losing items of his police uniform along the way, with the rest of it being quite tonight at ten — 60 million italians are having to deal with travel restrictions as the country struggles with coronavirus. literally ripped from his body. europe's worst—hit country has recorded more sharp rises in cases and deaths and people are being told to stay at home. public gatherings are forbidden — tourist sites are virtually deserted — and doctors give stark advice to the public. stay at home and be prepared for a kind of war, because we are facing a war now here. here in the uk — in watford — a sixth person has died of the virus — around a quarter of a million people as health experts keep a sharp usually attend the event. 0rganisers eye on the situation — just across the english channel. yes, here in france there's been a sharp increase in the number of reported cases usually attend the event. 0rganisers usually say, our sports as ministers consider correspondent is here. the usual the urgent need for stricter measures.

queues, the usual excitement, but cheltenham knows these are not usual times. the focus is unhygienic, with more from lucy in paris on the latest from italy and a look at the 24 especially installed hand increasing pressures on the nhs. sanitising stations dotted around also tonight... in downing street — the courts. but despite this, fans the chancellor is putting the finishing touches to his first we re budget and measures to deal the courts. but despite this, fans were happy to be there. we had no with coronavirus are expected concerns personally, but i'm pleased to feature prominently. they are to taking precautions with in edinburgh — the where former first minister is on trial for sexual this. i think there is a difference assault and attempted rape — one of his alleged victims has been cross—examined. between here and china and italy. at angelino‘s cross. what a smashing the moment, i think it is ok. header! and tottenham are out of the champions league after losing to leipzig tonight. and coming up on sportsday on bbc news — it was full steam ahead for the cheltenham festival and it was victory for the favourite epatante in the champion hurdle. all sports, it's facing an unprecedented challenge. in football, manchester united's game in austria on thursday is now

behind closed doors — good evening. while in rugby union england's and ireland's games in rome and paris this weekend we start tonight with the unprecedented measures have been postponed. being enforced right across italy — to try to limit the unlike many european spread of coronavirus. countries, sport in britain as the number of cases is carrying on for now, and deaths rises sharply, italy faces growing isolation, but, for many here, these are uncertain times. with thousands of flights cancelled and stringent controls on its borders it's really frustrating that some with austria and slovenia. sporting events might get cancelled, and no one really knows what's public gatherings including going to happen in the future, sports events are banned — and schools and universities are closed. italians are being advised to stay at home. the number of confirmed cases has risen to more than 10,000. and the number of deaths in italy has increased by more than a third — to 631. here in the uk — a sixth person has died — and the number of cases here has risen to 382. more on that in a moment — but first our italy correspondent mark lowen reports. "all residents stay at home", orders the police. from naples in the south

to the supermarkets of rome, to the financial capital up in milan, news of the restrictions spread as fast as the virus. in bologna today they began to adjust to the toughest limitations since the war. public gatherings banned, bars and restaurants closed from 6pm, tables a metre apart, schools, museums and nightclubs shut. everyone is affected. italians, tourists, and expats living here, staying put as several airlines stop flights. well, obviously we won't be able to travel in the immediate future. we've been told we can only take trains between cities in italy for reasons of work or health or for some extraordinary emergency and apart from that we must stay put, but that seems sensible. another thing is they have put this spotlight on age groups and it makes me feel really, really old. but i'm optimistic about it.

moving around requires a form which we also had to complete, allowing travel for work or health emergencies or to return home. we would have to produce it if asked. it says here that falsifying this document could lead to prosecution. never could people in italy have conceived of the idea that they would need this to be able to move within their own country. as we drove out, traffic seemed quieter. roads are open, though slovenia says it will close its border and austria has banned italians entering unless with medical certificates. we have come out of bologna and we're on the motorway to rome and we haven't seen any police checks for the documents, so it's still not clear how these restrictions are going to be enforced. we pulled over and got through to a doctor in one of the worst virus hit areas. hospitals are near breaking point. we need more beds, more doctors,

more nurses, because i think that in one to two weeks we will reach the top so if we will not have more facilities we will not know how to take care of the patients. we are facing a war now here. in rome, deserted tourist sites show the huge economic impact. the government now discussing suspending tax and bill payments to ease pressure. from inside the vatican, the pope led mass, urging priests to have the courage to visit the sick — a risky call. and often it's too late. even funerals are now banned, replaced with a restricted blessing. the virus is killing and taking italy's dignity with it. mark lowen, bbc news, italy. this area of rome, the tourist heart besides saint peter's square is

