After a six Month Delay. Good afternoon. The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced what he called A Historic Agreement to reform the global Tax System. The agreement by the G7 Group of Finance Ministers is set to include a global Minimum Rate of Ion-tax'>CorporatIon Tax. The Base Rate of at least 15 is seen as a Starting Point but is lower than the Minimum Rate of 21 that had been proposed by president biden. The plans are also set to stop major multinatIonal companies, including apple and microsoft, from paying little or no tax in Countries where they make money. The uk chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said businesses should pay the right amount of tax in the right place. Many of the Tech Giants have welcomed the agreement. The former deputy prime minister and now facebook� s Vice President of global affairs, nick clegg, said the social Media Giant had called for reform of global Tax Rules and wanted the process to succeed, even if it meant the company paid more tax. Our Business Correspondent Katy austin reports. How much tax should multinatIonal companies, particularly Tech Giants, pay, and where should they pay it . Those were the questIons at the heart of these discussIons between G7 Finance ministers. Today, a consensus to back a global Minimum Rate of at least 15 . Im delighted to announce that today, after years of discussIon, G7 Finance ministers have reached A Historic Agreement to reform the global Tax System, to make It Fit for the global digitalage, but, crucially, to make sure that it is fair so that the right companies pay the right tax in the right places. The deal is seen as a significant development. Since at least ten years ago, and probably earlier, there has been this dissatisfactIon that lots of companies move their headquarters to very low tax jurisdictIons. But it has been really hard to come up with a global deal on Ion-tax'>CorporatIon Tax. Some Countries, including the uk, have already introduced their own digital services tax. There had been pressure from the us to drop them quickly as part of this deal. Asked if the uk would now do that, the chancellor said the measure had always been intended as a temporary one. This is the first step, the g7 agreement, we have got to move to the g20 and then beyond. But obvIously the intentIon would be, once there is a global multilateral solutIon in place, then the need for those dsts falls way. The rules agreed today would also aim to make companies pay tax in the Countries where they are selling their products or services, rather than where their profits are declared. The german Finance Minister said it was bad news for tax havens. Katy austin, Bbc News. Our Business Correspondent Katy austin with that report, and earlier she told me how some of the multinatIonal companies have reacted to todays tax agreement. Those involved in these talks, the Finance Ministers from the g7, have spoken of the significance of this moment. Bear in mind, of course, that although it is being seen as historic and, as you say, very significant, this kind of move, this kind of measure would not be effective without other natIons agreeing as well. So there are still the g20 Countries, like russia and china, to speak to, to see if they would get on with this idea, and the oecd, at which more than 130 Countries would be at the table. So whether Countries of all shapes and sizes and varIous sizes of economy would all get on board with this idea has yet to be seen. Ireland has come out and said this afternoon that it has reservatIons about this and it looks forward to the further discussIons. Ireland has a corporate Tax Rate of 12. 5 , so you can see why a minimum global rate of 15 , they might not see as to their advantage. Other actIons we have seen from the us, the treasury secretary, janet yellen, has said the global minimum tax would end the race to the bottom in corporate taxatIon. That is something she has said prevIously, but it really distills the aim of what these ministers are trying to achieve here. The other element of it besides the minimum Tax Rate itself is rules to try and make sure that companies, instead of almost shopping around for a country with a lower Tax Rate to pay tax on their profits there, that profits to some degree could be levied on taxes where sales are made. So if you think of a big tech company, they might provide their services in the uk, for example, but are not based there and the idea would be that then they pay tax on some of the sales to that country, for example, the uk. What about any immediate reactIon from any of the big Tech Companies . Well, wed actually heard from facebook last night, which says it supports reform to the rules. I have also just seen statements from google. Google said the company strongly supports the work being done to update internatIonal Tax Rules. They say they hope Countries can finalise what they describe as a balanced and durable agreement soon. Amazon has also reacted this afternoon, saying they hope to see discussIons continue to advance with the broader g20, as ive mentIoned, and what they say would be an inclusive framework alliance. So, broadly speaking at the moment, these large Tech Companies, which are at the centre of the reforms we are talking about, really, are expressing support for the idea but making it clear that there is further to go before we have any final global rules that everyone agrees on. So what happens next . As i said, it will have to be discussed among a wider group of Countries. Plenty more mileage in this, but it doesnt stop this being a really important Step Today and one that a few years ago would have seemed very unlikely, very surprising, in fact. The us treasury secretary, janet yellen, said Todays Agreement would lead to a fairer global economy. We need to have a stable Tax Systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods and respond to crises and ensure that all citizens and corporatIons fairly share the burden of financing government. For too long, there has been a global race to the bottom in corporate taxes, where Countries compete on lowering their Tax Rates instead of the Well Being of their citizens and natural environments. The g7 has taken significant steps at this weekend to end the existing harmful dynamic, making Commitments Today that provide tremendous momentum towards achieving a robust global minimum tax at a rate of at least 15 . That global minimum tax would end the race to the bottom in corporate taxatIon and ensure fairness for the middle class and working people in the us and around the world. The global minimum tax would also help the global economy thrive by levelling the Playing Field for businesses and encouraging Countries to compete on a positive basis, such as Ion-or-training'>EducatIon Or Training or workforces or investing in Research And Development and infrastructure. And indeed the global minimum tax can help Fund Investments in those critical prIorities. Finally, by collaborating with one another on the global minimum tax, governments protect their natIonal sovereignty to set tax policy, because the pressures that have forced the race to the bottom are corporate Tax Rates, and they are alleviated. This effort is far from over and we look forward to engaging closely with the g20 and members of the oecds inclusive Framework Process in the coming weeks to finalise an agreement on the global minimum corporate tax as soon as possible. Ireland is the European Hub for many of the Tech Giants, in part because of its low Ion-tax'>CorporatIon Tax of i2. 