this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones with the latest headlines. eight days after it was hit by two deadly earthquakes, the syrian government agrees to open more border crossings to allow aid into the country for three months. syria supports the entry of humanitarian aid into the region, through all possible cross points. us military says the sensors from the suspected chinese spy balloon shot down have been recovered from the atlantic ocean and are being examined by the fbi. a report finds liverpool fans were not to blame for the chaotic scenes at last year's champions league final between liverpool and real madrid in paris. millions of households will face an increase

in their council tax from april, with three quarters of english councils with social care duties planning a 5% hike. hundreds of grassroots football referees tell the bbc they fear for their safety when working, and don't think enough is being done to tackle abuse. good morning and welcome to bbc news. two more border crossings will be opened up to allow aid to flow into northern syria, as it deals with the aftermath of last week's devastating earthquake. the country's president, bashar al—assad, agreed to open the routes from turkey after complaints about the time taken for support to reach some regions. millions across syria and turkey

are without shelter, with survivors facing a lack of water and poor sanitation living in makeshift camps. vincent mcaviney reports. the second week of recovery in turkey and syria begins after the region's most powerful earthquake in a century. apartment blocks and homes turned to rubble and graves. today two men were rescued alive from under a collapsed building after 198 hours. yesterday, in the southern turkish city of adiyaman, rescuers chant "god is great," as they pull a four—year—old girl alive after 178 hours under the ruins. but they're likely to be some of the last miraculous survivors. as the digging continues, the un is warning the death count will likely more than double, as the rescue phase of its operations ends.

now it's about supporting the survivors. millions of them injured, traumatised and homeless in freezing conditions. providing shelter, food and health care in the wreckage of a stable country like turkey is challenging enough. across the border in syria, over a decade into a civil war, it's proving near impossible. only one of the four original border crossings in the country has been open. the us government has led calls for syria's president assad to let more aid reach people in rebel—held areas of northern syria. last night he agreed to let the un use two more crossings for three months of aid deliveries. syria supports the entry of humanitarian aid into the region through all possible cross points, whether from inside syria

or across the borders. the white helmets emergency group says people in the region have felt disappointed and abandoned. the basic aid that will now hopefully reach them will make living possible, but their lives in a country still locked in a civil war won't be easily rebuilt. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. david wightwick is chief executive of uk—med, a charity which deploys british nhs medics to emergencies — he's in turkoglu, turkey. he's joined by lieutenant colonel seb burn. he is from the uk military. thank you forjoining us, i can only imagine how busy you are. david wightwick, can you give us a sense of what is going on? we wightwick, can you give us a sense of what is going on?— of what is going on? we are in a town of about 80,000 -

of what is going on? we are in a town of about 80,000 people, | town of about 80,000 people, turkoglu. the hospital behind us is out of action, bits of it have collapsed. we have set up a medical unit, a field hospital if you like, we are working alongside the turkish emergency medical teams to have one big replacement facility so we can serve the people around who have been living in the open, many of them, for a few days. lieutenant colonel seb _ them, for a few days. lieutenant colonel seb burn, _ them, for a few days. lieutenant colonel seb burn, what - them, for a few days. lieutenant colonel seb burn, what is - them, for a few days. lieutenant colonel seb burn, what is the . colonel seb burn, what is the british military doing? we colonel seb burn, what is the british military doing? we had teams in turkey the — british military doing? we had teams in turkey the day _ british military doing? we had teams in turkey the day after _ british military doing? we had teams in turkey the day after the _ british military doing? we had teams in turkey the day after the first - in turkey the day after the first earthquake. we arrived early this morning — earthquake. we arrived early this morning with the first medical wave, we have _ morning with the first medical wave, we have come with some pretty world leading _ we have come with some pretty world leading medical equipment to set up a surgery— leading medical equipment to set up a surgery of emergency medicine, itu, primary health care and (inaudible). | (inaudible). i have to say, it is a little bit

more difficult to hear you, your sound is breaking up, so if i might come back to you, david wightwick, how great is the need you are seeing? how great is the need you are seeinr ? , , ., how great is the need you are seeina? , , ., ., ., , how great is the need you are seeinu? , , ., ., ., , .,~ seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a — seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a vast _ seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a vast area. _ seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a vast area. it _ seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a vast area. it is _ seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a vast area. it is one - seeing? this is an enormous quake. it covers a vast area. it is one of- it covers a vast area. it is one of the largest ones i have personally come across, so the need is very significant. we are not talking a few isolated towns or rural areas, entire cities have been majorly affected so the numbers are very significant. sorry, a sigh when it's going off behind me. the number of people who have been living out in the open, lacking basic services, food, shelter, water and especially medical services, are huge. lieutenant colonel seb burn, i will try you again in the hope that your sound will be better. you have talked about the equipment you have been bringing, what of the role will you play? b5

been bringing, what of the role will ou -la ? �* , you play? as well as the medical care we hone _ you play? as well as the medical care we none to _ you play? as well as the medical care we hope to liaise _ you play? as well as the medical care we hope to liaise with - you play? as well as the medical care we hope to liaise with the l care we hope to liaise with the local— care we hope to liaise with the local authorities, the other ngos, all the _ local authorities, the other ngos, all the charities and tried to contribute to the thinking behind this and — contribute to the thinking behind this and see where we can teach and where _ this and see where we can teach and where we _ this and see where we can teach and where we can learn and what we can do for— where we can learn and what we can do for others, it is notjust what we are — do for others, it is notjust what we are bringing but how we can work together— we are bringing but how we can work together is— we are bringing but how we can work together is the important thing. david _ together is the important thing. david wightwick, what is the balance between people who have perhaps been trapped underfalling masonry caused ijy trapped underfalling masonry caused by the earthquake, perhaps, and other conditions? the immediate trauma care _ other conditions? the immediate trauma care following _ other conditions? the immediate trauma care following the - other conditions? the immediate - trauma care following the earthquake was largely dealt with in the first few days by all of the organisations around here. you have the secondary needs arising, people who need further care, then you have a significant spike in needs because people are living out in the open, it got down to —7 the last two

