just suggested that these provisions might be rolled forward a further six months. that is why so many of us are worried. these are extraordinary provisions, not for normal times, and they should be expired at the earliest possible opportunity. i expired at the earliest possible opportunity-— expired at the earliest possible ouortuni . . , ., opportunity. i actually agree with him that they _ opportunity. i actually agree with him that they should _ opportunity. i actually agree with him that they should be - opportunity. i actually agree with him that they should be expired l opportunity. i actually agree with l him that they should be expired at the earliest opportunity. the challenge is, especially as we lift measures on all of us, if there are, for instance, new variants that we need to absolutely pin down, in the same way there was a new variant that came about in liverpool and we tackled it and we have not seen any new cases of it because of fantastic local work, new cases of it because of fantastic localwork, but new cases of it because of fantastic local work, but also because in lockdown that is easier. having these very targeted interventions for now is important and therefore we have made thejudgment now for now is important and therefore we have made the judgment now to propose that these are necessary, for now, and i know we disagree on that point, but i would suggest that by voting against all of these renewals there are a whole load of valuable things that he and i would actually agree on that would not be renewed where it to go through. we are also suspending, and i'lljust make some more progress, suspending three further provisions although they may need to be restored and called on if required, and as well as this we have completed the six month statutory review on covid regulations for businesses, collection contact details, self isolation and concluded they remain necessary at this time. the coronavirus act is temporary, it is time limited, it is proportionate to the threat we face and we are only keeping measures where they are necessary as we exit this pandemic, and then we can do away with this act for good. madam deputy speaker, throughout the pandemic, this house has found a way to meet and i cannot wait for the time when this chamber will be full and rowdy once again, as the cockpit of our democracy where you can almost literally take the temperature of the nation. i may pay for that when i say something particularly unfortunate, but i prefer it and i think everybody in the house does. after widespread consultation on on on the basis of detailed public health advice my right honourable friend the leader of the has tabled the motion to extend the virtual participation and the current proxy voting arrangements until the 21st ofjune. that is the proposed date for the removal of all legal restrictions on social contact. i know that we want to thank you, madam deputy speaker, and through you the other deputy speakers and the house authorities for the work you have done in these unprecedented times to keep people safe here. so, the measures before the house today show how we will put the house today show how we will put the pandemic behind us and restore our life to normal. we are on the road to recovery but we are not at the finish line yet and bypassing these measures we can keep protecting lives and livelihoods while we get our nation back on its feet once more, and finally i will give weight to the honourable gentleman. fin give weight to the honourable gentleman-— give weight to the honourable centleman. . , ,, . . gentleman. on a very specific point which i heped _ gentleman. on a very specific point which i hoped he _ gentleman. on a very specific point which i hoped he would, _ gentleman. on a very specific point which i hoped he would, but - gentleman. on a very specific point which i hoped he would, but i - which i hoped he would, but i anticipate he is not, we are very concerned about variance in europe and the surge we are seeing in europe. is it the government intention to impose restrictions on those coming in from france or germany and to add france or other european countries to the red list or impose testing on hauliers coming into the country? mil or impose testing on hauliers coming into the country?— into the country? all of these questions _ into the country? all of these questions will _ into the country? all of these questions will be _ into the country? all of these questions will be answered i into the country? all of these | questions will be answered as into the country? all of these - questions will be answered as part of the global travel taskforce which the prime minister has announced will be published on the 5th of april, so i would commend him to wait until then and answering that final question, i commend these motions to the house. the question is motion number _ motions to the house. the question is motion number two, _ motions to the house. the question is motion number two, as _ motions to the house. the question is motion number two, as on - motions to the house. the question is motion number two, as on the i is motion number two, as on the order_ is motion number two, as on the order papeh _ is motion number two, as on the order paper. shadow secretary of state, _ order paper. shadow secretary of state, jonathan ashworth. | order paper. shadow secretary of state, jonathan ashworth. i do state, jonathan ashworth. i do appreciate _ state, jonathan ashworth. i do appreciate the _ state, jonathan ashworth. i u appreciate the secretary of state allowing me to intervene at the end there. it is right this week that we remember all of those who have lost this life to the horrific virus and we reflect on the grief on all those who have lost loved ones and across the house we pay tribute to all of those who put themselves in the face of danger, our nhs and care workers, all of our public servants and key workers who have kept our society functioning. over126,000 workers who have kept our society functioning. over 126,000 have died. in social functioning. 0ver126,000 have died. in social care, the impact has been devastating. 0ver in social care, the impact has been devastating. over 30,000 have died. residents have been left isolated and frightened, deprived of visits from their loved ones for months on end. across the nhs, cancer patients have seen surgery cancelled and screenings postponed. 0ver have seen surgery cancelled and screenings postponed. over 300,000 are waiting for other treatments. a study today from the university of leicester suggested those patients who were hospitalised and discharged, 71% of them have not fully recovered after five months. 20% are left with a new disability. the long—term impact of covid is likely to be severe for many people. our nhs staff face burn—out, 0ur nhs staff face burn—out, children have lost months of education and social interaction. they risk being amongst the biggest victims of the pandemic. families are worried and anxious. and our nhs has suffered. public health funding has suffered. public health funding has been cut for many years which left our public health services without the capacity that they needed when the pandemic hit. the poorest communities have seen more than double the death rate in the first wave. the ethnic minority communities have seen the death rate up communities have seen the death rate up to 50% higher. it didn't have to be like this, of course. a healthier, more equal society would have weathered the storms better. we could have planned it better, acted more quickly and responded more comprehensively. 0f more quickly and responded more comprehensively. of course, our vaccination programme has been successful and i want to again thank everybody who has been involved in the vaccination programme. but the reality is that we are not out of the woods yet. the pandemic still has some way to go and it is right that we proceed with caution and that we proceed with caution and that we proceed with caution and that we do not become complacent. because vaccination alone, frankly does not make us bullet—proof. it does not make us bullet—proof. it does make us safer but we are not safe until we build population immunity and we roll out vaccination everywhere across the world. i asked the secretary of state last week about the vaccination of children and he quite rightly said —— he rightly said we have to wait for research from the clinical trials but it was suggested yesterday that vaccination for children could start as soon as august. if safety requirements are met, i hope ministers are commissioning the institute with a plan for how child vaccination could roll out because it will be important as a way in which we can drive down transmission. there is a third wave surging across europe, much of that is as a response or because of the b 117 kent variant but we are increasingly seeing a higher prevalence of other variance which the secretary of state has quite rightly said that we are uncertain times to will —— to whether they will evade vaccines or not. so we have to be careful, and we have to proceed with caution because although we are making extraordinary progress in this country both with our vaccination rates and in bringing infection rates down we know that the virus does mutate. we know that the virus does mutate. we know that the virus does mutate. we know that the virus can come back and hit us even harder, particularly at a time when there is a considerable amount of virus circulating. infections are still running at over 5000 per day and the ons running at over 5000 per day and the 0ns estimated last week that hundred people in england have had the infection in the last week, so we still have to work hard to break transmission chains and we have to work hard to shut down opportunities for the virus to replicate, and given the loss of life we have suffered and given the risks of mutations that could set us back we must have a zero tolerance in letting the virus raged unchecked. for that reason, we do accept that restrictions have to stay in place and for that reason we support the renewal of the act and the public health regulations before us but we do not support that renewal with any enthusiasm or relish. quite the opposite. neitherthe enthusiasm or relish. quite the opposite. neither the secretary of state or i came into politics to put powers like this on the statute book. these are powers that curtail so many basic freedoms and deregulate so many basic standards that our forebears fought so hard for and that so many people have taken for granted. but i am also acutely conscious that this deadly virus spreads rapidly, exploits ambiguity and thrives on inequality. and suppressing the virus does depend on social distancing measures. which is why we need them on the statute book but it also depends on other measures as well, such as properly isolating the sick and paying them fully to isolate. it depends on having proper community led contact tracing, retrospective and forward—looking contact tracing and forward—looking contact tracing and depends on new science but not just a vaccines but the therapeutics that will lead us out of this crisis. restrictions in themselves are a blunt tool, but sadly, they will be needed given the virus is still surging across the world. that's why we supported the measures 12 months ago and it's why we will support them again today. indeed, it was 12 months ago that i met regularly with the secretary of state and it was 12 months ago, or just over 12 months ago that i sat round a very small table in the prime minister's office in downing street with the prime minister and our then leader of the opposition, the memberfor islington north, alongside advisers like dominic cummings and others to negotiate the content of the act. we pressed for statutory sick pay from day one and thatis statutory sick pay from day one and that is in the act. we think the honourable gentleman should go further. it's not enough but at least we have statutory sick pay from day one. we pressed for a ban on evictions for those in rent arrears, and again the prime minister gave us that concession and we pressed for furlough minister gave us that concession and we pressed forfurlough in minister gave us that concession and we pressed for furlough in that meeting. of course, on each of those, i want the government to go much further and i believe it is a monstrous failure of the last 12 months that decent sick pay and financial support has not been provided but i think it would be churlish of me not to recognise that we had that meeting and concessions were offered as a result of that meeting. but even though we supported the act 12 months ago, i stood up this dispatch box and raised a number of concerns about the content of the act and indeed i said that in different circumstances with a proper process where members could bring forward amendments in good time, we would have hoped for better scrutiny of the act, but nonetheless we raised concerns about the easement of the care act and i'm pleased that those clauses have been removed. 0rwill pleased that those clauses have been removed. or will be removed. we raised objection to the way the act gave the cemetery of the state powers to change the children and families act. i understand that these powers have not been used since july these powers have not been used sincejuly last year these powers have not been used since july last year but we remain concerned that at the moment that they still appear to be in the act and i would ask the secretary of state to reflect on that and take those particular clauses out of the act. and a year ago we also raised concerns about the more draconian elements of the act raised with the secretary of state a few moments ago andindeed secretary of state a few moments ago and indeed i said at the dispatch box a year ago that the bill contains the most draconian powers ever seen in peacetime britain, powers to detain and test potentially infectious members of the public. powers to shut down gatherings which could impede the ability to protest against the overall handling of the crisis or against the abuse of the powers themselves and it needs no explanation and very little imagination for the abuse that such powers and others in the bill still give rise to, and sadly we have seen such abuses. the application of the section 21, the power to detain potentially infectious people has been used for a number of prosecutions every one of which was found to be unlawful when reviewed by the cps. the joint committee on human rights has advised in its report of september last year that in the absence of any clear evidence to support the retention of schedule 21 powers they ought to be repealed. we have huge sympathy with that, as indeed members have who have contributed to the debate so far and we would urge the government to look again at this particular clause in the act. �* ., ., ., the act. i'm grateful for what he has “ust the act. i'm grateful for what he has just said _ the act. i'm grateful for what he hasjust said and _ the act. i'm grateful for what he hasjust said and i _ the act. i'm grateful for what he hasjust said and i would - the act. i'm grateful for what he hasjust said and i would say - the act. i'm grateful for what he | hasjust said and i would say how has just said and i would say how sorry i am, though i completely understand, that my amendment was not selected because i feel it probably would have gone through the lobbies together for it on schedule 21 and 22 and i wonder if he could advise the secretary of state that should structure a question, for the house whether he would vote to call upon ministers to remove those schedules? i upon ministers to remove those schedules?— schedules? i don't think the schedule — schedules? i don't think the schedule is _ schedules? i don't think the schedule is needed. - schedules? i don't think the schedule is needed. i- schedules? i don't think the - schedule is needed. i understand why we would want something to deal with somebody who is infectious and refusing to isolate themselves, but i think the way in which the schedule is in the act and the way it has been applied is not needed, and it needs to be looked at again. and i would make a broader point, where as i understand why the government has to make and put in these restrictions on the statute book or maintain the restrictions, i'm a strong believer in doing all we can to suppress this virus, drive down infections, cut transmission chains, prevent opportunities for replication. i'm a strong believer in putting public health first, but i also think that the government could have found time for the house for this debate to take place over a couple of days where members could bring amendments and we could properly scrutinise the bill. the government does have a rather handsome majority and i'm sure it would have got its way on most of the things it wanted to get its way on, but who knows, perhaps with proper scrutiny we might have improved the legislation before us. i proposed a new public health act which would you statutory infamous of the type under the civil contingencies act which would allowed us to an envious eyes and i wondered whether he would spot that is the proposal. —— and i was to amend the s eyes. he invites metre to offer support before i have read the detail because he is a canny operator in this place but it is a reasonable suggestion and i look forward to receiving e—mailfrom him later today which i will be able to read when i am on the train back to leicester. {iii read when i am on the train back to leicester. . ., , �* ., leicester. of course. i'm grateful to my honourable _ leicester. of course. i'm grateful to my honourable friend - leicester. of course. i'm grateful to my honourable friend and - leicester. of course. i'm grateful to my honourable friend and he l leicester. of course. i'm grateful. to my honourable friend and he has given us an interesting insight into the history of this epidemic in this country in the discussions that took place. would he care to put on record now that we should immediately start a public enquiry, an independent enquiry into what has gone on, so that we can get a full picture of it on it is a feeble excuse to say that people cannot attend a public enquiry when virtually every single select committee in this house is having witnesses every day. mr; having witnesses every day. my honourable friend for blakely is absolutely right. we need a public enquiry. mistakes have been made. there have been examples of of poor decision—making. we went into this crisis with a health and social care because less than it should have been, public health capacity of the cuts over many years was lacking, we were late going into a locked out in a year ago. maybe that was a not unreasonable but we were late going into a locked down a second time in a failed time. of course we need a public enquiry to get to the bottom of all of these matters. —— a second time in a third time. but about the organisation of the national health service. yesterday he made an interesting speech about the future of public health national institute for health security and opened his speech saying by one of the lessons of this crisis as we need to set up a national institute security and i actually agree with him on how security as it happens that the government can't say on the one hand we have learned lessons in a crisis and we need to do x, y and the boat on the other hand say too early for this crisis and we can't have an enquiry. —— we need to do xyz. we have our concerns about section 21 but we are where we are and the procedures of the house leave is little room for manoeuvre and we will be supporting the government is the division lobbies should it come to that other we would rather we were not in this particular situation. section 22 is another close which is open to abuse on the bail and, close which is open to abuse on the bailand, again, iwould hope the government would review this and come forward with alternatives. this is the power and i'm which, given recent events, has caused understandable concern. however... the public, i think, does offer some progress on this matter and, again, we will be supporting the public health regulations because the public health regulations include expressly, and i think this is for the first time now, and in relation to each step of the relaxation of lockdown, the right to have a gathering for the purposes of protest. the introduction of this clause in the public health regulations is welcome, to be frank it should have been in there all along, although i do have some concerns that you comply the organisers have to take into account the words of the regulations, any guidance issued by the government relevant to the gathering. it means the government, by guidance, which could be general local beast specific to a particular protest could determine what is allowed by way of protest so i hope that the minister, khomeini was a decent man —— the minister, who i know it is a decent man is one of my fellow mps, can offer some guidance on that in a response to the debate later today. but, notwithstanding our concerns, we understand by the statute book and why the public health regulations must be part of the house today. the pandemic is not over. the virus is surging again. deaths across the world of increasing after going down for some weeks. mutations can emerge which could bounce back at us and set us back considerably, probably not back to square one but which could evade the success of our vaccination programme, and, a yearago, madam deputy speaker, i concluded my remarks by observing that this crisis has exposed the vulnerability of a society in which insecure work is rife, deregulation is king and public services are underfunded. when we come out on the other side, as we win ball well, we have to build a society that puts people first. rebuilding that society puts, it becomes ever more urgent every day. —— when we we studio: we pull away from the house of commons there. he's concerned about the extent and length of power set out in the coronavirus act. mps voting later on extending the laws in england for another six months. there have been warnings of a so—called checkpoint society but it would appear at this stage that the government proposal will go through, we will keep an eye on proceedings in the house and let you know the result of that vote a little on. pub operators and landlords have said they are concerned about the possibility of customers in england having to prove they've been vaccinated against coronavirus — in order to enter hospitality venues. a review is looking into the measure as the lockdown is eased — yesterday, the prime minister said the decision could be left to individual landlords — but industry leaders say the plan is "fraught with difficulty". speaking this morning, mrjohnson said it may only be possible to implement a vaccine passports scheme once everybody has been offered a jab — as sarah campbell reports. pubs have had a long time to get ready to welcome back customers. they've had to change their layouts, reduce their tables, and ensure they're as covid—safe as possible. so soon to lockdown easing, the thought that they'll also have to ask customers to prove they've been jabbed hasn't gone down well. what we do not want is the risk of additional costs being put onto our business having to hire people on the door to monitor this, to exercisejudgements. we want the ability to trade in the normal way. a further issue is around pub staff and clientele who are generally younger and therefore not yet eligible for vaccinations. you've also got potential discrimination issues that arise in the workplace and in a customer setting where you might be discriminating against those people if you are demanding that they have covid status certification before they can pop out for a coffee or pop into the pub. under the current lockdown easing timetable in england, outside socialising in limited groups will be allowed from april the 12th. and from the 17th of may, groups of six or any number from two households will be allowed to drink and eat indoors. the question is whether pubs will require customers to have a vaccine certificate which the prime minister said this morning was being considered. what we said is what will be reporting on the certification group in early april, either on april the 5th or april the 12th. desperate to get their doors back open again, the owner of this chain of nightclubs says having to show proof of vaccine could be workable. our demographic would probably accept it, it's a young customer base for us. they already walk around with id such as driving licence and passports to get into a lot of our venues, and i don't think they'd have a problem with it. but i think it's a market forces thing to be honest. the night before the last lockdown — publicans in many customers are counting down the days until the drinks can start flowing again, but the road to reopening is far from straightforward. sarah campbell, bbc news. our political correspondent helen catt is at westminster. the mood music on vaccine passports, there does seem to be a shift. there does, it certainly _ there does seem to be a shift. there does, it certainly seems _ there does seem to be a shift. there does, it certainly seems the - does, it certainly seems the government is very far from ruling this out as a possibility you heard boris johnson's this out as a possibility you heard borisjohnson's comments there that seem to warm up etched toward them. there is a review being conducted at the moment looking into the possibility of this and i think the thinking so far has been not necessary that this would be some sort of government mandated scheme that perhaps there needs to be a way found for people to prove they are covid —— there covid status. when the pm was asked about this area, he said you are talking but looking at three things, so vaccination, testing and also the immunity that is from actually having had covid. he said there are some ethical problems, moral complexities around a scheme of this type suggesting that if you wanted to go down this route than it might not be possible until everybody had been offered a vaccine so at this stage it is far too early he said to draw any conclusions but this review as you hurt there, we are do to get an update on that in april and the one area where he didn't sound like he was more warming towards it was certainly around that more international travel, other countries have talked about needing some sort of proof, some way of showing your covid status to allow travellers in and the prime minister said he could see the argument for that kind of schemata comes to international travel. iside that kind of schemata comes to international travel.