this is bbc news. i'm jane hill. the headlines at 5pm: thousands of ambulance workers in england and wales are to stage fresh strikes in the coming weeks — the announcement comes as nurses across england take two days of industrial action. about a quarter of all services are affected by today's strikes — the government says unaffordable pay rises would take money away from patient care. 10% is not affordable. it would be an extra £2.6 billion a year, and obviously that would take money away from patient services, essential services that we need to invest and, given the backlogs we have from the pandemic. so we are focusing in particular,

that investment, that £6.6 billion of extra investment over the next two years into the front line, into patient services, to deal with those covid backlogs. now, within government, really the whole of government, the approach, of course, i have discussions with the treasury, as do other secretaries of state. these things need to be balanced, notjust with the needs of teachers, with the education secretary or train drivers with the transport secretary, but also with what's affordable for your viewers in terms of their own cost—of—living pressures. 1a people, including one child, were killed when a helicopter crashed near a children's nursey in ukraine. the country's interior minister is among the dead. the rate at which prices are rising has slowed for a second month, but the increase in the cost of living is still close to a ao—year high. all police forces in england and wales have been told to check their officers against the national database, to identify anyone who may have "slipped through the net", following the case of david carrick. and in tennis, britain's cameron norrie is through to the third

round of the australian open in a match that went into the early hours of the morning in melbourne. hello, good afternoon. more than 10,000 ambulance workers in england and wales will hold four more days of walk—outs in the next two months as part of a dispute about pay. the gmb union says its members will go on strike on the 6th and 20th of february, as well as the 6th and 20th of march. another ambulance union is expected to announce its strike dates later. and today, there is disruption across the nhs in england, as nurses walked out as part of their dispute. about a quarter of hospitals and community health services are affected, though emergency care

is being provided. health secretary steve barclay was asked about the viability of a 10% pay rise for nurses, which it has been previously suggested might be acceptable to the royal college of nursing union. here's what he had to say. well, 10% isn't affordable. it would be an extra £3.6 billion a year, and obviously that would take money away from patient services, essential services that we need to invest, given the backlogs we have from the pandemic. so we're focusing, in particular, that investment, that £6.6 billion of extra investment over the next two years, into the front line, into patient services, to deal with those covid backlogs. approach, of course, i have discussions with the treasury, as do other secretaries of state. these things need to be balanced, notjust with the needs of teachers, with the education secretary,

or train drivers, with the transport secretary, but also with what's affordable for your viewers in terms of their own cost—of—living pressures. that is the health secretary, of course. we've also been speaking with the national secretary of the gmb union, andy prendergast, who said his members deserved to be paid more. what we have asked for is a substantial pay rise. we are looking at inflation figures today, if you look at the retail price index, 13.5%. that is off the back of a cumulative loss of salary over the last decade of around 13%. we are seeing a service that is crippled by vacancies, 130,000 across the nhs. and not wanting to focus on pay but wanting to put it into front—line services — front—line services, if paramedics are not front—line services, it begs the question, who are? the lack of staff is crippling the nhs, we are seeing vacancies

affecting patient care, having a massive impact on the public, and until that is addressed, we are not going to move forward. that the view of the gmb union. we can speak now to our reporter sean dilley. he has been out on the picket line in london. bring us up—to—date. my in london. bring us up—to—date. m goodness, what in london. bring us up—to—date. mg goodness, what a day. at the crack of dawn we were out at university couege of dawn we were out at university college london hospital, on the picket line, with some of the numbers of the royal college of nursing. they had walked out, they may not have been working, but having their messages heard. a little later in the day, many member supported by the unions, went on a march over here, down the street on my right, and just beside the department of health, we have heard a range of speakers. a labour mp was talk about a hard right wing ideology, and he said that he

believed they were giving a view of the government. the government, we heard from steve barkley, the health secretary, a moment ago, saying that 10% is not affordable. labour's argument is that it would be affordable if they change the tax system. all rather complicated. what nurses know is they are feeling a bit of a squeeze. you're guaranteed £1400. these three ladies are from portugal. tell us about what your job is a. l portugal. tell us about what your “ob is a. g, g, portugal. tell us about what your “0b is a. g, g, , portugal. tell us about what your 'ob is a. g, g, , �* ., ~' job is a. i am a nurse. been working in the uk for— job is a. i am a nurse. been working in the uk for about _ job is a. i am a nurse. been working in the uk for about seven _ job is a. i am a nurse. been working in the uk for about seven years, - job is a. i am a nurse. been working in the uk for about seven years, i i in the uk for about seven years, i work in_ in the uk for about seven years, i work in south london. we work in close park— work in south london. we work in close park the emergency department. the government says they could not afford 10%, let london 19% full to what is your reaction?— what is your reaction? they don't want to look _ what is your reaction? they don't want to look for _ what is your reaction? they don't want to look for it. _ what is your reaction? they don't want to look for it. -- _ what is your reaction? they don't want to look for it. -- let - what is your reaction? they don't want to look for it. -- let alone l want to look for it. -- let alone the 19% _ want to look for it. -- let alone the 19% their _ want to look for it. -- let alone the 19%. they need _ want to look for it. -- let alone the 19%. they need to - want to look for it. -- let alone the 19%. they need to dig - want to look for it. -- let alone l the 19%. they need to dig deeper want to look for it. -- let alone - the 19%. they need to dig deeper and actuall cut the 19%. they need to dig deeper and actually cut somewhere _ the 19%. they need to dig deeper and actually cut somewhere and - the 19%. they need to dig deeper and actually cut somewhere and readjustl actually cut somewhere and readjust things _ actually cut somewhere and read'ust thins. ~ . ,

