good afternoon. an australian man has appeared in court in new zealand charged with murder, after 49 people were killed in shootings at two mosques in the city of christchurch yesterday. 28—year—old brenton tarrant did not enter a plea and has been remanded in custody. the prime minister of new zealand, jacinda ardern, has visited survivors of the attacks in hospital. she promised that gun laws will change. our correspondent sharanjit leyl leyl sent this report. we stand as one. from flower tributes to hand written notes, the messages are clear.

new zealand may be struggling to comprehend the tragic events that took place in christchurch, but people are determined to come together to pay their respects. this group of young men among them. one of them knew someone inside one of the mosques. your friend was shot in the leg? yeah, yeah. he went there for prayer. so, i don't know... so you knew people in the mosque? yeah. i even tried to call him yesterday and he couldn't take my call. christchurch has seen tragedy like this before and is still rebuilding after a devastating earthquake eight years ago. that was mother nature at her worst. but this is a man—made one on a different scale. we had the earthquakes and the anxiety levels were at a high. and this triggered that same anxiety, people wanted to get home to see where their families were. their children, like caro said, at preschool. she had the children at preschool.

like, people just wanted to get home. so it might take a wee while, but we will, yeah. memorials like this one have been springing up all over the city. people have been coming here to the botanical gardens in christchurch all day leaving their messages and flowers. there is a real sense of shock and horror at how something so awful could strike the heart of this community. new zealand's prime minister praised the efforts of police, and has called for a review of the countries gun laws after it was revealed that the suspect legally obtained his weapon. new zealand is united in its grief. and we are united in our grief. and so i convey that message of love and support on behalf of new zealand. an australian man has appeared in court. 28—year—old brenton tarrant wasn't on any security watchlist. he didn't enter a plea and is due to appear

in court next april the 5th. while the world awaits his fate, the outpouring of grief here will continue. but this is a resilient city that has seen tragedies like this before. and then, as now, the rallying cry in many messages of support is a maori phase that means, stay strong. sharanjit leyl, bbc news, christchurch. our correspondent phil mercer is outside the al noor mosque in christchurch. how big a joke has this been for a country priding itself on being both welcoming and safe? about 36 hours ago there was mass murder perpetrated in a building about 200 metres down the road. throughout the day people here in christchurch and people around the country have been turning out at various vigils trying

to make sense of what has been in many to make sense of what has been in ma ny eyes to make sense of what has been in many eyes a senseless attack. the emotions range from disgust to dismay to disbelief and i think there is also the sense that new zealand could well be a very different country from here on in. once upona different country from here on in. once upon a time new zealanders thought that their country was a place at the bottom of the earth far away from trouble spots but the atrocity perpetrated here on friday means new zealand has suffered just as many other countries. the prime minister says that the gun laws will change, how hard a task will she have tried to do that? new zealand has been looking to reform its gun laws for quite a few years now but you would have to say the atrocity perpetrated here in christchurch will give the prime minister all the help she needs to push reform through. there was a story earlier today that the government was going today that the government was going to ban semiautomatic weapons, the

type of weapon allegedly used in this attack. the prime minister at jacinda ardern will face some considerable opposition from the gun lobby here in new zealand but you have to say that there is an overwhelming public appetite for gun laws in new zealand to change. phil mercer in christchurch, thank you. a 29—year—old man has been stabbed to death in a fight in south—west london. the man — who died at the scene — was attacked in fulham in the early hours of saturday morning. no arrests have been made. the former minister, nick boles, has quit his local conservative association because of a rift over brexit. mr boles wants a closer relationship with europe and opposes a no—deal brexit. he'd been facing efforts by tory activists in his constituency in lincolnshire to oust him as the party's candidate at the next general election. the bbc‘s comic relief programme last night raised more than £63 million. highlights included a special reunion by the cast

of four weddings and a funeral — and a spoof spin off of the bbc one drama the bodyguard. the money is used to help vulnerable children in the uk and across the world. our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba reports. red nose day 2019! it's the night when some of entertainment‘s biggest stars come together and use comedy to raise money for comic relief. perhaps the most anticipated part of the evening was the short follow—up to four weddings and a funeral. it featured the original cast, reuniting 25 years later. very scary! mamma mia also got the comic relief treatment. # can you hear the drums, fernando? ican! and there was an appearance from the stars of tv‘s biggest drama for years, bodyguard. are we there yet, sweetie? there were celebrity performances in the studio, and a musical numberfrom the hit new west end version of only fools and horses. # but here's the one that's driving me berserk. # why do only fools and horses work?