5 . The irish Finance Minister, paschal donohoe, who attend the G7 Summit in london, said he acknowledged Todays Agreement, but said any deal would have to meet the needs of all Countries, large and small. Ireland is and has been and will continue to be a very positive, a very stable, and very competitive environment in which domestic and internatIonal investment has a very positive role to play within our economy and we will, even with an acknowledgement of the change that is coming, continue to have the kind of legitimate policies in place in ireland that deliver a competitive approach for ireland and allow us to grow and retain employment. We are doing all this in a changing world and i have always acknowledged this change is coming, much work lies ahead in that change and ireland looks forward to playing a constructive role in it. Lets discuss Todays Agreement in more detail with the former Director General of the world trade organizatIon, and president of the Paris Peace forum, pascal lamy. Thank you very much forjoining us. How much fairer with a Tax Regime like this make the world . Like this make the world . Well, i think it is an like this make the world . Well, i think it is an important like this make the world . Well, i l think it is an important agreement for different reasons. The first one is that it is a major progress, step forward in global dominance that will make it harderfor multinatIonal companies to avoid paying taxes. In the second reason which in my View Isjust paying taxes. In the second reason which in my view is just as important is that it is a major ideological Paradigm Shift by the g7 Countries which puts an end to the reagan thatcher era, where at times the mantra for Ion'>Tax CompetitIon being a good thing in order to shrink government. This year is over, as we have just heard on your programme. It is a first step, there will be many others in order to ensure more fairness, but i believe it is a really big, promising change. How do ou really big, promising change. How do you encourage really big, promising change. How do you encourage more really big, promising change. How do you encourage more Countries really big, promising change. How do| you encourage more Countries beyond the g7 to sign up to it, particularly smaller Countries who, once committed, wont be able to alter their own Tax Rates independently . Alter their own Tax Rates independently . Alter their own Tax Rates Inde Endentl . ~. , independently . Well, to the first art of independently . Well, to the first part of your independently . Well, to the first part of your questIon, independently . Well, to the first part of your questIon, i independently . Well, to the first part of your questIon, i think independently . Well, to the first part of your questIon, i think the J Part of your questIon, i think the 620 part of your questIon, i think the g20 will follow. I do not see come the 620, g20 will follow. I do not see come the g20, a country that would oppose this enough to prevent a g20 agreement. And on the second part of your questIon, let me be frank. If i am a small country, i can put a very low Tax Rate, attract a lot of fiscal base without having to shrink my public spending. This is unfair. It is unfair competitIon. This will have to change, and notably within the Ion'>European UnIon where, as we know, Countries like island, luxembourg, the netherlands, have resisted steps of this kind. It is going to be much more difficult for them to do this, although we know this is still a decisIon that has to be taken by unanimity in the Ion'>European UnIon, which is the reason why these Countries are so far have succeeded in objecting to this. I think the resistance will be enormously eroded by g7 agreement. In terms of the Tech Companies themselves, they have said so far that they want this process to work. How convinced are you by that . Good oint the how convinced are you by that . Good point they know how convinced are you by that . Good point they know where how convinced are you by that . emf. Point they know where the wind how convinced are you by that . ef;ff. Point they know where the wind is blowing from. They know how they are putting these things, excessive taxatIon is over, it started ten years ago after the Oil Crisis when the oecd and the g20 started this Ion'>Base ErosIon and profit shifting exercise. So it is the end of a long process. That will now allow a new process to come. Of course, this is not totally a silver bullet, it is the Tax Rate, but if i am a company, the way i account my profit will have a major impact on how much taxes i pay, with Io , 15 , 25 , so there is still a lot to do to harmonise in some way the Way Profit is accounted so that a Tax Rate is a meaningful part of the real profit which a multinatIonal company does. There remains a lot of details of this kind to be sorted out, but lets look at the major political signal. Out, but lets look at the major politicalsignal. I out, but lets look at the major political signal. I think this is what matters today, and of course we owe this to a change in mind in two major g7 Countries which, for a long time, had opposed this, which are the us and the uk. I remember being a sherpa in the 1980s and 90s. I mean, france, germany, italy and canada were in favour uk and us were opposing at the time. This canada were in favour uk and us were opposing at the time. Canada were in favour uk and us were opposing at the time. This is a chance. It were opposing at the time. This is a change. It certainly were opposing at the time. This is a change. It certainly is. Were opposing at the time. This is a change. It certainly is. Pascale change. It certainly is. Pascale pascal lamy, thank you very much. The headlines on Bbc News chancellor Rishi Sunak has said G7 Finance ministers from the worlds leading economies have reached a historic deal to reform the global Tax System during talks in london. Testing is ramped up as the uk sees the highest number of new covid infectIons in two months. Covid restrictIons have eased across much of scotland, with people in glasgow allowed to socialise indoors and drink alcohol in pubs and restaurants for the first time in nine months. A0 millIon people in the uk have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, equivalent to 76. 