actually cut somewhere and readjust thin95-_ rita- i things. what is your friend? rita. you came over — things. what is your friend? rita. you came over from _ things. what is your friend? rita. you came over from portugal. . things. what is your friend? rita. you came over from portugal. all you came overfrom portugal. all three of you studied together. you came to the uk. obviously the backdrop here, there is a little bit of emergency happening within the nhs, some might argue, but there must be something about the national health service that makes you come and work from portugal, you're telling us off—camera. and work from portugal, you're telling us off-camera.- telling us off-camera. yeah, of course there — telling us off-camera. yeah, of course there is _ telling us off-camera. yeah, of course there is always - telling us off-camera. yeah, of course there is always good - telling us off-camera. yeah, of - course there is always good things. very good — course there is always good things. very good nurses, _ course there is always good things. very good nurses, very— course there is always good things. very good nurses, very good - course there is always good things. . very good nurses, very good doctors, very good _ very good nurses, very good doctors, very good teams _ very good nurses, very good doctors, very good teams working _ very good nurses, very good doctors, very good teams working and - very good nurses, very good doctors, very good teams working and we - very good teams working and we really _ very good teams working and we really care — very good teams working and we really care for— very good teams working and we really care for our— very good teams working and we really care for our patients. - very good teams working and we really care for our patients. thel really care for our patients. the system — really care for our patients. the system itself _ really care for our patients. the system itself is _ really care for our patients. the system itself is ok, _ really care for our patients. the system itself is ok, the - really care for our patients. thel system itself is ok, the problem really care for our patients. the i system itself is ok, the problem is the system itself is 0k, the problem is the money— system itself is ok, the problem is the money in — system itself is ok, the problem is the money in the _ system itself is ok, the problem is the money in the wrong places. . system itself is ok, the problem isl the money in the wrong places. tell us about the — the money in the wrong places. us about the consequences. you the money in the wrong places.- us about the consequences. you came overfour us about the consequences. you came over four years ago, two years after your friends. over four years ago, two years after yourfriends. what over four years ago, two years after your friends. what is the consequence of paying for patients of nurses not being paid what you think you deserve? irate of nurses not being paid what you think you deserve?— of nurses not being paid what you think you deserve? we are nurses, we love ourjob. — think you deserve? we are nurses, we love ourjob. we _ think you deserve? we are nurses, we love ourjob, we love _ think you deserve? we are nurses, we love ourjob, we love our— think you deserve? we are nurses, we love ourjob, we love our patients - love ourjob, we love our patients and we _ love ourjob, we love our patients and we want to do better for them, but if— and we want to do better for them, but if we _ and we want to do better for them, but if we are — and we want to do better for them, but if we are too tired because our conditions — but if we are too tired because our conditions are bad, we are not able to help _ conditions are bad, we are not able to help people. conditions are bad, we are not able to help people-— to help people. very quick answer from ou. to help people. very quick answer from you- how —

to help people. very quick answer from you. how would _ to help people. very quick answer from you. how would being - to help people. very quick answer from you. how would being paid l to help people. very quick answer - from you. how would being paid more make that experience better? irate make that experience better? we would get more people working with us and _ would get more people working with us and increase the number is and improve _ us and increase the number is and improve the — us and increase the number is and improve the safety. find us and increase the number is and improve the safety.— us and increase the number is and improve the safety. and that is the messa . e improve the safety. and that is the message nurses — improve the safety. and that is the message nurses are _ improve the safety. and that is the message nurses are giving, - improve the safety. and that is the message nurses are giving, that i message nurses are giving, that the issueis message nurses are giving, that the issue is not necessarily a monetary figure. they say they don't want to be on strike, they want to be treating patients, but nonroutine procedures have been cancelled today. last time that happened in december, there were 30,000 patients in that backlog, but these nurses say there really is no choice. sean, thank ou say there really is no choice. sean, thank you very _ say there really is no choice. sean, thank you very much, _ say there really is no choice. sean, thank you very much, sean - say there really is no choice. sean, thank you very much, sean dilley, | thank you very much, sean dilley, one of our correspondence out on the picket line all day. let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. we got a sense of it there, this is what government must be hearing, they are aware of the feeling of are aware of the arguments, what as of here and now is still the government line on this, do you think? i here and now is still the government line on this, do you think?— line on this, do you think? i think we are still— line on this, do you think? i think we are still in _ line on this, do you think? i think we are still in a _ line on this, do you think? i think we are still in a position - line on this, do you think? i think we are still in a position where i line on this, do you think? i think| we are still in a position where on pay, the does not seem to be any closer to there being a resolution

to this. last week, there had been a bit of a sense of optimism. there had been some talk in meetings between steve barclay eddie health unions, some talk of looking at perhaps one—off payments or backdating any payraise was agreed this year back to this january, to try and do something around pay, but that does not seem to have translated into any concrete proposals that are being discussed either within the government or put to the unions, so at the moment it does still seem to be that that is the sticking point. there are no, as we understand, more formal meetings organised between health unions and steve barclay of the health secretary, at this stage. there was also during prime minister's questions earlier a labour mp suggesting to rishi sunak, who asked him if he personally would meet with the royal college of nursing, and some unions have been suggesting that rishi sunak and the chancellor jeremy hunt hold the keys to

unlocking this dispute, they want to meet them personally. rishi sunak did not commit to doing that. he said that unions had been invited to beat the secretaries of state, the cabinet ministers in their respective sectors and to have meetings with them. so at the moment it doesn't look like, certainly in the health disputes, that there is any immediate resolution inside. helen, thank you. our political correspondent helen catt with the latest air. let's discuss all of that. i'm nowjoined by dr layla mccay. she is the policy director at the nhs confederation. good evening to you. i hope you could hear all of our guests there. first of all, your thoughts on what you are hearing from westminster? what needs to be done? is there anything that can be done politically now to try to resolve this as people tune in tonight and hear about more strikes coming down

the tracks in february and march? l the tracks in february and march? i think that what hearing is that we seem to be a bit of a stalemate and that that is not acceptable. at the end of the day, strikes are bad for her patients, they are bad for our staff, they are bad for everyone, and we have heard what these people were taking industrial action are saying that they've not taken this position lately the we have heard it is notjust about pay but concerned about how they are able to deliver the best care for patients, and given that, what we are really looking at now, health leaders across the whole system are telling us that the government needs to sit down and have a proper conversation, one that is actually going to resolve in a resolution, because this cannot go on. right but ou want because this cannot go on. right but you want over _ because this cannot go on. right but you want over the _ because this cannot go on. right but you want over the government - because this cannot go on. right but| you want over the government stands right now, which is any unaffordable pay rise, as the health secretary calls it, is simply taking money away from patient care. that is the

