hello. this is bbc news with victoria derbyshire. here are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the uk's vaccines minister says the public should still have confidence in the uk's covid vaccine programme, despite evidence showing that the oxford jab doesn't fully protect people against mild cases of the south africa variant of the virus. it's still something we quite rightly have got to keep very close eye on, hence that surge testing to track down those cases of it and make sure those who have this variant self—isolate and thereby don't transmit it further. let us know what you think about the vaccine roll—out. i'm @vicderbyshire on twitter or email victoria@bbc.co.uk. israel's prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem, he's accused of offering favours to media companies — we'll be there live for the latest.

myanmar�*s unrest intensifies — police fire water cannon on crowds in the capital — while more workers walk out to join protests against last week's military coup. the military powers who have seized power say they will take action against protesters. heavy snow hits large parts of eastern england — and more is on its way. here in clacton on the essex coast they are bearing the brunt of this wintry weather. an amber warning is in place with possible disruption to travel and power cuts likely as well. victory to the veteran. 43—year—old tom brady leads the tampa bay buccaneers to the super bowl to win his seventh nfl title. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk

or around the world. the uk vaccines minister says the public can have confidence in its covid vaccines after south africa put its plans to use the oxford astrazeneca jab on hold. early trials suggest that against the south african coronavirus variant, the oxford vaccine offers "minimal protection�* from mild and moderate disease. so far 147 cases of the variant have been found in the uk — the dominant strain remains the one found in the south—east of england, against which the vaccines appear to work well. uk vaccines minister nadhim zahawi said scientists were working on updated vaccines to fight new variants, but added that we should "take confidence from the current roll—out and the protection it will provide all of us". aru na iyengar reports.

the race to arm the uk against coronavirus is stepping up another gear, with 18 new vaccination centres opening today across england. elland road has seen some pretty special shots on goal over the years, now the leeds united stadium is also helping give a shot in the arm, boosting the effort to give the top four priority groups part one of their vaccination by this time next week. and we are on target to offer 15 million first doses, maybe more. the numbers do seem to be very impressive, and that's great news, but i think the really key issue is that it's notjust a question of numbers. it's getting the vaccine doses into the right people. and that is being achieved, i think. we are seeing very high percentages of people in their 80s now covered, and now increasing numbers of people in their 70s. particularly the older age groups, that's the really powerful predictor of risk. in the latest 24—hour period, just under 550,000 people had a first dose of one of the three approved vaccines. that takes the overall number who have had theirfirstjab tojust over 12 million. there are questions over how much protection these vaccines will give

against new variants of the virus emerging here and in other countries. last night, south africa announced it was suspending its full roll—out of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine after a small study suggested the jab offers minimal protection against mild disease from the specific south africa variant. the country was due to start with a million doses of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine in the next few days, but the new data has created uncertainty. it's a temporary issue that we have to hold onto, astrazeneca. it is temporary until we figure out these issues, what are the next steps supposed to be. when we know those steps then of course we will bring you more. here, the vaccines minister has defended the jab, insisting it was vitally important in protecting the health care system. modified vaccines and boosterjabs are likely to be needed to beat mutations that could help the virus keep spreading for a long time yet. aruna iyengar, bbc news.

our political correspondent, jessica parker is at wesminster. does the government feel it has to move to reassure people because of this small study?— this small study? absolutely. we know when _ this small study? absolutely. we know when it _ this small study? absolutely. we know when it comes _ this small study? absolutely. we know when it comes to _ this small study? absolutely. we know when it comes to public - this small study? absolutely. we i know when it comes to public health matters, campaigns such as this huge vaccine roll—out, which has been a success so far, public confidence is key. that's why we keep hearing the caveats around this study talked about that was carried out in south africa. the fact it was a small study carried out on an average age of 31—year—olds and looked at the effects of mired level of the disease. the man who carried out the study has been talking this morning and said there was some hope the oxford astrazeneca vaccine could still be effective against more severe disease and he was basing that on the fact it was of a similar

