backyard or in your neighbourhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate independence day. lockdown restrictions in wales will begin to be eased from tomorrow, with outdoor socialising and golf and tennis able to resume. in scotland, four adults from two households are now allowed to meet outdoors, including in private gardens. what do you make of coronavirus restrictions starting to be lifted in scotland and wales? do you think now is the right time? what will you be doing first? get in touch on twitter at annita—mcveigh or with the hashtag bbcyourquestions. british citizens are urged to leave myanmar, with the uk government growing increasingly concerned over violence in the wake of the military coup. a global study shows more twins are being born than ever before, with one in every 42 children born a twin, but the number has now peaked. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. we begin this hour with the latest news coming in from dan roan. it is about chris free men's medical tribunal. he has been found guilty of ordering testosterone to the national velodrome in may, 2011, knowing or believing it was to be given to an unnamed rider. he had denied the charges but he has been in front of the medical tribunal, the general medical council's medical tribunal, and it has found him guilty. the ex british cycling and team dr richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering testosterone to be brought to the national velodrome in 2011, knowing or believing it was to be given to an unnamed rider. let's check if we have any more details coming in on this. richard freeman had been charged by the uk anti—doping organisation with two violations of anti—doping rules. so we have heard about the general medical council allegation, now found guilty. it is around his fitness to practise tribunal with the final submissions made today and that that it coming in in the last few minutes that he has been found guilty. —— that verdict. we will bring you more on this in the next few minutes, that breaking story. london's metropolitan police will be investigated by the independent police watchdog, after it emerged that the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard was accused of indecent exposure days before she went missing. it's one of five referrals made by the force in relation to its handling of the case. the independent 0ffice for police conduct will consider if officers responded appropriately to a report made on february 28th that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south london. three days later, on march 3rd, ms everard went missing. she was last seen in clapham, south london, walking home from a friend's house. on march 9th, a serving police officer was arrested in relation to sarah's disappearance. sarah's family has since paid tribute to the 33—year—old, describing her as a "shining example to us all" who "brought so much joy to our lives". charlotte wright has this report. bright and beautiful, a wonderful daughter and sister. words from the family of 33—year—old sarah everard, who went missing in south london more than a week ago. last night, her loved ones released this tribute, after human remains were discovered in the search for her. this morning, a serving met police diplomatic protection officer remains in custody, suspected of kidnap and murder. he was arrested in kent on tuesday. yesterday, he was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury while in custody. officers have now been granted more time to question him. just three days before sarah disappeared, police received a report alleging the suspect had exposed himself in a fast—food restaurant. now the police watchdog has announced it will investigate whether officers responded to that appropriately. it will also separately assess the actions of police after sarah was reported missing. at the site of the discovery of human remains, police officers laid flowers brought by the public. sarah's death has prompted an outpouring of shock and anger, as women across the country share their own experiences of feeling unsafe. but for now, her family have made a simple appeal for anyone with information to come forward. charlotte wright, bbc news. new figures estimate the uk economy slumped by nearly 3% injanuary, as the country entered its third national lockdown. the office for national statistics also says the export of goods from the uk to the eu fell by more than 40% in the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. imports were down by nearly 29%. ben thompson talked me through the data. ~ ., , , ben thompson talked me through the data. ~ . , , ., data. what is interesting about economic growth _ data. what is interesting about economic growth figures, - data. what is interesting about| economic growth figures, there data. what is interesting about i economic growth figures, there is data. what is interesting about - economic growth figures, there is no huge surprise because the uk was entering its third national lockdown and businesses could not operate in any sort of normal fashion. looking into these details it says where has suffered most. the services sector once again, but things like retail down 3.5%, manufacturing also down significantly. interestingly that is the first full since april last year. the manufacturing sector was finding a way to get in factories with covid safe rules in place. we are told that is because carmaking slant particularly significantly and a number of factories have reduced the number of shifts. looking at the eu figure, that will come as a surprise that at the end of the transition period, one issue was how to navigate the new rules, businesses trying to get used to new paperwork. all the while with restrictions on lorries crossing the channel because of covid regulations. that has led to a slump between the uk and mainland europe. has proved to be an issue. good morning. first of all, take if you well on the gdp numbers. no great surprise, as i was explaining. lots of issues for the economy to contend with. ., . , of issues for the economy to contend with. ., .,, ., .,, of issues for the economy to contend with. ., ., ._ of issues for the economy to contend with. ., ., ., with. not as not as bad as many had feared. definitely _ with. not as not as bad as many had feared. definitely not _ with. not as not as bad as many had feared. definitely not as _ with. not as not as bad as many had feared. definitely not as bad - with. not as not as bad as many had feared. definitely not as bad as - feared. definitely not as bad as many— feared. definitely not as bad as many had — feared. definitely not as bad as many had feared. if you compare it to the _ many had feared. if you compare it to the slump we saw, almost 20% last april when_ to the slump we saw, almost 20% last april when we had the first lockdown, clearly the economy is adjusting — lockdown, clearly the economy is adjusting. it is really important to put it_ adjusting. it is really important to put it into — adjusting. it is really important to put it into context. it is deeper than _ put it into context. it is deeper than anything we saw in the financial_ than anything we saw in the financial crisis, for example. it has been — financial crisis, for example. it has been sustained, sustained for such a _ has been sustained, sustained for such a long — has been sustained, sustained for such a long time. the big question coming _ such a long time. the big question coming out — such a long time. the big question coming out of this is, if we start easing _ coming out of this is, if we start easing the — coming out of this is, if we start easing the economy, how quickly do we rebound? last week when the chahcettor— we rebound? last week when the chancellor stood up and gave his budget, — chancellor stood up and gave his budget, he did enough to get the economy— budget, he did enough to get the economy going back to doing it in a way to— economy going back to doing it in a way to create jobs and protect families _ way to create 'obs and protect families. ~ , , , way to create 'obs and protect families. ~ ,, , ., , families. when huge issues economy is contending — families. when huge issues economy is contending with _ families. when huge issues economy is contending with is _ families. when huge issues economy is contending with is getting - families. when huge issues economy is contending with is getting back- is contending with is getting back to where it was before. they are told in the latest figures, the economy is 9% smaller than when the crisis began. the question is how long it takes to gain some of that back. that is the million dollar question. everyone is hoping it will be a big bounce back. you know, i think our ability to achieve that bounce back will be how quickly we ease that the economy that critically the support that is important when we look to the us, the scale of stimulusjoe biden has put into the economy. compared with what we did here, where the chancellor provided about half the stimulus as a share of the economy and the big question is, is enough to get things going? is it enough to createjobs and help to get things going? is it enough to create jobs and help families out? you touch on the idea of a bounce back. the prime minister talked about the roaring 20s, all of the many we had been saving up in some respects during lockdown with pent—up demand for things like holidays, travel and eating out. when restrictions are lifted, we could see a significant bounce back in that number. that could see a significant bounce back in that number.— in that number. that is the hope. the office — in that number. that is the hope. the office for _ in that number. that is the hope. the office for budget _ the office for budget responsibility, the government's own economic watchdog, predicted there would be a spike and economy would plateau back to growth rates just above 1%, which was low. that is where we were before the pandemic. underlying that happenings from the bigger, longerterm underlying that happenings from the bigger, longer term structural problems with the economy and the fact the economy has been pretty stagnant and wages have flatlined a lot of my sense is even if we had a big bounce back, it will probably be quite short lived. the fundamental weaknesses with the economy will have to be addressed. at the top of that, how we make sure when the economy does well, families do well. that is what we did wrong in the last decade. i wonder as well, none of this is happening in isolation. i touched on trade figures with the european union. a 40% slump in exports with the eu. what will that mean? to be teething trouble while the new regulations come into force? there has been a 40% slump in exports, 29% slump in imports. that is really worrying. what everyone will be hoping is that is a combination of teething problems and there was a lot of stockpiling. companies were buying up and using “p companies were buying up and using up their supply. we will have to watch this very closely. i imagined the government will be watching this very closely. we already expect the economy will be worse off in the long term because of brexit. the government watchdog has said this, productivity down by 4%. how much of this is sustained over a longer term period? if we do see a slump, that is a problem for an economy that is really struggling and the government needs to jump really struggling and the government needs tojump on really struggling and the government needs to jump on that and decide what to do to mitigate it. taste needs to jump on that and decide what to do to mitigate it.- what to do to mitigate it. we will kee a what to do to mitigate it. we will keep a close _ what to do to mitigate it. we will keep a close eye _ what to do to mitigate it. we will keep a close eye on _ what to do to mitigate it. we will keep a close eye on those - what to do to mitigate it. we will. keep a close eye on those numbers, as i am sure you will as well. thank you. as you are hearing, there are so many different reasons why the export figure may have changed. some of it may be because businesses have stockpiled, built up reserves in order to avoid disruption. at the same time, the idea there are border delays with lorries stuck in queues and lots of disruption as a result of covid. joe biden says he is putting america on a war footing in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, as he announced that the us would have enough supplies to vaccinate the entire adult population by the end of may. in his first prime—time televised address since becoming president, mr biden said he would instruct every state to make all adults eligible for the vaccination by may and urged everyone to get the jab. here's our north america correspondent david willis. so, thank you for being here. joe biden called it historic legislation that would rebuild the backbone of the country. it represents the biggest increase in federal assistance in generations. thank you all, appreciate it. journalists clamour. he re—emerged against a backdrop of flags from all the states in the union to talk about ramping up this country's vaccination programme, and for the first time to hold out the hope of a world that once seemed almost unimaginable — a world post—covid—19. i want to talk about the next steps we're thinking about. first, tonight, i'm announcing that i will direct all states, tribes and territories to make all adults — people 18 and over — eligible to be vaccinated no later than may 1. let me say that again. all adult americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than may 1. the hope was to return to some semblance of normality by the 4th ofjuly — a day he suggested that could also mark america's independence from the coronavirus. roughly 10% of the population here has so far been vaccinated against the virus, but millions more doses will soon be available, and the biden administration is looking to more mobile vaccination sites and thousands more active—duty troops to speed up the process. this vaccine means hope. it will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease. 0vercoming scepticism about the vaccine is still a challenge, though, and four of the president's predecessors — with the notable exception of donald trump — have now come together to spread the message. i carry a card in my pocket with the number of americans who've died from covid to date — it's on the back of my schedule. america has seen more deaths from covid—19 than any other country in the world — approaching 530,000. president biden said the suffering could soon start to come to an end, and the world's largest economy could start to rebuild, but there remain plenty of obstacles ahead. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. joining me now is natasha lindstaedt from the university of essex. she is here to assess the prime—time address from president biden. i really important address to the american people from joe biden. he created a compelling narrative with the idea that by the 4th ofjuly it could be independence day from coronavirus. what is your assessment of what he said? he coronavirus. what is your assessment of what he said?— of what he said? he did had to resent of what he said? he did had to present a _ of what he said? he did had to present a very _ of what he said? he did had to present a very sobering - of what he said? he did had to present a very sobering case i of what he said? he did had to - present a very sobering case about what they have to go through. there was room for optimism, iron idea that families can get together if they are vaccinated byjuly the 4th. —— an idea. as the report mentioned, over 500,000 people had died. beyond the human toll, there has been a huge economic toll and that was a big part of the speech, trying to sell the american rescue plan and it is the largest anti—poverty legislation and the us has seen in modern history and a big departure from previous plans because it is targeting the poor, the lower middle—class, but also the middle class. and so i think the key goal of this speech and this address, and i will be on increasing media blitz and campaign blitz to sell the american rescue plan to the public, is that help is coming and if the american public can come together and trust the government again, there is room for optimism. you talk about a blitz — there is room for optimism. you talk about a blitz of— there is room for optimism. you talk about a blitz of publicity. _ there is room for optimism. you talk about a blitz of publicity. is - there is room for optimism. you talk about a blitz of publicity. is that - about a blitz of publicity. is that because it will be a hard sell for him? some commentators saying that president biden has missed an opportunity with the passing of the covid—19 relief bill, which was passed without a single republican vote. he has missed an opportunity to get moderate republicans behind it. he talks about bipartisanship, he has missed a trick. it it. he talks about bipartisanship, he has missed a trick.— it. he talks about bipartisanship, he has missed a trick. it was going to be very difficult _ he has missed a trick. it was going to be very difficult for _ he has missed a trick. it was going to be very difficult for this - he has missed a trick. it was going to be very difficult for this to - he has missed a trick. it was going to be very difficult for this to be i to be very difficult for this to be bipartisan. when republicans met with joe bipartisan. when republicans met withjoe biden, their plan, the counteroffer was far lower than the two trillion plan that biden was trying to put into action. in the end, they went ahead with it without bipartisan support. what his strategy will be is to try to convince the american public that this plan is really going to help them. what we are seeing is there is more than 60% support for it already. i do think this plan will be very popular. i think he learned his lesson when he was vice president under 0bama and he had a big stimulus package. first the stimulus package helped the banks more than it help the poor people, the middle—class lower—middle—class and the other thing is they allowed the republicans to control the narrative. biden wants to make sure this does not happen again and is trying to sell it to the public. even though there was no bipartisan support for it. do even though there was no bipartisan support for it-_ support for it. do you think this was carrier _ support for it. do you think this was carrier and _ support for it. do you think this was carrier and very _ support for it. do you think this was carrier and very little i support for it. do you think this | was carrier and very little stick? he is holding at the idea of people being able to get together once more by the summer. 0ut being able to get together once more by the summer. out of the steps for getting to that is for people to have the vaccination, on which so much of his relief plan rides, whether people are willing to do that. at whether people are willing to do that. �* ., , , ., that. at the moment this is what the american public _ that. at the moment this is what the american public needs _ that. at the moment this is what the american public needs because i that. at the moment this is what the american public needs because they| american public needs because they have been battered and dealt with so much of his relief plan rides, whether people are willing to do that. at the moment this is what the american public needs because they have been battered and doubtless a match. 2020 brought one of the highest poverty rates we have seen since 1960. an additional 8 million people were brought into poverty. i do not think there is room for the sticks to say... he is going to have to offer something to the americans, a glimmer of hope to incentive i remaining cautious but also cautiously optimistic that there is some sunshine ahead.— cautiously optimistic that there is some sunshine ahead. thank you very much. let's get more now on that breaking news this hour — former team sky and british cycling medic dr richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering testosterone in may 2011 "knowing or believing" it was to be given to an unnamed rider. our sports editor, dan roan reports. for a decade, british cycling has enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, dominated on both the road and track. for much of that time, richard freeman was the sport's top doctor. today he was found to have ordered a banned drug to help to dope a rider. the ordered a banned drug to help to depe a rider-— ordered a banned drug to help to dope a rider. the big question is, who was the _ dope a rider. the big question is, who was the testosterone, i dope a rider. the big question is, who was the testosterone, which | who was the testosterone, which ryder was ordered for? it is seriously damaging. i am not sure how british cycling in the sport can recover. the reputation of the sport is in tatters. the recover. the reputation of the sport is in tatters— is in tatters. the saga began in 2011 when _ is in tatters. the saga began in 2011 when freeman _ is in tatters. the saga began in 2011 when freeman ordered i is in tatters. the saga began in i 2011 when freeman ordered three sachets of the substance. the medic resigned from british cycling. in 2019 he admitted to 18 general medical council charges, lying to anti—doping. yesterday he was charged with two anti—doping rule violations. he has been at the centre of recent problems. i got m self centre of recent problems. i got myself into _ centre of recent problems. i got myself into an _ centre of recent problems. i got myself into an emotional- centre of recent problems. u grrt myself into an emotional state. when you know you are not lying and you are accused of lying you get yourself worked up. pretty disappointing the way i have been singled out and feel like i am on trial. �* . . ~ singled out and feel like i am on trial. a . ~ :: ' i~ singled out and feel like i am on trial. 