current line. it away from patient care. that is the current line-— current line. it is certainly the case that _ current line. it is certainly the case that we _ current line. it is certainly the case that we must _ current line. it is certainly the case that we must not - current line. it is certainly the case that we must not dilute l current line. it is certainly the i case that we must not dilute the nhs of further money to deliver patient care, so if there is to be a rise, then that needs to be a funded rise. we altered -- all —— all understand that, but at the same time we must memory the people who are delivering that patient care are those people who are currently out on industrial action, the people who need that investment in order to make sure that patient care is delivered. so it is a complex challenge but it is not one the government can keep on deferring and deferring and deferring, and just hope at some point that it might go away. it feels like they need to grasp this and find a solution. {lilla grasp this and find a solution. 0k, and can we — grasp this and find a solution. 0k, and can we just — grasp this and find a solution. 0k, and can we just talk about the impact of all of this at the moment, strikes today in england and tomorrow, more strikes coming in subsequent weeks, as we reflected? there was already a backlog of operations, we know this, partly because of covid. what is the

impact? what is the backlog? how on earth does the nhs catch up here? i earth does the nhs catch up here? i think that health leaders are quite frustrated because in the months before the strikes started in november, actually the numbers were started to look a bit better, they were really being very, very efficient in being able to deliver so much care that the backlog was showing signs of shifting, but unfortunately since then, obviously there been the pressures of winter, there been the pressures of winter, there has been covid and flew, there has been huge pressures in terms of flow to the system, because of the social care capacity challenges, and all of that has led to a lot more challenging in getting to that backlog. when you put industrial action on top of that, that causes a lot of disruption. we know about 5000 operations and 30,000 outpatient permits had to be cancelled so far, so it is clear is

causing an element of disruption, and what health leaders are worried about, if we continue have more of these, they continue to be more coordinated and we start to see them running two days in a row, for example, as we see this week. that does run the risk of further disruption to the services. dr layla mcca for disruption to the services. dr layla mccay for now. — disruption to the services. dr layla mccay for now, thank _ disruption to the services. dr layla mccay for now, thank you i disruption to the services. dr layla mccay for now, thank you very i disruption to the services. dr layla i mccay for now, thank you very much, from the nhs confederation. the time is 1a minutes past 5pm. rishi sunak has told mps that the crimes committed by serial rapist david carrick were a "truly sickening" abuse of power — the prime minister promised police reforms so that offenders would have no place to hide. carrick, a former metropolitan police officer, admitted 49 sexual offences, including rape, against 12 women. he used his position to frighten his victims — some of whom he met through dating websites. what reform could be achieved, what

changes could be achieved? we can speak now to danny shaw, a policing and crime commentator and a former bbc home affairs correspondent. danny, very good evening to you. the david kerry case is so distressing. i'm just interested in your thoughts first of all broadly on the scale of this, the scale of his offending some with your experience, what went through your mind when you heard about this case and how long he had beenin about this case and how long he had been in the met.— been in the met. jane, i was staggered — been in the met. jane, i was staggered when _ been in the met. jane, i was staggered when i _ been in the met. jane, i was staggered when i heard i been in the met. jane, i was staggered when i heard the | been in the met. jane, i was i staggered when i heard the details about david carrick�*s case, staggered because i know that there are thousands of brilliant police officers in the metropolitan police and other forces who do amazing investigations, who go to every single length to track down murderers, sex offenders and so on, every day of the week, and i really struggle to reconcile that with what happened with david carrick. first of all, the vetting failings that

allowed him to get into the police and the first place, when there were allegations that had been investigated by the police, and then the string of missed opportunities to route him out, tojoin the dots but to look more closely at this individual double he was really like. and we know that carrick is not unique, we know there been other cases of a scandal, and there will be more to come, as the stones are unturned, as sir mark rally, the met commissioner, has said. elise me bewildered about these two sides of policing of the fantastic work that is done on investigations and at the oversights and find a mental failings that have been seen with this individual and others as well. i think as part of that, you are suggesting, tell me if i'm wrong, that there is no guarantee there are not other situation like this in other forces, not other situation like this in otherforces, my point not other situation like this in other forces, my point being, the home office saying today that all police forces have been asked to

check their officers and staff against national police databases. is that going to help, is back on the throb issues that can then be resolved? it the throb issues that can then be resolved? ., , , , resolved? it will undoubtedly help, because once _ resolved? it will undoubtedly help, because once a _ resolved? it will undoubtedly help, because once a police _ resolved? it will undoubtedly help, because once a police officer- resolved? it will undoubtedly help, because once a police officer is i resolved? it will undoubtedly help, because once a police officer is in l because once a police officer is in the service —— is that going to throw up issues? we know some of the vetting checks are not rigorous enough. we know that because the inspectorate of contact —— and stadler he, the police watchdog, reported that a few months ago, but after that, they are meant to be reported down i checked again in ten years. that did not happen in carrick�*s cases. it is possible some officers who have allegations made against them or her even have a criminal record they have slipped through the net, so a check of the police national computer, the database that holds conviction and caution information and the police national database, which holds national data base, which holds intelligence national database, which holds intelligence and information about suspects, a check of that against every single police officer i think

will be a worthwhile exercise, a big exercise but worth it, i am sure. emma right in saying that there have shown to be in the past in terms of officers job changing from one job to another, mistakes, they do not talk to each other? ., . ., ., ., other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month — other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month ago. _ other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month ago, and _ other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month ago, and it _ other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month ago, and it said i other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month ago, and it said it i other? the watchdog pointed that out a few month ago, and it said it was i a few month ago, and it said it was very concerned some officers who had allegations made against them transferring to other forces, vetting checks either were not being carried out or the information was not being passed on. that is alarming in itself. the college of policing, which sets standards for police forces across england and wales, wants the vetting rules to be strengthened, it is calling for every police force which has a vetting unit, for it to be licensed and so it would have to meet certain standards, and if the standards were not met, the licence would be taken away and the vetting would be

carried out by another body. some people watching this might be surprised to learn that every police force — there are 43 in england and wales — have their own vetting and professional standards department. it is not something where there is a national body doing it, and so clearly you get inconsistencies between police forces. some do it very well, some not well at all. fascinating to talk to you. we will speak about this again, i am sure, but thank you very much for now. that is danny shaw. now, to ukraine. the country's interior minister is one of those killed in a helicopter crash in a suburb of kyiv. the helicopter came down next to a nursery. the state emergency service has revised the death toll from the crash, saying 1a people had died. it had previously stated that up to 18 were killed. a number of others are being treated in hospital. it is believed the crash was an accident, in poor visibility. frank gardner reports.

