back now to our top story, russia's capital moscow has been hit in rare drone attacks, with several buildings damaged after air defences shot them down. the russian defence ministry says kyiv staged "a terrorist attack" using eight drones — a claim denied by ukraine. it follows an attack on kyiv, with ukrainian officials saying more than 20 drones had been destroyed. one person was killed in what was the 17th attack on kyiv since the start of may. with me is our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. what do you make of this attack on moscow? figs what do you make of this attack on moscow? �* , , . , what do you make of this attack on moscow? ~ , , . , , moscow? as usual with these things, eve hinu moscow? as usual with these things, everything is — moscow? as usual with these things, everything is as _ moscow? as usual with these things, everything is as clear _ moscow? as usual with these things, everything is as clear as _ moscow? as usual with these things, everything is as clear as mud, - moscow? as usual with these things, everything is as clear as mud, and i everything is as clear as mud, and thatis everything is as clear as mud, and that is probably the way the ukrainians would like it to be. there is a view that this is more likely to have been directly organised by ukraine than previous

episodes. remember not that long ago the drone that appeared to target the drone that appeared to target the kremlin? but this does appear to involve a number of drones, we don't know how many, at least eight, some reports suggest many more. there is a lively debate going on about the type of drone that was used. our colleagues at bbc verify our study on those videos in an temp two get to the bottom of exactly what we are looking at. we are talking about a target around 300 miles from ukraine. it is within range of some of the munitions ukrainians have. you mentioned it in your introduction, 17 attacks on kyiv this month alone. there is the view that this is a case of ukraine giving moscow a taste of its own medicine. there had been warning last few days that there would be some kind of response if this relentless nightly and in some cases

daily attack on the ukrainian capital went on. we are still attempting to get to the bottom of it, but it is likely ukraine did this to give moscow a sense of what kyiv has been going through. ukraine has previously _ kyiv has been going through. ukraine has previously said _ kyiv has been going through. ukraine has previously said it _ kyiv has been going through. ukraine has previously said it would - kyiv has been going through. ukraine has previously said it would only - has previously said it would only strike targets inside ukrainian sovereign territory. we had this attack, the attack on the kremlin recently. attack, the attack on the kremlin recentl . ~ ., attack, the attack on the kremlin recentl . ~ . . ., , recently. ukraine changing its strategy? _ recently. ukraine changing its strategy? is _ recently. ukraine changing its strategy? is important - recently. ukraine changing its strategy? is important to - recently. ukraine changing its| strategy? is important to draw recently. ukraine changing its i strategy? is important to draw a distinction with the munitions being used. ukraine has given undertakings it would not use western supplied munitions to attack russia, and there is no evidence to date that that has happened. nothing involved today or on previous attacks on russian air bases or cities close to the border, there is no evidence that the ukrainians have ever used western supplied munitions for that. they seem to have been home—grown drones, sometimes sorbate era

equipment. other drones, sometimes sorbate era equipment. 0therthings drones, sometimes sorbate era equipment. other things to remember are that this is a bit of a distraction. what happened in moscow today obviously was intended to be intimidating and fear inducing, but all the while the ukrainians are preparing the ground for their own offensive in russian occupied territory in ukraine. everyday we are hearing of ukrainian attacks which will be involving western supplied munitions, some of the long—range missiles, like the storm shadow is supplied recently, to attack a russian military targets, troop concentrations, logistics hubs, command and control centres, behind russian front lines, sometimes quite far behind. lots of activity around the occupied porch of mariupol, that was taken more

than a year ago. speculation suggested to be one of the directions in which our ukrainian counteroffensive could come. in those situations it is undoubtedly the case that some of this western supplied equipment is being used, and probably to quite considerable effect. ., ~ and probably to quite considerable effect. ., ,, , ., 0ur teams at bbc verify have been hard at work, investigating the drone attacks across moscow. let's get the latest now from data journalist, daniele palumbo. as of this morning, moscow has been under a significant drone attack. it is the first time we have seen so many drones in operation in a single day. bbc verify has started to gather a lot of footage from twitter and telegram channels to actively understand what is the whole picture. this is a map of moscow. we were able to map the videos that were able to map the videos that were identified. russian media talk

