Burying more dead in india, as the rampant Covid Outbreak prompts further offers of help from the international community. After a Police Community Support officer is murdered, Detectives Search Woodland in kent. And the noxious Neighbourhgood Dump kicking up a stink for thousands in stafford hsire. And coming up on the Bbc News Channel, we are down to one table at the crucible. The semifinals of the World Snooker Championship are just getting under way. We will be live in sheffield. Good Afternoon And Welcome to the Bbc News at one. Borisjohnson has insisted he will comply with the investigation by the Electoral Commission into how the renovation of his downing Street Flat was paid for. Speaking on a visit to a school in central london, the Prime Minister said the public had other priorities, and there was nothing to see here. But he declined to say whether he would publish the findings of a second investigation by the new adviser on ministerial standards. Labours Sir Keir Starmer says the lack of clarity over who paid and when is farcical. With more, heres our political correspondent damian grammaticas. Now haunting Downing Street and the Prime Minister, the question that borisjohnson still hasnt answered. Boris johnson still hasnt answered. Who, initially, paid Tens Of Thousands to renovate his flat . At the six months leaving the post open, the Prime Minister has appointed an independent adviser on ministerial interests, who is looking into things. But the Labour Leader, in manchester today, said it would be simple for the Prime Minister to put the whole matter to bed. I minister to put the whole matter to bed. ~ ,. , bed. I think this is getting a bit farcical. I think bed. I think this is getting a bit farcical. I think the bed. I think this is getting a bit farcical. I think the prime bed. I think this is getting a bit. Farcical. I think the Prime Minister could actually deal with this very, very quickly. All he has got to do is answer a very simple question, which is who paid initially for the redecoration of your flat . Now, which is who paid initially for the redecoration of yourflat . Now, i think people who are watching this, i think most people would say if i had my platter redecorated, i would be able to answer that question. In angry exchanges in parliament yesterday, the Labour Leader tried several times to extract the information. Mrjohnson said he had paid personally. Borisjohnsons apartment is up there. Down here in Downing Street, they say he hasnt broken any regulations or laws but the question now is should the advisor� s findings be binding on him or would that be too much and potentially undermine the office of prime Minister And Parliament . Lord christopher geidt, seen here several years ago working for the queen, will not have the power to open his own investigations or impose sanctions, bows remain with the Prime Minister himself. Labour and the man who heads the Committee On Standards In Public Life say he should have more powers. The adviser should have more powers. The adviser should have should have more powers. The adviser should have the should have more powers. The adviser should have the right should have more powers. The adviser should have the right to should have more powers. The adviser should have the right to initiate should have the right to initiate investigations and then to report the facts investigations and then to report the facts to the Prime Minister. The prime the facts to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has not accepted that recommendation on this occasion, although recommendation on this occasion, although he has said that the advice i can recommend to him. Mrjohnson today declined i can recommend to him. Mrjohnson today declined to i can recommend to him. Mrjohnson today declined to say i can recommend to him. Mrjohnson today declined to say whether i can recommend to him. Mrjohnson today declined to say whether he today declined to say whether he would follow any recommendations his new adviser makes, but said he would provide any information as Second Information by mac or delete the electric by the Electoral Commission asks for. We electric by the Electoral Commission asks for. ~ u, , commission asks for. We will comply with whatever commission asks for. We will comply with whatever they commission asks for. We will comply with whatever they want commission asks for. We will comply with whatever they want and commission asks for. We will comply with whatever they want and i commission asks for. We will comply with whatever they want and i dont i with whatever they want and i dont think with whatever they want and i dont think there with whatever they want and i dont think there is anything to see here or to think there is anything to see here or to worry think there is anything to see here or to worry about, but what we are doing or to worry about, but what we are doing is or to worry about, but what we are doing is focusing on the stuff that really doing is focusing on the stuff that really matters. 