more than 100,000 people have now died from coronavirus in the united states — that's more than the combined total of fatalities from the korean, vietnam and iraq wars. the uk prime minister, borisjohnson has continued to back his chief advisor under questioning from senior mps. he was also questioned about britain's coronavirus response which has seen the highest number of deaths in europe as protests rumble on in hong kong — the us secretary of state mike pompeo says the territory no longer merits special status under american law, because china is stripping it of autonomy. and the first private sector mission to the international space station— and the first crewed launch from us soil in nine years — has been postponed due to bad weather. it's now thought that the spacex rocket will be launched on saturday.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are anna mikhailova, deputy political editor at the telegraph, and sonia sodha, chief leader writer at the observer. tomorrow's front pages, starting with. .. "zooming fuming!" the metro's reference to the prime minister's virtual appearance before mps, in which he was accused of putting politics ahead of public health for sticking by his senior aide, dominic cummings, who is accused of breaking lockdown rules. the guardian says tory mp‘s defy borisjohnson to pile pressure on mr cummings. the paper carries a story

that is in a few of the others too. newsnight presenter emily maitlis being rebuked by the bbc it says ‘after criticism of the pm's aide‘. the daily mail's headline "test and trace revolution" refers to the new scheme beginning tomorrow, where people who have come into close contact with a coronavirus sufferer will be told to stay at home for m days — even if they don't have any symptoms. test and trace is the key to ourfreedom, is how the express reports on what it describes as the world—beating programme that it's hoped will help kill off covid—19. the telegraph's main headline is that the public are told they have a "duty" to test and trace. the daily mirror pointedly asks "why don't you do your duty?" the paper reports the government telling the public to do its "‘civic duty‘ to curb the virus, while boris johnson continues to back dominic cummings.

brits could be back in pubs injune according to the sun, which says borisjohnson believes experts are close to finding a solution for stopping the spread of the virus in bars. and the times‘ main picture story is of astronauts doug hurley and bob behnken on their way to the cape canaveral launch pad, of course before the bad weather got in the way. before bad weather unfortunately got in their way before bad weather unfortunately got in theirway and before bad weather unfortunately got in their way and space acts was postponed until we think saturday. —— space x was postponed. so the appearance before the liaison committee today, zooming and fuming, there was a lot of anger wasn‘t there was a lot of anger wasn‘t there about dominic cummings. lot of frantic questioning as well, how do you think you dead? it was a pretty disastrous appearance varied the prime minister at the liaison

committee is from the powerful back and their opportunity to grow the prime minister on the government‘s agenda. he failed to turn up once and ten months and today shows us why. he was not on top of his brief and key moments came when asked about the conduct of his adviser dominic cummings. are you backing your adviser or are you allowing his actions to break government guidelines to undermine the public health advice going forward? and it was clear that borisjohnson is doubling down and protecting his adviser is so all in all i think he came across as a weak prime minister who was still reliant on one adviser he will back that adviser and put that above the integrity of the government. you spend half an hour ago that you thought he would be

very prepared answering questions about dominic cummings but he did not seem quite so at ease, deity with some of the more scientific questions, some of the debates about distancing for example? the first thing to bear in mind as she said this committee as a collection of mps this committee as a collection of mp5 on this committee as a collection of mps ona this committee as a collection of mp5 on a whole number of briefs and they are the leaders in parliament essentially on their briefs and it is obviously quite a task for any prime minister to face them that knowing as far asjohnson prime minister to face them that knowing as far as johnson is usually a man not a detailed plan that would be the particular case but the sense of it was at number ten has been fighting so hard this week to try to get the dominic cummings story out of the paperand get the dominic cummings story out of the paper and obviously today, i thought he cleaned and prepared to face questions on that and really try, as he said, move on from the

story and was not quite,... i think i'm scientific part, i actually thought that was very interesting, his answer. we have heard the government commissioned scientific advice because there are lots in the cabinet who are unhappy about it because it is a real impediment to the economy and they look at other countries that have one metre or 1.5 metre rule and what is interesting to me is that borisjohnson seems to support that and he said he himself recognised the argument and even though his answer may be a bit woolly it was quite revealing. some might argue woolly it was quite revealing. some mightargue and woolly it was quite revealing. some might argue and i think they have subsequently that a prime minister is there to listen to the scientific advice and make a decision, whereas he seemed to be listening and still deciding without actually reaching the summit as it were? it was not

