this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the president of the united states! tying the rioters to trump. democrat impeachment managers wrap up their case saying the former president played a key role in orchestrating the capitol siege. if and after the attack, the insurrectionist is made clear to law enforcement that they were just following president trump's orders. meghan markle launches a scathing attack on a british tabloid after winning her high court privacy battle. china bans broadcasts by bbc world news. britain's foreign secretary says it's an unacceptable curtailing of press freedom.

a promising new treatment for seriously ill covid patients. researchers discover that combining an arthritis drug with a steroid could cut deaths by up to a half. and looking for love in lockdown. how more and more people are searching for their soulmate online. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. my name is freya cole. first, we begin in the us, where house democrats have made theirfinal push in the impeachment trial of donald trump. they have finished putting forward their case to the us senate, alleging the former president incited his

supporters to attack the capitol building last month. relying again on emotionally charged video evidence, house democrats accused mr trump of showing a pattern of condoning violence. here is a little of what the senate heard. on january onjanuary six, we know on january six, we know who lit the fuse. , , the fuse. president trump ausmat _ the fuse. president trump ausmat of _ the fuse. president trump ausmat of remorse - the fuse. president trump ausmat of remorse and l the fuse. president trump - ausmat of remorse and refusal to take — ausmat of remorse and refusal to take accountability, after the attack, poses its own unique _ the attack, poses its own unique and continuing danger —— president — unique and continuing danger —— president trump's lack of resource _ president trump's lack of resource -- remorse. this attack on the _ resource -- remorse. this attack on the peaceful - resource —— remorse. this attack on the peaceful transfer of power — attack on the peaceful transfer of power between _ attack on the peaceful transfer of power between one - attack on the peaceful transfer. of power between one president to the next didn't _ to the next didn't even happen during the civil war, _ to the next didn't even happen during the civil war, but- to the next didn't even happen during the civil war, but it - during the civil war, but it didjust happen, _ during the civil war, but it did just happen, because. during the civil war, but it. did just happen, because of during the civil war, but it - did just happen, because of the cold, _ did just happen, because of the cold, calculate _ did just happen, because of the cold, calculate it— did just happen, because of the cold, calculate it and _ did just happen, because of the cold, calculate it and can - cold, calculate it and can spiritual— cold, calculate it and can spiritual act _ cold, calculate it and can spiritual act of— cold, calculate it and can spiritual act of our- cold, calculate it and cani spiritual act of our former president— spiritual act of our former president donald - spiritual act of our former president donald j - spiritual act of our former| president donald] trump. president donald j trump. declared _ president donaldj trump. declared his— president donald] trump. declared his conduct -

president donald] trump. i declared his conduct totally appropriate if he gets into office and does it again, we'll have no—one to blame but ourselves. let's speak to our senior north america reporter, anthony zurcher. lovely to see you. there has been a few hours now since the prosecutors closed their arguments. how did the democrats build on it today, what are some of the key takeaway? i what are some of the key takeaway?— what are some of the key takeawa ? ,, ., , takeaway? i think what they were focusing _ takeaway? i think what they were focusing on _ takeaway? i think what they were focusing on today, - takeaway? i think what they were focusing on today, in l were focusing on today, in addition to what you have already talked about in it donald trump was make history, inciting violence, the lack of remorse during the attacks on the capital and afterwards. the lack of action to stop the attacks on the capital as they were going on. they also wanted to talk about the harm that was done by these attacks. not only harm as in damage to property, damage, injuries to people, deaths to people, but also harm to the united states, harm to the united states' national security, documents that were

taken from the capital, but also harm to the united states' reputation on the world stage was not the impeachment manager stood up there and talked about comments from russia and china and iran, celebrating the fact that american democracy had a very dark day. even quoted justin trudeau of canada said it was a tragedy what happened, said that america's ability to project itself and hold itself up project itself and hold itself up as an example to the world had been diminished by the attacks and that donald trump should be held responsible for that. i think that was one of the major things and then also try to address some of the questions of some of the concerns that may be raised by donald trump's defenders, particularly them trying to incite —— site freedom of speech, the first amendment. they said the president should be held to a higher standard than some round it —— random person spouting his opinion. he was president and should have done better. 50 was president and should have done better.— done better. so it is a republicans' - done better. so it is a