design to thejohnson &johnson vaccine which he said look to be effective against the most severe cases of the south africa strain. so there is still a lot not known about there is still a lot not known about the effect of the vaccine on this strain. health minister edward argar was asked about the latest picture, how many cases there are in the uk currently. there isn't anything that suggests, or that she's seen, that this isn't effective in preventing severe illness, in preventing hospitalisation and preventing deaths. and although this study is an important one, and quite rightly, we will look at it carefully. throughout the past year, when i've been coming on your programme, throughout this pandemic, i've always been cautious in saying the science will evolve, we will look at all studies, but this is only one study, one small study. edward argar trying to keep up public confidence as they try to get that vaccination target of 15 million people by february 15. he also said that currently, as far as

he knew, there were 147 cases of the south african variant in the united kingdom, but that figure might be a day or so out. looking at the figures, it looks like it came from february three, so more like five days out and we will expect an update later this week. this will also raise questions about other things in the government's armoury to try to tackle the south african variant. for example, the board us policy, which it has updated to hotel quarantine from red list countries, not coming in until february 15. and test and trace, it will lead to renewed questions as to how well that is working. one conservative mp i spoke to this morning described the situation with track and trace in their area as a shambles. joining me now is dr mike tildesley from the university of warwick — he's a member of the sage subgroup, the scientific pandemic influenza group on modelling — known as spi—m. the group provides advice on epidemiology and infectious disease modelling to the uk government.

lots of people watching now will have had the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. should they be worried? i will say that this is only one study and we don't have the full data published yet. the key thing is, there doesn't appear to be any evidence that it is any less effective at preventing severe disease. that is the really good news, the vulnerable people, older people, who are more likely to develop severe symptoms, we believe the oxford astrazeneca vaccine will still work and should give very high level of protection. what we are less sure about, is how effective it is against mild and moderate disease. that means people who have the vaccine could potentially still be infected and pass the virus on if they get infected with the south african variant. so it is a concern but we need to get a little bit more data before we know the real risks are with the south african variant

and protection with this vaccine. but if people who have had the jab, both doses of oxford astrazeneca, can still pass it on, that's a blow, isn't it? i can still pass it on, that's a blow, isn't it? ,, ., can still pass it on, that's a blow, isn't it? ., , , isn't it? i will say, that is highly ossible isn't it? i will say, that is highly possible even _ isn't it? i will say, that is highly possible even prior _ isn't it? i will say, that is highly possible even prior to _ isn't it? i will say, that is highly possible even prior to this - isn't it? i will say, that is highly i possible even prior to this variant. all the efficacies that were reported at the end of last year were really against the development of symptoms will stop what we knew less about was the ability of the vaccines to block transmission. we believe that with previous variants that have been circulated, and the kent varied, there is the ability to block transmission to some extent but it is not 100% effective. even without the south african variant, we did believe some people who had been infected would be able to pass it on, so it's a warning to people, even with the vaccine you are not immune and you need to take precautions until we have a high level of protection across the nation. ~ . , ., .,

nation. what is that high level of protection. _ nation. what is that high level of protection, how— nation. what is that high level of protection, how many _ nation. what is that high level of protection, how many millions . nation. what is that high level of| protection, how many millions of people? it’s protection, how many millions of --eole? �* , . protection, how many millions of neale? �*, ., ., , protection, how many millions of --eole? �*, ., .,, ., protection, how many millions of n-eole? �*, . ., , . people? it's hard to put an exact fiaure on people? it's hard to put an exact figure on it _ people? it's hard to put an exact figure on it because _ people? it's hard to put an exact figure on it because information | figure on it because information changes all the time. and as new variants emerge, whether vaccines are perhaps less effective, we might need repeated campaigns. it shows that what we need to do when it comes to lifting lockdown is to gradually ease out of this. vaccines will not protect us overnight, as it were. so as we ease down controls we need to allow the vaccine to keep pace. if we start to ease controls over the next month or so, it needs to be a gradual process so hopefully we can ultimately get back to normality. d0 we can ultimately get back to normality-— we can ultimately get back to normality. do you think that's likel , normality. do you think that's likely. starting _ normality. do you think that's likely, starting to _ normality. do you think that's likely, starting to gradually i normality. do you think that's i likely, starting to gradually ease over the next month or so? i would susect over the next month or so? i would susoect may _ over the next month or so? i would snapect may be _ over the next month or so? i would suspect may be within _ over the next month or so? i would suspect may be within the - over the next month or so? i would suspect may be within the next i over the next month or so? i would i suspect may be within the next three orfour suspect may be within the next three or four weeks we could at least think about it. the key thing initially has to be getting children back to school, that has to be the top priority of the government. once we did that, monitor the situation and see what it does to the r number and see what it does to the r number

