will become the first ever chinese driver to take up a spot on the starting grid next season. we'll speak to him live it's seven in the morning in singapore, and ”pm in london where the british prime minister boris johnson is fighting to save his job. the british prime minister boris a former conservative cabinet minister has joined the calls for mrjohnson to resign. one lawmaker even defected to the opposition labour party a few hours ago. mrjohnson is under huge pressure over parties held at downing street during lockdown —— but he's determined to fight on. our political editor, laura kuenssberg, reports. the atmosphere in the prime minister's neighbourhood is full of risk. danger dangles all around for borisjohnson, uncertainty hanging in the air. downing street confronting the truth that some of his own mps want him gone. as ministers gathered to agree to ditch some covid rules this morning, some of his own side waiting and watching, thinking about ditching him. is it under control, chief whip? yeah. all is calm. all is calm 7 do you think you might be in denial about that if you think this is calm? i think we need to focus on propping up the country and dealing with covid and making sure we've got that right. but can it really go on like this? some of your mps are putting letters in. is it all over for the prime minister, do you think? don't be ridiculous. it is not, perhaps, ridiculous, despite his allies�* claim to suggest their boss could be gone before too long. is it time to resign?! it was no ordinary wednesday. pressure on borisjohnson after weeks of claims about what went on in number ten during lockdown. 20 mps who discussed sending letters of no confidence in their leader, then a shock. political chat interrupted. hearing christian wakeford, the bury mp, is defecting to the labour party. a huge surprise for his colleagues, and the rest. that is quite incredible. the first tory mp since 2007, christian wakeford, cheered to the rafters in the commons as he defected and took a seat for labour instead. can i start by warmly welcoming the honourable member for bury south to his new place? cheering. and to the parliamentary labour party. mr speaker, like so many people up and down the country, he has concluded that the prime minister, the conservative party have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves. a sting from keir starmer at a vulnerable moment for borisjohnson. and as for bury south, mr speaker, as far as for bury south, let me say it... in a unionjack mask, the new labour mp opposite, not behind, the prime minister this time. we will win again in bury south at the next election. there was more energy from the prime minister today in a chaotic prime minister's questions as he sought to stand and fight, mocked by the labour leader. doesn't the country deserve so much better than this out of touch, out of control, out of ideas and soon to be out of office prime minister? mr speaker, when the history of this pandemic comes to be written and the history of the labour party comes to be written — and, believe me, they are history and will remain history, mr speaker — it will show... it will show... it will show that we delivered while they dithered and we we vaccinated while they vacillated, mr speaker. then, just when he thought he might have got through without a new wound, a brutal blast from his own side. a prominent tory quoting cromwell to try to oust the leader of the tories�* 21st century revolution. i expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take. yesterday, he did the opposite of that, so i'll remind him of a quotation. "you have sat there too long for all the good you have done. "in the name of god, go." david davis and borisjohnson used to be allies of a sort. "what a day," you hear the speaker, aghast. what a day. what else to say? hi. it's good to see you again. so a senior tory, the latest to call for the prime minister's exit, the smiling labour leader welcoming a conservative to his fold. yet there have been more public efforts from conservatives to get out and defend. well, he is the bounce back king. i've always supported boris and i wouldn't be an mp here if it wasn't for him. mps and ministers who want borisjohnson to stay have been falling over themselves to call for cool heads all round. one loyal cabinet minister even claimed the threat to borisjohnson wasn't real. it is true to say no one can be sure in a secret process how many conservative mps are really willing to try to oust him. yet today's chaos demonstrates clearly there are members of different tory tribes who want to see him gone. mr cummings, are you going to provide sue gray with evidence that boris johnson lied? the prime minister has always had political detractors and has gathered enemies along the way. he may not want to rest until this is over. and tory tradition shows when the party concludes the leader is out of line, they are removed. but only two years after a huge election victory, borisjohnson will resist attempts for a changing of the guard. if you want to know more about why the british prime minister is facing calls to resign — just go to our website — there you can read more analysis by our political editor laura kuenssberg. still to come a bit later in the programme: a chinese driver is due to make history in next season's formula one. but first. a short time ago — us presidentjoe biden has warned that it would be a "disaster" for russia if it invades ukraine, and that it would suffer "heavy human losses". russia has around 100 thousand troops deployed at the border, but denies it's planning military action. earlier today the us secretary of state anthony blinken arrived in ukraine and urged president putin to choose diplomacy. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams has more. british military equipment arriving in ukraine. short—range anti—tank missiles, with a small team of trainers to follow. the latest western gesture of support for a country facing a mounting threat from russia. diplomatic support, too. the us secretary of state antony blinken flew to kyiv, promising relentless american efforts to prevent russia from invading. washington's message to ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, there will be no talks about you without your involvement. and tonight, another expression of support direct from washington. if they actually do what they are capable of doing with the force they have massed on the border, it is going to be a disaster for russia if they further invade ukraine, and that our allies and partners are ready to impose severe cost and significant harm on russia and the russian economy. and all the while, russian troops maintain their menacing presence on ukraine's northern and eastern borders. now, in neighbouring belarus, too, preparing for what are called joint military drills. american officials say these could be used as a cover for an invasion of ukraine. kyiv says it has what it takes to withstand an attack. we have 261,000 in our ukrainian army. we have the options to have territorial defending forces, 130,000. we have 400,000 veterans of ukrainian—russian war, so i'm sure that we have a capacity to deter this activity from moscow. last week, we saw a diplomatic trail that crisscrossed europe, from geneva to brussels and vienna. at the end of it, the russian foreign minister, sergei lavrov, appeared to throw in the towel. "our patience," he said, "is at an end." but here we are, four days on, and the process is actually shifting up a gear. mr lavrov and antony blinken are due to meet on friday, once again in geneva. the talking, it seems, is not quite over. but the tremors of this crisis are being felt right across europe. on the baltic island of gotland, sweden is beefing up its presence, concerned about nearby russian activity and what it calls russia's direct threat to europe's security. paul adams, bbc news. president biden�*s warning on ukraine came as part of a press conference — marking his first year in office. mr biden�*s approval ratings are hovering just above forty per cent, as he faces rising inflation, a pandemic that isn't over, and narrow democratic majorities in congress. i'm joined now by the bbc�*s gary o'donoghue from the white house. great devey on the programme. let's pick up on those comments about russia in the ukraine. really strong words from presidentjoe biden there. words from president joe biden there. , ., ., . , there. some the strong rhetoric be inferred from _ there. some the strong rhetoric be inferred from the _ there. some the strong rhetoric be inferred from the president - there. some the strong rhetoric be inferred from the president so - there. some the strong rhetoric be inferred from the president so far. inferred from the president so far are in russia really talking about threatening serious consequences and is talking about economic sanctions and warning russia that were they to invade the ukraine, it would affect huge consequential loss of life on russia and whilst they may overwhelm the country in the long term, there will be a price to pay. so, some pretty strong rhetoric and in indication that the diplomacy up until now, these meetings in vienna and geneva have produced nothing and that's what he said today. have not produced anything in some kind of decision point is about to be arrived at now, we know this would be more talks on friday, but is no indication that there's any give on either side of this one at the moment. meanwhile, that build—up continues there on the ukrainian border notjust continues there on the ukrainian border not just that continues there on the ukrainian border notjust that but continues there on the ukrainian border not just that but the continues there on the ukrainian border notjust that but the troops that we saw in belarus as well. let's focus on the domestic issues that he tackled and just listening to that press conference and under great pressure to defend his track record. also, really bad approval ratings at this point, what is your sense of how he's doing? it’s ratings at this point, what is your sense of how he's doing? it's really been a year — sense of how he's doing? it's really been a year of _ sense of how he's doing? it's really been a year of two _ sense of how he's doing? it's really been a year of two halves. no - been a year of two halves. no question about it. the first app is pretty good and his