the red bull formula 1 team boss christian horner has been cleared after an allegation of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday. hello and thank you for being with us. we begin in the united states with some breaking news. the supreme court has agreed to decide if donald trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. the charges involve mr trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. but the supreme court's decision to take up the case could delay it beyond the election in november.

peter bowes has moran if this came as a surprise. —— has more. i think it was inevitable that this would end up in the supreme court. donald trump's claims averted been rejected by a lower court and he claims he is immune to this kind of criminal prosecution because he was president at the time. this relates to the allegations that he tried to overturn the result of the 2020 election and mr trump faces multiple charges including one that he conspired to defraud the come of this was a trial does do to start very soon next month and it is been delayed and it is now on hold reading from the supreme court that they intend to hear arguments in april, the third week of april and a decision expected at some point injune and we know now that this trial, if indeed it goes ahead, it will not be happening until at leastjuly

and were getting into political convention season in the election is looming in november and one of donald trump tactics has always been to try to delay these legal proceedings against him while he focuses on his campaigning. and mr trump appointed threejudges on the supreme court making it 63 conservative majority. yes, the supreme court has a conservative majority and you would think therefore might be inclined to rule in his favour but there have been decisions runs conservative supreme court in recent months that have not necessarily agreed with donald trump's policies and they have been decisions related to him in person but they haven't already always sided with the conservative views.

i don't think we can necessarily read too much into the political make—up of this supreme court when trying to speculate on how they are going to rule on this particular issue. �* ., , to rule on this particular issue. 1, , issue. peter bowes reporting there. that's not the only big political development in the us. senator mitch mcconnell, one of the most powerful republican leaders of recent decades, has announced he plans to step down later this year as the party's senate leader. it's a hugely significant decision that could have major consequences for us politics heading in an election year. here is mr connell announcing his decision. one of life's most underappreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to live's next chapter. so, i stand before you today, mr president and my colleagues, to say this will be my last term as republican leader of the senate. i am not going anywhere

anytime soon. however, i will complete myjob and what my colleagues have given me until we select a new leader in november and they take the helm nextjanuary. mr mcconnell�*s team says it is not because of several recent health scares that he is stepping down. i spoke to stephen neukam who covers the us congress for axios and asked him why he might be stepping down. i think there was wide expectation within washington that this would be leader mcconnell�*s last term at the helm of the senate gop. i think the timing here and him announcing this in february is surprising to a lot of people. we'll have to hear from him and those close to him on what spurred on the decision but i think in general, the development that he will not be at the front of the gop any longer after this year is not

all that shocking given his age, he is in his 80s and the fact that it came so early on in the election cycle month before the election is surprising. he had fallen out with the lot of people and what does this mean for us politics? former president donald trump is the leading candidate for the republican nomination in 2024 and likely will have a rematch between him and joe biden in november. the republican party has been undergoing an ideological transformation since 2015 and 2016 when president trump was first elected. you're right, senator mcconnell had a falling

out with the former president and they differed on trump's 6 capitol riots here in dc. so, senators, senate republicans are going to have a choice in front of them to pick someone who is more along the mainstream of the party and old—school republican, someone like mitch mcconnell. move towards someone who is leading them that is closer to the trump wing of the party. we have 30 seconds left. can ijust get a quick view from you by the us supreme court decision on hearing the case about mrtrump. i think a victory forthe trump campaign in terms of possibly delaying it through the election and people have wanted democrats and they wanted they tried to go on as quickly as possible and the reaction from a lot of folks in washington are just the fact that this is a favourable outcome for mr trump in his campaign.

stephen neukam from axios they're talking about a possible candidate to replace mitch mcconnel. and we do have an article dedicated on that topic, including the three johns, as they are known, as as the dark horses. to check out that article as well —— mitch mcconnel. the widow of the russian opposition leader alexei navalny has made an emotional address to the european parliament, in which she claimed her husband was tortured for three years on vladimir putin's orders and then murdered. the long—standing critic of the russian president died suddenly in prison earlier this month. nick beake reports. it's not even two weeks since she lost her husband, but yulia navalnaya says she has to keep fighting. the latest stop on her path to justice, the european parliament, where she condemned vladimir putin for actions that had bereaved russians, ukrainians and her own family.