about 32 drones in total. the russian ministry of defences talking about h. most of these drugs were neutralised by russian missile defence. the three on target where in the suburbs of the capital city, and one outside moscow, more in the region of the capital. there has been a lot of speculation also about the drone use itself. let's have a look at this footage we were able to verify. there has been a lot of speculation about the drone used. many on twitter this is our ukrainian true. for several reasons we don't think that. we spoke with several experts and the shape of this drone allows them to fly much further and to be

more aerodynamic. bbc verify is still on the hunt for more details, especially for this type of drone attack in moscow and people bring to you more updates. here in the uk, relations between amazon and its employees have been difficult for many months, with protests over pay and conditions and disagreements over whether amazon should recognise a trade union. now the online giant has announced a new contract for its warehouse employees, which it says is aimed at creating a better work—life balance for parents and grandparents. here's our employment correspondent, zoe conway. a bbc documentary team captures the moment amazon workers went on strike for the very first time injanuary. over the last nine months, the gmb has recruited nearly 800 workers here in coventry. i support you all. ijust can't afford

tojoin the union. you can! i have a husband who can't work. i have a son at school. and i cannot afford to live. along with demanding higher pay, they want the union to be recognised by amazon. that would mean the company would have to negotiate with them over pay and working conditions. you want the good news? the union believes the coventry warehouse employs 1,300 people and that a majority want to be represented by the union. they've applied for statutory recognition from an organisation known as the central arbitration committee. at its warehouse in dartford, the company has addressed the issue of recognition for the first time in an interview. but the truth is you are going to do everything in your power as a company to keep that union out, aren't you? we respect our workers' rights tojoin or not tojoin a union and we're working with the cac as part of the gmb formal application for recognition.

but i mean, you're not going to recognise them, are you? you will do everything in your power to stop that from happening? we're working through a formal process with the cac. so if the gmb can show they have got a majority of workers in coventry, you will recognise them. there's a formal process underway. the gmb have made a formal application to the central arbitration committee and we're currently engaging with the cac as part of that process. one of amazon's stated goals is to be earth's best employer. if that's the case, what have you got to fear from union recognition? i think we're really listening to our employees and, again, the flexible opportunities is really another step forward in how we strive to be earth's best employer. in order to try to be earth's best employer, amazon has come up with a new type of contract that guarantees parents and grandparents who are employed in warehouses like this one don't have to work in the school holidays. people can elect to work just the the actual time

that the children are in at school. so they then take guaranteed holidays during easter summer and christmas. so it's a full time role with all the benefits of a full time position, same benefits, same pay rate as a normalfull time role. but you get the guaranteed holidays off as well. what do we want? on a picket line in coventry, amazon workers aren't shouting about greater flexibility, but about more pay. we welcome anything that's going to make life betterfor our members, but i just don't think this is the thing that they're looking for right now. they want more money in their pocket. you know, what they're telling us is that they cannot live on the poverty pay that's being offered from amazon, a multi billion pound company. it could be weeks before the central arbitration committee makes a decision about recognition. this fight for us is really important. we have to get the union inside amazon. we'll go all the way.

we're not going to stop doing this. the gmb might not win this battle, but talk to workers here and they say they're not giving up the fight. amazon says its minimum pay is competitive and has increased by 10% in the past year to between £11 and £12 per hour, depending on location. live now to macclesfield and drjonathan lord, senior lecturer in hr management at salford business school. thank you very much for being with us. we heard the representative from amazon being pressed in that report. why has amazon pushed back against unionisation? is this all about protecting their bottom line? yes. protecting their bottom line? yes, it is. their salary _ protecting their bottom line? yes, it is. their salary level _ protecting their bottom line? yes, it is. their salary level is - protecting their bottom line? us: it is. their salary level isjust it is. their salary level is just above the living wage and the gmb

