hello and welcome. borisjohnson will be under renewed pressure to explain a christmas party in downing street last year when he appears at prime minister's questions today. footage has emerged which shows senior staff laughing and joking about the event. the opposition labour leader, sir keir starmer, has urged the prime minister to "come clean and apologise" because, at the time, coronavirus rules banned such events. number ten has maintained that there was no party and no rules had been broken. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. party? what party? the party that number 10 said didn't happen. in the building where boris johnson said tight covid rules were always followed. the party last year that a guest told us had food, drinks and games, and the party we now seem to see downing street staffjoking about a few days later. this was a practice press conference for allegra stratton, just hired as the prime minister's press spokesperson. i've just seen reports on twitter that there was a downing street christmas party last friday night. do you recognise those reports? i went home! in a video obtained by itv news, laughing in response to questions from an adviser, ed oldfield, about the downing street drinks. what's the answer? i don't know! is cheese and wine 0k! at the time when socialising for everyone was meant to be strictly off—limits. this fictional party was a business meeting. and it was not socially distanced! the fictional party was a business meeting, she says, laughing about the office that was making the rules, not following them. in the real world outside numberio, pubs had been closed, socialising was strictly off—limits as covid took hold again. lockdown was back. there were fines for holding parties. and on that day, 562 people lost their lives to the virus. three, two, one! the problem for boris johnson 12 months on was notjust that a few dozen of his staff got together, nor the laughter about it now revealed, but that all week he hasn't been straight about exactly what went on. last wednesday at prime minister's questions, a notable non—denial. all guidance was followed completely during number 10... a refusal to give more detail on friday. we followed the guidance throughout and continue to follow the guidance. and then again today. all i can tell you is that all the guidelines were observed. but tonight, outrage from the opposition. last year at christmas, the public followed the rules, and many of them didn't see their loved ones over christmas. some of them didn't see their loved ones again. they had the right to expect the government to follow the rules, and we now know the government broke the rules, they partied, and now they're laughing about it. they're treating the public with contempt. boris johnson has tried i to lead us a merry dance, tried to claim that these things didn't happen. i his position, i would have to say, is untenable. - near quiet from number 10 itself tonight, a statement only... as we have repeatedly stated, there was no christmas party. covid rules have been followed at all times. but there is genuine concern in the tory party itself. can that position hold through a silent night? australia hasjoined the united states in staging a diplomatic boycott of the beijing winter olympic games over human rights violations. the prime minister — scott morrison — said australian athletes would still compete. from sydney, shaimaa khalil has more. australian athletes will compete in the winter olympics but there will be no diplomats and officials attending. scott morrison said this boycott should come as no surprise given concerns over human rights violations of the uighur muslim minority in china. also given the breakdown in communication between canberra and beijing essentially, the diplomatic freeze that china has imposed on australia. for the past two years or so australian ministers and officials have not been able to make direct phone calls to their chinese counterparts, let alone meet face—to—face. that has also contributed to this decision. we have always been open to meet with the chinese government to talk about their concerns whether it be their concerns with our foreign interference legislation or other foreign investment rules. australia takes a very strong stand, standing up for australia's interests. they been critical of australia in ensuring we have a strong national defence force, particularly most recently to our decision to acquire nuclear powered submarines. this has not come in a vacuum. for years, but specifically for the past two years, australia's relationship with china has quickly and significantly deteriorated. there is a long list of reasons but here are a few crucial examples. australia banning of the telecoms giant huawei for its 56 network, canberra's consistent criticism of china's policy in hong kong, and its treatment of the uighur muslim minority. china was then pushed over the edge when australia backed an international investigation into the origins of covid—i9. they were so angry that a series of trade sanctions followed. most recently, we heard from the defence minister here who said china treated other countries in the region as tributary states. all of this makes for a grim diplomatic picture. the prime minister scott morrison said this should be separated from sports and athletes would be competing in the olympics and that was welcomed by the australian olympic committee who said getting athletes in and out of beijing safely is their biggest priority and challenge. and while this official boycott is not a surprise, it is the latest episode in a very tense relationship between two key partners in the region. let's get some of the day's other news peruvian president pedro castillo has survived a motion to impeach him, amid protests in capital city lima both for and against him. the impeachment vote had threatened to tip peru into political uncertainty with castillo battling crises as his popularity wanes months into his administration amid corruption allegations and widespread mining protests. sweden's workforce is being encouraged to work from home again on the back of rising covid infections in the country. there's also a new recommendation to wear face masks on public transport. the government have also said a further rise in infections could see the rolling out of vaccine passes to restaurants as well as smaller public events. in a few hours, olaf scholz of