welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. aiming for an asteroid. a nasa probe is due to crash into a space rock to test how any incoming objects, can be deflected away from earth. the kremlin admits it made mistakes in the way it mobilized reservists to fight in ukraine as protests against the call up continue. some russians are happy about the call but clearly many are not. some parts of the country mobilisation is sparking social unrest and undermining trust authorities. a state funeral is set to get under way forformerjapanese prime minister shinzo abe as

leaders from around the world gather to pay their respects. i'm outside where the event will be taking place this afternoon but there was growing opposition from protesters citing the legitimacy and the cost. and work begins to remove the tens of thousands of floral tributes left to honour the queen in central london. welcome to the programme. it sounds like a hollywood film, but in under 15 minutes�* time, the american space agency, nasa, is going to crash a rocket into an asteroid.

it is the agency's first planetary defence mission — and scientists there are about to try diverting the path of an asteroid by crashing a spacecraft the size of a small car into it. it's a test to see if something similar could be done if an asteroid was heading towards earth in the future. our science editor rebecca morelle has the details. it's a cataclysmic scenario. an asteroid headed for our planet, with the potential for mass devastation. it's happened before. a space rock wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. but now nasa is testing a way to stop any future threats. in just a few hours, a spacecraft called dart will crash into an asteroid. this space rock poses no threat, but it's a test to show how we could deal with one on a collision course with the earth. and the aim is to change its path. we're not looking at trying to destroy an asteroid, which is tremendously difficult. we arejust looking to nudge it enough, early enough, that it misses, and that's how we protect, defend the planet

against this natural hazard. the spacecraft launched at the end of last year and has travelled nearly seven million miles. now it's almost at its destination. the target is a twin asteroid system. a larger space rock called didymos is orbited by a smaller space rock called dimorphos. it's about 150 metres. that's about 500 feet across. the spacecraft travelling at 1a,000 miles an hour crashes into dimorphos, giving the asteroid a kick. this changes its speed byjust a fraction, about a millimetre per second. but this is enough to alter its orbit. and scientists can monitor this from earth to see if it has worked. thanks to the spacecraft�*s on—board cameras, we will get to watch the crash as it happens. this is part of the reason that we need to move beyond doing tests in the lab for asteroid deflection,

or running models on our computers. but doing this on an actual asteroid of the relevant size, to see how these small little worlds mainly react to a deflection technique like this. the dart mission will be the first step in finding a solution, helping us to protect our planet should a real threat come our way. rebecca morelle, bbc news. with me is former rocket scientist and editor of nasawatch.com, keith cowing. i'm alsojoined by the bbc�*s science correpsondent jonathan amos in london. great to have the both of you on the — great to have the both of you on the programme. ijust want i just want to show the audience life at nasa we can see them on our screen out in those two dots that you're seeing the screen one of the of course the asteroid the other

the object nasa is sending to crash into that asteroid. which will take place in the next ten minutes or so. just to start with it is quite significant incident in the first time that nasa has attempted this planetary defence mission of this size why are they doing this? it this size why are they doing this? , ., .. , this? it is not exactly the first time _ this? it is not exactly the first time two _ this? it is not exactly the first time two years - this? it is not exactly the first time two years ago | this? it is not exactly the - first time two years ago they did crash a spacecraft they called a deep impact. but that was dismayed to see what flew out what the asteroid would do. that informed what, how they would do this mission. so the idea is you want to see here my scale models, hit itjust a little bit. punch it. change the orbit. even a small amount is what it might take to move in asteroid and move the course away from earth. so maybe sound

like you are playing billiards in space but you pretty much are. the goal of the whole thing is to maybe save someone. just picking up on what he had said the goal is very clear, nasa has talked about the objective here. but is there a sense that this will work? that this can be used in future opportunities for nasa something like this? imilli opportunities for nasa something like this? will the -h sics something like this? will the physics say _ something like this? will the physics say it _ something like this? will the physics say it should - something like this? will the physics say it should work. . something like this? will the l physics say it should work. our basic— physics say it should work. our basic equation say that if you take — basic equation say that if you take a — basic equation say that if you take a mass and you run into another— take a mass and you run into another mass they get an exchange and momentum and you should _ exchange and momentum and you should get some movement. you should _ should get some movement. you should shift one thing or the other~ — should shift one thing or the other. but we need to see how it works — other. but we need to see how it works and how well it works. so it works and how well it works. 50 there — it works and how well it works. so there are many telescopes not trying —— trained on what we are — not trying —— trained on what we are seeing of the spacecraft camera — we are seeing of the spacecraft camera and they will want to see the _ camera and they will want to see the great plume that comes

