the international airports. investigating the capitol riots one year on. the us attorney general promises to hold to account everyone involved in the fatal attack in washington. and the show seen as music's biggest night, the us grammy awards, has been postponed indefinitely over covid fears. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and thanks forjoining us. the reigning australian open champion, novak djokovic, faces being deported from australia after an issue with his visa. the player arrived in melbourne, where he is due to compete in the australian open, but was denied entry after being quizzed by border officials about his visa. his exemption by tournament officials from covid vaccination rules had prompted outrage among some australians. his lawyers said they would challenge the decision by the australian border force. mark lobel has the latest. the tennis men's world number one was defending his title before —— after being in fit. federal authorities noticed a mistake with his application. the serbian tennis star was quizzed in the room at melbourne airport for more than seven hours while his visa and exemption status was being investigated. he is now facing the prospect of boarding a plane and leaving australia. mr plane and leaving australia. m djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to australia and visa has been subsequently cancelled. whether he wishes to appeal that, if a visa is cancelled, someone has to leave the country.- to leave the country. reacting to leave the country. reacting to the news. _ to leave the country. reacting to the news, australia's - to leave the country. reacting i to the news, australia's prime minister tweeted. .. there's still mystery about what had originally been agreed after the tennis star said he'd been granted exemption permission despite not being fully vaccinated. his team have not requested a visa that permits medical exemptions for being unvaccinated. djokovic has previously said he was opposed to vaccination. we exnected — opposed to vaccination. we expected this _ opposed to vaccination. we expected this to be a bit of am — expected this to be a bit of am his_ expected this to be a bit of a... his status has been in question— a... his status has been in question for a long time. ever since — question for a long time. ever since the _ question for a long time. ever since the australian open and out there _ since the australian open and out there be a vaccine policy, there's— out there be a vaccine policy, there's been a surface around there's been a surface around the world _ there's been a surface around the world number one. it's developed into drama and very quickly— developed into drama and very quickly into farce, quite franktx _ quickly into farce, quite frankly. it's extraordinary. australia _ frankly. it's extraordinary. australia is seen tens of thousands of covid—19 cases for the first time after endurance of the world's strictest restrictions. there was outrage across the country at the original decision to allow novak djokovic in. it’s original decision to allow novak djokovic in. novak d'okovic in. it's his choice novak djokovic in. it's his choice not _ novak djokovic in. it's his choice not to _ novak djokovic in. it's his choice not to be - novak djokovic in. it's his i choice not to be vaccinated, which is fine, and i think the government made the choice to be vaccinated. but government made the choice to be vaccinated.— be vaccinated. but his treatment _ be vaccinated. but his treatment has - be vaccinated. but his treatment has struckl be vaccinated. but his i treatment has struck the be vaccinated. but his - treatment has struck the wrong note in his native serbia. his father said this is notjust to fight for novak, but a fight for the whole world. the serbian president said his country was doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end immediately. and that the whole of serbia supported him. it's understood he may appeal the decision in court. the australian open begins in melbourne and under two weeks. mark lobel, bbc news. our sydney correspondent, phil mercer, has been exploring the basis for mr djokovic�*s visa refusal. he was detained by border force at melbourne's airport for several hours while they poured over details of his visa of his visa application. we're not aware of the moment of exactly what transgression officials are alleging around his visa applications, but anyone granted a medical exemption to enter australia must provide evidence at the border to support that waiver. so, you have to presume there was something amiss in that visa application. novak djokovic could well appeal against this decision to the federal court in australia. if that happens, he's likely to be taken to a quarantine or government facility while that takes place. but clearly, not the ideal preparation for the world's number one tennis player, who is aiming to win his tenth australian open. if he's allowed into the country, of course. indeed, phil. there has been a lot of negative reaction in australia. he was granted a medical exemption. do we know the background to how he managed to get that exemption in the first instance? tennis australia is the governing body of the sport here and it's responsible for the australian open at melbourne park. it says a small number of players have applied for a medical exemption. these applications are anonymous, and reviewed by two independent panels of experts, and apparently, those experts don't know whose applications they are processing. so, they wouldn't have known, for example, that they were reviewing novak djokovic�*s bid to come into australia with a medical exemption. there has been a furious reaction we are expecting in the next few minutes or so some sort of statement from the australian prime minister, scott morrison. we are expecting him to have further comments regarding novak�*s kates. we will bring you that statement as soon as we can get it. you can add to our website and had to look at all the information. bbc .com/ news, or download the bbc news app. