welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm steve lai. the headlines: the first—ever private spacecraft successfully lands on the moon's surface. the lander, nicknamed odysseus, touched down near the lunar south pole, where scientists hope there could be a source of water. but we are on the surface, and we are transmitting, and, ah, welcome to the moon. four people have died in a fire at a a residential building in the spanish city of valencia. president biden meets the wife and daughter of russian opposition leader alexei navalny ——as his mother says she's finally seen his body (sot the head of the us house china committee — mike gallagher — is in taiwan

to meet with the president — in a show of solidarity with the island. and — panda diplomacy is back: china announces plans to send a new pair of bears to san diego zoo later this year. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello, and a warm welcome to the programme. we begin in space: a us firm has successfully landed a private spacecraft on the moon for the first time since the apollo missions five decades ago. odysseus was built by intuitive machines in south texas. it touched down near the south pole of the moon, where scientists hope there could be a source of water. this is the moment contact was established with the lander and announced by the mission director. what by the mission director. what we can confirm, _ by the mission director. what we can confirm, without - by the mission director. what we can confirm, without a - we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on

the surface of the moon, and we are transmitting. so, congratulations, im team. we'll see how much more we can get from that. applause and here's what the company's ceo stephen altemus said after the landing. ifi if i could just pass on a few words to the tire team, and here at mission control — what an outstanding effort. i know this was a nail—biter, but we are on the surface, and we are transmitting. and, ah, welcome to the moon. with a bit more detail on the mission — our correspondent, rebecca morelle, has more on radio: im—i, odysseus lunar lander separation confirmed. it's a spacecraft that could make history as the first ever commercial lander to reach the lunar surface — marking a return to the moon for the united states. the mission is being run by a company called intuitive machines, but nasa is hitching a ride on the lander,

paying to carry six scientific instruments. it's a different way of operating for the us space agency. it's a legitimate question. why go back to the moon? we were there. well, we go back in a different way with commercial and international partners. we're having these landers almost become scouts for our human missions to land on the moon. it's been more than 50 years since the united states landed on the moon. the last time was in 1972, and this is where apollo 17 set down. before that, there were five other apollo missions that made it down to the lunar surface, and they were all around the moon's equator. but now, the united states is heading down to the south pole, and this is the landing site of the new intuitive machines mission. it's the furthest south a spacecraft has ever been, and it's paving the way

for nasa's artemis astronauts who will be exploring this same polar region in a few years' time. so, why go here? the area is covered in deep craters, some permanently in shadow, and scientists think frozen water could be inside. if we can actually take advantage of that ice on the surface of the moon, that's less materials we have to bring with us. we can use that ice to convert it to water, drinkable drinking water. we can extract oxygen and hydrogen for fuel and for breathing for the astronauts, so it really helps us in human exploration. i'm joined now by ron garan, former astronaut, author of the book floating in darkness, and ceo of lunar lander company ispace technologies—us. he shared his thoughts on the landing, and the significance of future space exploration. yeah, it's tremendous! just think about it right now, as we sit here on the earth — there's a spacecraft on the moon transmitting back to earth that

was built by a commercial company — not a national government space agency. this is an incredibly historic event. ~ �* ., , event. we weren't able to see the actual _ event. we weren't able to see the actual moment _ event. we weren't able to see the actual moment of - event. we weren't able to see the actual moment of the - the actual moment of the landing — pictures coming to us were of the control room. why do you think that was?- do you think that was? um, well, there's _ do you think that was? um, well, there's a _ do you think that was? um, well, there's a lot _ do you think that was? um, well, there's a lot of - well, there's a lot of bandwidth that's associated with transmitting video back, and this is an autonomous landing at this point, and so there's not a lot to spare. fik. there's not a lot to spare. 0k. hepefully _ there's not a lot to spare. 0k. hepefully we _ there's not a lot to spare. 0k. hopefully we will _ there's not a lot to spare. 0k. hopefully we will get - there's not a lot to spare. ok. hopefully we will get some images if they get sent back to us at a later date. you spent your space career with nasa. what do you think of private companies being involved in the space race? i companies being involved in the space race?— space race? i think it's absolutely _ space race? i think it's absolutely critical. - space race? i think it's absolutely critical. i. space race? i think it's i absolutely critical. i don't think that nasa will be able to achieve its objectives without deep partnerships with the commercial industry. and i think it's an enabling technology. it's an enabling system that is a force