— that kind of schemata comes to international travel. we have been lookin: at international travel. we have been looking at that _ international travel. we have been looking at that debate _ international travel. we have been looking at that debate in _ international travel. we have been looking at that debate in the - international travel. we have been| looking at that debate in the house of commons. there is no question that the government not getting an extension to these powers? you heard john ashworth — extension to these powers? you heard john ashworth though _ extension to these powers? you heard john ashworth though labour- extension to these powers? you heard john ashworth though labour shadow i john ashworth though labour shadow health secretary talking about this saying labour will back these but saying labour will back these but say without enthusiasm or relish so the fact it has labour's backing means it will pass. we might see a few conservative mps vote against. we reported on it a lot of times that the concerns of some conservative backbenchers have with this because these are big restrictions on our lives. you heard john ashworth and say that, it's not something that any sort of politician wants to bring in and i think there is the feeling that only the very necessary once should survive if you like. the government has said it will be taking out some of the powers it doesn't need any more after the renewal of the coronavirus act today. but there is certainly no question i think that it is going to pass this afternoon. helen, thank you. eu leaders are discussing plans for extra controls on vaccine exports in an effort to improve the roll—out of doses for member states. borisjohnson has warned against blockades, which could affect the number ofjabs sent to the uk. but the european commission says it would "expand supply for all". our europe correspondent nick beake, is in brussels. and it is fair to say that all the eu leaders who have been talking about this today are under some pressure at home, aren't they? simon they certainly — pressure at home, aren't they? simon they certainly are. _ pressure at home, aren't they? simon they certainly are. if _ pressure at home, aren't they? simon they certainly are. if you _ pressure at home, aren't they? simon they certainly are. if you look- pressure at home, aren't they? simon they certainly are. if you look at - they certainly are. if you look at they certainly are. if you look at the statistics the facts and figures for covid rates across europe, they do not look good at all. poland in particular talking about the worst week if they have had since the start of the pandemic. we have seen restrictions be tightened in france, here in belgium there is going to be a four—week tightening of the rules to try and stop this rise in cases. so that's the picture they leave behind virtually because it is a video call today and an indication of how the rates are going in europe, the plan was for the 27 leaders to meet here in person in brussels but because of the darkening picture when it comes to covid rates, they are on this video call and in terms of turning the corner, boosting the rate of vaccination which of course is three orfour vaccination which of course is three or four times slower than the uk for example, there is no quick fix and we are seeing that the leaders actually are unanimous on the best way to go about this.— way to go about this. anger at astrazeneca — way to go about this. anger at astrazeneca there, _ way to go about this. anger at astrazeneca there, this - way to go about this. anger at astrazeneca there, this is - way to go about this. anger at astrazeneca there, this is a i way to go about this. anger at - astrazeneca there, this is a strange given what astrazeneca has achieved that they have produced this drug at cost and you can understand why they feel miffed about this. if cost and you can understand why they feel miffed about this.— feel miffed about this. if you talk to eu officials _ feel miffed about this. if you talk to eu officials about _ feel miffed about this. if you talk to eu officials about this - feel miffed about this. if you talk| to eu officials about this privately and publicly, they honestly feel that they have been let down by astrazeneca and they say it is not just one or 2 million, it is tens of millions of doses they were expecting, they were banking on that are simply not coming their way. interestingly matt hancock health secretary telling the ft that because britain signed up at a contract which ensure that they get those doses before other countries, but eu officials feel they have been short—changed and are being treated unfairly. that is why we had this tough talk from the european commission yesterday talking about tightening the export of vaccines mean here on the mainland. but as i said there was disagreeing about what to do. you have the likes of the swedish and dutch saying if you choke off supply chains of vaccines and the component parts, that could really spell trouble. a blast from the past, jean—claudejuncker today the past, jean—claude juncker today the past, jean—claude juncker today the former the past, jean—claudejuncker today the former president of the european commission has said that he doesn't want to see anyone engaged what called a stupid war, a vaccination war. i think from that he was urging his successor to roll back and dial down the rhetoric somewhat. i am “ust down the rhetoric somewhat. i am just wondering _ down the rhetoric somewhat. i am just wondering in _ down the rhetoric somewhat. i am just wondering in those corridors, those darkened corridors that you prowl there in brussels, when you talk to people, is there a grudging respect, i don't know what the white word is come up is there an acceptance that the uk probably did sign a better day and had to face facts? —— what the right word is. i think there actually is admiration, you may not hear it publicly but there is admiration the way the uk acted quite nimbly, quickly and was able to secure deals to strike deals with lots of different companies. now publicly, eu officials will say, "this idea of solidarity was so important, we didn't want 27 different countries all fighting amongst themselves to try to get vaccines quicker." and ultimately this is a fairer system because you are not seeing one eu country getting who votes more vaccines while another struggles. but of course the other side if that is that across the board, it has been really slow, the vaccination rate. add to that the hesitancy we have seen towards astrazeneca that we mentioned a while ago, so you have this sort of irony if that is the word, you have millions of doses which have not been used because people are reluctant to take the astrazeneca jab but at the same time, this really strong language from the commission and others saying that the european union must get all the vaccines it's been given whether that's astrazeneca or any other company. i think this route which of course takes place under the shadow of brexit in the post brings in reality, it was averted yesterday really from exploding but they certainly have not differences but the eu and astrazeneca. —— post back to reality. and the tension between the eu and remains. hick between the eu and remains. nick beake, always _ between the eu and remains. nick beake, always a _ between the eu and remains. nick beake, always a pleasure. let's look at the weather with helen willits. good afternoon. sunny spells and scattered showers is how it will remain for the rest of today. there will be fewer showers across central and eastern areas but there have been some, and there still are, meandering across southern areas. they are more numerous the showers in the north and west. temperatures slightly down here, ten or 11, 14s and 15s in the south, but a relatively pleasant day in the sunshine for most. however, overnight, as the showers continue, we will see a lengthy spell of rain and a weather front coming in, so that should alleviate any frost worries, although temperatures do fall back behind this cold weather front as we go through the latter part of the night and colder air is introduced for tomorrow across many areas. those showers will turn to sleet and snow and there could even be a little bit on the moors and hills further south by the end of the day. temperatures will be down by four or 5 degrees. it will certainly feel chillier tomorrow and then we have slightly fewer showers on saturday, but a windy and unsettled picture for the second half of the weekend. more online. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: concern from pub landlords, after the prime minister says it could be down to individual pubs to bar drinkers without proof of vaccination. as eu leaders meet to decide their next move over export restrictions — astrazeneca expresses anger at being caught in the middle of the vaccine row. over 50s and those in at—risk categories are being urged to book their covid—19jabs — before a predicted dip in supplies. a royal navyjet has crashed into a field in cornwall — the two pilots ejected from the plane and have been taken to hospital. a year later than planned — the torch relay for the delayed tokyo olympics finally gets under way injapan. sport now and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre. the football to begin with. the world cup qualifiers continue this evening. northern ireland have the toughestjob among the home nations — away to italy. scotland are home to austria — and england face one of the smallest nations in football san marino. ahead of the game, there's been talk of whether england players will take the knee — after some high profile stars including crystal palace's wilfried zaha stopped the gesture by saying it's lost it's meaning. the match is a milestone for manager gareth southgate — his 50th in charge of the national side, but he says he's focussed on the task at hand. it has been an absolute honour. i suppose it is something i think about more when everything is finished. numbers up on board somewhere. yeah, it's a nice landmark but of course my focus really is with the team and making sure that we get this world cup qualification off to a good start. fifa have confirmed that norway won't face disciplinary action following last night's protest ahead of their win in gibraltar. the players all wore t—shirts with the slogan "human rights — on and off the pitch". fifa say they believe in the "freedom of speech, and in the power of football as a force for good." norway have discussed whether they should boycott the 2022 tournament because of poor working conditions for migrant workers in qatar. crewe alexandra chairman john bowler is standing down, following the sheldon report into child sexual abuse in football. in a statement bowler said "i am satisfied with the findings of the review that found that the club did not have any knowledge of barry bennell�*s heinous crimes. i will always be deeply appalled and sorry that those young players and their families suffered at the hands of this evil predator." well, in a statement, the offside trust, the organisation founded and run by survivors of child sexual abuse in sport said: ben stokes insists the england team are focused purely on getting back to winning ways — rather than worrying where they are in the world rankings. if england lose their one day series against india, they could be knocked off top spot. but stokes says he and his teammates just want to beat india tomorrow — in the second of three one day internationals. being number one is obviously a fantastic thing to have next to your name as a team, but it's not our driving force. our driving force is the way that we go about it and our attitude towards playing the game, and that is what has made us be successful and the more successful we are, the more chance, the more opportunity we have got to be at number one. our driving force is making sure we stay true to ourselves and our beliefs and how we play the game. the official countdown to the postponed 2020 toyko games is underway — after the olympic torch was lit during a scaled—down event this morning. after a brief opening ceremony, members of the 2011 japan women's football team began the torch's 120—day journey through 859 locations — it ends with the opening ceremony on the 23rd july. there'll be no international fans at the games — because of the coronavirus pandemic — and former british athlete, iwan thomas admits that's it's been a tough time for the athletes. ican i can only imagine how tough it is. in any sport it's notjust about being physically ready, it's being mentally ready as well and the good thing about having an n gold, don't cool nights when you are training, you have got the olympics to aim for. it must be very hard to remain motivated but now they can finally see it is coming. and a reminder — england's under 21 match against switzerland is underway now. it is currently goalless. for you, simon. ., ., ., ,, it is currently goalless. for you, simon. ., ., .,~ ., simon. how long did it take you to think of, gavin? _ simon. how long did it take you to think of, gavin? all— simon. how long did it take you to think of, gavin? all of _ simon. how long did it take you to think of, gavin? all of five - think of, gavin? all of five seconds- _ think of, gavin? all of five seconds. i— think of, gavin? all of five seconds. iwill— think of, gavin? all of five seconds. i will talk- think of, gavin? all of five seconds. i will talk to - think of, gavin? all of five seconds. i will talk to you | think of, gavin? all of five - seconds. i will talk to you later. book a haircut, will you? it’s seconds. i will talk to you later. book a haircut, will you?- book a haircut, will you? it's in the diary- _ people in england aged over 50 — and in at—risk categories — are being urged to book their covid—19 jabs before next monday when experts are predicting the number of vaccination slots will dip. officials expect a slowdown in vaccine supplies in april and medics will be focusing on providing second doses. this from our health correspondent naomi grimley. book while you can. that is the message to the over 50s and those in at—risk groups who are being urged to secure their jab at—risk groups who are being urged to secure theirjab as soon as possible. some vaccination centres will be temporarily closed in april due to looming supply issues. and the government is keen to focus minds in the most vulnerable groups before that happens.— before that happens. we've got very hiuh before that happens. we've got very high coverage _ before that happens. we've got very high coverage amongst _ before that happens. we've got very high coverage amongst the - before that happens. we've got very high coverage amongst the over - before that happens. we've got very| high coverage amongst the over 70s, more than 90%, but in other groups and there are less, figures of less coverage and we do need to reach out to those groups and persuade and make vaccines easily accessible in order that they take up immunisation.- order that they take up immunisation. j~ ., , ., , immunisation. over 28 million people have had at least _ immunisation. over 28 million people have had at least one _ immunisation. over 28 million people have had at least one jab, _ immunisation. over 28 million people have had at least one jab, but - immunisation. over 28 million people have had at least one jab, but now. have had at least one jab, but now of course many of those require specially timed second doses. so they will take priority in the next month. new research from warwick university and public health england says it has already saved at least 6000 lives, mostly in older age groups between the first vaccinations in december and the end of february. but we are still living with huge uncertainty. foreign travel, for example, remains a big unknown. , , ., unknown. the biggest risk to the eidemic unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in _ unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the _ unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk _ unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk now- unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk now would i unknown. the biggest risk to the j epidemic in the uk now would be importation from abroad and we've had to think very hard about summer holidays and travel in the summer, but the best answer to that is to bring the epidemic under control in the uk and make vaccines available globally and then we can get travel, economics and one of our health and education back much, much faster. in exactly three weeks' time the government hopes everyone in the most vulnerable groups will have been offered a firstjab. it will be a moment to celebrate but health officials want us to know there is still a long way to go before the country can really relax. the new fifty pound note will feature the computer pioneer alan turing. the bank of england says the new notes will enter circulation on the 23rd ofjune. campaigners have criticised the lack of diversity, but the governor of the bank, andrew bailey has said he would like the next person featured on a banknote to be kevin peachey reports. alan turing's work as code breaker helped shorten the war and save lives. soon he'll be on the bank of england's most secure banknote. and this is the new note, packed with security features. here's the portrait of alan turing with images of his computer pioneering role. it enters circulation on the 23rd ofjune. why then? the clue is here, on this wavy line in binary code. it's alan turing's date of birth, in 1912, on the 23rd ofjune. the banknote also draws attention to his appalling treatment by the state for being gay. today, the bank of england's headquarters is flying the rainbow flag to celebrate diversity, but is it enough? would you like to see someone from a diverse ethnic background on the next note? i would, i definitely want to see it because we are very committed to diversity. so i would definitely hope that one of our next bank notes will obviously feature somebody from an ethnic background, because that would be very appropriate, but i do want to emphasise of course that alan turing in his own right is a very strong recognition of diversity. alan turing's nephew hopes this will prompt wider discussions. i think alan turing would have wanted us to think about things like underrepresentation of women in science subjects, underrepresentation of black and ethnic minority kids in stem subjects at school, and why they are not being given the opportunities that they should have and why that's bad for all of us. these were things i think he was quite keen on during his lifetime. he was keen too on the idea of programming machines, and during the covid crisis, we've turned to devices rather than cash to pay for things. would you expect next to have a digital currency rather than a banknote? it still very much at the foundational stages, i think, because it does raise quite a lot of issues as to how it would work, how it would impact the financial system, how it would impact society more broadly. a project fascinating anyone inspired by alan turing's work. kevin peachey, bbc news. the nationwide building society is to allow 13,000 office staff to choose where they work under a new flexibility scheme. the company is closing three offices in swindon, with 3,000 staff either moving to the nearby hq, working from home, or mixing the two. managers say its "work anywhere" plan would allow employees more control of their lives. santander has announced plans to close 111 branches across the country due to the shift to mobile and online banking. the bank said it had taken the decision because fewer customers were choosing to bank in branch. about 840 staff will be affected by the closures, although santander promised to try to find them otherjobs within the business. johnny depp has lost a bid to overturn a damning high court ruling in london which concluded he assaulted his ex—wife amber heard and left her in fear for her life. thejudge said mr depp had no real prospect of success and therefore is refused permission to appeal against the ruling given last year in his libel case against the publishers of the sun. a group of mps has warned the government it's "missed the boat" on reform of the bbc licence fee. the media select committee says the existing system is the only option for the foreseeable future — but ministers say they still plan to review how the bbc is funded. two pilots are undergoing medical checks after ejecting from a british militaryjet in south—west england, which later crashed into a field. cornwall air ambulance said the pilots did not sustain life—threatening injuries. the ministry of defence said an investigation will start into the incident involving a royal navy hawk aircraft that was based not far from the site of the crash in helston, on the tip of england's most westerly point. hundreds of black, asian and minority ethnic doctors still haven't had coronavirus risk assessments, or their risk reviews haven't been acted upon to keep them safe at work, bbc research has found. the british medical association, which represents doctors in the uk, is calling on the government to renew its commitment to protect ethnic minority doctors. in a moment we'll be speaking tojunior doctor, temi olonisaki but first our reporter, amara sophia elahi who has been looking into this. give us the background to this. there is no doubt that black, asian and minority ethnic communities have been particularly hard hit by a coronavirus. studies show they are more likely to get the virus and become seriously unwell or die from it, and there are a variety of reasons why that might be. for example, certain health conditions that are more prevalent in particular communities, certain occupations would increase people �*s exposure and even according to a report from last year, racism or social inequalities. if we look at the figures for the number of doctors who died from coronavirus, the british medical association has recorded 44 deaths and of those, 90% have come from ethnic minority backgrounds. it was in response to this that nhs england and the health care systems in scotland, wales and northern ireland issued guidance to hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups last year, asking them to carry out risk assessments for non—white staff in particular and these risk reviews were a way of trying to protect health care workers by looking at certain factors such as age, ethnicity, underlying health conditions and calculating an individual �*s risk based on that. if doctors were found to be at high risk, productions could be put into place for them, for example, high—grade personal protective equipment or they could be redeployed or front line duties. what did the research find in particular? in what did the research find in particular?