welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: the actor alec baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter after a fatal shooting on the set of the film rust. the family of the cinematographer who was shot dead said they supported the decision, but alec baldwin's lawyer says it represents a terrible miscarriage ofjustice. growing pressure on nato countries to send more tanks to ukraine — we have a special report from the frontline. explosions. very active fromline this morning. very close to soledar, seized by the russians

in the last few days. new zealand's jacinda ardern says she feels sad but relieved, after announcing her resignation as prime minister. and, the harrowing anti—war epic all quiet on the western front leads the nominations for this year's british academy film awards. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday. it's 9:00 in the morning in singapore, and 5:00pm in los angeles where we begin our programme with the news that the hollywood actor alec baldwin is to be charged with the involuntary manslaughter of the cinematographer halyna hutchins who was shot dead on the set of the film, rust. the film's armourer, who was responsible for the weapon, will face the same charge, after a gun that the actor discharged on set was found to contain live ammunition.

halyna hutchins family say the charges are warranted and that no—one should be above the law. sophie long has the latest from los angeles. the frantic efforts to save halyna hutchins in the moments after she was shot. it was during rehearsals on the set at the bonanza creek ranch in new mexico when the shootings and deaths depicted on the 19th century western they were filming became all too real. alec baldwin was holding the gun that discharged the bullet that killed her. how's it going, sir? he was also one of the film's producers. he now faces two charges of involuntary manslaughter. in a statement, the actor's lawyer said, "this decision distorts halyna hutchins�* tragic death "and represents a terrible miscarriage ofjustice." "mr baldwin had no reason to believe "there was a live bullet in the gun, "or anywhere on the movie set." the film's armourer, who loaded the gun, hannah gutierrez—reed, faces the same charges.

the first assistant director dave halls has pled guilty to negligent discharge of a deadly weapon. the santa fe district attorney said... halyna is survived by her young son and husband, matthew hutchins. after he reached a settlement in his wrongful death lawsuit against the producers in january last year, he said filming of rust would resume. the criminal charges are a devastating development for baldwin, who is 64, and has said he was heartbroken by the incident. am i being charged with something? he's always denied responsibility for halyna's death, saying he had been told the gun was safe. his lawyer says they will fight the charges and they will win. sophie long. a little while ago, i spoke to neama rahmani, a former us federal prosecutor and the current president of the la—based west coast trial lawyers group. i asked him what the charges mean for alec baldwin. there's two separate manslaughter counts — the first has a potential

sentence of 18 months in prison for alec baldwin, but it's really the second charge that's the most serious because it has a firearms enhancement — that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a new mexico state prison. so if baldwin is convicted of that second count, a judge can't sentence him to below that five—year number. indeed, and we have that statement from alec baldwin's attorney who has said that the decision distorts halyna hutchins�* tragic death, and that they'll continue to fight these charges, and they're quite confident they'll win. but what will the prosecution have to prove in this case? well, they have to prove that it's more than a mere accident. simple negligence just isn't enough for criminal liability here. so, the district attorney today talked about alec baldwin independently needing to verify that the gun was safe and not loaded.

and she also discussed the live rounds and shootings on set, the reckless and cavalier attitude of many of the staff members of the production company. there's also another basis for liability — perhaps baldwin should not have pointed the weapon at hutchins, even though he believed it was unloaded. and he said he didn't pull the trigger, but the fbi says that he did, and there's the question of whether he should've cocked the hammer back. so whether it's one of these factors or a combination of reckless behaviour, that's what the district attorney public office will need to prove. and in terms of penalties, what are we looking at here? well, we're looking at potential years in prison for baldwin — and that's why i don't think a resolution will be reached. we saw dave halls plead guilty and get a slap on the wrist with six months�* probation, but i don't think the attorney's office can offer any deal that baldwin and his lawyers will accept. so this case will go to trial.

