on the throne. hello. i'm catherine byaruhanga. international leaders have been congratulating taiwan's new president—elect, william lai, on his victory in the island's election on saturday. but william lai's campaign has angered beijing, as he promised to protect the island's sovereignty, and maintain a separate national identity. china, however, considers the island state part of its own territory. rupert wingfield—hayes has more, from the taiwanese capital, taipei. 0 nto onto stage comes the man who will now be taiwan's next president. in the end, william

lai won the election by a larger margin than expected. the chinese president xi jinping tried to intimidate voters here not to choose him, but failed. this supporters say, if anything, but failed. this supporters say, ifanything, it but failed. this supporters say, if anything, it had the opposite effect. i say, if anything, it had the opposite effect.— opposite effect. i think it probably _ opposite effect. i think it probably says _ opposite effect. i think it probably says to - opposite effect. i think it probably says to china, | opposite effect. i think it i probably says to china, we won't listen to you. we won't listen to you any more. our future will be determined by ourselves. so maybe is using being needs to learn to be quiet during our election. china warned the people of taiwan not to vote for this man. they said he is a troublemaker who will take the island closer to war. well, tonight, they have given their answer, by electing him their new president. speaking to the international media following this victory, president—elect william lai was quick to offer beijing an olive branch. translation: beijing an olive branch. tuna/mom- beijing an olive branch. translation: ., , translation: over the last eiuht translation: over the last eight years _ translation: over the last eight years we _ translation: over the last eight years we have - eight years we have continuously tried to extend goodwill. unfortunately, china has not responded to these gestures. we hope in the future

that china will realise piece serves the interests of both sides. it serves the interests of both sides. , �* , , sides. it isn't 'ust its democratic _ sides. it isn't just its democratic system | sides. it isn'tjust its i democratic system that sides. it isn'tjust its - democratic system that sets taiwan apart from china. five years ago, it became the first place in asia to legalise same—sex marriage. today, for the first time, this family voted together as a family with their three—year—old daughter. translation: their three-year-old daughter. translation:— translation: this election is very important _ translation: this election is very important. we _ translation: this election is very important. we have - translation: this election is very important. we have just i very important. we havejust come back from hong kong and people there are envious of us. they told us we must protect our democracy or we could end “p our democracy or we could end up like them. for our democracy or we could end up like them-— our democracy or we could end up like them. for taiwan's main opposition _ up like them. for taiwan's main opposition party. _ up like them. for taiwan's main opposition party, the _ up like them. for taiwan's main opposition party, the kmt, - up like them. for taiwan's main opposition party, the kmt, the| opposition party, the kmt, the result today was another humiliating defeat. the whole party leadership bowed their heads as they beg for forgiveness from their supporters. the kmt�*s candidate

hou you—ih had run on a platform of getting closer to china, a policy which may have contributed to this defeat. choosing thing loads and is directed presidential wind. now everyone is waiting to see how china's leader will respond. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, taipei. live now to liberty square in taipei and our presenter steve la i. thank you. we have had the results and reaction. let's dig into the main talking points from the election. to do that i am joined by a guest, raymond rand. it am joined by a guest, raymond rand. , ., rand. it is not third term when. rand. it is not third term when- -- _ rand. it is not third term when. -- raymond - rand. it is not third term when. -- raymond kuo. | rand. it is not third term | when. -- raymond kuo. it rand. it is not third term - when. -- raymond kuo. it is for when. —— raymond kuo. it is for more years to the consolidation of the relationship with the united states, japan, and other countries. ., ., .,

countries. elaborate on whether laces countries. elaborate on whether places taiwan. _ countries. elaborate on whether places taiwan, as _ countries. elaborate on whether places taiwan, as a _ countries. elaborate on whether places taiwan, as a thorn - places taiwan, as a thorn between two superpowers. sure. taiwan is caught _ between two superpowers. sure. taiwan is caught between - between two superpowers. sure. taiwan is caught between the - taiwan is caught between the united states and china. they have made no secret of their desire for unification with taiwan. but they probably aren't that interested, certainly not militarily. they wanted a security and economic relationships with united states, as well as japan, australia, and other like—minded democracies in the region. like-minded democracies in the reuion. ., like-minded democracies in the reuion. . , , region. looking at the numbers on the election. _ region. looking at the numbers on the election. we _ region. looking at the numbers on the election. we can - region. looking at the numbers on the election. we can say - on the election. we can say that william lai one with a majority of a0%, but it means that 60% of the population didn't want him as leader. is that a way to interpret it? it is. if you look at the tpp candidate and hou you—ih, both took similar policies to william lai. with terms of hou

