this is bbc news. i'm samantha simmonds with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the british prime minister says he has confidence in nadhim zahawi, after the conservative chairman admitted to what he called a "careless" error with his taxes. britain's labour party demands that the parliamentary standards watchdog investigate reports that the bbc chairman helped boris johnson secure a financial loan. thousands of israelis take to the streets against benjamin netanyahu's right wing coalition in what could be the biggest anti—government protests in a decade. wild camping campaigners say access to the english countryside is being eroded as they protest at one of the uk's biggest national parks. and millions of people around the world prepare for the lunar new year.

the chair of the conservative party nadim zahawi has confirmed that he made a payment to the tax office to settle a disagreement about his tax affairs. mr zahawi said hmrc accepted that an error concerning shares he gave to his father — for help in setting up the polling company yougov in 2000 — had been careless and not deliberate. it comes after newspaper reports that he'd paid a seven figure sum and been subject to a penalty. it's understood the dispute over mr zahawi's taxes was resolved while he was serving as chancellor of the exchequer. earlier labour had called on nadim zahawi to resign. here's our political correspondent helen catt. do you have anything - you want to say, mr zahawi? nadim zahawi was out and about this morning, although not to talk

to the press. instead, it was a cabinet colleague who defended him to the cameras, against claims he tried to avoid tax. i don't know about nadhim's personal tax affairs, i wouldn't know them, they are personal and private to him. but he has been very clear that he has paid all his tax due in the uk, that his tax accounts are up—to—date and he has engaged with hmrc. so that is the position and i think he has been very transparent about this. if he needs to answer any further questions, i'm sure he'll do so. last year, mr zahawi was, for a few months, borisjohnson�*s chancellor, in charge of the country's finances. asked in the summer about his financial affairs, he dismissed claims that hmrc was investigating him as inaccurate smears. now mr zahawi has confirmed that he did pay money to settle a disagreement with hmrc. he said it related to shares in the polling company, yougov,

which he set up in 2000. he said his dad had given him money to do it and got some shares in return as a founder. in a statement issued this afternoon, mr zahawi said that hmrc had disagreed about the exact allocation, and that he had chosen to settle the matter and pay what they said was due. he said hmrc had concluded that this was a careless and not deliberate error. there are some things which are still not clear. how much was paid, for example. a source close to mr zahawi suggested that there hadn't been any sort of negotiation or discussion, that he had simply paid what hmrc told him to. but it also appears that that happened while he was the chancellor of the exchequer, and in charge of the country's finances. labour says there are still things he needs to explain. and, earlier, the shadow chancellor was scathing. when the prime minister came into office he said he would run a government that would have honesty, integrity and professionalism at its heart. none of those three things are happening today. mr zahawi said the matter was resolved and all his tax

affairs were up—to—date when prime minister rishi sunak appointed him as the party chairman. he has now given some explanation. the question will be, if it's enough. the opposition labour party has reported former prime minister borisjohnson to the parliamentary standards watchdog following allegations reported in tomorrow's sunday times that the bbc chairman richard sharp helped the former prime minister to arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000 just weeks beforejohnson selected him for his currentjob. a short time ago i spoke to gabriel pogrund, the whitehall editor of the sunday times, and one of the authors of this story. he gave me more details on his investigation. the chairman of the bbc was unbeknownst to the public, involved in behind—the—scenes talks about borisjohnson finances at the same time that he had a lead application for the role he was to go on to

receive government support for. in october 2020, applications closed in the following month, sharpe dined with a friend of his, a man by the name of sam wasa his, a man by the name of sam was a foreign citizen in the distant cousin of borisjohnson who was interested in the idea of helping underwrite the then prime minister's lifestyle. johnson had a lot of difficulty relating to those payments and childcare costs and sharp actually volunteered to help, he introduced the idea to assignment case, he actually went to see simon, the cabinet secretary in the nation's top official in downing street and they discuss the matter and he brokered the introduction and brief the prime minister and it was in november, it was in november 2020 or early december the meeting occurred and the