approval ratings held up pretty well and he got the american rescue plan through, which is a huge piece of legislation, $2 trillion worth of aid for covid—19 and etc. and then we had the summer, two things in particular, the question of the pull—out from afghanistan and the way that was handled and seen as something of a debacle. and then the delta variant of omicron release in the summer, the approval ratings have been plummeting and as you pointed out, only over a0%, that's the lowest of any recent president except donald trump and his first year. he has taken a big hit despite what he says are some achievements on the economy, notably the unemployment numbers coming down, wages going up, but inflation is a threat and other elements of the programme for helping american families are completely bogged down in congress, not least by his own party. so, there are significant challenges for him. he is suggesting in some ways, this is something of a communications problem going on here. but he goes deeper than that, some of the solutions he believes are necessary for raising children out of child poverty, for example, for creating the economic environment are tied up with the legislations that he simply can't get done legislations that he simply can't get you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. making formula one history — 22—year—old guanyu zhou will become the first ever chinese driver to take up a spot on the starting grid next season. we'll speak to him live. donald trump is now the 45th president of the united states. he was sworn in before several hundred thousand people on the steps of capitol hill in washington. it's going to be only america first! america first! | demonstrators waiting for the rebel| cricket team were attacked with tear gas and set upon by police talk. anti—apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests l throughout the tour. they called him the butcher. being held fraud charge in bolivia. they west germans want to extradite him for crimes committed more wartime france. millions came to the spot believed to by officials who have broken all records. this is newsday on the bbc. our main story this hour. britain's prime minister is battling for his future, facing calls to resign, because of parties at downing street during lockdown history will be made in next season's formula one championship when for the first time ever, a chinese driver will be taking part in the competition. 22—year—old guanyu zhou is due to line up alongside valtteri bottas for the alfa romeo team. it is hoped his inclusion will boost the sport's popularity in the country. guanyu zhou joins me now from london. it is wonderful to have you on the programme guanyu. i know must be a very exciting time for you, such a huge achievement at such a young age. your china's first full—time f1 driver. congratulations. also, i imagine a great deal of pressure. talks through that.— imagine a great deal of pressure. talks through that. thank you very much. formula _ talks through that. thank you very much. formula 1 _ talks through that. thank you very much. formula 1 was _ talks through that. thank you very much. formula 1 was always - talks through that. thank you very much. formula 1 was always my i talks through that. thank you very - much. formula 1 was always my dream. if the _ much. formula 1 was always my dream. if the reason_ much. formula 1 was always my dream. if the reason why i started my career— if the reason why i started my career in _ if the reason why i started my career in the reason that i'm moving to the _ career in the reason that i'm moving to the uk_ career in the reason that i'm moving to the uk for— career in the reason that i'm moving to the uk for formula! career in the reason that i'm moving to the uk for formula 1 and competing against maximum level of the drivers_ competing against maximum level of the drivers and then last year has been _ the drivers and then last year has been sensational that we finally achieved — been sensational that we finally achieved my all—time dream to become achieved my all—time dream to become 6 formula _ achieved my all—time dream to become 6 formula 1_ achieved my all—time dream to become a formula! driver achieved my all—time dream to become a formula 1 driver and also the first— a formula 1 driver and also the first ever— a formula 1 driver and also the first ever chinese driver. i'm very proud of— first ever chinese driver. i'm very proud of all— first ever chinese driver. i'm very proud of all the work we put them together— proud of all the work we put them together and definitely all the people — together and definitely all the people back home, they're very proud of what _ people back home, they're very proud of what i _ people back home, they're very proud of what i have achieved and are looking — of what i have achieved and are looking forward to getting the season — looking forward to getting the season started and giving me the opportunity. it season started and giving me the opportunity-— opportunity. it certainly is something _ opportunity. it certainly is something some - opportunity. it certainly is something some type - opportunity. it certainly is something some type of. opportunity. it certainly is - something some type of amazing excitement. how popular is f1 in china right now? it is excitement. how popular is f1 in china right now?