2 of the adult populatIon. The milestone comes as the head of nhs providers, which represents health services, said covid vaccines appear to have broken the chain between catching the virus and becoming serIously ill or dying. Despite this, Chris Hopson says any decisIon on easing restrictIons in england On 21stjune is finely balanced. 0ur Health CorrespondentNaomi Grimley reports. It is the Ion'>Big QuestIon of the summer. Can hospitals still cope with the numbers of people who will fall serIously ill from Covid I9 before the full effects of Ion'>Mass VaccinatIon are felt . The encouraging news is that Ions'>Hospital AdmissIons are well below the levels we saw in winter. And today one of those representing Health Trusts appeared to strike an optimistic note. What we think we can start to say now, based on that experience from those who have been at the front of this wave, is it looks as though the vaccines have broken the chain between catching Covid I9 and potentially being very serIously ill and potentially dying. But more Surge Testing is to begin on monday in parts of Reading And Wokingham because of the more transmissible Delta Variant first discovered in india. Cases have been nudging up quite noticeably again as we mix more. Yesterday over 6,000 were recorded. And some experts fear that could still translate into a problem until full vaccinatIon is reached. It is particularly this increase in transmissIon that could cause us considerable problems. We are getting estimates of 40 to 60 more transmissible than the b117, the kent variant, that was dominant and that means infectIons can come at us quite fast. In the end, it is a political decisIon whether to go ahead with the final stage of loosening in england. 0pinIons in the scientific community are split. Perhaps the only Thing Everyone agrees on is that more data is needed. Naomi grimley, Bbc News. The government has published its latest coronavirus figures. The uk has recorded a further 5,765 confirmed cases of the virus. 13 more people have died within 28 days of Testing Positive for Covid I9. 0n the vaccine front, over 27. 1 millIon people have now received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine, which means 51. 6 of the uk adult populatIon are now fully vaccinated. Coronavirus restrictIons have eased for millIons of people in scotland today. Glasgow has moved down to level two, which means people can meet in Each Other� s homes, in limited numbers, and drink alcohol in pubs and restaurants for the first time in eight months. But a planned relaxatIon across some other parts of the country has been delayed. 0ur Correspondent in glasgow, graham stewart, has more. A significant day for the citizens of glasgow. They are emerging from nine long months under some of the countrys toughest covid restrictIons. As you say, from today they are able to meet indoors and enjoy alcohol inside pubs and restaurants and travel in and out of the city. But for 13 other Council Areas that have been enjoying the same freedoms for the past three weeks, well, they are staying exactly where they are, and that is because of concerns over the now dominant indian variant. In fact, across scotland, infectIons have more than tripled over the past month. But in some other areas, where Case Numbers are relatively low, they are moving to level one. Auckland, shetland, the western isles, they are moving to level zero, the lowest level of restrictIons, that is where the whole of scotland hopes to be towards the end of this month. The First Minister says the situatIon is hopeful but fragile. Visitors may be returning to some of the uks most popular tourist destinatIons, but employers are Reporting Problems Recruiting staff. In cumbria, Tourism Bosses are warning the situatIon is reaching crisis point, and say the sector has been badly hit by new post brexit immigratIon rules. Yunus mulla reports. The Lake District is looking busy. The visitors have returned in large numbers, but fewer people are choosing to work here. Emmas deli in grasmere is facing an all too familiar problem. Its owner has another cafe in keswick, that is down to opening just five days a week. Here the chef retires soon. That positIon has not been filled. When we reopened lastjuly, we didnt seem to have a shortage of people coming forward forjobs and something seems to have shifted. But it might mean we have to reduce what we can offer in terms of either the days we are open or the days when we can offer food, because we just cannot keep up with the demand. The scale of the Staff Recruitment Crisis facing the Countys Tourism and Hospitality Sector is said to have doubled within the last month. Cumbria tourisms latest survey has highlighted the challenges facing businesses here in the Lake District, with 68 saying there is a significant problem recruiting staff. Business responses also reveal 73 cite a lack of applicants and 44 say there is a skills shortage. Lack of affordable housing and public transport difficulties is not new, but many businesses were not expecting the current staff shortages. I have had clients in tears, you know, i have had them ringing up saying, please help. In fact, i had a Head Chef say to me the other day that the hours he is having to work because he is six or seven people down in the kitchen, he said he is going to end up in an early grave. When the Lake DistrictCountry Hotel Group reopened with the easing of restrictIons, 10 of staff did not return. But brexit and the ending of the free movement of people is a bigger problem. Our Biggest Problem in our area is pre brexit we had 47 of our staff came from the eu. However, since the end of free movement, we are now finding it a lot harder to find people. Unemployment in our area is just shy of i and it is an ageing populatIon in our area, so people are migrating away from our area rather than coming to it. Businesses here are doing what they can to find a way out of this staffing crisis, but to grow and recover, there is also a call for government interventIon. Yunus mulla, Bbc News, grasmere. The united natIons has issued a stark warning that ethIopia could be heading for a repeat of the deadly famine of 1984, unless a ceasefire is agreed. Months of fighting between government forces and the regIonal authorities in tigray have destroyed crops, leaving hundreds of thousands of people near starvatIon. Now, the government is making it hard for Aid Agencies to reach those trapped by the fighting. Laetitia bader is the horn of Africa Director at human rights watch. Speaking earlier, she told us theres a pressing need for more internatIonal attentIon. We are talking about a humanitarian crisis, but this is also a human rights crisis. The ethIopian government, the eritrean government forces, and also allies to both of these parties, have directly contributed in their actIons and abuses of the civilian populatIon to the humanitarian crisis we are talking about now. Im talking about targeted attacks and destructIons of harvests, burning, occupatIon of land, destroying