you—ih, he wrote a piece for foreign affairs in october last year, with a similar policy, openness to beijing, but a focus on defence and deterrence so that taiwan could represent its and defend its interests both in relation to china and the international community. so what do the results show is about what the people of taiwan want on a domestic level? i would emphasise the continuity in terms of cross strait relations. but after eight years of majority rule by the dpp in the legislature and presidency, the dpp were facing headwinds. there were issues they couldn't address in the last eight years. rising cost of living, youth unemployment, elderly care. it is really encumbered for the incoming president, william lai, to address those issues in the next four years, if he is to have another term afterwards. will it be easier or harder for him to achieve that now that he

doesn't have the majority? this doesn't have the ma'ority? this well, essentially, _ doesn't have the majority? this well, essentially, come - doesn't have the majority? ti 3 well, essentially, come down to the tpp. they have the opportunity to be kingmakers. but it is unclear what they stand for. which way do they swing? it will come down to both william lai's ability to negotiate with different parties to cobble together a coalition. fix. parties to cobble together a coalition. �* ., parties to cobble together a coalition-— coalition. a lot of his fate domestically _ coalition. a lot of his fate domestically and - domestically and internationally as well. thank you, raymond kuo, from the think tank rand. we will have more analysis from steve today on bbc news. we don't have the situation in the middle east. —— we turn now to the situation in the middle east. president biden says the us has delivered a "private message" to iran about the houthis in yemen after the us carried

out a second strike on the group. houthi fighters held military exercises on saturday, vowing a "strong and effective response" to the american and british—led airstrikes in yemen. video released by the iran—backed houthi movement showed officials gathered at an outpost near the yemeni—saudi border. exercises included the dropping of bombs on sites marked with american and israeli flags. angered over israel's ongoing war in gaza, houthis have been disrupting international trade in the red sea. after warning houthis to stop the attacks for weeks, the us and uk governments carried out what they called defensive airstrikes on friday and the us struck another houthi target early on saturday. with me now is said shahata from bbc arabic. said, thank you johnny is on the programme. today we have seen the new york times reported that between 20 and 30% of the houthi capabilities were damaged in the air strikes. what can we read into

that and are the houthis likely to respond? that and are the houthis likely to remind?— that and are the houthis likely to respond? the report showing the strength _ to respond? the report showing the strength and _ to respond? the report showing the strength and the _ to respond? the report showing the strength and the power- to respond? the report showing the strength and the power of. the strength and the power of the strength and the power of the military capabilities of the military capabilities of the houthi. speaking to the new york times, targeting houthi military bases was harder than expected, because intelligence services couldn't collect enough information along the past years, because the houthi survived more than eight years from bombardment from the saudi alliance in yemen, becoming stronger with more missiles and drones, and even have factory to produce this stuff. it is suspected that iran is supporting them technically, finding them with money, but they are denying that. this 20-30% is they are denying that. this 20—30% is destroyed or damaged.

