tonight at ten, the government signals no change in its policy on free school meals over half—term in england, despite mounting pressure. with families having to ration, england remains the one uk nation that won't directly provide meals for those who need them. i'm really anxious because i'm just, like, have i got enough that's going to last until i get that payment on the last day of the month, when i can go and do my shopping? businesses have stepped in to help, but ministers say local authorities have been given £63 million to support those in need. that £63 million for local authorities does cover this half term and we've seen a number of local authorities using it very specifically to support people who need that help for school meals and out of school meals in the holidays, obviously, for children. but the government has faced criticism of its policy from some

of its own backbenchers. also tonight. armed forces board a ship in the english channel after a suspected hijacking and detain seven people. could the isolation period for contacts of those testing positive for covid—i9 be cut from two weeks to one? the record is broken! lewis hamilton. and lewis hamilton notches up the highest number of formula i victories beating michael schumacher‘s record. good evening. the government is resisting pressure, including from some conservative mps, to extend free school meals for vulnerable children in england into half term, which for many begins tomorrow. the northern ireland secretary, brandon lewis, insisted

that the government's decision to give £63 million to local councils so that they could provide was "the right way to do it". our political correspondent nick eardley reports. on the eve of the half term break, fiona crump is preparing food bags. these will be given to local children in falmouth in cornwall over the next few days. there are fears that with schools closed for the holidays and the pandemic hitting people's incomes, some families are struggling to put food on the table. i'll show you what i've got in the fridge. people like claire, a single mum of three who says the next few days will be a struggle. i'm really anxious because i'm just like, have i got enough that's going to last till i get that payment on the last day of the month when i can go and do my shopping? you know, it's very stressful, very ha rd. is there any cheese left? and the government is facing increasing pressure for not stepping in, like it did earlier this year. ministers have spent colossal sums in recent months to keep people

in jobs and businesses open. but now they're facing claims that they're failing to provide the money needed to feed vulnerable children. we support local authorities to do it. that's what this £63 million is there for. and it's notjust £63 million, of course, it is on top of the hundreds of millions we have put into local authorities to support those most in need. so, no u—turn, no change, final word? i think we have the package in place that means people have got the support they need during the school holiday. but conservative mps are increasingly nervous. some think ministers are losing the argument and a few have broken ranks to say they are prepared to vote against the government if the issue comes back to parliament. i think it wasjust much easier to carry on with what was a simple and effective scheme which most people understand and there is a certain sort of totemic status around free school meals along with the nhs, for example, so for goodness sake, why didn't we just do it? manchester united's marcus rashford has been the figurehead of the campaign.

his social media feed in recent days, a long list of businesses and local councils pledging to offer free meals. the government praised them today, but labour says if ministers don't step in, support will depend on where you live. not every council has stepped up, which means it becomes a postcode lottery for some children, so some children will benefit from sitting and living in a council where they have decided to prioritise free school meals, but other councils, for various reasons, mightjust decide that money needs to go elsewhere. labour intends to force another vote in the coming weeks. . providing free meals over half term in england will be around £20 million, a tiny sum compared to some of the spending we have seen in recent months but ministers are holding firm, they think the support they have put in place means there will be a safety net for people who need it but a number of tory mps are

increasingly uneasy and some are predicting if not now, then by the christmas holidays, there will need to bea christmas holidays, there will need to be a change of heart. nick, many thanks. the ministry of defence has confirmed that members of the armed forces boarded a ship off the isle of wight tonight, and gained control after a suspected hijacking. seven people have been detained. the liberian registered vessel is positioned in the english channel south of ventnor. duncan kennedy is in lee—on—the solent for us this evening. duncan. this has been a dramatic few hours on the solent, ending in this incredible raid involving four helicopters and we think around 16 members of the special boat service, the sbs, who descended on ropes to the sbs, who descended on ropes to the deck of the ship. they used what we we re the deck of the ship. they used what we were told was overwhelming. detain seven individuals. the whole operation lasted about nine minutes, extraordinary moments. it was authorised by the home secretary and the defence secretary at the request

