The Bloodiest Day of the Military Coup in myanmar the un says Security Forces have shot dead at least 18 protesters. The Coronation Street actorJohnny Briggs who played mike baldwin in the itv soap has died at the age of 85. Good afternoon. The chancellor rishi sunak says people should be reassured by his plans in this weeks budget. Mr sunak said he would continue to support families and businesses hit by coronavirus, but wanted to level with people that more challenging times could lie ahead as we emerge from the pandemic. He also announced a £5 billion grant scheme, to help pubs, restaurants, shops, and other businesses in england to re open. Heres our political correspondentjonathan blake. Closed for business and struggling to survive, but some comfort for Companies Hit hard by the pandemic as the government offers £5 billion worth of grants part, the chancellor says, of his promise to do whatever it takes to keep the economy going. And ahead of the Budget A Signal that hell keep spending to offer that support for now. My priority is to keep supporting british families, businesses and people through this crisis. I said at the beginning i would do whatever it took to do exactly that and i remain committed to that. Borrow, borrow, borrow . The right thing to do right now is to support the economy, but i also want to level with people about the challenges we face. Coronavirus has been an enormous shock both to our economy and to our public finances and i think it is right to be honest with people about that challenge and be clear about what our plan to address that is. So at some Point Tax Rises seem likely. Company profits could take a hit if Corporation Tax were to go up and it is reported Income Tax Thresholds may be frozen, meaning more people pay a higher rate. Too soon say labour, who claim the chancellor has got an eye on the next election. When we talk to businesses right across the country, as i have, what they are really concerned about is confidence. They dont want to see a chancellor who is focused on politics, who is focused on getting any changes through right now so he can wash his hands of them before the next general election. Instead they want that focus on jobs and businesses and sadly that is not what we have seen from this chancellor. Mr sunak denied telling tory mps hed rather raise taxes now and be able to cut them later. I dont recognise that and i think given the shock that weve had over the last year and the Economic Uncertainty we face, it would be brave for people to know exactly what was going to happen in three years. The chancellor is clearly uncomfortable with the level of debt built up over the last year, but even talking about tax rises to try to reduce the burden of all that borrowing makes many conservative mps uneasy. So rishi sunak will have to balance their concerns with his desire to maintain a reputation for managing the economy responsibly. With the worst of the pandemic hopefully over, decisions by the chancellor in wednesdays budget will shape its Lasting Impact on the countrys finances and our own. Jonathan blake, bbc news. As weve just heard the one Budget Measure that has been announced is the £5 billion for high street shops and businesses in england to support them as they reopen after lockdown. While welcomed by many, some say it wont be enough on its own as our Business Correspondent Katie Prescott reports. Hopes for a bright summer ahead, as pubs and restaurants think about welcoming punters after a devastating year. Staying closed cost them on average £10,000 a month. Lockdown has been very, very difficult and very, very stressful. Weve got over 1,000 employees who, apart from four months, have been living on half pay. They really have been living on a hand to mouth existence over the last year and put that together with the stresses that the business has had to deal with in being shut down and not being allowed to trade through no real fault of their own, it has been a very, very stressful time. To help them reopen, the government is offering grants to businesses in england forced to close by covid. Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland will separately receive an extra £800 million in funding. In wednesdays budget, non essential retailers will receive up to £6,000 for each shop they own. Hospitality, gyms and beauty businesses will receive up to £18,000 per premises, as they are due to open with more restrictions or later in the year. And, overall, 700,000 businesses will be eligible for the funds, which will be distributed by local authorities from april. But some, like this salon, say its just not enough when theyve got rents and overheads to pay. Although the £18,000 is fantastic, its certainly something and its going to help a lot of people, its not going to help me very much and the larger salons. Many of us are losing over £1,000 a day, so thats not going to cover over half of the month that were closing down. What businesses like these really want to see as they reopen is a far broader package of measures from the budget and information about what will happen to key schemes, such as furlough and Business Loans that are due to come to an end. But this all comes at a cost and the chancellor will lay out what it means for public finances and some of how he plans to pay for it. That doesnt mean spending will stop immediately, but in the future there will be a bill to pay. Katie prescott, bbc news. 0ur reporter Megan Paterson is in newcastle where she has been gauging reaction to the announcement. Good afternoon, this is newcastle city centre, a street lined with cafes, bars and restaurants were closed under covid restrictions. The news of the chance of trying to restart hospitality. 