as well as appearances from comedy favourites like alan partridge. everyone coming together like david cameron's big society. i don't know if you remember it about eight years ago... before the night even began, huge amounts had already been raised. breakfast‘s very own dan walker was one of a team of celebrities who climbed africa's highest mountain, kilimanjaro, for comic relief last month. not to mention strictly hosts claudia winkleman and tess daly‘s more than 24—hour danceathon. would you do it again, yes or no? no. never! the money goes towards helping people both here in the uk and abroad. since comic relief began more than £1.25 billion has been raised. lizo mzimba, bbc news. with all the sport now, here's holly hamilton at the bbc sport centre... good afternoon. it's six nations super saturday — and we still have three teams who could potentially win the title.

the first game gets underway in cardiff at 2:45. but will ireland stand in their way of the grand slam? john watson is there for us. it is finely poised, john. it is finely poised, john. it is indeed but it is wales in the driving seat with their four wins out of four, that the six nations title now within their grasp and the grand slam as well if they can beat ireland here in the principality stadium later. ireland are very much still in the running. they have to beat wales and help scotland beat england at twickenham and england are still very much in the hunt and know that they need ireland to do them a favour and then they have to beat scotland at twickenham. which they will feel confident of doing when you consider that scotland have not beaten england at twickenham since 1983. eddiejones not beaten england at twickenham since 1983. eddie jones has not beaten england at twickenham since 1983. eddiejones has been at it again with the mind games suggesting that wales have been looking tired and perhaps ireland have peaked too soon despite the

fa ct have peaked too soon despite the fact he knows that ireland have to do his side a huge favourite later. so with that match with scotland kicking off at five o'clock will they be watching events unfold in here at the principality stadium before their game gets under way? we will be interested, it is human nature, will be interested, it is human nature , everyone will be interested, it is human nature, everyone will be interested. we have not told the players anything about what to do during the game, some will want to watch it and some will not. the one thing we need to be is by the time we get to kick off ready to play, and very happy that our players are in a good position to be able to cope with either disappointment or excitement. it could be a hugely special afternoon for warren gatland if he can wina afternoon for warren gatland if he can win a third grand slam. no head coach has done that ever in the five nations or six nations and let's not forget that this is all played out with a backdrop of that world cup, the all—importa nt world with a backdrop of that world cup, the all—important world cup injapan

to come later this year. john watson, thank you. it's also the final round of the women's six nations this weekend with england hosting scotland at twickenham tonight. a win for the red roses this evning will earn them the grand slam and the title. kick off at half seven. lewis hamilton has started his quest for a sixth formula one world championship in the best possible way by claiming pole for tomorrow's australian grand prix. while it was business as usual for the briton there was a changing of the order lower down the grid as nick parrott reports. a new season in formula 1 with new cars and some new drivers, but nothing new up front. once again five times world champion lewis hamilton showed he is the man to beat. the quickest in all of practice and in two of the three qualifying sessions. he smashed the track record to claim pole position in melbourne for the sixth year in a row ahead of valtteri bottas, his mercedes team—mate.

ferrari shone in preseason but stumbled around albert park. the only comfort for sebastian vettel in third place is that the massive gap separating them was a similar size last year but they won the race. behind them things are interesting, lando norris showing potential on his debut, giving mclaren optimism after some difficult years. another rookie, alex albon, also impressed by beating his toro rosso team—mate. the return of robert kubica after eight seasons away has been hailed as remarkable. his williams car was not however and it ended up last. either watford or crystal palace will become the first team to reach the fa cup semi finals today. and it's watford who have the advantage. they lead 1—0 — thanks to this goal from etienne capoue. it's the first goal palace have conceded in the tournament this season. that's all the sport for now.