germany's centre—left social democrats will become the country's ninth post—war federal chancellor. in a secret ballot, members of the lower house of the german parliament, the bundestag, are to approve him and his ministers taking the oath of office. he will lead a coalition with the liberal free democrats and the greens. and we will have more on that story in our business coverage. russia has rejected suggestions it plans to invade ukraine as hysteria — and has accused nato of stoking tensions in the region. the kremlin issued a statement after talks yesterday between president biden and vladimir putin. mr biden has warned of tough economic sanctions if an invasion takes place. our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. a secure video connection for a high—stakes meeting. joe biden face—to—face with the russian president for the first time sincejune when they met in person. mr biden seated in the situation room at the white house with his senior advisers, the two leaders shared pleasantries before getting down to business. it's good to see you again. behind closed doors they spoke for two hours with ukraine at the top of the agenda. for weeks there's been growing concern in the west that the build up of more than 90,000 russian troops near ukraine's borders could herald an invasion by russia. the white house said president biden voiced the deep concerns of the united states and its european allies about russia's escalation of forces surrounding ukraine. mr putin demanded guarantees fixed in law to rule out the eastward expansion of nato. the call according to the white house was a conversation with give and take but no finger wagging. president biden was direct and straightforward with president putin as he always is. he reiterated america's support for ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and he told president putin directly if russia further invade ukraine the united states and our european allies would respond with strong economic measures. the white house said the teams of both presidents would follow up on the meeting. as we pursue diplomatic channels, we will also prepare for all contingencies just as we have been doing for weeks now including through the preparation of specific responses to russian escalation should they be required. a statement released by the kremlin said mr putin had stressed russia should not be held responsible for tensions because nato was making dangerous attempts to take over ukrainian territory and increasing its military potential on russia's borders. ukraine has been celebrating the 30th anniversary of its armed forces. an adviser to the president said the country was gratefulforjoe biden�*s support and urged russia to use diplomatic means to ease regional tensions. the ball is now in moscow's court, all eyes will be on the ukrainian border to see what happens next. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. teenage schoolgirls from across afghanistan have told the bbc of their growing desperation as they continue to be excluded from school more than three months after the taliban takeover. the taliban government ordered boys to return to secondary school in september, but made no mention of girls. as part of the bbc�*s 100 women series, sana safi has this report. a school classroom, suspended in time. on the board, an old physics lesson that may never be finished. this is what most girls high schools look like since the taliban took control. and it's having a devastating impact. we have spoken to dozens of teachers and girls across a third of afghanistan is provinces to understand how their lives have changed. translation: i am 16 years old, not being able to study feels like a death penalty. i wanted to become a surgeon but i am hopeless now. these days, i am doing nothing, iam hopeless now. these days, i am doing nothing, i am lost. translation: i am 17 years old, when i see my clothes and books just sitting in my cupboard without being used, i get very upset. i was dreaming of becoming a midwife but these days, i am frozen. but the school closures are not nationwide. despite the ban, a handful of provinces have resumed teaching. the northern city of masaru sharif is one of the few places teenage girls can go to high school. translation: it does not feel the same as before, taliban fighters with large guns approach schoolgirls on the streets and they tell us to make sure our hair and they tell us to make sure our hairand nails are they tell us to make sure our hair and nails are not visible, as a result around one third of my class and stop coming to school, shivering with fear. the taliban say they do not want to stop girls education but they are waiting for what they call a safe environment. in the meantime, they are shocked any girls schools are open at all. translation: i am surprised, officially we have not given them permission to reopen but we did not tell our soldiers to stop girls by force. officially, in our policy, we did not allow any. aid agencies want millions of children are going hungry in afghanistan. as a humanitarian crisis continues, school closures are just one of a growing list of problems girls face. when this head teacher told us many of her pupils will not survive the winter. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: a nightmare start for england as the ashes get underway at the gabba. john lennon was shot at the entrance of the dakota building in the centre of new york. there's been a crowd here standing and putting on a silent vigil and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th ceasefire of this war ended at the walls of the old city. witnesses say that the shells were landing every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. the widow of the former. president of the philippines has gone on trial in manila. she is facing seven - charges of tax evasion, estimated at £120 million. she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had been reached amicably. this is bbc news, the latest headlines... borisjohnson is facing renewed criticism after a video emerged showing downing street staff joking about holding a christmas party during last year's lockdown. australia hasjoined the united states in staging a diplomatic boycott of the beijing winter olympic games over human rights violations. a landmark law allowing same—sex marriage has been passed in chile. the legislation approved in parliament on tuesday also