0ddly, you have 15 hospitality businesses here, the doors closed at the moment. How crucial is the support from the government, is it enough . I dont think anything government, is it enough . I dont think anything could government, is it enough . I dont think anything could ever government, is it enough . I dont think anything could ever be government, is it enough . I dont i think anything could ever be enough, given think anything could ever be enough, given what think anything could ever be enough, given what we have lost for the year. Given what we have lost for the year. But given what we have lost for the year, but the biggest challenge is running year, but the biggest challenge is running out of money. Its a significant sum of money that has been significant sum of money that has been announced this morning, and will be been announced this morning, and will be most welcomed by everyone i know will be most welcomed by everyone i know a will be most welcomed by everyone i know. � , will be most welcomed by everyone i know. , will be most welcomed by everyone i know. � ,. , know. A sunny day in newcastle, a sunny sunday know. A sunny day in newcastle, a sunny sunday normally, know. A sunny day in newcastle, a sunny sunday normally, how know. A sunny day in newcastle, a l sunny sunday normally, how difficult is it for you to see your premises closed . ~. ,. ,. ,. , closed . We have got used to it, year reiun, but closed . We have got used to it, year reign. But it closed . We have got used to it, year reign. But it is closed . We have got used to it, year reign, but it is sad, closed . We have got used to it, year reign, but it is sad, but closed . We have got used to it, year reign, but it is sad, but we closed . We have got used to it, year reign, but it is sad, but we have reign, but it is sad, but we have good reign, but it is sad, but we have good tirnes reign, but it is sad, but we have good times ahead, we have a road map. Good times ahead, we have a road map. It good times ahead, we have a road map. It will good times ahead, we have a road map, it will get us over the line, we want map, it will get us over the line, we want to map, it will get us over the line, we want to come back. How map, it will get us over the line, we want to come back. How crucial is that help to we want to come back. How crucial is that help to get we want to come back. How crucial is that help to get you we want to come back. How crucial is that help to get you have we want to come back. How crucial is that help to get you have the we want to come back. How crucial is that help to get you have the line . That help to get you have the line . It is really important. Hospitality is a term it is really important. Hospitality is a term that people use as an all encompassing term, but it is everything all encompassing term, but it is everything from a coffee shop to a Nightclub Everything from a coffee shop to a nightclub to a cinema, and everyone has different problems, but the problem has different problems, but the problem i no income for a year. Tell me about getting the businesses back up me about getting the businesses back up and running. If me about getting the businesses back no and running up and running. If we walk across now, the up and running. If we walk across now. The place up and running. If we walk across now, the place is up and running. If we walk across now, the place is dark up and running. If we walk across now, the place is dark and up and running. If we walk across now, the place is dark and dusty | up and running. If we walk across i now, the place is dark and dusty and all the now, the place is dark and dusty and all the furniture is stacked up and we have all the furniture is stacked up and we have no all the furniture is stacked up and we have no stock. We have quite a few staff we have no stock. We have quite a few staff who have not been at work for quite few staff who have not been at work for quite a few staff who have not been at work for quite a long time, so to get the business for quite a long time, so to get the business up for quite a long time, so to get the business up and running is a big task. Business up and running is a big task. And business up and running is a big task, and get the whole company up and running task, and get the whole company up and running is a big task of training, and running is a big task of training, and i that goes along with that, training, and i that goes along with that, but training, and i that goes along with that, but to training, and i that goes along with that, but to have the road map which actually that, but to have the road map which actually lets that, but to have the road map which actually lets us know that we are not going actually lets us know that we are not going to be closing again, that is so not going to be closing again, that is so important. Opening and closing that year is so important. Opening and closing that year was so important, and to know