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. lawyers for convicted sex offender, ghislaine maxwell, claim that comments made by one of the 12 jurors to the media are grounds for a fresh trial. in several interviews, the juror revealed he was a victim of child sexual abuse. maxwell was convicted of grooming and trafficking underage girls for her partner, the convicted sex offender, jeffrey epstein. japan and south korea have reacted angrily to what north korea has claimed to be the test firing of a hypersonic missile. the launch is the first of the new year for pyongyang. at a meeting of the ruling party last week, north korea's leader kim jong—un vowed to continue building up the country's military capabilities. the united states has imposed sanctions on the bosnian serb leader milorad dodik, over fears that he is jeopardising the peace agreement that has maintained stability since the 1990s. a statement by the us treasury accused mr dodik of destabilising, corrupt activities. four people who helped topple a statue of the slave trader edward colston during protests in bristol have been found not guilty of criminal damage. they were the only people to face trial, after a crowd pulled down the monument and threw it into the harbour in 2020. the uk prime minister, borisjohnson has confirmed in parliament that he plans to stick to plan b coronavirus measures in england for at least another three weeks. he said people should carry on working from home, wearing face coverings on public transport and in indoor public spaces and taking a test before going to high risk venues. but thanks to the sheer size of the omicron wave, we still need to take steps to ensure our testing capacity reaches those who need it most. we will be suspending the need to do a pcr to confirm the result of a positive lateral flow test. from next tuesday, if you test positive, you should just record that result and begin self—isolation. it's been another day of record covid cases across europe. france has registered more than 335,000 cases in a single day — a new european record. italy has been meeting to discuss whether to make vaccines mandatory for all workers and people over the age of 50. in a newspaper article, french president emmanuel macron, used controversial and strong language, threatening to ban all those who refuse a jab from most public life. mark lowen has more. —— we can cross now to the life statement from scott morrison on australia.— on australia. i'm looking forward _ on australia. i'm looking forward to _ on australia. i'm looking forward to our— on australia. i'm looking| forward to our discussion today. unfortunately, he was actually due to arrive this evening. butjapan is dealing with this omicron strain, and i fully understand that in those circumstances that are coming to australia at this time, would not be possible. i extend to him and all those injapan are very west —— our very best. i'm sure that will be part of our discussions later today when we do those discussions partially. japan is our only special strategic partner. this is... the next level is an hour. this is one of our most important partners. that is above up partnership. in the landmark treaty that we will commit to today, the reciprocal access agreement, will upper in —— usher in a new chapter between australia and japan to deal with a new and even more challenging environment, particularly within the indo pacific. this will be japan's only reciprocal status agreement in the world. and that says something very significant about the level of trust and partnership, a partnership of equals, standing up partnership of equals, standing up for the security of the indo pacific and the values that we hold very dear in the partnerships we have with so many countries in the region, particularly throughout as neon. i've been working on this agreement together. when prime ministerfirst came to minister first came to australia many years ago, ministerfirst came to australia many years ago, i picked up those discussion from my predecessors and have worked through this now through three prime ministers injapan, and i want to think not only prime minister conchita for bringing us, but the other prime ministers, with whom i have a very good relationship. we are in exactly the same space, so i'm very much looking forward to my discussion with the prime minister later today. this complements the suite of defence security and partnership agreements that our government has been dealing with over the blast three years. we have completed the agreement. we have concluded the... we were the first country to in the have a partnership with the nations of azio. of course, with president moon, he most recently concluded the partnership with korea. ,, , korea. studio: as you're - korea. studio: | as you're hearing korea. studio: - as you're hearing there, korea. studio: _ as you're hearing there, the australian prime minister talking about australia's relationship with japan and stressing on those ties between the countries. we are expecting the countries. we are expecting the prime minister to address the prime minister to address theissue the prime minister to address the issue of novak djokovic at some point, so we will stay with his life statement at this point for further details. which was a defence that we have been absent from for about a decade, so this is further evidence of how our approach to securing peace and stability, keeping australians a safe and the weather partnership that we've been ruling is contributing. second point to that yesterday was a record booster. some hundred 2000... boosters were provided yesterday. to put the and contacts, that is more doses of the booster that has been given in one first dose in any one day or second dose, so the programme is up and running. there was a topic of further discussion yesterday, as i said, with premiers and chief ministers. as those hubs continually come online, the commonwealth distribution system is up and running and in place and has been for some time, and both those gps are doing such an excellentjob. to support that over the summer period, and i want to thank those gps who are out there, giving people theirjabs over the summer period. in particular, as we go into next week, because the five to ii vaccine programme starts next monday, and we're on track for that. those vaccines are being rolled out and distributed across the network. that will continue up until the day that those vaccine programmes commence next week. i want to stress again that the decision made by the tga was essential before commencing that programme. my kids are older than that now. they've already have their vaccination. but