hello. this is bbc news, with the latest headlines the views and you can around the world. tennis fans banned from the australian open as a snap five—day coronavirus lockdown is announced following a quarantine hotel outbreak. prosecutors in donald trump's impeachment trial have presented their final presented theirfinal arguments, warning he could insight further violence unless he is convicted. china bans broadcast from bbc world news. britain's foreign secretary says it is an unacceptable curtailing of press freedom. and the battle to free brittany. the pop star has been backin brittany. the pop star has been back in court in an attempt to lift the order that gives her father control of her estate.

—— free britney. hello there. a five—day lockdown is being imposed in the australian state of victoria following a cluster of coronavirus cases linked to a quarantine hotel or returning travellers at melbourne airport. 13 cases had been diagnosed but the officials say the uk variant of the virus is spreading faster. of the state's largest city, melbourne is currently hosting the australian open in tennis, which will continue without spectators are. let's bring in phil mercer in sydney for us. this is pretty disappointing news in australia? disappointing news for australia and also for those thousands of tennis fans who would have had tickets for the weekend's play going into next

weekend's play going into next week at melbourne park. for at least the next five days those tennis fans will have two watch events unfold on the television. of course, this goes far beyond the world of sport, millions of people are now subject to stay—at—home orders, orthey now subject to stay—at—home orders, or they will be, in the next seven or eight hours. schools will close and masks will be mandatory. the state government in victoria, australia's second most populous state says a circuit—breaker is needed in order to curb these outbreaks that were first detected at that were first detected at that quarantine hotel for return travellers at melbourne airport. return travellers at melbourne airort. ~ ,., return travellers at melbourne airort. ~ ., , airport. melbourne “oins perth, brisbane and _ airport. melbourne joins perth, brisbane and adelaide - airport. melbourne joins perth, brisbane and adelaide as - airport. melbourne joins perth, brisbane and adelaide as the l brisbane and adelaide as the fourth city to enter a snap lockdown since november. in each situation, the cases have occurred due to a quarantine hotel breach. we any closer to knowing how the virus is leaking out in these

circumstances? in leaking out in these circumstances? , . circumstances? in this instance at the holiday _ circumstances? in this instance at the holiday inn _ circumstances? in this instance at the holiday inn at _ circumstances? in this instance| at the holiday inn at melbourne airport, the authorities believe a nebuliser, this vaporiser that turns medicine into a vapour, was probably the source of the uk variant infections that have now tested positive within 13 people. other experts believe poor ventilation in those quarantine hotels could be allowing the virus to spread. what we do know is those snap lockdown in other parts of australia appear to have worked, and that is what we get the sense from victorian authorities, they are pinning their hopes that this sudden five—day lockdown will be doing the trick, will confine people essentially to barix in the —— barracks, and allow them to track down cases of the virus and allow life to begin to some sort of

normality. the next five days will be pivotal as melbourne and the entire state of victoria goes into another lockdown. victoria goes into another lockdown-— victoria goes into another lockdown. , , , lockdown. just briefly, if you will, lockdown. just briefly, if you will. does — lockdown. just briefly, if you will, does this _ will, does this undermine the effectiveness of quarantine hotels as an anti— transmission strategy, because here in the uk, we'rejust strategy, because here in the uk, we're just about to get with them?— uk, we're just about to get with them? ,, . ., ., , with them? quarantine hotels are the last — with them? quarantine hotels are the last line _ with them? quarantine hotels are the last line of— with them? quarantine hotels are the last line of defence i are the last line of defence for australia against the imported cases of covid—19. most foreign travellers have been banned from australia since last march, but citizens and permanent residents can return, and there is a feeling protocols and safety procedures need to be improved in those quarantine hotels, because many of the outbreaks we have seen in australia recently have been linked to security breaches. so these are questions no doubt that the authorities will be asking themselves and their scientific advisors. as a matter of urgency. they certainly _ matter of urgency. they certainly will. _

matter of urgency. they certainly will. phil- matter of urgency. they l certainly will. phil mercer matter of urgency. they - certainly will. phil mercer in sydney for us, thank you very as acute as an impeachment trial of donald trump 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. our north america correspondent, barbara plett usher, reports from washington. after reconstructing the anatomy in brutal detail, the prosecution put forward its case to be if you don't find this a high crime and misdemeanour today, you have set a new, terrible standard for presidential conduct in the united states of america. democrats focused on donald trump as mark rule and his intent, arguing the violence was foreseeable and he willingly encouraged it.

