this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm lucy grey. our top stories: at least ten people have been killed by a powerful earthquake in southern turkey, near the border with syria. beijing summons the us ambassador over the shooting down of a chinese observation balloon off the coast of south carolina. reports that ukraine's defence minister is to be replaced, following claims of a corruption scandal in his department. iran's supreme leader is to pardon thousands of prisoners, including many who took part in recent anti—government protests. and beyonce�*s big night — she now has more grammy awards than any other artist after winning four at this year's ceremony.

we start this hour with breaking news — there has been a major earthquake in turkey near the border with syria. the epicentre was in gaziantep close to the border of syria. strong tremors were felt across the region. the quake was recorded at a magnitude of of 7.8 and at a relatively shallow depth of ten kilometres. reports have been coming in of many collapsed buildings. azadeh moshiri is our reporter. sketchy details but a lot of reports and people across the region have felt this? the governor _ region have felt this? the governor of _ region have felt this? the governor of malaysia, - region have felt this? tue: governor of malaysia, close region have felt this? tte: governor of malaysia, close to gaziantep and he has reported

130 buildings collapsed. when you look at the pictures, the pictures we're showing you now. . this hit local time at around a quarter past four and since the early hours of the morning. you're seeing people bewildered and search and rescue teams doing their work trying to find people and missed the rubble because the president said these teams were deployed as soon as they could be. gaziantep it is home to about 2 million people and is the epicentre. it is also home to around half a million syrian refugees given it is so close to the syrian border and it has been hit quite hard. as you mentioned, this earthquake has

spread, tremors reported in places like lebanon on, cyprus and a serious. we places like lebanon on, cyprus and a serious.— and a serious. we spoke to a journalist _ and a serious. we spoke to a journalist in _ and a serious. we spoke to a journalist in his _ and a serious. we spoke to a journalist in his arm - and a serious. we spoke to a journalist in his arm in - and a serious. we spoke to a journalist in his arm in beirut when the tremors hit his building. t when the tremors hit his building-— building. i was writing something _ building. i was writing something and - building. i was writing something and all- building. i was writing something and all of. building. i was writing| something and all of a building. i was writing - something and all of a sudden, the entire building started shaking. i did not really know what to feel. also my first instinct was that it was another last and i was standing near the window and i was scared it might shatter. how lona did scared it might shatter. how long did it — scared it might shatter. how long did it go _ scared it might shatter. how long did it go for. _ scared it might shatter. how long did it go for. it - scared it might shatter. how long did it go for. it went - long did it go for. it went on for a around nine minutes and it was pretty horrific. i did not know what to feel. it was mind blowing. and it has happened in the early hours of the morning so presumably most people would have been in bed and we have seen pictures on

social media of buildings collapsing. what did you do when you felt it? presumably you have felt an earthquake before, have you? t you have felt an earthquake before, have you?— you have felt an earthquake before, have you? i felt some jammers _ before, have you? i felt some jammers but _ before, have you? i felt some jammers but not _ before, have you? i felt some jammers but not a _ before, have you? i felt some jammers but not a full- jammers but not a full earthquake before. my first instinct, i was pulling an all night on college and my first instinct was to check on other students in the building stop everyone was ok, thankfully. in lebanon in general, towns of reports of a building damage, into the foundations. but no—one not yet to know what is going on in turkey and syria. you are a long way away from the epicentre and it is extraordinary that he would have something so far away, isn't it? tt have something so far away, isn't it? , �* , isn't it? it is. beirut is actually _ isn't it? it is. beirut is actually 450 _ isn't it? it is. beirut is. actually 450 kilometres isn't it? it is. beirut is- actually 450 kilometres away from the epicentre in turkey and kind of close to syria...

