quite normal, but nobody knows the answer to the big question, how long will it go on for? and the actor and former governor of california, arnold schwarzenegger, is involved in a multi—car pile up on sunset boulevard in los angeles. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. britain has accused the kremlin of planning to install a pro—russian leader in ukraine, as fears of an invasion grow. the foreign office in london says a former ukrainian mp is being considered as a potential candidate — along with four other politicians, who it says have links to the russian intelligence services. russia has 100,000 troops on ukraine's border, but denies it intends to invade. james waterhouse reports now from the ukrainian capital, kyiv. the friendship of nations arch, built by the soviets to celebrate the closeness between russians and ukrainians. that crack was painted on by activists a few years ago as relations between the two countries deteriorated. and as talks intensify about a possible invasion, the hope is things don't break down completely. tensions are still rising on the border and today russian jets made their way to joint military drills with neighbouring belarus. ukrainian ministers have welcomed a delivery of american military equipment and now there's a call for the uk to step up its own support. the british government has delivered 2000 anti—tank missiles this week and says it is open to sending more weapons. as president putin continues to up the pressure. he has actually boxed himself into a corner. because so much effort has been put into this. but he also recognised he will never again be as strong as this to take advantage of the west's weakness. i suspect invasion is now imminent. so does kyiv feel like a city preparing for an invasion? evelyn and lillian are too small to appreciate the power struggle surrounding their country, but their parents obviously aren't. it is definitely concerning. it definitely seems more tense than the past times that we were concerned about this. i would say it is definitely increasing anxiety and stuff, for sure. i don't feel good that i can come back to my hometown easily. because i always have to think whether i will be able to do it safely or not. and of course i am afraid. translation: ifi see others do it, i'm ready to defend my country. i'm not going to run away, but then again there might not be anywhere to run away to. moscow denies it is planning an invasion. but it is easy to forget ukraine has already endured eight years of russian aggression. it's brought fighting, cyber attacks, misinformation and constant uncertainty. next week the us will continue to discuss russian demands that nato will both scale back its military presence and rule out ever letting ukrainejoin. for the country at the heart of it, that uncertainty goes on. james waterhouse, bbc news. let's get more on the so—called �*lethal aid' which has been arriving in ukraine from the united states in the past 2a hours. i asked lieutenant general ben hodges — a former commander of the us army's operations in europe — what those shipments might be. i suspect you are talking about anti—tank missiles, ammunition for soldiers on the front lines. these sort of thing is that they could start to use immediately that they would already know how to use. thank ou for already know how to use. thank you for clearing _ already know how to use. thank you for clearing that _ already know how to use. thank you for clearing that up. - already know how to use. thank you for clearing that up. let's i you for clearing that up. let's get to the substantive issue, the threat of invasion or conflict. we have heard from a british lawmaker saying that he thinks it is pretty likely. as an american, where do you stand? i an american, where do you stand? ., ., ., an american, where do you stand? . . . . an american, where do you stand? . . ., ., , stand? i am afraid that it is inevitable _ stand? i am afraid that it is inevitable at _ stand? i am afraid that it is inevitable at this _ stand? i am afraid that it is inevitable at this point. - inevitable at this point. president britton, but all that he has said in the last several weeks, he has put himself in the position now —— president putin, where he cannot back down without showing something for all of the expense and effort and as i look at the calendar, look at the winter olympics in beijing, my sense, unfortunately, is that after the conclusion of the olympics, we are going to see a new russian offensive, and expansion of what they have been doing for the last eight years. been doing for the last eight ears. �* , . ~' been doing for the last eight ears. h ., ~ ., years. let's talk about the resnonse. _ years. let's talk about the response, then. _ years. let's talk about the response, then. if - years. let's talk about the response, then. if that - years. let's talk about the l response, then. if that does play out, we spoke to someone 24 play out, we spoke to someone 2a hours ago who said they think that sanctions aren't all possible response should be brought in now ahead of time to try to prevent that analysis playing out. what do you make of that? ., ., ~' playing out. what do you make of that? ., ., ~ , playing out. what do you make of that? , , ., of that? so, look, this is a time for — of that? so, look, this is a time for what _ of that? so, look, this is a time for what we - of that? so, look, this is a time for what we would i of that? so, look, this is a | time for what we would call