welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. growing concerns about chinese travellers and the spread of covid over lunar new year, in asia, hong kong and around the world. we'll discuss the implications for the covid virus with a public health scientist, in other news. prince harry accuses his brother of physically the deadlock continues in the us congress, with more failed attempts to elect a new speaker for the third day running. prince harry accuses his brother of physically attacking him in his new memoir

which is out next week. and the struggle to try to protect forests in the philippines, with many of them devastated by illegal logging and mining. it's seven in the morning in singapore — and seven in the morning in china — which is set to reopen to the world on sunday, welcoming international travellers —and returning residents without the need to quarantine for the first time since 2020. this coming against a surge in infections in the country since beijing lifted covid restrictions. in some of its strongest criticisms of china to date — the world health organisation has accused beijing of under—reporting the number of covid—deaths, china's foreign ministry has responded that china had transparently and quickly shared covid data, and that

china's "epidemic situation is controllable". facts have proof that china maintain close _ facts have proof that china maintain close communications with the world health _ close communications with the world health organization and show the relevant — health organization and show the relevant information ended in a timely— relevant information ended in a timely manner in accordance to law, openness _ timely manner in accordance to law, openness and transparency. the current — openness and transparency. the current pandemic situation is manageable but with adjustments to the pandemic prevention and control policy, _ the pandemic prevention and control policy, we _ the pandemic prevention and control policy, we will continue to hold technical— policy, we will continue to hold technical and other exchanges with wh0~ _ well, as part of sunday's opening up, tens of thousands of people will be able to travel between hong kong and china, it's a major easing of pandemic rules that kept the border mostly sealed for almost three years. the measures kept families separated, cut off tourism and severed most business travel.

here is city leaderjohn lee announcing the easing of restrictions... the first stage of the border opening _ the first stage of the border opening arrangements will commence onjanuary_ opening arrangements will commence onjanuary the 8th opening arrangements will commence on january the 8th on sunday. a quarter— on january the 8th on sunday. a quarter for— on january the 8th on sunday. a quarter for cross—border travel between — quarter for cross—border travel between hong kong to mainland china will be _ between hong kong to mainland china will be a _ between hong kong to mainland china will be a maximum of 60,000 hong kong people daily will be able to travel— kong people daily will be able to travel north, by sea, land and air and different checkpoints to enter mainland — and different checkpoints to enter mainland china. i'm joined by bill hanage, who's associate professor at harvard university from the chan school of public health. great to get you on the programme, to sketch her thoughts on this, china heading back to the criticism in terms of hours managing covid—19 right now, how transparent do you

think the authorities are being? i don't think they're being particularly transparent right now it all. there are many reasons why dents might be comparatively low right now and relatively at the beginning of the outbreak, it takes a her debts to filter through the of some of the strictest definitions of what a covid—19 death is in the world. and there are reasons why i might be lower than the actual number but this is really implausibly low given will be at in places, including hong kong. do you see any sense in the way that there managing covid—19, do you think you may change? there are many reasons why it will change, definitions of her time, for instance, you often need to be careful to distinguish between death from covid—19 and death of covid—19 we have a lot of disease around. and it's also true that the way they've been managing up that the way they've been managing up until now has been reliant upon

interrupting transmission by doing things other than vaccination and they have not done enough effort into vaccination and there's a heck of a lot of vulnerable people in that country. of a lot of vulnerable people in that country-— of a lot of vulnerable people in that country. indeed and when it comes to vaccination, _ that country. indeed and when it comes to vaccination, there's . that country. indeed and when it i comes to vaccination, there's been that country. indeed and when it - comes to vaccination, there's been a lot of reliance on chinese made vaccines. but we know and terms of the efficacy of those verses what we have seen in other parts of the world? , ., , , ., have seen in other parts of the world? , . , , . ., have seen in other parts of the world? , . ,, . ., , world? they appear to be good vaccines you — world? they appear to be good vaccines you compare - world? they appear to be good vaccines you compare them - world? they appear to be good l vaccines you compare them with nothing at all. blunting the impact of the pandemic and things will be much worse if this had been the situation in 2020. on the other hand, the landscape is very different from the rest of the world for people of god not only some vaccination but many have been affected at least once. and they're really in a state with the left quite a surgery can expect a lot of severe illness and death. professor, we're heading _ severe illness and death. professor, we're heading into _ severe illness and death. professor, we're heading into the _ severe illness and death. professor, we're heading into the lunar- severe illness and death. professor, we're heading into the lunar new -