republicans' a - done better. so it is a republicans' a term l done better. so it is a - republicans' a term tomorrow. —— turned. what expecting from the defence? -- turned. what expecting from the defence?— the defence? they are going to talk about _ the defence? they are going to talk about the _ the defence? they are going to talk about the first _ the defence? they are going to | talk about the first amendment and say donald trump �*s speech was protected. he was engaging in heated rhetoric, yes, but rhetoric that was not unlike things you would hear from democrat last year when they were talking about protesting donald trump in the black lives matter protests. they will also once again underscore the fact that they view these entire proceedings is unconstitutional and illegitimate, that ronald trump's due process rights were infringed upon in the house impeachment proceedings, and that as a private citizen and ex—president, this is not the forum to address any of this, that this should be handled by criminal courts and not by the senate. the senate should be focusing on other things. anthony, you spoke about harm to the united states, i mean, america is looking more polarised than ever. how did the parties, both the democrats and republicans, move on from

this trial? ~ ., , this trial? i think that is auoin this trial? i think that is going to _ this trial? i think that is going to be _ this trial? i think that is going to be a _ this trial? i think that is going to be a very - this trial? i think that is going to be a very real. going to be a very real challenge. one of the reasons why the democrats have tried to move this trial so quickly is because they realise that they are opening themselves up to attacks, that they are focusing on the past, and not addressing the concerns of the american public right now which are the coronavirus pandemic and the economy and social divisions that were highlighted in the protests last year. there have been polls that indicate that a majority of republicans use democrats, not as political adversarial but as enemies and about 40% of democrats view republicans that way, so they are a very real veide and that is one of the reasons why presidentjoe biden hasn't focused too much on these impeachment proceedings, he was to be able to pick up and throw things forward because it is exacerbating, to some extent, the divisions of this country because of other democrat will say there needs to be a reckoning and an accounting first. ., ~ reckoning and an accounting first. . ,, , .,

first. thank you. here in the uk... the duchess of sussex has welcomed her high court privacy victory over the mail on sunday newspaper, saying the damage the publisher has done "runs deep". it ruled that a letter she sent to her estranged father was "inherently private and personal". the mail's owner, associated newspapers, says it's surprised and disappointed. this report from our royal correspondent nicholas witchell contains flash photography. this is a significant victory for the duchess of sussex. meghan, strongly supported by her husband, prince harry, has shown herself to be absolutely determined robustly to defend her right to privacy. this case began after the mail on sunday published lengthy extracts from a letter she'd written in late 2018 to her estranged father, thomas. meghan's lawyers had told the high court that the letter was a heartfelt plea from an anguished daughter. they applied for something called a summaryjudgement, a judgement without a full trial, on the basis, they said,

that the mail on sunday had no real prospect of success. and thejudge agreed. mrjustice warby examined the evidence and found... ..he said. meghan has also won on the separate issue of copyright infringement, but privacy is the one that really counts. in a statement, she spoke about what she said were the tactics of the mail group's newspapers. "for these outlets, it's a game", she said... the mail on sunday's publishers said they were very surprised by the judgement. they said they would decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal. and, first reaction from media lawyers...

this is a significant victory because of who she is. the mail had published a series of articles around meghan and her life and her private life and i think this was the tipping point for her. i suspect it should have quite a sobering impact on sections of the media who think that celebrities and members of the royalfamily are fair game. for the queen and other senior royals, there will be great relief. the prospect of a full trial on the privacy issue — in which meghan markle and herfather, thomas markle, would have been pitted against each other as the star witnesses — has been averted. nicholas witchell, bbc news. china has banned bbc world news from broadcasting on its territory. for what abating claims to be unfairjournalism. the move has been condemned by both the british and american governments. with me is our reporter, mark lobel.