1, . ,, :: ' j~ ., ., trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear— trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his _ trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his name. _ trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his name. i _ trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his name. i can i trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his name. i can clear| he would clear his name. i can clear everything — he would clear his name. i can clear everything up- _ he would clear his name. i can clear everything up- at — he would clear his name. i can clear everything up. at the _ he would clear his name. i can clear everything up. at the moment i i he would clear his name. i can clear everything up. at the moment i am| everything up. at the moment i am under— everything up. at the moment i am under investigation about my management policy by the general medical— management policy by the general medical council and i am not at liberty— medical council and i am not at liberty at — medical council and i am not at liberty at the present time due to respect _ liberty at the present time due to respect for them to talk about it. no wrongdoing? no respect for them to talk about it. no wrongdoing?— respect for them to talk about it. i no wrongdoing?_ the no wrongdoing? no wrongdoing. the controversy sparked _ no wrongdoing? no wrongdoing. the controversy sparked by _ no wrongdoing? no wrongdoing. the controversy sparked by the _ no wrongdoing? no wrongdoing. the controversy sparked by the delivery l controversy sparked by the delivery of a banned performance enhancing drug to the velodrome, known as the medical factory a drug to the velodrome, known as the medicalfactory a decade drug to the velodrome, known as the medical factory a decade ago has hung over british cycling for years. it is feared the ruling today does serious reputation to one country's best funded sports. team sky became team in the cars, in what was seen as a fresh start. british cycling does make attempt to move on from the past has become harder. let's talk to dan now. i thought he had lost you. you are right back with us. as we saw in an interview, richard freeman denied to you when you asked him about the charges that he has been found guilty of. it has taken a long time for the case to come to fruition ultimately. we are talking about charges going back to 2011. it talking about charges going back to 2011. ., , , ., ., ., 2011. it has been a real saga. stretching — 2011. it has been a real saga. stretching all _ 2011. it has been a real saga. stretching all the _ 2011. it has been a real saga. stretching all the way - 2011. it has been a real saga. stretching all the way back, i 2011. it has been a real saga. i stretching all the way back, almost a decade. it was may of 2011 when the mystery delivery of testosterone, the band drug, arrived at the national velodrome. it is the headquarters of both british cycling and team sky as well. that really did begin to as an 11 great years of success. there is a decade of unprecedented success, both on the road and the track when britain won medals in both the paralympics and 0lympics medals in both the paralympics and olympics in successive games. it was the driving force behind britain's revival in the paralympics and 0lympics. also it established team sky as the dominant racing team in the world. dr richard freeman was the world. dr richard freeman was the most senior doctor, the most senior medic, remember, in that system. he had access and treated all the top riders. he was a senior member of the management team and in 2011 he took delivery of that testosterone does it not emerge into the public domain until years later after which freeman had already become a controversial figure because of the association with the jiffy bag scandal. there was a mystery delivery in france in 2011, in a separate case. 0ther controversies around the use of banned corticosteroids and exemptions. he always denied wrongdoing. in 2018, he was charged by the general medical council. initially he attempted to cover up, denying about the delivery, saying it had been sent in error when in actualfact he had ordered it. he always maintained it had been ordered in order to treat his colleague, technical director shane sutton, for his erectile dysfunction, he always denied that, saying that freeman was lying. freeman always denied the charge he had ordered it to dope and unnamed ryder. after a two year long hearing, he has been found guilty. this, just a few months before the olympics. this, just a few months before the gi mics. ~ . this, just a few months before the cl mics.~ ., ., this, just a few months before the olmics.~ ., ., , ., , olympics. what are the implications ofthe olympics. what are the implications of the result — olympics. what are the implications of the result full-size _ olympics. what are the implications of the result full-size thing - olympics. what are the implications of the result full-size thing is i olympics. what are the implications of the result full-size thing is we i of the result full—size thing is we look ahead? are they going to be any repercussions retrospectively? that is the thing- — repercussions retrospectively? that is the thing- so _ repercussions retrospectively? trust is the thing. so many questions repercussions retrospectively? tryst is the thing. so many questions are unanswered. he was the testosterone for? was itjust one cyclist? is it feasible that dr freeman was acting alone and no one asked me about it? in terms of his future, we will have to wait to see whether he will be struck off or allowed to continue as a doctor. he is also facing other anti—doping charges. the hearing on thatis anti—doping charges. the hearing on that is still to come. it leaves a lasting stain. it has always been shrouded by controversy. now there is an actual verdict which says this drug was ordered with the intention of cheating and that will leave a lasting stain on the reputation and what is the best publicly funded 0lympic what is the best publicly funded olympic and paralympic sports this country has known. all the achievements we can look back and now have a degree of suspicion hanging over them. wales will begin to ease its lockdown rules from this weekend, to allow more mixing between households, indoor care home visits and outdoor sports. hairdressers and barbers can also reopen from monday, but nonessential retail will stay closed until march 22nd. 0ur correspondent mark hutchings has more. as shopping experiences go, it's not a bad setting. but the high streets of rural monmouthshire are just as desperate as city centres to get back into full trading. since the december lockdown, tommy brooks has swapped hairdressing for a temporaryjob, cleaning on a building site. he's ready to reopen, almost as keen to get customers back through the door as they are to get a haircut. going off last time what we did was we actually contacted all clients. so we'll probably do the same again and rebook them in order. but from the last experience, the first week back i could have probablyjust had someone full—time on the phone, because the phone was just nonstop. 0bviously everyone is desperate for a professional haircut at the moment. it is a rather mixed bag of news from the welsh government. from tomorrow, stay at home becomes stay local. the guidance is five miles, though those in rural areas are afforded more leeway. four people from two households can socialise outdoors, including gardens. on monday, hairdressers return. and from march the 22nd, those shops already open, such as supermarkets, can sell nonessential items. but it won't be until april 12 that all other shops and close contact services can open. that is the balance be struck in wales. a phased return to school, a phased return to business, a phased return to personal life. hello, there. click and collect. those clicking, then collecting are helping things tick over, but only just. for most traders here, as elsewhere, christmas came and went rather early. so they'd rather like springtime to be the season to celebrate. mark hutchings, bbc news, abergavenny. covid restrictions are also being relaxed in scotland from today. up to four people from two households will be able to meet up outside, while up to 15 people can exercise together outside. first minister nicola sturgeon says the new rules are possible because of what she calls "good progress" in suppressing the virus. i've been speaking to our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon who's at a park near glasgow. these are minor steps that have been taken here in scotland. a very, very gradual easing. the scottish government said these steps are important for people's well—being. four people from two households can mix outside, they can be in each other�*s gardens if they choose, they can also use the loo and another person's house and use the house to get to the garden as well. teenagers between 12 and 17 are now allowed to mix outdoors with no limit on numbers for them. as you say, groups of up to 15, like this group taking part ina of up to 15, like this group taking part in a boot camp, groups up to 15 are allowed to take part in noncontact outdoor activities and sports. there are some pretty big significant restrictions that still remain in place. the stay—at—home messages still for now in place in scotland, as is they do not travel outside your council area. the restriction still there. some easing around the edges but as the numbers are positive cases continue to fall, as they test positivity number continues to drop, as the number of hospitalisations and deaths also continue to full, the first minister here in scotland says she hopes other restrictions may ease in the weeks to come. in fact on tuesday she said she hopes to gain an indicative timetable on when using indicative timetable on when using in areas like nonessential shops, gyms and some areas of the tourism sector, when that may happen. the dates for those reopening may happen as well. ., dates for those reopening may happen as well, ., dates for those reopening may happen as well. ., , ., ., dates for those reopening may happen as well. ., i. ., , as well. some of you had been in touch about _ as well. some of you had been in touch about the _ as well. some of you had been in touch about the gradual- as well. some of you had been in touch about the gradual easing . as well. some of you had been in| touch about the gradual easing of restrictions in scotland and wales. jimmy says regarding lockdown easing in scotland, reopening of hairdressers would be good, jesse added feel—good factor would help. rather than looking like stig 0f added feel—good factor would help. rather than looking like stig of the dam. someone in wales says, mark drakeford fails to understand here in wales we have had visitors from across the border in england. we have real issues with high infection. hertown have real issues with high infection. her town is packed with visitors each week. if you want to comment on restrictions easing if you think it is the right time or not, and what you are planning to do with the easing of restrictions. to get in touch on twitter. six six the headlines on bbc news... the former team sky and british cycling medic — dr richard freeman — has been found guilty of ordering testosterone, �*knowing or believing' it was to be given to a rider for the purposes of doping. scotland yard will be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. the organisers of a vigil for sarah everard will go to court today to try to get permission for it to go ahead — after being told a gathering would break lockdown rules. uk exports to the european union fell by more than 40% in january — the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. in his first primetime address since becoming president, joe biden urges all americans to get vaccinated and targets the 4th ofjuly as independence day from covid—19. lockdown restrictions in wales will begin to be eased from tomorrow — with outdoor socialising and golf and tennis able to resume. in scotland, four adults from two households are now allowed to meet outdoors, including in private gardens. as violence continues to escalate in myanmar, the uk government has urged british nationals to leave the country if they can. the uk foreign office released its new advice as protests and a general strike continue against the military government which seized power last month. 0ur southeast asia correspondent, jonathan head, sent this update. as things stand in myanmar, officially commercial flights are still suspended. they were after the coup until the end of may. the foreign office is advising british nationals that they can still get seats on what are called relief flights, regularflights going out to some neighbouring capitals, they should do so as soon as possible if they. if should do so as soon as possible if if they stay, they should stay at home and avoid crowds. some governments are advising nationals to leave as soon as possible, others advising them to stock up on food and cash. this is a reflection of a number of concerns. this advice tends to be overcautious in a sense, they are trying to anticipate problems. but it is clearly an indication of how seriously they think things could get. 0ne indication of how seriously they think things could get. one is that the general strike and the protests are badly disrupting all daily services, transport, health, banking services, transport, health, banking services have almost collapsed. that could create real problems injust keeping themselves fed and looked after. food supplies are not a problem yet, but they are looking at the possibility. the other is a possible complete breakdown of order if the military doesn't get a handle on things and is still not in control, being fiercely opposed, and there could be a crack in the security forces. all of those are scenarios they have to imagine. and the possibility, of course, people going out and getting caught up in increasing violence. this military frankly does not show much concern for people's lives or safety, and i think that would apply to foreigners as well. for all of those reasons, i think the embassies are very worried about how bad things could get, and they feel that people should get out now. there is also the possibility of a complete internet shutdown, with all communications cut, which would make it much harder to get out of the country if you to. thailand has delayed its roll—out of the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine, following reports of blood clots in a small number of people who received the jab. it comes a day after three countries in northern europe announced similar measures. the european medicine agency has stressed the move is precautionary. paul hawkins reports the ema's message is clear. there is no link between blood clots and the astrazeneca vaccine. the manufacturer says the drug's safety has been studied extensively in clinical trials. nevertheless, denmark, norway and iceland have temporarily suspended the roll—out of the vaccine after two women in europe died after getting the jab. one of them in denmark itself. translation: in denmark, more than 140,000 have i received the vaccine, so that alone would mean that there may be random things that would otherwise also happen, even if people had not been vaccinated. the suspensions are precautionary. the other death, also from the same batch, was in austria, one of six countries that have stopped using that specific batch as a precaution. the ema, meanwhile, say 30 people in total have developed clots out of five million europeans who have had the jab. because so many people have got it, just by chance, some of them will have different conditions happening soon after they got the vaccine, unfortunately. that does not mean the vaccine caused it. suspending vaccine roll—out is the last thing europe needs, delivery delays mean vaccination rates across the continent are still way behind the uk. and some people suggest the single—dosejohnson &johnson vaccine which was approved on thursday may not arrive until april. most of the countries with the highest infection rises are in central and eastern europe. the czech republic and slovakia have had to move covid hospital patients to other european countries. parts of estonia ran out of hospital beds this week, triggering another partial lockdown. the vaccine can't come soon enough. paul hawkins, bbc news. the creator of the world wide web has warned that the coronavirus pandemic has widened the digital divide. sir tim berners—lee says too many young people in the uk and beyond have missed out on online learning due to a lack of internet connectivity. he's called on governments around the world to fix the problem by 2030. our technology correspondent rory cellan—jones is with me now. he is really concerned about the digital divide. tell us more about what he had to say?— what he had to say? yes, good morning- _ what he had to say? yes, good morning- he — what he had to say? yes, good morning. he writes _ what he had to say? yes, good morning. he writes this - what he had to say? yes, good. morning. he writes this birthday letter to the web, which he created backin letter to the web, which he created back in 1989, when he came up with the idea. he produced a document that his boss described as vague, but interesting. he celebrated each year. he says the last 12 months has shown just what a vital lifeline it has been for many people, helping them to carry on and adapt their lives under these difficult conditions. but, he says, he is really worried about young people in particular. he says a third of young people around the world do not have access, any kind of access to the internet. millions more don't have very good access. when i spoke to him, he made the point that this wasn'tjust in developing countries. he said a shocking number of young people, children in particular in the uk, did not have the access they need it. he said that was stopping them getting online learning at home, it was stopping older people from being able he said it was something that needed to be addressed urgently. is he offering any suggestions as to how they might do that? well, he is coming up with a figure, a huge figure, nearly $500 billion, that would need to be spent between now and then. he says that would be spent by businesses and governments, and he came up with some figures about what a big boost to economies, particularly in developing countries, that would bring. he ends his letter by saying we can't afford not to do it. so he is really putting pressure on. there is a general move that the last year has shown us how vital this connectivity is, says he, speaking down a smartphone to you from home. it has brought home to all of us how important the technology is. it has also widened the gap between those who have it and those that don't have it. . ~ who have it and those that don't have it. ., ,, , ., who have it and those that don't have it. . ,, , ., , who have it and those that don't have it. ., ,, i. , . a humanitarian emergency is developing in mozambique, where half a million people have been forced from their homes in the past year by an islamist insurgency. thousands of civilians are now trapped in the town of palma, which has been cut off by the insurgents, known as al sha bab. 0ur africa correspondent, andrew harding, is the first foreign journalist to reach the besieged town. it looks alluring but below us, northern mozambique is now a place of terror. we are flying into palma, a small town under siege. all roads cut, the outskirts unnervingly empty. in town, we find traumatised families. these children have just fled the village on foot, seeking refuge here. "we have nothing left now," says sayeed. "the men who attacked our village told us �*we kill as we please. we are al—shabaab'." and here is al—shabaab, a local islamist group with a taste for abductions and butchery. its fighters have swept through this region with bewildering speed. no wonder people in palma are close to panic. food supplies are running low. the situation here in palma really is very grim. you can see the frustration and the desperation amongst local people because there is simply no food and what food there is is incredibly expensive. i am very angry. i have had three days without eating nothing. and i'm here but i don't get nothing. and palma is not the only place that's struggling. we are now heading to a camp for displaced families further south. in the past year, al—shabaab has forced 500,000 people in this remote region to run for their lives. the conditions are bleak. so are the stories that people have carried with them. "many children from our village are here alone. their mothers were abducted," says amina. "they took my 14—year—old granddaughter," says alberto carlos. "i can only guess what's happened to her." against the militants, mozambique's army and police are struggling, to put it politely. they have hired private security companies — first russian, then south african — to help out, with mixed results and much controversy. and still the exodus of civilians continues. many have fled by boat, as a once tranquil corner of africa sinks into chaos and despair. andrew harding, bbc news in northern mozambique. the headlines on bbc news... the former team sky and british cycling medic dr richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering testosterone, knowing or believing it was to be given to a rider for the purposes of doping. scotland yard will be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. uk exports to the european union fell by more than 40% injanuary — the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. twins may be more common today than at any time in history, according to the first comprehensive survey of twin births around the world. about 1.6 million twins are born each year worldwide. so that means that one in every 42 children is born a twin. in the last 30 years, the number of twins delivered per thousand has gone from nine per thousand to 12. with me is mum of two and a half year old twin boys lia de 0liveira and i'm also joined by mum of one year old twin girls — georgiana choak. morning to you as well. i should say morning gmt, because we have viewers watching from all around the world. this was a global study. so, let me begin with you, you have two older children, a 16—year—old boy and an 11—year—old girl. what was it like when twin boys arrived? filth. 