welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, the headlines britain and the european union agree a new, post—brexit trade deal, for northern ireland. the new deal would scrap customs checks with the british mainland. this means we have removed any sense of a border in the irish sea. it provides for long lasting solutions that both of us are confident will work for all people and businesses in northern ireland. calls for calm in the middle east after more deadly violence in the occupied west bank between israelis and palestinians as fierce fighting continues in the east of ukraine —

we go out on patrol with its helicopter pilots and south korean reality contestants push their bodies to the limit — and the world laps it up — on netflix the uk where the prime minister, rishi sunak has announced a revised trade deal that's aimed at fixing problems with the brexit arrangements that affects northern ireland. the agreement will remove checks for goods sent from the british mainland and destined for northern ireland. mr sunak and the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen declared the deal as opening a new chapter in relations between london and brussels. the us president, joe biden issued a statement saying

it was an "essential step" to ensuring peace from the good friday agreement is preserved. our political editor, chris mason reports for months, negotiations have rumbled on in the undergrowth. finally, then, at a posh hotel near windsor, just outside london, in a spot with a keen sense of its place in british history, the stage is set. the prime minister welcomed the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen. diplomatic niceties but personal warmth between the two that appeared genuine. a few hours later at windsor�*s guild hall, the announcement. together we have changed the original protocol and today are announcing the new windsor framework. today's agreement delivers smooth flowing trade within the whole of the united kingdom, protects northern ireland's place

in our union and safeguards sovereignty for the people of northern ireland. and take a listen to the european commission president describing the prime minister as dear rishi. we knew we had to work with clear mines and determination but we also knew, dear rishi, that we could do it, because we were both generally committed to find a practical solution for people and for all communities in northern ireland. in this deal, easing trade is central, as is ensuring products, whether seeds or medicines that are available in great britain, are also available in northern ireland and that taxes and duties can be the same, too. and what the government calls the minimum level of eu law is needed in northern ireland to avoid a border with the republic. it will, though, still mean a role for the european court ofjustice. so, will it be enough?

if the democratic unionist party don't go back into government in northern ireland after all of this, does it ultimately amount to a failure? quite often we focus on the politics of situations, westminster and all the rest of it, but this is about the people of northern ireland, about the communities, about the businesses there. not exactly a direct answer. and an answer matters because the ultimate prize is the restoration of devolved government here at stormont in northern ireland. if that happens, there will be a first ministerfrom sinn fein for the first time. we have always said it was possible to have a deal. we've always said that it was possible to have a deal. we've always said that with pragmatism, solutions could be found. so the fact that both sides have arrived at that point today and this represents the end of the negotiation, i think is something that will be well received. tonight in the commons, the scene of so many brexit defeats and so many prime ministers recently, rishi sunak had a plan to sell, sceptics to persuade. now is the time to move forward

as one united kingdom. but the biggest question of all, what about northern ireland's democratic unionists, will they buy it? in broad terms, it's clear that significant progress has been secured across a number of areas, whilst also recognising that there remain key issues of concern. there can be no disguising the fact, for example, that in some sectors of our economy in northern ireland, eu law remains applicable in our part of the united kingdom. enter next a familiar face who knows more than most about tortuous brexit negotiations. the best move now is for. everybody across this house to support this settlement because that is what is - in the best interests - of all the people of northern ireland. but some brexiteers well—versed in causing governments grief are not rolling over yet.

can he assure me and the whole house that when we go through the red book, or in this instance the detailed legal text, we won't find any nasty surprises? labour meanwhile are backing the government. when the prime minister puts this deal forward for a vote, labour will support it and vote for it. so, the vote to come will pass and pass easily but the prime minister won't want to rely on labour, so that means winning over every influential backbencher he can, including this one. boris johnson isn't saying anything, at least yet. for ursula von der leyen, there was time for tea with the king, a brew and handshake some feel uncomfortable about bolted onto a very political visit. most will forgive that, though, if today's deal delivers everything she and the prime minister hoped for. chris mason, bbc news.

