welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. the us defends its decision to shoot down unidentified flying objects. washington and beijing each accuse the other of aerial espionage. we were able to determine that china has a high altitude ballon programme for intelligence collection that is connected to peoples' liberation army. one week on after the devastating earthquake hit turkey and syria, 37,000 people are known to have been killed. the un warns the number is expected to double. everything we had was here. even my children are crying now, they are saying, "everything is gone." "0ur childhood is gone."

new zealand declares a national state of emergency for the third time in its history — after cyclone gabrielle ravaged the country's north island. it's seven in the morning in singapore, and 6 pm in washington where the white house has been explaining why the us military has shot a series of objects out of the sky over american territory in recent weeks including a suspected spy balloon from china. officials say the objects posed a threat to commercial flights and were brought down in the interest of safety. following a wave of speculation on social media and elsewhere the white house said there was no evidence of alien or extra—terrestrial

life being involved. there was john carew there wasjohn carew being there there is no, again, no indication of aliens if is operating during the have been studying me to learn as much as we can.— much as we can. note that these surveillance _ much as we can. note that these surveillance balloon _ much as we can. note that these surveillance balloon have - much as we can. note that these| surveillance balloon have crossed over dozens of countries around the world _ over dozens of countries around the world and _ over dozens of countries around the world and some of our closest allies and partners. for more on this i am joined now by emily harding, deputy director and senior fellow of the international security program at the center for strategic and international studies. more thoughts on what we definitively know at this stage with the white house as it prince it’s

the white house as it prince it's important _ the white house as it prince it's important to — the white house as it prince it�*s important to separate what be no suspect or only know a bit about. what would you know a bit about. what would you know a bit about. what is a bit about the changes balloon that was down off of the coast of south carolina. the large and high—altitude and know that it was would increase if intelligence collection abilities. but from the other objects in know both of little that they were operating on the routes to the first, differentiates, sizes and operating much further north. to not know it is who greeted them, watch them, what kinds of pain that they may have been carrying. we should know more what kinds of ones debris fields have been preached. i think it's unprecedented number of flying objects that have been in the american skies recently but is it a case of finding most of his people are looking for work how they always

been there and undetected. most likely that is the case. we started looking once he started to know what to look for and that is like i'm checking some filters on eight and spent so much —— search suddenly you may have been getting things that he may have been getting things that he may not have been seeing. they were flying slowly which is not usually what some of our surveillance capabilities look for and once they knew what to look for the aperture and have seen a lot more and put the question is now what will happen once and for his objects. once and for his ob'ects. therapy cases of us h once and for his ob'ects. therapy cases of us blue — once and for his objects. therapy cases of us blue is _ once and for his objects. therapy cases of us blue is entering - once and for his objects. therapy cases of us blue is entering its . cases of us blue is entering its space legally reaches the us china ties going from your? mas space legally reaches the us china ties going from your? was initiation has rejected — ties going from your? was initiation

has rejected that _ ties going from your? was initiation has rejected that claim _ ties going from your? was initiation has rejected that claim saying - ties going from your? was initiation has rejected that claim saying that i has rejected that claim saying that there are no he was balloon doing there are no he was balloon doing the same things. this could be a moment of taking a deep breath, generally in the spy versus spy game with the adversary gets caught it is a win for the intelligence service but it usually good intentions that much. i think in this case china is probably embarrassed but that does not mean it needs to escalate further. fantastic to get your thoughts and analysis thank you forjoining us. turning to the situation in turkey and syria now, and seven days after the huge earthquake hit, turkish rescue workers say some survivors are still being pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings. but the number of confirmed deaths has now risen above 37—thousand and it's feared the final total could be much higher. united nations officials say the relief effort is now being focused on caring for the homeless.

our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is close to the epicentre of the earthquake in southern turkey and sent this report. once just an ordinary street, until last monday. 4:17am, everything shook, the strongest earthquake in a century. smashing life as they knew it into pieces, almost nothing left. almost. here, waiting on garden chairs in front row seats, a street turned into a cemetery. their loved ones buried somewhere in this rubble.

the scenes are absolutely breathtaking, but it's also what we can't convey. it's the dust and the stench, the stench of death, so many bodies buried under the rubble. translation: right now, | they are pulling a body out. it might be my brother, or it might be someone else. they are pulling the body out and they will identify it. fouad waits for the bodies of everyone in his family who lived here, a0 people in all. did you ever fear that you'd see a day like this? one week on, the body bags keep coming out, each time killing a family's prayer their loved

one was still alive. the un's top aid official praised this rescue effort. more than 100 countries sent to help. but there is concern over what's yet to come. the greatest fear now is when that awful day comes when we learn how many people really died. the speculation, as you know, is frightening. and just to think that under those mountains of rubble there could be these many, many people who are now dead. so many are asking, "did so many have to die?" turkey's president erdogan says they couldn't prepare for a calamity like this. but this woman insists her sister could have been saved. translation: only one politician came here and showed his face. l where are the rest? i've been here since the first day. i dug people out with my bare hands.

