today at one. after weeks of hesitation, germany finally confirms it will send its leopard two battle tanks to ukraine. 2 battle tanks to ukraine. germany will also allow nato allies with leopard tanks to supply them to ukraine — the german chancellor made the announcement in the last hour. translation: we will also provide ukraine with leopard _ 2 main battle tanks. this is the result of intensive consultation once again with our allies and international partners. the united states is also expected to send m1 abrams battle tanks — ukraine hopes it could turn the tide of the war. also this lunchtime. more questions for the prime minister over the tax affairs of the tory party chairman — and former chancellor — nadim zahawi.

does the prime minister agree that any politician who seeks to avoid the taxes they owe in this country is not fit to be in charge of taxpayer money? since i commented on this matter last week, more information has come forward and that is why i have asked the independent adviser to look into the matter. for the first time, amazon workers in the uk walk out on strike — they say they're treated worse than robots. and talking to the animals — a study of chimpanzees suggests human beings can understand the gestures they make. and coming up in the sport on the bbc news channel. no problems for novak, as russia's rublev is ruthlessly swept aside in straight sets. djokovic into the semifinals.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. after weeks of hesitation, germany has finally confimed it will send some of its leopard 2 battle tanks to ukraine. ukrainian commanders are hoping they could help turn the tide of the war with russia. germany will also allow nato allies like finland and poland to send ukraine their leopard tanks as well. russia says the move would be a "blatant provocation". here's our defence correspondent, jonathan beale. western correspondent, jonathan beale. main battle tank a be western main battle tank also soon be rolling into ukraine, including these german made leopards. berlin had been resisting pressure, worried about escalation. but it has now

relented, a significant u—turn, germany will initially supply ukraine with at least 1a leopard 2, with training for their crews to start soon. soon. olaf scholz said that germany would co—ordinate the tanks but he add his country would ensure nato is not drawn into a war with russia. germany's decision paves the way for other european countries to do the same. poland has been seeking german permission to send 1a of its leopards to ukraine too. the german made tank is used by many nation, others are expected to follow in their track, that is in addition to m british army challenger tanks already pledged to ukraine. the us is reported to be on the verge of a decision, to supply ukraine with some of its own tanks.

ukraine with some of its own tanks. ukraine is still unlikely to get the 300 additional tanks it has asked for but it could get enough to make a difference. translation: ~ ., , translation: we do everything necessary every _ translation: we do everything necessary every day _ translation: we do everything necessary every day to _ translation: we do everything necessary every day to fill - translation: we do everything necessary every day to fill the i necessary every day to fill the deficit in tanks and i thank everyone who supports us in this, but discussions must be concluded with decision decisions of a strengthening of our defence against terrorists. ~ . strengthening of our defence against terrorists. ~' . , strengthening of our defence against terrorists. ~ . , , terrorists. ukraine says it needs tanks to break _ terrorists. ukraine says it needs tanks to break the _ terrorists. ukraine says it needs tanks to break the deadlock - terrorists. ukraine says it needs tanks to break the deadlock in l terrorists. ukraine says it needsl tanks to break the deadlock in its brutal war n the donbas, russian forces are taking heavy casualty, but also making small gains. western main battle tanks designed to go up against russian armour will provide ukrainian crews with more protection, speed an accuracy s better than their old soviet era tanks, but more complex too. translation: fit tanks, but more complex too. translation:— tanks, but more complex too. translation: . ., , , ,

translation: of course they will be very important _ translation: of course they will be very important for— translation: of course they will be very important for us, _ translation: of course they will be very important for us, but _ translation: of course they will be very important for us, but we - translation: of course they will be very important for us, but we need i very important for us, but we need to teach the crews because that tank is very complicated but it is very necessary. is very complicated but it is very necessary-— is very complicated but it is very necessary. ukraine will also now face a massive _ necessary. ukraine will also now face a massive logistics - necessary. ukraine will also now. face a massive logistics challenge, providing fuel and spare parts for different fleets of tanks. it is also still significantly outnumbered by russian armour. modern battle tanks alone will not win the war but combined with other western supplied weapons they could be enough to punch a hole in russian defences. russia says it is a dangerous escalation. jonathan beale, bbc news. jonathan beale, bbc news. in a moment, we will be speaking to james waterhouse in kyiv, but first to damian mcguinness live in berlin. germany's been under huge international pressure over this, for week, international pressure over this, forweek, it international pressure over this, for week, it has been a long and agonising journey, for week, it has been a long and agonisingjourney, but finally for week, it has been a long and agonising journey, but finally we have a decision.—