nights so people who may have lost education as the houses collapsed, and any ordinary background, normal primary and secondary problems you'd see in any population of this size, so a significantly increased caseload and a significantly decreased ability to deal with that, which is why we and the are here. seb burn, we have been reporting two more border crossings will be opened up more border crossings will be opened up to allow aid to flow into syria. is that anything the british military will be involved with? this military will be involved with? as british military we do not routinely io british military we do not routinely go into— british military we do not routinely go into syria so that it is not something we will be doing, we are focused _ something we will be doing, we are focused on — something we will be doing, we are focused on the aid effort in turkey. have _ focused on the aid effort in turkey. have you _ focused on the aid effort in turkey. have you had any contact with anyone in syria, getting a sense of what might be happening? hat in syria, getting a sense of what might be happening?— might be happening? not from my perspective. _ might be happening? not from my perspective. but — might be happening? not from my perspective, but david _ might be happening? not from my perspective, but david might - might be happening? not from my perspective, but david might have | might be happening? not from my. perspective, but david might have a better— perspective, but david might have a better idea. we perspective, but david might have a better idea. ~ ., perspective, but david might have a

better idea. ~ . ., , ., better idea. we have a number of artner better idea. we have a number of partner organisations _ better idea. we have a number of partner organisations who - better idea. we have a number of partner organisations who are - partner organisations who are working inside syria, will present inside syria, and we have been talking to them. the needs are unbelievable, it is catastrophic. so we will, as uk—med, been working with partners who will provide supplies and equipment, this security situation in syria is exceptionally difficult, having worked there before i can personally attest to that. i worked there before i can personally attest to that-— attest to that. i would like to delve deeper _ attest to that. i would like to delve deeper into _ attest to that. i would like to delve deeper into that, - attest to that. i would like to delve deeper into that, you | attest to that. i would like to - delve deeper into that, you have work in other areas which have experienced emergencies before and i wonder how this one compares? almost wonder how this one compares? almost 30 ears of wonder how this one compares? almost 30 years of doing _ wonder how this one compares? almost 30 years of doing this, _ wonder how this one compares? almost 30 years of doing this, this _ wonder how this one compares? almost 30 years of doing this, this is _ wonder how this one compares? almost 30 years of doing this, this is one - 30 years of doing this, this is one of the largest emergencies i had seen. it compares to the south asian tsunami or the pakistan earthquake in 2005 in terms of scale, geographical area, the numbers

affected. ,. geographical area, the numbers affected. . ., affected. david wightwick and lieutenant — affected. david wightwick and lieutenant colonel _ affected. david wightwick and lieutenant colonel seb - affected. david wightwick and lieutenant colonel seb burn, | affected. david wightwick and i lieutenant colonel seb burn, we affected. david wightwick and - lieutenant colonel seb burn, we must leave it there and let you get back to go very important work. we are very grateful, thank you forjoining us. the us military says it has recovered electronics parts from the suspected chinese surveillance balloon that it shot down earlier this month. officials believe they could be helpful in determining the precise purpose of the structure. beijing said it was a platform to monitor the weather. national security spokesperson john kirby says that an earlier device — a balloon shot down off south carolina nine days ago — was part of a chinese high altitude programme for intelligence gathering. we were able to determine that china has a high altitude balloon programme for intelligence collection that is connected to the people's liberation army. it was operating during the previous administration but they did not detect it. we detected it. we tracked it.

and we have been carefully studying it to learn as much as we can. we know that these prc surveillance balloons have crossed over dozens of countries on multiple continents around the world, including some of our closest allies and partners. cbs news correspondentjarred hill joins me from new york. the white house said it wasn't aliens but what more do we know about this object that they recovered? yes, the alien question has been floating around, no pun intended, seriously. but there is something they are looking into. but looking at the balloon that came from china, the one that was shut off the coast of south carolina, this appears to be part of a larger growing surveillance operation from china —— one that was a shot off the coast of south carolina. china says they are just weather balloons, but there

were three other object shots between alaska, canada and a part of the northern united states, they still say they don't know exactly what they are, in part because they have not had chance to recover whatever materials fail. one of those in alaska fell in a part of the country essentially covered in ice, incredibly cold, dark for much of the day, it has been hard getting to that, the others they are working between the us and canada to retrieve what it is and figure out what fell from the sky.— retrieve what it is and figure out what fell from the sky. jarred hill, cbs news correspondence, - what fell from the sky. jarred hill, cbs news correspondence, good l what fell from the sky. jarred hill, | cbs news correspondence, good to talk to you. many thanks. an update now on a developing story we've been covering here on bbc news. at least three people have been killed when a gunman opened fire at michigan state university in the united states. five others were taken to hospital, some of them with life—threatening wounds. police say the suspect, who was carrying two guns, shot and killed himself when he was approached by the officers after

an hours—long search. the headlines on bbc news... eight days after it was hit by two deadly earthquakes, the syrian government agrees to open more border crossings to allow aid into the country, for three months. us military says the sensors from the suspected chinese spy balloon shot down have been recovered from the atlantic ocean and are being examined by the fbi. a report finds liverpool fans were not to blame for the chaotic scenes at last year's champions league final between liverpool and real madrid in paris. uefa has apologised to liverpool fans after an independent review found the body governing european football was mainly to blame for chaotic scenes in paris before last summer's champions league final with real madrid. supporters were penned in and pepper—sprayed outside the stade de france. the report into overcrowding,

ticketing issues, and heavy—handed policing was commissioned by uefa, which at one stage had blamed liverpool fans for the disorder outside the stadium. our paris correspondent lucy williamson reports. i've bad asthma and i've been tear gassed twice. each fan trapped at the stade de france has their own story of what went wrong that night. problems with tickets, with barriers, with transport strikes, with the actions of french police. an independent panel blamed a lack of risk assessment or operational plans and said uefa was primarily responsible for the failures. it also said that uefa, the french football federation and french authorities wrongly inflated the huge numbers of supporters without valid tickets to deflect responsibility for planning and operational failures. uefa's general secretary apologised to the supporters of liverpool fc for the experiences many of them had

