this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm kasia madera and these are the latest headlines. the uk prime minister rishi sunak says he's willing to discuss the issue of pay with the nurses�* union to settle strikes but didn't make a firm commitment to increase salaries. when it comes to pay, we've always said we want to talk about things that are reasonable, that are affordable and responsible for the country. china lifts quarantine rules for people arriving from abroad, for the first time in three years. translation: downgrading covid doesn't mean letting it rip. - rather, we are more scientific, targeted and efficient in our response. it's feared that a number of people have been killed as russia bombs ukrainian cities overnight — minutes after its self—imposed

ceasefire ended. welcome to the programme. the uk prime minister rishi sunak has given his first tv interview of the year to the bbc�*s laura kuenssberg. mr sunak addressed concerns over nurses�* strikes and said he will talk to the royal college of nursing union about pay — but does not commit to increasing wages now to end their strike action. our political correspondent damian grammaticas reports. a health service in urgent need of care itself claims hundreds are dying each week because of delays means this is perhaps the most pressing issue for the prime minister. the first question for rishi sunak, is this a crisis? the nhs is undeniably under enormous pressure.

until now his government has said it won't talk to nursing unions directly about pay. that is done by a pay body. now he says a discussion can happen, though only it seems about future years. will you talk to nurses about increasing pay this year — yes or no? we are about to start that process. that is about next year. it is about the year we are about to start. is it not the financial year 23—2“ they want to talk about pay this year. we are about to have that conversation. when it comes to pay, it's not appropriate for those conversations happen in public. a glimmer of something for unions that will meet the health secretary tomorrow but not enough to stop strikes about the pay nurses are getting this year. there was a chink of optimism, there was a little shift in what the prime minister was saying, but what the government want to talk about tomorrow is pay moving forward. and in the broadest terms. and that is not going to avert the strike action planned

for ten days' time. with many waiting days now to see a family doctor on the nhs, the prime minister was asked if he is signed up to private medical care. were you registered with a private gp and are you still? yeah, but my dad was a doctor and i grew up in an nhs family. that was not my question. it's really straightforward. were you registered with a private gp? as a general policy, i would not talk about me or my family's personal health care situation. it is not relevant in this. what is relevant is the difference i can make to the country. but it is relevant, say the unions and his political opponents, who say it would be the honest thing, too. i thought the prime minister gave the impression of someone who not only doesn't use the nhs but doesn't understand the scale of the challenges or have a plan to deal with the fundamental problems, because yes, he can get people around the table in number 10 for a photo opportunity, do more sticking plasters to get us through this winter, but we need fundamental change in the nhs to deal

with what is the biggest crisis in its history, and that is what labour is looking to do. as long as the government won't talk about giving health workers any more pay now, saying the state of public finances doesn't allow it and the need to control inflation is vital, then more strikes are coming. ambulance staff this week, nurses and maybe doctors after that. damian grammaticas reporting. for the first time in nearly three years, china has lifted quarantine rules for people arriving from abroad. it's the final step in the government's dismantling of its zero—covid policies. the abrupt change has driven a rapid rise in coronavirus cases and has prompted other countries to impose restrictions on chinese tourists. tens of thousands of people gathered at border crossings between hong kong and the mainland on sunday to take advantage of the latest relaxation — the bbc�*s martin yip is there. china has been rapidly de—escalating all these covid—19 control measures,

literally walking away from what used to be called zero—covid macro policy. so if you wonder how rapid we are talking about, two things that happened today on the other side of this bridge might give you some clue. macau, the only place in china that could let you gamble inside a casino treats covid—19 from today as an endemic disease. that means it's something more or less like a cold or flu, you don't need to report yourself to the authorities if you get it, and you are very unlikely to be quarantined or other measures to be imposed on you. mainland china also stopped pressing criminal charges on those who are breaching covid—19 control measures. it all started from this morning. but that doesn't mean everything has gone back to normal. like in hong kong, you still need to wear a facemask like i do, or you will face a fine.