i'm joined now by daniel mulhall a former irish diplomat. he's been ireland's ambassador to the united kingdom and also the united states. i think it's a good dealfor both sides. you would've seen as your report suggested that the body language between ursula von der leyen and prime minister rishi sunak was positive. a sense of a new era dawning in the eu — uk relations. the northern ireland protocol has been a vexing issue for the two sides in the last two years. it was only agreed and ratified three years ago but the last two years it has been a vexing issue but now that issue has been resolved. i believe that this was a more dramatic, a more radical reshaping of the review of previous view than i anticipated looking at the situation in the last few weeks.

was itjust down to their personal relationship ? there been so many twists and turns for many years and it appears most people are happy with the deal which makes one wonder why it is taking this long? it's taken this long because there were political hurdles, mainly in the united kingdom to be surmounted over the last few years. i think with the new prime minister a few months ago, that led to a new phase in negotiations and i think in brussels the view within the european union was that they could negotiate popular with prime minister sunak and they could rely on him to stick with any deal that they arrived at with him. i think the eu demonstrated flexibility in conceding most of what the united kingdom was looking for in the negotiations over the last few months. you were part of the negotiation team for

the good friday agreement with president biden is keen to to preserve and he issued a statement about this latest deal. what does this mean for the uk standing on the international stage? it is good. because it would be nightmarish for the uk and the european union to descend into a trade war which was what was potentially going to happen if this wasn't sorted out. the united states is keen that it's two closest allies would be working together rather than at loggerheads. it is a high—stakes situation and i hope this deal, which seems to be going down well in the house of commons, i've seen the arch supporters of brexit speaking in favour of the deal, the democratic unionist party in northern ireland are still undecided and still examining the detailed, but i think there is so much in this deal, so much concessions made to express concerns that it ought to be the basis

for the democratic unionist party to agree and go back into government and enable us to celebrate in three months' time the anniversary of the good friday agreement with institutions up again and serving northern ireland the way they were meant to do. the italian prime minister has been eaten out to eu leaders regarding a migrant boat that sunk. it is believed that 200 migrants were on board, many from afghanistan, pakistan and somalia. andrew tate will continue to be held in detention in romania after his appeal was rejected by the court. he is accused of human trafficking, rape and organizing a crime group

alongside his brother, tristen. both have denied wrongdoing. there detention would run until the 29th of march. mexico's government says it has revealed a formal request from the united states to expedite the son of chappell guzman. the 38—year—old who has been accused of carrying on his father's drug empire, one of the largest drug operations in the largest drug operations in the world, was captured by mexican forces in january. the international community has called for calm, after israeli settlers attacked palestinian villages in the north of the occupied west bank, setting fire to houses and cars, and leaving one man dead. the rioting lasted several hours and came in response to the killing on sunday of two jewish settlers in a village near the city of nablus, where 11 palestinians were killed in an israeli raid last week. our middle east correspondent, tom bateman, has travelled to the village of hawara and sent this report.

a palestinian town torched. the aftermath of a rampage by israeli settlers. hundreds poured in looking for revenge after two of their own were shot dead. this man shows me the charred remains of his lounge. he rushed back from work trying to protect his family. translation: the worst thing is what the kids experience. i it's very difficult. afterwards they were trembling in fear and sheltering with me, begging me to stay beside them. palestinians accused the israeli army of failing to protect them. people here are still trying to work out how to sort out all of this damage. what you get a sense of here is how long this attack lasted. look at the number of torched cars. the burnt out building here, buildings like this stretching way up this street. it was one of the worst mass settler attacks in years.

setting the west bank ablaze. a palestinian man was shot dead. dozens were injured. it began after settlers pledged to take revenge for the killing earlier of two jewish settlers, brothers shot dead by a palestinian gunman in the town. today israel's far right police minister toward a settlement outpost. rights groups draw a link between the ultranationalists now in government and growing settler attacks. he told people not to take the law into their own hands but called for the force of the state. translation: the enemy must be crushed. - the heads of the instigators and the heads of the terrorist organisations must be taken down by targeted eliminations. israelis mourned the two killed before news emerged of another shooting in the west bank today, killing a 27 year us citizen.