infrastructures. Hospitals have been destroyed, looted. All of this having an impact. At the same time as there are restrictIons on Aid Agencies. And a lot of the attacks on civilians is having an impact on Peoples Ability to reach assistance. Lots of people are too scared to move right now. One of the big concerns is people are in need of Assistance And Arent receiving it at the moment. Music fans will be eagerly waiting to see if all remaining restrictIons are lifted later this month, so that large scale festivals and gigs can begin once more. But one dj just didnt want to wait that long. When dom whitings work dried up during lockdown, he decided to improvise and started a unique project which has now seen his Dj Sets watched by millIons. Heres the story. Dance music plays. Throughout covid, we havent been able to do any events. Me not being able to play music added to why im still doing this. All right . I was actually out for a drink one night with a friend and they suggested about possibly fitting decks onto a bike. As you can see, weve got a pIoneer controller. When youre mixing, youve got the tempo, which controls the speed youre playing the song at. Normally, i have people around me, like spotters, so i know where im going and where i can and cant get through and ensure im not whacking into everybody. Normally, ill put out where im going out to a few days before, the locatIon, like brighton or bristol. Kind of two hours of you just being in another dimensIon, to be honest with you. Just give everyone a bit of music, really, because we havent been able to have any music over the last god knows how long. During a live stream, ill have a feed up of whos watching in from online, Say Facebook or youtube or whatever. So when im riding around and i get through whos listening and shout them out. Out to seb, out to all my audIo venom crew. Make them feel like theyre also here as well as not being here. We have had a lack of music and it is very important for people to be able to come out and still meet people and still have a little rave, have a little dance. Notjust me but for people to come along and enjoy it and get to hear some proper music. Now its time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. Hello there. For many of us, part one of the weekend has been fine and dry. We saw plenty of sunshine, a little bit of thigh whether cloud across most of the country, but not sunny everywhere, cloudy skies thanks to a Weather Front putting into western scotland, Northern Ireland and the far South West of england, courtesy of this new Weather Front arriving in gradually as the day wore on. Now, this is going to bring outbreaks of patchy rain as we move through this evening and overnight come Into Western Areas initially, then spreading eastwards into central, northern, Southern England and wales. Meanwhile, starting to dry up with clearer skies in scotland and Northern Ireland, and the far South East will also see clearer skies. Quite a mild night. A ridge of high Pressure Building in for sunday across western areas, this Weather Front straddling central and eastern parts, so i reverse of fortunes, Sunnier Skies For Sunday Across Scotland and Northern Ireland, increasingly western England And West wales. In the east, cloudy thanks to this Weather Front, with Showery Rain, if you heavy downpours mixed into that as well. With more cloud around, cooler across england and wales, 19 21 degrees. As we move into monday, the Weather Front weekends as it pushes towards the east, leaving a Legacy Of Cloud, but we have High Pressure dominating the scene, very light winds. I think a day of variable cloud under sunny spells, but with that weak weather different across eastern areas, likely to be stabilised, heavy showers developing across the eastern side of the country into the afternoon as the temperatures rise. Temperatures reaching 19 20, 21 or 22 in the warmer spots. Through this week, High Pressure holds on across the south of the country, these areas of low Pressure Skirt at the North West, bringing stronger winds, more cloud, and Showery Rain to parts of scotland and Northern Ireland. Cloudy and breezy across northern and western areas, closer to the High Pressure in the south is where you will see the best of the sunshine and the warmth. Good evening. Its being hailed as an Historic Agreement, that could see global governments make billIons. The deal made today by the G7 Group of leading economies could shake up the Tax System for multinatIonal companies, like big Tech Giants. It could include a global minimum corporate Tax Rate of 15 to avoid Countries undercutting Each Other. The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said that it will mean firms pay the right tax in the right places. Tech companies, Google And Facebook have welcomed the move. Heres our Business Correspondent Katy austin. How correspondent katy austin. To stop multinatIonal c particularly how to stop multinatIonal companies, particularly Tech Giants, avoiding tax by booking profits in low or no tax by booking profits in low or no tax jurisdictIons, tax by booking profits in low or no taxjurisdictIons, that tax by booking profits in low or no tax jurisdictIons, that was one questIon at the heart of these discussIons between the Finance Ministers of seven leading economies. Ministers of seven leading economies ministers of seven leading economies. �. ,. ,. ,. Economies. Im delighted to announce that, today. Economies. Im delighted to announce that. Today. After economies. Im delighted to announce that, today, after years economies. Im delighted to announce that, today, after years of that, today, after years of discussIon, G7 Finance ministers have reached an Historic Agreement to reform the global Tax System, to make It Fit for the global digital age but, crucially, to make sure that its fair, so that the right companies pay the right tax in the right places. Companies pay the right tax in the right ohm right places. They agree to the Rinci Le right places. They agree to the principle of right places. They agree to the principle of a right places. They agree to the principle of a global right places. They agree to the principle of a global minimum | principle of a global minimum Ion-tax'>CorporatIon Tax of at least 15 , as well as rules to make the largest companies with profits of more than 10 pay more tax in the country where sales are made, notjust where they declare their profits. The us had initially wanted a higher Minimum Rate of 21 . Irate had initially wanted a higher Minimum Rate of 21 . ~. ,. ,. , Minimum Rate of 21 . We do hope that Countries will Minimum Rate of 21 . We do hope that Countries will be Minimum Rate of 21 . We do hope that Countries will be ambitIous Minimum Rate of 21 . We do hope that Countries will be ambitIous and Minimum Rate of 21 . We do hope that Countries will be ambitIous and the Countries will be ambitIous and the agreement is at least 15 , so we have agreement is at least 15 , so