welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... suspending all tournaments in china — the women's tennis association says it has "serious doubts" that a chinese tennis star is "free, safe and not subject to intimidation". we know she's in beijing, but we also still are in strong opposition for an independent investigation without any censorship needs to be held. the first case of the omicron variant reported in the us — fresh travel restrictions are now in the works. hollywood actor alec baldwin insists he did not pull the trigger in the fatal shooting on set of his colleague and cinematographer, halyna hutchins.

and a defining moment for abortion rights in the united states, as the supreme court hears the most important case in a generation. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. the women's tennis association has announced the immediate suspension of all tournaments in china. it said it had taken the decision because the chinese authorities had failed to address sexual assault allegations made by the doubles star peng shuai against a former vice premier of the country. with the latest, here's courtney bembridge. it has been a month since peng shuai posted on social media accusing a top chinese official of sexual assault.

the post was quickly taken down and she disappeared from public view. photos and videos like this released by chinese state media were supposed to show her safe and free but did little to allay concerns for safety. concerns for her safety. and now, the women's tennis association has pulled the plug on lucrative tournaments in china. its chief steve simon says: and he added... the decision could cost the wta hundreds of millions of dollars. but the tennis community has come out in support of the decision. american former number one billiejean king tweeted:

it's a crucial time for sport in china, with beijing set to host the 2022 winter olympics and paralympics in february and march. and it's clear these questions about peng shuai aren't going away. courtney bainbridge, bbc news. the bbc�*s tennis correspondent, russell fuller, joined mejust moments after he'd interviewed the wta chairman about the decision. yes, it's something they feel very strongly about. he feels the women's tennis association was founded on the quality 48 years ago and this is a principle on which he is not prepared to negotiate. he is i think reassured that peng shuai seems to be safe and well and living in beijing, but he says that having taken the decision

to suspend tournaments in china next year, that it wouldn't be fair to put players and staff potentially at risk by asking them to travel to china in the current circumstances. why he feels... why he can't leave these sexual assault allegations to the chinese justice system. we allegations to the chinese justice system.— justice system. we are definitely _ justice system. we are definitely still - justice system. we are definitely still looking l justice system. we are i definitely still looking to have _ definitely still looking to have our direct contact at home _ have our direct contact at home. obviously, others have had contact with her and we're very— had contact with her and we're very happy that she appears to be fine — very happy that she appears to be fine and not in harm's way. we know — be fine and not in harm's way. we know she's in beijing, which is terrific, — we know she's in beijing, which is terrific, but we also still are — is terrific, but we also still are very— is terrific, but we also still are very strong in our position that_ are very strong in our position that a — are very strong in our position that a full_ are very strong in our position that a full and independent investigation needs to be held. fascinating. but the repercussions of this are potentially profound — hundreds

of millions of dollars at stake. �* , . of millions of dollars at stake. v . .,, of millions of dollars at stake. �*, ., ., ., of millions of dollars at stake. �*, ., .,, ., ., ., stake. it's a vast amount of money for _ stake. it's a vast amount of money for players. - stake. it's a vast amount of money for players. there . stake. it's a vast amount of money for players. there is stake. it's a vast amount of - money for players. there is the tournament at the end of the year. there's $14 million of prize money for an elite eight player field, prize money for an elite eight playerfield, for being prize money for an elite eight player field, for being the best players of the year. there other tournaments, best players of the year. there othertournaments, but other tournaments, but crucially finance othertournaments, but crucially finance at the tour. steve simon does feel that the money doesn't matter here. he admits it could be potentially damaging, and he says he does think about it morning, noon and night, but he is not prepared to compromise on this. he talks about having a tween approach next season that there will be an attempt to try and blame china if do the right

things, but if that's not possible, he will work on an alternative to get other cities to step in. alternative to get other cities to step in-— to step in. russell, i know it's impossible _ to step in. russell, i know it's impossible to - to step in. russell, i know| it's impossible to speculate what the chinese might do, but what the chinese might do, but what would the reaction likely be from beijing?— be from bei'ing? well, this is not be from beijing? well, this is not something _ be from beijing? well, this is not something that _ be from beijing? well, this is not something that the - be from beijing? well, this is l not something that the chinese government are used to. there are many sporting organisations in china and in other parts of the world, and as steve simon himself said, you can't always take thejudgment as himself said, you can't always take the judgment as to whether a country is being run in a way you would like it to be run. business does count for a lot. these organisations need money to exist, but it's on this particular case that he feels so strongly about. he says there's no way we can compromise. we now wait to see whether the chinese authorities will agree to his demands.