— what did the research find in articular? ., , �* �* , what did the research find in articular? ., , “ , , particular? in january bbc news sent a questionnaire _ particular? in january bbc news sent a questionnaire out _ particular? in january bbc news sent a questionnaire out to _ particular? in january bbc news sent a questionnaire out to ethnic- a questionnaire out to ethnic minority doctors across the uk and over 2000 doctors responded to our questions. one of the issues that we asked about was risk assessments and their outcomes and of the doctors who responded to us, over 850 said that their risks hadn't been assessed or they had but no action had been taken. we also asked about the mental health impact of working during the pandemic and unsurprisingly, 1600 doctors told us they had experienced some kind of psychological impact during this time. another issue that the research looked at was bullying and discrimination, because doctors have shed accounts with us during the pandemic about being treated differently to their white colleagues. some said work was disproportionately allocated to them in areas where there was more exposure to coronavirus and others spoke to us about feeling that their concerns were not often listen to, so of the doctors who took part in our research, over 700 said that they had felt discriminated against by colleagues and managers during the pandemic and another 700 said they felt bullied during this time. what did the department of health say? what did the department of health sa ? ,, ., _ what did the department of health sa? ,, ., ., ' , ., say? nhs england say that 9596 of staff from ethnic _ say? nhs england say that 9596 of staff from ethnic minority - staff from ethnic minority backgrounds have had a risk assessment and vulnerable staff have been protected. they also add that every employer is required to support workers who raise discrimination issues, and this has been echoed by the health care systems in scotland, wales and northern ireland.— northern ireland. thank you for that. northern ireland. thank you for that- let's _ northern ireland. thank you for that. let's talk _ northern ireland. thank you for that. let's talk to _ northern ireland. thank you for that. let's talk to a _ northern ireland. thank you for that. let's talk to a junior - northern ireland. thank you for i that. let's talk to a junior doctor. i wonder how many risk assessments you have done as a member of staff. thank you for having me. i have had three _ thank you for having me. i have had three risk— thank you for having me. i have had three risk assessments done. one was done at _ three risk assessments done. one was done at the _ three risk assessments done. one was done at the beginning of the pandemic in march and the other two were done _ pandemic in march and the other two were done in the summer and one in autumn _ were done in the summer and one in autumn. ., ., ., a, . were done in the summer and one in autumn. ., ., ., . ., autumn. you had one in march and it was agreed — autumn. you had one in march and it was agreed you _ autumn. you had one in march and it was agreed you wouldn't _ autumn. you had one in march and it was agreed you wouldn't do - autumn. you had one in march and it was agreed you wouldn't do patient l was agreed you wouldn't do patient facing work. was agreed you wouldn't do patient facing work-— facing work. what happened after that? after _ facing work. what happened after that? after that _ facing work. what happened after that? after that because - facing work. what happened after that? after that because of - facing work. what happened after that? after that because of my i that? after that because of my foundation year doctor, i switched hospitals — foundation year doctor, i switched hospitals and switched rotations. obviously — hospitals and switched rotations. obviously in the summer the pandemic was less— obviously in the summer the pandemic was less of— obviously in the summer the pandemic was less of a _ obviously in the summer the pandemic was less of a burden on the nhs and we were _ was less of a burden on the nhs and we were seeing less covid patients so after _ we were seeing less covid patients so after my risk assessment it was deemed _ so after my risk assessment it was deemed i— so after my risk assessment it was deemed i would be placed on a war that had _ deemed i would be placed on a war that had a — deemed i would be placed on a war that had a lower risk which was fine until the _ that had a lower risk which was fine until the second peak in october. that was— until the second peak in october. that was where every ward had many covid _ that was where every ward had many covid patients so it wasn't feasible for me _ covid patients so it wasn't feasible for me to — covid patients so it wasn't feasible for me to stay on a ward deemed as low risk— for me to stay on a ward deemed as low risk because they were all high risk at _ low risk because they were all high risk at that— low risk because they were all high risk at that point. sol low risk because they were all high risk at that point. so i feel like the onus — risk at that point. so i feel like the onus was really only to go and ask for— the onus was really only to go and ask for another risk assessment to explain _ ask for another risk assessment to explain that i no longer felt safe working — explain that i no longer felt safe working on the wards i was working on, working on the wards i was working on. and _ working on the wards i was working on. and i_ working on the wards i was working on, and i repeated the risk assessment and because the word was now deemed as high risk, eventually i now deemed as high risk, eventually i was _ now deemed as high risk, eventually i was placed to non—patient facing roles _ i was placed to non-patient facing roles. , ., , ., , ., i was placed to non-patient facing roles. , ., , ., , roles. given what you must have seen in our roles. given what you must have seen in your time — roles. given what you must have seen in your time in — roles. given what you must have seen in your time in the _ roles. given what you must have seen in your time in the wards, _ roles. given what you must have seen in your time in the wards, looking i in your time in the wards, looking at patients and presumably some colleagues also with ko goode, does a risk assessment do it? is that enough? i a risk assessment do it? is that enou~h? .�* a risk assessment do it? is that enou~h? ., �* ~' a risk assessment do it? is that enou~h? ., �* ~ ., ., enough? i don't think that a risk assessment _ enough? i don't think that a risk assessment which _ enough? i don't think that a risk assessment which was - enough? i don't think that a risk assessment which was just i enough? i don't think that a risk assessment which was just one | enough? i don't think that a risk i assessment which was just one no assessment which was just one a4 side sheet — assessment which was just one a4 side sheet of paper does enough to protect— side sheet of paper does enough to protect black and other ethnic minority— protect black and other ethnic minority staff and also staff with underlying health conditions. i myself— underlying health conditions. i myself have both, so i felt i had to really _ myself have both, so i felt i had to really push — myself have both, so i felt i had to really push for my safety but i think— really push for my safety but i think that a lot more needs to be done _ think that a lot more needs to be done we — think that a lot more needs to be done. we need to look at why black staff members and black people in general— staff members and black people in general as well as other ethnic minorities are contracting covid mark— minorities are contracting covid mark and — minorities are contracting covid mark and if they are, why they are experiencing more complications. i think— experiencing more complications. i think the _ experiencing more complications. i think the public health england report— think the public health england report last year made it very clear that things — report last year made it very clear that things such as racism are coming — that things such as racism are coming into play and the nhs really needs— coming into play and the nhs really needs to _ coming into play and the nhs really needs to take a look at why these things— needs to take a look at why these things are — needs to take a look at why these things are happening and what we can do to prevent it which would be more thaniust_ do to prevent it which would be more thaniust a _ do to prevent it which would be more thanjust a risk do to prevent it which would be more than just a risk assessment. do to prevent it which would be more thanjust a risk assessment. | do to prevent it which would be more than just a risk assessment. ijust than just a risk assessment. i “ust wondered about i than just a risk assessment. i “ust wondered about your i than just a risk assessment. inst wondered about your colleagues, your white colleagues also, do they take this as seriously as they should? we hope that they do. i this as seriously as they should? we hope that they do.— hope that they do. i think they take it as seriously. everyone _ hope that they do. i think they take it as seriously. everyone is - hope that they do. i think they take it as seriously. everyone is very i it as seriously. everyone is very aware _ it as seriously. everyone is very aware of — it as seriously. everyone is very aware of the effects. we as health care providers, we see the effects of covid, — care providers, we see the effects of covid, how rapidly a person can deteriorate — of covid, how rapidly a person can deteriorate so everyone takes it seriously — deteriorate so everyone takes it seriously. i cannot speak for my white _ seriously. i cannot speak for my white colleagues when it comes to how worried they are because they don't _ how worried they are because they don't have — how worried they are because they don't have that risk factor of being a different— don't have that risk factor of being a different ethnicity. what measures have been put _ a different ethnicity. what measures have been put in _ a different ethnicity. what measures have been put in place _ a different ethnicity. what measures have been put in place to _ a different ethnicity. what measures have been put in place to protect i have been put in place to protect those more vulnerable like you? i think that every person's circumstances is different. i was quite _ circumstances is different. i was quite persistent that i needed to be placed _ quite persistent that i needed to be placed somewhere that was safe and at that _ placed somewhere that was safe and at that time, the best thing was that i_ at that time, the best thing was that i was— at that time, the best thing was that i was able to fulfil roles that didn't— that i was able to fulfil roles that didn't involve seeing the patients. some _ didn't involve seeing the patients. some people are able to be moved on to wards _ some people are able to be moved on to wards that have no covid patients but it _ to wards that have no covid patients but it very _ to wards that have no covid patients but it very much depends on more seniors, _ but it very much depends on more seniors, the — but it very much depends on more seniors, the staffing levels, there are many— seniors, the staffing levels, there are many different factors which will determine if you are redeployed or not _ will determine if you are redeployed or not. ., ., ~ will determine if you are redeployed or not. ., ., ,, i. will determine if you are redeployed or not. ., ., ,, ., will determine if you are redeployed ornot. ., ., ., or not. doctor, thank you for your time and thank _ or not. doctor, thank you for your time and thank you _ or not. doctor, thank you for your time and thank you also - or not. doctor, thank you for your time and thank you also for- or not. doctor, thank you for your time and thank you also for your. time and thank you also for your work. a major report by the international union for the conservation of nature has revealed reveal that africa's elephants are far more threatened than previously thought. decades of decline — caused by poaching and an ongoing loss of their habitat — have driven forest elephants and savanna elephants into the two highest categories of extinction threat. victoria gill reports. the largest land animals on earth. but their size has not protected them from the impacts of poaching or from the continued destruction of the vast swathes of interconnected habitat they need. this latest red list of threatened species, considered to be the comprehensive report on how nature is faring on an increasingly crowded planet, puts africa's savanna elephants into the endangered category. forest elephants are now even closer to extinction — critically endangered. it is an alarm bell for us. there are two main reasons for these declines. one is poaching of these animals for their ivory and the second one is habitat loss through human activities that take place in total disregard of the needs of these animals. across africa there are nowjust over 400,000 wild elephants, and this latest examination of decades of census data and habitat surveys has shown that the demand for ivory still drives the decline in their numbers. the level of threat they faced had also been masked by the fact that the african elephant was previously thought to be a single species. this is the first time the savanna and forest elephant has been assessed separately. what does it mean practically to have this information about their status? how do you use that to protect these animals and reverse these declines? well, on the surface of it it looks bleak. the fact that it's been flagged is actually positive because then it means we can do something about it. and also separating the species, i think that's also positive because it means we can do something about it on a more concentrated level. the loss of species and natural spaces is happening all around the world. but conservationists are confident that this wake—up call could ensure that these giant icons of african wildlife get the protection and the space that they need. victoria gill, bbc news. we often hear about people "finding their voice" — but richie cottingham is taking that idea quite literally. he's used an artificial voice his whole life — because of cerebral palsy — but now he's on a quest to replace the standard computerised pronunciation with something a lot more "yorkshire". fiona lamdin has more. my name is richard cottingham. i'm richard cottingham. but i like to be called richie. i'd like to be called richie. ..be called richie. 26—year—old richie has cerebral palsy. my generic voice is not my identity. he's never had his own voice and has always had to communicate via a computer. once i have a new unique voice i have an identity. now he hopes to create an entirely new voice by blending recordings of two local men. what are you looking for in a new voice? female computerised voice: if. like a young man's voice with a subtle east yorkshire accent, someone who has a nice smile. so far, 36 men have come forward. hiya, my name's billy, i live in hull. my name is gaz, i'm 24 years old, from york. . my favourite colour is red and my favourite food is sunday dinner, especially yorkshire puddings. good evening, richie... but it's up to richie to listen and draw up a shortlist. what do you think of that one then? give me a rating out of ten? i'm a local lad myself. obviously i'm a massive yorkshire lad. this is 29—year—old ryan, who lives just a few miles from richie. we need to try and do everything we can to help anybody, you know, and if it's the littlest thing that might make that person's life a little bit better than i'm more than happy to help out where i can. being from around the hull area... there's also 26—year—old scott, who's proud of his east yorkshire accent. it's quite a friendly accent. i'd say that you're a lot more. affable if you sound northern. are there any particular phrases you'd be keen to put in the voice bank? i guess there's a lot of dialect that throws people off. - if i say "chip spice" people haven't heard of that. i it's not mum, it's mam. there's about a hundred different |words for bread roll, isn't there? j i go for bread bap. hi, i'm richard cottingham. but i'd like to be called richie. and there are many, many others who are keen to help. it's something that he couldn't do because he's never been able to speak, but i thought it's something that we all take for granted. richie finally hopes to have his new voice in the next few months. i would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who took the time and effort to apply. fiona lamdin, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. an unsettled period of weather i think of for the coming few days with showers and long spells of rain but sunshine in between as we are seeing today. with the showers for example pushing across southern counties of england. behind those, some goods spells of sunshine. the showers always more numerous in northern and western parts of england and wales, the west of northern ireland, the west of northern scotland. so, we could see some decent spells of sunshine east of the higher ground, 12 or 13 in the north, 14 or 15 and very springlike in southern areas. and they will continue into the evening as will the showers. in fact, they'll merge into a longer spell of rain overnight — it's a weather front coming in off the atlantic. so for the most part because we've got the breeze picking up and all that cloud that will alleviate our frosts, but this is a cold weather front. so behind that, we are ushering in somewhat chillier air, notably so as we head into friday. this is that weather front here crossing most parts by the end of the day and introducing that colder air. so, a distinctly different feel notably in the morning for scotland and northern ireland where the showers will turn wintry over the hills. and then progressively through the day as that weather front continues its progress eastwards giving quite a dollop of rain for a time, it will then get colder behind and there will be some wintry showers even in southern hills and moors later in the day, but it does not the temperature is down significantly on those today by 4 or 5 degrees. so, it will feel chilly but in the sunshine outside the breeze, pleasant enough. the evening sees that rain clearing away from southern and eastern areas but the showers as you can see through tomorrow night turn more wintry and a much colder night tomorrow particularly across the north, widespread frost but a frost in rural areas for the south as well. so, chilly start saturday but a ridge of high pressure will bring something of dry weather for a time but this weather system crosses during saturday night into sunday and so as i say, gives us a rather unsettled picture. it won't be dry on saturday for all of us. there will be quite a bit of cloud coming and going but it looks like the drier day of the week and and slightly milder as well because we are pulling in a south—westerly, but later in the day we start to see that cloud and rain piling up in the north—west which brings a quite wet and windy night for some areas, and that sinks southwards we think on sunday but there is lots of uncertainty in the timing of that weather front and showers follow anyway. so, quite a lot to play for and the detail, as ever, you can stay up—to—date on our website. this is bbc news. the headlines. the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people �*have to live with risk�* and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. concern from pub landlords, after the prime minister says it could be down to individual pubs to bar drinkers who arrive without proof of vaccination. you will have to have extra staff to be checking on the door. you will have to have the cost of workplace testing to be born. 70% of our businesses are smes and simply won't be able to manage this cost for reopening. as eu leaders meet to decide their next move over export restrictions — astrazeneca expresses anger at being caught in the middle of the vaccine row. over—50s and those in at—risk categories are being urged to book their covid—19jabs — before a predicted dip in supplies. a royal navyjet has crashed into a field in cornwall — the two pilots ejected from the plane and have been taken to hospital. a year later than planned — the torch relay for the delayed tokyo olympics finally gets under way injapan. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the health secretary has said that coronavirus "cases are likely "to rise" as lockdown eases but that he hopes we will be able to manage coronavirus "like flu". speaking in the house of commons in the last hour, matt hancock said we will have to live with the risk — and that he sees continued efforts — like mask—wearing as a personal responsibility. our political correspondent helen catt is at westminster. what has he been saying? as he said mps are debating _ what has he been saying? as he said mps are debating the _ what has he been saying? as he said mps are debating the extension i what has he been saying? as he said mps are debating the extension of i mps are debating the extension of powers that the government took last year under the coronavirus act which allowed them to take certain responses to try and manage coronavirus. they are also looking at the legislation that will be underpinned, the road map for england, those sort of steps that move out of lockdown and the big debate around this has been the continuation of putting in what are some very restrictive restrictions on our lives versus the necessity to do that because the pandemic isn't over. matt hancock the health secretary has been saying this is a way of starting he hopes to put the pandemic behind us. and he gave a clue about how he expects coronavirus to be managed in the future. have a listen to what he said. we clearly want to lift these measures _ what he said. we clearly want to lift these measures as _ what he said. we clearly want to lift these measures as soon i what he said. we clearly want to lift these measures as soon as l what he said. we clearly want to| lift these measures as soon as is reasonably— lift these measures as soon as is reasonably possible. and my goal is that we _ reasonably possible. and my goal is that we will eventually see covid as something that has to be managed rather— something that has to be managed rather like — something that has to be managed rather like flu. we don't put in place — rather like flu. we don't put in place restrictions on normal life to tackle _ place restrictions on normal life to tackle flu — place restrictions on normal life to tackle flu but we do have a regular vaccination — tackle flu but we do have a regular vaccination programme, and that is where _ vaccination programme, and that is where i_ vaccination programme, and that is where i hope with vaccines we are able to— where i hope with vaccines we are able to get— where i hope with vaccines we are able to get to. there have been a numberof mps a number of mps who in the debate have expressed their concerns about extending _ have expressed their concerns about extending these powers, talk about authoritarianism. and extending these powers, talk about authoritarianism.— extending these powers, talk about authoritarianism. and worrying about the [en . th authoritarianism. and worrying about the length of — authoritarianism. and worrying about the length of time _ authoritarianism. and worrying about the length of time this _ authoritarianism. and worrying about the length of time this would - authoritarianism. and worrying about the length of time this would extend | the length of time this would extend these powers for six months and the road map out of lockdown for england, borisjohnson had said he would hope to be able to remove all legal restrictions byjune the 21st so there has been some concern expressed as there has been at every time and moment the government has needed to extend powers like this. however the legislation is almost certainly going to pass because labour has said it will back it albeit without enthusiasm as the shadow health secretaryjohn shadow health secretary john ashworth shadow health secretaryjohn ashworth explained. so we still have to work hard to break _ so we still have to work hard to break transmission chains. we still have to _ break transmission chains. we still have to work hard to shut down opportunities for the virus to replicate _ opportunities for the virus to replicate. and given the loss of life we — replicate. and given the loss of life we have suffered and given the risk of _ life we have suffered and given the risk of mutations that could set us back, _ risk of mutations that could set us back, we — risk of mutations that could set us back, we must have zero tolerance to letting _ back, we must have zero tolerance to letting the _ back, we must have zero tolerance to letting the virus rage unchecked. for that — letting the virus rage unchecked. for that reason we do accept that restrictions have to stay in place and for— restrictions have to stay in place and for that reason, we support the renewal— and for that reason, we support the renewal of— and for that reason, we support the renewal of the act and the public heatth— renewal of the act and the public health regulations before us. but we do not _ health regulations before us. but we do not support that renewal with any enthusiasm or relish. now, the prime minister yesterday with this suggestion that may be public landlords would have to ban people if they didn't have proof of vaccination. it started a discussion, he has been accused by the labour of speaking on the hook. but there does seem to be a change in mood if you like toward some sort of coronavirus passport. the in mood if you like toward some sort of coronavirus passport.