this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones with the latest headlines. reports from germany say the chancellor, olaf scholz, is expected to confirm it's allowing leopard 2 tanks to be sent to the front line in ukraine. the families of two british aid workers confirm they were killed in eastern ukraine while attempting to rescue people. hundreds of amazon workers in the uk walk out for the first time in a dispute over pay. rishi sunak prepares to face mps for prime minister's questions amid the continuing row over conservative party chairman nadim zahawi. and a new study reveals how human communication may have evolved from the hand and body gestures of chimpanzees.

germany and the united states are reportedly ready to send tanks to ukraine, in what kyiv hopes will be a game—changer in the war. at least 1a leopard 2 tanks could be provided by germany, following months of debate. the united states reportedly plans to supply at least 30 m1 abrams tanks. it's claimed german officials privately insisted they would only send tanks if the us did too. ukrainian officials say they urgently need heavier weapons. britain is providing challenger two tanks. poland wants to send some of its german—made tanks but needs permission from berlin. at least 16 other european and nato countries have

leopard 2 tanks, which could be available if germany approves their export. elsewhere in ukraine, it's been confirmed two british aid workers, who went missing earlier this month, have been killed. chris parry and andrew bagshaw died while attempting to evacuate people from the eastern city of soledar. we'll have more on that shortly, but first this report on weapon supplies from claudia redmond. he's been hesitant for days. but now, after mounting pressure, german chancellor olaf scholz appears to have finally given the green light. according to german media, he'll send at least 1a leopard 2 tanks to kyiv. these are world—class weapons, produced in germany. they're 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 give permission — something that

caused some frustration. the polish prime minister accused germany of acting in a way that was difficult to understand. in particular, germany, they have 350 leopard tanks operational and 200 leopard tanks in stores. why to keep them in stores? poland and the free world cannot afford not to send leopard tanks and not to send modern weapons to ukraine. in his evening address, ukrainian president zelensky thanked his european allies, but said that more needed to be done. | translation: there's a lot of talki about the 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 or 15 tanks. the need is greater. discussions need to end with decisions — decisions to really strengthen our defense against the terrorists.

our allies have the necessary number of tanks. zelensky sees leopard 2 tanks as a vital weapon. he says he needs 300. he's unlikely to get them. but if he were to receive even 100, that could be a turning point, and could help ukrainian soldiers break through russian lines and recapture territory this year. claudia redmond, bbc news. 0ur correspondent, damian mcguinness, has the latest on the situation from berlin. what is going to happen today is chancellor 0laf sholz is going to face a parliamentary committee, where it is expected that is the rumour here, to announce that decision.

he is also going to face german parliamentarians in a q&a session in parliament, which happens a couple of times a year. obviously, this issue of the tanks is going to be the main focus. i think it's been interesting to see the reactions here in germany this morning. most mainstream politicians welcomed the decision. the conservative opposition say, it's too late but they welcomed this decision by chancellor sholz to stand and allow german—made tanks to go to ukraine. there are those on the far right and the far left who do not agree. the far right say, well, germany should keep its tanks for itself. and the radical left will say, well, any tanks, any weapons exacerbate the situation. so you do have quite a substantial minority at both ends of the political spectrum. in the middle, mainstream parties agree with this and crucially for chancellor scholz he's

got his own government back together because this governing coalition, was almost at risk of splitting at one point over this issue. and so the issue now will be for chancellor scholz to get german voters on side. we still had a substantial chunk of the population that is nervous, understandably, given germany's 20th—century history, of any military aid and also negative escalation. it is something that chancellor sholz is now having to start explaining to voters and start winning the public over now he has politicians on side. hard to explain what is in the mind of chancellor sholz — he never really tells us. he just repeats a certain magic goes behind the scenes, closes the door and gets negotiating and comes out with the result. that's what we've seen here. what he has always said is germany and europe should not go it alone. what he has meant by that is they need american support, ie america needs to send its own tanks in — it could now happen. we could get confirmation from washington that the us is going to send american abrams battle tanks. if that's the case, it could certainly be quite a win

for 0laf sholz because it means europe has a certain amount of cover from the us and is less likely to be targeted or individual countries are less likely to be picked off within the western lines. the families of two british men who went missing in ukraine earlier this month have confirmed they have been killed. chris parry, who was 28, and 47—year—old andrew bagshaw died while attempting to evacuate people from the frontline town of soledar in the east of the country. jon donnison reports. almost three weeks since they were last seen alive, there's now confirmation from the families of chris parry and andrew bagshaw that the two men have been killed in eastern ukraine. in a statement, andrew bagshaw�*s parents, who live in new zealand, said the humanitarian volunteer�*s car was hit by an artillery shell —— said the humanitarian volunteers' car was hit by an artillery shell as they tried to rescue an elderly woman from soledar. they said their son selflessly took many personal risks and saved many lives, adding that they loved him and were very proud of what he did.

soledar has been the focus of intense fighting. earlier this month, russia's military claimed to have captured the ukrainian salt mine town after a long battle. chris parry and andrew bagshaw had been trying to get civilians out, often posting videos of their efforts on social media. now we've gone back to pretty much the front. 200 metres from the russians, picked up two people a woman, 40, and her mother, who was 60 or so, who actually i met a week or so ago when i was picking up the two elderly people who got lost. in a statement released through the foreign office, chris parry�*s family said he had found himself drawn to ukraine in its darkest hour. they said he had saved over 400 lives and added his selfless determination in helping the old, young and disadvantaged had made them extremely proud. the foreign office has said it's supporting the families of both men. john donnison, bbc news. staff at amazon will hold their first legally—mandated strike in the uk today in a dispute about pay.