the israeli army defended its handling of last night's violent as international calls for calm grow. but the west bank is burning. this feels like a moment of growing danger. tom bateman, bbc news, occupied west bank. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... south korea's real—life squid game how south korea reality tv going global. first, the plates slid gently off the restaurant tables. then suddenly, the tables, the chairs and people crashed sideways and downwards. it was just a matter of seconds as the ferry lurched onto her side. the hydrogen bomb. on a remote pacific atoll, the americans had successfully tested a weapon whose explosive

force dwarfed that of the bomb dropped on hiroshima. i had heard the news earlier, and so my heart went bang, bang, bang! the constitutional - rights of these marches are their rights as citizens of the united states, - and they should be protected, even in the right to test them | out so that they don'tl get their heads broken and are sent to hospital. this religious controversy — i know you don't want to say too much about it — but does it worry you that it's going to boil up? oh, it worries me, yes, but i hope everything'll be all right at the end of the day. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm in singapore. the headlines. britain and the european union agree a new, post—brexit trade

deal, for northern ireland. the new deal would scrap customs checks with the british mainland. calls for calm in the middle east after more deadly violence in the occupied west bank between israelis and palestinians as fierce fighting continues in the east of ukraine — where russian forces are trying to encircle the city of bakhmut — ukrainian forces are resisting, on the ground, and in the skies. the bbc was given rare access to pilots who are part of the battle in the east. on combat missions they fly low as one or two metres off the ground. our senior international correspondent orla guerin reports. this report contains some flashing images. an attack helicopter going into battle from a secret air base. we were given rare access to ukraine's war in the skies with the sikorsky brigade.

our camera was in the cockpit. they fly low to avoid detection by russian air defence systems. on a wing and a prayer. then, they strike. our target's on the eastern front, we can't say exactly where. they bank left to avoid being hit themselves and return to base, coming in right over our heads. the pilot, roman has been decorated for bravery. he's sa, a ukrainian top gun in an ageing soviet helicopter — about as old as he is. roman has flown countless combat missions in this war. that means being ready to die and ready to kill.

do you think about the fact that there are russian soldiers who will be on the receiving end? there are no people on the ground. only our troops and enemies. so if they came to our country with war, we are just protecting other countries. we are not aggressor. we are victims who are trying to protect themselves. and if to win this war, we should kill russian soldiers, we are ready to kill them all. so they prepare for the next sortie. spent casings are removed, missiles loaded — a0 per helicopter. one inscribed with a crude message to the russian leader. well, the helicopters are now being refuelled and rearmed.

this happens every time they come back. as soon as they touch down, they're made ready for the next mission because the order can come at any time. and any mission might be the last. after taking the fight to the enemy, some pilots from the brigade did not make it home. orla guerin, bbc news, eastern ukraine. belarusian president and long—time moscow ally alexander lukashenko will arrive in beijing on tuesday for a three—day state visit. this amid intense scrutiny of china's close ties with russia and its position on the ukraine war. a staunch supporter of russian president vladimir putin, lukashenko is expected to voice support for beijing's peace plan after russia's invasion of ukraine.

earlier i asked einar tangen, senior fellow at the taihe institute who joins me now from beijing. president lukashenko is being put forward as an all—around visit, but obviously given the circumstances i think both sides are trying to feel out how they will approach any kind of peace process. obviously the chinese president is anxious to bring in russia and its allies before it starts making overtures to europe and ukraine. can you talk us through the relationship between the two, though, i'm wondering what is in it for china to have these close ties with belarus? this isn't all of a sudden. they've had relations for 31 years. numerous visits. obviously, they were meeting on the sidelines of the conference last summer in which uzbekistan. this is the way you choreograph, from beijing's

point of view, choreograph a peace process, which is feeling out the parties and what they accept and how they feel about things. most of that depends on the top people meeting face—to—face and seeing where the other guy is. i think all preparations are going forward. in terms of economics, there is not that much. a joint economic development zone has been increasing in value, obviously, belarus is not going to be that welcome in europe so they would be looking eastward as well. south korea is world famous for its k—pop and k—dramas, but another genre —— �*k—reality�*, is now having its moment. physical 100 is a survival show where contestants push their bodies to the limits and battle it out for the prize of the best body. our correspondent in seouljean mackenzie has met contestants and fans of the show, to see what the hype is about — and a warning, her report does contain some flash photography.

