i'm sharanjit leyl in singapore. the headlines: a young saudi woman fleeing to australia is stranded at bangkok airport, where she says her passport has been seized. she tells the bbc she can't go back home. i don't have work in saudi arabia, and myfamily i don't have work in saudi arabia, and my family treat me so bad. they will kill me. as the government shutdown in the us continues into its third week, president trump says he has little expectation of a breakthrough in the latest talks. i'm kasia madera in london. also in the programme: amid a continuing tit—for—tat on tariffs, china and the us prepare to hold trade talks in beijing this week. and the hollywood award season kicks off with the golden globes. we speak to one of the producers of crazy rich asians, who is hoping for a gong. good morning.

it is 8:00am in singapore and 7:00am in bangkok, where time is running out for rahaf al-qunun. the saudi woman says she is due to be put on a plane back to kuwait in a couple of hours‘ time and returned to herfamily, who she believes will kill her for renouncing islam. 18—year—old ra haf al-qunun was on a day trip to kuwait with relatives when she fled two days ago. arriving at bangkok airport, while in transit for a flight to australia, she says her passport was seized by saudi embassy officials when she got off the plane. she has been speaking to the bbc from her hotel room at bangkok airport. when i came, someone said to me that

we will have the details. then he took my passport, and then he came took my passport, and then he came to me with five or six people. i think they are police. and they told me my father wants me to go back to saudi arabia, and he is so angry. i don't have rights in saudi arabia, and myfamily don't have rights in saudi arabia, and my family treat me so bad. so you are scared to go back with your family? yes, they will kill me. rahaf al-qunun speaking to jamie coomarasamy earlier today. just a short time ago i spoke with phil robertson, the deputy asia director of human rights watch in bangkok. he has been in close contact with rahaf al-qunun. she is very scared. she really is

counting down the hours, trying to think of what she can do next. you know, she has not been allowed access to a lawyer. she has people guarding her room, so she can't go out. it's a very, very fraught situation for her, and she's fearing the worst. she fears she is going to be sent to her death. can you explain what the situation is, then? chrissie had a visit to get to australia, so why is she being held in thailand? what is your understanding? well, what happened was as she got off the plane, an official from the was as she got off the plane, an officialfrom the saudi was as she got off the plane, an official from the saudi embassy was there and they essentially seized her passport. and now they have manufactured some game with the thai government that she applied for and didn't have the proper documents for a tie these are on arrival, so that she needs be sent back to kuwait. you know, this is saudi arabia and thailand playing games to send an 18—year—old back into harm's way. it is outrageous. she deserves to be

allowed to see the un refugee agency and ask for asylum, and you know, if this proceeds in the next few hours, both saudi arabia and thailand may have her blood on their hands. she is suggesting that she may be killed by herfamily. is suggesting that she may be killed by her family. what's your understanding of her situation? she strongly believe that. she has been consistently saying that she will suffer grievous harm, and what we've seenin suffer grievous harm, and what we've seen in the past is that honour related violence against women in saudi arabia who embarrass their families is severe, and it is hardly ever investigated or prosecuted. the fa ct ever investigated or prosecuted. the fact that her father is a government official also makes it even less likely that there would be any investigation if he does something to her. so they have impunity to abuse these women, and in this case, we are very worried that they will. now, i know that human rights watch has been monitoring other situations like this. but she is travelling

against saudi... against the saudi law. she does need the permission of a male member of the family. well, that law is a human rights abomination. it should be abolished. it's unbelievable that, in this and age, there is such a law that exists like that. she is 18 years old, she had a valid passport, she had a valid these are. why can't you triple where she wants to go? the age of adulthood and international system, in the un system, is 18 —— visa. so she should have never been interfered with in the first place, she should have been allowed to go to australia as she wanted. we have just had a statement from the saudi embassy in bangkok, and it says that she is being held by bangkok airport authorities because she didn't have a return ticket, and they add that she is due to be deported today to kuwait, where most of the family lives, it also adds

that the saudi embassy doesn't have the authority to suspend her at the airport or elsewhere and that she has her passport, something that ra haf has has her passport, something that rahaf has said she doesn't have any more. the statement adds that saudi authorities are in touch with her father. so of course, we are continuing to monitor that. she is due to be escorted back to... back to kuwait in the next few hours, so of course we will continue to monitor that for you. let's take a look at some of the day's other news: the partial shutdown of the us government is entering its third week, but president trump says he thinks a deal can be made with democrats to bring it to an end. he said vice president mike pence had a productive meeting with the democrats a short time ago, and says he is now planning a steel barrier rather than concrete for the border wall, as a compromise with democrats, who refuse to fund the project. but our correspondent david willis in washington says the proposed changes might not be enough. it does seem to be a feeling, doesn't that, on the part of the

