at 95, is looking back at his eventful life. eight in the morning and 7pm in washington where the white house has announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 winter olympics in beijing. it's is no official government delegation would be sent to the games because of concerns about china possible human rights record is. the pinnacle of sport is no stranger to politics. with two months remaining, the us has announced a diplomatic boycott saying it will not contribute to the fanfare or continue it is business as usual in front of china's egregious human rights record.— of china's egregious human rights record. there were not send any _ rights record. there were not send any diplomatic- rights record. there were not send any diplomatic or - rights record. there were not send any diplomatic or visual| send any diplomatic or visual representation to the beijing 2022 olympics and paralympic games given the prc�*s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity genocide and crimes against humani , , , . humanity there is precedent here that — humanity there is precedent here that the _ humanity there is precedent here that the move - humanity there is precedent here that the move falls - humanity there is precedent i here that the move falls short of the 1980s us boycott of the moscow games where they were pulled from the competition. the athletes will be participating it will be rooting for the athletes from home — rooting for the athletes from home i_ rooting for the athletes from home. i am looking forward to doing — home. i am looking forward to doing that. but i think this is just— doing that. but i think this is just an — doing that. but i think this is just an indication that it cannot_ just an indication that it cannot be business as usual and that not— cannot be business as usual and that not sending a diplomatic delegation since that message. is beijing paying attention? judging from the reaction of the foreign ministry in a press conference prior to official confirmation the us, labelling it as wishful thinking, grandstanding and politically manipulative, the answer is yes. manipulative, the answer is es. . manipulative, the answer is es, ~ ., ., manipulative, the answer is es. ., ., ,, yes. what was made the us should do — yes. what was made the us should do is _ yes. what was made the us should do is practice - yes. what was made the us should do is practice and i yes. what was made the us i should do is practice and more united — should do is practice and more united 0lmute— should do is practice and more united olympic spirit _ should do is practice and more united olympic spirit and - should do is practice and more united olympic spirit and take | united olympic spirit and take china's— united olympic spirit and take china's concerns _ united olympic spirit and take china's concerns seriously. i united olympic spirit and take j china's concerns seriously. do not potiticise _ china's concerns seriously. do not politicise sports— china's concerns seriously. do not politicise sports and - china's concerns seriously. do not politicise sports and stopl not politicise sports and stop calling — not politicise sports and stop calling for— not politicise sports and stop calling for the _ not politicise sports and stop calling for the diplomatic - calling for the diplomatic boycott _ calling for the diplomatic boycott of _ calling for the diplomatic boycott of the _ calling for the diplomatic boycott of the beijing - calling for the diplomatic - boycott of the beijing winter olympics _ boycott of the beijing winter olympics. so— boycott of the beijing winter olympics. so as _ boycott of the beijing winter olympics. so as not - boycott of the beijing winter olympics. so as not to - boycott of the beijing winter| olympics. so as not to affect the dialogue _ olympics. so as not to affect the dialogue and _ olympics. so as not to affectj the dialogue and cooperation between _ the dialogue and cooperation between china _ the dialogue and cooperation between china and _ the dialogue and cooperation between china and the - the dialogue and cooperation between china and the us i the dialogue and cooperation between china and the us in| between china and the us in important _ between china and the us in important areas. _ between china and the us in important areas. if - between china and the us in important areas. if the i between china and the us in important areas. if the us i important areas. if the us insists _ important areas. if the us insists on _ important areas. if the us insists on willfully- important areas. if the usj insists on willfully clinging to its _ insists on willfully clinging to its cause, _ insists on willfully clinging to its cause, china - insists on willfully clinging to its cause, china will- to its cause, china will definitely— to its cause, china will definitely take - to its cause, china willi definitely take resolute countermeasures. i definitely take resolute countermeasures.