reopening, large indoor events resuming and social distancing rules dropped. the rise in cases driven by overcrowding peaked in the first week injanuary and we are now on the downward slope of this wave. a british man who took four people hostage at a texas synagogue had been investigated by m15. but by the time he flew to the us, malik faisal akram was assessed to be no longer a risk. a man from cumbria has pleaded guilty to a modern slavery offence after a vulnerable worker was kept in a six foot shed. britain's emma raducanu wins through to the second round of the australian open, on a good day for british players with andy murray among those also through. good afternoon. borisjohnson has rejected a claim by his former chief advisor that he was warned in advance about a drinks party in the downing street garden during lockdown in may 2020. dominic cummings has said that he's certain he'd told the prime minister minister that it might break covid rules but he claimed mrjohnson �*waved aside' the concerns. mrjohnson also revealed that he's already been interviewed by the inquiry over parties held in downing street. in response, labour have said the pm set the rules — he didn't need anyone to tell him that the party he attended broke them. here's our political correspondent helen catt. almost a week after the prime minister apologised after what he saying he believed was a work event during lockdown that are now claims he was warned about it. i during lockdown that are now claims he was warned about it.— he was warned about it. i want to beain b he was warned about it. i want to begin by repeating my _ he was warned about it. i want to begin by repeating my apologies| he was warned about it. i want to i begin by repeating my apologies to everybody for the misjudgments that i have made and that we may have made a number ten and beyond whether in downing street for throughout the pandemic. in downing street for throughout the andemic. ., ,., , in downing street for throughout the andemic. ., , ., ., ., pandemic. nobody told me that what we were doing _ pandemic. nobody told me that what we were doing was _ pandemic. nobody told me that what we were doing was as _ pandemic. nobody told me that what we were doing was as you _ pandemic. nobody told me that what we were doing was as you say - pandemic. nobody told me that what | we were doing was as you say against the rules in the event in question was something that we were going to do something that was not a work event. �* . , do something that was not a work event. ~ ., ., , ., event. and as i said in the house of commons when _ event. and as i said in the house of commons when i _ event. and as i said in the house of commons when i went _ event. and as i said in the house of commons when i went out - event. and as i said in the house of commons when i went out into - event. and as i said in the house of commons when i went out into the | commons when i went out into the garden i thought that i was attending a work event. the chancellor _ attending a work event. the chancellor was _ attending a work event. the chancellor was also - attending a work event. the chancellor was also facing questions for the first time since the prime minister's a condom —— apology to the comments. do you believe the prime minister? {iii the comments. do you believe the prime minister?— the comments. do you believe the prime minister? of course i do. the prime minister? of course i do. the prime minister _ prime minister? of course i do. the prime minister set _ prime minister? of course i do. the prime minister set out _ prime minister? of course i do. the prime minister set out his _ prime minister set out his understanding of this matter in parliament and i would words and as you know steve grey is conducting an inquiry into this matter and i support that payment is to request for patients while that primary concludes. for patients while that primary concludes-_ for patients while that primary concludes. ~ , �* , concludes. the penn minister's former aide — concludes. the penn minister's former aide now _ concludes. the penn minister's former aide now a _ concludes. the penn minister's former aide now a frequent - concludes. the penn minister's i former aide now a frequent public critic. writing online he said on the date of the event in may 2020, i said to the pay minister something like... that he said means that prime minister has misled parliament. if that were to be the case it would have consequences. it that were to be the case it would have consequences.— have consequences. if he is lying and not corrected _ have consequences. if he is lying and not corrected immediately . have consequences. if he is lying and not corrected immediately it| and not corrected immediately it would normally under the ministerial code and that governance be a resigning matter and that is the principal. we uphold the highest standards of principles in public life and it's critically important. i am not going to prejudge the facts in this or any other aspects made. other tory mps have expressed anger 0ther tory mps have expressed anger at what exclaimed happen at downing street. the health minister and nurse told her constituents it was clear the spirit of the rules have been broken in number ten and she would be calling for action against anyone found to have breached them. she like he is also waiting for sue ray's reported. the neighbour says whatever it says mrjohnson is still on the hook. whatever it says mrjohnson is still on the hook-— on the hook. culture is set at the to and on the hook. culture is set at the top and no _ on the hook. culture is set at the top and no labour— on the hook. culture is set at the top and no labour spillage - on the hook. culture is set at the top and no labour spillage the i top and no labour spillage the former tory leader writes in the times today culture is set at the top so in that respect the buck stops with borisjohnson. llntiii top so in that respect the buck stops with boris johnson. until that re ort is stops with boris johnson. until that report is published _ stops with boris johnson. until that report is published it _ stops with boris johnson. until that report is published it looks - stops with boris johnson. until that report is published it looks like i report is published it looks like the claims and counterclaims may well continue. in the past hour, labour's deputy leader angela rayner has repeated her call for borisjohnson to resign. he thinks that he is above the rules. it is one well for him and one will if everybody else and it's up to his mps to show the british people that they put them first rather than the prime minister that they've hit him out of office because he's not willing to kill himself if he cannot recognise what he's done a still unacceptably wrong that his mps must act now and do something about it. the that his mps must act now and do something about it.— something about it. the prime minister did _ something about it. the prime minister did say _ something about it. the prime minister did say in _ something about it. the prime minister did say in his - something about it. the prime | minister did say in his interview that he takes full responsibility. do you think he is taking responsibility? ihe do you think he is taking responsibility?