welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... the united states hasjoined germany in announcing it will send donald trump is to be allowed to be back on facebook after his account was suspended. the united states hasjoined germany in announcing it will send powerful tanks to ukraine to help defeat russia's invasion. the key now is its speed and volume. we have to — the key now is its speed and volume. we have to a — the key now is its speed and volume. we have to a fist _ the key now is its speed and volume. we have to a fist of _ the key now is its speed and volume. we have to a fist of tanks _ the key now is its speed and volume. we have to a fist of tanks which - we have to a fist of tanks which will not allow tierney to rise again. will not allow tierney to rise a . ain. ~ will not allow tierney to rise aaain. ~ . . will not allow tierney to rise auain.~ . ., ,, will not allow tierney to rise aaain. . ., ,, ., again. we have a special report from china on the — again. we have a special report from china on the rise _ again. we have a special report from china on the rise of _

again. we have a special report from china on the rise of covid _ again. we have a special report from china on the rise of covid and - china on the rise of covid and related deaths —— tierney to rise. —— tyranny. we look at divisions over australia's colonial legacy. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. we start the show for you today with the latest developments the parent company of facebook and instagram has announced it will end its suspension of the former president donald trump's accounts. this is after a two—year ban that was imposed on mr trump in the wake of the january the 6th storming of the us capitol. his claim that the election was stolen was widely disseminated on social media. we can bring in our north america

correspondent peter bowes, who's been watching this story very carefully. great to give you on the programme. i imagine you remember the background of life former president trump was suspended very clearly. this of life former president trump was suspended very clearly.— of life former president trump was suspended very clearly. this does go back to the january _ suspended very clearly. this does go back to the january is _ suspended very clearly. this does go back to the january is six _ suspended very clearly. this does go back to the january is six 2021, - back to the january is six 2021, where donald trump was widely criticised about the 2020 election. facebook removed two of the posts that he had made, including a video that he had made, including a video that he had made, including a video that he posted that repeated the widespread claims of voter fraud during the 2020 election. he also at that time praised some of those people who had stormed the capitol building, and the result was he was taken off facebook and he was also taken off facebook and he was also taken off facebook and he was also taken off instagram for a two—year period. during certainly the most recent months at a reeks to the

present day, there have been quite a bit of campaigning by the republicans especially in light that he is standing for the white house again, with many people claiming he ought to be allowed back onto those platforms. find ought to be allowed back onto those latforms. �* , ., platforms. and facebook says that new guardrails _ platforms. and facebook says that new guardrails have _ platforms. and facebook says that new guardrails have been - platforms. and facebook says that new guardrails have been put - platforms. and facebook says that new guardrails have been put in i new guardrails have been put in place. any sense of what that means? yeah, what effectively they're saying, and we learned this from a blog post by an executive for meta, if donald trump or to violate their rules again, he would face possible suspension from one month up to two years. this is essentially an indication and perhaps a warning across the ministers of donald trump that if you were to repeat the kind of language —— if he were, he would find himself once again taken off these platforms.—

find himself once again taken off these latforms. �* ., , ., these platforms. peter bowes, thanks so much for — these platforms. peter bowes, thanks so much forjoining _ these platforms. peter bowes, thanks so much forjoining us _ these platforms. peter bowes, thanks so much forjoining us on _ these platforms. peter bowes, thanks so much forjoining us on the - so much forjoining us on the programme. for now, thank you for joining us. the united states hasjoined germany in announcing plans to send tanks to ukraine. the us will supply kyiv with 31 of its m1 abrams tanks. berlin has said it will send 1a of its leopard 2 tanks to the region and they'll give partner countries permission to export the same model of german tank to kyiv. our europe editor, katya adler, reports. almost a full year of hell. the most serious armed conflict in europe since the second world war. an attempt by russia to upend a sense of security across the continent. but today saw an offer of help kyiv has long been crying out for. translation: we will now be sending our leopard 2 - battle tanks to ukraine. we are doing this after intense discussion with our international

partners and allies. it was right not to hurry this decision. actually, mr scholz�*s allies had fast been losing patience. lots of european countries own these german—produced tanks. they're stable and reliable. but berlin has the export rights so countries like poland,, desperate to send this powerful help to ukraine, couldn't as long as germany dithered. now kyiv could eventually receive dozens of tanks, though its soldiers first need to be trained how to use them. weary of moscow, chancellor olaf scholz was keen for the to send some of its mighty abrams tends to ukraine, too.