the gmb union, which is organising the walkout at the firm's distribution centre in coventry, says it expects at least 300 employees to take part. amazon, which doesn't recognise unions in the uk, insists the action will have "zero" impact on customers and that it has a system "that recognises great performance." my colleague ben boulos is there for us this morning. good morning from coventry. msn doesn't recognise uk unions. what is the point of the workers going on strike? —— msn does not recognise. let going on strike? -- msn does not recoanise. going on strike? -- msn does not recognise-— going on strike? -- msn does not recoanise. , ., ., ., , recognise. let me explain what goes on here. recognise. let me explain what goes on here- this— recognise. let me explain what goes on here. this is _ recognise. let me explain what goes on here. this is one _ recognise. let me explain what goes on here. this is one of _ recognise. let me explain what goes on here. this is one of the _ recognise. let me explain what goes on here. this is one of the main - on here. this is one of the main amazon sites. the items are sent to fulfilment centres and then to your

home when you order items online. the point about workers going on strike, around 300 members of the gmb union are walking out today. it is a historic moment, the first time there has been an official strike by amazon workers in the uk. the company was established as a uk presence in 1998 and there has not really been official union recognition until this point. the workers are out on strike because of an issue over pay. let me put that in context and run through some of the big numbers involved. there are 70,000 amazon workers in the uk. 0f 70,000 amazon workers in the uk. of those about 1500 are based here at the coventry warehouse. the company is one of the biggest in the world, of course. it is partly because so many people buy stuff on there.

amazon says that 86% of us, almost nine in ten people have bought at least one service from the firm that it is still having to make cutbacks. it is cutting 18,000 jobs, including the closure of three uk warehouses, putting 1200 ukjobs the closure of three uk warehouses, putting 1200 uk jobs at risk. the dispute here today is about the pay offer amazon has made to its workers in the uk, an increase of 50p an hour, taking the starting wage to £11 45 p. then hour, taking the starting wage to £1145 p. then national minimum wage is going up in april to £10.42 an hourfor is going up in april to £10.42 an hour for anyone is going up in april to £10.42 an hourfor anyone aged 23 is going up in april to £10.42 an hour for anyone aged 23 upwards. let's hear more details. my colleague zoe conway has spoken to two workers, who are striking today. darren and garfield have never organised a picket line before. the picket line is going to be set up here. they have only been members

of the gmb union for a few months. if they want to join the union, there will be marquees set up over there. yet here they are, leading the first ever strike by amazon employees in the uk. we work for one of the richest men in the world, for one of the richest companies in one of the richest countries. and we shouldn't all be having to do 60 hoursjust to make ends meet. amazon says it ensures its wages are in line with or higher than similarjobs locally and that employees are also offered private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount. it was in august last year that the political awakening at the coventry centre began. a spontaneous walk—out, say workers here, in anger at being offered a 50p pay rise which took the minimum starting salary to £10.50 an hour. the company's profits had boomed during the pandemic and so, too, the bank account of billionaire amazon founderjeff bezos. we don't want his boats or his rockets.

we just want to be able to live. ijust want to be able to pay my bills at the end of the week. that is all we are asking for. it is not greed. people might think we are being greedy because we are saying £15 an hour. that's a negotiating start. we just want a decent wage. we are on our feet for ten hours a day. we get told off if we are caught leaning or sitting. amazon's warehouse in coventry is similar to this one in essex. it is a distribution centre where employees sort through products as they arrive from the company's suppliers. darren and garfield say their work is constantly monitored. they are expected to meet targets and the pressure is intense. so as soon as you come in the building, you are tracked. you then go onto your station where, as soon as you log on, they know exactly where you are in the building. they know how often you are scanning, because, obviously, that is tracked, as well. if you haven't scanned in at a certain time, they will come and speak to you. they both say they have been questioned by managers for taking too long to go to the toilet. sometimes, it may take two,

three minutes to get to the toilet. heaven forbid you get there, all the cubicles are full. you suddenly find you've got 10—12 minutes of doing nothing when you look for a toilet, and then, of course, you have got to use the toilet and come back. that could be 16, 18 minutes in that process. they will then question you, "what were you doing?" it sounds to me like you feel like you are being treated like robots. i wish we were treated like robots, because robots are treated better like us. they get a team of technicians when they break down. if a robot breaks down, they are fixed like that. if we are struggling... in a statement, amazon said...

amazon doesn't recognise trade unions in the uk, so there is no sign of any negotiation happening between the union and the company about pay. but darren is undeterred. he feels it is his duty to stand up for the workforce. these people need someone who is not frightened, and i'm not frightened. i'm not frightened. why aren't you frightened? because i have been bullied before. and i will be bullied again. and i am still standing. i am old enough and stupid enough to know that if you get hit, you get back up again. even incy wincy spider got back up. so, yeah, i'm in this for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news. in response, amazon has said that wages have gone up for its uk workers by 29% since 2018. it also says it offers and various employee

benefits like private medical insurance plan employee discount scheme, life insurance and so on. they are also offered a £500 cost of living payment in december to help with rising household bills. as things stand, there is no sign of a resolution to this imminently. the people i have spoken to hear out on the picket line seem determined to push to get what they are calling for and seem prepared to call more strikes if necessary.— the headlines on bbc news... reports from germany say the chancellor, 0laf scholz, is expected to confirm it's allowing leopard 2 tanks to be sent to the frontline in ukraine. the families of two british aid workers confirm they were killed while attempting to rescue people in eastern ukraine.