— of coronavirus passport. the sense of coronavirus passport. the sense of a vaccine _ of coronavirus passport. the sense of a vaccine certificate, _ of coronavirus passport. the sense of a vaccine certificate, some i of coronavirus passport. the sense of a vaccine certificate, some way l of a vaccine certificate, some way of a vaccine certificate, some way of proving you have been vaccinated or tested or the prime minister was suggesting earlier and michael gove in the comments was suggesting that was also being looked at was what happens if you have developed immunity because you have actually had coronavirus. there is a review into this happening. borisjohnson earlier suggested that that is going to have some update in early april on that work. what he said yesterday at the liaison committee which is a committee of senior mps was it could be up to individual landlords to look at this sort of condition. that's why labour is insane these proposals have come out on the hoof. they say they would be happy to look at any of these proposals, it is being looked at currently. —— labour is saying. borisjohnson says there is saying. borisjohnson says there is ethical and other problems that have to be that that... he said that if you want to go down that route of everyone having to show a vaccine certificate, that might only be possible if everyone has already been offered the vaccine. the one area where he was not ruling out but one area where he seem perhaps even more warm about it was the idea of international travel, some other countries suggested that they would want to see proof for british travellers to allow the in that they have been vaccinated or tested, and borisjohnson have been vaccinated or tested, and boris johnson says have been vaccinated or tested, and borisjohnson says he can see the arguments for that. boris johnson says he can see the arguments for that.— boris johnson says he can see the arguments for that. helen, thank you very much- — it is like she read what i was supposed to reach her because we are talking about pub owners and landlords. pub operators and landlords have said they are concerned about the possibility of customers in england having to prove they've been vaccinated against coronavirus. speaking this morning mrjohnson said it may only be possible to implement a vaccine passports scheme once everybody has been offered a jab — as sarah campbell reports. pubs have had a long time to get ready to welcome back customers. they've had to change their layouts, reduce tables, and ensure they're as covid—safe as possible. so soon to lockdown easing, the thought that they'll also have to ask customers to prove they've been jabbed hasn't gone down well. what we do not want is the risk of additional costs being put onto our business having to hire people on the door to monitor this, to exercisejudgements. we want the ability to trade in the normal way. a further issue is around pub staff and clientele who are generally younger and therefore not yet eligible for vaccinations. you've also got potential discrimination issues that arise in the workplace and in a customer setting where you might be discriminating against those people if you are demanding that they have covid status certification before they can pop out for a coffee or pop into the pub. under the current lockdown easing timetable in england, outside socialising in limited groups will be allowed from april the 12th. and from the 17th of may, groups of six or any number from two households will be allowed to drink and eat indoors. the question is whether pubs will require customers to have a vaccine certificate which the prime minister said this morning was being considered. what we said is that we'll be reporting on the certification group in early april, either on april the 5th or april the 12th. desperate to get their doors back open again, the owner of this chain of nightclubs says having to show proof of vaccine could be workable. our demographic would probably accept it, it's a young customer base for us. they already walk around with id such as driving licence and passports to get into a lot of our venues, and i don't think they'd have a problem with it. but i think it's a market forces thing to be honest. the night before the last lockdown — publicans and many customers are counting down the days until the drinks can start flowing again, but the road to reopening is far from straightforward. sarah campbell, bbc news. eu leaders are discussing plans for extra controls on vaccine exports in an effort to improve the roll—out of doses for member states. borisjohnson has warned against blockades, which could affect the number ofjabs sent to the uk. but the european commission says it would "expand supply for all". richard galpin reports. here in this vaccine centre in cologne, as in other parts of the european union, there is only a handful of people. one key reason for that is a shortage of vaccine supplies and this as the eu faces a third wave of coronavirus which is sweeping through the member states. frustrated eu officials believe the uk has had an unfair advantage with the contracts for the astrazeneca vaccine and are now threatening a ban of exports of the vaccine to the uk. i do not think we want to use it. i am optimistic that a joint agreement between the eu and uk as well as the summit today will help to solve the problem without entering a vaccine war but again the eu has been the biggest exporter. london and brussels are trying to cool tensions with the statement saying they are working on specific steps they can take to create a win—win situation and expand vaccine supplies for all their citizens. i don't want to see blockades of vaccines or medicines. i don't think that is the way forward either for us or for any of our friends. the eu meeting this afternoon is focusing on ways to increase the vaccine supply and improve the distribution across the 27 countries. i think it should be made perfectly clear that the eu does not have a problem with the uk. the eu has a problem with astrazeneca because astrazeneca is not fulfilling their promises, their contractual obligations. it is vital in this pandemic that all countries work together to tackle the virus. vaccine nationalism could prove very damaging. you cannot wrap a flag around a vaccine in this modern world. it doesn't work that way. these are integrated supply chains and any attempt to impose any barriers whatsoever would disadvantage everybody involved. at today's meeting the german chancellor angela merkel will also highlight the need for more vaccines to be made in the eu itself to tackle the supply problems. richard galpin, bbc news. our correspondent in brussels, nick beake, is watching that virtual summit between european leaders. while the 27 eu leaders are engrossed in their video call, they are trying to come up with a solution to the vaccination crisis that really has engulfed this continent. we know that the rate of vaccination is much lower compared to countries like the united kingdom, for example, four times slower in that case and so there are no easy fixes. what we are seeing though, if not division, a change of approach between different eu countries. on the one hand you've got italy and france, they are very keen to go ahead, it would seem, with the sort of proposals the european commission was talking about yesterday. that's to say tightening export controls on vaccines leaving european soil. on the other hand you have the swedes and the belgians, they are saying that any sort of restrictions could have a pretty bad effect really on vaccinations and the component parts of vaccines and notably the very delicate global supply chains, that's something they want to avoid. at the same time, angela merkel is also on the call, the german chancellor. she has defended the approach that the european union has taken, that's to say this idea ofjoint procurement, working together rather than individually. and she really pointed the finger of blame in some ways at the united kingdom and the united states, saying that those two countries are not really exporting any finished vaccines at all and that is not helping matters. we know president biden will bejoining the call a little later on, so maybe he will want to talk to angela merkel and others about that. another interesting dimension to this today, a bit of a blast from the past, jean—claudejunker, the former president of the commission, he is urging all sides to step back for what he called a stupid vaccination war and within that, it seems he is urging the commission really to dial down the language, to try and take some heat out of this situation. he thinks a vaccine war would be disastrous in the short term and that also it would really affect the reputation of the european union. that was nick beek. people in england aged over 50 — and in at—risk categories — are being urged to book their covid—19 jabs before next monday when experts are predicting the number of vaccination slots will dip. officials expect a slowdown in vaccine supplies in april and medics will be focusing on providing second doses. this from our health correspondent naomi grimley. book while you can — that's the message to the over—50s and those in at—risk groups, who are being urged to secure theirjabs as soon as possible. some vaccination centres will be temporarily closed in april due to looming supply issues, and the government is keen to focus minds in the most vulnerable groups before that happens. we've got very high coverage amongst the over—70s, more than 90%, but in other groups there are less... ..figures of less coverage, and we do need to reach out to those groups and persuade and make vaccines easily accessible, in order that they take up immunisation. over 28 million people have had at least one jab, but now of course many of those require specially timed second doses, so they'll take priority in the next month. new research from warwick university and public health england says it's already saved at least 6000 lives, mostly in older age groups, between the first vaccinations in december and the end of february. but we're still living with huge uncertainty. foreign travel, for example, remains a big unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk now would be importation from abroad and we will have to think very hard about summer holidays and travel in the summer, but the best answer to that is to bring epidemic under control in the uk and to make vaccines available globally and then we can get travel, we can get economics and we can get all of our health and education back much, much faster. in exactly three weeks' time the government hopes everyone in the most vulnerable groups will have been offered a firstjab. it will be a moment to celebrate, but health officials want us to know there's still a long way to go before the country can really relax. naomi grimley, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people "have "to live with risk" and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. pub landlords in england may be able refuse entry to customers who can't prove they've had a coronavirus vaccine — a government review is looking at the issue. eu leaders are set to discuss tougher controls on coronavirus vaccine exports as they try to boost supplies and improve distribution amongst member states — which could affect supply to the uk. a year later than expected, the olympic torch has begun its four—month journey around japan, as it heads to the delayed opening ceremony of the 2020 summer games. the olympic flame was lit in fukushima, and will arrive in tokyo injuly. rupert wingfield—hayes has been watching its progress. it's a moment many had predicted would never happen, but this morning in fukushima, a year later than planned, the runners got under way. the olympic torch relay has begun. this is really the point of no return. this is japan saying to the world, this games is going to go ahead this summer — regardless of the pandemic. for months, opinion polls have shown an overwhelming majority of japanese are against holding these games this year, but as the torch relay entered the city of iwaki today, a lot of people turned out, ignoring government advice not to gather in crowds, although they did heed the advice to clap rather than to cheer. "when i watched the torch go by today it became more real "for me," this lady says. "but i am glad they're not going to allow spectators from abroad." "i'm going to be an olympic volunteer," this student says, "so i really want them to go ahead. "when the whole world is down because of the pandemic i think "the olympics will cheer people up." so the torch relay has now arrived in the little town of futaba, and this town is one of them that was evacuated after the nuclear disaster at fukushima daiichi ten years ago. in fact, the nuclear plant is just a few kilometres away from here and despite all of the razzmatazz surrounding the torch relay here today, if you go just 100 metres in either direction you'll find that this town is still completely deserted and some of the people who come from this area are not hugely amused about the amount of money that's being spent on the olympics when they still can't come home. japan has now decided it will not allow foreign spectators to come to the games this summer, but as the olympic flame makes its way towards tokyo the authorities here know they now have no hope of vaccinating japan's population before the opening ceremony onjuly the 23rd. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in fukushima. a lawyer for the russian opposition politician alexai navalny has described his health as "extremely unfavourable", following concerns raised about his condition. mr navalny was jailed last month for two and a half years on charges he said were politically motivated. russia's prison authority has described his condition as stable and satisfactory. his lawyer olga mikhaylova said, after visiting him, that he had severe back and leg pain and that he can't use one of his legs. mr navalny has been a thorn in the side of the russian authorities for years through organising anti—government protests over corruption allegations. the nationwide building society is to allow 13,000 office staff to choose where they work under a new flexibility scheme. the company is closing three offices in swindon, with 3,000 staff either moving to the nearby hq, working from home, or mixing the two. managers say its "work anywhere" plan would allow employees more control of their lives. santander has announced plans to close 111 branches across the country due to the shift to mobile and online banking. the bank said it had taken the decision because fewer customers were choosing to bank in branch. about 840 staff will be affected by the closures, although santander promised to try to find them otherjobs within the business. johnny depp has lost a bid to overturn a damning high court ruling in london which concluded he assaulted his ex—wife amber heard and left her in fear for her life. thejudge said mr depp had no real prospect of success and therefore is refused permission to appeal against the ruling given last year in his libel case against the publishers of the sun. a group of mps has warned the government it's "missed "the boat" on reform of the bbc licence fee. the media select committee says the existing system is the only option for the foreseeable future — but ministers say they still plan to review how the bbc is funded. scientists have launched a study to see if two drugs — which are already available — could be used to reduce deaths from coronavirus. the cambridge—led trial also aims to cut the number of people who are re—admitted to hospital following treatment for the disease. our science correspondent richard westcott reports. covid has put nearly half million uk people in hospital so far. most survived but the disease does not relinquish its grip just because they had been discharged. ambulance driver nigel has been nicknamed the miracle man by his doctors after nearly dying from the disease last summer. . , ., , summer. three cheers for denying joel! -- for— summer. three cheers for denying joel! -- for nigel! _ summer. three cheers for denying joel! -- for nigel! leaving - summer. three cheers for denying j joel! -- for nigel! leaving hospital was a hiuh joel! -- for nigel! leaving hospital was a high point — joel! -- for nigel! leaving hospital was a high point but _ joel! -- for nigel! leaving hospital was a high point but months i joel! -- for nigel! leaving hospital was a high point but months later, j was a high point but months later, he's still suffering. i was a high point but months later, he's still suffering.— he's still suffering. i will be fine and do my _ he's still suffering. i will be fine and do my best,, _ he's still suffering. i will be fine and do my best,, i _ he's still suffering. i will be fine and do my best,, i don't - he's still suffering. i will be fine and do my best,, i don't have i he's still suffering. i will be fine i and do my best,, i don't have upper and do my best,, idon't have upper body— and do my best,, i don't have upper body strength... you and do my best,, i don't have upper body strength. . .— body strength... you tired or easy, don't you? — body strength... you tired or easy, don't you? you _ body strength... you tired or easy, don't you? you have _ body strength... you tired or easy, don't you? you have an _ body strength... you tired or easy, don't you? you have an afternoon. don't you? you have an afternoon nap. you have your stomach problem. ulcerative colitis. the mental health ptsd side of it, mood swings. i have covid come —— had covered, while small, i still have things, i don't class this is a long covid, this is going covid because it has affected his at this increasingly common long—term damage is why cambridge researchers are launching a new uk wide drug trial. lead cambridge researchers are launching a new uk wide drug trial.— a new uk wide drug trial. lead by a doctor push — a new uk wide drug trial. lead by a doctor push through _ a new uk wide drug trial. lead by a doctor push through all _ a new uk wide drug trial. lead by a doctor push through all the - doctor push through all the paperwork and raise the money in between shifts on intensive care. hi charlotte, how are you? they will be recruiting discharged patients to try to common trucks. the recruiting discharged patients to try to common trucks.— recruiting discharged patients to try to common trucks. the epics of pan truck is _ try to common trucks. the epics of pan truck is a _ try to common trucks. the epics of pan truck is a clotbusting - try to common trucks. the epics of pan truck is a clotbusting drug i try to common trucks. the epics of pan truck is a clotbusting drug and | pan truck is a clotbusting drug and we know people who have coronavirus infection and increase risk of getting what because in their lungs they so it is trying to target that in the post hospital face, they so it is trying to target that in the post hospitalface, and atorvastatin is a cholesterol—lowering drug. one thing about these two drugs as they are relatively cheap, easy to take because their tablets and are widely available. abs, because their tablets and are widely available. �* . because their tablets and are widely available. . ., , , ., ., available. a large study found for eve ten available. a large study found for every ten people _ available. a large study found for every ten people discharged i available. a large study found for| every ten people discharged from hospital after covid, within six months, three will be readmitted and one will die. finding treatments to cut those numbers could change thousands of lives. richard wescott, bbc news, claxton and essex. a second attempt to re—float the container ship stranded in the suez canal will be made later today. the ship's owner has apologised for the grounding — and the effect it has had on international shipping. at least 150 vessels are currently waiting to go through the canal, which was completely blocked when the two hundred thousand tonne cargo ship, the ever given, ran aground. theo leggett reports. an ocean—going giant lies stuck, its bow embedded firmly on the sandy bank of the suez canal, and one of the world's busiest trade arteries remains blocked for a third day. the canal provides a relatively quick way for cargo to travel between europe and asia, and for oil supplies to come from the middle east. the alternative is a passage around the southern tip of africa, which is thousands of miles further and can take more than a week longer. with the canal blocked, the backlog of ships with nowhere to go is building up. we have ships lining up and this is notjust containerships, this is bulk carriers, carrying grain cargoes as well. this is crude oil, this is oil product, carrying gasoline and diesel to feed our cars. the ever given is one of a very new generation of so—called mega ships, huge vessels hundreds of metres long capable of carrying tens of thousands of containers. the suez canal was built in 1859 and although it was recently expanded it remains a very narrow and tricky prospect for such large ships. the biggest concern is when there is an incident these ships are too big for salvagers to quickly and easily managed to free them and certainly there needs to be a thorough audit of what went wrong and why and at the moment we are not really sure. the question now is how much longer it will take for the canal to be fully reopened. a long delay will only add to the disruption to global supply chains already caused by the covid outbreak and ultimately that means a potential shortages and higher costs for businesses. they may already be struggling. theo leggett, bbc news. the new £50 note will feature the computer pioneer alan turing. the bank of england says the new notes will enter circulation on the 23rd ofjune. campaigners have criticised the lack of diversity, but the governor of the bank, andrew bailey has said he would like the next person featured on a banknote to be from an ethnic minority our personal finance correspondent. from an ethnic minority. our personal finance correspondent kevin peachey reports. alan turing's work as code breaker helped shorten the war and save lives. soon he'll be on the bank of england's most secure banknote. and this is the new note, packed with security features. here's the portrait of alan turing with images of his computer pioneering role. it enters circulation on the 23rd ofjune. why then? the clue is here, on this wavy line in binary code. it's alan turing's date of birth, in 1912, on the 23rd ofjune. the banknote also draws attention to his appalling treatment by the state for being gay. today, the bank of england's headquarters is flying the rainbow flag to celebrate diversity, but is it enough? would you like to see someone from a diverse ethnic background on the next note? i would, i definitely want to see it because we are very committed to diversity. so i would definitely hope that one of our next bank notes will obviously feature somebody from an ethnic background, because that would be very appropriate, but i do want to emphasise of course that alan turing in his own right is a very strong recognition of diversity. alan turing's nephew hopes this will prompt wider discussions. i think alan turing would have wanted us to think about things like under—representation of women in science subjects, under—representation of black and ethnic minority kids in stem subjects at school, and why they are not being given the opportunities that they should have and why that's bad for all of us. these were things i think he was quite keen on during his lifetime. he was keen too on the idea of programming machines, and during the covid crisis, we've turned to devices rather than cash to pay for things. would you expect next to have a digital currency rather than a banknote? it still very much at the foundational stages, i think, because it does raise quite a lot of issues as to how it would work, how it would impact the financial system, how it would impact society more broadly. a project fascinating anyone inspired by alan turing's work. kevin peachey, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. sunny spells and scattered showers is how it will remain for the rest of today. there will be fewer showers across central and eastern areas but there have been some, and there still are, meandering across southern areas. they are more numerous the showers in the north and west. temperatures slightly down here, ten or 11, 14s and 15s in the south, but a relatively pleasant day in the sunshine for most. however, overnight, as the showers continue, we will see a lengthy spell of rain and a weather front coming in, so that should alleviate any frost worries, although temperatures do fall back behind this cold weather front as we go through the latter part of the night and colder air is introduced for tomorrow across many areas. those showers will turn to sleet and snow and there could even be a little bit on the moors and hills further south by the end of the day. temperatures will be down by 4 or 5 degrees. it will certainly feel chillier tomorrow and then we have slightly fewer showers on saturday, but a windy and unsettled picture for the second half of the weekend. more online. i have always got the right camera and for the last half hour, for the first time in 17 years, i have picked the wrong one! hello, this is bbc news with simon mccoy. the headlines: the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people "have to live with risk" and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. concern from pub landlords, after the prime minister says it could be down to individual pubs to bar drinkers who arrive without proof of vaccination. as eu leaders meet to decide their next move over export restrictions — astrazeneca expresses anger at being caught in the middle of the vaccine row. over 50s and those in at—risk categories are being urged to book their covid—19jabs — before a predicted dip in supplies. a royal navyjet has crashed into a field in cornwall — the two pilots ejected from the plane and have been taken to hospital. a year later than planned — the torch relay for the delayed tokyo olympics finally gets under way injapan. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. tighten start with the football. the world cup qualifiers continue this evening. northern ireland have the toughest job among the home nations — away to italy. scotland are home to austria, and england face one of the smallest nations in football, san marino. ahead of the game, there's been talk of whether england players will take the knee — after some high profile stars stopped the gesture, saying it's lost it's meaning. the match is a milestone for manager gareth southgate — his 50th in charge of the national side. it has been an absolute honour. i suppose it is something i will think about more when everything is finished. numbers up on board somewhere. yeah, it's a nice landmark but of course my focus really is with the team and making sure that we get this world cup qualification off to a good start. the former scotland captain scott brown will leave celtic at the end of the season to join premiership rivals aberdeen. the 35 year—old has signed a pre—contract to go to pittodrie as a player—coach and willjoin them in the summer after 14 years with celtic. brown has played more than 600 times for celtic and won ten league titles in 12 domestic cups. crewe alexandra chairman, john bowler, is standing down, following the sheldon report into child sexual abuse in football. in a statement, bowler said, "i am satisfied with the findings of the review that found that the club did not have any knowledge of barry bennell�*s heinous crimes. i will always be deeply appalled and sorry that those young players and their families suffered at the hands of this evil predator." well, in a statement, the offside trust, the organisation founded and run by survivors of child sexual abuse in sport, said: this was the very least that should have been expected, and hopefully it clears the path for a new chapter." ben stokes insists the team are focused purely on winning — rather than worrying where they are in the world rankings. they play india tomorrow — without captain eoin morgan, who'll miss the final two one—day internationals with a hand injury. sam billings will also be unavailable for the second game of the series, withjos buttler again captaining the side. being number one is obviously a fantastic thing to have next to your name as a team, but it's not our driving force. our driving force is the way that we go about it and our attitude towards playing the game, and that is what has made us be successful and the more successful we are, the more chance, the more opportunity we have got to be at number one. our driving force is making sure we stay true to ourselves and our beliefs and how we play the game. the official countdown to the postponed 2020 toyko games is underway — after the olympic torch was lit during a scaled—down event this morning. after a brief opening ceremony, members of the 2011 japan women's football team began the torch's 120—day journey, through 859 locations. it ends with the opening ceremony on the 23rd july. there'll be no international fans at the games — because of the coronavirus pandemic — and former british athlete, iwan thomas admits that's it's been a tough time for the athletes. i can only imagine how tough it is. in any sport it's notjust about being physically ready, it's being mentally ready as well and the good thing about having an end goal on cold nights when you are training, you have got the olympics to aim for. it must be very hard to remain motivated but now they can finally see it is coming. after spells at wasps, sale and gloucester — former england fly—half danny cipriani has joined a new premiership club. from may, he'll be playing for bath, after signing an extended one year contract. cipriani left gloucester in december despite reportedly signing a three—year contract in 2019. and a reminder — england's under 21 are currently taking on switzerland, they are a goal down with around ten minutes left. keep up to date with that, on the bbc sport website. going back to danny cipriani, a comeback was always on the cards. you can get inspiration from him. i doubt it. it's a one—way road. it's been a great pleasure. our paths will cross. thank you. the national stalking helpline says it's seen a 10% increase in calls since the pandemic began, with around 20,000 people contacting the charity over the past year. many have reported cyber—stalking and the use of tracking devices. one victim has been speaking to the bbc�*s emma glasbey. i'm never somebody that suffered from anxiety, it's not something that impacted me, but it crippled me at times. i felt incredibly vulnerable. i live remotely and i'm on my own. i just lived every day wondering what they might be capable of next. when she ended her relationship, her ex refused to accept it. becky, not her real name, was then bombarded with messages and made to feel like a prisoner in her own home. ijust kept seeing him everywhere that i went. i was driving along the road he would nearly always becoming in the opposite direction. if i left the gym, he'd be outside driving past. she took her car to the garage and a mechanic discovered a tracker device fitted. i started shaking. i knew immediately that it was him, all of those events just fell into place. how he knew where i was. in the crime survey for england and wales, one in 20 women and one in 50 men said they had experienced stalking in the past year. the national stalking helpline has seen a 10% increase in calls since the pandemic began with almost 20,000 people contacting the charity since the first lockdown. victims have explained to us how they feel like sitting ducks, waiting for an incident to occur because they are not able to do the normal things that they might do every day like varying their routines. and particularly that cyberstalking component, this invasion of every facet of their lives and that something, that trauma that they've experienced during the lockdown that we are going to be supporting them, unfortunately for some time to come. becky's stalker pleaded guilty in january and was jailed for two and a half years. but it's an ordeal that has left a lasting impact on her business, her friendships and her sense of feeling safe and secure. emma glasbey, bbc news. and if you've been affected by the issues we've been talking about — go to bbc.co.uk/actionline for details of organisations offering information and support, or you can call forfree, at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066. pub operators and landlords have said they are concerned about the possibility of customers in england having to prove they've been vaccinated against coronavirus — in order to enter hospitality venues. a review is looking into the measure as the lockdown is eased — yesterday the prime minister said the decision could be left to individual landlords — but industry leaders say the plan is �*fraught with difficulty�*. emma mcclarkin is the chief executive of the british beer and pub association. do you share that view that there will be problems with this if introduced?— introduced? yes. vaccine certifications _ introduced? yes. vaccine certifications in _ introduced? yes. vaccine certifications in domestic| introduced? yes. vaccine - certifications in domestic venues like pubs and restaurants presents us with a serious challenge in terms of enforcement. we are very worried of enforcement. we are very worried of it making us fall into discrimination when you think about those who haven�*t been offered a vaccine like our younger population or those advised against vaccine such as pregnant women. we employ a significant number of young people so it may impact us on a staffing perspective. i5 so it may impact us on a staffing perspective-— perspective. is it not part of a landlord to — perspective. is it not part of a landlord to spot _ perspective. is it not part of a landlord to spot potential- perspective. is it not part of a i landlord to spot potential trouble, if someone has had too much to drink, you bar them, if someone has had too much to drink, you barthem, it goes if someone has had too much to drink, you bar them, it goes with the territory. itaste drink, you bar them, it goes with the territory-— the territory. we don't have bouncers — the territory. we don't have bouncers at _ the territory. we don't have bouncers at the _ the territory. we don't have bouncers at the door- the territory. we don't have bouncers at the door at i the territory. we don't have. bouncers at the door at every the territory. we don't have i bouncers at the door at every bar and pub and that is what they are asking us to do. they are asking us to enforce this at each venue and thatis to enforce this at each venue and that is impossible for some of our venues to two, particularly our smaller community pubs in rural locations to employ additional staff to deal with this additional responsibility. at a time when businesses are struggling to survive, it is an unnecessary burden for them. �* , survive, it is an unnecessary burden for them. 3 , survive, it is an unnecessary burden forthem. �*, , , ., ., for them. let's pick up on that because let's _ for them. let's pick up on that because let's face _ for them. let's pick up on that because let's face it, - for them. let's pick up on that because let's face it, if - for them. let's pick up on that because let's face it, if pubs . for them. let's pick up on that i because let's face it, if pubs were because let�*s face it, if pubs were told you can reopen if you do this, you will grab any opportunity to re—open you can aren�*t you christian that we do open our doors on the 12th of april and we have been given an indication from the government that the scheme will be up and coming on the 12th of april. we open our doors on the 17th of may and we will see the terms on which they will see the terms on which they will allow us to do this.- will allow us to do this. they romise will allow us to do this. they promise all _ will allow us to do this. they promise all restrictions i will allow us to do this. they promise all restrictions of i will allow us to do this. they i promise all restrictions of social contact will follow by the 21st of june and this is a big restriction that they are asking us to put into place and in force at a great cost to our businesses and our personal relationships with our customers, so we nervous this of the damage this could do to us. share we nervous this of the damage this could do to us.— we nervous this of the damage this could do to us. are some customers auoin to could do to us. are some customers going to be — could do to us. are some customers going to be slightly _ could do to us. are some customers going to be slightly happier - could do to us. are some customers going to be slightly happier if i could do to us. are some customers going to be slightly happier if they l going to be slightly happier if they think there is this sort of check on people who have had vaccines, had a negative test, but for the other customers, wouldn�*t this be a positive? in customers, wouldn't this be a ositive? ., ., ., , ., positive? in order to open we have already had _ positive? in order to open we have already had to _ positive? in order to open we have already had to fulfil _ positive? in order to open we have already had to fulfil covid - positive? in order to open we have already had to fulfil covid secure i already had to fulfil covid secure measures and have invested over 500 million as a sector in making our venues co—feet secure not only for customers but for our staff. we�*re just envisaging how difficult this would be to implement when we will be forced to make between different groups, if your grandad arrives as part of a family, that he has forgotten his vaccination passport, we don�*t let him in. if it is an online application and they don�*t have a smartphone, do we refuse entry then? it is a very difficult moment for businesses. we need to support them the best we can. they will not be making profit while they are operating under any restrictions so adding in this one in exchange for the removal of others is simply still adding a burden to them they cannot carry. still adding a burden to them they cannot carry-— still adding a burden to them they cannotcar. ., ., ,, cannot carry. how would you assess the mood of— cannot carry. how would you assess the mood of pub — cannot carry. how would you assess the mood of pub landlords, - cannot carry. how would you assess the mood of pub landlords, those . the mood of pub landlords, those involved in the sector? we all want pubs to open but what do you sense about the readiness now people just to try and get things back to some sort of normality? this to try and get things back to some sort of normality?— sort of normality? this has been a devastating _ sort of normality? this has been a devastating time. _ sort of normality? this has been a devastating time. we _ sort of normality? this has been a devastating time. we lost - sort of normality? this has been a devastating time. we lost 2000 i sort of normality? this has been a i devastating time. we lost 2000 pubs, 5% of pubs last year, five pubs closing every day. we don�*t want to see a decline in the great british pub in those great numbers. people are holding on and surviving through disclosure by their very finger tips. all of this announcements, dropping into conversations that we may be having additional obligations put upon us makes them extremely anxious and we really hope that the government give fuller consideration to this, to help businesses survive. they have done their part in the pandemic, and we still have to have co—feet secure measures in place and we are complaining. anything on top of that will make the back of these pubs that have been through enough. thank you so much for your time. some news from nhs england who says that the preparedness alert level should be reduced from four to three because of what he calls reduced acute pressure is on the health service. this came during a board meeting of nhs england. they have said the number of coronavirus patients in hospital is now 4000, suggesting it is time to bring down the alert level from level four to level three and he said that should take effect from today. we will have more on that later on. a bit of our news. from france. a vincent van gogh painting of a paris street scene that had been held in a private collection for over a century has sold for £14 million —— 14 million euros. this is at sotheby�*s. they set an estimated value between five and eight. 14 million euros. painted in 1887 what the artist was lodging with his brother in the french capital. you heard it here first. you�*re watching bbc news. two pilots are undergoing medical checks after ejecting from a british militaryjet in south—west england, which later crashed into a field. cornwall air ambulance said the pilots did not sustain life—threatening injuries. the ministry of defence said an investigation will start into the incident involving a royal navy hawk aircraft that was based not far from the site of the crash in helston, on the tip of england�*s most westerly point. the retail giant h&m is facing a backlash in china after the company expressed concern about the alleged use of forced uighur labour in the production of cotton in xinjiang. in a statement last year, h&m said that it was "deeply concerned" by reports of "forced labour and discrimination" against xinjiang�*s muslim minorities. yesterday, the chinese communist youth league posted this message on social media, saying, "spreading rumours to boycott xinjiang cotton, while wanting to make money in china? wishful thinking." shortly after, h&m disappeared from two of china�*s major shopping platforms. chinese state tv released photos mocking the h&m logo, calling it "ridiculous" and chinese celebrities have ended their ties with the retailer. western countries imposed sanctions on china this week, over their treatment of the uighur minority in xinjiang. our correspondent in shanghai, robin brant, is following developments. h&m is big here in shanghai, it�*s big across china. this is one of its multitude of locations in this country, but what is striking about what we have seen in the last 24 hours is how quickly and how all of a sudden, apparently, this campaign led by celebrity endorsers and led by some arms of the ruling communist party has come out of nowhere. and also, what is so striking is how it has gathered pace in a matter of hours. this is all about h&m�*s proclamation, going back last year, which you just referred to, saying it wanted to purge its supply chain of cotton that was used and harvested in xinjiang. that�*s the western province where china is accused of abuse against the muslim minority there. genocide is actually how now president biden�*s administration has classified the abuses going on. so what is most intriguing is that all of a sudden, just a few days after coordinated sanctions were imposed by the uk, the us and the european union, we have arms of the communist party, the celebrity endorsers, happy to take h&m�*s money up until now, all of a sudden coming out of nowhere, bailing on the company and encouraging others to do the same. at the other end of the scale, you have the japanese retailer muji. we just bought this shirt there this morning. on the label, this actually refers to xinjiang cotton, so they are at the other end of the scale in terms of what is going on. but look, it is very serious. this effort to use its economic clout, at this very time nationalism is a very familiar tactic employed by china, employed by the party, employed by its government, and it is serious. just ask the south koreans. their chain store lotte suffered very seriously in years gone by with a diplomatic spat. just ask the philippines as well with the government there. its fruit exports suffered seriously here. that was all about a diplomatic spat between its governments. the headlines on bbc news... the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people "have to live with risk" and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. pub landlords in england may be able refuse entry to customers who can�*t prove they�*ve had a coronavirus vaccine — a government review is looking at the issue. eu leaders are set to discuss tougher controls on coronavirus vaccine exports as they try to boost supplies and improve distribution amongst member states — which could affect supply to the uk. a major report by the international union for the conservation of nature has revealed reveal that africa�*s elephants are far more threatened than previously thought. decades of decline — caused by poaching and an ongoing loss of their habitat — have driven forest elephants and savanna elephants into the two highest categories of extinction threat. victoria gill reports. the largest land animals on earth. but their size has not protected them from the impacts of poaching or from the continued destruction of the vast swathes of interconnected habitat they need. this latest red list of threatened species, considered to be the comprehensive report on how nature is faring on an increasingly crowded planet, puts africa�*s savanna elephants into the endangered category. forest elephants are now even closer to extinction — critically endangered. it is an alarm bell for us. there are two main reasons for these declines. one is poaching of these animals for their ivory and the second one is habitat loss through human activities that take place in total disregard of the needs of these animals. across africa there are nowjust over 400,000 wild elephants, and this latest examination of decades of census data and habitat surveys has shown that the demand for ivory still drives the decline in their numbers. the level of threat they faced had also been masked by the fact that the african elephant was previously thought to be a single species. this is the first time the savanna and forest elephant has been assessed separately. what does it mean practically to have this information about their status? how do you use that to protect these animals and reverse these declines? well, on the surface of it it looks bleak. the fact that it�*s been flagged is actually positive because then it means we can do something about it. and also separating the species, i think that�*s also positive because it means we can do something about it on a more concentrated level. the loss of species and natural spaces is happening all around the world. but conservationists are confident that this wake—up call could ensure that these giant icons of african wildlife get the protection and the space that they need. victoria gill, bbc news. the future is here. i wasn�*t meant to be here but martin is off sick today so i�*ve got the unenviable task of saying goodbye. i have breaking news, because you are living is which i am very sad about. they will seem quite happy about it. how can you show we have let�*s have a look. good morning and welcome to bbc news. plans for privately run drunk tanks to tackle alcohol fuelled disorder has been backed by police. under controls,... plenty more to come from here. none of it news because that will come from buckingham palace. but that won�*t stop us, we will see you later. rachel. you are watching bbc news. bear in mind it is august. this does not look like a walk in the park. dog owners and their pets in california have hit the waves in the second annual world dog surfing championships. here are the pictures. there are also prizes for the best dressed and tandem surfing dogs. the winner being crowned top dog. that�*s a shame, we have run out of pictures. we are now coming to the big dip. anyway, you have coordinated this campaign. boris, just a second. iie campaign. boris, “ust a second. he is campaign. boris, just a second. he is shouting in my ear. eric, - campaign. boris, just a second. he is shouting in my ear. eric, thank i is shouting in my ear. eric, thank ou so is shouting in my ear. eric, thank you so much- _ is shouting in my ear. eric, thank you so much. have _ is shouting in my ear. eric, thank you so much. have you _ is shouting in my ear. eric, thank you so much. have you finished? j is shouting in my ear. eric, thank i you so much. have you finished? a treat you so much. have you finished? a great pleasure _ you so much. have you finished? a great pleasure to _ you so much. have you finished? a great pleasure to meet _ you so much. have you finished? a great pleasure to meet you. - you so much. have you finished? a great pleasure to meet you. what. great pleasure to meet you. what will ou great pleasure to meet you. what will you do _ great pleasure to meet you. what will you do with _ great pleasure to meet you. what will you do with this? _ great pleasure to meet you. what will you do with this? i _ great pleasure to meet you. what will you do with this? i have i great pleasure to meet you. what will you do with this? i have a i great pleasure to meet you. what will you do with this? i have a bit| will you do with this? i have a bit of work to _ will you do with this? i have a bit of work to do. _ will you do with this? i have a bit of work to do. you _ will you do with this? i have a bit of work to do. you have - will you do with this? i have a bit of work to do. you have been i will you do with this? i have a bit of work to do. you have been on| will you do with this? i have a bit - of work to do. you have been on live across the nation. i should have warned you about that beforehand. thank you so much. great to see you. good afternoon. i think it is still the afternoon. you're watching afternoon live. i5 the afternoon. you're watching afternoon live.