30 doing is focusing on the stuff that really mattere really matters. So it is not clear whether boris really matters. So it is not clear whether Boris Johnson really matters. So it is not clear whether Boris Johnson will really matters. So it is not cleari whether Boris Johnson will heed really matters. So it is not clear whether Boris Johnson will heed his whether borisjohnson will heed his advice ares findings and the unanswered questions remain. One wonders when all of this is going to be resolved, given the fact that, one of the enquiries, the Prime Minister doesnt actually have to publish. Prime minister doesnt actually have to ublish. ~ ,. , to publish. Well, clyde, it is a aood to publish. Well, clyde, it is a good question to publish. Well, clyde, it is a good question and to publish. Well, clyde, it is a good question and as to publish. Well, clyde, it is a good question and as long to publish. Well, clyde, it is a good question and as long as| to publish. Well, clyde, it is a good question and as long as those unanswered questions remain, the whole Issue Wont be entirely resolved well, clive. We have three enquiries going on, one by the Electoral Commission which the Prime Minister said he would comply with, that has the power to request documents and things and there is work going on here, you can see there is still work going on in the flat. In that case, the bills will continue. The other enquiries, as you were saying, we dont know ultimately whether we will see the full findings from the adviser and the full information he discovers and whether the Prime Minister will decide that he agrees with that or not, so many different strands, many unanswered questions. The Prime Minister clearly today wanting to move the subject on to other topics and on other bits of government business, but as long as the fundamental issue remains unclear, i think the question is will continue to be asked. Think the question is will continue to be asked think the question is will continue to be asked. ,. To be asked. Damian grammaticus At Westminster new fire safety legislation, drawn up in the wake of the grenfell tower disaster, has become law, but without the extra protections for leaseholders demanded by campaigners and some mps. It means the owners of buildings could pass on the extra cost, of removing cladding. Lets talk to our correspondent, Victoria Fritz who has more. Victoria, this clearly was not what many of the campaign is wanted or expected. That is absolutely right, they didnt build them, they didnt certify them as safe, they dont even own them yet, the people who live in the buildings that fail to make the grade are the people who will be paying for the price of failure. You would think it would be obvious, 72 lives lost in grenfell, it should have been the easiest Appeal Imaginable to pass, Build Buildings that are safe to live in. However, a bitter battle has broken out over who should pay the price for this. Out over who should pay the price forthis. Peers out over who should pay the price for this. Peers repeatedly tried to shield leaseholders from bearing the brunt of the costs, however mps, including the Prime Minister, pointed to a special fund that would be available for grants for people who had to make repairs and said that any further cost and any further delays to legislation would cost lives. But campaigners are saying that, actually, by passing the buck to residents themselves, this is just passing the burden on two people who are least likely to be able to afford it, people who are already facing higher insurance premiums, people who are already facing the bills for Sprinkler Systems and fire breaks and the like and this is an additional burden that pulls the rug, they say, under a whole new generation of homeowners. Now, the truth is, we dont actually know how much it is going to cost to make homes safer for all. Going to cost to make homes safer forall. £3 going to cost to make homes safer for all. £3 billion or so isjust a third of what some estimates are of what the total bill could be. The bill, controversial though it should be, it has now been passed into law, so the jury is certainly out on whether or not naturaljustice has been achieved. Victoria, thank you. India has again reported record numbers of new cases and deaths, as it fights to contain a huge surge in the spread of coronavirus. More than 3,600 people have been reported dead in the last 2a hours alone, and there were almost 380,000 new infections. The Indian Government has praised what it calls an an outpouring of solidarity, after more than a0 countries pledged to send medical supplies. Arunody mukherjee has more details. Woman wails. It was too late. This woman lost her mother was standing in a queue for two while standing in a queue for two hours waiting for medical oxygen. The only thing that could have given her a fighting basic facilities like access to Hospital Beds and Oxygen Cylinders have now become a luxury in indias capital city. Translation we have been out of our house i since two oclock last night. There is no oxygen available in all of delhi and, after a lot of running around, we finally got here at about four oclock. Delhi is in its second week of lockdown, but, in the last ten days, the city of 20 Million citizens has seen over 20,000 cases every day. More than 300 have died here daily for the last one week. Cases are surging in other parts of the country as well. Its notjust the hospitals which are inundated. So are burial grounds. 