they're asking him, this independent investigation that peng shuai has made against state premier, so it doesn't really seem how the two sides can come together.— can come together. russell fuller there. _ meanwhile, in other news, the first us case of the omicron covid variant has been reported in california. speaking at the white house, president biden�*s chief medical adviser, dr anthony fauci, laid out what we know about the individual. the individual was a traveller who— the individual was a traveller who returned from south africa on november the 22nd and tested positive _ on november the 22nd and tested positive on november the 29th. the individual is itself quarantining and all close contacts have been contacted and thus _ contacts have been contacted and thus far have tested negative. the individual wasn't fully— negative. the individual wasn't fully vaccinated and experienced mild symptoms which are improving at this point. ——

was _ are improving at this point. —— was fully— are improving at this point. —— was fully vaccinated. the first reported case in america comes as us authorities are planning to toughen the coronavirus testing requirements for international air travellers to try and curb the spread of the omicron variant. the new measures could require incoming passengers to provide a negative result from a test taken within 24 hours of departure. right now, air travellers have to show a negative test result taken within three days of boarding the plane. president biden is due to give more details in a speech on thursday. in the uk, efforts have started to accelerate the roll—out of the booster programme. a target of the end of january for all eligible adults has been agreed in england and scotland, but at this point, wales and northern ireland have not signed up to that target. it comes as medical staff have expressed concern about the demands being placed upon them, at a time when many are already trying to deal with an increased workload. our health editor, hugh pym, reports. a vaccination centre on anglesey, preparing

like so many others around the uk to fire up the booster programme. it's a big ask for the nhs at a time of intensifying winter pressures. and the welsh health minister says help will be sought across local communities. we recognise that the workforce is absolutely exhausted, which is why we are really making sure that the net is really cast much wider this time to make sure that we can ask those volunteers to come back in. the minister said firefighters and military personnel could be deployed, but gps in wales have warned it'll need big vaccination centres to be set up again rather than relying on their practices. where gps have the time and aren't exhausted and wish to contribute as they did initially, then they could help with these centres, but at the moment, from a general practice point of view within our own infrastructure, we really are under the cosh. this pharmacist in hull, like others, is increasing

opening hours to offer booster jabs seven days a week. responding to the call by ministers to tackle the new variant. the best way to continue to defend ourselves - is through our fantastic- vaccine programme and it's exactly why we are expanding the booster programme. - hospitals will be part of the push to get more boosters done, expanding their existing vaccination hubs to give more slots to members of the public. this centre and others like it have been asked to create a lot more capacity. that'll mean extra appointments, but also possibly having to find more space, which will be far from straightforward. of course, it'll also mean more staff from the hospital moving to do the jabs. the medical director told me that however busy, her colleagues would rise to the challenge. i can't overstress the commitment there is amongst nurses and doctors to make sure that people get vaccinated. if i was to askjust every one of our doctors and every one of our nurses to do one extra shift to do some

vaccination, that would be a lot of vaccinators. today, monica, who's a teacher, came to getjabbed. she was eligible and had her booster. i feel i need to protect the people i work with cos i'm surrounded by people all day every day and children from different backgrounds, different family set—ups. health officials in scotland have repeated advice to people to get a lateral flow test before going to family gatherings over christmas, a point also made by the health secretary at westminster. and in northern ireland, there've been warnings of disruptions in schools before the christmas break because of a shortage of teachers partly linked to covid isolation. the world health organization said we should learn nowhere about the new variant within days. hugh pym, bbc news. —— learn more. the us actor alec baldwin has given his first interview since a gun he was holding on set went off, killing cinematographer halyna hutchins, back in october. in the interview with abc

news, he was emotional as he recalled the 42—year—old as someone who was �*loved by everyone'. he also said this. ididn't i didn't pull the trigger. so ou i didn't pull the trigger. so you never— i didn't pull the trigger. so you never pulled the trigger? no, i— you never pulled the trigger? no, i would you never pulled the trigger? no, iwould never you never pulled the trigger? no, i would never pulled the trigger at anyone.— trigger at anyone. what did you think happened? _ trigger at anyone. what did you think happened? i _ trigger at anyone. what did you think happened? i have - trigger at anyone. what did you think happened? i have no - trigger at anyone. what did you | think happened? i have no idea. someone put — think happened? i have no idea. someone put a _ think happened? i have no idea. someone put a real— think happened? i have no idea. someone put a real bull- think happened? i have no idea. someone put a real bull in - think happened? i have no idea. someone put a real bull in the l someone put a real bull in the gun that wasn't supposed to be on the property. our north america correspondent, david willis, is in los angeles. here's his assessment of how the interview will be received. i remember bringing you the initial reports of this incident in the desert in new mexicojust under six incident in the desert in new mexico just under six weeks ago, and at the time, it seemed ago, and at the time, it seemed a tragic but ultimately quite straightforward incident. the report from the santa fe the police department refers to a