martin yip reporting. this further relaxation of rules signals a total reversal on the china's zero—covid macro approach to the pandemic. president xijinping's new macro approach to the pandemic. president xi jinping's new tack will give economic breathing space, but what will the political implications be? let's cross over to speak to rana mitter, director of the university of oxford's china centre. in terms of this u—turn on strict covid policy, what you make of the speed of this about turn? tiara speed of this about turn? two thins, speed of this about turn? two things. one — speed of this about turn? two things, one is _ speed of this about turn? two things, one is i _ speed of this about turn? twr things, one is i suspect now that many observers will think that this has been in the works actually for a few weeks. the number of cases that was rising in china, the number of covid cases that simply couldn't be controlled by the zero—covid lockdown policy was almost certainly becoming so great that the change would have had to come within the

next couple of months anyway. but the process, you will remember a month ago there were protests on the street in china, really very rare indeed, and they were also being encouraged by social media, would probably have track pushed the chinese government into changing the policy even more swiftly. in that context it helps them to get to where they want to go, to take people's attention away from covid and instead towards growing the economy which they want to be the china story of 2023. h0??? economy which they want to be the china story of 2023.— economy which they want to be the china story of 2023. how much do you think it is the — china story of 2023. how much do you think it is the economic _ china story of 2023. how much do you think it is the economic cost _ china story of 2023. how much do you think it is the economic cost to - think it is the economic cost to china and how much is at the protests we have been witnessing? i protests we have been witnessing? i think that overall the protests could have been suppressed, and indeed probably work in terms of the immediate aftermath by the police, the censorship of social media, and the censorship of social media, and the other tools china has that most of big societies don't because they are more democratic. i think overall the economic story and concern over thatis the economic story and concern over that is very real. china has something like 20% youth unemployment, and that's been exacerbated by covid but also being pushed by factors well beyond that,

such as the effects of the famous one—child policy. that ended about seven years ago but the aftermath is still felt on the effect means china is getting old and much more quickly, but without having create the kind of pension or welfare schemes that richer countries like the uk or south korea orjapan have done. it is those medium to longer term stories that i think are really worrying the chinese government now even more than covid in the longer term and why they are so fixated on building the economy up as fast as possible. find building the economy up as fast as ossible. �* ., g , possible. and for xi jinping himself, he's _ possible. and for xi jinping himself, he's put _ possible. and for xi jinping himself, he's put himself l possible. and for xi jinping | himself, he's put himself in possible. and for xi jinping - himself, he's put himself in this position where he is the de facto leader, just in such a strong, powerful position when it comes to china. but is there a potential that if the cases increase, with the deaths increase, he could be in a precarious position, or is thatjust given that a he will rule for the rest of his generation? i given that a he will rule for the rest of his generation?- rest of his generation? i think realistically _ rest of his generation? i think realistically he _ rest of his generation? i think realistically he is _ rest of his generation? i think realistically he is pretty - rest of his generation? i think realistically he is pretty safe. | realistically he is pretty safe. first of all at the party congress a few weeks ago in october he managed to replace pretty much all of the

other top leaders, the top seven in the leadership, including himself, with people who he has pretty much hand—picked so the top leadership over theirjob is to him and will not let that go lightly. beyond that there is also the possibility of even using social media to blame the protesters, saying, look, this is what the protesters wanted and that's why covid increased. in a weird way the chinese communist party may be able to turn the perpetrators to put forward a new message that any rise in disease is not the fault of the leadership but the fault of the protests. fascinating insight, professor rana mitter, at the university of oxford china centre, thank you for your time. the ukrainian military has rejected a russian claim that hundreds of ukrainian soldiers were killed in a russian attack on the city of kramatorsk. it is feared a number of people were killed as russian bombing of cities continued overnight after president putin our ukrainian correspondent hugo bachega joins me now from the capital kyiv.