multiplier.— system that is a force multilier. ., ., ., multiplier. could you elaborate on that - a _ multiplier. could you elaborate on that - a "force _ multiplier. could you elaborate on that - a "force multiplier"? | on that — a "force multiplier"? yeah — because, you know, when you do a government mission, you're limited by the finances of the taxpayers. but on this mission — which is orders of magnitude cheaper than a traditional government—sponsored mission — you can achieve so much more. more bang for your buck, i suppose, if you want to put it that way. suppose, if you want to put it that way-— suppose, if you want to put it that way.- nasa's - that way. exactly. nasa's artemis— that way. exactly. nasa's artemis programme - that way. exactly. nasa's| artemis programme looks that way. exactly. nasa's - artemis programme looks to send manned missions to the moon. that must excite you?- that must excite you? yeah, these are — that must excite you? yeah, these are the _ that must excite you? yeah, these are the enabling - that must excite you? yeah, these are the enabling steps| that must excite you? yeah, i these are the enabling steps to enable a permanent, significant human presence on the moon. and this will bring back tremendous benefits to all the inhabitants of the earth.— benefits to all the inhabitants of the earth. could you talk us throu:h of the earth. could you talk us through some _ of the earth. could you talk us through some of _ of the earth. could you talk us through some of those - of the earth. could you talk us i through some of those benefits? yeah — i mean, there's tonnes of science we could do on the moon. there's radio astronomy. there's resources that exist on the moon. there's power on the

moon that could power our civilisation for centuries. the list goes on and on.- civilisation for centuries. the list goes on and on. lots more on this historic _ list goes on and on. lots more on this historic moon - list goes on and on. lots more on this historic moon mission l on this historic moon mission on this historic moon mission on our website — bbc.com — including moments when communication was lost with the lander device just before it landed on the moon's surface. at least four people have died after a fire engulfed a high—rise residential building in the spanish city of valencia. a number of other people, including some firefighters, have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation. some people have been rescued, but the full impact of the fire is not yet known. the 15—year—old building has ilt storeys. a field hospital has been set up nearby. from madrid, guy hedgecoe reports. sirens. firefighters in valencia were first alerted at around 5:30 in the afternoon after a blaze broke out on one of the building's lower floors. it quickly spread, with eyewitnesses saying it engulfed the entire ilt—storey building in a matter of minutes. firefighters made some

dramatic rescues — in this case, two people were brought down from a balcony. applause. others waited on balconies for firefighters to arrive. translation: i told my daughter and mother-in-law to leave. - other people stayed inside. the residential block, which is situated in the campanar neighbourhood of valencia, contains around 140 flats. strong winds fanned the flames and the fire also spread to an adjoining building. more than 20 crews have been fighting the blaze, with some military personnel mobilised. there are fears for those who may have been trapped inside the building. a makeshift hospital was set up

nearby to take on people who had been injured. with confusion surrounding the scene, local authorities set up a helpline for those worried about loved ones. the people of valencia are wondering how such a devastating blaze could have started, and spread so fast. guy hedgecoe, bbc news, spain. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines: palestinians in rafah say they've experienced some of the most intense israeli bombardment so far in gaza's southernmost city. another 97 people were killed over the past 2a hours, according to the hamas—run gaza health ministry. israel says it will send negotiators to paris for talks on a potential deal to free hostages held by hamas. the meeting will also involve officials from egypt, qatar and the united states. the us middle east envoy brett mcgurk, who was here in israel today, is understood to have told mr netanyahu that hamas' position has softened.