allows same—sex couples to adopt children. the lgbt community says it's a momentous occasion after years of struggle. tanya dendrinos has this report. celebrations outside congress and a simple message. love won. translation: those of us who are part of| sexual minorities all experience some chapter of discrimination either by our family, our parents, at school, work, and today, the state is giving a strong signal against this discrimination. we still have a long way to go but we will not stop until we can walk the streets in peace, until this is no longer an issue that makes us more vulnerable. it's been a long road to recognition in the majority catholic country, while civil unions were approved in chile in 2015, the bill to legalise same—sex marriage has been stalled for four years. on tuesday, activists gathered to witness history. then, the celebrations began. the bill passed with an overwhelming majority, it was supported by the president who will sign it into law. it's been criticised by members of his conservative coalition but for families affected, it far transcends politics. translation: at last, we will be able to be i recognised as a family before the state. for many, it may sound very obvious and not matter, but for us, it's a very important issue. it's for the protection of our children, for the future, not only for us but for all other families out there. chilejoins the ranks of a handful of other latin american countries to recognise same—sex marriage with the legislation also enabling couples to adopt children. the ashes series is sufficiently under way in australia. time for all the sports news. this is your sports update. football, liverpool beat ac milan to— one in the group b game of the champions league. a crucial goal scored for liverpool, with atletico madrid beating porto in portugal, the spaniards take the runner—up spot and qualify for the knockouts.— knockouts. exceptional performance. - knockouts. exceptional performance. the - knockouts. exceptional l performance. the reason knockouts. exceptional - performance. the reason is especially this game. because it was so good. that many changes, it is easy for me to make the changes but in the end, the boys have to be confident enough to show how good they are. in confident enough to show how good they are-— confident enough to show how good they are. in group d, real madrid guaranteed _ good they are. in group d, real madrid guaranteed a _ good they are. in group d, real madrid guaranteed a top - good they are. in group d, real madrid guaranteed a top place | madrid guaranteed a top place finish after a 2— zero win over inter milan. tony cruz in the first half scoring. the italians settling for the runner—up spot heading into the last 16 draw in switzerland on monday. barcelona face a mammoth task against bayern munich in theirfinal group e clash. oursite munich in theirfinal group e clash. our site yet to be assured of a place in the champions league knockout stages, two—way fight with benfica for second place. the new head coach will hope he can guide his side to the win they needin guide his side to the win they need in germany, to salvage a place in the last 16 although bayern munich have won five from five, the catalans not missing out on making the knockout stages since 200a. benfica are at home to dynamo kyiv. benfica are at home to dynamo k iv. . , , kyiv. the game will be played behind closed _ kyiv. the game will be played behind closed doors, - kyiv. the game will be played behind closed doors, not - kyiv. the game will be played behind closed doors, not the | behind closed doors, not the pressure or atmosphere from the local fans that could really unnerve barcelona. the second thing is there's confirmation are five key players will be out from the game. on top of that, considering they are eight points clear of the group, they will go through as the leaders of the group no matter what, the leaders of the group no matterwhat, it's the leaders of the group no matter what, it's likely... chelsea are in russia to face zenit st petersburg knowing any slip could seejuventus take them and meet them in the knockout stages. the italians are at home to the swedish champions malmo. simon milton has become the first women's team coach to wind world rugby coach of the year. he beat the all blacks ian foster and dave rennie to the honour. under his leadership the red roses have gone 18 games unbeaten, this year they completed a clean sweep in the alternation series. and they lifted the six nations title for the third time in a row. steph curry will continue his bid to chase down a record bid in the nba, the warriors face the trail blazers. his 73—pointers in his last outing against the orlando magic gave him 2958 for his career. his team are within the all—time league record. the warriors sit top of the western conference. they have won 12 of their last 13 outings. for all their last 13 outings. for all the latest in the opening ashes test between australia and england, go to the bbc sport website. that's all for now. goodbye. we have some more. we were hoping to take you to brisbane to the gabba, simon atkinson our reporter is there. covering the opening day of the ashes but sadly, thunderstorms are playing havoc with the equipment, currently, the lines we were hoping to use, we cannot establish fully so we will hopefully talk to simon later. the havoc is what the australians have been causing england so far. england won the toss, decided to back. they have been bowled out by australia, just 147 in their first innings. rory burns set the tone for england. out from the tone for england. out from the very first ball of the match. the first time that has happened in ashes history. australia of course hold the ashes. that is the latest. do of course keep up—to—date with the bbc sport website. as i mentioned, hopefully we will talk to simon atkinson just as soon as the technology allows us to do that. the covid booster programme in england is being expanded again — so anyone aged 40 and over can now book their third jab — three months after their second dose. the announcement comes exactly a year after margaret keenan — a grandmotherfrom coventry — became the first person in the world to be given a covid jab outside of a clinical trial. here's our health correspondent — dominic hughes. it was the news the entire world was waiting for and it made headlines around the globe. the worlds first ever dose of a covid—19 vaccination jab outside a clinical trial given to margaret keenan at the university hospital in coventry. speaking earlier this year, margaret, accompanied by the matron may persons who delivered the jab, told bbc breakfast she knew it was a big moment. i breakfast she knew it was a big moment. , ., ' i: i: i: , moment. i sit at 1,000 times over, i moment. i sit at 1,000 times over. i hope _ moment. i sit at 1,000 times over, i hope that _ moment. i sit at 1,000 times over, i hope that it _ moment. i sit at 1,000 times over, i hope that it has - moment. i sit at 1,000 times over, i hope that it has got i over, i hope that it has got the ball rolling, this wonderful injection has been offered to them. the wonderful injection has been offered to them.