11-year-old girl. what was it like when twin boys arrived?- 11-year-old girl. what was it like when twin boys arrived? oh, it was a shock, a complete _ when twin boys arrived? oh, it was a shock, a complete shock. _ when twin boys arrived? oh, it was a shock, a complete shock. we - when twin boys arrived? oh, it was a shock, a complete shock. we had i when twin boys arrived? oh, it was a | shock, a complete shock. we had ivf to try and conceive. i have a friend that had twins just a year before me. she said, you're going to have twins. i said, me. she said, you're going to have twins. isaid, no, don't be me. she said, you're going to have twins. i said, no, don't be daft. when we went to the scan, i asked, can you make sure it is just one? she said, no, no, just one. then weeks later we were finding out we were having twins, we were in complete shock.— were having twins, we were in complete shock. were having twins, we were in comlete shock. ., ., ., complete shock. you were told in an earlier scan — complete shock. you were told in an earlier scan you _ complete shock. you were told in an earlier scan you were _ complete shock. you were told in an earlier scan you were having - complete shock. you were told in an earlier scan you were having just i earlier scan you were having just one, so i can imagine how shocked you were when you're told you were having two. when you went through ivf, were you told twins were more likely? ivf, were you told twins were more likel ? , ., , ,, likely? yes, through the process, said they would _ likely? yes, through the process, said they would only _ likely? yes, through the process, said they would only implant i likely? yes, through the process, said they would only implant one | said they would only implant one embryo, because the likelihood of having twins would be higher. so they didn't want to put into mango embryos and end up with triplets or anything else. so, theyjust implanted one, because of that, because of my age, because it wasn't the first pregnancy. so the likelihood of having twins is higher with all of those factors. 50. likelihood of having twins is higher with all of those factors.— with all of those factors. so, twins is what you _ with all of those factors. so, twins is what you got- — with all of those factors. so, twins is what you got. georgiana - with all of those factors. so, twins is what you got. georgiana was i is what you got. georgiana was giggling slightly. i'm hesitating to use the word... in a slightly crazily tired way, as a man of very young twins, when you mentioned the idea of having triplets or quads. how has life been for you? i know it has been tough with twin babies in the pandemic, coping with tiredness and the other factors? goad the pandemic, coping with tiredness and the other factors? good morning, first all. and the other factors? good morning, first all- for— and the other factors? good morning, first all. for having _ and the other factors? good morning, first all. for having me. _ and the other factors? good morning, first all. for having me. you - and the other factors? good morning, first all. for having me. you just i first all. for having me. you just hit the spot. it has been the perfect storm, having an incredibly difficult year, globally, with the pandemic, and being on maternity leave with twins. it's not been very easy. yes, i may have ended up brushing my teeth with hand soap, and falling asleep. basically falling asleep by the cattle as i was boiling it to make a cup of coffee. so, it has not been very easy. the idea of having triplets or quadruplets... that easy. the idea of having triplets or quadruplets- - -_ quadruplets. .. that is nervous laughter. _ quadruplets. .. that is nervous laughter, that _ quadruplets. .. that is nervous laughter, that is _ quadruplets. .. that is nervous laughter, that is what - quadruplets. .. that is nervous laughter, that is what i - quadruplets. .. that is nervous laughter, that is what i was i quadruplets. .. that is nervous i laughter, that is what i was trying to say. i appreciate you being very honest, warts and all, about what the experience is like. interested to hear from you, the experience is like. interested to hearfrom you, because the experience is like. interested to hear from you, because there are so many twins, what your advice would be to anybody expecting twins? plan as much as you can, and don't stress. people are very supportive of you, i have found. i breast—fed my twins and it was... everybody was, like, sometimes you might get comments and everything. no, people are really nice when they see you with twins. they generally try to help you, and they are always sympathetic. people say, you have so much on your hands, if they are crying, they understand. don't be overwhelmed. it will all work out fine in the end. yes, just try and enjoy it. but obviously it will be very tiring. enjoy it. but obviously it will be very tiring-— enjoy it. but obviously it will be ve tirina. , . , ., .,~ very tiring. they are trying to make an appearance _ very tiring. they are trying to make an appearance in _ very tiring. they are trying to make an appearance in the _ very tiring. they are trying to make an appearance in the background. l an appearance in the background. what would your advice be? just try to survive the _ what would your advice be? just try to survive the first _ what would your advice be? just try to survive the first few _ what would your advice be? just try to survive the first few months. it i to survive the first few months. it does _ to survive the first few months. it does get — to survive the first few months. it does get much, much better. don't worry— does get much, much better. don't worry about — does get much, much better. don't worry about the house chores, don't worry— worry about the house chores, don't worry about — worry about the house chores, don't worry about hoovering or showers, skip all— worry about hoovering or showers, skip all of— worry about hoovering or showers, skip all of that. bond with your children. — skip all of that. bond with your children, get to learn them individually. i don't think of my children— individually. i don't think of my children as _ individually. i don't think of my children as twins very often, i think— children as twins very often, i think of— children as twins very often, i think of them just as two babies born— think of them just as two babies born 40 — think of them just as two babies born 40 minutes apart. that helps me -et born 40 minutes apart. that helps me get to— born 40 minutes apart. that helps me get to know— born 40 minutes apart. that helps me get to know them individually. the first few _ get to know them individually. the first few months are going to be incredibly— first few months are going to be incredibly difficult, but i promise it does— incredibly difficult, but i promise it does get better. my life at the moment— it does get better. my life at the moment is still busy, i work full-time, _ moment is still busy, i work full—time, and i'm caring for them. but its— full—time, and i'm caring for them. but it's a _ full—time, and i'm caring for them. but it's a lot — full—time, and i'm caring for them. but it's a lot more fun, and a lot easier~ _ but it's a lot more fun, and a lot easier~ 50— but it's a lot more fun, and a lot easier. so far, the first few months have _ easier. so far, the first few months have been— easier. so far, the first few months have been the hardest. but it gets better~ _ have been the hardest. but it gets better. ., ., ., ,, ., better. you are talking about the hard work- _ better. you are talking about the hard work. at _ better. you are talking about the hard work. at double _ better. you are talking about the hard work. at double the - better. you are talking about the hard work. at double the joy i better. you are talking about the hard work. at double the joy as l hard work. at double the joy as well, i imagine, in those moments when they smile at you, and are doing something absolutely gorgeous, cute and endearing, double the joy? the narrative, generally, is double trouble. that is starting to be a bit tiresome. it's not double trouble, just like a singleton is not single trouble. it is nice to put a positive spin on having twins. so nice to talk to both of you. it has obviously been such a hard time for everyone, really hard when you have small children and so many restrictions to cope with. thank you for talking to us about having twins. ijust want for talking to us about having twins. i just want to very quickly tell you about a couple of people who have sent me tweets. grace waring says, hi, watching bbc news and your section on twins. my mum had three sets of twins naturally. my had three sets of twins naturally. my twin brother gave me away on my wedding day, it was very beautiful. 0ne wedding day, it was very beautiful. one of my twin brother saved his brother's life with bone marrow when he had cancer. love being a twin. amazing. wow, what a family. thanks for sending out. david says i used to teach twins in my class and i can never tell them apart. sometimes they pretended to be each other. i bet that is a common story. thank you very much for sending those in. the export of goods from the uk to the eu fell sharply, in the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. figures from the office for national statistics also revealed a drop in imports from the eu. to crunch the numbers, i'm joined by our reality check correspondent, chris morris. i think we all knew there had been serious trading problems injanuary. we have plenty of anecdotal reports from different industries. these are official statistics. they show that exports to the eu in the month of january fell by 40%, just over 40% compared to the previous month in december. that is £5.6 billion worth of trade that was happening in december that did not happen in january. it is the first month under the new trading arrangements, after we have left the single market and the customs union. that is part of it. but it is not the only thing. for a start, we know there was a lot of stockpiling in december in the run—up to the change in trading relationships. more stockpiling in december, less trade injanuary. and we know we are in the middle of a global pandemic. there is a covid effect. but if you look at the drop in total exports worldwide in january, that was down 19%. maybe you can say that is where covid comes in, but look at the european figure, down more than 40%, clearly deposed brexit arrangements are having an effect. what we don't know is how long they are going to last four. the government insists it is a temporary blip. a lot of businesses are saying we are really struggling, so we need to look at the february figures, we need to look at the figures, we need to look at the figures in a year to see how much of the trade might come back. we need more data, as you say. what is your hunch, knowing what you know now, after... some people will call them teasing issues, some people will call the more serious issues, after theissues call the more serious issues, after the issues we have had after december and january, what is your hunch about what it will look like for february, the current month we are in and the next couple of months ahead? . , are in and the next couple of months ahead? ., , . ., , are in and the next couple of months ahead? .,, . ., , , are in and the next couple of months ahead? ., , . ., , , ., ahead? there has clearly been a huge fall in january- — ahead? there has clearly been a huge fall in january. we _ ahead? there has clearly been a huge fall in january. we have _ ahead? there has clearly been a huge fall in january. we have a _ ahead? there has clearly been a huge fall in january. we have a graph i ahead? there has clearly been a huge fall in january. we have a graph we i fall injanuary. we have a graph we can show you. you can see the first dip in april, may 2020. that was lockdown, the first lockdown, probably the strictest lockdown we have had, where business pretty much ground to a halt. you can see the blue line shows exports to europe, the red line is exports to the rest of the world. they are going up through the year, and then suddenly, on the far right—hand side, the exports injanuary to europe fall exports in january to europe fall off a cliff. some of them will exports injanuary to europe fall off a cliff. some of them will come back, some of them probably won't. for businesses at the moment, especially smaller businesses that have fewer resources to prepare, that have smaller profit margins to be able to cope with this kind of sudden change, they are dealing with the biggest new imposition of red tape and bureaucracy in 50 years, as a result of the new trade agreement that the government has done with the eu. they are dealing with that in the middle of a global pandemic. this is a very unusual time. some of that business is clearly going to bounce back. some of it may not. {lila bounce back. some of it may not. ok, thank ou bounce back. some of it may not. ok, thank you very — bounce back. some of it may not. ok, thank you very much. the eurovision song contest is set to return in may, with countries expected to release their entries by this weekend. but there's been a hitch for belarus. their entry has been rejected by organisers for violating its rules on political statements, and without a replacement, they'll be disqualified. singing, dancing and a healthy dose of kitsch. the eurovision song contest�*s return this year will signal another small step towards normality, and give its fans some light relief from the worst of the pandemic. but maybe "light" isn't the right word, because while eurovision insists it is committed to be, quote, "nonpolitical", it regularly comes with some controversy. and this year is no exception. the political situation in belarus is a sensitive one. last year, the country saw mass protests against its president, alexander lukashenko, after he won 80% of the vote in in an election widely seen as rigged. and yet the band belarus has put forward is a known critic of those same protests, and in its song includes lyrics like, "i'll teach you to toe the line." so, it isn't surprising the song has sparked a backlash from opposition figures and a wave of online criticism, with the song receiving 40,000 dislikes. so, how has eurovision responded? while the band's frontman denies they have broken any rules, contest organisers have rejected the entry and threatened the country with outright disqualification unless they change it. translation: they have to disqualify the band, i because it is disrespectful towards our people. translation: it looks like a mockery of belarussians in general, _ after all that has happened. translation: talking about music when all of russia will be _ applauding the representatives, basically of a propaganda - mouthpiece, isn't this just blasphemous? i this is not even politics. these are the questions of morality, conscience and humanity. _ it seems, almost 65 years after its first contest, eurovision is still grappling with how to keep politics out of its music. you're watching bbc news. jane hill will be with you next. have a great weekend. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. the pictures of rainbows being sent into us so far today, an indication it's one of those days again where the skies are changing throughout the day. mixture of sunshine and some pretty heavy and thundery showers for some of you, but, as i said, the sunshine is out there to be had as well, and once the sun is out it has that, sort of, bit more warmth to it now, doesn't it? and there will be a bit more sunshine around this afternoon across england and wales. the first batch of showers are out. there'll be another batch starting to arrive across western areas as we go through the afternoon. if you're in northern ireland, scotland, the showers never really fade, although there will be a quieter spell for northern ireland early afternoon before more in the way of rain and cloud arrives later on and into the evening. temperatures today around 6 to maybe 12 degrees, but they will drop by around 3 or 4 celsius when the showers come through, and it'll always feel cooler with the showers, and that breeze is still there — not as strong as yesterday, but still touching gusts of around 40—50 miles per hour across the south. and they will strengthen further through southern counties tonight. 60—70 mph gust possible, that could cause some problems, and you can see right across the country, well, just about all, there'll be further rain at times. little bit of sleet and snow over the higher ground. some clearer skies, though, for northern scotland. it's here we'll see a frost, and there could be some ice around into tomorrow morning, and overall it will be a rather chilly start to your weekend. so, let's take a look at the charts for the weekend. rain—bearing areas of low pressure mainly to the north—east of us, high—pressure south—west, drawing in the winds from the north—west, but we're neither one nor the other, so it's going to be a case of the weather still changing from one moment to the next. it's going to be another sunshine and showers day on saturday, the overnight rain will have cleared, brightening up quite quickly in the morning. some in the south and east will stay dry all day long, but you'll be very lucky. the showers get going and become quite abundant across some western areas. unlike today, they'll be heavy with hail and thunder, and, like today, it'll be cool in the breeze. temperatures maybe down a degree or so on today's values. a colder night, then, through saturday night into sunday. some of the showers fade. there could be a bit of frost around on sunday morning more widely. lovely, bright start for much of england, wales and eastern scotland, but clouding over from the west through the day and we are likely to see some rain at times. northern ireland maybejust into southern scotland and eventually northern england, north wales and the midlands. nothing too substantial but the odd heavier best possible in the west. temperatures rise a little bit but overall fairly cool, and that cool theme continues as a going to next week but with pressure building a bit more they'll be more in the way fire weather, less in the way of showers. that's how it's looking. see you again soon. this is bbc news. i'm jane hill. the headlines at 11.00am: the former team sky and british cycling medic dr richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering testosterone, "knowing or believing" it was to be given to a rider for the purposes of doping. scotland yard will be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. the organisers of a vigil for sarah everard will go to court today to try to get permission for it to go ahead after being told a gathering would break lockdown rules. uk exports to the european union fell by more than 40% injanuary — the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. lockdown restrictions in wales will begin to be eased from tomorrow, with outdoor socialising and golf and tennis able to resume. in scotland, four adults from two households are now allowed to meet outdoors, including in private gardens. a global study shows more twins are being born than ever before, with one in every 42 children born a twin, but the number has now peaked. the former team sky and british cycling doctor richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering banned testosterone in 2011. a medical tribunal ruled freeman ordered testogel with the knowledge "it was to be administered to an athlete to improve their athletic performance". during the tribunal, which has lasted for more than two years, freeman said he was bullied into ordering the drug by former british cycling and team sky performance director shane sutton, a charge he denied. with more, here's our sports editor, dan roan. for a decade, british cycling has enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, dominating on both the road and track. for much of that time, richard freeman was the sport's top doctor, but two years after his medical tribunal began, today he was found to have ordered a banned drug to help to a rider. the big question is which rider was the testosterone ordered for? it's seriously, seriously damaging. i'm not sure how british cycling and the sport can recover. the reputation of the sport in terms of management and governance is in tatters. the saga began in 2011 when freeman ordered 30 sachets of testogel to the sport's headquarters. six years later, having already left team sky, the medic resigned from british cycling. in 2019, he admitted to 18 general medical council charges, including initially lying to uk anti—doping. last month, he was charged by the agency with two anti—doping rule violations. freeman, who has been at the centre of a number of controversies in recent years, told the tribunal he ordered the testosterone to treat the erectile dysfunction of this man, former british cycling and team sky technical director shane sutton, who denied the claim. i got myself into an emotional state because when you know that you're not lying and you are accused of lying, you get yourself worked up. pretty disappointed at the way i have been singled out and ifeel like i'm on trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his name. i can clear everything up, but at the moment i am under investigation about my medicines management policy by the general medical council and therefore i am not at liberty at the present time, due to respect for them, not to talk about it. but no wrongdoing? no wrongdoing. but today he learned the tribunal panel had found against him. the controversy sparked by the delivery of a banned performance enhancing drug here to the national velodrome, known as the �*medal factory', almost a decade ago has hung over british cycling for years. the fear will be that today's ruling does lasting damage to the reputation of one of the country's most successful and best—funded sports. two years