holly hamilton, thank you. that's all from me. the next news on bbc one is at 6:20. bye for now. hello. you're watching the bbc news channel. more now on our main story — and police in new zealand believe there was only one gunman involved in the shootings at two mosques in christchurch in which 49 people were killed and scores of others injured. i've been speaking to mustenser qamar who is an imam in wellington. he told me more about the al noor mosque. i have been to that mosque, but not in the past day or so. i have been to that mosque previously and worshipped there as well. and it is a decent sized mosque as well, especially for the south island. it is just shocking what has

happened because we wouldn't expect anything like this in new zealand. we don't hear much public islamophobia and anti— muslim sentiment, although we have had campaigns running across new zealand like the true islam nz campaign. we have had comments on social media and on our numbers which are very hurtful and anti—islamic. but never at any public event we have held. we had quran exhibition last year in christchurch as well. people had given negative comments on social media, they said they would also cause problems. but nothing like that happened. so that is why it was shocking for something like this to happen in new zealand. so in some ways, the atmosphere is very different from say australia where anti—immigrant sentiment,

anti— muslim sentiment is more... we heard earlier a senator who routinely says critical of all immigration and is also critical of muslims. you don't really hear that kind of thing in general public debate in new zealand. yes, definitely not. definitely not. it is not like a lot of western countries where even political leaders are speaking up against islam. it is not like that in new zealand. it is completely different. even the reaction we have had from the public here has been overwhelming, the messages of love and acceptance and people even offering, because all of our mosque have been closed until further notice, and people even reaching out to us offering their own places of worship, churches as well, reaching out to us across the country. offering their places of worship as well. i think these are the values that new zealand actually represents. these extremists don't represent the values that

new zealand stands for, just like the few extremists who claim to act in the name of our faith don't represent us either. in other news — the former conservative minister, nick boles, has resigned from his local conservative association in lincolnshire amid plans to deselect him because of his stance over brexit. in his resignation letter, mr boles said divisions had opened up between him and the local association in grantham and stamford. but he said he would continue to take the conservative whip in parliament if it is offered on acceptable terms. the chief whip, julian smith said nick boles was a valued member of the conservative parliamentary party. we can speak now to councillor martin hill, vice president of the grantham and stamford conservative associaiton. thank you very much for speaking to us thank you very much for speaking to us this lunchtime. let me ask you, we re us this lunchtime. let me ask you, were you surprised by nick ball's decision? i was not surprised but i need to correct your report. there

we re need to correct your report. there were no formal moves to deselect him. all we did was write to him to ask him what his intentions were regarding standing as a candidate at the next general election. can i just say, there was no formal move to deselect him at all. right, i think that script was written on the basis of the letter that was issued today that he says, i have not intended to make a decision for one year or two and intended to make a decision for one yearortwo andi intended to make a decision for one year or two and i am disappointed that the executive have tried to force my hand. i think from the association point of view, because of the instability in parliament, it is quite reasonable to ask nick what his intentions are because for all we know, there could be a general election called within the next few weeks and we really need to know where we stand regarding having a conservative candidate. you know where you stand now. it will not be

him, not least because he has resigned from the local association. he has been involved with your association since he was first elected 12 years ago. he was widely regarded as a bit of a rising star. why are you so disappointed in him? i think the first thing is, our electorate voted decisively to leave, 61% to 39% to leave the eu and neck, first of all, has seemingly at odds with that decision and he has stated quite openly that he would be prepared to resign the conservative whip in the house of commons if things did not go the way he wanted. i do think there was a lot of unrest. obviously within the last week or so, he has voted against the prime minister several times. he has been wanting to... he has undermined the negotiating

