south korea's birth rate hits a record low despite government efforts to boost the population. and strumming up business: rock legends come out in force for the opening of the first gibson guitar shop outside america. hello. good to have you with us. we have a jampacked programme so let's get started focusing on the us. joe biden and donald trump have been projected as the winners for their respective parties in the latest us primary election. voters in the state of michigan have selected the current and former president as their nominees for the democrats and republicans, although mr biden faced a rebellion within his own party activists urged democrats to vote "uncommitted" rather

than cast a ballot for the president because of his stance towards israel's war in gaza. so far more than 40,000 had chosen "uncommitted", however mr biden has received 80% of the vote, according to cbs news. let's speak to our north america correspondent peter bowes. hello to you. tell us more about the outcome, it is what we were expecting, for bothjoe biden and donald trump? h0 biden and donald trump? no surrises biden and donald trump? fir? surprises here, no surprise that donald trump should defeat nikki haley, his only remaining opposition to get the nomination for the republican party. nikki haley still insisting in the last few hours that she would stay in this race, all the way through to at least in a weeks time super

tuesday when several states go to the polls. it does not seem to the polls. it does not seem to be any route in terms of those remaining states for nikki haley to make an impact against donald trump, in fact as to trump releasing a statement after these results saying he is looking forward to a big win on novemberfive of the general election in fact he said he cannot wait for that day to come and his focus clearly now is on the fight againstjoe biden. mr biden also had a very good night, he is clearly the most popular candidate for the democrats and received a significant number of votes but there was this rebellion within his party, those people deciding that there were uncommitted and it looks like the votes are still being counted and will end up around 13— 15% of votes which is significant. the issue being joe biden �*s stance on israel,

—— calling for a permanent ceasefire. the mission was into michigan group saying that they disapprove of his strong staunch supporters you only want to change on that and the issue of course is michigan has a large arab—american community, a lot of muslim voters and that community has been increasingly angry at what they see happening in gaza and the plight of palestinians. in the plight of palestinians. in the previous election that community was very supportive ofjoe biden, he won michigan state so what could this mean going forward, this protest? this is perhaps just going forward, this protest? this is perhapsjust that, a protest vote to get a message through to the president. in fact the group also in the last few hours issuing a statement saying that they don't want to see donald trump become

president and making a point that this is an anti—war stance of theirs and they want to see the biden administration stance against israel and what is happening in gaza change, they are saying that they have got more votes and outdone better than they expected and at least will continue with this camp and likely through to the democratic party convention during the summer. they are upbeat with what they have seen happen in the state but it is unlikely that this will change anything long—term in terms of joe biden �*s chances of list of becoming the democratic party counted stop peter, thank you very much indeed. let's speak to oakland university distinguished professor of political science and director of the centre for civic engagement, david dulio. programme you were listening into peter no doubt and telling us what happened in these primaries. it was your take on

the outcome?— the outcome? thank you for havin: the outcome? thank you for having me _ the outcome? thank you for having me and _ the outcome? thank you for having me and the - the outcome? thank you for having me and the outcome | the outcome? thank you for. having me and the outcome my take is no surprises. it was a result on both sides in terms of the democratic primary and republican primary that everyone saw coming, bothjoe biden and donald trump when going away they are going to be their party nominees for the general election barring anything catastrophic, there will be the nominees. but havin: will be the nominees. but having said _ will be the nominees. but having said that, - will be the nominees. but having said that, those activists who urged democrats to put uncommitted down as opposed to a positive next to joe biden, they are getting a lot of attention and their message is being heard? they are and i think _ message is being heard? they are and i think that _ message is being heard? they are and i think that it - message is being heard? they are and i think that it is - are and i think that it is speaking quite loudly. there is some debate here in the states about just what the 13—15, maybe even 18% of the vote will mean but i'm looking at it in

terms of raw votes and it will get past 60,000 with ease. that is a number i think that the biden campaign will have to take seriously, they made a statement that there will not look for donald trump common sense. but might they not vote at all? that's the real question here and if some of them do, joe biden has a bunch of other constituency here in michigan it would stoke the flames for a free alarm fire for the campaign right now. it's important, every vote counts and i know it is cliche but in this election in november that is the thinking, isn't it? ~ ., ., ., , isn't it? without a doubt. michigan _ isn't it? without a doubt. michigan is _ isn't it? without a doubt. michigan is a _ isn't it? without a doubt. michigan is a state - isn't it? without a doubt. michigan is a state and l michigan is a state and we don't need to get into the intricacies of our strange system of selecting a president of the electoral college but the state votes and in 2020 joe biden one by 154,000 votes, it