ago, amid mounting scrutiny, team sky became team ineos in what was seen as a fresh start, but british cycling's bid to move on from the past has just become harder. a short while after this news broke earlier this morning, dan told my colleague annita mcveigh more about the charges and how the reputation of british cycling will be affected. it was may of 2011 when this mystery delivery of testosterone, a banned drug, arrived at the national velodrome itself. that is the headquarters, in manchester both british cycling and at that point team sky. that really did begin 2011 years of success. there was a decade of unprecedented success, both on the road and on the track, when britain won medals in both the paralympics and 0lympics britain won medals in both the paralympics and olympics in successive games and it was the driving force, really, behind britain's revival in the olympics and paralympics, but also it established team sky as the dominant racing team in the world. doctor richard freeman was the most senior doctor, the most senior medic, remember, in that system, so he had access, treat all of the top riders, was a senior member of the management team and in 2011 he took delivery of that testosterone. it didn't emerge into the public domain until years later, after which time freeman had already become of controversial figure because of its association with the jiffy controversial figure because of its association with thejiffy bag scandal, that involved around a mystery delivery in france in 2011, that was a separate case. there are further controversies around the use of bands corticosteroids and the use of bands corticosteroids and the use of therapeutic use exemptions. we always denied any wrongdoing, as the team sky and british cycling. in 2018 he was charged by the british medical council. initially, he attempted to cover up, lying about that delivery saying it had been sentin that delivery saying it had been sent in error, when in fact he had ordered it. he always maintained that it had been ordered in order to treat his colleagues, the former technical director, shane sutton, for his erectile dysfunction. sutton always denied that saying that freeman was lying. freeman always contested that central charge, the central accusation that he had ordered it to go to an unnamed writer, orto ordered it to go to an unnamed writer, or to help to drop a writer. today, after a two—year long hearing he was found guilty. it is a damning verdict for purchase ijust he was found guilty. it is a damning verdict for purchase i just a few months before the olympics. iytrui’hat verdict for purchase i just a few months before the olympics. what are the implications _ months before the olympics. what are the implications of _ months before the olympics. what are the implications of this _ months before the olympics. what are the implications of this result - months before the olympics. what are the implications of this result for i the implications of this result for cycling as we look ahead, and will there be any retrospective repercussions as a result of this? it leave so many questions unanswered. he was to testosterone for? wasjust unanswered. he was to testosterone for? was just one unanswered. he was to testosterone for? wasjust one rider? and who else is new in the system? is it feasible that doctor freeman was acting alone and no one else knew about this? that is all to be decided. in terms of his future we will have to wait and see if he will struck off or be allowed to continue as a doctor. he is facing two uk anti—doping charges as well, the hearing for that is still to come. this leaves a lasting stain. this has always been uncomfortable for british cycling and team sky, now in its current iteration of team ineos, but now there is a natural verdict that says this drug was ordered with the intention of cheating. that will leave a lasting reputational stain on what has become the most successful and one of the best publicly funded 0lympic successful and one of the best publicly funded olympic and paralympic sports that this country has. the sad thing, i suppose, is that all of the achievements that we can look back on over recent years not have a degree of suspicion over them. there will be more on that story, the finding of the tribunal, in sports news coming upjust after half past. sports news coming up just after half past. scotland yard will be investigated by the independent police watchdog after it emerged that the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard was accused of indecent exposure days before she went missing. it's one of five referrals made by the metropolitan police in relation to its handling of the case. the independent office for police conduct will consider whether officers responded appropriately to a report made on 28th february that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south london. three days later, on 3rd march, ms everard went missing. she was last seen in clapham, walking home from a friend's house. on 9th march, a serving police officer was arrested in relation to sarah's disappearance. sarah's family has since paid tribute to the 33—year—old, describing her as a "shining example to us all" who "brought so much joy to our lives". charlotte wright has this report. bright and beautiful, a wonderful daughter and sister. words from the family of 33—year—old sarah everard, who went missing in south london more than a week ago. last night, her loved ones released this tribute, after human remains were discovered in the search for her. this morning, a serving met police diplomatic protection officer remains in custody, suspected of kidnap and murder. he was arrested in kent on tuesday. yesterday, he was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury while in custody. officers have now been granted more time to question him. just three days before sarah disappeared, police received a report alleging the suspect had exposed himself in a fast—food restaurant. now the police watchdog has announced it will investigate whether officers responded to that appropriately. it will also separately assess the actions of police after sarah was reported missing. at the site of the discovery of human remains, police officers laid flowers brought by the public. sarah's death has prompted an outpouring of shock and anger, as women across the country share their own experiences of feeling unsafe. but for now, her family have made a simple appeal for anyone with information to come forward. charlotte wright, bbc news. 0ur correspondent simonjones is in ashford, kent. simon, you can bring us the latest on the police operation.— on the police operation. well, the olice on the police operation. well, the police investigation _ on the police operation. well, the police investigation is _ on the police operation. well, the police investigation is continuing l police investigation is continuing here at pace, but it is a very complex investigation and a difficult one for the metropolitan police because they are, of course, questioning one of their own officers on suspicion of murder, but add into that the conduct of the investigation itself is also being looked into by the independent police watchdog, namely this allegation that the suspect three days before sarah everard disappeared exposed himself in a restaurant in south london. the police watchdog is also looking into how he came to have head injuries while he was in custody. the metropolitan police say he was being monitored on cctv and was given immediate first aid, but he had to be taken to hospital yesterday. he has not been released back into custody whether questioning is continuing. here throughout the day we have seen a lot of police vehicles coming and going as part of the investigation. search is continuing in the woodland behind me were human remains were discovered. those have yet to be identified, but of course the family of sarah everard are being kept up—to—date with all the developments. they released that statement where they talked about sarah being kind and caring, bright and beautiful. you really got a sense there of the loss that they are feeling. that is being felt in the community here too, by people who didn't know sarah but have felt shocked and appalled by what has happened. we have seen a police officer this morning ringtone a bunch of flowers from a member of the public who simply wanted to express sympathy towards the family. so, a sombre mood here, as well as the search in ashford, also as search taking place at deal in a house believed to have belonged to the suspect, and also garages in dover are being searched. it is clear officers are looking for and widen this investigation and it has got some time to go.— widen this investigation and it has got some time to go. simon jones, thank ou got some time to go. simon jones, thank you very _ got some time to go. simon jones, thank you very much. _ simonjones, thank you very much. joining me now is the conservative mp caroline nokes, chair of the parliamentary womens and equalities committee. good morning. can we talk about the vigil did you know organisers want to hold in south london tomorrow to remember sarah everard and to remember sarah everard and to remember all women lost to violence. you know that the organisers are having to go to court to make this happen. they are adamant they can make it happen in a covid safeway. do you take a view that should be allowed to go ahead? {lit do you take a view that should be allowed to go ahead?— allowed to go ahead? of course it should. it allowed to go ahead? of course it should- it is _ allowed to go ahead? of course it should. it is appalling _ allowed to go ahead? of course it should. it is appalling that - allowed to go ahead? of course it should. it is appalling that they i should. it is appalling that they are having to having to go to court and crowdfunding able to be able to get the resources to do that. this morning i sent a message to the home secretary saying please step in here, allow the schedule to go ahead. i have seen the information they have put out in the media, they are convinced they can do this in a covid secure way and i think it is awful, tragic time, women, particularly in south london, want to be able to express their sorrow and sympathy to sarah everard's family. they want to be able to show their solidarity with one another, and they want to send a very clear message that violence against women is wholly unacceptable and it has to stop. 50 is wholly unacceptable and it has to sto, ,., is wholly unacceptable and it has to sto, is wholly unacceptable and it has to sto. , stop. so you hope the vigil will be allowed to go _ stop. so you hope the vigil will be allowed to go ahead. _ stop. so you hope the vigil will be allowed to go ahead. is _ stop. so you hope the vigil will be allowed to go ahead. is it - stop. so you hope the vigil will be i allowed to go ahead. is it something you would wish to take part in yourself? t0 you would wish to take part in ourself? ., , ., ~ you would wish to take part in yourself?— you would wish to take part in ourself? ., ,, , , , yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. i'm yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. im having _ yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. im having to _ yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. i'm having to sit _ yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. i'm having to sit here _ yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. i'm having to sit here in - yourself? to be frank, yes, it is. i i'm having to sit here in hampshire and think very carefully as to does it fall within the covid rules for me to travel to london and attend that. as a member of parliament are designated as a key worker, but i think it is crucial to show solidarity with many women across the country who are not only incredibly sad at this tragic waste of life, the horrendous murder, but really angry, really angry that they don't feel safe when they go out at nights. therefore... don't feel safe when they go out at nights. therefore. . ._ don't feel safe when they go out at nights. therefore... therefore, what constructive — nights. therefore... therefore, what constructive can _ nights. therefore... therefore, what constructive can and _ nights. therefore... therefore, what constructive can and should - nights. therefore... therefore, what constructive can and should come i nights. therefore... therefore, what| constructive can and should come out of the anger that you have talked about? we of the anger that you have talked about? ~ ., , ,., of the anger that you have talked about? ~ ., , ., , .,f about? we have seen some really off the wall suggestions, _ about? we have seen some really off the wall suggestions, including i the wall suggestions, including compulsory 6pm curfews for men. look, nobody in this country should be under a curfew. what we want is for there to be better understanding that violence and harassment against women is more widespread than people except, that there are some crimes that, to be quite frank on took regardless worth reporting. low level sexual harassment and abuse actually, what we take for granted, we know it is going to happen, and we know it is going to happen, and we shouldn't, and i think there needs to be a real determination from government, they are bringing forward energy violence against women and growth strategy, and we have to work out what practical steps can be put in place, whether it is tougher sentencing, more police. i know that the home secretary has already committed to 20,000 more police on our streets, but a visible police presence. and also the reporting of crime, people don't report crime because they don't report crime because they don't think it is worth it. what a tragic state of affairs that is. we had to be much better at following up had to be much better at following up on complaints, accusations of all sorts of abuse against women, and making sure that there is a really clear message to men that this will not be tolerated. hf clear message to men that this will not be tolerated. hit a clear message to men that this will not be tolerated.— not be tolerated. if a woman is cat called industry. — not be tolerated. if a woman is cat called industry, touched _ called industry, touched inappropriately in a packed train or bus, are you saying that those sort of incidents should be reported to the police?— the police? absolutely. if you are inappropriately — the police? absolutely. if you are inappropriately touched - the police? absolutely. if you are inappropriately touched on i the police? absolutely. if you are inappropriately touched on the i the police? absolutely. if you are i inappropriately touched on the tube or on a bus, of course you should report back to the police. you may not have report back to the police. you may rrot have a — report back to the police. you may not have a description,... - report back to the police. you may not have a description,... the i report back to the police. you may| not have a description,... the irony of that is when something like that happens you try not to make eye contact with the man doing it because you don't want to have that connection, so you might have only the vaguest of descriptions. hf it the vaguest of descriptions. if it noes the vaguest of descriptions. yr t goes unreported, then effectively it hasn't happened, it is not in the crime statistics. even if you don't have a description you should report it. catcalling is not a crime, and i have called for that to be criminalised because if you talk to young women in particular, way too many of them have experienced catcalling in the street, intimidatory behaviour directed at them from men. this is inappropriate behaviour towards women from men. until we accept that and acknowledge it, then the problem doesn't start to be addressed. ifind it incredible that in 2021 we are still talking about catcalling as if it is not offensive, as if it is not intimidating. it absolutely is. we all have to play our part in saying no, making sure that people understand that behaviour like that is not acceptable and when it is touching, reported to the police. should misogyny be a hate crime? l should misogyny be a hate crime? i think there is a really good case for misogyny to be a hate crime. i feel we have a real challenges in society at the is that are discourse between each other has degenerated to new levels, particularly with social media. there are hate pylon on social media will happen predominantly from men, and i am now absolutely determined to keep calling it out that every time i appear on the i know i will be abused online by men. i tragic is that that we cannot engage in political debate, have reasonable discussions without people resorting to hatred and abuse.— discussions without people resorting to hatred and abuse. caroline nokes, so much more _ to hatred and abuse. caroline nokes, so much more we _ to hatred and abuse. caroline nokes, so much more we could _ to hatred and abuse. caroline nokes, so much more we could discuss, i to hatred and abuse. caroline nokes, so much more we could discuss, but| so much more we could discuss, but thank you for your time this morning. new figures estimate the uk economy slumped by nearly 3% in january, as the country entered its third national lockdown. the office for national statistics also says the export of goods from the uk to the eu fell by more than 40% in the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. imports were down by nearly 29%. joining me now is our business presenter, ben thompson. good morning to you. a couple of big economic updates this morning, one of course that will come is probably no surprise to many people, that is the uk entered its third national lockdown, january saw the economy shrink by nearly 3%. it is in the detail that you start to get a picture of what sectors have been able to adapt most of the restrictions, because perhaps unsurprisingly the service sector, which includes large parts of hospitality and retail, really struggling, shrinking by 3.5%, because it simply wasn't able to open. manufacturing, which had been a pretty strong points through most of last year as those businesses and factories got used to working within the rules, it also shrank over 2%. its first decline since april of last year. that in large part driven by a shrinking of carmaking. that one of the big drags on the manufacturing sector. 0verall, one of the big drags on the manufacturing sector. overall, the economy three point —— the economy shrinking by 3%. the economy nearly 10% smaller still than it was before this crisis began. expectation is looking at what will happen next, how long will it take for the economy to win back some of that ground that it has lost at the height of this pandemic. will that much touted roaring 20s that the prime minister has been talking about, a bounce back in demand and spending once lockdown restrictions are eased, will that help the economy recover? earlier i spoke to one expert who told me that there could be a bounce back, but we need to look longer term about tea is affected and what long—term implications this could have. my sense is that even if we have a big bounce _ sense is that even if we have a big bounce back, it is probably going to be quite _ bounce back, it is probably going to be quite short lived and the fundamental weaknesses with the economy— fundamental weaknesses with the economy will have to be addressed, and at _ economy will have to be addressed, and at the _ economy will have to be addressed, and at the top of that should be how do we _ and at the top of that should be how do we make sure that when the economy— do we make sure that when the economy does well, families do well, because _ economy does well, families do well, because that is what we got wrong in the last— because that is what we got wrong in the last decade. 30 because that is what we got wrong in the last decade. 50 if because that is what we got wrong in the last decade.— the last decade. so if you there and what could happen _ the last decade. so if you there and what could happen next _ the last decade. so if you there and what could happen next and - the last decade. so if you there and what could happen next and how. the last decade. so if you there and l what could happen next and how long it may take until the recovery comes to fruition. you mentioned in the introduction, we have also had figures today suggesting a 40% slump in exports to the european union. remember, the eu is our biggest trading partner. there have been two main causes for that. one of course is to spread set restrictions, because at the end of the transition period there was a lot more paperwork introduced for firms that are selling to mainland europe, and that has led to some delays at the border. at the same time, there were lots of queues caused by covid restrictions and the need for tests for lorries and hauliers to get their goods over to the continent. taken together, it suggest there has been a 40% slump in trade. experts from the uk to the european union. the big question is, is thatjust a temporary blip, or is this a longer term fundamental reshaping of where we trade and how we treat as a country? 0nce we trade and how we treat as a country? once we start to get the next figures for debris, march and beyond, once the covid restrictions are lifted, we will get more full picture. are lifted, we will get more full icture. . ~ are lifted, we will get more full icture. ., ,, ,, wales will begin to ease its lockdown rules from this weekend to allow more mixing between households, indoor care home visits and outdoor sports. hairdressers and barbers can also reopen on monday, but nonessential retail will stay closed until 22nd march. 