showing mr trump had a history of inciting political violence, that his supporters listen and got the message study we have wonderful security guys, they said mrtrump, there wonderful security guys, they said mr trump, there may have somebody with the metres in the audience to be if you have somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, not the crap out of them, would you? seriously. the writers at the capitol building did believe they were following the president's orders, their own words presented as evidence. ~ . _ evidence. we are invited by the president of the united states! and much was made mr trump's lack of remorse. this man he was a danger to democracy unless convicted and banned from office to stop it you know, i'm not afraid of donald trump running again in four years. trump running again in four ears. �* ., ., trump running again in four ears. �* . ., 2 trump running again in four ears. . ., �*, ., ., years. i'm afraid he's going to run again _ years. i'm afraid he's going to run again and _ years. i'm afraid he's going to run again and lose, _ years. i'm afraid he's going to run again and lose, because l years. i'm afraid he's going to l run again and lose, because he could _ run again and lose, because he could do— run again and lose, because he could do this again. the defence _ could do this again. the defence takes _ could do this again. the defence takes over - could do this again. the defence takes over an l could do this again. tie: defence takes over an hour. mr trump's lawyers are under pressure to step up their game after a bumbling performance that angered him. they will make the case that his fiery

rhetoric wasn't meant literally, and he has the right to freedom of speech. republicans were shaken by the democrats' graphic video evidence. mrtrump's evidence. mr trump's lawyers will argue he never intended for the violence to happen, and they are expected to be brief, not more than a day, suggesting they are confident they have they are confident they have the votes to acquit him. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. ok, let's check in with some of the day's other the new. presidentjoe biden says he has now ordered enough vaccine doses for every american to be immunised against covid—19. is debating accused his predecessor, mr trump, of not doing hisjob —— joe biden, saying there were not enough doses or people to administer them. not enough doses or people to administerthem. myanmar�*s administer them. myanmar�*s military leader has administerthem. myanmar�*s military leader has announced an amnesty for more than 23,000 visitors who were jailed by the previous democratically elected government. the military

command said the decision was humanitarian study there is no information on who is to be released but there is speculation that several high—profile allies of the military are on the list. supporters of italy's biggest party, five star, have given the go—ahead tojoin party, five star, have given 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 gave their backing to plans for the formal central european bank, mario draghi, to lead the temporary administration. china as bandejas, bbc world news, from broadcasting inside the country —— has banned us. the move has been condemned by both the british and american governments stop me with me now is our reporter, mark lobel. it feels like we have been heading in this direction for perhaps a couple of years. was bound to be expected? it’s couple of years. was bound to be “netted?—

be expected? it's not a complete _ be expected? it's not a complete surprise - be expected? it's not a - complete surprise because china has a mystic actively blocked or expelled the foreign media for a number of years including three american journalists in 2020 and in fact, the bbc news website and the bbc app was already banned in china. and this could also be a atalla to remove because earlier this month the media regulator in the uk, of calm, had revoked the uk, of calm, had revoked the license of the state broadcaster's wing in england -- uk broadcaster's wing in england —— uk regulator ofcom. and the company it had issued a license to, they were confident they had complete editorial control of the coverage. they thought the chinese state would be able to influence went in on our. so we have this ban, as you say, over us chatting here, available in the uk and around the world but perhaps not in hotel rooms in china stopping we learn through this state affiliated global times tweet.

this move, the tweet says, sends a clear signal that fake news is not tolerated in china. the global times twitter account sent out another message a few hours later saying if he did not correct its wrongdoings, then busy journalists may be expelled in the future. bbc is disappointed in this and can show you a statement. in fact, last week, there was that striking report of ms lynn women in china alleging the systematically — that they were systematically — that they were systematically gang raped in the so—called re—education camps in xinjiang, something the chinese government denied. thank you, mark lobel. now, the irish prime minister has called on the european

union and the uk to cool it, in his words, in their post back dealings amid fears ireland could be collateral damage in the process. it follows a week of tense negotiations and weeks of calls between the eu and uk over the coronavirus vaccine supply. and the northern ireland protocol, part of the brexit agreement designed to prevent a hard border between ireland and northern ireland. fergal keane sent this report from dublin. they're remembering the centenary of ireland's guerrilla war for independence here, but the age of martyrs is long gone in the republic. taoiseach, how are you? still, the taoiseach knows this could be a critical moment in the story of the peace process. and that's what's prompted this message to british and eu leaders. i just worry a bit about the post—brexit noise from eu member states towards britain and vice—versa. what would you say