— do you think he is taking resonsibili ? , ., , , responsibility? he is not because he kee -s responsibility? he is not because he keeps hiding — responsibility? he is not because he keeps hiding behind _ responsibility? he is not because he keeps hiding behind steve _ responsibility? he is not because he keeps hiding behind steve grey i responsibility? he is not because he keeps hiding behind steve grey and| keeps hiding behind steve grey and that's totally unacceptable. you cannot hide behind a civil servant. he knows what their wills were and he broke the rules and the light of the british people and he should let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. that is labour�*s most recent response. give us a sense of how that lengthy interview from boris johnson has been going down, the apologies, what he's been saying. it was a pretty lengthy interview read up was a pretty lengthy interview read up on the estate was placed at length about a lot of aspects of that may the 20th party and what he knew about it and when responding to the spy screams from dominic cummings that we talked about in the report so that was a pretty lengthy interview for the pay minister and hear investments that we know that various groups of conservative mps have been meeting over the last couple of days and the conservative party is a large party that covers quite a range of opinion and they tend to form their informal groups which perhaps with others who are elected at the same time and others who share the same viewpoints on things and we know they have been meeting over the last couple of days to discuss how they plan to react to this and what they think about these things that have been happening over the last week or so about prime minister response and the way you handled it of course. we are hearing that there was a meeting of some of those who are elected in 2019 to look at how they might respond to what's been happening. 0f look at how they might respond to what's been happening. of course the one thing we don't know is what conclusions does groups of mps have yet reached. we know the pay minister is asking his mps to hold off and wait until they hear what sue grey, the senior civil servant who is investigating all of this has to say. i think the question is going to be do they do that. so far they had been a sent that a lot of mps were willing to do that and wait until they heard what sue grey has to say despite the fact that they were pretty angry about some of the reports that were coming out about the claims of things that have happened in downing street so the big question for the pay minister is are they willing to keep holding on as that report still has not materialised and we were hearing perhaps the end of this week it slips into next week the longer it goes on and the bigger the question becomes, how long do they wait for it. �* , ., ., ~ , it. and you mentioned mps gathering in meetin: it. and you mentioned mps gathering in meeting and _ it. and you mentioned mps gathering in meeting and specifically, - it. and you mentioned mps gathering in meeting and specifically, we i it. and you mentioned mps gathering in meeting and specifically, we know| in meeting and specifically, we know that there is a group of more recent intake of mps who have been having conversations. what do e—mail about the numbers, the mood among that group, what are you picking up on? we know it was descriptive of the 2019 intake of mps met earlier today as well as several groups meeting in parliament and the interesting thing about those as you might expect that newer mps are likely to be perhaps my lawyer and they are an interesting intake given that you have to remember a lot of these mps were not physically imparting to each other for the first year after they were elected. but we know they have met to discuss their response as we said we don't know is what the response that has been agreed by some of these groups of mps. a man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the primary school teacher, ashling murphy, in ireland last week. the 23 year old was killed last wednesday while out jogging by a canal in county 0ffaly. ireland's president, michael d higgins, and prime minister, micheal martin, joined friends and family at her funeral earlier today. our correspondent danjohnson is outside the police station in tullamore, county 0ffaly. tell us more on the development that we have had in the last few hours. it was not long after the end of her funeral that the guardian announced they had arrested a suspect. a man in his 30s who is being held here being questioned on suspicion of murder. that is a major breakthrough in the police investigation nearly a week on from her murder. we believe that there are about 50 detectives working on this case now and they said they did have a couple of suspects in mind. somebody in particular that they wanted to talk to. that announcement came earlier this afternoon and they have made an arrest and they are now questioning that suspect. and herfuneral arrest and they are now questioning that suspect. and her funeral mass today was a very large turnout to remember her.— today was a very large turnout to remember her. , ., remember her. there were hundreds of --eole at remember her. there were hundreds of people at the — remember her. there were hundreds of people at the parish _ remember her. there were hundreds of people at the parish church _ remember her. there were hundreds of people at the parish church just - remember her. there were hundreds of people at the parish church just on i people at the parish church just on the edge of this town. they cannot all fit inside the church they were so many people. they were packed into the street outside listening on the public address system with people watching as it was streamed live on the internet. so many people who wanted to pay their respects and show their support to ashling murphy's family because this is a crime that has hit everyone in this rural community, a close community where people do know each other and ashling murphy was very well—known and well—liked in this area. she was and well—liked in this area. she was a primary school teacher and a talented musician and these were things that were highlighted in the funeral mass. there were readings given by her cousins and we heard what a dedicated and committed teacher she was and how bright and intelligent and what a bright future she would have had had she not become the victim of this crime. just south running along the canal when her life was taken here last wednesday. that is what has upset notjust people here but has resonated more widely in terms of women asking the question of when and where they are safe and why they can't do something as ordinary and everyday as being out for a run knowing that they are safe and that's why action has been promised. there were people at that service today from all walks of life, the top politicians and family and friends of ashling murphy and people from every aspect of life that she touched and people from her sports association and people from the school she attended and one of the most heartbreaking images of the day, the primary school pupils that she was actually teaching, just six and seven years old. they lined the way into that church holding pictures of ashling murphy, picture that said fly high in the sky our shining lights. perhaps the most heartbreaking thing is still a six, seven—year—old girls to face the question of when and where they are safe. . ~ i. scotland's first minister has announced that coronavirus