agonising journey, but finally we have a decision. yes, that is right, ben, have a decision. yes, that is right, ben. here — have a decision. yes, that is right, ben. here in _ have a decision. yes, that is right, ben, here in the _ have a decision. yes, that is right, ben, here in the german - have a decision. yes, that is right, i ben, here in the german parliament, the chancellor olaf scholz has just given an hour long 0 & a session explaining his rationalfor sending the tanks to ukraine. there have been many red lines, but this is arguably the most controversial and the pressure has not only been international, we have had a lot of pressure on the german chancellor, within germany, because many voter, particularly conservative, but also many other, the green party, the liberal party who govern with olaf scholz have been critical of the chancellor saying he slow and not done enough. the controversy isn't over, what we saw in the debate just now here in parliament is for many people, they are not sure about sending german made tank, the idea of a german tank rolling through regionses where the nazis once committed atrocities is for many an uncomfortable thought.

that is why the controversy will go on, parliament is behind the chancellor but he has to win over voters who are nervous about an escalation. voters who are nervous about an escalation-— escalation. thank you. and to _ escalation. thank you. and to james - escalation. thank you. and to james in - escalation. thank you. and to james in kyiv. l escalation. thank you. . and to james in kyiv. why escalation. thank you. - and to james in kyiv. why does and to james in kyiv. why does ukraine think the supply of the western tanks is so important in their war against russia?- western tanks is so important in their war against russia? well, in their war against russia? well, in their minds. _ their war against russia? well, in their minds, ben, _ their war against russia? well, in their minds, ben, it— their war against russia? well, in their minds, ben, it is— their war against russia? well, in their minds, ben, it is the - their war against russia? well, in their minds, ben, it is the key - their war against russia? well, in their minds, ben, it is the key to | their minds, ben, it is the key to breaking a static front line in a phase where it is russia that is on the front foot, really. it is president zelensky�*s 45th birthday today. forthe president zelensky�*s 45th birthday today. for the past couple of months his dream present has been the delivery of tanks but it is the equivalent of realising you are going to get that present but not the parts needed to use for it a little while, month, maybe longer, and this is the long been the frustration for ukraine's leader. speed of the military aid, that

continues to arrive the ukraine in its war effort. there has been a lot of excitement online, notably his chief of staff has been tweeting images of leopard emoji, people have been sharing their leopard skin fashion as part of the nationwide campaign, really for germany to finally make this decision, but we are some way off seeing tanks arrive in significant numbers, president zelensky has talked about it, it is all well and good five, 10, but he wants 300 which he thinks will be enough to prevail in the east. nevertheless this is a political way in a big way, i wouldn't be surprised if it continues to ask for more. ., ~' surprised if it continues to ask for more. . ~ ,, surprised if it continues to ask for more. . ~ , and you can keep fully up to date on this story by visiting the ukraine live page

via bbc.co.uk/news. the prime minister has faced more questions about the tax affairs of the tory party chairman and former chancellor nadim zahawi. at prime minister's questions in the commons in the last hour, the labour leader sir keir starmer accused rishi sunak of being hopelessly weak in not sacking mr zahawi. the prime minister said an investigation is under way to establish the facts, while mr zahawi himself says he's confident he acted properly. our political correspondent david wallace lockart reports. there were no prizes for guessing what was going to come up at prime minister's questions. share what was going to come up at prime minister's questions.— minister's questions. are you going to have to sack _ minister's questions. are you going to have to sack your— minister's questions. are you going to have to sack your party _ minister's questions. are you going l to have to sack your party chairman? the conservative party chairman nadhim zahawi is facing questions about his previous tax affairs, in the common last week, mr sunak suggested the issue had been dealt with. mr suggested the issue had been dealt with. ~ ,,, ., ~ , suggested the issue had been dealt with. ~ , ., ., with. mr speaker, my honourable ffiend

