Week, new uncertainty for british holidaymakers heading to portugal. In an appearance on an american podcast, Prince Harry says he wants to Break The Cycle of the Pain And Suffering of his upbringing with his own children. Hello, and welcome if youre watching in the uk or Around The World. The Israeli Military has intensified its bombardment of gaza into a fifth day, using artillery, Gun Boats and air strikes. International calls for De Escalation have been ignored, with hamas continuing to Fire Hundreds of rockets into israel. Explosions lit up the sky over Gaza City through the night. The number of people killed in gaza now stands at 119, including 27 children according to the health ministry. Multiple missiles were launched by palestinian militants from gaza towards israel. Eight people have died in israel. And another aspect to the violence sectarian clashes on the streets, betweenjewish and Arab Israeli citizens who usually live Side By side. This is the scene live in gaza. We can show you jerusalem. Overnight there was a lot of activity causing many palestinians to fully their homes. The Israeli Military said it mounted a complex operation to destroy a network of mass tunnels. Hamas tunnels. Our correspondent there Paul Adams has sent this report about the nights events. There was a great deal of confusion for which a spokesman from the Israeli Military has apologised this morning. Essentially, what happened was that they launched what he described as a complex Ao Minute Operation involving land forces, the air force, and we think there was also gunfire coming from offshore as well. But the target was a network of Hamas Tunnels, these are tunnels that the Islamic Group has built over the years. Sometimes underneath the border into israel, but certainly a complex network inside the Gaza Strip, which the Israeli Military alleges houses a lot of hamas� s military infrastructure. And so that was targeted last night. But clearly the ferocity of the barrage involved in that operation convinced a lot of people that something different was happening, and thats why we saw hundreds of civilians from the northern edges of the Gaza Strip close to the israeli borderfleeing further down into gaza to try and get out of harms way. There is some pretty gruesome video around this morning of the consequences of some of the shelling. But the Israeli Military is saying that for now there is no Ground Operation. So far, we know that The Americans have been trying to hold back the un security council. Theyve already thwarted a couple of efforts by the council to issue a joint statement because The Americans want to try and manage this themselves without getting the un involved. They dont think that the un is going to really offer much in the way of a solution. There is an american envoy who is supposed to be coming to the region. We dont know when he is due to arrive. And theres also a lot of diplomacy going on here already in the region with the egyptian government and others involved in trying to negotiate some kind of ceasefire, as they have in the past between israel and the militants of hamas. We dont know where those negotiations have got to. And as you say, there is no sign at the moment of anyone stepping back from the brink. We still seem to be on the brink, with the very real possibility that this could get worse before it gets better. As the heavy exchange of fire has continued between israel and militants in the Gaza Strip, violence has also spread to mixed communities ofjews and Arabs In Israel a new turn in the conflict. Some of the worst sectarian confrontations have been in the city of lod, near tel aviv. Our Middle East correspondent, yolande knell, has been there to meet some of the locals. Israel is facing war, not just with gaza, but between its own people. Here in lod, Mobs Of Arab and jewish israelis attacking property, passers by and places of worship. Volunteers are repairing a jewish religious school that was set alight. People who live nearby are in shock. I would never ever think something like this can happen. I wouldnt raise my kids in a place where i think something like this could happen. I have arab neighbours. We are not the best friends but we are far away from being enemies. A state of was declared here and a night time curfew imposed. There are scenes like this all over town. It looks like a War Zone with the burnt out cars, scorched buildings, Curb Stones that have been ripped up. There are lots and lots of police around and everyone still feels really on edge. In lods Old City Arab Israelis dont trust the Security Forces to protect them. People here complain they are treated like second class citizens. Tensions grew with recent events injerusalem. The locals were angry because many years of frustration and discrimination, and the End Point was the attack on the al aqsa mosque. That is the holiest place for the muslims. We want to protest. They attack us. Israel hasnt seen such widespread unrest in its cities for decades. Whats happening didnt just begin this week, and it wont end when the latest fighting with gaza does. Yolande knell, Bbc News, lod. Lets talk now to david wearing, senior Teaching Fellow in international political economy at soas. Id like to start Work Yolande ended in terms of those mixed towns, because obviously the last 20 years or so, the major conflict has been between gaza, rockets and whatever, firing into israel. How much more concerning is it that these if the two communities that lived together are now openly battling against Each Other . It are now openly battling against Each Other . , ,. Other . It is extremely concerning, as Ou Other . It is extremely concerning, as you rightly other . It is extremely concerning, as you rightly say. Other . It is extremely concerning, as you rightly say, this other . It is extremely concerning, as you rightly say, this is other . It is extremely concerning, as you rightly say, this is very as you rightly say, this is very different from what we have seen in previous wars between israel and hamas in 2008 2009, previous wars between israel and hamas in 20082009, 20122014, previous wars between israel and hamas in 2008 2009, 2012 2014, we didnt see this violence in israel itself between the arab and jewish communities and that has the ability to tear apart the fabric of Israeli Society and israeli politicians are concerned about it as well. It has to be remembered most of the politicians, many of them, have created the conditions. Israeli politics is really lurched to the far right in the past ten years especially and far right Street Gangs have been terrorising palestinians a lot recently palestinians a lot recently palestinians have been increasingly spoken about and treated as a Fifth Column within Israeli Society. So the whirlwind has been rigged which was sown over the past ten years, at least. And now next to the violence in gaza, the two together. In gaza, the two together. Critics of benjamin in gaza, the two together. Critics of Benjamin Netanyahu in gaza, the two together. Critics of Benjamin Netanyahu would. In gaza, the two together. Critics| of Benjamin Netanyahu would say in gaza, the two together. Critics of Benjamin Netanyahu would say this is something he has been alerted to con the the preponderance of gangs, often out of work, the preponderance often out of work, the preponderance of guns in communities, these are People Who feel living within israel. Related to, the preponderance of gangs. B, israel. Related to, the preponderance of gangs. A really Im Ortant Preponderance of gangs. A really important Report Preponderance of gangs. A really important report came preponderance of gangs. A really important report came out preponderance of gangs. A really l important report came out recently from the world possibly leading human Rights Organisation human Rights Watch documented over 100 or so pages, the Way Israel treats the palestinian people both in israel and the occupied territories, fits the legal definition of the crime of apartheid and under the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court the crime of apartheid is a crime against humanity and also the crime of persecution as well. This is what is underlying everything, this two Tier System where jewish is underlying everything, this two Tier System wherejewish people are treated by the israeli state as effectively being superior to and of more value and of more worth and having more rights than palestinians. This has even been set out in Israels Nation State law in 2018 explicitly stating israel is a state for the jewish people, 2018 explicitly stating israel is a state for thejewish people, so where does that leave the 20 of the israeli population that is palestinian. This is meted out quite concretely in the lack of equitable treatment in terms of residency, in terms of funding for communities. So yeah, whenever you see situations like this, there is violence inherent in situation like that, the subjugation of a people is always going to rely ultimately on violence. What we are seeing now is an upsurge and a flare of violence thatis an upsurge and a flare of violence that is actually inherent in this way that israel treats the palestinian people. Way that israel treats the palestinian people. And yet of course, israel palestinian people. And yet of course, israel has palestinian people. And yet of course, israel has a palestinian people. And yet of course, israel has a right palestinian people. And yet of course, israel has a right and| palestinian people. And yet of. Course, israel has a right and the international community has come out saying israel should defend itself against these terrorist attacks, these rockets being fired into israel from gaza. And i think fair to point out, would you, that hamas deliberately launches these rockets come often from areas using civilian cover. So there are families around where these rockets are fired from. Yes, there is an international criminal Court Investigation that is about to kick off covering israel and the occupied territory. They will be looking into crimes committed by both sides. Hamas is not innocent, of course, and hamas Ausmat Rocket attacks are indiscriminate, that is war crime. It is worth remembering everyone has the right to Self Defence, israel and palestinians have the right to Self Defence but No One has the right to commit crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against international humanitarian law with impunity. Hamass rockets. With a steady supply of arms from countries like britain and especially america, Israel Isnt just defending itself, it is actually enforcing the subjugation of the palestinian people and doing that through criminal behaviour. Lets remember as well, when israel says, with regard to gaza, that hamas is fighting within the civilian population, thats true but it doesnt alleviate from israel the obligation to discriminative between civilian and military targets. What we have seen time and again, again documented by the world possibly leading human Rights Organisations, amnesty international, human Rights Watch, is that israel doesnt discriminate properly. And hence we see this enormous civilian death toll. Medecins sans frontieres put out a statement earlier Today Or Yesterday saying if the palestinians in gaza at the moment, nowhere is safe. It is not like if you leave your house, if you leave your building, you are safe. You are not safe indoors either. That gives you an indication of the overwhelming nature and the indiscriminate nature of israeli violence against gaza at the moment. Both sides at fault, as you have been outlining, but how is this going to end . There does not seem to be any appetite on either side at the moment to end it on the ground. Is it always going to be in americas hands . Is it always going to be in americas hands . ,. Americas hands . Yeah, it is. We should point americas hands . Yeah, it is. We should point out americas hands . Yeah, it is. We should point out benjamin americas hands . Yeah, it is. We should point out Benjamin Netanyahu, the israeli prime minister, according to press reports yesterday, told his cabinet on wednesday that he had received an offer of a ceasefire from hamas and he was rejecting it. Just to be accurate, to bear that in mind, it does ultimately come down to america. Not because the us is a sort of neutral Peace Broker in all this, the us is israels arms supplier, the us is israels protector on the diplomatic circuit, israel is militarily dependent on the us, and ultimately, as i say, you can talk about the exchange of violence and the cycle of violence, but this whole conflict is underpinned by israel was mixed subjugation of the palestinian people, and what it will take ultimately is for the united states to put a halt to that, or to put sufficient pressure on israel to stop that. And if it doesnt, if it continues with this policy of giving israel effective impunity, as it has done for decades now, we are just going to be stuck in this cycle forever and civilians on both sides, but particularly in places like gaza, are going to bear the brunt of that. ,. , ~ , that. 0k, david wearing, from soas, thank ou. That. 0k, david wearing, from soas, Thank You you that. 0k, david wearing, from soas, Thank You. You are that. 0k, david wearing, from soas, Thank You. You are watching that. 0k, david wearing, from soas, Thank You. You are watching bbc Thank You. You are watching Bbc News. The headlines on Bbc News. Israel steps up its assault on gaza as Palestinian Rockets continue to target civilian areas in central and Southern Israel Inside israel theres been more violence between jewish and arab groups. The governments ordered a massive security reinforcement. New Government Measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. Here, the government has this morning confirmed its sending more vaccine doses to some Parts Uk that have seen an increase in the indian variant of coronavirus. Have seen an increase in the indian its one of a number of measures planned to try to tackle the spread after the number of cases more than doubled over the past week. Public Health England has recorded 1,313 Uk Cases of the indian variant over the past week. Figures are more than double the 520 cases recorded last week. Cases of the indian variant have been recorded in areas including london, bolton, tyneside and nottingham. The Health Secretary Matt hancock says the Government Will not hesitate to take further action if necessary with the possibility of re imposing local or indeed regional restrictions. The mayor of greater manchester, though, andy burnham, says he would be very concerned by the prospect of re introducing local lockdowns. This morning the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the Government Will flex the Vaccine Programme so second vaccine doses could be brought forward to tackle the indian variant in the worst affected areas. With more, heres charlotte wright. Follow the rules, wear a Face Covering. An urgent response to the rapidly increasing cases of the Covid Variant that originated in india. Surge testing in 15 areas of england. In bolton, a rapid Response Team is going door to door. And as concerns grow about the speed of the spread of this variant, the government has now said it could not rule out fresh local or regional restrictions to try to suppress it. It is a variant of concern. We are anxious about it. | it has been spreading. At the moment, there is a very wide range of scientific opinion about what could happen, but we want to make sure that we take all the prudential all the cautious steps now that we can take. Public Health England has recorded more than 1,300 Uk Cases of the indian variant this week, more than double the 520 recorded the week before, with most in the North West of england, and some in london. All right, a sharp scratch. So far, vaccines remain highly effective. Ministers are considering reducing the time between the first and second jabs, and additional Vaccine Clinics have been set up in blackburn. But despite calls by local leaders, the programme has not yet been opened up more widely to all adults over 18, leading to concerns about what measures will be used. What worried me today was the prime minister raising the spectre of local lockdowns. I can assure you my view on those has not changed at all. We would be very concerned about the government putting blackburn, bolton, anywhere, to be honest, under local restrictions when the rest of the country is unlocking. The amount of infections linked to this variant is still relatively small, but the Health Secretary had said the situation is being monitored carefully, and there would be no hesitation about taking further action if needed. Charlotte wright, Bbc News. The vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi was asked about the situation in parts of Northern England this morning. We have to be careful. What we are doing is Surge Testing in bolton. So 100 nurses, Public Health practitioners, environMental Health practitioners going in, doing the door to door testing. Weve got a mobile Pcr Unit going in there. 800,000 Pcr Tests have gone out to 15 areas around the country as well. And weve identified over 4,400 cases, and over 111,000 close contacts have been traced and instructed to self isolate. So the important thing, i think, is the combination of seeing whether we can flex the Vaccination Programme to help further, so weve sent more doses to bolton and of course we will obviously follow the clinical advice if they think it would help if we shortened the interval period, or anything else, in the vaccination. Nadhim zahawi Speaking A little earlier. Analysis by public Health England suggests that Coronavirus Vaccines have saved thousands of lives. The figures showed almost 12,000 lives were saved in england and around 33,000 Hospital Admissions were prevented. They looked at data to The End of april compared with the number of expected deaths if the vaccine was not in use. This method found most deaths were prevented in people in their 80s. Staying with Coronavirus And Easing of restrictions. Holidaymakers hoping to fly to portugalfrom next week are facing uncertainty after the country announced it was extending its current lockdown until 30th may. Holiday bookings for portugal absolutely surged last week after it was one ofjust 12 countries placed on the uks Green List meaning no quarantine was required on return. Our correspondent in portugal alison roberts reports. Its an extension of the state that was already in place. In fact, the Lockdown Restrictions who have pretty well all gone that were imposed in mid january. The situation in portugal is relatively good compared to the rest of the European Union in terms of incidents and covid deaths. But the government here is clearly being very cautious. At a Cabinet Meeting Yesterday it decided effectively not to make a decision for now on the uk, saying that it is keeping the situation under review. And indeed, as president of the council of the European Union at this moment until The End ofjune, its been hosting meetings of Tourism Ministers. There is going to be another one today. Not specifically on this topic but the issue of travel from non eu countries and issues such as the new indian variant which hasnt been found here but has in the uk, will No Doubt be all factors in any future decision. The welsh government is advising people against going on a foreign holiday even after rules on International Travel are changed. First Minister Mark Drakeford has this morning urged continued caution. The Traffic Light System of green, amber and red countries will be introduced from monday alongside the relaxation of other Lockdown Restrictions. Our Wales Correspondent Tomos morgan sent us this update. On the travel, i know from speaking to the welsh government over the past few weeks and months, theyve been concerned about the variants. Especially after what happened last summer with people travelling abroad and bringing variants in, so they were really reluctant to go ahead with any sort of easing of Travel Restrictions abroad. But as the First Minister told this programme just a few moments ago, really, he was kind of saying it was impossible really to enforce people not to go abroad, however, the advice from the First Minister when he spoke to us just moments ago was to stay in wales for your holidays this year, and he was advising against going abroad. My clear advice to people in wales has been this is the year to take your holiday in wales. And that foreign travel is better avoided. In a sheer practical sense, once airports in england are open, an instruction to people in wales not to travel would simply be unenforceable. So we know most People Who travel from wales will be doing it from Bristol Or Manchester or london. Once those airports are open and travel across the united kingdom is allowed, then people from wales will be able to travel. So theres no point in issuing an instruction that cannot be enforced. But the advice in wales is very clear. We have fantastic opportunities in wales to take a holiday. This is the year to take advantage of them. When the news was coming in about the indian variant, there was a few last minute changes. That was the impression i was getting, from mark Drakefords Interview just now. And that means that when it comes to hugging and social distancing, the First Minister is urging people that are not part of an extended household, people that are meeting indoors from next week in hospitality venues, groups of up to six, they maintain a social distance for now. Tomos morgan reporting. Lets bring you breaking news regarding Liberty Steel. Thats the Steel Empire run by Sanjeev Gupta who was heavily relying on that Supply Financing from lex greensill, the financing company, the lobbying of which was done by David Cameron who appeared in parliament via zoom to a Committee Yesterday talking about his lobbying on behalf Of Greensill which has collapsed. We have just heard the serious Fraud Office is going to be investigating Liberty Steel, owned by Sanjeev Gupta, as I Have said, who owe hundreds of millions of pounds through the collapse of lex greensill, greensill financing. No more on that at the moment. The government a few months ago was urged to step in to try and save Liberty Steel. He was seeing Sanjeev Gupta as the saviour of hundreds of thousands of steel Jobs Gupta as the saviour of hundreds of thousands of steeljobs around the country. Liberty steel and its Gfg Alliance has been in really serious trouble since Greensill Capital went bust back in march. So the sfo is to investigate there. There had been allegations of erroneous or irregularities in terms of the invoicing from that company. Now lets turn to india. 