restrictions will be lifted from monday. nightclubs will be allowed to reopen and the requirement for table service in hospitality will end. the three—household limit on indoor gatherings will also end. she said scotland is now on the "downward slope" of infections and that there has been a "significant fall" in new cases. given that cases are now falling quite rapidly and the current wave is receding, we decided that we were not at this stage extend the covid certification scheme to other premises. we will of course reconsider this should circumstances and therefore the balance ofjudgement change in any significant way. if cases were to start to rise very sharply again, extension of certification may well be a more proportionate alternative to other more restrictive measures. however our conclusion today given the improving situation is that extending certification would not be proportionate at this stage. there is though one reasonably minor change to the certification regulations that we will propose. at the moment, nightclubs and other late—night venues must apply the scheme if they have any use a designated area for dancing. we intend to amend the definition here to provide greater clarity and prevent premises avoiding certification simple by having tables on the dance floor and therefore claiming it is not a dance floor but nevertheless permitting dancing to take place. this change will take effect from monday when late—night venues are able to reopen. let's speak to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon. positive news but also a word of caution from the first minister. how will these relaxation of restrictions being received? theis relaxation of _ restrictions being received? theis relaxation of restrictions - restrictions being received? theis relaxation of restrictions is i restrictions being received? tue: 3 relaxation of restrictions is being welcomed and nicola sturgeon said this afternoon scott and had not yet moved from the epidemic to the anthemic phase of covid—19 but it looked as if a calmer period was i had and that peak in the omicron invariance happened in the first week of january and now we are seeing a drop off in cases and she said that meant that most remaining restrictions in scotland could now be lifted. 0f restrictions in scotland could now be lifted. of course some of these were imposed over christmas when they saw omicron sleeping in. what that means is that nightclubs can we open from monday and large interim events can resume and social distancing rules can also be dropped and some of the things that remain are that people are still being asked to work from home where possible to take lateral flow tests when meeting with others in the longer running measures like wearing masks in public places will remain in force here in scotland. 0ther in force here in scotland. other changes mean the guidance against meeting up with more than three households at a time will be scrapped along with the curbs on indoor contact sports. the most controversial area and she touched on that as you heard chest and was the decision to extend the vaccine passport scheme to more hospitality settings for states. they decided against that and business groups have welcomed the lifting of most of these restrictions on the fact that these restrictions on the fact that the scheme is not going to be an extended as has opposition parties and although the scottish conservatives called for the vaccine passport scheme to be scrapped entirely and for tackling waiting times in the nhs while labour said business is worth teetering on the brink and called on the government to go further in getting promised financial support. let's take a look at the latest coronavirus figures in the uk. a further a38 people have died — that's within 28 days of a positive test. that's the highest number of daily deaths since february last year. and another 94,432 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 2a hour period. it's emerged that a british man who took four people hostage at a synagogue in texas, before being shot dead by police, had previously been on an m15 watchlist. malik faisal akram was investigated in late 2020, but was not considered to be a threat. luxmy gopal is in blackburn for us. what are you hearing and what have people been telling you today? he was from blackburn and the question is how he was able to travel from his hometown of blackburn to the united states and purchase a firearm and lay siege to a synagogue. especially given the fact that he had a criminal record and as we have been hearing he was known at the m15 and to give you a bit of information about what that means there are two broad categories. two lists as it were. there's a list of people who are considered to be high—risk and it may be that they are connected to the preparation of an act of terrorism and then there is a second category where people are no longer considered a risk and that is the least that he was on and to give you a sense of the scale of that's the higher risk category has got around 3000 people in it. the other list, the one that he was on has around 40,000 people on it and in the year 2020 and leads 2020 that he was being investigated by m15 for what's known as a short lead investigation around the period of four weeks it was after that he was deemed not to be considered a higher risk and as we now it was a couple weeks ago that he travelled to the united states and bought a gun and laid siege to that synagogue and thankfully the four people were released unharmed and currently there are two people in custody in connection with this. there are two teenagers arrested in south manchester on sunday evening and we still have not had any details released from the police as to who those two people arrested are. we don't know their exact ages we just know they are teenagers and we don't know they are teenagers and we don't know their genders and we don't know how they are connected to each other if indeed they do have a connection to each other and the sense here in blackburn today that we got from people is that people didn't know of him and in these cases you hear people saying all he kept to himself but actually he was known to some people, many people in the community and people said he had mental health issues and be good know him but they had no way expect that he would be capable of something like this. a pensioner remains in a critical condition in hospital after an attack in his home in which his wife died. detectives say they think ken and freda walker may have been attacked during a burglary, at their home near shirebrook in derbyshire at the weekend. police have launched a murder enquiry; no arrests have been made. detectives are also considering whether the incident may be linked to an attack in nottinghamshire last month. it is believed the victim was made to carry out unpaid work for more than 40 years. the grandmasters and neighbour abuse authority says it never witnessed such a traumatic case. our correspondent explained more. they rescued this man back in 2018 from a six foot shed on a caravan parked near carlisle. find caravan parked near carlisle. and then they went _ caravan parked near carlisle. situc then they went there they caravan parked near carlisle. fich then they went there they found that this man was 58 years old was sleeping on a floor and it was freezing and he had a soiled duvet and there was no heating and when they found