we're just getting details at the moment of what has been said, just bring us up to date in terms of what we know regarding these claims that the ukrainian military are rejecting. the ukrainian military are rejecting-— the ukrainian military are re'ectinu. . ., the ukrainian military are re'ectin. ., ., , , ., rejecting. earlier today the russian defence ministry _ rejecting. earlier today the russian defence ministry claimed _ rejecting. earlier today the russian defence ministry claimed that - defence ministry claimed that without providing any evidence that a massive missile attack targeted two facilities in the eastern city of kramatorsk. they were housing hundreds of ukrainian soldiers. statement the russian authority said that more than 600 ukrainian forces had been killed. again, they provide no evidence to support this claim. they said this attack was in retaliation for that massive attack last weekend that killed dozens of russian forces. a ukrainian attack targeting a building in the occupied town of makiivka in the eastern donetsk region. and the russian

authorities have confirmed that 89 were killed. the ukrainians has said that up to 400 russian soldiers had been killed as a result of that attack. this was an attack that sparked lots of criticism in russia, and now into day a week after that attack the russians are claiming that a similar attack targeting on a building in the east of the country killed 600 ukrainian soldiers. the ukrainians are rejecting it, a spokesperson for the ukrainian army told us this information was false, and it was another piece of russian propaganda. and it was another piece of russian prepaganda-— and it was another piece of russian --roa~anda. ~ . ., propaganda. meantime overnight there have been bombings _ propaganda. meantime overnight there have been bombings in _ propaganda. meantime overnight there have been bombings in the _ propaganda. meantime overnight there have been bombings in the khaki - propaganda. meantime overnight there have been bombings in the khaki of- have been bombings in the khaki of region with a number of people feared to have lost their lives. this happened minutes after that unilateral ceasefire ended. the governor said the region of kharkiv,

there was a man killed and officials in the cities of zaporizhzhia, melitopol in the south of the country, and also in kramatorsk in the east reported attacks overnight, and the fact is even during that unilateral ceasefire, russian forces continued to attack positions especially around the town of bakhmut in the east of the country, an area of the country where intense fighting has been happening in recent weeks. one person was killed as a result of those russian attacks. the ukrainians have dismissed this announcement by president putin to coincide with orthodox christmas as cynical propaganda. they do not accept a ceasefire. and now we are hearing that the russian forces continue to attack cities after the end of that truce last night.— attack cities after the end of that truce last night. hugo, thank you for bringing _ truce last night. hugo, thank you for bringing us — truce last night. hugo, thank you for bringing us up _

truce last night. hugo, thank you for bringing us up to _ truce last night. hugo, thank you for bringing us up to date - truce last night. hugo, thank you for bringing us up to date on - truce last night. hugo, thank you | for bringing us up to date on those developments, hugo bachega, my colleague in kyiv, thank you. we have a special section on our website dedicated to the ongoing war in ukraine. so do check that out, it is online, with lots more details there. you're watching bbc news. to west africa, where 38 people have died in central senegal when two buses crashed into each other on sunday. the "serious accident" took place near the town of kaffrine, leaving 87 people injured from the collision. the crash is one of the heaviest death tolls from a single incident in recent years. the united states has called for iran to stop executing anti—government protesters. the state department said two men who were hanged on saturday were convicted in sham trials. britain and the european union have have also condemned iran's use of the death penalty. let's get more now our top story — and rishi sunak says he's willing to sit down with the royal college

of nursing to discuss pay. but speaking to the bbc, the prime minister insisted any talks would be about future wages not the current deal. i'm joined now by our health correspondent katharine da costa. remind us what the royal college of nursing is asking for. the? remind us what the royal college of nursing is asking for.— nursing is asking for. they have asked for around _ nursing is asking for. they have asked for around a _ nursing is asking for. they have asked for around a 1996 - nursing is asking for. they have asked for around a 19% pay - nursing is asking for. they have - asked for around a 1996 pay increase. asked for around a19% pay increase. but the general secretary of the rcn says she is willing to meet the government in the middle, indicating she would consider a 10% pay rise. that's because unions have said that pay has been falling in real terms over the last decade or so, and salaries are not keeping up with the cost of living crisis, and they are saying that is putting pressure on staff, and too many staff are leaving the profession to find higher paid jobs, either here or abroad, therefore putting pressure on the staff remaining. nhs staff across the uk were offered 4.5% on