initially, what i have learnt is the initial earthquake was in southern turkey and it reverberated in syria and in syria there was a double quake and that is what we felt here. mohamad el chamaa. 0ur producer told us that he also felt the earthquake. tt told us that he also felt the earthquake-— earthquake. it was quite a powerful _ earthquake. it was quite a powerful earthquake. - earthquake. it was quite a powerful earthquake. i- earthquake. it was quite a | powerful earthquake. iwas powerful earthquake. i was sleeping and my whole bed was shaking and my whole building was shaking. i live in a quite high building. i realise very quickly that it was an earthquake. it is not usual, not many have been here. i rush quickly to my daughter's room and they were sleeping. my body in the second room was trying

to scream, he did not understand what was happening. everybody was talking quickly on a social media, as everybody was waking up for this week. we do not have many reports of damage or casualties stop maybe it is still early but we have not seen any sort of casualties in the area but most of the people in gaza and the west bank, in that area, they felt about 45 seconds of the earthshaking.— about 45 seconds of the earthshakin-. . ., , , , earthshaking. was it 45 seconds on its own- _ earthshaking. was it 45 seconds on its own. there _ earthshaking. was it 45 seconds on its own. there are _ earthshaking. was it 45 seconds on its own. there are reports i on its own. there are reports people felt a huge after—shock, 6.7 in magnitude, the after—shock which was 15 minutes later. did you feel two separate tremors orjust the one? separate tremors or 'ust the one? , ~ one? yes, i felt like ten seconds _ one? yes, i felt like ten seconds in _ one? yes, i felt like ten seconds in the - one? yes, i felt like ten i seconds in the beginning. one? yes, i felt like ten - seconds in the beginning. then when i went to my daughter's's

room ifelt when i went to my daughter's's room i felt it again. when i went to my daughter's's room ifelt it again. it when i went to my daughter's's room i felt it again. it was not like a continuous 45 seconds but within a minute withheld multiple shaking. what withheld multiple shaking. what did ou withheld multiple shaking. what did you do? _ withheld multiple shaking. what did you do? what _ withheld multiple shaking. what did you do? what have - withheld multiple shaking. what did you do? what have you been told to do?— told to do? unfortunately, ma be told to do? unfortunately, maybe it _ told to do? unfortunately, maybe it is _ told to do? unfortunately, maybe it is the _ told to do? unfortunately, maybe it is the first - told to do? unfortunately, maybe it is the first time, | told to do? unfortunately, | maybe it is the first time, i was too young in the 90s when something like this happened. i did not really know what to do. i was just trying to rush to my daughter's's room. 0ur producer in gaza, rushdi abualouf. an rushdi abualouf. earlier we heard from mohamad an earlier we heard from mohamad el chamaa. the red cross is bringing such a rescue

to the area. people not necessarily leaving homes when the cracks are appearing and that they are damaged. they are asking for international help. turkey itself is used to earthquakes, sadly? unfortunately earthquakes, sadly? u nfortu nately for turkey earthquakes, sadly? unfortunately for turkey as well as of the rescue teams and emergency services, this is all too familiar. it is yet to be seen how significant this one is. the united states geological service has said said level be significant casualties because of the magnitude of the earthquake, the shallow depth and also because it is in an area where buildings are quite vulnerable to earthquakes, even though as you say it is not an unusual occurrence in turkey. 0ne earthquake in particular, in 1999 hitting the historic region where 1000

1999 hitting the historic region where1000 people and is the account. in terms of what the account. in terms of what the final toll and damage is is yet to be seen.— the final toll and damage is is yet to be seen. thank you very much for _ yet to be seen. thank you very much for now. _ yet to be seen. thank you very much for now. writers - yet to be seen. thank you very much for now. writers are - much for now. writers are quoting syrian state media saying 42 people have died and more than 200 have been injured in syria so more details coming in. we will keep you updated. republicans have criticised president biden over the amount of time it took to shoot down a chinese observation balloon that flew across the united states. china has said shooting down the balloon was an obvious over—reaction. the diplomatic fall—out is continuing, as warships try to recover the debris. secretary of state antony blinken was due to be in beijing this week, but he cancelled the trip after the balloon was discovered. barbara plett usher reports from beijing. for days, this solitary object floated serenely through us airspace, putting a diplomatic crisis onto television screens in real time. was it a harmless

weather balloon, as the chinese claimed, or a spy in the sky? moments after it arrived over the atlantic, the us brought an explosive end to the drama. that trail of white vapour you see on the left of the screen is an american fighterjet heading for the balloon. the second vapour trail is from a heat—seeking missile fired from the jet, easily finding its target. whoa! did you hear that? shortly after impact, the sound of the explosion was heard by people watching on the ground. then, what was left of the balloon came down in the sea off the coast of south carolina. suddenly we saw something take off from the jet and we knew that was a missile, and you could see the explosion. gosh, it was almost like a moving cloud coming down. it's scary. it's a different way of spying on us, let's put it that way. i the us navy is now recovering debris spread over seven miles in relatively shallow water.