as if on preagreed 0, president biden promised 31 vehicles for kyiv. putin expected europe and the united states to weaken our resolve. he expected our support for ukraine to crumble with time. he was wrong. and he was wrong from the beginning, and he continues to be wrong. we are united. washington's announcement and berlin's u—turn are a wish come true for ukraine's president, who turned 45 today. translation: the key now is speed and volume. - we had form a fist of freedom that will not allow the russians to rise again. these soviet—era tanks on display in the on display in the german capital. while many celebrate olaf scholz�*s decisions on tanks, others, including voices in his own party, warn that this conflict could now escalate — threatening lives beyond ukraine.

catch you and there, bbc news, berlin. katya adler, bbc news, berlin. our russia editor, steve rosenberg, has this update from moscow. i don't think they were expecting them. mixed signals, i have to say, from russia today. on the one hand, the kremlin was trying to downplay the significance of western battle tanks going to ukraine — the kremlin spokesman saying, "you know what? "don't overestimate the potential that these tanks could add "to the ukrainian army. "they will burn, this plan will fail." and also, russian tv news bulletins today were showing various charts and diagrams of the us abrams tank, highlighting alleged vulnerabilities and technical problems. in other words, the message — nothing to worry about. but on the other hand, other russian officials were saying, no, these tank deliveries are extremely dangerous. they were talking of a new level of confrontation, and to go with that,

a new level of anti—western rhetoric. i'm joined now by andrew d'anieri, assistant director at the atlantic council's eurasia centre. give us a sense of how significant this is in terms of this new military equipment for ukraine. thanks for having me. this is really a significant day. kyiv has been calling out for tanks for many months now. we've seen a similar pattern as with other weapon systems, where kyiv and president zelenskyy asked for weapon systems. the us and germany say no, no, no, and a few months later, the same systems are transferred. it's worked relatively well so far, but that strategy could be strengthened even more and ukraine could be closer to victory where the us and germany to send these tanks much quicker than

they had done, even if today is a big day. poland has been asking germany to send these tanks as well. this is a strong development, and unfortunately will take a few months for the german leopards to arrive and even longerfor for the german leopards to arrive and even longer for the for the german leopards to arrive and even longerfor the us abrams. this is a civil goal that allies realise that russia's war is not going away for many months and they're ready to stand behind kyiv. there was some reluctance on the part of germany ahead of this. in terms of concern of the tanks coming into the picture, risk of —— russia would stipulate. what you see moscow doing now? the would stipulate. what you see moscow doinu now? �* , ., ,, ., doing now? the army about russia callin: this doing now? the army about russia calling this a _ doing now? the army about russia calling this a provocation _ doing now? the army about russia calling this a provocation or - doing now? the army about russia calling this a provocation or an - calling this a provocation or an escalation is that they're the ones escalating the war. we've seen in the months between kyiv asking for taint in different west but ——

weapons, even strikes on civilian apartment millions and shopping centres, driving up the death toll in ukraine of people who aren't even involved with the conflict. so, it's really doing nothing is the escalatory move there that moscow thinks he can win. that's when they continue these strikes and send tens of thousands of men to the donbas. the important thing is russian capabilities are degrading significantly. they have done bombs they can send, they have untrained troops they can send to the front lines, but it's probably weapons and just bodies are the two main weapons they have at this point. just briefl , they have at this point. just briefly, where _ they have at this point. just briefly, where do _ they have at this point. just briefly, where do you see the war going from here?— briefly, where do you see the war going from here? well, i do think in the s-urin going from here? well, i do think in the spring and summer, _ going from here? well, i do think in the spring and summer, we - going from here? well, i do think in the spring and summer, we will - going from here? well, i do think in the spring and summer, we will seej the spring and summer, we will see the spring and summer, we will see the fighting take up a bit. russia has long been talking about and