tell us, was this expected? it tell us, was this expected? it is not a complete surprise. china has systematically blocked or expelled the foreign media in the past couple of years. in 2020, three journalists were expelled. already the bbc news app and website are banned in china. it could also be retaliatory because ofcom actually would —— revoked the license of the chinese state broadcaster's wing here, cctv, because what they said, the company they had given the license to didn't have a full editorial control, in other words, the chinese state would have control on what went on air. so this man came into place. it is a ban of you and i talking, which people cannot watch all around the world, but perhaps not now in hotels room —— hotel rooms in china. we had about it in the affiliated global times newspaper and if we can show the tweets they gave out, the reasoning they gave is a slew of fault ad falsified reporting, they said, on issues including xinjiang and china's

handling of covid—i9. this move said —— they said, shows that fake news is not tolerated in china for supper essentially, china's podcasting regulations were broken, is what they are saying, and they think it should be truthful and fair and not harm china's national interests. and they said if the bbc didn't correct its behaviour, bbcjournalists would be expelled. as you can expect, the bbc is is appointed by this and the bbc has put out a statement saying bbc is the well�*s most trusted international news broadcaster and report on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear and favour. and in fact, last week there was that striking report of muslim women alleging systematic gang rape in re—education in xinjiang. those were reports of the time that the chinese government says were false. the chinese government says were false-— the chinese government says were false. . a, ,, ., were false. and mark, we have heard from _ were false. and mark, we have heard from the _ were false. and mark, we have heard from the british - heard from the british government who have strongly condemned it and america as

well. what has been said and has there been any other national reaction to this? figs national reaction to this? as ou national reaction to this? as you say. _ national reaction to this? s you say, the national reaction to this? is you say, the british government has said it is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom. there has been a disintegration of relations between the british and the chinese over security law that came into effect in hong kong recently. the uk retaliating by inviting 5.4 million hongkongers to live in the uk because they felt the territory's rights and freedoms had been curtailed. that had angered china. america's state department says that while your tightening laws in china, —— why you're tightening laws in china, they can enjoy a media environment elsewhere, and they find that troubling. they also said that china's repression of rigour and other muslim groups were in their words, that is something that china refuted —— uighur muslims. let's get some of the day's other news.

us president, joe biden, has cancelled the national emergency order used to fund donald trump's border wall, labelling it "unwarra nted". the president said no further $tax would be spent on the project which had totalled around $25 billion by the time mr trump left office. at least six people have been killed in a horror crash on an icy interstate highway in fort worth, texas. more than 130 vehicles were involved in the carnage, with emergency crews still on scene more than 12 hours after the incident unfolded. supporters of italy's biggest party, five star, have given it the go—ahead to join a coalition of national coronavirus pandemic. ——have given it the go—ahead to join a coalition of national unity to see the country through the coronavirus pandemic. 59% of voters on its online platform rousseau gave their backing to plans for the former european central bank governor mario draghi to lead the temporary administration.

new research suggests an arthritis drug to save the lives of some of the sickest covid—i9 patients. it shows that when combined with a well—known steroid, it could reduce the risk of death in hospital by up to half. a medical editor —— editor fergus walsh reports on the trials that were carried out here in the uk. searching among existing medicines for any that can treat covid has been a huge task. first, there was dexamethasone. now, there's tocilizumab. together, they can dramatically improve survival for patients on oxygen.

compared with a year ago, when we really did not know how to treat this disease, we now have two treatments — they both act on the immune system. dexamethasone and tocilizumab, put them together and we've reduced the risk of death by a third or even as much as a half in the sickest patients. that's great news. dexamethasone, a steroid, costs just £5, whereas the arthritis drug, tocilizumab, at least £500 per patient. but that's still far less than the £2000 a day cost of being in icu. this therapy looks like it keeps people out of the intensive care unit, so they never need to meet people like me, which can only be a good thing. so, as well as improving survival, it actually will decrease the number of people who need to come to intensive care, which is fabulous. there's understandably a huge focus on preventing coronavirus and vaccines, but for those with covid, it is treatments like dexamethasone and tocilizumab which will save lives now. they need the research, so ijust signed up for them. lawrence spent several days in intensive care at addenbrooke's hospital in cambridge, but now has his bags packed, ready to go home. he's one of tens of thousands of covid patients taking part in nhs trials.