him they described him as being a rabbit and had lights in the first thing he did was ask them if he could have awash and he told them he had been living like this for some 40 years or so and later interviews he told them he had been working on farms and painting and time making and said he was paid as little as £10 pretty and some understudy had been working like this since about the age of 16. today 56—year—old who is from carlisle pleaded guilty to conspiring to facilitate travel to exploitation and he will be sentenced next month and as for the victim himself we learned today he's living in support —— supported accommodation outside cumbria and he described today as being well but he will need care for the rest of his life and they seem —— senior investigating officer said this, i've never known a modern slavery case with the expectation has taken place over such a long period of time and first and foremost in my mind is the victim. he's been exploited for all of his adult life up exploited for all of his adult life up untiljust a few years ago and he's now in his early 60s and this is something he said even now i struggle to comprehend for four decades he was kept as a slave. let us talk about the situation in scotland. we have been reflecting that announcement today from the first minister about restrictions being used. nightclubs will be allowed to reopen and the requirement for table service in hospitality will end. the three—household limit on indoor gatherings will also end. she said scotland is now on the "downward slope" of infections and that there has been a "significant fall" in new cases. what do you make of it? i think we would welcome _ what do you make of it? i think we would welcome the _ what do you make of it? i think we would welcome the announcement| what do you make of it? i think we i would welcome the announcement from the first minister and lifting restrictions and hopefully we have turned a corner and allow hospitality to get back to being the place it used to be. the hospitality to get back to being the place it used to be.— place it used to be. the people he represents — place it used to be. the people he represents confidence _ place it used to be. the people he represents confidence that - place it used to be. the people he represents confidence that the i represents confidence that the demand is there that not stated a degree nervousness about it? t demand is there that not stated a degree nervousness about it? i think there's always _ degree nervousness about it? i think there's always a _ degree nervousness about it? i think there's always a degree _ degree nervousness about it? i think there's always a degree of— degree nervousness about it? i think there's always a degree of wanting i there's always a degree of wanting to come back out however since december when the public was told to stay home and don't mix outside your families we need to get the service back and we back to where it was and i think that's going to be a while before we get that so we need positive messaging to come from the scottish government and hospitality is a safe place to be but it will be a long time before we get back to recovery. pl. a long time before we get back to recove . ~ ., ., , .,, a long time before we get back to recove . ~ ., ., , ., , ., recovery. a lot of the people that ou recovery. a lot of the people that you represent _ recovery. a lot of the people that you represent have _ recovery. a lot of the people that you represent have missed i recovery. a lot of the people that you represent have missed out i recovery. a lot of the people that | you represent have missed out on that vital festive season. that is such a lucrative season for you. i'm interested in what members say to you about what they have lost and the extent to which they could recoup, what is their view? normally it would have — recoup, what is their view? normally it would have been _ recoup, what is their view? normally it would have been the _ recoup, what is their view? normally it would have been the busiest i recoup, what is their view? normally | it would have been the busiest month of the year when we take between 30 and 35% of our annual turnover and in december this year it was estimated hospitality in scotland lost around just over £1 billion of turnover and i the devastating effect and we are starting to get support now and it's slowly coming out the door and not coming fast enough and so our members are desperate to get our of finding out so we can support the staff and get their wages down as well and we want to get back to you everywhere and we are facing a point where we are paying back loans and paying back the back payments and be see an introduction of that gain of 20% from april and also their wages going up and we also see rates come back into scotland and we need to put a stop to that this year and to allow people to recover.— allow people to recover. that's cuite a allow people to recover. that's quite a long — allow people to recover. that's quite a long list _ allow people to recover. that's quite a long list of— allow people to recover. that's quite a long list of things i allow people to recover. that's quite a long list of things that. quite a long list of things that would really help you. i'm interested whether anyone feels perhaps they look at other parts of you can think could we have come back to the beat of my medically bit sooner? t back to the beat of my medically bit sooner? ~' ., ., sooner? i think we would have left is the nomadic _ sooner? i think we would have left is the nomadic to _ sooner? i think we would have left is the nomadic to come _ sooner? i think we would have left is the nomadic to come back i sooner? i think we would have left is the nomadic to come back at i sooner? i think we would have left| is the nomadic to come back at the same time as the rest of our colleagues in england and they benefited christmas and new year where they had the partyjust south of the border here where people were in those areas which would have been a traditionally scottish but hopefully the 25th we all like to celebrate when we can celebrate on the 25th if it's not too late. ehjar;r the 25th if it's not too late. en'oy it when it comes i i the 25th if it's not too late. en'oy it when it comes i hope. i the 25th if it's not too late. enjoy it when it comes i hope. thank . the 25th if it's not too late. enjoy i it when it comes i hope. thank you very much. all the best to you and thank you very much. britain is supplying ukraine with short—range anti—tank missiles for self—defence, after russia amassed about 100,000 troops on its border.the defence secretary ben wallace told mps that a small team of british troops would also be sent to ukraine to provide training. let's speak to our kiev correspondent james waterhouse. what responds to what is forthcoming from this country?— from this country? ukraine has welcomed _ from this country? ukraine has welcomed this _ from this country? ukraine has welcomed this action _ from this country? ukraine has welcomed this action by i from this country? ukraine has welcomed this action by the i from this country? ukraine has| welcomed this action by the uk government for as it adds to the recognition of its sovereignty. it's very own borders. the kremlin has reacted by calling it extremely dangerous. uk troops a small number have been in the country for a few years now carrying out training and ministers in the uk have committed to helping ukraine rebuild its navy after the annexation of crimea around the back—seat to the south of the country. that politically has been welcomed. 