and see what it does to the r number and see how we keep things under control. then think about the next thing is to unlock. in the longer term we will probably need booster vaccines to protect against any variants circulating at the time. that is not unusual, we do it every year with seasonal influenza so it is not a surprise that will happen, but we have to be really cautious in the months to come to make sure we don't get a resurgence.— don't get a resurgence. former health secretary _ don't get a resurgence. former health secretary jeremy - don't get a resurgence. former health secretary jeremy hunt l don't get a resurgence. former i health secretary jeremy hunt has health secretaryjeremy hunt has said the government's daily test figures need to fall below 1000 before restrictions can ease. we are currently at around 30 times that. do you agree? i currently at around 30 times that. do you agree?— do you agree? i would always be cautious about _ do you agree? i would always be cautious about putting _ do you agree? i would always be cautious about putting an - do you agree? i would always be cautious about putting an exact i cautious about putting an exact number because there are a multitude of different factors to think about. it's notjust cases, we need to think about keeping pressure off hospitals and getting the numbers of deaths down to a really low number. and what are the local instances? do we have pockets of infection higher than other parts of the country? all of these factors, and also the rate of these factors, and also the rate of vaccination stop i would be

really reluctant to put it on just one number when we think about the criteria that we need to satisfy in terms of lockdown. fine criteria that we need to satisfy in terms of lockdown.— criteria that we need to satisfy in terms of lockdown. one more question on quarantine. — terms of lockdown. one more question on quarantine. on _ terms of lockdown. one more question on quarantine, on february _ terms of lockdown. one more question on quarantine, on february 15, - on quarantine, on february 15, britain expects anyone coming into the uk from a list of 33 red countries to go into quarantine in a hotel. before that comes in, it is reported around 200,000 travellers will arrive in the uk before the 15th. does that seem right to you? i think it's one of these really concerning things. we know generally that isolation is a challenge for a lot of people. if we want to prevent new variants coming in then we need to think about our isolation policies and make sure people see out that ten day period. it's hard for me to comment on the timeline is, i don't know how difficult it is to set up this principle of quarantining within hotels, but all i would do is encourage the government, when we know there is a problem, we need to put controls in

as rapidly as possible, including adherence to isolation to make sure we don't get both a resurgence in cases and also potentially new and more risky variants introduced into the country. more risky variants introduced into the country-— the country. thank you for talking to us. if you are getting in touch, you are very welcome, send me an e—mail. israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. he was making his second appearance in court since his trial began last may. mr netanyahu was charged last year over allegations that he accepted improper gifts and sought to trade regulatory favour with media moguls in exchange for positive coverage. mr netanyahu blasted the charges as "fabricated and ludicrous". our middle east correspondent, yolande knell — was outside the court where prime minister netanyahu's trial was being held. mr netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

a very heavy police presence in this part ofjerusalem has been lifted. we see the motorcade of benjamin netanyahu leaving the court behind me. he was in the court for around 20 minutes where he entered a plea of not guilty to a panel of three judges sitting in a case against him. as he was leaving he would have seen these people, all calling for him to resign, saying a prime minister should not remain in office while he is on a criminal trial. ahead of time, mr netanyahu put out a video message to his own supporters asking them to stay at home because of coronavirus fears. everyone can see what he calls a which hunt against him is crumbling. mr netanyahu is accused of accepting lavish gifts from wealthy friends, things like pink champagne and cigars. and of also seeking favourable regulations for media tycoons in exchange for more positive news coverage about him. this is all happening at a very