that year was so important, and to know that that year was so important, and to know that we have these steps coming and hopefully we will build trade over the and hopefully we will build Trade Overthe Summerand it and hopefully we will build trade over the summer and it into the autumn, over the summer and it into the autumn, its over the summer and it into the autumn, its really encouraging. How confident are autumn, its really encouraging. How confident are you autumn, its really encouraging. Limo confident are you with these Restart Grants and with the guidelines on reopening . You have an outside terrace here. How confident are you that you could start to claw back some of the losses made last year . I think it will take a long time to claw think it will take a long time to claw back think it will take a long time to claw back the losses, because they are very claw back the losses, because they are very significant, but that customer are very significant, but that Customer Demand is there, our customers Customer Demand is there, our customers are letting us know that they want customers are letting us know that they want us to open and that we will open they want us to open and that we will open gradually. The Outside Stop Open to start with, we will get more stop open to start with, we will get more venues open within your a commander byjune, hopefully, we all bein commander byjune, hopefully, we all being well, commander byjune, hopefully, we all being well, we will be up and running. Being well, we will be up and running, doing what we do best, i dont running, doing what we do best, i dont have running, doing what we do best, i dont have this can be something that we dont have this can be something that we talk about in history. Well, a little bit of that we talk about in history. Well, a little bit of hope that we talk about in history. Well, a little bit of hope in that we talk about in history. Well, a little bit of hope in the that we talk about in history. 11 a little bit of hope in the sunshine here in newcastle. Already, 0llies terrace has had 2000 bookings for when those restrictions were eased, so people differently want to get back to normal here in newcastle. Lets hope so, and as you say, what a beautiful afternoon up there. More than 20 Million People in the uk have received their first jab against coronavirus. Nadeem zaha week, also said bingo it comes as nearly two Million People aged 60 to 63 in england are being invited to book a coronavirus vaccine. Nhs england says people in that age bracket will start receiving letters explaining how to book a jab. The government aiming to offer a first dose to all adults by the end ofjuly. With me now is our health correspondent, jim reed. 15 million by the middle of the month, 20 million now. A slight problem with supply, but are they on course . Its problem with supply, but are they on course . � ,. , problem with supply, but are they on course . � ,. , , problem with supply, but are they on course . � ,. ,. ,. , course . Its nice to come on and rive course . Its nice to come on and give more course . Its nice to come on and give more positive course . Its nice to come on and give more positive news course . Its nice to come on and give more positive news about i give more positive news about coronavirus after, lets face it, three or four months which has been pretty gloomy, but these Vaccination Numbers are very strong. Again, 20 Million People, as you say, just about three months since the first dose, youre a member christmas, Margaret Keenan was the name of the first person to get a dose on december eight, she was just about to turn 91. I think if you had asked us then would we be in this position three months on, i think people would have said, not in your wildest dreams. The roll out across the nhs has been critically impressive. You mention those words from matt hancock and nadeem zaha week, it was talking about across the uk how this is going, because this is notjust across england, if you look at the numbers, wales actually has the highest rate. flit numbers, wales actually has the highest rate. Highest rate. Of people obs alread . Highest rate. Of people obs already . People i highest rate. Of people obs already . People jobs i highest rate. Of people jobs already . People jobs already. Highest rate. Of people jobs already . People jobs already. Then already . People obs already. Then en. Land, already . People obs already. Then england, then already . People jobs already. Then england, then scotland, already . People jobs already. Then england, then scotland, then england, then scotland, then Northern Ireland, but it is roughly similar, and in no way it is housed to draw a conclusion, because each part of the uk has a different population. All the same, though, these numbers are impressive. 