murmuring about another offensive at kyiv. it's unclear, but i think now that their troops have increased, we could see that. we could also see ukraine launching another counteroffensive in the south. lots more to come, but i expect more action in the spring, certainly. andrew, thank you so much for joining us on the programme. to other stories for you now — and the uk prime minister, rishi sunak, has defended his decision not to sack the conservative party chairman, nadhim zahawi — who is reported to have paid a penalty ofjust under $6 million for underpaid taxes. mr zahawi was chancellor at the time the settlement was agreed. the bbc�*s political editor, chris mason, has more details. is the conservative party chairman done for? wednesday means prime minister's question time. reporter: are you going to have to sack your partyj chairman, prime minister? last week, rishi sunak said nadhim zahawi's tax affairs had

been addressed in full, but we now know he'd paid a massive tax bill and a penalty to the tax authority. questions to the prime minister. and so, the labour leader asked... does the prime minister agree that i any politician who seeks to avoid i the taxes they owe in this country is not fit to be in charge - of taxpayer money? no issues were raised with me when he was appointed to his current role, and since i commented on this matter last week, more information has come forward. the prime minister suggested that while it would've been tempting to sack nadhim zahawi this morning, that would've been wrong. the politically expedient thing to do would be for me... ..would be for me to have said that this matter must have been resolved by wednesday at noon. but i believe in proper due process. and so an inquiry is under way. nadhim zahawi is a multimillionaire.

while he was chancellor last summer, and so in charge of the country's finances, he was also sorting out his own with revenue and customs. back in the commons, it was the prime minister's family's vast wealth that featured next. it emerged last year his wife had legally avoided millions of pounds of uk tax before saying she would pay it from then on. we all know why the prime minister was reluctant to ask his party chairl questions about family finances and tax avoidance. _ laughter but his failure to sack him - when the whole country could see what's going on shows how hopelessly weak he is _ when i disagreed fundamentally with the previous prime minister, i resigned from the government, but forfour long years, he sat next to the member for islington north!

a reference to former leaderjeremy corbyn, who mr starmer, as leader, later kicked out of the parliamentary party. that's what's weak, mr speaker! he has no principles and just petty politics! a midwinter tussle over political strength or its absence. the backdrop — the loitering mist hanging over the tax affairs of a former chancellor. that was chris mason. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the european court of human rights has confirmed it will hear a dutch case against russia over the downing of flight mhi7. all 298 people died when russian—backed ukrainian separatists shot down the malaysia airlines plane in 2014. amsterdam argues that moscow's disinformation about its role in the incident violates the human rights of the victims' relatives. police in the indian capital delhi have detained a dozen students ahead of a screening of a bbc documentary on tuesday

that the government has dismissed as propaganda. the film questions prime minister narendra modi's leadership during religious riots in his home state of gujarat in 2002. the government has barred clips and links to the documentary on social media, and the university had warned the students against the screening. spanish authorities are treating a series of stabbings, which left one person dead, as a possible terrorist incident. clergymen at two different churches 300 metres apart were attacked just after 8pm local time. local media report four others were injured. you're watching nesday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. we'll go live to sydney, where protests against australia day are taking place

a shuttle challenger exploded. several on board, all of them are believed to have been killed. by the evening, the heart of official cairo was in the hands of the demonstrators. they were using the word revolution. the earthquake singled out buildings and brought them down in seconds. tonight, the search for any survivors has an increase survivors has an increasing desperation about it as the hours pass. the new government is firmly in control of the entire - republic of uganda. survivors of auschwitz celebrate their liberation. they toured the chambers and crematoria and relived their horrifying experiences.

