this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines: the british prime minister is fined by police forfailing the british prime minister is fined by police for failing to wear a seat belt whilst a passenger in a moving car. it happened when he was filming a political clip for instagram. western defence chiefs meeting in germany fail to agree on the provision of advanced tanks to ukraine — the americans say it's still under discussion. you may have heard the german minister of defence say earlier that they have not made a decision on the provision of leopard tanks. the decision comes despite an emotional plea from president volodymyr zelensky

via videolink. also in the programme: a senior un official visiting kabul says progress is being made to ensure that afghan women continue work with aid agencies, despite a ban by the taliban. hello and welcome. we start with some breaking news here in the uk — prime minister rishi sunak has been issued with a fixed penalty notice by police for not wearing a seat belt in a moving car. mr sunak had previously apologised for what he called the "brief error ofjudgement" in a social media video as he carried out a series of visits in the north of england on thursday.

tonight, lancashire police said it had issued a 42—year—old man in london with a conditional offer of a fixed penalty. our political correspondent, david wallace lockheart, is at westminster. i wonder if you can just give us the latest details on this. rishi i wonder if you can just give us the latest details on this.— latest details on this. rishi sunak was yesterday — latest details on this. rishi sunak was yesterday going _ latest details on this. rishi sunak was yesterday going across - latest details on this. rishi sunak was yesterday going across the i latest details on this. rishi sunak . was yesterday going across the north of england because he was announcing levelling up funding, essentially government funding that was going to specific projects in different parts of the uk. as part of him trying to get the government's message out about this, he recorded a video that he posted on instagram, featuring him in the back of a car, talking about why he was visiting lancashire. in the video, he didn't have his seat belt on and many people picked up on this and it was put to the prime minister's official

spokesman that he fully accepted it was a mistake and apologised. they called it a brief error ofjudgment, explaining that he only took office seat belt to film the video. but we did hear that lancashire police force were looking into it and they decided it was wealthy of a fixed penalty notice for not wearing a seat belt, something that rishi sunak could have decided to challenge, but he said he accepts and will be paying the fine. we heard that from number ten in the last ten or 15 minutes. problematic on a couple of fronts. he wanted this visit that he took part in yesterday to be all about the fact that the government was giving money to projects across the uk, but here regard 2a hours on talking about the fact he has been fined for not wearing a seat belt. secondly, this is the second fine he has had in the past year, because when he was chancellor, he did get a fine as part of party, those gatherings that

took place in downing street during the pandemic when there were meant to be restrictions in place around gatherings. he was fined for one of those meetings he attended that had some party food around four boris johnson's birthday. so the second fine that he will have to pay for a fixed penalty notice within 12 months. , , ., ., ., months. just to add, we are getting news from a — months. just to add, we are getting news from a number _ months. just to add, we are getting news from a number ten _ months. just to add, we are getting - news from a number ten spokesperson, saying that the prime minister will pay the fine issued by lancashire constabulary. it was an offer made by the police. the statement goes on to say, he fully accepted was a mistake and has apologised. so that is the latest from number ten. i wonder if we can move onto the next point evening, there is another cabinet minister who is under pressure to resign. what can you tell about that?— pressure to resign. what can you tell about that? that's right. this is nadhim zahawi, _

tell about that? that's right. this is nadhim zahawi, who _ tell about that? that's right. this is nadhim zahawi, who is - tell about that? that's right. this is nadhim zahawi, who is the - is nadhim zahawi, who is the chairman of the conservative party and as part of that, he gets to attend cabinet. there have been some questions around nadhim zahawi, he used to be chancellor while boris johnson with minister, some questions about his tax affairs. before he entered on a six, he was a successful businessman and one of his ventures was co—founding the pollen company hugo. the questions are around whether he tried to avoid paying tax by using an offshore company to hold shares in that company. the sun reported on sunday that nadhim zahawi had agreed to make a seven figure sum payment to the tax authorities to settle a dispute. there have been more reports coming in today in the guardian, saying that part of that included paying a penalty, taking the total tax bill to almost £5

million, they report. we have not been able to verify these claims, but his spokesman has not denied reports of a tax settlement. he was asked about it today, the latest claims of a penalty, but he has so far not responded. previously, the bbc was told that his taxes are properly declared and paid in the uk. as we said, he did have a brief stint as chancellor over the summer when borisjohnson had announced he was resigning but stayed in office for a few months. he was education secretary before that, he still attends cabinet. opposition parties are calling for him to go, saying his story doesn't add up. no doubt we can expect the opposition to keep up we can expect the opposition to keep up the pressure going into the weekend. 0k, weekend. ok, thank you very much for that update. a major meeting of western allies to arrange support for ukraine has taken place in germany. there have been pledges