active deterrence. i really believe that deterrence that is based on demonstrating capability and will, therefore the fact, is much more effective than deterrence based on the threat of punishment after the fact. so that means something on the scale of the berlin airlift, of more equipment, things like what the royal air forcejust equipment, things like what the royal air force just delivered, what the us just delivered and other allies, what the us just delivered and otherallies, doing what the us just delivered and other allies, doing everything that we can to assist ukraine, but also with the intelligence sharing, these things are very important. practising air missile defence, for example, but also, our great alliance, making sure that the window on things along nato's eastern flank to demonstrate that we are paying attention. in flank to demonstrate that we are paying attention. in terms of demonstrating _ are paying attention. in terms of demonstrating paying - of demonstrating paying attention, that is really interesting. let's spend forward a little bit. if this invasion does take place, we are promised a swift response. just so people are clear, what response do you think the us and its allies will do. for sure, and its allies will do. for sure. my _ and its allies will do. for sure, my president - and its allies will do. fr?" sure, my president and other leaders inside nato and the european union have said that there will be sanctions like there will be sanctions like the russians have never seen before. i don't know exactly what all that means and it is well known that several senior people in germany have talked about swift should not be a part of this, but it would be impossible for my president to back away from taking severe steps and certainly the us congress is in favour of this as well, so i would expect that to happen, but i think also, think about what hms defender did, how important that was that the royal navy enforced through route navigation in the black sea. you can be sure that the russians will be attempting amphibious operations along the black sea coast, in the sea of as of, so they will be warning to keep away in international waters so we are going to have to do challenge that, same thing with airspace otherwise they will have achieved some of they will have achieved some of the effects they want, and we just can't tolerate that. thanks to lieutenant general ben hodges for that. islamic state fighters have continued one of their biggest attacks in syria since the group's self—declared caliphate was defeated nearly three years ago. a british—based monitoring group said more than 75 people — most of them jihadists — had been killed in three days of fighting with kurdish—led forces in the northern city of hasakeh. foreign aid is now being distributed in tonga, following last weekend's devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami. the un says more than 80 percent of the population has been affected — with almost all crops badly affected by volcanic ash. jatinder dhillon reports. relief at last. a new zealand naval ship, with a desalination plant on board, which can produce 70,000 litres a day, has started cleaning the sea water from tonga's harbour, ready for distribution to desperate residents. japan is the latest to deliver urgent supplies, including clean water. and equipment to clean the volcanic ash. it is a complicated operation. the pacific kingdom is covid—free and has strict border control policies, requiring contactless delivery of aid. that means aid workers cannot enter the country unless they have undergone a three—week isolation period. supplies are quarantined for 72 hours after arrival, before being distributed by tongan authorities. the un says the country will be heavily reliant on food aid for some time. almost all the crops have been badly affected by volcanic ash. farmers have lost their homes and livelihoods. in the first update since the eruption triggered a tsunami, the government says the country has been hit by an unprecedented disaster. tonga's recovery from this disaster is going to be long—term, and i think we need to ensure that we keep the momentum up. after tonga has got enough water we will have to rebuild and it will be a long road to recovery. tongan communities abroad have also been providing support and donations. in new zealand, entire families filled this auckland car park and loaded trucks with supplies of food, water and other essentials. a tongan—born rugby player, who lives in the uk, has not heard from his family and has launched a fundraising page to help with reliefs. the tongan government has asked for the international aid effort led by australia and new zealand to be paced so the island's small airport and harbour are not overwhelmed. in the next few days, a repair ship will arrive to reconnect the undersea cable that links tonga to international telecoms networks. jatinder dhillon, bbc news. borisjohnson�*s government is being urged to delay mandatory covid jabs for frontline national health service staff in england — with one doctors' group warning of severe consequences if it goes ahead with the plan. workers have been told to get their firstjab by february the 3rd — and be fully vaccinated by the 1st april — or face losing theirjobs. on saturday, hundreds of people marched in cities across england to protest against the policy — as katharine da costa reports. save ourjobs! save our jobs! hundreds save ourjobs! hundreds of health care workers gathered in london calling for the no jab nojob policy to be london calling for the no jab no job policy to be scrapped. they are among large crowds of anti—vaxxer demonstrators. nhs uniforms were thrown at police in protest. we uniforms were thrown at police in protest-— in protest. we have all got choices. — in protest. we have all got choices, so, _ in protest. we have all got choices, so, i— in protest. we have all got choices, so, iwork- in protest. we have all got choices, so, i work for- in protest. we have all got choices, so, i work for the | choices, so, i work for the nhs, and i am the only member of staff at my workplace that has not been vaccinated. and i have been threatened with losing myjob, come april, and i will not be vaccinated. losing my job, come april, and i will not be vaccinated.