shooting on the side of the film rust after a prop firearm was discharged by alec baldwin. over the course of the last few weeks, it seemed that this is anything but a straightforward incident. there are reports of multiple rounds of live ammunition on the set, contrary to the industry protocol. there were reports of members of the crew walking offset in protest over safety standards just the day before halyna hudgins lost her life. even reports of potential sabotage raised by solicitors for the armour on this film set. now alec baldwin has come forward to say he didn't pull the trigger, which raises the question, if he didn't, who did? was this an accidental discharge? how did this happen? and it seems from what we've been fed so far by the abc network that alec baldwin doesn't go very far in answering that particular

question. but this interview with him doesn't seem to raise more questions than answers. david, the police are still investigating this incident. have we heard any further details about it?— have we heard any further details about it? they launched a massive _ details about it? they launched a massive investigation. - a massive investigation. they've compensated hundreds of rounds of ammunition �*s dave conducted interviews —— they've. which numbers about 100 in total, and they interviewed alec baldwin several times as well. he was both the producer and the star actor on this film, but so far, there are no charges that have been laid against anybody in connection with it. alec baldwin's interview todayjust raises more and more questions. santa fe new mexico police department say they have no comment to make on these latest

remarks by alec baldwin, but as previously said, they are keeping an open mind as to charges as far as everybody is concerned on the set of there. david willis speaking to us. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... we're on board one of america's aircraft carriers as itjoins up with allies in asia, while politicians focus on china's intentions towards taiwan. it's quite clear that the worst victims of this disaster are the poor people living in the slums which have sprung up around the factory. we feel so helpless. the children are dying in front of me and i can't do anything. charles manson is the mystical leader of the hippie cult suspected of killing

sharon tate and at least six other people in los angeles. at 11 o'clock this morning, just half a metre of- rock separated britain i from continental europe. it took the drills just i a few moments to cut through the final obstacle, - then philippe cossette, a miner from calais, was shaking hands and exchanging flags _ with his opposite . number from dover. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our headlines... the women's tennis association has suspended all tournaments in china, saying it has serious doubts that chinese tennis star peng shuai is "free, safe and not subject to intimidation".

the first case of the omicron variant has been reported in california. the chief medical advisor says it was �*just a matter of time' before it was found in the united states. the us supreme court has begun hearing arguments in the most important case on abortion rights for half a century. the court is considering a law in the state of mississippi, which bans terminations after 15 weeks. a ruling isn't expected until next summer, but if the court — which is dominated byjustices with a conservative mindset — finds in mississippi's favour, its expected dozens of other states could ban or restrict abortions. our correspondent sophie long sent this report. singing. this is a regular scene outside the last remaining abortion clinic in the state of mississippi. it is murder, murdering children is according to the law in the bible.

the difficult decision women who come here have made, is judged very publicly. this is the front line in a bitter battle that has gone on for decades. mississippi is trying to ban abortions after 15 weeks. if the supreme court rules in its favour, it will roll back the law that has been in place for over half a century, known as roe versus wade. it is people in the poorest communities that will feel the impact the most. we are going out in the community... the students are spreading the anti—abortion message. they want it banned without the exception of incest or rape, and lydia knows how that feels. i was in that situation. i was scared, i was thinking, | you know what, even if i am, it's amazing that there is possibility of- a baby inside of me.

even with the law still intact, many have been forced to travel thousands of miles from states like texas after abortion is banned from six weeks, two more liberal states to access the care they need. one 19—year—old has come across half the country from houston to seattle. she was assaulted, did a pregnancy test that was negative, but over the coming weeks, her body continued to change. i was scared, cos i don't want any memory of that day, any affection to that person. i could not get any help for the pain i was going through. ijust had to suffer in silence. when people are controlling women's fertility and pregnant people's fertility under the guise they are trying to protect their health, they are controlling that person's basic human rights

and dignity, and that is a form of human rights abuse. the supreme court's decision will likely not come until next summer. over the coming months, many will pray and others will hope it goes their side's way. sophie long, bbc news, seattle. i want to bring you a special report now. for months, china has been probing taiwan's airspace, leading to speculation, it could be preparing to attack, or even invade the island. all of this raising concerns amongst asian and american officials alike of increased instability in the region. the commander of the us 7th fleet has been talking to our correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes during navy exercises with allies, on board the uss carl vinson. a pairof us a pair of us stealth jet past the aircraft carrier in a mock attack formation. this is a