an early morning helicopter crash, and ukraine is left reeling. the aircraft, believed to be a french built super puma, was carrying the interior minister and several senior officials. it came down beside a nursery school, and children are amongst the casualties. translation: | asked i my friend what happened. he said something fell on the kindergarten, and he started to help, pulled three children age six and seven out of there. translation: we were l walking and heard a noise. it was such a noise. at that time, there was a terrible flame. a helicopter was circling. i froze _ early investigations did not reveal any sign of the helicopter being shot down. it was flying low in foggy conditions en route to the city of kharkiv.

it belonged to the state emergency services. the loss of such a key government minister on board has been called a national tragedy. very patriotic guy, did a lot of things for ukraine and made police reform in ukraine, and it's actually a tragedy for ukraine, for his family. denys monastyrsky was often at scenes like this, inspecting damage to the latest target of a russian missile attack. he was a personal friend of the president and was well known to several western leaders. they've been sending their condolences. despite this setback, ukraine's war effort is unlikely to slacken off. the country remains focused on resisting russia's missile attacks and on preparing for a coming spring offensive by both sides. frank gardner, bbc news.

ukraine's president zelensky has addressed the world economic forum in davos. first, though, he commemorated the memory of his friend and colleague, the ukrainian minister of interior denys monastyrsky, as well as all victims of the war in ukraine. he also called on alice to help replenish and reorganise —— on allies. only one minute, but it gives a memory about so many people. ukraine lives thousands of such minutes, including three minutes onjanuary14. three minutes — the time it took for a russian missile to travel hundreds of kilometres, hit a residential block in dnipro and kill at least 45 people. 45 — adults, children. 45. my address will be short, about the time we are short of,

about small minutes, about years made of these minutes. three years ago, i spoke at davos for the first time, in person. the topic was how to build a cohesive and sustainable world. i'm talking online now, and the topic is how to cooperate in a divided, fragmented world. conclusions, they are obvious. the world cannot keep the pace with the changes and challenges. the list of crises — globalsecurity, environmental, food security, energy ones — needs to be amended with another one, the time crisis. the list of calls for decisive, efficient, joint actions needs to be extended with one more —

the call for speed, the speed of decision—making, the reaction of the civilised world. tragedies are outpacing life, the tyranny is outpacing the democracy. russia needed less than one second to start the war. the world needed days to react with first sanctions. the time the free world uses to think it is used by the terrorist state to kill. ukraine's president zelensky there, who has been addressing the world economic forum that is going on in davos. we return here.

police have given new information about the search for a couple who went missing with a newborn baby earlier this month. detectives are concerned about the baby's health and have appealed for constance marten and mark gordon to contact them. let's get more on this story from our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford. people might remember the story, daniel, when they see these images because this began a few weeks ago, i think, with reports of a couple whose car had broken down and had not been seen, but it seems a little more information has emerged. this ha - en more information has emerged. this ha en on more information has emerged. this happen on the _ more information has emerged. trl 3 happen on the january, when a car broke down, burst into flames and a couple with a very, very newborn baby, possibly only a day or two old, instead of waiting for help climbed up in beckman's, waves down a taxi and paid cash for that taxi to take them to liverpool and then cash for another taxi to take them from liverpool to a port in essex, and over the next couple of days, they move between harwich and colchester and get another taxi, again getting to east london. in

there is no cctv footage of them, no digital record of them paying my car by anything, they do not seem to have booked into a hotel or aianb, they seem to be trying to avoid the authorities, they seem to have a large amount of cash with them, they are paying cash as they go, and police are really, really keen that anybody who has seen them, has put them up in a room and has taken cash from them for a taxi ride, should calm down i come forward —— should come forward. constance marten, when she started to show signs of pregnancy in september seems to have delivered the gone off the grid, has literally moved out of her accommodation, and travelling with mark gordon, they've been staying a day or two at a time in places around the country. the baby seems to have possibly been born in a

vehicle. they seem to be trained to avoid the authorities, and it has emerged today that he is a convicted rapist from america, he was convicted age 1a, has served 20 years in prison, was deported back to uk in 2010, which might be a reason why they don't want the authorities to know about the birth of this baby, any police are keen that somebody should come forward —— and the police. here is a clip from one of those in charge of the inquiry. constance and mark have been evading, obviously, interactions with us and obviously the authorities. this is very much about the welfare of the baby, and... in terms of my plea, really, it's that they are looking to seek lodgings and transport outside of conventional routes and trying to evade interactions with us. so it's very much with the help of the public, and it's only through the public, that i believe that we'll take

the next steps to locate them. so that's the part of the statement from the police today, i know when this story first emerged, the police talked a lot about constance marten because they were saying they were concerned she had not had any medical attention since the birth, that the baby had not been seen by any medical professionals, so what more do we know about her? it is more do we know about her? it is still the case _ more do we know about her? it is still the case that _ more do we know about her? it 3 still the case that they don't seem to have taken medical advice either before the birth or after the birth, and as i said, the child seems to a possible even born in the vehicle, so nobody knows of the baby was born premature or full—term. the so nobody knows of the baby was born premature orfull—term. the baby so nobody knows of the baby was born premature or full—term. the baby was like the 25th and 7th of january, because the taxi drivers heard the sound of a newborn baby in the vehicle, but constance marten is a fascinating character. she comes from unbelievable wealth. her family's country house in dorset,

sold for millions of pounds, her grandmother was a goddaughter of the queen's mother. they very wealthy, old landed family. she went to university, she wanted drama school in east london, and seems to have just disappeared off the grid, in 2016, when she met mark gordon. she cut off contact with her friends, she seemed to become estranged from her family. she seemed to become estranged from herfamily. her brother had a huge wedding the couple of years ago that featured en vogue, married a jewellery designer. she is not in any of the pictures, so it is a very, very fascinating part of the story, constance marten's journey from huge wealth to living in relative poverty in east london, to now being on the run, with a baby that she does not seem 20 authorities to know about. —— seem to want the authorities. authorities to know about. -- seem to want the authorities.— to want the authorities. daniel sanford, thank _ to want the authorities. daniel sanford, thank you _ to want the authorities. daniel sanford, thank you very i to want the authorities. daniel sanford, thank you very much | to want the authorities. danieli sanford, thank you very much for now. much more coming up in the next