trump administration, that finessing the wording or in this case the building materials will somehow change the democrats' mind, and they will suddenly fall into line and grant the $5.6 billion or whatever it is that president trump wants to build his border wall. at the moment, the tangible effects of this are not as apparent as they might be, perhaps, two or three weeks down the line. we are seeing museums here in washington, dc closed, we are seeing rubbish piling up in national parks, and outside the white house, even. but it will start to really hit home, i think, later in the week, when those first pay cheques that were due to go out perhaps don't. congress doesn't reconvene until tuesday, so there is not going to be any breakthrough, it would seem, until then, at the very earliest. we are in the third week of this shutdown, of course, at the

moment, and if it extends to the end of this week, it will become the longest government shutdown in us history. also making news today: more than 30 people have been killed in a landslide in north—eastern afghanistan. local officials said villagers were searching for gold in a deep ditch in the river bed when the walls caved in. president donald trump says negotiations are underway on the location of the next summit with north korean leader kim jong—un. donald trump held a historic summit with kim in singapore injune. he said earlier in the week he had received a great letter from the north korean leader, but declined to reveal its contents. it has been revealed that england's record goalscorer, wayne rooney, was arrested and fined in the united states last month for public intoxication and swearing. the former manchester united player, who now plays for the american side dc united, was arrested at dulles international airport after returning from a trip to saudi arabia. ajapanese schoolgirl is set

to become the youngest professional player of the board game go. sumire nakamura will be ten when she plays the game on i april. she began playing the complicated strategy game at the age of three, and says she wants to win a title by the time she gets to high school. china and the united states are set to hold trade talks in beijing this week, amid their continuing tit—for—tat on tariffs. these are the first face—to—face talks since donald trump and china's president, xijinping, agreed last month to a 90—day truce. here is president trump a little earlier. i really believe they want to make a deal, the tariffs have absolutely hit china very badly, but our country is... they have given a lot of money through tariffs, a lot of

money. a lot of tariffs, steel dumping tariffs than others. but i think china wants to get a result. her economy's not doing well, they are down close to 38%. that's a lot. and i think that gives them a great incentive to negotiate. the 76th golden globes awards get underway in los angeles shortly. leading the nominations this year is vice, a satirical biopic of former us vice president dick cheney, and a star is born, which stars lady gaga and bradley cooper. 0ur correspondent peter bowes is in los angeles. looking very much the part, just ahead of these awards ceremonies. it is such... lots of really interesting films this year. what are we looking out for, predominantly? well, we are looking at vice, as you say. this is the frontrunner. it has six nominations, the story of dick cheney, the former us vice. christian bale really

transforms himself to take on that character, and does it incredibly well. so i think the very fact that it has the most nominations, a lot of people are talking about this film, i think clearly puts it in pole position. perhaps of more interest to americans than a global audience. nevertheless, critics have really applauded this film, and i think it's in with a really good chance in the best comedy category. however, it has some very strong competition, and i would look at green book. rigor mortis and mahershala ali go on a tour in the american deep south during the times of segregation, and these two characters bond, and an unusual friendship. then again, a lot of people, certainly the critics, really going for this film, saying that green book, it is based on a true story. some people have said that it deserves some criticism for

not adhering precisely to what happened, but then of course, it is just inspired by true events, and it isa just inspired by true events, and it is a hollywood interpretation. so green book is one to look for, and, well, crazy rich asians, i know you are going to be talking about it much more, a huge box office hit last year, putting singapore on the map in terms of filmmaking. it is also nominated in this top category of best comedies. and lots of brits, as well, nominated. well, yes. lots of brits, as ever, and brits are seen as of brits, as ever, and brits are seen as hollywood royalty in so many respects. and i willjust tell you about a star is born, first of all, because that is the key film that eve ryo ne because that is the key film that everyone is watching four, a remake of that 1937 film, bradley cooper and lady gaga starring in that film. and lady gaga especially has really been acclaimed for the way that she... 0f been acclaimed for the way that she... of course she sings her way through this film, but it is really gritty acting as well that we see

from lady gaga. if you are talking about the brits, rami malik, who stars in bohemian rhapsody, he is hotly tipped for that role. it is certainly one of my favourite films of the year. i think you may be have to have lived through that period, —— euro, the time of live aid, so important for queen and that character, and he is hotly tipped for playing freddy mercury. as always, thank you. you are watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: answering her calling — the woman who taught herself to become the first midwife in a remote area in the himalayas. also on the programme: as the red carpet is unrolled in hollywood for the golden globes, we talk to one of the producers of crazy rich asians, hoping for a gong. the japanese people are in mourning following the death of emperor