52 year old munir has been working around the clock four days around the clock for days digging graves in mumbai. Experts say the number of actual deaths are much higher than whats being reported. Translation its ramadan but im not able to fast. My work is really hard, we work 2a hours every day. How can i keep my fast . Its so hard. Its so hot. But i need to dig graves, i need to cover them with mud and i need to carry dead bodies. How can i fast . Contrast these images with elections in bengal, another state in the eastern part of india. Citizens on thursday braved the virus to come out to vote. Many have questioned why political rallies led by leaders across Party Lines were allowed to go on for the past month, even as cases in the country to spike. Even as cases in the country continued to spike. Equally jarring is the fact that, Tilla Month ago, india was projecting itself as the pharmacy of the world, sending millions of free Vaccine Doses to countries around the globe. Its hard to imagine that its citizens here are now it is india that now needs help. The us has promised to send Covid I9 supplies worth 100 million. Countries like the uk, singapore and russia, too, have sent ventilators and oxygenaters to support indias crumbling medical infrastructure. Amidst the despair, there are also encouraging stories, like that of this Ios Year old man and his wife in maharashtra, who successfully beat the virus. It is stories like these that help inspire an exhausted country fighting the disease to hold onto hope and pray for better days ahead. Arunody mukherjee, Bbc News, delhi. Police have been carrying out a forensic search of woodland in kent, after the body of a Police Community Support officer was found on tuesday. Julia james was last seen walking her dog, and detectives are treating her death as murder. Our reporter Helena Wilkinson is in snowdown, in kent. What is the latest . Well, this is an incredibly rural what is the latest . Well, this is an incredibly rural and what is the latest . Well, this is an incredibly rural and a what is the latest . Well, this is an incredibly rural and a very what is the latest . Well, this is an incredibly rural and a very quiet incredibly rural and a very quiet part of kent, but you can see behind us a long line of police vehicles because this is now a murder investigation. Just a little way from where we are is the woodland and, on the edge of that woodland, is whereJulia James and, on the edge of that woodland, is where Julia James body was discovered just after four oclock on tuesday afternoon. What we have seen are detectives carrying out a fingertip searches in this area, trying to gather clues. We also heard from a neighbour who said that they last saw miss james earlier that afternoon, she had gone out to take her dog for a walk but detectives clearly, as well as this investigation here, they are trying to gather clues but they want to speak to any members of the public who may have any information. Helena wilkinson in snowdown who may have any information. Helena wilkinson in snowdown in who may have any information. Helena wilkinson in snowdown in kent. A Court In Moscow has upheld the jailed Opposition Activist Alexei navalny� s conviction for slandering a soviet World War two veteran. Appearing via video link, Mr Navalny looked thin after a recent hunger strike, but he struck a defiant tone. In a dig at president putin, he said the emperor had no clothes, and russians were being turned into slaves. Boosterjabs against covid will be available from the autumn, after the government ordered a batch of 60 Million more doses of the pfizer vaccine. Ministers say the most vulnerable groups will be offered the top up jab, but its unclear when the roll out will begin. And, today, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, received his first vaccination, with the government saying its on track with its roadmap out of lockdown. Our Health Correspondent Catherine burns has this report, which contains some flash photography. Anyone who is 42 or older. Its fair to say he was excited. In last nights press conference, Matt Hancock mentioned a few times that his turn had come for the vaccine. And im also delighted because it means i can get myjab too. And im looking forward to getting myjab first thing tomorrow morning. Join me and get the jab. This is my firstjab, first one. This morning, he found out who was going to bejoining him. Ive got jvt vaccinating me. There may be some shivering, theyre completely normal. Professorjonathan van tam, englands deputy chief medical officer, gave him the oxford astrazeneca injection, with photographers and camera crews watching the whole thing. Its Ao Somethings now, but the government is on track to get all adults at least one injection by The End ofjuly. All done, fantastic please remember to come back in 12 weeks. That one. Almost 44 Million people have had their first dose now and over 13. 