we do not know the extent or the details of that softening, but clearly the government heard enough softening, but clearly the government heard enough today to think that it is worth sending the massad boss today to think that it is worth sending the mossad boss and other top security chiefs to paris for those talks. the un agency for palestinian refugees is warning it has reached breaking point in a letter to the un general assembly. unrwa's chief, philippe lazzarini, says the agency's ability to fulfil its mandate was seriously threatened by israel's repeated calls to dismantle the agency and the freezing of funds from donors at a time of unprecedented humanitarian needs in gaza. the mother of the russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, has finally been allowed to see his body almost a week after he died. the 47—year—old was being held in a remote penal colony in siberia. his death certificate says he died of natural causes. navalny�*s mother has accused the russian authorities of trying to blackmail her

into a secret burial with no mourners. our security correspondent frank gardner reports. alexei navalny, president putin's fiercest critic, dead for nearly a week. only now has his mother been given access to her son's body. she's been forced to sign a certificate saying he died of natural causes. translation: according | to the law they should have have given me his body immediately. but they didn't. instead, they blackmail me. they put conditions where, when and how alexei should be buried. this is illegal. they receive orders either from the kremlin or from the central office of the investigative committee. navalny died in highly suspicious circumstances in this grim arctic penal colony known as polar wolf. he was only a7. his family and supporters believe he was murdered on orders from the kremlin, possibly with a novichok nerve agent. russia denies it.

his mother has already spent days up in the arctic trying to get access to her son's body. the delays and official statements are adding to suspicions of a cover—up. it appears the kremlin does not want navalny�*s body to leave russia for forensic testing. his mother is under pressure to agree to a secret funeral. translation: i'm recording this video because they started - threatening me, looking me in the eye. the investigator says that if i don't agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my son's body, the investigator openly told me, "time is not working for you. the corpses decompose." i don't want special conditions. ijust want everything to be done according to the law. i demand receiving my son's body immediately. the kremlin is calling western reaction to navalny�*s death hysterical. but he was considered by many the best hope for a better future for russia. his enemies clearly wanted him gone. frank gardner, bbc news.

on saturday, it will be two years since president putin ordered his troops to invade ukraine. both sides have sustained terrible losses — russia has lost around 110,000 people, according to the latest bbc estimates. our russia editor, steve rosenberg, reports on the many changes russia has gone through since the war in ukraine began. bell tolls they are two years that have changed russia and set the country on a darker path. two years of war and heavy casualties, mobilisation and mutiny, and repression — alexei navalny, dead in prison. (fanfare) but the president is looking confident. vladimir putin senses the tide may be turning in his favour. but what is his goal? he wants the world to live on his own terms.

i don't think that he wants some kind of a takeover of poland or the baltic states or western europe. he needs ukraine, but this is not enough for him. what is enough for him? this world must accept his rules, must accept his vision of the world. how things have changed. there was a time when russia and the west were talking about cooperation, partnership. the putin i met with, did good business with, established the nato—russia council with, is very, very different from this almost megalomaniac at the present moment. so the man who stood beside me in may of 2002, right beside me, and said, "ukraine is a sovereign, independent nation state, "which will make its own decisions about security,"

is now the man who says that it is not a nation—state, and it has got to be wiped off the face of the earth. vladimir putin once said to me at a press conference that russia was squeaky clean. nothing's changed. the kremlin continues to claim that none of what's happening today is russia's fault, that it was the west that started this war. but two years ago, it wasn't the west that invaded ukraine. that was russia. and how does the russian public see things? this is the town of sonic nagorski, sunny hills near moscow. the last two years of russia's history. it's all here in the park. the invasion of ukraine. these russian soldiers were killed there. they're portrayed as heroes. graffiti for the varna paramilitary group. and flowers. just a few in memory of alexei navalny. for the residents of sunny hills, in two years, life has changed.