out with— see the great plume that comes out with dart runs into the asieroid~ _ out with dart runs into the asteroid. so that will factor into— asteroid. so that will factor into these equations as well. you — into these equations as well. you don't _ into these equations as well. you don't need to move in asteroid _ you don't need to move in asteroid an awful lot. provided you do— asteroid an awful lot. provided you do it — asteroid an awful lot. provided you do it with enough time in advance _ you do it with enough time in advance. so some of the service that be — advance. so some of the service that be done we found asteroids and we — that be done we found asteroids and we were able to compute their— and we were able to compute their orbits, ten, 20, a hundred— their orbits, ten, 20, a hundred years in advance and on that timescale then even changing the velocity of an object _ changing the velocity of an object by in this case less than _ object by in this case less than millimetre per second that will make — than millimetre per second that will make a difference. between going _ will make a difference. between going past the earth or hitting the earth. let's hope we never have _ the earth. let's hope we never have to — the earth. let's hope we never have to do _ the earth. let's hope we never have to do this as the dinosaurs find out they could have done with that technology.

absolutely and it is a point that we will never have to see something like that but ijust want to go back to those images that we have been showing you and you can see there on the top of the screen i believe you will be able to see it now. you can see that six minutes, 31 seconds counting down to that moment of impact. as i descendent what will first appearas descendent what will first appear as the dot of light on our screens. appear as the dot of light on ourscreens. it appear as the dot of light on our screens. it will quickly grow to the entire field of view before the feet dramatically cuts out as the spacecraft is destroyed. it leaves us all guessing doesn't it in terms of what happens if the mission isn't completely successful. how will we know if thatis successful. how will we know if that is what we will see on our images? it that is what we will see on our imaues? , , ., that is what we will see on our imaues? , , . ., images? it because what that means that — images? it because what that means that hit _ images? it because what that means that hit which - images? it because what that means that hit which is - images? it because what that means that hit which is kind l images? it because what that l means that hit which is kind of the main point here but there is a smaller spacecraft that was tossed out a few days that tracks behind it to take a picture of what is going on. quite frankly, just hitting i

was asked by producer do you think it will happen a little later, now it will happen precisely. that said, you never know, but that said it is a basic position. and of physics 101 class it is basic newtonian physics so i don't think there will be much doubt on what is going on. this will be much doubt on what is going om— going on. as he points out bein: going on. as he points out being pregnant _ going on. as he points out being pregnant recites - going on. as he points out i being pregnant recites about this —— precise and exactly the point of impact what will they do with the information that they get and what are they hoping to get from this process. i hoping to get from this process-— hoping to get from this rocess. , . ~ , . process. i will pick up that in a moment — process. i will pick up that in a moment but _ process. i will pick up that in a moment but i _ process. i will pick up that in a moment but i want - process. i will pick up that in a moment but i want to - process. i will pick up that in a moment but i want to go l process. i will pick up that in i a moment but i want to go back to keith's — a moment but i want to go back to keith's point. that is quite the challenge. don't

underestimate what they are doing — underestimate what they are doing here it's only in the tast— doing here it's only in the last 14 _ doing here it's only in the last 14 minutes or so that they have _ last 14 minutes or so that they have actually been able to resolve _ have actually been able to resolve two objects here. you have — resolve two objects here. you have a — resolve two objects here. you have a larger asteroid which is something like 750 metres across— something like 750 metres across in— something like 750 metres across in the smaller asteroid which — across in the smaller asteroid which is — across in the smaller asteroid which is 160 metres across. 0nty— which is 160 metres across. only in— which is 160 metres across. only in the last 40 minutes have — only in the last 40 minutes have they be able to resolve those — have they be able to resolve those two objects independently and the — those two objects independently and the navigation software has to pick— and the navigation software has to pick out the one that we want — to pick out the one that we want to— to pick out the one that we want to hit. so how do we manoeuvre the thrusters towards the one _ manoeuvre the thrusters towards the one that we want to. so it is a _ the one that we want to. so it is a challenge and it seems at the moment that is working and they seem happy about the way that they are lining up so how will they— that they are lining up so how will they use this information wett— will they use this information well they will check your models honestly. so when we