- definitely take resolute countermeasures. the uk and austria are — countermeasures. the uk and austria are among _ countermeasures. the uk and austria are among other- countermeasures. the uk and l austria are among other nations considering beijing boycotts and a move backed by human rights organisations which have long argued that china should never have been awarded the games to begin with as the edge closer, it seems concerns are reaching a crescendo. peter bowles has more from los angeles. i peter bowles has more from los anaeles. ~ , , ., angeles. i think this signal rives angeles. i think this signal gives that _ angeles. i think this signal gives that the _ angeles. i think this signal gives that the united i angeles. i think this signall gives that the united states angeles. i think this signal. gives that the united states is not backing down over his long—held beliefs that china should be held accountable over human rights abuses and their impression of the uighurs specifically and there has been considerable pressure in washington on the white house from both parties, from the democrats and republicans. there is bipartisan support for this move that the us should be taking this stance and means the diplomats will not be heading to the olympics. it is symbolic to a large extent, it is nothing on the scale of the 19805 is nothing on the scale of the 1980s boycott of the moscow games which is protest of the soviet invasion of afghanistan. athletes were withdrawn. but not on that scale but it is making it a significant political point.- making it a significant political point. making it a significant olitical oint. ., , ., political point. peter, are you seeinr political point. peter, are you seeing other— political point. peter, are you seeing other countries - seeing other countries following suit with their own diplomatic boycotts. it is diplomatic boycotts. it is . uite diplomatic boycotts. it is quite possible _ diplomatic boycotts. it is quite possible neither i diplomatic boycotts. it 3 quite possible neither the united states is taken this stance, that others will follow suit. we are not looking at, a lot of people looking at this and making this point and a lot of people in the sporting road do not like the fact that the olympics are used in some senses as a political tool, but the point is being made that whatever action is taken politically or diplomatically by the united states are potentially other countries, it is not going to affect the nature of the games themselves in the sporting activities. although china clearly as you refer to are protesting distancing that the games should not be used to essentially make political points like this, i think manipulation was the expression that they use. russell came from china that look, the stage, american diplomats had not even been invited to the games. almost playing down the american action. you can get much more on that story at bbc that comports the snooze, including a look at how china has been preparing for the winter olympics and its plans to let foreigners into the countries in large numbers, something it has not been doing for some time now ever since the pandemic began and so heading over to our website and downloading the bbc news app. myanmar�*s international rulers are facing condemnation after deposed civilian leader was given a four year prison sentence. she was convicted of inciting unrest in violating covid—i9 restrictions in the election campaign and state media said it was reduced from 42 years after a partial pardon but still, it faces further charges but still, she faces further but still, she faces further charges it has been an extraordinaryjourney. aung san suu kyi has gone from acclaimed human rights icon to elected leader unrivalled in her popularity and then something of a fallen idol when she defended her generals against charges of genocide at the international court ofjustice. those same generals over through her government in february. they've now imposed to the first of what is expected to be a series of dubious criminal convictions on her. these fleeting courtroom photos are all we've seen of her for more than ten months. today is simply a shameful day for law and justice and accountability in myanmar. the junto have confirmed that they see themselves as above the law. the huge rallies seen earlier this year in the support of democracy that aung san suu kyi hoped to build have long gone, driven off the streets by volleys of military gunfire. young activists are now arming themselves instead, conducting drive—by shootings and bombings. actions that might horrify aung san suu kyi with her non—violent beliefs. a few brave souls came out today to show their anger over the verdict, but quickly dispersed. peaceful protest is no longer possible in myanmar is the country slides ever deeper into armed conflict. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. a second woman who says that jeffrey epstein sexually abused her, and ghislaine maxwell has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of sex trafficking and other charges and our correspondent has been following the events in court. today, we heard from the second woman in the indictment she's going by the pseudonym kate. what is interesting here is that the defence and prosecution have both been arguing over her age because she was 17 at the time of the alleged abuse and that is the age of consent in britain and so, thejudge ruled on this saying that she could testify as a witness, but the jury was not to view the sex act she talks about as illegal acts. and so, this is really key here because this indictment was in regard to crimes against alleged underage girls. but the testimony is important for the prosecution just in