ukraine could be about to get one of its biggest stategic wins — with germany expected to confirm its sending specialist leopard 2 tanks to the frontline. we have a special report from rural china where a rising death toll from covid overshadowed lunar new year. this year people won't necessarily be so happy because they may well have lost friends, relatives and loved ones to the coronavirus. . lawyers for mike pence say he'll co—operate after classified documents were found at his home. ticketmaster says sorry to swifties after a technical glitch meant many missed out on her latest tour dates. another step forward for body language experts researching our relationship to chimps. these gestures may have gone

under skinfold evolution of human gesture and human language as we know it now. —— scaffold. and we look at this year's oscars nominations as everything everywhere all at once takes a quantum leap into the lead. after much pressure and anticipation, there are reports in the german media that the country will send leopard 2 battle tanks to ukraine. reports suggest olaf scholz will give the go—ahead to send 1a tanks, paving the way for poland and other european countries to also send some of their german—made leopard tanks to kyiv. analysts say this could be a game changerfor ukraine in its efforts to repel russian troops from its territory. claudia redmond has the latest. he has been hesitant for days

but now after mounting pressure the german chancellor appears to have finally given the green light. according to german media he will send at least 1a leopard two tanks to kyiv. these are world—class weapons produced in germany, widely seen as the best fit for ukraine. at least 16 european and nato countries have them, but until now, they weren't allowed to export them because germany had to get permission. something that caused some frustration. the polish primer stitches using germany of acting in a way that was difficult to understand. in particular germany they have three 50 two tanks operational, 200 leopard two install, buy to keep them in stores? poland and the free world cannot afford not to send leopard tanks are not to send leopard tanks are not to send modern weapons to ukraine. in

not to send modern weapons to ukraine. , ., , , ukraine. in his evening address the ukrainian _ ukraine. in his evening address the ukrainian president - the ukrainian president zelensky thanked his european allies but said more needed to be done. , ., ., ., ., ~ be done. there is a lot of talk about tanks — be done. there is a lot of talk about tanks that _ be done. there is a lot of talk about tanks that we - be done. there is a lot of talk about tanks that we need, . be done. there is a lot of talk about tanks that we need, a i be done. there is a lot of talk. about tanks that we need, a lot of effort, words and promises. but it's important to see the reality. it's not about five or ten, 15 tanks, the need is greater. discussions need to end with decisions. decisions to really strengthen our defence against the terrorists, our allies have the necessary number of tanks. he our allies have the necessary number of tanks.— number of tanks. he sees leapard — number of tanks. he sees leapard two _ number of tanks. he sees leopard two tanks - number of tanks. he sees leopard two tanks is - number of tanks. he sees leopard two tanks is a - number of tanks. he sees l leopard two tanks is a vital weapon, he says he needs 300. he is unlikely to get them. but if he were to receive even 100, that could be a turning point. and it could help ukrainian soldiers break through russian lines and recapture territory this year. claudia redmond, bbc news.

the families of two british nationals who went missing in ukraine earlier this month have confirmed the men have been killed. chris parry, who was 28 and his 47—year—old colleague andrew bagshaw, died while attempting to evacuate people from the frontline town of soledar in the east of the country. china's dramatic, sudden, abandonment of its zero—covid policy has sent the virus through the country's population at great speed. with a shortage of icu capacity, big city hospitals have struggled to cope. the government has been accused of underplaying the death toll in large population centres, however, in poorer rural areas with only meagre medical facilities, even less is known about the number of deaths as a result of covid—19. our correspondent stephen mcdonell has been to villages in shanxi province where many have returned to celebrate the lunar new year.

