this just seems like it's dragged on for quite a long time now, and not great for the tennis, not great for the australian open, not great for novak. the welsh government says coronavirus restrictions will be eased in the coming weeks, though caution is still needed. the parliamentary committee that took evidence from cricketer azeem rafiq says public funding for the sport should be limited until there's progress on eliminating racism. and virginia giuffre, who's bringing a civil case against prince andrew for sexual assault, says she wants to show that the rich and powerful aren't above the law. coming up in sport later in the hour on the bbc news channel, england's cricketers are looking to sign off from the ashes on a high but despite a strong start, australia fight back in hobart. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. downing street has apologised to buckingham palace following revelations that two parties were held at number ten the night before the duke of edinburgh's funeral. a spokesman for borisjohnson has said it was deeply regrettable that the events took place at a time of national mourning. covid rules at the time banned indoor mixing, but reports suggest there was drinking and dancing until the early hours. the prime minister wasn't at the parties, but the latest disclosures, which the daily telegraph reported, have amplified calls for his resignation. our political correspondent nick eardley has the latest. the 17th of april last year. one of the defining pictures of the pandemic. the queen sitting alone at the funeral of the duke of edinburgh. the night before, in here, staff held leaving do is, despite people being banned from social mixing indoors. according to the daily telegraph, there was music and dancing. someone was sent to a local shop with a suitcase to stock up local shop with a suitcase to stock up on alcohol. downing street hasn't denied the specific claims. 1trailien up on alcohol. downing street hasn't denied the specific claims.— denied the specific claims. when i heard about _ denied the specific claims. when i heard about this _ denied the specific claims. when i heard about this i _ denied the specific claims. when i heard about this i was, _ denied the specific claims. when i heard about this i was, of- denied the specific claims. when i heard about this i was, of course, | heard about this i was, of course, very, very concerned, and i understand that people across the country are angry about what has happened. earlierthis country are angry about what has happened. earlier this week the prime minister did apologise for mistakes that have been made. obviously if you are a rule maker you can't be a rule breaker, of course that is correct, but we need to let this investigation run. this morning downing street apologised to buckingham palace. the prime minister's spokesman said it was deeply regrettable that this had taken place at a time of national mourning ahead of prince philip's funeral. one of the events was a leaving do for this man, james slack, borisjohnson�*s former slack, boris johnson's former communications slack, borisjohnson�*s former communications chief. he said in a statement this morning, i wish to apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused full stop this event should not have happened at the time that it did. i am deeply sorry to take full responsibility. allegations of parties or gatherings which broke the rules now span almost a year, from may 2020, to april 2021 and that's led to suggestions that these were not isolated incidents but part of a cultural problem in borisjohnson�*s downing street. the prime minister hasn't been seen in public since wednesday and although he didn't attend the events which emerged today, many of his mps are angry that he did attend drinks during lockdown in 2020. five have now called for him to quit. part lockdown in 2020. five have now called for him to quit.— called for him to quit. part of the key elements _ called for him to quit. part of the key elements of _ called for him to quit. part of the key elements of leadership - called for him to quit. part of the key elements of leadership is - called for him to quit. part of the| key elements of leadership is you don't ask people you are asking to follow you to make sacrifices and suffer privation is that you are not willing to bear yourself and clearly that has not been the case. the fact is the 've that has not been the case. the fact is they've been _ that has not been the case. the fact is they've been having _ that has not been the case. the fact is they've been having parties - is they've been having parties throughout because in the end they thought— throughout because in the end they thought that the laws that they were putting _ thought that the laws that they were putting together were not laws that applied _ putting together were not laws that applied to them. the putting together were not laws that applied to them-— applied to them. the revelations about what _ applied to them. the revelations about what went _ applied to them. the revelations about what went on _ applied to them. the revelations about what went on here - applied to them. the revelations about what went on here keep i applied to them. the revelations - about what went on here keep coming, piling even more pressure on downing street's most senior occupant. and nick is in downing street. it's been a fast—moving