this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories. six years of donald trump's tax returns — he'd refused to make public — are released in the us. controversial online influencer andrew tate is detained in romania as part of a human trafficking and rape investigation. brazil lights up in honour of pele as the first day of national mourning begins for the footballing legend. the russian president, vladimir putin, tells the chinese leader, xijinping, he wants more military cooperation between their countries.

we begin in the us where a congressional committee has released the tax returns, covering a six—year period, for the former president donald trump. some 2,700 pages of documentation, which mr trump had battled for years to keep secret, stretch from 2015 through 2020, covering mr trump's candidacy and time in the white house. the fight went all the way to the us supreme court this year, and last month the justices refused to block the release of the tax returns to the committee, thereby paving the way for their release. i'm joined now by our washington correspondent gary 0'donoghue. this is the end of one long road but there is a huge amount of documentation, this is not a straightforward case of having a look and making a judgment i presume. m0 look and making a “udgment i resume. ., , ., ., ., presume. no it is not although the committee —

presume. no it is not although the committee has done _ presume. no it is not although the committee has done some - presume. no it is not although the committee has done some of- presume. no it is not although the committee has done some of thisl presume. no it is not although the - committee has done some of this work already. when they first announced they were going to release the returns they came out with some headline figures which are being borne out to be true today. ie that the president paid no tax at all, no federal income tax at all in his final year in the white house. in those three previous years of that he just paid over $1 those three previous years of that hejust paid over $1 million. in two years of the six that were published tp just $750 in years of the six that were published tpjust $750 in income years of the six that were published tp just $750 in income tax for him and spite. various losses accounted for one interesting nugget that has emerged today is that the president promised that he would not take a dollar in salary while he was in the white house, 400,000 salary. he would give it all away to charity that was enumerated in the first three years but looks like in 2020 he gave nothing to charity. so the question is what happened to that salary he was supposedly not taking in 2020. that is one question i

think will ask. we in 2020. that is one question i think will ask.— think will ask. we 'ust have a statement h think will ask. we just have a statement coming _ think will ask. we just have a statement coming from - think will ask. we just have a l statement coming from donald think will ask. we just have a - statement coming from donald trump about the release of these tax returns in it he says, it's by his campaign, the democrats never should have done it the supreme court never should have approved it and it will lead to horrible things for so many people. the great usa divide will grow far worse in the radical left democrats will weapon nice and everything but remember that is a dangerous two way st. a very trump —like response but there is a point here. a lot of these tax returns have to bear in mind that they are were very heavy losses carried forward as well which makes a simple equation as to how much tax you paid on this year or that the most impossible to assess. i on this year or that the most impossible to assess.- on this year or that the most impossible to assess. i think that is ritht impossible to assess. i think that is right and _ impossible to assess. i think that is right and when _ impossible to assess. i think that is right and when you're - impossible to assess. i think that is right and when you're dealing i is right and when you're dealing with people of high net wealth, but worth the calculations about how and

why they pay their taxes are completed issues. it does not always clear to what extent they are trying to get away with things. but i think theissue to get away with things. but i think the issue for him is that partly because of the way in which he organises his businesses he has been accused and one of his companies has been found guilty of not paying enough taxes already. he has been accused of trying to inflate as assets in order to pay —— avoid paying taxes. the water point of weapon nice and this is interesting, next tuesday and the republicans take control of the house of representatives after their narrow victory in the midterm elections. that gives them control of committee structures inside of the house and control of what those committees investigate. they have vowed to use this precedent by democrats in

publishing donald trump's tax returns to go after berries financial disclosures and data from the current presidentjoe biden and his son hunter biden who they have had in their sites for a long time. a poisonous environment thank you very much for now. a controversial social media influencer has been appearing in court in romania after being arrested on suspicion of rape and human trafficking. andrew tate and his brother tristan were detained in the capital bucharest. andrew tate is british—american. he rose to fame when he was removed from the british reality tv show big brother over a video that appeared to show him attacking a woman — something he denied. richard galpin reports. andrew tate is a former kickboxer and one—time star on reality tv. he has a big presence on social media, openly describing himself as a misogynist, for which he's been banned

from some websites. but today, he and his brother have been detained in bucharest. the online influencer is accused by the authorities in romania of recruiting, housing and exploiting women by forcing them to create pornographic content. and, according to the authorities, the suspects are alleged to have set up what's been described as an organised crime group. it was when greta thunberg criticised andrew tate, saying he needed to "get a life," that he hit out, ridiculing her campaign to save the environment. i was informing greta that my very extensive car collection, with internal combustion engines which run on dead dinosaurs, have an enormous emission profile. and she replied by telling me her own e—mail address. charities in the uk trying to stop