cabinet office and team the internal watchdog for ministerial conduct in whitehall produced a formal letter tojohnson whitehall produced a formal letter to johnson expressly stating that they had to stop discussing and soliciting advice from sharp in respect of his private financial matters. stayed with us, we had reaction to the prime minister and read outcome of the spokesperson for borisjohnson said in the statement this is rubbish. he has never given any advice to borisjohnson, nor has mr johnson saw any financial advice from him there's never been any renumeration or compensation to mr sharp from borisjohnson and for this or for any other service, mr johnson did have dinner with mr sharp who he is known for almost 20 years and with his cousin and so wide, big deal. the financial arrangements have been properly declared on the advice of officials and that's advice of officials and that's a response from the former

prime minister and what is the political reaction to your story? political reaction to your sto ? �* , story? briefly the dinner referred _ story? briefly the dinner referred to _ story? briefly the dinner referred to the - story? briefly the dinner referred to the meal- story? briefly the dinner- referred to the meal featuring johnson and sam, and his £800,000 loan and sharp deleted the bbc chairman how to checkers, the prime ministers president. the former prime minister characterised, i don't know what he is referring to specifically but he has used the word rubbish and insist that everyone of his interest was properly declared. 0bviously, their questions were sharp and job applications stated that candidates were not eligible if they failed to disclose conflicts of interest and so, politically, the reaction tonight is inevitably to focus on the former prime minister in the shadow culture secretary, the party referred to parliamentary commissions for standards and shadow culture secretary tweeted a few

moments ago revelations of public confidence in the bbc and its reputations for neutrality and impartiality and so, obvious questions, notjust for the political establishment of the civil service and the prime minister but also the chairman and again for the sake of fairness which i'm sure you will in due course read this out anyway but this position, he has acknowledged that he is introduced johnson's guarantor, the manual underwrote the facility and simon case, he said that on the record and as for the application process he said there was no interest to declare and said that his activities with no further and so, his position is straightforward in that respect. there was no conflict of interest that supports the question is active introducing them to the nations top official not in and of itself

leased to potential perceived conflict but the position is emphatic. bbc chairman richard sharp said "there is not a conflict when i simply connected, at his request, mr blyth with the cabinet secretary and had no further involvement whatsoever." a bbc spokesman said: "the bbc plays no role in the recruitment of the chair and any questions are a matter for the government." the cabinet office have been contacted but have not commented to the bbc. thousands of israelis have packed the streets of several cities in the second weekend of large scale demonstrations against benjamin netanyahu's right wing coalition. this was the scene in tel aviv in what organisers believe could be one of the biggest anti—government protests in a decade. protesters are accusing mr netanyahu of threatening democracy with the most radically nationalist and religious coalition the country's ever known. the bbc�*s tom bateman is in tel aviv these protesters say they believe there is a coup going on to try to dismantle israel's system of government

by netanyahu, by this coalition, it is the most radically nationalist right—wing religious government in israel's history. it has brought all these people out onto the streets of tel aviv tonight. i was just chatting to one woman who is here with her baby son that said she was so concerned about the direction of the country that she was considering leaving it and that she didn't want her son to serve in the army. for something like that for israel is that is a profound point. for something like that for israelis that is a profound point. the reason they are allowed here is that coalition being into its third week. they've talked about their believe that benjamin netanyahu wants to water down the independence of the courts. they see that as an attack on israeli democracy. mr netanyahu has been dismissive throughout these protests, they say

they are effectively denying the will of the people and said there was much bigger demonstration, that was the election took place in november and led to the formation of his coalition. police tonight are estimating numbers that were greater than last week when they released 80,000 are estimating. that would make this certainly the biggest anti—government demonstration in israel recent years. president zelensky and the first lady have been taking part in a memorial in kyiv for interior minister denys monastyrsky and 13 other people killed following a helicopter crash. the accident happened earlier this week in a suburb of kyiv, and set a kindergarten on fire. president zelensky says he'll keep asking western allies to send modern tanks to ukraine, after a meeting of allied nations in germany on friday ended without an agreement to provide them. protests have taken place in berlin — to demand the approval of german—made tanks to be sent to kyiv.