— excitement. how popular is f1 in china right now? it is very popular. formula 1 especially _ china right now? it is very popular. formula 1 especially in _ china right now? it is very popular. formula 1 especially in recent - formula 1 especially in recent years — formula 1 especially in recent years. the first grand prix in shanghai. _ years. the first grand prix in shanghai, iwas years. the first grand prix in shanghai, i was there watching and i saw the _ shanghai, i was there watching and i saw the amount of people that were there _ saw the amount of people that were there and _ saw the amount of people that were there and each year, i was following things— there and each year, i was following things growing up and how they built up things growing up and how they built up their— things growing up and how they built up their fan things growing up and how they built up theirfan base. things growing up and how they built up their fan base. it's very popular and motorsports, we started a few years _ and motorsports, we started a few years iate — and motorsports, we started a few years late behind the other countries. but, yeah, and general there's— countries. but, yeah, and general there's a — countries. but, yeah, and general there's a lot — countries. but, yeah, and general there's a lot of people watching. particularly the season they had last season and with me signing with a formula _ last season and with me signing with a formula 1_ last season and with me signing with a formula 1 team and becoming the first driver— a formula 1 team and becoming the first driver of the country, there will be — first driver of the country, there will be a — first driver of the country, there will be a lot of eyes watching me and a _ will be a lot of eyes watching me and a lot— will be a lot of eyes watching me and a lot more pressure. but i love dealing _ and a lot more pressure. but i love dealing with pressure and just focusing — dealing with pressure and just focusing on my pardon doing job. a focusing on my pardon doing job. prerequisite for the job and he talked about your own success and you hope to inspire other chinese drivers centre formula 1? yes. drivers centre formula 1? yes, honefully _ drivers centre formula 1? yes, hopefully there _ drivers centre formula 1? yes, hopefully there will _ drivers centre formula 1? yes, hopefully there will be - drivers centre formula 1? yes, hopefully there will be more . drivers centre formula 1? yes, hopefully there will be more chinese drivers. _ hopefully there will be more chinese drivers, chinese faces and motorsports area because for us, it will be, _ motorsports area because for us, it will be, it's— motorsports area because for us, it will be, it's always easy to have a dream, _ will be, it's always easy to have a dream, but — will be, it's always easy to have a dream, but to achieve that and be close _ dream, but to achieve that and be close to _ dream, but to achieve that and be close to that, i've been through thisjourney from the close to that, i've been through this journey from the beginning all the way— this journey from the beginning all the way to— this journey from the beginning all the way to f four, formula 2 and now finally— the way to f four, formula 2 and now finally formula 1. i know how hard it is, _ finally formula 1. i know how hard it is, how— finally formula 1. i know how hard it is, how much stuff you have to compromise. your lifestyle and really _ compromise. your lifestyle and really believe in yourself to really believe _ really believe in yourself to really believe in — really believe in yourself to really believe in never giving up really paid off— believe in never giving up really paid off in — believe in never giving up really paid off in myjourney. that is for sure _ paid off in myjourney. that is for sure and — paid off in myjourney. that is for sure and it — paid off in myjourney. that is for sure and it has been super intense but ihr— sure and it has been super intense but “if just — sure and it has been super intense but i'm just very grateful that we finally— but i'm just very grateful that we finally made it but for me, there is still a _ finally made it but for me, there is still a long — finally made it but for me, there is still a long way to go in formula 1. hopefully. — still a long way to go in formula 1. hopefully. i— still a long way to go in formula 1. hopefully, i can prove myself and we can do— hopefully, i can prove myself and we can do on— hopefully, i can prove myself and we can do on the formula 1 world. key skills that are _ can do on the formula 1 world. is skills that are required for this job. and just looking at the conclusions of some of the most famous races that we have seen recently, what did you make of the dramatic ending to last season's championship? i'd be keen to know your thoughts. for championship? i'd be keen to know yourthoughts-_ your thoughts. for me, i think it's re your thoughts. for me, i think it's pretty crazy _ your thoughts. for me, i think it's pretty crazy