average after a pay review by an independent pay review body. that is what is in the crux of this and unions are saying that is simply not enough to keep up with living standards. enough to keep up with living standards-— enough to keep up with living standards. �* _, , ., standards. and it comes to the prime minister's comments _ standards. and it comes to the prime minister's comments this _ standards. and it comes to the prime minister's comments this morning, . minister's comments this morning, what reaction have we had from the nurses�* union to this? the what reaction have we had from the nurses' union to this?— nurses' union to this? the prime minister has _ nurses' union to this? the prime minister has said _ nurses' union to this? the prime minister has said he _ nurses' union to this? the prime minister has said he is _ nurses' union to this? the prime minister has said he is open - nurses' union to this? the prime minister has said he is open to l minister has said he is open to talks as long as they are affordable and reasonable, and that he would get around the table to negotiate. pat cullen, the general secretary of the rcn, has said offered some the rcn, has said that offered some optimism, a slight shift in his tone there, saying that if he could meet them around the table, that she would be willing to sit down and discuss pay going forward. but the government is looking at the year ahead, so full 2023—24, whereas unions say the current pay settlement is what is up for debate, and if they can�*t address that and then the strikes will still go

ahead. two days of walk—outs for nurses planned for the 18th and the 19th, and we also have ambulance strikes on wednesday this week. find strikes on wednesday this week. and tomorrow we have talks. what do we know about them? the tomorrow we have talks. what do we know about them?— know about them? the health secretary has _ know about them? the health secretary has written - know about them? the health secretary has written to - know about them? the health | secretary has written to unions know about them? the health . secretary has written to unions to come and discuss pay, looking ahead to the next financial year, writing in the telegraph today he said he would want to see efficiencies and reform within the nhs in order to secure higher pay. the unions, i

in scotland in the next couple of months. so the pressure is still really on the government to try and find a solution moving forward. scotland has improved the pay offer to around 7.5%. some unions have accepted that, others have rejected it. while in wales today the first minister has suggested a one—off payment might be something they can put on the table. still more to be discussed. but clearly further strikes are planned and more ballots are due in the pipeline.— are due in the pipeline. katharine da costa, are due in the pipeline. katharine da costa. a _ are due in the pipeline. katharine da costa, a lot _ are due in the pipeline. katharine da costa, a lot to _ are due in the pipeline. katharine da costa, a lot to get _ are due in the pipeline. katharine da costa, a lot to get through, i da costa, a lot to get through, thank you for talking us through that. katharine da costa, health correspondent, thanks. an american woman who was convicted two decades ago of spying for cuba has been released from jail in texas. now aged 65, ana montez passed on classified information throughout her career as an intelligence analyst. she pleaded guilty to espionage,

saying she�*d been motivated by opposition to us policy in latin america. prince harry has revealed that he felt guilty about being unable to show any emotion in public, after the death of his mother, princess diana. in a new interview for itv promoting his memoir, the duke of sussex, who was 12 at the time, says that he only cried once, when she was laid to rest. our royal correspondent daniela relph reports. memories of diana princess of wales, and the anguish and grief of her son at her death, are at the heart of prince harry�*s memoir, spare. in the first of his television interviews, to be shown this evening, he describes the days after her death and, as a 12—year—old, how he viewed the public response. everyone knows where they were and what they were doing the night my mother died. i cried once, at the burial. i go into detail about how strange it was and how actually there was some guilt that i felt, and i think william felt as well, by walking around the outside

of kensington palace. there were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother, and there we were, shaking people�*s hands, smiling. i�*ve seen the videos, right? i�*ve looked back over it all. and the wet hands that we were shaking — we couldn�*t understand why their hands were wet, but it was all the tears they were wiping away. the television interviews were supposed to be the first time we heard some of the detail of harry�*s book, but when it accidentally went on sale early in spain last thursday, we got an earlier than planned look at spare. drugs, sex and bitterfamily fallout — there has been little holding back. but again and again, he returns to the devastating death of his mother and the impact on him and prince william. everyone thought and felt like they knew our mum. and the two closest people to her, the two most loved people by her, were unable to show any emotion in that moment.