seems like a lot in comparison to that donald trump wondai in 2016 but you could small shifts among constituencies and you get enough of those small ships and they add up to a lot of a big enough shift to change the outcome to shake things up in michigan. it’s outcome to shake things up in michiaan. v . outcome to shake things up in michiaan. �*, ., ., michigan. it's hard to generalise _ michigan. it's hard to generalise but - michigan. it's hard to generalise but what l michigan. it's hard to | generalise but what is michigan. it's hard to - generalise but what is the feeling in the us at the moment in what is happening in gaza? i think that the polling and survey research we have demonstrates that the country in general is behind israel, supportive of israel. i think the democratic party is very split in terms of their support for israel versus wanting to see a ceasefire either an extended ceasefire or a permanent one and those kinds of divisions are going to be present throughout the campaign for president.— for president. interesting, david thank _ for president. interesting, david thank you _ for president. interesting, david thank you it - for president. interesting, david thank you it is - for president. interesting, david thank you it is good | for president. interesting, l david thank you it is good to get your take on what is

happening in the us at the moment. more details have emerged about a proposed temporary ceasefire for gaza according to the biden administration. negotiators are hoping to reach a ceasefire agreement that can be implemented before ramadan, which begins on march 10. the draft framework would include a 40—day pause in all military operations. this comes a day after mr biden said a pause in fighting in gaza could begin early next week. but hamas has yet to respond to the deal drawn up in paris over the weekend. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says the two sides are far apart on an agreement. mr biden also warned israel risks losing global support in the war if its gaza offensive drags on but mr netanyahu dismissed his comments. translation: from the beginning i of the war, i have been leading l a diplomatic campaign whose goal is to deflect the war prematurely and, at the same time, gain support for israel.

we have significant support in this area. today, a harris poll has published that 82% of the american public support israel. it means four or five citizens support israel and not hamas. this gives us a source of strength to continue the battle until total victory. it's now more than 20 weeks since the start of the war in gaza, and with the hope that a ceasefire may be coming as early as next week, civilians in gaza are desperate for that outcome. fergal keane reports from jerusalem. 0n the 143rd night of the war, eight people were reported killed here. among them, a seven—year—old girl. in an area hosting five times its normal population, israel hunts for the hamas attackers who killed and kidnapped its citizens. and for civilians in rafah, grief follows... screaming

..pushed from place to place, always losing. screaming today, amid talk of a ceasefire for gaza, we followed the lives of three people — a doctor in the north, a grandmother in central gaza, and a 12—year—old girl in rafah in the south. malak al—dhabi heard the bomb that killed the seven—year—old girl in rafah. but this morning, as every day, she was up early to start work. her mum and brother have a lung disease. they use a little of their flour to make crisps, which malak sells to buy them medicine.

there is a loud desperation. and the quiet kind. samira nurala is a 65—year—old grandmother, first filmed for us back in october. she was also taking care of her sick husband. with no medicine, her husband died, lying on the ground in the refugee camp. samira deals with her grief by caring for her frightened grandchildren. now, samira's days are spent hiding herfear. translation: we are constantly

terrified, like in a movie. - every night, we sleep in fear, trying to assure our children, telling them not to be scared. i'm talking to you, and the drone is flying above us. israel blames hamas for the suffering, saying civilians are being used as human shields, and it has vowed to destroy the organisation in gaza. in the process, thousands of civilians have been made casualties. in the al—shifa hospital, the suffering — the boy holding the saline drip above his father — and the healers. dr mohamed elsheikh says he's only left the hospital twice since the war began four months ago. "we're working 24/7. "we don't go to our homes. "we're disconnected from our families," dr mohamed says, "all the volunteers and medical staff stay in the same room.