of missiles, defences, armour and combat vehicles, but the allies weren't able to agree on the sending heavy tanks ukraine's government says it needs to break the deadlock in the war. germany is under pressure to allow its leopard—two tanks, to be exported to ukraine, which isn't a member of nato. germany's new defence minister has said no decision has been made, adding that berlin would not stand in the way of exports if its allies acted together. the uk has commited to sending ia challenger 2 tanks to the front line. russia has warned that providing tanks would mark an "extremely dangerous" escalation. the bbc�*sjessica parker reports. this is what kyiv wants, but can't yet have. german—made leopard 2 tanks, as part of hopes for hundreds of western battle tanks to help defend their country and take back their land.

britain broke the mould, pledging ia challengers. but for ukraine, that alone isn't enough. hundreds of thank yous are not hundreds of tanks. all of us can use thousands of words in discussions. but i cannot put words instead of guns that are needed against russian artillery. it was a direct appeal to this meeting of defence chiefs. but berlin gets to decide where tanks made in germany can go, even those bought by other countries. minister, why is berlin so hesitant on this issue? we are not really hesitating, we are just very carefully balancing the pros and cons. we are not talking just about delivering anything to anybody, this is a new kind of measure we would choose. domestic politics, germany's past and a fear of escalating the conflict may all play into berlin's caution.

but this meeting was about more than tanks, with much wider pledges of military aid and an air of urgency. they've not made a decision on the provision of leopard tanks. what we're really focused on is making sure that ukraine has a capability that it needs to be successful right now. the nato military alliance sees this as a pivotal moment. there is a need for support to ukraine, to enable them not only to survive but actually to retake territory to win this war. but there is a lot of talk about a russian spring offensive. do you think ukraine can take back territory this year? absolutely. that's the reason why nato allies and partners this frontline ukrainian unit is using a soviet—era tank. they're worn and hungry

for more modern equipment, anticipating bigger battles to come. jessica parker, bbc news, in ramstein. i'm joined now by our security correspondent, frank gardner. hello, frank. iwonder hello, frank. i wonder if you can put this into context for us. following this meeting, how critical is the situation for ukraine, that they do get these leopard tanks? this has been a good day for the kremlin. it has not been a good day for ukraine, because they were really holding out that the veto was going to be lifted and these desperately needed leopard tanks, which there are more than 2000 of them sitting at in warehouses across europe and could be provided relatively easily to ukraine, they are easy to maintain, to take little time to train crews on them. but as you had in that report, there are

some roadblocks on the way to this. this will be disappointing for ukraine, notwithstanding the fact that there was consensus today to provide a lot of military equipment, things like armoured vehicles, air defence, ammunition, all of which ukraine welcomes, but they haven't now got the tools. not only will they not be able to mount their own effective spring offensive to push russians out of areas they have conquered, but they also might struggle to repel a new advance by russia in the coming weeks. all of this time throughout winter, when the fighting is relatively static, russia is training up a whole new caudery over well over 100,000 troops. they will not be particular well—trained or well—equipped or well—trained or well—equipped or well motivated, but there is strength in numbers, and ukraine worries that they won't be able to repel wave after wave of infantry

advances, backed by heavy artillery. germany says that if the allies acted together, then it wouldn't stand in the way. how likely is that to happen?— stand in the way. how likely is that to happen? unfortunately, this is a circle that cannot _ to happen? unfortunately, this is a circle that cannot be _ to happen? unfortunately, this is a circle that cannot be squared - to happen? unfortunately, this is a circle that cannot be squared right| circle that cannot be squared right now. even though the us is denying there is a link with its own abrams tanks, the fact is germany doesn't want to stick its head above the parapet, it doesn't want to go it alone. if it is part of one big coalition package and that lots of countries all agreed to send their tanks, then that's fine, we will do it. what they really would feel comfortable with is if they have the us behind them. america will not send, orat us behind them. america will not send, or at least is giving no indication that they will centre abrams tanks for several reasons. these things are huge gas guzzlers, they require a special kind of fuel, they require a special kind of fuel, they are pretty heavy, they would be