have — models honestly. so when we have sky— models honestly. so when we have sky surveys the true monsters out there we have pretty— monsters out there we have pretty much, we think, have found — pretty much, we think, have found att— pretty much, we think, have found all of them. so the object _ found all of them. so the object that killed the dinosaurs something that is about— dinosaurs something that is about ten km across we found about — about ten km across we found about four or five of those. we have _ about four or five of those. we have computed their orbits and we know — have computed their orbits and we know that they will not crashing to earth. when you go to the — crashing to earth. when you go to the size _ crashing to earth. when you go to the size of the object that we are — to the size of the object that we are about to hit, 150 metres across~ — we are about to hit, 150 metres across~ we _ we are about to hit, 150 metres across. we have done the statistics we think we have only— statistics we think we have only found about 40% of those objects. — only found about 40% of those objects, so the total population that we think are out there. we need to do more surveys — out there. we need to do more surveys to— out there. we need to do more surveys to find more of these rocks — surveys to find more of these rocks. compute their orbits and make _ rocks. compute their orbits and make sure _ rocks. compute their orbits and make sure that they are not going — make sure that they are not going to _ make sure that they are not going to come and hit us. but there — going to come and hit us. but there might be one or two that we are — there might be one or two that we are a — there might be one or two that we are a bit worried about. so then— we are a bit worried about. so then we — we are a bit worried about. so then we can take the information from this test, from — information from this test, from this— information from this test, from this demonstration and perhaps— from this demonstration and perhaps put a real mission into practice — perhaps put a real mission into ractic ., . perhaps put a real mission into practic ., ., ., ,y perhaps put a real mission into

ractic ., ., ., ,, ., ., all practice not an easy task at all what they _ practice not an easy task at all what they are _ practice not an easy task at all what they are doing - practice not an easy task at i all what they are doing today now less than three minutes you can see that image on the screen getting brighter and clearer. following on what you are saying a little earlier and what we have been talking about our governments paying enough tensions to this notjust in the us but around the world, the us but around the world, the threat of something like this and trying to prevent this? iii this and trying to prevent this? �* _ this and trying to prevent this? �* . ., this? if i'm paying attention we are seeing _ this? if i'm paying attention we are seeing two - this? if i'm paying attention we are seeing two new - this? if i'm paying attention we are seeing two new rule | we are seeing two new rule wortd — we are seeing two new rule world for— we are seeing two new rule world for the first time. so i'm world for the first time. so im trying _ world for the first time. so im trying to _ world for the first time. sr i'm trying to pay attention to you but is the world paying attention to this, yes. it used to be that this was an esoteric exercise but as we discovered recently in russia there is something smaller than the target miss a town in russia and injured some people so this

is a real product. we also discovered that there are many more of these little ones and we only have a fraction of those identified. 0ne we only have a fraction of those identified. one of those could be a really bad day for someone earth. so doesn't really where you are, they say two thirds of the world is ocean but a large part is in and where we live. so countries are paying a lot more attention to this. russia has done some rounded views and things like that. so yes the world is paying attention. in that. so yes the world is paying attention. in your view is not the _ paying attention. in your view is not the case? _ paying attention. in your view is not the case? do _ paying attention. in your view is not the case? do you - paying attention. in your view is not the case? do you think| is not the case? do you think the world is going to pay even more attention after we are seeing today?— more attention after we are seeing today? they certainly need to pay _ seeing today? they certainly need to pay attention - seeing today? they certainly l need to pay attention imagine the situation, but you can deftect _ the situation, but you can deflect an asteroid only so much _ deflect an asteroid only so much that instead of hitting the western hemisphere of the earth _ the western hemisphere of the earth it— the western hemisphere of the earth it hits the eastern hemisphere of earth. will how