— the afternoon. you're watching afternoon live. is there any reason wh an afternoon live. is there any reason why any director— afternoon live. is there any reason why any director -- _ afternoon live. is there any reason why any director -- every - afternoon live. is there any reason why any director -- every director| why any director —— every director in that box has grey hair? why any director -- every director in that box has grey hair? because most are quite _ in that box has grey hair? because most are quite old! _ in that box has grey hair? because most are quite old! just _ in that box has grey hair? because most are quite old! just watching i most are quite old! just watching that, because we cover, perhaps the most remarkable thing i have ever done is the annual d—day commemorations and talking to veterans. we meet some amazing people. just watching that interview. people. just watching that interview— people. just watching that interview. ., ., , , interview. you meet fabulous people. i will tell an — interview. you meet fabulous people. i will tell an anecdote. _ interview. you meet fabulous people. i will tell an anecdote. we _ interview. you meet fabulous people. i will tell an anecdote. we go - interview. you meet fabulous people. i will tell an anecdote. we go back- i will tell an anecdote. we go back all the way to the lebanon war. and we were working in an office together. a rather posh office. it had a fish tank! as _ together. a rather posh office. it had a fish tank! as the _ together. a rather posh office. it had a fish tank! as the war- had a fish tank! as the war progressed _ had a fish tank! as the war progressed i _ had a fish tank! as the war progressed i realised - had a fish tank! as the war progressed i realised no i had a fish tank! as the war. progressed i realised no one had a fish tank! as the war- progressed i realised no one in the bbc was feeding these fish. i started to feed them. simon thought this was funny because they were dying one by one. as we went forward, every time you interviewed me, there was always a fish reference which took us back to these times in lebanon. we bonded over that and formed a friendship but you have been a really good colleague and i for one will very much miss you and i know everybody out there we'll miss you as well. thank you. the important people and what the news channel has done, the important people is the audience. they trusted us and i will miss the bbc hugely. it is a remarkable place. yes, we have put the audience first and that has been really important. first and that has been really important-— first and that has been really important. first and that has been really imortant. ~ , .,, ., ., important. most people get a gold clock but you _ important. most people get a gold clock but you have _ important. most people get a gold clock but you have a _ important. most people get a gold clock but you have a blog - important. most people get a gold clock but you have a blog of - important. most people get a gold clock but you have a blog of a4 - clock but you have a blog of a4 paper. it clock but you have a blog of a4 -a er. , clock but you have a blog of a4 . a . er, , ., clock but you have a blog of a4 -a er. , ., ., clock but you have a blog of a4 -a er. , . ., , paper. it is the nature of this business _ paper. it is the nature of this business that _ paper. it is the nature of this business that you _ paper. it is the nature of this business that you will - paper. it is the nature of this business that you will be - paper. it is the nature of this - business that you will be remembered for that. business that you will be remembered forthat. i business that you will be remembered for that. i will be remembered for surf boarding dogs, this and standing outside that richard hospital. i spoke to william afterwards and he just said, we love the baby stuff. i am standing with prince william and i said, your royal highness, you mean the birth of your son. he said, yeah, royal highness, you mean the birth of yourson. he said, yeah, we royal highness, you mean the birth of your son. he said, yeah, we were watching inside and you got itjust right. i think we just touched the mood, i hope that is what we have done. it's been a great privilege to work here. bud done. it's been a great privilege to work here-— work here. and they called him georae work here. and they called him george and _ work here. and they called him george and not _ work here. and they called him george and not simon. - work here. and they called him george and not simon. there l work here. and they called him | george and not simon. there is work here. and they called him - george and not simon. there is still time. do george and not simon. there is still time- do you _ george and not simon. there is still time. do you want _ george and not simon. there is still time. do you want to _ george and not simon. there is still time. do you want to throw - george and not simon. there is still time. do you want to throw us - george and not simon. there is still time. do you want to throw us to i george and not simon. there is still| time. do you want to throw us to the weather for — time. do you want to throw us to the weather for the _ time. do you want to throw us to the weather for the last _ time. do you want to throw us to the weather for the last time? _ time. do you want to throw us to the weather for the last time? i - time. do you want to throw us to the weather for the last time? i am - weather for the last time? i am auoin to weather for the last time? i am going to the — weather for the last time? i am going to the wrong _ weather for the last time? i am going to the wrong camera. - weather for the last time? i am going to the wrong camera. here with the weather for the last time it is helen willetts. thank you. thank you for some fantastic throws over the years. if you are stepping out the door we do have some showers around at the moment. some sunshine as well, very springlike sort of day and that sort of weather we have had will continue on its merry way throughout the rest of the afternoon. some showers across southern england as well. they have been on and off around the london region, right the way toward somerset as well. shower activity further north. there is some hail and thunder in there as well but equally between the showers we have spells of sunshine and temperatures have responded to that strengthening much sunshine to 14 or 15 degrees. 12 degrees in the north. the showers just keep going as we head through the night. they merge into a longer speu the night. they merge into a longer spell of rain. this is a cold weather front heading our way forward tonight. so with all the cloud and the wind strengthening, we should be largely frost free but it will feel much colder by the end of the night in the north—west because our cold—weather front is introducing cold heir. we will see a temperature drop tomorrow for most of us and definitely a cooler feel. some sunshine and showers ahead of our weather front some sunshine and showers ahead of our weatherfront for some sunshine and showers ahead of our weather front for most us, two or three hours of heavy rain and blustery winds as well. then some sunshine follows what the showers progressively will be more of sleet and snow over the hills and even the hills and southern areas potentially by the time we get to the evening. after the twelves today, just eight in the north, still hanging on to double figures in the south because we have that morning rain with us which clears away eventually. then clear spells and showers. they could be wintry further south, so i colder night, widespread frost across the north. in the south as well we could see frost in rural areas. because we have high pressure building into the start of saturday. saturday night brings more wet and windy weather combat that starts to push its way southwards during sunday as well. a bit of a mixed bag this weekend. saturday looking like the drier day of the two but quite a bit of cloud around, so wouldn't like to rule out around, so wouldn't like to rule out a futuristic showers. temperatures perhaps recovering a little bit on saturday given the fact you have a south—westerly but by sunday, at this stage were not sure about the detail but it looks as though that weather front is pushing southwards and we return to showers in the north. stay up—to—date on the channel. this is bbc news. the headlines... the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people �*have to live with risk�* and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. concern from pub landlords, after the prime minister says it could be down to individual pubs to bar drinkers who arrive without proof of vaccination. you will have to have extra staff to be checking on the door. you will have to have the cost of workplace testing to be born. 70% of our businesses are smes and simply won't be able to manage this cost for reopening. as eu leaders meet to decide their next move over export restrictions, astrazeneca expresses anger at being caught in the middle of the vaccine row. over 50s and those in at—risk categories are being urged to book their covid—i9 jabs, before a predicted dip in supplies. a royal navyjet has crashed into a field in cornwall. the two pilots ejected from the plane and have been taken to hospital. a year later than planned, the torch relay for the delayed tokyo olympics finally gets under way injapan. one of the few privately—owned paintings of vincent van gogh has been sold for 14 million euros at an auction in paris. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the health secretary has said that coronavirus "cases are likely to rise" as lockdown eases but that he hopes we will be able to manage coronavirus "like flu". speaking in the house of commons in the last hour, matt hancock said we will have to live with the risk and that he sees continued efforts like mask—wearing as a personal responsibility. our political correspondent helen catt is at westminster. i suppose most of us knew this, with all the variants out there, this will be something we will have to live with in the future. set will be something we will have to live with in the future.— live with in the future. set to me the language _ live with in the future. set to me the language and _ live with in the future. set to me the language and signs - live with in the future. set to me the language and signs that - live with in the future. set to me | the language and signs that have been coming from government in recent months. this is not suddenly going to go away. what is being discussed in commons this afternoon is the legal powers the government gave itself last year to be able to deal with the pandemic. there are a couple of things it is doing. one thing is to create the laws that will entertain at the road map out of england. another is to extend the wider powers the government gave itself last year. in that, we're hearing some controversy this afternoon. some backbench mps are split down the middle. said they are happy to support the legislation for the road map, can but when it comes to other powers, some have described them as authoritarian. they are concerned it will be another six months. they are worried that in six months' time they will be asked to extend them again. matt hancock, the health secretary, tried to reassure mps that that would not be the case. we clearly wants to lift these measures as soon as it is reasonably possible. my goal is that we will eventually see coronavirus as something that has to be managed like flu. we something that has to be managed like flu. ~ ., �* , , like flu. we don't put in place restrictions _ like flu. we don't put in place restrictions on _ like flu. we don't put in place restrictions on normal- like flu. we don't put in place restrictions on normal life - like flu. we don't put in place restrictions on normal life to | restrictions on normal life to tackle — restrictions on normal life to tackle flute, but we do have a regular— tackle flute, but we do have a regular vaccination programme. and that is— regular vaccination programme. and that is where i hope, with vaccines, we will— that is where i hope, with vaccines, we will he _ that is where i hope, with vaccines, we will be able to get to. the debate has — we will be able to get to. the debate has been _ we will be able to get to. tue: debate has been dominated we will be able to get to. tte: debate has been dominated by we will be able to get to. t"t2 debate has been dominated by more sceptical voices but the legislation is pretty confidently going to pass when there is a vote on it in an hour or so time. labour when there is a vote on it in an hour orso time. laboursaid it would back this. the shadow secretary of state for health said that they did not do it with enthusiasm or relish. haste that they did not do it with enthusiasm or relish. we have to work hard _ enthusiasm or relish. we have to work hard to _ enthusiasm or relish. we have to work hard to break— enthusiasm or relish. we have to work hard to break transmission | work hard to break transmission rates _ work hard to break transmission rates we — work hard to break transmission rates. we have to shutdown opportunities for the virus to replicate _ opportunities for the virus to replicate. given the loss of life we have _ replicate. given the loss of life we have suffered, given mutations that could _ have suffered, given mutations that could set _ have suffered, given mutations that could set us back, we need to have zero tolerance for the virus rage and unchecked. for that reason, we accept _ and unchecked. for that reason, we accept that— and unchecked. for that reason, we accept that restrictions will have to stay— accept that restrictions will have to stay in — accept that restrictions will have to stay in place, and for that reason — to stay in place, and for that reason we _ to stay in place, and for that reason we support the renewal of the act and _ reason we support the renewal of the act and public health regulations before _ act and public health regulations before us. but we do not support that renewal with any enthusiasm or relish _ that renewal with any enthusiasm or relish. , ., . , relish. helen, you said it was the leral relish. helen, you said it was the legal restriction _ relish. helen, you said it was the legal restriction or _ relish. helen, you said it was the legal restriction or for _ relish. helen, you said it was the legal restriction or for the - legal restriction or for the framework that would go forward. is there any thing in the act that will confusion of the police? thea;r there any thing in the act that will confusion of the police? they said that they would _ confusion of the police? they said that they would take _ confusion of the police? they said that they would take out - confusion of the police? they said that they would take out some - confusion of the police? they said - that they would take out some powers that they would take out some powers that they would take out some powers that they don't need any more. there will be some things which i take it out. mps accept that will be the case. they think that some other things should be taken out. the road map legislation does some other things. from monday, the stay—at—home order which is in the current law will be changed and lifted. but they will have to put some things in because of that. there will be an explicit ban on international travel from england in law, which isn't in there at the moment. there were two bits of law doing different things. lots moment. there were two bits of law doing different things.— doing different things. lots of talk about restrictions _ doing different things. lots of talk about restrictions going _ doing different things. lots of talk about restrictions going forward i about restrictions going forward today. pub operators and landlords have said they are concerned about the possibility of customers in england having to prove they've been vaccinated against coronavirus in order to enter hospitality venues. a review is looking into the measure as the lockdown is eased. yesterday the prime minister said the decision could be left to individual landlords, but industry leaders say the plan is �*fraught with difficulty�*. speaking this morning mrjohnson said it may only be possible to implement a vaccine passports scheme once everybody has been offered a jab,as sarah campbell reports. pubs have had a long time to get ready to welcome back customers. they�*ve had to change their layouts, reduce tables, and ensure they�*re as covid—safe as possible. so soon to lockdown easing, the thought that they�*ll also have to ask customers to prove they�*ve been jabbed hasn�*t gone down well. what we do not want is the risk of additional costs being put onto our business having to hire people on the door to monitor this, to exercisejudgements. we want the ability to trade in the normal way. a further issue is around pub staff and clientele who are generally younger and therefore not yet eligible for vaccinations. you've also got potential discrimination issues that arise in the workplace and in a customer setting where you might be discriminating against those people if you are demanding that they have covid status certification before they can pop out for a coffee or pop into the pub. under the current lockdown easing timetable in england, outside socialising in limited groups will be allowed from april the 12th. and from the 17th of may, groups of six or any number from two households will be allowed to drink and eat indoors. the question is whether pubs will require customers to have a vaccine certificate which the prime minister said this morning was being considered. what we said is that we�*ll be reporting on the certification group in early april, either on april the 5th or april the 12th. desperate to get their doors back open again, the owner of this chain of nightclubs says having to show proof of vaccine could be workable. our demographic would probably accept it, it's a young customer base for us. they already walk around with id such as driving licence and passports to get into a lot of our venues, and i don't think they'd have a problem with it. but i think it's a market forces thing to be honest. the night before the last lockdown — publicans and many customers are counting down the days until the drinks can start flowing again, but the road to reopening is far from straightforward. sarah campbell, bbc news. figures released by nhs england suggest that almost 90% of people aged 50 and over have received their first dose of the vaccine as of march the 21st. an estimated 87% of people have had their first dose of a covid—i9 vaccine across england. london is one of the regions with the biggest take—up, 78 point 8% of people aged 50 and over have had their first dose so far in the capital. while in south west england, that figure roses to 90.5%. eu leaders are discussing plans for extra controls on vaccine exports in an effort to improve the roll—out of doses for member states. borisjohnson has warned against blockades, which could affect the number ofjabs sent to the uk. but the european commission says it would "expand supply for all". richard galpin reports. here in this vaccine centre in cologne, as in other parts of the european union, there is only a handful of people. one key reason for that is a shortage of vaccine supplies and this as the eu faces a third wave of coronavirus which is sweeping through the member states. frustrated eu officials believe the uk has had an unfair advantage with the contracts for the astrazeneca vaccine and are now threatening a ban of exports of the vaccine to the uk. i do not think we want to use it. i am optimistic that a joint agreement between the eu and uk as well as the summit today will help to solve the problem without entering a vaccine war but again the eu has been the biggest exporter. london and brussels are trying to cool tensions with the statement saying they are working on specific steps they can take to create a win—win situation and expand vaccine supplies for all their citizens. i don�*t want to see blockades of vaccines or medicines. i don�*t think that is the way forward either for us or for any of our friends. the eu meeting this afternoon is focusing on ways to increase the vaccine supply and improve the distribution across the 27 countries. i think it should be made perfectly clear that the eu does not have a problem with the uk. the eu has a problem with astrazeneca because astrazeneca is not fulfilling their promises, their contractual obligations. it is vital in this pandemic that all countries work together to tackle the virus. vaccine nationalism could prove very damaging. you cannot wrap a flag around a vaccine in this modern world. it just doesn�*t work that way. these are integrated supply chains and any attempt to impose any barriers whatsoever will disadvantage everybody involved. at today�*s meeting the german chancellor angela merkel will also highlight the need for more vaccines to be made in the eu itself to tackle the supply problems. richard galpin, bbc news. our correspondent in brussels, nick beake, is watching that virtual summit between european leaders. well, the 27 eu leaders are engrossed in their video call, they are trying to come up with a solution to the vaccination crisis that really has engulfed this continent. we know that the rate of vaccination is much lower compared to countries like the united kingdom, for example, four times slower in that case and so there are no easy fixes. what we are seeing though, if not division, a change of approach between different eu countries. on the one hand you�*ve got italy and france, they are very keen to go ahead, it would seem, with the sort of proposals the european commission was talking about yesterday. that�*s to say tightening export controls on vaccines leaving european soil. on the other hand you have the swedes and the belgians, they are saying that any sort of restrictions could have a pretty bad effect really on vaccinations and the component parts of vaccines and notably the very delicate global supply chains, that�*s something they want to avoid. at the same time, angela merkel is also on the call, the german chancellor. she has defended the approach that the european union has taken, that�*s to say this idea ofjoint procurement, working together rather than individually. and she really pointed the finger of blame in some ways at the united kingdom and the united states, saying that those two countries are not really exporting any finished vaccines at all and that is not helping matters. we know that president biden will bejoining the call a little later on, so maybe he will want to talk to angela merkel and others about that. another interesting dimension to this today, a bit of a blast from the past, jean—claudejunker, the former president of the commission, he is urging all sides to step back for what he called a stupid vaccination war and within that, it seems he is urging the commission really to dial down the language, to try and take some heat out of this situation. he thinks a vaccine war would be disastrous in the short term and that also it would really affect the reputation of the european union. people in england aged over 50 and in at—risk categories are being urged to book their covid—i9 jabs before next monday when experts are predicting the number of vaccination slots will dip. officials expect a slowdown in vaccine supplies in april and medics will be focusing on providing second doses. this from our health correspondent naomi grimley. book where you can is the message for people in the over 50s aren�*t at risk groups. some vaccination centres will be temporarily closed in april due to vaccination supply issues. the government wants to focus on the most vulnerable groups before that happens. haste focus on the most vulnerable groups before that happens.— before that happens. we have got ve hiuh before that happens. we have got very high coverage _ before that happens. we have got very high coverage in _ before that happens. we have got very high coverage in the - before that happens. we have got very high coverage in the over- before that happens. we have got| very high coverage in the over 70s. for more than 90%. but in other groups there are figures of last coverage and we need to reach out to those groups and make sure vaccines are easily accessible so that they take up immunisation. {lager are easily accessible so that they take up immunisation.— take up immunisation. over 28 million people _ take up immunisation. over 28 million people have _ take up immunisation. over 28 million people have had - take up immunisation. over 28 million people have had at - take up immunisation. over 28| million people have had at least take up immunisation. over 28 - million people have had at least one jab. but now many of those require carefully timed second doses, so they will take priority in the next month. new research from warwick university and public health england says it has already saved at least 6000 lives, mostly in older age groups, between the first vaccinations in december and the end of february. but we�*re still living with huge uncertainty. foreign travel, for example, remains big unknown. , , ,~ travel, for example, remains big unknown. , , ., unknown. the biggest risk to the eidemic unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in _ unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the _ unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk _ unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk now- unknown. the biggest risk to the epidemic in the uk now would i unknown. the biggest risk to the j epidemic in the uk now would be importation from abroad. we�*ll have to think very hard but summer holidays and travel in the summer. but the best answer to that is to make the epidemic and control in the uk, and make vaccines available globally, then we can get travel, more of our health and education back much faster. in more of our health and education back much faster.