immune has presidential immunity because _ immune has presidential immunity because he was convicted and impeached punt that is the law, democrats don't like it, their campaign _ democrats don't like it, their campaign against donald trump is failing _ campaign against donald trump is failing mainly because of their strategy— failing mainly because of their strategy is based on fear and nothing — strategy is based on fear and nothing positive about what joe biden— nothing positive about what joe biden is— nothing positive about what joe biden is doing. can nothing positive about what joe biden is doing.— nothing positive about what joe biden is doinu. a, , , t, biden is doing. can i 'ust say, what ou make biden is doing. can i 'ust say, what you make of _ biden is doing. can i 'ust say, what you make of what _ biden is doing. can ijust say, what you make of what she _ biden is doing. can ijust say, what you make of what she says - biden is doing. can ijust say, what you make of what she says that. you make of what she says that actually this is politically motivated?— actually this is politically motivated? , ., ., actually this is politically motivated? , .,., , motivated? first off, no one is above the _ motivated? first off, no one is above the law _ motivated? first off, no one is above the law in _ motivated? first off, no one is above the law in the _ motivated? first off, no one is above the law in the united . motivated? first off, no one is - above the law in the united states, from the first president we had, washington, it was clear with or do respect me was not a king, he was subject to all the same laws as everyone else in the united states and is a principle of american democracy that has been here for 250 years and continues to be pumped the notion that he is a new from prosecution for ordinary acts is just absurd. but

prosecution for ordinary acts is just absurd-— prosecution for ordinary acts is 'ust absurd. �* . . just absurd. but the trump argument is that actually. _ just absurd. but the trump argument is that actually, if _ just absurd. but the trump argument is that actually, if you _ just absurd. but the trump argument is that actually, if you don't - just absurd. but the trump argument is that actually, if you don't have - is that actually, if you don't have presidential immunity, the difficulty is you will be governing with one eye over your shoulder for some future prosecution. and it may be something that actually is some kind of vexatious prosecution that will come after and it would open the floodgates to all that. this will come after and it would open the floodgates to all that.- the floodgates to all that. as the prosecutor _ the floodgates to all that. as the prosecutor said _ the floodgates to all that. as the prosecutor said today, _ the floodgates to all that. as the prosecutor said today, if - the floodgates to all that. as the prosecutor said today, if a - prosecutor said today, if a president ordered a seal team to assassinate a political opponent, should be subject to a crime of murder? yes! of course he should be. they talk over each other hang on, let me put that particularly to you, scottie nell hughes, if there is an accusation of a homicide, surely anybody is not above the law, nobody is above the law? ., ,., , above the law, nobody is above the law? ., , , above the law, nobody is above the law? , ,., above the law, nobody is above the law? , ., law? nobody is above the law. scottie nell — law? nobody is above the law. scottie nell hughes, _

law? nobody is above the law. scottie nell hughes, nobody. law? nobody is above the law. j scottie nell hughes, nobody is law? nobody is above the law. - scottie nell hughes, nobody is above the law? i scottie nell hughes, nobody is above the law? ., ., ., ., the law? i agree that we also have this process _ the law? i agree that we also have this process of _ the law? i agree that we also have this process of being _ the law? i agree that we also have this process of being convicted - the law? i agree that we also have | this process of being convicted and that is— this process of being convicted and that is what is lacking in all these democrats' accusations. e is yet to be convicted of any of this. but democrats' accusations. e is yet to be convicted of any of this.- be convicted of any of this. but is the principal. _ be convicted of any of this. but is the principal, what _ be convicted of any of this. but is the principal, what i'm _ be convicted of any of this. but is the principal, what i'm asking - be convicted of any of this. but is the principal, what i'm asking is i the principal, what i'm asking is about the principle of that, not actually the individual cases. that's the thing, if he is convicted of them, — that's the thing, if he is convicted of them, all— that's the thing, if he is convicted of them, all of these are accusations that are very politically polarised, but i definitely wasn't going after president obama for his past killing of 3797 _ president obama for his past killing of 3797 people with high politically three drone strikes. let's open this pandora's_ three drone strikes. let's open this pandora's box and go after past presidents and the crimes they have committed. we presidents and the crimes they have committed. ~ . ., ., , committed. we are going to be talkin: committed. we are going to be talking about _ committed. we are going to be talking about this _ committed. we are going to be talking about this i'm _ committed. we are going to be talking about this i'm sure - committed. we are going to be talking about this i'm sure a . committed. we are going to be l talking about this i'm sure a lot, thank you very much indeed. that's all from us tonight. it's victoria tomorrow. goodbye.