we have yet agreement is at least 15 , so we have yet to agreement is at least 15 , so we have yet to set the final rate. The chancellor have yet to set the final rate. Tue chancellor acknowledged have yet to set the final rate. Tte chancellor acknowledged that have yet to set the final rate. Tte chancellor acknowledged that the deal would mean individual digital services tax, including the uks, would have to go, but it is unclear when. The proposals must now go to the wider g20 group, including china, russia and brazil, then the rest of the world. The german Finance Minister hailed today as an important step, even if difficult conversatIons lay ahead with Countries whose Tax Rates are below 15 . � ,. ,. ,. ,. , 15 . Im sure that the decisIon that was made today 15 . Im sure that the decisIon that was made today is, 15 . Im sure that the decisIon that was made today is, will 15 . Im sure that the decisIon that was made today is, will be 15 . Im sure that the decisIon that was made today is, will be very was made today is, will be very successful. This was a train that had already started and anyone can join a train. Had already started and anyone can join a train join a train. Ireland has a 12. 5 level of join a train. Ireland has a 12. 596 level of corporate join a train. Ireland has a 12. 596 level of corporate tax. Join a train. Ireland has a 12. 596 level of corporate tax. We join a train. Ireland has a 12. 596 level of corporate tax. We will, J Level of corporate tax. We will, even with level of corporate tax. We will, even with an level of corporate tax. We will, j even with an Acknowledgement Level of corporate tax. We will, i even with an acknowledgement of level of corporate tax. We will, even with an acknowledgement of the change even with an acknowledgement of the change that is coming, continue to have change that is coming, continue to have that change that is coming, continue to have that kind of legitimate policies have that kind of legitimate policies in place in ireland that deliver policies in place in ireland that deliver a policies in place in ireland that deliver a competitive approach for ireland deliver a competitive approach for ireland and allow us to grow and retain ireland and allow us to grow and retain employment. Ireland and allow us to grow and retain emlo ment. ,. ,. ~. ,. , retain employment. Google and amazon have said they retain employment. Google and amazon have said they support retain employment. Google and amazon have said they support the retain employment. Google and amazon have said they support the work have said they support the work being done to Reform Tax rules. So has facebook, which acknowledged it could end up paying more as a result. How transformative todays Historic Agreement will be depends on getting other natIons on board and implementing reforms could take years. Katy austin, Bbc News. 0ur Economics EditorFaisal Islam is here. How significant a moment is this . Well, they have been using this word historic, the Finance Ministers, and they like to be part of history but i think it is fair to say that. It is very difficult to do these sorts of deals on tax, tax is the essence of deals on tax, tax is the essence of the sovereignty of a state, but it does seem like they have decided to come up with this internatIonal agreement that will have an impact. We are already hearing from the likes of facebook that they envisage having to pay more tax and pay that tax in different places as a result of this agreement, and it is clearly the context of the pandemic, of the fact that the exchequer is of the biggest economies in the world have been, not drained but very badly hit ljy been, not drained but very badly hit by the pandemic and by the lockdown is. That has changed the equatIon, as has the presence of a very different us administratIon, too. Some will say it hasnt gone far enough, the rate of 15 seems quite low budget will have an impact particularly on tax havens, but it does depend on that fine detail that will be negotiated with a wider group of Countries. The head of nhs providers which represents english trusts says the decisIon on easing restrictIons in england on the 21st Ofjune is finely balanced. Chris hopson warned that the Delta Variant first discovered in india was still spreading, but he said vaccines appear to be breaking the link between coronavirus cases and serIous illness. 0ur Health CorrespondentNaomi Grimley reports. Its the Ion'>Big QuestIon of the summer. Can hospitals still cope with the numbers of people who will fall serIously ill with covid 19 before the full effects of Ion'>Mass VaccinatIon are felt . Hospital admissIons are well below the levels we saw in winter. And, today, one of those representing Health Trusts appeared to strike an optimistic note. It does look as though the vaccines have kind of broken the chain between catching covid 19 and potentially being very, very serIously ill and potentially dying. Bolton is the area hit hardest by covids more transmissible Delta Variant, first discovered in india. Looking at whats happening in hospitals is a gauge to weather in hospitals is a gauge to whether the nhs in general will be able to cope. This graph shows the number of Covid Patients in boltons hospitals over the last few months. You can see there are high peaks in november and again in january and february. In the last few weeks, the figures have been rising again but they are nothing like those earlier peaks. But new Case Numbers are rising noticeably as we mix more and some experts fear the Delta Variant could take hold in groups which havent yet been fully vaccinated. More mutatIons could be incorporated into the Delta Variant that could mean that vaccines are less effective and thats really what we want to avoid. The worst Io'>Case ScenarIo for us is a variant that is both more transmissible and resistant to vaccinatIon. OpinIons on the scientific community remains split. 0pinIons in the scientific community remains split. Perhaps the only Thing Everyone can agree on is that more data is needed. Naomi grimley, Bbc News. The latest government figures show there were 5,765 new coronavirus infectIons and 13 deaths in the latest 24 hour perIod. On average, the number of new cases reported per day in the last week was 4,485. In the Vaccine Roll out, over 174,000 people have received a first Vaccine Dose in the last 24 hours. In total, more than 40. 1 millIon people have now had their firstjab. Thats 76. 2 of the uk adult populatIon. Over 360,000 people had their second dose in the past 24 hours, meaning more than 27. 1 millIon people have had both doses. Thats 51. 