does _ hemisphere of earth. will how does the — hemisphere of earth. will how does the eastern hemisphere feel about that. you have to have — feel about that. you have to have big _ feel about that. you have to have big arguments at the un about— have big arguments at the un about where this object was going — about where this object was going to _ about where this object was going to hit. will be get into a situation in the future where we can— a situation in the future where we can control it to that level of precision. we may have to. there — of precision. we may have to. there is— of precision. we may have to. there is some issues down the road _ there is some issues down the road that— there is some issues down the road that we will have to address. road that we will have to address-— road that we will have to address. ~ , ,., , . , . address. absolutely, as we have been talking _ address. absolutely, as we have been talking there _ address. absolutely, as we have been talking there it _ address. absolutely, as we have been talking there it is - address. absolutely, as we have been talking there it is less - been talking there it is less than 30 seconds to impact. you can see on our screens that image getting brighter and clearer. i don't know if you can see to the bottom left people at nasa looking very excited applauding. and that moment of impact. we will see a

delay. just listening from commentary from nasa. film delay. just listening from commentary from nasa. oh my cosh, oh commentary from nasa. oh my gosh. oh my — commentary from nasa. oh my gosh, oh my goodness. - commentary from nasa. oh my gosh, oh my goodness. six, . gosh, oh my goodness. six, five, five, four, three, two, one. 0h five, five, four, three, two, one. oh wow. limited visual confirmation.— one. oh wow. limited visual confirmation. you can see and hear the excitement _ confirmation. you can see and hear the excitement in - confirmation. you can see and hear the excitement in that i hear the excitement in that room and the moment of impact and as they predicted the entire field of view destroyed. we are now looking at the scene inside that lab. these people would've worked so hard to get to the point here. it's quite a

significant moment. could you pick up on the people who have worked so long on this how they are feeling today? it’s are feeling today? it's interesting _ are feeling today? it's interesting watching this that there — interesting watching this that there is— interesting watching this that there is probably a phd is made 'ust there is probably a phd is made just try— there is probably a phd is made just by looking at the surface and how— just by looking at the surface and how it is set up and we will also _ and how it is set up and we will also learn... and how it is set up and we will also learn. . ._ and how it is set up and we will also learn... you see all the folders _ will also learn... you see all the folders on _ will also learn... you see all the folders on the _ will also learn... you see all the folders on the surface? l will also learn... you see all. the folders on the surface? yes it is amazing. _ the folders on the surface? yes it is amazing. so _ the folders on the surface? yes it is amazing. so it's _ the folders on the surface? yes it is amazing. so it's amazing what — it is amazing. so it's amazing what is — it is amazing. so it's amazing what is it— it is amazing. so it's amazing what is it made out of his in a pile _ what is it made out of his in a pile of— what is it made out of his in a pile of rubble? that has a lot to do— pile of rubble? that has a lot to do with _ pile of rubble? that has a lot to do with can you deflect it easily— to do with can you deflect it easily if— to do with can you deflect it easily if it's cotton candy or if it is— easily if it's cotton candy or if it is a rock. and just in the _ if it is a rock. and just in the past _ if it is a rock. and just in the past few moments we have not committed yet, we learned an immense about a world that wasjust— an immense about a world that wasjust a _ an immense about a world that wasjust a few an immense about a world that was just a few minutes ago a dot in — was just a few minutes ago a dot in the _ was just a few minutes ago a dot in the sky.

wasjust a few minutes ago a dot in the sky.— wasjust a few minutes ago a dot in the sky. when you think back to the — dot in the sky. when you think back to the moments - dot in the sky. when you think back to the moments of - dot in the sky. when you think back to the moments of your | back to the moments of your career, i know you have followed the sort of thing for such a long time now, is there anything that compares to this in your memory? in terms of the significance? taste in your memory? in terms of the significance?— significance? we had the deep im act significance? we had the deep impact mission _ significance? we had the deep impact mission a _ significance? we had the deep impact mission a few - significance? we had the deep impact mission a few years - significance? we had the deep| impact mission a few years ago his memories probably better than mine, 2008, 2009 where we smashed into an asteroid. but that was kind of a proof of principle. the key thing about this mission is because we have two asteroids together, what we call a binary to rock system, we are able to make some precision measurements about mu; thg changes in velocity of the. .. we have just hit. thg changes in velocity of the. .. we havejust hit. now object we have just hit. now if you have a comet flying through space and you smash into it it's not going to be easy to space and you smash into it it's not go measurement.) make that measurement. but they