rishi sunak prepares to face mps for prime minister's questions amid the continuing row over conservative party chairman, nadim zahawi. rishi sunak is likely to face further criticism this afternoon at prime minister's questions about the conduct of the conservative party chairman, nadhim zahawi. mr sunak has ordered his ethics advisor, sir laurie magnus, to investigate how mr zahawi resolved a tax dispute when he was chancellor. mr zahawi says he's confident he acted properly. let's talk to our chief political correspondent nick eardley. very good morning to speak to you. rishi sunak will say, i have ordered an investigation. what will be the tricky areas for him? i an investigation. what will be the tricky areas for him?— an investigation. what will be the tricky areas for him? i think it was the hoe tricky areas for him? i think it was the hepe that _ tricky areas for him? i think it was the hepe that by _ tricky areas for him? i think it was the hope that by starting - tricky areas for him? i think it was the hope that by starting this - the hope that by starting this investigation, ministers would have a bit of a pious shield against the questions they would face. i think the story has kept going. more

questions have emerged. the big problem for the prime minister is what he told mps last week. if you cast your mind back a week to prime minister's questions, he said that nadhim zahawi had addressed the matter in full. since then moore has emerged. we are told by number 10, their account is, when rishi sunak said that he did not know the conservative party chairman had paid a penalty as part of a tax dispute with hmrc. inevitably, ithink, there will be questions for rishi sunak today about what he found out and when, about what advice he got when nadhim zahawi was appointed to hisjob, when mr rishi sunak became prime minister. also about the relationship between the two. we were told last week that he takes nadhim zahawi at its word. given he did not have the full account at

pmqs last week i does he still take nadhim zahawi at his word. ? —— at his word? there has been criticism this morning from former conservative minister about the fact it appears there were legal threats made against the newspaper and a tax expert, asking questions about his tax affairs. we have asked a team to respond to that. we have not had a response as things stand at the moment. i this is a story that keeps coming and going and going. the question is whether the prime minister can answer all those issues that are outstanding. we minister can answer all those issues that are outstanding.— that are outstanding. we know that rishi sunak has _ that are outstanding. we know that rishi sunak has ordered _ that are outstanding. we know that rishi sunak has ordered his - that are outstanding. we know that rishi sunak has ordered his ethics l rishi sunak has ordered his ethics adviser to investigate, do we have any sense as to how long that investigation might take? hat any sense as to how long that investigation might take? not a definitive one. _ investigation might take? not a definitive one. there _ investigation might take? not a definitive one. there have - investigation might take? not a definitive one. there have beenj definitive one. there have been suggestions that perhaps it could be down within the week. one source told the bbc that last night. having

covered a few investigations in the last the years, they can often drag on. because there is a new ethics adviser, ijust don't on. because there is a new ethics adviser, i just don't think we can be certain about how long it will take. �* , be certain about how long it will take. �*,, be certain about how long it will take. �* , , ~ ., be certain about how long it will take. �*, , ~ ., take. let's see. indeed. i know you will brin: take. let's see. indeed. i know you will bring us _ take. let's see. indeed. i know you will bring us news _ take. let's see. indeed. i know you will bring us news as _ take. let's see. indeed. i know you will bring us news as it _ take. let's see. indeed. i know you will bring us news as it develops. i will bring us news as it develops. now, many thanks. tom hamilton, former labour policy advisor and author of a book on pmqs. good to have you with us. it is on that book that i want to talk to you about. i wonder how difficult you think prime minister's questions will be today for rishi sunak? it is auoin to will be today for rishi sunak? it is going to be _ will be today for rishi sunak? it 3 going to be very difficult if nadhim zahawi are still in post when he stands out. there is about three hours to go. it would not surprise me at all if nadhim zahawi is not approached by the time we get there. the signs are that he is going to stay there. it is really obvious, if he is still in thatjob, roughly

what the line of questioning will be. it is very hard to find answers. there will be things rishi sunak can say. you will say lots of things to try to attack keir starmer and the labour party and throw them off their stride. the fundamental question is, was there someone who, as chancellor, in a known dispute with hmrc, having to pay back millions of pounds in unpaid taxes plus a penalty he said was not happening and sent threats to legal people, it seems unsustainable to keep that person in post? we know rishi sunak — keep that person in post? we know rishi sunak has _ keep that person in post? we know rishi sunak has ordered _ keep that person in post? we know rishi sunak has ordered an - rishi sunak has ordered an investigation into all of theirs from his ethics advises. presumably the truth will emerge. rishi sunak said he is confident he acted properly. you said you could anticipate the line of attack in prime minister's questions. talk us through how the prime minister will prepare for potential questions. every week the prime minister has

questions on literally anything that can come up across the whole government. he will focus on the most likely lines of questioning. it is not hard to anticipate that when you have a senior minister involved in a tax scandal is not going away, you will have to answer questions about that. he will be coming up with lines with his team not to explain it. the whole point of the investigation as he has not got an investigation, another part of the problem. you cannot give full answers without undermining his own ethics investigation, which is what he decided he needed. he canjust sack nadhim zahawi. given the difference between his position last week when he said all the questions have been answered and now he is saying there are serious questions to answer, i do not know what they are, i need to subcontract those out to someone else to tell you what the answer is and then maybe decide whether to sack him or not, that makes those answers very hard. that

suggests the most likely responses will be two keir starmer per i had given out to the ethics adviser, thatis given out to the ethics adviser, that is the right thing to do, you had to wait and see and unrelated attacks on things the labour party may have done in the past. the prime minister practise _ may have done in the past. the prime minister practise their— may have done in the past. the prime minister practise their answers - may have done in the past. the prime minister practise their answers out. minister practise their answers out loud, do you know?— minister practise their answers out loud, do you know? prime ministers do. i loud, do you know? prime ministers d0- i know — loud, do you know? prime ministers do. i know when _ loud, do you know? prime ministers do. i know when i _ loud, do you know? prime ministers do. i know when i was _ loud, do you know? prime ministers do. i know when i was preparing - do. i know when i was preparing leaders of the opposition for their split we used to rehearse them and practice. i had to pretend to be david cameron in the day. that is part of the process. it depends on the prime minister. i do not know whether rishi sunak does that. that helps a little bit with performance, anticipating what the questions and answers might be. fundamentally on this when i think you do know what the answers are. indie this when i think you do know what the answers are.— the answers are. we will have to leave it there. _ the answers are. we will have to leave it there. thank _ the answers are. we will have to leave it there. thank you - the answers are. we will have to leave it there. thank you for - leave it there. thank you for joining us on bbc news.