half hour. we willjust take a pause because we will look at the weather prospects. we will see a bit of a change in the weather over the next few days. fewer winter showers and it will gradually turn milder as well. into this evening and overnight, some wintry showers will continue across parts of the north and west of the country and it will be icy in these areas as well. elsewhere across the uk, it will be dry and clear and cold temperatures dipping below freezing, potentially even —8 in some parts of scotland. a frosty tartu tomorrow. some wintry showers will remain, although many of these will remain, although many of these will look more like sleet and rain to lower levels. the majority of these showers will be in scotland. still blustery in this area. winds will ease up across the rest of the uk. plenty of sunshine for some, temperatures getting up to 7 degrees at their highest. into the weekend,

friday and saturday will be colder for the southeast, although further north west, it will turn a bit milder. hello this is bbc news with jane hill. the headlines. thousands of ambulance workers in england and wales are to stage fresh strikes in the coming weeks — the announcement comes as nurses across england began two days of industrial action. 1a people — including one child — have died after a helicopter carrying top officials crashed near a children's nursey in ukraine. the country's interior ministry is among those killed. all police forces in england and wales have been told to check their officers against the national database — to identify anyone who may have "slipped through the net", following the case of david carrick. the rate at which prices are rising

has slowed for a second month — but the increase in the cost of living is still close to a a0 year high. let's catch up with all the latest sports news right now. laura joins us that all of that. hi, laura. hi, jane. good evening. britain's cameron norrie has reached the third round of the australian open after a late—night win over constant lestienne. norrie, completed a 6—3, 3—6, 7—6, 6—3 victory over the french world number 55, who was making his grand slam main draw debut. it was a rollercoaster match that lasted three hours and 13 minutes finishing at half one in the morning in melbourne. the british number one will playjiri lehechka of the czech republic next. emma raducanu is out of the australian open though, losing a fascinating battle in the second round to seventh seed coco gauff in melbourne. gauff controlled the opening set, her power helping her take that 6—3. there were fears raducanu

was hampered by an injury, but she burst into life and forced the second set to a tiebreak. the final rally epitomised the match, a battle between two of the best young players on the planet, but gauff edged it to knock raducanu out. it means the briton hasn't reached the third round of a grand slam since her stunning 2021 us open win. i still think, you know, i didn't necessarily play my best today and... although, in the second set i had chances and was pushing, it was still, i felt like i could have done better, myself, but...props to her, she is a great opponent and a great athlete. defending australian open champion, rafael nadal says he is "mentally destroyed" after losing to world number 65 mackenzie mcdonald in the second round. the 36—year—old suffered what appeared to be a hip injury in the second set, crouching down, visibly in pain before seeking medical treatment. his wife was in tears.

nadal showed his usual fight after but was still in discomfort, losing in straight sets, his earliest exit at the australian open in seven years. i can't complain about my life at all, so just in terms of sport and in terms of... ..injuries and... ..tough moments, no. i mean, that is another one. ijust can't say that i am not... ..destroyed, mentally, at this time because i would be lying. now, it's being described as the biggest corruption scandal in the history of snooker. ten chinese players suspended as part of an on—going match fixing investigation have all been charged by the integrity unit of the wpbsa, the sport's world governing body. we have to deliver world—class live entertainment. it has to be pure live sport

competed to the highest level. and to do that, we must know the sport is clean. so the damage, to me, is short—term, we have to take the short—term pain and now, we have to clear this issue up and we have to move on. we will move on. wales' male and female senior football players will be paid the same for representing their country after the men's team agreed to a 25 per cent pay cut. the deal agreed with the football association of wales will come into effect immediately and will enable them to give the women's team a 25% increase meaning parity for representing the nation. dame laura kenny has announced she's expecting her second child. the five—time 0lympic cycling champion revealed last year that she had suffered a miscarriage in 2021 and then had a fallopian tube removed injanuary 2022 due to an ectopic pregnancy. she came back from that to win gold in the scratch race at last summer's commonwealth games in birmingham

along with a bronze in the team pursuit. in today's post on social media she said that "the heartbreak will never go away". but she's now hopeful of things ending happily this time. one more thing to bring you just before i go, the cricketer hashim amla has retired. he's south africa's second highest test run—scorer of all time. plenty more of that story on the bbc sport website. but that is all from me forjust now. holly and the team will have more for you in sportsday at half past six. thanks very much, laura. thank you very much. let's talk first of all this half—hour about inflation, the pace at which prices are rising has slowed, but the cost of living remains close to a a0 year high. in december, inflation fell to ten half percent because of the lower fuel prices.

because of lower fuel prices — but food prices continue to soar. hannah miller has been to the yorkshire dales to hear about the impact of rising prices there. in the heart of the yorkshire dales, a town that is isolated but not at all insulated from the rising costs that continue to sweep across the country. almost every home in hawes is reliant on oil heating with cost of living payments for that not due until next month. hi, i'm hannah. kath has taken to working seven days a week, but is still struggling to heat her home. you know, a full tank of oil at the moment, you're talking nearly £1,000 which, you know, is quite a lot of money. you know, many companies you have to pay upfront to get your oil, so if you don't have that money you literally can't fill your tank. that smells amazing. with food and drinks rising even faster than average, this jam factory has tried to make savings to protect customers from rising costs. how manyjars will we get out of this batch? probably get around

about 350 i'd say. every single time we run a production run, every single time we make a batch ofjam, maybe it used to cost £10 in electricity and now it's costing £30 in electricity and we have to find that additional money. and what we don't want to do is pass it on to consumers, customers, cos we know the last thing anybody needs at the moment is costs of goods going up. the falling fuel prices that contributed to today's slight easing of inflation are particularly welcome here in an area where many people are reliant on their cars to get around. clothing and footwear also contributed to the slight drop in inflation, but that was offset by price rises in restaurants and hotels. the government has set its sights on inflation falling by half before the end of the year, though global energy prices are out of their control. many analysts believe today's figure shows inflation is now on a downward trend. we are already seeing signs that

inflation will cool, because of external issues, so commodity prices have come down. we've got producer price inflation coming down, as well, so that's the amount we have been charged for stuff when it's leaving the factory door. and people here are hoping that the worst of the price rises are behind them. in a rural community like here, you'd probably pay more than in a big supermarket, but you've got to support the local businesses. that's really important. i it does weigh on you a little bit. when you know you've got to feed everybody and you're never really sure whether it's _ going to go up again. the thought of it settling down a bit, not continuing to go up... how does that make you feel? a little bit more hopeful for the future. but despite inflation easing, economic conditions remain challenging as the country continues to adapt to higher costs and prices that are unlikely to fall. hannah miller, bbc news, hawes.