clear at all and it came across like a prime minister who is desperately trying to move the agenda off the top adviser and his breaking of the rules and onto other things so i think what he was saying about the ten metre rule, —— two metre rule that was trained to give potential good news coming down the line but certainly this scientific advice in this country, the two metre rule minimizes the risks to vega for a one metre rule, that doubles the risk of transmission three droplets. the easing has been picked up by one paper which we will come to you in a moment. going back to the guardian, tories defy p.m. to piled pressure on cummings but when you look at the front pages today, especially in the

broad sheets, do you think this has moved on, this is what number ten expects and wants to happen but how do you gauge things at the moment? even those calling for him to quit, there is a loss of momentum and they see with every day that passes clearly number ten and boris johnson had no intention of getting rid of dominic cummings and we saw that very plainly today from boris johnson at the liaison committee, and kept saying let's move on, let's move on. just saying that does not make it happen and i think one of the things that... yesterday we had a minister resignation but not have other ministers following suit. a minister in the government said, wrote a constituent saying that dominic cummings is criticising his

actions, not going so far as saying he should quit but in defence of ten. sub papers have -- several papers have rebuked. this caused a lot of comment, and i think it really depends on where you stand politically and indeed about the sort of role of the bbc as an impartial deliver of news without making up your mind before coming on the programme to discuss issues. there are lots of questions about what it really means to be impartial andi what it really means to be impartial and i thought it was a really excellent episode and clearly there isa excellent episode and clearly there is a debate about whether it was to editorialize or not and i thought she got back i thought it was very clear that dominic cummings broke

government guidelines and he asserts that they did in, that does not mean it is desperation of the truth and there is that their version of the truth so i did not think it was to editorialize. i think none of that should take away from the fact that personally she is one of the best interviewers the bbc has got a new site has been doing a brilliantjob of speaking truth to power in recent weeks. in a government that is relu cta nt to weeks. in a government that is reluctant to be held to account. it is not sending ministers to key shows and boris johnson is not sending ministers to key shows and borisjohnson has tried and takena shows and borisjohnson has tried and taken a very champion tactic and tried to say all the allegations against dominic cummings are false without saying which ones precisely are false and there is a lot of evidence that there are truths. and i think newsnight has been doing a very good job of that. let's move on, we will come back to that. test

and trace key to our freedom. the express very much picking up on how amazing this test entry system is and some courses, it is not quite ready yet. it remains to be seen but the thing that is indisputable is that good test and trace system or track and trace as it used to be called is crucial in getting out of this crisis. 0ther called is crucial in getting out of this crisis. other countries have been on top of this much sooner than us. been on top of this much sooner than us. south korea for example, this is one of the key ways eight managed to get out without a big lock down nationwide so this is crucial to the government's strategy and certainly the app which is not part of this initial roll—out but has been promised as one of the features of the system is delayed and we were

promised that track and trace will be up and running by the end of may and initial reports that not all of their system is on the up and up yet. because may not start to come through until next week and it remains to be seen. i think the government has been open that there will be cheeks and it and since it is set up from scratch it will take time to setup. and is set up from scratch it will take time to set up. and to be able to identify cases and people they have spoken to and come in close contact with may have become effective and to isolate them is cruel. may have a civic duty to test and trace but of course behind all of this lies the shadow of dominic cummings and what he did to you and whether it was in

the guidelines or the law and those who perhaps different. there are two issues with track and trace, the first is, it relies on the public complying with what the government to ask you to do. get a call from that tracery to say you have been in contact with someone who has gotten tested positive for covid—19, you need to isolate for 14 days and matt hancock said he had a civic duty to do this and some members of the public say when you have the prime minister's top adviser fighting the guidelines and driving to durham where his wife had suspected covid—19 when they are specifically at home, do i need to do what the government says? there is an undermining of the public health message as a result of boris johnson's desperation to keep cummings and place. the second thing at the track and trace scheme is

there is a real feeling that is emerging, we have contact trace and journalist tonight and directors of public health saying they are not ready and have not been properly consulted. there is a real concern in some quarters this scheme, the launch of that has been rushed and it is not quite ready to go and it isa it is not quite ready to go and it is a government initiative to try to get it out there to distract from dominic cummings, a massive political issues. sol dominic cummings, a massive political issues. so i think there are political issues. so i think there a re two political issues. so i think there are two very worrying things about the track and trace scheme but it is absolutely critical to preventing a second wave and the opening of schools and shops and something the government has to get right. and they say it is advisory but there might be police finds down the line if they don‘t stay to the guidelines

