welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... police in new mexico say they believe a live bullet was fired in the fatal shooting on the set of alec baldwin's new movie. we believe that we have in our possession the firearm that was fired by mr baldwin. this is the firearm we believe discharged the bullet. but it's too early to say whether they'll bring any charges. we'll have the latest. also in the programme... in the uk, the government's promising a post—covid age of optimism as the 2021 budget is delivered. in a bbc exclusive, new details about the fall of afghanistan. claims by the former president, ashraf ghani, that he had

to flee the country to save his life are totally rejected by his former chief of staff. and australian footballerjosh cavallo has become the only top—level male professional player to come out as gay. live from our studio in singapore... live from our studio in singapore. . ._ live from our studio in singapore... live from our studio in sinu-aore... , , “ , singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday- _ it's seven in the morning in singapore and 5pm in santa fe, where police investigating the killing of cinematographer halyna hutchins with a gun by the actor alec baldwin say they believe the weapon contained a live round. the hollywood star had been told the weapon was safe. he's a co—producer of the film "rust", and there are reports of complaints about safety standards in the days

and hours before halyna hutchins was killed. sophie long sent this report. it is now nearly a week since 42—year—old halyna hutchins was shot dead whilst she was doing herjob. these are the last pictures of the cinematographer alive on the set of rust. she's in the blue coat and headphones. you can see alec baldwin beyond the camera. he was holding the gun that fired the shot that killed halyna and severely injured directorjoel souza. we believe that we have in our possession the firearm that was fired by mr baldwin. the actual lead projectile that was fired has been recovered from the shoulder of mr souza. we regard this specific casing and recovered projectile to be the live round that was fired from the revolver by mr baldwin. when alec baldwin was handed the weapon by assistant director dave halls, he was told it was safe, what's called a "cold gun." the person responsible for firearms on set

was the armourer — 24—year—old hannah gutierrez—reed. she's admitted ammunition was not secure, but says she checked the guns and found no live rounds. all three are cooperating fully with the investigation. all options are on the table at this point. i'm not commenting on charges, whether they will be filed or not, or on whom. so, the answer is, we cannot answer that question yet until we complete a more thorough investigation. the tragedy has left hollywood grieving and reignited the debate about whether real guns and ammunition should ever be allowed on film sets under any circumstances. our north america correspondent, peter bowes, has been following the story. there are many here, many people very familiar with film

sets who will say that absolutely not, there is no situation that would justify the use of weapons with live ammunition, yet clearly, this seems to have happened. a lot of people say that in this digital age that we live in of computer—generated imagery, that it computer—generated imagery, thatitis computer—generated imagery, that it is technically possible in postproduction to create the effect of a gun being fired, and it can be added to the film afterwards. there's a growing movement it seems to ensure that that is what going to happen in future. there might be some who say that for reasons of authenticity, that real weapons need to be used, but the debate is about live ammunition. there's certainly a strong movement towards whatever decisions need to be made industrywide to make sure that can't happen again. at that can't happen again. at this point, we haven't seen any arrests made or charges filed so far, but as we heard,

officials saying that all options are on the table. where do we go from here?— do we go from here? well, the continuation _ do we go from here? well, the continuation of _ do we go from here? well, the continuation of the _ continuation of the investigation is what the officials at the conference earlier were emphasising, but they are still in the relatively early stages. there were about 100 people on that movie set, all of whom have been questioned. some of them repeatedly, including alec baldwin. untilthe repeatedly, including alec baldwin. until the authorities say they have completed those investigations, as well as looking at the forensic examination of what they found — and we've heard potentially hundreds of rounds of ammunition, some of it might�*ve been dummy ammunition— but clearly live rounds were used. so they'll look at the scientific evidence as well to try to figure out exactly what happened. that key question, live ammunition, why was it in the gun when it was handed to the gun when it was handed to

