hello and welcome to bbc news. the french prime minister has condemned the violence that accompanied a day of mass demonstrations against reform of the country s pension system. the interior ministry says more than a50 protestors were arrested and 440 members of the security forces injured. more than 1 million people took to the streets on thursday to protest against the retirement age being raised from 62 to 64. most of the protests were peaceful, but there were violent clashes with police in paris and in other cities, including bordeaux, toulouse, lille and nantes. vincent mcaviney reports. bordeaux s town hall set alight by protesters overnight. more than a million had taken to the streets across the country through the day, angry at president macron s raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64. in paris, where over 100,000 had marched in a largely peaceful demonstration, the night was also hijacked by violent protesters. running battles through the capital s centre betwe
arriving in north east scotland later. details throughout the programme. good morning. it s monday, the 20th of november. our main story. it s the start of a big week for the covid inquiry, which will hear evidence from the high profile doctors and scientists who helped to shape and explain the government s response to the pandemic. the former chief scientific adviser, sir patrick vallance, whose diaries from that time accused boris johnson of chaotic leadership, will appear today, followed by professor sir chris whitty, jonathan van tam and damejenny harries over the coming days. our health reporter jim reed reports. patrick, over to you. thank you very much. numbers are increasing and they re increasing across europe and in the uk. sir patrick vallance was up there at the downing street podium in some of the darkest days of the pandemic. we re also recommending increased social distancing. that s the phrase that you hear. already the inquiry has heard extracts from his priv
be able to pinpoint schools that are struggling and may need a bit of intervention. she says any changes to this would have to provide both these things. she also recognised it s a very difficult time for head teachers at the moment, especially after the pandemic with school absences, mental health in school has risen, but very much saying that inspections are important for parents and schools and should continue. ~ . . , parents and schools and should continue. ~ ., ., , ., parents and schools and should continue. ~ ., ., , continue. what has the reaction been to this from continue. what has the reaction been to this from the continue. what has the reaction been to this from the education continue. what has the reaction been to this from the education unions i to this from the education unions and others involved in the sector? basically since ruth perry is sadly took her life injanuary and since herfamily have come took her life injanuary and since her family have come out to s