baldwin has a strong defence that he was told it was a cold gun and didn't know and didn't act negligently or recklessly. but if he is convicted, especially of those more serious counts, he'll do time in prison. so what's next at this point, and do you have a sense of what sort of process and time frame we're looking at? well, baldwin won't be arrested, he'll be given what we call a summons or notice to appear, and he'll be arraigned on these charges. and then, new mexico has a six months, approximately, 182—day speedy trial clock. now criminal defendants like baldwin will waive their right to a speedy trial and push this out, but we'll see the beginning of the criminal process — the first step being baldwin appearing in court and answering to the charges. much more about this story on our website, just log on to bbc.com/news or go via the bbc app coming up injust a few minutes, our special report from the frontline of the fighting

in the ukrainian region of donbas. but first world leaders have been reacting to the shock resignation of new zealand's prime minister, jacinda ardern. ms ardern will step down next month, after saying she no longer has "enough in the tank" to continue. she became the world's youngest female head of government in 2017 but will leave her post at the start of february and won't lead her party into 0ctober�*s general election. shaimaa khalil�*s report from wellington contains some flashing images. she's been at the forefront of politics in new zealand for nearly six years, becoming something of a globalfigurehead. but today, jacinda ardern shocked the nation and the world, announcing she's standing down. i will not be seeking re—election. it was an emotional press conference in which she said she no longer had the energy to go on as leader. i know what this job takes,

and i know that i no longer have enough in the tank to do itjustice. her legacy today has been praised at home and abroad. this job takes a toll on you as a person and on your family as well, especially when you are a woman and there are maybe different standards for women. ms ardern was the youngest head of government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017 — just 37 years old at the time. her premiership has been tested time and time again. she led the nation's grieving after the christchurch terror attacks in 2019, in which 51 people were killed, and was praised for her decisiveness and empathy. she also steered the country through the covid—19 pandemic. thanks to an early and strict lockdown, new zealand has had one of the lowest death rates globally — but it's also led to some criticism. this resignation was delivered in that trademark jacinda ardern style —

personal and heartfelt. the prime minister said that, while the last 5.5 years were the most fulfilling of her life, she admitted that for her, it was now time. i think she's done an amazing job with the situation she's been put in. no, it was time for her to go, and no—one in their right mind would've voted for her, surely. overseas, she's definitely viewed very well, - whereas i think internally, she's probably maybe lostj the public's acceptance a little bit. _ and let's keep moving! her centre—left labour party will elect a new leader and new prime minister on sunday. they'll take over in february. politicians are human. we give all that we can for as long as we can, and then it's time. and for me, it's time. well, it's a little over 2a hours since jacinda ardern made her surprise announcement. she's been out in napier again today and had this to say about the last 2a hours to reporters.

how are you feeling today? i have to admit i slept well for the first time in a long time last night. but it is a range of emotions. of course, ifeel sad but also i do have a sense of relief. ~ . . , of relief. what has the reaction _ of relief. what has the reaction been - of relief. what has the reaction been like? i l of relief. what has the - reaction been like? i actually feel deeply _ reaction been like? i actually feel deeply humbled - reaction been like? i actually feel deeply humbled by - reaction been like? i actually feel deeply humbled by the l feel deeply humbled by the responses that i have received. to have those messages of gratitude has been really moving for me and my family. i will go home for a little bit and just back, get ready for a bit of time in wellington, focus for the team obviously is on selecting a new leader of the labour party and therefore a new prime ministerfor new zealand. it is an incredibly important decision on the team is very focused. so will that be enough to end speculation about why ms ardern is deciding to stand down?

i've been speaking to her former senior advisor, clint smith and asked him if he had been surprised by the decision. it was a surprise and it was a surprise to the political establishment in new zealand and the public generally. jacinda adern has looked tired recently but she was still a most popular politician in new zealand and the best shot for labor party to win re—election later this year even though it is starting to trail in the poles now. i think we have to take her word for it. after getting a country to a number of crisis and a huge reform programme i think she isjust exhausted and she was to have some time with her young daughter. some time with her young daughter-— some time with her young dau:hter. ,, , ., daughter. she is so well loved b so daughter. she is so well loved by so many — daughter. she is so well loved by so many peeple _ daughter. she is so well loved by so many people but - daughter. she is so well loved by so many people but is - daughter. she is so well loved by so many people but is it. by so many people but is it worth considering as well that her popularity has fallen in new zealand recently,