343,144 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, along with 4,000 more deaths. It brings the total number of coronavirus cases in india above 24 million. The country is fighting against a second wave of the virus, spurred by variants and also a slow Vaccine Roll out. Hospitals buckling under the pressure to treat patients amid a chronic shortage of beds and medical oxygen. The bbc understands that legislation brought in by the Indian Government, is preventing non profit organisations from supplying Oxygen Concentrators to those who need them the most. Theres all the machines package it. The foreign Contributions Registration Act was amended at the height of the first wave of the pandemic last year. Sima kotecha reports. The horror continues to unfold in india as coronavirus batters every corner of the country. Story after story of losing loved ones. Now those trying to help are saying they are paralysed by government legislation. The aim is to make sure that you are either caught up in so much paperwork that you cant work, or that you shut your operation in fear. Its to do with the foreign contributions regulation act, which was amended at the height of the first wave of coronavirus. The rules mean ngos and charities must register under the fcra before they can function. Any funding coming from abroad must be put into specific branches of State Bank of india in new delhi, as notified by the government. Ngos can no longer distribute any foreign contributions to other charities, so subcontracting is forbidden. However, weve spoken to several ngos who said they are preventing key supplies from getting to those who need them the most. You know, our capacity to really prevent deaths and also to do what we have to do and fight covid has been severely compromised because of this legislation. So are you saying that it is potentially causing deaths . Well, yes, the damage, definitely, a lot of it. Narendra modi and his government are suspicious of foreign funded activity. In the past, he has accused mainstream charities of halting economic development. His critics accuse him of implementing legislation to silence those speaking out against him, but the Indian Government says it is about greater transparency and stopping the misuse of foreign funds. These are long and salacious interpretations. These are long and salacious interpretations. These are long and salacious interretations. ,. , interpretations. Some of these are big names we have spoken to amnesty, we have spoken to, you know, other ones that i dont want to name. The point is we have got laws in this country, so if you think you want to look at india with different eyes, that india is some small banana republic, im sorry, we cant help it. We make our own laws, we are a sovereign country. As the Covid Crisis in india deepens, some ngos are desperately worried about even more deaths because of what they call unnecessary bureaucracy and restrictions. Sima kotecha, Bbc News. President biden has hailed what he called the extraordinary success of the Covid Vaccination Campaign in the us after the centers for Disease Control said that fully vaccinated people now no longer need to wear masks. Speaking at the whitehouse he said that it was a great milestone and that americans can now see the smile on Each Other� s faces again. The news has been met with cautious optimism. I still think it might be a little bit too early, it is kind of a big step, so, yeah, ifeel like especially indoors, i do feel requiring people to wear a mask would be kind of the right decision. Better safe than sorry, i think a of people now, they will pretend they are vaccinated and theyre not wearing a mask, and they really didnt get vaccinated. Some of us are very happy about it, psychologically, things that are getting back to normal,. Is exciting, and the other part of us, we are not sure| if it is too soon or not. I think it is great. I think it is overdue, but i do still intend for businesses that want me to wear a mask indoors, i dont have any problem with that, even though im vaccinated. This is really good news, it is a big milestone, really, when i found out that the news, it made me happy. Youre watching Bbc News. The headlines on Bbc News. Israel steps up its assault on gaza as Palestinian Rockets continue to target civilian areas in central and southern israel. Inside israel theres been more violence between jewish and arab groups. The governments ordered a massive security reinforcement. New Government Measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. As cases double in a week the Uk Government says it Cant Rule out local lockdowns and bringing forward second doses of Covid Vaccines. We will flex the Vaccine Programme to where the fluent to where the clinicians think it is best utilised. With Travel Restrictions easing next week, new uncertainty for british holidaymakers heading to portugal. Amazon says it will create 10,000 new permanent Uk Jobs in 2021 and launch a £10 million programme to help employees gain new skills. In an appearance on an american podcast, Prince Harry says he wants to Break The Cycle of the Pain And Suffering of his upbringing with his own children. The president of the upcoming cop 26 talks in glasgow has given a speech ahead of the summit in november. The meeting will bring World Leaders together to tackle the issue of climate change. Alok sharma said the conference will be the � moment of truth, and The Last Hope to keep rising global temperatures to 1. 5 degrees celsius. In 2015 the world signed the Paris Agreement. Its an international deal to tackle the Climate Crisis which commits us to limit global Temperature Rises to well below 2 degrees, aiming for1. 5. That 1. 5 Degrees Target is critical. Indeed, every fraction of a degree makes a difference. The science shows that a Temperature Rise of 2 degrees rather than 1. 5 would mean hundreds of millions more people affected, twice as many plant and three times as many insect species losing vast swathes of their habitat. But since that 1. 5 target was set, since the Paris Agreement was signed, the world has not done nearly enough. All the time the science is getting starker, and it will continue to do so. And now, to keep 1. 5 degrees within reach, to keep 1. 5 alive, we must halve global emissions by 2030. So this is the decisive decade and we must act now to launch a consistent and concerted effort to reduce emissions throughout the next ten years. And to use the covid 19 recovery to reimagine our economies, because the investments we make today, as we repair the economic damage inflicted by the pandemic, will shape this decade. Whether we like it or not, whether through action or inaction, we are now choosing the future. This is what makes the next united nations climate conference in glasgow, cop26, so critical. If we do not take this chance to keep 1. 5 degrees alive, it will slip from our grasp. And so will our best hope of building the future we want to see. So, cop26 must be the moment that every country and every part of society embraces their responsibility to protect our precious planet. And keep 1. 5 alive. The president of cop26, Alok Sharma, speaking in glasgow. Amazon has announced it is creating 10,000 newjobs in the uk, including opening warehouses in england and expanding its office operations. Earlier our Business Correspondent Katy austin explained the online retailers plans. This Hiring Spree will bring andersons total Uk Workforce to 35,000. These newjobs Will Notjust be at warehouses, all Fulfilment Centres as they call van, there will be office based role is, everything from digital marketing to engineering, they will be in dartford, gateshead, Hinkley And Swindon as well as what they call a Parcel Receiving Warehouse in doncaster. Anderson has previously denied allegations of poor working conditions but it is entrenching its position in the uk. To put it bluntly, people have done lots of online shopping so companies like amazon are doing very well. There has been quite amazon are doing very well. There has been quite a amazon are doing very well. There has been quite a Lot Amazon are doing very well. There has been quite a lot of amazon are doing very well. There has been quite a lot of criticism,. Has been quite a lot of criticism, publicly and in the media, about the working conditions and the poor pay, and it does not allow unionisation. Do we know what qualityjobs these are . Do we know what quality obs these are . � ,. ,. , do we know what quality obs these are . �. ,. ,. , are . Anderson has denied allegations of oor are . Anderson has denied allegations of poor working are . Anderson has denied allegations of poor working conditions are . Anderson has denied allegations of poor working conditions in are . Anderson has denied allegations of poor working conditions in the of poor working conditions in the past amazon has denied. It will be £9. 75 per hour or 10. 80 p per hourin be £9. 75 per hour or 10. 80 p per hour in london. Of these roles, it is tried to emphasise the fact it will be investing in skills or £10. 80 in london. The skills of its own workforce and working with the British Chambers Of is to try to identify places in the country with certain Skills Gaps to see if it can invest. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said this is a vote of confidence in the uk economy. Studio katy austin. Lets get more on facemasks in the uk, but perhaps not the story you were expecting. Here in the uk, hundreds of women may have wrongly been made to wear a facemask during childbirth, a leading charity has warned. Research shared exclusively with Bbc News found 160 mothers, out of more than 900 who gave Birth Last December, said they were made to wear a mask during labour. Guidance published by the Royal College Of Midwives says expectant Women Shouldnt have to wear any form of facial covering during labour because of the risk of harm and complications. Lets talk now to joeli brearley, whos the founder of the charity pregnant then screwed an organisation that campaigns against pregnancy discrimination. So they were made to wear these facemasks, but how much danger is associated with that if it is just a normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important it normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important it is normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important it is to normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important it is to be normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important it is to be able normal Covid Style Covering . We know how important it is to be able to how important it is to be able to breathe during labour. It birthing is completely based around being able to breathe really effectively in order to have a positive birtH Experience, hit birthing. So to add a barrier and restrict women from being able to breathe when going through labour will increase anxiety, that is likely to lead to a higher rate of complications, which can have long term lifelong impact on a mother and her baby. You can have longterm lifelong impact on a mother and her baby. You said there were on a mother and her baby. You said there were 160 on a mother and her baby. You said there were 160 cases on a mother and her baby. You said there were 160 cases in on a mother and her baby. You said there were 160 cases in december. On a mother and her baby. You said i there were 160 cases in december out of 900, were there any complications . Of 900, were there any complications . Of 900, were there any comlications . ~. , ,. Complications . We did not collect that data, complications . We did not collect that data. We complications . We did not collect that data, we just complications . We did not collect that data, we just asked complications . We did not collect that data, we just asked women | complications . We did not collect| that data, we just asked women if they were asked to wear a facemask, so i cannot tell you the correlation between facemasks and complications but i can tell you that the women said it absolutely increase their we had women saying that since giving birth, having to wear a mask, they are terrified generally of wearing an ask because they have forms of post traumatic stress disorder, they put on a facemask and it reminds them of how horrific it was going through labour with the rethink restricted. ~ , ,. Restricted. Why were they instructed to do it when restricted. Why were they instructed to do it when it restricted. Why were they instructed to do it when it seems restricted. Why were they instructed to do it when it seems the restricted. Why were they instructed to do it when it seems the advice. Restricted. Why were they instructed to do it when it seems the advice is| to do it when it seems the advice is clear . It to do it when it seems the advice is clear . ,. , clear . It is clear but it is changing clear . It is clear but it is changing so clear . It is clear but it is changing so often clear . It is clear but it is changing so often it clear . It is clear but it is changing so often it is i clear . It is clear but it is changing so often it is challenging for staff to keep abreast of it. Midwives are completely overworked, exhausted, understaffed, and so they are really struggling to keep abreast of everything happening and they need more support from senior managers and midwifery needs more resources and funding, it is really a breaking point. You resources and funding, it is really a breaking point. A breaking point. You expect midwives a breaking point. You expect midwives to a breaking point. You expect midwives to wear a breaking point. You expect midwives to wear masks,. A breaking point. You expect midwives to wear masks, obviously . Yes, midwives will be wearing masks, if the Woman is giving birth and she has covid that midwives will be given enhanced ppe to protect them from Contracting Covid whilst caring for the Woman. That from Contracting Covid whilst caring for the Woman. For the Woman. That is interesting, Women Who for the Woman. That is interesting, Women Who were for the Woman. That is interesting, Women Who were pregnant for the Woman. That is interesting, Women Who were pregnant were i for the Woman. That is interesting, l Women Who were pregnant were told not to have the vaccination, for example, do we know how many cases there have been of pregnant women giving birth who have had covid . We do giving birth who have had covid . Do not know the exact data about their Women Who had given birth with covid and we have seen data showing that if you have covid in the third trimester it increases your chances of ending up in icu, and many women have had a C Section early, before the baby is ready to come out, in order to reduce the restrictions of her breathing if she has covid. Thank you very much, joeli brearley, Forjoining Us on Bbc News. And staying in the uk, a Think Tank says more than £13 billion will be needed over the next three years to reverse the damage to Childrens Education caused by the pandemic. The Education Policy Institute suggests the money should go towards improving Mental Health as well as academic support. The government says it is working on a long Term Plan to help all pupils. Here, a senior Trade Unionist has been suspended by the Opposition Labour Party after he suggested the home secretary, priti patel, should be deported. The home secretary, priti patel. Howard beckett, who is standing for the leadership of the unite union, is also on labours ruling national executive committee. Mr beckett made the remarks about priti patel, following the detention of two men in glasgow by Border Force officials. In Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party will elect a new leader today. 36 of the dup s senior Elected Representatives will choose between the Stormont Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots, and the mp for lagan valley, Sirjeffrey Donaldson. The contenders put their names forward to succeed arlene foster, who announced her resignation last month. The Health Service Executive in ireland has closed down its It Systems after being targeted in what it said was a significant Ransomware Attack. The hse said it had temporarily shut down its systems as a precaution. It said covid 19 Vaccination Appointments were not affected by the incident but the Rotunda Maternity Hospital in dublin has been forced to cancel many routine appointments. In scotland, the snp has won the Airdrie And Shotts by election, with a reduced majority over labour. Anum Qaisar Javed will take over the seat vacated by neil gray, who became a Member Of The Scottish Parliament last week. The duke of sussex has said he wants to Break The Cycle of the Pain And Suffering of his upbringing with his own children. Speaking on The American Expert Podcast with dax shepard, Prince Harry described his life as being like a mixture between the Truman Show and Being In A Zoo and compared his experiences with the british paparazzi to his tours in afghanistan. Lets take a listen some of what he had to say isnt life about breaking the cycle, right . There is no blame, i do not think we should point the Finger Or Blame anybody, but when it comes to parenting, if I Have experienced some form of Pain Or Suffering because of the Pain Or Suffering that my father or perhaps my parents had suffered, i will make sure i break that cycle so that i do not pass it on. There is a lot of genetic suffering that is passed on anyway, as parents we should say, that happened to me, i will make sure it does not happen to you. It is hard to do. Yes, but it comes down to awareness, i never saw it, i was never aware of it, but eventually i pieced it together and said, this is where he went to school, this is what happened, i know this about his life, this is connected to his parents. That means he is treating me the way i was treated, so how can i change that for my kids . Here i am, I Have moved my whole family to the us, that was not the plan our News Correspondent James Reynolds has listened to the podcast and spoke to me a little earlier. I put it to him that what harry was saying was noted the windsor way. Prince harry, of course, has decided to explain, notjust on the Oprah Winfrey interview, but in this podcast. It was really interesting to hear the bit you just played, the idea not that he had a bad upbringing but that there was something genetic involved, somehow passed through generations, perhaps because of his fathers schooling. Tim, this is essentially something, i think, he didnt name it, something called Epigenetic Inheritance that he might be talking about, the idea, biblically, the sins of the father pass to the son, somehow genetically. But scientifically proven or not . Ive looked at it in nature magazine. It is widely talked about in forums but in nature magazine, an article said it is a huge black box, said one researcher. Another developmental geneticist, right now we dont know enough about how information is transferred between generations. It is something that is discussed routinely by children whose parents, particularly whose fathers suffered traumas, i know that from People Whose parents have suffered as Prisoners Of War coming back from japan in the � 40s. This is something that Prince Harry clearly feels that he believes in. But nevertheless, scientists still say it is a black box. When it comes to the rapprochement with the royal family, was that raised in this podcast as well or not . Not that I Have seen. One interesting point is it looks like his decision, or desire, to leave the royal family, which we heard in the Oprah Interview came about because of his marriage and the way his wife was received. This desire went back a long time to his early 20s, it was something he had thought about for several years. In terms of rapprochement, we do know there is one thing coming up, the unveiling of the statue of Princess Diana in Kensington Palace onjuly1st, we do expect Princes William and harry, if he can travel, to be there. There are some quite extreme comparisons, though. British Paparazzi Reminding him of his Time In Afghanistan in a War Zone. I mean, what has the reaction been to this . I think the reaction has been, the ones that i follow, broadly, a reaction, a following of what we saw in march. Those who already support Prince Harry, those who already support the explain aside, feel it is good for someone to talk about their Mental Health. Other people think it is a bit unusual for someone who lives in a 14 Million mansion to spend an awful lot of time talking about suffering and that when other people have plenty of other things on their mind. James reynolds on Prince Harrys latest podcast. The headlines on Bbc News. Israel steps up its assault on gaza as Palestinian Rockets continue to target civilian areas in central and southern israel. Inside israel theres been more violence between