5 million have had both. And the governments ordered an extra 60 Million doses of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine, not for now, but to stock up for a possible third booster dose. To future proof the vaccination programme, our task is to make sure we give as much optionality to the scientists, to the clinicians, to make the decision whether we boost in september or later this year or early next year, but we must have that ability to do that. Part of that ability will be making sure weve got enough of the right vaccines, and that seems to be going well. The governments ordered more than 500 Million doses in total now, but it will also come down to logistics. This is a major commitment for the nhs, coming alongside the challenges of dealing with the backlog of care that has arisen during the pandemic. Waiting lists are over 4 Million now. And also the nhs is dealing with rising demand across all of its services. For now, though, the government says we are on track to keep opening up out of lockdown, but that it needs people to keep coming forwards when its their turn. The time is 1 15 pm. Our top story this lunchtime. The Prime Minister has dismissed the controversy over the renovation of his flat, insisting Theres Nothing to see here. But Downing Street has declined to say it will publish the full report into the matter by its new standards adviser. And the Duke And Duchess of cambridge celebrate their tenth Wedding Anniversary. Coming up on the Bbc News Channel 1. 2 million more inactive people. A Sport England Survey finds Activity Levels fell last year as the country was put into lockdown, with particular concerns about inactivity amongst young people. A week today, voters go to the polls in wales, england and scotland, where the Holyrood Elections will be closely watched At Westminster. If pro independence parties win a majority, they could use it to demand another referendum. But the state of the scottish economy is also a key electoral issue, and Nick Eardley is live in aberdeen for us with more on that. Nick. Juststay few days of campaigning left before the Holyrood Elections and what happens here in the North East of scotland could be really important to answering some of the key questions. Can the snp win an overall majority . Can the conservatives beat labour into second place again shamanic independence is obviously one of the big issue was that scots are thinking about before the election next week but so is the economic recovery after the pandemic, as ive been finding out. Welcome to coming back indoors. A warm welcome back after a long winter lockdown. I hope youre hungry. Hospitality on Aberdeens Beach Front is back up and running. Anyway, enjoy your lunch. And despite a tough time recently, susie remains optimistic. We have to be positive going forward as from now with the reopening of everything, but it has been a very scary time this last year for everybody in aberdeen, aberdeenshire. Do you think its important that politicians focus on getting the economy moving again . Oh, yes, firstly and mostly, yes. There are green shoots here shoppers back on union street. But aberdeen has been hit hard and local Business Groups want politicians to act. Unemployment has been the highest in scotland. Our Number Ofjob vacancies has fallen the most. This is a vital election, possibly the most important of our lifetimes, because i think the Policy Decisions that are determined now will see how we recover. Were asking for business to be trusted by government and to be seen as part of the solution. After the challenges of the last year, economic recovery is playing a big role in the election debate. How to protectjobs and livelihoods when some of the Emergency Support schemes come to an end, but in scotland its also about independence. How strong is the economy here . Would it suffer if scotland left the uk . Or might the country be able to make different, perhaps better, economic decisions . Aberdeen is no stranger to economic challenges. After the boom years of oil it suffered when the price fell. That also had an impact on the economic debate around independence. And increasingly scotlands Energy Sector is investing in renewables. Sir Ian Wood made his money from the Oil Boom more than £1 billion of it. He says it still has a role to play, but diversification will be key for the citys future. I think were in better shape than we were. We were too dependent on Oil And Gas. Frankly the whole of whole of the uk has been too dependent on Oil And Gas in our economy. So were in a transition period. Its