builders are being blamed too. some structures collapsed and others didn't. translation: our faith says this life is a test. _ we believe there are lessons here for everyone. god willing, we will be stronger after this. one week on, the hope of finding anyone alive here has all but faded. and yet so many we meet notjust hope, they believe their loved ones are still alive somewhere under this rubble. present erdogan is promising everyone a new home within a year. that's optimistic. it is the memory of everyone and everything that was here that will live on in those who survived. now is a time to grieve. but as this rescue turns to relief,

there will also be a reckoning for this wrecking of so many lives. lyse doucet, bbc news, kahramanmaras. the scale of the disaster in turkey has place unprecedented pressure on the country's healthcare system but assistance from the international community is making a difference. our correspondent nick beake reports from the south east of the country close to the epicentre where hospital staff are under huge strain. in the heart of a devastated city... ..we meet little arras. he is five. he was pulled from the rubble with hypothermia, after 105 hours. his older brother, older sister and his dad were all killed in the earthquake. his grandfather, mehmet, says he will now treat arras like his own son. translation: he is an honest boy.

he has a strong personality. he is not spoilt, he is sincere. the rescuers and the doctors did so well to save him and, by god's grace, they gave him back to us alive. arras's mum survived and is being treated in another hospital but this is one of so many families torn apart. translation: we are burning inside, just like everyone else. _ i don't need to tell you about the pain of losing three of my family. for the medics at the heart of all of this it has been an exhausting and traumatic week. it is very bad. and too much of the childs have lost their parents. so i don't know, it's very hard.

yeah. it's too hard for me. arras was saved in this intensive care unit, set up by doctors from israel, one of so many countries who sent teams to help the tens of thousands of injured. some of the patients we have seen today are now starting on the really long road to recovery, but for all of them, there are also the mental scars. there is the personal trauma but also the collective, national trauma, too. and an international effort to support turkey is gaining momentum. doctors and nurses from the uk are now setting up a field hospital here, where the town's hospital is no longer safe for patients. we are working with the turkish

doctors and nurses that are here, set up their own tent and they are seeing patients but they are quite overwhelmed because after all the trauma you then have all the people who have their usual chronic illnesses, they are falling off their bikes still or they are doing things, they are still becoming unwell. and it is both young and old in desperate need. now and in the days and weeks to come. nick beake, bbc news, in southern turkey. meanwhile over the border from turkey in syria, the country's president, bashar al—assad, has agreed to two new corridors to allow aid from the united nations into his country from turkey. it comes after the un held an emergency meeting with the syrian government to discuss ways to boost aid to the country, already devastated by years of civil war. our correspondent laura bicker reports from antakya close to the syrian border. there is a moment of disbelief at seeing light. and then comes the smile. the joy of knowing he is free after 50 hours in crushing concrete.

god is great, the crowd chants as they celebrate saving three—year—old karam in idlib last week. his father shielded him from the rubble but there are so few rescuers on the ground in syria and both felt helpless as his mother and sister fell silent. and died next to them. translation: after a while my wife stopped talking. _ i was kneeling over my son and the rubble was up to my legs. it was all taking too long. the focus is now on keeping the living alive. survivors have little choice but to find whatever shelter they can within the fallen buildings. translation: we now live on the streets. - we stayed there and when we feel we are falling asleep we get in a car that we covered. that is where we sleep.

aid is being promised, but not fully delivered. after leaving turkey, the united nations aid chief, martin griffiths toured aleppo in syria and said help is coming. but the un has defined new routes over the border if it is to meet the mounting needs of millions. this hospital in northern syria, filmed by bbc arabic has had to carry out multiple amputations on children with very little equipment. more than 3.5 million syrians came to turkey to escape the horrors of war and they hoped this would be a safe home. and although this camp is getting some help from the uk charity, refugees, key supplies are still short. after a decade of trying to lift themselves out of grinding poverty, these families are having to start again.