"as far as food goes, only a few items are available. "we provide whatever we can." in another ward under dr mohamed's care, three—year—old jude, who lost his leg in an explosion. nine—year—old adam's leg was amputated after being infected with gangrene. another day of war. still only talk of a ceasefire. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. let's bring you the latest on ukraine. the us and several european governments have distanced themselves from comments made by president macron of france that the deployment of western troops to ukraine should not be ruled out. german chancellor 0laf scholz said there'd been no change to the agreed position that no european country or nato member state would send soldiers to ukraine. there have been similar comments from other nations, including the uk, spain and poland.

in the us, white house officials also pushed back on the idea of any troop deployments. it is a sovereign decision that every nato ally would have to — would have to make for themselves. you have the secretary general stoltenberg say he had no plans or intentions, certainly under nato auspices, putting troops on the ground and president bryden have been crystal—clear since the beginning of this conflict — there will be no us troops on the ground in a combat role there. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. mps are to receive extra security as part of a £31 million package to ensure their safety following fears about politicians being intimidated by demonstrators. the home secretary, james cleverly, said no mp should have to accept that threats or harassment were "part of the job". ministers are consulting backbench conservative mps on watering down their plans

to reform renting in england. the bbc has seen a series of draft government amendments to an upcoming bill, which bans no fault evictions. they've have been shared with a group of around 50 tory mps who want to increase protections for landlords. the crooked house — which was known as the wonkiest pub in britain — devastated locals when it went up in flames in a suspected arson attack last summer. but now owners have been ordered to rebuild the iconic pub to how it was before it was destroyed. south staffordshire council say the building must be restored within three years. you're live with bbc news. south korea's record low birth rate has fallen again. it's the lowest in the world and politicians are warning of a national emergency. data for 2023 show there were 0.72 births per woman in south korea, down from the already record low of 0.78 the year before. it's a similar trend in many developed nations.

injapan, the figure was 1.23 in 2022. but new figures show the number of births fell 5.1% last year, the eighth drop in a row. and here in the uk, the birth rate in 2022 was 1.49 — the lowest since records began. for a country's population to hold steady, there must be 2.1 births per woman. and falling birth rates are causing alarm for politicians, facing a future of ageing populations and shrinking workforces. let's speak to our correspondentjean mackenzie who's in seoul. the government has spent huge amounts trying to encourage people to have children. why are women not choosing to have babies, ways the birth

rates so low? i have babies, ways the birth rates so low?— have babies, ways the birth rates so low? i have spent the ast rates so low? i have spent the past year _ rates so low? i have spent the past year travelling _ rates so low? i have spent the past year travelling around - rates so low? i have spent the| past year travelling around the country and speaking to women who don't want to have children to really try and understand their reasoning. although the issues are complex, there are two things that have really stood out for me. the first is women are still saying better and feel it's possible to have and feel it's possible to have a career and family and it's not possible to do both. you have a very intense work culture in south korea so working hours are long and the environment is critically competitive and they don't have time... they are the ones who are expected to do the majority of the childcare and so increasingly women who are highly educated... increasingly women who are highly educated. . .— highly educated... sorry to interrupt — highly educated... sorry to interrupt you _ highly educated... sorry to interrupt you but _ highly educated... sorry to interrupt you but your - highly educated... sorry to | interrupt you but your audio highly educated... sorry to i interrupt you but your audio is crackling. apologies. the audio clearly crackling and we will try to reconnect in just a moment stopped in the meantime let's tell you what's going on in new zealand.

new zealand is set to be left with a sole television news broadcast after us entertainment giant warner bros discovery announced the closure of newshub. after 34 years of being the state broadcaster, tvnz�*s sole competitors, the network's closure is being put down to loss of revenue, a move that's set to leave about 300 workers jobless, including some of new zealand's most recognised journalists. the deputy prime minister has labelled this a disaster for the country's democracy. the new zealand arm of warner bros discovery reported an almost £17 million loss last year. new zealand is currently in a technical recession with other media companies announcing job losses or hiring freezes. let's go to wellington and speak to imogen wells — a former newshub political reporter and now a podcast host for new zealand website, stuff. just tell us about this news. it was quite unexpected i understand? a shock for the people who were the

organisation? it people who were the organisation?- people who were the oruanisation? , ., , organisation? it was usually shockin: organisation? it was usually shocking as _ organisation? it was usually shocking as we _ organisation? it was usually shocking as we understand l organisation? it was usually | shocking as we understand it organisation? it was usually - shocking as we understand it we were called into a meeting at 11 am wednesday morning new zealand time and were delivered this news. the writing has somewhat been in a way on the wall to a degree, news hub has been on a hiring freeze at least since i left in 2022. whether or not you could read into that fallout period since thenit into that fallout period since then it will hoping it would not come to this but hugely shocking and devastating, these are my former colleagues, we all know one another. we are my former colleagues, we all know one another.- all know one another. we are all know one another. we are all aware _ all know one another. we are all aware those _ all know one another. we are all aware those of _ all know one another. we are all aware those of us - all know one another. we are all aware those of us who - all know one another. we are | all aware those of us who work within the media industry and unused times are tough and especially when it comes to advertising revenue is a lot lower than it used to be in the heyday. the prime minister, deputy prime minister santos is a for new zealand's democracy. is that from your perspective