the coffin makers in northern shanxi province have been busy. there has been great debate over the number of covid—19 deaths in chinese cities. there is still no official death toll for rural areas. yet what you see, if you visit local crematoriums is that a lot of people have died. in fact, all those we meet who work in the funeral industry speak about an explosion in demand. orders for these paperfuneral explosion in demand. orders for these paper funeral ornaments being placed at two or three times the normal rate because of coronavirus deaths according to this man. of coronavirus deaths according to this man-— to this man. some sick people were already _ to this man. some sick people were already very _ to this man. some sick people were already very weak, - to this man. some sick people were already very weak, then | were already very weak, then they catch covid—19, and their elderly bodies can't handle it. the government has announced more than 70,000 covid—19

related to an china's hospitals. these rural areas have only sparse facilities and many pass away at home so mostly not being counted. she had severe _ mostly not being counted. 51a: had severe diabetes, after mostly not being counted. 512 had severe diabetes, after she caught covid—19 she had a high fever and her organs began to fail. her immune system wasn't strong enough to make it. this man hasjust — strong enough to make it. this man hasjust lost _ strong enough to make it. this man hasjust lost his _ man has just lost his sister—in—law, mother of two man hasjust lost his sister—in—law, mother of two in her early 50s, he said the cost of buddhist funeral images like this have skyrocketed because of the speed of the deaths. she was a great _ of the speed of the deaths. 512 was a great person. we must hold a grand event to send her off, the best we can afford. for the spring festival hundreds of millions of younger people already returned to their home towns. places mostly populated by the elderly who

are more at risk from covid—19. these are the fireworks, the pictures, the lanterns and the snacks the chinese people will buy to help them bring in the new year, it's normally a very joyous time in fact the most important festival in this country but this year people won't necessarily be so happy because they may well have lost friends, or loved ones to the coronavirus. everyone seems to know somebody who has died. i asked this farmer about what appear to be new graves nearby. families have been burying their elderly relatives, there are just so many. their elderly relatives, there arejust so many. he their elderly relatives, there are just so many.— their elderly relatives, there are just so many. are 'ust so many. he points to the arejust so many. he points to the fresh _ arejust so many. he points to the fresh mounds _ arejust so many. he points to the fresh mounds of— arejust so many. he points to the fresh mounds of earth. . are just so many. he points to l the fresh mounds of earth. they are marked with red flags, in his village of a few thousand he said more than a0 people have passed away during the outbreak, they are hoping covid—19's worst work has been donein covid—19's worst work has been

done in the fields they toiled one b filled with more of their loved ones, in the nearfuture. stephen mcdonell, bbc news. classified documents have been found at the home of the former us vice—president mike pence in indiana during a search last week. the papers have been handed over to the f vi.— the papers have been handed over to the f vi. what is going on? when _ over to the f vi. what is going on? when mike _ over to the f vi. what is going on? when mike cains - over to the f vi. what is going on? when mike cains left - over to the f vi. what is going on? when mike cains left the | on? when mike cains left the white house insisted he hadn't taken any documents with him but the discovery of classified documents atjoe biden's home and former office prompted his aides to look a little closer and they came across a small number thought to be about a dozen documents with classified markings. following the discovery of classified markings at donald trump's mar—a—lago home as well as president biden's delaware

state, that has caused some to wonder whether a special prosecutor should be employed to look into the discovery of the documents in the mike pence household following the appointment of visual prosecutors to look in both the joe biden and donald trump cases. all of this raises the question, how many classified documents are there floating around out there is two these matters are taken very seriously at the highest levels of government, the senate intelligence committee only allows classified documents to leave the building and locked bags. but some here are making the point that may there are just too many in circulation. the federal government, every year, prince about a million documents also classified, bearing various degrees of secrecy, maybe it's thought there are just too many to keep track of, nonetheless the fact some of the former custodians have failed to exactly live up to the standards of care that

might be expected of them, has prompted some other form inhabitants prompted some otherform inhabitants of prompted some other form inhabitants of the white house to maybe go through their own belongings to see if they to unwittingly took anything away with them. we unwittingly took anything away with them. ~ , ., unwittingly took anything away with them-— with them. we shall wait and see and find _ with them. we shall wait and see and find out. _ with them. we shall wait and see and find out. david - with them. we shall wait and | see and find out. david willis, speak to you again soon. let's get some of the day's other news. hundreds of people have gathered in monterey park in california for a candle—lit vigil to remember the victims of a shooting at a local dance hall. 11 people died in the attack — 6 women and 5 men. it happened as people were celebrating lunar new year over the weekend. a 72—year—old man, huu can tran, who police said carried out the shootings, killed himself as officers moved in to arrest him. the president of peru has called for a "national truce" as thousands of protesters remain on the streets, demanding her resignation. dina boluarte said weeks of demonstrations had cost the country more than a billion dollars. around 50 people have been killed in clashes between protesters