but shipping companies aren't yet feeling safe to go through the red sea, and are using other ways, and this has implications on the price of oil and the price of oil increased two days ago by 4% because of that. this report showing that the houthi is not done yet. and this is to deter them. deterrence not to launch another attack. them. deterrence not to launch anotherattack. but them. deterrence not to launch another attack. but i think the houthi are defiant to challenge american because they believe in a just cause which is the people in gaza and calling for the ceasefire and more aid to gaza. so they put conditions for that. there are no indicators that they are going to back off. so the problem is and the fear is that there is a risk of escalation. even the whole lake effort by the american and other countries to quarantine the problem in the middle east inside gaza, but

the situation in the red sea is a problem as well. the the situation in the red sea is a problem as well.— the situation in the red sea is a problem as well. the un and others are _ a problem as well. the un and others are calling _ a problem as well. the un and others are calling for _ a problem as well. the un and others are calling for the - others are calling for the grace is not to escalate further. but seeing the x—rays were seen in the last few days, how likely is it that it would escalate?— how likely is it that it would escalate? unfortunately the answer is — escalate? unfortunately the answer is no _ escalate? unfortunately the answer is no response - escalate? unfortunately the answer is no response yet l escalate? unfortunately the i answer is no response yet from the houthi, but there is expectation for a response to target some american bases and british cover because they are targets for them after the airstrike, some yemeni there is airstrike, some yemeni there is a combination from my mind for a combination from my mind for a resort into the military action. and they said that according to omar the attack on some ships, it led to the use of military and weapons of the west. —— oman. but killing more than 20,000 people in gaza didn't move the conscience of all move for calls for a

ceasefire. they have already suffered in yemen over eight years, with people killed. and also the united nations, antonio guterres, it showed there is because of that, but there is because of that, but there is because of that, but there is no indicators that it will not be escalated in the next few days.— will not be escalated in the next few days. thank you so much. thank _ next few days. thank you so much. thank you _ next few days. thank you so much. thank you for - next few days. thank you so much. thank you forjoining| next few days. thank you so i much. thank you forjoining us, said shahata. in colombia, a landslide has killed at least 33 people on friday in an indigenous community in the northwest of the country. colombia's vice—president says most of those killed were children. after 2a hours of heavy rain, part of a mountain detached, crashing down on a busy road connecting the cities of medellin and quibdo. it is feared that more people may be buried under the mud, which engulfed several cars on the road. rescuers are working against the clock to find survivors. live now to emily hart,

a journalist based in medellin in colombia. what is the latest you are hearing about the impact of this mudslide? it hearing about the impact of this mudslide?— this mudslide? it is an absolute _ this mudslide? it is an absolute tragedy i this mudslide? it is an absolute tragedy that l this mudslide? it is an i absolute tragedy that has occurred this weekend in choco. 33, 34 occurred this weekend in choco. 33, 3a people are occurred this weekend in choco. 33,31; people are dead. more than 20 are injured. an unknown number are than 20 are injured. an unknown numberare missing. than 20 are injured. an unknown number are missing. search and rescue missions have had to be paused. it will resume later this morning to give an ongoing range that conditions would even say for those teams. there is a team of 200 that will resume work later this morning. there are helicopters and heatseeking drones and they will search as long as it takes, but the conditions are really dire in that part of the country at this point. find really dire in that part of the country at this point. and the vice president _ country at this point. and the vice president saying - country at this point. and the vice president saying most i country at this point. and the vice president saying most ofj vice president saying most of the people killed in this mudslide are actually children. what do we know about this and the communities that have been

affected by this mudslide? it is unfortunately a very large number of children. there were also pregnant women who fell victim. through the incident. unfortunately it isn't unprecedented not uncommon for communities in this part of the country. this stretch of road is actually known as la trocha de la muerte or the track of death. it is subject to flooding and landslides. the infrastructure in this area generally has suffered a lack of resources. on the pacific coast of colombia, choco is subject to state neglect and has been for many years. infrastructure in many rural parts of the country suffers the same fate. the highway to the same fate. the highway to the llanas orientales also

suffered last year. anything thatis suffered last year. anything that is different is the convergence of change and an extremely extreme set of effects of el nino. but there are also forest fires in the amazon. so the country are set “p amazon. so the country are set up a crisis room. —— llanos orientales. there will be running to the end of the el nino phenomenon, expected to be the end of march. there are five regions of colombia on red alert, for serious weather affectations, over the next few months. and, emily, iwas in and, emily, i was in medellin a few years ago, it struck me as a vibrant and prosperous city, those areas are already published, there are challenges with the rescue, tell us why it is so difficult in this part of medellin to get help to people. one of the crucial thing to understand about columbia generally it is known as a country or countries, there is