— wonderful injection has been offered to them. the past year has seen a _ offered to them. the past year has seen a monumental- offered to them. the past year| has seen a monumental vaccine roulette effort by the nhs to get as manyjabs into as many arms as possible. the result has been a total of more than 51,000,0015t has been a total of more than 51,000,001stjab is given 51,000,001st jab is given across 51,000,001stjab is given across the uk. the delivery of 46 one half million second doses and nearly 21,000,000 booster or third vaccinations. today, that was to drive is extended further when people aged 40 and over now able to book their booster jab aged 40 and over now able to book their boosterjab three months after receiving their second dose instead of the original six months. that is meant while infections have been consistently high since latejuly, hospitaladmissions late july, hospital admissions and deaths latejuly, hospitaladmissions and deaths remain relatively low. now is the government seeks to ramp up the booster programme in the face of the threat posed by the omicron variant, tens of thousands of vaccination workers and volunteers are being urged to come forward, in the same way margaret did one year ago. i had a letter from someone which i thought was lovely, and they wrote at the bottom of the letter, what a gracious lady. and that was just it. and i thought, well, she thought i have done something really good. i did notjust do it for me, why would i do it for me? i did it for everybody around me. despite the overall success of the vaccination roll—out programme there is a significant number of people still unvaccinated. today, senior nhs doctors say it is still not too late to get a job, arguing the more people who take up the vaccine now, the greater the easing of pressure on the nhs. and it is a message margaret keenan believes in.— believes in. whatever you thou . ht believes in. whatever you thought before, _ believes in. whatever you thought before, please i believes in. whatever you | thought before, please do believes in. whatever you - thought before, please do have the jab, there is nothing to it, do not be afraid of a needle, just to save your life and other lives.— needle, just to save your life and other lives. please have it done. and other lives. please have it done- at _ and other lives. please have it done- at any _ and other lives. please have it done. at any one _ and other lives. please have it done. at any one time, - done. at any one time, hospitals are still caring for around 6,000 covid—19 patients. the unvaccinated make—up the majority of people who fall so ill they need intensive care. one year on, the virus still poses a threat. dominic hughes, bbc news. so much more for you including the top business stories and initially we focus on the new chancellor of germany. we will look at the agenda for germany. you can reach me on twitter. please get in touch. see you in just a moment. hello. it looks like we have probably seen the worst of storm barra for now, the worst of the winds along coastal areas, the top gusts in the west coast of wales, 86mph. around inland areas it was typically 40 or 50mph. as well as those strong winds, we had a spell of snow, briefly, over the pennines and into the southern uplands before the snowy weather moved into the highlands and grampian region. that now moved away. all the cloud that has been swirling around the centre of the storm that's crossing northern ireland and heading towards the north of england and southern parts of scotland. it's just going to sit around during wednesday. the storm continuing to weaken, the winds lessening all the while with stronger winds means it will be a milder start to wednesday. typical temperatures, 3, 4 or 5 degrees. still windy for many on wednesday, just not as windy. the strongest winds likely to be across the west and south of wales, south—west england, around 60mph on the coast for a time, showers and longer spells of rain, the wettest weather with strongest winds will be in wales. maybe cold enough for some snow over the higher parts of scotland, maybe the tops of the pennines, typical temperatures are 6 or 7 degrees. by thursday, the storm is no more, continuing to weaken, pressure rising and the wind is dropping, instead we find a weather front nosing from the atlantic. we are left with one or two showers around on thursday, lighter winds by this stage and we find some sunshine but there will be a weather front bringing cloud and rain into northern ireland, parts of wales and the south—west of england. ahead of that, temperatures showing little signs of change. the wetter weather will continue eastwards overnight, there could be more snow over higher parts of scotland, it looks like it will move fairly quickly, out of the way by friday. instead we have a north—westerly wind, probably a stronger wind as well but essentially it is a day of sunshine and showers. many southern and eastern areas are dry with the best of the sunshine, most of the showers in the north and west of the uk, could be wintry over the hills. again, temperatures not changing very much, typically 6 or 7 degrees. this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a new dawn for germany — olaf scholz takes over as the new chancellor, promising to modernise europe's biggest economy. down again — for the third time this year thousands are affected as amazon's online services are hit by a massive outage causing headaches for a number of streaming giants. and a plant—based recipe for success? we speak to the boss of frozen vegan food specialist strong roots as it announces a deal with mccain foods.