we begin in france, where unions will be staging strike action today against the government s pension reform plans. the government is aiming to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. today marks the sixth day of strikes and protests since mid january, and unions say it will be the biggest yet with workers across a range of sectors expected to mobilise. teachers, gas and electricity workers, train drivers, and industrial workers are all expected to join. part of the french government plan is also to raise the minimum pension to 1,200 euro a month, which is over 550 euro higher than the current minimum figure. but unions want more due to rising inflation. let s go live to paris now and talk to tomasz michalski associate professor of economics at the hec business school in paris. we spoke about these injanuary but they are still continuing into march. but they are still continuing into march. , , . , , into march. the public support is there for into march. the public
bill designed to make it easierfor people to change their legal gender. china s population has fallen for the first time in 60 years, with the national birth rate hitting a record low. and in the tennis, andy murray beats italian matteo berrettini in a thrilling five set match at the australian open. scotland s first minister, nicola sturgeon, says a decision by the uk government to block a bill passed in scotland is outrageous and has vowed to fight it in court. the legislation had aimed to make it quicker and easierfor trans people to change gender but uk ministers say it would have a significant impact on equality laws. our lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss explains. it split the political spectrum, and now it s causing divisions in the united kingdom. scotland s gender recognition reform bill, to simplify the process for people to change their legal sex, was voted through just before christmas, but not without controversy. thank you. the next. shame on you! an
as inflation continues to leave us worse off, we speak with the businesses struggling with rising costs and recruitment. how andy s conjured some of that old murray magic in his opening match of the australian open. good morning. once again it is a cold and frosty start. the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. but for many it will be dry with winter sunshine. however, there is snow in the forecast. i will tell you where later. people say, television in the morning? that s disgusting. a disgusting idea! what is happening in this country? people even used the word immoral. but we re still here a0 years later! we re celebrating a special birthday on the programme this morning, good morning. it s tuesday, the 17th january. the metropolitan police force is investigating a thousand allegations of abuse involving around 800 of its officers. it comes after pc david carrick pleaded guilty to 49 offences, including dozens of rapes the worst ever case of a serving police officer. met
that happen. welcome to bbc news. just a quick update on some news we have been getting in the last half hour, were hoping to hear from the world health organization s secretary on the update in monkeypox cases. we will bring you that as soon as it begins. a major incident has been declared by the authorities in kent, after a second day of gridlock around the port of dover. officials are expecting to process 10,000 cars today, and travellers have been advised to allow at least three to four hours to reach the port and clear all security checks. 0ur correspondent in dover, ramzan karmali, sent this report. the queues on the motorway leading into dover. it s becoming a familiar sight. yesterday s chaos seems to be repeating itself today, and for many holiday makers trying to get away, this has become the worse possible start to their summer break. but for those who set off early there was an air of optimism. i m assuming at some point we re going to stop and sit in traffic for