our headlines... facebook�*s parent company meta has said it will reinstate the accounts of the former us president donald trump. they were suspended just over two years ago because of posts praising the crowd who assaulted congress to try to overturn his election defeat. president volodymyr zelensky has warmly welcomed the decision by washington and berlin to send advanced tanks to ukraine. in his nightly address, he said speedy delivery and sufficient numbers were key to his country's defence against russia. let's turn to australia now, where thousands are expected to protest today at rallies in major cities, demanding the country's national day be changed. the 26th of january is the anniversary of the 1788 landing of britain's first fleet, which began the era of colonisation. our correspondent phil mercer is at a rally in sydney.

hejoins me now on he joins me now on the hejoins me now on the programme. great to get you on the show, phil. i can see the atmosphere behind you, lots of people there. australia day is traditionally a public holiday, but our young australians increasingly shunning it? australia da has increasingly shunning it? australia day has been _ increasingly shunning it? australia day has been a — increasingly shunning it? australia day has been a public _ increasingly shunning it? australia day has been a public holiday - increasingly shunning it? australia day has been a public holiday in i day has been a public holiday in this country since the mid—90. for many all trillions, at the day of celebration and pride, but for many indigenous people and their supporters, this is invasion day, survival day, i day of mourning. this rally here in said sydney, thousands of people have gathered to hear various speakers, listen to music, and the messages the effects of colonisation are continuing, and them, this marks the start of a long and brutal colonisation. in a newspaper a few days ago, there was talk about australia day marking the

occasion when a black continent was stolen and became a white continent. so, there is passion, there is anger and these scenes here in sydney are being repeated in many other parts of the country. being repeated in many other parts of the country-— of the country. phil, when you talk to --eole of the country. phil, when you talk to peeple there. — of the country. phil, when you talk to people there, what _ of the country. phil, when you talk to people there, what are - of the country. phil, when you talk to people there, what are some i of the country. phil, when you talk to people there, what are some of| to people there, what are some of their main concerns and what do they want to have changed?— want to have changed? there is a big debate in this — want to have changed? there is a big debate in this country _ want to have changed? there is a big debate in this country not _ want to have changed? there is a big debate in this country not only - want to have changed? there is a big debate in this country not only over. debate in this country not only over the date of australia day. australia is unusual that it uses the start of colonisation as its national day. i can't think of any other country that does that. but there is a debate here over the indigenous voice to parliament. now, this is a major reform that is being put forward by the labour government who came to power in this country in in may of last year. that would set up an independent body to advise the australian government on indigenous affairs. the government believes that this body will help address chronic disadvantage in advantage

next communities and is planning a referendum quite possibly in the next year or so. there is opposition within aboriginal ranks and in broader society to the indigenous voice to parliament. some campaigners believe that it's an elitist project born out of white guilt. certainly, there is a huge debate here about how australia manages indigenous disadvantage as it tries to close the gap in life expectancy — they have high rates of imprisonment, poverty and unemployment, and people here believe the root cause of all of thatis believe the root cause of all of that is colonisation. just briefly, if ou that is colonisation. just briefly, if you don't _ that is colonisation. just briefly, if you don't mind, _ that is colonisation. just briefly, if you don't mind, what's - that is colonisation. just briefly, if you don't mind, what's the . if you don't mind, what's the response been from several state governments in australia? the labour covernment governments in australia? the labour government under _ governments in australia? the labour government under the _ governments in australia? the labour government under the prime - governments in australia? the labour government under the prime minister| government under the prime minister anthony albanese has no official policy about changing the dates of australia day. it is very firm and

its commitment to the indigenous voice to parliament. it is pursuing its plans to hold a referendum, so ultimately, it will be the people of australia who decide whether this indigenous advisory body is enacted into the constitution and is allowed to shape government policy. but as with many issues surrounding indigenous australia, it is fraught with division, so the debate here continues. indeed, phil mercer there, and we can here the sentiments. thanks for persevering through all that. and lot�*s more on australia day on the bbc website — including this piece on why young people in australia are increasingly looking to reject australia day and the reasons behind that. that's on bbc.com./news or simply down load the bbc news app. download the bbc news app. that is if you haven't done so