logistically difficult to get over there and it would take months to train the crews. it is not practical for america at the moment. that is why there is such pressure on germany to say, look, drop your objections and go with it. some were between 2000 and 3000 leopard tanks are sitting in warehouses in a dozen countries in europe. finland and poland and other countries are saying, we are ready to send them right now, we can train their crews on them. the clock is ticking, ukraine hasn't got much time, spring is only a few weeks away, and they need that time to prepare.- need that time to prepare. thank ou. i'm joined now by inna sovsun, who is a ukrainian mp, and a member of the ukrainian parliament's committee on energy, housing and utilities. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. i don't know if you are aware of any movement that has been made in terms of the allies coming

together. what can you tell us? together. what can ou tell us? together. whatcan outellus? , what can you tell us? of course, we are all extremely _ what can you tell us? of course, we are all extremely upset _ what can you tell us? of course, we are all extremely upset by _ what can you tell us? of course, we are all extremely upset by the - what can you tell us? of course, we are all extremely upset by the lack. are all extremely upset by the lack of decision by germany regarding the tanks. unfortunately, they have been dragging their feet on this issue for months now, and no decision seems to be upcoming as of right now. unfortunately, the situation is very bad. we are in the situation will be keep having to ask for those tanks. we are currently in close combat where tanks are needed, where we need to be able to protect our personnel. but we are not getting those tanks, we are not able to protect our people, we are losing them, hundreds a day, because no decision is taken. this is extremely timely for us, and we are not counting it in hours or days.

unfortunately for us, we are counting the number of people we are losing on the battlefield because such a decision is not being taken. how seriously do you take russia's warning that this would mean a dangerous escalation? what does that mean to ukraine?— dangerous escalation? what does that mean to ukraine? exactly a week ago, they launched — mean to ukraine? exactly a week ago, they launched a _ mean to ukraine? exactly a week ago, they launched a missile _ mean to ukraine? exactly a week ago, they launched a missile into _ mean to ukraine? exactly a week ago, they launched a missile into a - they launched a missile into a residential building, killing over 45 people in a single attack. that has been devastating for ukraine, but this is basically our everyday reality. this is already escalation, we are already in a situation where it is bad for all of us. the only way to stop this escalation is for us to win on the battlefield. we have shown we can do this. the russians have not been able to capture a single plot of land since the summer time, we have liberated significant portions of our territory. we can do it, but we need

western weapons for that post i believe we have proven that we are able to do that, provided that we have those weapons.— able to do that, provided that we have those weapons. could i ask you cuickl , have those weapons. could i ask you quickly. the — have those weapons. could i ask you quickly. the uk _ have those weapons. could i ask you quickly, the uk has _ have those weapons. could i ask you quickly, the uk has promised - have those weapons. could i ask you quickly, the uk has promised the - quickly, the uk has promised the challenger tanks, wendy you expect to receive those and what advantage will that give ukraine? {iii to receive those and what advantage will that give ukraine?— will that give ukraine? of course, ”rovidin will that give ukraine? of course, providing challenger _ will that give ukraine? of course, providing challenger tanks - will that give ukraine? of course, providing challenger tanks is - will that give ukraine? of course, providing challenger tanks is a - will that give ukraine? of course, l providing challenger tanks is a good decision because then germany cannot save they will not be the first to provide modern comeback tanks to ukraine. unfortunately, they are not available in the same big numbers as leopards are, so it will not be really a systemic change to our military. we hope it will break the ice. it will also take weeks for the training to be completed for our soldiers. the most important part of this decision is political. it is breaking the ice and showing that germany is not standing alone, that

they have to do this, they have to make this decision after the united kingdom has decided to do it first. ok, thank you for your time. a senior un official says that progress is being made to ensure that afghan women continue work with aid agencies despite a ban by the ruling taliban.

welcome back to bbc world news. the united nations says there is some hope that women in afghanistan may be allowed to resume working for aid agencies after high level talks with the country's taliban rulers. they imposed the ban last month, along with a ban on women attending university. amina mohammed, the un deputy secretary general, has been visiting afghanistan, and she's been speaking

to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. a space to call their own. their own shops run by afghan women for afghan women. but a new taliban edict shut down a training programme here. this, their response. all night, we cried. these four women, all university—educated, lost their jobs, the life they knew and loved. our future is very dark. it's not bright. do you see any light? no. we are here because we really want to hear your voices. that's why the un's second—in—command is here, amina mohammed, its most senior woman, trying to change taliban government edicts barring women from work and education. that's why she headed to the southern province of

kandahar to meet some of the most conservative taliban leaders. we are going to use this to push the door wider and not allow to it close. and not allow it to close, because it would close on the women of afghanistan and that is not an option we will even table. the council of islamic scholars explaining their strict interpretation of women in islam. so strict it's been criticised by many islamic countries. ms mohammed, a muslim herself, made her case too. how did it go? tough. tough? tough. as in no meeting of minds? i think that there is a distance to be covered. we are a little closer to better understanding why they took the decisions. and there is some hope.