oi’ if they don‘t stay to the guidelines or the rules. you have a big picture of emily on the front as well and broken impartiality guidelines. alongside that, the two metre rule could be reduced says the prime minister but did you get the opinion today that he was sitting and looking at this advice and still had not made his own mind up. which way did it work as far as you are concerned in terms of who took the decisions, the scientist or politicians because historically it has always been the politicians. the way it works is that they asked sage to present something and it will present its findings and the prime minister in charge of that decides, soi minister in charge of that decides, so i did not get the sense he had not made a decision on it, i think as we reported this is something that sage had been repeatedly asked

to review partly because there is tension therebetween some ministers who really are keen on us lowering the team leader rule to one metre or 1.5 as the team leader rule to one metre or 1.5asa the team leader rule to one metre or 1.5 as a way to try to kick—start the economy so i picked up more there and the fact that the prime minister suggested that he was pro reducing it and trying to. i think it is valid that they commissioned the scientists and they come back with the findings and that is a process. son went on further. the tea m process. son went on further. the team leader rule may be ease and it reminds me of that splash two weeks ago before the prime minister‘s statement about doubling down on the lockdown and suggesting it will be free on monday and it will be back to normal. i think this has been a consistent problem throughout the

pandemic, rather than announcing officially, downing street insists on briefing behind the scenes good news story some of which did not actually turn out to happen, to sympathetic papers and i think people will look at that and think, you know, pubs will be opening quite soon and that means actually we can feel more relaxed about the rules. that may not be the case at all. i think it is part of this thing where this tension within the cabinet between people who will really want to see restrictions relaxed, in order to save the economy and other ministers are far more concerned about protecting public health in this pandemic. i think you can see that invoice johnson's and parents he isa that invoice johnson's and parents he is a very weak prime minister, i think he has time between these two competing objectives but at the end

of the day it is not... it will be terrible for the economy if there is a second wave and infections and deaths as the result of the government releasing things to early so it has to be clear when it is going to do that and there are the track and trace systems to prevent and minimise risk of the second wave. best sort of briefing oh, the pubs will be open again, is incredibly irresponsible actually. story you regret you use as a splash? i don't know what the sourcing on that is and i do not wa nt to sourcing on that is and i do not want to speculate but i think generally, to agree with sonia‘s point, you are confusing the messaging at this crucial stage is really damaging and can be really damaging and looking at other countries, it is at this point that they start using that lockdown with

they start using that lockdown with the public getting confused and not getting the right message and none of it as helped by the fact that things are not being put out and a officially for the first time either to the parliament or at the public and of course even after things have been done, to rules almost appear to been done, to rules almost appear to be flexible after the fact as we have seen in the dominic cummings case. moving away from the pandemic and british politics, looking at disappointing news today in terms of space x in the first manned us flight space x in the first manned us flight in 11 years and the advent of commercial space travel with human beings on board. like the make of this story and how much of a breakthrough do you think it is in terms of how important it is for the new space—age?

terms of how important it is for the new space-age? it sounds like it was bad weather so the launch has been delayed until late may but the interesting thing about this is it is commercial space travel so they are hoping to set up marginal travel and worlds away from what we are talking about at the moment. the us has not launched a space mention dominic mission since 2011 and you have seen huge cuts to nasa's funding ib donald trump administration and there are real questions to be asked because it is one of the great things about the human race, the scientific quest and it isa human race, the scientific quest and it is a real shame i think. it may go ahead on saturday. it will bring

costs down and allow more space exploration. it does but it is rather curious right now when we are talking about travelling to space. is very exciting if it takes off. talking about travelling to space. is very exciting if it takes offlj think they were probably sitting much closer than ten metres apart, weren‘t they? think about it very much indeed for taking us through the first editions of the papers. thank you both. hello there, at the bbc sport centre. the premier league release the latest results of its covid—19 testing programme, just over a thousand tests were taken the next two days and four have returned positive from three clubs. this comes as the club voted to step up their training from tomorrow and