jewish and arab groups. The governments ordered a massive security reinforcement. New Government Measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. The authorities in eastern india say a herd of 18 wild elephants has been found dead, possibly killed by lightning. The carcasses were discovered after a heavy rainstorm. Theyve been sent for postmortem, and an investigation is under way. You may find some images in our report distressing. Russell trott reports. They are used to finding the carcass of a failed elephant here in india, but rarely like this. The authorities say a herd of 18 wild elephants were found dead in a forest reserve, possibly killed by lightning during a heavy rainstorm. Translation this is a very sad incident. I such an incident has never occurred in the forest of assam before. Today a thunderstorm occurred and it was so intense that 18 elephants died in the forest. Assam is one of the worlds biggest tea producers. Continued expansion of the plantations into the forests is putting the workers into conflict with the elephant population. Activists say sometimes elephants are poisoned by villagers who complain they destroy crops. With an estimated population of more than 20,000, india is home to the largest number of asiatic elephants. But their population has declined in recent years, largely due to Habitat Loss and poaching for their toasked. And now possibly lightning strikes. Russell trott, Bbc News. A plan to drastically reduce Car Traffic in the centre of the french capital paris by 2022 has been put forward by the city council. The scheme would ban through traffic in four central districts, giving priority instead to cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport. Earlier we spoke to our Paris Correspondent hugh schofield, who explained how the plan would work in practice. The plan is that this big area of central paris, as you were saying, about 7 of the area of paris proper will be kind of cordoned off, and it wont mean there is no traffic there, but it will mean that the only cars and vans and so on that can go in our public transport, taxis, people with legitimate reasons like deliveries and so on, and all of the through traffic, and residents of course who want to get out, all the through traffic, people just driving from one end of paris to the other, they will be stopped. They will have to go round and find alternative routes. And the calculation is that that will reduce by about 50 or more the number of cars that go through the central area of paris from next year. And as you were saying, its part of this wide ranging ongoing plan by anne hidalgo, the socialist mayor of paris, to drastically cut Road Traffic in paris. I guess they are going to have to re route traffic, have a limited number of Entry Points into this zone where they will be checks to stop people coming in. Hugh schofield in paris. You may remember the dramatic pictures of a Fireball Lighting up the Night Sky in gloucestershire in february. We covered it here. It was a rare meteorite that crashed onto a driveway, and now its going on display at the natural History Museum when it reopens on monday. Scientists hope some of the recovered fragments could reveal how life started on our planet, as our Science Correspondent Rebecca Morelle reports. Blazing across the Night Sky at 50,000 kph, the dramatic arrival of the uks Space Rock. And some of it ended up here, burnt into the wilcock Familys Driveway in winchcombe, gloucestershire. Look at the incredible dent in that. I mean, this is tarmac, so it is a solid drive, isnt it . Its the kind of thing that if that had hit you, oryour car. It would hurt it would really hurt, wouldnt it . Now the family has a chance to see the meteorite again. It has a new home alongside the natural History Museums most prized minerals. It is mind blowing. That was on our drive and now it is in the natural History Museum in london. I cant describe it, i cant describe it. And now weve got lots of People Who be able to come and see it, why did it land on our drive, you know . It could have landed a few metres away and landed in the hedge and we would never have seen it. There are so many unbelievable coincidences. These two meteorites in conjunction allow us to look inside the planet. That are thousands of Space Rocks in museum collections, but the fragments of the Winchcombe Meteorite are exceptionally rare. They are from something called a carbonaceous chondrite, the first one thats been found in the uk. Winchcombe is very special because it is one of the most pristine materials that we have available on earth to study, and the thing that really good about this particular case is that we saw it fall, and so we can use that viable to kind of track back the trajectory, work out where in the Solar System it came from. These little fragments of rock might not look like much, but they contain some of the oldest material in our Solar System, dating to more than 4. 5 billion years ago, before the planets even formed. It is like holding a pristine Time Capsule that could shed light on our very beginnings. Pieces of the meteorite are being sent to scientists all Around The World. X ray studies here will reveal exactly what it is made of. The materials that are in there are basically the ingredients, the building blocks, for our Solar System. So it contains things like organic, really simple organic materials, it contains minerals that contain water, and so its a really important tool for understanding how we ended up with an earth like we have, so why do we have oceans on the earth and why do we have life here . Scientists hope this Space Rock could answer these fundamental questions, thanks to the flash of luck that brought it down in the uk. Rebecca morelle, Bbc News. How exciting. Earlier i spoke to professor sara russell, Merit Researcher of meteorites at the natural History Museum she told me how rare an opportunity this find is. This is just an amazing thing to happen, meteorites do not fall very often around the whole globe and the last meteorite that fell and was recovered in the uk was 30 years ago, so those others a Staging Meteorites have been waiting a long time for an event like this, we have been so rewarded because not only is it a meteorite but it is one of the most special types of meteorite, called a carbonaceous chondrite, which i and many of my museum colleagues had spent our careers are studying, we are all beyond excited. The meteorite was reasonably big, how much of it has to be smashed up, investigated with chemicals and whatever, how much are we left with now because presumably there is a balance between scientific research and trying to keep the integrity of the meteorite itself . Yes, we have about 500 grams altogether, that is a small bag of sugar� s worth, which might not seem much but it is plenty for the analysis we need to do, and we need the balance between having some of it on display, some of it available for children to look at to hopefully inspire people to be interested in science, had some available to scientists to learn more about our origins and keep some of it for future generations too so they can answer questions we have not even thought of. Will this particular meteorite habits own story or will others of a similar age found elsewhere Around The World just be enforcing what this will tell us . Will this particular meteorite have its own story . Each meteorite is unique, we have noted some things about this one which has made us sit up, some things we do not understand yet. Like what . Like it has the minerals on its surface, we are not sure what they are yet but we are investigating to find out, and it is really timely that it has landed because there are two Space Missions ringing back rocks that look quite similarfrom asteroids, one is a japanese nation similar from asteroids, one is a japanese mission and what is the Nasa Osiris Rex nation, we think they will bring back material from an asteroid that looks like this so it means that be can linking to these missions and contribute to them as well. So its a really exciting time for us. He will be able to see that rock if you are in london at the natural History Museum on monday. You will be able to see that rock if you are. Work has begun in denmark to dig up an estimated 13,000 tonnes of mink carcasses, buried after the government ordered a covid related cull in november. Theyll be incinerated , now its deemed that they pose no risk of infection. The cull, which had no legal basis, sparked a political crisis. The organisers of a japanese campaign to cancel the Tokyo Olympics because of covid have submitted a petition to the city governor. Its signed by more than 350,000 people. Japan has extended its State Of Emergency to three more prefectures in response to the pandemic. A painting by Pablo Picasso has sold for 103 Million at an auction in new york. Woman sitting near a window dates from 1932 and was initially valued at 90 million. You are watching Bbc News. Joanna is here at the top of the hour. Now its time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. So far may has been pretty soggy, with Rainfall Totals really mounting up. We have seen more rain over the last 24 hours thanks to this curl of cloud, a slow moving area of pressure in the English Channel thats been bringing rain particularly to england and wales. Zooming to the west we are looking at the next area of low pressure waiting to zoom across our shores and tied to the weekend, so more rain is on the way. Extensive Low Cloud across the uk this morning, drizzle across North Eastern coasts and hills of scotland and england, more general rain for East Anglia, the midlands, central, Southern England and the soutH East. That will tend to ease off. Western areas will brighten up with sunny spells and heavy showers, some thunderstorms mixed in, particularly across parts of wales. Overnight, the area of low pressure i showed you a moment ago in the atlantic will be spreading a band of rain to parts of england, wales and probably Northern Ireland, scotland having the driest weather through the night. The weekend is one of unsettled conditions, sunny spells probably quite brief, heavy thundery showers will be widespread and the Rainfall Totals will really mount up. The deeper the blue, the more likely you are to see the heavy rain. Wales, southern and Western Areas of england and Northern Ireland picking up the heaviest downpours. NortH Eastern scotland probably has the best of the Weekend Weather but nowhere is immune from an odd passing shower. Saturday sees the first band of rain pushed eastwards, showers will be widespread, through the afternoon the sunshine in relatively short supply, widespread heavy downpours with hail and thunder, temperatures 14 or 15 celsius at best. Into sunday, low pressure slowly pushes right into the heart of the british isles, bringing further outbreaks of rain or heavy, thundery showers, but either way the weather looks pretty wet across england and wales. Northern ireland and Southern Scotland seeing downpours, the North East of scotland probably the best place to dodge most of the showers, the best chance of staying dry, but looking like pretty disappointing weather this weekend. Any changes next week . Not really. Low pressure is still in charge, we will continue to see that unsettled run of weather with further showers on the way. That is your weather. This is Bbc News. The headlines at 11. New Government Measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. As cases double in a week, the Uk Government says it Cant Rule out local lockdowns and bringing forward second doses of Covid Vaccines. Well flex the Vaccine Programme to where the clinicians think its best utilised. With Travel Restrictions easing next week, new uncertainty for british Holiday Makers heading to portugal. Mark drakeford is expected to announce the next stage of Lockdown Easing in wales later today, with up to six people being able to meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants from monday. Israel steps up its assault on gaza, as Palestinian Rockets continue to target civilian areas in central and southern israel. Inside israel, theres been more violence between jewish and arab groups. The governments ordered a massive security reinforcement. The Business Empire of the owner of Liberty Steel is under investigation by the serious Fraud Office, including its links to Greensill Capital. With six months to go to the cop26 climate Change Summit in glasgow, president designate Alok Sharma has said the world must act now to slow global warming. If we do not act now, the science tells us these effects will become more frequent and more brutal, that we will witness a scale of global catastrophe the likes of which the world has not seen. And coming up. A meteorite that landed in gloucestershire in february will be on display at the natural History Museum in london when it re opens next week. Hello. The government has this morning confirmed its sending more vaccine doses to some parts of the uk that have seen an increase in the indian variant of coronavirus. Its one of a number of measures planned to try to tackle the spread after the number of cases more than doubled over the past week. Public Health England has recorded 1,313 Uk Cases of the indian variant in the past week. The figures are more than double the 520 cases recorded last week. Cases of the indian variant have been recorded in areas including london, bolton, tyneside and nottingham. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the Government Will not hesitate to take further action if necessary with the possibility of re imposing local or regional restrictions. But the mayor of greater Manchester Andy Burnham says he would be very concerned by the prospect of re introducing local lockdowns. This morning the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the Government Will flex the Vaccine Programme so second vaccine doses could be brought forward to tackle the indian variant in the worst affected areas. The vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi was asked about the situation in parts of Northern England this morning. We have to be careful. What we are doing is Surge Testing in bolton. So 100 nurses, Public Health practitioners, environMental Health practitioners going in, doing the door to door testing. Weve got a mobile Pcr Unit going in there. 800,000 Pcr Tests have gone out to 15 areas around the country as well. And weve identified over 4,400 cases, and over 14,000 close contacts have been traced and instructed to self isolate. So the important thing, i think, is the combination of seeing whether we can flex the Vaccination Programme to help further, so weve sent more doses to bolton, and, of course, we will obviously follow the clinical advice if they think it would help if we shortened the interval period, or anything else, in the vaccination. Lets speak to paul hunter, professor in medicine at the university of East Anglia. Im i m clearly im clearly very worried about the rapid increase. Weve seen a substantial Increase Week on week since, really, the 1st of april, and the figures that are currently being presented by pag actually already somewhat out of date because of the time it takes to get a positive sample sequenced and then investigated and reported, phe investigated and reported, phe. The expectation is that that is still continuing to increase at the moment and maybe this week over a third of cases within the uk, they will actually already be india team variant. � ,. ,. , variant. And in terms of who is bein variant. And in terms of who is being affected, variant. And in terms of who is being affected, the variant. And in terms of who is being affected, the age variant. And in terms of who is | being affected, the Age Groups, weve been hearing from india since this really flared up that the young are being affected in particular. Is it possible to assess the impact its having here on which Age Groups at the moment . Its having here on which Age Groups at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt Et at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available. At the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but what at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but what we at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but what we can at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but what we can do at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but what we can do is. Yet available, but what we can do is look at the incidence of all cases of covid by Age Group and what has been obvious is the light, in the last week or so, Case Numbers have been going up in the uk but, primarily, that has been in children and young adults, People Who, at the moment, havent actually had the vaccine, and if it stays in that Age Group then, ultimately, it wont pose that much of a problem for the national Health Service, at least for acute illness. The anxiety is, of course, that if it becomes very common in younger Age Groups that will then drift into older Age Groups but, at the moment, it is not obvious that thats whats happening, and i think there is still some pretty good evidence that the vaccine does still protect against the indian variant, even if it doesnt necessarily stop all infections, the suggestion is that vaccination does reduce the severity of increase, even in People Who still actually catch the infection, which would be very good news. Where does this leave which would be very good news. Where does this leave the which would be very good news. Where does this leave the relaxation which would be very good news. Where does this leave the relaxation of does this leave the relaxation of the lot and measures, as far as youre concerned . We are told indoor mixing will go ahead as planned for next monday. The g8 after that is the 21st Ofjune when, effectively, all of the social distancing measures should end. How much of a question would then be over that . The first thing is, where very close to next monday and i wouldnt be arguing against reversing the decision to ease things on monday. I think what we do injune was always going to be based on what the evidence was by The End of may and so by that time, by the time we actually have to start making the decision about the next step, well know a lot more about this variant, how its spreading, how severity is, whether its causing pressure on the Health Service, and i think that would be delighted to make that decision. At the moment im not sure i would be all to get either way about what would happen at that point, because we can only wait to see that the data shows. fin point, because we can only wait to see that the data shows. See that the data shows. On that, the reports see that the data shows. On that, the reports are see that the data shows. On that, the reports are on see that the data shows. On that, the reports are on sage see that the data shows. On that, | the reports are on Sage Modelling that if it is more than 30 more transmissible with the Kent Variant it would be a big risk to proceed with a final easing of restrictions next month. With a final easing of restrictions next month next month. Exactly, but at the moment we next month. Exactly, but at the moment we are next month. Exactly, but at the moment we are not next month. Exactly, but at the moment we are not sure next month. Exactly, but at the | moment we are not sure exactly next month. Exactly, but at the moment we are not sure exactly how much more infectious it is, so it is certainly plausible that the indian variant would delay the lockdown, the next stage of lockdown relaxation injune, but we dont really have enough information to know for certain one way or the other. ,. ,. , other. Just on that, then, if it were to be other. Just on that, then, if it were to be spreading other. Just on that, then, if it were to be spreading and other. Just on that, then, if it were to be spreading and spreading easily amongst the children and young adults as you said previously where the cases are spreading but not affecting the People Who are vaccinated, not having an impact on hospitals, under those circumstances would fully easing be acceptable or is there just too much risk and unknown factors even then . Well, i think if it isnt unknown factors even then . Well, i think if it isnt causing unknown factors even then . Well, i think if it isnt causing a unknown factors even then . Well, i think if it isnt causing a problem i think if it isnt causing a problem for the Health Service by then then i think we may well actually go ahead for the next step in relaxation. It all depends on how sick people with this new variant a guessing and how many cases are actually ending up in hospital and how many people are succumbing to the affection and dying. That is still a big uncertainty. Succumbing to the infection. If we see a big increase in hospitalisations by earlyjune and deaths rising rapidly then i doubt that we would have that relaxation but if we can avoid that and if that doesnt happen then we may well still be able to keep to target. Just, quickly, your thoughts on the Vaccine Programme because in some areas they are bringing forward the second dose for People Who are currently eligible. Does there have to be a careful balance between reducing the period between the joneses in terms of efficacy . Between the doses. It joneses in terms of efficacy . Between the doses. Joneses in terms of efficacy . Between the doses. It has always been the case between the doses. It has always been the case that between the doses. It has always been the case that the between the doses. It has always been the case that the scenery i between the doses. It has always i been the case that the scenery you have a second dose for yourself the better, but in