usually buzzing with restaurants. and now look at it. they are considering imposing even more severe restrictions. 0ne considering imposing even more severe restrictions. one last thought. in the northern town which was the original epicentre of the virus, for the first time they have reported no new cases in the past day. a glimmer of hope, perhaps, so desperately needed. mark lowen, many thanks, with the latest on the situation in italy, he was in rome. several airlines — including british airways and ryanair — have cancelled all their flights to and from italy for a month, leaving some passengers stranded. 0thers — including air france — have announced drastically reduced timetables. 0ur transport correspondent tom burridge is at heathrow airport. some people are in italy wondering how they will get home. a small number will be able to book onto ryanair flights which will number will be able to book onto rya nair flights which will still operate until friday and easyjet will operate a small number of what

it is calling rescue flights in the coming days, both to bring people back to britain and for essential travel out to italy. the government is talking to airlines and i'm told it isa is talking to airlines and i'm told it is a fluid situation, they are trying to work out how many flights are needed, so anyone who lives in britain who is in italy at the moment can get home. airlines are being hit more broadly because passenger numbers globally have fallen off a cliff and that's why you have seen airlines like norwegian air the day cutting 15% of flights out of their schedule in the coming weeks and saying they will temporarily lay off some staff. british airways has asked their staff whether they are willing to ta ke volu nta ry staff whether they are willing to take voluntary unpaid lead. the airline industry is precariously placed at the best of times and these are the worst of times and airlines are being hit hard. tom burridge with the latest on the airline industry cosmic problems at heathrow. 0ur medical correspondent fergus walsh is here. not surprisingly we are focusing on

italy and the drastic measures there. are we in a better position now to understand why italy has been so badly hit? some of it is down to poor surveillance early on and around mid—january. for several weeks this virus was circulating silently and so cases were being missed and the italians have been playing catch up ever since. a lot of transmission among families in the home between generations and italy has the second oldest population in the world afterjapan, hence the high death toll. when we think about the pressures on the italian health service, which of course is a very advanced service and then think of our own nhs, which is clearly also a very advanced service, do you think the nhs would copein service, do you think the nhs would cope in the same way? would it feel the strain in the same way as the italians have done? the simple a nswer italians have done? the simple answer is any health care system in the world would feel the strain with this level of pressure and it's down to sheer numbers in italy. we keep saying this is a mild illness for

four out of five people but when you have more than 10,000 cases to get a massive impact from the minority and has been sobering to read reports from doctors about their critical ca re from doctors about their critical care units being nearly overwhelmed with patients with pneumonia, with organ failure, lack of ventilators and setting up makeshift intensive ca re and setting up makeshift intensive care beds in corridors. now, we simply don't know whether we will have that level of outbreak here. it could be not as bad as in lombardy but we can't leave it to luck, we have to prepare. fergus, many thanks again. fergus walsh, a medical correspondent. 0ur medical correspondent. here in the united kingdom — a man in his early 80s has become the 6th person with coronavirus — to die in the uk. the patient — who had underlying health conditions — caught the virus in the uk — and died in watford general hospital. more than 26,000 people have now been tested for the virus in the uk. there have been 382 confirmed cases. part of the government's plan

is to try to limit the number of people who need hospital admission — and that means gps playing a central role — as our health editor hugh pym reports. this is the sort of protective equipment which nhs staff have to wear if they're in contact with patients possibly infected with the coronavirus. here, two nurses demonstrate how it's put on ahead of carrying out a test. gps are now being sent the equipment for use in their surgeries. 0ne leading gp said they expect many patients to come in, even though those who might have the virus have been urged to stay away and call nhs111, and that will mean non urgent appointments being cancelled. we do expect cases to rise rapidly, and over the coming weeks practices who are routinely doing health checks, assessing people's blood pressure, diabetic control, long—term problems with heart disease and lung disease — those routine checks will need to stop. some gps have complained they

haven't yet received the equipment. ministers say it is being sent out this week. we wanted to get the timing of the roll—out right so that the equipment is there should this epidemic hit in a very large way. a sixth patient has died in the uk with the coronavirus. at watford general hospital, a man in his early 80s who had underlying health conditions. and at the specialist children's hospital great 0rmond street, a health worker tested positive for the virus. non—essential heart surgery and related appointments will be stopped for two weeks. the son of a patient who died at the north manchester general hospital, now in isolation himself, spoke to the bbc. my father obviously has passed away and i cannot even go to the hospital. this illness, two months ago, or so, didn't even exist and yesterday it just took away my dad and it's really, really heartbreaking. so, with the spread of the coronavirus, what is the nhs facing up to here?