0ur correspondent tomos morgan joins us from cardiff. there is a bit more detail today from the first minister, mark drake ford, he won't go as far as boris johnson in giving a road map of what will be reopening at what date, because they are doing a careful, cautious approach to each different sector, so the main thing is happening come out tomorrow, for people from two households can meet in their gardens from now on. 0utdoor sports such as golf and tennis can't restart, but we don't think that group training can restart. there were no dates for gyms, swimming anything like that, and there is no dealfor on hospitality. there are new rules about the easing of nonessential shops, so from the 22nd there will be an easing of nonessential aisles in the supermarket,, but nonessential shops will be opening until the 12th of april, which is the same time as in england, i think i'm right in saying that. that is the main difference, really, here, and that for a large part in wales nonessential shops have been shot, so they will reopen before the shops, really. schools will reopen if things go according to plan on the 12th of april. there was also a nod towards tourism, that if the virus rates remain low, that tourism, self catering, could be openjust tourism, self catering, could be open just in tourism, self catering, could be openjust in time tourism, self catering, could be open just in time for easter, but the first minister did make the point that there are differences in the tourism routes between wales and england. the prime minister's road map is very clear. 0n the 29th of march, when we will begin to reopen our tourism industry, the instruction in england will still be to stay local and not to stay overnight away from home. so at that point people in wales will be able to travel for holiday purposes, but the rules in england will preclude people from coming over the border. when it comes to hospitality and the james sector, the first minister said he would hope to be able to give some sort of data in the net —— next week to review and potentially the dates should be end of april, all being well, but you would imagine it would be similar to last time, that outdoor hospitality would open first, and james would have social distancing restriction still in place. 0ne social distancing restriction still in place. one point on the hairdressers that opened on monday, that i'm very much looking forward to, it will be the hairdressers only. beauty, nails, facials, they will be opening just yet, as part of that cautious phased approach to opening each sector. ties? that cautious phased approach to opening each sector.— that cautious phased approach to opening each sector. new and me both! thank _ opening each sector. new and me both! thank you _ opening each sector. new and me both! thank you very _ opening each sector. new and me both! thank you very much. i opening each sector. new and me both! thank you very much. you | opening each sector. new and me i both! thank you very much. you will be well ahead of me! i have put my for april, be well ahead of me! i have put my forapril, i can be well ahead of me! i have put my for april, i can only apologise. it is a wait still. well as we heard, hairdressers and barbers can reopen on monday. lets speak now to chika 0keke, who is the owner of hair affairs hair salon in cardiff. a very good morning to you. hello, hi, nice to — a very good morning to you. hello, hi, nice to meet _ a very good morning to you. hello, hi, nice to meet you. _ a very good morning to you. hello, hi, nice to meet you. you - a very good morning to you. hello, hi, nice to meet you. you can i a very good morning to you. hello, i hi, nice to meet you. you can reopen on monday- — hi, nice to meet you. you can reopen on monday- i — hi, nice to meet you. you can reopen on monday. i assume _ hi, nice to meet you. you can reopen on monday. i assume you _ hi, nice to meet you. you can reopen on monday. i assume you will- hi, nice to meet you. you can reopen on monday. i assume you will be? i on monday. i assume you will be? yes, i am looking forward to doing that. , ., ,, .,, yes, i am looking forward to doing that. _, , ., that. tell us about your last year, the lockdown _ that. tell us about your last year, the lockdown year. _ that. tell us about your last year, the lockdown year. well, - that. tell us about your last year, the lockdown year. well, it - that. tell us about your last year, the lockdown year. well, it has i that. tell us about your last year, i the lockdown year. well, it has been really challenging, _ the lockdown year. well, it has been really challenging, especially - the lockdown year. well, it has been really challenging, especially for - really challenging, especially for someone like me. i started my business four years ago, almost five years ago, and when the lockdown started, the first lockdown, i actuallyjust new started, the first lockdown, i actually just new shop, started, the first lockdown, i actuallyjust new shop, so it was really challenging, i was trying to settle down in a new shop at new customers, trying to get back to finding me, then the lockdown started. it has been a challenging year. started. it has been a challenging ear. ., ., , ., started. it has been a challenging ear. ., ., ~ , , year. how have you kept us financially? _ year. how have you kept us financially? did _ year. how have you kept us financially? did you - year. how have you kept us financially? did you have i year. how have you kept us - financially? did you have grants, did you have staff on their books when lockdown started? how have you managed to keep your head above water? i managed to keep your head above water? . ~ managed to keep your head above water? ., mg , ,, managed to keep your head above water? ., , ,, , , water? i am lucky, blessed, because the rants water? i am lucky, blessed, because the grants came _ water? i am lucky, blessed, because the grants came through, _ water? i am lucky, blessed, because the grants came through, which - water? i am lucky, blessed, because the grants came through, which was| the grants came through, which was good. it has helped me to keep the business going. at the same time, i know it is challenging trying to get customers back. usually i am a sole trader hairdresser. it has been a bit of a struggle. it is ok, the grants came in really well. on the other side, grants came in really well. on the otherside, i have grants came in really well. on the other side, i have a sidejob. with the lockdown, being on lockdown, i have a bit of money coming in for me and the family. i have a bit of money coming in for me and the family-— and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate _ and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate it _ and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate it is _ and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate it is a _ and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate it is a new— and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate it is a new venue - and the family. i am assuming, i appreciate it is a new venue for i and the family. i am assuming, i i appreciate it is a new venue for you and you were just starting to drum up and you were just starting to drum up a client list, but nonetheless surely all hairdressers will be in demand come monday and i hope that for the first few weeks, it will be exhausting for you, but you will be busy, i hope, and i guess you hope. yes, i do hope so and i look forward to it as well, because it has been a long time. before christmas, i had a line—up of clients, so i had to tell them i'm sorry you can have your hair done, buti them i'm sorry you can have your hair done, but i have a lot booked already, so i am looking forward to it, but it will be a tough time. at it, but it will be a tough time. of course it is. it is so hard for all small businesses, isn't it? did you have friends are no other business owners in cardiff, what their views are about the pace of lockdown, whether this is about right, what is being outlined by mark pritchard? yes, i have spoken to a few friends you have been away from their workplaces and it is very tough from everyone so we are looking forward to getting back to work and normal routines. everyone at this time as let's get our moving on. ijust need to get back to my normal routine, even though i am home with my children doing home—schooling i want to go out the and do the things i do. ~ ., ., ., , ., do. we all long for it but of formality- _ do. we all long for it but of formality. thank— do. we all long for it but of formality. thank you. - do. we all long for it but of formality. thank you. all . do. we all long for it but of. formality. thank you. all the do. we all long for it but of- formality. thank you. all the best formality. thank you. all the best for the next few busy weeks. he addresses and wales allowed to reopen from monday. covid restrictions are also being relaxed in scotland from today. up to four people from two households will be able to meet up outside, while up to 15 people can exercise together outside. first minister nicola sturgeon says the new rules are possible because of what she calls "good progress" in suppressing the virus. i've been speaking to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon, who is at a park near glasgow. these are minor steps that have been taken here in scotland. a very, very gradual easing. the scottish government said these steps are important for people's well—being. four people from two households can mix outside, they can be in each other�*s gardens if they choose, they can also use the loo in another person's house and use the house to get to the garden as well. teenagers between 12 and 17 are now allowed to mix outdoors with no limit on numbers for them. as you say, groups of up to 15, like this group taking part in a boot camp, groups up to 15 are allowed to take part in noncontact outdoor activities and sports. there are some pretty big significant restrictions that still remain in place. the stay—at—home messages still for now in place in scotland, as is the do not travel outside your council area. big restrictions still there. some easing around the edges but as the numbers of positive cases continue to fall, as the test positivity number continues to drop, as the number of hospitalisations and deaths also continue to fall, the first minister here in scotland says she hopes other restrictions may ease in the weeks to come. in fact on tuesday she said she hopes to give an indicative timetable on when easing in areas like nonessential shops, gyms and some areas of the tourism sector, when that may happen. the dates for those reopening may happen as well. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor, hello. and there will be a bit more sunshine around this afternoon across england and wales. the first batch of showers are out. there'll be another batch starting to arrive across western areas as we go through the afternoon. if you're in northern ireland, scotland, the showers never really fade, although there will be a quieter spell for northern ireland another blustery day, not as windy as yesterday. you can still see winds touching a0 or 50 mph over southern counties of england. through the english channel, they will strengthen further through tonight. cool in the breeze, when the showers come through, temperature down a degree or so on yestrterday. this dropping further by two three degrees when the showers rattle in. more to come tonight across almost all areas. strong winds through the english channel overnight, and a rather chilly start to saturday morning. could be a touch of frost around where skies clear later to the north and west. with that, the risk of ice. while the cool theme continues this weekend, there will still be some sunshine around. but the showers never too far away either. bye— bye, hello this is bbc news, the headlines. the former team sky and british cycling medic — dr richard freeman — has been found guilty of ordering testosterone, �*knowing or believing' it was to be given to a rider for the purposes of doping. scotland yard will be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. the organisers of a vigil for sarah everard will go to court today to try to get permission for it to go ahead — after being told a gathering would break lockdown rules. uk exports to the european union fell by more than forty per—cent injanuary — the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. lockdown restrictions in wales will begin to be eased from tomorrow — with outdoor socialising and golf and tennis able to resume. in scotland, four adults from two households are now allowed to meet outdoors, including in private gardens. sport and a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. good morning. the former british cycling and team sky doctor richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering testosterone "knowing or believing" it was to be given to a rider to improve their performance. the banned substance was delivered to the national velodrome in manchester nearly 10 years ago. dr freeman had already admitted 18 of 22 charges, including ordering the testosterone and lying to investigators, and uk anti—doping has separately charged him with two rule violations. the general medical council tribunal has been running for over two years it will sit again next week to determine what sanctions dr freeman will face. sheffield united manager chris wilder is set to leave his job later today, after five years in charge. we're expecting an announcement in the next couple of hours. tensions between wilder and club owner prince abdullah of saudi arabia have increased recently, with wilder questioning the level of investment in new players. they are bottom of the premier league, withjust iii points from 28 games, and had the worst start to a season in the league's history. wilder has taken sheffield united from league one to the premier league in his time in charge. chelsea and manchester city know who they will face in the quarterfinals of the women's champions league. they were among the last to be drawn and city will take on barcelona, with the away leg first, while wsl leaders chelsea start at home against the two—time winners wolfsburg. the fa has apologised for mistiming their calls to players who hadn't made the shortlist for great britain's squad for this summer's olympics in tokyo. birmingham goalkeeper hannah hampton was devastated to hear the news just an hour—and—a—half before their wsl game against everton last night. manager carla ward said it affected her performance in their 4—0 home defeat. the fa admitted it was an error and said they took full responsibility for the upset it caused. the list of potential players has been trimmed down before the final squad is named in may. england's cricketers begin their t—20 series against india in two hours' time in ahmedabad. the home side came out on top in the test series, but these five matches will be a crucial run—through ahead of the twenty20 world cup, also be in india, later this year. this is almost the perfect preparation to try and replicate what we're going to come up against at the world cup in seven months' time. i think, i suppose the one addition to that is, i think we'll play at more grounds. we do play the five games at the same ground here. testing is under way ahead of the new formula one season, which starts with the bahrain grand prix in two week's time. it's the first chance the ten teams have had to try out their new cars together. seven—time world champion lewis hamilton is due on the track later. but mercedes didn't have a great start, with valtteri bottas sidelined for most of the early session with a mechanical failure. champion jockey oisin murphy's return to horse racing has been delayed. after serving a three—month suspension following a positive test for cocaine, he was due to resume his career at lingfield today but the british horseracing authority said he hadn't completed his reinstatement testing. andy murray won't be playing in next week's dubai tennis championships, because he has just become a father for the fourth time. his last match was nine days ago in rotterdam — a defeat to andrey rublev at the world tennis tournament. he's still on the comeback trail following hip surgery and his next event is likely to be the miami open, which starts in 10 days' time — he's expected to receive a wild card. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. applications for the post—brexit student exchange programme, the turing scheme, are now open. schools, colleges and universities can apply for government funding to allow students to study across the world. the scheme replaces erasmus, an eu programme. there's some criticism that the scheme, named after the mathemetician alan turing, doesn't provide reciprocal arrangements forforeign students to study here, but universities minister michelle donelan says there is an incentive for overseas universities to get involved. it isn't contingent on having to have that reciprocal, but it is part of the fabric that we appreciate, so we anticipate it will hold up. the scheme will run from september this year, for the whole of the academic year, and this government is totally committed to international mobility as a lever to assist with our levelling—up agenda. i can't stress enough just how life—chaging some of these opportunities are. we're talking about our students going to some of the world's best institutions overseas, and some of their students coming over here. and, you know, our pull factor is amazing. we are the second—most—attractive destination to international students across the world. we have more of the world's top 100 universities than the whole of the eu added up together. well, let's speak now to vivienne stern, director of universities uk international, which supports uk universities in building their international relationships, including in student exchange. good morning. can you give us a brief overview of exactly what opportunities the turing scheme will offer, who can benefit and how will it work? �* . .. offer, who can benefit and how will itwork? �* , ., it work? it'll make it possible for universities _ it work? it'll make it possible for universities to _ it work? it'll make it possible for universities to give _ it work? it'll make it possible for universities to give grants - it work? it'll make it possible for universities to give grants to - universities to give grants to students who want to spend some period of time studying in a university anywhere in the world and it will also provide a platform for universities to agree those exchange relationships with their counterparts. is relationships with their counterparts.— relationships with their counterparts. relationships with their counterarts. , , counterparts. is it even broader than the erasmus _ counterparts. is it even broader than the erasmus scheme? - counterparts. is it even broader than the erasmus scheme? is l counterparts. is it even broaderj than the erasmus scheme? is it genuinely going to be open to anyone regardless of their financial position? i regardless of their financial osition? .. regardless of their financial position?— regardless of their financial osition? ~' ., ,., , position? i think there are some big advantares position? i think there are some big advantages to _ position? i think there are some big advantages to the _ position? i think there are some big advantages to the turing _ position? i think there are some big advantages to the turing scheme i advantages to the turing scheme compared to erasmus, it is global whereas erasmus was for european destinations predominantly this will allow universities to want to go to the world, and the scheme has been designed to make it possible for students who have less wealthy backgrounds to take up these opportunities because we know that under the erasmus scheme which had lots of great features there was not a huge amount of support available for students from relatively low income backgrounds which stop some of them going abroad. it is notjust about money but also duration so students have to keep down a part—time job have care responsibilities part—timejob have care responsibilities might find it difficult to go a whole semester or a year abroad but will be willing to do a few weeks and that has value itself. so the turing scheme is designed to reach populations within the student community which may not have taken up opportunities under erasmus. ., , ., �* have taken up opportunities under erasmus. ., �* erasmus. you you're confident a- leb erasmus. you you're confident appleby advertised _ erasmus. you you're confident appleby advertised and - erasmus. you you're confident i appleby advertised and publicised anyway everyone will have an opportunity to go for it if they feel it is something they want to do because it can be hard to reach some youngsters for reasons we are all too well aware of.— too well aware of. that is the 'ob universities fl too well aware of. that is the 'ob universities have i too well aware of. that is the 'ob universities have to i too well aware of. that is the 'ob universities have to do i too well aware of. that is the 'ob universities have to do and i too well aware of. that is the 'ob universities have to do and it i too well aware of. that is the job universities have to do and it will be a short window for them to agree exchange agreements but we know the proportion of uk students who have international experience is very low by international standards and i think this could be a platform for us to change that and make it much more normalfor students us to change that and make it much more normal for students to consider having some period studying overseas as part of their uk degree and i think now it is up to us to make the best of it. this think now it is up to us to make the best of it. �* , think now it is up to us to make the best of it. . , , ., ., , best of it. as i understand that is still not clarity _ best of it. as i understand that is still not clarity in _ best of it. as i understand that is still not clarity in terms - best of it. as i understand that is still not clarity in terms of - best of it. as i understand that is still not clarity in terms of the i still not clarity in terms of the reverse journey so people coming to uk universities from somewhere else in the world if there is not clarity and funding around that, is that an area where british universities could lose out? they might want that experience and funding. irate could lose out? they might want that experience and funding.