but it's tough. hope, because in her visit, under tight security, she also met taliban who say they do want to engage on these issues. so she has ended her mission believing she has made some progress. that this is the beginning of a dialogue, not the end. lyse doucet, bbc news, kabul. thousands of nhs operations have been cancelled because of the nurses�* strike. the health service and said that 27,800 bookings had to be rescheduled, including some operations. they have also warned the strikes are making it harder to get through the increasing backlog in hospital treatment.

tickets to madonna�*s first ever greatest hits tour went on sale this morning. the tour, which celebrates a0 years since the release of her breakout single, holiday, will see the pop icon perform songs from her entire career. here�*s our music correspondent, mark savage. i�*m joined now byjodie jackson, a madonna fan and tribute artist in yorkshire. thank you forjoining us. first off, have you got your tickets? hat thank you forjoining us. first off, have you got your tickets? not yet. i have been — have you got your tickets? not yet. i have been so _ have you got your tickets? not yet. i have been so busy _ have you got your tickets? not yet. i have been so busy today - have you got your tickets? not yet. i have been so busy today with - i have been so busy today with everything going on, the phone has not stopped ringing. so i have been too busy. but i had a friend try to get tickets, but she hasn�*t succeeded. so i am still trying. haw succeeded. so i am still trying. how excited are — succeeded. so i am still trying. how excited are you _ succeeded. so i am still trying. how excited are you about this? clearly you are, because you will try to get some tickets, but what does it mean to you? 1&5 some tickets, but what does it mean to ou? �* , ., some tickets, but what does it mean to ou? .,, some tickets, but what does it mean to ou? ., ,, ., to you? as an artist performing

madonna as — to you? as an artist performing madonna as a _ to you? as an artist performing madonna as a tribute, - to you? as an artist performing madonna as a tribute, it - to you? as an artist performing madonna as a tribute, it is - madonna as a tribute, it is wonderful because the bookings are so busy, and that is right across the board for all of the madonnas in this country. it is brilliant work and poor all of herfans this country. it is brilliant work and poor all of her fans who want to see her, obviously.— and poor all of her fans who want to see her, obviously. madonna has said she is excited — see her, obviously. madonna has said she is excited to _ see her, obviously. madonna has said she is excited to explore _ see her, obviously. madonna has said she is excited to explore as _ see her, obviously. madonna has said she is excited to explore as many - she is excited to explore as many songs as possible. what are you hoping she will be performing? she has to do hoping she will be performing? sue: has to do all of the old classics, because everybody knows those, even if they are not a madonna fan, like like a prayer, like a virgin. ilistens like a prayer, like a virgin. were ou like a prayer, like a virgin. were you expecting _ like a prayer, like a virgin. were you expecting this? _ like a prayer, like a virgin. were you expecting this? was - like a prayer, like a virgin. were you expecting this? was there a rumour she would do this? ihla you expecting this? was there a rumour she would do this? no idea at all, then somebody _ rumour she would do this? no idea at all, then somebody put _ rumour she would do this? no idea at all, then somebody put it _ rumour she would do this? no idea at all, then somebody put it on - rumour she would do this? no idea at all, then somebody put it on social i all, then somebody put it on social media a few weeks ago. suddenly, it has exploded this week. a complete