going to be challenging, but im reasonably confident well work our way through that. But i Cant Think of anywhere else in the uk better to actually make a serious go at renewables. If you had your time again or were starting off now, rather, would you invest all your money in renewables . Yes, i would. Scotland is hosting a major climate Change Conference in november. World leaders trying to figure out how to make the move to green energy. Thats one of the Questions Aberdeen is trying to answer right now, but after the pandemic its not the only one for this city and its politicians. So some big questions for the parties about the economy. Well be trying to get some answers on Bbc News from the main parties this afternoon. Its been a strange campaign, because the pandemic means theres been no big events. Most of them have been quite small. But the parties have a few days left now to enthuse voters about their vision for the future. Ok, enthuse voters about their vision forthe future. Ok, Nick Enthuse voters about their vision for the future. Ok, Nick Eardley, thank you, live in aberdeen. And for a Round Up of everything you need to know about the elections, weve got a simple guide for you online, where you can find lots of useful information, including on who is being elected. Its on our website, or use the Bbc News app. In Northern Ireland, democratic unionists are beginning the process of choosing a new leader, after Arlene Foster announced her resignation. Senior members of the dup are said to be worried that her departure could lead to early elections for the Northern Ireland assembly, as Emma Vardy explains. Cheering Arlene Foster began her leadership with electoral success. But, after a majority of The Party moved against her, she conceded her time at the top was over. For me, the decision to enter politics was never about party or person, it was about speaking up for the voiceless and building a Northern Ireland which could prosper and be at peace within the united kingdom. But unionists have felt northern Irelands Place in the uk has been undermined by the new brexit arrangements. A new Trade Border in the Irish Sea means there are new checks on goods arriving from the rest of the uk. And there is frustration in the dup thAt Westminster intervened to legalise abortion, which The Party opposed. Mrs fosters critics felt she should have defended the dups core ideals more strongly. Whoever takes over cant just wave a wand and, you know, scrap the brexit protocol, and certainly some of the issues that have caused problems for certain elements within The Party around rights, around lgbt rights, around womens reproductive rights, there is a sense you cant really stop the tide coming in on that. An early favourite to replace her as First Minister is edwin poots, who is currently in charge of agriculture in the devolved government. He has been prominent in the Dups Opposition to the Irish Sea border. Others being linked to the position of Dup Leader are two mps, Sirjeffrey Donaldson and gavin robinson. This is not a contest where hundreds of people will make the decision. The choice of leader will be decided by 41 people, all The Partys mlas, The Partys mps and their five peers. Thats the only group of people that will make this decision. The dups main partner in the Power Sharing Stormont executive is the Irish Republican Party sinn fein. It said the main priority should be making sure the coalition works. We all have a job here. Politics must deliver for Everybody And Power sharing must deliver for everybody. I will play my part in that, i hope that the dup find a partner thats also willing to do the same. No one has officially declared themselves as running just yet, but whoever takes over as the leader of unionism will have a defining role in shaping its future. Emma vardy, Bbc News, belfast. President biden has announced huge Spending Plans in a speech to a joint session of congress, saying america needs a once in a Generation Investment in itself. Delivered as he prepares to mark 100 days in office, he wants to spend trillions of dollars creating jobs, fixing infrastructure and improving education. But his plans face a battle in congress, with republicans opposed to higher taxes and greater State Involvement in the economy. Heres lebo diseko. Applause it was an evening of historic firsts. President bidens first address to a joint session of congress, the first time two women flanked the president as he made that address. Madam speaker, madam vice president. Cheering no president has ever said those words from this podium, no president has ever said those words, and its about time. In a chamber with numbers limited by covid, where just a few months ago insurrectionists occupied the speakers chair. Afterjust100 days i can report to the Nation America is on the move again. This was a bold speech, a statement of far reaching, and, some might say, costly intent, a full throttled endorsement of the idea of big government. Two proposals which together