to your european...? i want to tell them they need to cool it down. this isn't an ongoing battle between the uk and some of the bigger beasts of europe. they need to cool it. we'd be collateral damage in all of that. britain wants a two—year extension to the grace period for the northern ireland protocol, but mr martin told me it had to be limited. does that mean weeks, months, years? it is modest. it can be a year, for example... so there would definitely be a timeframe that it has to happen within a year? in my view, yeah. this intervention comes amid heightened tension over the northern ireland protocol. staff implementing checks at the ports of larne and belfast were temporarily withdrawn after worries about their safety. there are growing unionist fears that eu customs checks have created a border between northern ireland and britain. the atmosphere is potentially volatile. you can see how it can tip over very quickly, and therefore we have to be very vigilant that it doesn't. because one of the big fears

is that the loyalist paramilitaries are given a new lease of life and that we could see violence, sectarian violence, coming back. is that something that worries you? if we handled this the wrong way, if things are handled wrongly, you could provoke that response, but i don't think loyalism wants that. modern irish politics emerged from civil war, division, a partitioned island. but 100 years and many thousands of lost lives later... ..some opinion polls suggest going support in northern ireland for a referendum on reuniting ireland — anathema to many protestants. and so here are these two great portraits. absolutely... in his office, micheal martin has portraits of two revolutionary comrades who ended up as bitter enemies. his sense of history says holding a border poll anytime soon would be a mistake. if we just see this

as a simple, numerical, majoritarian issue, we're going backwards, not forward. i don't believe the future of the island of ireland is about majoritarianism, in the crudest sense. i think it's about consensual relationships and trust. micheal martin is a product of ireland's complex history. his grandfather rebelled against the british, but an uncle fought for britain in world war ii. he wants a reinvigorated anglo—irish relationship. it's a very important relationship and it's a strong relationship, notwithstanding the difficulties of brexit and the challenges it presents. i'm very passionate about it. you know, i have witnessed the transformation of the british—irish relationship and the degree to which it underpinned the progress in ireland and the peace process. but more than that. i have first cousins in the uk. we are very close, whether we like it or not. in dublin, the determination is to try to de—escalate the tensions that have, with brexit — and quickly. fergal keane, bbc news, dublin.

do stay with us here in bbc news. back in court, britney spears was her first victory in her battle to regain control of her battle to regain control of her finances from her father —— has her first victory. 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 havej 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 world news. the latest headlines for you. a five—day coronavirus lockdown is being imposed in the australian state of victoria in response to an outbreak at a quarantine hotel. the state's largest city melbourne is hosting the australian tennis open which will continue, but without spectators. 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. 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. the entire community is left shattered. tanya dendrinos reports, and just a warning, some of might find the following images distressing. a mangled heap of more than 130 vehicles and a community left grieving, with at least 6000 lives lost and more than 60 people injured. taste lives lost and more than 60 people injured.— people in'ured. we are all cominu people injured. we are all coming to _ people injured. we are all coming to you _ people injured. we are all coming to you with - people injured. we are all coming to you with heavy| people injured. we are all- coming to you with heavy hearts today. the scene we saw today was one really unlike one probably any of us had ever seen and when we pray to god we never see again. my heart is broken for this community as we deal with the tragic loss of so many lives and so many injuries in a scene like none of us have ever seen before. so many people have lost loved ones or have been injured.

and that pain isjust incredible. this community will feel that pain. they need your love and they need your prayers to get through this. this is a snapshot of the horror unfolding. vehicle after vehicle, unable to avoid impact. the scene eventually spanning around a kilometre. emergency crews worked for hours on end, systematically making their way through the tragic wreck. after the initial scene stabilisation, after all of the victims that were able to be found, all the cars that were able to be searched were searched, the scene was turned over to the fort worth police department in orderfor them to begin conducting the investigation. that investigation likely to be as complex as the recovery effort. police believe ice was a factor, but say they are only in the preliminary stages. tanya dendrinos, bbc news.