particularly over management of the pandemic? could that have had anything to do with this decision? i had anything to do with this decision? ., �* had anything to do with this decision?— had anything to do with this decision? ., �* ~ , ., , decision? i don't think she has done it on _ decision? i don't think she has done it on the _ decision? i don't think she has done it on the basis _ decision? i don't think she has done it on the basis of- done it on the basis of popularity. her popularity has declined from skyhigh levels during the height of the covid—19 pandemic that is due more to a lack of direction from the government after the pandemic, not her handling of covid—19. in the last year, the government has been caught up in a series of bureaucratic reforms and seem to have lost touch with people's concerns with the cost of living crisis. but i do not think that is why she has left. 0ne have it trademarks is authenticity and i think she is genuine when she says she does not have anything left in the tank and also she has been subject to an incredible amount of vitriol and misogynistic attacks that

weighs on her.— weighs on her. clint smith, former senior _ weighs on her. clint smith, former senior adviser - weighs on her. clint smith, former senior adviser to . former senior adviser to jacinda adern talking through perhaps some of the reasoning behind her decision to step down. ukrainian forces have acknowledged "stepping back" from the bitterly contested donbas town of soledar, captured by russian forces last week in their first significant victory after many months in retreat. soledar is where some of the fiercest fighting of the war has been taking place, it's close to bakhmut, a crucial supply route. 0ur correspondent andrew harding has been to the front—line, and his report contains some scenes that you may find difficult to watch. incoming artillery fire as we arrive close to the front line. a lot of incoming. a quick run for cover. we're in an area where russian and ukrainian infantry now appear to be fighting

at close quarters. i'm going through the remains of a house here, hit by a shell. heading towards the ukrainian position. we're just hearing small arms fire as well as this heavy artillery fire, which means that the russian lines are very close. in fact, we're hearing they're just maybe a kilometre away across the fields behind me. ukrainian troops firing from the outskirts of the nearby town of soledar. they're clinging on here. but soledar itself is now in russian hands, the kremlin�*s first significant victory in months. you've lost territory here, you've lost soledar? we have a quite tough situation here, so, but it's a controlled situation anyway. sometimes it's really better

to take a step back, but destroy the enemy. then, after that, to make attack and to already crush enemy completely. we destroy each day 50—100 enemy people. ukrainian drone footage appears to back that up. a russian position here coming under artillery attack. several wounded russian soldiers visible in the aftermath. ukraine is losing men, too. it's not clear exactly how many, but medics insist morale remains high. they are tired, they are cold, they are wounded. but they ask me, "man, doc, when can i return to my boys?" they don't say, "oh, thanks, god, i'm wounded, "now i can relax and so on." no. careful, careful. very active front lines this morning.

the ukrainians have withdrawn, but they're now trying to pound russian positions as hard as they can to prevent them from advancing here and encircling the next bigger prize, which is the town of bakhmut, which the ukrainians have been defending fiercely for months now. ok, let's go. time to leave a fluid front line that is costing both sides so much. andrew harding, bbc news near soledar, ukraine. if you want to get in touch with me, i'm on twitter at @bbckarishma. iam i am looking forward to hearing from you. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: pakistan's former prime minister imran khan has said he fears his country's economy could be set for a crash. he'll explain why, in his own words. donald trump is now the 45th

president of the united states. he was sworn in before several hundred thousand people on the steps of capitol hill in washington. it's going to be only america first — america first. demonstrators waiting for mike gatting and his rebel cricket team were attacked with tear gas and set upon by police dogs. anti—apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests throughout the tour. they called him 'the butcher of lyon'. klaus altmann is being held on a fraud charge in bolivia. the west germans want to extradite him for crimes committed in wartime france. there, he was the gestapo chief klaus barbie. millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot — - a tide of humanity- that's believed by officials to have broken all records.