male violence against women are calling for his videos to be taken down. the national crime agency says it's aware of action being taken by the romanian authorities to arrest four people on allegations of human trafficking. richard galpin, bbc news. tributes have continued to pour in from around the world to the brazilian football legend pele — who has died at the age of 82. in rio dejaneiro, the statue of christ the redeemer has been lit up — as has the maracana stadium. three days of national mourning have been declared in brazil. london's wembley stadium has been illuminated in brazil's national colours — and flags are flying at half mast at the headquarters of football's world governing body, fifa. pele also starred in one of the quirkiest films of the eighties — a world war two story about allied prisoners of war in a german detention camp. he played alongside michael caine, sylvester stallone — and other footballers including

sir bobby moore, 0ssie ardiles and russell 0sman of ipswich and england. russell joins us now. russelljoins us now. can i ask how on earth you got roped into that a great fun film but it went off. quirky. it all came about out of the blue. back in 1980 we were not doing bad in suffolk and bobby was the manager and someone approached him about needing some footballers to help make a prisoner of war film. and he said it was in the summer and some of the lights are not doing anything i will grant permission for

them to go over into the scenes. so ou them to go over into the scenes. so you end up in this extraordinary array of cast of characters including pele. some pictures showing off some skills here will stop what was it like? pele showing off some skills here will stop what was it like?— stop what was it like? pele was absolutely _ stop what was it like? pele was absolutely fantastic _ stop what was it like? pele was absolutely fantastic it _ stop what was it like? pele was absolutely fantastic it was - stop what was it like? pele was absolutely fantastic it was just l stop what was it like? pele was | absolutely fantastic it was just a normal bloke relay. very humble and bearing in mind we had three world winners in that squad. but also michael kane, sylvester stallone and for the average ipswich player the way that we were going out there to suddenly start playing football on a regular basis over a five week. it was not the stove for one weekend it was not the stove for one weekend it was over five weeks with pele and to everyone in that crowd. it was a

real eye—opener. pele was fantastic and likewise michael. they were very humble and helped everyone relax and appreciate it. we were out of our comfort zone a little bit. but we felt very welcome and it was great fun. great people. it felt very welcome and it was great fun. great people.— felt very welcome and it was great fun. great people. it was a fun film and very enjoyable _ fun. great people. it was a fun film and very enjoyable to _ fun. great people. it was a fun film and very enjoyable to watch - fun. great people. it was a fun film and very enjoyable to watch you . fun. great people. it was a fun film| and very enjoyable to watch you got the sense that people were enjoying putting it all together. he did go out. it was not a one day wondered you must�*ve sorta felt that you had a chance to get to know a bit. we were there _ a chance to get to know a bit. - were there for nearly five or six weeks so on a few occasions we would eat out together, go down to a restaurant on one occasion his manager brought his guitar along and wejoined in briefly for a sing song as he was strumming away. and most

of the lads would have a little drop of the lads would have a little drop of gin and tonic or scotch here pele liked a little scotch and he was very normal. just a bunch of guys hanging out together and having a lovely time having a cake about football. involved in the direction of the football with john houston, the director of the film pele cajoled him into letting him be in control of how the football scene would be shot which was a mounts of help to the director. —— massive help. help to the director. -- massive hel-., , help to the director. -- massive help , help to the director. -- massive helt. , ., help to the director. -- massive hel.�* , ., ., ., help. just looking at the overhead kick which i'm _ help. just looking at the overhead kick which i'm sure _ help. just looking at the overhead kick which i'm sure pele _ help. just looking at the overhead kick which i'm sure pele helped i help. just looking at the overheadj kick which i'm sure pele helped to choreograph. i interviewed him and i was struck this see how upbeat and friendly he was and always seem to have a smile on his lips but if you spent a few weeks with him, that was just him. he had a very up you be on