had and for the messages released prior to and during the game, which had the effect of unjustly blaming them. it's vindicated the idea of every single liverpool supporter who was there that day. that's the most important thing. liverpool fans were blamed by both uefa and the french interior minister as a major cause of the chaos at the turnstiles. this latest report confirms that they were not. liverpool football club has released a statement saying it had yet to receive a copy of the report and described its leaked publication as hugely disappointing. eight months on, the long list of failures here is becoming clear. these scenes could have been prevented, could have been so much worse. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. we will be talking to a presenter of the liverpool fc podcast na few

moments, so stay with us for more reaction to uefa reports. households across england are facing a rise in their council tax from april, as local authorities try to balance the books. research by the county councils network suggests the majority of councils with social care duties are planning a 5% increase. council leaders say they have little choice but to raise tax to protect services. joining me now with more on that research is councillor sam corcoran, who is the labour leader of cheshire east council and the vice—chairman of the county councils network. really good to have you with us, thanks forjoining us. tell us first of all what kind of race you are planning?— planning? cheshire council is ”uttin planning? cheshire council is putting up — planning? cheshire council is putting up council— planning? cheshire council is putting up council tax - planning? cheshire council is putting up council tax by - planning? cheshire council is - putting up council tax by 4.99%, the maximum. no council wants to increase council tax by the maximum, least of all in a cost of living crisis, but we have a legal duty to

balance budget so we have to make these difficult decisions. imilieu balance budget so we have to make these difficult decisions.— these difficult decisions. when you sa leral these difficult decisions. when you say legal duty. _ these difficult decisions. when you say legal duty, explain _ these difficult decisions. when you say legal duty, explain to - these difficult decisions. when you say legal duty, explain to our - say legal duty, explain to our viewers why council tax has to go up, in your case by 4.99%? viewers why council tax has to go up, in your case by 4.9996? unlike central government, _ up, in your case by 4.9996? unlike central government, local - up, in your case by 4.9996? unlike - central government, local government can't print money and we have a legal duty to balance the budgets, to say whether services will be paid for from, to say whether services will be paid forfrom, and the to say whether services will be paid for from, and the alternative to council tax rises would be bigger cuts to services at a time where people need is to be there for them, and social care costs are going up ijy and social care costs are going up by more than the headline rate of inflation, there is a shortage of social care workers even with the current low pay rates. that social care workers even with the current low pay rates.— current low pay rates. that is des - ite current low pay rates. that is despite the _ current low pay rates. that is despite the government - current low pay rates. that is l despite the government saying councils are getting 9% more from central government in the next financial year and the government says its approach, and i'm quoting, balances the need to deliver vital services while protecting residents from excessive increases. what services while protecting residents from excessive increases.- from excessive increases. what is our from excessive increases. what is your response? —

from excessive increases. what is your response? the _ from excessive increases. what is your response? the autumn - from excessive increases. what is - your response? the autumn settlement was not as bad as we feared, there was not as bad as we feared, there was some extra money for social care, but that 9% is an average figure across the country, 5% of thatis figure across the country, 5% of that is the council tax rise to the government is only putting on 3% of that increase, meaning we have to find cuts even with putting up council tax by 4.99%. can find cuts even with putting up council tax by 4.9996. can you tell us more about _ council tax by 4.9996. can you tell us more about the _ council tax by 4.9996. can you tell us more about the pressures - council tax by 4.9996. can you tell us more about the pressures that| us more about the pressures that councils are facing?— councils are facing? there has been a shortaae councils are facing? there has been a shortage of— councils are facing? there has been a shortage of care _ councils are facing? there has been a shortage of care workers - councils are facing? there has been a shortage of care workers since - a shortage of care workers since brexit, meaning a pressure on the care costs. the good news from this is the wage rates for care workers are going up from what were very low levels, but the cost to councils go up levels, but the cost to councils go up significantly and the government has not solved the problem of social care, we have known about this problem for decades but it has been kicked down the road from theresa

may's tax, borisjohnson said he would fix it but didn't add the latest plans have been delayed, so there are problems in the social care market not being fixed and costs are going up significantly. so what would you like to see from the chancellor in his spring statement? long—term reform of social care. we know it needs to be done. also children social care, a form there. there is a green paper coming forward but it does not do enough to solve the problems. the government has been fixated with choice and quite naturally parents will choose the most expensive option for children if they have children with special educational needs, not always the best option, and i think there needs to be more emphasis on there needs to be more emphasis on the skills available within local government to help you plan to help provide the best option for their communities. i provide the best option for their communities.— provide the best option for their communities. , . ~ ., communities. i understand. a final thou~ht, communities. i understand. a final thought. you _ communities. i understand. a final thought, you have _ communities. i understand. a final thought, you have acknowledged l thought, you have acknowledged yourself this is a very bad time for households to face increased bills

at a time when they face so many other cost—of—living pressures, what is your message to people who will hear about these increases aren't really worried about whether they can pay them? i really worried about whether they can pay them?— really worried about whether they can pay them? i think as a society we need to _ can pay them? i think as a society we need to support _ can pay them? i think as a society we need to support the _ can pay them? i think as a society we need to support the most - we need to support the most vulnerable and councils do that, there are council tax support schemes available. for us if you go to the cheshire east website and search for cost of living you will find help available for those really struggling with council tax and other bills. the support is there, please look for it. for those who are seeing their council tax rise, that money is being well spent by local authorities to provide services that everybody needs. 50 local authorities to provide services that everybody needs. so no councillor sam _ services that everybody needs. so no councillor sam corcoran, _ services that everybody needs. so no councillor sam corcoran, labour- councillor sam corcoran, labour leader of cheshire east council, thank you very much. the office for national statistics reveals pay has grown at the fastest rate in more than 20 years, but is still failing to keep up with inflation.