we're heading into the lunar new year period and travel restrictions are lifting in china and what is your biggest concern from a public health perspective? i your biggest concern from a public health perspective?— health perspective? i think the [arrest health perspective? i think the largest concern _ health perspective? i think the largest concern from _ health perspective? i think the largest concern from the - health perspective? i think the| largest concern from the public health perspective is what is going to be happening in china and particularly among the older generation. the lunar new year's can mix people around a lot and there's going to be a lot of gatherings and nobody introduced all the networks were pretty under vaccinated in china. there's been a false reliance on the idea that you don't need to get the vaccine because we can stop the virus getting to you. that is not true with the viruslike omicron. people who can get the vaccine, they should and the lunar new year is just far enough in the future and even one—shot is better than having none at all at this stage. even one-shot is better than having none at all at this stage.— none at all at this stage. thank you so much for— none at all at this stage. thank you so much forjoining _ none at all at this stage. thank you so much forjoining us _ none at all at this stage. thank you so much forjoining us on _ none at all at this stage. thank you so much forjoining us on the - so much forjoining us on the programme. paralysis continues in the us congress, republican leader in the us house

of representatives, kevin mccarthy, has failed in yet another bid to get elected speaker, his ninth attempt, extending the government deadlock into a third day. a small group of right—wingers within his own party has been derailing attempts to elect him. from washington, gary o'donoghue reports. the total number of votes cast is 434. a speaker has not been elected, a speaker has not been elected. at,

speaker has not been elected. a chamber utterly paralysed and logged in his seemingly endless loop. democrats who voted for their leaders southerly on every ballot have been quietly enjoying the spectacle. some rebels or even voting for people who are not members of the house. for two nights, negotiations of gone long with little outcome. the 20 or so rebels have multiple concessions during this process and every one of them weakening the position for whoever ends up a speaker. that means this stuff in the republican majority will be hard to manage in the internal strife is set to continue for the next two years. eventually pressure will go for some kind of compromise candidate for republicans and no one has any idea how long that could take.

apologies for the sound issues. he get fixed related. —— we will get that fixed later. to the british royal family now. and if you thought prince harry had run out of revalations after his big tv documentary, think again. his new book — which is supposed to be out next week — has been leaked. it contains a series of sensational claims, including an account of how his brother prince william allegedly physically attacked him. here's our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell. it's already been on sale in spain. the spanish—language of spare, entitled in the shadow. and the latest trailer, setting out his grievances against his family. grievances that have been set out in startling detail in his book that is being published next tuesday worldwide. the new york correspondent has obtained a leaked copy of the book and in it, he says

here he gives details of the physical attack on him by his older brother. it evidently happened in 2019 at his home inside kensington palace. according to this account, the brothers had an angry confrontation. william called... no regrets of sharing private family moments, he is challenged by tom bradley in the interview. harper moments, he is challenged by tom bradley in the interview. how could ou do bradley in the interview. how could you do this — bradley in the interview. how could you do this to _ bradley in the interview. how could you do this to me _

bradley in the interview. how could you do this to me after _ bradley in the interview. how could you do this to me after everything, | you do this to me after everything, everything we went through, wouldn't that what you would say? you robabl that what you would say? you probably see _ that what you would say? you probably see also _ that what you would say? you probably see also the different things — probably see also the different thins. , ., . things. they would say you have railed against _ things. they would say you have railed against invasions - things. they would say you have railed against invasions and - things. they would say you have . railed against invasions and repress your life but to act as it should be here you are doing this with your nearest and dearest of the permission, the periodisation stop the pd accusation from the people that don't understand or don't want to believe that my family have been briefing the press.— briefing the press. admit all of these attacks _ briefing the press. admit all of these attacks on _ briefing the press. admit all of these attacks on his _ briefing the press. admit all of these attacks on his family, i briefing the press. admit all of. these attacks on his family, what does harry see as his future. if you are invited — does harry see as his future. if you are invited to _ does harry see as his future. if you are invited to the _ does harry see as his future. if you are invited to the coronation, - are invited to the coronation, will you come?— you come? there is a lot that can ha en you come? there is a lot that can happen between _ you come? there is a lot that can happen between now _ you come? there is a lot that can happen between now and - you come? there is a lot that can happen between now and then i you come? there is a lot that can | happen between now and then but you come? there is a lot that can - happen between now and then but the ball is— happen between now and then but the ball is in— happen between now and then but the ball is in their court. there's a lot to — ball is in their court. there's a lot to be — ball is in their court. there's a lot to be discussed and i really hope _ lot to be discussed and i really hope that _ lot to be discussed and i really hope that they are willing to sit down _ hope that they are willing to sit down and — hope that they are willing to sit down and talk about it. for now, neither buckingham _ down and talk about it. for now, neither buckingham palace - down and talk about it. for now, neither buckingham palace are l neither buckingham palace are kensington palace or making any comments. the philippines is ranked amongst the countries most vulnerable to climate change. it's regularly hit by powerful storms, landslides, and flooding. on the nation's largest island,