— more of our health and education back much faster. in exactly three weeks' time. _ back much faster. in exactly three weeks' time, the _ back much faster. in exactly three weeks' time, the government - back much faster. in exactly three l weeks' time, the government hopes weeks�* time, the government hopes that everyone in the most vulnerable groups will be offered a firstjab. it will be a moment to celebrate. but health officials want us to know there is a long way to go before the country can really relax. the headlines on bbc news... the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people �*have to live with risk�* and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. pub landlords in england may be able refuse entry to customers who can�*t prove they�*ve had a coronavirus vaccine — a government review is looking at the issue. eu leaders are set to discuss tougher controls on coronavirus vaccine exports as they try to boost supplies and improve distribution amongst member states — which could affect supply to the uk. a year later than expected, the olympic torch has begun its four—month journey around japan, as it heads to the delayed opening ceremony of the 2020 summer games. the olympic flame was [it in fukushima, and will arrive in tokyo injuly. rupert wingfield hayes has been watching its progress. it�*s a moment many had predicted would never happen, but this morning in fukushima, a year later than planned, the runners got under way. the olympic torch relay has begun. this is really the point of no return. this is japan saying to the world, this games is going to go ahead this summer — regardless of the pandemic. for months, opinion polls have shown an overwhelming majority of japanese are against holding these games this year, but as the torch relay entered the city of iwaki today, a lot of people turned out, ignoring government advice not to gather in crowds, although they did heed the advice to clap rather than to cheer. "when i watched the torch go by today it became more real for me," this lady says. "but i am glad they�*re not going to allow spectators from abroad." "i�*m going to be an olympic volunteer," this student says, "so i really want them to go ahead. "when the whole world is down because of the pandemic i think "the olympics will cheer people up." so the torch relay has now arrived in the little town of futaba, and this town is one of them that was evacuated after the nuclear disaster at fukushima daiichi ten years ago. in fact, the nuclear plant is just a few kilometres away from here and despite all of the razzmatazz surrounding the torch relay here today, if you go just 100 metres in either direction you�*ll find that this town is still completely deserted and some of the people who come from this area are not hugely amused about the amount of money that�*s being spent on the olympics when they still can�*t come home. japan has now decided it will not allow foreign spectators to come to the games this summer, but as the olympic flame makes its way towards tokyo the authorities here know they now have no hope of vaccinating japan�*s population before the opening ceremony onjuly the 23rd. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in fukushima. two pilots are undergoing medical checks after ejecting from a british militaryjet which later crashed into a field in south—west england. tamsin melville is in cornwall for us. it was around 9:30 this morning when people in this area reported hearing a loud bang, and that turned out to be a royal navy plane that ended up crashing in the trees behind me here at the bottom of this field. two pilots have ejected over farm fields about a mile this way, and a farm labourer was first on the scene. we were putting soilage in for the cows and all of a sudden, we heard a really loud bang, so we looked up. we could see between the two sheds that there was two men parachuting out of a jet. so we raced on the quad bike up across the field, see if we could find where the jet was heading. it was banking the left, away from the river, so we then decided we would try and find the two people that were ejected from the plane. when we got to where they were, they were both chatting, seeming ok. one had landed in one field, one had landed in another. so we phoned the ambulance, and... yeah, within no time, they were here and took them both away, so... the ministry of defence has confirmed that the plane a royal navy hawk from the 736 naval air squadron from nearby rnas culdrose. the pilots were treated by paramedics at the scene and airlifted to a hospital, and their injuries are said not to be life—threatening or life—changing. there�*s a very strong smell of fuel in the air here still, and the incident commander says it�*s lucky where the plane eventually came down. skilled pilots and luckily it doesn't happen too often, it's very rare. first time in many years i've had to deal with an aircraft accident. i mean, military aircraft are safe, but accidents will happen occasionally and it's fortunate this time nobody's been hurt. the military will now be taking over the investigation. tamsin melville, bbc news, st martin in cornwall. a teacher has been suspended from a west yorkshire school after showing pupils a cartoon of the prophet mohammed in a religious education class. batley grammar school has apologised for what its headteacher called the "completely inappropriate" use of the image. dozens of people gathered at the school this afternoon, with some in the local community calling for the teacher to be permanently removed from the school. more now on the eu�*s plans for extra controls on vaccine exports in an effort to improve the roll—out of doses for member states. boris has warned against blockades, which could affect the number ofjabs sent to the uk. i all comes amid a row about the efficacy of the astrazeneca vaccine. joining me now is dr sarah schiffling, she�*s a humanitarian supply chain expert from liverpool�*s stjohn moore university. they are good to have you on the programme with us. have you managed to get to the bottom about the difference between the contracts? there is clearly a lot of anger on the eu side. from your standpoint, is there one that trumps the other? they have different contracts in terms of how they prioritise different countries in this instance. we have the uk very clearly having the astrazeneca contract which prioritises the uk above all else, which the eu contract doesn�*t have in the same way. in this case, it seems to be top trumps with the uk contract being much stricter than the astrazeneca.— being much stricter than the astrazeneca. ~ ., ., astrazeneca. what sort of impact usina a astrazeneca. what sort of impact using a blockade, _ astrazeneca. what sort of impact using a blockade, that's - astrazeneca. what sort of impact using a blockade, that's the - astrazeneca. what sort of impact using a blockade, that's the wordj using a blockade, that�*s the word the prime minister uses, would have on uk vaccine supplies? haste the prime minister uses, would have on uk vaccine supplies?— the prime minister uses, would have on uk vaccine supplies? we have seen that a complete _ on uk vaccine supplies? we have seen that a complete blockade _ on uk vaccine supplies? we have seen that a complete blockade would - on uk vaccine supplies? we have seen that a complete blockade would set. that a complete blockade would set the uk programme back by two months. that would be a massive impact on what is happening here with the very well running and swiftly winning vaccination campaign. it won�*t have the same impact on the eu, given the large amount of people to be vaccinated there, it wouldn�*t have the same effect in terms of weeks. the other thing is what would a blockade leads to? we�*ve had a lot of talk about tit—for—tat. we�*ll retaliation? what are the global implications for this as well. we are seeing more and more countries closing down. the us is very clear that it closing down. the us is very clear thatitis closing down. the us is very clear that it is even ask first. india is now blocking exports from their institute. we are seeing more and more focus on your own population, which is, force, in some ways, quite understandable. we all want those nearest and dearest to us vaccinated first. but why does it stop? how far will be first. but why does it stop? how far will he go to retaliate? willis also affect ingredients for the vaccines? each vaccine has suppliers from dozens of different countries. i think it�*s a real worry is how far down the supply chain we will go. there are some ingredients for the pfizer vaccine that are produced in belgium, which is has ingredients from yorkshire. there would be confusion about that. but if they have a problem with astrazeneca and the contract in the supply, does that then transfer to supply of pfizer? are they going to block the export of pfizer because they have a disagreement with astrazeneca? what disagreement with astrazeneca? what we've not at disagreement with astrazeneca? what we've got at the _ disagreement with astrazeneca? transit we've got at the moment disagreement with astrazeneca? hisngt we've got at the moment and the we�*ve got at the moment and the release of the organisation mechanism last night, that is very much an option to give officials a variety of different options to respond. they can theoretically block exports of any vaccine. that is not anything specific. we only talk about astrazeneca, not the others. but it has this option for review. they can look at all the different exports that are going out of the eu right now. it is not targeted to the uk, not to astrazeneca, it is very broad measure of what they could be doing with nothing specific saddam right now of what they will actually be doing. now of what they will actually be doinu . , ., ., now of what they will actually be doinu. , ., ., ., ., ., doing. there is a lot of anger from astrazeneca _ doing. there is a lot of anger from astrazeneca this _ doing. there is a lot of anger from astrazeneca this afternoon. - doing. there is a lot of anger from astrazeneca this afternoon. they l doing. there is a lot of anger from i astrazeneca this afternoon. they are put out a fairly strong statement. on one side, i can understand it. there are in strange thing said by eu leaders. some of the anger is perhaps unfounded scene as they are developing the vaccine at cost. but i went on the other side of they have maybe had a pr nightmare. we heard from doctor anthony thatcher in the united states in some of it was unforced.— in the united states in some of it was unforced. there is a lot going on with the _ was unforced. there is a lot going on with the astrazeneca - was unforced. there is a lot going on with the astrazeneca vaccine l was unforced. there is a lot going | on with the astrazeneca vaccine in particular. there is a lot of back—and—forth. not evenjust particular. there is a lot of back—and—forth. not even just on the medical side if it is as effective as it is claimed to be. the supply chain, why are we now find in sammy doses in italy? is that the way a supply chain should be operating? it seems like a very high number of vaccines to be stored there. why are they there? astrazeneca and having a bit of a publicity nightmare here. thank you for talking to us. the wife of the jailed russian opposition politician alexei navalny has called for the immediate release of her husband so he can be treated by doctors. yulia navalny says the kremlin critic is in pain and being denied proper health care. mr navalny was jailed last month for two and a half years on charges he said were politically motivated. russia�*s prison authority has described his condition as stable and satisfactory. last september, mr navalny was flown from russia to germany for medical treatment after being poisoned with the novichok nerve agent. the nationwide building society is to allow 13,000 office staff to choose where they work under a new flexibility scheme. the company is closing three offices in swindon, with 3,000 staff either moving to the nearby ho, working from home, or mixing the two. managers say its "work anywhere" plan would allow employees more control of their lives. santander has announced plans to close 111 branches across the country due to the shift to mobile and online banking. the bank said it had taken the decision because fewer customers were choosing to bank in branch. about 840 staff will be affected by the closures, although santander promised to try to find them otherjobs within the business. johnny depp has lost a bid to overturn a damning high court ruling in london which concluded he assaulted his ex—wife amber heard and left her in fear for her life. thejudge said mr depp had no real prospect of success and therefore is refused permission to appeal against the ruling given last year in his libel case against the publishers of the sun. a group of mps has warned the government it�*s "missed the boat" on reform of the bbc licence fee. the media select committee says the existing system is the only option for the foreseeable future but ministers say they still plan to review how the bbc is funded. now it�*s time for a look at the weather. hello again. 70,000 scattered showers for the rest of the day. there will be some still meandering across southern areas. fishershowers still meandering across southern areas. fisher showers are more numerous north and west. temperature slightly down here. ten or ii celsius. i4 slightly down here. ten or ii celsius. 14 or 15 celsius and south. overnight, as the showers continue, we will see a lengthier smell of rain on a weather front coming in. that will alleviate any frost wary. but temperatures do full back behind this cold weather front as you go through the latter part of the night. colderairwill through the latter part of the night. colder air will be introduced tomorrow across many areas. showers will turn to speak and slow snow. there should be some seat on the hills further south by the end of the day. temperatures will be down for all five celsius. and then we will have slightly fewer showers on saturday but a windy and unsubtle picture of the second half of the weekend. more online. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people �*have to live with risk�* and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. concern from pub landlords after the prime minister says it could be down to individual pubs to bar drinkers who arrive without proof of vaccination. as eu leaders meet to decide their next move over export restrictions, astrazeneca expresses anger at being caught in the middle of the vaccine row. over—50s and those in at—risk categories are being urged to book their covid—i9jabs before a predicted dip in supplies. a royal navyjet has crashed into a field in cornwall. the two pilots ejected from the plane and have been taken to hospital. a year later than planned — the torch relay for the delayed tokyo olympics finally gets under way injapan. one of the few privately—owned paintings of vincent van gogh has been sold for 14 million euros at an auction in paris. a second attempt to re—float the container ship stranded in the suez canal will be made later today. the ship�*s owner has apologised for the grounding and the effect it has had on international shipping. at least 150 vessels are currently waiting to go through the canal, which was completely blocked when the 200,000—tonne cargo ship, the ever given, ran aground. theo leggett reports. an ocean—going giant lies stuck, its bow embedded firmly in the sandy bank of the suez canal, and one of the world�*s busiest trade arteries remains blocked for a third day. the canal provides a relatively quick way for cargo to travel between europe and asia, and for oil supplies to come from the middle east. the alternative is a passage around the southern tip of africa, which is thousands of miles further and can take more than a week longer. with the canal blocked, the backlog of ships with nowhere to go is building up. we have ships lining up and this is notjust containerships, this is bulk carriers, carrying grain cargoes as well. this is crude oil, this is oil product, carrying gasoline and diesel to feed our cars. the ever given is one of a very new generation of so—called mega ships, huge vessels hundreds of metres long capable of carrying tens of thousands of containers. the suez canal was built in 1859 and although it was recently expanded, it remains a very narrow and tricky prospect for such large ships. the biggest concern is when there is an incident these ships are too big for salvagers to quickly and easily managed to free them and certainly, there needs to be a thorough audit of what went wrong and why and at the moment we are not really sure. the question now is how much longer it will take for the canal to be fully reopened. a long delay will only add to the disruption to global supply chains already caused by the covid outbreak and ultimately that means outbreak and ultimately, that means potential shortages and higher costs for businesses that may already be struggling. theo leggett, bbc news. i think more tugs are needed. i�*m not convinced they will get it through. this month marks ten years since the uprising began in syria. protests quickly spread nationwide, and the crackdown unleashed civil war. one and a half million syrians fled to lebanon where they are now blamed for social and economic problems. carine torbey reports from beirut. this boy is from kobani in northern syria, but he�*s never been there. his father fled a decade ago to lebanon before he was born. translation: when i fled into lebanon, i thought it. would be three months, maximum, before i returned to syria. months passed, and then years, and now we�*re in the 10th year and counting. it�*s so hard, i don�*t know what to say. three years after he left, halil�*s house was flattened by an airstrike. translation: we all long to return to syria and for things _ to be as they were. but it�*s a wish that�*s far from coming true. it�*s notjust the physical destruction — it�*s the human fabric. if i were to return, i would be a guest, a refugee in my city. i don�*t know anyone there, and people have changed. many syrians in lebanon say they wish to return to syria, but notjust now. with the massive destruction and fears for their safety back home, they prefer to stay in lebanon — and that�*s despite the increasingly difficult conditions here with the country in economic and financial collapse. the majority of refugees in lebanon live in rented accommodation. only 20% of them live in camps. the lebanese authorities want them to go back to syria. the un only managed to resettle around 60,000 of them into third countries. it remains their main source of assistance. from the onset, the unhcr has been coordinating support and aid to the syrian refugees. alla, a humanitarian worker with the un, has been on the field since day one. he saw numbers of refugees growing even as aid programmes dwindled. translation: the needs of refugees have increased tremendously. - the few who could work are now withoutjobs — especially with coronavirus. aid programmes should always be updated and developed, but the needs never cease to grow. many battlefronts in the syrian war have now become silent. but for the millions of refugees, the struggle continues. in many countries where they are scattered, they are often not identified by their names or their professions — but by the fact that they are refugees. a status sticking to them as a smear for a wrong that they have never done. carine torbay, bbc news, beirut. another story every day, but this goes on for millions. a little later, we�*re going to the sport but it will be worth waiting for. northern ireland have been the toughestjob of northern ireland have been the toughest job of the northern ireland have been the toughestjob of the home nations. england faced one of the smallest nations in football. there�*s been talk of whether england players will take the knee after the adjuster was stopped. it�*s manager gareth southgate�*s 50th game in charge — and he wants to side to express themselves later. the majority of the game we will have the ball. we won a positive performance where players enjoy have the ball, we�*re ruthless with it and we have the movement and the creativity to go and create chances and to score goals. so you can look at it in any different way, you can go to the game apprehensive because of what might go wrong, but we�*ve got to be positive and say it�*s a game you should enjoy. well, not such good news for england�*s under 21�*s this afternoon — they lost their opening match at the european championship. they were beaten i—nil by switzerland in slovenia thanks to a deflected goalfrom dan n�*doye. aidy boothroyd�*s side still have portugal and croatia to play in group d. the former scotland captain scott brown will leave celtic at the end of the season, tojoin premiership rivals aberdeen. the 35—year—old has signed a pre—contract to go to pittodrie as a player—coach and willjoin them in the summer. brown, who signed for celtic from hibernian in 2007, has played more than 600 times for celtic and won 10 league titles and 12 domestic cups. england captain eoin morgan will miss the remainer of the one—day series in india. he hasn�*t recovered in time from a hand injury, sojoss buttler will skipper the team. sam billings will also miss out on tomorrow�*s match, the second of three, through injury, which means liam livingstone will make his one day international debut. you never know until your team—mate getting _ you never know until your team—mate getting injured but fingers crossed. they're _ getting injured but fingers crossed. they're not as serious as they could have _ they're not as serious as they could have been — they're not as serious as they could have been. speedy recovery for them and hopefully they're back to it before — and hopefully they're back to it before the ipl, but like you said, it's obviously not nice to be able to -- _ it's obviously not nice to be able to -- have — it's obviously not nice to be able to —— have to come in to replace injuries, — to —— have to come in to replace injuries, but— to —— have to come in to replace injuries, but we've been given opportunity. the official countdown to the postponed 2020 toyko games is underway after the olympic torch was [it during a scaled—down event this morning. after a brief opening ceremony, members of the 2011 japan women�*s football team began the torch�*s i20—day journey through 859 locations. it ends with the opening ceremony on the 23rd july. there�*ll be no international fans at the games because of the coronavirus pandemic and former british athlete, iwan thomas, admits that�*s it�*s been a tough time for the athletes. ican i can only imagine how tough it is. in nrany_ i can only imagine how tough it is. in many sports. _ i can only imagine how tough it is. in many sports, it's _ i can only imagine how tough it is. in many sports, it's not _ i can only imagine how tough it is. in many sports, it's notjust- i can only imagine how tough it is. in many sports, it's notjust about| in many sports, it's notjust about being _ in many sports, it's notjust about being physically— in many sports, it's notjust about being physically but _ in many sports, it's notjust about being physically but mentally- in many sports, it's not just about i being physically but mentally ready. the good _ being physically but mentally ready. the good thing _ being physically but mentally ready. the good thing about _ being physically but mentally ready. the good thing about when - being physically but mentally ready. the good thing about when you - being physically but mentally ready. | the good thing about when you have being physically but mentally ready. i the good thing about when you have a end the good thing about when you have a and goat _ the good thing about when you have a and goat the — the good thing about when you have a end goal. the cold _ the good thing about when you have a end goal. the cold nights— the good thing about when you have a end goal. the cold nights when- the good thing about when you have a end goal. the cold nights when you i end goal. the cold nights when you train, _ end goal. the cold nights when you train, it— end goal. the cold nights when you train, it doesn't— end goal. the cold nights when you train, it doesn't matter— end goal. the cold nights when you train, it doesn't matter you - end goal. the cold nights when youl train, it doesn't matter you because you got— train, it doesn't matter you because you got the — train, it doesn't matter you because you got the light _ train, it doesn't matter you because you got the light of— train, it doesn't matter you because you got the light of the _ train, it doesn't matter you because you got the light of the and - train, it doesn't matter you because you got the light of the and of- train, it doesn't matter you because you got the light of the and of the i you got the light of the and of the tunnel~ _ you got the light of the and of the tunnel~ it— you got the light of the and of the tunnel. it must— you got the light of the and