morning and those revelations don't stop coming. and that is the problem for downing street, that despite borisjohnson�*s apology on wednesday, despite the apologies this morning, there are revelations that just keep apologies this morning, there are revelations thatjust keep coming. this one though really matters for two key reasons. one is the fact, the juxtaposition between what was going on in here and what was going on at windsor castle, that photograph of the queen sitting on her own during the duke of edinburgh's funeral. it's humiliating, quite frankly, for downing street officials, to have to phone officials in buckingham palace this morning to apologise for that. the second reason this is such a big deal is the details published in the daily telegraph this morning are pretty clear stop this was a social event if there was, as it is reported, dancing, music playing to our people up until well after midnight full stop its not the backdrop that borisjohnson will want as his mps and the conservative party go back to their constituencies this weekend to try and decide what they think about his future. there are many privately who are deeply worried about what's gone on. the question now is whether moore feel the need to stick their head above the parapet and call for him to go. the other big question is what's going to come up in that report from the senior civil servant, sue gray. if that criticises the prime minister, finds he acted unwisely, find he wasn't looking after what was going on in this place, some of his mps think that could be terminal. hick that could be terminal. nick eardle , that could be terminal. nick eardley, thank _ that could be terminal. nick eardley, thank you - australia's immigration minister has cancelled novak djokovic's visa for a second time, just three days before the world men's tennis number one is due to defend his australian open title in melbourne. the minister, alex hawke, said he'd made the decision on the grounds of "health and good order", as the row continues about djokovic's right to remain in the country unvaccinated. his lawyers are now trying to stop him being deported. shaimaa khalil has the latest from melbourne. twice today, novak djokovic was on the court training. enough —— in day few hours later the government finally announced its decision. the tennis star's visa has been cancelled again and for the second time he faces deportation from australia. in his statement the country's immigration minister alex hawke said, today, i exercise my power to cancel the visa held by mr john novak djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis it was in the public interest to do so. the prime minister scott morrison said the decision followed careful consideration. australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected. mr morris and's government has faced heavy criticism for allowing the unvaccinated player into australia in the first place, while the country struggled with a spike in covid—19 case numbers. i country struggled with a spike in covid-19 case numbers.- country struggled with a spike in covid-19 case numbers. i think it was a mess— covid-19 case numbers. i think it was a mess pp — covid-19 case numbers. i think it was a mess up but _ covid-19 case numbers. i think it was a mess up but now - covid-19 case numbers. i think it was a mess up but now i - covid-19 case numbers. i think it was a mess up but now i think. covid-19 case numbers. i think it i was a mess up but now i think they corrected the way. it's unfortunate novak won't be playing the tournament, it's a pretty big loss. if everyone else has to follow the rules, _ if everyone else has to follow the rules, why — if everyone else has to follow the rules, why can't he? obviously he thought— rules, why can't he? obviously he thought he — rules, why can't he? obviously he thought he was above the law. novak d'okovic thought he was above the law. novak djokovic has — thought he was above the law. novak djokovic has been _ thought he was above the law. novak djokovic has been included _ thought he was above the law. novak djokovic has been included in - thought he was above the law. lir— djokovic has been included in the tournament at the top seed. he was due to play a fellow serbian, myanmar kecmanovic. now his case is in court again. novak djokovic was told he doesn't have to go into tension yet. on saturday he will speak to border officials about what happens next. only then will we get a better idea about whether he has any chance of competing in a grand slam. tennis star andy murray says the controversy has been bad for the sport. the controversy has been bad for the sort. , , the controversy has been bad for the sort, , , , , ~' the controversy has been bad for the sort. , ,, ,~ �*, sport. this 'ust seems like it's dra . . ed sport. thisjust seems like it's dragged on — sport. thisjust seems like it's dragged on for— sport. thisjust seems like it's dragged on for quite - sport. thisjust seems like it's dragged on for quite a - sport. thisjust seems like it's dragged on for quite a long i sport. thisjust seems like it's i dragged on for quite a long time sport. thisjust seems like it's - dragged on for quite a long time now and not great for the tennis, not great for the australian open, not great for the australian open, not great for novak. yeah, obviously a lot of people have criticised obviously the government