with. mr speaker, my honourable friend has — with. mr speaker, my honourable friend has addressed _ with. mr speaker, my honourable friend has addressed this - with. mr speaker, my honourable friend has addressed this matter| with. mr speaker, my honourable | friend has addressed this matter in full and there is nothing more i can add. �* , . ., full and there is nothing more i can add. ,. ., add. but since that response, it has merued add. but since that response, it has merged nadhim _ add. but since that response, it has merged nadhim zahawi _ add. but since that response, it has merged nadhim zahawi paid - add. but since that response, it has merged nadhim zahawi paid a - add. but since that response, it has i merged nadhim zahawi paid a penalty while he was chancellor as part of a multi—million pound settlement with hmrc. the prime minister's asked his ethics adviser to investigate if the ministerial code has been broken. nadhim zahawi is confident he has acted properly throughout. a difficult backdrop for the man taking questions in the commons today. taking questions in the commons toda . �* , taking questions in the commons toda. ., ~ today. anybody watching would think it is fairly obvious _ today. anybody watching would think it is fairly obvious that _ today. anybody watching would think it is fairly obvious that someone - it is fairly obvious that someone seeks to avoid tax can't be in charge of tax. for some reason the prime minister can't bring himself to say that or acknowledge the question. last week, the prime minister told this house that the chair of the tory party addressed his tax affairs in full. and there was nothing to add. this week, after days of public pressure the prime minister now says there are serious questions to answer. what changed. since i commented on this matter

last week, — since i commented on this matter last week, more information, including _ last week, more information, including a statement... including a statement _ including a statement... including a statement by the minister of that portfolio — statement by the minister of that portfolio has entered the public demain. — portfolio has entered the public demain, it is right we establish the fact, i_ demain, it is right we establish the fact, i believe in proper due process _ process. that is why, that is why i have pointed — that is why, that is why i have pointed an— that is why, that is why i have pointed an independent adviser and that is_ pointed an independent adviser and that is why— pointed an independent adviser and that is why the independent adviser is doing _ that is why the independent adviser is doing hisjob. the that is why the independent adviser is doing his job-— is doing his “0b. the prime minister said no is doing his job. the prime minister said no issue _ is doing his job. the prime minister said no issue was _ is doing his job. the prime minister said no issue was raised _ is doing his job. the prime minister said no issue was raised with - is doing his job. the prime minister said no issue was raised with him . said no issue was raised with him when he appointed nadhim zahawi. he: can't deal with tax avoiders in his own cabinet. is he starting to wonder if thisjob own cabinet. is he starting to wonder if this job is just too big for him? the difference between him and me is that i the difference between him and me is that i stand _ the difference between him and me is that i stand by my values and principles, everyone when it is difficult — principles, everyone when it is difficult. , ,, ,, difficult. rishi sunak is sticking with nadhim — difficult. rishi sunak is sticking with nadhim zahawi _ difficult. rishi sunak is sticking with nadhim zahawi for - difficult. rishi sunak is sticking with nadhim zahawi for now, i difficult. rishi sunak is sticking i with nadhim zahawi for now, but difficult. rishi sunak is sticking - with nadhim zahawi for now, but the future of the tory party chairman is tied up with any conclusions reached by the prime minister's independent ethics advice ir, opposition mps don't want to wait for that, thai

are trying to turn up the pressure right now. at a misty westminster, nadhim zahawi's ultimate fate isn't entirely clear, the point at which rishi sunak will have to make a decision draws nearer. our chief political correspondent, nick eardley is at westminster. this row over nadhim zahawi's tax affairs just won't go away. what a difference a week make, it was this time last week where rishi sunak was saying that the questions had been addressed in full. a very different set of answers from rishi sunak this afternoon, the case for the defence is that you need to let due process play out and rishi sunak didn't know the full story when he turned up at pmqs last week, the case for the labour party is that rishi sunak is too weak to act, he is trying to keep the different factions of his party together, so he doesn't want to sack someone who

was a prominent backer of boris johnson. the big question that remained unanswered, and unasked by the labour party, is whether the prime minister thinks it is ok that this time last week he was allowed to turn up at prime minister's questions without nadhim zahawi making him aware of all the full facts, that he had paid a penalty as part of a tax dispute with hmrc. so where are we this afternoon? for now nadhim zahawi remains in hisjob but there is a significant cloud brett hankisoning over the party chairman, and over the government. there are many conservatives who are in despair, who are worried some of the scandals of earlier governments from last year have now been allowed to permeate into this one, and we still don't know for sure whether nadhim zahawi is going to survive. he can't going to resign, many of his colleagues think he will have to go though.