sensitive time for israel. of course there is the coronavirus pandemic. it is just a day since the country eased its restrictions in its third lockdown. also, the country is heading to its fourth general election in just two years in only six weeks' time. . the headlines on bbc news... the oxford vaccine shows disappointing results aginst mild cases of the south africa variant, but the uk's vaccine minister urges confidence in the vaccination programme. israel's prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem — he's accused of offering favours to media companies. myanmar�*s unrest intensifies — police fire water cannon on crowds in the capital — while more workers walk out to join protests against last week's military coup. for the third day in a row,

people have taken to the streets in myanmar to protest against last week's military coup — in which the country's elected leader, aung san suu kyi, was detained. the military authorities who have seized power are warning of action against demonstrators, but it is not yet clear what that means. thousands are marching in the main city of yangon, while in the capital, police have used water cannons to try and disperse demonstrators. and it seems the number of professions joining the strike is growing. andrew nachemson is a journalist based in yangon who has been monitoring the situation there. one interesting thing is that a lot of these protests we are seeing in yangon are being driven, not necessarily from nld party members but by youth student activists, labour unions, a lot of groups that are a lot more left leaning than the nld and are kind of independent from the party but united in the goal of achieving democracy for myanmar. there is a real spirit of resistance and revolution here. people are really angry and really motivated, but there is also a bit of a celebrate mood because so far

protests have not been met with any resistance. you are seeing people singing in the streets and cheering and clapping. i went to get a coffee this morning and the woman who served my coffee was singing the revolutionary anthem from 1988 while she was serving. people are really getting into it. we have been speaking to people in myanmar who have been protesting. one doctor says he is increasingly concerned about the power of the military. concerned about the power of the milita . , ., , .,, military. the number of people “oininu military. the number of people joining the _ military. the number of people joining the protests _ military. the number of people joining the protests are - military. the number of people joining the protests are still- joining the protests are still growing. almost all the government sectors arejoining in growing. almost all the government sectors are joining in the protest. the people are now protesting against the military dictatorship, unlawful coups and the detainment of our elected leaders. we are doing this because we want a true democracy and our elected, true

government. we can't do it alone. we must be united together, not only the people living in rural areas, but people living in major cities, joining in the protests. fiur joining in the protests. our southeast _ joining in the protests. our southeast asia _ joining in the protests. our southeast asia correspondence jonathan head gave this update from neighbouring thailand. the jonathan head gave this update from neighbouring thailand.— jonathan head gave this update from neighbouring thailand. the people on the streets are _ neighbouring thailand. the people on the streets are incredibly _ neighbouring thailand. the people on the streets are incredibly aware i neighbouring thailand. the people on the streets are incredibly aware of i the streets are incredibly aware of history. there is a certain groundhog day quality to this, seeing the military back in charge. backin seeing the military back in charge. back in 1988 and the last serious update against military rule in 2007, the protest built up quite a lot of momentum. in 2007 they were allowed to run for over a month before the military finally moved in and put them down with great brutality. we don't know the exact toll then but well over 100 people were killed in 2007 and we think around 3000 when he put down

protests in 1988. i don't think the police have very specific instructions yet. they are clearly not very well trained in crowd control. that is not unusual in this region. that's one of the problems. ultimately because the police can't use what it you could see how they were using them, they were squirting them like kids enjoying a paddling pool them like kids enjoying a paddling pool, it was not effective at all. that's why in the end it is very likely the military will resort to force at some point. that is what is on everyone's mines. they have done it in the past. the military have a strong sense that what they have done is right. you can't get inside their minds. if they can't control this, it will build up momentum and almost inevitably end up with a military using extreme force former first minister of scotland alex salmond will not appear at the holyrood enquiry investigating her allegations of harassment as had been planned. the enquiry is looking at the scottish government was much

