in japanese politics. and our other main story this lunchtime: durham police confirmed they are not fining keir starmer and angela rayner over allegations they broke lockdown rules last year. the race is on to replace borisjohnson as conservative leader and britain s next prime minister the first contenders throw their hats in the ring. another big rise in the number of people with covid in the uk infections are up 18%. and i am at wimbledon where britain s cameron norrie will play the six time champion novak djokovic for a place in the men s final. and coming up on the bbc news channel: former fifa president sepp blatter expresses his relief as he and former uefa boss michel platini are both found not guilty of fraud following a trial in switzerland. good afternoon. world leaders have been expressing their shock and grief after the assassination of japan s former prime minister shinzo abe. he was shot while making a speech in the city of nara, and later died in hospital.
let s turn to china where amid growing skepticism over its official covid figures, authorities have now clarified that only people who die from respiratory illnesses are counted in the official covid death toll. just two weeks after the most severe restrictions were lifted, cases are reported to be rising fast, but authorities have only acknowledged seven deaths. ros atkins has more. china s zero covid policy is over, and the virus is surging. this reversal of policy came very suddenly, and people were not prepared for it. we ve seen fairly chaotic responses with the very rapid spread of omicron. china s chief epidemiologist is warning that this is the first of three waves. 0ne doctor quoted by state media calls this a pandemic tsunami. and establishing how big this outbreak is isn t easy. official statistics note 16 covered deaths in the last month, but there is scepticism about these figures. today china confirmed the only deaths caused by pneumonia
latest on the covid figures. the time is 1:16pm. our top story this lunchtime. japan s former prime minister shinzo abe has died after being shot at a political campaign event. the soaring cost of petrol and diesel, the competition watchdog launches an investigation into the way prices at the pump set. coming up, wimbledon semifinal day as britain s cameron norrie takes on defending champion novak djokovic for a place in his first ever grand slam final. in ukraine, russian forces are continuing their push in the east of the country a day after president putin told parliamentary leaders in moscow that his offensive was yet to begin in earnest. russia switched its focus to ukaine s eastern donbas in march, after a failed bid to capture the capital kyiv.
hello and welcome to bbc news. the prime minister has told mps that he plans to stick to plan b coronavirus measures in england for at least another three weeks. he said people should carry on working from home, wearing face coverings on public transport and in indoor public spaces and taking a test before going to high risk venues or meeting the elderly or vulnerable. it comes despite figures from the office for national statistics showing an estimated 3.7 million people in the uk had covid in the week ending december 31 the highest number since data collection began in autumn 2020. today s latest covid figures show the uk has reported a further 194,747 new cases. the prime miniser also confirmed that from 4am on friday, passengers travelling to england will no longer be required to take
number of cases and staff shortages will be one key test of the government s strategy and the approach. it s one that labour will hold them to account over.- hold them to account over. many thanks for hold them to account over. many thanks for all that. the latest estimate suggests that 3.7 million people in the uk had covid last week up from 2.3 million over the previous seven days. today s latest covid figures show the uk has reported a further i9a,747 new cases. let s speak to our health correspondent nick triggle. that s a big drunk. jump. could that s a big drunk. “ump. could be sloping that s a big drunk. “ump. could be sloping and h that s a big drunk. “ump. could be sloping and at that s a big drunk. jump. could be sloping and at some that s a big drunk. jump. could be sloping and at some point - be sloping and at some point peaking. i m afraid and today s figures, there s no such sign with