if nobody�*s willing to try, you're back to square one again, aren't you? if nobody�*s going to do anything. last month, nhs hospitals treated more than 100,000 covid patients. that's around one in three of all those admitted since the pandemic began. covid remains a brutal disease, but the chances of surviving it are improving. fergus walsh, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: looking for love in lockdown — how more and more people are searching for soulmates online. there's mr mandela, mr nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps

into a new south africa. iran's spiritual leader, ayatollah khomeini, has said he's passed a death sentence on salman rushdie, the british author of a book which many muslims say is blasphemous. the people of haiti have flocked to church to give thanks for the ousting of their former president, 'ba by doc' duvalier. because of his considerable value as a stallion, - shergar was kept in a special secure box in the stud - farm's central block. shergar was driven away in a horse box the thieves had brought with them. . there stepped down from the plane a figure in mourning, elizabeth ii, queen of this realm and of all her other realms and territories, head of the commonwealth, defender of the faith. this is bbc news. the latest headlines:

prosecutors in the impeachment trial of donald trump have finished putting forward their case to the us senate, saying the former president incited his supporters to attack the capitol building last month. the duchess of sussex, meghan markle, has won her high court privacy claim against british newspaper the mail on sunday, after it published a letter to her father. an actor in the mandalorian, disney's hit star wars tv series, has been fired for suggesting that us republicans were being treated likejewish people during the holocaust. the maker of the series, lucasfilm, said that social media posts by gina carano — who played the character cara dune — were abhorrent and unacceptable. to explain more, we can now speak to adam vary, who's senior entertainment writer at variety magazine. he joins us from los angeles.

thank you so much forjoining us. took us through a little bit about this actress, it is not the first time she has made controversial comments. what can you tell us?— controversial comments. what can you tell us? she started as a mixed martial— can you tell us? she started as a mixed martial arts— can you tell us? she started as a mixed martial arts fighter. i a mixed martial arts fighter. her career began as that, and she was a really good one. when she was a really good one. when she was a really good one. when she was hired, she transitioned into acting. herfirst big break was in a steven soderbergh movie called heywire. she was in a the fast and furious movie, the next really big break for her was and the mandalorian. she has been making controversial statements on social media for the last few months. people started really noticing it around the black lives matter movement, and then at one point she changed her twitter handle

to include the pronouns "beep, bop, boop", seeming to mark the use of pronouns by trans people. —— mock. she has deleted some of her offensive tweets, but the damage has already been done, hasn't it? absolutely. it is the real sort of double—edged sword of social media. it gives you direct access to your audience in a way you never had before, but that also makes what you say that also makes what you say that much more open to scrutiny and accountability. so, you know, free speech is notjust a responsibility, and i think in that case, it came to buy gina caran. at the beginning of what could be described as a huge career, she was, so what does it mean for her now?— career, she was, so what does it mean for her now? well, you

know, i think _ it mean for her now? well, you know, i think in _ it mean for her now? well, you know, i think in some - it mean for her now? well, you know, i think in some ways - it mean for her now? well, you know, i think in some ways the j know, i think in some ways the ball is in her court. about how she talks about what she was saying on social media, and, you know, for her statements, or defend them and stand by them. and people who make these decisions in hollywood will may, you know, will decide accordingly. i should may, you know, will decide accordingly. ishould note may, you know, will decide accordingly. i should note her agency, uta, dropped her yesterday, which does not bode well for the future of her career either.— well for the future of her career either. ~ ., s, ., , career either. what do the fans sa ? a career either. what do the fans say? a lot _ career either. what do the fans say? a lot of — career either. what do the fans say? a lot of her _ career either. what do the fans say? a lot of her fans - career either. what do the fans say? a lot of her fans are - say? a lot of her fans are coming — say? a lot of her fans are coming to _ say? a lot of her fans are coming to her— say? a lot of her fans are coming to her defence. i say? a lot of her fans are i coming to her defence. this say? a lot of her fans are - coming to her defence. this is part of depolarisation in the united states and across the country and world, really as far as politics and political speech on social media. —— wta. you see people in right—wing areas of social media coming to her defence, senator ted cruz defended her today on twitter,