of two internal harassment complaints made against alex salmond. he was cleared last year of sexually assaulting nine women when he was first minister. at least 14 people are dead and 150 are missing in northern india after a section of glaciers in the himalayas fell into a river and triggered a huge flood. water burst open a dam and then ran through a valley where a huge rescue operation is in place. correspondent paul hawkins has the details. these are the lucky ones. at least a dozen men rescued by the emergency workers. they were found trapped in this tunnel. their survival scarcely believable after the power of the water which destroyed everything in its way. this dramatic footage shows when the nanda devi glacier burst on sunday morning. as water gushed down the valley, damage and destruction. translation: about 50-100 people were running for their lives, -

but couldn't be saved, and they were engulfed by the river. the situation here is still dangerous. people are leaving their homes and are fleeing towards the forest. with floodwaters rising and roads and homes destroyed, an urgent rescue operation is under way. hundreds of members of the indian military and disaster response units have been deployed to the area. translation: approximately 125 people could be missing - as per the estimates, but it could rise because the power company is unable to give the exact figures. everyone is busy in the rescue operations. prime minister narendra modi is monitoring the situation. but many have either died or are still missing. possibly trapped beneath the debris or running out of time. two power plants employing 150 people were also hit. cheering. but moments like these keep hope alive.

they keep the emergency workers digging. paul hawkins, bbc news. there's been more snow overnight — as a new weather front keeps temperatures around freezing. severe weather warnings are in place across london and south—east england with warnings heavy snow is likely to cause disruptions to transport. our correspondent ben bland is in clacton—on—sea in essex. coronavirus vaccination centres in essex and suffolk have closed because of the bad weather. our correspondent ben bland is in clacton—on—sea in essex. here in clacton in essex on the east of england coast they are feeling the brunt of this weather. to give you a sense of how much snow has fallen, the window boxes are covered in snow and it still continues to fall, showing no signs of stopping. that is why the amber weather warning is in place for essex, norfolk, suffolk, kentand warning is in place for essex, norfolk, suffolk, kent and medway. a warning of possible power cuts in travel disruption right through

until lunchtime today, monday. there is likely to be snow and ice with us through to the middle of the week. it has caused problems for the covid vaccination plans and centres have been shut. they have been shut since yesterday in clacton, colchester, ipswich and bury st edmunds. those are the main big vaccination centres like those at clacton hospital. people have been told if their appointments have been cancelled they will be contacted, but if they don't hear from anyone to get in touch with the nhs on 1192 reebok appointments. smallervaccine centres might still operate but people are being told if they don't feel they can get in touch safely then don't take the risk. —— get in touch with the nhs on 119 two reebok. as the day has gone on, the ground is getting more slippery as the snow compacts. a lot of the snow

that has fallen has turned to ice. lockdown is in place so people should only go out on essential journeys. if you are not on the main roads then do take care. there are the risks of travel disruption and possible disruption to gas and a mobile phone networks and telephone lines as well. if you are worried about the situation in your particular local area then bbc local radio will have updates for you throughout the day. online fashion retailer boohoo has bought the dorothy perkins, wallis and burton brands. the deal means all of the former arcadia group businesses have now been sold — but they will all now become online—only. nearly 2,500 staff are set to lose theirjobs. tesco, asda and morrisons are among the major retailers calling for online stores like amazon to pay more tax once the pandemic has ended. they've written to the chancellor, rishi sunak, asking for what they call a "more level playing field". our business correspondent katie prescott reports.

another consequence of the pandemic — online retailers are doing a roaring trade, while high street stores have had to close. seniorfigures who run and own 10,000 bricks and mortar shops are questioning whether traditional tax structures on the value of property still make sense, as tax on shops is often far higher in warehouses. higher than warehouses. there are some of those businesses that say, unless they get to a fairer position in terms of how they're trading in respect of online retailing, which gets a very easy ride currently, with the current business rates system, unless we can get to a fairer position, then this situation, as i say, started before the pandemic but has been really exacerbated in the last year, this situation's only going to get worse and people are going to see their high streets, i'm afraid, looking even less healthy and vibrant than they perhaps were before. in a letter to government, they've said nearly 15,000 jobs in the sector have already been lost, and more could follow. even before covid—19, the current system penalised physical shops.