here as well, so yeah, it's not been good. the current australian davis cup captain and one of djokovic's closest friend says he was shocked and surprised by the decision. i’m and surprised by the decision. i'm still hoping he can compete. he has two more _ still hoping he can compete. he has two more days to make an appeal and to get— two more days to make an appeal and to get the _ two more days to make an appeal and to get the decision overruled. his former to get the decision overruled. fl 3 former coach, multiple grand slam winner boris becker, said djokovic is being used a political pawn. he is being used a political pawn. he is only a tennis player, we are not politicians — is only a tennis player, we are not politicians if_ is only a tennis player, we are not politicians. if we _ is only a tennis player, we are not politicians. if we are _ is only a tennis player, we are not politicians. if we are used - is only a tennis player, we are not politicians. if we are used in - is only a tennis player, we are not politicians. if we are used in a - politicians. if we are used in a political way _ politicians. if we are used in a political way then— politicians. if we are used in a political way then we - politicians. if we are used in a political way then we don't - politicians. if we are used in a i political way then we don't have politicians. if we are used in a - political way then we don't have a chance _ political way then we don't have a chance. ., , ., chance. the world number one is still fighting _ chance. the world number one is still fighting to _ chance. the world number one is still fighting to defend _ chance. the world number one is still fighting to defend his - chance. the world number one is still fighting to defend his title i still fighting to defend his title here. whether or not he will be able to play, the australian open will take place under the shadow of a controversy that has gone way beyond tennis. let's get the latest. what happens now? the tennis. let's get the latest. what happens now?— tennis. let's get the latest. what happens now? the clock is ticking but the speed _ happens now? the clock is ticking but the speed at _ happens now? the clock is ticking but the speed at which _ happens now? the clock is ticking but the speed at which this - happens now? the clock is ticking but the speed at which this story. but the speed at which this story has been going has gone at such a dizzying rate. right after the government's decision, shortly after they announced they were going to cancel the visa we've had an emergency court hearing here and interesting lines have been coming out of this. i think one of the key developments is that novak djokovic's legal team expressed their understanding of why the government has made that decision. they said that the immigration minister alex hawke believed that in the country would excite anti—vaccination sentiments and the lawyers argued that this was patently irrational. we also have a little bit of clarity on the procedure at least. we know that novak djokovic is not going to spend the night in detention tonight, but he will be detained tomorrow. he will be allowed to spend time at his lawyer's office at some point in the day. he will meet immigration officers as well and that we know that this case is now going to a federal court, to a higher court. all of that with the australian open happening on monday and instead of training on the court, he is going to be between his lawyer's office and a hotel detention.— and a hotel detention. shaimaa khalil, thank— and a hotel detention. shaimaa khalil, thank you _ and a hotel detention. shaimaa khalil, thank you very - and a hotel detention. shaimaa khalil, thank you very much. i the welsh government has announced that restrictions on large events and businesses, brought in to tackle the omicron variant, will be scrapped over the next two weeks, although the first minister mark drakeford said that while the situation was improving, caution was still needed. there could be some difficult days and weeks are still ahead as we continue to respond to the coronavirus crisis, but today's evidence is that we are able to move further and faster into those brighter days that we hope lie ahead for us all. let's find out more from our welsh correspondent, tomos morgan. explain what the first minister has been saying. heath liven a minister has been saying. heath given a road _ minister has been saying. heath given a road map _ minister has been saying. heath given a road map from - minister has been saying. heath given a road map from the - minister has been saying. heath given a road map from the 28th| minister has been saying. heath l given a road map from the 28th of january. _ given a road map from the 28th of january, down to level zero, next week_ january, down to level zero, next week there — january, down to level zero, next week there will be no restrictions on outdoor— week there will be no restrictions on outdoor event so this place will reopen— on outdoor event so this place will reopen for— on outdoor event so this place will reopen for the six nations and that the key— reopen for the six nations and that the key thing because on the 28th hospitality will be able to reopen problem. — hospitality will be able to reopen problem, —— properly, they won't be any social— problem, —— properly, they won't be any social distancing of the rule