the actor. until the authorities have the answers to the questions, they say they can't make any legal decisions about possible prosecution. in a moment: 0ur bbc exclusive as new details emerge about the fall of afghanistan's capital kabul and the actions of the former president. but first, the british chancellor has promised a post—covid "age of optimism" as he delivered his uk budget for 2021. rishi sunak has committed to a spending increase of £150 billion — orjust over 200 billion us dollars — over three years with the economy forecast to return to pre—pandemic levels by next year. the tax burden will reach its highest level since the 19505 as mr sunak tries to rebuild the economy. here's rishi sunak on how the announcements will impact people living in the uk. help for working families with their— help for working families with their cost of living because we

will always give people the support they need and the tools to build — support they need and the tools to build a — support they need and the tools to build a better life for themselves. and levelling up. because — themselves. and levelling up. because for too long, far too long. — because for too long, far too long. the _ because for too long, far too long, the location of your birth_ long, the location of your birth has_ long, the location of your birth has determined too much of your— birth has determined too much of your future because the awesome power of opportunity shouldn't you be available only to a wealthy few, but be the birthright of every child in a prosperous united kingdom. here's the opposition labour party's rachel reeves, who was filling in for leader keir starmer after he tested positive for covid—19. the shadow chancellor told mps many people wouldn't benefit. families struggling with a cost of living — families struggling with a cost of living prices, _ families struggling with a cost of living prices, businesses- of living prices, businesses hit of living prices, businesses bit by— of living prices, businesses bit by a _ of living prices, businesses bit by a supply— of living prices, businesses hit by a supply chain - of living prices, businesses hit by a supply chain crisis, those — hit by a supply chain crisis, those who— hit by a supply chain crisis, those who rely— hit by a supply chain crisis, those who rely on - hit by a supply chain crisis, those who rely on our- hit by a supply chain crisis, i those who rely on our schools and _ those who rely on our schools and hospitals _ those who rely on our schools and hospitals and _ those who rely on our schools and hospitals and police. - those who rely on our schools| and hospitals and police. they won't — and hospitals and police. they won't recognise _ and hospitals and police. they won't recognise the _ and hospitals and police. they won't recognise the world - and hospitals and police. they won't recognise the world that the chancellor— won't recognise the world that the chancellor is _ won't recognise the world that the chancellor is describing. . the chancellor is describing. they— the chancellor is describing. they wiii— the chancellor is describing. they will think— the chancellor is describing. they will think that - the chancellor is describing. they will think that he - the chancellor is describing.

they will think that he is - they will think that he is living _ they will think that he is living in— they will think that he is living in a _ they will think that he is living in a parallel- they will think that he is i living in a parallel universe. the — living in a parallel universe. the chancellor _ living in a parallel universe. the chancellor in _ living in a parallel universe. the chancellor in this - living in a parallel universe. the chancellor in this budget has decided _ the chancellor in this budget has decided to _ the chancellor in this budget has decided to cut _ the chancellor in this budget has decided to cut taxes - the chancellor in this budget has decided to cut taxes for. has decided to cut taxes for banks _ has decided to cut taxes for banks 50. _ has decided to cut taxes for banks. so, at— has decided to cut taxes for banks. so, at least - has decided to cut taxes for banks. so, at least the - has decided to cut taxes for - banks. so, at least the bankers on short—haul— banks. so, at least the bankers on short—haul flights— banks. so, at least the bankers on short—haul flights sipping i on short—haul flights sipping champagne _ on short—haul flights sipping champagne will— on short—haul flights sipping champagne will be _ on short—haul flights sipping champagne will be cheeringl on short—haul flights sipping - champagne will be cheering this budget— champagne will be cheering this budget today~ _ 0ur political correspondent, rob watson, gave us this assessment of the new uk budget. you are thinking the big question would be post post—brexit, post—pandemic. what kind of uk economic model would we get? would we get low tax or high tax? and it seems that it's more of the latter, but we knew there was a but coming. 0ne can't help wondering will the conservative party please stand up because traditionally, it is a low tax. right at the end of this budget, where richey sunak budget, where rishi sunak

announced this huge amount of spending. at the end, he said of course, i do believe in a small state and lowered taxes, but in just not quite yet. to a bbc exclusive now, and two months after the taliban took control of afghanistan new details have emerged about the fall of kabul and the actions of the former president. ashraf ghani has always claimed, he fled the capital because his life was in danger, and to stay, would have sparked greater bloodshed. that has been totally rejected his former chief of staff, who's been speaking to the bbc. matin bek told lyse doucet that when mr ghani left in a helicopter, there was no danger and no threat to his life. i don't know why he ran away. i don't forgive him for that because i am telling you after everything was ok if he had run away when