the ons also said that 843,000 working days were lost to strike action in december, which was the highest number since november 2011. our business reporter peter ruddick has more on this. peter, tell us a little more about what these new figures from the office for national statistics suggest? i office for national statistics su . . est? ~ office for national statistics su: est? ~ , office for national statistics su. rest? ~ , .., ., suggest? i think they confirm how comlex suggest? i think they confirm how complex and _ suggest? i think they confirm how complex and precarious _ suggest? i think they confirm how complex and precarious the - suggest? i think they confirm how| complex and precarious the labour market and in turn the uk economy is at the moment. on pay, the strongest growth in wages seen outside of the pandemic, but when you factor in price rises, inflation, regular pay actually fell by 2.5% and the gap between public and private sector pay continued, exposing the continued pressure we know existent workers in the nhs, the civil service, schools, many of whom are

involved in industrial disputes. on strike action the number of days lost to strikes between june and december last year was in fact the highest for a calendar year since 1989. the concern with this has been for the bank of england that rising pay and high vacancy rates is essentially keeping an upward pressure on inflation. further calls for wage rises and an inflationary spiral. the good news in today's numbers is there are more people of working age returning to the workforce, from education, early retirement, from sickness among the over 50s, retirement, from sickness among the over50s, many retirement, from sickness among the over 50s, many going into part—time work. that could suggest the labour market is becoming more balanced in terms of supply and demand, which could encourage the bank of england not to keep increasing interest rates, but it is another sign of how weak the economy is and how likely it is to be for the remainder of this year.

it is to be for the remainder of this year-— it is to be for the remainder of this ear. �* . ~ , ., ., this year. breaking news also that car maker ford _ this year. breaking news also that car maker ford is _ this year. breaking news also that car maker ford is cutting - this year. breaking news also that car maker ford is cutting jobs - car maker ford is cutting jobs across europe, with 1300 going in the uk. tell us more about that, how surprising is it? it the uk. tell us more about that, how surprising is it?— surprising is it? it will be relatively _ surprising is it? it will be relatively surprising - surprising is it? it will be relatively surprising for l surprising is it? it will be - relatively surprising for people surprising is it? it will be _ relatively surprising for people who are in these particular roles especially because when you think about the whole of the uk ford workforce it is about a fifth of the uk workforce fourth ford so it is a relatively large number and part of a much larger global restructure that ford is doing, it is building a new electric battery plant in the states. they say they want to make the business in europe leaner, more competitive in focus, which often means job cuts. competitive in focus, which often meansjob cuts. about competitive in focus, which often means job cuts. about a fifth of the uk workforce, most of it is going from research roles at a site in essex affecting designers, engineers, product developers and also some back—office roles. production is unaffected but it is bad news for the uk car making

industry. the amount of cars produced here last year fell to the lowest number since 1956. our business reporter _ peter rogic, thank you. let's get more now on that uefa apology to liverpool fans, after an independent review found the body governing european football was mainly to blame, for chaotic scenes in paris before last summer's champions league final with real madrid. joining us now is neil atkinson, presenter of the liverpool fc podcast, the anfield wrap. meal, it is remarkable, and i'm quoting, that no one was killed. that is what the report says. what that is what the report says. what our that is what the report says. what your reaction? _ that is what the report says. what your reaction? the _ that is what the report says. what your reaction? the report - that is what the report says. what your reaction? the report is - that is what the report says. twist your reaction? the report is timely, it has taken its time but the moment it has taken its time but the moment it has taken its time but the moment it has been produced prior to the last 16 champions league games is good to see. as is depicted in the report it was a terribly organised event that was badly polluted, it should never have been in paris, and

from this moment onwards it is about people genuinely learning lessons, not paying lip service. there are recommendations that the report which hopefully uefa will follow. football supporters need to be policed like normal people, that does not mean they are angelic, it is a cross—section of society and should be policed in the same way people who go to beyonce concerts are policed, for too long it has not worked that way across the continent, but also in the uk things need to improve. lleiia continent, but also in the uk things need to improve.— need to improve. uefa has apologised. _ need to improve. uefa has apologised, is _ need to improve. uefa has apologised, is that - need to improve. uefa hasj apologised, is that enough need to improve. uefa has i apologised, is that enough in need to improve. uefa has - apologised, is that enough in your view? ~ , , apologised, is that enough in your view? ~' , , , ., view? the key thing is it is about mindsets- _ view? the key thing is it is about mindsets- if _ view? the key thing is it is about mindsets. if you _ view? the key thing is it is about mindsets. if you sacked - view? the key thing is it is about mindsets. if you sacked eight - view? the key thing is it is about - mindsets. if you sacked eight people and brought eight new people in, with the mindset change? if the answer was no then i would rather the eight people did not get sucked, to be honest. it is about saying that the way we have treated football supporters in general for too long has been incorrect, very

poor indeed, there are enormous examples of the terrible treatment of football supporters. paris is just a crowning moment to what should be uefa's set piece occasion but you hear lots of things like the champions league final should be like the super bowl, things like that, the idea of big corporate changes. uefa needs to make a change first and foremost where customers are concerned, the people buying the tickets, they should be treated like customers, the red carpet treatment should be out for people who attend football matches, not be in cattle draw put into a situation where lives are at risk. it draw put into a situation where lives are at risk.— draw put into a situation where lives are at risk. it is interesting ou talk lives are at risk. it is interesting you talk about _ lives are at risk. it is interesting you talk about the _ lives are at risk. it is interesting you talk about the treatment. lives are at risk. it is interesting you talk about the treatment of| you talk about the treatment of football supporters, i wonder how much of that is due to the fact that english football supporters in particular are often treated as hooligans in advance because of the problems that have been with hooliganism in the past. == problems that have been with hooliganism in the past. -- the red caret hooliganism in the past. -- the red carpet should _ hooliganism in the past. -- the red carpet should be _ hooliganism in the past. -- the red carpet should be put _ hooliganism in the past. -- the red carpet should be put out _ hooliganism in the past. -- the red carpet should be put out for- carpet should be put out for football supporters, they should not be kettled. not all football supporters are brilliantly behaved

in same way that not all rugby supporters are, in the same way that not everyone who goes to a the anfield wrap is. at the point is to police people like people, not like they are a problem. let's be crystal clear, it happens in this country too but it appears a bigger problem on the continent and this perception that an english manager is turning up that an english manager is turning up is dangerous, it needs to change. it was remarkable and because of the reaction of the supporters that there was not loss of life in paris, there was not loss of life in paris, the supporters reacted maturely, responded to the situation far better than the police, the stewards and far better than anyone wearing a uefa badge, it was the supporters�* reaction which meant there was not a loss of light, so let�*s remember that next time we are trying to work out how to police a football event, supporters are very capable. the re ort supporters are very capable. the report says _ supporters are very capable. the report says that the collective action of the liverpool supporters