6 of the adult populatIon. Coronavirus restrictIons have eased for millIons of people in scotland today. Glasgow has moved down to level 2, which means people can meet in Each Other� s homes, in limited numbers, and drink alcohol in pubs and restaurants for the first time in almost nine months. But a planned relaxatIon across some other parts of the country has been delayed. Alexandra mackenzie reports. RestrictIons in glasgow have been eased. Life is beginning to look just a little bit more normal. As the city moves to level two, it is the city moves to level two, it is the first time this new bar has been allowed to serve alcohol inside. Tt is starting to be a weight of peoples shoulders. I think there is always an anxiety when everything is all the time, you know, it can be quite negative and today is a really positive day for everyone. Positive day for everyone. Cinemas also reopened positive day for everyone. Cinemas also reopened in positive day for everyone. Cinemas also reopened in glasgow positive day for everyone. Cinemas also reopened in glasgow today. Positive day for everyone. Cinemas i also reopened in glasgow today. They had already opened in the rest of scotland. This new one in the City Centre welcomed its first customers. Its really exciting for us as a family. Its really exciting for us as a family. We its really exciting for us as a family, we really enjoy going to the cinema family, we really enjoy going to the cinema. We family, we really enoy going to the cinema. ~. ,. ,. ,. , cinema. We are going to see cruella De Vil and im cinema. We are going to see cruella De Vil and im really cinema. We are going to see cruella De Vil and im really excited cinema. We are going to see cruella De Vil and im really excited to cinema. We are going to see cruella De Vil and im really excited to go i De Vil and im really excited to go back to De Vil and im really excited to go back to the De Vil and im really excited to go back to the cinema De Vil and im really excited to go back to the cinema again. De vil and im really excited to go back to the cinema again. It De Vil and im really excited to go back to the cinema again. Back to the cinema again. At the number of back to the cinema again. At the number of cases back to the cinema again. At the number of cases and back to the cinema again. At the J Number of cases and coronavirus back to the cinema again. At the I Number of cases and Coronavirus Number of cases and coronavirus our coronavirus in scotland has been rising, more than tripled in the last month. The First Minister has described the situatIon as fragile and is encouraging people to remain cautIous. Because of this, some easing has been put on pause. Places including Edinburgh And Dundee had hoped to have more restrictIons lifted, but instead, for now, those remain in place. In glasgow, people are making the most of fewer restrictIons, but fear there is still some way to go before they can celebrate the end of the covid pandemic. Alexandra mackenzie, Bbc News, glasgow. Cricket and a stubborn century from Rory Burns kept englands hopes alive in the first test against New Zealand at lords. The Home Side were bowled out for 275, after losing quick wickets this morning, to trail by more than 100 runs. Patrick gearey reports. Test cricket is unusual in sport, and in life, in that you get time to think. Yesterday, rain meant no play, Sojoe Root could carefully plan his innings. First ball this morning, New Zealand gave him a lot more time to ponder. But, now, instead of watching rain fall, it was wickets, courtesy of tim southee, who removed 0llie Pope and then Dan Lawrence and then poorjames bracey, in the first innings of his first test, gone before his first run. England fans watching a batting collapse, a step back towards normality. To hold it together, Rory Burns was going through an ordeal of an innings. Dropped at slip, bopped on the head twice and still he batted on, battled on. Going through to a Street Fighting century. He hauled england a little closer to New Zealand but, when he finally gave way, there were still more than 100 runs when he finally gave way, they were still more than 100 runs behind and to stay in this match, there is much thinking still to do. Patrick gearey, Bbc News. And before we go, the first big event of coventry� s year as the Uk City of culture is taking place, after a six Month Delay because of the pandemic. I rise above. The Singer Pauline black, of the � 70s and � 80s band the selector, opened coventry moves an online event with this performance in a residential part of the city. Theres more throughout the evening on the Bbc News channel. Were back with the late news at 10pm. Now on bbc one, its time for the news where you are. Hello, this is Bbc News. As weve been hearing, the G7 Group of leading economies has reached a deal on taxing multinatIonal companies. Finance ministers from the group, meeting in london, have agreed to a minimum tax of 15 . 0ur Economics EditorFaisal Islam has been speaking to the german Finance Minister0laf Scholz about todays Historic Agreement. This is a very good agreement. We worked so hard for many years to get there, but now this is the breakthrough we worked for. What does it mean . Does it actually mean the big Tech Companies, for example, will pay more tax in europe, in germany, here in britain . Tax evasIon will be more difficult for big companies all over the world, and this is a good message for the people of our Countries and especially the big Tech Giants, who will have to pay their fair share. And this is also a good success. And how about within europe . You have a very difficult discussIon now within the Ion'>European UnIon for those jurisdictIons, not least ireland, who have Ion-tax'>CorporatIon Tax rates below 15 . Im sure the decisIon made today will be very successful. This is a train that has already started and anyone willjoin the train. And are you happy that it is at least 15 , that there is negotiatIon potentially to up that 15 up to higher a rate . It is clear now we have a figure which is 15 or more, and this is the basis for the talks with others, but we will try to make the whole success in the next days with the next meetings within the oecd and with the G20 Meeting in venice. So, this is a good summerfor those who are working for fair taxes. It almost seems like this is an emotIonal moment for you, youve worked on us foryears and i imagine, when you first floated this, it was a nonstarter, the americans would never go for it, the uk would never have gone for it . Its very important moment for me, i worked very hard to get there and so hard to get there and im very happy with this is an agreement that everyone supports now, and this is real progress. Coventry is staging its first major events to mark its year as the uks city of culture. The pandemic meant that celebratIons had to be postponed until restrictIons had started to ease. There are pop up performances throughout the day, including 14 modern Day Lady godivas, who will ride through the city. Colleen harris reports. Iam in i am in the beautiful grounds of Coventry Cathedral and on my right is the herbert gallery, whether Turner Prize will be coming later this year. This is a Centre Point for part of the Uk City of Culture Opening Event and also for the city, its