putin must answer for what he has done with my country. putin must answer for what he has done to a neighbouring, peaceful country. and putin must answer for everything he has done to alexei. alexei navalny died in his siberian prison, where he was serving a 19—year sentence that was widely seen as being politically motivated. his family say he was murdered. the russian authorities claim it was natural causes. yulia navalnaya said europe's leaders must stop treating vladimir putin like a normal politician and deal with him as a mafia boss. she said passing endless resolutions and the same old sanctions wouldn't have any impact. she said there needed to be a new effort to go after the money of his inner circle in the way you deal with organised crime. but before that, alexei navalny�*s family say they want to bury him here

in southern moscow on friday. it's unclear what sort of public display of grief the police will tolerate. putin is capable of anything. yulia navalnaya says she will now go and recruit yet more supporters to her cause, promising that russia does have a beautiful future once it is rid of evil. nick beake, bbc news, strasbourg. now to south korea, today is the deadline that the government there has set for striking dock was to return to work and if they don't the government has threatened to suspend their license or even prosecute them. nearly 10,000 trainee doctors are currently on strike. the walkout has left —— lead to operations being postponed and disruption in hospitals. a bring in our correspondencejean mackenzie correspondence jean mackenzie who joins correspondencejean mackenzie who joins us low. firstly, correspondencejean mackenzie whojoins us low. firstly, can you tell us why they are

striking because their reason is different to those folks, for example, in the uk. it is an unusual— for example, in the uk. it is an unusual reason. - for example, in the uk. it is an unusual reason. they - for example, in the uk. it is an unusual reason. they are striking because the government wants to increase the number of dockisin wants to increase the number of dock is in this country. it wants to allow more people every year to go to medical school, so the moment that number is capped at 3000, from next year it was to raise that to 5000. that is because korea's population is raised —— raising rapidly and there are shortages in ken bigley in rural areas or some specialist areas of care. the doctors are arguing that this would necessarily fix the shortages, they say there are much more fundamental flaws in the medical system here that need to be addressed first. they say, for example, some areas of medicine are overheated, so doctors are choosing to enter the more lucrative fields such as cosmetic surgery, so more doctors would do anything to address these shortages. but underlying this all is a frustration from junior doctors

in this country that they are being overworked and underpaid. some of the doctors we have spoken to have said they are sometimes working more than 100 hours per week and they feel that the government isn't listening to them about what they need to make the job more enjoyable and safer. the government's _ enjoyable and safer. the government's threat - enjoyable and safer. the government's threat of l enjoyable and safer. the government's threat of possible prosecution or suspending their license, how real are those threat, especially if the government is saying that they are short of doctors? the government _ are short of doctors? the government is _ are short of doctors? tue: government is standing are short of doctors? tte: government is standing firm on this great. the health minister has already been out today and reiterated that the doctors that do not return to work by the end of the day will have their medical licenses revoked. now, yes, the government is using this as a tool to try to force the doctors back to work and some people have argued it would actually be counter—productive to remove all of their medical licenses if at all that once is the doctors back to work, but if it feels that they're not going to

come back to work anywhere they feel they have little to lose. many doctors don't have much public sympathy here in south korea, most people actually want there to be more dock is. in this perspective the government has very little incentive to back down over this. . ., , w this. other countries facing similar issues _ this. other countries facing similar issues may - this. other countries facing similar issues may resort i this. other countries facing i similar issues may resort to, for example, foreign doctors and nurses coming into the country stop is that an option for south korea? t country stop is that an option for south korea?— for south korea? i think it is an option. — for south korea? i think it is an option, but _ for south korea? i think it is an option, but in _ for south korea? i think it is an option, but in south - for south korea? i think it is | an option, but in south korea there isn't much immigration at there isn't much immigration at the moment and being a doctor is seen as a very competitive job and that is part of what these doctors are fighting against. they don't wanted to become more competitive commerce of the government were to turn around and say it was going to recruit nurses and doctors from abroad i think that would bejust doctors from abroad i think that would be just as unpopular with the doctors plans to increase the numbers within the country. increase the numbers within the count . g ., increase the numbers within the count ., . ~ country. john mackenzie in seoul, thank _ country. john mackenzie in seoul, thank you - country. john mackenzie in seoul, thank you for - country. john mackenzie in i seoul, thank you for updating us on the straight —— jean mackenzie. now to hong kong. as hong kong moves forward with a tougher national

security law, the uk government has issued a statement, saying that it breaches its international obligations including the handover deal signed by the uk and china. article 23 is designed to close what officials call loopholes that remain after china imposed its security law on the territory in 2020 following mass protests. ted hui, an activist and lawyer who was a legislator with hong kong's democratic party, now living in self—exile in australia. i asked him if the uk statement changes much. it doesn't have any changing of the reality of hong kong of the legislation is going to be passed and of course, after the consultation period in the head of hong kong saying that it is overwhelming support in societies consensus for the legislation and of course, that is after the disqualification of all of us democratic legislators and also the putting injail