basically, the chancellor is facing a huge problem at home in berlin. there has been a protest in front of his office. much more than that, the media in general has turned against him and also leading figures from his own coalition government have spoken against his decision to effectively veto the delivery of german—made tanks also from other countries. under these arms export rules, german tanks that have been sold by germany to third countries need to be approved by the government if they were going to be re—exported to ukraine. countries like poland

or finland are also unable, although they are willing to contribute tanks to kyiv. it's been a pretty tough week for the chancellor. i think his decision has not been communicated very well, people don't quite understand what's going on and why it's happening. and so, i think he's raising enormous pressure within his own coalition as well as the international public from allies and the media at home. a lot of analysts expect he will eventually have to correct and somehow lift this unspoken veto. he has been cautious from the beginning and his reaction to ukraine and what they've sent. initially, very reluctant to do bury them off. that has increased over the past year in terms of military equipment and money that is the assessment at some point he will acquiesce? he's being very cautious in taking his time and being very careful of what reaction may be from russia. yes. that argument is very difficult

to explain by his own people. when i talk to them, i don't quite get it anymore. germany has, as you said, been cautious since april or mid year. since they have delivered some of the most powerful, potent pieces of artillery to ukraine the self—propelled howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, these things are extremely powerful. they are much more powerful than a tank. they're being used on the front line every day. they have a reach of over 30 km. it's very difficult to explain why a tank is this totemic, that this is meant to be causing escalation when they have sent much bigger and powerful star. bigger and powerful stuff. there is something about the

tank that seems to be bothering mr schultz personally. his people will say that president biden of the united states has not sent tanks. you have to remember at the moment i think britain is the only country that has officially announced that they will be sending 14 tanks. essentially, he is saying i'm only going to do this if president biden goes a long with it. that is difficult to explain because prior to that he has been saying we will go along with whatever nato decides, our european allies decide. it's difficult to explain to people why a tank should be an escalation where a much bigger weapon has been there for months and months. let's return to our top story — the news that the chair of the conservative party nadim zahawi has confirmed that he made a payment to the tax office to settle a disagreement about his tax affairs. my colleague kasia madera spoke to rebecca benneyworth, a chartered accountant who writes on tax issues. she says the tax authorities carefully check what you tell them and cross reference it with information they have:

well, hmrc has got a very, very sophisticated computer system which goes off and gets data from all sorts of places and marries that data up and spots anomalies that they are concerned about. but in fact, what we are led to believe in mr zahawi's case is that that was not how all of this started. the suggestion is that mr zahawi went to hmrc, once he realised that there was a problem with his tax, and came forward, and the rate of penalty and some of the information that's in the public domain suggests that that's true. so he actually went to hmrc, approached them, and said, "look, there's a problem, i need to come clean, "i need to tell you all about it." when you say the rate of penalty, just explain, help us to understand, in that case, would it have been potentially a higher penalty? we can't verify the exact figures, but the guardian

is reporting that it was a penalty of 30%. yes, so that report is consistent with what mr zahawi said in his statement this afternoon, that hmrc had agreed that his behaviour was careless and not deliberate. so what the penalty legislation does, once you've had a tax inquiry or you've come forward and said, "oh, dear, i've got a problem," right at the end of it, hmrc have to go into a sort of a bit of a look and see, "were you careless in underpaying your tax?" so how the legislation works is fairly straightforward. you've sent a document to hmrc which is inaccurate. as a result of that, you've underpaid your tax. the legislation then says, "we need to look at how this happened. "were you careless?