and security forces. the usjustice department has filed a lawsuit against google for its dominance of the online advertising market, launching a fresh legal battle against the california—based tech giant. the case was the second federal lawsuit against google over alleged antitrust violations and the first one since presidentjoe biden took office. google has denied it is a monopoly. we will unpack that later in our business coverage. chris hipkins has been sworn in as new zealand's new prime minister, after the shock resignation of jacinda ardern last week, who said she didn't have enough in the tank to continue in thejob. our correspondent phil mercer is following the story. tell us more? chris hipkins may

lack the charisma _ tell us more? chris hipkins may lack the charisma and _ tell us more? chris hipkins may lack the charisma and star - lack the charisma and star power of jacinda lack the charisma and star power ofjacinda ardern, lack the charisma and star power of jacinda ardern, but he inherits a labour government thatis inherits a labour government that is facing enormous challenges you believe the opinion polls, labour is behind the conservative opposition and new zealand, head of a general election in october of this year. so chris hipkins is making the economy �*s main battleground to convince voters to stick with him and labour, rising rents, more expensive mortgages, chris hipkins has described rising inflation is a global pandemic in new zealand, it is stubbornly around 7%. so chris hipkins is concentrating on cost of living pressures, as for the mechanics of government, we are expecting a ministerial shakeup in the next few days, he will also be assisted by carmel cepelova in the first deputy new zealand prime minister of pacific

descent and this is being seen as extremely significant in a country that has a very close ties with that specific market neighbours, chris hipkins hoping to reset the government after the departure of jacinda ardern. she was mobbed by will wishes in herfinal moment of being prime minister earlier today she says she is looking forward to being a backbencher, a sister, and a mother. me a sister, and a mother. we shau a sister, and a mother. we shall keep _ a sister, and a mother. we shall keep an _ a sister, and a mother. we shall keep an eye - a sister, and a mother. we shall keep an eye on it for sure. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we look at which films are up for the biggest honour in hollywood, an academy award, and it looks set to be a big year for the blockbuster. the shuttle challenger exploded soon after liftoff. there were seven astronauts on board, one of them a woman schoolteacher. all of them are believed to have been killed.

by the evening, tahrir square, the heart of official cairo, was in the hands of the demonstrators. they were using the word revolution. the earthquake - singled out buildings and brought them down in seconds. _ tonight, the search for any survivors has an increasing| desperation about it as the hours pass. l the new government is firmly in control of the entire republic of uganda. survivors of the auschwitz concentration camp have been commemorating the 40th anniversary of their liberation. they toured the huts, gas chambers and crematoria and relived their horrifying experiences.

this is bbc world news, the latest headlines: ukraine could be about to get one of its biggest stategic wins, with germany expected to confirm its sending specialist leopard 2 tanks to the frontline. we have a special report from rural china where a rising death toll from covid overshadows lunar new year. ticketmaster has apologised to taylor swift and herfans during a us senate hearing, months after its system was overwhelmed by demand for her tour. our reporter sofia bettiza is here. first bettiza is here. of all, just remind us what first of all, just remind us what happened when this tool is available, tickets were available, tickets were available to buy, what went wrong? available to buy, what went wron: ? ., . , available to buy, what went wron: ? ., ., , ., wrong? you are right, this all started in _ wrong? you are right, this all started in november- wrong? you are right, this all

started in november when i started in november when tickets for a taylor swift to went on sale on ticketmaster, it caused chaos, the website kept crashing and within a few hours, tickets were being resold elsewhere at much higher prices. you are talking up to 22,000 us dollars and people say they waited eight, nine hours to try to get tickets and of course, taylor swift is one of course, taylor swift is one of the most famous singers in the world and this was the first to in five years so her fans were hugely disappointed and that's why some of them are now suing ticketmaster. the lawsuit alleges the company is guilty of fraud, price—fixing and anti—trust violations. so they are pretty extensive allegations pointed towards ticketmaster. the boss in front of a congressional hearing on tuesday, do tell us more. that's right on tuesday we had