the cities had fallen there was no argument between us, could have been understandable maybe 0k he was a coward, he ran away for his life but after everything and some cease—fire was put in place and security arrangements were in place that gave the palace was the safest place in afghanistan. i don't buy that argument that there was threats or anything. no, no, that's completely a coward. one of his security aides said the taliban going room to room searching for him. no, no, that's completely a coward. that's completely not true. because after he ran away there was no problem. no shooting, nothing. they came to the palace after six hours he had run away.

tell a man came to palace around 6pm. the interview was carried out by the bbc�*s chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. she explained what the effect was of ashraf ghani's hasty departure. even the taliban said they wish kabul had not fallen in this way, that there had been an agreed transfer of power. this is just a big what if, but if president ghani have not let the palace, some arrangement, would so many afghans have fled? many officials also left afghanistan the next day. would the situation be different on the ground? many believe that an opportunity was missed at least to do something more smoothly. lyse's full interview is available on her podcast, called a wish for afghanistan.

new episodes are available on wednesdays. you can listen to it on bbc sounds or any other platform that you usually get your podcasts from. i highly recommend it. it is an excellent listen. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... the australian footballer who's become the only top—level male professional to come out as gay. indira gandhi, ruler of the world's largest democracy, died today. 0nly yesterday, she had spoken of dying in the service of her country and said, "i would be proud of it. "every drop of my blood will contribute to the growth of this nation." after 46 years of unhappiness, these two countries have concluded a chapter of history. no more suspicion, no more fear, no more uncertainty of what each day might bring.

booster ignition and lift off. of discovery with a crew of six astronaut heroes and one american legend. - this is beautiful. a milestone in human history. born today, this girl in india is the seven billionth person on the planet. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines... police in new mexico say they believe a live bullet was fired in the fatal shooting on the set of alec baldwin's new movie. in the uk, the government is promising a post—covid age of optimism as the 2021 budget is delivered.

the australian footballer josh cavallo has said that he is gay, making him the only active top—level male professional player in the world to be open about his homosexuality. he's been talking to bbc world news earlier about his decision to go public. it's a decision that took a long time for myself. it was a long period in my life that brought me sadness and took me to a dark place. that was over six years of pain, and i'm so happy and excited to put that to rest today. today is my freedom day. i've never been this happy in my entire life. i'm very happy with my decision to come out and i hope that one day, i can inspire someone in the younger generation or someone else behind the phone that's struggling and sees my story that it's ok. we're in 2021. it's a different time to where it was before.

it's more accepting. i've been nothing but getting good things by the public, so i hope that one day, someone else can follow my lead and come out. and it becomes normal. it doesn't matter, everyone is welcome. wonderful words there from josh cavallo. i've been speaking to ryan 0'callaghan, a former american football player who is now openly gay, but hid his sexuality during his nfl career. i asked him for his reaction tojosh cavallo's announcement. i'm tremendously happy for him. what he said in his interview, it is 2021 and times are different. i retired in 2012. it wasn't like it is today. even though it was only ten years ago. he didn't have all those professional organisations being upfront and support of lgbtq rights. being upfront in support of lgbtq rights. i think that's gone a long way.

you've documented the personal anguish that you went through in that autobiography that you've written, and it must�*ve been tremendously difficult. tremendously difficult, keeping your sexuality hidden from your friends and team—mates. why did you feel compelled to do that? i knew i wasn't the only one. i knew i couldn't have been the only closeted athlete with feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide and struggling with drugs to cope with my own personal fears of being closeted. so, i felt it was important i put myself out there and tell my whole story. maybe someone can relate and gain some personal strength by hearing my story. thankfully, that's been the response now. quite a few athletes reach out to me, and i can help and what little way i can to make them feel better. that is fantastic, but i imagine there were some