down to earth, the us shoots down a suspected chinese spy balloon monitoring us military sites... this was how america woke up to the news on sunday morning. late yesterday, an air force f—22 fighterjet fired a single air—to—air missile into the balloon, bringing it down. president biden was criticised by republicans for not acting sooner, but he chose his own time. i ordered the pentagon to shoot it down on wednesday as soon as possible. they decided... without doing damage to anyone on the ground. they decided the best time to do that was over water, within a 12—mile limit. china's foreign ministry accused the us of overreacting. the statement said... the incident has blown up a chance to ease tensions

between the world's two great powers, with the us secretary of state antony blinken postponing a planned trip to beijing. here in beijing, the foreign ministry in china had been expecting to welcome antony blinken today to talk about stabilising the relationship in carefully planned, carefully choreographed meetings. instead, suddenly, relations have taken a sharp turn for the worse. the visit could still very well take place later in the year. butjust getting here is now part of the problem. barbara plett usher, news, beijing. barbara plett usher, bbc news, beijing. there are reports that ukraine's defence minister, 0leksii reznikov, will be dismissed and replaced by the head of military intelligence. reznikov, a loyal ally of president zelensky, is expected to be moved to a different post, with the ministry ofjustice named as a possible appointment. in recent weeks ukraine's defence ministry has been embroiled in a corruption scandal over an army food contract, with one of the deputy ministers fired, and another resigning voluntarily. mr reznikov became defence minister several months before the russian invasion. during the war he fostered relationships

with western defence officials and helped oversee the receipt of billions of dollars of military assistance. i've been speaking to larry korb, seniorfellow at center for american progress, and a former united states assistant secretary of defence, i asked if reznikov�*s being moved would make a difference. i doubt it, because general budanov who is replacing him has been involved right from the beginning. don't forget he was one of the few people who predicted that the russians would invade. he has been the intelligence chief and i am sure he has been working with all of the allies on these issues. i think it is also important because while secretary or minister reznikov was not involved in these scandals, the fact is they were occurring in his ministry and the last thing the ukrainians need now is to have that because

there are people even in the united states who say, "stop sending them so much money, they waste it". that is the key thing, isn't it? president zelensky wants to be seen to be cracking down on corruption very quickly, he wants to maintain the good relations with the people sending the weapons. but he is also thinking about membership or potential membership of the eu eventually, isn't he? no doubt about it. it is also, i think, important to put the general in there at a time when the russians are probably going to go on the 24th, which was the date they invaded, and start a big offensive to try and take back bhakmut and control eastern ukraine. it will be helpful to have a seasoned general in charge of the defence ministry. what about leaving the intelligence department? it is quite strange, isn't it, to move your chief of intelligence in the middle of a war, isn't it?

well, i think it is obviously, there will be a period there, but i think the real question is, there won't be any problems in him taking over the defence ministry because he will hit the ground running in the midst of probably the real turning point in the war. the russians are probably to try one last big offensive and if that doesn't work, then maybe they will be willing to settle. and again, the intelligence is notjust him, there are a lot of other people in there. we don't know who is going to take over, but i assume it will be another career person who has been working on these issues. reznikov did a press conference earlier and he was talking about, as you mentioned, this anticipated russian offensive later this month. he was saying that ukraine does have enough reserves to hold off russian forces, even though the western weaponry won't have arrived by then, a lot of it.