was, quote, probably instrumental in preventing a more serious injury and death outside the stadium. you mentioned some of those recommendations in the report, can you give a sense of what else needs to change? it you give a sense of what else needs to chance? , ., you give a sense of what else needs tochanue? , , ,., to change? it is about mindsets and it is 'ust to change? it is about mindsets and it isjust remembering _ to change? it is about mindsets and it isjust remembering that - it is just remembering that ultimately the people who come through the door other people who go through the door other people who go through the door of all sorts of other events. france is about to get the rugby world cup and the olympics, i hope they are treated brilliantly, but if they are, those attitude should filter into how football supporters are treated. neil atkinson from the liverpool podcast the anfield wrap, thank you. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with carol. i wondered what those pigeons were doing! i wondered what those pigeons were doinu! , . ., , i wondered what those pigeons were doinu! , . .,, i wondered what those pigeons were doinu! , . ., , doing! very nice to see you. love is in the air. — doing! very nice to see you. love is in the air, saint _ doing! very nice to see you. love is in the air, saint valentine's - doing! very nice to see you. love is in the air, saint valentine's day, i in the air, saint valentine�*s day, but it has been a foggy start to the day across much of england and east

wales and it will only slowly lift into the cause of the morning. for some it could stick until lunchtime or even longer. when it lifts there will be lots of sunshine, a weak weather front has been coming from the west this morning with cloudy and patchy rain, it will increasingly turn weaker through the course of the day, brightening up in northern ireland. across north—west wales in central wales we could see temperatures get as high as 16 or 17, making it the warmest day of the year so far if it happens. there will be clear skies tonight, pockets of nights and some frost but not as widespread as last night and we are looking at this band of heavy rain moving across northern ireland in western scotland —— pockets of mist and some frost. there will be mountain snow in scotland, it will be consultancies, the far south—east hanging on to brighter conditions, sunshine behind it, blustery conditions in the north west.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... eight days after it was hit by two deadly earthquakes, the syrian government agrees to open more border crossings to allow aid into the country for three months. syria supports the entry of humanitarian aid into the region through all possible cross points. us military says the sensors from the suspected chinese spy balloon shot down have been recovered from the atlantic ocean and are being examined by the fbi.

a report finds liverpool fans were not to blame for the chaotic scenes at last year�*s champions league final between liverpool and real madrid in paris. millions of households will face an increase in their council tax from april, with three quarters of english councils with social care duties planning a 5% hike. hundreds of grassroots football referees tell the bbc they fear for their safety when working, and don�*t think enough is being done to tackle abuse. sport now, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good morning. liverpool got their first premier league win of 2023 after beating everton 2—0 in the merseyside derby, with a special moment for £45 millionjanuary signing cody gakpo who got his first goal for the club. joe lynskey reports.

for a month and a half, liverpool have been waiting. this was the roar to greet a first league win of the year. it came in a match that on merseyside means so much. everton have put hope in a new coach and new approach, that goes for goals from set pieces. off the post! from that one, they came close. but within seconds, they�*d be backed into a corner. liverpool got the ball, the blues�* defence had gone forward, left in space in the middle was mo salah. he�*s not scored a league goal since boxing day. now, like his team, there was a sense of this year�*s lift—off. injanuary, liverpool signed cody gakpo, who was still yet to score. now, the near £40 million signing had his first moment from a yard in front of goal. defeat for everton keeps them in the drop zone. for them, this was a night of

few chances and fiery tempers. salah almost scored a third at the end, but for liverpool this was comfortable enough. you cannot now say that�*s it and now we are back, whatever. that would be really dumb. but it felt like us, it felt like us, it looked like us. it feltjust as like a massive relief, to be honest. massive relief that we could play the game we played. and so, now, let�*s carry on. we came here with the right mentality, to take this on, to get a win for ourselves as a team, and for the fans. didn't happen tonight, but we need to recover quickly and get ready to go again. liverpool still are nine points off the top four, but they have a platform. victory in the derby and they hope a february fresh start. joe lynskey, bbc news. after making headlines across the country with their shock win over premiership side aberdeen, darvel have been knocked out of the scottish cup. they were beaten 5—1 by falkirk.

the only goal for the sixth tier club came from an own goal and after they had a player sent off, falkirk capitliased, scoring three times in 10 minutes. darvel boss mick kennedy says they�*re disappointed but proud of what they�*ve achieved. i think we believe we can compete in the professional leagues, i think that�*s shown during this run. it�*s been a remarkable achievement for the players, it�*s been a fantastic journey to be on. listen, we�*re really humbled with the amount of attention and congratulation we�*ve had. but tonight was just a step too far. yesterday was a historic day for women�*s cricket, with the women�*s premier league auction taking place. it�*s the women�*s equivalent of the men�*s indian premier league and seven of england�*s players were bought, for life—changing sums of money. on the field england maintained their 100% record at the t20 world cup

with a comfortable win over ireland. chasing 106 to win, a 21 ball half century from alice capsey set them on the way as they ran out winners by four wickets. their next match is against india on saturday. ireland face pakistan tomorrow. and finally, ronnie o�*sullivan sailed into the second round of the welsh open snooker. the rocket, who�*s aiming for a fifth title in llandudno, saw off fellow englishman oliver lines, winning by four frames to nil. that�*s all the sport for now. hundreds of grassroots football referees in england have told the bbc that they fear for their safety on the pitch. out of almost a thousand referees who responded to a bbc radio 5 live questionnaire, just under 300 said they�*d been physically abused by spectators, players, coaches or managers. some described being punched,

headbutted and spat at, as jane dougall reports. you�*re always one decision away from a smack in the mouth. i've had people comment on my chest in the middle of a game. it could be threats i against your family, and it is getting worse and worse and worse. | at grassroots level, the abuse of officials across the country has risen to breaking point. threatening — "i�*m going to smash you up at the end of the game, just you wait." ryan crabtree referees forjunior and men�*s leagues in pendleton and north yorkshire. he�*s been assaulted multiple times. after the game, a group of men, when i were a teenager, chased me out of the changing room, out onto the field, and i�*ve had to then run down a back street — hide, basically. do you fear for your safety? all the time. every single weekend. a bbc questionnaire, sent to 7,000 members