"our factories are making things now that we used to buy "abroad, and that's good," lydia says. "but i'm sad for the young men, "for everyone who've been killed." marina praises russian soldiers in ukraine, and admits she lives in fear her own son may be called up to fight. "we need peace," she says, "so that we don't have to fear what tomorrow will bring." and these two years have changed the war memorial on the town square. there's a whole new section — dozens of names of local men killed in what the kremlin still calls a special operation, not a war. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news - bringing _ uk, this is bbc news. bbc news - bringing you — uk, this is bbc news. bbc news - bringing you different - — bringing you different stories from across the uk.

with wide open space and expansive views, this valley in sheffield could be a popular place to live. but the estate, which was built about 60 years ago, is becoming dilapidated while it waits for a £97 million face—lift. the refurbishment was first planned in 2017. ~ �* ., , , ., in 2017. we're now present at 2024, and — in 2017. we're now present at 2024, and nothing _ in 2017. we're now present at 2024, and nothing has - in 2017. we're now present at. 2024, and nothing has happened — not a single spade has hit the ground. very frustrated. frustrated for the people living on the estate. under the lans, living on the estate. under the plans. blocks _ living on the estate. under the plans, blocks of _ living on the estate. under the plans, blocks of mazents - living on the estate. under the plans, blocks of mazents like l plans, blocks of mazents like this one were to be knocked down and replaced, and other homes were to be completely transformed. sheffield city council says it took five years to consult on and draw up the master plan because of covid and administration change — however, work will start next month to demolish a former care home. ., ., , ., , ., home. for more stories from across the — home. for more stories from across the uk, _ home. for more stories from across the uk, head - home. for more stories from across the uk, head to - home. for more stories from across the uk, head to the i home. for more stories from i across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

you're live with bbc news. to taiwan now: the head of the us house china committee — mike gallagher — is in taiwan to meet with the president — in a show of solidarity with the island. congressman mike gallagher is the head of the us—china committee, and the latest american representative to visit taiwan in a series of visits to display solidarity. the us have labelled these trips as expressions of support for the territory, and their "shared commitment to democratic values". but in china, many are seeing these visits as a provocation. we're joined now we'rejoined now for we're joined now for more from taipei. elaborate for us, if you can, why the us law—makers are in taiwan this time. i think this is meant to be a very arduous visual aid to drive home the message that us—taiwan ties remain very strong, and that is especially useful at this juncture when there will be a change of leadership in taiwan, that there will be a new president of taiwan in about three

months' time, and also this happened at a time when they are beginning to surface concerns bautista the upcoming us elections at the end of the year, and therefore possibly also a change of leadership in the us as well. should there be a change of leadership, perhaps that will bring different ways of diplomacy, and maybe that will potentially lead to changes in terms of strength for taiwan as well. that is why this delegation is also a bipartisan one that has both democratic and republican congressmen on it to drive home this message that they support us—taiwan, and that won't change, regardless of who is in power in washington. haifa change, regardless of who is in power in washington.— power in washington. how is this being — power in washington. how is this being viewed _ power in washington. how is this being viewed in - power in washington. how is this being viewed in china, i this being viewed in china, then? they've already voiced their displeasure about these visits in the past. do you think more actions or military activities may take place in the taiwan strait?- activities may take place in the taiwan strait? bei'ing is not going i the taiwan strait? bei'ing is not going to i the taiwan strait? bei'ing is not going to like h the taiwan strait? bei'ing is not going to like it _ the taiwan strait? beijing is not going to like it either. not going to like it either way. any time beijing sees

anything that resembles official—to—official interaction between taiwan and any otherforeign interaction between taiwan and any other foreign governments, beijing is going to criticise it, they are going to find ways to register their displeasure, and as a way to deter other future interactions between taiwan and others. so, some potential sanctions may be forcoming, potentially. that could come in the forms of additional economic sanctions against some of taiwan's agricultural products that are going into china. that could come in the form of more sanctions against —— targeted sanctions against —— targeted sanctions against —— targeted sanctions against specific individuals who may have played a role in organising this visit. i think we're expecting it. but at the same time, these kind of us—taiwan parliamentary visits happen just about once every other month or so, by this point. and we're talking about the ones that are known in public — there will be other ones that maybe are not so