breaking news from around the world, 24 breaking news from around the world, 2a hours a day. this is bbc news. head to the bbc news website. the us secretary of state has said palestinians in northern gaza must be allowed to return home as soon as conditions allow,

now that fighting there has eased. antony blinken met prime minister benjamin netanyahu in tel aviv. the pair discussed efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages and get humanitarian aid into gaza. it comes as the hamas—run health ministry says 126 people have been killed in gaza in the last 2a hours. blinken insisted that although israel had washington's resolute backing, civilian deaths in gaza were "far too high". we know that facing an enemy embeds itself among civilians, we know that facing an enemy that embeds itself among civilians, who it hides in and fires from schools, from hospitals, makes this incredibly challenging. but the daily toll on civilians in gaza, particularly on children, is far too high. for more, i'm joined byjames dorsey. he's a seniorfellow he's a senior fellow at the school of international studies. thank you so much forjoining us.

david cameron has said israel may have broken international law in gaza. it seems like the opinion is shifting. how robust you think the us backing for israel is? i shifting. how robust you think the us backing for israel is?— us backing for israel is? i think what you're _ us backing for israel is? i think what you're seeing _ us backing for israel is? i think what you're seeing is _ us backing for israel is? i think. what you're seeing is differences between israel and the united states. you saw that in mr blinken's remarks in which he urged israel not to attack civilian infrastructures. you also saw in the fact that israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu's office this time around did not issue a readout of the conversation between blinken and netanyahu. i think one thing that the united states may be realising is that it has less leverage over israel that has in the past. in 1981, us financialsupport israel that has in the past. in 1981, us financial support for israel amounted to 10% of the

israeli economy. today, $4 billion amount only 1%. in addition, israel is more self—sufficient in producing its own weapons, and therefore... the two of them also discussed the detailed postwar vision for gaza. what might that look like? i detailed postwar vision for gaza. what might that look like? i think there are only _ what might that look like? i think there are only bad _ what might that look like? i think there are only bad options - what might that look like? i think there are only bad options at - what might that look like? i think there are only bad options at this| there are only bad options at this moment. the only realistic options are either that israel will be occupied, oryou are either that israel will be occupied, or you have ethnic cleansing in gaza. the reason for thatis cleansing in gaza. the reason for that is that, as blinken said, arab states are willing to help in terms of securing gaza and endorsing a palestinian government. but only if thatis palestinian government. but only if that is linked to a credible peace process. that is at the moment with the current government unlikely.

james dorsey, thank you forjoining us on the programme today. mr; us on the programme today. m pleasure. to the uk, and the former head of the post office, paula vennells, is handing back her cbe after more than a million people called for her to be stripped of the honour for her role in the horizon scandal. she led the organisation for seven years, while it repeatedly denied there was anything wrong with the it system, and continued to pursue prosecutions against hundreds of sub—postmasters. here's our deputy political editor, vicki young. it was an insult which added to their injury. new year's honours list. a moment depicted in the recent drama about the post office scandal. paula vennells has got the cbe. you're joking...! "services to the post office." today, it was all very different for paula vennells as she caved to mounting public pressure to hand back the honour. in a statement, she said...