- i will not be vaccinated. front line nhs staff _ i will not be vaccinated. front line nhs staff including - i will not be vaccinated. front line nhs staff including gps l line nhs staff including gps and dentists as well as nonclinical role such as receptionist and portals will have to have at least two covid vaccines by the start of april unless medically exempt. more than 90% of health care workers are double jab, but around 80,000 are thought to be unvaccinated still. there are calls to delay the deadline, warning that the health service cannot afford to lose more people. cannot afford to lose more eo - le. cannot afford to lose more --eole. , «a cannot afford to lose more neale, ., people. the risks are significant _ people. the risks are significant for - people. the risks are significant for the - people. the risks are - significant for the functioning of the nhs. we are short of staff in all parts of the nhs. if we lose these staff it will impact on the quality of care we are able to provide to patients, and put extra pressure on the staff who are remaining. pressure on the staff who are remaining-— pressure on the staff who are remaininu. ,, . ' . ,, ., remaining. staff have less than a fortnight _ remaining. staff have less than a fortnight to — remaining. staff have less than a fortnight to get _ remaining. staff have less than a fortnight to get their - remaining. staff have less than a fortnight to get their first - a fortnight to get their first jab in order to be fully vaccinated by the deadline. health chiefs say that man vaccines is the right thing to do to protect patients, and encouraging more staff to get there first, second and third jabs. it there first, second and third 'abs. , ., jabs. it is so important as health care _ jabs. it is so important as health care professionals| jabs. it is so important as - health care professionals that we are protected but if you are not yet you know that there are options available for you to have conversations with senior clinicians within your trust organisation, to help make that really important decision, and people are coming forward all the time to make sure that they are protected, there health is protected and the patients are protected and the patients are protected as well.— protected as well. similar rules have _ protected as well. similar rules have been - protected as well. similar rules have been brought i protected as well. similar| rules have been brought in protected as well. similar - rules have been brought in for those working in social care in england with warnings that it has exacerbated staff shortages put up scotland and wales have decided against compulsory vaccination for help and care staff whilst northern ireland is planning to consult on whetherjabs is planning to consult on whether jabs should is planning to consult on whetherjabs should be mandatory for new recruits. catherine da costa, bbc news. you're watching bbc news — our main headline. britney is accusing russia of planning to install a pro—kremlin leader in ukraine as fears of an invasion growth. the head of a british parliamentary standards committee says any attempt by the conservative government to blackmail its own mps into supporting the prime minister would be illegal. chris bryant, who's from the opposition labour party, said he'd heard complaints from about a dozen conservatives. it comes amid reports that gatherings in borisjohnson�*s official residence are part of an investigation into parties held in downing street against covid rules. here's our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. already under pressure, the coming days could prove decisive for boris johnson. coming days could prove decisive for borisjohnson. now there's a new concern, the fact that one of the main rebel mps have written letters of no confidence in him is due to talk to the police possibly on monday. the mp william wragg said that others had faced threats that they might lose funding for their constituency if they did not back the prime minister. ., ., ., ., minister. the intimidation of a member of — minister. the intimidation of a member of parliament - minister. the intimidation of a member of parliament is - minister. the intimidation of a member of parliament is a - member of parliament is a serious matter. moreover, the reports of which i am aware would seem to constitute blackmail.— would seem to constitute blackmail. ~ , ._ ~ blackmail. on wednesday mr johnson was _ blackmail. on wednesday mr johnson was there _ blackmail. on wednesday mr johnson was there when - blackmail. on wednesday mr i johnson was there when another of the rebels, christian wakeford, defected to labour. he said he was told some time ago that funding for a school might not happen if he didn't support the government over free school meals. today senior labour mp said he had heard more claims. i labour mp said he had heard more claims.