mindfulness to the west. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday. welcome to newsday. it's 9:00 in the morning in singapore, and 8:00 in the evening in washington, where the us state department has ordered eligible family members of its embassy staff in the ukrainian capital, kyiv, to leave. it's also advised americans against travelling to russia. it said there were reports that moscow was planning significant military action against ukraine and urged us citizens to leave the country now, using commercial flights. us secretary of state, antony blinken, has promised a significant response if moscow invaded its neighbour. later on monday, european union foreign ministers are to discuss ukraine at a meeting in brussels. here's our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams. in california, fresh supplies of american weapons destined for ukraine. hardly enough to defeat an invading russian army, but the message to moscow is clear — if you do this, it'll come at a price. but now the foreign office says it's seen signs of a russian plan to install a puppet government in kyiv after an invasion, pro—russian politicians, in contact with russian intelligence officers involved in planning the attack. it says this former ukrainian mp, yevhen murayev, is being considered as a future leader by the kremlin. he denies it. ukrainian officials seem unfazed. that's what i would expect as a logical next step in a russian invasion. they will invade and they will have to establish some sort of government, so i'm not actually surprised. we've been in war with them for seven years, and don't forget that our previous government actually fled to russia, nowhere else. it's highly unusual for intelligence of this kind to be put into the public domain in such a brief, abrupt manner. it's a reflection of the extreme anxiety across government about what vladimir putin might be planning. it's a way of saying to the kremlin, "we see what you're doing." but after friday's talks in geneva, there is more diplomacy to come, antony blinken, the us secretary of state, promising a written reply to his russian counterpart sergei lavrov, addressing russia's sweeping demands, some experts worried that russia is being allowed to set the agenda. it's asking for a demilitarised eastern europe and a denuclearised continent so that the only forces threatening europe are russian ones and the only nuclear missiles that can threaten european capitals are russian ones. that ought not to be a situation that is acceptable to anybody in the west of europe. russia's build—up along ukraine's northern and eastern borders continues, moscow still insisting it has no plans to invade, it's all just drills. but it's now been ten months since russia started massing troops here, a gun held to ukraine's head for almost a year. what's really being planned behind the kremlin walls? as the troops assemble and the political plots swirl, the west is still left guessing. paul adams, bbc news. samuel charap is a senior political scientist at the rand corporation and co—author of the book, everyone loses: the ukraine crisis and the ruinous contest for post—soviet eurasia. i asked him if the last week of talks have changed the situation with ukraine. in terms of the diplomacy, there has been no movement forward, so to speak. i think we still see the two sides talking. but no indication that there positions have come any closer. and we see increasing disturbing signs on the ground. we both have visual, in terms of satellite photos and social media evidence of a continued russian buildup, including on the border with belarus so that is, russian troops in belarus on the border with ukraine, and these us and uk allegations this week of russian plans to essentially oust the elected government in kyiv. what about the us military assistance to ukraine. how effective are that? so i think it is an important symbol of us support but as a measure to effect russia's calculus or behaviour, at this point, it is sort of overtaken by events, so to speak. the force that russia is assembling around ukraine really renders anything that the us could deliver kind of almost irrelevant in terms of the war fighting that could occur. it is unlikely to affect putin's calculus in terms of deterrence and, if we get to the point when there is an ukrainian insurgency, russia is occupying large parts of the country, i mean, any marginal cost on russian occupiers by ukrainian insurgents will be nothing compared to the cost borne by ukrainians so i don't think we should wish for that kind of an outcome. but basically at this point, military assistance is a symbol more than anything that has a practical impact on either russian decision—making or the potential conflict that might ensue in the coming weeks and months. what did you make of mr blinken�*s comments about additional sanctions, do you agree? i do. i mean, ithink, although russia is building a force that poses a significant threat, the threatened action has not occurred yet and deterrence is about issuing threats in the hope that the other side doesn't take action so until the action is taken, you do not fall through on those threats. that is the basic philosophy behind deterrence so, you know, implementing it now, you would lose any deterrent benefit that the threat would potentially generate. now, that having been said, i have to imagine that vladimir putin has priced in western sanctions, given the size of the operation he appears to be planning so even if the threats are quite specific and potentially quite significant, one has to imagine that he did not assume that he would just sort of roll in to ukraine in this kind of way without any consequences in terms of western sanctions so, whether it ultimately changes his mind is a different story, with them now doesn't make any sense. so i think the secretary of state makes an important point. if you want to know more about this story just go to our website, where there is more analysis and answers to the main questions about what's going on in ukraine. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines: riot police in belgium have been using water cannon and tear gas to try to disperse a group of protesters in brussels, after a demonstration against coronavirus restrictions turned violent. officers had been pelted with rocks and pieces of pavement. the entrance to the offices of the european union's diplomatic service was damaged. belgium has seen a surge in infections, but with a high level of vaccinations, the health system has not been overwhelmed. dutch border police say they've found a stowaway in the nose wheel compartment of a boeing 7a7 cargo plane that flew to amsterdam from johannesburg. they say the unidentified man is now in a stable condition in hospital. flights to the netherlands from south africa take around eleven hours. according to one flight data website, it appears the aircraft even made a stop in nairobi. queen elizabeth has flown by helicopter to sandringham from windsor castle, where she's expected to spend the next few weeks. rising covid infections, meant the traditional family christmas at her norfolk estate had to be cancelled, as a precaution. shots continue to be heard in the capital of burkino faso despite a curfew being imposed by the government. the night—time curfew was imposed after protestors came out to support soldiers who were attempting a mutiny. they've burned down the headquarters of the ruling mpp party. the soldiers are demanding the replacement of military chiefs and more help in their campaign against an intensifying islamist insurgency. parts of the capital, ouagadougou, have been sealed off. president roch kabore is coming under growing pressure from civilians and the military who say his government is incapable of dealing with the islamists. our reporter lalla see has been monitoring the situation from neighbouring ivory coast. there is a curfew from 8:00pm to 5:30 in the morning and that is until further notice. the population has been asked not to move around in the city and we have had a statement from the french ambassador that has asked the same to the french community and also schools are going to be closed tomorrow. the cause of this unrest is this overall insecurity with the increasing attacks against civilians and soldiers in the north and the east of the country. and that is also probably why the mutineers reportedly demanded more troops to fight the islamic insurgency. they demanded also more food in the front. the change of the military hierarchy and more assistance for the families of those injured or killed in the violence attributed to armed troops so they are clearly overwhelmed by these armed groups which also threaten neighbouring niger and mali, where similar events lead to a coup last year and a takeover by the army, while historical partner and former colonial power, france, decided to reduce the number of french troops that were in the country to fight this islamic insurgency so this instability right now in the sahel is becoming a bigger challenge and many fear that the armed groups will take advantage of the situation to harm people. the spread of the omicron variant may have moved the covid—i9 pandemic into a new phase and could bring it to an end in europe, according to experts at the world health organization. they predict that 60% of the region could be infected by march. stephanie prentice reports. a return to normality in europe may not be here yet but it could be on the horizon according to experts as infections with omicron are moving it to what is called a pandemic and game. it meant the omicron will subside, there will be a global community, either through vaccine or because people have immunity due to infection. the prediction a respite from case numbers and subsequent deaths though with the risk of a winter insurgency for the past two years. priorities now to stabilise the situation in europe where vaccination levels went from 25% to 95% across countries. but as many of those countries. but as many of those countries have seen, not everyone agrees to be vaccinated or to control measures. something the who has also been addressing. i measures. something the who has also been addressing.— also been addressing. i think what is the — also been addressing. i think what is the challenge - also been addressing. i think what is the challenge as - also been addressing. i think what is the challenge as we i what is the challenge as we move into the next phase of the pandemic, how do we get the balance right with the measures that are needed to reduce the spread. we are asking people to be very cautious, for the moment. this pandemic will end. we will not be in this cycle forever. we will not be in this cycle forever-— forever. the pandemic has killed an — forever. the pandemic has killed an estimated - forever. the pandemic has killed an estimated 5.6 - forever. the pandemic has - killed an estimated 5.6 million people, 1.7 million in europe. the next stage of the cycle, covid—19 becoming endemic, constantly present but co nsta ntly present but manageable constantly present but manageable without large threats to health systems. time noes threats to health systems. time aoes b threats to health systems. time goes by and _ threats to health systems. time goes by and more _ threats to health systems. time goes by and more and _ threats to health systems. time goes by and more and more - goes by and more and more people are exposed to the virus or get vaccinated against the virus than the ability of the virus than the ability of the virus to cause that kind of problem on that kind of scale gradually goes down so that we see further waves but each wave tends to be less severe. what we cannot be absolutely sure about is that we have got to the end of the pandemic until it ends. ~ ., . the end of the pandemic until it ends. ~ . . , , it ends. the who advice is stay open-minded _ it ends. the who advice is stay open-minded about _ it ends. the who advice is stay open-minded about the - it ends. the who advice is stay open-minded about the future | open—minded about the future but stay cautious. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: we get the latest from tonga, 8 days since it was devastated by a volcanic eruption and tsunami. shuttle challenger exploded soon liftoff. there were seven astronauts on board. one of them are a woman school teacher. all of them are believed to have been killed. by believed to have been killed. by the evening, the heart of official— by the evening, the heart of official cairo within the heart official cairo within the heart of demonstrators. they were using — of demonstrators. they were using the _ of demonstrators. they were using the word revolution. buildings were singled out and brought— buildings were singled out and brought down _ buildings were singled out and brought down in— buildings were singled out and brought down in seconds. - brought down in seconds. tonight— brought down in seconds. tonight the _ brought down in seconds. tonight the search - brought down in seconds. tonight the search for - brought down in seconds. | tonight the search for any survivors— tonight the search for any survivors have _ tonight the search for any survivors have an - tonight the search for any l survivors have an increasing desperation _ survivors have an increasing desperation about— survivors have an increasing desperation about it. - survivors have an increasing desperation about it. the i survivors have an increasing desperation about it. the new government — desperation about it. the new government is _ desperation about it. the new government is family - desperation about it. the new government is family in - desperation about it. the newl government is family in control of the entirely republic of uganda. of the entirely republic of uaanda. ,, ., , ., of the entirely republic of uganda-— uganda. survivors of the auschwitz _ uganda. survivors of the auschwitz concentration | uganda. survivors of the - auschwitz concentration camp have — auschwitz concentration camp have been commemorating the 40th— have been commemorating the 40th anniversary of their liberation. they toured the gas chambers _ liberation. they toured the gas chambers and crematoria and reiived — chambers and crematoria and relived their horrifying experiences. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm mariko oi in singapore. our headlines: the us has ordered family members from its embassy staff in kyiv to leave and said its citizens should not travel to russia — after reports moscow was planning military action against ukraine. further shots have been fired in the capital of burkina faso after an army mutiny on sunday prompted an overnight curfew. the government of tonga says it's facing a long programme of rebuilding and reconstruction, just over a week after it was devastated by a volcanic eruption and a tsunami. foreign aid is arriving, but strict coronavirus—prevention rules are hampering humanitarian efforts, as the local authorities try to keep the virus out of the country. tonga is made up of a group of islands in the south pacific. entire villages were destroyed in the tsunami and some are still without basic necessities, like clean water. marian kupu is a reporter with broadcom broadcasting in nuku'alofa, tonga. she gave us the latest on how the island is coping. so far we have been receiving clean drinking water aid from new zealand and australia. we also learned that there is a shipment coming in by plane and by ship from japan, the uk, china. basically most countries out there in the world. when they arrive on our shores, we still apply a policy of covid—19 because in the meantime we still have to do the careful. we have to be cautious because covid—19 is still out there in the world. the process of all this aid and supplies are left in a secure place for three days quarantine before we can actually take them out from these places for distribution.— distribution. indeed. it appears _ distribution. indeed. it appears covid-19 - distribution. indeed. it- appears covid-19 possibility is appears covid—19 possibility is appears covid—19 possibility is a huge concern which is also affecting humanitarian assistance for those affected by the eruption as well as the tsunami? , by the eruption as well as the tsunami?— tsunami? yes it is. we have 'ust tsunami? yes it is. we have just been — tsunami? yes it is. we have just been told _ tsunami? yes it is. we have just been told that - tsunami? yes it is. we have just been told that they - tsunami? yes it is. we have just been told that they wasj just been told that they was expecting flights coming in, reparations flights from new zealand, but it is cancelled now. at three o'clock today the government will have a press conference up dating on what's happening and where we stand in terms of aid and supplies and how the supplies are being distributed throughout tonga and also the areas which were affected. ., . ., affected. you are underground. your government _ affected. you are underground. your government is _ affected. you are underground. your government is saying - affected. you are underground. your government is saying it i your government is saying it will take a very long time to rebuild. what is your sense of how people are feeling at the moment? i how people are feeling at the moment?— moment? i visited the most damaue moment? i visited the most damage site _ moment? i visited the most damage site here _ moment? i visited the most damage site here on - moment? i visited the most damage site here on the - moment? i visited the most - damage site here on the western side and i can say all the crops have been destroyed. there is nothing left in terms of bananas, yams and tapioca which was due to be harvested in may to enjoy but now there is nothing left there. there was also a meeting called by the representative of his majesty because his majesty's estate. his majesty proposed one of his estates if the people of that area would like to relocate to that place which is higher and different to the western side which is very low. that is the outcome since last week, what we have been told and have learned that his majesty and the royal family have stepped up and tried to give these people supplies. his majesty, the queen visited the village on tuesday and was very emotional and she also provided supplies of food, drinking water and clothing and the government also followed through, giving away 500 to each family who was there which was very damaged. thousands of people in vietnam have been mourning the death of the influential zen buddhist monk and peace activist, thich nhat hanh, who's credited with bringing mindfulness to the west. he was 95 and rose to prominence in the 1960s as an