeles, brisbane. the tv ratings were down, part of that, i think, ratings were down, part of that, ithink, is ratings were down, part of that, i think, is due to the asian continent, it is never easy for europe and america, but using massive increases in digital consumption, and that is a trend as people change their habits as to how they are following the games. i think the outlook is a lot stronger than the media may be representing at the moment. michael payne speaking to me earlier. a reminder of our top story. france has said there will be a possible summit on ukraine involving the leaders of russia, france, ukraine, and germany. that is all the time

we have here. —— have for you on you stay at this hour. hello. sunday brought more squally winds, heavy flooding rain, and travel disruption, as yet another name storm approached the uk, sean franklin. by monday morning some of its biggest impacts and disruption can be felt in northern ireland, with the met office amber warning, gusev 0ffice amber warning, gusev windy long north coast in particular, up around 80 mph, just squeezing the isobars around sean franklin, was in strong and gusty winds as well across many western coastal areas overnight and into the morning. so you can expect some disruption in the morning and commented, through a large part of the day, although the winds will be slowly using. this is where some of the guff will be at into the morning, into northern ireland and western coastal areas, also gusting widely 15—30

coastal areas, also gusting widely15—30 mph for a time. that is where temperatures will be first thing. 0vernight, wintry showers will get a covering of snow and parts of scotland, northern ireland, northern england, especially but not exclusively into the hills. in this area of mostly rain clearance were southwards by the end of the morning and we're with increasing sunshine, the odd shower in northern scotland and the seacoast, many places in afternoon will be dry with sunny spells and these are the afternoon when dust by about four o'clock, notice how much they have come down. here winds, the strongest winds are going to be easing. by the end of the afternoon may not feel too bad out there with temperatures in double figures. again, the destruction we will have after the storming start, it may even continue after the strongest men's heavies. a chilly start on monday night, cloud and patchy rain spreading this, heavy rain putting on towards scotland and northern ireland as tuesday begins, with the wind is picking up again and does developing in places, but from tuesday onwards, although windy at times, the winds are not to be as extreme and severe as they have been. we will see this skull from

moving southwards on tuesday with an area of rain, a few wintry showers following behind. after the rain is quite heavy initially through parts of northern england and wales, it weakens as it reaches east and south—east england later in the day. behind that we have the day. behind that we have the sunshine, the showers again turning wintry, particularly onto the hills over northern britain, these i choose a temperatures. by wednesday, there will another weather front moving into northern areas, a chilly start to the south, it will be cold across all parts on thursday, with wintry showers around. and it looks like a fine day to friday before low pressure moves back in for the weekend.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. welcome straight after this programme. to hardtalk. i am stephen welcome to hardtalk. i am stephen sacco. colombians will elect a new president in 2022. amid a crowded field one candidate has reason to view the coming campaign with mixed emotion. my guest today, ingrid betancourt was running for president 20 years ago when she was captured by farc guerrillas and held captive

in thejungle for more than six years.