terms of society as a whole it is often better to have a gap longer, and we have seen a number of, a couple of papers come out in the last 24 hours that have really shown that the uks response to vaccination by increasing this gap was definitely the right decision, and, to be honest, i dont see how the indian variant changes the need for that. I think its more important that we get as many first doses into people than it is to boost second doses at this stage. Thank you very much indeed for joining us, professor paul hunter. Let mejust let me just tell you that I Have some news just through about the Labour Mp wes streaking. He is being treated for Kidney Cancer. He is 38 and has represented the London Constituency of Ilford North since 2017 and was likely promoted to the Shadow Cabinet earlier this moment to work out on tackling child poverty. He is now taking Time Out to be treated for Kidney Cancer. He says while receiving a Cancer Diagnosis at the age of 58 is very shocking his prognosis is very good. He says was found when he went into hospital with a Kidney Stone and was diagnosed as cancer the following months. So Keir Starmer say the thoughts of the entire Labour Party are with wes and his family at this very difficult time. He says wes is a friend and a colleague and he will come back from the stronger and more determined than ever before. He says he cannot wait to see him back in parliament as soon as possible. His office will continue to cover his Constituency Work during his absence. So, we dont know how long that Time Out will be but he is taking time up to be treated for Kidney Cancer and we send him, obviously, best wishes and are hopeful return to health as soon as possible. Holiday makers hoping to fly to portugalfrom next week are facing uncertainty after the country announced it was extending its current lockdown until the 30th of may. Holiday bookings for portugal surged last week after it was one of just 12 countries placed on the uks Green List meaning no quarantine was required on return. Our correspondent in portugal alison roberts reports. Its an extension of the state that was already in place. In fact, the Lockdown Restrictions who have pretty well all gone that were imposed in mid january. The situation in portugal is relatively good compared to the rest of the European Union in terms of incidents and covid deaths. But the government here is clearly being very cautious. At a Cabinet Meeting Yesterday it decided effectively not to make a decision for now on the uk, saying that it is keeping the situation under review. And, indeed, as President S of the council of the European Union at this moment until The End ofjune, its been hosting meetings of Tourism Ministers. Theres going to be another one today, not specifically on this topic but on the issue of travel from non eu countries and issues such as the new indian variant which hasnt been found here but has in the uk, and will No Doubt be all factors in any future decision. Obviously, if you have booked a holiday expecting you could go because portugal is on the green as youre going to be expecting answers to several questions. Lets get more on this with Sean Tipton from abta thats the Association Of British Travel Agents. Green list. Thanks Forjoining Us. This will obviously have is it Bad News for anyone who has booked a holiday. What are the levels are booking for a couple of weeks . Obviously, there is considerable pent up demand and as soon as portugal went on the Green List one particular company said that bookings were up 200 so, yes, a lot of people with a book does not necessarily fit the next couple of weeks, more likely for later on in the summer but, yes, a lot of people will be waiting anxiously to see if they will be able to take the Holiday Inn is couple of weeks so this is something that the portuguese Tourism Minister said that she was optimistic and hopeful that she was optimistic and hopeful that people would be able to travel from monday and was now rather more uncertain. If it turns out to be Bad News, if you Cant Travel, booked a Package Holiday and, we have seen a big surge in people booking Package Holidays because they want the protection from these kind of issues you will come at the very least, be able to book a refund if you can travel but will be very disappointed if that is what is happening is. You sort of implied if that is what is happening is. You sort of implied it might be possible to go next two weeks. My understanding as it will be not be possible. We understanding as it will be not be ossible. ~. ,. ,. , possible. We are waiting for official clarification possible. We are waiting for official clarification of possible. We are waiting for official clarification of that l possible. We are waiting for. Official clarification of that from the portuguese Tourism Authority is obviously a soon as that comes through the portuguese Tour Operators will be in contact with customers telling them what their options are. 50. Customers telling them what their options are options are. So, if you have got a trip planned. Options are. So, if you have got a trip planned, what options are. So, if you have got a trip planned, what you options are. So, if you have got a trip planned, what you do . Options are. So, if you have got a trip planned, what you do . You l options are. So, if you have got a I Trip planned, what you do . You just have to sit and wait, do you . Trip planned, what you do . You ust have to sit and wait, do you . fi have to sit and wait, do you . Yeah, seriously. Have to sit and wait, do you . Yeah, seriously. I have to sit and wait, do you . Yeah, seriously, i think have to sit and wait, do you . Yeah, seriously, i think this have to sit and wait, do you . Yeah, seriously, i think this is have to sit and wait, do you . Yeah, seriously, i think this is something | seriously, i think this is something that part of the faces in particular we will be monitoring very closely and will become clear quickly. It is not an issue if you have booked independently, for example if you have a Holiday Home in portugal and are not allowed into the country, they will have to talk to their airlines, because airlines are much more likely to say, ok, well give you the option of may be rebooking for a later date rather than necessarily giving a refund, because fights continue to operate so they dont strictly speaking have to do that. Flights continue to operate. If they find they Cant Travel they will very least be given an option to rebook or have a refund of their money. 50. An option to rebook or have a refund of their money of their money. So, there has been some controversy of their money. So, there has been some controversy around of their money. So, there has been some controversy around not of their money. So, there has been some controversy around not all i some controversy around not all companies being quick with refunds and not always giving them. What are the absolute right now, because, obviously, weve been through a time of massive uncertainty. Now there is that. Thats not always guarantee that. Thats not always guarantee that you can do what you want, but, the same time, the Insurance Companies have started to put in cave it is a thing that you are not necessarily covered on covid 19 is a thing that you are not necessarily covered on so what peace of mind can people have . Restrictions mean you will be allowed in the first place for Leisure Purposes after quality non viable for significant period of time that is not a holiday, so then Tour Operators will give you the option to rebook or have your money back. The reason why this was a serious problem last year was the sheer scale of the issue, millions of holidays cancelled a very short notice totally unexpectedly and is put immense pressure on Travel Companies to be fun. Pretty speckling, legally as a package it has to be within 14 days that ijust wasnt possible because of the Shares Gale of the issue. Strictly speaking. Now, booking and there is a lower, clearly, and some companies did a betterjob than others. Sheer scale of the issue. Competition and Markets Authority reminded companies that they had to refund people. Making sure people are aware of their rights as well in are aware of their rights as well in a much more clearfashion so i dont think well see a repetition of that but, seriously, the scale of pandemic last year was so significant i think it was because of severe logistical problems and we wont, you know, it is a very abnormal situation but i think if people do find out, if they are unlucky enough to have a holiday cancelled and needing the fund, it should come much faster. Due a refund. The welsh government is advising people against going on a foreign holiday even after rules on International Travel are changed. The First Minister, mark drakeford, has this morning urged continued caution. The Traffic Light System of green, amber and red countries will be introduced from monday alongside the relaxation of other Lockdown Restrictions. Our Wales Correspondent Tomos morgan sent us this update. On the travel, i know from speaking to the welsh government over the past few weeks and months, theyve been concerned about the variants. Especially after what happened last summer with people travelling abroad and bringing variants in, so they were really reluctant to go ahead with any sort of easing of Travel Restrictions abroad. But as the First Minister told this programme just a few moments ago, really, he was kind of saying it was impossible, really, to enforce people not to go abroad, however, the advice from the First Minister when he spoke to us just moments ago was to stay in wales for your holidays this year, and he was advising against going abroad. My clear advice to people in wales has been, this is the year to take your holiday in wales. And the foreign travel is better avoided. In a sheer practical sense, once airports in england are open, an instruction to people in wales not to travel would simply be unenforceable. So we know most People Who travel from wales will be doing it from Bristol Or Manchester or london. Once those airports are open and travel across the united kingdom is allowed, then people from wales will be able to travel. So theres no point in issuing an instruction that cannot be enforced. But the advice in wales is very clear. We have fantastic opportunities in wales to take a holiday. This is the year to take advantage of them. So i think when the news was coming in about the indian variant, there was a few last minute changes. That was the impression i was getting from mark Drakefords Interviewjust now, and that means that when it comes to hugging and social distancing, the First Ministers urging people that are not part of an extended household, people that are meeting indoors from next week in hospitality venues, groups of up to six, they maintain a social distance for now. Tomos morgan reporting. The Business Empire of Liberty Steel owner Sanjeev Gupta is facing an investigation by the serious Fraud Office, including its links to failed finance company Greensill Capital. Our Business Correspondent Theo Leggettjoins me now. Explain . Well, we have had a release from the serious explain . Well, we have had a release from the serious fraud explain . Well, we have had a release from the serious Fraud Office explain . Well, we have had a release from the serious Fraud Office this from the serious Fraud Office this morning saying it has expected full Fraudulence Training and Money Laundering in the Family Group which is a loose conglomerate of business is controlled by Sanjiv Doctor and it says what it is looking at is the Financing And Conduct of the group of families as nurses within the gupta group alliance. Greensill capital is the Finance Group that collapsed last month and has very close ties with the gupta Family Group. We do know that some of the financing arrangements between the two have been called into question so, for example, the gupta Family Group was supplying invoices to Greensill Capital saying it was owed x of money from company y. Now, there have been allegation in the press that some of these invoices may not have been what they said they were. Companies named on them have said they did not have any involvement with the gupta Family Group and so it is likely that this will be encompassed within the scope of the investigation but, as i say, all thatis investigation but, as i say, all that is the serious Fraud Office will tell us at the moment is that they are investigating the gupta Family Group and Sanjiv Gupta has, of course, denied any wrongdoing. Thank you very much. The Israeli Military has intensified its bombardment of gaza into a fifth day, using artillery, Gun Boats and air strikes. International calls for De Escalation have been ignored, with hamas continuing to Fire Hundreds of rockets into israel. Explosions lit up the sky over Gaza City through the night. The number of people killed in gaza now stands at 119, including 27 children according to the health ministry. Multiple missiles were launched by Palestinian Miltants from gaza towads israel. 8 people have died in israel. And another aspect to the violence sectarian clashes on the streets, betweenjewish and Arab Israeli citizens who usually live Side By side. This is the scene live this morning, of the israeli artillery on the Gaza Border our correspondent there Paul Adams has sent this report about the nights events. There was a great deal of confusion for which a spokesman from the Israeli Military has apologised this morning. Essentially, what happened was that they launched what he described as a complex 40 Minute Operation involving land forces, the air force, and we think there was also gunfire coming from offshore as well. But the target was a network of Hamas Tunnels, these are tunnels that the Islamic Group has built over the years. Sometimes underneath the border into israel, but certainly a complex network inside the Gaza Strip, which the Israeli Military alleges houses a lot of hamass military infrastructure. And so that was targeted last night. But clearly the ferocity of the barrage involved in that operation convinced a lot of people that something different was happening, and thats why we saw hundreds of civilians from the northern edges of the Gaza Strip close to the israeli borderfleeing further down into gaza to try and get out of harms way. There is some pretty gruesome video around this morning of the consequences of some of the shelling. But the Israeli Military is saying that for now there is no Ground Operation. So far, we know that The Americans have been trying to hold back the un security council. Theyve already thwarted a couple of efforts by the council to issue a joint statement because The Americans want to try and manage this themselves without getting the un involved. They dont think that the un is going to really offer much in the way of a solution. There is an american envoy who is supposed to be coming to the region. We dont know when he is due to arrive. And theres also a lot of diplomacy going on here already in the region with the egyptian government and others involved in trying to negotiate some kind of ceasefire, as they have in the past between israel and the militants of hamas. We dont know where those negotiations have got to. And as you say, there is no sign at the moment of anyone stepping back from the brink. We still seem to be on the brink, with the very real possibility that this could get worse before it gets better. Thats Paul Adams. Suhair zakkout, is the international committee of the red Woman'>Cross SpokesWoman in gaza. Shejoins me now. What is the situation currently . Thank you and good morning to everybody. Gaza and israel has been witnessing and and extremely worrying escalation in the last few days and the International Committee Of The Red Cross is calling for urgent De Escalation of this extremely worrying escalation to spare more civilians, more suffering, and to avoid more loss of life. They lost days and, in particular, The Last Night was very tough. Air strikes have not stopped and, as your correspondent has just point it out, all the memories of the 2014 conflict has come to the surface of the minds of the population and the civilians were trying to take shelter and to seek a safer place to go to in the middle of the night and a mother was talking to me and told me she was obliged to rush downstairs from the fifth floor to take shelter with her two daughters. It was big chaos, people were asking what is happening and what will happen next. In any escalation, the most important thing is that the Health System can be responding to the suffering of the people and of the injuries and to treat them but this is, the Health System in gaza is overwhelmed and overstretched with the restrictions of movement of goods, medical items, we have not forgotten that gaza, a couple of weeks ago, was Hit Hard By Second Wave of covid 19, and just today in the morning in addition to those who lost their lives, the hundreds who lost their lives according to the ministry of health, due to this escalation around four people lost their lives because of the pandemic because the medicals teams are struggling to save lives and to have the privacy for injured People Who arrive to the hospitals. The Palestine Crescent which the international community of the red cross is supporting, they are deploying their Ambulances and reinforce their Ambulances with 28 Ambulances. 428 volunteers across the street to evacuate people. Like any escalation, like any conflict, most likely the infrastructure like Water Supplies, electricity supplies, mine to be impacted. Electricity in gaza, in the best case scenario, gazans receive eight hours of electricity. Now it is from 45 hours of electricity. Now it is from 4 5 hours according to the Electricity Company in gaza. They said the capacity of the Electricity Company, we know how it is important now to keep the Water Supplies and the Electricity Connectivity for the population in this difficult time and to keep the flow of material and medical items. Today, the International Committee Of The Red Cross is supporting the hospitals in gaza with three war wounded kits. These kits are enough to treat 150 seriously injured patients, in addition to other medical items and materials. ~ , materials. While we were listening to ou materials. While we were listening to you there materials. While we were listening to you there we materials. While we were listening to you there we were materials. While we were listening to you there we were seeing materials. While we were listening i to you there we were seeing pictures that are coming to was live from the border with israeli tanks on the border. The Israeli Military says there are no troops inside the Gaza Strip, suggesting it is not currently a Ground Invasion but it is Artillery And Tank fire from the border. At the same time, Benjamin Netanyahu said that this operation will continue as long as necessary. What are your concerns about the potential duration and what would happen if there were to be a Ground Operation . Happen if there were to be a ground 0 eration . ~. ,. , happen if there were to be a Ground Oeration . ~. ,. , operation . While we cannot speculate about the Involvement Operation . While we cannot speculate about the involvement in operation . While we cannot speculate about the involvement in a operation . While we cannot speculate about the involvement in a situation i about the involvement in a situation we repeat our column both parties and all entities in the international communities and Community Leaders who have an influence of both parties to de escalate and to put the civilians on the top of their agenda to spare the civilians the suffering and the terrifying scenarios for the civilians on both sides. We cannot neglect the psychological impact on children in israeli communities who receive the rockets, india as a community or in the whole Gaza Strip who are heading for continuous full days under air strikes. Who are heading for continuous full days underairstrikes. In who are heading for continuous full days under air strikes. In the Gaza Community or the whole Gaza Strip. They should be taken into consideration in the minds of the two parties when they are waiting this escalation, direct and indiscriminate attacks against civilians are prohibited by the international law and, regardless of the legality of any strike, the humility should prevail and both parties should listen to the voice of wisdom to spare lives and to spare the loss of lives and to spare civilians more suffering. Civilians more suffering. From the international civilians more suffering. From the international committee civilians more suffering. From the international committee of civilians more suffering. From the international committee of the. Civilians more suffering. From the | International Committee Of The Red Cross in gaza, Thank You very much Forjoining Us. Edwin poots and Sirjeffrey Donaldson are both vying to become the next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland. There has never before been a Leadership Contest in the dups 50 year history, with predecessors having been chosen by the partys top ranks. The results are expected from 5pm today. Joining me now to discuss this is former Labour Mp shaun woodward, who served as Northern Ireland secretary between 2007 and 2010. Welcome, Thank You Forjoining Us. How much is at stake here in terms of what comes next and at the politics of Northern Ireland at this Critical Point after brexit . This politics of Northern Ireland at this Critical Point after brexit . Critical point after brexit . This is a very critical Critical Point after brexit . This is a very critical time Critical Point after brexit . This is a very critical time for Critical Point after