0n the streets of kyiv to be in a normal at —3 january afternoon people are carrying on as normal and they go to work and music is playing out of shopping centres and people are wary of what's going on but they are used to it. some feel this aggression from russia along the border is scaremongering and provocative and a our concern because tensions are rising and it's really escalated over the past few weeks with joint military exercises in the north between belarus and its allies russia. military experts are allies russia. military experts are a big spit on that because belarus shares a 700 mile border with ukraine and they are not sure whether that is to help russia with any potential invasion along the north and down the east and eastern border but are escalating but there is a bit of a disconnect with what's happening on the ground. the rising tension you — happening on the ground. the rising tension you described _ happening on the ground. the rising tension you described there, - happening on the ground. the rising tension you described there, that'sl tension you described there, that's one of the reasons why the us secretary of state is visiting as well. ., �* , secretary of state is visiting as well. . �* , ., ., ., secretary of state is visiting as well. . �*, ., ., ., well. that's right. you have to look at this week _ well. that's right. you have to look at this week that _ well. that's right. you have to look at this week that we _ well. that's right. you have to look at this week that we have - well. that's right. you have to look at this week that we have had i at this week that we have had yesterday we had the german foreign minister yesterday and today we had the canadian counterpart in the us secretary of state arrive tomorrow. so there is definitely face attention now without being a member of nato ukraine receives billions of pounds in military support from the us. some reactions today by the uk are extension of that answer certainly welcomed.- are extension of that answer certainly welcomed. we have more coming up in the next half an hour. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. good evening to you. there's been a lot of dry weather with bright with her around as well. beautiful sunset for a weather watcher in hall. we have not had bright styles —— bright skies everywhere. the satellite shows this filed in the south across essex and pink cloud bringing rain across parts of western scotland and northern ireland and the rain working east and pushing in from the northwest. and funk will continue to be a concern down towards the southeast corner. with little cloud and fog and wind temperatures will hold above freezing. for most of us. tomorrow the cloud and rain will go southeast across england and wales and the skies will break and we will see sunshine. showers in the northwest even to lower levels and frequent snow showers will be just above freezing in the afternoon. all of us will feel colder as the day wears on. a cold day across the uk thursday. mild on friday with frost and fog. hello, this is bbc news with jane hill. the headlines... more pressure on the prime minister amid allegations he was warned in advance about number ten drinks during lockdown. he's dismissed the claims. no, nobody told me that what we were doing was, as you say, against the rules, that the event in question was something... we were going to do something that wasn't a work event. he's not taking responsibility because he keeps hiding behind sue gray and that's unacceptable. it's one rule for him and one rule for the rest of us. he cannot hide behind a civil servant scotland's covid—19 restrictions are to be eased from monday, with nightclubs reopening, large indoor events resuming and social distancing rules dropped. a man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the primary school teacher ashling murphy in ireland last week. a british man who took four people hostage at a texas synagogue had been investigated by m15. but by the time he flew to the us, malik faisal akram was assessed to be no longer a risk. a man from cumbria has pleaded guilty to a modern slavery offence after a vulnerable worker was kept in a six foot shed. much more to come. we will talk to sebastian pain from the financial times about lockdowns and parties and more besides. sport and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's sarah. it's been a good day in melbourne if you're fan of british tennis. emma raducanu says she "loves the energy" at the australian open after earning herfirst win at the opening grand slam of the season. the us open champion beat american sloane stephens in three sets. she has struggled a little since that win in new york, but she got off to a brilliant start — cruising to the first set against another former us champion 6—0 injust 17 minutes. some errors crept in and stephens upped her game in the second, taking that 6—2. but raducanu dug in to wrap up the third set 6—1. elsewhere, andy murray says he "couldn't have asked for any more" after coming through a five set thriller to make the second round. he beat nicolas basil—lashvili three years on from his tearful scenes on court at the same stage of the event. many thought that could have been the end of the three—time grand slam champion's career, but hip surgeries and a lot of perseverance since then has seen him win again at melbourne park. he fought all the way through a tense match, eventually overcoming the 21st seed from georgia. it's been a tough three or four years. put in a lot of work to get back here. it's been... i played on this court many times in the atmosphere is incredible. i always have fantastic support. this is the one where i thought potentially it would be my last match, but amazing to be back winning a five set battle like that. couldn't ask for any more. also into the second round is heather watson, who beat mayer sherif in three sets. but rarlier qualifier harriet dart was beaten by iga swiantek. good news as well for british men's number two, dan evans, is also through. he beat david goffin in straight sets with a confident performance. not so good for liam broady, beaten in straight sets by nick kyrgios, but broady did seem to enjoy his time on court — a big smile on his face at times, including at some of the tricks on show from kygrios. blockbuster second round ahead for him. the australian will meet us open champion daniill medvedev. everton are looking at other options in their quest for a new manager after their bid to bring back roberto martinez ended in frustration. everton's bid to bring back roberto martinez ended in frustration. they've not been persuaded to let their national team boss leave. derby county boss wayne rooney has been linked with an emotional return to his first club. also in the frame is frank lampard, who's been out of work since being sacked by chelsea a year ago. the final games in group b of the african cup of nations are under way. this one is pretty tight with senegal and guinea both on four points from two games and malawi on three. the top two teams automatically qualify along with the four best third placed teams across the six groups. malawai v senegal is goalless, but bottom side zimbabwe lead 2—0 against guinea — although that doesn't change the standings at this stage. at the moment, it would be senegal and guinea. there are six uncapped players included in eddiejones's 36—man england squad for next month's six nations. in—form wasps back row alfie barbeary is called up. the 21—year—old has scored four tries in seven games for his club this season after returning from injury. there is no space for bath back row sam underhill, centre manu tuilagi and george ford. 0wen farrell remains as captain, while fly—half dan biggar will captain wales, with alun wynjones out injured. wales are struggling with injuries, 7 other key players are unavailable. three uncapped players have been included. 