of hampshire police. it all began at about 9am this morning when the seven about 9am this morning when the seve n stowaways about 9am this morning when the seven stowaways confronted the crew members. the crew took shelter in a special locked room on the boat and raised the alarm. there was then this extraordinary stand—off during the course of the day. hampshire police became more and more worried and asked the government to authorise this military action. tonight, both the home secretary and the defence secretary have issued state m e nts the defence secretary have issued statements praising the armed forces, saying this was quick and decisive action. thank you, duncan. the government is considering potentially halving the amount of time that people will be required to quarantine, if they're a close contact of someone who's tested positive for coronavirus. it's thought the change might make more people obey the rules. our health corresponent catherine burns reports. from the start, the message has been clear. if you have been in close contact with someone with coronavirus, you need to self—isolate for 14 days. you must self—isolate. isolate for 14 days.

isolate and keep out of circulation. but now the government and its advisers are considering cutting the timeframe. i know that there is work going on to look at the length of isolation. we will be using the results from our large covid infection survey, which goes back to people over time in order to inform those discussions. people typically tend to show symptoms of covid—i9 around 4—6 days after being exposed, but it can take up to two weeks, so if you want to catch as many cases as possible, the best idea is to stick to that 14—day isolation period. but that only works if everyone sticks to the rules and a recent study found thatjust ii% of people who were asked to stay at home for two weeks fully stuck to it. if the evidence shows that one has to isolate for 14 days, which is what it is, then yes, i would isolate for 14 days.

if they can prove that you are safe after seven days, i think it would be a much better kind of concept, especially for schoolchildren. it was quite frustrating, especially when you get to the end of that period and you are sort of thinking, she's got no symptoms, none of us have got any symptoms, so it did feel a bit long. isolation isjust one part of the test and trace system. the other elements are not without problems. it is not turning around tests quickly enough and it is not getting through to enough close contacts of people who have tested positive. the boss, dido harding, is coming under ever so polite criticism by a senior tory backbencher. i do mean this as kindly as possible to her, she has been a tremendous asset, but the test and trace capability clearly needs to move up several gears and it is what leadership does, not who leadership is, that really matters. as for cutting the self—isolation period, the guidance for europe does say that if somebody tests negative

after day ten, they could end quarantine, but that this carries a residual risk. catherine burns, bbc news. the latest government figures show 19,790 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. that means the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 21,628. 1,015 people had been admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last tuesday. 151 deaths were reported, that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. that means on average in the past week, 179 deaths were announced every day, which takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 411,896. the welsh first minister has told the bbc there will be no change to the ban on supermarkets selling nonessential items during

the country's "firebreak" lockdown. but mark drakeford said the ban would be "clarified" after supermarkets were forced to close off aisles selling goods such as clothes, shoes and toys. tomos morgan reports. across wales, supermarkets have had to close certain aisles, and items like toys, books and electrical goods have been covered up. it's been done because the welsh government have restricted stores from selling nonessential goods. but it's led to a public outcry over this, the first weekend of the latest lockdown. and it has led to tens of thousands signing an online position. i think it's absolutely totally ridiculous. i get the fact that they don't want to disadvantage the small, independent businesses, however i do think on this occasion they got it wrong. i applaud the welsh government for introducing this fair play scheme... welsh ministers say that this rule is a matter of fairness, to smaller businesses like this one that have been forced to shut over the next two weeks. predominantly, we sell toys.