terms of laying out the so—called idea of grooming that she allegedly groomed young girls for epstein. so, we heard from kate on the stand that she met ghislaine maxwell at seven years old, had tea at her home in london and they got on very well and she said she wanted to be like her when she grew up was exhilarated by the prospect of a friendship with someone as wealthy and disconnected as she was. she said that even ghislaine maxwell offered for her boyfriend jeffrey epstein to help her with her music career. she said the next time she visited, ghislaine maxwell allegedly asked her to massage jeffrey epstein and that turned into a sexual encounter. and she said that continued for a number of years. so again, really hitting on this point from prosecutors that ghislaine maxwell, her role in recruiting and grooming young girls allegedly forjeffrey epstein. but they said in cross—examination talking to her, they really tried some kind of poking holes in her memory and saying that at that point, she was addicted to drugs and alcohol and questioning of her memories are accurate and she said that they were. white met the mayor of new york has issued a vaccine mandate. iii. mayor of new york has issued a vaccine mandate.— vaccine mandate. ii, the 27th of december _ vaccine mandate. ii, the 27th of december and _ vaccine mandate. ii, the 27th of december and he - vaccine mandate. ii, the 27th of december and he said i vaccine mandate. ii, the 27th of december and he said it i vaccine mandate. ii, the 27th i of december and he said it was a preemptive strike to help us the variant was gaining a foothold. here's the bbc. the specific rules regarding this are going to come out on december 15 but the mayors office is calling this the most sweeping vaccine mandate that we are seeing anywhere in the country. we have long seen vaccine mandates for a public sector workers in new york city and there've also been rules about them dining in doors are going to movie theatres or even being able to go to the gym that you need to show proof of vaccination stop helping employees, it's going to affect some roughly 184,000 businesses here in the city. if you want to get in touch with me on this story is that you have seen on this day. i me on this story is that you have seen on this day. i am on twitter and _ have seen on this day. i am on twitter and i'm _ have seen on this day. i am on twitter and i'm looking - have seen on this day. i am onj twitter and i'm looking forward to hearing from you. you're watching a news day on the bbc. still to come on the bbc 100 women list is being published with half of that years interest dedicated to women from afghanistan. john lennon was shot at the entrance of the dakota building in the centre of new york. there's been a crowd here standing and putting on a silent vigil and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th cease—fire of this war ended at the walls of old city. witnesses say that the shells were landing every 20 seconds. people up celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. the widow of the former i president of the philippines has gone on trial in manila. she is facing seven i charges of tax evasion, estimated as £120 million. she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. they said the decision had been reached amicably. this is newsday on the bbc. our headlines. the us announced the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 winter olympics because of china's record on human rights. china's record on human rights. china calls the boycott a pretentious act in says it's against the spirit of the games. we wa nt we want to bring you this story now where the prime minister has survived a no—confidence motion in parliament after accusing the pacific island nation's most prosperous region being taiwan's agent. and attempting a coup. riots broke out in late november over the government policies followed by poverty, unemployment and reveries in the nation with 800,000 people. we can speak now to freelance artist from the solomon islands and says it is wonderful to have the programme. many will be wondering why in china and taiwan issues and rights in the solomon islands?— taiwan issues and rights in the solomon islands? thank you so much. solomon islands? thank you so much- china — solomon islands? thank you so much. china and _ solomon islands? thank you so much. china and taiwan - solomon islands? thank you so much. china and taiwan issue l solomon islands? thank you so | much. china and taiwan issue in the solomon islands, the solomon islands have been with taiwan since 1983 and a 2019, the government switched agents from taiwan to beijing. and in the islands, we have about nine provinces in each province, the provinces in each province, the province of the governments were supposed to be in line with what the national governments policies are. in this case, the province, one of the nine provinces, they decided not to follow at the national government wanted, especially when it comes to the switch from taiwan to china. so, this is how it all became an issue for us in the solomon islands with the government. which is really funded by the national government and they decided that they do not recognise china and they recognised taiwan and they were quite vocal about the issue. given everything that you described, the protest that we are seeing, is this all that is behind it? what else is driving the protests? the behind it? what else is driving the protests?