from the president of live nation, ticketmaster's parent company and in his testimony, he blamed bots for what happened. he blamed bots for what happened-— he blamed bots for what happened. he blamed bots for what ha ened. ~ happened. we were then hit with three time the _ happened. we were then hit with three time the amount _ happened. we were then hit with three time the amount of - three time the amount of traffic— three time the amount of traffic of bots than we had ever — traffic of bots than we had ever experienced. while the bots— ever experienced. while the bots failed to penetrate our systems and acquire tickets, the attack required us to slow down — the attack required us to slow down and _ the attack required us to slow down and even pause our sales which _ down and even pause our sales which is — down and even pause our sales which is what led to a terrible consumer— which is what led to a terrible consumer experience which we deeply— consumer experience which we deeply regret. he apologised to the fans. — deeply regret. he apologised to the fans, we apologise to ms swift — the fans, we apologise to ms swift. we need to do better and we will— swift. we need to do better and we will do — swift. we need to do better and we will do better.— we will do better. confessions, apologies. _ we will do better. confessions, apologies, promises _ we will do better. confessions, apologies, promises to - we will do better. confessions, apologies, promises to do - apologies, promises to do better in the future. but this is not the first time ticketmaster has been under attack? ., . attack? you are right, ticketmaster - attack? you are right, ticketmaster has - attack? you are right, | ticketmaster has been attack? you are right, - ticketmaster has been under criticism for the past decade, both from fans and politicians. they control about 70% of live music ticket sales in the us. critics say they have too much

power, they monopolise the market and they are inflating ticket costs. of course, many artists have no choice but to work with the company and it when it comes to the taylor swift two, critics are saying despite what happened, ticketmaster doesn't really face any pressure to do better, to improve, because they don't have any competition so it's unclear whether this hearing would lead to any meaningful change. would lead to any meaningful chance. ~ , 2, would lead to any meaningful chance.~ , . ,, ,., would lead to any meaningful chance.~ , . ,, . change. we shall keep a close e e, change. we shall keep a close eye. that _ change. we shall keep a close eye. that is — change. we shall keep a close eye, that is for _ change. we shall keep a close eye, that is for sure. - change. we shall keep a close eye, that is for sure. really i eye, that is for sure. really interesting to see the pressure on ticketmaster for change and whether it will deliver. humans can understand gestures used by chimpanzees to communicate with each other in the wild — according to new research. scientists from the university of st andrews asked volunteers to watch videos and translate the animal's sign language. the results indicate that this form communication, may be the origin of our own language. here's our science correspondent victoria gill.

assignment demand for food from one bonobo to another. but a big scratch, that's in fencing language for" roomy stop" there are now dozens of known gestures in the great ape lexicon, each with a particular meaning. by showing videos of these gestures to volunteers, scientists discovered more than half the time people were able to understand the message a wild chimp or bonobo is trying to convey with a signal movement.— to convey with a signal movement. ~ , ., , movement. we can be fairly confident — movement. we can be fairly confident that _ movement. we can be fairly confident that this _ movement. we can be fairly confident that this is - movement. we can be fairly confident that this is a - confident that this is a communication system shared by all great ape species including humans and our last common ancestors with bonobos and chimpanzees probably used quite similar gestures and that these gestures may have then gone under scaffold, the evolution of human gesture and human language as we know it now. some gestures are easiest —— easierfor us to some gestures are easiest —— easier for us to understand than others. shaking an object

like this is apparently flotation. but people's ability to understand the messages that are closest primate cousins are trying to convey is provided the researchers with a clear scientific message about how our own language might have evolved. victoria gill, bbc news. and iceberg the size of greater london is broken off the brundt ice shelf in antarctica. it's almost 500 square kilometres. scientists monitoring the massive crack for a decade states a natural process called carving and it's not due to climate change. last year, slightly smaller iceberg broke off the ice shelf. hollywood has been digesting the nominations for the 95th academy awards. the science fiction movie about a multiverse — everything, everywhere all at once — leads the way with 11 nods including best film. otherfilms in the hunt for the top trophy at the academy awards included