of the referees association in england, found that of the 927 who responded, 908 had experienced verbal abuse from spectators, players or coaches. 293 said they�*d been physically abused. and 440 said they thought the abuse was worse now than it was five years ago. president of the referees association, paul field, wants a life ban for those responsible before it�*s too late. one day in this country, a referee will lose his life or her life. if a person is banned from football for wilful abuse or assaults, why should they be allowed to attend any football matches? he feels it starts at the top, with children copying the actions of premier league players on television. the questionnaire also found many had experienced racist, homophobic and sexist abuse. 18—year—old megan belcher has been refereeing for three years. while officiating at an under 13s match,

she was attacked by a parent. he came running on the pitch with his fist raised at me. the two coaches from the team that he was a part of came onto the pitch and kind of stopped him and said, "hey, stop." he was still yelling abuse at me and saying, "this is why girls shouldn't be in football." it was probably the scariest experience i've ever had. it really had an impact on my mental health as well. megan has come to watch former premier league player chris sutton, who�*s been asked by radio 5 live to referee his first match. don't forget to whistle loudly. i�*ll do my best. it�*s a junior game. chris wants to find out what it�*s like on the other side. what a ball. what a ball that was. he�*s admitted previously to confronting a young referee whilst watching his son play. i walked onto the field because i was, you know, concerned about how badly injured he was. you know, ishouldn�*t have done that. i realise how difficult it is. but, you know, you�*re also, you know, you�*re a parent... i was a parent as well

at that particular time. after the match, megan told chris what had happened to her. you know, that�*s totally unacceptable, you know, any sort of abuse. and i think that that�*s part of the reason which, you know, i�*m here today — i played — but to see the other side. many who responded to the bbc questionnaire felt referee abuse wasn�*t being tackled sufficiently by the fa. but the organisation has said they are continuing to do everything they can to stamp out this behaviour. this is the fa�*s new campaign, making it clear that action will be taken against abuse. they say stronger sanctions and a three—year refereeing strategy are coming soon in order to tackle this issue. enough is enough. many referees feel the current deterrents won�*t stop verbal and physical abuse, and that eventually grassroots referees will walk away from the game they love. jane dougall, bbc news. 5 live programmes will be

talking about referee abuse throughout the day today, and will revisit the issue in the coming weeks. let�*s speak to elijah khaira, a referee who�*s been refereeing since he was 14. good to have you with us. thanks for joining us on bbc news. tell us a little bit about your experience. yes, i am little bit about your experience. yes, iam based in little bit about your experience. yes, i am based in southampton and hampshire. i have been refereeing five years. i�*ve had some really good refereeing experiences and also some really poor ones unfortunately. you have some games that go really well and you don�*t get issues, but unfortunately the majority, you do get issues, whether it�*s from players, coaches, parents, it can vary according to the age group and quality and size of the game. some of the things i have heard are appalling, and to think this is from parents of 12—year—olds and they should be setting an example. over a

grassroots game where the result shouldn�*t matter, it�*s about developing players. referees also have to develop themselves to become a better referee and get more experience. we are there to do a job. we are humans and we will make mistakes. these parents and coaches and players seem to expect referees to get everything perfect, even when they don�*t have var at the weekend. we have to be careful about what we say on live television but can you tell us a little bit more about the sorts of issues you have faced. is it mainly verbal abuse?— it mainly verbal abuse? when it comes to verbal— it mainly verbal abuse? when it comes to verbal abuse, - it mainly verbal abuse? when it comes to verbal abuse, i - it mainly verbal abuse? when it comes to verbal abuse, i have l it mainly verbal abuse? when it - comes to verbal abuse, i have heard every swear there is. thankfully i don�*t get much sexist quotes, i am a male, but i know female referees who have had sexist terms used against them and things like that. but when it comes to the abuse it can also be physical. thankfully i have never been assaulted as a referee but i still have had players getting up

right into my face, players giving a little shop, which doesn�*t amount to a assault but it is still a red card offence in the context of the game. people are storming over to me, looking like they are going to. i have been lucky but i know a few referees who have been hit, kicked and all sorts. i have had threats before, telling me that i better watch myself for the rest of the game if i know what�*s best, things along those lines will stop and plenty of other terms that i will not be repeating on live tv, but some can be pretty cruel. thank you for that. i suppose _ some can be pretty cruel. thank you for that. i suppose when _ some can be pretty cruel. thank you for that. i suppose when you - some can be pretty cruel. thank you for that. i suppose when you watch | for that. i suppose when you watch football on television, you see a lot of pundits and a lot of the focus is on what the referee has done wrong rather than what the referee has done right and i wonder how the treatment of perhaps premier league referees on television, might that affect behaviour, do you think? 100%. i watched a match of the day

and andy madley played a great advantage for fulham. you don�*t hear any of the pundits saying it was a really good advantage by the referee. nothing like that. but when a colleague messes up and make some mistakes, it�*s a major talking point and takes up half of the match review time. it�*s notjust pundits but also players and other referees. at southampton i have found myself, i was at the southampton game the other day when lemina was sent off for dissent for another caution. i could only think of one of the time that has happened before. it is rare to see players get dealt with for dissent at the top level, let alone a second yellow or straight red. the issue then is that many young players and coaches think that they can do it to the referee on the sunday morning games. it means many referees watching, younger ones especially think, i want caution for that and they lose confidence in it.