just to bring you some news coming in about strikes, but it is strikes in about strikes, but it is strikes in france, but we will talk about the impact it will have over here because we are just hearing that the port of dover is warning that services to and from calais will be suspended tomorrow. they will be suspended tomorrow. they will be suspended from seven o'clock in the morning because of national strike action in france. so that isjust coming through. in terms of ferry crossings, the part of daubert warning that services to and from calais will be suspended tomorrow from seven a:m.. that is because of strikes happening in france. we are also going to talk a little more about the police in about the metropolitan police in light of the david kerrick case. the prime minister spoke about the

subprime insurance questions, and now this afternoon he is saying he has had constructive talks with the commissioner of the metropolitan police, rishi sunak says he made clear to him, police, rishi sunak says he made clearto him, and he agrees, police, rishi sunak says he made clear to him, and he agrees, that the abuse of power that we have seen this week is absolutely despicable and needs to be addressed immediately. this is after david kerrick, a serving that officer for many years admitted a9 cases of sexual abuse. many years admitted a9 cases of sexualabuse. —— many years admitted a9 cases of sexual abuse. —— carrick. many years admitted a9 cases of sexualabuse. —— carrick. let's many years admitted a9 cases of sexual abuse. —— carrick. let's hear a little bit of what the prime minister has been saying. i a little bit of what the prime minister has been saying. i 'ust had a constructive i minister has been saying. i 'ust had a constructive meeting i minister has been saying. ijust had a constructive meeting with i minister has been saying. ijust had a constructive meeting with the i a constructive meeting with the commissioner of the metropolitan police and made clear to him, and he agrees, that the abuse of power that we have seen this week is absolutely despicable and it needs to be addressed immediately. now, that is why all police forces across the country have been told to check all of their serving officers and staff against national police databases to identify a and root out anybody who

shouldn't be serving. the government has done isjudgemental buddy shouldn't be serving. the government has done is judgemental buddy to protect the safety of women and girls, but we will keep going and do whatever it takes to ensure that women and girls feel safe and can go about their lives freely and without fear. , , ., fear. this is rather extraordinary, isn't it, fear. this is rather extraordinary, isn't it. how _ fear. this is rather extraordinary, isn't it, how has _ fear. this is rather extraordinary, isn't it, how has this _ fear. this is rather extraordinary, isn't it, how has this happened i isn't it, how has this happened before? where the check simply an adequate? the home office is calling on them and to that all of their police officer.— police officer. clearly this particular— police officer. clearly this particular individual- police officer. clearly this i particular individual should've never been a police officer and we have strength and police forces themselves have strengthened their vetting procedures over the last couple of years, but what we are doing now is ensuring that every single police force has updated its vetting practices, that they are best in class, they are going to be independently inspected very quickly and all police officers are being asked to check their existing officers and staff against police databases to identify and root out anyone who shouldn't be a serving

officer. ~ , f officer. the prime minister they're talkin: officer. the prime minister they're talking after— officer. the prime minister they're talking after the _ officer. the prime minister they're talking after the meeting i officer. the prime minister they're talking after the meeting he i officer. the prime minister they're talking after the meeting he has i talking after the meeting he has held with sir mark rowley, the head of the metropolitan police, many changes and moves announced today in light of the conviction of david carrick who served for many years as a metropolitan police officer. the environment agency has declared a major incident in somerset due to the risk of flooding. it said the move was "precautionary". local authorities are using a number of extra pumps in the somerset levels in an effort to reduce the water levels. 0ur west of england correspondent danjohnson has more from northmoor green. this is the effort by the environment agency to drain water from the somerset levels. they declared this major incident to alert people, but not to alarm them, they say, but the risk of flooding is serious and so more of these pumps have been brought in to try to get the water away from the land and into the rivers

and up to the bristol channel. the intensity of rain that has fallen here in the past week is why river levels have been rising and why there's so much water. we can show you aerial pictures taken yesterday showing how much farmland is currently under floodwater and the risk is that that level will keep rising if they're not able to pump it away quickly enough. we had intense flooding here in 201a. people's farms, fields and homes were under water for weeks and some people were out of their houses for months on end after that so there is fear that that could be about to happen again. there has been some criticism that the environment agency and other authorities have not moved quicker, have not been in place to deal with this earlier at the start of the week, but the environment agency says this major incident will allow them to get the right pieces of equipment in place now and they think that they can hold off the worst of the flooding but it has just started raining again.