it must be a bug. it must be...it must. be a computer bug... lee castleton's story was one of those featured in the drama series. he went bankrupt after being falsely accused of stealing £25,000. so, what does he make of paula vennells' decision? it kind of was a kick in the teeth back then. now it's full circle, i suppose, and we've got to a point where now now it's acceptable that the moral decision to hand it back is the right decision. i personally have spent many, many years not being listened to and i think people really are listening. there's been a real step change. in leicestershire, there is a lot of sympathy for what in leicestershire, there's a lot of sympathy for what lee and others have experienced.

they should get as much back possible, and not always money. it doesn't heal wounds what they've gone through. it's shocking, you know, to be made to feel like that, made to feel like they've done something wrong and they'd stolen the money and whatever, i think it's terrible how they've been treated. as chief executive of the post office from 2012 to 2019, paula vennells earned more than £4 million during a period and serious issues emerged about the horizon software. mps quizzed her about it in 2015. we are a business that does genuinely care we are a business that does genuinely care about the people that work for us, and if there had been

any miscarriages ofjustice, it would have been really important to the post office that we actually surfaced those and as the investigation so far, we've had no evidence of that. there soon was evidence and it reached the high court, but it didn't prevent her from receiving an honour in 2018. the renewed publicity has made dealing with hundreds of wrongful convictions a priority for mp5. we can do something good, mr speaker, together if the justice secretary would bring a simple bill would bring a simple bill to quash all 800 immediately. the suggestion he made is receiving active consideration, _ i expect to be able to make - further announcements shortly. in normal circumstances it would be almost unthinkable for parliament to get involved in the quashing of criminal convictions. it would be seen as an attack on the independence of the courts. but ministers accept this is an unprecedented this is an unprecedented situation, and that's why they are considering such a radical move. in 2021, there were joyful scenes when the court of appeal cleared 39 former postmasters and mistresses who'd been wrongly convicted. hundreds more hope they'll be able to celebrate soon. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. the breeding and sale of dogs

for their meat is to become illegal in south korea. our seoul correspondent jean mackenzie reports. reared and slaughtered for their meat. on this farm, more than 1,000 dogs are kept like this — eventually to be used in the centuries—old dish of dog meat stew. but the meat was already falling out of favour. this alleyway is one of the few places you can still come to eat dog meat here in seoul — in one of these specialist restaurants. dog meat is considered a delicacy among some older koreans, but it's far less popular now with young people. many of them never eat it now or have never even tried it. translation: more i people have pets today. dogs are like family now, and it's not nice to eat our family, so i think it's best to get rid of it. ..though older diners were less enthusiastic about the ban. translation: we've eaten this since the middle ages. - why stop us from eating our traditional food? if you ban dog, you should ban beef.

animal rights activists celebrated a long—fought for victory. a long—fought—for victory. those who farm, butcher and sell dog meat will be jailed for up to three years. but the ban won't come into force until 2027, giving farmers and restaurant owners time to plan. the industry has clashed with the government over the bill. the practice should have been allowed to die out naturally, they argued, rather than their livelihoods be wrecked. mrs kim has run dog meat restaurants since the 19805. "i don't know what we're supposed to do now", she told me. "we need to be compensated. "i think we should accept dog meat, "but raise and slaughter them hygienically." these dogs were rescued from a farm last year. hundreds of thousands more will now

soon be looking for new homes. jean mackenzie, bbc news, in seoul. france's new prime minister is just 34. meghan owen has been looking at gabriel attal�*s profile. at just 34 years old, gabriel attal has become france's youngest prime minister. now, president emmanuel macron made this appointment as he attempts to revive his presidency with a reshuffle. let's take a listen to gabriel attal as he steps into his new role. translation: it has been said over the last few hours _ that the youngest president in history is appointing the youngest prime minister in history. i believe this to be a symbol of audacity and motion, a symbol too of the trust placed in youth. he is a staunch macron loyalist. he's also france's first openly gay prime minister. and he's a bit of a rising star of french politics, known for being media—savvy. his rise has been pretty rapid. he has had various roles.