life. he just him. he had a very up you be on life. ., , , ., ., ., just him. he had a very up you be on life. .,, , ., ., ., ., _ life. he was very normal and easy tet to tet life. he was very normal and easy get to get along _ life. he was very normal and easy get to get along with. _ life. he was very normal and easy get to get along with. there's - life. he was very normal and easy get to get along with. there's a l life. he was very normal and easy| get to get along with. there's a lot of hanging about when you are making a film, so yeah, you would have a bit of banter about all sorts of things and he was very normal in that aspect. it was great fun. we were there for around five weeks altogether so you got to know him as well as he could. you were not with him every day but we spent a fair bit of time working together on the football pitch on what he wanted you to do and you felt very obliged to make sure that you did the bestjob that you could do. make sure that you did the best 'ob that you could dad that you could do. great to get your recollections _ that you could do. great to get your recollections of _ that you could do. great to get your recollections of that _ that you could do. great to get your recollections of that and _ that you could do. great to get your recollections of that and also - that you could do. great to get your recollections of that and also to - recollections of that and also to learn that he enjoyed a bit of banter and scotch at the same time. thank you very much indeed, russell. my thank you very much indeed, russell. my pleasure. sad thank you very much indeed, russell. my pleasure-—

president putin has called for greater military co—operation between russia and china in a video call with the chinese leader, xijinping. mr putin appears determined to strengthen relations with beijing, as he continues his war in ukraine. he invited mr xi to make a state visit to moscow in the coming months. in response, the chinese leader said the two countries should continue co—operation, without giving details. let's hear some of what president putin said. translation: in the context of growing geopolitical - tensions, the importance of the russian—chinese strategic partnership as a stabilising factor is growing. we have the same view of the causes, progress and logic of the transformation of the global geopolitical landscape that is now under way. despite the unfavourable external environment, illegitimate restrictions and direct blackmail by some western countries, russia and china managed to ensure record high growth rates of mutual trade turnover.

joining me now is asia pacific editor for the bbc world service, michael bristow. what did you make of the comments they and more to the point xi jinping's response.— they and more to the point xi jinping's response. president xi alwa s jinping's response. president xi always gives — jinping's response. president xi always gives vague _ jinping's response. president xi always gives vague responses l jinping's response. president xi i always gives vague responses and jinping's response. president xi - always gives vague responses and in this location was no different. these were the published remarks when cameras and videos were allowed into witness the meeting, afterwards they were ushered out and these two leaders will have had a conversation between themselves which far more interesting things were talked about there i'm sure. but i think the dynamic between the two leaders is that president putin needs the chinese leader more than the other way around will stop president putin has invaded ukraine and all kinds of

restrictions and sanctions and what he was doing here was appealing to xijinping to give him more support. and china over the last few months has not criticised russia for its invasion of ukraine equally it has not give wholehearted support. crucially it is not providing military support because if it did that then it would be in danger of an curbing western sanctions and criticism and that could affect china's relationship with the west which is far more important to beijing at the moment than its relationship, in some ways, with moscow. , , , relationship, in some ways, with moscow. ,, i, ,. relationship, in some ways, with moscow. ,, i, , moscow. this is very public and you would usually _ moscow. this is very public and you would usually expect _ moscow. this is very public and you would usually expect very - moscow. this is very public and you would usually expect very careful. would usually expect very careful choreography between two essentially friendly parties, to one another. do you think that this means there will be a steep visit from president xi jinping and there will be a leaning some way or another to closer cooperation ultimately? you talk

about state _ cooperation ultimately? you talk about state visit _ cooperation ultimately? you talk about state visit there _ cooperation ultimately? you talk about state visit there that - cooperation ultimately? you talk about state visit there that is - cooperation ultimately? you talk about state visit there that is an | about state visit there that is an indication of what i was saying a few moments ago. president putin invited xijinping to few moments ago. president putin invited xi jinping to moscow over the next few months and called him a dear friend the next few months and called him a dearfriend using the next few months and called him a dear friend using the the next few months and called him a dearfriend using the kind of language which suggests that he is the one really interested in xi jinping coming. i'm sure this is being mentioned by president putin and talked about with the chinese as well and approved by them and it would be extraordinary to find xi jinping visiting moscow sometime. it really is president putin driving the relationship at the moment and i would imagine over the coming months that china under xijinping will maintain its current position not looking to criticise russia, but not looking to criticise russia, but not looking to criticise russia, but not looking to encourage it too much at the moment is as a set he does not want to incur the wrath of the west. so i imagine china will maintain its current position.—

current position. thank you very much indeed, _ current position. thank you very much indeed, michael. - current position. thank you very much indeed, michael. the - current position. thank you very . much indeed, michael. the chinese state newspaper has said they have seen double the amount of patients. global clients think they are dealing with up to 1500 emergencies a day other news outlets suggesting a day other news outlets suggesting a thirds shanghai hospital has 70 patients it is having to treat them outside of the building itself. reports appear to contradict official government figures which on fridayjust recorded 5000 new affections worldwide. italy has begun testing passengers arriving. the first country to order a cobit antigen test. spain and israel lead us to impose restrictions both requiring a negative covid test or proof that travellers have been fully vaccinated.