dan johnson there. the trial has begun for a man convicted of manslaughter. her mother has already admitted manslaughter. 0urwales manslaughter. 0ur wales correspondent is manslaughter. 0urwales correspondent is following the case. this is a tragic case, who depended on the care of others, now they were 16 at the time of her death and had a spinal condition, spina bifida, which means she depended on a wheelchair. she needed help, but when it first came in march 2020 and the schools closed, sunak in the words sunak

of the prosecution she then became entirely dependent on the care of her parents. but over the months that followed, her weight increased massively and she became morbidly obese, weighing in at the time of her death nearly 23 stone, 1a6 kilograms. when she was found, her skin was ulcerated and in the words of the paramedic who discovered her body after a 999 call, there were safe smell, a foul, rotten smell in the room. many of the details of this case are possibly too upsetting to be broadcast, but it is the prosecution's case that both parents failed to look after their daughter, the man on trial, aa—year—old alun titford, is herfather. he says he wasn't aware of how bad her condition had become. he wasn't the one responsible for her day—to—day care and hygiene. he has pleaded guilty to the two charges of gross negligence and causing or allowing the death of a child. his partner and kaylea titford's mother, has already pleaded guilty to both those charges at a previous hearing, but alun titford's defence is that it wasn't his response ability, that he was busy with other

things and wasn't involved deeply in kaylea titford's care. we will get to hear his defence of the course of the trial, which is expected to last for up to four weeks here at the crown court. thatis that is our wales correspondent. let's talk a little bit more about strikes, the focus of so much of our programme, nurses in england on two days of strikes at the moment and then we have had those fresh dates sent through by the gmb union which applies to ambulance workers, various states that they will be striking in february and march. the prime minister has been asked about the situation at the moment, rishi sunak being asked to respond to the various industrial actions taking place across the uk. let's hear little bit of what rishi sunak has been saying about industrial action at the moment. we been saying about industrial action at the moment.— been saying about industrial action at the moment. we are very keen to have a constructive _ at the moment. we are very keen to have a constructive dialogue, i at the moment. we are very keen to have a constructive dialogue, not i have a constructive dialogue, not just with the nurses union, but with

unions across the public sector at the beginning of the year, the government wrote individually to all public—sector unions inviting them into have talks with the relevant ministries. i'm pleased to say that those talks are ongoing and we are keen to find a constructive way forward and bring the strikes to an end. of course, and understand the impact they are having on people's lives, and i understand why people are frustrated, but we do also need to make sure that those conversations are based on what's reasonable, what's responsible for the country as we tackle inflation, which is good for everybody if we can get that down as quickly as possible, but also is affordable. rishi sunak talking about strikes, and we will doubtless have mark on that coming up in the o'clock news. right now, the time is 12 minutes to six. turning our attention to something entirely different, but it is a story that might have caught your eye today, because it certainly got a lot of people talking, how often are cakes or sweet treats brought into your office or other workplace? if they are, are you able to refuse them or do you happily indulge? professor susanjebb — who's chair

of the food standards agency — says we should consider bringing cake into the office as being as harmful to your colleagues as passive smoking. she was speaking in a personal capacity and her views do not reflect food standards agency policy. i ,and , and she's made that have attracted a lot of attention. let's just take you through some stats on this. according to a survey done by walker & flannery for the internationaljournal of workplace health management, in that survey, nearly 90% of respondents said cake was available at least once or twice a week in your workplacejust over 70% of you said those cakes are openly on display and around a third of you said you'd gained weight through eating office cake.

let's discuss with someone who really does know quite a lot about this. lou walker is a health coach and author who conducted the first academic research into office cake culture as part of her masters in obesity and weight management at the university of chester. really get to talk to you. thanks very much for being with us. i have had a bit of air of humour about this, as a lot of people have, because we have been talking about it in the newsroom today, but by the same token, we know this country has an obesity problem, like western countries deal. so, your thoughts, first of all, and those comments that were made by susan? is she making a good point when she says "think twice, maybe, but always taking sweet treats into the office." l taking sweet treats into the office. " ~ taking sweet treats into the office." ~ �* , , taking sweet treats into the office." ~ 3 , ' . office." i think it's very difficult to compare _ office." i think it's very difficult to compare a _ office." i think it's very difficult to compare a slice _ office.�* i think it's very difficult to compare a slice of— office." i think it's very difficult to compare a slice of cake i office." i think it's very difficult to compare a slice of cake and | to compare a slice of cake and smoking, but i think what she was

getting at was that when we discovered, when we realised that smoking is dangerous, we stopped it happening in enclosed places, including workplaces. now we also know that sugar and other processed food is directly linked to a lot of health problems, like obesity and type two diabetes, so it would make sense to do what we can to reduce that in workplaces as well, and i think that is where she was aiming. i suppose it's a tough one, isn't it, because all of that make sense, but if someone brings a cake and because it is their birthday or someone has been working super hard and theyjust decide to reward the team and bring in packets of biscuits and cakes, we have all done it. no one is forced to eat them. it's there on the table and it's up to you to make your decision. you're absolutely right. _ to you to make your decision. you're absolutely right. it _ to you to make your decision. you're absolutely right. it usually i to you to make your decision. you're absolutely right. it usually comes i absolutely right. it usually comes from a place of generosity and kindness, birthdays and so on, and

we celebrate around food. weddings, celebrations and birthdays are focused around food, that's marvellous. that is that aspect which could be, you could use that quite usefully in the workplace. but what we are not taking into account is the psychology and our brain chemistry which we are also fighting against from a psychology perspective, social creatures, if it is the norm in the office to always have cake at a certain time, it is very difficult to not do that as well, we are social creatures. social influencing is a thing as well. we tend to deal what other people are doing so that we can fit in as part of the crowd, even if we think we are not being influenced by others, actually, we are. it is very difficult not to be, and also from the brain chemistry point of view, when we were evolving, our brains

where very good at spotting food in general, but particularly good at spotting speech food —— sweet food, like honey and fairies. and we still have those tendencies, those urges, so it is really, really hard for anybody who might be trying to avoid the cake or the sugar, or they might be diabetic or whatever. it is very difficult, we've got a lot of things, we are fighting our biology, really, so it is notjust about calories and celebration, it is about to our biology and psychology. it does a really tough one to tackle. it it does a really tough one to tackle. , ,., ., , tackle. it is so tough. is the answer for _ tackle. it is so tough. is the answer for the _ tackle. it is so tough. is the answer for the person i tackle. it is so tough. is the answer for the person who l tackle. it is so tough. is the | answer for the person who is tackle. it is so tough. is the i answer for the person who is being answerfor the person who is being generous to bring in some sweet treats and a bowl of fruit? and it's up treats and a bowl of fruit? and it's up to people to take their pick? everyone is laughing and making at that very suggestion, personally, i quite like an apple, but there we are. what do you think?- quite like an apple, but there we are. what do you think? never mind what i think- — are. what do you think? never mind what i think. in — are. what do you think? never mind what i think. in this _ are. what do you think? never mind what i think. in this survey, i are. what do you think? never mind what i think. in this survey, and i are. what do you think? never mind what i think. in this survey, and wel what i think. in this survey, and we surveyed nearly 1000 often work the