as well? . , is that from your perspective as well? ., , ., , as well? there was huge words from the deputy _ as well? there was huge words from the deputy prime - as well? there was huge words | from the deputy prime minister first and foremost is one of the most vocal critics of the news media here in new zealand. we are one man down now, we've gone from having five major menus outlets across broadcast front and digital to fall potentially by the end ofjune and the journalism potentially by the end ofjune and thejournalism newshub and the journalism newshub produces and thejournalism newshub produces is a disruptive, they have tenacity without our miss gps, they are fine and one of the performers get a stepup history god forbid you are the subject because it will not let it go stop some of those journalists will hopefully be re—employed by other media outlets in new zealand but to lose an entire network when everyone working there has that disrupt the factor to them is going to be massive. i5 disrupt the factor to them is going to be massive.- going to be massive. is this not where _ going to be massive. is this not where we _ going to be massive. is this not where we are _ going to be massive. is this not where we are headed? | going to be massive. is this . not where we are headed? you yourself have moved from analogue tv to a podcast and website. is that not what we are all headed as much should i

start looking for a newjob? are you what to do but it is a wider trend. are you what to do but it is a widertrend. eyeballs, ears, attention spans are online and when we sell like we don't talk about traditional website anymore, we talk about tiktok, instagram, people want the news when they decide they wanted, they wanted in 60 seconds. that is the future and media outlets are trying to keep up with that stop the worry though is about the manipulation of the message and what people are seeing and listening to and reading. that is the concern _ listening to and reading. that is the concern to _ listening to and reading. that is the concern to stop - listening to and reading. that is the concern to stop totally. news outlets need to scrutinise and fact check and when you remove that capability and simply trust someone on tiktok through their phone up in their face is concerning where we are in an age of misinformation and disinformation and it is grim

and people need to trust news media and then you to keep engaging in it. media and then you to keep engaging in it— engaging in it. what is the outlook? _ engaging in it. what is the outlook? new— engaging in it. what is the outlook? new zealand - engaging in it. what is the outlook? new zealand is l engaging in it. what is the| outlook? new zealand is in recession, what is the outlook for the economy, those who are trying to look forjobs now etc? it trying to look for “obs now etc? , ., ., �* , etc? it is tough. i won't put any rose — etc? it is tough. i won't put any rose tinted _ etc? it is tough. i won't put any rose tinted glasses - etc? it is tough. i won't put any rose tinted glasses on, | etc? it is tough. i won't put i any rose tinted glasses on, it is not looking good and it doesn't feel good. 0bviously doesn't feel good. obviously the news we have today does not feel good. when they say hopefully journalist will find other jobs, hopefully journalist will find otherjobs, there are not any going. it is certainly not easy and the cost of living is every other word in reality as i imagine is is in the uk as well. ,., ., imagine is is in the uk as well. ., i. imagine is is in the uk as well. ., .,~ imagine is is in the uk as well. ., ., well. good to get your take on this, thank— well. good to get your take on this, thank you _ well. good to get your take on this, thank you for _ well. good to get your take on this, thank you forjoining - well. good to get your take on this, thank you forjoining us. | let's speak to our correspondentjean mackenzie who's in seoul. the record low birth rate is lower in south korea. it were just busy explaining why that is and also what the government is and also what the government is doing about this? i is and also what the government is doing about this?—

is doing about this? i was 'ust explaining fl is doing about this? i was 'ust explaining that i is doing about this? i was 'ust explaining that i i is doing about this? i was 'ust explaining that i spent h is doing about this? i wasjust explaining that i spent the - explaining that i spent the last year travelling around the country speaking to women who have chosen not to have children and to really understand what their reasons are. although they are complex there are two things that stuck out for me. the first is women still feel that they have to choose between having a family and having a career. they don't feel that they can do both because the working culture here is incredibly intense so you have long working hours, does lots of overtime and is also a very competitive workplace culture and at the same time it is still women who are expected to do the majority of the childcare, child raising and so they know they will have to give up theirjobs to have children and they are worried that they will not be able to re—enter the workforce in the same way after they have had them. women are telling me that they are not prepared to sacrifice their careers anymore to take on this traditional role of mother. the other thing that stuck up for me is this quite unique system of