it is a daily struggle, she tells me. if i am working, we are eating. if not, we are dependent on the charity of random people. life has become expensive and the dignity of those who have had to leave their homes have become affected and our people have been decimated. as dusk brings freezing temperatures, these families can only hope that don't will bring them the strength to build them their lives again. laura bicker, bbc news on the turkey syria border. for more on this i am joined now by our correspondent nada tawfik. who has been looking for because of these core doors. great to get you on the programme i don't know how much of the report you were able to see but obviously eat very much needed in this area. give us a sense about how significant this decision is to open up his core doors in this area. i

is to open up his core doors in this area. ~' , , area. i think is extremely important- _ area. i think is extremely important. heard - area. i think is extremely important. heard from i area. i think is extremely. important. heard from the area. i think is extremely _ important. heard from the secretary generals spokesperson saying that it will make a big difference because they will be able to use these two border crossings in the coming days. it makes a difference in terms of how quickly they can get the aid and how quickly they can get the aid and how much they can get in. we are talking obviously about looking at a longer—term recovery, medicines, shelter for the cold winter months, food. so the un had been pushing for this because while other aid agencies have been able to use of the border crossings, because you and is mandated by the security council to just use the one bab al—hawa event one of two things needed to happen. that either the security council would have to go pass any resolution to open up these crossings which has been difficult in the past because russia, syria ally�*s oppose that or they would have to get permission directly from bashar al—assad which security

council members have heard they have god today. . so a significant move here and the us has said that they have responded cautiously saying that it will be a positive step, of course but only if bashar al—assad really does act on his words and allows those promises to be filled. wright possible to say that.- wright possible to say that. briefly if ou can wright possible to say that. briefly if you can also _ wright possible to say that. briefly if you can also concerned - wright possible to say that. briefly if you can also concerned about. if you can also concerned about whether it's the people who need it. that's right this is the last remaining, mostly rebel controlled, part of syria in the north. i've had calls before this to get additional crossings open and politics have always thought in the way. in fact, we have heard from secretary—general�*s office saying for the basic needs of the people there is a devastating earthquake,

people see those images how heartbreak and how much has been destroyed there and say they hope everyone can put politics aside so that aid can get in. it will continue to be a concern, but i am sure the security council says they will keep on top of that to see how this agreement pans out.— will keep on top of that to see how this agreement pans out. thank you so much for— this agreement pans out. thank you so much forjoining _ this agreement pans out. thank you so much forjoining us _ this agreement pans out. thank you so much forjoining us in _ this agreement pans out. thank you so much forjoining us in the - so much forjoining us in the programme. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... new zealand declares a state of emergency for the third time in its history — after cyclone gabrielle ravaged the country's north island. we speak to the mayor of the far north. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan the last soviet troops were finally coming home.

the withdrawal completed in good order but the army defeated in the task sent to perform. malcolm has been murdered. that has a terrible effect for being around people. i'm terrified of the questions of the streets. one wonders who is next. as the airlift got under way there was no let up erruption itself. lava streams from a vent in the sea to the east of the island away from the time for the time that could start flowing again at anytime. the russians heralded next generation space station with a spectacular night launch. they called it mir — russian for peace. this is newsday on the bbc.

our headlines. the us defends its decision to shoot down unidentified flying objects. washington and beijing each accuse the other of aerial espionage. one week on after the devastating earthquake hit turkey and syria, 37 thousand are known to have been killed. the un warns the number is expected to double. new zealand has declared a national state of emergency for only the third time in its history after cyclone gabrielle ravaged the country's north island on monday night. one firefighter is missing and another is in a critical conditon after a landslide near the city of auckland. several beach—side communities have also had to be evacuated and dozens of relief centres have been set up across the region as gale force winds, heavy rains and flooding have left tens of thousands without power, grounded flights and damaged buildings and infrastructure. this most recent storm comes just weeks after the auckland area experience record rainfall and flooding

which left four people dead and damaged thousands of properties. the prime minister, chris hipkins, has announced a $7.3million dollar relief package and warned citizens on monday that �*the worst was yet to come'. more heavy rainfall is expected throughout tuesday. for more on this i am joined now by moko tepani, mayor of new zealand's far north. wonderful to get you on the programme at a time that i know must be really difficult for you and i understand that you and your team are on the ground trying to get the people that help, can you give us a sense of what the latest is? think the wide devastation _ sense of what the latest is? think the wide devastation that - sense of what the latest is? think the wide devastation that has - sense of what the latest is? t'i “if. the wide devastation that has been caused by gabrielle and our region are very much in a response mode here in far north and new zealand. we have widespread power outages

with around 111,000 households without power. around 43 of our towns very much widespread power outages because the north as well. and in my district we have notices for evacuations. it is very weak and they are very much encouraging people to stay home and stay safe and read out this weather. pm? people to stay home and stay safe and read out this weather. any sense of thin . s and read out this weather. any sense of things will— and read out this weather. any sense of things will start _ and read out this weather. any sense of things will start to _ and read out this weather. any sense of things will start to improve - and read out this weather. any sense of things will start to improve on - of things will start to improve on terms of when the concert telling the people that they came from out of their homes or that they might get more access to electricity as he pointed out, so much of the power in that area has been cut off. itriui’ith pointed out, so much of the power in that area has been cut off.— that area has been cut off. with the forecast that _ that area has been cut off. with the forecast that will _ that area has been cut off. with the forecast that will hopefully - that area has been cut off. with the forecast that will hopefully bring . that area has been cut off. with the forecast that will hopefully bring a i forecast that will hopefully bring a better picture in the next couple of days but right now we are still in it a bit so for the past couple of days and today as well so it is very much affecting our southerner cousins right now. we're hoping to