there is no end to the korean wave. from k—pop... ..to k—drama. now there is another k capturing hearts — korean reality tv. think of this as the real—life squid game. physical: ioo sees men and women battle it out for the title of most impressive body. it's stormed to the top of the netflix charts, making car dealerjin—hyeong famous. translation: holding that rock was one of the hardest things i i've done in my life. my entire body went numb. my life passed before me. but i thought, "i cannot lose, i cannot let go". i know that one thing people really did love about the show is how nice you all are to each other. translation: yes, people cheered and | comforted each other. i think our foreign fans found

these moments beautiful. in seoul, fans get to meet their new heroes. why do you like the show so much? oh, because there's a lot of hot people! yeah, me too! everybody knows korea. it's really cool. i love it. reality tv shows have been hugely popular in korea for decades, it'sjust that they haven't broken through in the same way as k—pop and k—dramas, but the big streaming platforms are now realising that there could be a global appetite for k—reality. we've been invited behind the scenes of one of korea's most—loved shows. in i live alone, a panel of celebrities watch fly—on—the—wall footage of another celebrity living alone.

why do you think koreans love this show so much? because it's so real. we don't have any scripts. they can really see also celebrities are, like, living almost same as me. is this the key to the success, having famous people be themselves? right. you're right. i really wanted to say that. the industry is now watching the success of physical: 100 with excitement. we have around, what, 200 producers? this opens a great opportunity for them. if these kind of shows can travel outside korea, that means the more funding coming in from that show, that gives them more freedom to produce a bigger show, better show. want to come to our restaurant? amazon prime hasjust bought its first k—reality show, where a group of celebrities cook up street food in mexico.

hola! if k—pop and k—dramas show the polished side of korea, k—reality offers fans the chance to see the unvarnished side — what sits at the heart of the culture they love so much. oh, today's such a busy day. jean mackenzie, bbc news, in seoul. in a very rare display, the northern lights were seen as far south as kent and cornwall on sunday night. across more northern areas of the uk, the display was one of the best seen in a very long time by bbc weather watchers. an aurora is formed by a solar flare erupting on the sun, sending charged particles towards earth which interact with our atmosphere. more displays are expected in the coming nights.the most vibrant display was across scotland and northern england

where the aurora was made up of bright greens and deep reds. you have been watching newsday. hello there. strong solar activity brought spectacular sightings of the aurora borealis during sunday night into the early hours of monday morning. the strongest aurora was across scotland, but unusually, the aurora borealis could be seen as far south as wiltshire and oxfordshire, and one of the reasons being clear skies. in fact, temperatures really fell away quite sharply, as low as —8 in highland scotland, but even —6 in parts of oxfordshire. now, it does look likely that we are going to see more cloud, and so maybe the aurora not quite as prominent as we go through the next few hours. high pressure withers, but a northeasterly flow is drifting in a lot of cloud off the north sea, so that'll prevent temperatures from falling too far, perhaps staying above freezing.

but where we've got the clearest of the skies, we could see —5 in rural sheltered areas of scotland — maybe a touch of the aurora as possible here. but first thing on tuesday morning, we'll continue to see cloud drifting in off the north sea and a scattering of showers to the east of the pennines. quite likely, some of those showers could be frequent as well, and with that brisk northeasterly wind, it will feel quite cool. the best of the sunshine once again in sheltered western areas. we will see the cloud breaking up a little from time to time with more persistent showers arriving in the far southeast, but you've got to factor in the strength and the direction of the wind. it will feel noticeably colder, particularly on exposed east coasts. now, those showers in the southeast will drift away during the early hours of wednesday morning, and once again, the high pressure is still with us. there'll be little in the way of change to the story as we go through the remainder of the week. you can see on wednesday quite a lot of cloud around. still the risk of some showers

drifting in off the north sea west is best in terms of shelter, but sunshine is really going to be at a premium, i suspect. 7—9 degrees our overall high. looking towards the end of the week, it's not going to be that much in the way of changes. you can see the high pressure does drift a little bit further north and west and the isobars open out of touch, which means potentially, the winds will fall just that little bit lighter. and so, that means we might see a little more in the way of sunshine coming through, but largely fine and dry for the rest of the working week.

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. i'm stephen sackur. as russia's war on ukraine grinds into a second year, how complete is vladimir putin's control of the home front? critics of the war risk prison, independent media outlets have been closed down, and the kremlin propaganda machine has been supercharged. but thanks to the internet, the costs of this war cannot be entirely hidden from russian eyes.

my guest is tikhon dzyadko, editor—in—chief of dozhd or tv