here in the uk... police have urged anyone to come forward with information about the fatal shooting of a woman on christmas eve, outside a pub near liverpool. elle edwards, who was 26, was gunned down in the town of wallasey. a 30—year—old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been recalled to prison. another man is still being held, a 19—year—old woman has been released on bail. ms edwards' family have described her as the most beautiful and bright star. earlier, detective superintendent sue coombs from merseyside police made a statement, with elle's dad sitting beside her. elle's family are understandably devastated by her shocking and needless death. they need answers. and now it's more important than ever that people come forward and tell us what they know. while i understand how worrying incidents such as this are, i want to reassure people that my investigation team is working round the clock to get

justice for elle and her family. i can confirm that two people arrested in connection with elle's murder have been released from custody. a 30—year—old male from tranmere has been recalled to prison on licence, and a 19—year—old woman from rock ferry has been bailed. there's a 31—year—old male still in custody. we've already spoken to a large number of witnesses and reviewed a vast amount of cctv footage, and we are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry. still, we are committed to finding the persons responsible for elle's death and putting them behind bars. the latest on that murder investigation by merseyside police. now with all the sports news — here's ben croucher. 0ne one issue for the entire sporting world at the moment.

brazil has declared three days of national mourning following the death of one of the greatest footballers of all time, pele, who died on thursday aged 82. the premier league fixtures in the coming days will honour him with a minute's applause, whilst the players and match officials will also wear black armbands. pele scored a world record of 1,281 goals in a career that spanned three decades, becoming the only man to win the world cup three times. in his native brazil, where iconic monuments like christ the redeemer in rio were lit up as was the maracana stadium, home of the national football team. fans have also gathered to pay their respects outside the hospital in sao paulo where pele passed away. manchester city manager pep guardiola says the sport has lost an iconic figure. 0ur our biggest condolences for his family and friends and football is football thanks to this type of people, players. ithink

football thanks to this type of people, players. i think before number ten it was just a number people, players. i think before number ten it wasjust a number in after him it became something special. every player, top layer once tool where —— every top player once tool where —— every top player once tool where —— every top player once to where that number. in other news, indian cricketer rishabh pant is in a stable after being involved in a car crash in uttarakhand in the north of the country. pant suffered multiples injuries to his back, knee, ankle, wrist and face after his car flipped and caught fire. police say he'd "dozed off". he's said to be in a stable condition with reports the cricketer returned a normal mri scan on his brain and back. 0n the field, pakistan and new zealand shared a tense draw in the first test in karachi, after an unusual declaration by pakistan skipper babar azam. he decided to set new zealand 138 to win in the final hour — despite seemingly having little

chance of the 10 wickets needed to win. new zealand were up with the run rate before bad light brought a premature end to proceedings. the second and final decisive test starts on monday. and eleven players have been suspended by the nba following a brawl during the detroit pistons' victory over orlando magic. magic centre moritz wagner has received a two—game ban for pushing pistons guard killian hayes off court during the second quarter on thursday. hayes has been banned for three matches for retaliating. pistons guard hamidou diallo was given a one—game ban along with eight magic players — their suspensions staggered to ensure magic can still field a team. that's all the sport for now. thank you very much indeed for all of that. bringing you up to date on andrew tate. of that. bringing you up to date on andrew tate-— andrew tate. highly controversial and has had _ andrew tate. highly controversial and has had quite _ andrew tate. highly controversial and has had quite a _ andrew tate. highly controversial and has had quite a public - andrew tate. highly controversial and has had quite a public spat i andrew tate. highly controversial l and has had quite a public spat with greta thunberg and has been detained in bucharest on suspicion on rain

and human trafficking along with his brother tristan. 0ur correspondent nick is in hungary. what is the latest? find our correspondent nick is in hungary. what is the latest? and you and tristan tate _ hungary. what is the latest? and you and tristan tate have _ hungary. what is the latest? and you and tristan tate have been _ hungary. what is the latest? and you and tristan tate have been at - hungary. what is the latest? and you and tristan tate have been at the - and tristan tate have been at the progress court and prosecutors have been putting to them the allegations against them which we understand as sexual exportation, against their will of six women including possibly one rate charge. my understanding from the lawyer representing the tate brothers in the courtroom is that andrew and tristan have been refusing to reply to the allegations against them maintaining their right to silence. there is now a race against time for thejudge to silence. there is now a race against time for the judge to decide whether they will be remanded in