brexit . This is a very critical time for northern l a very critical time for Northern Ireland. Of course anybody watching this will think its always a critical time in Northern Ireland. To some extent, thats true. The process goes on, the Db Present at these conflicts and crises from time to time. I do think today, on one hand, we should celebrate the fact thatis hand, we should celebrate the fact that is actually an election and choice, and thats very important for the dup. But the outcome is more important than the dup. I think the politics of Northern Ireland is in a very precarious place because of a consequence of brexit. Its about the Peace Process too. Its been very clear over the last few months that the echoes of the trouble is, the violence that we have seen, over 100 Police Officers had in recent months, these have not disappeared. The choice that those dup delegates have to make today is about their party, it is about unionism, but its also about stability in Northern Ireland, and its about making sure that this protocol actually cant work. We making sure that this protocol actually cant work. Making sure that this protocol actually cant work. We will come to the protocol. Actually cant work. We will come to the protocol, but actually cant work. We will come to the protocol, but a actually cant work. We will come to the protocol, but a first actually cant work. We will come to the protocol, but a first witch actually cant work. We will come to the protocol, but a first witch of the protocol, but a first witch of the protocol, but a first witch of the two candidates would you preferred as the person who could deliver the stability that you are talking about . L deliver the stability that you are talking about . Talking about . I dont think its for a british talking about . I dont think its for a british politician talking about . I dont think its for a british politician to for a british politician to pontificate as to who the dup should use. I can say that as at the longest serving Secretary Of State in Northern Ireland, they are both very capable, i worked with them though. I saw Sirjeffrey Donaldson argue voraciously and when the case for a number of areas that matter hugely to unionism. The way, for example, that he thought for those who had served at the i uc, for policing in Northern Ireland was consummate, he was resolute and rhetorical. Are uc. He got things done and won his case. Politicians in Northern Ireland arent notable for banging the table, but that is not the same as actually winning the Argument And Case you are arguing. Jeffrey donaldson is a very canny, able politician. Edwin poots is a very strong politician too, but I Have seen donaldson win at the argument, and when hearts and minds. I think a big issue that the dup has got to wrestle with today, when it comes to sitting down with Prime Ministerjohnson or they taioseach in a dubliner, who is best placed to win the argument . Who is best placed when it comes to setting in the oval office. I saw the Reverend Paisley as First Minister it do just that with President Bush and president obama. It is notjust about saying what you want to come in at The End is about delivering as well. Thats the question out that i think the politicians have got to make their minds up on. Its notjust about who can scream the loudest, its about who actually delivers, and who is going to fight for unionism, and who is going to succeed the unionism. That is notjust about is going to succeed the unionism. That is not just about shouting, its about delivering. Its about jobs and opportunity. I have seen these two people argue the case, and I Have seen at least two people when the case. Jeffrey donaldson has proven experience in delivering. Thats what they db have got to deliver, but is not for me to tell them who they should vote for. The rotocol, them who they should vote for. The protocol, even today there is more news that highlights another difficulty emerging as a result of the Post Brexit Deal for Northern Ireland, in that patients with Lung Cancer in Northern Ireland will not be able to get a new life saving drug that has just been approved in britain because it has to be approved by the European Medicines agency to be used their area. We have only seen what is happening with imports and exports. How do any politicians get around these very real issues right now . L politicians get around these very real issues right now . Politicians get around these very real issues right now . I think the story about real issues right now . I think the story about the real issues right now . I think the story about the lung real issues right now . I think the story about the Lung Cancer real issues right now . I think the story about the Lung Cancer drug | story about the Lung Cancer Drug Todayis Story about the Lung Cancer Drug Today is a very important story, because that is read the Rhetoric And Action comes together or not. I think the dup leaders have got to ask themselves this, that story demonstrates the problem of the protocol. Right now, that drug which may save many lives looks like not being available, or red tape is going to stop it being available. So, which of those two politicians, dealing with the prime minister in london, dealing with the taoiseach in dublin, which of those two politicians will go into those two rooms and notjust buying the table, but delivered at the drug that will actually save one person. Serra; but delivered at the drug that will actually save one person. Sorry to interru t, actually save one person. Sorry to interrupt. How actually save one person. Sorry to interrupt, how does actually save one person. Sorry to interrupt, how does any actually save one person. Sorry to interrupt, how does any politician i interrupt, how does any politician is that with the protocol as it stands . , is that with the protocol as it stands . ,. ,. , stands . That is the nature of olitics, stands . That is the nature of politics. The stands . That is the nature of politics, the art stands . That is the nature of politics, the art of stands . That is the nature of politics, the art of the stands . That is the nature of i politics, the art of the possible. How does any good politician achieve the good Friday Agreement . In at The End, you have to bring people together and persuade them. You have together and persuade them. You have to make people see notjust what can be, but what should be. I do not believe the prime minister in london, in any way, even though id been very critical of him over brexit, borisjohnson did not intend people in belfast do not be able to get access to a dog that you can get in london to save your life from Lung Cancer. Whoever wins has got to be the politician who is most likely and best placed to persuade Prime Ministerjohnson to start making some changes to the protocol. Jeffrey donaldson is also a member of parliament, he also wants to take the title of First Minister. I do not quite understand Edwin Poots saying that he wants the name, leader of the dup, but he does not want the responsibility that comes with being a leader of the dup and assuming his responsibility as First Minister, as a leader of the largest party. Remember, one day, he might not be the largest party. I do not think that trying to say, well, i would like the name, but i do not want responsibility. I think people are going to ask how that is going to work. How that is going to work when it comes to seeing Prime Ministerjohnson, give when it comes to seeing Prime Ministerjohnson, give this Lung Cancer drug or not doing anything else. Is notjust about rhetoric, its about whether it you cannot deliver. If you go to the psni, to those retired Police Officers, ask them who delivered for them. Unionism cares very much about the history of the psni, when it was the are uc. Unionism does not have to guess who will deliver, it can see who has the experience and who has delivered. Its a difficultjob, but its a very important at the dup do the best for the people, for unionism, and for all the people of Northern Ireland today. Lets unionism, and for all the people of Northern Ireland today. Northern ireland today. Lets Catch U. Northern ireland today. Lets Catch U with Northern Ireland today. Lets Catch Up with the Northern Ireland today. Lets Catch Up with the sport. Northern ireland today. Lets Catch Up with the sport. We Northern Ireland today. Lets Catch Up with the sport. We can Northern Ireland today. Lets Catch Up with the sport. We can get Northern Ireland today. Lets Catch Up with the sport. We can get the | up with the sport. We can get the very latest from orly. The schedule for this summers british and irish Lions Tour has been released. There will still be eight matches, but they will now take place in three cities rather than six, to reduce the risk of covid the lions, led by alun wynjones, will play all games behind closed doors. The tour will start injohannesburg and pretoria, before heading to Cape Town for more more warm up games and then first test on thejuly 24, the last two tests will be back injohburg. Liverpool are still in the hunt for a top fourfinish. They beat Manchester United 4 2 at old trafford last night. This was the fixture that had to be postponed 12 days ago after mass protests against uniteds ownership, and there were more last night. But on a much smaller scale. One of the liverpool buses was held up before kick off, but none of the players were on it. It started well enough for united bruno fernandes claimed the first although it could also have gone down as a nat phillips own goal. Roberto firmino scored either side of half time as liverpool bounced back with Mo Salah sealing the win in stoppage time. If liverpool win their remaining three games, they have every chance of Champions League Football next season we somehow came in a situation that was not easy. We need to be lucky as well, of course. Last week of the season, so injuries, all these kind of things. But its at the same for all the teams. So, yeah. So liverpool know what they have to do. Evertons push for europe has had a setback. It was gaolless at Aston Villa last night. Everton had the best of the chances but villas keeper, emi martinez, kept them out. Everton are up to 8th with three games left not satisfied with the results, satisfied with the palm of mince. Second half as good, we create a lot of opportunities and chances. We have three games. I think we can reacH Europe. The scottish Premiership Season comes to a close this weeknd. If the champions, rangers, avoid defeat to aberdeen tomorrow, then they can celebrate an unbeaten season as well. Steven gerrard has unsurprisingly been named manager of the year after guiding them to their Theirfirst Premiership Title in 10 years and a victory over the dons would also see them pass the 100 point mark. Manchester City Defender aymeric laporte could play for spain at next months european championship. The frenchman was granted Spanish Citizenship earlier this week. Laporte, who is 26, grew up in france but moved to spain as a teenager to join the athletic bilbao academy. Hes represented france over 50 times though the Age Groups, but never for the senior team. Fifa says hes free to play for spain if selected. City Play Tonight at newcastle, their first match since winning the title earlier this week. The manager wants to finish the season strongly so theyre in good shape for the Champions League final against chelsea at The End of the month. Important is when the title. We did at this time, and it we are going to prepare this next game against newcastle, brighton and everton, and of course for the last game against chelsea in the Champions League final. The best way to prepare is to train every day and play good in at the next three games we have ahead of us. Theres been another managerial departure in the womens super League Carla Ward has resigned as Head Coach of birmingham city. Ward only took charge in august but will now leave after sunday s Fa Cup fifth Round Tie at home to southampton. Its been a difficult season, they only avoided relegation on the last day of the season and the players have complained about facilities and Travel Restrictions compared to the mens side. Wards departure means that four of the 12 wsl clubs are now looking for a new manager. Thats all the sport for now. Ill have more for you in the next hour. As well as hospitality and attractions reopening from monday, in england, people can hug friends and family in any setting, but are being advised to use personaljudgment, and remain cautious to protect People Who may be vulnerable and avoid a resurgence of the virus. So, after a year without much physical contact, why does having a hug or physical touch mean so much to us, and what will it be like for those who have had very little . We can speak now to Professor Sophie Scott director of the institute of cognitive neuroscience, at ucl. Also ian capon who is registered blind, and who is also partially deaf. Sophie, what impact has the lack of touch had . I know people felt it physically acutely and were talking about it a lot at the beginning, how difficult it was to adjust to that. We have all been a really horrible psychology experiment for the last year or so. Psychology experiment for the last year orso. Its psychology experiment for the last year or so. Its hard because although we take it very much for granted, physical contact with somebody else is actually our main way of being able to express emotions like Love And Gratitude and compassion and comfort. When you take that away from people, you take away one of their main ways of being able to share and express really important emotions. Is notjust the hugs,is important emotions. Is notjust the hugs, is actual that ability to express emotions to other people that we have nearly been removed from. ~. ,. ,. , from. We all know that you reach instinctively from. We all know that you reach instinctively to from. We all know that you reach instinctively to somebody from. We all know that you reach instinctively to somebody to from. We all know that you reach instinctively to somebody to try l from. We all know that you reach | instinctively to somebody to try to comfort them. Theres also that need to feel the touch. Where does that come from, why is that so deep in others . , , come from, why is that so deep in others . , , come from, why is that so deep in others . ,. , , come from, why is that so deep in others . , others . Probably because as soon as ou are others . Probably because as soon as you are born. Others . Probably because as soon as you are born, your others . Probably because as soon as you are born, your mother others . Probably because as soon as you are born, your mother will others . Probably because as soon as you are born, your mother will hold i you are born, your mother will hold you. You know, if you have a child born in the nhs, they will try to get you what they call skin to skin contact, physical contact between the mother and the baby because they know that in peru is the bonding between the mother and the baby. They know it improves. We never lose that relationship with touch and that relationship with touch and that comforting sense. It feels good, it reduces stress, you feel better afterwards. Seems to be a really effective way of helping people deal with difficult situations, being able to have access these. Situations, being able to have access these. Situations, being able to have access these. Situations, being able to have access these. Ian, im sorry to sa access these. Ian, im sorry to say over access these. Ian, im sorry to say over the access these. Ian, im sorry to say over the last access these. Ian, im sorry to say over the last 14 access these. Ian, im sorry to say over the last 14 months, access these. Ian, im sorry to | say over the last 14 months, you access these. Ian, im sorry to say over the last 14 months, you had a really tough time, you have lost two brothers and a sister. I really want to send you our love and thoughts for that. I can see its painful, its firing up in me a desire to want to connect with you, to comfort you. How has it been trying to do with that over the lash area without being able to have the physical comfort from others . Certainly, the early days was a bit difficult certainly, the early days was a bit difficult. With a bit of support from difficult. With a bit of support from my difficult. With a bit of support from my sister, who delivered me sunday from my sister, who delivered me Sunday Lunch on sundays, it made life a Sunday Lunch on sundays, it made life a lot Sunday Lunch on sundays, it made life a lot easier in a point of view of getting life a lot easier in a point of view of getting fit. In the early days, i only had of getting fit. In the early days, i only had a of getting fit. In the early days, i only had a microwave. Shops closed for a few only had a microwave. Shops closed for a few days, i couldnt buy anything for a few days, i couldnt buy anything for a few days. Eventually, they started to reopen again, so gradually they started to reopen again, so gradually i was able to get through and things in it. Those early days were and things in it. Those early days were a and things in it. Those early days were a bit and things in it. Those early days were a bit difficult. As time went on we were a bit difficult. As time went on we were were a bit difficult. As time went on we were able to get a bit more supporl on we were able to get a bit more support throughout the bubble rules. I was support throughout the bubble rules. I was able support throughout the bubble rules. I was able to see my sister a bit more i was able to see my sister a bit more often, have a meal with her and her husband more often, have a meal with her and her husband from time to time. I also her husband from time to time. I also had her husband from time to time. I also had a her husband from time to time. I also had a lot of support from other members also had a lot of support from other members of the family. Ive lost two brothers members of the family. Ive lost two brothers and a sister. The oldest brother brothers and a sister. The oldest brother who died shortly before lockdown came in, so we were lucky to get lockdown came in, so we were lucky to get his lockdown came in, so we were lucky to get his Funeral And Everybody there to get his Funeral And Everybody there. Martin, who is quite a lot younger there. Martin, who is quite a lot younger than me, there. Martin, who is quite a lot youngerthan me, he there. Martin, who is quite a lot younger than me, he would have been 50 in 2023, younger than me, he would have been 50 in 2023, died of thrombosis shortly 50 in 2023, died of thrombosis shortly before christmas, which was a massive shortly before christmas, which was a massive shock to us all. Then my sister a massive shock to us all. Then my sister died a massive shock to us all. Then my sister died recently, she had parkinsons, a little bit of covid as welt parkinsons, a little bit of covid as welt i parkinsons, a little bit of covid as well. I think all things came to as well. I think all things came to a head. As well. I think all things came to a head, because she had a lot of hoof a head, because she had a lot of hoof problems over the years, anyway hoof problems over the years, anyway. The rest of the family are all fit anyway. The rest of the family are all fit and anyway. The rest of the family are all fit and well, we have had about ourjabs. All fit and well, we have had about ourjabs. We all fit and well, we have had about ourjabs, we are in good communication with one another. We will hopefully be seeing Each Other fairly soon. My sister is coming down fairly soon. My sister is coming down for fairly soon. My sister is coming down for the weekend and she will be bringing down for the weekend and she will be bringing Guide Dogs with her. As bringing Guide Dogs with her. Somebody bringing Guide Dogs with her. Is somebody who does have the visual and hearing impairment that you have, how important is touch for you . Have, how important is touch for ou . ,. ,. , you . Touch is quite important, because if you . Touch is quite important, because if you you . Touch is quite important, because if you are you . Touch is quite important, because if you are a you . Touch is quite important, because if you are a dual you . Touch is quite important, i because if you are a dual sensory person. Because if you are a dual sensory person, there are people that use fingers person, there are people that use fingers and Sign Language for communication, people might use mac at all in. Communication, people might use mac at all in, thats about pointing and touching at all in, thats about pointing and touching things to explain what you are trying touching things to explain what you are trying to say. Its not just about are trying to say. Its not just about bsl are trying to say. Its not just about bsl for People Who are necessarily totally deaf or hard of hearing. Necessarily totally deaf or hard of hearing, so touch is important from that point hearing, so touch is important from that point of hearing, so touch is important from that point of view. Touch can be quite that point of view. Touch can be quite important as well when it comes quite important as well when it comes to quite important as well when it comes to buying food, making sure its fresh. Comes to buying food, making sure its fresh, looks good and it feels good its fresh, looks good and it feels good. Also, ithink its fresh, looks good and it feels good. Also, i think touch is quite good good. Also, i think touch is quite good for good. Also, i think touch is quite good for comfort and communication, generally, good for comfort and communication, generally, as well. I know the news is that generally, as well. I know