surprise. but a wonderful surprise as well. ~ ., ., surprise. but a wonderful surprise as well. ~ . ., surprise. but a wonderful surprise as well. . . . ., as well. what are the tricks? how difficult or easy _ as well. what are the tricks? how difficult or easy is _ as well. what are the tricks? how difficult or easy is it _ as well. what are the tricks? how difficult or easy is it to _ difficult or easy is it to impersonate somebody like madonna? i trained as an actress, i am a trained as an actress, i am a trained singer and dancer, so ijust go into that performance mode. it was a lot of work to start with to try and capture her mannerisms. i watched a lot of youtube and all of her videos, watched a lot of youtube and all of hervideos, her watched a lot of youtube and all of her videos, her concerts. watched a lot of youtube and all of hervideos, her concerts. now it watched a lot of youtube and all of her videos, her concerts. now it is just automatic, so ijust her videos, her concerts. now it is just automatic, so i just switch into character in all of my shows was up it is quite easy now, but there was a lot of groundwork to get it to the stage and standard that it is now. i it to the stage and standard that it is now. ., ., ., ,~' , , ., is now. i have to ask this question, because they _ is now. i have to ask this question, because they have _ is now. i have to ask this question, because they have been _ is now. i have to ask this question, because they have been a - is now. i have to ask this question, because they have been a couple i is now. i have to ask this question, | because they have been a couple of incidents in past performances, she is 64 years old, what an achievement for the entertainment industry. do

you think she is up to it? will her fans be forgiving? the level of energy won�*t be what we have been used to when it comes to madonna. madonna is full of surprises. she has kept herself in shape all through her career and she has never fallen off the wagon, you have never seen her do rehab or anything crazy like that, which happens to a lot of celebrities. she has kept on the straight and narrow, despite the criticisms she has had in her career. because she has stayed healthy and worked out, i think she will pull it off. by, healthy and worked out, i think she will pull it off-— will pull it off. a masterclass in survivinu will pull it off. a masterclass in surviving the — will pull it off. a masterclass in surviving the media _ will pull it off. a masterclass in surviving the media industry, i will pull it off. a masterclass in i surviving the media industry, isn't surviving the media industry, isn�*t she? thank you so much. i really hope you get your tickets. thank you. hope you get your tickets. thank ou. . ~' hope you get your tickets. thank ou. . ~ , ., hope you get your tickets. thank ou. . ~ i. hope you get your tickets. thank ou. . ~ . a reminder of our top story: the british prime minister, rishi sunak, is fined by polce for failing to wear a seatbelt while a passenger in a moving car.

it happened when he was filming a political clip for instagram. number ten has apologised in a statement for the incident. plenty more on this coming up on bbc world news. hello. many of us spent friday with blue skies overhead, a bright end to the week, but a cold end to the week. still some snow on the ground for this weather watcher in the highlands, but there is a change that will start to take place, a slow change, with a bank of cloud pushing in from the north—west, some south—westerly winds bringing something milder. they will develop across northern ireland and western scotland as we go through the night. some rain and maybe some snow on the leading—edge, but by six again, temperatures for belfast and stornoway will be up at six or seven celsius. furthersouth stornoway will be up at six or seven celsius. further south and east, a cold and frosty start to saturday. so quite a split in the feel of the

weather for the weekend. southern and eastern parts of the uk staying in the grip of the cold air. further north and west, this mild air trying to move south eastwards, but taking quite a while to do so, making very slow progress. so the south and east is set to stay colder with some fog around as well. further north and west, milder but cloudier with some outbreaks of rain. fog could cause issues in east wales, the west midlands and the west country, freezing fog to start saturday morning. some of that can be dense and floaty clear, and there could be some slippery, icy conditions. but broadly speaking we will see some spells of sunshine for england and wales, the odd shower gracing the far south—east. wales, the odd shower gracing the farsouth—east. further wales, the odd shower gracing the far south—east. further north and west, scotland and northern ireland seeing more cloud and splashes of rain, but the mildest of the weather, nine or 10 degrees in parts of north—west scotland. saturday night and into sunday, this next

frontal system will bring outbreaks of rain. high pressure to the south—east, could bring some fog forming which could be slow to clear. eastern and south—eastern parts of england, once that has cleared, should see some sunshine. further north and west, some cloud but highs of ii further north and west, some cloud but highs of 11 degrees. temperatures in some places no higher than three or 4 degrees in the south and east. it looks like that mild weather will eventually reach the south east corner, but not for long because it could turn colder again from the north by the end of next week.

this is bbc world news, the headlines western defence chiefs meeting in germany have failed to agree on the provision of advanced tanks to ukraine — the americans say it�*s still under discussion. nato said commitments of other military aid amounted to a massive new package of combat capabilities. thousands of abortion opponents are rallying in washington for the fiftieth annual "march for life", calling for further restrictions on the termination of pregnancies. it�*s the first time the event has been held since roe vs wade was overturned. the british prime minister, rishi sunak, has been fined by polce for failing to wear a seatbelt in a moving car.

it happened when he was filming a political clip for instagram.