buckingham palace will be watching what harry has to say in the coming days. but, for now, there is no official response — a position that is unlikely to change. daniela relph, bbc news. we are watching what is coming out in terms of this memoir by prince harry. let�*s speak now to dr nathalie weidhase, lecturer in media and communication at the university of surrey. you have written about how prince harry and meghan, how they are embracing what you described as celebrity humanitarians. ijust celebrity humanitarians. i just wonder celebrity humanitarians. ijust wonder if we start with that first word, this concept of celebrity, is that it, are they now in this realm? have they passed through to the celebrity status rather than being members of the royal family? celebrity status rather than being members of the royalfamily? is celebrity status rather than being members of the royal family? is that the shift we are seeing?— the shift we are seeing? well, i think it's important _ the shift we are seeing? well, i think it's important to - the shift we are seeing? well, i think it's important to keep - the shift we are seeing? well, i think it's important to keep in l the shift we are seeing? well, i - think it's important to keep in mind think it�*s important to keep in mind

that most royals in the public sphere utilises celebrity strategies to some degree, so we see the very curated instagram accounts, they give selected interviews etc. but obviously meghan and harry were doing royal work for most of the time when they started their lives as royals. and while they were doing that work they were obviously compensated through the sovereign grant command once they left the royal family and moved first to canada and then america they had to busily reconsider how they fund their lifestyle, and that is when we see the explicit shift and perhaps, to more conventional hollywood celebrity strategies, we see

that what you mean. in terms of the amount of coverage we have been seen generated, not least from the netflix series, but now we have the memoir, the itv interview as well, just wonder what you make of the shift has slightly changed, i guess, because after the netflix interview meghan received a lot of negative publicity from it but now it feels like the target is harry. even using a word like target it seems it is very focused in on a negative way. i just wonder what your thoughts are on this. figs just wonder what your thoughts are on this. �* , ,. just wonder what your thoughts are on this. a ,. just wonder what your thoughts are onthis. a on this. as you said we saw the ne . ative on this. as you said we saw the negative attacks _ on this. as you said we saw the negative attacks on _ on this. as you said we saw the negative attacks on meghan - on this. as you said we saw the - negative attacks on meghan markle during the netflix interview. but now it has very much shifted towards harry, and you see similar personal attacks. the palace source quote of him as a traitor, or seen as a traitor, mobilised a lot. he�*s been described as weak and whiny, that�*s perhaps a way of deflecting from the

wider potential for a crisis that is often also mentioned at the same time. because if you focus on the individual you don�*t have to think about the wider implications that that might have for the institution. just in terms of, we are waiting for the book, the memoir to be released yet. i know in spain there was a bit of an early release date, but we are waiting for it to be released. what are you aware that any parts of this book could potentially have political consequences? i just wonder in terms of the constitutional impact or political consequences of what we are expecting to hear from the consequences of what we are expecting to hearfrom the memoir. to some degree any sort of what we would call family drama, some of the revelations could be classified as that, always have some sort of national political interest in a hereditary monarchy because it�*s the family, the line of succession and

they determine the head of state for they determine the head of state for the uk. but i think it�*s important to differentiate slightly between what you could consider perhaps family squabbles and the sort of more substantial, for example, allegations of violence, or the allegations of violence, or the allegations of violence, or the allegations of a violent temper. that obviously raises questions around the suitability for leadership. but when we think about political consequences, the question is, what would that mean? in very real terms any sort of real impact would perhaps look at avoiding that in the future through having an elected head of state. there are going to be massive political consequences.— going to be massive political conseruences. . . . ., , consequences. nathalie weidhase, thank ou consequences. nathalie weidhase, thank you for— consequences. nathalie weidhase, thank you forjoining _ consequences. nathalie weidhase, thank you forjoining us _ consequences. nathalie weidhase, thank you forjoining us and - consequences. nathalie weidhase, | thank you forjoining us and sharing your thoughts ahead of the publication of the memoir. thank you. publication of the memoir. thank ou. . ~' publication of the memoir. thank ou. . ~ , ., many businesses are going