this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines — the actor alec baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter after a fatal shooting on the set of the film rust. jacinda ardern says she feels sad but relieved after stepping down as prime minister of new zealand. to pakistan now, where the former prime minister imran khan has warned that his country could follow sri lanka with an economic collapse if there is not a general election early this year. mr khan was ousted in a vote of no confidence last april but is still politically active, and his critics say he is making the situation worse. 0ur pakistan correspondent caroline davies went to meet him. leaning to the side of a moving truck while others weave behind on motorbikes, this is the chase for the chance just to

buy a bag of wheat flour. a complicated mix of the country's own issues, last year's floods and the international market abiding in pakistan and the economy is under pressure. this is where people feel the problems that are happening in the economy. the price of food here and across pakistan has gone up dramatically and people don't know how high the prices are going to go and when the problem is going to be fixed. translation:— problem is going to be fixed. translation: ., , , ., , translation: onions used to be 200 runees _ translation: onions used to be 200 runees per— translation: onions used to be 200 rupees per 500 _ translation: onions used to be 200 rupees per 500 bag - translation: onions used to be 200 rupees per 500 bag but - translation: onions used to be 200 rupees per 500 bag but now| 200 rupees per 500 bag but now it is 1000. buyers and sellers are both very worried. the machines _ are both very worried. the machines have _ are both very worried. the machines have stopped in this cotton printing factory. 300 workers sent home for over a week. the owners say they can't import the dyes they need because there is a shortage of dollars around the country. translation: iii dollars around the country. translation:— translation: if we can't im ort, translation: if we can't import. we _ translation: if we can't import, we can't- translation: if we can't - import, we can't manufacture. we have already made a loss.

2023 is an election year in pakistan. imran khan wants the vote to be earlier rather than later and is trying everything in his power to force the government's hand, from mass release dissolving two of the's provincial essentially is. his critics say he is trying to create chaos to add to the economic instability. the only way pakistan could get economic stability is through free and fair elections. but those elections are due to happen this year. what you are calling for is to have them earlier. what is the difference? it isjust earlier. what is the difference? it is just a few months. the fact you are doing this could cause further economic damage. will you acknowledge that? actually, the dama . e acknowledge that? actually, the damage has _ acknowledge that? actually, the damage has already _ acknowledge that? actually, the damage has already been - acknowledge that? actually, the damage has already been done. | damage has already been done. it is only going to worse the longer this government stays. the worry in pakistan is we could have a sri lanka — type situation. could have a sri lanka - type situation-— situation. the pakistan government _ situation. the pakistan government says - situation. the pakistan government says this | situation. the pakistan| government says this is situation. the pakistan - government says this is all set to suit mr khan's agenda. his euo is to suit mr khan's agenda. h 3 ego is bigger than the country. his own head for his opulence

is bigger than the economy of pakistan. for one person's personal interest, we cannot hold the whole country into limbo. ~ , limbo. while the politicians ticket their _ limbo. while the politicians ticket their pakistan - limbo. while the politicians ticket their pakistan waits l limbo. while the politiciansl ticket their pakistan waits to see when they will go to the polls. caroline davies, bbc news, lahore. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. at least one football fan has been killed and 60 others injured in a crush outside a stadium in the southern iraqi city of basra. it happened as tens of thousands of fans headed to the basra international stadium to watch iraq play 0man in the final of the arabian gulf cup. there's been a second successive day of unrest in the peruvian capital lima as anti—government protestors continue to demand new elections. they're also calling for the resignation of the new president dina boluarte and the release of the man she replaced, pedro castillo, who was detained after being impeached. police in the uk are investigating claims the prime minister rishi sunak

committed an offence after social media footage appeared to show him riding as a passenger in a moving car without wearing a seatbelt. it can be punished with a $600 fine. downing street has apologised for what it says was a "brief "error ofjudgement". france has been hit by a nationwide strike affecting travel, finance, education and other sectors in a protest organised by unions against pension reform plans. in paris. —— there were some scuffles and clashes with police in paris. other major cities also saw marches and demonstrations. organisers say they are opposed to raising the state pension age from 62 to 64. president macron says it's the best way to ensure the system remains affordable. 0ur correspondent hugh schofield spent the day in paris. he sent us this update.

