this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. a sanitation worker becomes the first person in india to receive a covid vaccine — as the country begins to vaccinate more than 1.3 billion people. president—electjoe biden sets out plans to speed up immunisations in the united states — promising to vaccinate 100 million people within his first 100 days in office. our plan is as clear as it is bold — get more people vaccinated for free. germany's christian democrats elect armin laschet as their new leader — a key moment in the race to succeed angela merkel as chancellor. calls for more support for the uk's travel and tourism sector — after the government imposes tougher restrictions on arrivals to keep out

new strains of coronavirus. senior police officers in the uk says their investigations have been compromised — after hundreds of thousands of arrest records were deleted from the police national computer. hello and welcome i'm shaun ley. thank you forjoining us whether you are watching in the uk or in the rest of the world. one of the world's biggest coronavirus vaccination campaigns has begun in india. addressing a video conference earlier, prime minister narendra modi said such an ambitious project had never before been attempted.

translation: we will bring the number of vaccinations - translation: we will bring the number of vaccinations to - translation: we will bring the number of vaccinations to 300 l number of vaccinations to 300 million in the face. in the next phase, elderly people and people with chronic diseases will be in the next phase. don't become careless and start removing your mask or forget social distancing norms right after you have been vaccinated. since the pandemic began it has confirmed more than 10.3 million cases — that's the second highest number in the world. and there have been neary 150,000 deaths. prime minister modi delivered his message for indians in the past few hours. 0ur correspondent rajini vaidyanathan is at a vaccination centre in delhi. it's a huge, logistical operation rolling out this vaccine in this country of different terrains. mountains, deserts, urban and rural. i'm at one of over 3000 centres

which has been set up. here and at the other centres they are hoping to vaccinate around 100 people a day. if you did the maths on that, that means today alone, if everything goes to plan, more than 300,000 indians will have received a coronavirus vaccine dose. health workers and front line workers are the top priority. then the priority goes to the over—50s and people with underlying health conditions. they have two vaccines. the oxford astrazeneca one is being manufactured here in the country. the second is an indian developed vaccine. there had been concerned about that one being rolled out because it was approved for use before it was cleared for efficacy trials. that means officials still don't know how effective that particular vaccine is.

that's caused concern among health experts. but the government says it is a safe vaccine and it'll be administered under very safe supervision. these people are leaving now. everyone at this particular centre who has had a coronavirus vaccine is being given a red rose. this hospital here in delhi has treated thousands of covid patients since the start of the pandemic. here there is definitely a mood of optimism and hope now that india has begun rolling out the vaccine. the us president—electjoe biden has set out ambitious plans to vaccinate 100 million americans within his first 100 days in office. that begins on wednesday. he made the pledge as his health chiefs warned that the covid variant first detected in the uk could become the dominant strain in the us by march. 0ur north america

correspondent peter bowes sent this report. in a city where officials believe one in three of its population has been infected with covid—19 since the start of the pandemic, there's a sense of urgency. hospitals in los angeles are overwhelmed. here, someone is dying from the virus every eight minutes. it's rough to see people who are really sick and we have to tell them that there's not much we can do. we can take you to the hospital to sit on these gurneys, but it is not comfy. the race is on to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible. this is the car park at dodgers stadium — the baseball venue in los angeles that's been transformed into the largest vaccination site in america. by the middle of next week, officials say at least 12,000 people a day will receive the covid jab here. but it isn't enough. we've got to increase the pace in distribution in the administration of these vaccines. the reality is we need to get these vaccines out of the freezer and we need to get them into people's arms. this is a scene that's playing

out across the country, around the world, but america's so—called 0peration warp speed has failed to live up to its name, at least as far as distribution of the vaccine is concerned. joe biden says when he takes over from donald trump on wednesday, he'll launch an ambitious plan to roll it out fast. he said efforts so far had been a dismalfailure. our plan is as clear as it is bold, get more people vaccinated for free, create more places for them to get vaccinated. mobilise more medical teams to get the shots in people's arms. he's promising 100 million jabs in 100 days. 100 mass vaccination centres around the country, and mobile units to get into areas that are hard to reach. the president—elect also had a blunt warning for americans — things, he said, would get worse before they get better. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. here in the uk airports have warned that the uk's aviation sector