let's go back now to those reports that the us and germany are planning to send tanks to ukraine. joining me now is dr patrick bewrey, senior lecture in security at the university of bath and former captain in the british army. really good too happy with us. thank you forjoining us. we want to go back to basics. what foreign made tanks in ukraine at the moment? that is a aood tanks in ukraine at the moment? twat is a good question. in terms of the actual numbers of tanks that ukraine has at the moment, this would be a mixture of the soviet era tanks they have kept over and then as far as we know there are different other countries have given them so the era tanks so far, so czechoslovakia, czech republic, slovakia, have given them. in terms of foreign made tanks i think the numbers are very low. i

am not aware of any instances where proper up—to—date foreign tanks had gone into ukraine so far. the total number they have a rethink at the moment is about 1200 committee started the war with iran 900 and had probably lost around 250 but they had captured a number of russian tanks and had been given soviet made tanks from europe. that brings it up to around 1200, we think. ., brings it up to around 1200, we think. . , , brings it up to around 1200, we think. ., , , . ., , think. that is interesting. what is the military _ think. that is interesting. what is the military significance - think. that is interesting. what is the military significance of - think. that is interesting. what is| the military significance of sending these tanks? we are hearing in the region of about 120 tanks from several nations, what difference will they make? tt several nations, what difference will they make?— will they make? it will make a reall bi will they make? it will make a really big difference _ will they make? it will make a really big difference if- will they make? it will make a really big difference if it - will they make? it will make a really big difference if it does| will they make? it will make a . really big difference if it does end “p really big difference if it does end up to be that number. essentially we have ready seen over 100 infantry fighting vehicles being pledged. many put that together with a hundred or so tanks you have an armoured brigade, essentially, maybe even two smaller ones. that is a formation which can be used come the

summer to try to punch through russian lines and take back ukrainian territory. especially with artillery support and other weapons and intelligence support needed to make it into a fully functioning combined armed knew this brigade essentially. that is what it is about. the difference with these tanks, the west end tanks, then leopard—skin their challenge at 2 use, the abrahams, they are more sophisticated than what russia is using at the moment. it is very difficult for russia to deal with this. they are older, not as capable. it is taking them up to three tanks to take out one russian t90. the challenger, the leopards,

the abrahams will do much better. you raise several interesting points. if it is 120 tanks, we know that kyiv was asking for 300. from what you are saying make you think it will be enough to make a difference in terms of an offensive difference in terms of an offensive difference to move forward rather than a defensive position of maintaining when they are at the moment. , ., , ., moment. yes, that is a good question- — moment. yes, that is a good question. tanks _ moment. yes, that is a good question. tanks are - moment. yes, that is a good | question. tanks are generally moment. yes, that is a good - question. tanks are generally seen as offensive. at the moment ukrainians had not been advancing and have been using tanks in an artillery role, mainly as pillboxes. come the summer, when they will have to probably weather and russian attack somewhere, they will be handy that way if they are already in country. come the summer when they try to counter attack from if they are kept together especially, this is very significant. an armoured

brigade of 100 tanks supported by 100 infantry fighting vehicles and artillery support, it is incredibly significant. what it does is it basically allows the ukrainians, if you imagine it as a spearhead in one place of attack, if it is going to be in the next or separation, that is the spearhead unit that will punch three. —— in donetsk or zaporzhizhia. trains can make many more of them in a single move. we know that allies have been getting stuck into poland and then across into western ukraine. that is essentially how you do it. as you get closer to the front lines you take them off their tracks and they drive on road or off—road. t5 take them off their tracks and they drive on road or off-road.- drive on road or off-road. is there any concern _ drive on road or off-road. is there any concern about _ drive on road or off-road. is there any concern about how _ drive on road or off-road. is there any concern about how many - drive on road or off-road. is there | any concern about how many tanks drive on road or off-road. is there - any concern about how many tanks are left in reserve, i suppose i should

germany or other parts of europe need them? hat germany or other parts of europe need them?— germany or other parts of europe need them? not really. if you look at the way — need them? not really. if you look at the way it _ need them? not really. if you look at the way it seems _ need them? not really. if you look at the way it seems the _ need them? not really. if you look at the way it seems the allies - need them? not really. if you look at the way it seems the allies are i at the way it seems the allies are doing this, in terms of each country getting 12 or 15, in the case of the us, 30 to 50, we will see. the stocks of the leopard two, there are over 1000 in europe. stocks of the leopard two, there are over1000 in europe. giving stocks of the leopard two, there are over 1000 in europe. giving 100 or so is not going to be a problem. i do not think there is that worry at the moment. they are designed to defeat the russian tanks, that is what they are made for. you have a very credible ally like ukraine fighting the russians on ukrainian territory, that is what they are made for and that is what they should be doing.— made for and that is what they should be doing. good to have your thou~hts should be doing. good to have your thoughts and _ should be doing. good to have your thoughts and insights. _ should be doing. good to have your thoughts and insights. thank - should be doing. good to have your thoughts and insights. thank you i should be doing. good to have your| thoughts and insights. thank you for joining us. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. good morning. this morning has been

quite foggy to start across parts of england and wales. we have had some breaks in the cloud. rain pushing out of scotland and northern ireland will continue south across england and wales today, preceded by some drizzle. behind it, in northern england with scotland and northern ireland, it will brighten up, there will be sunshine. still showers coming in across the north and west on a brisk wind. temperatures down a touch compared with yesterday and in the south up a touch compared with yesterday. this evening and overnight there goes the cloud and rain clearing our shores. behind it we will see clear skies with one or two showers, some of them wintry on the tops of the mountains in scotland. away from the coast we could see a touch of frost here and there. tomorrow, some showers coming in from the north sea, drifting and land. we are looking at a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine. we

see in the east and south. these are the temperatures, 48 degrees. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. reports from germany say the chancellor, 0laf scholz is expected to confirm it's allowing leopard 2 tanks to be sent to the front line in ukraine. the families of two british aid workers confirm they were killed while attempting to rescue people in eastern ukraine. hundreds of amazon workers in the uk walk out for the first time, in a dispute over pay. rishi sunak prepares to face mps for prime minister's questions amid the continuing row over conservative party chairman nadim zahawi. and a new study reveals how human communication may have evolved from the hand and body gestures of chimpanzees. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn.