how _ your thoughts. for me, i think it's pretty crazy how the _ your thoughts. for me, i think it's pretty crazy how the season - your thoughts. for me, i think it'sj pretty crazy how the season went. from _ pretty crazy how the season went. from all _ pretty crazy how the season went. from all the years i been watching formula _ from all the years i been watching formula l~ — from all the years i been watching formula l i— from all the years i been watching formula 1. i started and racing the same _ formula 1. i started and racing the same weekend and i never expected to be equal— same weekend and i never expected to be equal on— same weekend and i never expected to be equal on points. formula 2 is very— be equal on points. formula 2 is very difficult to get equal points of the _ very difficult to get equal points of the last round that actually happened this year. which sounds almost _ happened this year. which sounds almost like it's impossible, like it's my— almost like it's impossible, like it's my imagination. but it did no super— it's my imagination. but it did no super crazy— it's my imagination. but it did no super crazy that the championship was deciding the lap of the final race and — was deciding the lap of the final race and so, that's pretty insane, to be _ race and so, that's pretty insane, to be honest. of course, some dramatic— to be honest. of course, some dramatic things happened in the race _ dramatic things happened in the race but — dramatic things happened in the race. but it's more to the fia to decide _ race. but it's more to the fia to decide these issues. but i'm and super— decide these issues. but i'm and super proud because they've done an amazing job — super proud because they've done an amazing job this whole season to get me as _ amazing job this whole season to get me as a _ amazing job this whole season to get me as a young driver. it's inspirational and giving the fans all of— inspirational and giving the fans all of this— inspirational and giving the fans all of this excitement.— inspirational and giving the fans all of this excitement. guanyu zhou, thank ou all of this excitement. guanyu zhou, thank you for— all of this excitement. guanyu zhou, thank you forjoining _ all of this excitement. guanyu zhou, thank you forjoining us _ all of this excitement. guanyu zhou, thank you forjoining us on _ all of this excitement. guanyu zhou, thank you forjoining us on the - thank you forjoining us on the programme and we wish you the best of luck for your future. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the man behind the deaths of thirty—nine vietnamese migrants in twenty—nineteen has been given fifteen years in prison. vo van hong led a gang of people—smugglers, who would charge twenty—seven thousand dollars a head to get into the uk. the migrants had suffocated on the journey and were found dead inside a lorry in england. eighteen other men were also imprisoned for their involvement. a court in indonesia has sentenced a top islamist militant leader to fifteen years in prison for his role in the 2002 bali bombings which killed more than two hundred people. aris sumar—sono, was a former military commander ofjemaah islamiyah. former wimbledon doubles champion sania mirza has announced she will retire from tennis after twenty—twenty—two. the announcement came after a first—round loss in the women's doubles at the australian open. mirza is one of india's most well—known sportswomen and has been credited with inspiring many young women to take up the sport in a cricket—obsessed country. the united nations says it is stepping up its response to the volcanic eruption and tsunami in tonga. a thick coat of ash has been removed from the main airport runway in tonga, clearing the way for emergency aid to be delivered by air to the island nation. the tongan government has released more pictures — they say many houses on the islands have been destroyed. estimates from new zealand suggest the main communications cable in tonga will now take around four weeks to repair. let's end where we started in the programme — borisjohnson's fight to stay in downing street. a lot of focus in the past 2a hours has been on conservative backbenchers, in the so—called red wall seats — where until two years ago — voters had always supported labour. that all changed in 2019 when they suddenly switched to the tories. fiona trott is in one of them — bishop auckland and has been talking to voters. a town where westminster feels a million miles away. in bishop auckland, people just want investment and jobs. it's why they voted for change. and today, over cake and coffee, politics was the talk of the tearoom. to stand up in the houses of parliament and say he doesn't know anything about it... voters weighing up their options once again. i won't be doing it again. even if ijust vote for the dog down the road. simple as that. but i won't be voting for borisjohnson, yeah. i'm thoroughly sick of hearing about it. i would rather hear them telling me what they're going to do about now and about our future. it's notjust bishop. i think there's a really - massive amount of poverty going on at the moment. everyone is struggling, _ and rather than highlighting