— labour mp said he had heard more claims. , ., , more claims. i must have spoken to about a _ more claims. i must have spoken to about a dozen _ more claims. i must have spoken to about a dozen tory _ more claims. i must have spoken to about a dozen tory mps - more claims. i must have spoken to about a dozen tory mps in - to about a dozen tory mps in the last few days you have made similar allegations about whips, either offering to withdraw financial support for their constituencies, either from the political party sorry for campaigning, or, for their constituents.— for campaigning, or, for their constituents. conservative mps are airin: constituents. conservative mps are airing this _ constituents. conservative mps are airing this publicly - constituents. conservative mps are airing this publicly and - are airing this publicly and one of them set to go to the police about his own party tells you much about tensions in the ranks. here, downing street says it has seen no evidence and we take it seriously if it did, so the question for the coming week, will any tory mps stepped forward to corroborate the claims? i forward to corroborate the claims? ., ., forward to corroborate the claims? . ., . . , claims? i have voted against the government _ claims? i have voted against the government on - claims? i have voted against| the government on occasions when i thought it right and i have always had a close association with the chief whip and a close personal relationship with the whips so i'm waiting to hear more about this because it is not something i have seen or been talking about. pm something i have seen or been talking about.— talking about. an inquiry by the civil servant _ talking about. an inquiry by the civil servant sue - talking about. an inquiry by the civil servant sue gray . talking about. an inquiry by l the civil servant sue gray into downing street parties this week poses the biggest risk to the prime minister. it is now reported she is looking into events in his private flat, too. the question for boris johnson who is at the official country retreat of chequers, can he survive it unscathed? he is thought to be busy plotting his strategy and calling his mps, trying to secure their support. the hollywood star, arnold schwarzenegger, has been involved in a multi—vehicle crash in los angeles. a woman has been taken to hospital. the bbc�*s david willis, who's in los angeles, gave me more details. this incident occurred less than a mile from alex watson aggar�*s bring to is known also to be the home of the movie star gwyneth paltrow and the basketball player lebronjames amongst others to stop the los angeles police department has confirmed that four vehicles were involved in this collision. it is thought to have occurred shortly after arnold schwarzenegger left his home. he was attempting to turn left onto the famous sunset boulevard, when the collision occurred, basically head—on, with a red prius. such was the impact of this collision that the suv that contained arnold schwarzenegger briefly rolled onto the roof of the red prius before toppling onto two other vehicles that were waiting at the junction. vehicles that were waiting at thejunction. a representative the junction. a representative for arnold thejunction. a representative for arnold schwarzenegger has confirmed that the movie star was indeed behind the wheel of the suv when this incident occurred. he wasn't injured, but another person, a woman, who it is thought was the driver of the red prius, was taken to hospital. she is not thought to be in serious condition. the los angeles police department has said it is investigating, but it is not thought, they say, that drink, alcohol or drugs played a part in this incident.— in this incident. interesting, david. from _ in this incident. interesting, david. from the _ in this incident. interesting, david. from the pictures - in this incident. interesting, david. from the pictures itl david. from the pictures it looks relatively dramatic, but good news. we have heard from a spokesperson but not from him himself, is that right? we spokesperson but not from him himself, is that right?— himself, is that right? we do know that — himself, is that right? we do know that arnold _ himself, is that right? we do know that arnold is - himself, is that right? we do know that arnold is watson l know that arnold is watson aggar remained at the scene and apparently showed a lot of concern for the women. he is a man who likes being —— like big cars. he was the first person in this country to earn the macro do, and pictures from the scene showed that gmc yukon suv you are driving dwarfing the other vehicle involved in this collision. he is unlikely to be at odds for another form of transport. he's a multimillionaire, of course, and amongst his car collection are said to be a cadillac, bentley and bugatti. it's exactly two years since china locked down the city of wuhan and its 10 million inhabitants. the aim was to try to stop the spread of coronavirus from the place where it first emerged. it worked — china's official death toll from the virus stands at just 5,700. but as beijing prepares to host the winter olympics next month, it's turned to extreme measures again in the fight to maintain its strict �*zero covid—i9' policy. 0ur china correspondent, robin brant reports. 