but then you have a lot of people celebrating that she was fired, that there was real accountability for her comments which some people find to be abhorrent. which some people find to be abhorrent-— abhorrent. let's talk about disne . abhorrent. let's talk about disney. what _ abhorrent. let's talk about disney. what does - abhorrent. let's talk about disney. what does this - abhorrent. let's talk about disney. what does this do | abhorrent. let's talk about i disney. what does this do for disney's reputation?- disney. what does this do for disney's reputation? disney has a liuht disney's reputation? disney has a li . ht at disney's reputation? disney has a light at stake _ disney's reputation? disney has a light at stake in _ disney's reputation? disney has a light at stake in star - disney's reputation? disney has a light at stake in star wars - a light at stake in star wars and lucasfilm, expanding the star wars world on their streaming service, disney+, which has really kept the company afloat during the pandemic. in december, they announced a huge expansion of the star wars universe on disney+, something like 10—11 new tv series on disney+ in development. a few of those will be premiering this year and next year. so, when you have a major star like gina carano saying things like this, you know, is me is one of the very few entertainment companies that has a very clear, identifiable brand. people trust disney. people

believe in disney. and i think the company believed they could not have somebody seeing these beings and be representative of one of their shows.— one of their shows. adam vari, thank you _ one of their shows. adam vari, thank you very _ one of their shows. adam vari, thank you very much. -- - one of their shows. adam vari, thank you very much. -- vary. | thank you very much. —— vary. adam vary, senior writer at variety magazine.— adam vary, senior writer at variety magazine. the composer of 500 miles high has died, age 79. he wanted to thank all those along his journey to help keep the music fires burning bright. life has changed in so many ways in this pandemic, from the way people work and communicate, to the way people are looking for

love. and it's not easy to meet new people when you are in lockdown. our correspondent, daniela relph, has been speaking to people who have been virtual dating. waiting for your online find that you show up. meetjohn. it may now be virtual, but it is just as tense. and this is depot. just as tense. and this is de ot. ., ., just as tense. and this is deot. ., ., , depot. how are you -- pippa. are you _ depot. how are you -- pippa. are you doing _ depot. how are you -- pippa. are you doing lots _ depot. how are you -- pippa. are you doing lots of - are you doing lots of interesting cooking in lockdown? | interesting cooking in lockdown?— interesting cooking in lockdown? , �* lockdown? i do cook, but i'm not like gordon _ lockdown? i do cook, but i'm not like gordon ramsay. - lockdown? i do cook, but i'm i not like gordon ramsay. dating oane not like gordon ramsay. dating online has _ not like gordon ramsay. dating online has become _ not like gordon ramsay. dating online has become the - not like gordon ramsay. dating online has become the norm i not like gordon ramsay. dating online has become the norm in| online has become the norm in lockdown, traffic on applications has been up throughout the year, with many businesses adapting on hosting these virtual meet up. the ultimate chemistry test is in person. you can pick up on