0spreys hooker dewi lake, flankerjac morgan and cardiff forward james ratti. police were called to a hobart hotel where england and australia we'll have more for you in sportsday at half past six. see you then. thank you very much. let's return to the news that borisjohnson has rejected a claim by his former chief advisor that he was warned in advance about a drinks party in the downing street garden during lockdown in may 2020. dominic cummings says the prime minister was told the gathering would breach covid rules, but "waved aside" the concerns. let's hear more of what borisjohnson had to say. he's given quite a lengthy interview. let's discuss it with sebastian pain. evening to you. good evenina. sebastian pain. evening to you. good evening- one — sebastian pain. evening to you. good evening. one thing _ sebastian pain. evening to you. good evening. one thing that _ sebastian pain. evening to you. good evening. one thing that dropped i sebastian pain. evening to you. good evening. one thing that dropped out| evening. one thing that dropped out from that interview is the prime minister saying no one told him what they were doing was against the rules —— sebastian payne. what your take on that? tt’s payne. what your take on that? it's cuite an payne. what your take on that? tt�*s quite an extraordinary chain of defence from the prime minister. borisjohnson told the house of commons there are no parties. then it shifted to, "i was not aware it was a party," then it transpired he attended it, and now his defence has changed by saying he may have been warned that the event could have broken rules, but he was not told it was illegal. when he went out to the garden and saw that party, that was the moment which he realised, and there is a credibility question with this defence that how could he have not been aware at the time when the country was in severe lockdown restrictions. any sort of gathering within the garden was against the rules, and we've got this down to a he said she said between boris johnson and, dominic cummings. 0r johnson and, dominic cummings. or something admitting he made known in advance. not that it was a party that would've contravened. —— boris johnson admitting. highlighted the pressure and frustration that he is facing at the moment. not to sound like a broken record, but it's still back to that investigation by sue gray, who is looking into notjust this party in may 2020, but a series of 14 other parties across whitehall. the real issue is going to be what she says and what she makes of the account of mr cummings versus mrjohnson, and which one is most credible. i think after this today, the pressure on sue gray as well, she will have to make some sort ofjudgment on who gave the right account of this situation. it is interesting, and i hope we have a chance to talk about sue gray, but i'm struck that you make the point that this is one word against another. like a constant back here given the divisive nature of dominic cummings himself, and if you look at another tweet he's put out recently, he's saying, "your best line of defence is catastrophic and the more media you do, the more you destroy your own support and hasten the inevitable." isn't there constituency, not in the sense, but of people who will say this is a fight between enemies, not about governing the countries. this is about some sort of revenge. the fact that it's coming from him, how much of an issue is that? t that it's coming from him, how much of an issue is that?— of an issue is that? i think it's obviously _ of an issue is that? i think it's obviously an _ of an issue is that? i think it's obviously an issue _ of an issue is that? i think it's obviously an issue because i of an issue is that? i think it's| obviously an issue because mr cummings has credibility challenges. particularly given things he said over the years about mrjohnson, the back—and—forth between the pair. i think people will look at that and say he's not an independent witness in this whole saga. but obviously, he worked very closely with boris johnson, and i think when you look at the fact the prime minister's had to change his reasoning about these parties several times, that will give people the impression that he's not been entirely straightforward and clear about exactly what happened in this situation. but this is why there is this investigation, so you don't have to believe mr cumming or mrjohnson. she is a civil servant who has no allegiance to either of them, and she's not reporting to everyone except the court of public opinion. she can make the ultimate adjudications and. notjust about public opinion. it's about the party, and i have to ask you what you're hearing about meetings, groups of mps, particularly reference to the more recent intake of mps. what are you hearing about their mood? the mood is certainly dark— hearing about their mood? the mood is certainly dark and _ hearing about their mood? the mood is certainly dark and in _ hearing about their mood? the mood is certainly dark and in westminster i is certainly dark and in westminster following mr cummings's blog when he said he was swearing under oath that the prime minister knew about this party. i think many of the mps said they felt the interview made the situation worse because it highlighted the prime minister's lack of grip, and labour have described it as an end of the road interview. all that matters is that conservative mps put in letters of no—confidence, and a group of 2019 intake mps. these are the mps who owe their seats and their careers to borisjohnson, many of them in the part of countries that never elected conservatives. they have met today and said the situation is getting worse. there's been lots of rumours to put on mass no—confidence letters. no one really knows how many there are, but i think the best estimate is around the 30 mark. 50 are needed to have a no—confidence vote. ministers and mps are waiting for that report to make a decision about where it goes next. to for that report to make a decision about where it goes next. pl. tat about where it goes next. a lot restin: about where it goes next. a lot resting on _ about where it goes next. a lot resting on that. _ about where it goes next. a lot resting on that. i _ about where it goes next. a lot resting on that. i was - about where it goes next. a lot resting on that. i was going i about where it goes next. a lot resting on that. i was going to ask how many, so around 30. thank you, sebastian payne from the ft. going the times newspaper reported plans are being drawn up to send migrants to countries including ghana and rwanda for processing and resettlement. the ghanaian government said ghana has not engaged with the uk on any plans and doesn't in intend to. downing street said it wasn't helpful to talk