obviously supermarkets sell toys as well, and if they were allowed to sell and we weren't allowed to sell then that would have a dramatic effect, especially during the key selling period, because we are so close to the peak selling time of christmas. this evening, first minister mark drakeford confirmed the ruling wouldn't be changed, but said there would be clarification and discretion to its implementation following a review with retailers tomorrow. if there are some anomalies that we hadn't spotted and now have the experience of this weekend then those are the things that we would aim to put right. the basic principle won't be changed? the basic principle is really important. we must stay at home, we mustn't mix with other people and we need to stick to that for the next two weeks. ever since this announcement was made, there's been confusion from big retailers, and there's been a growing sense of anger and frustration amongst many online. it seems just two days into this firebreak, and the public‘s resolve in following a more stringent set

of measures is already being tested. tomos morgan, bbc news, cardiff. tough new restrictions are being introduced in spain and italy, with the government in madrid declaring a national state of emergency with immediate effect. we'll be speaking to our correspondent there injust a moment. in italy, the prime minister has approved tighter measures due to last for a month. mark lowen is in rome for us now. month vices of sacrifices to save christmas, that was the message from the italian prime minister today is the italian prime minister today is the first country in the world to impose a national lockdown back in march has had to tighten restrictions yet again to stop soaring cases. they hit 21,000 today and 128 deaths. italy knows all too well the devastation of covid but also the cost of lockdown, too, and it is having a terrifying feeling of deja vu.

waiting, not on tables but on news of their future. worried staff at a prime roman restaurant in a crisis meeting over new measures. inside, they prepare the last suppers. from tomorrow, they will close from 6pm, only takeaway after that. the family business was just starting to recover from the first wave. we are really, really worried about it, for sure. you know, it is a very difficult situation and september was the first month for us that started to go in the right way. so now we have to stop again. all our life is here and we are fourfamilies, with sons, children, babies and we love this job. the prime minister announced a looser lockdown than last time. a maximum of four people at tables, gyms, pools, cinemas and theatres closed, italians advised to move around only if necessary. he knows patience is wearing thin.

protests by fringe groups against restrictions turned ugly this weekend. its economy already forecast to shrink by 10% this year, italy can't afford a second shutdown. but with soaring cases, the government says italy needs another push to get the virus under control. its management of the pandemic has been widely supported here, but with venues closing again, the mood may change and there will be no gyms to let off steam. of course, that will undermine our... just overall sanity, i think, both physically and mentally, and i think among many decisions which could have been taken, i think this one in particular was perhaps, yeah, a bit rash or not really necessary. it could have been dealt with differently. it is too serious not to act. over 1,200 are now in intensive care, up almost 1,000 since last month.

the first country in the west crushed by the pandemic is seeing a grim history repeating itself, and hopes it is not too late to turn the tide. mark lowen, bbc news, rome. well, in spain, rising infections have prompted sweeping action by the government — a state of emergency. let's speak to guy hedgecoe in madrid. what does it mean and how long will it go on for? well, the state of emergency provides the spanish government with a legal framework with which it can introduce stricter measures. as part of the state of emergency, the government today has introduced a cu rfew a cross government today has introduced a curfew across the country, beginning at 11pm, ending at 6am. that will va ry at 11pm, ending at 6am. that will vary somewhat across the country but thatis vary somewhat across the country but that is the recommended timetable for it. also, the central government

has handed to local governments the power to restrict movement between regions if they feel it is necessary , regions if they feel it is necessary, in other words, try to prevent infection is spreading from one region to another. the state of emergency is due to last for two weeks. the prime minister pedro sanchez has said he wants to extend it beyond that by six months, which would take us through until may next year. guy hedgecoe, in madrid, thank you. the united states says armenia and azerbaijan have agreed a ceasefire in the conflict over the disputed territory of nagorno—karabakh. in a joint statement, they said the truce would come into effect on monday. the latest fighting in nagorno—karabakh began in september. it is recognized internationally as part of azerbaijan but is controlled by armenian separatists. with all the sport now, jane dougall is at the bbc sports centre. good evening. rita, we start with lewis hamilton's extrordinary achievement, surpassing michael schumacher‘s record of all time wins in formula one.