will the system now will be studying the system now the next few weeks. as the smaller around the which does bigger object which it does every sort of 12 hours, you get a light signature as object a light signature as one object goes behind the other. and that is like a clock. we know how that clock operates, we know the time is, we know how that changes through time. what we expect to see is that instead of the little object going around every 11 hours and may now after what minutes it may now after what we just saw start going around every 11 hours 45 minutes. it will do some energy because of the impact its orbit around that big object will tighten in the orbital period will shorten. we should be able to see that in the light curves now from the telescopes that we will study. that information

won't come immediately it will take a few weeks. maybe a couple of months. ultimately thatis couple of months. ultimately that is what will prove whether this is a good idea, whether this is a good idea, whether this is a good idea, whether this is a good technique or not. then they will study some of these other images that they get of the plume that comes off. keith was talking there is this a rubble pile? has a spacecraft basicallyjust gone in to something like a sponge? that has changed the impact characteristics, or is it a very hard object? is there a lot of ice inside? these are the kinds of questions that they will ask themselves now through the telescope but —— study that they will be doing. fascinating stuff but ijust want to address the last

question as we are running out of time. i want to get your sense, we have talked a lot about the fact that we might know now what they might do with the information that they have but we also want to remind people that this is not an imminent threat in any way, is it? we are not looking out the peril of more of these has in the future?— the future? this particular ashford was _ the future? this particular ashford was not _ the future? this particular ashford was not going - the future? this particular ashford was not going to l ashford was not going to threaten earth and just because we punched one does not make it more _ we punched one does not make it more dangerous. but there are a class of— more dangerous. but there are a class of things that are out there — class of things that are out there and quite a lot of them have — there and quite a lot of them have been yet to be identified. so we — have been yet to be identified. so we may not be looking down the barret— so we may not be looking down the barrel of that at this point _ the barrel of that at this point but it will not be surprising in a year or two from _ surprising in a year or two from now— surprising in a year or two from now using these advanced computers someone comes up and says hey— computers someone comes up and says hey this is an issue. sol cannot— says hey this is an issue. sol cannot over— says hey this is an issue. sol cannot over emphasise, looking at the _ cannot over emphasise, looking at the surface it looks like a

rubble pile and it tells us a lot but we need to know. it is tletter— lot but we need to know. it is better to _ lot but we need to know. it is better to be worried about these _ better to be worried about these things in it i think that is what — these things in it i think that is what we will get from this tonight _ is what we will get from this tonight. paired up with other things— tonight. paired up with other things that we have done in space — things that we have done in space in— things that we have done in space in the last 20, 30 years. former rocket scientist and editor of nasawatch.com, keith cowing in washington. thank you forjoining us on the programme. let's turn to japan now, where in just a few hours a state funeral will be held forformer prime minister shinzo abe. political leaders from across the world will gather to remember mr abe who was shot dead during an election rally injuly. the us vice—president kamala harris and india's prime minister narendra modi are expected to be at the service. live now to tokyo and mariko 0i. rates get you on the programme

that has been a lot of opposition in the last few weeks has in there? absolutely the mood has _ weeks has in there? absolutely the mood has definitely - weeks has in there? absolutely the mood has definitely shifted| the mood has definitely shifted since he was assassinated in earlyjuly will stop at the time it was more sombre but since then there has been growing opposition, many protests throughout the week including last night. many people questioning the legitimacy of holding a state funeral using taxpayer money especially because the government has said they would spend some 11 million us dollars. of course the cost of living being a huge concern for many but also people being hit by a typhoon and facing blackouts. some people were saying that money should be spent elsewhere. somebody was tweeting earlier that schools in this area had to be closed so the children how to study remotely and if your child is really small than a parent has to take a day off of work. so there are many different reasons why people are a set