the news is that we generally, as well. I know the news is that we can hug again. Im not quite is that we can hug again. Im not quite sure is that we can hug again. Im not quite sure that hug is quite what we are looking quite sure that hug is quite what we are looking for. I think we are looking are looking for. I think we are looking for are looking for. I think we are looking for a bit more of that human contact looking for a bit more of that human contact that looking for a bit more of that human contact that human beings need for comfort, contact that human beings need for comfort, health and well being. Contact that human beings need for comfort, health and well being. That is what comfort, health and well being. That is what i comfort, health and well being. That is what i think we should be talking about is what i think we should be talking about more. Is what i think we should be talking about more is what i think we should be talking about more. ,. , about more. Sophie, i wonder whether our instincts about more. Sophie, i wonder whether our instincts might about more. Sophie, i wonder whether our instincts might have about more. Sophie, i wonder whether our instincts might have change, our instincts might have change, because we have had a year without it, might we have change in terms of what we actually need going forward . I suspect they need has not change, but we have adapted to allow over the last 15 months or so, people have coped really well. Its going to feel very strange when we get back out there and we can make appropriate social contact with other people. We are not going to take to the street and the hugging the first people we need. Everybody has boundaries, and everybody� s boundaries are set slightly differently. The less you know someone, you might shake their hand. Even at night is actually a meaningful social tremarco social physical contact. Initially, it might feel strange and peculiar, but i suspect that they need for this kind of expression is so important and i suspect we will move back to something. Across the world, there are big cultural differences and how you manage these things socially. The french are having to manage with not being able to do social kissing, which is a very basic way of saying hello to someone in france. There are cultural differences which might mean some of the changes might be permanent, but i suspect we will go back to something. Can permanent, but i suspect we will go back to something. Permanent, but i suspect we will go back to something. Can you give some social pointers back to something. Can you give some social pointers on back to something. Can you give some social pointers on how back to something. Can you give some social pointers on how we back to something. Can you give some social pointers on how we manage back to something. Can you give some social pointers on how we manage it i social pointers on how we manage it going forward . I know some People Who are saying that they are so glad that the Hugging Thing has gone away and they do not want it to come back. Some people are going to have to research things. What do we do, how do we communicate to Each Other but our comfort levels and boundaries are now . Is but our comfort levels and boundaries are now . ,. ,. , boundaries are now . Is always we do, read the room boundaries are now . Is always we do, read the room. You boundaries are now . Is always we do, read the room. You would boundaries are now . Is always we do, read the room. You would only boundaries are now . Is always we do, read the room. You would only shed l read the room. You would only shed hugs with a very restricted number of people. I only went to hug my partner, my son, and my mum. Everybody else is going to get a firm handshake. You should use feel confidently signalling boundaries. If you feel somebody is coming in for an unwanted hull, offer them your hand to shake. We are all going to be relearning this to an extent, but i think the important thing is, when you feel safe to be able to do so, to relax and enjoy other peoples company. The bigger picture of this, we have been taking away from so much of our normal social contact that is really going to be important for us being able to relax back into enjoying that. Back into enoying that. Thank you both so back into enjoying that. Thank you both so much. Back into enjoying that. Thank you both so much. Ian, back into enjoying that. Thank you both so much. Ian, i back into enjoying that. Thank you both so much. Ian, i hope back into enjoying that. Thank you both so much. Ian, i hope you back into enjoying that. Thank you both so much. Ian, i hope you getj both so much. Ian, i hope you get some nice hugs with that dog that is going to be coming round very soon. Spencer is a puppy at the moment, the possibility of being a Guide Dog at some the possibility of being a Guide Dog at some point in his life. There are at some point in his life. There are a lot at some point in his life. There are a lot of at some point in his life. There are a lot of puppies in at the county now that a lot of puppies in at the county now that need to get experience of human now that need to get experience of human contact, get back into shops again human contact, get back into shops again so human contact, get back into shops again so they get used to the sounds and smells again so they get used to the sounds and smells and the experience of shopping and smells and the experience of shopping when they become fully trained shopping when they become fully trained Guide Dogs. My concern at the moment is that there could be a generation the moment is that there could be a generation of Guide Dogs that could end up generation of Guide Dogs that could end up being a bit wasted because of not having end up being a bit wasted because of not having this opportunity to get back into not having this opportunity to get back into the shops, sol not having this opportunity to get back into the shops, so i hope that happens back into the shops, so i hope that happens as back into the shops, so i hope that happens as soon as possible. I hope things happens as soon as possible. I hope things will happens as soon as possible. I hope things will be more about life becoming more real, back to reality again. Becoming more real, back to reality again. And becoming more real, back to reality again, and lets hope so. I do agree hugging again, and lets hope so. I do agree hugging is again, and lets hope so. I do agree hugging is something you need to be very careful about. I thinkjust very careful about. Ithinkjust generally very careful about. I thinkjust generally touch contact, just appreciation, a little bit of that, ithink appreciation, a little bit of that, i think that common Sense Level sounds i think that common Sense Level sounds to i think that common Sense Level sounds to me like the right way to lo. Sounds to me like the right way to o,. ,. , sounds to me like the right way to go. Good point about the Guide Dogs, hadnt thought go. Good point about the Guide Dogs, hadnt thought about go. Good point about the Guide Dogs, hadnt thought about that. Go. Good point about the Guide Dogs, hadnt thought about that. Thank go. Good point about the Guide Dogs, hadnt thought about that. Thank you | hadnt thought about that. Thank you both so much. I hope you have a good day. Mps have urged the government to set out its plans to improve the adult social Care System by The End of the year. The Cross Party Commons Health and social Care Committee says the absence of a fully funded policy would be a wasted opportunity to tackle problems that have bedevilled the sector for the past two decades. Let s get more on this from Liz Howard from the british association of social workers. First of all, can use 6. 2 of the work that you do and how that fits in with the picture of social care . Thank you for the opportunity to come and talk to you today. Social work has an integral role to play within a social care. We are very much involved in supporting people to make their own decisions, gathering the views of family, and making sure that what people want to happen is happening in terms of decisions made about people. Things relating to how their needs are met, the support services. We have a particular focus at the moment in terms of social care and what is happening around the new policy. So, really thinking about our role within hospital discharge process, of which we have seen many changes during the pandemic, some of those not very positive. 50. During the pandemic, some of those not very positive. Not very positive. So, the idea is to net not very positive. So, the idea is to get things not very positive. So, the idea is to get things working not very positive. So, the idea is to get things working as not very positive. So, the idea is i to get things working as efficiently and as best they can for the People Who are in the system. What would you identify specifically as issues that could be dealt with by the government . We that could be dealt with by the government . That could be dealt with by the rovernment . ~. ,. , that could be dealt with by the rovernment . ,. ,. , government . We have been waiting for reform for some government . We have been waiting for reform for some time government . We have been waiting for reform for some time now, government . We have been waiting for reform for some time now, and government . We have been waiting for reform for some time now, and its reform for some time now, and its very disappointing that the situation has been left as it is without any kind of long Term Commitment or idea about what the long Term Strategy is. We know the system is under a lot of pressure through chronic underfunding, the impact of austerity. There are huge efficacy issues in at the system that make it incredibly difficult for social care and workers to be able to do theirjob properly. We need a renewed commitment from the Government And Investment so that there are services on the ground that can support people to maintain their independence and live the life that they want to live. That they want to live. There is nothin that they want to live. There is nothing bureaucratic that they want to live. There is nothing bureaucratic that that they want to live. There is nothing bureaucratic that you | that they want to live. There is i nothing bureaucratic that you talk about when it comes to looking at the way that things work. It comes down to the cash and resources being up down to the cash and resources being up there . I down to the cash and resources being u there . , down to the cash and resources being u there . ~. , down to the cash and resources being u there . ~ ,. ,. , up there . I think it comes down to the funding up there . I think it comes down to the funding being up there . I think it comes down to the funding being there, up there . I think it comes down to the funding being there, but up there . I think it comes down to the funding being there, but also i the funding being there, but also about systems working together. Throughout the pandemic we have seen thatis throughout the pandemic we have seen that is possible, bureaucracy can be got rid of, and we can do things any better way by working together. There is to be far more working in partnership. What that does not need to do is to be at the expense of peoples rights, evading peoples rights, in telling people into systems. When what we actually to be doing is have social work that points people in theirjourney. The system needs to be simplified, i do need to be clear to people what they can expect from the system. From what ou can expect from the system. From what you hear can expect from the system. From what you hear from can expect from the system. From what you hear from the can expect from the system. From what you hear from the government, do you have confidence that is going to happen . Hat do you have confidence that is going to ha en . ,. , do you have confidence that is going to hauen . ,. , ,. ,. , to happen . Not at this stage. We are dissi ate, to happen . Not at this stage. We are dissipate, throats to happen . Not at this stage. We are dissipate, throats appointed to happen . Not at this stage. We are dissipate, throats appointed at to happen . Not at this stage. We are dissipate, throats appointed at whatl dissipate, throats appointed at what was contained within the Queens Speech at this weekend, which was very little. We have had the Report Today with more information, but it does not contain what we need to hear, critically around the discharge process. Throughout the pandemic, many people have been discharge into Care Homes from hospital because of concern about the nhs being overwhelmed. We are concerned about the number of people being in Care Homes when they do not want to be there. We really want a look at the model to ensure that upholding peoples rights are at the centre of that. Now its time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. The weather is going to continue to be unsettled, just like it has been all month. We have a bit of drizzle across North Eastern areas was more persistent rain affecting East Anglia and Southern England, though that would tend to fade throughout the day. Then it will brighten up with some sunny spells coming through. There may be some heavy, thundery showers, especially across parts of wales. Overnight, showers taking a time to fade away, then another area of rain pushes in off the atlantic, as another area of low pressure sets its sights on the uk in time for the weekend. The weekend is going to be an unsettled one, there will be a lot of cloud around, brief sunny spells, but lots of heavy downpours. Rainfall totals will really begin to mild up again, particularly across southern and Western Areas of the uk. This is Bbc News. The headlines. New Government Measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. As cases double in a week the Uk Government says it Cant Rule out local lockdowns and bringing forward second doses of Covid Vaccines. Well flex the Vaccine Programme to where the clinicians think its best utilised. With Travel Restrictions easing next week, new uncertainty for british Holiday Makers heading to portugal. Mark drakeford is expected to announce the next stage of Lockdown Easing in wales, with up to six people being able to meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants from monday. Israel steps up its assault on gaza, as Palestinian Rockets continue to target civilian areas in central and southern israel. Inside israel theres been more violence between jewish and arab groups. The governments ordered a massive security reinforcement. The Business Empire of the owner of Liberty Steel is under investigation by the serious Fraud Office, including its links to Greensill Capital. With six months to go to the cop26 climate Change Summit in Glasgow President designate Alok Sharma says the world must act now to slow global warming. The government has this morning confirmed its sending more vaccine doses to some parts of the uk that have seen an increase in the indian variant of coronavirus. Its one of a number of measures planned to try to tackle the spread after the number of cases more than doubled over the past week. Public Health England has recorded 1,313 Uk Cases of the indian variant in the past week. The figures are more than double the 520 cases recorded last week. Cases of the indian variant have been recorded in areas including london, bolton, tyneside and nottingham. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the Government Will not hesitate to take further action if necessary with the possibility of re imposing local or regional restrictions. But the mayor of greater Manchester Andy Burnham says he would be � very concerned by the prospect of re introducing local lockdowns. This morning the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the Government Will flex the Vaccine Programme so second vaccine doses could be brought forward to tackle the indian variant in the worst affected areas. Earlier, i spoke to paul hunter, professor in medicine at the university of East Anglia. He said the variant could affect the Lockdown Easing in the coming weeks im clearly very worried about the rapid increase. Weve seen a substantial Increase Week on week since, really, the 1st of april, and the figures that are currently being presented by phe are actually already somewhat out of date because of the time it takes to get a positive sample sequenced investigated and reported, so the indications are that that is still continuing to increase and that maybe at the moment this week over a third of cases within the uk, will actually already be the india 2 variant. And in terms of who is being affected, the Age Groups, weve been hearing from india since this really flared up that the young are being affected in particular. Is it possible to assess the impact its having here on which Age Groups at the moment . Well, that Data Isnt yet available, but what we can do is look at the incidence of all cases of covid by Age Group, and what has been obvious is, in the last week or so, Case Numbers have been going up in the uk but, primarily, that has been in children and young adults, People Who, at the moment, havent actually had the vaccine, and if it stays in that Age Group then, ultimately, it wont pose that much of a problem for the national Health Service, at least for acute illness. In younger Age Groups that that will then drift into older Age Groups but, at the moment, it is not obvious that thats whats happening, and i think theres still some pretty good evidence that the vaccine does still protect against the indian variant, even if it doesnt necessarily stop all infections. The suggestion is that vaccination does reduce illness, even in People Who still actually catch the infection, which would be very good news. Where does this leave the relaxation of the lockdown measures, as far as youre concerned . Were told indoor mixing will go ahead as planned from next monday. The key date after that is the 21st Ofjune when, effectively, all of the social distancing measures should end. How much of a question should there be over that . Well, i think the first thing is, were very close to next monday and, personally, i wouldnt be arguing against reversing the decision to ease things on monday. I think what we do injune was always going to be based on what the evidence was by The End of may and so by that time, by the time we actually have to start making the decision about the next step, well know a lot more about this variant, how its spreading, how severity is, whether its how severe it is, whether its causing a pressure on the Health Service, and i think that would be would be the right time to make that decision. At the moment im not sure i would be able to guess either way about what would happen at that point, because we can only wait to see that the data shows. Just bringing you some data from the office for national statistics who says that case are continuing to fall, less than the previous week in terms of the number of cases in england. Got a terms of the number of cases in england. Gota bit terms of the number of cases in england. Got a bit more info here to bring you. In england, the percentage of people testing positive has continued to decrease, estimating 40,800 people within the Community Population in england had covid 19. Thats that figure that measures out of being one in around 1343 people. Percentage of people testing positive also appears to have decreased. Estimating 700 people in wales had covid 19 and thatis people in wales had covid 19 and that is 1230 people. And, in Northern Ireland, the percentage of people testing positive has also decreased. One in 1430 people in Northern Ireland had covid 19. In scotland also down, 4202 people in scotland also down, 4202 people in scotland estimated to have covid 19, Thatis Scotland estimated to have covid 19, that is around one in 1250. Analysis by public Health England suggests that Coronavirus Vaccines have saved thousands of lives. The figures showed almost 12,000 lives were saved in england and around 33,000 Hospital Admissions were prevented. They looked at data to The End of april compared with the number of expected deaths if the vaccine was not in use. This method found most deaths were prevented in people in their eighties. Labour Mp Wes Streeting has announced hes been diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. Mr streeting, who is 38, has represented his constituency of Ilford North since 2015 and was promoted to labours Shadow Cabinet earlier this week to work on tackling child poverty. He said the diagnosis had come as an enormous shock but the cancer was caught early and his prognosis was very good. Holidaymakers hoping to fly to portugalfrom next week are facing uncertainty after the country announced it was extending its current lockdown until the 30th of may. Holiday bookings for portugal surged last week after it was one of just 12 countries placed on the uks Green List meaning no quarantine was required on return. Our correspondent in portugal alison roberts reports. So, thats an extension of the state that was already in place. In fact, the Lockdown Restrictions who have pretty well all gone that were imposed in mid january. The situation in portugal is relatively good compared to the rest of the European Union in terms of incidents and covid deaths, but the government here is clearly being very cautious. At a Cabinet Meeting Yesterday it decided effectively not to make a decision for now on the uk, saying that it is keeping the situation under review. And, indeed, as president of the council of the European Union at this moment until The End ofjune, its been hosting meetings of Tourism Ministers. Theres going to be another one today, not specifically on this topic but on the issue of travel from non eu countries and issues such as the new indian variant, which hasnt been found here but has in the uk, and will No Doubt be all factors in any future decision. Sean tipton from the Association Of British Travel Agents said they were urgently seeking clarification from the potugese authorities on the issue. If it turns out to be Bad News, if you Cant Travel, because you booked a Package Holiday and, in fact, weve seen a big surge in people booking Package Holidays because they wanted a protection in these kinds of issues, you will be able to book of even if that happens it is just very disappointing and it happens. It is more of an issue if you booked independently. There are a lot of People Who have Holiday Homes in portugal, for example, if theyre not allowed into the Country Onceit theyre not allowed into the country once it is official they will have to talk to their airlines airlines are much more likely to say ok, well give you the option of maybe rebooking for a later date rather than necessarily give you a refund. As the flights continue to operate, they dont necessarily have to do that. But, regardless, the majority of people going on holiday, if they find they can travel, theyll at the very least be given the option to read book I Have a refund of their money. Rebook. The Israeli Military has intensified its bombardment of gaza into a fifth day, using artillery, Gun Boats and air strikes. International calls for De Escalation have been ignored, with hamas continuing to Fire Hundreds of rockets into israel. Explosions lit up the sky over Gaza City through the night. The number of people killed in gaza now stands at 119, including 27 children according to the health ministry. Multiple missiles were launched by Palestinian Miltants from gaza towards israel. 