custody or whether they will be released, because the number of hours, 24 hours since their detention is running out and about 23 hours' time now. this detention is running out and about 23 hours' time now.— detention is running out and about 23 hours' time now. this may seem like a strange _ 23 hours' time now. this may seem like a strange story _ 23 hours' time now. this may seem like a strange story to _ 23 hours' time now. this may seem like a strange story to many - like a strange story to many people trying to follow it, andrew tate is british american but he does live in romania. ., , ., , romania. that is right he was born in chicato romania. that is right he was born in chicago in _ romania. that is right he was born in chicago in the _ romania. that is right he was born in chicago in the united _ romania. that is right he was born in chicago in the united states - romania. that is right he was born in chicago in the united states andj in chicago in the united states and grew up in luton in the uk and removed to romania in 2017. he explained it as a place that he felt freer and also freer to have the relationships that he wanted to. the centre of this controversy around him it has been his comments about women especially by young women and violence. ., ~ women especially by young women and violence. ., ,, , ., , women especially by young women and violence. ., ~' , ., , . violence. thank you very much indeed the latest there _ violence. thank you very much indeed

the latest there from _ violence. thank you very much indeed the latest there from romania - violence. thank you very much indeed the latest there from romania on - the latest there from romania on andrew tate still being held in detention by police as we speak. we are on the 30th of december if that means we are not far away from new year's eve and then of course the new year. the finishing touches are now being put to celebrations in new york for example. this is the team leading the festivities when they kick in. throwing lead the festivities, practising throwing confetti. everything seemed to go as hoped — although the centrepiece of the event, the traditional dropping of the ball, wasn't part of this rehearsal. it does mean there is quite a lot to clear up between now

and the stroke of midnight on the new year — when the confetti will be thrown for real. hello there. after a very wet morning, skies did brighten up through the afternoon for many of us with some sunshine, a few showers dotted around here and there, it was very mild across the south. but we see a return to the cloudy, wet weather for many of us as we head into new year's eve as well. so the last day of 2022 staying quite unsettled because of low pressure. now, as this area of low pressure from today starts to pull out into the norwegian sea, we could see a real squeeze in the isobars across the northern half of scotland this evening and overnight. so a swathe of gales or severe gales likely across northern scotland, the northern isles — gusts up to 70mph, and some sleet and snow, which will be drifting in the strong winds. so, snow, wind and ice a problem in the north. further south, we'll see more weather fronts pushing up, bringing more cloud, outbreaks of rain, some of it quite heavy, a risk

of localised flooding in places. mild in the south, cold in the north. so into new year's eve then, we have that cold weather across the north, winds easing down somewhat. still some wintryness, though, here. further south, we'll see weather fronts pushing up across much of england and wales. some of the rain will be quite heavy at times through the afternoon, particularly across the south and the south—east. but with it comes very mild air, 14—15 celsius likely across the south versus low single digits across the north, particularly northern scotland. and then as we run up to midnight, new year's eve, looks like that rain in the south will push northwards lying across this sort of area at midnight, chilly with some wintry showers and clear spells in the north. and we could see some clearer skies, some dry weather for a time across the south, one or two showers around. but i think the shower activity will tend to build up as you move into the early hours. again, a milder end to the night across the south, chilly in the north with a risk of ice. and then for new year's day, low pressure sits across the west of the uk. so, i think this is where we'll see most of the showers. this weather front could bring some

rain to the south east of england throughout the day. you'll have to stay tuned to the forecast for the details. but it looks like it'll be fairly unsettled across the north and west of the uk. probably the best slice of sunshine will be in this sort of area, quite breezy, fairly fresh south—westerly winds bringing very mild air, again, to england and wales, 10—13 celsius. far north of england, northern ireland, scotland, remaining in that cold air, particularly across the north of scotland. a quieter, colder, dryer period, i think, for monday. but the rest of the first week of january 2023 looks unsettled, but fairly mild in the south.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the many news stories for you at the top of the hours straight after this programme.

was 2022 of the year we finally learned to live with covid? at the start of the year, driven by the highly infectious 0micron variant, the virus still had us in its clutches. even as the new year's eve fireworks faded into the night, an estimated one in every 15 people in the uk would have tested positive for covid. it is because of the threat from 0micron that i announced on wednesday that we would move to plan b in england. you must wear a face covering in indoor public spaces, and from tomorrow, work from home if you can. faced with a huge number of infections, in early december