parents want to know that the vaccines of their children are being given and are safe and have had the best panel in the world looking over it to give them that assurance. as a parent, i wondered, them that assurance. as a parent, iwondered, and i would assure the treasurer, whose kids are in that age group, that he will want the same as all parents of children of that age. that is very important that we had that in place first, and that is in place. that will begin next week. that enables the programme that we have to have schools come back, stay back. that is what we agreed yesterday. that is our target. many states are already well advanced in their plans for achieving that. i know southwell �*s is, and i have no doubt the other states are moving quickly. —— south wales. i'm looking forward to that report coming forward next week. hopefully, we will conclude it soon after that because getting kids back to school is very important and getting their vaccination next week is very important, so on the back—to—school list on the fridge, get the pens and the pencils and the staplers or whatever. but it says get vaccinated, so make sure you p0p vaccinated, so make sure you pop into the pharmacy or the gp and get that vaccination for your kids. finally, on the issue of mr djokovic, rules are rules. there are no special cases. rules are rules. that's what i said yesterday. that's a policy of the government and has been our government's strong border protection policies in relation to the pandemic ensuring that australia has one of the lowest death rates from covid anywhere in the world. we were one of the first countries to move on shutting our borders. we were criticised at the time, but it was the right decision. we have maintained those important border controls over the entire period of the pandemic. we have tightened them even further on occasion. we were criticised for doing that. but it was the right decision. we'll continue to make the right decisions when it comes to securing australia's borders in relation to this pandemic. our government has drawn for you when it comes to protecting our borders. they know that i have a very strong view on this, and i want to thank the border force officers for doing their job. in limiting the government's policy. entry with a visa requires double vaccination or a medical exemption. i'm advised that such an exemption was not in place, and as a result, he is subject to the same rule as anyone else. i also want to stress that ultimately, this is the responsibility of the traveller. it is for the traveller to be able to assert and back—up their ability to come to the country, consistent with our rules. i would take advice from many places. no advice from many places. no advice was provided by the commonwealth, but they will take advice. but it's up to them, and if they don't comply with the rules, the australian border force will do theirjob, and they have done theirjob. this is nothing about any one individual. it is simply a matter of following the rules. so, those processes will take their course over the next few hours, and it will play out as it should. happy to take questions.— questions. studio: the australian - questions. studio: l the australian prime questions. studio: - the australian prime minister discussing the novak djokovic case repeating what he has said before. rules are rules and there are no special exemptions, thanking the australian order forces were doing theirjobs and reminding people that indeed, when you come into australia, the fact is it is the responsibility of the traveller to assert and back—up the ability... entry into australia requires double vaccinations or medical exemption and saying in that statement that he has advised... such an exemption was not in place for novak djokovic, so he is subject to the same rules as everybody else. the australian prime minister, scott morrison speaking. i want to move on to some other stories. a recent report from researchers in hong kong suggests that sinovac is less effective against omicron than other vaccines, though the world health organization have said it can help prevent against severe illness from the variant. with the chinese—made vaccine being the most commonly used jab in china, it has raised questions over the government's ability to stay on its zero—covid track as omicron cases begin to pop up more in the country, even with china's strict travel borders. dr nicholas thomas is an associate professor at the city university of hong kong. he specialises in chinese foreign policy and health security in asia. it's wonderful to have you on the programme, doctor thomas. just to start by acting you —— asking you how effective these vaccines are against omicron? chinese vaccines, like all others, seem to be struggling against omicron. they're definitely providing a degree of protective support for people's immune systems, but when it comes to omicron, we now studies from one of our sister universities that it really doesn't provoke the sort of immune response we need to protect people against omicron effectively. protect people against omicron effectivel . , protect people against omicron effectively-— effectively. yes, doctor thomas. _ effectively. yes, doctor thomas, when - effectively. yes, doctor thomas, when you - effectively. yes, doctorj thomas, when you look effectively. yes, doctor i thomas, when you look at effectively. yes, doctor - thomas, when you look at the current concerns around omicron, how quickly it spreads, what is advice best place to keep infection at bay at this point?