profound inequality, there is a profound inequality, there is a profound divergence in the amount of resources that different parts of the country phase. quibdo in particular is an afro descended community in the majority, whether or not this has anything to do with the direction of resources is “p the direction of resources is up for debate. the vice president would say it has certainly been the case historically. we can only hope thatis historically. we can only hope that is the new government gain space, gets its policies in place that that will change. he has put in effort, an emphasis on these issues and hopefully these areas will gain more resources, but this particular road has had 15 years of controversy around contracting, who's to say whether the problem will get solved. thank ou ve problem will get solved. thank you very much. _ problem will get solved. thank you very much, that _ problem will get solved. thank you very much, that is - problem will get solved. thank you very much, that is emily i you very much, that is emily hart, a journalist in medellin, colombia. let's get some of the day's other news now. officials in ecuador say all prison staff who've been held hostage by inmates atjails around the country

have been freed. the prisons agency said 178 people were released. they were taken on monday as ecuador saw a huge increase in gang—related violence after the escape of a cartel leader. the us special climate envoy john kerry is leaving the biden administration later this winter. the former secretary of state and presidential contender will switch to helping joe biden campaign to be re—elected to the white house. kerry was instrumental in helping to broker the 2015 paris climate agreement. he believes that a second term in the white house for biden would be the "single biggest" difference for progress in the climate crisis. the australian open, the first of 2024's tennis grand slam tournaments, has started in melbourne today. novak djokovic and aryna sabalenka are defending the respective men's and women's titles on this first day. djokovic is seeking his 11th open and 25th major title. sabalenka says she's happy

to be back after losing the brisbane international just a week ago. we're less than two days away from the iowa caucuses, where republican supporters will start the process of selecting their nominee for the 2024 presidential election. leading up to the big night, the headline out of iowa has not been candidates donald trump, nikki haley, or ron desantis — it's been the weather. intense winter storms have caused major disruptions to republican presidential hopefuls campaigning in the midwestern state. a blizzard dropped about 15 inches that's 38 centimetres of snow across iowa causing some candidates to cancel events. so just how cold will it be on monday? some forecasts in des moines, the state capital, say the low will be —18 degrees fahrenheit — that's —28 celsius. it's expected to be the coldest caucus day on record. here's candidates nikki haley and ron desantis talking about the wild winter weather.

i've been campaigning here for 11 months now, all over this state, and in october or november, i was — at every one of the town halls — i was, like, it is cold. laughter and that's what they did, in october, november, they laughed and they go, "oh, this is mild, this is mild." and i was, like, "no, it's not, it is cold." i get it now. laughter i totally get it now. this is unbelievable. i am a florida boy, born and bred, and yet here i am in negative temperatures. i'm not going to be cancelling. if people are going to come out and hear from me, i'm going to show up all the way until the end of this caucus. you're going to see

me everywhere. we will have more on that story throughout the day here on bbc news. the longest serving monarch in europe, queen margrethe of denmark, formally abdicates today after 52 years on the throne. her eldest son frederik and his australian wife mary will be proclaimed as king and queen this afternoon. from copenhagen, our royal correspondent daniela relph reports. it was 1972 when denmark last did this. preparing for a change of sovereign. there will be plenty of pomp, but the danes don't do the big coronation ceremony. instead, the questions bob pulis the declaration of abdication will be signed and the new king proclaimed from the balcony. last week queen margrethe said

her goodbyes, a final gilded carriage ride through copenhagen after 52 years on the throne. she had always said this was a job for life, until her surprise announcement on new year's eve. poor health had led to a change of mind. and if the social media response was anything to go by, denmark didn't see this coming. i think we are all— didn't see this coming. i think we are all shocked, _ didn't see this coming. i think we are all shocked, because l didn't see this coming. i think. we are all shocked, because we had never realised that the queen could ever decide to abdicate. i think she just want to relax a little more and maybe see her son become a king. maybe see her son become a kina. ., ., ., king. the end of a long reign of a pepuiar _ king. the end of a long reign of a popular queen - king. the end of a long reign of a popular queen could i king. the end of a long reign of a popular queen could be | king. the end of a long reign l of a popular queen could be of —— unsettling for denmark, especially after the surprise abdication, but the arrival of the new, younger photogenic king and queen could energise the royalfamily and cement support amongst the danish people. the official portraits of the new king and queen,