luzon, one of its natural defences against extreme weather is at risk. the sierra madre mountain range was originally covered in rainforest, helping absorb the heavy rains from typhoons. but mining, quarrying and illegal logging have devastated much of the forest. our correspondent, laura bicker reports on those fighting to save the remaining forest, and those, who want to exploit it. many believe these mist—covered mountains help save lives. that the uneven peaks offer protection from powerful storms. but the vast sierra madre is in peril. mining, quarrying and illegal logging have already stripped away around 90% of the original rainforest. now, among those living under the remaining canopies, there is conflict. between those desperate

to make a living and those desperate to preserve life. mark sold his cow for this chainsaw nearly a decade ago. he and his wife grace hide from the authorities as they make money from selling wood for houses and construction projects. he knows it's dangerous but he says they will catch him when he's dead. translation: my message | for people is not to get angry at us because we do not actually want this. we can only get our money for basic necessities from here. they can afford to be mad because they have other sources of livelihood, but for us, we have none. they chop and dry the wood and transport it in the dark via the river. a big order can take up to a month, but will earn them around $300. translation: they said illegal logging is destroying nature. i god gave all this to

us so we can use it. others have turned their backs on illegal logging. others have turned their back on illegal logging. forest ranger francisco leads us and his volunteers through dense woodland to show off his latest planting site. he once made a living chopping down these trees, until a deadly landslide killed thousands. did you feel an element of guilt, is that why you became a forest ranger? translation: yes, i had trauma back i then because i saw lifeless children | all lined up on the streets while the houses were all destroyed. there weren't any houses left, even ours was gone. when i remember the things we did, i feel helpless.

but this job comes with risks. 270 people have been killed in the last ten years defending filipino rainforests. translation: once we called out someone to stop cutting trees, - they told us that they might kill us. i told them that we weren't there to pick a fight and were just explaining what will happen to all of us if they continue what they do. you won't be the only one affected, it's all of us. this is why francisco and others want to save the sierra madre. strong typhoons and floods are becoming more frequent in the philippines. experts believe these mountains shield against the strongest winds and their dense rainforests absorb the worst of the rainfall. replanting is a long and difficult process. volunteers walk miles with saplings.

but the bigger challenge will be persuading others that this land is a precious resource in the battle against climate change. and that growing new life now may save human lives in the future. laura bicker, bbc news, quezon. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... dry january has arrived. we'll tell you about the parts of the world that are drinking less and others that are drinking more. the japanese people are in mourning following the death of emperor hirohito. thousands converged on the imperial palace to pay their respects when it was announced he was dead. good grief. after half a century of delighting fans around the world, charlie brown and the rest

of the gang are calling it quits. the single paul simon starts his tour of south africa tomorrow, in spite of protests and violence from some black activist groups. they say international artists should continue to boycott south africa until majority rule is established. around the world, people have been paying tribute to the iconic rock star david bowie, who sold 140 million albums in a career that spanned half a century. his family announced overnight that he died of cancer at the age of 69. the world's tallest skyscraper opens later today. the burj dubai has easily overtaken its nearest rivals. this is newsday on the bbc. our headlines. there are growing concerns over chinese travellers and the spread of covid over lunar new year, in asia, hong kong and around the world.