0ne slight note of caution i want to say, just off the phone with chris hopson from nhs providers, represents all the big trusts in england, and he said its an extraordinaryjob that his colleagues in the nhs have done, but he says it is not sustainable in the long term. They have had to divert from the normal work, but we have to think about there will be we in a couple of weeks time, in a years time, if we have to deal with boosters, top ups, new variants, that kind of thing. Aha, boosters, top ups, new variants, that kind of thing. Boosters, top ups, new variants, that kind of thing. A big day coming u , that kind of thing. A big day coming u, a that kind of thing. A big day coming u , a week that kind of thing. A big day coming up, a week tomorrow that kind of thing. A big day coming up, a week tomorrow the that kind of thing. A big day coming up, a week tomorrow the return that kind of thing. A big day coming up, a week tomorrow the return of| up, a week tomorrow the return of kids to school, blitzing from the government on lateral flow test, presumably because there are fears that the are a number which we all have been following for a year now, could potentially increase with kids go back to school. Go back to school. Thats right, the data on children go back to school. Thats right, the data on children in go back to school. Thats right, the data on children in School Go Back To school. Thats right, the data on Children In School Has Go Back To school. Thats right, the| data on children in school has never been certain, its so is the mix, its really hard thing to measure the impact of children going back to school, how it affects the virus rates and the overall society. 0ne Scientist says that there is not much evidence that children are getting this in school, picking it up getting this in school, picking it up and spreading it, but theres quite a lot of evidence that it is reflecting what is going on in the community, so perhaps children are getting infected, not getting to clear, coming back home, then managing to spread to other people to live with, for example. There is a concern, that is why were the government has done today is right a one of its lateral testing programme, notjust to those people in Secondary School and college, but of the families of all pupils in the uk, so youll be able to go online, get hold of a bunch of these passed tests that you could do at home, if you have children of that age, and be able to do them at home to see if you have picked up the infection, evenif you have picked up the infection, even if it is asymptomatic, if you havent actually got symptoms themselves. That will start to roll out from tomorrow, you will be able to go online to get hold of these tests, pick them up from Testing Centres across england and then you will be able to use them at home and see, like i say, if you have picked this up if you have been affected. They you much indeed. Us regulators have authorised the use of the johnson and Johnson Covid vaccine. Its the first time this vaccine which only needs one dose to be effective has been approved for use anywhere. The us food and drug agency will allow the drug to be shipped out to Vaccine Centres immediately. Because this drug only needs one dose its likely to be more Cost Effective and easier to administer. It can be stored in a refrigerator rather than a freezer. The World Health Organisations Covax Scheme Has ordered 500 million doses, while the uk has bought 30 million. Police in myanmar have opened fire on protesters in the deadliest day 47 opposition figures in hong kong have been charged with conspiracy to commit subversion. Theyd organised and taken part in unofficial primary polls to select Opposition Candidates ahead of the now postponed legislative elections. Its the largest single use of the National Security law imposed by beijing last year. Danny vincent is in hong kong. The activists were told to report to the Police Station in the early afternoon. Some suspected they would face detention. The man in the black mask is benny tai, one of the leading thinkers behind the 2014 protest movement, and an organiser of the primary elections which the Authorities Say were in violation of the National Security law. Translation i have been comforting my family these last few days. I havent done anything wrong. I havent done anything illegal, so eventually if i was charged and even injail in the end i have no qualms about what i have done. These activists took part in an unofficial primary election, where more than half a million voted to pre select democracy candidates for the citys Legislative Council elections, elections that never took place. The Authorities Say this was an attempt to use mass candidates to paralyse the government, and have charged them with subversion. The 47 could face life in prison. Activists say hong kongs Political Freedoms are being eroded. They say the law is being used as a political weapon. Translation we hong kong people are the light of hong kong. The government can take away all our rights, but the eyes of the people all over the world are sharp. Everyone will know that we hong kong people are still strong in these difficult days and still insist on our five demands. Five demands, not one less. The Authorities Say that Law And Order is being returned to hong kong after more than a year of political turmoil. One of the activists, lester shum, had this message not to give up just before he entered the Police Station to hand himself in. Sooner or later, how difficult it will be, i want to tell all the hong kong people, no matter where you are, to keep faithful and to be hopeful and to continue our struggle. For activists, todays charges represent an all out attack on political opposition. The Authorities Say the city must be ruled by patriots. Political opponents past and present and those that wish to stand for