— experience and funding. we will have to see how it — experience and funding. we will have to see how it goes, _ experience and funding. we will have to see how it goes, it _ experience and funding. we will have to see how it goes, it is _ experience and funding. we will have to see how it goes, it is not - to see how it goes, it is not absolutely clear in all cases how students from the universities we may want to partner with bill find their students to come to us and as their students to come to us and as the minister explained the concept of this scheme is universities will waive fees so i send a student, you send a student i neither of us charge them fees so those agreements needs to be reached university by university. there is already a big neck work of these agreements existing outside the rasmus scheme and we also know that a new look there are lots of universities that want to still stain students to the uk but now we have to see whether those institutions who still want to exchange students with the uk can find a way to find that. and should be possible but we just have to wait and see. be possible but we 'ust have to wait and see. . , , be possible but we 'ust have to wait and see. ., ,, , , ., ,, ., ., and see. perhaps we will speak again when ou and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have _ and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have a _ and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have a sense _ and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have a sense of— and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have a sense of how - and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have a sense of how it i and see. perhaps we will speak again when you have a sense of how it is i when you have a sense of how it is working. thank you. just some news coming through about alex in the valley, we had hearing he has been moved from prison although his whereabouts are unknown, this is coming through, his official twitter account alexei navalny has been moved from a prison although his whereabouts are unknown, he is back in russia, he was exceptionally l for some time after falling l on a flight, he had been poisoned and put in prison but he has been moved from prison. it begs a lot of questions this information and perhaps we will get more and the coming minutes so as soon as we get a little clarity we will bring that to you. he has been moved from prison but we do not yet nobody is, this is coming from members of his legal team so perhaps we will get a few more details in the coming moments, these of course our library pictures you will be familiar with of alexei navalny saw more on that to come i hope. the headlines on bbc news... the former team sky and british cycling medic — dr richard freeman — has been found guilty of ordering testosterone, 'knowing or believing' it was to be given to a rider for the purposes of doping. scotland yard will be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. uk exports to the european union fell by more than forty per—cent injanuary — the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. joe biden says he is putting america on a war footing in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, as he announced that the us would have enough supplies to vaccinate the entire adult population by the end of may. in his first prime—time televised address since becoming president, mr biden said he would instruct every state to make all adults eligible for the vaccination by may and urged everyone to get the jab. here's our north america correspondent david willis. so, thank you for being here. joe biden called it historic legislation that would rebuild the backbone of the country. it represents the biggest increase in federal assistance in generations. thank you all, appreciate it. journalists clamour. he re—emerged against a backdrop of flags from all the states in the union to talk about ramping up this country's vaccination programme, and for the first time to hold out the hope of a world that once seemed almost unimaginable — a world post—covid—i9. i want to talk about the next steps we're thinking about. first, tonight, i'm announcing that i will direct all states, tribes and territories to make all adults — people 18 and over — eligible to be vaccinated no later than may 1. let me say that again. all adult americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than may 1. the hope was to return to some semblance of normality by the lith ofjuly — a day he suggested that could also mark america's independence from the coronavirus. roughly 10% of the population here has so far been vaccinated against the virus, but millions more doses will soon be available, and the biden administration is looking to more mobile vaccination sites and thousands more active—duty troops to speed up the process. this vaccine means hope. it will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease. overcoming scepticism about the vaccine is still a challenge, though, and four of the president's predecessors — with the notable exception of donald trump — have now come together to spread the message. i carry a card in my pocket with the number of americans who've died from covid to date — it's on the back of my schedule. america has seen more deaths from covid—19 than any other country in the world — approaching 530,000. president biden said the suffering could soon start to come to an end, and the world's largest economy could start to rebuild, but there remain plenty of obstacles ahead. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. a new report from the institute for fiscal studies says women are more likely to give up paid work or cut hours after childbirth even when they earn more. it argues that the different role played by men and women upon becoming parents, with respect to paid work and childcare are a crucial part of the development of gender pay gaps. the author of the report alison andrew is a senior research economist at the ifs — shejoins me. good morning. that is quite a lot to unravel their because you tell me first of all, your report as i understand we are talking about a couple who are a man and woman have their first couple who are a man and woman have theirfirst child, couple who are a man and woman have their first child, the assumption might be that if the woman happens to earn more that she would carry on working because the family generally often makes a decision that they want to maximise their income but your report as i understand it at its most simple suggest that is not necessarily the case.— necessarily the case. precisely, if ou look necessarily the case. precisely, if you look at _ necessarily the case. precisely, if you look at that _ necessarily the case. precisely, if you look at that group _ necessarily the case. precisely, if you look at that group of - necessarily the case. precisely, if. you look at that group of households where the woman earns more than the male partner before having kids, then in that we still see women on average taking a cutback on that i was of a quarter and 13% on top of that dropping out of the labour force entirely after childbirth and these effects persist for at least ten years. correspond the leg correspondingly bc no impact at all on the karius trajectories of the lower earning male partner so it suggest that the main driver here is not trying to maximise financial income over the longer run, there is something else going on around childbirth. ., , ,., , childbirth. that is so interesting. we are trying — childbirth. that is so interesting. we are trying to _ childbirth. that is so interesting. we are trying to second-guess i childbirth. that is so interesting. i we are trying to second-guess why we are trying to second—guess why those couples have made the decisions they have made but that is something around support, childcare, just a practicalities of getting your child looked after in order to go back to work, is that a fair assumption?— go back to work, is that a fair assumption? go back to work, is that a fair assum ition? .. , ., , assumption? exactly, and the very short-term — assumption? exactly, and the very short-term couples _ assumption? exactly, and the very short-term couples are _ assumption? exactly, and the very short-term couples are making i assumption? exactly, and the very i short-term couples are making these short—term couples are making these immediate choices in quite an unequal policy environment where women are entitled to more maternity leave and in general it is much more generous than paternity leave. this is going to clearly incentivise many households for the mother to take the vast majority of care during the very early years and we know this is likely to lead to habits forming within the home about who the primary caregiver is and this might be one of the reasons why these effects are then so persistent so long beyond breast—feeding or recovering from a birth, ten years after the birth of a first child the situation remains unchanged, women have still stepped back from work at much higher rates. find have still stepped back from work at much higher rates.— have still stepped back from work at much higher rates. and the economic im act of much higher rates. and the economic impact of that — much higher rates. and the economic impact of that longer _ much higher rates. and the economic impact of that longer term _ much higher rates. and the economic impact of that longer term gets i much higher rates. and the economic impact of that longer term gets more j impact of that longer term gets more stock because the person spending less time in the workforce, your salary, you never quite catch up with those people you work alongside two did not take time off for children and that massive impact for pensions as well. that children and that massive impact for pensions as well.— pensions as well. that is exactly what we see. — pensions as well. that is exactly what we see, ours _ pensions as well. that is exactly what we see, ours and - pensions as well. that is exactly i what we see, ours and participation and work fall immediately and the hourly wage gap opens up more gradually over time and accumulates so ten years on that is then much significant than it was when kids were born and so this has a knock—on impact on family finances, pensions also on the taxpayer which is an interesting point because it means that policies to help more women enter the labour force remain and potentially going to generate a fair amount of tax revenue, not necessarily going to be as expensive as one might think.— as one might think. so much that is interestini as one might think. so much that is interesting in _ as one might think. so much that is interesting in that, _ as one might think. so much that is interesting in that, thank— as one might think. so much that is interesting in that, thank you i as one might think. so much that is interesting in that, thank you for i interesting in that, thank you for now. a new study shows more twins are being born than ever before, bringing to the world 1.6 million twins every year. one in every 42 children horn is now a twin, with double deliveries rising everywhere except in south america. the increase is largely attributed to fertility treatments and having children later in life. earlier, we heard from one of the report authors, professor christiaan monden, from the twins trust. he says a lot of work is now being done to reduce deaths among twins during childbirth, as a twin pregnancy carries greater risks for the mother and the baby. one of our key priorities as a charity is to help the nhs and we have been working with maternity units across the uk. the big thing is to have a twins clinic, looking after twins, triplets and more, with a specialist team. what we have shown is it can significantly reduce neonatal deaths, neonatal admissions and stillbirths, even after just two years. the really concerning thing is, now that evidence is out there, there is still a big gap in units that haven't introduced this. there is a national ambition in england to cut stillbirths and neonatal deaths by half by 2025 and unless all units introduce these teams and have a specialist team, that ambition is going to become harder and harder. i know that was about twins and there was a picture of a baby, please do not tweet me, it is not my fault. a very interesting report. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor hello. the pictures of rainbows being sent into us so far today, an indication it's one of those days again where the skies are changing throughout the day. mixture of sunshine and some pretty heavy and thundery showers for some of you, but, as i said, the sunshine is out there to be had as well, and once the sun is out it has that, sort of, bit more warmth to it now, doesn't it? and there will be a bit more sunshine around this afternoon across england and wales. the first batch of showers are out. there'll be another batch starting to arrive across western areas as we go through the afternoon. if you're in northern ireland, scotland, the showers never really fade, although there will be a quieter spell for northern ireland early afternoon before more in the way of rain and cloud arrives later on and into the evening. temperatures today around 6 to maybe 12 degrees, but they will drop by around 3 or [i celsius when the showers come through, and it'll always feel cooler with the showers, and that breeze is still there — not as strong as yesterday, but still touching gusts of around 140—50 miles per hour across the south. and they will strengthen further through southern counties tonight. 60—70 mph gust possible, that could cause some problems, and you can see right across the country, well, just about all, there'll be further rain at times. little bit of sleet and snow over the higher ground. some clearer skies, though, for northern scotland. it's here we'll see a frost, and there could be some ice around into tomorrow morning, and overall it will be a rather chilly start to your weekend. so, let's take a look at the charts for the weekend. rain—bearing areas of low pressure mainly to the north—east of us, high—pressure south—west, drawing in the winds from the north—west, but we're neither one nor the other, so it's going to be a case of the weather still changing from one moment to the next. it's going to be another sunshine and showers day on saturday, the overnight rain will have cleared, brightening up quite quickly in the morning. some in the south and east will stay dry all day long, but you'll be very lucky. the showers get going and become quite abundant across some western areas. unlike today, they'll be heavy with hail and thunder, and, like today, it'll be cool in the breeze. temperatures maybe down a degree or so on today's values. a colder night, then, through saturday night into sunday. some of the showers fade. there could be a bit of frost around on sunday morning more widely. lovely, bright start for much of england, wales and eastern scotland, but clouding over from the west through the day and we are likely to see some rain at times. northern ireland maybejust into southern scotland and eventually northern england, north wales and the midlands. nothing too substantial but the odd heavier best possible in the west. temperatures rise a little bit but overall fairly cool, and that cool theme continues as a going to next week but with pressure building a bit more they'll be more in the way fire weather, less in the way of showers. that's how it's looking. this is bbc news. the headlines: the former team sky and british cycling medic dr richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering testosterone, "knowing or believing" it was to be given to a rider for the purposes of doping. scotland yard will be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. the organisers of a vigil for sarah everard will go to court today to try to get permission for it to go ahead after being told a gathering would break lockdown rules. uk exports to the european union fell by more than 40% injanuary — the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. lockdown restrictions in wales will begin to be eased from tomorrow, with outdoor socialising and golf and tennis able to resume. in scotland, four adults from two households are now allowed to meet outdoors, including in private gardens. a global study shows more twins are being born than ever before, with one in every 42 children born a twin, but the number has now peaked. we will have more on all those stories injust a moment. some breaking news into the inquest of leon briggs, a case you may remember. at 39—year—old lorry driver. an inquest hasjust find that neglect did contribute to the death of leon briggs. he died in november 2013 after being restrained by police in luton. thejury has said that police officers and abbots workers made a number of serious failure is to provide adequate support to the 39—year—old, including the inappropriate use of force. this is part of the inquest because my findings. in conclusion, they said that leon briggs had been experiencing psychotic disorder caused by an exceptionally high use ofamphetamines, caused by an exceptionally high use of amphetamines, which had resulted in erratic and irrational behaviour. leon briggs, who died in 2,000 —— november 2013, and the enquiry saying that police and ambulance workers had made a number of serious failure in the case. those are the initial findings that are just coming through in the last few moments from that inquest into the death of leon briggs. we have a correspondent covering that inquest and we will have much more from him in the next few minutes and more findings, i'm sure. these are the initialfindings findings, i'm sure. these are the initial findings that have just come through to us. the former team sky and british cycling doctor richard freeman has been found guilty of ordering banned testosterone in 2011. a medical tribunal ruled freeman ordered testogel with the knowledge "it was to be administered to an athlete to improve their athletic performance". during the tribunal, which has lasted for more than two years, freeman said he was bullied into ordering the drug by former british cycling and team sky performance director shane sutton, a charge he denied. with more, here's our sports editor, dan roan. for a decade, british cycling has enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, dominating on both the road and track. for much of that time, richard freeman was the sport's top doctor, but two years after his medical tribunal began, today he was found to have ordered a banned drug to help to dope a rider. the big question is which rider was the testosterone ordered for? it's seriously, seriously damaging. i'm not sure how british cycling and the sport can recover. the reputation of the sport in terms of management and governance is in tatters. the saga began in 2011 when freeman ordered 30 sachets of testogel to the sport's headquarters. six years later, having already left team sky, the medic resigned from british cycling. in 2019, he admitted to 18 general medical council charges, including initially lying to uk anti—doping. last month, he was charged by the agency with two anti—doping rule violations. freeman, who has been at the centre of a number of controversies in recent years, told the tribunal he ordered the testosterone to treat the erectile dysfunction of this man, former british cycling and team sky technical director shane sutton, who denied the claim. i got myself into an emotional state because when you know that you're not lying and you are accused of lying, you get yourself worked up. pretty disappointed at the way i have been singled out and ifeel like i'm on trial. back in 2018, freeman told me he would clear his name. i can clear everything up, but at the moment i am under investigation about my medicines management policy by the general medical council and therefore i am not at liberty at the present time, due to respect for them, not to talk about it. but no wrongdoing? no wrongdoing. but today he learned the tribunal panel had found against him. the controversy sparked by the delivery of a banned performance enhancing drug here to the national velodrome, known as the 'medal factory', almost a decade ago has hung over british cycling for years. the fear will be that today's ruling does lasting damage to the reputation of one of the country's most successful and best—funded sports. two years ago, amid mounting scrutiny, team sky became team ineos in what was seen as a fresh start, but british cycling's bid to move on from the past has just become harder. earlier on, dan explained what questions remain unanswered, following the guilty verdict. who was to testosterone for? was itjust one rider? and who else knew in the system? is it feasible that doctor freeman was acting alone and no one else knew about this? that is all to be decided. in terms of his future we will have to wait and see if he will struck off or be allowed to continue as a doctor. he is facing two uk anti—doping charges as well, the hearing for that is still to come. this leaves a lasting stain. this has always been uncomfortable for british cycling and team sky, now in its current iteration of team ineos, but now there is a verdict that says this drug was ordered with the intention of cheating. that will leave a lasting reputational stain on what has become the most successful and one of the best publicly—funded olympic and paralympic sports that this country has. the sad thing, i suppose, is that all of the achievements that we can look back on over recent years now have a degree of suspicion over them. there will be more reaction to that story over the course of the afternoon. scotland yard will be investigated by the independent police watchdog after it emerged that the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard was accused of indecent exposure days before she went missing. it's one of five referrals made by the metropolitan police in relation to its handling of the case. the independent office for police conduct will consider whether officers responded appropriately to