27 days into lockdown, confined to her apartment. this woman is one of millions in china still subject to the ultimate covid control. translation: ~ ., translation: when covid hit wuhan the _ translation: when covid hit wuhan the country _ translation: when covid hit wuhan the country didn't - translation: when covid hit wuhan the country didn't have much — wuhan the country didn't have much experience _ wuhan the country didn't have much experience dealing - wuhan the country didn't have much experience dealing with| much experience dealing with the outbreak— much experience dealing with the outbreak but _ much experience dealing with the outbreak but now- much experience dealing with the outbreak but now it - much experience dealing with the outbreak but now it is - the outbreak but now it is different. _ the outbreak but now it is different, it _ the outbreak but now it is different, it is _ the outbreak but now it is different, it is better. - the outbreak but now it isj different, it is better. she the outbreak but now it is different, it is better. she is in a city famous _ different, it is better. she is in a city famous for - different, it is better. she is in a city famous for its - in a city famous for its merciless army of terracotta warriors, xi'an, but normal life of 30 million people there has come to a halt. there is fresh evidence that some people have just had enough. fresh evidence that some people havejust had enough. the fresh evidence that some people have just had enough. the crowd clashes with police at a compound in xi'an, where they put in lockdown for 35 days. a couple of men are taken away. assessing the overall impact on people's lights, economic and psychological, is almost impossible. all of this is part of a massive effort to stop a few thousand new covid cases from spreading. in terms of the official reported case numbers, it seems to be working. china's leader xijinping hailed the resilience of the economy earlier this week, saying that he is fully confident about its development, so is zero covid the new normal in china? you look at small— the new normal in china? you look at small and _ the new normal in china? 7m, look at small and infrequent disruption but not like a massive shut down, so, for china, it seems to be working. china, it seems to be working. china is still manufacturing construction equipment, all of these activities can be isolated, so it makes sense. this country has huge problems to deal with, huge debt, faltering property markets as well as the hypervigilance against more covid spikes. it is difficult to take a scientific survey back that there does appear to be widespread support for the government's policy on covid, because you get this. it looks quite normal, but nobody knows the answer to the big question, how long will it go on for? translation: i how long will it go on for? translation:— translation: | think the epidemic _ translation: i think the epidemic control- translation: i think the epidemic control in - translation: | think the i epidemic control in shanghai translation: i think the - epidemic control in shanghai is very— epidemic control in shanghai is very good _ epidemic control in shanghai is very good the _ epidemic control in shanghai is very good. the government - epidemic control in shanghai is. very good. the government uses bil very good. the government uses big data — very good. the government uses hig data to— very good. the government uses big data to quickly— very good. the government uses big data to quickly trace - very good. the government uses big data to quickly trace and - big data to quickly trace and control_ big data to quickly trace and control people _ big data to quickly trace and control people who - big data to quickly trace and control people who are - big data to quickly trace and | control people who are close contacts _ control people who are close contacte— control people who are close contacts. . . , contacts. the negative impacts of lockdown — contacts. the negative impacts of lockdown are _ contacts. the negative impacts of lockdown are quite - contacts. the negative impacts of lockdown are quite bad. - of lockdown are quite bad. people _ of lockdown are quite bad. people are worried. two years on the borders here remain all but closed. international flights are at a bare minimum. china's communist party leaders are sticking with their zero covid promise. in the run—up to hosting the olympics, china has shown how far it is willing to go. international mail is the new enemy. authorities in beijing this week claimed that a package from canada brought omicron in. we were in contact with someone in another receiving a delivery from abroad. she didn't want us to name her, but, deeply frustrated, she sent as a text message saying that it is good for epidemic control, but it is not a good thing from a human rights perspective. robin brant, bbc news, shanghai. the foreign office in london says it has information that the kremlin is looking to install a pro—russian leader in kyiv. what are these claims? they have come from the foreign office run by the foreign secretary liz truss and the suggestion as there was a puppet leader lined up from the russian side ready to invade and take over occupy ukraine, and take over occupy ukraine, and they have in an unusual move declassified information and they have named a former ukrainian mp, a pro—russian figure in ukraine, yeven muraev, who earns a tv channel in ukraine, ran for office in 2019, and he spoke to