morning. newcastle united are on the brink of reaching their first cup final in almost a quarter of a century after beating southampton 1—0 in the first leg of their league cup semifinal. the fans made the 650 mile round trip to the south coast and i will be hopeful that their side will safely negotiate the return leg next week. then they can book their place in the web a showpiece at the end of february. jimmy lumsden reports. both sides had waited so long for silverware, for the saints, an fa cup success in 1976 but newcastle have not won a major domestic trophy since 1955. they had most of the possession for the first half, all to no avail. shortly before the break, they appear to have gone ahead through break, they appear to have gone ahead throuthoelinton but it was decided the ball made contact with his arm. a pattern had begun to emerge. newcastle would escape the saints defence before sending the ball into the sky. joelinton taking

his turn. an hour gone and che adams had the chance to put southampton ahead but nick pope was his equal. the game had come to life at last. after missing a sitter earlier, joelinton made amends to put newcastle ahead. a few minutes earlier, adam armstrong thought he had struck back the saints, but handball was the eventual decision. 1-0 it handball was the eventual decision. 1—0 it remained and newcastle will be favourites to book a wembley trip on the second leg at st james's park. it could be manchester united they meet in february's final. if they are to get there, the team that beat them in the fa cup final in 1999, the last time they were in a final. united play nottingham forest tonight. and let's not forget, united are the only english team in contention in four competitions this season. i had to look at my career, to win some trophies. it is magnificent,

especially for the fans. it is so great and i think the fans, they have some experience, especially the older ones but it is a period that we have won trophies but it is too long ago. we have to do everything we can to bring a trophy in. novak djokovic is taking on andre rublev for a place in the semifinals of the australian open. magda linette is a name that keeps hitting the headlines in melboure. the world number 45 previously had never been beyond the third round of any grand slam, but is into the semifinals. she beat karolina pliskova to continue her dream run. djokovic is currently 6—1 up in his first set and going well in the second. magda linette's free run

continues. —— dream run. now, we've had a few cup upsets of late. the lowest ranked team left in the fa cup were minutes away from producing one of their own. non—league boreham wood were holding league 1 accrington stanley, when in the seventh minute of extra time, they gave away a penalty. frustration for the travelling fans, considering their reward was a home tie against premier league side leeds this saturday live on the bbc. england say the door is open for ben stokes to come out of 50—over retirement to play at the world cup in india later this year. stokes retired from one—day internationals last summer to manage his workload. but the all—rounder didn't rule out a u—turn last year amid calls for him to do so after he led england to victory in the t20 world cup final. england's netballers missed out on a place at the final of the quad series in cape town. the roses lost to new zealand's silver ferns 55—45, despite leading until the final quarter. it means australia will play new zealand in the final of the series today.

that's all the sport for now. you can keep up—to—date with the australian open on the bbc sport website. back to you. thank you, see you later. scientists have found that vulnerable people who've had a third covid vaccine have significantly more protection against the virus than if they'd had just one or two jabs. it's hoped the research will give renewed confidence to those at higher risk of infection, as fiona lamdin reports. during lockdown, sheila had to shield. she has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. for over two years, she hardly left her home. started getting back to normal and you could hear noises outside and people getting on with their lives, and you were still sort of having to keep inside. it was really difficult. you felt...pushed out and very much alone. her christmas table gathered dust as easter came and went

and it still wasn't safe for her to see her family. but now new research shows that even those who are vulnerable are well protected with the booster vaccine. actually, those who are shielding showed a lesser response, a lower response to vaccination, to others who weren't shielding. as you move from one vaccination to two and from two to three, that changed. and, most markedly, with that third vaccination, the booster vaccination, everybody hit a ceiling in response in their antibodies to sars—cov—2. the study found this booster gives a tenfold increase in our antibodies compared to the first two vaccines. at this vaccination clinic, linda, who has diabetes, is finally getting round to having her booster. because you always worry. i mean, istill wear masks when i go shopping, so i am overprotective anyway. and i know it's something we probably got to live with. so it is good news, brilliant news. and after nearly three years...

hello, how are you? nice to meet you at last. yeah, please come in. after all this time. yes! today, i've finally met sheila in person. it's quite surreal, the whole thing. to think i was in for nearly two years in one house, but then, you know, got the dogs. they do answer back. don't you? she was reassured to know since the booster, despite being vulnerable, her antibodies are hitting the same score as everyone else's. so it's wonderful. anything that will sort of ease stress and anxiety i think is wonderful. so that is very, very good news. so i can go on holiday then. probably be rather nice to go out for lunch and not have to think about where it is. you know, if there's four walls, how many doors, what the ventilation is like. so it'lljust be nice to go sort of on the spur of the moment

really and just be able to go out for lunch. the booster won't stop sheila getting covid, but it means she and others who shielded can look to living a life with a little more confidence. we'll go on holiday? fiona lamdin, bbc news. if the north of england were a country, it would be second only to greece for the lowest levels of investment in the 0ecd, that's according to a new report by the institute for public policy research north. the report found that the uk ranks 35 out of the 38 countries receiving the least financial backing. i'm joined now by zoe billingham, director of the institute for public policy research north. thank you forjoining us. before we go any further, can you just define exactly what we mean by investment and who is making it?— and who is making it? thank you, es, so and who is making it? thank you, yes. so our— and who is making it? thank you, yes, so our report _ and who is making it? thank you, yes, so our report today - and who is making it? thank you, yes, so our report today shows i and who is making it? thank you, i yes, so our report today shows that as you say, the north has