rich history of resilience as a nod to coventry� s pass, one was bombed in World War ii, and out of that, it became a symbol of peace and reconciliatIon. And these are the stories that will be told by Street Performers and artists that are moving through the city currently. Moving because organisers have had a real challenge to deliver a programme that is covered save, they are asking people to watch a time, do not come in, and so weve been here all day, following the offence, which opens with pauline black, the singerfrom offence, which opens with pauline black, the singer from The 70s And 80s band the selector, shes performed on a bridge to end a residential part of the city, so there was element of surprise there for residents who are waking up early tours, and thatjourney has been followed different neighbourhoods In The City by River Runners and parker are performers representing the youthful energy, and that is part of the story too, as well as innovatIon. Coventry� s history with Ion'>Car InnovatIon and manufacturing. So lets have a chance with some of the performers who have taken part and been involved in putting on such a spectacle and display. Marius first, you are a creative dancer, tell us about the part you played in this . T about the part you played in this . I was one of the movement associates for coventry moves, as well as one of the creatives who have developed showcases In The City. As part of my movement associates job, i showcases In The City. As part of my movement associatesjob, i have choreographed two pieces, one to do with extreme sports, scooter, bmx rider, and parker were artist, and one is a Girl Dancer and bmx rider. And what if you try to evoke about the city through movement in your choreography . It is the city through movement in your choreography . The city through movement in your choreography . It is to evoke Energy And Usefulness choreography . It is to evoke Energy And Usefulness but choreography . It is to evoke Energy And Usefulness but also choreography . It is to evoke Energy And Usefulness but also to choreography . It is to evoke Energy And Usefulness but also to leave i choreography . It is to evoke Energy And Usefulness but also to leave a L And Usefulness but also to leave a Legacy For The Future and to show that coventry is full of energy still and will be for a lot of years to come. � , still and will be for a lot of years tocome. �. , to come. And i say coventrybased artist, what to come. And i say coventrybased artist. What you to come. And i say coventrybased artist, what you hope to come. And i say coventrybased artist, what you hope will to come. And i say coventrybased artist, what you hope will the i artist, what you hope will the legacy be for coventry, having this moment . I legacy be for coventry, having this moment . ~. , legacy be for coventry, having this moment . ~. ,. ,. , moment . I think to have communities involved and moment . I think to have communities involved and having moment . I think to have communities involved and having a moment . I think to have communities involved and having a Lot Moment . I think to have communities involved and having a lot of moment . I think to have communities involved and having a lot of people i involved and having a lot of people are being a part of this and to leave that legacy for them, where they can go and ask people and collaborate with different artists to grow Each Other as a city and to develop showcases and different Arts Performances. Develop showcases and different Arts Performances performances. Letters chat to ashley now, what performances. Letters chat to ashley now. What has performances. Letters chat to ashley now, what has your performances. Letters chat to ashley now, what has your role performances. Letters chat to ashley now, what has your role been . I performances. Letters chat to ashley now, what has your role been . We i now, what has your role been . We have been working to have some of the structure of the river run, understand parts of how people can et understand parts of how people can get involved. Where both local people get involved. Where both local people and artists and connecting with other artists and their talents and just with other artists and their talents and just building a real Buzz Buzz around and just building a real Buzz Buzz around it and just building a real Buzz Buzz around it and making the Event Something that can be a lasting Legacy Something that can be a lasting legacy for the city. Both of us are creating legacy for the city. Both of us are creating performances that will be left today, so people who are walking left today, so people who are walking past coming to the city to see Work Walking past coming to the city to see work and go shopping, and those people see work and go shopping, and those people who see work and go shopping, and those people who are staying home safe can watch people who are staying home safe can watch it people who are staying home safe can watch it online through livestreams and the watch it online through livestreams and the internet. Watch it online through livestreams and the internet. Thank you. So, you Cu S are and the internet. Thank you. So, you guys are dancers. And the internet. Thank you. So, you guys are dancers, you and the internet. Thank you. So, you guys are dancers, you can and the internet. Thank you. So, you guys are dancers, you can show and the internet. Thank you. So, you guys are dancers, you can show us. Guys are dancers, you can show us some of the moment we can expect. Ill remove out of the way. Applause thank you. Guys, just one last questIon, just tell us, what does this mean for the young people of coventry, to be involved in Uk City of culture, what is this moment . Of culture, what is this moment . Theyre the future, the young people in creative theyre the future, the young people in Creative Arts and collaboratIon and outside the Box Thinking have been and outside the Box Thinking have been in and outside the Box Thinking have been in coventry since before i was alive been in coventry since before i was alive i been in coventry since before i was alive ithink been in coventry since before i was alive. I think imitatIon im going to continue alive. I think imitatIon im going to continue to innovate and make the year as to continue to innovate and make the year as flamboyant and amazing and interesting as possible. Also year as flamboyant and amazing and interesting as possible. Interesting as possible. Also gives them a voice interesting as possible. Also gives them a voice and interesting as possible. Also gives them a voice and the interesting as possible. Also gives them a voice and the Confidence L interesting as possible. Also gives l them a voice and the confidence get out there and collaborate with different artists and make it happen. If they have a passIon, this should go for it and keep motivated for the future. For the future. Guys, thank you so much. For