hamilton took victory in the portuguese grand prix, making that his 92nd win. joe wilson was watching. always thinking, always winning. for lewis hamilton and formula 1, this circuit in portugal was new. lights out and away we go! the start was familiar. from pole position, hamilton led, but within seconds... bottas ahead of hamilton! he was second. team—mate valtteri bottas was in front. this is hamilton's view, in pursuit, watching, hunting, passing. started on pole, back into the lead now. it took him a little while, but that was the race. hamilton has the best team, they have the best driver. simple. his 92nd victory. the record is broken! i could only have ever dreamt of being where i am today, and i did not have a magic ball when i chose to come to this team and partner with these great people but here i am and what i can tell you is that i am trying to make the most of it every single day. statistics prove who is best

but they are only part of it. a new history of f1 has just been written by maurice hamilton, no relation, who said lewis has taken the sport into due territory. taken the sport into new territory. he is not afraid to use his public platform and to speak and speak his mind. people might not agree but he doesn't mind, he just wants to get it out there. i think he will be remembered as the first grand prix driver who has been willing to stand up and speak about matters outside racing. thousands were there to watch hamilton win. only one of them really mattered. now the top of the world, it all began with just him and his dad. joe wilson, bbc news. tao geoghegan hart has become only the second british man to win the giro d'italia. the londoner said he couldn't have imagined victory in his wildest dreams. maz farookhi has more. the stuff of comic books, those the words of tao geoghegan heart's boss,

said dave brailsford, as the briton becomes just the second in history to claim the pinkjersey. so how does it feel? pretty unbelievable, to be honest, it's been an incredible three weeks here with the team, started down in sicily, 21 days ago, and here we are now in milan. yeah, whata days ago, and here we are now in milan. yeah, what a year it has been. for 25-year-old started this yea rs been. for 25-year-old started this years gyro as a support writer for geraint thomas before the welshman crashed out and finished the opening day down in 126th, but two stage wins helped catapult him into contention and a gruelling three—week test came down to a race against the clock for him and the overall leader, hindley of australia, a ten club at a time trial through the streets of milan. when dave brailsford launched a british team and then team sky ten yea rs british team and then team sky ten years ago, tao geoghegan hart bunked off school to ride with them and now he is the face of the sport. match of the day and sportscene

are on after the news, so if you don't want to know the scores, you know what to do. top of the table everton lost 2—0 to southampton at st mary's. elsewhere, newcastle drew 1—1 with wolves and arsenal lost 1—0 to leicester. in scotland celtic could only manage a 3—3 draw with aberdeen. while rivals rangers extended their lead at the top of the premiership to six points after beating livingston 2—0. there's more on the bbc sport website, including england women winning rugby's six nations, plus the cancellation of england lionesses‘ friendly with germany because of coronavirus. that's it from me. frank bough, one of the most familiar faces on bbc television for decades, has died at the age of 87. he presented match of the day and grandstand and launched britain's first national breakfast tv programme. but his career was derailed after a scandal involving drugs and prostitutes. daniela relph looks back at his career. he was relaxed and friendly,

a favourite uncle, a fixture in the nation's living rooms for over 30 years. good evening. this time tomorrow, it will all be over. will the grand national throw up yet another moment of drama to be written into the history of the greatest steeplechases of all? the temple to the goddess kannon... his long career started in the ‘60s. here he is in tokyo. in three days' time, it stages what must surely be the greatest show on earth with the opening of the 1964 olympic games. he made his career in sport, presenting match of the day. hello, and our division two match this afternoon, a true top and bottom affair with the home side, leyton orient, the latest score, manchester united 1—1 west ham united. in time, he graduated to presenting the bbc‘s live sports flagship, grandstand, on a saturday afternoon, where his ability to remain calm whatever came his way was especially valuable. that's. .. laughter. thank you very much indeed. i'm losing control of this programme.