sequel avatar: the way of water, top gun: maverick and elvis. we're joined now by associate editor, celebrity entertainment at pop sugar, njera perkins. what was your general impression of the nominations list? i think this year, there were some surprises and snubs, and people that people are hoping to get recognised like michelle yeoh and austin butler but it seems this year �*s nominees will try to offer something programme. is it seen as more global this time? we have asia, ireland, a german film.- ireland, a german film. your thoughts? — ireland, a german film. your thoughts? i _ ireland, a german film. your thoughts? ithink— ireland, a german film. your thoughts? i think so, - ireland, a german film. your thoughts? ithink so, i- ireland, a german film. your thoughts? ithink so, ithink| thoughts? i think so, i think it's getting global. it would have been nice to see some of these pictures get a best picture nominee that we are moving back in the direction of an recent years, i think the oscars, they will try and get

global. oscars, they will try and get ulobal. ~ 2, oscars, they will try and get rlobal. 2 ., ., oscars, they will try and get ulobal. ~ . ., ., global. what about those who were snubbed? _ global. what about those who were snubbed? the _ global. what about those who were snubbed? the most - global. what about those who - were snubbed? the most notable one, the were snubbed? the most notable one. the one _ were snubbed? the most notable one, the one people _ were snubbed? the most notable one, the one people are - were snubbed? the most notable one, the one people are talking l one, the one people are talking about is the woman king, the most egregious oversight i would say. viola davis gave a great performance, as did others. no best director nomination which is disheartening when you realise how much of an uphill battle it is to build a movie like this. another shocking snub considering how much praise got over the summer, it would have been good to see best director or even best sound or even some best supporting actor nominations. if} best supporting actor nominations. ;;:: ~ best supporting actor nominations. zci: ~ ., ~ nominations. 30 think will walk awa with nominations. 30 think will walk away with your _ nominations. 30 think will walk away with your studies. - nominations. 30 think will walk away with your studies. if - nominations. 30 think will walk away with your studies. if you | away with your studies. if you start with a big one, best film, your prediction? best

film, your prediction? best film, the — film, your prediction? best film, the frontrunner - film, your prediction? best film, the frontrunner is - film, the frontrunner is cleaning up nominations, i think everything everywhere all at once has the potential to walk away with best picture. have you seen it? what do you think? , , think? does it deserve it? i think? does it deserve it? i think so, — think? does it deserve it? i think so, considering - think? does it deserve it? i think so, considering it's i think so, considering it's something we've never really seen before. it have to give a film like that it's props, especially the actors never run behind the scenes he brought this amazing visually exciting project to life.— this amazing visually exciting project to life. best actor and actress, project to life. best actor and actress. who _ project to life. best actor and actress, who will _ project to life. best actor and actress, who will walk- project to life. best actor and actress, who will walk away i actress, who will walk away with those?— actress, who will walk away with those? �* , a ., ~' with those? best actor, i think considering — with those? best actor, i think considering all— with those? best actor, i think considering all the _ with those? best actor, i think considering all the buzz - with those? best actor, i think considering all the buzz that i considering all the buzz that elvis has gotten over the last year, strong campaign, i think austin butler has the potential to walk away with that trophy this year. to walk away with that trophy this ear. ~ 2, to walk away with that trophy this ear. ~ . ., this year. what about the whale, the _ this year. what about the whale, the lead - this year. what about the whale, the lead actor - this year. what about the whale, the lead actor in l this year. what about the i whale, the lead actor in the whale, the lead actor in the whale is getting a lot of acclaim. whale is getting a lot of acclaim-— whale is getting a lot of acclaim. �* . ., , , acclaim. brendan fraser, it is acclaim. brendan fraser, it is a big year _ acclaim. brendan fraser, it is a big year for— acclaim. brendan fraser, it is a big year for him, _ acclaim. brendan fraser, it is a big year for him, they - acclaim. brendan fraser, it is a big year for him, they are i a big yearfor him, they are