8 people have died in israel. And another aspect to the violence sectarian clashes on the streets, betweenjewish and Arab Israeli citizens who usually live Side By side. Our correspondent there Paul Adams has sent this report about the nights events there was a great deal of confusion, for which a spokesman from the Israeli Military has apologised this morning. Essentially, what happened was that they launched what he described as a complex 40 Minute Operation involving land forces, the air force, and we think there was also gunfire coming from offshore as well. But the target was a network of Hamas Tunnels these are tunnels that the Islamic Group has built over the years, sometimes underneath the border into israel, but certainly a complex network inside the Gaza Strip, which the Israeli Military alleges houses a lot of hamass military infrastructure. And so that was targeted last night, but clearly the ferocity of the barrage involved in that operation convinced a lot of people that something different was happening, and thats why we saw hundreds of civilians from the northern edges of the Gaza Strip close to the israeli borderfleeing further down into gaza to try and get out of harms way. Theres some pretty gruesome video around this morning of the consequences of some of the shelling. But the Israeli Military is saying that for now there is no Ground Operation. So far, we know that The Americans have been trying to hold back the un security council. Theyve already thwarted a couple of efforts by the council to issue a joint statement because The Americans want to try and manage this themselves without getting the un involved. They dont think that the un is going to really offer much in the way of a solution. There is an american envoy who is supposed to be coming to the region. We dont know when hes due to arrive. And theres also a lot of diplomacy going on here already in the region with the egyptian government and others involved in trying to negotiate some kind of ceasefire, as they have in the past between israel and the militants of hamas. We dont know where those negotiations have got to. And as you say, there is no sign at the moment of anyone stepping back from the brink. We still seem to be on the brink, with the very real possibility that this could get worse before it gets better. As the heavy exchange of fire has continued between israel and militants in the Gaza Strip, violence has also spread to mixed communities ofjews and Arabs In Israel a new turn in the conflict. Some of the worst sectarian confrontations have been in the city of lod, near tel aviv. Our Middle East correspondent, yolande knell, has been there to meet some of the locals. Israel is facing war, not just with gaza, but between its own people. Here in lod, Mobs Of Arab and jewish israelis attacking property, passers by and places of worship. Volunteers are repairing a jewish religious school that was set alight. People who live nearby are in shock. I would never ever think something like this can happen. I wouldnt raise my kids in a place that i think something like this could happen. I have arab neighbours. Were not the best friends, but we are far away from being enemies. A State Of Emergency was declared here and a night time curfew imposed. There are scenes like this all over town. It looks like a War Zone with the burnt out cars, scorched buildings, kerb stones that have been ripped up. There are lots and lots of police around and everyone still feels really on edge. In lods Old City, Arab Israelis dont trust the Security Forces to protect them. People here complain theyre treated like second class citizens. Tensions grew with recent events injerusalem. The locals were angry because many years of frustration and discrimination, and the End Point was the attack on the al aqsa mosque. That is the holiest place for the muslims. We went to protest they attack us. Israel hasnt seen such widespread unrest in its cities for decades. Whats happening didnt just begin this week, and it wont end when the latest fighting with gaza does. Yolande knell, Bbc News, lod. The headlines on Bbc News. New Government Measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. With Travel Restrictions easing next week, new uncertainty for british Holiday Makers heading to portugal. Mark drakeford is expected to announce the next stage of Lockdown Easing in wales later today, with up to six people being able to meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants from monday. The Business Empire of Liberty Steel owner Sanjeev Gupta is facing an investigation by the serious Fraud Office, including its links to failed finance company Greensill Capital. Earlier our Business Correspondent Theo Leggett explained this mornings developments. We have had a valise from the serious Fraud Office saying it is investigating fraudulent trading and Money Laundering at the gupta Family Group which is a group of businesses controlled by Sanjiv Gupta and they are looking at the Financing And Conduct of business is between the gupta Family Group alliance including its arrangements with Greensill Capital. Now, Greensill Capital is the Financing Group that collapsed last once and had very close ties with the gupta Family Group. Collapsed last month. Were going straight to mark drakeford. It were going straight to mark drakeford. Were going straight to mark drakeford. ,. ,. , drakeford. It is a privilege to serve as your drakeford. It is a privilege to serve as your first drakeford. It is a privilege to serve as your First Minister i drakeford. It is a privilege to serve as your First Minister again and to guide the work we have done together to guide wales through the pandemic and into recovery. This week has seen the recovery of the latest three Week Review of the current regulations and i want to begin as usual at his press conferences by setting out the public Health Situation and the good news that it continues to be positive here in wales. Rates of coronavirus remain very low thanks to everything we have done together. In the overall rate in wales is less than ten cases per 100,000 of the population and our Positivity Rate is below 1 . The number of people in hospital with covid is at its lowest level since the start of the pandemic more than 15 months ago, and today there are just three people with coronavirus in critical care in welsh hospitals. Our nhs is a determining to more normal levels of activity for the time of year, treating more people with a wider range of illnesses, injuries and health needs. Returning to more normal levels of activity. And, thankfully, far fewer deaths are being reported every day. As we start this new term, however, i want to pose for a moment as we have done before to remember all of those who have lost a loved one to this awful virus and for whom the future will never be the same. Now, over this weekend we will reach the 2,000,0015t weekend we will reach the 2,000,001st Dose Milestone in wales. That means 2 Million of our adults have already said yes to vaccination. This is a truly incredible achievement in the six months since the first Covid Vaccine became available and it is all down, as you know, to the dedication and the hard work of all those nhs staff, volunteers, and military personnel working in clinics all over wales. Personnel working in clinics all overwales. It personnel working in clinics all over wales. It was not due to their efforts and the fantastic response to vaccination that we have one of the very best vaccination rates in the very best vaccination rates in the whole of the world. It is due to their efforts. This shows you in more detailjust how well our Vaccination Programme is performing. Take up amongst Care Home residents, people aged over 80 and in the 70s is higher than 90 for both first and second doses. More than half of people in their 30s and well over a third of people in the 18 29 Age Range have now had their first dose in wales. And, over the next few weeks, we will accelerate still further our programme of first dose vaccinations as other parts of the uk make progress to the levels of second doses we have already achieved in wales. We remain on target to offer all eligible Adults Vaccination by the middle ofjuly and if vaccine supplies allows us to move faster than we know that we can and we will. No, all of this is very positive and it gives us the headroom to carry on relaxing restrictions here in wales. We will move to Alert Level two on monday next, and before i say a bit more about what that means in detail and what we will be considering at the next review, ijust want what we will be considering at the next review, i just want to say a few words about the indian variants of the virus that has been so much in the news over the last 24 hours. This pandemic continues to be full of unpleasant twists and turns. We are closely monitoring the India Variant, which has caused 26 cases in wales but more than 1500 across our border in england. This new variant appears to spread easily from person to person, just like the Kent Variant which is now widespread in the uk, but it may travel even faster. It is really important that we continue to do everything we can to keep levels of the virus as low as we can in wales. As we continue to relax restrictions in our careful, step by step, and cautious way. The Uk Sage committee met yesterday to discuss the India Variant and we will follow the latest scientific advice just as we have throughout the pandemic. Let me turn now to details of the results of the three Week Review. So, on monday next week, as you can see on the slide, we will move to Alert Level two, meaning that indoor hospitality will reopen for groups of six people from up to six households, Holiday Accommodation can reopen for the, entertainment venues will be able to reopen, and that includes cinemas, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor play centres in the areas, casinos, amusement arcades, theatres and concert halls. Indoor visitor attractions can reopen, and up to 30 people will be able to take part in organised indoor activities and up to 50 people in organised activities outdoors, and that includes wedding receptions and funeral wakes. On monday the 24th of may, we will lift restrictions on the overall number of indoor visitor is for people living in Care Homes. The next three Week Review will be held at the start ofjune. If the public Health Situation remains positive, we will look at whether we can move to Alert Level one, and that will include looking at relaxing the rules further around people meeting in their own homes, increasing the number of people able to attend wedding receptions, and the starting larger events, and that will build on the experience of our pilot event programme, which began yesterday. On monday next, as well, International Travel will resume in England And Scotland and will restart for people in wales. We will use the same Traffic Light System for International Travel as other parts of the uk. This lets people know what the Quarantine And Testing arrangements are when they come home. Now, it is really important that we continue to do everything we can to prevent coronavirus of the entering wales as a result of International Travel. Re entering wales. Because of that, everyone returning from a Green List country will have to book and pay for a test on their return, and all travellers and household members will be reminded about the Availability And Use of additional lateral flow tests so that they can follow up that first test at home and make sure that they are keeping themselves and others say. Here in wales, we will not adopt the English Test to release scheme for travellers returning from and the list of countries, and that is because the evidence that we have is that around a third of People Who develop Coronavirus Link to travel so five days after arriving back in the wales. Now, i believe as ive said many times that if ever there was a year to holiday at home and to enjoy everything that the wonders of wales has to offer, then this surely is the year to do just that. So, as a result of all the changes that have been announced today, on monday we will take another significant set of steps towards a more normal life. We are only able to do this because of everything we all continue today. Those are the efforts that are keeping wales safe and helping us to control this awful virus. Thank you all again for all the help that you are providing. Together, we continue to make that difference and together we can put this pandemic behind us. He speaks welsh. I will now, as usual, turn to take questions from journalists and all the answers will be broadcast live on the welsh governments social media channels and first this afternoon is sever dickens from bbc wales. Thank you ve much dickens from bbc wales. Thank you very much indeed dickens from bbc wales. Thank you very much indeed and dickens from bbc wales. Thank you very much indeed and can dickens from bbc wales. Thank you very much indeed and can i dickens from bbc wales. Thank you very much indeed and can I Have dickens from bbc wales. Thank you | very much indeed and can I Have the answers in english and welsh, please . You talk about your concerns for new variants, especially the indian variant. You say 26 cases in wales now. Do you know how theyre arriving here . How concerned are you and, really, what action might you consider because of that . We have, as ou consider because of that . We have, as you say. Consider because of that . We have, as you say. 26 consider because of that . We have, as you say, 26 cases consider because of that . We have, as you say, 26 cases that consider because of that . We have, as you say, 26 cases that we consider because of that . We have, as you say, 26 cases that we know i consider because of that . We have, l as you say, 26 cases that we know of of the India Variant in wales. They are almost entirely the result of International Travel, so people coming back to wales from overseas. They are all cases that are being very carefully monitored by local Public Health teams and all the information I Have had is that the individuals involved are following all the advice that they have required to follow, self isolating, their Household Self isolating and so on, and the advice I Have is not that we need to be overly concerned about the position in wales at the moment, it is more that the significant spread of that India Variant across our border is something that we need to understand better, get better advice about, and there is a significant cluster of that variant in the North West of england and we know that the border between the North East of wales and the North West of england is a very poor this one so were keeping particular watch on developments there. Porous. Should it be necessary to take action in wales we will do so and we do have vaccination as a new tool at our disposal compared to this time last year. As youve seen, the levels of vaccination, first and second doses amongst the most vulnerable population wales are already extraordinarily good but if there is more that we need to do and we need to calibrate our Vaccination Programme so that it provides even more defence was in wales then, of course, if we get advice we will follow it. Just, either way. He speaks welsh. He is now going to answer the question in welsh as well as requested by Thejournalist Answer the question in welsh as well as requested by the journalist that asked the question, so that news that was expected, but News Conference in wales First Minister, saying amongst other things that although there will be reduced restrictions from next week in wales, Covid Alert Level moving to two, the government does not want people to go abroad from the 17th Of May other than for essential purposes because of the risks of bringing covid back. Now, lets Catch Up with the weather with chris fox. The weather is continuing to be unsettles as it has been all month. Drizzle across eastern areas, more persistent rain affecting East Anglia, the midlands, tending to fade away through the day. Western areas will brighten up with some sunny spells coming through and that will trigger some heavy, slow moving in which to parts of wales. Top temperature is about 16 degrees and the best of the sunshine, overnight the best of the sunshine, overnight the show is taking some time to fade away and then we have got another area of rain it is going to be putting on of the atlantic is another area of low pressure sets its sights on the uk in time so fade away and then we have got another area of rain it is going to be putting on of the atlantic is another area of low pressure sets its sights on the uk in times for the a lot of cloud around, brief sunny spells but lots of heavy downpours and those painful totals will really begin to mount began across southern and Western Areas of the uk. Thats your latest weather. Hello, this is Bbc News. The headlines New Government measures are put in place and others considered to tackle a spike in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus in some areas across the uk. As cases double in a week the Uk Government says it Cant Rule out local lockdowns and bringing forward second doses of Covid Vaccines. Well flex the Vaccine Programme to where the clinicians think its best utilised. Israel steps up its assault on gaza as Palestinian Rockets continue to target civilian areas in central and southern israel. The Business Empire of the owner of Liberty Steel is under investigation by the serious Fraud Office including its links to Greensill Capital. With six months to go to the cop26 climate Change Summit in Glasgow President designate Alok Sharma says the world must act now to slow global warming. The Health Service Executive in ireland has closed down its It Systems after being targeted in what it said was a significant Ransomware Attack. The hse said it had temporarily shut down its systems as a precaution. It said covid 19 Vaccination Appointments were not affected by the incident, but the Rotunda Maternity Hospital, in dublin, has been forced to cancel many routine appointments. Bryan glick is the editor in chief of computer weekly. We in chief of computer weekly. Can talk to him now. Obviously we can talk to him now. This sounds obviously significant, tail as what can happen in the circumstances . Aha, can happen in the circumstances . Ransomware attack is when a malicious cyber Attack Id manages to get a Computer Virus into your organisation . Computer systems. What it does is it encrypts all the data that you have, so you effectively cannot use your systems, you cannot get into any of the data that you need to run your business. What these Ransomware Attack do is say, we will provide you with the means to get back all your data only if you give us a very large amount of money. It appears this is what has happened within the H E now. They have had to shut down their systems to prevent that ransomware spreading across the network. Haifa to prevent that ransomware spreading across the network. Across the network. How easy is it to fix . Not across the network. How easy is it to fix . Not very across the network. How easy is it to fix . Not very easy, across the network. How easy is it to fix . Not very easy, thats across the network. How easy is it to fix . Not very easy, thats the i to fix . Not very easy, thats the trouble. What to fix . Not very easy, thats the trouble. What tends to fix . Not very easy, thats the trouble. What tends to to fix . Not very easy, thats the trouble. What tends to happen i to fix . Not very easy, thats the trouble. What tends to happen these days, these attackers have probably been inside the network for some time. They have been plotting out exactly how the network works, where the data is, what they need to do. Eventually, theyjust press the button, encrypt everything, it then mix it very hard. If you have that data backed up, you can get it back, but that takes time. If you are a critical