the spanish formula 1 driver for lando alonzo has been involved in a crash while cycling in switzerland. —— fernando alonso. the 59—year—old double world champion was due to make his comeback after two years after the sport. his formula 1 team mcalpine said alonzo was a conscious and himself and were waiting further medical examinations on friday. now, the father of popstar britney spears has failed in a bid to retain some of his rights over the pop star's estate following latest hearing into her conservatorship. the conservatorship. the conservatorship is a legal conceptin conservatorship is a legal concept in the united states where a guardian or protector is appointed by a judge to manage the financial affairs of another, perhaps due to a physical or mental limitation. herfatherjamie spears physical or mental limitation. her fatherjamie spears was appointed her conservatorship in 2008 after the performer�*s

life unravelled very publicly stop last year, britney spears filed a petition to replace her father as the sole conservatorship, but failed. now, following the latest ruling, private wealth management fund must remain co— conservatives with equal authority. well, to explain more, we can speak to our north american respondent david willis whojoins us american respondent david willis who joins us now from la. i understand you are at the hearing. does this represent a victory, finally, for britney spears? victory, finally, for britney sears? , ~ spears? yes, i think it does. of course. — spears? yes, i think it does. of course, britney _ spears? yes, i think it does. of course, britney was - spears? yes, i think it does. of course, britney was one | spears? yes, i think it does. | of course, britney was one of the best selling and highest paid performers in the world. she had, as you mentioned, a series of public meltdowns including of course shaving her head, and that led to a reef speu head, and that led to a reef speuin head, and that led to a reef spell in a psychiatric unit and what is called, as you mentioned, conservatorship is a legal arrangement where she has

somebody else to take charge of her personal and professional life. in britney spears' case, that person was her father jamie spears and over the years, that is 13 years since the conservatorship was put in place, relations between father and daughter have somewhat soured to the point where britney spears last year asked the judge for her father to be relieved of control over her vast fortune, the judge declined that, instead dividing conservatorship of ms spiers tween her father conservatorship of ms spiers tween herfather and an new york—based trust fund. why is any of this now in the public domain, i hearyou ask? because of this very powerful documentary produced by the new york times which is ranges all sorts of questions about those who were involved in the conservatorship —— the motives. this new documentary has been playing huge on social media. we don't get it here in the uk

until the spring, i understand, and as you say, in part exploring the controversy surrounding her welfare. you think it cast new light on how the singer is perceived?- think it cast new light on how the singer is perceived? yes, i think it does. _ the singer is perceived? yes, i think it does. britney - the singer is perceived? yes, i think it does. britney spears, l think it does. britney spears, of course, hasn't performed in public for nearly 2.5 years. she has, however, issued a series of rather cryptic tweets and instagram posts which have been poured over by her legions of fans and some of whom believe that itjust all adds to this relief that she has been control for most of her professional life. it has given new impetus to a group called the free whitney movement, a collection of fans who believe that she has been mistreated in general —— free britney. i must say the documentary provides harrowing evidence of the treatment at the hands of the paparazzi, the sort of pressure

she was under throughout her career and of course raises one key question, would much of this have happened to her had she happened to be a man? good question. thanks very much, david willis in la. perhaps not the day to wear a red jumpsuit, perhaps not the day to wear a redjumpsuit, i perhaps not the day to wear a red jumpsuit, i realise that she definitely wore it better. the actor in the mandalorian's star wars tv hit has been fired for saying that tv republic —— for saying that tv republic —— for republicans had been treated like jewish for republicans had been treated likejewish people during the holocaust. gina careno who plays the character tara june were apparent and unacceptable. we asked this. will she started as a mixed martial arts fighter which is what her career be a —— began

as. ——her career began as that, and she was a really good one. when she was hired, she transitioned into acting. herfirst big break was in a steven soderbergh movie called haywire. she was in a fast & furious movie, the next really big breakfor 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 mock the use of pronouns by trans people. it's 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 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 carano. you have people in the right wing coming to her defence. ted cruz today. that a lot of people saying there was real accountability. coronavirus restrictions in malaysia will be keeping lion dance troops at home for the lunar new year. these troops say they are being unable to perform at the lunar new year and it would be a major hit to their incomes. lion dancers crash symbols and are incredibly popular. in the past, they have been lobbying

unesco to recognise their cultural heritage. 20 more news coming up with all the business in about five minutes' time. 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 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.

this is bbc news, the headlines: a the headlines: fairytale quarter for disney as a fairytale quarter for disney as it returns to profit despite the pandemic, and it is all down to streaming. a milestone for big bitcoin as america's oldest bank is the first to accept the new currency, sending it to any record high. online issues. britain and the eu pledged to resolve post—brexit trade restrictions that have hit northern ireland. we'll get the view from local businesses. plus, strong and stable. —— stable. while the chinese year of the ox could mean more bullish times ahead for the world economy.