was it deliberate? "did you send in a deliberately incorrect tax return?" or, even worse still, "did you deliberately misstate your tax and then try and cover it up afterwards?" those are the kind of levels of penalties, and obviously a much, much higher penalty for what they call deliberate and concealed. careless is what has been agreed. now, if it was just simply to do with the uk, the maximum penalty, then, is 30%, and then you get a reduction, the law says, for what they call disclosure. now, that involves you coming forward or maybe hmrc asking you about it and you putting your hands up, and also how you work with hmrc while you are actually sorting all of it out. did you give them all the information they needed? did you let them see all of your information so that you could arrive at the right amount of tax? the slight difference

here with mr zahawi is that the yougov shares, if that is what he is paying this capital gains tax in relation to, they were in an offshore structure in gibraltar. when the inaccuracy relates to something that happened offshore, the penalty legislation is a little more aggressive. it says, "we don't like this at all." so the starting point goes up to 45%. gibraltar is what is called a category two territory, so it is the middle range of penalties, so it starts off at 45%. if you come forward without being asked about it, then you can reduce that penalty. the minimum you'll get it down to is 22.5%. so if our analysis is right, and i think this sort of seems to stack up with what's in the public domain, he did come forward voluntarily because the penalty for what they call prompted disclosure, after hmrc have said, "hang on a minute, what's going on here?", that's much higher. so it's likely he came forward voluntarily, he was moderately cooperative,

not 100% cooperative. otherwise the penalty would have been 22.5%, the minimum level. so he was slightly less than overly enthusiastic to get hmrc sorted and get the whole thing resolved, but they've got a good reduction. so whoever was negotiating for him and dealing with hmrc, they've come out with — given the circumstances, i think a lot of people are commenting today — not a bad outcome in penalty terms, at 30%. there's been another day of protests in france — against president macron�*s pension reform plans. left—wing party unbowed and other youth organistations have been marching in paris. on friday, the country saw nationwide strikes — affecting travel, finance, education and other sectors. 0rganisers say they are opposed to raising the state pension age from 62 to 64.

president macron says it's the best way to ensure the system remains affordable. campaigners have staged a protest on dartmoor national park — in the south west of england —after the high court ruled that people aren't allowed to camp there without the permission of landowners. the national park authorities have since agreed a deal to allow wild camping in designated areas — but the protestors say their access to the countryside is being eroded. our environment correspondent claire marshall reports from dartmoor. this is a battle bus rolling into the village square. we're here today to summon up a spirit — to defend dartmoor and its wild camping rights. the organisers of this rally, the right to roam, say they are at war for the right to sleep under the stars. let's go and summon up the spirit of dartmoor. cheering one of the reasons i'm here is because i work with dofe students, bringing them up onto the moors,

teaching them how to wild camp and leave no trace and hike and do their business responsibly and i'm really concerned about the future that this may have on them and their competitions. they marched towards the southern slopes of the moor. 4,000 acres of it is owned by hedge fund manager, alexander darwall. his legal action saw the high court rule there is no intrinsic right to wild camp on the moor, something that's been done for decades. i cut my football match to come here. did you? more important! it's more important than a football match? yeah. a lot of people here today have spoken to me about power and how it is tipped away from the ability of people to camp out here on the moor in favour of the few people who own this land. but there is a darker side — the damage that can be done by people camping out. cans, foil, condoms, syringes sometimes, all those things... russell ashford owns buckfastleigh common —

he was born here. at the end of the day it's a fantastic, big, open, wild space but it is a wild space and we surely don't want to visit it so much that it's damaged through that. a deal has been done — land owners will be paid and people can wild camp. the area is smaller, though, and the right can be revoked at any time. what everyone has in common is the desire for humans to leave no trace and to preserve the dwindling wild spaces of england. claire marshall, bbc news. let's bring you some breaking news now and in the last few minutes it's been reported that six more classified documents have been found in the us justice department search of president biden�*s home in wilmington, delaware. this according to mr biden�*s laywer. biden�*s attorney bob bauer said in a statement