whether it's gp practices or hospitals. 0ne senior health official said today there could at some stage be thousands of cases in the uk. we can expect, if you like, a peak in cases. it has a relatively slow take—up at the start and that's really where we are at the moment. it will start to rise quite sharply. gp video consultations will be more common, with infected patients at home, and others who want to avoid surgery visits. this is a demonstration with a member of staff. the nhs care we are all used to is set to change radically for a time as the virus epidemic reaches its peak. hugh pym, bbc news. let's take a look at some of today's other coronavirus developments. china's president xi jinping has visited the city of wuhan, the origin of the coronavirus outbreak. his visit is being seen as a sign that the authorities believe they have the situation there under control. china has recorded its lowest

number of infections, just 19 on tuesday. all were in wuhan apart from two people who had arrived from overseas. in california, after five days stuck on a cruise liner off the coast of the state, more than 120 british passengers on the grand princess are this evening waiting to board a plane home. they'll have to be screened for coronavirus — but if they are free of infection — they should arrive in the uk tomorrow afternoon — and begin two weeks of self—isolation. it's notjust italy that's been badly affected, let's have a look at some of the other countries in europe. in spain, where1,6li6 people are confirmed to have coronavirus, the lower house of parliament has been closed for a week, after a member tested positive for the virus. almost 1,500 people now have the coronavirus in germany. the first ever bundesliga football match to be played behind closed doors will take place tomorrow night. and in france, the second—worst affected country

in europe after italy, there have been nearly 400 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing it to a total of 1,784 cases, and 33 deaths. 0ur correspondent lucy williamson is in paris tonight update us on the situation and what ministers in the french government are saying? emmanuel macron has said he thinks what he called it disproportionate measures would be counter—productive at this stage, but there are at least five mps amongst those who have tested positive including one government minister and already in the worst affected areas of the country, schools have closed, gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned, so no markets and people are counselling weddings. across the country as a whole restrictions are tightened so there is a nationwide ban on any gathering of more than a thousand people and that means sporting events are being cancelled, concerts are being cancelled. 0ne problem france has is it has the

first round of its local elections coming up this weekend so special measures are having to be put in place to stop the virus spreading at polling stations and they include asking voters to bring their own pens. lucy, thanks for the update, thanks forjoining us. in another sign of the economic impact on coronavirus, some tourism operators in the uk say they're seeing significant cancellations. 0ur correspondent danny savage has been talking to business owners in the yorkshire dales and the lake district. it's only march, but the effect of coronavirus is already being felt on tourism in the lake district. for the main ferry company on windermere, they're already dealing with foreign visitors not coming. it's having a huge impact on the business. but now people living within driving distance are staying away. what we're seeing now is the reluctance of uk visitors to move around the uk, and we are hearing reports from hotels and self—catering accommodation that they are not receiving the level of bookings that they would imagine at this time of year.

these boats are tied up because its low season, but there's a fear that this could be the scene in months to come, and that would be a real indicator ofjust how big a hit tourism is taking. other businesses aren't hiring staff this year, because they don't believe the demand will materialise. well, we've already had quite a few cancellations already. louise lets a spacious self catering annex in her home to tourists. cancellations have consequences, not just for her. it's the cleaning lady, the laundry people, the decorators, the gardeners — their income will go down because they don't have any other source of income. she can't understand why uk visitors are beginning to stay at home at this point. we popped down to ikea and john lewis at the weekend, and they were packed, cheek byjowl, and yet folk are thinking, we better not travel to the lake district or to anywhere else in case there's a health problem. i find it quite bizarre, actually. so, this is the workshop room. this is our biggest letting room.

40 miles away — in the heart of the yorkshire dales — neil and jane run an award—winning bed—and—breakfast in bainbridge. in the last few days alone, they've lost 16 nights of future bookings. but — because it's a virus — they understand why. if we get somebody coming here with a cold, if we get a slight sniffle, when do you know...? that's what the difficulty is, the uncertainty. nobody knows at the moment, which is why i think our future bookings are quieter. i'm very optimistic, yeah. i think it will pick up once people understand what's going to happen next. i think there's a lot of uncertainty about what's going to happen. back in the lakes, this is what it should look like this spring, but will it? the losses are already stacking up, and they are worried not just about their health but about their incomes, too. danny savage, bbc news, windermere. measures to help tackle coronavirus are expected to feature prominently in tomorrow's budget — the first for the newly—appointed chancellor rishi sunak. he's also expected to promise to boost infrastructure spending to its highest in decades —

on rail, roads, affordable housing, broadband and research. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg is at westminster. what are we expecting tomorrow? real—life reasons why the chancellor barely a month into the job real—life reasons why the chancellor barely a month into thejob is going to be under significant pressure tomorrow to spell out how he will be able to tide businesses to what could be a very significant impact of coronavirus. how is he going to help them stump up with sick pay? how is he going to help them with cash flow and also make sure the nhs actually does get everything it needs which he and the prime minister have promised? coronavirus has completely changed the wallpaper and the backdrop if you like for this budget, the first since the eu, since we left the eu and the first since we left the eu and the first since the general election. in terms of putting the budget together at the numbers have all completely changed in the last couple of weeks with everything that has been happening on the markets, like