urgently needs more government support if it is to survive another long period of coronavirus restrictions. from monday, all travel corridors to the uk will be closed to try to prevent the arrival of any new variants of covid. the change means anyone travelling to the uk will need proof of a negative covid test. they'll also need to isolate on arrival for at least five days. charlotte wright reports. another measure to tighten up travel. this week saw passengers from south america and portugal banned from flying into the uk to stop the spread of a new covid strain from brazil. but the government says it may be difficult to predict where new variants might come from and so further action is needed. to protect us against the risk of as yet unidentified new strains we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 01100 hours on monday. this latest announcement

is not a travel ban. it introduces quarantine for passengers no matter where they have flown from in the world. it means from monday anyone travelling to the uk will have to show a negative covid test less than 72 hours before they depart. when they arrive, they must now self isolate for ten days, or pay for a covid test on the fifth day. if it is negative, they can leave quarantine early. the policy also applies to the eurostar and seaports, but not to those travelling within the uk or ireland or to some jobs, like hauliers. travel corridors were first introduced in the summer, allowing people to come to the uk from some countries with low covid rates without having to quarantine on arrival. described as a lifeline for the industry, they kept people going on holiday. now many say they support the suspension so long as it can be lifted later in the year. we've had no revenue now for 12

months and people take a few months in the summer last year. if we're going to have an aviation sector coming out of this, we need to open up in the summer and we look forward to having conversations with the government about that, but for the here and now, we are absolutely clear that we will support the government. i think the government needs a longer term plan for the airline industry. they've been hit time and time again and they rightly have asked the support from the government. they were promised support months ago but the package hasn't been put into place. the government has said they have put in a comprehensive set of measures for the travel and tourism sector including extending the furlough scheme, business rates relief and tax deferrals. it says it is committed to bring the sector back to full strength as soon as it is safe to do so. charlotte wright, bbc news. the aviation minister robert courts said the government is committed to support the travel industry despite the introduction of tighter restrictions. clearly this isn't a step any

of us wants to take. i accept it is bad news for the aviation industry and travel industry. i have regular engagement with all sectors. regular conversations. as do officials in the department. we are keen to work with them, we always have, we will continue to do so. as soon as we are able we will look to open up travel again in a safe manner. it's always what we've done in the past. may i emphasise that because of the incredible vaccine roll—out we have, because we have now vaccinated over 3.2 million people, more than france, germany, italy, and spain put together, there is real promise now as we look forward and it is that which offers hope to the travel industry. it has allowed people to travel again as safely as possible. rolling out the way we are, there is a prospect of that in the not too distant future. brian strutton is general secretary of the british airline pilots' association, balpa. welcome to bbc news. this comes at

the end of an already challenging week for the industry with the announcement that norwegian is going back to a short—haul service. looking at the industry globally, how worried are you by the way it is shaping up this year? i how worried are you by the way it is shaping up this year?— shaping up this year? i have described — shaping up this year? i have described aviation _ shaping up this year? i have described aviation as - shaping up this year? i have described aviation as being l shaping up this year? i have l described aviation as being in shaping up this year? i have i described aviation as being in a death spiralfor some described aviation as being in a death spiral for some months described aviation as being in a death spiralfor some months now. thejob losses death spiralfor some months now. the job losses across the whole industry and supply chain are nothing short of catastrophic. a report at the end of last year measured around 70,000 job losses with the potential of another 50,000 job losses. that's directly. we have heard manufacturers like airbus in difficulty. and all of the regional airports. gatwick, as well. as well as the airlines themselves. it's a very difficult situation. the