that the president offered access "to his home to allow doj to conduct a search of the entire premises for potential vice—presidential records and potential classified material". neither biden nor his wife were present during the search, the attorney said. tens of millions of people are on the move in china to visit family and friends for new year celebrations. it's the first spring festival in the country since the lifting of covid restrictions michael bristow reports. there's excitement, and relief, as china begins celebrating its first lunar new year since the lifting of covid restrictions. not surprisingly, there are more travellers than last year. there are expected to be 2 billion individualjourneys in china over the whole holiday, although that's still fewer than before the outbreak began. for some, it's a first get—together since the start of the pandemic. translation: i'm very happy to see my son and his family. | this is ourfirst reunion in three years. but covid is casting a shadow over the new year. many are still cautious

about travelling. people fear they could be taking disease home with them. translation: although we have opened up, - i still have concerns. everyone needs to take measures to protect themselves. and for parents and the elderly, who have not got covid yet, we still need to be careful for them. in a new year address, china's leader xi jinping promised glories and dreams in the upcoming year of the rabbit. in perhaps a veiled reference to china's current covid crisis, he said this passing year's achievements had not come easy. chinese officials are trying to convince the public that the worst is over, but there are fears that such a huge movement of people across china over the lunar new year could fuel further covid it's infections, and deaths. michael bristow, bbc news. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ samantha tv news

good evening. we have seen some milder conditions moving in over might conditions moving in over make many further have clear might make many further have clear skies overhead and some frost and some fog and this is the picture of iran and we will see a real mix through sunday, still sticking with cloutier and milder theme in the north and milder theme in the north and west was ran around the further south and east, court frosty with some lingering fog too and that contrast and that beach throughout this cold air mass with us across central and southern areas but this with friend in the northwest bringing milder conditions and some fairly passive over the course of the day. in the overnight period of the day, the rain pushed across was in scotland, northern ireland, fog forming to the northern aisles,

southern parts of england in particular start of her sunday morning. you're going to seek interest out about —6 possibly minus seven degrees towards the southeast but frost free of the northern areas. there is that really fog to the east and slowly clearing away with some rain for parts of western scotla nd rain for parts of western scotland and cambridgeshire and as well, some sunshine developing once that slowly lifts away from southern and eastern england but it will feel cold and destroy three degrees in the east and even courted to see the fog lingering but perhaps double figures for the likes of belfast. some clear skies for a time across another scotland is to move through sunday night in a monday, more of the same, cold and frosty towards the south and east with temperatures down below freezing and holding on across scotland and northern ireland. so, we have this area of high pressure which is really building across much of the uk which is being moved into monday and does weather fronts in the far north and there could be some rain for north of

scotland in northern aisles in the odd splash around some of these oversea coats. some sunshine again developing for the bulk of england and wales and after that fault gradually clears away. top temperatures of three to 5 degrees on the chilly side but there will be some sunshine towards the southeast, milder but cloudier in the north and the west. in then as we have through the middle of the week, still high pressure around from perhaps a week from making its way south and introducing a few splashes of rain. the outlook, generally a lot of dry weather but it will be turning milder for the week ahead but also rather cloudy at times too. bye—bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the bbc has been told that the british prime minister is satisfied with nadhim zahawi's account of his tax affairs. the conservative party chairman has issued a statement saying the uk tax agency accepted an error with his taxes was careless rather than deliberate. britain's labour party has asked the parliamentary standards watchdog to investigate a report alleging that the chairman of the bbc, richard sharp, helped arrange a guarantee on a loan for borisjohnson, weeks before the then—prime minister recommended him for the role. a spokesman for mrjohnson called the report rubbish. the bbc chairman said there was not a conflict. a protest has been held on one of britain's biggest national parks, dartmoor, after the high court ruled

people aren't allowed to camp there without