very difficult days that you went through. when you look back, what was the hardest thing about all of it? the toughest part for me was constantly having to lie to everyone. it really wore on me and who i was, but i was convinced that no one would ever accept me if i was an openly gay man. when you're closeted, it can be all—consuming in your mind of trying to not be outed, whether you're actively living as an openly gay man or not, you still have these fears. looking back, its not having any of these fears whatsoever. it's just a calmness that i have that i wish i had back then. it must be absolutely liberating, but that paranoia that you talk about, do you think that it will be different now for younger players that the sporting world

is becoming a more accepting place? yeah, it really should be. we've had a lot of examples of professional athletes over the past few years that have come out and have overwhelmingly positive experience. josh had a great reception. here in the state, we had carl come out. he plays for the inmate fell —— nfl. people have been welcoming with open arms. a lot of concerns have to do with losing yourjob. the experience of carl here and josh there, it's proven you won't lose yourjob. you just have to deal with the internal conflicts, and it's up to people to come out on their own time. ryan 0'callaghan there. spanish footballing giants barcelona have sacked their manager ronald koeman after a poor start to the season. the catalan club currently sit ninth in the la liga table —

in theirfirst season since losing lionel messi to paris st germain. the move comes off the back of a disappointing third place finish last year in the dutchman�*s maiden campaign. the dutchman's maiden campaign. barcelona are also facing servere financial pressure — posing a threat to their long running dominance of the spanish league. to japan now, where the country will be holding a general election this sunday. the ruling liberal democrat party or ldp led by fumio kishida is expected to remain in government, but analysts say it might be a tougher win than expected. mr kishida was elected to lead the ldp after former prime minister yoshihide suga stepped down afterjust one year in office. joining me now from tokyo is dr donna weeks, professor of political science at musashino university. great to get you on the

programme. ijust want great to get you on the programme. i just want to ask what can we expect from the elections this weekend? thank ou. as elections this weekend? thank you as you — elections this weekend? thank you. as you suggest, - elections this weekend? thank you. as you suggest, the - elections this weekend? thank. you. as you suggest, the recent polling is indicating that the liberal democratic party is unlikely to lose. the question is how many seats it might loose from its current majority, the figures are all over the place at the moment. there's benefit putting push to get more young people to vote in elections —— been a big push. is there engagement among young people amongst politics in japan? young people amongst politics in ja an? , , young people amongst politics in jaan? , , ., in japan? yes, they have increasingly, _ in japan? yes, they have increasingly, usually - in japan? yes, they have increasingly, usually via | increasingly, usually via social media, to have students

become more involved. i teach a very demographic that the politicians are likely to target, and amongst my students, there are varying degrees of interest in getting involved. most of my students will turn out to vote. that's what we talk about in our seminar. but there is a perception amongst younger people that — in the legal age to vote is 18 now — in the hope to get more young people involved. both speak. �*s to cut you off. 0ne both speak. �*s to cut you off. one of the big issues is the relationship with china —— sorry to cut you off. how do you see the balance japan needs to strike between the us and china as a result of this lesson?—

china as a result of this lesson? . �*, ., ., , ., lesson? that's going to be a big question. _ lesson? that's going to be a big question, and _ lesson? that's going to be a big question, and i - lesson? that's going to be a big question, and i think- lesson? that's going to be a i big question, and i think most focus will be on taiwan. prime minister kishida does have a long history of foreign minister, and he was foreign minister, and he was foreign ministerfor almost five minister, and he was foreign minister for almost five years, so he does have the experience to bring to the table. i think japan and china do try and continue to balance their economic interests and that partnership very carefully, but i think there's also now with the developing security architectures in the region such as the pond, such as orca �*s mac and the increasing pressures on what's going to happen —— aukus. there is a lot there. happen -- aukus. there is a lot there. ., ., happen -- aukus. there is a lot there. ., �* there. doctor donna weeks, i'm so sorry to _ there. doctor donna weeks, i'm so sorry to keep _ there. doctor donna weeks, i'm so sorry to keepjumping - there. doctor donna weeks, i'm so sorry to keepjumping in - so sorry to keep jumping in like that, but i'm afraid we want out of time on this subject. it's been wonderful to