prince harry accuses his brother of physically attacking him in his new memoir which is out next week. to the vatican now — where tens of thousands of mourners gathered for the funeral of the former pope, benedict the sixteenth. the service in st peter's square, was attended by roman catholic clergy and members of european royalfamilies. it was conducted by the current pope, francis. our religion editor aleem maqbool reports from the vatican. before the largest church in all christendom, in front of a crowd of 50,000, he was brought for one final time, to spontaneous applause. applause. it was, of course, the last occasion the two popes were together, one presiding over the funeral of the other. during his homily, pope francis used biblical references in which he appeared to compare

benedict tojesus. translation: we want to do this with the same wisdom, _ tenderness and devotion that he bestowed on us over the years. together we want to say, father, into your hands we commend his spirit. in the crowd were an estimated 4,000 members of the clergy, and many who admired the pope emeritus as a theologian and intellectual. although, of course, pope benedict wasn't a sitting pope when he died, a lot of the rituals, a lot of the liturgy, are those that we've seen over the ages of papal deaths. unusually, though, at this funeral prayers are being said for both the previous pope and the incumbent one. there was a final farewell blessing.

inside the coffin with pope benedict, a deed detailing his achievements. it included a line about his role in tackling abuse. that's upset many of his critics. but as the service ended, others chanted that benedict should immediately be made a saint. away from public gaze in a crypt, cardinals accompanied him in burial. many, many of the cardinals who are here were a bit on the older side, and will have known him intimately. so there was a kind of final salute, which was a privilege for me to be a part of. the 265th pope over 2,000 years, benedict xvi, in the resting place

he chose for himself. aleem maqbool, bbc news, at the vatican. dry january has arrived, the month when some of us choose to lay off the booze following a festive holiday of excess. well, that's the traditional image but studies actually show that in many high—income countries — and over the last twenty years — young people have been steadily drinking less alcohol. here in asia, it has gotten to a point where japan has even launched a campaign to try and encourage young people to drink more. but for many developing countries, the opposite is happening. for more, we can speak now to amy pennay, senior research fellow at the centre for alcohol policy research at la trobe university in melbourne. she studies alcohol and youth drinking in particular. some of our viewers must be wondering, why would japan wants to

encourage drinking among young people? encourage drinking among young --eole? . �* , encourage drinking among young neale? ., �*, ., , encourage drinking among young --eole? . v . , encourage drinking among young neale? ., �*, ., , , ., people? that's really good question. it's almost unprecedented _ people? that's really good question. it's almost unprecedented in - people? that's really good question. it's almost unprecedented in the - it's almost unprecedented in the alcohol policy field of a government suggest increasing drinking because i would assume that any money that is made from the taxation of alcohol would be offset by problems to hospitals and societies. so, indeed, it is a very perplexing case. your field of study _ it is a very perplexing case. your field of study is _ it is a very perplexing case. your field of study is looking - it is a very perplexing case. your field of study is looking at - it is a very perplexing case. your field of study is looking at why young people, particularly in some parts of the world are drinking less alcohol, what if you found? it’s alcohol, what if you found? it's uuite alcohol, what if you found? it�*s quite interesting that young people are driving a change particularly in high income countries towards less alcohol consumption is the adult populations are not reducing their consumption as much, if at all. and what we have seen in countries and asia and in europe, young people, especially underaged young people are drinking significantly less than

the previous generations. this is not the case everywhere, not globally, but it is the case in many asian countries as well such as japan and south korea. defined the arameters japan and south korea. defined the parameters that _ japan and south korea. defined the parameters that we _ japan and south korea. defined the parameters that we are _ japan and south korea. defined the parameters that we are talking - japan and south korea. defined the i parameters that we are talking about in terms of age, what do you mean by young people and what are the age groups that are being affected here? is being driven by less drinking in adolescents those aged up to 17 whereas drinking is reduced amongst the 18 to 24—year—old age group but nodded significantly. but we do see now over time is the adolescents moving into young adulthood are drinking less because we know that i have here in the earlier you drink, the more you tend to drink into young adulthood and as this is ageing, they are drinking for alexis the age into adulthood. loath? ageing, they are drinking for alexis the age into adulthood.— the age into adulthood. why is this ha enin:

the age into adulthood. why is this happening and _ the age into adulthood. why is this happening and what _ the age into adulthood. why is this happening and what is _ the age into adulthood. why is this happening and what is the - happening and what is the distinctive feature between the two generations that you've just pointed out? figs generations that you've “ust pointed out? �* , . generations that you've “ust pointed out? , generations that you've “ust pointed out? as a research group, we've been t in: to out? as a research group, we've been trying to unpack _ out? as a research group, we've been trying to unpack why _ out? as a research group, we've been trying to unpack why this _ out? as a research group, we've been trying to unpack why this may - out? as a research group, we've been trying to unpack why this may be - trying to unpack why this may be happening and over a period of ten years, we have identified that young people are not distracting later, they are drinking less because they see alcohol as a particular risk. notjust individual health, but a risk to carving out a successful future and they don't have time to spend their weekends on leisure time that might put them back against other people gaining entry into university being successful in their work or attaining economic security in terms of affordability and so, alcohol is something that is getting in the way of their individual success. it in the way of their individual success. , , . , ., , in the way of their individual success. , , success. it is very ambitious group of mm: success. it is very ambitious group of young people — success. it is very ambitious group of young people and _ success. it is very ambitious group of young people and just _ success. it is very ambitious group of young people and just briefly, l of young people and just briefly, what is your sense of how this

difference between developing and developed countries. we difference between developing and developed countries.— difference between developing and developed countries. we the declines in countries that _ developed countries. we the declines in countries that have _ developed countries. we the declines in countries that have fairly _ developed countries. we the declines in countries that have fairly deep - in countries that have fairly deep developed alcohol markets and their shifting their focus to countries that are developing and offset the loss of money that they're experiencing through declines in drinking and high income countries, their shifting their focus to developing an african and southeast asian markets.— asian markets. amy, thank you so much forjoining _ asian markets. amy, thank you so much forjoining us _ asian markets. amy, thank you so much forjoining us on _ asian markets. amy, thank you so much forjoining us on the - much forjoining us on the programme. what a little more covid related news out of hong kong, this time, some good news for pet owners. the ban on the import of hamsters is going to end later this month almost a year after more than 2,000 of the rodents were culled. authorities took the action after a cluster of covid—i9 cases were traced to a pet shop in the financial hub

at the start of 2022. but following a risk assessment, there's been a reprieve. hello there. the weather's going to calm down a bit on friday, but we've got more wet and windy weather to come this weekend. another area of low pressure, weather fronts to eventually push in from the west. this weather front has brought some heavy rain and gusty winds. that area of low pressure is where we've got the strongest of the winds in scotland. even first thing in the morning, it's very windy through the central belt of scotland, but the strongest winds will be in northern parts of the country, gusting 60 or 70 miles an hour. and we've also got a lot of showers coming into scotland. that band of rain sweeping away from england and wales will be followed by clear skies and temperatures early in the morning, 6—7 degrees. lots of showers, though, to begin with in scotland, very windy start,

but the winds do moderate. the showers become fewer and we'll see some sunshine. other parts of the uk seeing some sunshine, especially in the morning, but tending to cloud over a bit more in western areas in the afternoon. a little bit of rain coming into the south—west of england and south wales as well. a breezy day, a mild day, temperatures 9—12 degrees on friday afternoon. but there is this band of rain here coming into western areas during the evening. itjust gets wetter and maybe windier again during the evening. and that band of rain pushes its way eastwards overnight. strong southerly winds are likely. it's going to be a very mild night, of course, with that cloud and rain. temperatures in southern parts of the uk, perhaps no lower than 11 degrees. but we start the weekend with some rain. it's going to be a very unsettled weekend. quite windy as well. blustery winds to come, bringing some rain or some showers as well. and we've got that rain to start with, then, across much of scotland, england and wales. it's going to shuffle its way eastwards, it's going to hang around into the morning, perhaps into the afternoon across

east anglia and the south—east. following that, the winds pick up again around these western coasts. we're going to find lots of showers feeding in. some of those will be heavy. some sunshine in between the showers and temperatures still on the mild side, 8—ii degrees. second half of the weekend, we're dominated, really, by this low pressure. it's going to hang around for a while. it's approaching the north—west of scotland. it will be very windy here saturday night into sunday morning, and around that area of low pressure, we've got these strong and blustery winds. that's going to feed in some sunshine, but we're also going to find quite a few showers. some of those could be heavy and thundery and it's just about cold enough for a little bit of snow over the tops of the mountains in scotland. temperatures will be a shade lower on sunday, around 7—9 celsius.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour straight after this programme. oh, my god, can you just leave me fora moment, please? i will get what i can, but there's a huge change in the running order here. stand by, vt 20. stand by, tx. a, b, cand d, in that order, from five seconds. ten, nine, eight, seven, six... runvt20~ _ ..five, four, three, two... this is bbc one. - ..one, zero. _ this is bbc news at 100.

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