government has to take its decisions about how to control the virus. that's absolutely fine. but if there are direct effects on airlines, airports, and so on, and the people who work for them, then the government should be thinking about that, as well, and we really need more help and we really need it urgently. in more help and we really need it uraentl . , ., more help and we really need it uraentl. , ., ., . ., urgently. in terms of aircraft production. _ urgently. in terms of aircraft production, people - urgently. in terms of aircraft production, people have - urgently. in terms of aircraft. production, people have been predicting the death of it in the uk for the best part of a0 years, but it has kept going not least through partnerships and so on. airbus has been quite a formidable rival to boeing. wherever in the world you are manufacturing or indeed supplying the aircraft industry, as well as training the people who will be on aircraft, people must look at this pandemic and say, has this changed for good, or at least for the next 20 years, our ability and desire to travel on a global scale is in the ease at which we travelled, on which we built so much? i travelled, on which we built so

much? . , , much? i am sure there will be long-term _ much? i am sure there will be long-term changes. _ much? i am sure there will be long-term changes. the - much? i am sure there will be long-term changes. the key l much? i am sure there will be - long-term changes. the key point to long—term changes. the key point to think about right now is how is aviation going to get out of the current terrible situation it is in. how is it going to help lift the economy out of recession and make our world post—brexit a viable one. because without a good aviation industry in the uk we aren't going to make a success post—brexit. i look at it at the point of view from our members, our pilots, nearly 20% of pilots have lost theirjobs over the past 12 months. many of them with big training debts. you have to pay £100,000 or more of your own money to become a pilot. those are the kinds of things the government could help with, helping them with their repayments on their loans, maybe converting them to student grants. helping them to stay in the industry. keep the roles available for where the upturn —— when the

upturn comes. aviation will start recovering in the future. will we have the skills ready to go with it? skills is an important one. presumably there is a generation that will probably go as a result of this whether by choice or not. and it's about how you can ensure there will be a generation to come to fill thosejobs, both as pilots will be a generation to come to fill those jobs, both as pilots and then in all of the other elements of the aircraft industry, engineering, and so on. that must be a worry for you. i wonder, are you getting any kind of ear in government on these sorts of ear in government on these sorts of questions? it’s of ear in government on these sorts of questions?— of questions? it's a good point. it is something _ of questions? it's a good point. it is something i — of questions? it's a good point. it is something i have _ of questions? it's a good point. it is something i have raised - of questions? it's a good point. it| is something i have raised directly with the aviation minister and with the secretary of state. they both listened very sympathetically. but we aren't seeing enough action. the supply of pilots and other skilled people in aviation doesn'tjust turn on and off like a tap. it needs to be planned for. it needs to be prepared for. the financial arrangements need to be in place, as

well. government really does need to pull its finger out if we aren't going to find that we want to recover in aviation and we haven't got the skilled people there to do it. ., ~ , ., , . got the skilled people there to do it. thank you very much for being with us. germany's christian democrats have elected a new leader — a key moment in the race to succeed angela merkel as chancellor. he's armin laschet, widely seen as the heir to mrs merkel�*s centrist brand of politics. the party will decide in the spring whether he will become its candidate to become chancellor in september's general election. angela merkel who's led germany for 16 years, has said she plans to stand down at the election. 0ur correspondent is in berlin and has been telling me more about the new leader of the christian democrat union. ~ .,, new leader of the christian democrat union. ~ , .,, ., ., union. most people thought it would be, as it union. most people thought it would be. as it was. _ union. most people thought it would be. as it was. a _ union. most people thought it would be, as it was, a run-off— union. most people thought it would be, as it was, a run-off between - be, as it was, a run—off between