there's no doubt in my mind that the unions are going to be calling today a big success. four hours after the demonstration here in paris started and they're still coming down here at the place de la bastille as night falls. the cgt union is saying 400,000 people have turned out here in the streets of paris — probably a gross exaggeration, these figures tend to be — but even if it's only half of that, it's still a big turnout, the pictures are very impressive. president macron knows that the next step will be more protests to come. probably very soon, we'll get the announcement of another day like this to be staged next week, with more strikes, more protests. president macron needs to get this bill through parliament as quickly as possible, but the challenge will grow. hugh schofield reporting. all quiet on the western front, a world war one epic adapted by netflix, is dominating this year's bafta nominations. the german language film has received 14 in total — the first film to get

that many nominations since the king's speech more than a decade ago. our culture editor katie razzall looks at this year's contenders. leading the charge with 14 nominations, all quiet on the western front. visceral and very human, this first world war story's haul of nominations include best film and best director. yells. it's a war or anti—war film without heroes. it's really just about young boys who are blinded by political propaganda and go into war thinking of it as an adventure. now, i'm sitting here next to you and if you go back inside, i'm following you inside and if you're going home, i'm following you there too. the banshees 0f inisherin — the tale of two feuding friends in 1920s ireland — has ten nominations, with colin farrell and brendan gleeson among the film's acting nominees. ijust don't like you no more. mrs wang, are you with us?

i am paying attention. the sleeper hit everything everywhere all at 0nce also has ten, taking travel through different universes to another level, with michelle yeoh on the best actress shortlist. get a haircut, buttercup! and elvis with nine nods, including best actor, could make history if its cinematographer becomes the first woman ever to win that category. well... it's been a long time but it's getting better. i think that, you know, there's more inclusion and representation of women in the camera department now. on screen, women being celebrated as best actress include cate blanchett for tar and danielle deadwyler for till. as for the film that saved cinema after covid, top gun: maverick only picked up four technical nominations. commercial success no guarantee, it seems, of bafta glory. katie razzall, bbc news. so many great films to watch. i wonder when i will ever get the time! that's all for now. stay with bbc world news.

i will see you back on tuesday next week. —— i will see you back on newsday next week. hello there. quite a change of fortunes with our weather this week. it's been cold and frosty, has even been some snow showers around as well. we're going to close out the working week on a similar story — a frosty start, maybe some freezing fog around but for many of us, it'll be sunny and cold. temperatures to greet us first thing below freezing in towns and city centres, so colder still in more rural spots, particularly where we've got that lying snow. but we've got this little brief ridge of high pressure that's going to quieten things down and give us some sparkling sunshine throughout the day. weather fronts waiting in the wings. a change is on its way. now, a brisk northerly breeze mightjust drive a few showers along that exposed east coast. they'll be fairly isolated. for many, after a frosty start, lots of sunshine. freezing fog may linger

in northern ireland for a time but generally, those temperatures are going to peak for around 3—7 celsius. maybe a little bit milder in the south—west — the reason being this weather front that's going to drive in this milder air. so, a south—westerly wind starts to kick in to northern ireland and scotland for the start of the weekend. that will bring milder air with it, a rapid snow melt, as well, at times. you can see to greet us first thing on saturday morning 3 or 4 degrees here, but across much of england and wales, still temperatures below freezing. it's going to be another cold, frosty start. lots of sunshine around across england and wales on saturday but the cloud will push in through scotland, northern ireland, maybe north west england, and there'll be some showery outbreaks of rain — not really amounting to too much — but a difference with the feel of the weather, 9 or 10 degrees here, maybe temperatures around 3—7 across england and wales. still that weather front creeping in for the second half of the weekend but the far south—east corner may well

cling onto that colder air throughout the whole of the weekend, so it's a slow process. certainly on sunday, there'll be more cloud around than we saw on saturday. there'll be showery outbreaks of rain along west—facing coasts — some poor visibility here. the best of any brightness perhaps in the south—east — only around 3 or 4 degrees. out to the west, again, we could see double digits. the milder air will start to push in across the country but it comes at a price, unfortunately — we're going to lose that sparkling winter sunshine. there'll be a little more in the way of cloud around but we'll see double figures for all.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme.

james, welcome back to newscast. this week we have three guests. for the price of one. shadow education ministerfor for the price of one. shadow education minister for labour. and the snp deputy leader in the house of commons. and and the snp deputy leader in the house of commons. and we will talk about _ the house of commons. and we will talk about this _ the house of commons. and we will talk about this issue - the house of commons. and we will talk about this issue that. will talk about this issue that has dominated our lives. which is this coming together of two very knotty and complex and controversial issues. one of which is the uk constitution, which we'll come to in a minute, but the other of which is this planned law that the scottish government's been working on for a long time around trans rights.

yes. so, in summary, what is it?