organisation, like a Health Service, its going to cause a lot of disruption while you cannot use all your systems. All your systems. Time is of the essence went all your systems. Time is of the essence went something all your systems. Time is of the essence went something like i all your systems. Time is of the I Essence went something like this, because its going to have a real impact on patients. How often is the sort of thing happening . How commonly have Health Services being targeted . How often do rantings get paid . Isnt that knowing . Ransomware is robabl paid . Isnt that knowing . Ransomware is probably the paid . Isnt that knowing . Ransomware is probably the fastest paid . Isnt that knowing . Ransomware is probably the fastest growing paid . Isnt that knowing . Ransomware is probably the fastest growing form i is probably the fastest growing form of cyber attack at the moment. During the pandemic, we have seen a big rise in it. These attackers are taking advantage of the fact that people are working from home, not in quite the same secure environment that they perhaps might be in an office. It happened here in the Uk Backin office. It happened here in the uk back in 2017. There was a Ransomware Attack on the nhs, which cause a number of hospitals have to shut down for several days and not be able to take new patients in the. Just recently, over the last couple of weeks, there was an attack on the company that runs at the worlds biggest pipeline in the us. That pipeline had to be shut down for a two some time. The reason that they attacked infrastructure is because they think they are going to get more money out of it. We do not know exactly how much of these attacks end up with people paying money. We know that many do, we know that many do not admit that they do. Attackers know that a lot of organisations take out insurance about this happening, so if they are attacked the insurers will end up paying the ransom, so the organisation not take the risk. There is a lot of debate in the industry over whether that is at the right thing to do. We in the industry over whether that is at the right thing to do. At the right thing to do. We will obviously keep at the right thing to do. We will obviously keep uptodate i at the right thing to do. We willj obviously keep uptodate with at the right thing to do. We will. Obviously keep uptodate with the obviously keep up to date with the situation in ireland and keep you updated. Now some breaking news if you would like to hear if youre a Football Fan thinking about travelling to portugal in the next few weeks. It has been confirmed that brits will be allowed into portugal from confirmed that brits will be allowed into Portugalfrom Midnight on monday, may 17. There has been a change of plan and in portugal which made it look like brits would not be able to travel into portugal from monday, in spite of portugal being the only European Country on oh greenness for travel. Apter said they were seeking clarification on whether it would put a block on travel. We have now heard that brits would be allowed into portugalfor travel. The Champions League final was of course moved to portugal from turkey because of coronavirus restrictions, it is on may 29, it had been looking under threat in terms of travel because of those challenges. So, its good to go. So, 6000 fans from chelsea and Manchester City will be able to attend the Champions League final. Anyone else wanting to travel from the 17th can also do so. The president of the upcoming cop26 talks in glasgow has given a speech ahead of the summit in november. The meeting will bring World Leaders together to tackle the issue of climate change. Alok sharma said the conference will be the moment of truth, and The Last Hope to keep rising global temperatures to 1. 5 degrees celsius. In 2015, the world signed the Paris Agreement. Its an international deal to tackle the Climate Crisis which commits us to limit global Temperature Rises to well below 2 degrees, aiming for1. 5. That 1. 5 Degrees Target is critical. Indeed, every fraction of a degree makes a difference. The science shows that a Temperature Rise of 2 degrees, rather than 1. 5, would mean hundreds of millions more people affected, twice as many plants and three times as many insect species losing vast swathes of their habitat. But since that 1. 5 target was set, since the Paris Agreement was signed, the world has not done nearly enough. All the time, the science is getting starker, and it will continue to do so. Now, to keep 1. 5 degrees within reach, to keep 1. 5 alive, we must halve global emissions by 2030. So this is the decisive decade, and we must act now to launch a consistent and concerted effort to reduce emissions throughout the next ten years. And to use the covid 19 recovery to reimagine our economies. Because investments that we make today as we repair at the economic damage inflicted by the pandemic will shape this decade. Whether we like it or not, whether through action or inaction, we are now choosing the future. This is what makes the next united nations climate conference in glasgow, cop26, so critical. If we do not take this chance to keep 1. 5 degrees alive, it will slip from our grasp, and so will our best hope of building the future we want to see. So, cop26 must be the moment that every country and every part of society embraces their responsibility to protect our precious climate and keep 1. 5 alive. The parents of a baby who died after medical errors have won the right to request a new inquest into his death. Hayden nguyens death at a London Hospital was recorded as being of natural causes after the coroner at his inquest questioned an internal nhs investigation, in which the Chelsea And Westminster hospital admitted mistakes. The hospital subsequently did accept they were to blame. Michael buchanan reports. Even before he died, we knew for a long time that something was wrong. I whispered to alex, hes fighting for his life. Hayden nguyen was just six days old when he fell ill. His parents took him to hospital, but medics failed to properly treat his infection, and he died within hours. His body was expanding and collapsing like a bellows, he was gasping that heavily. Ive never seen a Body Move like that. Even at that point they still didnt give him oxygen, they still didnt believe that he was in shock. He had been in shock for hours. The hospital, the Chelsea And Westminster, carried out an investigation. They found the root causes of the death were a failure to identify the signs of shock and a failure to act on abnormal test results. When they had actually completed the investigation, they sat us down and took us line by line. It was, in a way, healing, although the content was incredibly disturbing, and it helped a little bit with the grieving process. The death went to the inquest at westminster coroners court. Unbeknown to the family, however, the coroner disagreed with the investigations finding. Her questions prompted the hospital to change their conclusions. In a second report, they now wrote that hayden had died of a virus which is known to have a high mortality. The coroner, Shirley Radcliffe, concluded hayden had died of natural causes. What the coroner did was kill hayden a second time. What the clinicians did was negligence, possibly neglect, but i dont think they did it in a premeditated fashion. I think what the coroner did was premeditated and cruel. We asked doctor Shirley Radcliffe to explain her behaviour, to respond to the familys concerns about what she did. She hasnt even responded to our e mail. Peter walsh has supported scores of families who have been failed by the nhs. Ive never personallyl heard of another case where the investigation led by the Hospital Trust concerned and its conclusions finding and admitting mistakes is overturned by the coroner. Undeterred, the family fought on and sued the nhs. The hospital changed their tune again, and admitted liability, confirming that hayden would have survived but for their failings. The couple are trying to build their lives with their other son, but say they need a new inquest so haydens Life And Death is recognised correctly. If you read back over the conclusions, it looks like hayden was only six days old, he was very ill, he got appropriate care and he couldnt have been saved. And thats not true, and that is what is on the record. Its not just. Its notjust. Haydens parents will shortly go to the high court to seek a new inquest. Michael buchanan, Bbc News. Hundreds of women may have wrongly been made to wear a Face Mask during childbirth, a leading charity has warned. Research shared exclusively with Bbc News found 160 mothers out of morethan 900 who gave Birth Last December said they were made to wear a mask during labour. Guidance published by the Royal College Of Midwives says expectant Women Shouldnt have to wear any form of facial covering during labour because of the risk of harm and complications. This report from divya talwar. This is barnaby, rosies third child. Hes a healthy pandemic baby, but there were complications during his birth, and rosie was terrified he wasnt going to make it. I was convinced he would be stillborn. What was going through my mind was, actually, this is awful, this is The End of everything for him. Rosie says her difficultly labour was made worse after she was told to wear a facemask while in advanced labour. She has a phobia of being sick, and says the smell of the mask made her nauseous and panic. I felt like i was dying. I thought, this is so, so painful, and i got this mask over my face, feeling really claustrophobic, and the mask is making me feel really nauseous and really sick, and thats making me panic as well. I was frightened then, in amongst everything else that was happening, that i was actually then going to be sick inside a mask. At any point, did you feel like you had a choice about wearing this mask . It didnt cross my mind that i was allowed to take it off. The guidance for nhs trusts was published jointly lastjuly by both the Royal College Of Midwives and obstetricians and gynaecologists. It said women should not be asked to wear a Face Covering while in labour, whether its a natural or cesarean birth, because of the potential harm. But we know that Guidance Isnt always being followed. Ive spoken to dozens of women, some of them with conditions like asthma or anxiety, and they have all told me that they were made to wear facemasks at some point during their labour. All of them have said that theyjust didnt realise they even had a choice about it. This is natalie with her baby girl, who was born last december. Natalie hasnt got any pictures from the birth. She says it was the most terrifying experience. Natalie says that she was made to wear a mask while in advanced labour. She challenged it, but was told she had to wear one. I felt completely suffocated. Im never going to be able to forget the feeling of not being able to breathe, the fear, the panic. If I Have to wear a mask, its something that flashes back as a moment of fear, the worst fear that ive been through. While the majority of Women Who have given birth during the Pandemic Havent had to wear a Face Covering, its clear there is confusion among some maternity staff. A survey of more than 900 Women Who gave Birth Last December found almost 20 of them said they had to wear a Face Covering at some point during childbirth. We had one lady who vomited in her mask. Weve had others unable to breathe. These are things that are actually avoidable, and thats just by simply following the guidance. We asked for response from the nhs trusts involved, and they said they follow the guidance and would not expect a Woman in childbirth to wear a mask, and there may be rare cases where staff may have made an error. Rosie says she just wants expectant mums to be aware of the latest guidance so they can avoid the unnecessary Confusion And Distress she faced. Let me bring up today about the new is about the fact that portugal has now said that british travellers can go to portugal from now said that british travellers can go to portugalfrom monday, may 17. Portugal is the only European Country to be on the travel Green List for us. Plans were put in a bit of confusion when portugal said for another two weeks that the state of calamity, as it is called in portugal, would be extended and travel would be possible from this country. But portugal has said that it is. The independent� S Travel Editor simon calder joins me now. It has been a bit of to and through, but anyone can go to portugal from monday if they want. Yes. But anyone can go to portugal from monday if they want. Monday if they want. Yes, this has been a huge monday if they want. Yes, this has been a huge relief monday if they want. Yes, this has been a huge relief to monday if they want. Yes, this has been a huge relief to loads monday if they want. Yes, this has been a huge relief to loads of i been a huge relief to loads of people. The Green List also includes iceland and gibraltar, but you can only get into iceland if you have had both yourjabs. I immediately booked a flight to portugal, but Yesterday Everything went a little bit wrong. We were expecting confirmation that we would be allowed in the from monday. At the moment, its only essential visitors who are allowed in. We did not get that. We did get the extension of the state of calamity, which is unrelated, but understandably people thought they didnt want others. I have been on the phone to the portuguese authorities all day, and then finally, just 20 minutes or so ago, they confirmed that we would be allowed in. The ban stops at midnight on a sunday night, the very first flight arrives at 9 05am on the beautiful Algarve Coast from manchester on monday morning. Anybody, like me, who is ready to go and all packed, will now be in the position of organising a Pcr Test, which has to be taken within 72 hours of departure. I shall be running around at the weekend in order to show it at the airport and get on the plane. Bud order to show it at the airport and get on the Plane Order to show it at the airport and get on the plane. And when you come back, ou get on the plane. And when you come back. You need get on the plane. And when you come back. You need a get on the plane. And when you come back, you need a pcr get on the plane. And when you come back, you need a Pcr Test get on the plane. And when you come back, you need a Pcr Test as get on the plane. And when you come back, you need a Pcr Test as well . I back, you need a Pcr Test as well . You need a lot of tests when you come back. If its a Green List country, you need to. It does not really matter what sort of tester is as long as it is medically certified. Excitingly for portugal, the certificate is in spanish, french and english. I also need to pre book a Pcr Test for when i returned back to the uk. Unless I Have those two pcs of evidence, i will not be allowed on the flight back to the uk. Travel remains incredibly complicated. This is, as you say, the only major European Country on the Green List. The hope is, across travel, we will get more countries on the Green List from the start ofjune. Further more, that the testing requirements, particularly coming back into the uk, may be relaxed. At the moment, its all systems go for portugal, thank goodness. I cant wait, frankly, to get my toes in the atlantic. ,. , ,. , �. , atlantic. Stop it, youre making us alljealous atlantic. Stop it, youre making us alljealous in atlantic. Stop it, youre making us alljealous in terms atlantic. Stop it, youre making us alljealous in terms of atlantic. Stop it, youre making us alljealous in terms of the alljealous in terms of the testing, the practicalities and cost of that, you mentioned that the test in a portugal, the certificate has to be in spanish, french or english, thats been the case for some time. It has proven difficult for some and in some countries which have a different language to actually get hold of a test under those terms. Is it going to cause problems for travellers . I it going to cause problems for travellers . Travellers . I do not think so, because the travellers . I do not think so, because the portuguese i travellers . I do not think so, because the portuguese are| travellers . I do not think so, i because the portuguese are being very pragmatic about this. Bear in mind, last year, pretty much the entire somewhat apart from a couple of weeks when quarantine was lifted for arrivals from portugal, portugal was on the no go list, so they have got an awful lot of ground to make up. They are doing all they can to be ready. I think once you get significant numbers, bear in mind lots of families have booked half term trips to portugal, that is going to be a lot of pressure on the testing there, but there is also going to be pressure on testing in the uk because these have to be Pcr Tests. There have been problems already, may be witH Even 10 of the normal number of people coming into the uk, which is another reason why if travel resumes at scale and you can go to more places than are portugal, iceland and a plucky gibraltar, the hope is that the Pcr Requirement will be hopefully removed because, frankly, there may not be enough capacity he had and it could all unravel very quickly. Thank you very much, simon. Enjoy your trip. We will be thinking of your trip. We will be thinking of you with your toes in the sand let me just tell you that we have just heard that the prime Minister And Professor Chris Wity will be giving a covid News Conference at 5pm. This morning, the prime Ministers Spokesperson has been saying that they are concerned about the indian variant of coronavirus, but currently not anticipating it is going to make changes to the easing of lockdown. We will hear the words direct from the prime minister at 5pm. The public Health Director of blackburn. The public Health Director of blackburn with Darwen Council has told the bbc he is � furious the government has stopped local officials extending the Vaccination Programme. Yesterday, the council said anyone over the age of 18 could book a jab, given the rising number of variant cases in the area. Dominic harrison spoke to bbc Lancashires Graham Liver this morning. Iamafew i am a few days. I cannot understand why the jcvi i am a few days. I cannot understand why thejcvi and department of social care are stopping local authorities from taking action and that they enable halt the surge of this indian variant. It will not just be a problem for the local authorities first hit. Variants in general are going to be a problem right over the next 12 months. What we need is a very clear Action Plan to cope with them. What we need is to cope with them. What we need is to not fretting at local areas with lockdown if their rates go up with variants, but support them to take action to control that. At the moment, the government is tying one hand behind my back with responding to the area and the wider region. We will get the latest from Boris Johnson and professor chris witty at a News Conference at a 5pm. In a moment, the Bbc News at one with ben brown, but first its time for a look at the weather. Any fans of this weekend, just be prepared to embrace at the british weather. We have towering storm clouds, fun and lightning, downpours of that, and also gusty winds. Low pressure will be moving across the uk during saturday and sunday. This is nothing new. It is being propelled by a Jet Stream just south of others, meaning we are in the colder air. Of others, meaning we are in the colderair. Colderairstreams coming in from the north, low pressure forming just to the north of the Jet Stream, and all the warmth that we would like has been deflected to the south. This pattern is not expected to change any time soon. Where the map is blue, that means is going to be raining, where the blues are darker, that is where the blues are darker, that is where the rain is going to be heaviest. At the rain is going to be heaviest. At the moment, there is a bit of a lull in the weather. We have some showers around, heavy ones here and there, but fewer downpours compared to yesterday. Through the latter part of the afternoon, showers across western and southern areas, but many of us getting away with a dry day, all be on the cloudy side. Here is the weatherfront, the all be on the cloudy side. Here is the Weather Front, the Jet Stream 30 south of us is pushing the Weather Front and our direction. I think i cloudy, dry stout across many eastern areas. Through the course of saturday, that Weather Front moves northwards. Behind the Weather Front is a very volatile atmosphere, the kind of atmosphere that generates those big tall communal members clouds. It will not be raining all the time, it is just that they showers will be very frequent on both saturday and sunday. Sunday will be a similar day. It does not mean the showers will occurred at the same time in the same place, but the same time in the same place, but the general picture is a real rash of them across the uk. It is going to be quite a weekend for some of us, be prepared. The government sends more doses of the Coronavirus Vaccine to one of the areas of england hit by the indian variant bolton. People in those regions may also be given their second vaccination sooner its feared the indian variant may be more transmissible. Weve sent more doses to bolton and, of course, we will obviously follow the clinical advice if they think that it would help if we shortened the interval period. The Government Hasnt ruled out local lockdowns in england, as they closely monitor the indian variant. Also this lunchtime. Portugal says british Holiday Makers can visit the country, despite extending its State Of Emergency. Meanwhile, people in wales are being told to holiday at home this year and not travel abroad unless they really need to