armin laschet and friedrich merz. armin laschet and friedrich merz. armin laschet and friedrich merz. armin laschet is a popular choice. he is a very popular chap, actually. he is a very popular chap, actually. he leads the state of which the most popular one in germany. he made much in his campaign and into des's speech and before the vote that of the three candidates he is the only one in government right now. he talked about the day to day experience he has in dealing with all of the challenges that the three candidates were talking about. the question now, of course, is whether the party will indeed put him forward as their chancellor candidate in september. we are going to have to wait and see. they won't make a final decision on that person until the spring. let's speak again to professor andreas rodder who's an historian at johannes gutenberg university of mainz. hejoins me now. thank you very much for coming back. we talked a bit about armin laschet

plus mega significance. before we talk a bit more about him, let's reflect on angela merkel. —— armin laschet�*s significance. angela merkel has seen off us presidents, even presidents she found difficult to get on with like president trump. she will still be there. she has seen french and british prime minister off, as well. what explains her sticking power in german politics, do you think? she her sticking power in german politics, do you think?- her sticking power in german politics, do you think? she is calm. she is not precious. _ politics, do you think? she is calm. she is not precious. this _ politics, do you think? she is calm. she is not precious. this rational i she is not precious. this rational behaviour, this has always made her strengths compared to her successor as german chancellor, compared to silvio berlusconi or donald trump, and so on. this kind of behaviour always was her strength. it always

leads to her being underestimated, which is also thought as another one of her strengths, as well. fine which is also thought as another one of her strengths, as well.— of her strengths, as well. one thing that's always _ of her strengths, as well. one thing that's always struck _ of her strengths, as well. one thing that's always struck people - of her strengths, as well. one thing that's always struck people from - that's always struck people from outside germany as they look to her, compared to the politicians who came and went in their own countries around the world, there is almost a studied... i don't wish this to sound offensive, but a dullness. she doesn't seek to project in a way that we've always been used to in a television age of political leaders feeling they have to do that. there is no glamour— feeling they have to do that. there is no glamour with _ feeling they have to do that. there is no glamour with her. _ feeling they have to do that. there is no glamour with her. but - feeling they have to do that. there is no glamour with her. but this i is no glamour with her. but this calmness or even if you say dullness, but germans, obviously, do like that. she had her biggest success in national elections in 2013 when she said, you know me. 0bviously germans loved to have the impression, just the impression, nobody knows her, but having the impression to know her, that was

something that was quite creative of confidence in germany. 0bviously germans are like that. confidence in germany. obviously germans are like that.— confidence in germany. obviously germans are like that. armin laschet is positively — germans are like that. armin laschet is positively charismatic. _ germans are like that. armin laschet is positively charismatic. do - germans are like that. armin laschet is positively charismatic. do you - is positively charismatic. do you think there is a sense, after having this technocratic and calm in a crisis figure, and had benefited enormously from it, does germany require something a bit fresh, something with panache, something with style? and will it be an even more uncertain time as we come out of this pandemic? this more uncertain time as we come out of this pandemic?— of this pandemic? this is what friedrich merz _ of this pandemic? this is what friedrich merz said. _ of this pandemic? this is what friedrich merz said. his - of this pandemic? this is what i friedrich merz said. his followers were hoping that germans would be longing for controversy, for a bit more edge. however, the cdu decided to pledge for armin laschet who

presented himself as the advocate of integration of confidence and good faith. 0bviously germans are longing, particularly the cdu is longing, particularly the cdu is longing, and they anticipate what the country might wish. they are longing for continuing this angela merkel style, which is very rational in crisis management. but at the same time is completely lacking strategy, particularly strategy for europe. strategy, particularly strategy for euro e. �* , .., strategy, particularly strategy for euroe. �* , , europe. briefly, if we can, is there a prospect — europe. briefly, if we can, is there a prospect the _ europe. briefly, if we can, is there a prospect the cdu _ europe. briefly, if we can, is there a prospect the cdu won't - europe. briefly, if we can, is there a prospect the cdu won't come - europe. briefly, if we can, is there| a prospect the cdu won't come out europe. briefly, if we can, is there i a prospect the cdu won't come out of this election as the largest party, and they won't decide, effectively, the shape of the government which might be more likely to be another coalition? the might be more likely to be another coalition? ., , ., ., coalition? the only alternative would be a — coalition? the only alternative would be a completely - coalition? the only alternative l would be a completely left-wing would be a completely left—wing government with the greens, the social democrats, and the left party. the cdu is still gaining from