public. so at this point, beijing will be unhappy, but taiwan society is sort of tuning out a little bit as well, in terms of beijing's negative responses. just well, in terms of bei'ing's negative responses. just to elaborate _ negative responses. just to elaborate on _ negative responses. just to elaborate on that _ negative responses. just to elaborate on that last - negative responses. just to elaborate on that last point you made — the people in taiwan, how do they see these visits? they largely happen without any reaction? 50. visits? they largely happen without any reaction?- without any reaction? so, i think people _ without any reaction? so, i think people in _ without any reaction? so, i think people in taiwan, - without any reaction? so, i think people in taiwan, on| without any reaction? so, i i think people in taiwan, on the whole, do like to see and feel themselves feeling visible on themselves feeling visible on the international stage. of course, for the longest time, they always feel they are a bit of an orphan in international society, so whenever there is attention being paid to them — especially signs of high—level support from foreign governments — it's usually seen as a good thing, and therefore comes as a significant boost to local morale as well. and again, as to beijing, i think taiwan society at this point feel like beijing's going to be unhappy either way, so it may

as well do at this juncture. especially if there's a change of leadership happening in about three months anyway. so whatever negative reaction from beijing at this juncture may be temporary and may be reset after may, when there'll be new leadership. so in that sense, may as well do it now — that's the sentiment in taiwan. fik. the sentiment in taiwan. 0k. we'll have — the sentiment in taiwan. 0k. we'll have to _ the sentiment in taiwan. 0k. we'll have to leave _ the sentiment in taiwan. 0k. we'll have to leave it - the sentiment in taiwan. 0k. we'll have to leave it there. thank you so much for your expertise today, and for speaking to me, as always, fraught atlantic council's global china hub. china is set to send two pandas to san diego zoo this year in a return of so—called "panda diplomacy". the gesture is renewing the country's longstanding relationship with the conservation group and friendship towards the us. nearly all the bears on loan to zoos in america were returned as relations began to sour between the two nations. the china wildlife conservation association says it has also reached agreements with the madrid zoo in spain and is in talks with other zoos in both washington and vienna.

greg vicino is vice—president of wildlife care at san diego zoo, and explained to me the significance of the announcement. pretty exciting! getting back into the panda conservation world — it's a space that we occupied for about 20 years from the mid—�*90s to 2018, and it was really fruitful when it comes to, you know, actual conservation outcomes, and us putting together some really great collaborations with our colleagues in china in terms of research about reproductive biology, habitat use, anthropogenic impacts on the habitat that pandas live in. so it's pretty exciting to get back into that space and partner up with some former colleagues and really start to move that momentum again towards a really positive outcome for the conservation of that species. outcome for the conservation of that species-— that species. and when will these bears _ that species. and when will these bears arrive, - that species. and when will these bears arrive, and - that species. and when will. these bears arrive, and what has to be done before a date can be fixed?— can be fixed? yeah, so i obviously _ can be fixed? yeah, so i obviously can't - can be fixed? yeah, so i obviously can't commit l can be fixed? yeah, so i. obviously can't commit to a date yet — we don't know anything about that. but one of the things that we take very seriously when it comes to any sort of conservation initiatives like this that