union are asking to be paid £15 and are for their workers. it is a tactic to prevent unionisation. it is also there to open up the workforce as well so that more diverse people can work for amazon, as well. ~ , ., ' diverse people can work for amazon, as well. ~ , .,' , ., as well. will this offer be enough to lacate as well. will this offer be enough to placate the — as well. will this offer be enough to placate the workers _ as well. will this offer be enough to placate the workers at - as well. will this offer be enough l to placate the workers at amazon? no, i don't think so. it is quite clear that salary is an issue. the unions don't pack courses which they don't think they can win or don't think it's right and i think the workers should be earning more money. just over at the living wage for one of the biggest companies in the world, the unions feel they should pay a lot more than that. offering term time work is a tactic to recruit more workers to generally don'tjoin unions, he wouldn't cause problems in the workplace. it is a tactic, it has been done before. i don't think the unions were the workers will take it on—board as

much as amazon may want them to. amazon has around 70,000 employees in the uk. it specifically says this offer is aimed at parents and grandparents. how diverse the workforce?— grandparents. how diverse the workforce? ., ., ~ ., . workforce? the female workforce in terms of term _ workforce? the female workforce in terms of term time _ workforce? the female workforce in terms of term time female - workforce? the female workforce in | terms of term time female workers, there are four times more likely to have a chance time contract in comparison to men, so you can say it will open up the doors to more female workers for amazon. in terms of grandparents, there are more over 50 is being targeted now in the workforce. the government have lodge schemes to get the over 50s back into the workplace. it will encourage people who are not generally working at the moment or cap work at the moment back into the workplace. that is a good thing. the uk is struggling at the moment to fill all these vacancies, so it is a good thing, but i think it is

territory really be a sticking plaster —— sticking plaster over the salary levels. i don't think amazon will get away with it. the unions will get away with it. the unions will still try to force genuine recognition and still try to get better pay for their workers, which is what they really want. i don't think it is really about term time and working. it is more around having a better rate of pay. thank ou ve having a better rate of pay. thank you very much — having a better rate of pay. thank you very much for _ having a better rate of pay. thank you very much for being _ having a better rate of pay. thank you very much for being with - having a better rate of pay. thank you very much for being with us. | the possibility the covid virus leaked from a laboratory should not be ruled out, a former top chinese government scientist has told bbc news. george gao, who was director of the chinese centre for disease control for much of the pandemic, has said in a new bbc podcast that the question of covid's origin remains open. many scientists still believe that the virus is most likely to have passed naturally from animals to humans, perhaps in a wuhan market. but others argue that the alternative possibility of a research accident cannot yet be ruled out.

john sudworth — our correspondent in china until he was forced to leave in 2021 — has sent this report from new york. ever since the world got its first glimpse of the deadly disease circulating in wuhan, china has dismissed the theory that covid might have leaked from a lab known to have been experimenting with coronaviruses, as a lie. but now, one of china's most senior scientists seems far less forthright when i ask him about that possibility. you know, i haven't seen anything. you know, a lot of people have some suspicions, but i haven't seen anything. but nor can you rule it out? for science you have to be open—minded. that means everything is possible. don't rule out anything. don't rule out anything, he says. but the lab leak theory was ruled out.

perhaps its association with this man helped cast it as a conspiracy theory. have you seen anything at this point that gives you a high degree of confidence that the wuhan institute of virology was the origin of this virus? yes, i have. as did the claims from some western scientists of overwhelming evidence that the virus, which started in bats, passed naturally to humans, perhaps via other animals in a market, a route by which deadly pandemics are known to have emerged in the past. it was that past precedent that influenced the world health organization mission to wuhan when it too effectively ruled out a lab leak. everyone is biased. i am bias for natural origin for everything we

have seen in the past. this sheer consumption of wild animal meat, such a high risk situation. gill such a high risk situation. all alon: such a high risk situation. all along other scientists, while agreeing covid may have come from animals on the market, said there is not get enough evidence to definitively rule out the other possibility, that it leaked from a lab. with the change of presidency here in the us, that's due, now released from its political associations, has gained traction. two out of eight intelligence organisations are said to know favour a lab leak. there is no further focus on the dangers of this kind of work. robert redfield was a tramp appointed to one of america's top scientificjobs. i tramp appointed to one of america's top scientific jobs.—