— behind it? what else is driving the protests? the china, taiwan issue is what — the protests? the china, taiwan issue is what people _ the protests? the china, taiwan issue is what people are - issue is what people are focused about. the other issues mainly come back to indigenous rights of the solomon islanders and feeling that they become dictators in their homeland, the solomon islands, the customary land owned, meaning that people on the lands and extracting sectors, especially the logging industry which they felt they did not respect the travel island owners and many peoples areas without proper consultations and dialogue, the people felt that they were pushed out from their own resources and only when it comes to businesses, they tend to think and feel that the government verifies that more than the local indigenous businesses and we will see that most of the businesses are foreign owned rather than locally owned.— locally owned. always a pleasure _ locally owned. always a pleasure to _ locally owned. always a pleasure to have - locally owned. always a pleasure to have you i locally owned. always a j pleasure to have you on locally owned. always a i pleasure to have you on the programme. thank you for being on newsday. the hollywood legend mel brooks is still going strong at 95 years old. the man behind blazing saddles and the producers has a new autobiography called all about me. he recounts the highlights of the life and show business and his long marriage to the legendary actress. he has been speaking with the bbc. i know the word can be overused, but mel brooks is a legend. a movie legend, a musical legend and a comedy legend. oscars, emmys, baftas, tonys, grammys. he's won them all, many times over. # springtime for hitler and germany... mel brooks was fearless. he broke every rule. but he kept to the ones for lockdown, even telling his son max to go away. i'm going, i'm going. love you! he's been locked in, writing his autobiography, and after some persuasion, let me into talk about it. it all starts in brooklyn. everybody in my building worked in the garment center, and ifigured i would probably end up there too. my unclejoe, looked a little bit like you. a little better looking. he changed my life. he said, melvin? i said, yes, unclejoe? he said, how would you like to see a cole porter musical on broadway called anything goes? what an experience. when the show was over, i said, joe, i'm not going to go to the garment center. i'm going to go into show business. i want to do what they were doing on that stage. and i never deviated from that plan. i was going into show business. don't you want to become a butterfly? spread your wings and flap your way to glory? you're going tojump on me! filming the producers taught mel a valuable lesson about how to handle studio executives. after the third or fourth day, levine turns to me and says, i'll give you another $25,000 if you get rid of that curly—haired guy. he said, he'sjust funny—looking. there's no leading man here. isaid, ok. i said tojoseph e levine, he's out. you didn't say that? i said, he's out. he's gone. and that was a lesson, a great lesson for me, lying to the studio. mel met anne bancroft in 1961, during rehearsals for the perry como show. his life changed forever. there she was, on stage, singing beautifully. i saw her backstage and we talked and i never stopped seeing her and talking to her for the next 45 years. one of his most cherished awards is the medal of arts he received from barack obama at the white house. the president was a big fan of blazing saddles. he loved the film. he loved the film, and he cheated? well, he was 12 years old, it was listed for 16 and above, and i think he cheated. # i bet he drove the other kids wild... mel brooks fell in love with words and music when he was five years old. he chose this for his first performance, and he's been singing it ever since. # baby # because, baby, look at you now... what a great story and great life indeed. i want to tell you about the bbc 100 women list which has been published on tuesday. celebrating the achievements of grassroots activists the global leaders. half of this years list is dedicated to women from afghanistan and the bbc has this special report. every year, the bbc names 100 inspiring and influential women as part of the bbc 100 women season. and this year, for the first time, 50 of these women are from one country. afghanistan. this year's season will recognise the stories of afghan women. the scope of their bravery and their achievements. after the taliban took control of the country earlier this year. over the next four days, the bbc 100 women will also share the stories of women around the globe who are hitting the reset and creating lasting change. 