colleagues think he will have to go thou~h. ., ,, i. colleagues think he will have to go thou~h. . ~ i. a thank you nick. the jury at the trial of lucy letby has been hearing detail of the allegation that the neonatal nurse tried to kill a premature baby four times. the court heard that the nurse succeeded in her efforts on the fourth attempt, and that the baby, known as baby i died in october 2015. live now to our correspondent, judith moritz, who's at manchester crown court. yes, and this long running trial has now reached the point as you say of looking in detail at the case of baby i, that is the ninth of 17 babies who lucy letby is alleged to have attacked. she is accused of murdering seven and attempting to murdering seven and attempting to murder another ten, she denies all of the charges against her. the case of the charges against her. the case of baby i thejury heard,

of the charges against her. the case of baby i the jury heard, heard previously everyone by the standards of this trial is an extreme example, we have been hearing detail this morning of the prosecution allegation that the nurse tried to murder this baby, this premature baby girl fourtimes, murder this baby, this premature baby girl four times, succeeding on the fourth attempt. we heard a statement which had been written by baby i's mother that was read out which gave much of the detail what happened in her experience, the harrowing detail. she talked about the fact that she witnessed resuscitation attempts and she said on the last occasion she said, every time they pumped her, her stats would go up, she would improve but then she would flat line and the baby's mother said she told staff you can't keep doing this to her, she watched as they tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the girl. we heard that once her daughter had passed away, that nurse lucy letby offered to take paragraphs of them as they bathed her daughter, she said there would

be photos to keep and baby i's mother said nurse letby came in smiling and laughing aid talk about the time she first bathed a baby. her mother said ijust wished he would stop talking, eventually she realised and she stopped. it was not something we wanted to hear at that point and she described how lucy letby wrapped up the baby's belongings for them to take home. nurse letby denies the charges and this trial which has many months to run continues. thank you very much. the head of the metropolitan police says two or three of his officers a week are expected to appear in court in criminal cases in the next few months. sir mark rowley was speaking to the london assembly police and crime committee. his comments come after the failure of the force to root out the serial rapist, david carrick, who was a met officerfor 20 years.

looking at just the next few weeks ahead, most weeks there's two or three officers going to court for criminal cases, which tends to be a mix of sort of... ..dishonesty, violence, and sort of violence against women and girls type offences, domestic abuse, sexual offences, etc. so there's probably two or three a week appearing at court. our home editor mark eastonjoins me. two or three officers a week appearing in court. this is going to mean many more difficult headlines for scotland yard, isn't it? so mark rowley wants to send a powerful message that when it comes to corrupt officers things have changed at scotland yard. i met him

recently and he talked about the need to lance the boil and said we need to lance the boil and said we need to lance the boil and said we need to lift up every stone and see what crawls out. he set up an integrity hotline lustre november so the public and staff could report officers they had concerns about and understand that gets a couple of calls every day. we also reported last week that every one of the 45,000 last week that every one of the 16,000 officers and staff employed are going to have their records checked against police national computer is for convictions and other intelligence. this is a consequence of all that that the commissioner believes we may see two or three officers per week facing some kind of court action. this is a risky strategy, of inspired by all the scandals especially relating to the scandals especially relating to the safety of women but the hope is that any kind of loss of trust will be made up for in the longer term by improve public confidence.