hirohito. thousands converged on the imperial palace to pay their respects when it was announced he was dead. "good grief." after half a century of delighting fans around the world, charlie brown and the rest of the gang are calling it quits. the singer paul simon starts his tour of south africa tomorrow, in spite of protests and violence from some black activist groups. they say international artists should continue to boycott south africa until majority rule is established. teams were trying to scoop up lumps of oil as france recognises it faces an ecological crisis. three weeks ago, the authorities confidently assured these areas that oil from the broken tanker erika would head out to sea. it didn't. the world's tallest skyscraper opens today. the burj dubai has easily overtaken its nearest rivals. this is newsday on the bbc.

thanks for staying with us. i'm sharanjit leyl in singapore. i'm kasia madera in london. our top stories. a young saudi woman fleeing to australia is stranded at bangkok airport after she says her passport was seized. she says she fears for her life if she's forced home. further talks are being held to try to end the us government shutdown, led by the vice—president, mike pence. mr trump said he had little expectation of a breakthrough. let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. the japan times leads on ousted nissan boss carlos ghosn. he has refused to sign a confession in return for being released from custody. the former nissan chief is due

to appear in ajapanese court on tuesday. the south china morning post has a story about hong kong's weather. people there could enjoy a less polluted winter because of the el nino weather effect. malaysia's king abdicating is on the front page of the straits times. the national palace said that sultan muhammad v had resigned amid intense speculation about his private life. that brings you up with some of the papers. many thanks. thousands of cambodian survivors of the khmer rouge are marking a0 years since the fall of the brutal regime that killed an estimated 1.7 million people. let's speak to our correspondent nga pham in siem reap in northwestern cambodia. events a re events are taking place across the whole of the country. yes. today it

isa whole of the country. yes. today it is a national public holiday in cambodia. and people here mark the day as the anniversary of the end of the genocide, the fall of the khmer rouge, that killed almost 1.7 million people during the short four year period that the khmer rouge was ruling. so today i am in siem reap, where a landmine museum is going to reopen. what a fitting event for the commemoration. and also in phnom penn there will be important events to commemorate the khmer rouge. the event starting with a blessing ceremony and there will be a speech by the prime minister, where he will talk about the importance of the fall of the khmer rouge. he will be paying tribute to the victims of the

regime and give credit to his ruling party be cpp, that has been governing cambodia since 1979. you have got to remember that 60% of the cambodian population is under 30. i spoke to lots of them and most of them don't have a marked memory about the period, but they of course have heard from their parents and other generations about the brutality of the regime and everyone was saying how good that the regime has terminated. now, nga pham, on the anniversary, thank you very much. in pakistan, less than half of women have access to a midwife. in the country's remote himalayan area, many give birth without any help at all, but one woman decided to step in to fill the gap — she's taught herself to be the first midwife in her area.

this is her story. what a great story. more on what at madeira was talking to peter bowes about earlier, the red corporate —— carpet being rolled out for the golden globes —— kasia madera. 0ne film set right here in singapore, crazy rich asians, has been nominated for two awards — for best comedy or musical, and best actress for its star, constance wu. with a majority—asian cast, it represents a major triumph for a community which has struggled to get meaningful parts in hollywood. i've been speaking to freddie yeo — one of the producers of the film. allan dell, is nicky bringing a girl to column's wedding? eddie says her name is rachel chu. i thought that he was coming alone. did you know that he had a girlfriend? he gets many girls. it is hard to keep

track. amanda knows everyone and she has never heard of her. perhaps she is from the plastics family? do you know, i think nobody expected it. but i think with the director and the producers, we knew we had something special. but it is a fingers crossed this team —— situation to see how it will be accepted. you have got really quite strong contenders you're up against. so what are your chances? you know, i was take the humble pie approach, not for a lack of ambition, the fact that he got nominated, you know, i think has made such a huge impression, globally, which is fantastic. what is really crucial is that this film has done so much for minority representation in hollywood and, of course, it is not the only one. we have black panther as well which has been nominated in a different category. having two films

with such a diverse cast, of course, comes with such a diverse cast, of course, co m es after with such a diverse cast, of course, comes after years with such a diverse cast, of course, comes after yea rs of with such a diverse cast, of course, comes after years of hollywood being accused of whitewashing, essentially using white caucasian actors to play asian and other roles. so how groundbreaking is this that this eu have two films, and will this change hollywood going forward? have two films, and will this change hollywood going forward ?|j have two films, and will this change hollywood going forward? i think it is amazing. i think the timing of it has been perfect. 0bviously minority representation has been high on the agenda and they feel like that, you know, where it is not a comfy series, where typically, you know, asian actors, they had always been featured as comfort actors. this is a romantic comedy. will it change hollywood? i a romantic comedy. will it change hollywood ? i think a romantic comedy. will it change hollywood? i think every day it will make people sit up will stop more confident moving forward. what has it done for singapore's film industry? there is a burgeoning film industry? there is a burgeoning film industry in this region, but