it means that it sets a bad example. if more premier league and top quality, champions league and world cup referees, dealt with dissent, it would cause so much less in the game and give referees a lot more confidence. i�*ve seen games before where referees are squaring up to the referee, they look like they will punch him in the premier league. i�*m their thinking, will punch him in the premier league. i�*m theirthinking, how will punch him in the premier league. i�*m their thinking, how is that allowed grezda under the laws of the game it is not. it sets such a poor example, not only for players and also referees who will lose so much confidence. we and also referees who will lose so much confidence.— and also referees who will lose so much confidence. ~ ., �* ., . much confidence. we haven't got much time but i much confidence. we haven't got much time but i want — much confidence. we haven't got much time but i want to _ much confidence. we haven't got much time but i want to briefly _ much confidence. we haven't got much time but i want to briefly ask— much confidence. we haven't got much time but i want to briefly ask you, - time but i want to briefly ask you, is there any support available, any help for you?— help for you? unfortunately not much. help for you? unfortunately not much- i'm _ help for you? unfortunately not much- i'm part _ help for you? unfortunately not much. i'm part of— help for you? unfortunately not much. i'm part of the _ help for you? unfortunately not much. i'm part of the referee . much. i�*m part of the referee association and we meet up every month and we can talk about ways to deal with certain things there but there is no, at least not broadly spoken about for referees at least,

things the fa can do to support referees. there isn�*t enough around it. especially dealing with things, like dissent, abuse. players often get away with it at fa hearings for various reasons. but i don�*t think enough is done at the end of the day. unfortunately it is leading to less referees being available and if there is less referees than there is less competition in the league, there is less quality and then there are more mistakes that we see on match of the day. when i did my course five years ago there were 30 or 40 of us and there are only four or 40 of us and there are only four orfive or 40 of us and there are only four or five left now and that�*s because of the abuse and the lack of support we get, that�*s why there are so few referees and it leads to lots of talented young referees who could be the next howard webb refereeing a world cup final, but they are quitting because of abuse and that leads to the mistakes these pundits are talking about.— are talking about. really good to talk to you _

are talking about. really good to talk to you and _ are talking about. really good to talk to you and thank _ are talking about. really good to talk to you and thank you. - are talking about. really good to talk to you and thank you. my i talk to you and thank you. my pleasure. _ talk to you and thank you. iji pleasure, thank talk to you and thank you. m pleasure, thank you. talk to you and thank you. my pleasure, thank you. we - talk to you and thank you. my pleasure, thank you. we can l talk to you and thank you. my - pleasure, thank you. we can bring ou an pleasure, thank you. we can bring you an update _ pleasure, thank you. we can bring you an update on _ pleasure, thank you. we can bring you an update on the _ pleasure, thank you. we can bring you an update on the news - pleasure, thank you. we can bring you an update on the news we - pleasure, thank you. we can bring l you an update on the news we were bringing you that a report has found liverpool fans were not to blame for the chaotic scenes at last year�*s champions league final between liverpool and real madrid in paris. we have now received a statement from liverpool football club itself reacting to news of the report from uefa. liverpool fc welcomes the report into the chaos at the uefa champions league final in paris which fully vindicates liverpool fans while finding uefa primarily responsible for organisational failings, absence of overall control, all oversight of safety and security, poor planning and lack of contingency plans. the report also found that there was, to quote, a clear and immediate danger of a fatal crush and fit was the

action of liverpool supporters that saved lives. more on that story, reaction from liverpool football club, welcoming the report into the chaos at the uefa champions league final in paris, which vindicates liverpool fans and lays the blame very firmly at the door of the organising body, uefa. bbc analysis of accident and emergency waiting times in england shows wide variations in how services have coped this winter. at some of the 107 hospital trusts that provided data, more than half of patients waited longer than four hours — but at the best performing units fewer than one in ten did. our health correspondent dominic hughes has more. it�*s been the toughest winter for the nhs in a generation. across the uk, there have been record waiting times for ambulances and in a&e departments. and that�*s had a real

impact on patients. the bbc has analysed nhs england data on average waiting times in emergency departments over december and january. among the best performing were nhs trusts in northumbria, maidstone and tunbridge wells and blackpool. but patients in hull, wye valley and shrewsbury and telford face the longest waits. and in all the ten worst performing trusts, patients were five times more likely to face a long wait of over four hours than in the best performing hospital. so what explains the difference between the best and the worst? one hospital boss says it�*s staff, teamwork and investment. we�*ve got the greatest staff — truly dedicated, passionate about the best care possible in extremely difficult and quite challenging circumstances. equally, we�*ve really worked hard on collaboration and working with our partners across lancashire and south cumbria. lastly, we�*ve had fantastic investment into the local system,

whereby we�*ve been able to invest in state—of—the—art facilities, such as the same day emergency care. nhs england acknowledges the winter has been tough but says ambulance response times and a&e waits are getting better. but it also said that work continues on improving the speed with which patients can be discharged from hospital when they�*re well enough to leave. dominic hughes, bbc news. an iranian chess player who removed her headscarf at an international tournament has told the bbc she has no regrets. living in exile in southern spain, sara khadem says it was the least she could do, given the sacrifices protestors in iran were making. she says she hopes she�*ll play for her country again. razia iqbal reports. sara khadem is 25 now but has been playing competitively since she was eight. chess was unbanned in iranjust

before ayatollah khamenei�*s death, and in the decades after that the country has become a chess powerhouse, and sara khadem one of its biggest and most promising stars. in december last year she decided not to wear the compulsory hijab when competing. her life has changed utterly, not least where she lives now on the spanish coast. chess is a game that requires a player to calculate their opponent�*s third orfourth move. 25—year—old sara khadem has made a few calculations, but to remove her headscarf was the least she could do given what was happening in iran. but it was the right thing to do. that decision, though, has led to her exile and for now a life lived in a secret location. when i was playing in almaty there were many things going on in iran. and many young women, they were not wearing

the scarf on the streets, and that was the rule in the country. so i would say i was really inspired by what they were doing back at home. but presumably you realised that you were taking a risk. yeah. the things that happened was not really something that i was hoping for. i mean, leaving the country. leaving iran completely was not what was going on in my mind, and that is something i really miss, but i wouldn�*t say i regret it. since september last year, iran has been shaken by girls and women protesting against the death in custody of mahsa amini... chanting. ..for an apparent hijab infraction. many have been killed and many more arrested. there have been enormous sacrifices. for me, leaving my family was one of the most difficult things