of six will— any social distancing of the rule of six will be — any social distancing of the rule of six will be gone. this is in the centre of— six will be gone. this is in the centre of cardiff, when people come out of— centre of cardiff, when people come out of the _ centre of cardiff, when people come out of the game on the 12th of february— out of the game on the 12th of february they'll be able to go into the bars _ february they'll be able to go into the bars and restaurants in cardiff. such— the bars and restaurants in cardiff. such a _ the bars and restaurants in cardiff. such a big — the bars and restaurants in cardiff. such a big boost to the economy having _ such a big boost to the economy having lost out over the festive period — having lost out over the festive period and having lost out for the last six _ period and having lost out for the last six nations as well, such a huge _ last six nations as well, such a huge moneymaker for south wales. mark drakeford has had to defend the decision— mark drakeford has had to defend the decision in— mark drakeford has had to defend the decision in the press conference this afternoon, being asked if this is now— this afternoon, being asked if this is now a _ this afternoon, being asked if this is now a u—turn, had they made a mistake _ is now a u—turn, had they made a mistake putting restrictions in place — mistake putting restrictions in place when there was a different decision— place when there was a different decision over the border in england. he has— decision over the border in england. he has defended the decision saying that having not put this in place things— that having not put this in place things would be far worse here. today. — things would be far worse here. today. the _ things would be far worse here. today, the ons figures suggest the figures _ today, the ons figures suggest the figures have gone up until the 6th ofjanuary— figures have gone up until the 6th ofjanuary although figures have gone up until the 6th of january although those figures have gone up until the 6th ofjanuary although those going into hospital— ofjanuary although those going into hospital have decreased for a second day in _ hospital have decreased for a second day in a _ hospital have decreased for a second day in a row— hospital have decreased for a second day in a row here in wales. well, new data from the office for national statistics has just been published, looking at the coronavirus situation across the united kingdom. with me is our health correspondent, catherine burns. she's been looking at the figures. what do they tell us? the headline fi . ure is what do they tell us? the headline figure is the _ what do they tell us? the headline figure is the ons _ what do they tell us? the headline figure is the ons data _ what do they tell us? the headline figure is the ons data suggests - what do they tell us? the headline | figure is the ons data suggests last week across the uk a5 million people would have tested positive for coronavirus and that is a record high, up from 3.7 million a week before, but this is not what the daily government figures are showing. if anything they suggest cases are falling, down by almost 25% in a week, so how do we explain that contradiction? for a start they are recording slightly different things. the daily government figures simply record the number of people testing positive but behind that there are complexities because it relies on there being enough tests in the system, enough people coming forward to get tested, and for lateral flows, forward to get tested, and for lateralflows, enough people lateral flows, enough people registering lateralflows, enough people registering their results which means it can be affected by quirks in the system. that's not an issue for the ons data. that at random sends out thousands of swabs across the uk but it looks backwards so the date there only takes is up to the end of last week. really though the question is are cases falling or not? we don't have an answer for that yet. we need to watch and see a longer trend but there are positive signs coming from london, the first place to be hit hard by omicron. cases there do appear, according to the nurseries in england that are being forced to close or reduce their opening hours because of staff shortages caused by covid, say they've been forgotten by the government. the department for education says it has given extensive guidance and "significant financial support" to providers during the pandemic. but the industry says it's too little too late. here's our education correspondent, elaine dunkley. who needs some ice? the penguins. it's the morning session at this nursery. what is your favourite thing about nursery? my car. i'm usually in the playground. ilike painting. do you like my shoes? yeah! forjen and lottie, it's a busy morning getting to nursery and then work and it's all the more stressful when covid could disrupt the whole day. i might get a phone call in the morning to say, "we've not got enough staff, we're going to have to shut", you know, because they've got staff isolating. so it is a massive concern obviously for me ringing work and then it's notjust nursery, it's me being in work as well. jane deals with the day—to—day running of the nursery and it's becoming increasingly difficult when staff are off with covid. we've shut more rooms, the preschool has been shut a