our top story this lunchtime. germany confirms it will send some of its leopard 2 battle tanks to ukraine — and allow nato allies to do the same. coming up: we have a special report from china, on the rising number of covid—related deaths amongst the elderly in rural areas. coming up on the bbc news channel. can manchester united keep up their quest on 4 fronts as they prepare for their league cup semi final first leg with nottingham forest? staff at amazon are staging their first ever strike in the uk in a dispute about pay. members of the gmb union have walked out at the company's warehouse in coventry over what they call a "derisory" 50 pence an hour pay rise. some amazon workers say robots at the warehouse are treated better than they are.

amazon — which doesn't recognise unions in the uk — says it offers "competitive" pay. our employment correspondent, zoe conway, reports. amazon workers being stopped at the picket line as they arrived for work. they are being asked to join their first ever strike at an amazon warehouse. more than 300 employees here in coventry could take part in this action. they are working for a multi—million pound organisation that is raking in profits still and not willing to share those profits to ensure that those workers are able to live decent lives. they can't afford to heat their homes, they can't afford to pay their bills orfeed theirfamilies. it has just got to the point where enough is enough and they are taking strike action. they are striking over pay. the company gave them a 50p pay rise in august, taking the minimum pay rate to £10.50 an hour. the union says the rate should be £15 an hour, arguing that the company's profit

boom during the pandemic as did the bank account of billionaire bank accountjeff bezos. we don't want his rocket. we want to be able to live. darren and garfield work at the coventry side and are leading today's action. we just want a decent wage. we are on our feet for ten hours a day, we get told off if we get caught leaning or sitting. you get warnings. the commentary site is similar to this amazon centre in essex. garfield and darren say their work is monitored and they must meet targets. the say their work is monitored and they must meet targets.— must meet targets. the pressure is intense. must meet targets. the pressure is intense- as — must meet targets. the pressure is intense. as soon _ must meet targets. the pressure is intense. as soon as _ must meet targets. the pressure is intense. as soon as you _ must meet targets. the pressure is intense. as soon as you come - must meet targets. the pressure is intense. as soon as you come in . must meet targets. the pressure is| intense. as soon as you come in the building you are tracked and then you go to your station where as soon as you logon they know exactly where you are in the building. they know how often you are scanning and if you have not scanned within a certain time they come and speak to you. certain time they come and speak to ou. , ,., certain time they come and speak to ou. , , ., , , certain time they come and speak to ou. _., i, you. they both say they been questioned — you. they both say they been questioned by _ you. they both say they been questioned by managers - you. they both say they been questioned by managers for i you. they both say they been - questioned by managers for taking too long to go to the toilet.

sometimes it may take three minutes to get the toilet. heaven forbid you get there and all the cubicles are full and then of course you have to use the toilet and come back and that could be 15, 18 minutes in the process and they then question you what we're doing. it process and they then question you what we're doing.— process and they then question you what we're doing. it sounds like you feel ou're what we're doing. it sounds like you feel you're being — what we're doing. it sounds like you feel you're being treated _ what we're doing. it sounds like you feel you're being treated like - feel you're being treated like robots. t feel you're being treated like robots. , ., ~ robots. i wish we were treated like robots. i wish we were treated like robots because _ robots. i wish we were treated like robots because they _ robots. i wish we were treated like robots because they are _ robots. i wish we were treated like robots because they are treated i robots because they are treated better. , ., ., robots because they are treated better. , . ., ., better. they get a team of technicians. _ better. they get a team of technicians. amazon - better. they get a team of technicians. amazon saysl better. they get a team of i technicians. amazon says the better. they get a team of - technicians. amazon says the pay is competitive — technicians. amazon says the pay is competitive and _ technicians. amazon says the pay is competitive and in _ technicians. amazon says the pay is competitive and in a _ technicians. amazon says the pay is competitive and in a statement - technicians. amazon says the pay is | competitive and in a statement said, we appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year. like most companies we have a system at amazon that recognises great performance and also encourages coaching to help employees improve if they are not meeting their performance goals. performance is only measured when an employee is attestation and logged in to do theirjob. amazon does not recognise trade unions in the uk so there's not much hope of any pay negotiating