singapore isjust industry in this region, but singapore is just getting started in this. you've come from a studio that is really only been open in the past two years. will it mean morejobs in the industry? i think it has been fantastic, the support, free hollywood film have come through in the last six years. with the support of the hollywood film who want to make singapore a potential destination. i think crazy rich asians was the perfect film that highlighted the best of singapore, really. we have taken you away from the viewing party of the golden globes, they are about to get started, and you want to go back and celebrate if the film wins. what do you think about the other films and he was busy in general? what are you expecting? i think it is a diverse array of films. the films we are up against, for best film in the musical and comedy, where up against mary poppins and a few other films, even for constance, up against some very stellar people, shyly sarong, people like that. i think it has

been fantastic. really good company for freddie yeo, one of for crazy rich asians. some strong contenders. we'll bring you up to date with every twist and turn. you have been watching newsday. i'm kasia madera in london. and i'm sharanjit leyl in singapore. stay with us. as well is the golden globes you have got the ces tradeshow coming up, it is powering up in las vegas. many of the biggest names in tech are there. we will be previewing some of the best and worst in gadgets. it sounds fabulous. see you shortly. goodbye from both of us. hello there. it is fair to say that the weather has been very dull over the weather has been very dull over the past few days. all that is about to change. we have more energy coming in from the atlantic, a deep area of low pressure rushing to the

north of scotland, that is beginning to pick up the winds for northern areas. to the south, high pressure, brea ks areas. to the south, high pressure, breaks in the cloud means a chilly start. maybe some fleeting sunshine. rain is moving southwards across scotland, northern ireland commented north—west england and north wales. behind its u4 northern ireland in the afternoon, scotland, where from the afternoon, scotland, where from the north and north—west where it is wet again, and the winds continue to howl. richard diomande, widely11— 12 degrees. that is not the story. it will be a windy day. gales across scotland, gusts of 70 mph or more in northern scotland, that could lead to travel disruption. the real strength of the wind comes around the back of active area of low pressure, it stays very windy during the evening, the first part of the night, and then the low russia the way toward southern scandinavia and ta kes way toward southern scandinavia and takes away the worst of the winds with it as well. —— brushes away. it changes would you say, more of or north—westerly wind. that means it will be colder. there is more sunshine on the way. most places on

tuesday will be dry with sunny spells. we will see showers coming in to north—eastern scotland, running down these north sea coasts into east anglia, where the winds could be touching gale force for a while. lighter winds for the worst. temperatures back into single figures for most areas. it gets chilly overnight where we have the clearer skies in this central slice of the uk. a touch of frost early wednesday. cloud keeps the temperatures up for is in parts of england. it will feel cold in the wind, one of two showers on wednesday. 0ut wind, one of two showers on wednesday. out to the west a gradual encroachment of airfrom wednesday. out to the west a gradual encroachment of air from the atlantic. that means cloudier skies. thickening cloud to bring rain and drizzle into northern ireland, late into western scotland. temperatures 4-5d. into western scotland. temperatures li—5d. probably because they of the week. maybe a frosty start to the midlands, to the south—west of england, some sunshine for a while. you can see how the cloud is just spilling in on that north—westerly breeze. we are bringing in some other air. temperatures of 9— 10 degrees in scotland and northern ireland. we are back to high

pressure again later on in the week and with that sort of position we are pulling in airfrom the atlantic. it means a loss of cloud but temperatures will be a little bit higher as well. —— lot. it will be breezy as well. some of the week, a windy start, cold air putting in midweek with more sunshine, then it cloud so belated, breezy, but also milder —— clouds over later. i'm kasia madera with bbc news. our top story: a young saudi woman fleeing her home country says she is trapped in bangkok and that the thai authorities intend to repatriate her. rahaf al-qunan says she believes her family will kill her for renouncing islam. human rights watch has called on thailand to allow her to continue her journey to australia. as the partial shutdown of the us government enters its third week, president trump says he is now planning a steel barrier rather than a concrete border wall. democrats have refused to fund the project. and this story is trending on bbc.com: hollywood is getting ready for the first major award ceremony

of the year, the golden globes. it recognises achievement in both television and film. crazy rich asians has been nominated for two awards. that's all. stay with bbc world news. now on bbc news, it is time for hardtalk.