next office workers in the uk, and 95% of them said the ideal frequency would be once a week or less. so, perhaps the answer would be for employers and employees to start a conversation, do an anonymous survey and find out what people want or like within that office where to go next and it's a case of consulting everybody in the workplace to find out what everybody really wants, and enter rather sounds according to our research that once a week or even less, but to make a real celebration out of it might be a good way forward. i mean, what normally happens, as you mentioned earlier, cake is bright and very kindly, but it is left on open display on a desk or a table, for everybody to help

themselves to as and when they are passing where when they fancy at, there is nothing very celebratory about that, is there? there's nothing about coming together, so maybe once a week would be a great way of having my salivating on the birthdays, all the promotions, all the successes and make a big deal about it. it the successes and make a big deal about it. . ., ,. ., the successes and make a big deal about it. , . ,. ., ., about it. it is fascinating and the sto that about it. it is fascinating and the story that has — about it. it is fascinating and the story that has got _ about it. it is fascinating and the story that has got everybody i about it. it is fascinating and the i story that has got everybody talking today. thank you so much, lou walker, with a masters in obesity and weight management. thank you very much indeed. everybody is laughing at me because i brought in a lot of biscuits during covid. anyway, thejoke is on me. it is five to 6pm now. before the edge up to the weather prospects, but in fact before we bring you those, we are just going to fact before we bring you those, we arejust going to bring a fact before we bring you those, we are just going to bring a little more information because we were hearing in the last 15 minutes or so from the prime minister, rishi sunak, because he has been having a meeting today with the head of the metropolitan police following on from the very distressing david carrick case, of course. and in

light of that, we are just going to care little bit from the commissioner of the metropolitan police for his thoughts following that meeting he had with rishi sunak. let's hearfrom the commissioner. sunak. let's hear from the commissioner.— sunak. let's hear from the commissioner. ~ ., sunak. let's hear from the commissioner. ~ . ., commissioner. we are determined to do everything — commissioner. we are determined to do everything possible _ commissioner. we are determined to do everything possible to _ commissioner. we are determined to do everything possible to tighten i do everything possible to tighten our standards. do everything possible to tighten ourstandards. some do everything possible to tighten our standards. some of the procedures being rolled out is the big data wash we are doing to double check all of our officers and staff names in the existing databases, and i'm pleased to see the play minister wants to roll this out nationally. we are determined to tighten up on those issues. it was a pleasure today to introduce my officers who are serving their communities. we had community police officers, schools officers and i think the premise of enjoying talking to them. many people will find it extraordinary that you are having to that police officers, that these procedures clearly weren't working and weren't in place before hand. irate and weren't in place before hand. we that and weren't in place before hand. - that officers, we've always vetted officers and. llrlat that officers, we've always vetted officers and-— that officers, we've always vetted officers and._ in l officers and. not very well... in the last 20 years, _ officers and. not very well... in the last 20 years, we i officers and. not very well... in the last 20 years, we have i the last 20 years, we have tightened the last 20 years, we have tightened the procedures multiple times, but

what we've realised is we haven't always done it well enough, so we are double checking by running existing people against the big databases, going back and checking some close cases to make sure we've got that was right. doing lots of belt and braces to look for other problems in the organisation. meanwhile, we have many men and women who are going out day in and day out doing a greatjob for londoners and. day out doing a great 'ob for londoners andi day out doing a great 'ob for londoners and. finally, you have not, i londoners and. finally, you have got. i don't _ londoners and. finally, you have got, i don't know— londoners and. finally, you have got, i don't know how _ londoners and. finally, you have got, i don't know how long i londoners and. finally, you have got, i don't know how long in i londoners and. finally, you have got, i don't know how long in the job, heavy—set yourself a target for turning around public opinion about the meta? l turning around public opinion about the meta? ., turning around public opinion about the meta? . , .., turning around public opinion about the meta? . , .. ., the meta? i have been candid from da one the meta? i have been candid from day one that _ the meta? i have been candid from day one that we — the meta? i have been candid from day one that we have _ the meta? i have been candid from day one that we have some i the meta? i have been candid from day one that we have some real- day one that we have some real challenges. i've got tens of thousands fantastic men and women who want to serve london. what we see is as we make the changes, we have got some more challenging issues to get out of the way that the public will hear about. that is what happens when you turn over stones. the public wants to see a strengthening in neighbourhood policing, and that is how we will rebuild trust. the policing, and that is how we will rebuild trust. ., , , ., ., rebuild trust. the commissioner of the metropolitan _ rebuild trust. the commissioner of the metropolitan police _ rebuild trust. the commissioner of the metropolitan police talking i the metropolitan police talking after his meeting with the prime minister. more on that coming up, of

course, in the six o'clock news. right now, as promised, it's time for a look at the weather prospects wherever you are in the country. alex has those. hello. frosty weather is continuing to grip the uk. it is cold out there and icy for many as well. for the rest of the day, it's going to stay cold for us all, windy as well and wintry showers will continue for some. over the past few hours, those strong northerly winds have been blowing down those snow showers across parts of scotland, the western parts of the north sea coast as well, and we are in this arctic air mass at the moment, so it is keeping things cold for all of us over the next few days until things might change a little bit for some of us on the weekend. for the rest of the day, wintry showers will continue across parts of scotland, parts of the west and the north sea coast as well, and this is where the winds are strongest, across the coast, with gusts of up to 50 mph possible in some of these places. although temperatures

are showing about a—7 celsius, with those strong winds, it is going to be feeling a lot colder, closer to subzero in parts of the east uk. as we head on into tonight, some wintry showers will continue —— fewer wintry showers.

at six — tens of thousands of nurses go on strike again in their biggest day of action so far in england. they chant: claps don't pay the bills, claps don't pay the bills! strike action will intensify next month. ambulance workers will now walk out on the same day as nurses in england and wales, piling huge pressure on hospital bosses. my message, and that of many chief executives around the country, is that this needs resolution. we cannot continue to go through periods of industrial action, and the disruption caused to patients and to our staff. also on the programme tonight... another slight fall in inflation but food prices continue to soar. a

senior ukrainian government minister