frederik x of denmark and his australian—born wife queen mary. the couple met in a bar in sydney during the 2000 olympics and married 20 years ago. they start their new roles amid rumours of problems in their relationship. queen mary is now widely viewed as key to the success of her husband's rang. the success of her husband's ran. ~' , the success of her husband's ran. ~ , ., the success of her husband's rant. 4' , ~ , rang. frederik x will be a very different one _ rang. frederik x will be a very different one up _ rang. frederik x will be a very different one up from - rang. frederik x will be a very different one up from his i different one up from his mother because he is much more informal, you could compare it with william and kate in the uk. mary is a very important person, she is very relaxed when talking to people and she has done a lot of work for the monarchy and any society. kevin hoaan is monarchy and any society. kevin hogan is ready. _ monarchy and any society. kevin hogan is ready, thousands i monarchy and any society. kevin hogan is ready, thousands will. hogan is ready, thousands will be here for a taste of what it has to offer. —— copenhagen. from the old patisserie in the city the new king means new cakes. on an historic day were a popular monarch steps aside for her son. daniela relph, bbc news, copenhagen.

and as princess mary is set to be crowned queen of denmark today, this will make her the first australian—born queen of a european monarchy. to discuss this we can go live to birgitte maibom, chairman of danish church in australia. thank you forjoining us on bbc news, birgitte. let's start with the celebrations. how will you be marking this occasion? the danish church will have a big family celebration next sunday so we can have children to come along. we have invited them to dress up as kings and queens and princes and princesses and we will be celebrating it with some danish specialties and then of course we will be watching a recording of the streaming later today. and, of course, australia doesn't have — australia follows royal family's closely,

what is the general mood about having an australian queen, even though it will be a queen of denmark, what is the conversation in australia around this?— conversation in australia aroundthis? , ., , , around this? generally, people are ruite around this? generally, people are quite fascinated, _ around this? generally, people are quite fascinated, they i around this? generally, people are quite fascinated, they may| are quite fascinated, they may be slightly bemused as well, but also very proud because they think as we all recognise, mary donaldson, she became, the crown princess of denmark and is about to become the queen, has done a wonderfuljob and has done a wonderfuljob and has really made the most of the opportunity, i suppose, has really made the most of the opportunity, isuppose, but also, as you mentioned earlier, for the crown prince, she has clearly been a really good support and together they just seem to make up a great team, soi seem to make up a great team, so i think in australia we're very proud, we are fascinated, and there are a lot of celebrations here as well and certainly a lot of attention around the events.- certainly a lot of attention around the events. and what are our around the events. and what are your hopes _ around the events. and what are your hopes for — around the events. and what are your hopes for the _ around the events. and what are your hopes for the incoming i your hopes for the incoming king and queen, what would you like them to achieve what you

like them to achieve what you like them to do? i like them to achieve what you like them to do?— like them to do? i think they takin: like them to do? i think they taking over _ like them to do? i think they taking over from _ like them to do? i think they taking over from dust - like them to do? i think they taking over from dust as i like them to do? i think they taking over from dust as it . taking overfrom dust as it will be a hard act to follow. the current queen is very respected, loved but also quite regal and perhaps not quite as approachable and down—to—earth as we are expecting the new king and queen to be, which is appropriate for changing times. so i think for us it is a way of ensuring that the monarch he remains relevant, that moderniser is, that it changes itself in line with the changing community —— moderniser. i think the queen as always has been very wise in how it may have been, there are health problems, but also she has probably read there is an opportunity as well to support her son now as he becomes king and mary becomes — as they become the king and queen together.