involve, you know, multiple countries and all that is there are plenty of federal regulations, plenty of international laws, but how you do this in the most appropriate way, in the best possible way — not only for the outcomes for the individual animals, but so that you're having a positive impact on conservation of the species. so we have our own fish and wildlife department in the united states that's going to scrutinise over the permit hopefully very thoroughly. we work very closely with them to make sure we check all the boxes, meeting all the requirements, and making sure that we do the absolute best that we do the absolute best that we do the absolute best that we can for the bears and the conservation of the bears in the wild. and of course, our chinese counterparts have to do the same. so, that process has just started now. we've got the agreement in place, and now we need to start on the actual legal framework and the permitting process to make sure that we're doing this in the best possible interest of that conservation mission. tell! best possible interest of that conservation mission. tell us a bit about san _ conservation mission. tell us a bit about san diego _ conservation mission. tell us a bit about san diego zoo - conservation mission. tell us a bit about san diego zoo and i bit about san diego zoo and why, perhaps, it's going to be the destination of these pandas? what's your track record for panda conservation? you know, it's not bad. i'll be

honest — between 1996 and 2018, we had five offspring born to the pair of pandas that were living there, and the vast majority of those were born through natural reproduction as opposed to artificial insemination, which is kind of a breakthrough in terms of having that level of reproductive success outside of china — it wasn't really heard of. that was a big deal. then just recently, ijust went through all of the citations of all of the literature, all of the peer—reviewed literature, and all the contributions that our chinese count parts and our research team — all of the contributions they made to the scientific literature just about those points we spoke about those points we spoke about with regards to the research we were able to conduct with the bears there. so it was a pretty big impact, you know? we were on site, we were part of that bigger picture, that bigger programme, that of course covered all over the world of trying to have an impact on the status of those bears, and it went from endangered to threatened over

the course of that time. of course, we didn't do that alone, but these partnerships are essential to getting that done. i, �* , are essential to getting that done. i, v e, are essential to getting that done. . �*, . ., are essential to getting that done. . �*, ., ., ., done. that's all for now. do stay with — done. that's all for now. do stay with bbc _ done. that's all for now. do stay with bbc news. - hello there. it's been a pretty wet but mild february. however, thursday saw a change with this weather front, bringing some heavy rain for a time, then as it pushed its way steadily east, northwesterly wind direction kicked in and that had quite a dramatic impact to the feel of the weather wednesday afternoon. temperatures above the average mid—teens quite widely. by thursday, they were half that value and just below where they should be for this time of year. that's also translated into a pretty chilly start to friday morning. low single figures for many, and we haven't seen temperature values like that for quite some time. so certainly a shock to the system. but it will also be accompanied by hopefully some sunshine through central and eastern england and eastern scotland.

there will be some showers out to the west with that brisk northwesterly wind and some of these will feed further inland as the day continues. wintry to higher ground. but a cool story again, seven to nine degrees. this is where the temperatures should be really for this time of year. now, as we go through friday evening, some of those showers will tend to fade away and under clearing skies, those temperatures will fall even further. so saturday morning is going to be a cold start with a frost likely in rural parts as temperatures fall below freezing. so, yes, a cold start, but again, this quiet theme is set to continue. a good deal of fine weather, a few coastal showers in scotland, the risk of some showers moving through south wales and southern england for a time. but on the whole, most of us seeing some dry, sunny weather. and again, those temperatures just about scraping into double figures, if we're lucky. but for most of us, generally, between seven and nine degrees. slight problem on sunday with this area of low pressure

in the fronts. now, there is the potential for that to just be a little bit further north, and if that happens, the rain could be further north. so we'll need to keep firming up on those details. but at the moment, it looks likely just to affect southwest england and the channels and maybe just fringing with the channel coast for a time. more cloud across southern england, but elsewhere, largely fine and quiet. and again, temperatures between seven and nine degrees. now, that quieter theme is going to continue monday into tuesday. but as we move through the middle part of the week, the risk is it's turning increasingly wetter. but also the milder weather is set to return as well.

wall street sees a record day as nvidia rallies on. stock valuejumping $250 billion in one day. and if you are planning a summer holiday in europe be ready to fork out cash as fuel prices are ready to room main elevated making travel even more expensive. hello and welcome. to the us where we begin with markets rallying around nvidia's earning reports. the company has been driving games is one

of the leading tech stocks and valuable companies on wall street