trying tojuggle water happening on the markets, like trying to juggle water for the treasury, but that side there is no way that the government is going to give up on their promises they made in the manifesto, they say they want to get on with the promises they made in terms of infrastructure spending. tomorrow i understand they will set up more than £600 billion over five years promised for roads, rail, research, those kind of things, eye watering sums of money, but not that different when we compare it with what was promised in the manifesto and already planned, but certainly a change of gear compared to recent decades. remember, though, spending on capital, bricks and mortar, roads and rail, are not the same as day—to—day spending and government departments, so promising big checks for the future does not mean the real squeeze on some government departments will suddenly disappear. laura, thanks forjoining us. there's more on tomorrow's budget — and the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak —

on the bbc website. it includes info about symptoms and how to reduce the risk of becoming infected — plus advice for people with underlying health conditions. at the high court in edinburgh — a woman who has accused the former first minister alex salmond of sexually assaulting her has been cross—examined by mr salmond's lawyers. mr salmond is alleged to have assaulted the woman at his official residence in may 2014 — before attempting to rape her a month later. mr salmond faces a total of 14 charges of sexual assault — relating to 10 women. his lawyers say he will vigorously defend himself against all the charges — as our scotland editor sarah smith reports. mr salmond today heard more graphic evidence in court from a woman who says he pulled her clothes off

and assaulted her in 2014. she contacted police four years later to say she had been attacked inside the first minister's official residence of bute house. woman h told the police she was assaulted by mr salmond after a dinner in bute house in may 2014. his lawyers argue that's not possible, because he was rarely in bute house that month, and his diary shows other events for the evenings he was there. asked if she accepted there was no incident with mr salmond in may 2014, the woman replied, "absolutely not." she described alex salmond as a man who was often aggressive and bullying, saying he assaulted her in bute house again after another dinner in june 2014. mr salmond's lawyer asked, "is the truth that you weren't at the dinner at all, and there was no incident with the first minister?" woman h said...

she first contacted the snp to discuss sexual misconduct in 2017, telling the court she started having flashbacks around the time of the harvey weinstein case and the metoo movement. mr salmond's qc also asked her... mr salmond has pleaded not guilty and he denies all the charges. sarah smith, bbc news, edinburgh. this month marks five years of the conflict in yemen — and the bbc has been told by the un — that a new upsurge in fighting is threatening to destroy the latest efforts to end the fighting. taiz — in the south—west — is the centre of one of the longest—running battles. the city is split in two, between houthi rebels backed by iran and the government backed by a saudi—led coalition, which is supported by the west.

0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet, producer tony brown and cameraman dave bull were given rare access to the government—run side of the city. sneaking through shadows. slipping behind walls... we're taken to the streets in the line of fire. taiz, city of snipers. 0ne street, one lane is safe, the other is not. that's the nature of this shifting front line in taiz, dividing streets, dividing homes, shattering lives. this side of the wall in government hands. the other, houthi fighters. both sides shooting. the face of the front line drained of life.

0ther streets shot through with danger. a short drive away, the first neighbourhood reduced to rubble when this war began. it's lasted longer in taiz than almost anywhere else in yemen. but in the safe spaces, life explodes. children ambush the ice cream man. but they carefully keep to this road. they all know it's the safest route on their way home from school. gone from the skies for now, the rumble of saudi warplanes. taiz was one of the most heavily bombed areas, causing the most civilian casualties.

often with british or american made bombs. this is my home. marwan remembers this air strike as if it was yesterday. ten members of his family perished as they slept in these rooms. eight neighbours died, too. life is still shattered five years on. stuck in this stalemate. see the green scar slashing taiz in two? the houthis control the heights beyond there, a third of this city. the roads running through taiz,

once bustling, are now blocked. to get from one side to the other you need to drive around the city, a perilous journey of six to eight hours. it used to take five minutes. ghalya nasser, blinded in one eye by a sniper, belongs to a women's group lobbying to end the siege. there's still a pulse in this city. the pride taizes still feel in a place once prized for its culture. but it's a life lived on the edge. taiz, a symbol of yemen's conflict.

it's torn a whole country apart. liz doucet, bbc news, taiz. a jury at the old bailey has heard how a police officer died — when he was dragged by a car for more than a mile. pc andrew harper suffered multiple injuries after the incident last august — which happened as he responded to reports of a burglary in berkshire. 00:27:26,732 --> 2147483051:50:28,081 henry long, who's 18, 2147483051:50:28,081 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 and two 17 year—olds