the british daily telegraph newspaper. he said in a text message to the newspaper, i have had a hard time digesting stupidity and nonsense so maybe somebody wants to shut down another independent tv channel. as someone who has been under russian sanctions and bad luck as a national security threat whose father had his assets frozen in rush i find it hard to comment on the foreign office statement. he and other people are implying that there other candidates such as a ukrainian oligarch currently under house arrest there, who could be lined up, who has very close links with president putin. the idea is out there that the russians are thinking about potential replacements to the current leadership. the foreign office also new name —— naming four other ukrainian politicians they say have links with russian intelligence services who have been helping them with a possible invasion. this idea of an invasion that we have been hearing is more likely from various different quarters, but the diplomacy angle is still open at the moment. angle is still open at the moment-— angle is still open at the moment. , . , . moment. very much sir. we will see the british _ moment. very much sir. we will see the british defence - see the british defence secretary travelling to moscow to talk to his counterpart for the first time in nine years. we are still waiting for a response from america, a written response, to president putin's very far reaching demands about things like getting a promise that ukraine will neverjoin nato, and also withdrawing troops and other armaments from current nato states very close to the russian border.- states very close to the russian border. mark lobel, thank you — russian border. mark lobel, thank you for _ russian border. mark lobel, thank you for talking - russian border. mark lobel, thank you for talking us - thank you for talking us through that complicated issue. that is it from me. you can download the bbc news app. i am lewis vaughanjones. this is bbc news, goodbye. hello, the normal pattern of january temperatures was turned upside down on saturday. 12 celsius in northern scotland, fourin celsius in northern scotland, four in southern england. a little bit of sunshine across parts of north—east england. most places had another cloudy day and again for a party of the weekend, despite the cloud, a lot of dry weather around. high pressure is close by exerting its settling influence on the weather. around it all, this cloud coming in. weather fronts approaching northern scotland, and strengthening the wind here, meaning a mild start after a mild day. hints of blue through parts of wales and england, lighterwinds through parts of wales and england, lighter winds and the chance of a touch of frost with any clear spells although that could be some mist and fog patches developing, it will be more or less clear on saturday morning than on saturday. lots of cloud around with some sunny spells, quin parts of wales, perhaps eastern counties of northern ireland most favoured. elsewhere, may be a few brighter breaks here and there. a breezy day in northern ireland and northern england, especially for scotland at the north—west with girls in the western isles. another mild day with temperatures not as high as they have been, the lowest around four celsius with the low cloud hanging around all day through parts of central and southern england. overnight into monday, rain turning heavier as the rains into northern scotland, it will be dry elsewhere. a lot of cloud around any breaks in the cloud, through wales and england and again a touch of frost possible perhaps with a few mist and fog patches. those is whether france will take some outbreaks of rain slowly further south, through parts of northern and western scotland and into northern ireland as we go on through monday, with barely rain to register in northern ireland. there may be some sunny spells around with parts of northern england, north wales and the midlands, to the south of that a good deal of cloud with temperatures between six — nine celsius and some patchy rain reaching northern england by monday night. tuesday, looking mainly dry, rain moving into scotland and northern ireland on wednesday and sweeping south on wednesday night, weakening as it does so. what that weather front does do is sweep away a lot of the cloud around at the moment, so not much rain moving south but brighter skies following that system across much of the uk, with the breeze, mind you, on thursday. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... britain is accusing russia of planning to install a pro—kremlin leader in ukraine as fears of an invasion grow. the foreign office in london says a former ukrainian mp is being considered as a potential candidate, along with four others who it says have links to russian intelligence services. islamic state fighters have continued one of their biggest attacks in syria since the group's self—declared caliphate was defeated nearly three years ago. a british—based monitoring group said more than 75 people — most of them jihadists — had been killed in three days of fighting with kurdish—led forces in the northern city of hasakeh. foreign aid is now being distributed in tonga following last weekend's devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami. the united nations says more than 80% of the population has been affected with almost all crops badly affected 50 years ago this month, paratroopers shot dead 13 innocent civil rights marchers in northern ireland.