happening soon but darren is undeterred and feels it is his duty to stand up for the workforce. these eo - le to stand up for the workforce. these people need — to stand up for the workforce. these people need someone _ to stand up for the workforce. these people need someone who - to stand up for the workforce. these people need someone who is - to stand up for the workforce. these people need someone who is not. people need someone who is not frightened, i have been bullied before and i will be bullied again and i'm still standing. i'm in this for the long run.— and i'm still standing. i'm in this for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news. for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news- the — for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news. the funeral— for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news. the funeral is _ for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news. the funeral is being - for the long run. zoe conway, bbc news. the funeral is being held i for the long run. zoe conway, bbc| news. the funeral is being held for a woman who was shot on christmas eve in a pub in wallasey. 26—year—old elle edwards was not the intended target of a gunman who opened fire at the lighthouse pub. connor chapman, who's 22, has been charged with murder and is due on trial injune. the vicar in charge of today's service says he hopes the funeral will be a celebration of elle's life, which shouldn't be defined by how she died. in china, a bbc investigation has found evidence of many covid related deaths in the countryside, after the virus spread from the big cities into more remote, rural areas with older populations. people working in the funeral

industry there said they've been much busier than usual. the chinese authorities have been accused of under—reporting the number of people who've died from covid. this report from our china correspondent, steve mcdonell. 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. 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 a severe diabetes. - after she got covid, she had a high fever and her organs began to fail. wang peiwei hasjust lost his sister—in—law, the mother of two was in her early fifties. 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 hometowns. these are the fireworks, the pictures, the lanterns and the snacks that chinese people buy to help them ring in the new year. 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 has died. i ask this farmer about what appear 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're marked with red flags. in his village of a few thousand, he says more than a0 people have passed away during the outbreak, but they're hoping that covid's worst work has been done. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, shanxi province. the co—founder of the popular children's television show sesame street has died at the age of 93. lloyd morrisett pioneered using technology to educate and was among the first to consider

using television to teach young children basic skills. at the australian open tennis tournament, the nine—time champion novak djokovic is through to the semi—finals. he easily beat russia's andrey rublev in straight sets. andy swiss was watching. a grand entrance for the big favourite. novak djokovic has looked unbeatable in melbourne, and yet against andrey rublev, he at times cut a frustrated figure. annoyed first by a heckler in the crowd... and later by his own coach. the slightly bemused goran ivanisevic. but whatever his feelings, there was no doubting his form as djokovic showed just why he has won this tournament a mere nine times with a devastating display. whatever rublev did, djokovic did it better. his watching fan club was certainly enjoying it as he cruised

through the first set, 6—1. and while his opponent battled on, victory was just a matter of time. djokovic wrapping up a straight sets win. and if he keeps playing like this, can anyone really stop him? well, this man will certainly hope so. the unseeded tommy paul. he was up against fellow american dan shelton, a 20—year—old college student who had never been abroad before this tournament, and he was clearly keen to extend his trip. but although shelton took a set, it was ultimately paul who took the match. the best result of his career. but with djokovic next up, fair to say he will need an even better one. andy swiss, bbc news. new research suggests that humans can understand gestures used by chimpanzees to communicate with each other in the wild. 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. grooming builds bonds of friendship... our closest living relatives. social, intelligent primates that communicate without speaking. and it seems that we humans can tune into this silent gesturing language. researchers who have spent years observing great apes closely in the wild have recorded a whole gesture dictionary — dozens of signals, expressions and movements that chimps and bonobos use to communicate. 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. here is how a chimpanzee says "groom me, please". and this is a bonobo silently demanding food from a companion. some gestures are easier for us

to understand than others. this display is apparently flirtation. but the fact that we can derive meaning from these gestures suggest they provided a foundation for our own language. our last common ancestors with bonobos and chimpanzees probably used quite similar gestures. and these gestures may then have gone on to scaffold the evolution of human gesture and human language as we know it now. gorillas, orangutans and other great apes also use some of these same signals. it is something that people who work with these primates tune into every day. gesture is so important to great apes. all of the little ways they need to regulate their social interactions in these amazingly complex social worlds they live in. it's the sort of communicative grease that gets all of that working. these gestures and our abilities to interpret them, the researchers say, sends a scientific message about how our own language evolved. victoria gill, bbc news. time for a look at the weather,

here's ben rich.