cripplingly low levels of investment. when we say investment, this is both public and private and i think what is really important to remember here is that public investment helps attract and bring private investment to the places that have been traditionally left behind. so the two go hand in hand and it is both that we have seen sustained low levels of. and and it is both that we have seen sustained low levels of. and what countries therefore _ sustained low levels of. and what countries therefore have - sustained low levels of. and what countries therefore have greaterl countries therefore have greater investment than the uk, that we should look out for?— investment than the uk, that we should look out for? well, many of the advanced _ should look out for? well, many of the advanced countries _ should look out for? well, many of the advanced countries that - should look out for? well, many of the advanced countries that we - should look out for? well, many of| the advanced countries that we look at in our report today have far higher levels of investment. for instance, we looked at germany, who put in their constitution that they wanted to bring together the gap between the best and least performing parts of the country. we looked at sweden, who have used the net zero transition to invest in green skills and green infrastructure in the left behind places in sweden. there are plenty of examples across the developed world that we can point to. this is why today we say, look, levelling up is on life support but it is

entirely possible and it is a political choice as to whether the government sees it through. 50 political choice as to whether the government sees it through. so what im act is government sees it through. so what impact is this. _ government sees it through. so what impact is this, and _ government sees it through. so what impact is this, and am _ government sees it through. so what impact is this, and am i _ government sees it through. so what impact is this, and am i right - government sees it through. so what impact is this, and am i right to - impact is this, and am i right to call it underinvestment, having? absolutely, we see it in the day—to—day, in the north, whether it is the big ticket items like transport, that has been well documented over the last few weeks, how both the trunk infrastructure, from the south to the north is late, delayed, cancelled, but even worse, east to west, where i live in liverpool, when we try to get to newcastle on the east coast, the train infrastructure is crumbling. this is the kind of thing that would really turbo—charge growth in the north and enable people to live healthy and productive lives across the north and that is not what we're seeing. so that is what we are calling for today. t5 seeing. so that is what we are calling for today.— calling for today. is there a danger. — calling for today. is there a danger, though, _ calling for today. is there a danger, though, of- calling for today. is there a | danger, though, of lumping everywhere together in the north? because clearly there are places of great affluence as well a great poverty, and there? you great affluence as well a great poverty, and there?—

poverty, and there? you are absolutely — poverty, and there? you are absolutely right. _ poverty, and there? you are absolutely right. i _ poverty, and there? you are absolutely right. i think- poverty, and there? you are absolutely right. i think it i poverty, and there? you are absolutely right. i think it is| absolutely right. i think it is important we don'tjust absolutely right. i think it is important we don't just speak to the north—south divide. in the north, there are places like the north—east where we see far higher levels of poverty both in comparison to the rest of the north and in comparison to the rest of the country. you are right that we must pick out the specificities of each place but there are some big ticket items like transport, like northern powerhouse rail, that span the whole of the north. that in my mind is a northern investment. 50 north. that in my mind is a northern investment-— investment. so that is one investment _ investment. so that is one investment you _ investment. so that is one investment you are - investment. so that is one | investment you are looking investment. so that is one - investment you are looking for, but what else would encourage more investment? 50 what else would encourage more investment?— investment? so there are a few thins investment? so there are a few things here _ investment? so there are a few things here and _ investment? so there are a few things here and this _ investment? so there are a few things here and this is - investment? so there are a few things here and this is what - investment? so there are a few things here and this is what we | things here and this is what we learn in the report, state of the north today. when we looked at other countries who have successfully levelled up or reduce the inequalities between regions and their places, first and foremost we see empowered local government, which means leaders who can take decisions at the local and regional level for their places, attract investments themselves but also decide where public money is being spent. local governmentjust does

not have that power or hold the reins in our country. secondly, big ticket items, across the north, we talked about transport, skills is another big one for indeed the whole of england but particularly the north. in places, one in four people don't have any formal qualifications in our country. that means, you know, when we are talking aboutjobs for the future, green know, when we are talking aboutjobs forthe future, greenjobs, know, when we are talking aboutjobs for the future, greenjobs, we need to help facilitate people through the build—up of education and skills to get into those jobs so that is another key area. a third key area that i willjust finish on in terms of northern issues specifically as housing. we know quality of housing and averages far poorer in the north and averages far poorer in the north and this means people are spending more on energy bills just to keep them out of cold homes. those are three key areas that i would point to in terms of where investment is sorely needed. zoe to in terms of where investment is sorely needed-— to in terms of where investment is sorely needed. zoe bellingham, we must leave it _ sorely needed. zoe bellingham, we must leave it there _ sorely needed. zoe bellingham, we must leave it there but _ sorely needed. zoe bellingham, we must leave it there but thank - sorely needed. zoe bellingham, we must leave it there but thank you i must leave it there but thank you for joining must leave it there but thank you forjoining us.

after china abandoned its zero—covid policy in december, the virus has spread through the country at an alarming rate — leaving many city hospitals struggling to cope. 0ur china correspondent stephen mcdonell has been to visit villages in the shanxi province — where many have returned to celebrate the lunar new year. the coffin makers in northern shanxi province have been busy. there's been great debate about the number of covid deaths in china's cities. but there's 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 are working in the funeral industry speak about an explosion in demand. orders for these paper funeral ornaments are being placed at two or three times the normal rate because of coronavirus deaths, according to this man.

translation: some sick people were already very weak. - then they catch covid and their elderly bodies can't handle it. the government has announced more than 70,000 covid—related deaths in china's hospitals, but these rural areas have only sparse facilities and many pass away at home. so they're mostly not being counted. translation: she had severe diabetes. - after she got covid, she had a high fever and her organs began to fail. her immune system wasn't strong enough to make it. this man has just lost his sister—in—law. the mother of two was in her early 50s. he says the cost of buddhist funeral images like these has skyrocketed because of the speed of the deaths. translation: she 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 have already returned to their home towns. places mostly populated by the elderly, who are more at risk from covid. these are the fireworks, the pictures, the lanterns and the snacks that chinese people buy to help them ring in the new year here. it's normally a veryjoyous 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's died. i ask this farmer about what appeared to be new graves nearby. translation: families have been i burying their elderly relatives. i there are just so many. he points to the fresh mounds of earth.