speak to you. we turn now to the question of looted art. the benin bronzes are sculptures that once decorated the royal palace of the kingdom of benin, in what's now nigeria. british forces stole the art in the 19th century. today, cambridge university become the first uk institution to return a looted benin bronze to the nigerian authorities. the bbc�*s theo chikomba reports from cambridge. jubilation as the benin bronze is returned. it's been part of the furniture atjesus college for over 100 years. today, it's heading home, a move which has taken years to come. whilst we've been so proud to have this new bronze, which is an absolutely beautiful object, a beautiful piece of artwork, but to us... it is an amazing piece of artwork. but the resonance and what this 0kukor means is so much more profound in nigeria. it's a real connection with the past. it's a spiritual object,

and this is actually a royal heirloom. during the 1897 benin expedition, this artefact, known as 0kukor, was one of hundreds taken by british troops in the kingdom of benin, which is now southern nigeria. it was then gifted by george william neville, a former british army officer tojesus college in 1905. fast—forward to 2016, students led a campaign arguing the statue needed to be returned to the community from which it was stolen. in 2019, the college agreed for it to be returned. here in cambridge, how significant is it for this institution to do what they're doing today? well, very excited today to be in cambridge, but alsojesus college, because it is part of our history, part of our identity, which has been cut away for many decades. and i will be happy to see it... a lot of nigerians can be able to see and feel these

artefacts that have been away for so long, which now they will be able to understand about the history and the past. and it's these words which recognised the influence and cultural meaning behind the 0kukor, something the university recognised. i think as the days worn on, as we've been leading up to it, we sort of really began to comprehend what this means for people across the world. and it's really fantastic, and i'm so proud that jesus college cambridge have been able to be the first in the world to actually follow through on what was essentially quite a simple question. whilejesus college has made history today, aberdeen university will follow suit tomorrow. could this spark a wave of more institutions returning looted items? theo chikomba, bbc news.

that's all the time we have at this hour. thanks forjoining us, do stay with bbc news. hello. 24—hour rain totals have now surpassed 230mm in the wettest parts of the cumbrian hills, and the met office amber warning for rain continues across cumbria and southwest scotland into thursday. there is more rain to come and, as all that water feeds down through the rivers and streams, the risk of flooding and disruption increases from a weather front which is very much still around in the day ahead, pulses of energy running along itjust enhancing the rainfall. so, there will be more rain to come on a very wet day in cumbria, for a time more widely across southern, central and eastern scotland, from the eastern side of northern ireland before it eases here, and pushing into more of northwest england and wales, and southwest england as the day goes on. northern scotland, sunny spells and a chance for showers, brightening up in northern ireland.

largely dry through central and eastern parts of england. these are your wind speed averages — gusts are high, particularly with the rain band along irish sea coatsts, gusting near 50 mph in places, and the higher temperatures will be those parts of across eastern england that break out will be those parts of eastern england that break out into a few sunny spells. we could well see 18 celsius again. there will be further rain overnight thursday into friday, but the idea is it's starting to move its way further east on another very mild night. and on friday, that rain will reach into parts of eastern england that have stayed dry through much of the week. there'll be another spell of rain moving through scotland — but as it all begins to pull away eastwards, it will be much drier to end friday, and particularly in those areas that have seen so much rain so far this week. at the same time, temperatures are coming down a few degrees. we're not finished with the rain, though — low pressure still very much in charge for the weekend, and another band of wet weather will arrive friday night into saturday. now it does look as if it's

moving a little bit quicker now, this, so it will bring a spell of rain overnight into saturday, but clears away more readily on saturday, allowing a drier, brighter day after the rain with a few showers around. and again, notice our temperatures are edging downwards. it looks at this stage as if sunday will be the wetter day of the weekend. as low pressure feeds in yet more rain, some of this will be heavy as it moves its way northwards. the wind starts to pick up again, as well, and even after the rain, there'll be some heavy showers around.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues — straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk from paris, i'm stephen sackur. france is recovering from the massive economic shock of the covid pandemic, but now it's exposed to the political uncertainty that comes with a looming presidential election. emmanuel macron hasn't officially declared that he will be a candidate, but there's little doubt

he is running again.