those vibes before, and it will save you a lot of time if you try a video date first. simon and shanna are a lockdown love story. they managed three in—person dates and then came lockdown in march. first part —— forced apart, they bonded over weeks of video dating and walks in the park. in december, they got engaged. it's in an intense time to fall in love with somebody. is intense time to fall in love with somebody.— with somebody. is their strength _ with somebody. is their strength in _ with somebody. is their strength in that? - with somebody. is their strength in that? i - with somebody. is their| strength in that? i think with somebody. is their- strength in that? i think you have strength through adversity, getting through that together, being part of each other�*s support system has cemented notjust how we other�*s support system has cemented not just how we feel that how we will get to the future struggles. ii that how we will get to the future struggles.— that how we will get to the future struggles. if you can aet future struggles. if you can net to future struggles. if you can get to the _ future struggles. if you can get to the west _ future struggles. if you can get to the west during - get to the west during lockdown, you know you can survive _ lockdown, you know you can survive its _ lockdown, you know you can survive its topic back to john and — and pippa, was very happy endin: ? ~ , . and pippa, was very happy endinu? , .,, ending? will there be a second date? ithink— ending? will there be a second date? | think it _ ending? will there be a second date? i think it went _ ending? will there be a second date? i think it went well- ending? will there be a second date? i think it went well with l date? i think it went well with john, i don't think there will be a second date is lovely, but we don't have much in common. she is a nice girl, easy to get

along — she is a nice girl, easy to get along with, but if the attraction is not there... love in lockdown — attraction is not there... love in lockdown can _ attraction is not there... love in lockdown can be _ attraction is not there... love in lockdown can be hard - attraction is not there... love in lockdown can be hard to i in lockdown can be hard to find. daniela relph, bbc news. and you are watching bbc news. see you soon. hello there. after another very cold night, although not quite as cold as wednesday night, it's going to start frosty again through this morning with some ice to watch out for on untreated surfaces. plenty of sunshine through today, but there will be some snow showers — these continuing to affect the north—east of scotland and the north—east of england. a bit more cloud as well in towards the northern isles. and cloud further west will tend to break away as this drier air moves in from the south—east, so, many places should see the sunshine. now, another very cold day when you factor in the wind, which will be a feature throughout friday. it's going to feel much colder than these temperatures suggest, sub—zero for all areas. now, as we head through friday night, skies will be clear, so those temperatures will fall away again.

we'll continue to see some snow showers grazing past eastern scotland and north—east england. the cloud and snow showers and strong winds push on into the northern isles, and then over to the west, a band of sleet and snow will start to make inroads into northern ireland, the very far south—west of england. so, here, less cold than it will be elsewhere. another widespread hard frost for many of us. now, as we move through the weekend, you'll notice the orange colours, the milder air will start to very slowly creep its way eastwards. and by sunday, many areas will be less cold, certainly away from the east and south—east. so, through saturday, it's a cold, frosty start, plenty of sunshine. but further west, this band of sleet and snow will very slowly make progress. but still some uncertainty on how far east it will get. but we've got early yellow warnings in force for parts of wales, northern ireland, western scotland, north—west england for some snowfall accumulations there. it'll be quite wintry, in fact, with the risk of ice too. further east, we'll have the sunshine, but it's going to be a very cold day. when you factor in the strong

south—easterly wind, it's going to feel bitterly cold. in fact, it may feel as low as —10 celsius when you factor in the wind. now, as we move out of saturday into sunday, you can see plenty of isobars on the charts coming in from the south, almost reaching gale force across northern and western areas. and the weather fronts as well will start to make better progress eastwards, so we should see more in the way of rain. and it will be of rain because milder air will be pushing in by this point, although the very far southeast may stay bright and quite chilly on the east coast. it's further west where we'll see that milder air, eight or nine degrees. and it turns milder still into next week, double figure values for many. could be quite wet, though, for the first half of the week, and then signs of it turning a little bit drier for the second half of the week.

fergus walsh, bbc news. this is bbc news, the headlines. democrats have concluded their case against donald trump in the former president's second impeachment trial. video has been shown other writers believing they were acting under clear instructions from mr trump. his lawyers will open their case for the defence on friday. the duchess of sussex has won her lawsuit against a british tabloid which published a private letter she wrote to her estranged father. meghan markle said the damage continue to run deep. the newspaper group said it was disappointed by the judgement. china has banned bbc world news from broadcasting inside the country. beijing has been critical of the bbc�*s coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.

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