position, try to undermine, the position, try to undermine, the position of the prime minister and government when they are trying to get this deal sorted out. he does point out that he has voted for the prime minister's deal. yes, he has voted for the prime minister deal. this week he has said he is not going to countenance a new deal with any terms and he will stop that happening and he has been working nonstop to do that. —— no deal. people thought, how is it possible to get this withdrawal agreement modified if people are undermining the prime minister as we speak. modified if people are undermining the prime minister as we speakm isa the prime minister as we speakm is a difficult thing, isn't it, the relationship between local associations and members of parliament. members of parliament often feel once they have been selected, are in the case of labour and liberal democrat local party, the app it up as a candidate for wendy when the general election they

are there to represent all the constituents. they or theirjudgment to, shouldn't the conservative party bea to, shouldn't the conservative party be a big enough place for people to disagree but also work together on the things they have in common as conservatives? well, the issue is, we have a referendum which drove a coach and horses through the principle that mps are elected and up principle that mps are elected and up to decide. there are members of the conservative party who not only worked and went out knocking on doors delivering leaflets for him, they also donated to his election campaign. ithink they also donated to his election campaign. i think quite rightly they are not happy. what the trigger point was for most people, they thought he was trying to come up with the compromise was the statement that if it does not go the way he wanted it to go, he was going to resign the party whip. you think

thatis to resign the party whip. you think that is the tipping point?|j to resign the party whip. you think that is the tipping point? i think so that is the tipping point? i think so for most people. i think there was a general site of an ease, if you like, in accepting that he was trying to find a compromise but once you start saying it is not going the way i want it, i am going to leave, thatis way i want it, i am going to leave, that is not it. i can stress again he has not been deselected. the only person who has taken unilateral action here is nick boles. he is the second conservative candidate in succession who has fallen out with your association. quentin davies, conservative mp for many years and then defected to the labour party. are you worried this might discourage some potentially very good candidates from putting their names forward ? good candidates from putting their names forward? i wouldn't have thought so. i think the problem we have had as people are out of kilter not only with the local party, but local population. the area is a

strong eurosceptic area and voted strongly to leave. although an mp is elected, unless the mp accepts his local party, the local party has a right to take a view of who might be a suitable candidate in future. just finally, how quickly do you hope to replace him? my view is he was very critical of quentin davies when quentin was still an mp and he said he should resign. my view is he should resign as a member of parliament because he no longer wa nts to parliament because he no longer wants to be a member of the local association, who appointed him. obviously, we need to make a fairly quick moves to start a formal selection procedure. it will obviously take some weeks and months, i suspect. counting martin hill, thank you very much for being

with us this afternoon. -- mike councillor. thank you. goodbye. studies show the stress and pain experienced by very premature babies, can go on to cause mental and physical illness later in life. aberdeen maternity hospital is preparing to trial pioneering techniques that could reduce that trauma. our correspondent laura goodwin has been to take a look. twins willow and niamh were born atjust 26 weeks weighing a little over 2lbs each. for mum zoe the first few months of motherhood in the neonatal ward were bewildering and at times frightening. there has been times i've thought one or two of the girls wasn't coming home. the past couple of weeks is when i have started to feel like a mum because i can go and pick up my own baby. i didn't realise how important that is until you can't do it. now aberdeen neonatal unit are trialling a new approach they hope will minimise the trauma of painful but necessary medical procedures for babies and to show parents how they can help. you could be that other pair

of hands and provide this kind of containment. friends of the neonatal unit raised £27,000 to bring mary coughlin, a neonatal expert from boston, to pass on the techniques that she has pioneered. two person care is basically one person is doing the procedure and the other person, their sole job is to make sure the baby is comfortable. the gold standard for the two—person approach is that other person, that comfort person, is the parent or a family member. there's lots of things that happen to these little people and their families that it's just an is thing, right? i mean, they are critically ill, they need the equipment, they need the procedures and stuff. but it's how we manage those experiences that can really reduce their short—term and long—term morbidity or complications as a result. it's the smaller things, the littlest things make the biggest difference. like a parentjust talking to their baby whilst having a painful procedure done. we might not have thought about it, it could be as simple as that.