calling it the brennaisance, it would be great for him to walk away considering so many have been rooting for him. icate been rooting for him. cate blanchett. _ been rooting for him. cate blanchett, can _ been rooting for him. cate blanchett, can she - been rooting for him. cate blanchett, can she get - been rooting for him. cate. blanchett, can she get best actress for her performance in the film about the conductor? it's extremely moving. she has the potential to walk away with that trophy but then again, i think that category, it can be so up in the air, considering michelle williams, michelle yeoh again, some strong candidates for best actress. what about best music. lady gaga is up there as well. your thoughts on that?— gaga is up there as well. your thoughts on that? best music, of course _ thoughts on that? best music, of course black _ thoughts on that? best music, of course black count - thoughts on that? best music, of course black count the - of course black count the wakanda forever, they got a nomination, rihanna's first nomination, rihanna's first nomination, some moving songs. i think lady gaga has the potential to win. the best

original scores, potential to win. the best originalscores, babylon, and original scores, babylon, and others. originalscores, babylon, and others. great picks and those categories. others. great picks and those categories-— categories. rihanna and lady gaua u- categories. rihanna and lady gaga up against _ categories. rihanna and lady gaga up against one - categories. rihanna and lady| gaga up against one another. categories. rihanna and lady i gaga up against one another. it will be quite a night because i imagine some of those will be called on to perform live at the oscars. can't wait to see it. thank you for your thoughts. so much more for you here on the programme. all out of business stories coming up next. of course there is a look at what's happening when it comes to financial markets the lunar new year, amazon workers based in the uk are actually going on strike with got the latest results from microsoft on wall street. will be unpacking the results from microsoft. to stay with us.

hello. tuesday brought some huge temperature contrasts across the uk. it was —9 in oxfordshire in the morning and then 16 degrees in the afternoon in aberdeen. but i think over the next few days, the temperatures will balance out a little bit more — it'll be closer to the seasonal norm. we'll also lose the frosts in the south of the country where, recently, it has been very cold, and here's an example in the south of the uk. those temperatures won't be quite so low overnight as we head into next week. ok, let's get into the forecast, then. here's wednesday's weather map, and a cold front is moving across the country, introducing a little bit of rain early in the morning across northern parts of the uk through scotland and northern ireland. little bits and pieces of rain and murky conditions further south as well. there will be a touch of frost first thing anywhere from east anglia through the southeast down towards the west country, but the vast majority of us will have temperatures above freezing first thing. also the possibility

of some mist and fog in the midlands, west country, possibly east anglia as well for a time. so, let's have a look at the forecast, then, for wednesday. here's that weather front as it moves from the north southwards, perhaps reaching northern wales, the peak district, early in the afternoon — lincolnshire, too. behind it, the skies actually clear, so some sunshine later in the day for belfastjust before sunset. belfast, glasgow, ten degrees here. then notice that weather front sinks southwards and there will be some rain towards the rush hour, i think, in the south of the country, and then eventually clearing the kent coast late wednesday evening. thursday, we've got an area of high pressure building across the uk nosing in, and that spells a lot of sunny weather — it really is going to be a fine day for many of us on thursday. a little on the cool side, i think, on the north sea coast, so with that northerly breeze, perhaps one or two showers, i think beautiful weather out towards the west and those temperatures close to the norm for the time of the year —

around nine in belfast, not far off that elsewhere across the country. then the outlook as we head into the weekend, you can see temperatures actually recovering to around double figures as we head towards sunday, and we're talking about generally dry weather. that's it from me, bye—bye. and relived their horrifying experiences.

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for viewers in the uk and around the world. saved by the cloud. microsoft posts second quarter results confirming a weakening pc market but continued strength in its cloud computing business. the us sues google yet again — this time, over its dominance in the online advertising market. and come with us to a luxury hotel. the boss of the dorchester group tells us why his industry is recession proof.