through difficult times — and the brewing industry is one sector that is struggling, with production costs soaring and beer sales in pubs falling. at least one small independent brewery a week closed during 2022 and many others are fearful of what this new year will bring, as our wales correspondent, hywel griffith explains. it should be a time when glasses are at least half full for britain�*s brewers, but a slump in sales this festive season, coupled with ever—rising costs, means some are being drained of optimism. rob hope�*s 2023 will see him celebrate a decade of making beer, but he�*s worried. he�*s already had to lose seven employees in the last 12 months, leaving just him to brew with the help of his son. the cost of grain and energy is set to go up again. we can�*t put the price up on a barrel, really, because we are at the top end of what�*s acceptable, and unless something else changes between now and april, i�*m going to face a grain rise

and then my energy contract is going to change and then i�*m like... our thirst for locally produced craft ales has grown massively over the last decade. it has become a £1 billion industry in the uk. but the cost of living crisis means customers are more cautious with their cash. people aren�*t going out as much as they used to. there�*s less money flowing through bars like this one. i mean, a lot of people during covid got used to drinking at home, where they could buy cheaper beers from the supermarket and be in the comfort of their home, and i think a lot of people are still doing that. the pandemic pushed forward big changes in our beer drinking. as pub sales declined, cans and bottles were bought online instead. at this brewery in pembrokeshire, they are trying their best to diversify and weather the storm, but it�*s tough. we are trying to sell online or direct from the shop here, but everybody is struggling with the cost of living. the treasury says it recognises these are tough times,

but help is being given on energy, fuel and business rate costs, as well as an extension on the alcohol duty freeze until next august. but brewers say they need more support, and soon, to help see them through this winter. hywel griffith, bbc news. the brewing industry among many different industries being affected by the cost of living crisis. lots more on our website. i�*ll be back at the top of the hour. but now let�*s get a weather update with louise lear. hello there. it�*s been a wet and windy start to the new year, hasn�*t it? and there�*s little in the way of respite over the next few days to come, i�*m afraid. sunny spells and scattered showers making for some beautiful rainbow pictures. but within some of those showers, we�*ve even had the odd rumble of thunder and lightning, as well. now you can see the clouds circulating around that area of low pressure, all moving in from the west. that�*s where the wettest of the weather has been so far,

with the strongest wind gusts in the far north west of scotland, although the winds will tend to ease a little into the afternoon. heavy rain northwest of the great glen, snow to higher ground, with some rain moving its way from west to east across england and wales. a little bit cooler as well in comparison to the last couple of days, 7 to 10 degrees the high. now, as we go through the evening and overnight, the rain will tend to fade away to a few scattered coastal showers. and under those clearer skies across eastern scotland and eastern england, we could potentially see low single figures. so a chillier start in comparison to recent days. hopefully a little more in the way of sunshine around tomorrow and fewer showers. we�*ll start to see plenty of showers piling in from the north—west and some of these will push into north west england and across the pennines, potentially. here, 6 to 8 degrees, highest values in the south—west, maybe of 10 celsius. so because that wind direction�*s swinging around to a north—westerly, a slightly fresher feel. more wet weather arrives through tuesday into wednesday and that�*s going to drag with it on a south—westerly wind, a milder air source for a time. so a bit of a pendulum swing in the temperatures as we go through tuesday. but tuesday will be a cloudy,

wet and windy day for many. yes, mild. but with the cloud and the rain around, that�*s pretty academic, really. strong gusts of winds, particularly in the north and west, and these will strengthen as we go through the evening hours as well. so in terms of the feel of the weather, because the wind is back around to a south—westerly, slightly milder. we�*re seeing highs between 7 and 14 degrees now. we could see a spell of severe gales for a time through tuesday night into the early hours of wednesday morning in the far north of scotland, along the southern flank of this low. but as the low drifts its way over into scandinavia, it leaves a trail of showers to follow on behind. but as you can see, as we go through the remainder of the week, it stays unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain.

this is bbc news. i�*m kasia madera, and these are the headlines: prime minister rishi sunak says he�*s willing to discuss the issue of pay with the nurses�* union to settle strikes but didn�*t make a firm commitment to increase salaries. china has fully opened its borders for the first time since the start

of the covid pandemic, with international