poverty and other stuff that's _ going on because of all the budget cuts, itjust seems to be i about boris and the party. a lot of people round here took a risk and voted against what they would traditionally have voted against, or voted for, you know. and they feel now that they took that chance and they've just had their noses rubbed in it. bishop auckland is a symbol of borisjohnson's victory at the last election, a former mining town held by labour since the 1930s. today, those voters seem more divided. there are people who feel he has let them down, and businesses who still back the leader who promised more investment. shop owners like suzanne, who opened up just before christmas. i think you should. i think you should just give him a chance, see how things go. it's getting the shops open, that's the problem. and we can't get the customers down if the shops aren't open. so that's the main thing that we need to prioritise around here. and the support that we've been offered through the whole of lockdown, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that. so as a business person, yes. personally, some of the things i've had to go through personally in my life, i'd probably say no, i think he should step down from it. in this corner of england they're wondering if their hopes can still be tied to a man who is fighting for his own future. fiona trott, bbc news, bishop auckland. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. we've got a much colder day of weather coming up today. it was yesterday that we had a cold front bring a bit of patchy rain southwards. as that cleared, we had a fine end to the day in hampshire — a lovely sunset here. for northern scotland, though, it was quite a turbulent day, gusty winds. and those winds have been bringing in some snow showers to shetland, we've seen some in orkney and more recently across the north of the mainland as well. that will leave a risk of some icy patches here as we get into the first part of thursday morning, with the frost otherwise pretty widespread. for many of us, though, the skies will be clear. now, any showers in northern scotland very quickly will lose their wintriness and turn back to rain. some very slightly less cold air works in here. and for most of the uk, although a cold and frosty start, there will be sunshine pretty much from dawn till dusk. it's going to be a lovely, if somewhat chilly winter's day. now, there will be some showers coming down the north sea. they'll be affecting eastern parts of scotland. and with the winds blowing more or less parallel to the eastern coasts of england, most of the showers will stay offshore. the greatest risk of a shower will be across norfolk. you might see one or two coming into the north york moors as well. another cold night to come on thursday night, if anything, even colder across parts of england and wales, plumbing the depths. temperatures could get down to about —5, —6 degrees in the coldest spots, but it will be turning milder in the northwest. that's because we've got some thicker cloud here. that'll probably give us quite a nice sunrise for some, but the best of the sunshine through the day will be across eastern wales, central and eastern england, eastern scotland, probably eastern counties of northern ireland. whereas in the west, you're likely to see some of the higher temperatures, but you will also see the thickest of the cloud, perhaps with some mist and fog patches developing around the coasts and hills at times. little overall change, really, into the weekend. high pressure stays firmly with us, the same one that's been with us for ages now. and for the most part, that will keep weather fronts at bay, this one just skirting into northern scotland, but it will be a weak affair. so, for saturday, mist and fog and some frost patches around first thing in the morning. again, it's western areas that will keep the thickest cloud. and here's our weak weather front bringing a little bit of light rain or drizzle, no great amounts. for the western isles and the highlands, temperatures could reach double figures here, but otherwise still quite chilly across the southeast — 5 or 6 celsius here. and to be honest, looking at the long—range forecast through the rest of the week and most of next week, the weather just stays dry thanks to that same area of high pressure. this is bbc news. the headlines: borisjohnson has come under renewed pressure in parliament over claims that several gatherings in downing street broke lockdown rules. former conservative cabinet minister david davis said he must resign. another conservative mp has defected to the labour party. president biden has warned vladimir putin that the us will do significant harm to russia if he decides to invade ukraine. he said mr putin would test the united states, but he still thought moscow didn't want a full—scale war. new images of the devastation in tonga caused by the volanic eruption and tsunami over the weekend. international telephone links have been restored, and ships carrying aid are expected to arrive by friday. a vietnamese man has been sentenced to 15 years injail after a belgian court ruled he was the ringleader in the trafficking of 39 people