couple of times and the room downstairs, the toddler room downstairs has also been shut a couple of times. at the moment, we're really in crisis, we may have to start looking at prioritising places for some of the children. young children don't have to be tested or isolate if their parents have covid. no one knows if they're bringing it into the nursery. so we've got families that we know that the parents have covid, they've tested positive. but these children are in the nurseries. we should have a position whereby if children are living with parents that have covid—19, that there is an isolation period because when they come back into nursery, whilst they may not be, if you like, tell themselves, they do pass on the infection to our staff and we are already in crisis so the last thing we want is more staff to go off with covid. we have 25% of our staff not in today. i nina isjuggling staffing and finances. she started this business when she was 21 and now owns eight nurseries. i've grown my business over the last 20 years. | singing. my passion is still there but mentally, i think. it'sjust exhausting. when you have to make a phone call, tell me what goes through your mind? i initially, the feeling is dread. because i think i'm going to let all those families down, the children, what- are they going to do? then obviously the impact is then the staff worry, i it's financial worry. i've still got to keep everything going. i the parents obviously don't pay if we close, | so then i've still got all my bills to pay and that is a massive, i you know, concern. you are saying you cannot take any more children? the government has relaxed the rules on how many children staff are allowed to look after. here, concerned that bigger groups means more responsibility on staff who are already stretched. for many nurseries and childminders, there are too many obstacles to overcome. elaine dunkley, bbc news, in stockport. our top story this lunchtime. downing street apologises to buckingham palace, after two parties were held at number ten the night before the duke of edinburgh's funeral. coming up... early wickets for england in the final ashes test, but australia fight back hard. coming up in the sport in the next 15 minutes in the bbc news channel, three days before he is due to start his title defence at the australian open, novak djokovic is facing the threat of deportation after having his visa cancelled again. public funding for cricket should be limited unless there's progress the digital, culture, media and sport committee has made the recommendation in a report following testimony by the former yorkshire player azeem rafiq, who described english cricket the england and wales cricket board currently receives over £2 million a yearfrom sport england. eradicating racism from cricket will be a long and difficult road. that's the conclusion of mps who said they are convinced discrimination is endemic in the sport. wales cricket board. if they fail to meet those targets, then there should be the committee praised the former yorkshire player, azeem rafiq, and a crisis engulfing the sport. the issue of racism which clearly, cricket, as a game, has ignored but some of the other things that went on behind the scenes, i think were outrageous and something that really showed me at the county has begun in earnest. we have had incredible change. given it a good shake, looking at our processes, our procedures, our leadership, governance, engaging with people, our pathways, no stone left unturned, actually. but the committee will continue to keep a close eye on cricket, it comes as buckingham palace announced that prince andrew's military titles and royal patronages have been handed back to the queen and he will now face the civil case in the us as a private citizen. prince andrew strongly denies the allegations. our royal correspondent, sarah campbell, is outside windsor castle. there's been lots of developments in the last 2a hours. there's been lots of developments in the last 24 hours.— the last 24 hours. yes, good afternoon- — the last 24 hours. yes, good afternoon. it _ the last 24 hours. yes, good afternoon. it was _ the last 24 hours. yes, good afternoon. it was here - the last 24 hours. yes, good - afternoon. it was here yesterday it was agreed by mutual consent, we are told, that prince andrew would return his royal patronjudges and military affiliations back to the queen to be re—distributed amongst the members of the royalfamily queen to be re—distributed amongst the members of the royal family and he would cease to be style his royal highness and he would fight this civil case in the us as a private citizen. in a swift and stark manner this was effectively the queen saying you are on your own. on social media, his accuser virginia giuffre gave her view that she was pleased with the judge 's ruling that allows her case against prince andrew to go forward and she is glad she will have the chance to expose the truth and she is deeply grateful to her she went on the truth and she is deeply grateful to her she helps n the truth and she is deeply grateful to her she helps to who many who many others. who many others. our who manyothers. our who always �*that �* that the and been to show that the rich and powerful are not above the law and must held accountable. prince andrew has always vehemently and consistently denied the allegations, a source close to him yesterday