a report made on 28th february that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south london. three days later, on 3rd march, ms everard went missing. she was last seen in clapham, walking home from a friend's house. on 9th march, a serving police officer was arrested in relation to sarah's disappearance. sarah's family has since paid tribute to the 33—year—old, describing her as a "shining example to us all" who "brought so much joy to our lives". charlotte wright has this report bright and beautiful, a wonderful daughter and sister. words from the family of 33—year—old sarah everard, who went missing in south london more than a week ago. last night, her loved ones released this tribute, after human remains were discovered in the search for her. this morning, a serving met police diplomatic protection officer remains in custody, suspected of kidnap and murder. he was arrested in kent on tuesday. yesterday, he was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury while in custody. officers have now been granted more time to question him. just three days before sarah disappeared, police received a report alleging the suspect had exposed himself in a fast—food restaurant. now the police watchdog has announced it will investigate whether officers responded to that appropriately. it will also separately assess the actions of police after sarah was reported missing. at the site of the discovery of human remains, police officers laid flowers brought by the public. sarah's death has prompted an outpouring of shock and anger, as women across the country share their own experiences of feeling unsafe. but for now, her family have made a simple appeal for anyone with information to come forward. charlotte wright, bbc news. before one o'clock i am due to be speaking to the woman organising the big chill that organisers hope will be able to go ahead and clapham tomorrow to remember sarah everard and all women killed through violence. you will know that they are due to be going to court about that because they were advised that anything like that, a gathering like that would break covid rules. i will be discussing all of that with her. she is due to speak to us before one o'clock. she is due to speak to us before one o'clock. new figures estimate the uk economy slumped by nearly 3% in january, as the country entered its third national lockdown. the office for national statistics also says the export of goods from the uk to the eu fell by more than 40% in the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. imports were down by nearly 29%. our business presenter ben thompson has further details. a couple of big economic updates this morning, one of course that will come as probably no surprise to many people, that as the uk entered its third national lockdown, january saw the economy shrink by nearly 3%. it is in the detail that you start to get a picture of what sectors have been able to adapt most to the restrictions, because perhaps unsurprisingly the service sector, which includes large parts of hospitality and retail, really struggling, shrinking by 3.5%, because it simply wasn't able to open. manufacturing, which had been a pretty strong point through most of last year as those businesses and factories got used to working within the rules, it also shrank over 2%. its first decline since april of last year. that in large part driven by a shrinking of carmaking. that one of the big drags on the manufacturing sector. overall, the economy shrinking by 3%. the economy now nearly 10% smaller still than it was before this crisis began. expectation is looking at what will happen next, how long will it take for the economy to win back some of that ground that it has lost at the height of this pandemic. will that much—touted "roaring 20s" that the prime minister has been talking about, a bounce back in demand and spending once lockdown restrictions are eased, will that help the economy recover? earlier, i spoke to one expert who told me that there could be a bounce back, but we need to look longer term about who is affected and what long—term implications this could have. my sense is that even if we have a big bounce back, it is probably going to be quite short—lived and the fundamental weaknesses with the economy will have to be addressed, and at the top of that should be how do we make sure that when the economy does well, families do well, because that is what we got wrong in the last decade. so a view there and what could happen next and how long it may take until the recovery comes to fruition. you mentioned in the introduction, we have also had figures today suggesting a 40% slump in exports to the european union. remember, the eu is our biggest trading partner. there have been two main causes for that. one, of course, is those brexit restrictions, because at the end of the transition period there was a lot more paperwork introduced for firms that are selling to mainland europe, and that has led to some delays at the border. at the same time, there were lots of queues caused by covid restrictions and the need for tests for lorries and hauliers to get their goods over to the continent. taken together, it suggests there has been a 40% slump in trade. exports from the uk to the european union. the big question is, is thatjust a temporary blip, or is this a longer—term fundamental reshaping of where we trade and how we trade as a country? once we start to get the next figures for debris, the next figures for february, march and beyond, once the covid restrictions are lifted, we will get a more full picture. new data is through from the office for national statistics around the prevalence of covid—19. more positive news. one in 270 people were infected in the week ending the 6th of march, that is an improvement on the previous set of figures. the previous figures were one and 220. so, one in 270 is the new figure through, that is to do with community prevalence of covid—19. i should stress again, these are figures for england. that is all we have been given at this stage. the prevalence figures across england, one in 270 people, for the week ending the 6th of march. let's get more on the breaking news this hour about the inquest into the death of leon briggs — who died in november 2013 after being restrained by police in luton. the jury found that neglect contributed to the death of the 39—year—old and that police officers and ambulance workers made a number of serious failures to provide adequate support to leon, including through his restraint in the prone position and the inappropriate use of force. jon ironmonger reports. his name has become a catchword of the black lives matter movements. but leon briggs was a family man first, a popularfather, brother and son. for more than seven years the truth has been hidden about his final hour of consciousness in the hands of police officers and no family, the coroner said, should have had to wait so long for answers. marshall wrote in luton, captured on cctv, leon is suffering a mental health crisis that has taken a heavy dose of amphetamines. arriving on the scene armed response officers, who pin leon to the ground for 13.5 minutes, just out of sight of the only camera that recorded it. exactly what happened against this wall we may never know for certain. at the inquest the police officers give various accounts that leon was laying on his side or at an angle or he was moving constantly, but among a string of eyewitnesses there was general agreement that leon was face down on his front for most, if not all, his restraint. leon is handcuffed and dislikes are bound together. the pathologist at the prison on his body was consistent with a lot of pressure on his back, but in court sergeant short denied using excessive force. mr briggs pushed pc benetton was an unmanageable risk of violence, he said. the only paramedic at the scene, kevin mead, chose not to carry out a physical assessment and leon is detained under section 136 of the mental health act. he is put in the back of a police van on his own. ., . , in the back of a police van on his own. ., ., , ., in the back of a police van on his own. ., .,, ., ., ., , own. leon was not a violent person in any way — own. leon was not a violent person in any way at _ own. leon was not a violent person in any way at all- — own. leon was not a violent person in any way at all. he _ own. leon was not a violent person in any way at all. he did _ own. leon was not a violent person in any way at all. he did not - own. leon was not a violent person in any way at all. he did not need l in any way at all. he did not need to be taken to the police station. you can see how he was acting walking down the street and was not mentally stable anyway. we should have been taken to the hospital to get the specialist care he needed. from the outset, leon's outset leon's arrival into custody is upsetting. he is held on his front in a sale while pc peter barron carries out a search. suddenly he becomes quiet, unconscious, and sergeant waterman tries to get his attention. there restraint continues, but according to an expert cardiologist, leon's heart has stopped. in court, sergeant waterman said he saw no change in leonmichael that unresponsive detainees may be planning attack you, but having exited the sale, he starts to become concerned. officers re—enter and begin cpr, but leon ties later in hospital. he was suffering from coronary heart disease. policing has changed since his death and today in bedfordshire mental health professionals are being deployed to the front line, but the inquest was my findings could be a difficult reckoning for the force which continues to employ all of the officers involved. the first minister of wales, mark drakeford, is outlining more details of the plan to ease lockdown in wales. let's listen in. the latest results from the survey just published suggest that wales has the lowest rates in the united kingdom. at the same time, the number of covid related patients in hospitals is falling faster now every week. the vaccination figures, just published in the last 15 minutes, have the highest numbers of vaccines reported in a single day in wales at over 38,000. this is all very good news. at the last three week review i said that if public health circumstances continue to improve, we would be able to take some bigger steps forward in relaxing the restrictions. for the figures i havejust set relaxing the restrictions. for the figures i have just set out, relaxing the restrictions. for the figures i havejust set out, they give us grounds for optimism, but we have to be cautious, too, because they do not tell the whole story. we are coming out of lockdown with a much more infectious form of the virus is present everywhere across wales. we also have us mall number of cases of other mutations of the virus that originated overseas. we know that as soon as we relaxed the rules and people begin to mix again, there is an inevitable risk that infections will rise. if we do too much too quickly, we will lose control of the virus and that will set off a new wave of infections. then, we will be back at the beginning again, having to re—impose strict measures to protect people's health and save lives. it is in order to avoid all of that from happening, that our approach will continue to be careful and cautious. we will take a phased approach to unlocking each sector as we already have with schools. we will make step—by—step changes each week, gradually to restore freedoms, and we will monitor each change we make so that we can track its impact. the priority of this welsh government remains to get as many children back into school in face—to—face learning as possible, as safely as possible. but in our phased approach, we also have some headroom to make other changes to the rules, again, in a phased way. this slide highlights some of the major changes over the coming weeks. from tomorrow, we will lift the stay at home requirements and replace it with stay local. that will be in place for the next few weeks. for people from two households will be able to meet outdoors, including in gardens. outdoorfacilities for outdoors, including in gardens. outdoor facilities for sport can reopen. they can be used locally by “p reopen. they can be used locally by up to four people from those two households. in care visits will restart for a single designated visitor. from monday, the 15th, all primary aged pupils and those setting for qualifications in secondary school will return to face—to—face learning. schools will have flexibility beyond that to bring year ten and year 12 pupils back and more learners will return to college. there will also be flexibility for in—school check ins for all other pupils. all pupils will return in the third phase after the easter break immediately on the 12th of april. from monday the 15th, hairdressers and barbers will reopen for haircuts by appointments, and if the public health position remains positive, all close contact services will reopen from the 12th of april. from the 22nd of march, nonessential retail will begin to reopen. we will start by lifting the restrictions on what the shops which are currently open can sell. garden centres will also reopen from the 22nd and, once again, if the public health position remains positive, all nonessential retail shops will be able to open from 12th april, the same date as in england. i want to try and give as much of an indication as i can of what will happen beyond the next three weeks. if the public health situation continues to improve, we will lift stay local on march 27, and begin the process of opening up our tourism sector, starting with self—contained accommodation. organise children outdoor activities will also be able to restart in time for the easter holidays, and libraries will reopen so that children will be able to use them, as well. both are slight you have just seen will be on our social media channels and our website, so that people can check the dates and information in a slower time. to help all those businesses which are not yet able to open, we are making an extra £150 million available today to top up the nondomestic rates grants that we have been providing. this means that hospitality, tourism, leisure and nonessential retail businesses, which matched —— which must remain closed, will be eligible for a third payment of between £4000 and £5,000 to help them meet ongoing operating costs while they cannot trade. this is in addition to the announcement made earlier this week extending the business rate holiday for retail leisure and hospitality businesses for the whole of the next financial year. taken together, we have made well in excess of £2 billion available to businesses over the course of the last year to help them through the pandemic. that is over and above the support available from the uk government's schemes. this is the uk government's schemes. this is the most generous business support scheme available anywhere in the united kingdom. of course, we are very pleased indeed that we have been able to offer that help and to safeguard more than 160,000 jobs in these most difficult of times. now, i understand, of course, that other businesses and sectors will want to know when it is their turn to reopen. i understand that everybody wants a definitive dates so that they can plan ahead. unfortunately, there are very few guarantees in this pandemic. we know from our own experience and experience in europe just how quickly events can take a turn for the worse. a highly infectious kent variant is not the most dominant form of the virus in wales, and that by itself makes it even harder to predict what will happen as we begin to relax restrictions. but if we all continue to work together and remember to follow the basic rules to protect ourselves and one another, i hope we will be able to keep on taking further steps to unlock wales at each review periods during the spring, and as we look ahead to the end of april, if we continue to see an improving public health picture, we will be able to consider what more we can do to support people to meet each other and what we can do to continue reopening our economy, for example, looking at outdoor hospitality, the wedding sector and leisure centres and gyms. now this has been a very long lockdown and the last 12 months has been astonishingly difficult for us all. but thanks to your help and your patience, today we are able to take some real steps forward on the journey to reopen wales, to let children return to school, to let people meet and socialise together and to let businesses begin to trade again. with your help, we will be able to go even further in the weeks ahead. in the meantime, please, go on helping us to keep wales safe by keeping yourself and your family safe, too. as ever, i will take your questions now. first this afternoon it is to felicity evans at bbc wales. fin felicity evans at bbc wales. on nonessential retail, most such retailers who have been closed throughout this lockdown did not envisage when you said three weeks ago that you are planning a phased reopening, that that would simply involve allowing shops that have been able to trade and be open right the way through lockdown to simply be able to sell more of their goods. do you accept that you built up the expectations of closed nonessential retailers and have now disappointed them? can you explain what it is that made you change your mind on this? j that made you change your mind on this? . ., , �* that made you change your mind on this? . . , �* . ., , this? i certainly didn't change my mind. ithink— this? i certainly didn't change my mind. i think it — this? i certainly didn't change my mind. i think it is _ this? i certainly didn't change my mind. i think it is important i this? i certainly didn't change my mind. i think it is important that| this? i certainly didn't change my| mind. i think it is important that i try every time i come to this podium to explain as carefully as i can that we remain in a public health emergency and that we have to weigh up emergency and that we have to weigh up all of the steps that we can take in the circumstances we face at the time. three weeks ago i said i hope today we will be able to begin to reopen nonessential retail, and that is exactly what we have been able to do. supermarkets and other shops that have already opens will come from the 22nd of march, be able to sell the full range of essential and nonessential goods, and for many people, that will mean that that will mean the taboo —— that they will mean the taboo —— that they will be able to purchase things that they have to manage without for many, many weeks. those shops that are not already open will now have a definite timeframe to do all the things that they will need to do in order to be able to reopen successfully, and i know from the conversations we have had with the retail sector that that is quite a challenge in itself. people need to be able to bring staff back from furlough, they need to be able to restock so they can open with their shelves full of people can buy, they will need to demonstrate that they are able to meet the new standards, the legally required standards that we have put in place here in wales in response to the new variants of coronavirus. they now know that they will be able to reopen on the 12th of april, alongside the reopening of nonessential retail across our border in england. i am often told we have to give people lots of time so they can prepare for it, they have four weeks in order to do that and they will be able to reopen on that day. i think that offers people a decent level of certainty. decent level of certainty and the time they need to prepare. speaks welsh we will leave the briefing there from wales, talking about the beginning of easing things there, all the specific dates you can find on our website because it varies. different categories of businesses opening at different times, we were talking to a hairdresser because they are allowed to reopen in wales on monday and a gradual easing of lockdown. that briefing is continuing so we will keep an ion that because there are more questions to come from journalists but we will have more about the easing of lockdown in wales on the one o'clock news coming up. let's return to one of main stories. a vigilfor sarah everard on clapham common in south london has been planned for tomorrow evening — but organisers are waiting for the high court to decide whether it can go ahead. the metropolitan police said lockdown meant it wasn't allowed. in the last hour the chair of the commons women and equalities deputy leader of the labour party angela rayner has been speaking about the fears women have been raising on social media, and said the vigil should go ahead women's voices should not be silenced, there has been an outcry and outpouring of the long—term issues that many women and girls face in this country and that is the fear of not being able to go out, the fear of being attacked. domestic violence has increased so women's voices must be heard. i hope we can come to a solution where the protest can go ahead in a covid—safe way that we can work with the police to make sure that happens because women's voices cannot be silenced, this is a moment where people need to stand up and listen to the disgraceful conditions many women find themselves in today when they are fearful of going out on the street or actually fearful in their own homes because of domestic violence. the video was planned for tomorrow on clapham common. anna birley is one of the organisers of tomorrow's vigil, she's from the reclaim these streets group. where exactly on a practical level are you at the moment? in terms of working this out and your high court action. we working this out and your high court action. ~ . .. working this out and your high court action. ~ . ,, ..,' working this out and your high court action. ~ . ,, _ action. we are drinking coffee by the iallon action. we are drinking coffee by the gallon but — action. we are drinking coffee by the gallon but any _ action. we are drinking coffee by the gallon but any serious - action. we are drinking coffee by the gallon but any serious note l action. we are drinking coffee by i the gallon but any serious