# we feel lonely and we long...#. when morecambe and wise gathered top bbc presenters for their 1977 christmas show, frank bough was one of them. it attracted one of the biggest audiences ever on british television. in the studios, they celebrated. explosion. and when the bbc won the race to launch breakfast television, all winning smiles and casual jumpers. .. it is 6:30am, monday... he was the obvious choice to front it. you are watching the first edition... a consummate live broadcaster, loved, known and respected by everyone, which just made the news of the world's revelation in may 1988 an even greater bombshell. frank, the family man, sober and serene, respectable and upright, turned out to be anything but. there were more tabloid stories and eventually, the work dried up, a sad end for a master of live television. the tv presenter frank bough who has

died at the age of 87. in nine days' time, a polarised america will choose its next president. the bbc‘s clive myrie will be bringing you a series of special reports looking at the key issues for voters as they choose between donald trump and his democratic party rival, joe biden. here's a preview. america isn'tjust a place. it's an idea. and the enduring power of the american dream is that it's universal — the craving for a better life. i'm the last mohican. donald trump said the dream was dying, and he'd make america great again. i know that we will win! they want to rob you of your hope. but how great is america now, as trump seeks re—election? the guy in the white house right now is crazier than a loon. i'll be reporting from arizona, america's backyard with mexico, and a state now threatening to back

the democrats after voting for donald trump in 2016. i'll explore policies on immigration... the worst of the worst is coming to this area. on race... the hearts of people have held on to relics of the past. and covid—19... are people dying here in the camp? yeah. yeah, everyday. as america chooses a president. # this is america # don't catch you slippin‘ now # look what i'm whippin‘ now...# there's more throughout the evening on the bbc news channel. now on bbc one, it's time for the news where you are. goodbye. i'm sure you don't need me to tell you it's been a very wet weekend across many parts of the uk.

behind me, x hurricane. the capital the same. but others disagree and say the rules are complicated enough very brisk winds at times. be thankful the centre of the service thing we like to see because gusts of wind at the centre of the storm will get quite close to 100 mph are even more. nothing that windy here but it will be fairly blustery this week with rain at times. milder later in the week after a rather cool start. through monday, another day of sunshine and showers. though scherer was initially most plentiful in the west. they will tend to migrate eastwards through the day. some of them heavy with the chance of hailand some of them heavy with the chance of hail and thunder. something drier developing through northern ireland, wales and the south—west. not as

many showers here by the end of the day. when did the further south you are, north — the ease, especially across scotland. 10 degrees for lerwick, for stornoway. 1a the top temperature in plymouth. as we move into tuesday, our area of low pressure from the weekend, that finally spins away. the show was faded. a temporary ridge of high pressure builds its way in. that will calm things down in the early hours of tuesday. the odd full patch. quite a chilly start to tuesday, but calmer, and the interlude doesn't last long. the rain splashing into the west through the first part of the day and this band of heavy rain will push its way eastwards. blustery winds, travelling along way across the atlantic. we'll whip up some very rough seas. some big waves crashing into coastal areas. northern scotla nd into coastal areas. northern scotland is likely to hold onto some brightness through the day, 10—15. into wednesday, the steep 80 of low

pressure continues to spin to the north—west. they will feed further showers are longer spells of rain. it stays unsettled towards the end of the week, but temperatures climb. 18-19 in of the week, but temperatures climb. 18—19 in the south on friday.

hello.

this is bbc news with lukwesa burak. we'll be taking a look at tomorrow mornings papers in a moment with author and journalist, rachel shabi and political commentator, giles kenningham — first the headlines. the bbc has been told seven individuals have been detained following a military operation on a tanker off the coast of the isle of wight. more pressure on the government — as thousands of doctors back the footballer, marcus rashford's campaign for free school meals during the school holidays. after a public backlash, the welsh goverment says it will review its ban on supermarkets selling non—essential items during the country's 2—week lockdown. spain's government announces a new state of emergency as it tackles the virus — a national curfew from 11pm until 6

in the morning has come into force. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the political commentator and former conservative party press chief, giles kenningham, and the author and journalist, rachel shabi tomorrow's front pages starting with the metro — which has a picture of the dramatic moment special forces stormed a tanker off the isle of wight coast — after it says it was "seized" by seven stowaways.