of the activists and other dissidents and now, it can do whatever it wants. the hong kong government says that the law does not target media and one country to systems will remain, what is your response to that? it's a lie. it's a complete lie because while it's saying it's not targeting the media, now, even without legislation, the media is not free at all and many meteors and organisations forced to leave hong kong and their working visas are not renewed and so, also the founder of media organisations are being trialled and lingering national securities and we expect people likejimmy lai will go to jail for running media organisations

and definitely go to jail for decades. even without legislation, it is already very bad and with legislations, i think it targets more than media and events of external interference it may target ngo like greenpeace, it is targeting civil foundations and organisations like those involved in training, education and enhancements of freedom and democracy, they are all targeted. hong kong is cutting ties with international communities. you fled abroad after the national security law in 2020. hong kong authorities have now put a one million hong kong

dollars bounty on your head along with other democracy activists living overseas, do you worry about the extraterritorial breach of the legislation was enacted and do you think you will be affected? yes, definitely because in 2020 national security law, i'm already targeted and with this new legislation there are heavier penalties and expect more persecutions from different aspects of my life and these legislations are draconian law and marking a new hong kong of completely new freedoms and also it is deterring people speaking out from overseas and international advocates like me and also targeting me and my colleagues who continue to speak for hong kong's freedom and democracy. that was ted hui joining us from adelaide. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the body of a migrant has been recovered from the english channel by french rescue workers. two other people are reported missing. authorities in france say

a number of rescue operations took place on wednesday to help around 180 people who were attempting to get to the uk on boats. the scottish government have considered the case. he strangled the 27—year—old in april 2025 and left her naked body in south lincolnshire. the rapperja rule says he has been denied entry into the united kingdom just days before his tour was due to start. the us musician was about to kick off the british leg of his latest tour in the welsh capital on friday. he says his criminal record was the reason for the refusal. you're live with bbc news. the boss of red bull's formula 1 team, christian horner,

has been cleared of "inappropriate and controlling behaviour" towards a female colleague. it follows an internal investigation which red bull said had been "fair, rigorous and impartial". laura scott reports. christian horner has been at the helm of red bull racing for nearly two decades, holding the team into a dominant force and becoming one of the most recognisable faces in the paddock, often alongside his former spice girl wife. but his future in the sport was put in jeopardy when allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made against him by a female colleague. at the recent season launch, he emphatically maintained his innocence. can you guarantee you have never behaved inappropriately towards a colleague? i deny any accusations made against me. with the season looming, key figures in the sport had called for swift resolution. it's very concerning, the allegations are serious and it certainly seems like things should be coming to an end here quickly because we really need to be

talking about formula 1 as we go into the start of the year. just 72 hours before the first race in bahrain came the news he had been cleared of misconduct following an independent investigation. everybody here in milton keynes has been tried operate as close to business as usual as possible but christian horner acknowledged this matter has been a distraction as the start of the season looms. only time will tell if results on the track reflects that. this was horner in bahrain last week for testing.

he has now returned know he will stay on as team principal and chief executive. he and the sport organises will be relieved the investigation was complete before the lights go out for the first grand prix of the year but, given the chance of an appeal, this might not be the end of the road. laura scott, bbc news, milton keynes. south korean and american officials have announced their annual drills focusing on north korean nuclear threats which will be taking place next week. the announcement comes as both countries are meeting in washington. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, received his counterpart who address the relationship between the two countries. in relationship between the two countries. relationship between the two countries-_ countries. in the face of regional— countries. in the face of regional and _ countries. in the face of regional and global - countries. in the face of - regional and global challenges the republic of korea and the united states have always moved in lockstep. we are one for condemning north korea's increasingly provocative rhetoric and actions that violate resolutions including its export of munitions and others to russia. we are united

in condemning and work together to uphold rights and freedom in the gulf of aden. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. texasis texas is battling the second—biggest wildfire nsa's history, burning 850,000 acres of land north of the city. high temperatures, _ of land north of the city. high temperatures, dry _ of land north of the city. high temperatures, dry conditions, as well as strong winds have helped fuel the smokehouse creek fire, forcing residents to evacuate, cutting power to more than a500 homes and businesses. ghana's parliament has unanimously passed a bill that further restricts the rights of gay and transgender people. it also imposes a maximum five—year jail term for forming or funding lgbtq+ groups. gay sex is already against the law in ghana, carrying a three—year prison sentence.