he's had various roles. ten years ago, he was just an obscure adviser in the health ministry. he then became a household name when he was appointed government spokesperson during the covid pandemic. he was appointed minister for education in 2023, but here he was speaking to the bbc as minister for youth in 2020. when you look at everyone in the parliament or in the government around emmanuel macron in this majority, you see people from very different social and geographic backgrounds, and for me, it was actually the few who made me want to volunteer and to commit in politics, to make everyone have the same chance. he sparked controversy in one of his first moves in his role as education minister, when he announced that he was to ban the muslim abaya dress in state schools. he said in an interview with france's tf1, "when you walk into the classroom,

"you shouldn't be able to identify the pupils' religion "just by looking at them". well, one of his other signature moves was to lay out plans for france to adopt a school uniform. mr attal replaces elisabeth borne, who is the outgoing prime minister. she was in her role for 20 months, but she failed in that time to retain a majority. president macron will be hoping that this is something he can change with the new appointment. he will also be hoping that with widespread discontentment in france over rising costs and last year's pension reform that actually, mr attal will help him to defeat the far right in the european elections injune, and with the presidential polls coming up in 2027. that's all for now. thanks for watching. hello there. this time last week, low pressure dominated the weather story and it was all about relentless flooding rain. this week, high pressure controls the story and a quiet, colder theme, but also a sunnier one.

in fact, the western isles had the lion's share of the sunshine on tuesday. so, plenty of sunshine around today as high pressure dominates, clear skies across central and southern england. that's where we'll have the best of the sunshine, but it will be another cold start, with temperatures below freezing. not as widespread, the cold, as we had this time yesterday, and there's certainly more cloud. now, the cloud is thick enough across eastern scotland and northern england for the odd spot of light drizzle. could be some icy stretches first thing. south of that will see more cloud pushing into north wales, but we'll keep some sunshine and we'll also have some sunshine once again in the northwest of scotland. now, temperatures around 5—7 degrees, might be a degree or so warmer underneath the cloud, but it perhaps won't feel like that because you've lost the sunshine. now, we keep that cloud as we go through wednesday night, and once again, could be thick enough for a little bit of drizzle, particularly on exposed north sea coasts. best of the clearer skies further south of that — that's where we're likely to see

patchy frost and fog forming as temperatures again dip below freezing. so, as we move into thursday, it will be a similar story. we'll have some clearer skies into sheltered western scotland and also some sunshine across central and southern england. but cloud will tend to come and go into northern ireland, northern england for a time, and some of that cloud may welljust push that a little bit further south as the wind changes to more of a subtle northeasterly by the course of thursday. once again, temperatures between 5—8 degrees our overall high. now, as we move into friday and the start of the weekend, we keep this quieter theme. it's still going to be on the chilly side. but again, there'll be a lot of dry weather around. but as we go into next week, there are signs of the weather story changing, the wind direction coming to more of a northerly. we could see some wintry showers even at lower levels in scotland. and look at this — towards the middle part of next week,

there will be a frontal system, as it bumps into that cold air that's been sitting with us now for over a week. there is the potential on the leading edge to see some snow. a lot of uncertainty about that at the moment, but it's an early heads up, something to look out for.

you this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines at the top of the hour as newsday continues, straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk.

i'm stephen sackur. politicians in the west scanning the 2024 horizon see storm clouds gathering. war in the middle east could easily escalate. putin's determination to crush ukraine's resistance is undimmed. taiwan's coming election adds to fears of china's intentions. and in america, democracy itself is going to be tested in the presidential race. my guest is alicia kearns, conservative mp and chair of the uk house of commons foreign affairs select committee. is the weakness and vulnerability of liberal democracy about to be exposed?