opponent of the vietnam war. his reach within buddhism is seen as second only to the dalai lama. jatinder dhillon reports. in vietnam's imperial city of hue, mourners chanted as the zen master who brought mindfulness to the west was carried high on the shoulders of monks at the pagoda. with the smell of incense in the air, thich nhat hanh's coffin was placed in the meditation hall. buddhist monks recited prayers and followers stood in silent contemplation of a remarkable life. the prolific buddhist teacher and poet with a gentle yet powerful voice turned peace activist in the 1960s and opposed the vietnam war. he would end up spending nearly four decades in exile in france. thich nhat hanh persuaded civil rights leader martin luther king to speak out against the conflict. king called him an apostle of peace and nonviolence, and nominated him for the nobel peace prize. you can very well describe the practice of buddhism as the practice of a kind of art, the art of being peace. he spoke several languages, travelled widely and wrote more than 100 books on mindfulness and meditation. he was a pioneer of the zen movement he called �*engaged buddhism�* which influenced many a home of hollywood celebrities and the silicon valley boardrooms. a stroke in 2014 left him unable to speak and four years later, he returned to vietnam to live out his final days in the city of hue where he was born. thich nhat hanh�*s death was announced in a tweet by the plum village, an organisation of monasteries which he founded. tributes from all over the world including this one from the dalai lama: "my friend and spiritual brother had lived a truly meaningful life." thich nhat hanh�*s coffin will remain in the meditation hall before a cremation ceremony next saturday. he dismissed the idea of death. "birth and death are only notions," he said. "they are not real." jatinder dhillon reporting there on the death of zen buddhist, thich nhat hanh. another sad story to bring you. the french fashion designer, thierry mugler, has died at the age of 73. he opened his first boutique in paris in the 1970s and became widely known for designs with broad shoulders and sharp tailoring, which drew 01119405 and 50s glamour. one of his best—known creations was the black dress worn by demi moore in the 1993 film, indecent proposal. if you�*re trying to lose some weight after eating too much over the holidays, then you�*re not alone. armadillo twins patsy and eddie have been put on a strict diet by the zookeepers at their home in southeast england. the sisters, named after the characters from a british sitcom, had an over—indulgent festive period and now need an improved diet and exercise regime. i think ithink i�*m i think i�*m going to have to join them. but does make it for this edition of newsday. —— that�*s it. hello there. high—pressure has kept most parts of the uk dry through the weekend if rather cloudy high pressure has meant a dry start to january 2022, only seeing around about 50%, half the rain we would normally see by this stage and not a great deal of rain in the offing this week, certainly not for england and wales. we might see a little bit more midweek across scotland in particular with low pressure approaching. but for the meantime the high pressure is still hanging on towards the south. there is a weather front of the north and that has given a few millimetres of rain during the day on sunday. thinking a little further southwards on monday but coming into the high pressure is a weak affair. there is still clouded around but we had the cloud breaks and patchy frost and patchy fog as well to watch for, some poor visibility, but again, not widespread, but it will take its time to clear at this time of year. then there will be some brightness and sunshine, notably withing eastern scotland, perhaps north—east england, but in a cloud is —— elsewhere. gloomy in some areas and cold as we had on sunday, four or five degrees at best. our weather front to the north as well weakens as a weather front to the north as well weakens as it goes to the murray further and sunshine in developing to the north of it. as mcmurray firth —— murray firth. through the coming night as well it is going to be pretty chilly where we get the cloud breaks but on the whole there will be a lot of cloud. some pockets of fog again on tuesday, slow to clear away but where they do then we will see sunshine coming through but again it is fairly limited. they will be a lot of cloud around and it will feel cold under that cloud, even without much breeze stopped that breeze still bringing in some cloudy skies and patchy rain to the north and west. the high pressure, as you can see, is still close by for tuesday but by mid week we have this area of low pressure rolling in and thatis of low pressure rolling in and that is where we see some rainfall coming into scotland in particular parts of northern ireland as well as that weather front starts to trail southwards. again, ahead of it, perhaps a little bit of brightness but it is the south—westerly wind, the atlantic breeze, that starts to pick the temperatures up and perhaps turn some of that cloud over and allow some sunshine to come through. so perhaps a little bit brighter midweek but then the pressure builds towards the south once again. there is more online. this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. hello. can a savvy media strategy save borisjohnson? headline—grabbing policies are being rolled out this week in what�*s been dubbed operation red meat. but is there really such an operation? we�*re also looking at the apparently cosy relationship between those in government who set policy, and the media, which is supposed to hold them to account. and we�*re asking what the new bbc licence fee deal means for the industry at large. let me introduce you to my guests. joeyjones was spokesman for theresa may when she was home secretary. before that, he was a deputy political editor at sky news. helen lewis writes for the atlantic. laura hughes is political correspondent for the financial times. and phil riley is the chief executive of boom radio and has had a long career in commercial radio, including running chrysalis and overseeing its sale to global and, phil, we�*ll be talking a lot in the programme