about it. also the fact that he is only the second part minister to have a state funeral it is usually only for the imperialfamily funeral it is usually only for the imperial family post up the last family was back in 1967. so despite that we are expecting some foreign hi thousand guests expanding —— attending to this building with attending to this building with a light green roof. this is as close as we can get because of tight security but i as you mentioned kamala harris arriving yesterday. it has been subbed funeral diplomacy over three days. it subbed funeral diplomacy over three days-— three days. it is interesting as ou three days. it is interesting as you point _ three days. it is interesting as you point out _ three days. it is interesting as you point out lots - three days. it is interesting as you point out lots of - as you point out lots of politicians coming to this state funeral, but at the same time there has been a lot of discussion about the legacy of shinzo abe injapan gives a sense of what people have been saying and what strikes was most important? figs

saying and what strikes was most important?— saying and what strikes was most important? as we know shinzo abe — most important? as we know shinzo abe was _ most important? as we know shinzo abe was a _ most important? as we know shinzo abe was a divisive - shinzo abe was a divisive politician even when he was the prime minister. his supporters loved him for working very closely with the united states and other allies ofjapan stop others loathed him for having very bitter relationship with japan's neighbour like china and south korea. and of course there were many other issues like controversial law that he passed which basically gave a lot more power to japan self—defense force which means japan can have an active army but shinzo abe was a true believer in having more military power in light of growing influence from china and also since russia invasion of ukraine he had been very vocal and increasing japan's defence spending so even after his death. the opinions are very much split about whether he should be holding a state

funeral i think this is something about him as a politician.— politician. thank you for “oininu politician. thank you for joining us _ politician. thank you for joining us on _ politician. thank you for joining us on the - politician. thank you for - joining us on the programme. the cypher of king charles iii has just been revealed by buckingham palace. it was personally chosen by the king, from a range of designs produced by the college of arms. the monogram will appear on government buildings, state documents and on some post boxes in the coming months and years. there is a separate version of the cypher for scotland, which features the scottish crown. you have been watching newsday. stay with us. we will be back later in an hour. with more on the nasa mission.

more on the website as always. thanks so much forjoining us. hello. the start of the new week almost felt like the start of a new season, especially when the dark clouds rolled in, the rain started to fall and the wind picked up and another showery day to come, much like we had on monday, on tuesday. now the showers will be focused in certain areas. the weather chart is a fairly similar one. still got north westerly winds, but they're actually going a little bit more westerly and allow this little sliding weather system just down towards the south west. but i'll show you where the showers will be mainly focused, particularly in the morning in northern parts of scotland, frequent here with hail and thunder. we'll see another zone of frequent showers to the north and east and northern ireland, isle of man, into north west england, northeast wales and also the north west midlands. and then there's that weather system i mentioned down towards the south west, which will slide its way in bringing devon, parts of cornwall and the channel islands more in the way of grey skies and further persistent rain as we go through into the afternoon. now, either side of those

certain rain areas, fewer showers around, more in the way of dry weather. although, we'll see a few showers crop up later, particularly south east scotland and northeast england. but in the sunshine, like on monday, it will feel pleasant enough. out of it in the breeze, 11 to 16 degrees, distinctly cool. now the wind goes a little bit more northerly again as we go through the night and into wednesday, clearing away the rain from the southwest. there should showers, the north and east of the country, more likely, in fact, as we go through. and so temperatures here maybe not as low as they were to take us into tuesday, a little bit lower compared to tuesday morning and wednesday morning out towards the west. so we've got that more of a northerly airflow and an air of low pressure pushing in off the north sea on wednesday. that's going to change the focus for where the wetter weather is more likely to be on wednesday. this time, more like down through east of scotland, more particularly later into northeast england, parts of yorkshire, lincolnshire and maybe east anglia. it does mean further west, fewer showers compared with tuesday, not more in the way of drier and sunnier weather. and so maybe feeling a little less chilly in these areas,

especially as the wind starts to ease. as you go through into thursday, the outbreaks we see in eastern england on wednesday will have pushed their way southwards overnight, gradually clearing away, a few showers dotted around, but overall, the quietest day of the week, winds should be lighter, more sunshine, fewer in the way of showers and temperatures on the up. now, as you go through then into friday, well, we start on a cool not, a ridge of high pressure, but a more prolonged spell of rain set to sweep across the country with strong to gale force winds. a big change, but still an autumn feel to end the week.

this we will have the headlines and all the many news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. he's in right now. he didn't want his ukraine invasion to become a protracted war in which his army is losing ground. he didn't plan to forcibly mobilise military—age men

across russia, and he didn't want to see internal