about ongoing discussions with countries, but it's right that we talk to international partners about fixing the asylum system. campaigners are calling for an urgent un treaty to clean up pollution caused by plastics. the environmental investigation agency wants people to sign up to binding targets. it argues if this continues unchecked, the amount of plastics could exceed the amount of plastics could exceed the collective weight of all fish in the collective weight of all fish in the ocean. i'm joined now by peter thomson, the un secretary general�*s special envoy for the ocean very good evening to you. those are some horrifying projections there. what are we talking about here? plastics from industry, from individuals, how has it reached this? ~ �* , ., individuals, how has it reached this? ~ �*, ., ., , individuals, how has it reached this? �*, ., ., , ., this? well, there's no doubt that lastic this? well, there's no doubt that plastic has _ this? well, there's no doubt that plastic has been _ this? well, there's no doubt that plastic has been a _ this? well, there's no doubt that plastic has been a wonderful i this? well, there's no doubt that i plastic has been a wonderful human conviction, and it came from nothing during my lifetime. what it is today, but has it created a problem for us? yes, absolutely. we're dumping 11 million metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean every year, and that is set to double by 2030 and that is set to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. we cannot continue on like this. we know that we are absorbing microplastic �*s into our body by inhaling them and ingesting them in our food, they are ingesting them in our food, they are in the food chain. we know microplastic �*s across england... we have to embrace this problem. —— mac address. have to embrace this problem. -- mac address. ., , , address. people listening will say the cop26 address. people listening will say the com summit _ address. people listening will say the cop26 summit was _ address. people listening will say the cop26 summit was not i address. people listening will say the cop26 summit was not long i address. people listening will say i the cop26 summit was not long ago. was this not part of that? the the cop26 summit was not long ago. was this not part of that?— was this not part of that? the un sa s was this not part of that? the un says there — was this not part of that? the un says there are _ was this not part of that? the un says there are basically _ was this not part of that? the un says there are basically three i was this not part of that? the un says there are basically three big | says there are basically three big problems in terms of the environment. 0ne problems in terms of the environment. one is the climate crisis, secondly is biodiversity. the third is pollution, and when you come to pollution, 85% of that is plastic. by addressing plastic, we get rid of one of the really big problems. what are the solutions? what are the solutions, given that you started your self by pointing out how extraordinarily useful it has been as a product? and reduces a certain amount of waste and other areas, too. certain amount of waste and other areas. too-— areas, too. the secret lies in - ro er areas, too. the secret lies in proper governance _ areas, too. the secret lies in proper governance of - areas, too. the secret lies in proper governance of what . areas, too. the secret lies in i proper governance of what we're doing, and at present, it is not well—regulated. the oil and gas industry would love it if we continued to be unregulated and bombers would be used on mass the way they are today. but we have to get into a recycling process with plastic that actually works. only about 80% of plastics are recyclable. the answer lies in getting in place and internationally binding treaty on plastic pollution. in the good news is that up to 150 countries now think that this should be done, and at the end of next month, we will be at the united nations assembly in nairobi when lots of countries will begin the negotiations of such an internationally binding treaty. {links internationally binding treaty. only 896 are recycled, _ internationally binding treaty. only 8% are recycled, that's such a low figure. are there any countries that you can point to not do considerably better than others, that we can all learn from? i better than others, that we can all learn from?— better than others, that we can all learn from? i used to go to nairobi a lot in the — learn from? i used to go to nairobi a lot in the days _ learn from? i used to go to nairobi a lot in the days when _ learn from? i used to go to nairobi a lot in the days when single-use l a lot in the days when single—use plastic bags like in many countries were just littering the streets and blowing around in the wind. a a few years ago, a ban, and you geta blowing around in the wind. a a few years ago, a ban, and you get a fine at the airport if you enter the country with one. now when you drive into the city, you don't see any more pollution. we can deal with it. when people say what's the good of our international treaty, i always point to the protocol of 1987. the big field was the hole in the ozone layer. we would all die of skin cancer. we created the protocol, and as a result, the ozone layer because of the ban on industrial carbons, the layer has been closing. that problem didn't get to where we thought it would. and we fixed it, so apply scientific logic, universal action, and we want a solution for this terrible plague that we've put upon the world.— this terrible plague that we've put uon the world. ,, ., ~ ,. upon the world. goodness. thank you so much for— upon the world. goodness. thank you so much forjoining _ upon the world. goodness. thank you so much forjoining us _ upon the world. goodness. thank you so much forjoining us and _ upon the world. goodness. thank you so much forjoining us and outlining i so much forjoining us and outlining the scale of that. peter thompson, secretary—general�*s special envoy for the ocean. three people are now known to have died following the eruption of an underwater volcano near tonga, in a disaster the government there has called "unprecedented". there are fears that ash could contaminate the water supply, and ash cloaking the airport runway has been hampering efforts to bring in aid. our correspondent howard johnson sent this report. a state of emergency has been declared by the tongan authorities, and here's why. newly released images captured by an australian surveillance flight show badly damaged buildings, knocked over shipping containers and whole communities covered in volcanic ash. we have seen that the airport and most part of the main island, where the capital is, it's been covered with volcanic ash. so, unfortunately, this will require a lot of clean—up. with airport runways currently off—limits, australia and new zealand's navies have been dispatched with humanitarian aid relief, and it's expected to take days before they arrive. the severing of an underwater internet cable is severely hampering communications. aid agencies are only slowly beginning to understand the extent of the damage. the damage doesn't seem to have been as catastrophic as we had first imagined that it might be, but there is still widespread damage, particularly to the western part of the main island. the family of angela glover, a 50—year—old british