that i have ever done, and also iran, but if i want to compare what i did to what people are doing, i wouldn�*t say that it was difficult, because the risk that they are taking is much higher. led by the prime minister of the country, there is, though, some comfort in spain�*s embrace of sara khadem. it was kind of a mixed feeling to see that in a country you would be really appreciated, to be invited by the prime minister, and in your own country that you have achieved lots of success, you just get arrestment orders! the current loss of her country has not dimmed sara�*s commitment to chess. yeah, i consider myself as a professional chess player. that is the only thing i know. razia iqbal, bbc news, southern spain. the soft drink lilt is being

rebranded after nearly 50 years on supermarket shelves. this is what it�*ll look like. it�*ll become fanta pineapple and grapefruit following a makeover by its owner, coca cola. pr expert and author mark borkowski joins us now for more on this story. good to have you with us. coca—cola haven�*t touched the taste, only the packaging, so why rebrand a product like this after nearly 50 years on the shelves?— like this after nearly 50 years on the shelves? , , ., , , the shelves? the simple answer is that the statistics _ the shelves? the simple answer is that the statistics proved - the shelves? the simple answer is that the statistics proved to - the shelves? the simple answer is that the statistics proved to them | that the statistics proved to them that the statistics proved to them that it�*s no longer possible as it once was. competition for drink brands, particularly in the soft sector now is so intense and shelf spaceis sector now is so intense and shelf space is at a premium. we mustn�*t forget now that there are some powerful drinks that are binding the youth audience, pure hydration,

which has been launched purely through social media by logan paul and kay si, these amazing youtube stars, they are passing all expectations engaging with people. lilt has a reputation and cultural connection with an older audience who are probably statistically dying out and for a brand to remain current, you have to do have a relationship with a younger audience. relationship with a younger audience-— relationship with a younger audience. ~ ., v . relationship with a younger audience. ~ . �*, . ., audience. what's the evidence that chan . in: audience. what's the evidence that changing the _ audience. what's the evidence that changing the name _ audience. what's the evidence that changing the name of _ audience. what's the evidence that changing the name of a _ audience. what's the evidence that changing the name of a brand - audience. what's the evidence that i changing the name of a brand makes audience. what's the evidence that. changing the name of a brand makes a difference. i changing the name of a brand makes a difference. ~ ., ., .y difference. i think that one cynical bone in my _ difference. i think that one cynical bone in my body _ difference. i think that one cynical bone in my body felt _ difference. i think that one cynical bone in my body felt that - difference. i think that one cynical bone in my body felt that this - bone in my body felt that this suggests it could be a publicity stunt from a food company, they talk about delisting or ending a brand to see an outpouring of love for the brand and say, you can�*t do it,

giving it a surge of popularity, but i don�*t think this is the case in this sense. casting your mind back to the original launch of it, the the totally, typically tropical taste, and millions bought into the branding and advertising budgets and it connected with a generation. it had an unusual taste, it was new on the block and we fell in love with it at the time. but these things pass. the power of its branding and name no longer connects. but we mustn�*t forget all the other marketing and pr that goes behind a brand to establish it in the market and we perhaps don�*t dig deep enough to contemplate that because there are more important issues to think about. but what this is, it�*s trying to look at a taste and thinking, well, that still has a market, there are still other drinks comparable to

this so why don�*t we give it another burst and launched to see if we can reconnect under another brand. that�*ll be the test. but everybody at the moment is looking at the launch of pure hydration as a completely new sensation in terms of marketing spend and connection and getting into a very young audience. we are coming up to the top of the hour so we are out of time, i�*m afraid, but good to talk to you and thank you for your time.— afraid, but good to talk to you and thank you for your time. thank you. let's thank you for your time. thank you. let's catch — thank you for your time. thank you. let's catch up _ thank you for your time. thank you. let's catch up with _ thank you for your time. thank you. let's catch up with the _ thank you for your time. thank you. let's catch up with the weather - let�*s catch up with the weather before the headlines with carol kirkwood. good morning. for some of us the sunshine is already out as you can see from this weather watcher picture in the scottish borders but there is still a fair bit of fog around, this is an earlier picture from worcestershire. the met office has a yellow weather warning out for fog in these areas, much of england and east wales, running out at ten

o�*clock, imminently, but there is still fog around and that could take its time to clear. maybe not clearing for some until lunch time and may be a little bit laterfor others. the frost is lifting now and for many it�*s a day of sunny spells and also mild. how mild? in parts of wales we could have highs of 17. the average at this time of year is eight celsius. the highest temperature on valentine�*s day was 19.1 in 1998 stop this morning, high pressure is firmly in charge of the weather, the tail end of it clipping parts of england and wales. tighter isobars across the north west, where we will have the strongest wind, and a weak weather front has been bringing in thicker cloud and spots of rain through the morning. that will slowly push eastwards, so it will slowly push eastwards, so it will brighten up in northern ireland. mist and fog lifting, allowing some trying to develop and it will develop quite widely. light breezes, gusty wind across the north—west and temperatures today

could be 16 or 17 across north—west wales but widely 11—14. above average for the time of year. through this evening and overnight the high pressure drifts further east. still pulling in a southerly flow that is dragging in some sahara dust. don�*t be surprised if tomorrow morning, especially in parts of scotland and northern ireland you see some of that on your car. tonight the weather front coming in will deposit a bit of rain across northern ireland, western scotland. clearer skies for the rest of us. pockets of mist and fog and frost but not as widespread as last night. the lowest temperatures indicate the towns and cities and in rural areas they will be a bit lower. tomorrow we start with dry weather with mist and fog lifting, sunshine on offer but the weather front continuing to push south and east depositing snow on the mountains of scotland. weakening all the time as it pushes

to the south—east. not getting here till later in the day. sunshine behind it but still showers across the north and west.

this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. eight days after it was hit by two deadly earthquakes, the syrian government agrees to open more border crossings to allow aid into the country for three months. president assad confirmed the need for urgent aid to enter all regions in syria. us military says the sensors from the suspected chinese spy balloon shot down have been recovered from the atlantic ocean and are being examined by the fbi. indian tax authorities have entered the bbc�*s delhi and mumbai bureaux and are conducting a search. police are preventing people from entering or leaving the building. a report finds liverpool fans

were not to blame for the chaotic scenes at last year�*s champions league final between