become the king and queen together-— together. just very briefly, this must _ together. just very briefly, this must mean _ together. just very briefly, this must mean so - together. just very briefly, this must mean so much i together. just very briefly, | this must mean so much to together. just very briefly, i this must mean so much to you as a dane in australia, very briefly. as a dane in australia, very briefl . ., , briefly. look, we have been very fortunate _ briefly. look, we have been very fortunate to _ briefly. look, we have been very fortunate to have i briefly. look, we have been very fortunate to have a i very fortunate to have a visitor to our church in sydney by the crown prince couple when they only just by the crown prince couple when they onlyjust married and since the crown prince has visited us as well... since the crown prince has visited us as well. . .- since the crown prince has visited us as well... thank you so much _ visited us as well... thank you so much for — visited us as well... thank you so much forjoining _ visited us as well... thank you so much forjoining us - visited us as well... thank you so much forjoining us on i visited us as well... thank you so much forjoining us on bbcl so much forjoining us on bbc news. such an exciting day. you are watching bbc news. hello. we've had some fairly chilly weather over the past few days, but things are about to get colder, as we're going to see a blast of arctic air moving in for the next couple of days. so a drop in temperature and some snow showers which will cause a bit of disruption, particularly in the north. so we've got a couple of weather fronts shifting their way south, opening the doors to these cold northerly winds, bringing us that arctic air. through the next few hours, already some snow showers working in across parts of shetland, mainland north of scotland. also seeing a little bit of snowfall, a few light rain showers, further south. but actually most of us are dry

and as the sun rises, i think, first thing, temperatures are going to be just about either side of freezing. so through the day on sunday then we've got the snow showers packing in across the north of scotland. it's also going to be really windy, particularly up towards the northern isles, where gusts could reach 70 miles an hour, so blizzard conditions there. further south, few spots of light rain, perhaps northern ireland, wales, into central southern england. but most places are going to be avoiding these showers and we'll see temperatures between about three to six degrees, but it'll feel cooler with the wind, especially in the north. now, heading on into monday, snow showers continue to pack in on that northerly breeze. they'll become more frequent across the northern half of scotland, but also for northern ireland, some snow possible here on monday and through some of these irish sea coasts, perhaps. pembrokeshire, one or two snow showers also possible for the likes of the north york moors towards norfolk as well. most of us, though, looking dry with some wintry sunshine. but look at those temperatures, just one to five on the thermometer. but when you add on those brisk northerly winds, it's really going to feel bitterly cold. feeling around about —5, —6 around some of those east coasts, for instance.

moving through into tuesday, and nowjust have a look at these showers just moving in for northern ireland, perhaps southern scotland, perhaps one or two into parts of northwest england and wales as well. there is the potential for a little bit more disruptive snow on tuesday, especially moving in towards the central belt, i think, later on in the day. so we're keeping an eye on the snow showers in the north, but further south and east, i think, you're going to be staying dry if cold again. so there's that area of low pressure bringing a bit of snow i think for some of us on tuesday. that clears away. this area of low pressure towards the south is most likely to be staying out across france, but if it does push further north into that colder air. across southern england, it could bring a bit of snow. either way, i think next week we're looking at a colder week, a fair amount of dry weather in the south, some snow showers mainly in the north and sharp overnight frosts. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: world leaders congratulate taiwan's president—elect william lai on his victory. china says he doesn't represent the island's majority opinion. officials in colombia say that at least 33 people, mostly children, have been killed by a landslide in the northwest of the country. 100 days after the hamas attacks, thousands of israelis have joined a protest in tel aviv

demanding the swift return of hostages. the head of the un's agency for palestinians has described the death and destruction since october 7 as a stain on our shared humanity. and the longest—serving monarch in europe, queen margrethe of denmark, will abdicates after 52 years on the throne. her eldest son, frederik, and his australian wife, mary, will be proclaimed king and queen later today. wonderful. now on bbc news, talking business. hello and welcome to talking business from las vegas with me, michelle fleury. let's take a look at what's coming up on the show. we're at the consumer electronics show, the world's biggest tech convention, to explore how the top trends are affecting the world of business. i'll be taking a look at farming and food security withjohn deere and getting behind the virtual wheel of an autonomous tractor over 1,000 miles away.