of the tunnel. it must be _ you got the light of the and of the tunnel. it must be very— you got the light of the and of the tunnel. it must be very hard - you got the light of the and of the tunnel. it must be very hard to. tunnel. it must be very hard to renrain— tunnel. it must be very hard to remain motivated, _ tunnel. it must be very hard to remain motivated, now- tunnel. it must be very hard to remain motivated, now they i tunnel. it must be very hard to. remain motivated, now they can finally— remain motivated, now they can finally see — remain motivated, now they can finally see it _ remain motivated, now they can finally see it coming. _ britain�*s adam yates has retained the overall lead after the fourth stage of the volta a catalunya. he couldn�*t follow up yesterday�*s impressive victory with esteban chaves leaving yates and his fellow ineos grenadiers behind with just under four miles to the finish. the colombian won the stage, but yates finished soon after to stay 45 seconds ahead of teammates richie porte and geraint thomas. that�*s all the sport for now. we�*ll be back in the next hour. thank you. the national stalking helpline says it�*s seen a 10% increase in calls since the pandemic began, with around 20,000 people contacting the charity over the past year. many have reported cyber—stalking and the use of tracking devices. one victim has been speaking to the bbc�*s emma glasbey. i�*m never somebody that suffered from anxiety, it�*s not something that impacted me, but it crippled me at times. i felt incredibly vulnerable. i live remotely and i�*m on my own. i just lived every day wondering what they might be capable of next. when she ended her relationship, her ex refused to accept it. becky, not her real name, was then bombarded with messages and made to feel like a prisoner in her own home. ijust kept seeing him everywhere that i went. i was driving along the road he would nearly always becoming in the opposite direction. if i left the gym, he�*d be outside driving past. she took her car to the garage and a mechanic discovered a tracker device fitted underneath. i started shaking. i knew immediately that it was him, all of those events just fell into place. how he knew where i was. in the crime survey for england and wales, one in 20 women and one in 50 men said they had experienced stalking in the past year. the national stalking helpline has seen a 10% increase in calls since the pandemic began with almost 20,000 people contacting the charity since the first lockdown. victims have explained to us how they feel like sitting ducks, waiting for an incident to occur because they are not able to do the normal things that they might do every day like varying their routines. and particularly, that cyberstalking component, this invasion of every facet of their lives and that something, that trauma that they've experienced during the lockdown that we're going to be supporting them, unfortunately supporting them, unfortunately, for some time to come. becky�*s stalker pleaded guilty in january and was jailed for two and a half years. but it�*s an ordeal that has left a lasting impact on her business, her friendships and her sense of feeling safe and secure. emma glasbey, bbc news. and if you�*ve been affected by the issues we�*ve been talking about, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline for details of organisations offering information and support, or you can call for free at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066. it was estimated to go for five to eight million euros, but in the past hour, a rare vincent van gogh has sold for a whopping 14 million euros at auction in paris. "street scene in montmartre" had been held in a private family home for more than a hundred years, until it was auctioned by sotherby�*s this afternoon in one of the most anticipated modern art sales this year. the work was painted by the artist in 1887, while he was living in paris, and captures the social changes that were taking place in the area at the time. we talk about that a little bit more over the course of the next hour. a more serious story now. a teacher has been suspended from a west yorkshire school after showing pupils a cartoon of the prophet muhammad in a religious education class. dozens of people gathered at batley grammar school, with some in the local community calling for the teacher to be permanently removed from their role. the school�*s head teacher has apologised for the use of the image and said an investigation will be carried out. school unequivocally apologises for using a totally inappropriate image in a recent studies lesson. it should not have been used. the member of staff have also relayed their most sincere apologies. we have immediately withdrawn teaching on this part of the course, and we review now to go forward with the support of our communities represented in our school. it�*s important for children to learn about faiths and beliefs, but this must be done in a respectful, sensitive way. the member of staff has been suspended and independent formal investigation. the school is working closely with the governing body and community leaders to resolve the situation. although many of you will have questions, we are undertaking a formal process now, and it is therefore very difficult to answer any of those questions without jeopardising to answer any of those questions withoutjeopardising that, but we hope we can reach a swift conclusion moving forward. garza hope we can reach a swift conclusion moving forward-— moving forward. gary kibble there. it is a quarter— moving forward. gary kibble there. it is a quarter to _ moving forward. gary kibble there. it is a quarter to five. _ the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people �*have to live with risk�* and he hopes to manage the virus like the flu in the future. pub landlords in england may be able refuse entry to customers who can�*t prove they�*ve had a coronavirus vaccine. a government review is looking at the issue. eu leaders are set to discuss tougher controls on coronavirus vaccine exports as they try to boost supplies and improve distribution amongst member states, which could affect supply to the uk. two men who were jailed ten years ago for trying to smuggle cocaine into the uk have lost their bid to overturn their convictions. jonathan beere and daniel payne were part of a group known as the �*freshwater five�*, who were convicted of conspiracy to import 250kg of cocaine through freshwater bay off the isle of wight. our correspondentjim reed was at the court of appeal. this case goes back ten years now, a whole decade. it centres on this group of five people, five men, mainly from the isle of wight of the south close to be glenn. four of those five, they were convicted back in 2011 -- those five, they were convicted back in 2011 —— close to england. £53 million worth of cocaine. back then, thejury said they million worth of cocaine. back then, the jury said they took their sailboats into the centre of the english channel of the dead of the night to collect the drugs. they were dropped overboard from the container ship coming from brazil. it was her that they drove and the sale they�*re both back to the coast of the island where they had the drugs, wrapped around a boy, presumably to curb elect later. the men have always protested their in a sense. they�*ve been supported by a charity which specialises in miscarriage ofjustice, cases they hear. sirjulian flouts said standing back and you can hear all the evidence available. it was, as he put it, a compelling case of conspiracy to import cocaine, so that appeal has been reviewed. that affects all five men. daniel payne is in its 18 years, has now been erased, and jonathan beere 24 years in prison and will now have to serve the remainder of that sentence. for many families, a year of lockdowns has meant isolation, but others have found themselves spending an unprecedented amount of time together. a study by the university of southampton has found that job losses, returning from university and not wanting to live alone has prompted many young people to return to their family home to see out the pandemic. hope bolger has been speaking to some of them. soon after i graduated unique, i had liverfailure, which resulted in me having a bone marrow disease which means i needed regular blood transfusions. now i�*m waiting on more tests and bone marrow results to see what�*s next and to see if i developed a cancer. i had plans to originally move in with a partner. i plan to become a tattoo artist and knuckle down and find out what i want to do with my life, really. and then having to come home, feels like i�*m at high school all over again. it's i�*m at high school all over again. it�*s been difficult on my mental health. to have this disability of waking up knowing when i go downstairs, and even no families... i�*ve never laughed so much, really. being around them as an adult. it was a relatively size flat, but you don't — it was a relatively size flat, but you don't have a garden, you don't havem _ i think having not lived at home since _ i think having not lived at home since i— i think having not lived at home since i was _ i think having not lived at home since i was 18 and coming back, they still treat— since i was 18 and coming back, they still treat you the same way. as friends — still treat you the same way. as friends as— still treat you the same way. as friends as adults. it has been sometimes a state of living away from _ sometimes a state of living away from everyone. having said that, it's good — from everyone. having said that, it's good to — from everyone. having said that, it's good to get away a bit. in total, i was in berlin for nine minutes — in total, i was in berlin for nine minutes i_ in total, i was in berlin for nine minutes. i had _ in total, i was in berlin for nine minutes. i hadjust_ in total, i was in berlin for nine minutes. i had just found - in total, i was in berlin for nine minutes. i had just found a - in total, i was in berlin for nine| minutes. i had just found a new flat, _ minutes. i had just found a new flat, a _ minutes. i had just found a new flat, a new— minutes. i had just found a new flat, a newjob_ minutes. i had just found a new flat, a newjob it _ minutes. i had just found a new flat, a newjob it was _ minutes. i had just found a new flat, a newjob it was really- flat, a newjob it was really exciting _ flat, a newjob it was really exciting i_ flat, a newjob it was really exciting. i came _ flat, a newjob it was really exciting. i came in- flat, a newjob it was really exciting. i came in to - flat, a newjob it was really exciting. i came in to see l flat, a newjob it was really. exciting. i came in to see my parents — exciting. i came in to see my parents and _ exciting. i came in to see my parents and i_ exciting. i came in to see my parents and i got _ exciting. i came in to see my parents and i got stuck - exciting. i came in to see my parents and i got stuck here. exciting. i came in to see my. parents and i got stuck here. i exciting. i came in to see my- parents and i got stuck here. i was working _ parents and i got stuck here. i was working remotely— parents and i got stuck here. i was working remotely for— parents and i got stuck here. i was working remotely for a _ parents and i got stuck here. i was working remotely for a while, - parents and i got stuck here. i was working remotely for a while, and| working remotely for a while, and then nry— working remotely for a while, and then my contract _ working remotely for a while, and then my contract ended _ working remotely for a while, and then my contract ended in- working remotely for a while, and - then my contract ended in september. it's not _ then my contract ended in september. it's not been _ then my contract ended in september. it's not been the — then my contract ended in september. it's not been the easiest— then my contract ended in september. it's not been the easiest year. - then my contract ended in september. it's not been the easiest year. i- it's not been the easiest year. i think— it's not been the easiest year. i think i— it's not been the easiest year. i think i feel— it's not been the easiest year. i think i feel fortunate _ it's not been the easiest year. i think i feel fortunate that - it's not been the easiest year. i think i feel fortunate that i've l think i feel fortunate that i've been — think i feel fortunate that i've been lockdown— think i feel fortunate that i've been lockdown with - think i feel fortunate that i've been lockdown with family. think i feel fortunate that i've been lockdown with family soj think i feel fortunate that i'vel been lockdown with family so i think i feel fortunate that i've - been lockdown with family so i can been lockdown with family so i can be nry— been lockdown with family so i can be my true — been lockdown with family so i can be my true self— been lockdown with family so i can be my true self always _ been lockdown with family so i can be my true self always with - been lockdown with family so i can be my true self always with them. | be my true self always with them. it's given— be my true self always with them. it's given me _ be my true self always with them. it's given me more _ be my true self always with them. it's given me more time _ be my true self always with them. it's given me more time with- be my true self always with them. it's given me more time with my. it's given me more time with my parents — it's given me more time with my parents i — it's given me more time with my parents i otherwise _ it's given me more time with my parents i otherwise wouldn't - it's given me more time with myl parents i otherwise wouldn't have had. parents i otherwise wouldn't have had and — parents i otherwise wouldn't have had and we _ parents i otherwise wouldn't have had. and we definitely— parents i otherwise wouldn't have had. and we definitely act - parents i otherwise wouldn't have had. and we definitely act like - parents i otherwise wouldn't have had. and we definitely act like a i had. and we definitely act like a family. — had. and we definitely act like a family. but— had. and we definitely act like a family, but also _ had. and we definitely act like a family, but also as _ had. and we definitely act like a | family, but also as housemates. had. and we definitely act like a i family, but also as housemates. i chip in— family, but also as housemates. i chip in andm _ family, but also as housemates. i chip in and... trying _ family, but also as housemates. i chip in and... trying to— family, but also as housemates. i chip in and... trying to find - chip in and... trying to find activities _ chip in and... trying to find activities for— chip in and... trying to find activities for us _ chip in and... trying to find activities for us to - chip in and... trying to find activities for us to do. - chip in and... trying to find - activities for us to do. equally, it is challenging _ activities for us to do. equally, it is challenging having _ activities for us to do. equally, it is challenging having four- activities for us to do. equally, it is challenging having four adultsj is challenging having four adults live together~ _ is challenging having four adults live together. my— is challenging having four adults live together. my mum - is challenging having four adults live together. my mum has - is challenging having four adults live together. my mum has hadi is challenging having four adults - live together. my mum has had long covid, _ live together. my mum has had long covid, so _ live together. my mum has had long covid, so there's _ live together. my mum has had long covid, so there's a _ live together. my mum has had long covid, so there's a lot _ live together. my mum has had long covid, so there's a lot of _ live together. my mum has had long covid, so there's a lot of time - covid, so there's a lot of time spent — covid, so there's a lot of time spent with— covid, so there's a lot of time spent with her— covid, so there's a lot of time spent with her having - covid, so there's a lot of time spent with her having to - covid, so there's a lot of time i spent with her having to navigate through _ spent with her having to navigate through that _ spent with her having to navigate through that. i'm _ spent with her having to navigate through that. i'm not _ spent with her having to navigate through that. i'm not sure - spent with her having to navigate through that. i'm not sure what l spent with her having to navigate l through that. i'm not sure what my future _ through that. i'm not sure what my future plans— through that. i'm not sure what my future plans are. _ through that. i'm not sure what my future plans are. they _ through that. i'm not sure what my future plans are. they are - through that. i'm not sure what my future plans are. they are to - through that. i'm not sure what my future plans are. they are to stay l future plans are. they are to stay in london _ future plans are. they are to stay in london ls _ future plans are. they are to stay in london... is something - future plans are. they are to stay in london... is something i'm - future plans are. they are to stayj in london... is something i'm not quite _ in london... is something i'm not quite sure — in london... is something i'm not quite sure about. _ it's it�*s been such a long year. we�*ll bring you the figures on covid infections shortly. a major report by the international union for the conservation of nature has revealed reveal that africa�*s elephants are far more threatened than previously thought. decades of decline caused by poaching and an ongoing loss of their habitat have driven forest elephants and savanna elephants into the two highest categories of extinction threat. victoria gill reports. the largest [and animals on earth. but their size has not protected them from the impacts of poaching or from the continued destruction of the vast swathes of interconnected habitat they need. this latest red list of threatened species, considered to be the comprehensive report on how nature is faring on an increasingly crowded planet, puts africa�*s savanna elephants into the endangered category. forest elephants are now even closer to extinction — critically endangered. it is an alarm hell for us. there are two main reasons for these declines. one is poaching of these animals for their ivory and the second one is habitat loss through human activities that take place in total disregard of the needs of these animals. across africa there are nowjust over 400,000 wild elephants, and this latest examination of decades of census data and habitat surveys has shown that the demand for ivory still drives the decline in their numbers. the level of threat they faced had also been masked by the fact that the african elephant was previously thought to be a single species. this is the first time the savanna and forest elephant has been assessed separately. what does it mean practically to have this information about their status? how do you use that to protect these animals and reverse these declines? well, on the surface of it it looks bleak. the fact that it's been flagged is actually positive because then it means we can do something about it. and also separating the species, i think that's also positive because it means we can do something about it on a more concentrated level. the loss of species and natural spaces is happening all around the world. but conservationists are confident that this wake—up call could ensure that these giant icons of african wildlife get the protection and the space that they need. victoria gill, bbc news. i promise you the latest figures from the health department on covid infections, so let me give you those. there were 63 deaths yesterday, down from 98 deaths on wednesday. 6397 new infections, slightly up on the day before, that was 5605. what we�*re looking at is the seven day average. the trend is going in the right direction and in terms of those vaccinations, 28.9 million people have had theirfirst toast. —— first dose. do get in line for those vaccines because things might slow up a little bit through april. a digital artwork created by the humanoid robot sophia has sold at auction for $688,000. it�*s the latest sale of a non—fungible tokens, meaning it is authenticated by block chain, which certifies its originality and ownership. recently, a digital artwork called beeple sold for $70 million and the twitter founder�*s first tweet went for just under $3 million. big business in this. mark lobel reports. is there no end to sophia�*s artificial intelligence? described as a masterpiece herself, she�*s now created one. here�*s the evolution of sophia from emerging as an artwork herself, generating artwork, that then was later inspired by andrea bonaceto�*s artwork through many iterations of art that then fuelled more art, resulting in this purely digital work. got that? good. for sophia, it�*s been emotional. the virtual, the real, the unimaginable and the literal. this kind of spirit of creativity and technology working together gives me hope that we can solve anything. after quite a bidding war, it went for a sweet $688,8888.. after quite a bidding war, it went for a sweet $688,8888. .. oh, wow! ..making her the first—ever robot to auction its own digital artwork. it�*s perhaps not your standard piece of art, packed with swirls, blurs and — erm — muddled bits and pieces, but its true value is perhaps mostly down to the novelty and innovation of its creator, who has now firmly put the ai into artistic. mark lobel, bbc news. not sure howl not sure how i feel about sophia. much more comfortable with hello bullets. let�*s get the weather. —— helen willetts. good afternoon. an unsettled period of weather i think of for the coming few days with showers and long spells of rain but sunshine in between as we are seeing today. with showers for example pushing across southern counties of england. behind those, some goods spells of sunshine. the showers always more numerous in northern and western parts of england and wales, the west of northern ireland, the west of northern scotland. so, we could see some decent spells of sunshine east of the higher ground, 12 or 13 in the north, 14 or 15 and very springlike in southern areas. and they will continue into the evening as will the showers. in fact, they�*ll merge into a longer spell of rain overnight — it�*s a weather front coming in off the atlantic. so for the most part because we�*ve got the breeze picking up and all that cloud that will alleviate our frosts, but this is a cold weather front. so behind that, we are ushering in somewhat chillier air, notably so as we head into friday. this is that weather front here crossing most parts by the end of the day and introducing that colder air. so, a distinctly different feel notably in the morning for scotland and northern ireland where the showers will turn wintry over the hills. and then progressively through the day as that weather front continues its progress eastwards giving quite a dollop of rain for a time, it will then get colder behind and there will be some wintry showers even in southern hills and moors later in the day, but it does knock the temperature is down significantly on those today by 4 or 5 degrees. so, it will feel chilly but in the sunshine outside the breeze, pleasant enough. the evening sees that rain clearing away from southern and eastern areas but the showers, as you can see, through tomorrow night turn more wintry and a much colder night tomorrow particularly across the north, widespread frost but a frost in rural areas further south as well. so, chilly start saturday but a ridge of high pressure will bring something of dry weather for a time, but this weather system crosses during saturday night into sunday and so as i say, gives us a rather unsettled picture. it won�*t be dry on saturday for all of us. there will be quite a bit of cloud coming and going but it looks like the drier day of the week and and slightly milder as wellend and slightly milder as well because we are pulling in a south—westerly, but later in the day we start to see that cloud and rain piling up in the north—west which brings a quite wet and windy night for some areas, and that sinks southwards we think on sunday but there�*s lots of uncertainty in the timing of that weather front and showers follow anyway. so, quite a lot to play for and the detail, as ever, you can stay up—to—date on our website. this is bbc news. i�*m christian fraser. the headlines... the health secretary warns that coronavirus cases are likely to rise as restrictions are lifted in england, but says people �*have to live with risk�* they clearly wants to lift these measures as soon as is reasonably possible. my goal is that we will eventually see coronavirus as something that has to be managed rather like flu. concern from pub landlords in england, after the prime minister says it could be down to individual pubs to bar drinkers who arrive without proof of vaccination. you will have to have extra staff to be checking on the door. you will have to have the cost of workplace testing to be born. 70% of our businesses are smes and simply won�*t be able to manage this cost for reopening. as eu leaders meet to decide their next move over