already. in china, a bbc investigation has found evidence of many covid—related deaths in rural areas after the virus spread from big city areas into more remote areas with older populations. people working in the funeral industry say they've been much busier than usual. the chinese authorities have been consistently accused of under—reporting the number of people who've died from covid. our correspondent stephen mcdonell has been to the northern province of shanxi. 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. translation: she had severe diabetes. - after she got covid, she had a high fever and her organs began to fail. this man has just lost

his sister—in—law. the mother of two was in her early 50s. translation: she was a great person. we must hold a grand event to send her off, the best we can afford. 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 are mostly not being counted. for the spring festival, hundreds of millions of younger people already returned to their home towns. 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's 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 are hoping that covid's but they're hoping that covid's worst work has been done. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, shanxi province. there are reports that

authorities in the north korean capital, pyongyang, have locked down the area for five days as a result of respiratory illnesses increasing. the authorities haven't mentioned an outbreak of covid—i9, but these new measures come as cases spread through neighbouring china, following its recent reopening. residents are banned from leaving their homes until sunday evening. the cast and crew of the prior mentoring american television show sesame street have paid tribute to their co—creator who died aged 93. lloyd morrissette coming up with the idea of using tv did teach young children skills like counting in letters. sesame street was first broadcast in the us in 1969. it's been shown in more than 100 countries around the world. a reminder of our top story — met us that it will reinstate the accounts

of the former us president donald trump, suspended just over two years ago. we have heard from president... that's it for now. hello. after a week of weather contrasts so far thursday, it brings a bit more evenness to the weather across the uk and most will be dry. some decent sunny spells as well, particularly in the west. now, the reason for the change is that the weather fronts, which brought the heavy rain through the evening across east anglia and southeast, will have cleared into france overnight, allowing this ridge of high pressure to even things out. now, it doesn't mean we won't be without frost and ice, particularly across central and western areas, but temperatures still will be nowhere near as low as they have been through recent nights. a few mist and fog patches in the west, too,

but for the vast majority, it is going to be a dry and sunny day. northern scotland will see a few showers and across south east scotland into eastern england, this is where we'll see some showers come and go throughout the day. not everyone will see them. many will stay dry and still a lot brighter across east anglia and the southeast compared with the grim conditions of wednesday. but here and across many eastern counties, it will be quite a blustery day. but temperature—wise, as i said, we're evening things out. 6—9 degrees across much of the uk, which is not far off where we should be for this stage in late january. now, as we go into thursday evening and overnight, there will be some showers across eastern england, perhaps tracking a bit further westwards, especially for northern england, most of them will be dry. partly clear skies, a chance of some fog across scotland, northern ireland and northwest england. northern ireland and northwest england, and it will be a little bit colder as well. more widespread frost to take us into friday morning with a risk of ice where showers have continued. but if anything, friday should be another pleasant day for most patchy cloud across england, a bit more in the west compared with thursday.

and then later on, northwest scotland and northern ireland will see cloud increase, some rain into the western isles before the day is out. and temperatures similar to thursday's values with lighter winds. into saturday, though, more cloud on the scene. there will be sunshine in particular eastern scotland, southern counties of england. but this sort of cloud here with patchy rain, this is a weather front which is just toppling round our area of high pressure because it's within the area of high pressure — not much in the way of rain on it. it will clear through off into the near continent. but another batch of more active weather fronts into sunday will push into the northwest. we start with the frost again, particularly across some southern areas. but sunday, there'll be some sunny spells across england and wales especially, but increasing cloud to scotland, northern ireland, heavy rain and strengthening winds. gale force winds, if not gusts of wind in excess of 60 mph by the end of the day. will lift temperatures up, though, compared to the next few days, but it will feel cooler in that breeze.

good evening i'm tulsen tollet and this is your sports news where we start with football. manchester united remain on course for their first trophy since 2017 after a 3—0 win over nottingham forest in the first leg of their efl cup semifinal. jim lumsden watched the action. forest fans would have flinched at the memory of manchester united's last visit. united were now in the running forfour trophies. marcus rashford with 20 goals to his name made it 21. forest were strangers to the ball for a while until they scored on the break.

var beg to differ.