woman who died after being swept away by the tsunami, told bbc news today that they're devastated by the confirmation of her death. angela's husband james is said to be inconsolable with grief. you know, he's quite naturally, - you know, blaming himself for really not being able to do... being able to save angela. we have, you know... it doesn't matter how many times we tell him that, you know, - he has nothing to reproach himself for. you know. _ inside himself he is carryingl an incredible burden of guilt. for the tens of thousands of tongan expatriates living around the world, like wasps rugby player malakai fekitoa, there is concern for their loved ones at home. i haven't spoken to my mum, it's been a week now. obviously all comms down now and, yeah, we are still waiting. i literally can't do anything from here, so it's... it's been tough in the last couple of days. in an age of instant communication, the slow response to last saturday's devastating eruption is causing unbearable anxiety. howard johnson, bbc news, manila. inspector say urgent improvements need to be made to the electronic system which monitors criminals, warning some abusers are put on curfews which require them to live with their victims. her majesty's inspectorate found near kind of technology aren't being used as widely as they could be. daniel sandford reports. more modern gps tags using satellite technology and alcohol absence tags that tested the wearer's sweats to check if they been drinking. in the first major review for ten years, inspectors at the technology had significant potential but warned that sometimes the curfew address for criminals released from prison has not been checked properly, and people at risk for domestic finance were living there. the chief the inspector said satellite tagging should be deployed more widely. particularly when it came to tracking high—risk offenders, and they found a new alcohol abstinence tag showed promise that we're not being used to their full potential. daniel sandford, bbc news. the wartime anthems of dame vera lynne made her the darling of the armed forces and the voice of a generation. now the public has a rare opportunity to glimpse a more personal side of the singer. herwardrobe, paintings and memorabilia have gone on display at an exhibition celebrating her life. our correspondentjohn maguire has been to see it. # we'll meet again # don't know where, don't know when...# this is the chance to meet dame vera lynn again, but also in many ways, for the first time, because the exhibition of her personal possessions shows not just the story we all know of the forces' sweetheart and her extraordinary career in showbusiness, but also her private passions and pastimes. she was a prolific painter. so, we've got together here, obviously, performance costumes and things from her public role, which people are really familiar with, but also things like the paintings and personal items, give you a sense of what she was like, perhaps, when she was just doing things for herself at home. this is a real coup for the ditchling museum of art and craft. its picture—perfect location is in the east sussex village where dame vera lived for the last a0 years of her life. it's clear that she took great care to preserve items that tell the story notjust of her life, but also of the times. she wore this khaki shirt and shorts while on a three—month tour in 19114. her visit to the 14th army in burma became the stuff of legend. it was her idea to go there, and she was banned from writing anything down in case it fell into enemy hands. but she kept this small secret diary. i took my little diary and my little pencil, and you canjust about see it, tiny little writing. "slept on stretcher," oh, yes, " balanced on two kitchen chairs. "a rotten night. " i should think so. for somebody of 27, 28 to be able to do that in those days — and even in these days — was enormously unusual. you know, she was the forerunner really of, you know, women, if you want to go and do something, go and do it, basically! post—war, the dresses and the pictures capture dame vera with some of the biggest names in entertainment. but there are also personal items — the travel iron and the make—up box, the tools of the trade that made glamour possible. the exhibition runs until easter. it's an intimate look at a woman who lived life to the full, and whose voice meant so much to so many, bringing hope and light to the darkest of hours. john maguire, bbc news, ditching in east sussex. that takes us to look at the weather prospects. it was a bit of a chilly one with some frost and fog. for most places, temperatures lifted quite nicely. the temperatures will peg back into the low single digits. you can see that fog on the satellite picture down towards the south, and also thicker cloud into parts of scotland and ireland. that band of rain will make protests eastwards as we go through the first part of the evening. we have another band of rain pushing in from the north as —— northwest —— process. i think some of that fog will continue to linger. with that mix of low cloud, temperatures will hold just above freezing. tomorrow, a couple of fronts sinking southwards, but as those weather fronts move through, they will open the door to some colder air, they will open the door to some colderair, pushing they will open the door to some colder air, pushing down from the north on a brisk wind. a fairly chilly feel, weather front being this band of cloud across england and wales, then plenty of sunshine. even to quite low levels in shetland. we could have frequent snow showers. even parts of the uk will see temperatures dropping as the afternoon wears on. after wednesday night, that cold air drifting down, temperatures will drop below freezing. a frost to start thursday morning. thursday should be a decent winter day plenty of sunshine. the odd shower for west wales, a few more for north sea coast. temperatures will struggle. between 5—8 degrees in most places. high pressure will once again established itself down towards the south, winds around high pressure moving in a clockwise direction, so that will drive some slightly milder airfrom the that will drive some slightly milder air from the atlantic ocean. in towards particularly in the northern uk. it may stay a little bit chillier. as we head into the weekend, temperatures will get into double digits. some of the highest values could be in northern scotland. there will be quite a lot of cloud. frost and fog further south continuing to be a problem. a few sunny spells, but it will for continue to feel rather chilly. more weathered during the bbc news at six. at six — the prime minister has denied categorically that he was warned a garden party in downing street during lockdown was against the rules. during a visit to a london hospital today borisjohnson rejected allegations by his former top adviser dominic cummings that he had lied to parliament. i am adviser dominic cummings that he had lied to parliament.— lied to parliament. i am absolutely categorical _ nobody told me that what we were doing was, that is in breach of what we were asking _ that is in breach of what we were asking everyone else to do, should not go _ asking everyone else to do, should not go ahead. also tonight, the health secretary sajid javid says he is cautiously optimistic that covid restrictions in england can be substantially reduced next week. hundreds lined the streets in ireland in