i don't think he can hear me. can you hear me alright? i can still hear you. i can hear you but you are breaking up a little bit. do you agree with what mr reznikov was saying earlier about this anticipated russian offensive later this month, saying that even though not all of the western weaponry will have arrived by then, that they do have enough reserves to hold off russian forces. well, i think he is trying to send a signal to russia that they are trying to increase their operation for two reasons. 0ne, obviously 24 february, the other is they know that a lot more help is on the way, like the leopard tanks, british aircraft and maybe even french aircraft. i do think that they want to do it before, it will take a couple of months for all of that to be there. but i think reznikov

is correct, that doesn't mean the russians are going to be able to score some big victories. they are tied down in baku, they have lost about 500 people in the last week. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: bouncing back — trying to boost koala numbers, following australia's devastating bushfires. there's mr mandela, mr nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps into a new south africa. iran's spiritual leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, has said he has passed the death sentence on salman rushdie, the british author of a book which many muslims say is blasphemous. the people of haiti have flocked church to give thanks for the ousting of their former president, 'baby 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 steps down from the plane a figure in morning. elizabeth ii, queen of this realm and all her other realms and territories, head of the commonwealth, defender of the faith. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines: dozens of people have been killed by a powerful earthquake which struck southern turkey — near the border with syria. beijing summons the us ambassador over the shooting down of a chinese observation balloon off the coast of south carolina. iran's supreme leader is to pardon a large number of prisoners, including some of those arrested during the past months of protests. the move comes on the eve

of the anniversary of the islamic revolution in 1979, when some prisoners are traditionally offered amnesty. taraneh stone, from the bbc�*s persian service, says those freed have several conditions attached to their release. one of those conditions is that they should not be linked to any spy activity, they should not be facing any charges of corruption on earth or waging war against god. as you can see these are quite ambiguous charges as well, and people have been charged with these accusations for setting fire on bins in the streets or merely protesting. so, these are quite ambiguous charges. they are also, one of the conditions is that they, these people, have to show remorse and also they have to provide promise that they will not participate, either protest or take similar actions again.

they called it the black summer, when a series of huge bushfires swept across vast parts of australia. millions of hectares of land were destroyed and more than thirty people died. an unknown number of animals also lost their lives. now conservationists are trying to boost wildlife numbers, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. they are one of australia's most iconic symbols. the koala is beloved, but it is also in serious danger. here, at a wildlife centre on the slightly inappropriately named kangaroo island, they are trying to do something about that, although finding and looking after these animals is easier said than done. it can be used, transfusion sets, a long net. we usually have two cages on here. we put that on the road. the bushfires of late 2019 and early 2020 were truly devastating. koalas were already listed as a vulnerable species before

they began, but the situation was made dramatically worse. by one estimate, 5000 of them were lost, and now there may only be 50,000 of them left in the wild. this facility looks after injured koalas, providing veterinary care, bringing them back to full health. see how sharp these are? some will then be returned to the mainland and moved to other parts of the country. slowly, hopefully, animal numbers will start to rise, and may be the koala will continue to be a symbol of australia for generations to come. tim allman, bbc news. pop queen beyonce reigns supreme at the 65th grammy awards. she has broken the all—time record for wins, with her 32nd prize and fourth of the night. the 41—year—old entered the day with the most chances at grammy gold with nine nominations, following the release of her album, renaissance.

she surpassed hungarian—british conductor georg solti who has 31 honours. we are joined by entertainment journalist in the united states, iya na robertson. it's all about beyonce tonight, isn't it? obviously, yes. talk us through what she has one. she hasn't got album of the year yet, she hasn't got album of the yearyet, has she hasn't got album of the year yet, has she? she hasn't got album of the yearyet, has she? t she hasn't got album of the year yet, has she?- she hasn't got album of the year yet, has she? i am waiting on our heels — year yet, has she? i am waiting on our heels for _ year yet, has she? i am waiting on our heels for whether - year yet, has she? i am waiting on our heels for whether or - year yet, has she? i am waiting on our heels for whether or not | on our heels for whether or not album of the year will happen. it is the most important album of the year will happen. it is the most important award. it is the most important award. it is the one we are waiting for. thankfully though, the beehive did get to see her make history tonight. we're still waiting for that last win. but we did already get to see the history making portion of the night. history making portion of the niuht. ,, . , history making portion of the niht. ,, ., , i: a, history making portion of the night. she has 32 now, but she had never _ night. she has 32 now, but she had never actually _ night. she has 32 now, but she had never actually won - night. she has 32 now, but she had never actually won album i night. she has 32 now, but shel had never actually won album of the year, has she? trio. had never actually won album of the year, has she?— the year, has she? no, she hasn't. that _ the year, has she? no, she hasn't. that is _ the year, has she? no, she hasn't. that is what - the year, has she? no, she hasn't. that is what would l the year, has she? no, she i hasn't. that is what would be so monumental about the award. is that she has not won it yet.