said this case is a marathon not a sprint and that the duke will continue to defend himself against these claims. no doubt it will have been painful for the duke to have to give up these military affiliations, to cease to be his royal and no doubt it will have highness and no doubt it will have been painfulfor the highness and no doubt it will have been painful for the queen to agreed that was the only way to salvage or to protect the reputation of the monarchy. sarah, thank you. the uk economy grew 0.9% % in november — taking it to pre pandemic levels for the first time. but the higher than predicted growth figures were from before the omincron variant of coronavirus took hold. our business reporter viv nunis is here. talk us through these figures and what it is telling us? this talk us through these figures and what it is telling us?— what it is telling us? this was stron . er what it is telling us? this was stronger than _ what it is telling us? this was stronger than economists - what it is telling us? this was j stronger than economists had predicted and it really goes to show if the conditions are right the uk economy has the power to rebound pretty quickly. cast your mind back to november, a time when coronavirus cases were relatively low, many of us felt pretty comfortable going out and doing christmas shopping, going to indoor venues but in december, everyone knows what happens next, omicron arrives, cases spread and the government asks us to work from home although businesses remained open, restaurant bookings and the like fell off a cliff. the data today does not include that period and looking further ahead, we know there are pressures on households with rising gas prices, national insurance going up and mortgage rates also but the headline figure todayis rates also but the headline figure today is good news, the chancellor told them amazing, most economists do not think they will last. viv, thank you. the issue of how people's remains are looked after in hospitals, mortuaries and funeral homes, is the subject of a national public inquiry. a family in northern ireland says they've been kept in the dark for 15 years about how their mother's body sustained more than 30 broken bones. maureen mcginley died in londonderry, and her children have decided to renew their campaign to find out what happened. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. maureen mcginley was a great—grandmother, popular in her community and known for her hospitality. she died 15 years ago this month from pneumonia at the age of 78. two months later, mrs mcginley�*s gp asked to see her family because he'd received the results of a postmortem. what he said then, "i'm not sure how to tell youse this", and he said she had 3a broken bones. that is so hard to realise that this has happened. to such a small, wee pensioner that never done anybody any harm. we didn't know what to believe or who to believe or where to go for answers or where do we ask for answers. but that is the only fact which is known for sure. but we do not know. and that is all we need to know, is somebody to tell us. health officials, the police, and the coroner all investigated but none were able to reach definitive conclusions. the family recorded every step in their long campaign. it's all there. to let them see how much we fought. they eventually took the case to the public service watchdog, the northern ireland ombudsman. the bbc has seen his report from 2017, the full details have not been made public before. the ombudsman said the hospital's record—keeping had been inadequate, he raised serious concern that inaccurate information was given about cctv. the ombudsman said it was impossible to understand why the trust did not adequately investigate. the western health trust has repeated its sincerest apologies to the family for the distress experienced as a result of the trust's failure to investigate, it also says stop asking questions. we just want closure now, we just want to know- what happened to her. because she is not getting a chance to rest. - the family believe this story is about accountability and transparency. which, they say, should be at the heart of the health service anywhere. chris page, bbc news. after a strong start in the final ashes test, england were punished by australia's batters. they closed the first day in hobart on 2a1—6 after a 100 by travis head. joe wilson has the details. england have never lost a test match in tasmania. 0k. this is their first test match in tasmania. but recognise the team? five changes including ollie robinson, recalled and rejoicing. warner caught by zak crawley for 0. next, marnus labuschagne dropped by the diving crawley on 0. ah! england's captain chose to bowl first in very helpful conditions and joe root himself caught usman khawaja. then steve smith was out for none. edged and gone. australia 12—3 and is this the same ashes? well, yes, it was. marnus labuschagne bashed and thrashed his way to aa, that's what hobart wanted. whatjoe root feared. where was labuschagne going? wow! stuart broad bowled at the stumps and the batter flattened himself. but the floodlights revealed a new threat, how travis head sparkled. ollie robinson now wasn't fit enough to bowl, stuart broad was trying. but in 101 rapid runs, travis head transformed the whole mood, australia were reborn in the match. when cameron green put his mighty frame to the cause...