2021 has been a year where many women, especially those in afghanistan have had to reinvent their lives. women's rights activist and one of the women named on today's list spoke to me in kabul. the trouble that afghanistan is in right now, apart from the whole political whatever, is poverty, it is brain drain, a collapse of society in a country on the verge of becoming in pieces, of being destroyed. you've become the public face of afghan women afghanistan. you've become the public face of afghan women in afghanistan. someone who has remained and calling on others to come back. but what are they coming back to? what they're coming back to is not really very, very different from what they have left. that is something i want to tell them. but by not working on it and by not being around and by not raising our voices and by not asking the right questions at the right time, and by not bringing everything to the attention of the ones that are taking care of things, whether they are the taliban, the afghans, the international community, it can get a lot worse. for them to come back now, we can start working again and make things happen again for afghanistan. because i'm sure there's going to be a day when taliban are going to realise that without women, it's just not going to happen. and are you willing to work within the sharia system? they are saying, we allow anything, as long as it's within sharia. we really want to make sure that whatever it is that the sharia says, it is not the interpretation only of a group of people. that's not what we want. there's a lot of islamic countries that have women in there and how do they thrive? we want to be a thriving, beautiful, a successful muslim country. what is wrong with that? and if the taliban don't listen? well, they have to listen if they want to survive. do they want to survive? afghanistan is a country and we have to keep it as a country and make it better. do they want to understand this? if they do, then they will work at it. if they don't, then they'll do what they're doing right now and afghanistan will disappear. to head over to bbc dot—coms flash and hundred women we can learn all about this years season in which football club for instance pays women the same as men and read inspirational stories, including the star who beat disability stigma. that is the bbc. and there will be plenty of coverage across the day right here on bbc news so, do stay tuned for that. before we 90, stay tuned for that. before we go, what to tell you about the story where beach—goers near brazils sugar loaf mountain and a good spot to see something quite daring this weekend. in this tight walker was making his way across a very fine sack line between two hills in rio. suspended more than 20 feet above the ground, took in just 30 minutes. he said he was very emotional about completing the feet because it had been rescheduled multiple times to the covid—19 and he found the view to be quite spectacular. isn't that something, what a brave man indeed. that is all the time we have for you on newsday. thank you for watching and please stay with bbc news. hello there. we await the arrival of the second named storm of the season. storm barra will bring the worst of the weather during tuesday as windy weather develops widely. added to that later on snow and blizzards over some of the hills in the north. this is the centre of the storm approaching western parts of ireland. it will push a band of heavy rain northwards and eastward across the uk. but ahead of that we start the day with a frost widely and some icy patches in western scotland and the northwest of england. a very cold start then. we got that rain sweeping its way across northern ireland, wales and the southwest in the morning, the winds picking up as well. that will be followed by some sunny intervals in heavy, blustery showers in the afternoon as that band of weather weather continues to push its way northwards and eastwards. may make double figures again in the southwest but it's much colder elsewhere, especially north of england and scotland where into that cold air the rain will fall as snow. particularly in the hills, a couple of centimetres, peak district, pennines, cumbria and the fells. heavier snowfall, blizzards likely in the southern opulence and that snowy weather will work its way up into the highlands later on in the day as the main rain band sweeps away from eastern parts of england, heavy showers follow and it stays very windy. strongest winds are likely to be through the irish sea, english channel, gust 70, 80mph near coast. generally 40 or 50 or so but could get windier around some north seacoast in the evening. now, after steaming into the uk storm barra isjust going to stall overnight and into wednesday. and it will weaken as well. wednesday is still a windy day, just not as windy. the strongest winds are going to be in south wales and the southwest of england. and around that area of low pressure showers or longer spells of rain rotating with some brief glimpses of sunshine. but it's still cold, temperatures around five to 7 was up by the time we get to thursday our storm really is no more. it's continuing to weaken, the winds are continuing to drop. this band of rain from the atlantic will arrive into northern ireland later in the day. but otherwise, it's a much quieter day on thursday. a fair bit of cloud around, many places are going to be dry, some sunshine at time but we are still in cold air, temperatures typically at sixes and sevens. this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk from new york. i'm stephen sackur. this city has always had an outsize influence on american culture. the buzz in this nation comes from right here in terms of the arts, entertainment, publishing, the media, but what happens in new york when america's political culture is riven with division?