they are marked with red flags. in his village of a few thousand, he says more than 40 people have passed away during the outbreak. but they are hoping covid's worst work has been done and that the fields where they toil won't be filled with more of their loved ones in the nearfuture. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, shanxi province. the headlines on bbc news... reports from germany say the chancellor olaf scholz is expected to confirm it's allowing leopard 2 tanks to be sent to the front line in ukraine. the families of two british aid workers confirm they were killed while attempting to rescue people in eastern ukraine. and a new study reveals how human communication may have evolved from the hand and body gestures of chimpanzees.

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 animals' sign language. the results indicate that this form communication may be the origin of our own language. here's our science correspondent victoria gill. a silent demand for food from one bonobo to another. and a big scratch? that is chimpanzee language for "groom me". 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 that, more than half the time, people are able to understand the message that a wild chimp or bonobo is trying to convey with a signal or a movement. we can be fairly confident that this is a communication system shared by all great ape species,

including humans, and that our last common ancestors, bonobos and chimpanzees, probably used quite similar gestures. and that these gestures may have then gone on to scaffold the evolution of human gesture and human language as we know it now. some gestures are easier for us to understand than others. shaking an object like this is apparently flirtation. but people's ability to understand the messages that our closest primate cousins are trying to convey has provided researchers with a clear scientific message about how our own language might have evolved. victoria gill, bbc news. we heard from one of the study�*s researchers, dr kirsty graham, in that report, and now she joins us live to tell us more about the study. thank you forjoining us. tell us a bit more about exactly what it is that you have found. 50 bit more about exactly what it is that you have found. so normally, i

work with bonobo _ that you have found. so normally, i work with bonobo monkeys - that you have found. so normally, i work with bonobo monkeys in - that you have found. so normally, i work with bonobo monkeys in the i work with bonobo monkeys in the world, i spend a lot of time following them around the forest and filming them and then i come back and take the video and analyse it and take the video and analyse it and i try to unpick what the gestures mean. we flipped this and got people who have no experience looking at bonobos or chimpanzees and asked them whether they can understand the meanings of these gestures where the out any information before or after —— without any information. people are really good at it, if people were getting a chance we would expect about 25% but people are at over 50% successful at assigning meanings to the gestures. overall, we found a really good understanding for nonhuman great eight gesture. hagar nonhuman great eight gesture. how surrised nonhuman great eight gesture. how surprised when _ nonhuman great eight gesture. how surprised when you? um, _ nonhuman great eight gesture. how surprised when you? um, you - nonhuman great eight gesture. how| surprised when you? um, you know, nonhuman great eight gesture. how - surprised when you? um, you know, we were and we _ surprised when you? um, you know, we were and we were _ surprised when you? um, you know, we were and we were not _ surprised when you? um, you know, we were and we were not surprised. - surprised when you? um, you know, we were and we were not surprised. we - were and we were not surprised. we sort of expected it because these are rich sets of gesture that are shared across gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, chimpanzees. we kind of

suspected that humans might also have some sort of understanding of them. we know that human infants, 1-2 them. we know that human infants, 1—2 years old, use quite a few of these gestures but it was quite surprising how little information that people got. they reallyjust saw the gesture action itself, nothing before or after but that was enough for people to understand what the gestures mixed up but i don't want to be a damp squib but if it was about 50%, that means half of people did not recognise the gestures, doesn't it? yeah, it does and i think what is important here is that we know that context is really important for our own communication. it is also really important for the other great apes, so bonobos, some of their gestures have multiple meanings so a raised arm might mean, climb on my back or groom me or it might mean move closer. there are gestures that has many meanings but they mean specific things in specific contexts. so one of our follow—up questions is whether, given more context, knowing what happens before, if people

become better at interpreting the gestures. become better at interpreting the restures. , ., ., become better at interpreting the restures. , , ., ., , gestures. understood, but what does it tell is about _ gestures. understood, but what does it tell is about the _ gestures. understood, but what does it tell is about the origins _ gestures. understood, but what does it tell is about the origins of- it tell is about the origins of human gestures, do you think? tt gives us more confidence that this is a gestural communication system that our last common ancestor probably would have used. this is kind of a starting point if we are thinking about human gesture and language evolved. we know we are starting with this set of gestures or this gesture ability which is shared with living great apes. taste shared with living great apes. we are looking at some pictures as you are looking at some pictures as you are talking and the stroking of the mouth, for example, means, give me food, and then tearing strips from a leaf with teeth is a sign of flirtation. i am just wondering how that works in the human world instead of the chimpanzee or bonobo world! , ., , ., , world! yes, that is an interesting one. world! yes, that is an interesting one- they _ world! yes, that is an interesting one- they take — world! yes, that is an interesting one. they take leaves _ world! yes, that is an interesting one. they take leaves like - world! yes, that is an interesting one. they take leaves like this i world! yes, that is an interesting i one. they take leaves like this and they will just tear them off. one. they take leaves like this and they willjust tear them off. there is some community differences so there is a nice new bit of research