the future. Guys, thank you so much so. For the future. Guys, thank you so much so. A for the future. Guys, thank you so much. So, a message for the future. Guys, thank you so much. So, a message from i for the future. Guys, thank you so i much. So, a message from organisers is do not come into the Town Centre to see any of these pop up events, they will be moving through the city, you can catch it all online. While covered restrictIons are in place. Since the Military Coup in myanmar in february, more than 800 people have been killed during protests against the new regime. Most of the dead were unarmed protesters, shot by the police, and the vIolence has been recorded on smartphone cameras, offering potentially powerful evidence to support internatIonal prosecutIons for crimes against humanity. But, as our South East asia correspondentjonathan head reports, it isnt that straightforward. A warning his report contains distressing images from the start. The shocking vIolence of the Security Forces of myanmar has been caught many times on cameras since the february coup. Human rights lawyers are hoping this huge volume of Video And Photo evidence will one Day Lead to Police Officers and soldiers being prosecuted. Many of the actIons carried out by the Police And Military since the coup could be considered to be crimes against humanity. The 3rd of march. Protesters were greeted by sustained bursts of automatic gunfire, aimed directly at the crowd. Six people are known to have been killed by gunshots. 0n the same road, these medical volunteers were detained by police while trying to drive their ambulance towards the wounded, and they were brutally beaten. The same day, the police were videoed Walking A Group of detained men. And then, shooting one of them for no obvIous reason. They later dragged his body away. Ive worked on conflicts in bosnia in the 90s, the Khmer Rouge in the 70s, darfur much more recently, but in none of those conflicts did you have this phenomena that so many people have cell phones, so many people recording and preserving what they believe it is evidence that could be helpful. After the brutal military operatIon against the Rohingya Muslim found that serIous crimes against humanity, perhaps even genocide, had been committed. But because myanmar doesnt recognise the internatIonal criminal court in the hague, it wasnt possible to prosecute those responsible. So, the un human Rights Council has set up what it calls an independent investigative mechanism to collect all the possible evidence of such crimes. Were not a court, were not a tribunal, we have been given the mandate to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serIous internatIonal crimes and vIolatIons of internatIonal law committed in myanmar since 2011. So, the idea of the mechanism is that we are to collect and preserve that evidence to create files that could facilitate prosecutIons in regIonal, natIonal or internatIonal courts that are willing and able to exercise jurisdictIon. But with the Military And Police officers ordering the seemingly indiscriminate vIolence ever be brought to justice . A different government in myanmar it could refer to these abuses to the internatIonal criminal court. The united Ions-security-council'>NatIons Security Council could also authorise prosecuting cases at the icc, but for that to happen, all five permanent members of the council have to agree. And, until now, both China And Russia have vetoed any tougher actIon against the myanmar military. A criminal case could also be filed at a court in a country which recognises so called universal jurisdictIon, thats happened in germany and in spain. But for that to happen, the defendants would have to be in those Countries, unlikely in this case. The Prospects Ofjustice for those who are victims of the military� Iolence'>S VIolence in myanmar are still very distant. Time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. Hello. For many of us work, part one of the weekend has been fine and dry with plenty of sunshine around any big improvement across the southeast of england after fridays wash out. Plenty of sunshine and fine weather around the country but not sunny everywhere. Through the day, later on, cloudy skies pushing into western scotland, Northern Ireland and the far South West of england, courtesy of this new front arriving gradually as the day wore on. This will bring outbreaks of patchy rain through this evening and overnight. Into western areas initially and then spreading eastwards into central, northern, Southern England and wales. Meanwhile, will start to and wales. Meanwhile, will start to a little, and they fight South East as well will also see clear skies and temperatures up to 13, quite a mild night. This ridge of high Pressure Building in sunday across western areas, the central and eastern parts of a country struggling, reversal, with Sunnier Skies across scotland and Northern Ireland, increasingly western England And West wales. For the rest of england, it will be cloudy with showery bursts of rain and a few heavy downpours likely. With more cloud around, it will be cooler across england and wales, up to 21, 19 in the North West and the best of the sunshine. The Weather Front weakening as it moves leaving a Legacy Of Cloud but High Pressure dominating with very light winds, someone take a day of variable cloud and sunny spells but without weak Weather Front across eastern areas likely to destabilise the atmosphere, we should see a few heavy showers on the East Side of the country as temperatures rise. This temperatures reaching highs of 22 degrees. Through this week, high holding on across the south of the country, these areas of low Pressure Skirting past the North West and may bring stronger winds, more cloud and Showery Rain at times into parts of scotland and Northern Ireland. So, cloudier and bruce are across northern and western areas, High Pressure in the south, where you will see the best of the sunshine in the warm. This is Bbc News, the headlines at six the uk chancellor, Rishi Sunak, says G7 Finance ministers from the worlds leading economies have reached a historic deal to reform the global Tax System during talks in london. I think the crucial thing for people to take away is the principle of fairness. That is what we have achieved today, to ensure that there is a Level Playing Field for all types of companies. The head of nhs providers, which represents Health Trusts in england, says the coronavirus vaccines appears to have broken the link between cases and serIous illness. Testing is ramped up as the uk sees the highest number of new covid infectIons in two months, raising more Ion-marks'>QuestIon Marks over the further relaxatIon of restrictIons. Covid restrictIons have eased across much of scotland, with people in glasgow allowed to socialise indoors and drink alcohol in pubs and restaurants for the first time in nine months. The first big events in their year of Uk City of culture