note we are proceeding as if it is going ahead because that is so much that is to be organised to make sure it is to be organised to make sure it is safe so we are in the process of working out stewards, thousands of led candles because we know it would not be right to have open flames on the park, organising high visibility mental health first aid is to make sure it is as covid safe and inclusive for everybody coming along. on the legal side we are in meetings with the met and the council and employers, we have filed our papers and we hope to something that can be rolled on today. so we have plenty of time, i say plenty, some time to make sure tomorrow goes without a hitch. in some time to make sure tomorrow goes without a hitch-— without a hitch. in the last houri s-oke to without a hitch. in the last houri spoke to caroline _ without a hitch. in the last houri spoke to caroline looks - without a hitch. in the last houri spoke to caroline looks the i without a hitch. in the last houri spoke to caroline looks the mp l without a hitch. in the last hour i i spoke to caroline looks the mp who is chair of the women caught his committee and she has asked priti patel to intervene to allow this video to go ahead. i suppose that is the sort of parliamentary support you are after. irate the sort of parliamentary support you are after-— the sort of parliamentary support ou are after. ~ ., .., ., you are after. we have come together as a i-rou you are after. we have come together as a group of — you are after. we have come together as a group of women _ you are after. we have come together as a group of women who _ you are after. we have come together as a group of women who feel- you are after. we have come together as a group of women who feel afraid l as a group of women who feel afraid of some of our public spaces but also who feel angry that her not to be afraid of those places. it is awful at a second such a tragic week to remind us this is not acceptable, we are in 2021 and women still have to take the long route home because it is better [it and clutch their keysin it is better [it and clutch their keys in their hand because they are worried about being attacked and the outpouring on social media over the last 36 hours of women sharing their stories, time is as young as 11 of the harassed in the street on a car slowdown to follow them, it has served as a real reminder that actually there is something we should be angry about and we need to stand up for as women as to have that cross—party support has been amazing and huge amounts of support from angela rayner and caroline and charlie faulkner has tweeted to say attending a social distance demonstration in favour of reclaiming the streets, organising consultation with the police is a reasonable excuse in his view under coronavirus regulations. we have had mmps with urgent questions so it has been reassuring that we are not alone. it been reassuring that we are not alone. . . . been reassuring that we are not alone. ., , ., ., ., , alone. it has been extraordinarily movini , i alone. it has been extraordinarily moving. i am _ alone. it has been extraordinarily moving, i am also _ alone. it has been extraordinarily moving, i am also very _ alone. it has been extraordinarily| moving, i am also very interested why you and the organisers feel that the disappearance of sarah everard and particular has provoked such a passionate outpouring because unfortunately we know a woman on average in this country is killed every three days. it is usually by someone they know, very often by a partner or former partner so and sadly that statistic has held true for many years so women have often been the victims of male violence, we know this. and yet something here, as if it is a tipping point and i'm not sure i have quite understood why yet and i am interested why you think that is the case. �* ., , , ., case. i'm not sure i understand either, case. i'm not sure i understand either. we _ case. i'm not sure i understand either, we thought _ case. i'm not sure i understand either, we thought it _ case. i'm not sure i understand either, we thought it might i case. i'm not sure i understand either, we thought it might be| case. i'm not sure i understand | either, we thought it might be a small group of us on clapham common and this has blown up so extraordinarily and it is so heartening the number of women wanting to get involved at every age and race and religion and background, and credible. —— just incredible. the story reel a touch to a nerve for me personally, i live on the route sarah may have taken, we have a similar age. i have felt unsafe on some streets where i live. her face is on unsafe on some streets where i live. herface is on every lamp post and tree on my street and on the route to the supermarket and the park and so for me it feels like it could be anyone and they really difficult thing is and i hate using this term but she did everything right, women are told we need to behave in a certain way to keep ourselves safe and well bright colours, stick to ballot streets, the main road, take a route, call someone whilst walking and she did all those things and it still was not enough and sadly it is often still not enough. i think that is an important conversation we need to have about why so many of those women who die and thank goodness for people likejess phillips who listed the names of all the women who died yesterday in parliament and does so every year but so many of those names are from different communities, lots of bame women and we need to be communities, lots of bame women and we need to he should give them the attention they all deserve. thank ou. she hopes the vigil will go ahead on clapham common and we will let you know when we hear more from the high court. the export of goods from the uk to the eu fell sharply in the first month of trading under new, post—brexit arrangements. figures from the office for national statistics also revealed a drop in imports from the eu. to crunch the numbers, i'm joined by our reality check correspondent, chris morris. it is for the first month of new arrangements, tell us more about what it tells us. we know this is a very unusual trading moment in our country's history but these are the biggest month on month fall since compatible records began. the fall is particularly sharp in exports and the exports to the eu from the uk dropped by more than 40% injanuary compared to december and that is about £5.6 billion worth of trade that was being done in december that was not being done injanuary. this is partly down to the fact there are new trading and easements and place under the new agreement made between the uk and eu but there are other factors in play and we have to stress that, there was a lot of stockpiling in december because of the run—up to the post—brexit arrangement which meant stuff brought in and taken out in december saw less trade done injanuary. then there is the pandemic and covid has clearly played a role and reducing trade but there is another number four overall uk export worldwide, it was down 19.3% so there is a lot of covid damage and that is numbered but clearly it is a what's more than than more than 40%. that is a covid impact, a stockpiling impact but the introduction of these new training rules, bureaucracy and some specific sectors has had a big impact. it is a question of monitoring it going forward, we see whether things change, improve and munster come. month one is one thing, what happens in february we will not know for another month and what happens years down the line when hopefully he will be pasty covid epidemic but look at the last couple of years, this is quite a start keller station, the blue line is exports —— stark illustration. the blue line was the first lockdown and since then to both eu and outside it has been gradually going up until injanuary that eu trade literally falls off a cliff. exports of food to the eu were down about 64% and we have had lots of anecdotal reports from the fishing industry, beef and cheese, thatis fishing industry, beef and cheese, that is a real problem. how much of that is a real problem. how much of that will bounce back? chemicals down more than 50% because the chemical industry was moving out of the european regulatory system and so they probably have a lot of exports out in december and did far less injanuary. the key thing is how much of that welcome back. some of it well clearly, january is going to be the worst figures we will see but some of it probably will not especially for smaller companies, they are dealing with the biggest new imposition of bureaucracy and red tape in 50 years in the middle of a global pandemic and so the smaller companies that don't necessarily have the profit margin to be able to cope, maybe have fewer resources, some of them will be able to adapt and some of them sadly will not. thank you. covid restrictions are being relaxed in scotland from today. up to four people from two households will be able to meet up outside, while up to 15 people can exercise together outside. first minister nicola sturgeon says the new rules are possible because of what she calls "good progress" in suppressing the virus. i've been speaking to our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon who's at a park near glasgow. these are minor steps that have been taken here in scotland. a very, very gradual easing. the scottish government said these steps are important for people's well—being. four people from two households can mix outside, they can be in each other�*s gardens if they choose, they can also use the loo in another person's house and use the house to get to the garden as well. teenagers between 12 and 17 are now allowed to mix outdoors with no limit on numbers for them. as you say, groups of up to 15, like this group taking part in a boot camp, groups up to 15 are allowed to take part in noncontact outdoor activities and sports. there are some pretty big significant restrictions that still remain in place. the stay—at—home messages still for now in place in scotland, as is the do not travel outside your council area. big restrictions still there. some easing around the edges but as the numbers of positive cases continue to fall, as the test positivity number continues to drop, as the number of hospitalisations and deaths also continue to fall, the first minister here in scotland says she hopes other restrictions may ease in the weeks to come. in fact on tuesday she said she hopes to give an indicative timetable on when easing in areas like nonessential shops, gyms and some areas of the tourism sector, when that may happen. the dates for those reopening may happen as well. joe biden says he is putting america on a war footing in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, as he announced that the us would have enough supplies to vaccinate the entire adult population by the end of may. in his first prime—time televised address since becoming president, mr biden said he would instruct every state to make all adults eligible for the vaccination by may and urged everyone to get the jab. here's our north america correspondent david willis. so, thank you for being here. joe biden called it historic legislation that would rebuild the backbone of the country. it represents the biggest increase in federal assistance in generations. thank you all, appreciate it. journalists clamour. he re—emerged against a backdrop of flags from all the states in the union to talk about ramping up this country's vaccination programme, and for the first time to hold out the hope of a world that once seemed almost unimaginable — a world post—covid—19. i want to talk about the next steps we're thinking about. first, tonight, i'm announcing that i will direct all states, tribes and territories to make all adults — people 18 and over — eligible to be vaccinated no later than may 1. let me say that again. all adult americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than may 1. the hope was to return to some semblance of normality by the 4th ofjuly — a day he suggested that could also mark america's independence from the coronavirus. roughly 10% of the population here has so far been vaccinated against the virus, but millions more doses will soon be available, and the biden administration is looking to more mobile vaccination sites and thousands more active—duty troops to speed up the process. this vaccine means hope. it will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease. overcoming scepticism about the vaccine is still a challenge, though, and four of the president's predecessors — with the notable exception of donald trump — have now come together to spread the message. i carry a card in my pocket with the number of americans who've died from covid to date — it's on the back of my schedule. america has seen more deaths from covid—19 than any other country in the world — approaching 530,000. president biden said the suffering could soon start to come to an end, and the world's largest economy could start to rebuild, but there remain plenty of obstacles ahead. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. coronavirus infections may be levelling off in some of the uk, according to data from the office for national statistics. the figures for the week up to 6 march suggest cases continue to fall in much of the uk but some areas have seen that slow, or even rise slightly. let's speak to our health correspondent katharine da costa overall infections continuing to fall in england and wales but it seems they are levelling off in scotland and northern ireland so we have got the whitest estimates from the office for national statistics and it suggests that about 230,000 people in the uk had the virus in the week to last saturday, the equivalent of one and 280 people and thatis equivalent of one and 280 people and that is down from 230 in the previous week. we have the breakdown for the different nations so england, one and 270 had the virus, wales the lowest prevalence rate in the uk we are one and 375 had the virus. in northern ireland one and 310 and it was one in 320 in scotland. the ons infection survey looks at people with and without symptoms and it is a cross—section of the population, not impacted by extracts urge testing people coming forward for testing and it suggests an england there is regional variations or levels of fallen and most regions but still highest in the west midlands and yorkshire and the west midlands and yorkshire and the humber where they may have levelled off and there some early signs of an increase in the south—east and south—west. we saw about a fortnight ago there was a bit of flattening and a rise in some areas, last week the health secretary said that may have been a blip. there is some uncertainty with the trends this week and that is something that health experts will be keeping a close eye on. there is a lot going on now because all throughout to be have wanted to not put the nhs under pressure, that is the reason for not spreading infections, but we have got the vaccination programme progressing relatively well so it is about the links and connections with all of that. the roll—out is going well, or than 23 million people, two and five adults have had the first vaccine and they say it will break links between increases in cases and people falling seriously ill with the virus and if we look at nhs data we can look at how many patients are currently in hospital and the uk and we know currently there are less than 9000 and that is down from a peak of 39000 and january so we are back to levels we saw an mid—to—late october. healthy disabling still have —— hell health leaders say we still have some way to go for top and average of 160 a day which is very in october and the other falling faster than older age groups who have already had their vaccines thatis who have already had their vaccines that is good news but the uk, the government is moving cautiously with this as we start to life restrictions, they have said they believed five weeks between each set of restrictions being lifted to make sure there is some wriggle room, that you cannot respond that if you do see a rise in cases because what they want to do is avoid a surge in people falling ill, still large numbers have not had the vaccination are not protected so they are going cautiously. thailand has delayed its roll—out of the astrazeneca vaccine, following reports of blood clots in a small number of people who've had the jab. denmark, norway and iceland have already suspended its use as a precaution for the same reason. but the european medicines agency insists the vaccine is safe. paul hawkins reports the ema's message is clear. there is no link between blood clots and the astrazeneca vaccine. the manufacturer says the drug's safety has been studied extensively in clinical trials. nevertheless, denmark, norway and iceland have temporarily suspended the roll—out of the vaccine after two women in europe died after getting the jab, one of them in denmark itself. translation: in denmark, more than 140,000 have i received the vaccine, so that alone would mean that there may be random things that would otherwise also happen, even if people had not been vaccinated. the suspensions are precautionary. the other death, also from the same batch, was in austria, one of six countries that have stopped using that specific batch as a precaution. the ema, meanwhile, say 30 people in total have developed clots out of five million europeans who have had the jab. because so many people have got it, just by chance, some of them will have different conditions happening soon after they got the vaccine, unfortunately. that does not mean the vaccine caused it. suspending vaccine roll—out is the last thing europe needs, delivery delays mean vaccination rates across the continent are still way behind the uk. and some people suggest the single—dosejohnson &johnson vaccine which was approved on thursday may not arrive until april. most of the countries with the highest infection rises are in central and eastern europe. the czech republic and slovakia have had to move covid hospital patients to other european countries. parts of estonia ran out of hospital beds this week, triggering another partial lockdown. the vaccine can't come soon enough. paul hawkins, bbc news. a new study shows more twins are being born than ever before, bringing to the world one—point—six million twins every year.0ne in every forty two children horn is now a twin, with double deliveries rising everywhere except in south america. earlier we heard from one of the report authors, professor christiaan monden, who was asked why it was happening? one of our key priorities as a charity is to help the nhs and we have been working with maternity units across the uk. the big thing is to have a twins clinic, looking after twins, triplets and more, with a specialist team. what we have shown is it can significantly reduce neonatal deaths, neonatal admissions and stillbirths, even after just two years. the really concerning thing is, now that evidence is out there, there is still a big gap in units that haven't introduced this. there is a national ambition in england to cut stillbirths and neonatal deaths by half by 2025 and unless all units introduce these teams and have a specialist team, that ambition is going to become harder and harder. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. looks like the kind of day that every time you look out the window you may see a different type of weather, yes it has a blustery with the cases of sunny spells and scattered showers, making for great rainbow weather watcher pictures but some of the show was quite heavy, maybe hail and thunder into the afternoon, some snow falling to the tops of mountains, this has the story so for the demented of the afternoon we keep the risk of showers heavy with hail and thunder, most widespread to the west, but if you are trying to get some fresh air hold fire, a shower may ease and the weather study improve. top temperatures 6—12 but don't also forget you have to factor in the strength of the wind, still gusts in excess of 30—40, making it feel chilly. through the night, the wind continues to drive and plenty of showers, some merging for longer spells of rain, cleaner spy is perhaps further north and eastern scotland, no single figures here and snow showers perhaps even at lower levels but generally overnight lows of 3—5. starting saturday under the influence of low pressure and still a brisk north—westerly wind feeding in, plenty of showers along north and west facing coasts and particulates to another pretty unsettled story, prepare for a little bit of everything, some places most a dry all day and keep some sunshine, most of the show was always likely to be along the west and south facing coasts. top temperatures through the afternoon peaking at double figures every hour lucky. out of saturday into sunday, it looks likely we will see further showers through particularly the west, but sheltered eastern areas should stay fine and dry and lighter winds on sunday saw a slightly better that day. what we need is a large area of high pressure to keep things relatively quiet, we will not see that on sunday, temperatures 7-11 but see that on sunday, temperatures 7—11 but we could well see the pressure building from the west into next week. it takes its time but then it'll set to the west keeping things ever to quieter and cooler. the former chief doctor of british cycling and team sky has been found guilty of ordering performance—enhancing testosterone for an unnamed rider. a tribunalfound richard freeman had ordered the drug knowing it would be given to an athlete to improve their athletic performance. the verdict has sent shock waves through british sport. we'll explore the potential fallout with our sports editor. also in the programme: the police watchdog investigates scotland yard's handling of an allegation of indecent exposure made against the officer suspected of murdering sarah everard. exports of goods to the european union dropped by 41% injanuary, the largest monthly fall since records began. an inquest finds neglect contributed to the death of a man who died after being restrained by police in luton.