players can engage and contact training. here is our reporter. let these days of training will involve our close contact tackling and they could do 11, the 11 from tomorrow. weather to do that tomorrow is up to them and clearly it comes with an increased risk of transmission but asi increased risk of transmission but as i said, players will want to feel they had a lot of back training. the super elite netball season will not resume this year, the ten teams played three matches when it was stop back in march. netball is now cancelled but they are looking at the possibility of staging a smaller scale tournament later in the year. we are looking at all options at the moment. we are looking at lots of different creative options and the clu bs different creative options and the clubs have very much been part of those discussions. if we do turn in,

if we did that piece, then it is likely to be a short form competition but hopefully one that keeps it visible and keeps the profile of the sport high and gives something, an element of belief to our loyal fans who have been very patient through this period. as for cricket, the ecb should release their revised provisional schedule for this summer by the end of the week with england‘s test against the west and bees in pakistan expected to ta ke west and bees in pakistan expected to take place. the oval was due to states that first test against the windies next week. he says he can understand the decision but he is optimistic about the risk for —— this part returning this year. we are excited we have been used with hotels on site and if that helps to deliver the confidence, for the event to go ahead, then that needs to be the priority. if things

change, who knows but maybe we will hold some kind of international cricket this year but it needs to be the right thing and come up with a workable plan. we will see a pretty full international calendar and obviously starting behind closed doors indefinitely and we will also see a schedule of some sort and i do not know when that will start but clearly it will be sometime after the international cricket starts. i think as you see sports finding ways, sometimes quite innovative ways, sometimes quite innovative ways to get back on the pitch. we will be doing that and so i am hopeful and so are cricket supporters out there and do not despair. we are here to try to bring you some cricket before the season is out. there is no wimbledon this summer of course but there will be

some competitive tennis, hope for the highest ranked british players will look to stage for advanced in july. they will play behind closed doors in the national tennis centre and also will be a one day doubles event involving eight teams. that is all the sport for now and do not forget much more on the bbc sport website with the latest on that premier league voting, to up their training to contact training from tomorrow and also the latest on those four positive tests among the three clubs as well. for now that is all the sport. three clubs as well. for now that is hello again, wednesday is brought us more sunshine across the country and the highest temperature was again around the greater london area at this time he throws. 26 celsius and north and south lake and that is how we end the day. recent days, the warmth has mainly been concentrated

in southwest england and for thursday the heat is more widespread across the case in most areas will have warmer area dominic leather and east anglia and south east england will get a little bit fresher with temperatures coming down just a few degrees but still warm. we will take a look at why and on the satellite picture we have this cloud waking into northern scotland and a week old friend diving southwards and thatis old friend diving southwards and that is introducing fresher air to east anglia and southeast england and ultimately we will knock the temperatures down by a few degrees. this is how the weather works at the moment and some rain around at the moment and some rain around at the moment but it will ease around the coming hours. a lot of mist and fog patch but otherwise clear spells for at most and i fresher feel to the weather in eastern areas of scotland and england. for thursday most of us will have sunshine from dawn till

dusk and any cloud will also come from northern scotland and brighten up from northern scotland and brighten up in the northern isles later in the day. 23 degrees or so and an umbrella and probably about 23 or 24 and cooler in london, instead of around 26 or 27 and has been over recent days it will be back to 22. still warm in the sunshine and more of the same to come on friday but most of us will have sunshine from dawn till dusk again with little in the way of cloud. northern and western areas of the uk, 25 or so in the glasgow area. how is that we can shaking up? the area of high pressure is still in charge and keeping the weather fronts at bay and that means we have more of the same. it will turn breezy for some of us but nevertheless, more of that sunshine to come and temperatures and glasgow peeking around 24 celsius and is going 23, 24 through the weekend and further south, we will see temperatures in the mid—20s

and some of the warmest weather in cardiff. 27 on saturday. that is your weather.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i‘m tim willcox. the death toll in the united states due to the coronavirus pandemic has now passed 100,000 deaths. britain‘s prime minister, boris johnson, comes under intense pressure from mps over his refusal to sack his top adviser, but he hits back during 90 minutes of questioning. i do understand why people feel such indignation about the whole business, the pain of the whole business of the lockdown, but i really also think that what they want now is for us to focus on them and their needs. as protests continue in hong kong, the us secretary of state says the territory no longer merits special