will cost 4 trillion, taking in spending on education and paid family leave. My fellow americans, Trickle Down, Trickle Down economics has never worked. Its time to grow the economy from the bottom and the middle out. The president talked of Prioritising Climate Change as a global ambition, of tackling the dual challenges of North Korea and iran, and he had strong words for russia and for china. In my discussions with President Xi i told him we welcome the competition, were not looking for conflict, but i made absolutely clear that we will defend americas interests across the board. America is on the move again was the theme of the speech, but this is a sharply divided congress and his agenda faces challenges from the right and from the left. Joe biden was dismissed by his predecessor as sleepyjoe, but tonight he set out an ambitious agenda. The big questions are, how much of this can he achieve . And how much of this can he afford . Lebo diseko, Bbc News, washington. The united nations� Family Planning Programme says it faces an 85 cut in the funds it receives from the uk, after the government reduced its international aid budget. The un Population Fund says the reduction is devastating for women and girls across the world. Britain says cuts are necessary because of the severe impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the uk economy. Thousands of people who live near a Landfill Site in staffordshire have complained that their physical and Mental Health is suffering because of its terrible smell. Levels of Hydrogen Sulphide at the former quarry in Newcastle Under Lyme have twice breached recommended standards. The operator, Red Industries, has promised to cap part of the area by the weekend. Heres phil mackie. This is walleys quarry in silverdale. It is used as a Landfill Site and heres the problem. Its right next door to hundreds of homes and is giving off a terrible smell. Since it was allowed to increase the amount of waste it takes, the stink has got worse and, if youre downwind, its horrible. We obviously knew there was a landfill there when we moved in. The smell gets trapped in the house and it gets trapped in your hair and your clothing, your carpets and your cars, and your childrens toys and all that, you all smell of landfill and it ranges from a Rotten Eggs sort of smell to a chemically acrid smell as well, and thats quite foul. Today shouldnt be so bad because its sunny and warm and that should get rid of the Hydrogen Sulphide smell, that creates that Rotten Eggs stink Bomb Odour thats really unpleasant, but, honestly, standing just across the road from it at the moment, oh, its really unpleasant and, actually, its making me feel quite ill. People say they Cant Sleep and are feeling ill. There were more than 5,000 complaints last month and over 2,000 just last week. Its noxiousness is taking its toll. It can cause Nausea And Shortness of breath, but theres been a big impact on Mental Health. It distracts you, it depresses you. Its the day on day, week on Week Attrition of living with it randomly thats really getting people down. The sites being closely monitored. The latest Air Quality Report is due out later and the Environment Agency has told the operator it must make improvements by The End of this week. In a statement, Red Industries said, as a waste management company, we recognise that we are hosted by the local communities in which we operate. We are acutely aware of the communitys concerns regarding our landfill operations. An accelerated Engineering Capping operation is under way which will seal an extensive area of the site. A few miles away, its made learning very difficult for children like ruby, poppy and ben. Its the same here in the classroom. You Cant Work and your minds just a set onto the landfill. It makes me feel sick. I have headaches all the time, it puts me off my work, it puts me off my food. And then the smell will come in and, like, it wont go away. Like, no matter how many air. Fresheners you get, it wont go. Its horrible. Chanting stop the stink hundreds joined another protest this week demanding that somethings done to stop the silverdale stink from overpowering the whole area. Phil mackie, Bbc News, Newcastle Under Lyme. The Duke And Duchess of cambridge are celebrating their 10th Wedding Anniversary today. Its estimated around Two Billion people around the world watched the Couple Exchange their vows At Westminster abbey a decade ago and, today, the cambridges released some new pictures marking the anniversary. Time for a look at the weather. Heres Stav Da naos. Thank you, good afternoon. So far this month its been cold and exceptionally dry, but were finally seeing whether more akin to april and Thats Sunshine and heavy showers and theyve been developing quite widely through the afternoon as this Picture Shows behind us in staffordshire. Yesterdays area of low pressure is pushing away away into the near continent. Its been allowing north north westerly winds to move south across the country. Thats