the attorney general�*s office in ecuador says five suspects accused of involvement in the assassination of an anti—corruption presidential candidate will go on trial. fernando villavicencio was shot dead in quito last august. one gunman was killed at the scene and seven other suspects were murdered injail. stand—up comedian and curb your enthusiasm co—star richard lewis has died aged 76. lewis announced last april that he had been diagnosed with parkinson's disease. known for his self—deprecating humour, lewis first rose to prominence in the 1980s. his publicist said he died peacefully in his home in los angeles on tuesday after a suffering a heart attack.

the company that made history by becoming the first from the private sector to land a spacecraft on the moon, has been giving more details about the mission. the odysseus space craft, made by a company in texas, touched down last week, but its not so smooth landing meant its communications with mission control were limited. pallab ghosh has more. a perfect launch. a faultless separation. over comms: lunar lander separation confirmed. - and a smoothjourney to the moon. but landing is always the hardest part and so it proved. on the lunar surface, you can see one of the legs on the left broken. and this image shows a spacecraft leaning over. this evening, the head of the private company that built the lander explained why the landing was so hard. innovation came from being absolutely over constrained, where you didn't have enough time, you didn't have enough

money, and you were trying to tackle a problem that seemed almost intractable. so, what actually went wrong? an hour before landing, engineers announced that the lasers that measured the distance to the ground weren't working. as a result, flight engineers had to rapidly develop a back up system. unfortunately, the computer couldn't keep up, and it thought the spacecraft was 100 metres higher than it really was so it hit the ground harder than planned. one of its six legs broke and the spacecraft tilted with its main solar panel facing the ground. so, does this count as a success or a failure? fantastic success, you know, superb. first time a commercial company's ever managed to do this. and, you know, they've done it right first time. the landing was a little bit wonky. it doesn't really matter in the bigger scheme of things. they've got all the data, so next time they'll get

it 100% right. and i think they're ready to go again already. intuitive machines are scheduled to have a more ambitious moon mission in just a few months time. the company says it's learned from the experience and plans a faultless landing next time around. pallab ghosh, bbc news. he that's it for this addition of newsday. i will be back with business you shortly. do join me if you can. but for now thank you forjoining me for newsday. hello there. sunshine was a scarce commodity across the uk on wednesday — but we had most of it in eastern scotland, withjust overfour hours of sunshine in edinburgh. however, the rest of us, rather cloudy, grey and at times wet — but it was mild with it. however, as the rain continues to push south and east, the wind direction is changing. we'll see a return to some colder air across our shores.

so thursday will start off mild but wet across southeast england and east anglia. quite a lot of cloud generally across england and wales, with the best of any brighter skies into northern ireland, scotland — northwest scotland seeing a real rash of showers, accompanied by gale—force gusts of winds through the day. it will start to turn colder generally across scotland, 6—9 celsius, maybe double digits for a time before that front clears through in the southeast. but, as we move out of thursday into friday, we see this next frontal system moving in — and, as temperatures fall away through the night, bumping into that colder air which is sitting in place across the country, yes, we could see a return to some wintriness. it'll going to be across higher ground — generally temperatures will be sitting around freezing first thing on friday morning, perhaps below in eastern scotland. but there'll be a risk of some snow above 200 metres in northern ireland, scottish borders, across the pennines, and into north wales. we could see a few centimetres accumulating, so that might cause some minor disruption, but it will be rain elsewhere. so you can see, circulating around that low pressure, is that frontal system — and it will bring some sunny spells and scattered showers, a mixture of rain, sleet and snow at times across wales and south—west england, perhaps drier into the far north of scotland. but temperatures a little

bit down — 6—9 celsius. don't forget, friday is the first day of march, so these values just below par for this time of year. then, as we move into the start of the weekend, we maintain the sunny spells and scattered showers — and the wind direction still coming from the north, so it will feel quite cold, and we could still have a wintry flavour with any elevation. so again, 6—7 celsius the expected high. but as we move out of saturday into sunday, we see another frontal system bringing a spell of more organised rain for a time — again, on the leading edge, there could be some wintry showers — but it will be rain eventually as that front moves through. so the weekend will stay pretty unsettled for most of us. take care.

disney strikes a deal with asia's richest man. but will it help the entertainment giant beat its competitors in india's rapidly growing streaming market?

and we'll speak to the top boss of air india — and find out about how its reboot is panning out. hello. welcome to asia business report with me, mariko oi. we begin our programme in india, where a mega—merger has been reached between the walt disney company and reliance industries. they're combining their india tv and streaming businesses in a $8.5 billion deal. ornando parfitt is the senior news editor of screen international. he says this deal will be an industry disrupter. well, i think it will have a huge impact. they're talking about having a a0% market share — so obviously a a0% market share of india, and the indian diaspora is absolutely huge. these are two huge companies — reliance industries is one of

the biggest companies in the world, owned by asia's richest man,