so really the parents being here and comforting their baby has been a huge eye—openerfor us. baby ella was born eight weeks early, her mum says empowering parents to help their babies is hugely important. obviously you feel a bit helpless if they are crying and she was in an incubator so there's not much comforting you can do. so anything you can do to help, you want to do it. willow, niamh and ella are all making good progress and will be heading home soon. aberdeen neonatal unit hope adopting these new techniques will position them as a centre of excellence for neonatal care and ensure many more little miracles are given every chance to thrive. all this week, the bbc has been taking a look at life in bradford. it's a city where reading and writing skills are below average, across every age range. sabbiyah pervez has been to see how the city is trying to improve its literacy levels.

the gift of a book, arriving through the post every month from a charity aiming to improve literacy here in bradford. a little boy is testing out his brand—new car... each story these kids read are building blocks for their imagination and vocabulary. there is a shark in the park! their mum grew up in pakistan. her parents didn't read to her, but storytime is now a staple part of her life. when i started getting the books from imagination library, then to see how good the books are and somebodyjust giving me these really good gifts, so then i started reading regularly. in bradford, three in every ten five to seven—year—olds do not reach the expected meeting standards. this is below the national average. there are a number of issues linked to poverty and which sort of present themselves intergenerationally,

so why would you blame the child in those circumstances to believe that reading, writing, doing well at school are going to make any difference to them because it didn't make a difference to their parents and grandparents? at this school, in a bid to boost literacy and aspirations, pupils are partnered up with mentors, who read to them via the internet. it's rewarding for me because i am helping a child learn how to read and it's seeing her improvement. at school, i enjoyed reading and helping a child read and developing their reading skills, it is very rewarding. for the past five months, ana maria and nasim have been reading together. this is the first time they're reading side—by—side. well done. there are still huge challenges with literacy in bradford, but the future of the students here has yet to be written, and with help,

it can only be improved. goats are known to be curious. a goatjoins commuters waiting for the manchester tram. and nobody bats an eyelid. we had a call saying it was on the platform. you came down here? and it was here. julie is a troubleshooter. it isa was here. julie is a troubleshooter. it is a makeshift lead. i popped it round her neck and let her off the platform. how did the billy goat get here in the first place? it is a mystery. we are looking through it

at the moment. # you hit the wrong note, billy goat. within hours, the billy goat was on its way home. it is called bailand was on its way home. it is called bail and she has been missing since monday. she turns up at a tram stop waiting to get on the tram to come home. it was wonderful when she came back, her brother and her half—brother bailey both head—butted together. it was a try head back together. it was a try head back together because they were so happy together because they were so happy to see each other. the question is, how did the billy goat get here? did she pay philfare or how did the billy goat get here? did she pay phil fare or pass herself off as she pay phil fare or pass herself offasa she pay phil fare or pass herself off as a kid? they are taking a lenient view. there is no question of her being barred from the system. for now, travelling days are over. i

tell you what, they have wild goats in exmoor and they get everywhere. let's have a look at the weather now. she seemed to be doing a lot better with her public transport than we have been doing with the weather. some lively weather could throw if you spanners in the works. snow across central scotland but turning to rain. snow forfurther north for the highlands and aberdeenshire. heavy rain for northern england, wales and the south—west of england. there is the wind. england and wales, very gusty. that could cause some disruption. our weather front, the band that could cause some disruption. our weatherfront, the band of rain heads into the south—east. lots of showers packing in behind it. some heavy and wintry for the north of

scotland, north—west of england, and the midlands. ice is an issue tomorrow. brighter than today. the midlands. ice is an issue tomorrow. brighterthan today. not as wendy. milderfor tomorrow. brighterthan today. not as wendy. milder for scotland and cooler elsewhere. some heavier showers around for the afternoon. more of us will see sunshine. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines — brenton tarrant, the main suspect in the new zealand mosque shootings in which 49 people were killed, appears in court on a single murder charge. new zealand police say they believe a lone gunman was involved in the attacks. prime ministerjacinda ardern vows, "our gun laws will change". new zealand is united in its grief, and we are united in our grief. in other news, tory mp nick boles quits his local