top scientific “obs. i have 12 livina top scientific jobs. i have 12 living grandchildren - top scientific jobs. i have 12 living grandchildren and - top scientific jobs. i have 12 living grandchildren and i i top scientific jobs. i have 12 i living grandchildren and i think they are in great risk of a pandemic in the next decade or two and i think it will be caused by man, not nature. either intentional bio—terrorism or possiblyjust a lab accident. bio-terrorism or possibly 'ust a lab accident. , , ., , ., , accident. the signs of china's heavy handed political— accident. the signs of china's heavy handed political control _ accident. the signs of china's heavy handed political control had - accident. the signs of china's heavy handed political control had been i handed political control had been there from the start. the mystery of what happens in wuhan has become one of the most controversial questions of the most controversial questions of time. it is one of the most important. where did come from? john's new podcast is called �*fever: the hunt for covid's origins' and starts today, with new episodes weekly on radio 4 and bbc sounds. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

i am thrilled to declare the george formally open! cheering. the first pint pulled. a pub returning to the heart of its community. extremely excited. i've been like a child. we've had a count board outside with how many sleeps to go and that has given real good momentum to the village. everyone has been waiting for this day to come, so it's very exciting. the 17th century village pub closed during the second lockdown in 2020, only saved when residents raised £300,000 in just three weeks before christmas. but the work will continue. currently drinks only, there are plans to open as a cafe and restaurant later in the year with a hope for what it will become in the future. notjust a pub, but a genuine community hub. we hope that people will come here to celebrate, to make friends. the pub means everything. the pub means the world to us.

you're live with bbc news. the british government is taking steps to reduce vaping among teenagers in england. ministers have pledged to close a loophole allowing retailers to give free samples to children. a ban on nicotine—free vapes for under 18s is also being considered. the prime minister, rishi sunak, says the crackdown on vape marketing would prevent the "unacceptable" targeting of children and teens. let's find out more on what those measures could be and speak to one of the bbc�*s health reporters, philippa roxby. tell us more about what the government wants to do. the government _ government wants to do. the government has _ government has announced plans to reduce the number of children taping in england and it wants to do this in england and it wants to do this in a number of different ways. it wants to stop rebates being given to kids. they make up a rather small number of the total vape is being used by children, but they are given

out by companies sometimes at large events or festivals and some think thousands are given out to children in this way and they want to crack down on that completely. there are also plans to look at how to stop shops from selling vapes to children. it is illegalfor vapes to be sold to underage teens, so they are looking at increasing the fines for shops doing that. also giving trading standards more powers to carry out on the spot fines to these retailers. they also want to provide schools with more information on the dangers of vaping, so children know they getting into. it’s dangers of vaping, so children know they getting into-— they getting into. it's vaping a big roblem they getting into. it's vaping a big problem among — they getting into. it's vaping a big problem among young _ they getting into. it's vaping a big problem among young people - they getting into. it's vaping a big problem among young people in l problem among young people in england? it problem among young people in encland? . , , problem among young people in encland? , . problem among young people in encland? . england? it has been increasing year on ear. england? it has been increasing year on year- this — england? it has been increasing year on year. this year _ england? it has been increasing year on year. this year around _ england? it has been increasing year on year. this year around 1196 - england? it has been increasing year on year. this year around 1196 have . on year. this year around 11% have ever tried vaping, so a lot of young children, this is 11 to

17—year—olds, are experimenting with vaping. that is 11% now compared to 7% last year. around 8% of that age group say they are current vapours. secondary schools are complaining that vaping is causing real problems with kids disappearing out of the classroom to vape. a recent bbc investigation found that when they confiscated to vapes from secondary schools they contain high levels of metals like nickel, lead and chromium, which are all dangerous to health. following calls from health organisations and medical professionals, australia is set to ban recreational vaping in the country as part of a major crackdown on what experts have called an "epidemic". that means vape products can only be sold with a prescription. the new measures will need to pass parliament before becoming law, but, as phil mercerfinds out, there are fears this will only fuel a black market. i can sell you the device,

i can't sell you any nicotine. australia's vaping retailers are facing oblivion. their products have to be free of nicotine, but they could soon be closed down by the government. owners are concerned that a ban on recreational vaping will fuel the illegal market. without a regulated industry, the problem willjust get bigger. they can ban the imports, they can ban single use disposables, they can ban vapes, and the youth vaping will become bigger. the black market will become bigger and they will come through border force, they will get through the border somehow. e—cigarettes heat a liquid that's turned into a vapour which is inhaled. experts worry that they are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts. we know that young people who try vaping are at three times the risk of going on to smoke. that's a real concern. we can either call that a gateway effect, or you can call it increased risk factor, but it's a real threat to the success of our tobacco control programme that we have had in australia.