the election are now being punished under the law. Danny vincent, bbc news, hong kong. Police in myanmar have opened fire on protesters in the deadliest day of demonstrations since the february the first coup. The Un Human Rights Office says at least 18 people have been killed. Security forces used Rubber Bullets and live ammunition against demonstrators in at least three cities. Stun guns and water cannon were also used to Disperse Protesters across the country. This is what is happening after deadly protests in several places in yangon today. People remain defiant in the ongoing fight for democracy. As you see, here in the central city. People continue to protest and block the main road to prevent the Security Forces from coming. Today the Security Forces were actually out early taking position at many protest sites across the city. They tried to contain the protest in small streets and townships, even before anti coup protesters were being gathered all together. There were reports of shooting in several places, including near the university, the major gathering points. The circumstances of the shootings in several places, however, are not clear. But we have seen a number of photos of people appear to be fatally wounded. Some reports said that a number of protesters were killed in yangon, as well as some other cities across the country. Police appear to be using stun grenades, tear gas and live rounds. Several bloodied people were seen in images from other regions as well, which were circulated on social media pages. It was not clear if they were hit by Rubber Bullets or live fire. So far we can confirm that a teacher who was protesting in yangon died of a heart attack after police used a sound boom. The witnesses and Rescue Workers said reportedly two men were also killed in a suburb of yangon. We are still trying to confirm the number of deaths and injured people. Despite the crackdowns, thousands of protesters remain on the streets in the afternoon. In many places, people are setting up barricades and Carrying Shields to protect themselves. This weekend crackdown is potentially one of the most deadliest since the coup has taken place four weeks ago. It is expected to raise numbers of casualties as well as those who got arrested. Nyein chan aye, bbc news, yangon. More on the situation in myanmar on the website, as well. Sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, well start with this afternoons premier league action, where tottenham are taking on burnley. Theyre leading 4 0 through two gareth bale goals, one from harry kane and another by lucas moura. Earlier, their north london rivals, arsenal, won 3 1 at leicester. They had to come from behind though, after Youri Tielemans gave the home side the lead afterjust six minutes. Arsenal then found an equaliser through a headerfrom david luiz. A handball gave them a penalty just before half time, from which Alexandre Lacazette scored. And nicolas pepe then rounded off the victory early in the second half, putting the finishing touch to a fine move. Its probably one of the most dangerous teams in the league, once they are in front, to play against them, because they can exploit spaces behind you really quickly, like the goal that we gave them in our own half, but the reaction was terrific, i think the team looked really mature, confident, and we played some great stuff. Josh maja had the best chance of the game at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace and fulham played out a goalless draw. The Point Means Fulham are still three points from safety, while palace stay in 13th place. Lee mason, who controversially disallowed a goal in brightons defeat at west brom yesterday, has pulled out of his fourth official duties at tonights game between Sheffield United and liverpool due to injury. Mason angered brighton players after allowing lewis dunk to quickly take a free kick, which he scored from, but subsequently ruled it out after consulting the pitchside monitor. Its understood the official is suffering from a muscle strain. In scotland, the second half of the Scottish League cup is underway at hampden where the first silverware of the season is up for grabs. Stjohnstone are leading livingstone 1 0 after sean rooney headed in a corner on the half hour mark. No matter who wins, one manager will take home a trophy in their debut season. Livingston are looking to win the tournament for the First Time Since 2004 while stjohnstone have been finalists twice but never won. Norwich city have moved seven points clear at the top of the championship after beating wycombe 2 0. Top scorer teemu pukki got the first for norwich early in the second half. Adam idah added a second in the last few minutes, to give them their fifth straight win. There are three matches in the Womens Super League this afternoon, including Manchester City against birmingham, which is underway. City are currently leading 3 0. The first, this goal from United States world cup winner sam mewis. She added a second shortly after half time, before lauren hemp got the third. Elsewhere its 2 2 between everton and tottenham while arsenal are leading aston villa 1 0. It was a remarkable comeback for premiership strugglers bath, who beat Northampton Saints 23 22 at franklins gardens. The visitors fought back from a nine point deficit at half time and took the lead