and then the stars would also align because this year is the 20th anniversary of her debut. 0k. she is up against adele, isn't she, for album of the year? that is the main contender against her, isn't it? , ., ., �* ., ., it? yes, and we don't what i do over the last — it? yes, and we don't what i do over the last time, _ it? yes, and we don't what i do over the last time, to - it? yes, and we don't what i do over the last time, to be - it? yes, and we don't what i do over the last time, to be how l over the last time, to be how it doesn't at least. we are crossing ourfigures. it doesn't at least. we are crossing our figures. adele has had seven _ crossing our figures. adele has had seven nominations - crossing our figures. adele has had seven nominations but - crossing our figures. adele has| had seven nominations but only one so far, she has best pop solo performance, hasn't she? yes, and the vocals, what can you say about that? you have to give that you adele. the vocals, we always want to see a p0p vocals, we always want to see a pop vocal performance from adele. �* . ~' pop vocal performance from adele. �* ., ,, ., , pop vocal performance from adele. �* ., ,, ., adele. also talk to us about bailey dale's. _ adele. also talk to us about bailey dale's. she _ adele. also talk to us about bailey dale's. she is - adele. also talk to us about bailey dale's. she is now. adele. also talk to us about bailey dale's. she is now an egot. you better explain to us what it is? tt

egot. you better explain to us what it is?— what it is? it is an acronym it stands by _ what it is? it is an acronym it stands by winning _ what it is? it is an acronym it stands by winning an - what it is? it is an acronym it stands by winning an emmy, | stands by winning an emmy, grammar, 0scarand stands by winning an emmy, grammar, oscar and tony. stands by winning an emmy, grammar, 0scarand tony. she won herfirst granny grammar, 0scarand tony. she won her first granny tonight making her a egot. for won her first granny tonight making her a egot.- making her a egot. for an audiobook_ making her a egot. for an audiobook recording - making her a egot. for an audiobook recording which | making her a egot. for an l audiobook recording which is not something you immediately think of when you think of the grammys. think of when you think of the grammys— think of when you think of the gramm s. ., , , ,,, . think of when you think of the gramm s. ., , , , . ., grammys. honestly it was such a beautiful surprise _ grammys. honestly it was such a beautiful surprise tonight. - grammys. honestly it was such a beautiful surprise tonight. i - beautiful surprise tonight. i don't think anyone had it on their bingo card. 15 don't think anyone had it on their bingo card.— their bingo card. is there anything _ their bingo card. is there anything else, _ their bingo card. is there anything else, what - their bingo card. is there anything else, what else | their bingo card. is there - anything else, what else should we be looking out for? how many more hours do we still have to go? more hours do we still have to to? . ., ., , ., more hours do we still have to to? ~ ., ., , ., , go? we have a beaut minutes left. go? we have a beaut minutes left- apple — go? we have a beaut minutes left- apple of— go? we have a beaut minutes left. apple of the _ go? we have a beaut minutes left. apple of the year - go? we have a beaut minutes left. apple of the year is - left. apple of the year is coming up. if you are streaming next day, please make sure to take a look at liz or�*s bonnets of special, it is so beautiful. in addition to the celebration of the 50th year of hip—hop. tt of the 50th year of hip—hop. it is a lively show tonight. what about the standout performance for you tonight? what is that been. . , , for you tonight? what is that been. ., , , ., for you tonight? what is that been. .,, , ., .,, for you tonight? what is that been. , ., been. easily, and it was so heartbreaking _ been. easily, and it was so heartbreaking and - been. easily, and it was so l heartbreaking and crashing, been. easily, and it was so - heartbreaking and crashing, but the tribute to take off stirred