not so long ago, vaping was a niche industry in australia, but its popularity has exploded. about a third of teenagers here have tried e—cigarettes. the government calls them a public health menace and believes that vapour products should never be sold for recreational use. in australia, it's illegal to sell e—cigarettes to children, but the law is widely flouted. 17—year—old otto maxwell has been vaping for more than four years. i think everybody started because you think you look cool. they've got a very high concentration of nicotine, which is why they are so addictive, and they come in tasty flavours. that's what got me. under the government's plans, e—cigarettes will only be sold at pharmacies with a prescription. disposable vapes with their multitude of flavours and colourful packaging will be banned. no, i don't think it will make me kick the habit. i think it will create a black market. just because there's laws changing

around vapes and, you know, restricting access to it doesn't mean you can't get your hands on it, so i don't think it's going to help addiction. tobacco forms have acknowledged that vaping products are not risk—free, and are addictive, but they insist that they play a major role in providing smokers with a safer alternative to cigarettes. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. )before we go, i want to show you some footage of an elaborate bear rescue in the united states. this was the moment the bear was able to scramble out of the back seat of a parked car in northern nevada. police officers were called to the scene when local residents discovered the creature. they then constructed an escape plan, using a long piece of rope to pull open the door from a distance and to set the bear free. it then scarpered off into the woods and, happily, neitherthe animal,

nor any human beings, were harmed. stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. over the next few days the weather is fairly settled for most of us. high pressure remains firmly in charge, although we'll start some mornings on a cloudy note,

the cloud tending to burn back to parts of the east coast, but it could be thick enough for the odd spot of drizzle. most of us staying dry. the warmest, sunniest conditions in the west. at times there will be a chilly breeze across the south. the peak of the heat is likely to be today and tomorrow somewhere in the west, more than likely around the glasgow area where we'll reach 25 or 26 degrees. where we hang on to the cloud across eastern areas, this is where the temperature will be that bit lower. so under the cloud, for example, on the east coast we might not see a higher temperature than 13 degrees. through the rest of this afternoon what you'll find is the cloud will continue to push back towards the east coast. it will linger anywhere from yorkshire down towards east anglia, but a lot of dry weather elsewhere, a lot of sunshine. we hang on to the cloud across northern scotland. light breezes, but windy through the english channel and a cool breeze across the south. london seeing a high of 20 degrees today, as is belfast, but 2a or 25 quite possible around the glasgow area. as we head on through the evening and overnight, this cloud will come in quite quickly from the north sea

and advance towards the west. we hang on to the cloud across northern scotland. there will be some breaks in the west of scotland and northern ireland and here, in rural areas, we could well see temperatures fall to three or four, but most of us staying between about seven and 11. a cloudy start to the day tomorrow. tomorrow, like today, some of this cloud will push back towards the east. we'll see more warm sunshine. still the cloud lingering across the far north of scotland and still this keen breeze across southern areas. tomorrow we could reach 25 or 26 around the glasgow area. again, under any lingering cloud in the east, temperatures will be suppressed. even into thursday we still hang on to all this cloud across eastern areas, but a bit more cloud across scotland than we're going to see in the next few days. northern ireland, wales and the south west of england favoured for the lion's share of the sunshine. highs up to 22 or 23 degrees, but again cooler under the cloud. high pressure remains with us into the weekend. for some it will start off on a cloudy note,

that pushing back towards the east coast, but a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine.

today at one — moscow is hit by rare drone strikes and accuses ukraine of staging a terrorist attack. russian tv says this was the moment moscow came under attack. air defences shot down some of the eight drones. kyiv denies direct involvement. i heard the explosions early this

morning, many muscovites heard them. these are