see powers for the next two days but usually we have widespread power outages we bring out clues from other districts, everyone is getting hammered by the cyclones picked me to the resources we have on the ground right now to try and restore energy and this we can get food and water to our isolated communities. and have a lot of stock in provisions to be able to take care of people in this time of great need. , , ., ., of people in this time of great need. , ., ., ._ of people in this time of great need. , ., ., , , of people in this time of great need. , ., ., , need. just to say that many parts of this area were _ need. just to say that many parts of this area were affected _ need. just to say that many parts of this area were affected by _ need. just to say that many parts of this area were affected by floods . this area were affected by floods just a couple of weeks ago. how much more difficult because getting a and rescuing people, how much more difficult to become in the light of! it does make incredibly more difficult what are lacking with the most recent significant weather events across our country is the emergency operations, itjust kind

of stood down to be stood up against the wall are well prepared and my district alone we had to do claire a delusional state of emergency only two weeks ago so we hit the ground running with cyclone gabrielle coming through and to check its progress so we had a bit of preparation time and for people to have their own family responses ready for our towns and regions to get ready for the storm to come. we are now seeing they are very much responding on the grounds of the needs of our communities. i responding on the grounds of the needs of our communities.- responding on the grounds of the needs of our communities. i wish you and your teams _ needs of our communities. i wish you and your teams in _ needs of our communities. i wish you and your teams in the _ needs of our communities. i wish you and your teams in the very _ needs of our communities. i wish you and your teams in the very best - needs of our communities. i wish you and your teams in the very best in - and your teams in the very best in the coming days thank you for joining us on our programme. and before we go, a small asteroid has exploded after entering the earth's atmosphere above the english channel. the three—foot meteoroid, which was visible in south england, wales and northern france shortly before 3am local time, created this stunning �*shooting star�* effect.

known as an �*airburst�*, it's just the seventh time in history that an asteroid's impact has been predicted in advance. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello. a valentine's day of wardrobe dilemmas on the way for some of you. frosty and the place is foggy start. but by the afternoon spring like warmth 60 to 70 degrees possible in northwest wales well above the eight degree average for this stage in the month, but not quite as warm as our warmest valentine's day recorded in 1998. so why the warmth? well, we're on the western side of this massive area of high pressure, keeping things dry across much of europe, because we're on the western side, we've got a suddenly wind developing. but before that really gets going, most notably in western areas where temperatures above freezing. elsewhere, a frosty start to the day, minus four, minus five in one or two spots, and some dense patches

of fog, particularly across central, eastern and southern parts of england and south east wales. that fog could actually develop a bit through the morning rush hour for some lingering until we get to lunchtime. but a lot of sunshine to come for many a bit more cloud. western wales, north west england. the odd splash of rain always cloudier though. western scotland. northern ireland with more of a breeze. here again, some rain, a drizzle at times. so a lot of dry weather, bright weather. but look at the temperatures, 13 degrees, moray firth, 15, 16, north devon, maybe ten, 16 and 17 northwest wales, but across western areas, particularly northern ireland. watch for the sun set in the evening. southerly winds ahead of this weather front will bring some saharan dust to the skies. as i said, northern ireland and western scotland could be treated to the best of the sunset, but it will be replaced by rain as we go through the night. rain spreading its way and dropping some of that dust onto the cars for the morning. it's not going to reach eastern areas. so we'll stay clear here. still a chance of frost, but not as cold as the night we have at the moment. and that's because there'll be more of a breeze, not as much fog around, but a bright start, sunny start in eastern areas, western areas starts cloudy, outbreaks of rain, outbreaks of rain

fizzle as it pushes eastwards across england into the midlands, central southern england. by the end of the afternoon, east anglia and the southeast will stay dry and clear into the evening. mild here, 13, 1a degrees, a little bit fresh elsewhere. but then as we go into thursday, a murky and actually wet start for many across england and wales, not seeing that for a while. that rain, though, will clear through still lots of cloud around the odd bit of brightness, driest, brightest the further north you are. and again, temperatures still above where we should be for this stage in february. but there's more rain gathering to northern ireland later on and that's this area of low pressure which will bring rain across the north, but increasingly strong winds. so through thursday night into friday, one thing to watch out for is potentially strong to gale force winds for many to.

good evening, i'm tulsen tollett and this is your sports news where we start in the premier league. liverpool came out on top in a fiery merseyside derby against everton with a 2—0 win at anfield. joe lynskey was watching. in 2023 liverpool looked around for answers. they came here still without a league win this year. and next in view were they are merseyside rivals. everton had put hope in a new coach a new approach