that there are community differences in how the chimps do this and bonobos will pick up leaves and drop them. i don't know i am not sure whether to recommend people try picking leaves and breaking them with their teeth. probably only if you know what plant it is! but that was not one of the gestures we tested but as you said, the stroking of the mouth, this was one that was really well understood. they also do a big, loud scratch which is like a loud, exaggerated scratching movement, people were really good at understanding that that was a request to be groomed, like, come and pick these bugs and bits of sir off me. —— bits of fur. haifa and pick these bugs and bits of sir off me. -- bits of fur. how common is it for animals _ off me. -- bits of fur. how common is it for animals to _ off me. -- bits of fur. how common is it for animals to gesture - off me. -- bits of fur. how common is it for animals to gesture to - off me. -- bits of fur. how common is it for animals to gesture to one i is it for animals to gesture to one another? , ., ., ., another? there is more and more evidence that _ another? there is more and more evidence that it _ another? there is more and more evidence that it is _ another? there is more and more evidence that it is common - another? there is more and morej evidence that it is common across other primates, there is some nice research on baboons and on bonnet macaques and other macaque species, showing sets of around 30—40

gestures, about half of what we found in the great apes but maybe they will find more. there is also some evidence of gesture in birds, some evidence of gesture in birds, so in core vids and n babblers, they do some displays and some gestures with their wings and beaks. it might be quite widespread across the animal kingdom, that there is some ability to use these body actions as ways of communicating. but nothing quite as rich as what we see in other great apes, so far. that is interesting _ other great apes, so far. that is interesting because _ other great apes, so far. that is interesting because i _ other great apes, so far. that is interesting because i suspect i other great apes, so far. that is i interesting because i suspect there may be people watching this you think, well, iam may be people watching this you think, well, i am sure my dog or cat has gestures. is that possible? yes. has gestures. is that possible? yes, and that is a — has gestures. is that possible? yes, and that is a question _ has gestures. is that possible? yes, and that is a question we _ has gestures. is that possible? use: and that is a question we get a lot. i had somebody else, well, my dog understands my gestures, does that mean i'm closely related to my dog? no! quite distantly related. but it tells us something about how dogs and cats were domesticated because they have gone through a selection process where we have chosen traits,

we have chosen to continue breeding dogs that are attentive to our commands and gestures. so dogs, for instance are quite good at following pointing and understanding it and using some pointing themselves, whereas that is really uncommon across other species. studying dogs and may be other domesticated species can also inform us on human gesture. tt species can also inform us on human aesture. , species can also inform us on human lesture. , ., ,. ., species can also inform us on human aesture. , ., ,. ., ., ., gesture. it is fascinating and great to talk to you _ gesture. it is fascinating and great to talk to you about _ gesture. it is fascinating and great to talk to you about it. _ gesture. it is fascinating and great to talk to you about it. i _ gesture. it is fascinating and great to talk to you about it. i suppose l gesture. it is fascinating and great to talk to you about it. i suppose i | to talk to you about it. i suppose i wonder what further application and use this research could have in the future? t use this research could have in the future? ~ , use this research could have in the future? ~' , , ., , , future? i think there is probably welfare applications, _ future? i think there is probably welfare applications, so - future? i think there is probably welfare applications, so when i future? i think there is probablyl welfare applications, so when we future? i think there is probably - welfare applications, so when we are considering a lot of great... well, all great apes species are endangered and there are a lot of them in captivity captive breeding programmes can be very important conservation but equipping people with more knowledge about recognising what the chimps and other great apes are communicating about could have important welfare implications for the apes as well.

dr kirsty graham, we have to leave it there but really good to talk to you and thank you for expelling it to us. ., ~ you and thank you for expelling it to us. ., ,, i. time for the weather. i feel i should gesture to you but i'm not sure what is appropriate! i was wondering what you are going to do there, rebecca, and i'm disappointed you didn't. good morning, everyone. it has been a milder start in the south compared to of late and colder in the north generally speaking. for the next few days, you will find where we have had the cold whether by day, it will turn less cult and for most of us, it will be mostly dry but we have a weather front which is thinking southwards. that is producing some rain. behind it, in this north—westerly flow, we are seeing quite a few showers and also quite windy. on the radar picture, you can see some drizzle coming in from the irish sea. we also have a weather front thinking south, taking its rain and then a plethora of showers following on behind. ahead of this, for england and wales, we

have had some fog this morning, slowly lifting, some of it into just low cloud so quite a grey day. ahead of this band of rain, some drizzle. behind it, the northern england and northern ireland and scotland, brightening up with some sunshine. still showers coming in across the north and west on strong wind. temperatures today, seven in norwich, about 11 in aberdeen. as we go through the evening and overnight, we say goodbye to the weather front producing the cloud and rain and under clear skies, temperatures will fall away and we will have a few showers which could well be wintry across the mountain in scotland. away from the coast, we could well see a touch of frost in some areas. temperatures lower than they have been in the north and a little bit higher than they have beenin little bit higher than they have been in the south. as we head through thursday, this ridge of high pressure builds across us, settling things down. the wind is coming around it, coming off the north sea and that will have the effect of bringing in some clout at times and some showers. on the breeze, we can

see a few of those penetrating a bit further inland. they will be the exception rather than the rule. for most of us, dry with a fair bit of sunshine. temperatures between 4—8. roughly where we would expect it to be at this stage injanuary. as we head into friday, a chilly start with some fog across southern england in parts. then we are looking at sunshine and a few showers. a lot of the showers will be across the north and also the west. these are the temperatures, five to about seven or eight or nine. as we head into the weekend, high pressure loses its grip on our way there. low pressure takes over, introducing this weather front. look at the squeeze on the eyes of ours. it will be windy across the north and wet before high pressure re—exerts its influence into next week. for saturday and sunday, saturday, quieter, sunday in the north some heavy rain and gales or even severe gales.

this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. reports from germany say the chancellor, olaf scholz, is expected to confirm it's allowing leopard 2 tanks to be sent to the frontline in ukraine. the families of two british aid workers confirm they were killed while attempting to rescue people in eastern ukraine. hundreds of amazon workers in the uk walk out for the first time. in a dispute over pay. microsoft are investigating after thousands of users worldwide say they are unable to access services including teams and outlook. the bbc finds evidence of a high number of deaths due to covid in china's rural areas.