something in so many people i saw online. i cried and my friends cried. it was just beautiful that he had the strength to get up there and give his friend that tribute, his family attribute. should we mention ozzy _ his family attribute. should we mention ozzy osbourne - his family attribute. should we mention ozzy osbourne as - his family attribute. should we l mention ozzy osbourne as well? there is also on the 0sbourne, was also 0zzy there is also on the 0sbourne, was also ozzy osbourne. and then, the girls although crazy pot harry styles. i am not a part of the fanclub but the internet was going crazy for him. we have to acknowledge harry styles in the building as well. ., ., ., ., ., �*, well. you have to do, that's fine. well. you have to do, that's fine- they _ well. you have to do, that's fine. they give _ well. you have to do, that's fine. they give very - well. you have to do, that's fine. they give very much . well. you have to do, that'sl fine. they give very much for talking to us. i do appreciate it, have you on. in taiwan people have gathered to celebrate the lantern festival. locals and foreign visitors launch sky lanterns after they've written their new year wishes on them. the event is held annually during the lunar new year celebrations. this year is the year of the rabbit, and the first lantern festival since the end

of covid restrictions. and that's all from me for now, thank you for watching. hello. the weekend was a tale of two halves. we had a weather front with us, and a lot of cloud on saturday, mild atlantic air. sunday brought high pressure with us and clearer skies. now that high pressure stays with us for much of the week, but round the periphery of it, towards the north, as you can see, we'll see, well, cloudier skies at times of weather, windier weather, as well, midweek, but for the most part, that high pressure keeps the weather fronts at bay, particularly in the south, where temperatures are falling away. a little bit of mist and fog, as we head towards morning and around for the rush hour, but with a bit more cloud creeping in across the west of scotland and northern ireland, more limited our frost here. not for eastern scotland, and a much colder start for england and wales, —3, —4 in rural areas and some ice to scrape off the car. but the fog should lift fairly readily, and it looks like we'll have less high cloud

around compared with sunday. so bright blue skies, but more limited brightness and sunshine for northern ireland and western scotland. after the frosty start in the east, though, we could see some sunshine lifting till ten across parts of scotland, ten in belfast. that's a little bit above average. further south, about average. now then, as we go through monday evening and overnight, this weather front starts to take shape across scotland and northern ireland, so, again, limiting ourfrost here, but not in the south. again, a cold night, —3 out in the sticks across countryside areas. for tuesday, therefore, probably more fog in southern areas, and slower to clear, and it could stay grey and cold for much of the day in some parts. then we've got that weak weather front slipping down across northern ireland and northern england, but brightening skies follow across scotland. so i actually think more sunshine for the northwest of scotland, compared with monday. then, as we go into wednesday, those tightly packed isobars arrive, our weather front as well. we could have a spell of severe gale force winds towards the north, later on wednesday, wednesday afternoon onwards, and it will bring with it, then, wednesday night in particular, a spell of quite significant rain, hill snow. but further south, hopefully a bit more breeze just to lift that fog, less issues around, but certainly the prospect of some more in southern areas, where the winds are a little

bit lighter, and again, a frosty start. so as we move into the latter part of the week, we've got that chance of some rain in the north, but the high pressure ruling the roost further south. so i think the main point about this week is that it's going to be largely dry, away from scotland in particular, but there'll be some frost and fog in the mornings and chillierfor a time on thursday.

this is bbc news. the headlines: dozens of people have been killed in turkey and syria by a powerful earthquake, which has toppled many residential buildings. the 7.8 magnitude quake struck the southern turkish province of gaziantep, in the middle of the night. it was felt strongly as far away as gaza. beijing has summoned the us ambassador over the shooting down of a chinese observation balloon off the coast of south carolina on saturday. in a statement, china's foreign office said it would be making solemn representations to the us diplomat. it described washington's use of force as an over—reaction. ukraine is set to replace its defence minister, 0leksii reznikov, in the highest—profile change, after a corruption scandal in his department.