education that south korea has. children are sent to these private after—school classes and most children from a young age and they are expensive. it can cost up to £700 per child per month and because korea is so expensive, it's not seen as an option here not to send your children to his classes because parents feel me the children fall behind so people are increasingly saying that if we cannot afford to send our children to these schools, we are just not going to have children. are just not going to have children-— are just not going to have children. ~ . ., , :: children. we have literally 50 seconds. _ children. we have literally 50 seconds, what _ children. we have literally 50 seconds, what is _ children. we have literally 50 seconds, what is the - children. we have literally 50 - seconds, what is the government hoping to do the change the trend? ., . . , . hoping to do the change the trend? ., . ., , ., , trend? politicians have been scratching — trend? politicians have been scratching their _ trend? politicians have been scratching their heads - trend? politicians have been scratching their heads for i scratching their heads for years about this. they have been throwing billions of pounds of this problem for about 20 years now and have not been able to turn it around. most of what they've been offering to this point has been financial incentives for couples to have children to people who have them are given monthly payments, subsidised housing, a hospital bill

cupboard, but the financial incentives are clearly not working and women centre that want societal change instead so the sorts of things that we just have spoken about these are much more difficult changes to implement and so yes politicians know that they are grappling with a crisis even if they don't know how to solve it stop it is really interesting and is a challenge in many countries around the world. thank you and i'm glad we could reconnect and get a clear line with you. i'll be back in a moment. we have all the top stories, apple is pulling out of the electric vehicle market according to reports and we will tell you about that and we will be in a cool gibson shop in london, see you soon. hello. temperatures have been falling quite quickly over the past few hours. we've got some colder air in place and there's some mist and some fog patches around for some of us to start your wednesday morning. so some fog patches, particularly through parts

of southern and central england and east anglia, and then rain is going to be spreading its way gradually eastwards. that rain pushing in across northern ireland by the early hours of wednesday, during wednesday morning pushing into scotland, wales as well. fog for parts of central, eastern and southern england — that should clear away by the middle of the morning. and then these bursts of rain could be quite heavy as they push across wales, into central england as well. far southeast and east anglia, staying dry for a good part of the day but a return to a few more showers from the northwest. temperatures, though, between about 9—13, so certainly milder than they have been. now, through wednesday evening and overnight then, this next pulse of fairly heavy rain at times pushes its way eastwards. could be quite squally. thunderstorms possible on that line of rain as it crosses its way southeastwards across many parts of the uk. clearer skies following on by thursday morning to northern ireland, scotland and the far north of england where we could see some wintry showers over the higher ground of scotland. so wednesday's mild air will clear away towards the east, and into thursday, we've got these colder conditions, this cold air mass following on behind. some heavy rain where those air masses meet that'll linger through parts of central and

southeastern england, i think, through thursday morning, only gradually easing away. but towards northern england, scotland, northern ireland, some clearer spells, a rash of heavy, blustery showers, though, moving in from the northwest. and i think north of the central belt, they could be a little bit wintry above around about 200 metres or so. so we're back into single figures towards the northwest of the uk on thursday. and then into friday, we've got low pressure very much in charge, moving in across that colder air mass. so we could see a little bit of snow on friday, mainly over the high ground north wales, perhaps the pennines, into the southern uplands as well. down at low levels, i think it's going to be falling as rain and we'll see brisk winds rotating around this area of low pressure. so blustery, particularly around the peripheries of the uk, less windy for central parts, but a little bit colder certainly compared to wednesday. so we're looking at single figures for many of us. further ahead, as we end the weekend and into the weekend then, we're going to stick with those slightly lower temperatures and it's looking fairly unsettled, showery for many of us as we head into the start of meteorological spring. bye for now.

live from london, this is bbc news. all eyes on somerset today for the official confirmation of the building of a multibillion—pound electric battery gigafactory creating thousands ofjobs. the us treasury secretary calls on allies to unlock frozen

russian assets to help fund ukraine ahead of the g20 finance ministers meeting. reports say apple is unplugging its electric car ambitions to focus on al. and strumming up business: rock legends come out in force for the opening of the first gibson guitar shop outside america. hello. i'm sally bundock with the top business stories. and later today, there will be a big jamboree in somerset to mark the official confirmation of one of the most important investments in the uk automotive sector since nissan arrived in 1980s. this is the flagship electric car battery gigafactory to be

built at the gravity business park in somerset