or profiting from having the afd at the right wing, which nobody wants to go into a coalition with. in a certain way this is the heritage of angela merkel, given the cdu a strategic strength, but being dangerous for democratic representation at the same time. thank you to speak to you again. we are very gratefulfor you thank you to speak to you again. we are very grateful for you agreeing to come back. thank you very much. my to come back. thank you very much. my pleasure. scotland's covid restrictions are being tightened from today. takeaway food and drink outlets can only serve customers via a hatch — and only shops selling essential items are allowed to offer click—and—collect. the changes are among six new rules announced by first minister nicola sturgeon earlier this week. earlier i spoke to our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie — i asked her how big a shift this is going to be, for people in scotland. it's not a massive shift, but it does come in the context of the number of cases remaining high. we had another 2000 orjust over 2000 new cases

in scotland yesterday. and it seems to be sticking around that level despite the very tough restrictions, particularly on mainland scotland and on some of the islands which are all in lockdown. and those additional restrictions come on top of already being under lockdown. and these, as you mentioned, some of them there, there's click and collect, which has still been available. the restrictions there will be tightened, it's still available. but the number of things that you can click and collect will be reduced. you can still have things like baby equipment or clothes, shoes, books, what was seen as essential homeware. so it's still possible to do that. but you won't be able to go and collect it just whenever you want. there will be a slot that you will have to stick to and that's to stop people congregating. another thing that's tightened up is your takeaway coffee.

you won't be able to go in to the shop any more and you will get that through a hatch from today. police chiefs say investigations have been compromised after fingerprint dna and arrest records were accidentally deleted from the police national computer. a letter sent by the national police chiefs council — and seen by bbc news — says the mistake might prevent officers from linking offenders to crime scenes. policing minister kit malthouse said officers are trying to recover the data. labour says the home secretary, priti patel will be responsible for criminals walking free . it's been a source of tension between britain and spain for centuries — but the border which separates gibraltarfrom the spanish mainland could be taken down this year as part of a post—brexit agreement. gavin lee reports. entering the rock of gibraltar, 15,000 workers

from spain cross the border here every day, show their papers, and head to work. the fence, as they call it, is all they've ever known. after more than a century it is set to come down. it's better for us and everyone else here. this border town is one of the poorest parts of spain. a third of people are unemployed. gibraltar relies on workers from here for catering and cleaning. for them the deal is a source of celebration. for them the deal is a cause for celebration. the uk and spain have agreed the border will go possibly within six months, but it first has to be made into a formal treaty with the eu. the single road that links both territories will be widened so people in cars can travel freely. and gibraltar will be linked to europe's passport free travel area. some infrastructure may remain. a few guards will stay on standby. instead, new arrivals will only be checked if they enter by sea here at the port and by air. it'll mean for the first time

there will be gibraltan guards then eu border guards checking passports one after the other. the decisions as to who enters gibraltar will only ever be made by a gibraltar guard. we will have primacy of control. these are two borders. ultimate control of our border in our hands. we will never see one grain of sand of gibraltar, one breath of our air, one drop of our sea. spain's europe minister describes the czechs a different way. —— spain's europe minister describes the checks a different way. both of them i would say are equivalent. the uk is allowing gibraltar to participate in certain policies and programmes of the eu to which the uk is not participating. this is being possible because spain, as an eu member state, wishes it to happen.