— at this point? well, it's the same advice _ at this point? well, it's the same advice we've - at this point? well, it's the same advice we've been i at this point? well, it's the i same advice we've been doing all along, and indeed, same advice we've been doing allalong, and indeed, in many ways, we've been following for centuries. physicaland ways, we've been following for centuries. physical and social distancing, imprisoning personal hygiene —— improving. and really limiting your opportunities outside, interacting with other people. of course, this is difficult for people because most of us live in cities and we mix with people. we see an outbreak here in hong kong on exactly that issue. but it's really the only thing keeping ourselves separate, and socially distance, helps prevent the spread of the virus. that's pretty much where we're up to. as well as maintaining good health and hopefully having vaccinations as soon as possible. vaccinations as soon as possible-— vaccinations as soon as ossible. , , ., ., possible. yes, you mentioned social distancing _ possible. yes, you mentioned social distancing there - possible. yes, you mentioned social distancing there as - possible. yes, you mentioned social distancing there as one| social distancing there as one of the strategies. looking at china's zero covid strategy which has been described as extremely strict, how do you think the chinese vaccines might align with that strategy? when it comes to omicron, the reality is that china will be still reliant on a zero coping strategy. neither give a huge degree of support against omicron or delta, which we're still worried about. so, for the time being, we're going to see a continuation of the pattern we're seeing in china at the moment and a couple other places with a high degree of lockdown, mass testing and mass quarantining of both symptomatic in close contact people. symptomatic in close contact --eole. ., ., , people. doctor thomas, 'ust lookin: people. doctor thomas, 'ust looking further i people. doctor thomas, 'ust looking further afield, h people. doctor thomas, 'ust looking further afield, a h people. doctor thomas, just looking further afield, a lot l looking further afield, a lot of these chinese made vaccines have been either dominated or bought by developing countries out here in southeast asia. how do you see the development of omicron in light of that, the fact that those vaccines have been used in this part of the world? ~ . , . been used in this part of the world? ~ ., , ., , world? we are seeing a surge since december _ world? we are seeing a surge since december of _ world? we are seeing a surge since december of omicron i world? we are seeing a surge since december of omicron in world? we are seeing a surge i since december of omicron in a lot of southeast asian countries. but even before that, there was a move by a number of these countries — indonesia, thailand in particular — towards giving these people who have been double inoculated with a third booster shot from, for example, pfizer. it's helping building a people's immune systems by mixing vaccines. if that strategy is followed and if there is a greater reliance on there is a greater reliance on the mrna technology, which seems to provide a greater degree of protection, then it's going to be pretty much everywhere else in the world, relying on social and physical than sitting with vaccines. but it is possible to head off the worst of what we see elsewhere. doctor nicholas thomas, thank you so much forjoining us on tuesday with the latest on those developments. that's all the time we have for you on newsday at this hour. thanks so much forjoining us. to stay with bbc news for the latest. —— do stay with bbc news for the latest. hello. hard to believe that only a few mornings ago, we were starting the day with temperatures in the mid—teens. out there at the moment, a widespread and quite sharp frost as we start thursday morning's commute, temperatures even in the city centres below freezing. but it's into the countryside we see temperatures in minus double digits. temperatures have risen, though, to start the day across in northern ireland — and that's because we've got cloud spilling in here ahead of what will be a wet and windy day for a fairfew. the sunshine giving way to the cloud, the rain, and also some hill snow — the hill snow is happening because our weather system, these weather fronts pushing their way eastwards, will be pushing into that cold air which is sitting in place at the moment. plenty of sunshine across central and eastern areas to start the day. but through the morning commute, outbreaks of rain, a little bit of hill sleet in northern ireland spreads its way into western parts of northern england and wales, turning readily to snow in the scottish hills, also in the lake district and the pennines, giving a covering of snow in places — and all being blown around by strong—to—gale force winds touching 60—70 mph across some western areas. some parts of east anglia, the southeast will stay dry until late in the afternoon and evening, even if it does cloud over. but here across many eastern areas, it'll still be a cold day, even though there's a slice of mild airbrushing in, just three celsius, maybe up to around 8—9 for a time in the west, finishing the day with sunshine and showers. then it's showers into the evening and overnight to take us through into friday — those showers turning wintry once again as temperatures drop. there could be some frost and ice around, as well, as we start friday morning, even though temperatures nowhere near as low as they will be to start as they will be to start thursday. so another cold day on friday, we're almost between that one system clearing and another one pushing in, and we've got winds coming in from a north—northwesterly direction. that will bring frequent showers across western scotland, northern ireland, northwest england and north wales, given a covering of snow for 1—2 spots mainly over the hills, but even some lower—level sites. for some it'sjust rain, sleet, and hail. we'll have to watch the system as well spreading across southern counties, which could bring a few longer spells of rain, even a bit of sleet and snow to the south. a cold day in the wind. then we flip things around to something milder as we go into sunday. this next weather system pushes its way in. slightly wider, more extensive than the one we are seeing on thursday, so more in the way of rainfall around. gustiest winds in the south, we will all see rain at some point, and then colder to end the day and into sunday morning with a touch of frost before more rain arrives in the west later on. take care. this is bbc news. we'll 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, i'm stephen sackur. it is surely hard for the people of sudan to be optimistic about their country's prospects in 2022. the new year began with the nominal head of the transitional government quitting his post, leaving sudan once again in the grip of the military. street protests in recent months have left more than 50 people dead. my guest today embodies sudan's turmoil. nureldin satti was fired from his post as ambassador