show for tv cameras. it's also a message for americans. why might... we're about 500 km off the coast of japan, somewhere in the island of iwojima, which was the island site of a very bloody battle between the americans and the japanese in the final months of world war ii. today, the us and japan sailed together as allies, facing the new challenge from china. and to do that, america brought its very latest aircraft. this is the us navy's newest, most advanced and most expensive fighter aircraft. this is its first employment outside the us, and there is no surprise it's been sent here to the western pacific. for months, china has been sending dozens of military aircraft to

probe the airspace around taiwan. in a shanghai shipyard, they're preparing for launch. in the deserts of western china, they are building full—scale replicas of us air aircraft carriers. no one should underestimate the resolve of the us navy and its allies. ., ., ., , allies. the motto of this ship- -- _ allies. the motto of this ship... the _ allies. the motto of this ship... the motto - allies. the motto of this ship... the motto of- allies. the motto of thisj ship... the motto of the allies. the motto of this - ship... the motto of the us is peace through strength. through strength, as we try to do deter these nations that are showing a burgeoning strength, it's about ensuring that everyone understands today is not the day. understands today is not the da . , ., understands today is not the da. , . understands today is not the day. many are predicting china will soon overtake _ day. many are predicting china will soon overtake american i will soon overtake american naval power in asia. taiwan

will have to... the message from the us navy is that it is still by far the best in the world at doing this. any adverse or be very... rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news. an art installation depicting a traditional irish pub has been unveiled as the winner of this year's turner prize. our correspondent david sillito reports from the awards ceremony in coventry in central england. the winner of the turner prize 2021... and it is... array collective. array collective, a group of artists and activists from northern ireland whose turn a prize—winning artwork is more than just a pub,

it is a symbolic place of good—natured debate and sang tree from sectarian conflict. this is your shebeen, your pub, but it is more than that, it has a political overtone to it? we don't all agree on everything and the communities we're within and represented, don't agree on everything, but we still agree to have a laugh together. array collective origins lie in progressive and liberal campaigns, creating banners and costumes for street protests and rallies. in an attempt to bring art to a less combative mood to the street theatre of northern ireland politics. we come at it from a point of view to come at it from a humorous point of view than an aggressive point of view. you can challenge the conversation to humour, rather than aggression. bringing a bit of

civility to the debate? and the human connection. this is more thanjust a little drinking den, it's a desire to bring to our politics, some of the gentle warmth and conviviality of a friendly pub. david sillito, bbc news, coventry. and before we go, as far as monuments to enduring love go, it's hard to beat the taj mahal — shahjahan built it in honor of his beloved wife. but anand prakash choksee rose to the challenge — and built a new house in india for his wife in the style of the taj mahal. it took over three years to construct, and he even used the same marble as the original palace. a true labour of love and a romantic gesture for all to see. certainly an indication of the strength of love for his wife. very lucky woman indeed. that's all the time we have on

tuesday. thanks so much for joining us, do stay with bbc news. hello. the cold air is back. thursday gets off to a chilly start with a wide spread frost start with a widespread frost and temperatures won't crawl up too far for the day despite a lot of sunshine on offer. the cold air has come chasing down through these isobars all the way from close to the arctic circle, sweeping its way right to south across the uk. overnight starting to plunge down into the continent through thursday. we are all in the arctic air and we will all feel it thanks to a cold northerly breeze. where we've seen some showers overnight, there will be a risk of ice to start us off on thursday. as i said, a widespread frost. further showers across eastern scotland, eastern counties of england through the day, a few as well across the west

coast of wales, particularly i think, off pembrookshire, pushing down through devon and cornwall, eastern scotland. perhaps clearing come the afternoon, but it's cold in the sunshine. highs of just three or four celsius. sunshine a bit milkier for northern ireland through the afternoon. that is because this weather system will be starting to work its way in. as it runs into the cold air, there could be some snow for a time, but it will tend to turn back to rain as the air coming in behind this band of rain is relatively mild. actually, temperatures at the end of friday night higher than those we'll see through thursday daytime. and on into friday daytime, and we will have some rain around for southern and eastern england to start the day. we'll get some brightness for scotland and northern ireland, there'll be a few showers on and off here. just some question to the south of the uk weather this rain could push in through friday afternoon. we'll certainly keep a lot of cloud generally across england and wales, but temperatures

perhaps 11—12 celsius. it's certainly milder than thursday. to the north, five, six, seven. for the weekend, the chill returns. perhaps not quite as cold, as thursday but once again, we'll pick up a northwesterly breeze. for saturday, i think that's going to bring in some quite plentiful showers across northern ireland heading into north wales down into the midlands. temperatures, six or 7 but it will feel cooler in the breeze.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all them main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. what kind of republican party will be fighting for control of the us congress in 2022 and attempting to regain the white house in 2024? in large part, it'll hinge on donald trump. right now, he remains the dominant political figure on the american right. but american conservatism faces other defining choices, too.

not least whether the time has come to break up