after zach mercers try was converted. They held off saints for more than ten minutes to secure the win. England women played their third one dayer against new zealand in dunedin behind closed doors, after a Snap Lockdown in the country. But, despite england having already won the series, the homeside restored some pride with a seven wicket victory. England had set the hosts a target of 220 mainly thanks to tammy beaumount� s 88, but despite losing a couple of early wickets, new zealand eased towards their target with Amy Satterthwaite scoring an unbeaten 119 and amelia kerrs 72 to win by 7 wickets and ensure they avoided a series whitewash. Thats all the sport for now. You can find more on all those stories and keep up to date with all this afternoons live action on the bbc sport website. Here, the actorJohnny Briggs, who played mike baldwin in Coronation Street for 30 years, has died at the age of 85. He landed his career defining role in 1976, his character becoming notable for a string of failed relationships, including an affair with deidre barlow. In a statement his family said he had died peacefully after a long illness, with family by his side. Damon rochefort is a scriptwriter on Coronation Street, and spoke about the impact that Johnny Briggs had on the programme. He was extraordinary. I thought it was a toxic genius, actually, they had got this kind of capitalist pig to play against all our northern warm characters when they did, because it made him even more alien, really, to our community, and he was really, to our community, and he was really the only southern character in it for. Regular southern character for a in it for. Regular southern characterfor a long, long time, particularly london, and that worked very well for us. When i first started, i think in 2004, we were sort of embarking on a big, long epic story forjohnny, who wanted to 90, epic story forjohnny, who wanted to go, and all his history of ken barlow was again a great dramatic conflict for us. We had liberal guardian reading can on the one side, to whom money was filthy, really, and then you had the capitalist pig on the other side, and then you had got deirdre in between, which is perfect, and gave us material for a between, which is perfect, and gave us materialfor a decade, really, and even in my� s wonderful exit where he had alzheimers and replayed a kind of king lear story, Bradley Walsh came and played his son, and we had his grandson, battling for my� s fortune, are own little king lear, but at the very end when he did finally pass away, we had, of course, the person who found him and cradled him in the rain, as he died on the cobbles, with ken. I always thought that was the most wonderful kind of shakespearean, i guess, finish for this. This guy was a villain, but none seem to dislike him. He was terrific. , already a lwa ys always say, the best writing on Coronation Street. Hello, there. A fine, dry and Sunny Afternoon for much of the country. Certainly for england and wales, after a chilly start, those temperatures climbing to the low teens celsius. Bit more in the way of cloud, though, for parts of scotland and Northern Ireland through today. High pressure is dominating the scene which is giving us all this fine and settled weather, but as we head into the overnight period we could see more in the way of low cloud and fog rolling in across parts of england and wales, and could even seen some fogginess for the central belt of scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, too. Where skies are clear, then temperatures will be sub zero, so, some frost will greet us for monday morning, but it will also be quite grey and misty, foggy and murky for many places, certainly for england and wales. I think the low cloud will tend to break up as we move through the day. Some good sunshine across the far south and across northern and western areas, could stay quite grey and chilly crossed some eastern coastal areas of both england and also scotland. Double figure values in the sunshine, chilly where we have the cloud. Could see a few showers across southern parts around the middle part of the week, otherwise its dry and turning chilly by the end of the week. Hello, this is bbc news. The headlines. The chancellor plans a £5 billion grant scheme in england to support high street businesses hard hit by covid 19. More than 20 Million People in the uk have now received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Free rapid covid tests to be offered to families in england as children go back to school. Violence at anti coup protests in myanmar. The Un Human Rights Office says Security Forces have shot dead at least 18 people. The Coronation Street actorJohnny Briggs, who played mike baldwin in the itv soap, has died at the age of 85. Now on bbc news, The Media Show takes a look at what the spat between australia and facebook means for countries taking on big tech. Hello. Down with this obsession with youth how about we obsess over older people instead . Baby boomers, for instance. After all, theyre in the habit of actually watching and listening to linear telly and radio, and some of them even have money to spend after watching or listening to adverts. So goes the thinking behind a new Radio Station. No, not a digital platform available via smart devices, this is a real, actual Radio Station on dab