both sides recognise that this is an experiment not without its risks. the hope is that with the border gone trust between the historically fractious neighbours can begin to grow. gavin lee, bbc news, gibraltar. you are watching bbc news. you've probably seen a lot of pictures this week of the meagre food parcels which have been sent out to some families — to replace the free meals their children would normally receive at school. now it seems the row is having a knock—on effect across the catering supply industry — even forfirms which have been trying to provide a good service. our business correspondent katy austin has more. providing lunch parcels to children eligible for free school meals while covid restrictions are keeping them at home is helping this hampshire wholesaler keep going while its pub and restaurant customers are shut they provide some schools with

ingredients and deliver fully packed boxes for others. in the past few days they've had bad news. we have one down days they've had bad news. we have gone down from _ days they've had bad news. we have gone down from 3000 _ days they've had bad news. we have gone down from 3000 to _ days they've had bad news. we have gone down from 3000 to just i days they've had bad news. we have gone down from 3000 to just 1400. | gone down from 3000 to just 1a00. 1600 have been cancelled. the impact is we've bought the stock. we will give it to few charities but it costs us and it causes us a loss. this follows a row over pictures shared on social media by parents who have branded the offer in some areas inadequate. it's prompted more schools and parents to choose vouchers over parcels. they say the images do not represent what they supply. this wholesaler has stayed open at a loss to serve its public sector clients. but here, as well, cancellations are coming in thick and fast. it cancellations are coming in thick and fast. ., ., , ., ., and fast. it would mean us having to furlou~ahin and fast. it would mean us having to furloughing perhaps _ and fast. it would mean us having to furloughing perhaps 40% _ and fast. it would mean us having to furloughing perhaps 40% of - and fast. it would mean us having to furloughing perhaps 40% of our i and fast. it would mean us having to i furloughing perhaps 40% of our team. furloughing perhaps a0% of our team. our team have made this happen. we

have sourced new lines. it means we are sat on more stock which has already happened because of the quick shutdown of schools, the lockdown is last year, having to stockpile for the brexit negotiations going to the very last minute. itjust adds to the problem. there's always been a choice between locally provided vouchers and meal parcels, but from monday a national voucher scheme is due to begin. the wholesaler trade body says its members should get compensation for the loss of business following the storm of publicity in the last week. it will have a devastating impact on a sector already on its knees. what we are seeing is that the move to the vouchers scheme is essentially the vouchers scheme is essentially the government giving yet more income to the supermarkets. 0ur sectors receive no support from government whatsoever and this is a body blow. this government whatsoever and this is a bod blow. , , ., body blow. this small caterer understands _ body blow. this small caterer understands some _ body blow. this small caterer understands some parents i body blow. this small caterer| understands some parents are concerned about food boxes but says when well done they provide an opportunity. when well done they provide an

opportunity-— when well done they provide an opportunity. what better way to educate as _ opportunity. what better way to educate as many _ opportunity. what better way to educate as many people - opportunity. what better way to educate as many people as i opportunity. what better way to i educate as many people as possible in such a short period of time that to send out food boxes with recipes, and really try to engage children and really try to engage children and parents to cook.— and really try to engage children and parents to cook. these firms feel they are _ and parents to cook. these firms feel they are taking _ and parents to cook. these firms feel they are taking yet - and parents to cook. these firms feel they are taking yet another. feel they are taking yet another unfair hit at their toughest time because of a few bad corporate apples. katy austin, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. saturday morning has been an interesting mix of rain and sleet and snow but the bulk of that is easing the way as we go into the afternoon, actually a contrast to sunny spells and scattered showers chiefly to the far north—west. the weather front moves off to the near continent. in doing so it allows weather conditions to brighten up nicely. most of the showers through western scotland but some filtering down through the cheshire gap into the afternoon. in terms of the field, noticeably milder to the west with nine to 11 degrees, perhaps staying on the cool side into east

anglia where we have most of the significant snow this morning. through this evening, things remain quiet with a ridge of high pressure starting to build. that bodes well for the start of sunday. we will be dry and settled with decent spells of sunshine coming through. again, we could get showers into western scotland and northern ireland. a little fresher but hopefully the sunshine will compensate. take care.

hello this is bbc news with shaun ley.