BORIS JOHNSON CONFIDENCE VOTE 'CLOSE TO BEING TRIGGERED'

Some Conservative MPs believe a confidence vote in Prime Minister Boris Johnson will imminently be triggered.

If enough letters calling for him to go are sent to the 1922 Committee of Conservative lawmakers, a confidence vote would follow.

Boris Johnson's under intense pressure over a series of parties held in and around Downing Street while the country faced covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

He's urging MPs to wait for civil servant Sue Gray to conclude her report into the series of allegations.

Gavin Barwell is former adviser to previous Prime Minister Theresa May - he says Boris Johnson's fate is deeply uncertain.

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US SOS ON SURPRISE VISIT TO KYIV

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is meeting Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky in Kyiv, in a show of diplomatic support against what the US calls "Russian aggression".

It comes as Russian troops head west for surprise military drills with Belarus, which shares a thousand kilometre border with Ukraine.

Stuart Smith reports from Moscow.

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China Says Winter Games App Data is Protected

China says a phone app athletes are required to use during the Winter Olympics was built to monitor people's health and that it follows strict rules on protecting data.

That's after cybersecurity experts in Canada warned that the app was easily hackable.

Patrick Fok reports from Beijing.

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Cathay Pacific offers pilots bonuses amid Hong Kong quarantine rules

Hong Kong’s flagship airline Cathay Pacific is offering bonuses to pilots if they’re willing to endure the city’s strict quarantine regime. The move comes as the carrier faces potential prosecution, after health authorities blamed it for an outbreak of the Omicron variant in the city. 

Richard Kimber reports.

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Japan to widen Covid-19 controls as Omicron spreads

Japan is set to widen COVID-19 controls to cover half its population as nationwide cases hit a record high. The government will formally approve the measures on Wednesday evening. 

Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.

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US mobile carriers agree to delay 5G rollout near airports

Two of the US's largest mobile networks have agreed to delay tomorrow's planned rollout of faster 5G service near certain airports.

The airline industry had warned of major disruptions to air travel due to potential interference with aircraft safety systems.

Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.

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U.S. stocks slump as 10-year yield surges

There were major losses for the U.S. markets Tuesday as the 10-year
Treasury yield hit a two year high.

And it was a tough day for Goldman Sachs following disappointing
quarterly earnings.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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US weighs more support for Ukraine against Russia

The US is weighing sending more military support to help Ukraine
against a possible Russian invasion.

The White House says Russia could launch an attack on its neighbor "at
any point".

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer begins procedure on voting rights bill

Members of the U.S. Democratic party are trying to push ahead with plans to get a voting rights bill passed by the Senate.

That's despite opposition from Senate Republicans, and two Democrats who've already said they'd vote against changes in rules to get it through. 

Caroline Malone reports from Washington.

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Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard

Microsoft is buying "Call of Duty" and "World of Warcraft" maker Activision Blizzard for more than 68 billion dollars. 

It's the biggest gaming industry deal in history. 

Silicon Valley Correspondent Rachel Silverman has more. 

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Blinken to meet Lavrov as Russia threatens further Ukraine invasion

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following his trip to Ukraine this week.

Tensions between the US and Russia have escalated over a possible Russian invasion of its neighbor.

Kate Fisher reports from Washington

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Blinken and Lavrov to meet in Geneva on Friday to discuss Ukraine crisis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have held crisis talks over Ukraine by telephone and will meet face-to-face in Geneva on Friday.

The news comes as tensions rise along the Russian border with Ukraine where the Kremlin has massed more than 100 thousand troops.

The Secretary of State will visit Ukraine later this week and confer with European allies before his Friday meeting with the Russian foreign minister.

Germany today was engaged in diplomacy, as Julia Chapman reports from Moscow.

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Texas hostage-taker known to MI5

The British man killed in Texas over the weekend after taking four Jewish worshipers hostage was known to U.K.intelligence.

MI5 had investigated Malik Faisal Akram but ultimately determined him not to be a threat.

Toni Waterman has more from Texas.

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DRC ADMISSION TO EAC

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Officials from the East African Community have begun negotiations to admit the Democratic Republic of Congo into the regional bloc. 

The talks being held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi will dwell on what the vast central African nation has to offer the community and what it stands to gain by becoming a member state. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa…..

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43-year-old Maltese politician becomes new EU parliament president

43-year-old Roberta Metsola has been elected as the new president of the EU Parliament.

She now starts a two-and-a-half year term as chair of the parliament after the death of David Sassoli, the 65-year-old Italian politician who was the sitting president of the MEPs' debating chamber.

From FSN's bureau in Brussels, here Ross Cullen.

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MAN WHO HELD HOSTAGES AT SYNAGOGUE WAS INVESTIGATED BY MI5

The British man who held four people hostage at a synagogue in Texas had previously been investigated by MI5. 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram was shot and killed when the building was stormed by the FBI. 

Laura Makin-Isherwood reports.

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Tennis: Emma Raducanu through to second round in Australian Open

In tennis, Britain's Emma Raducanu is through to the second round of the Australian Open after winning her debut match in Melbourne.

The surprise winner of last year's US Open defeated American Sloane Stephens in three sets.

Andrew Rogers has the latest.

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US Secretary of State to visit Ukraine as talks with Russia fail

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to visit Ukraine this week as tensions between the US and Russia escalate over a possible Russian invasion of its neighbour.

The hastily arranged trip follows the failure of talks between Moscow and the West to resolve the issue.

Kate Fisher reports from Washington

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Omicron cases could be peaking in parts of U.S. but hospitalizations high

The number of Omicron cases reported in the northeastern part of the
U.S. appears to be declining.

But that's not a trend seen across the country and hospitalization
levels remain a concern.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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JOHNSON DENIES PARTY WARNINGS

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he 'categorically' denies he was warned that a drinks party in Downing Street in May 2020 would break lockdown rules.

The claim from his former adviser Dominic Cummings is piling fresh pressure on the Prime Minister's job.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

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