reducing business rates for retailers and rebalancing the tax system to ensure online retailers pay a fair share of tax would provide a vital boost to bricks and mortar retailers, and support communities in need of levelling up. there is currently a review of business rates under way, and the government said it will consider the case for introducing an online sales tax as part of it. katie prescott, bbc news. the super bowl has produced another extraordinary story, as the 43—year old quarterback tom brady masterminded the tampa bay buccaneers to victory against the kansas city chiefs. they won 31—9 on home soil, giving brady his seventh career super bowl title. cbs news correspondent skyler henry is in tampa bay with more. i think there will come a time where we have to really set and appreciate these past 20 years. despite whether you are a huge

tom brady fan or if you root against the 43—year—old quarterback, what he was able to do here tonightjust proves that his legacy is cemented as arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. what he did here, coming to this new city after spending so much time up in the new england area winning championships up there and putting his teams together and then winning another super bowl here. the city is electric, they certainly are behind this quarterback, he said at his press conference after the game that he wants to come back and do this all over again with this group, winning more super bowls and i think everyone around here certainly wants that to keep on going. it's day one of the australian tennis open. the grand slam had been pushed back three weeks to allow players to quarantine. capacity at melbourne park has been limited to 30,000 spectators each day. shifter melbourne park has been limited to 30,000 spectators each day. after a three-week — 30,000 spectators each day. after a three-week delay _ 30,000 spectators each day. after a three-week delay and _ 30,000 spectators each day. after a three-week delay and a _ 30,000 spectators each day. after a three-week delay and a dramatic i 30,000 spectators each day. after a| three-week delay and a dramatic and three—week delay and a dramatic and controversial build—up, the australian open is finally under way. there is a real buzz around

melbourne park with tennis fans streaming in through the day, some straight to the courts, others enjoying the outdoors and watching on the big screen. but it does feel different this year with the covid safety measures in place around the park, from hand sanitising to encouraging people to cover their faces and to social distance. the park itself has been divided into three zones. your ticket takes you to that specific place, which limits the number of people mixing and also helps with contact tracing in case of infection. despite all the restrictions, the people we have spoken to say they are just happy to be here. irate spoken to say they are 'ust happy to be here. ~ ., spoken to say they are 'ust happy to be here. ~ . ., ., spoken to say they are 'ust happy to be here. ~ . . ., ., .,, . be here. we have had a fantastic da . we be here. we have had a fantastic day- we come — be here. we have had a fantastic day. we come every _ be here. we have had a fantastic day. we come every year- be here. we have had a fantastic day. we come every year to i be here. we have had a fantastic day. we come every year to the | day. we come every year to the tennis. — day. we come every year to the tennis. obviously a bit different this year— tennis. obviously a bit different this year but it's been wonderful and great — this year but it's been wonderful and great to have sport back in melbourne. | and great to have sport back in melbourne-— and great to have sport back in melbourne. �* ., ., , melbourne. i didn't want to believe it until we actually _ melbourne. i didn't want to believe it until we actually got _ melbourne. i didn't want to believe it until we actually got off- melbourne. i didn't want to believe it until we actually got off the i it until we actually got off the tram — it until we actually got off the tram because _ it until we actually got off the tram because everything i it until we actually got off the tram because everything this| it until we actually got off the i tram because everything this year has been — tram because everything this year has been last_ tram because everything this year has been last moment _ tram because everything this year. has been last moment cancellations. melbourne _ has been last moment cancellations. melbourne have _ has been last moment cancellations. melbourne have done _ has been last moment cancellations. melbourne have done quite - has been last moment cancellations. melbourne have done quite well- has been last moment cancellations. melbourne have done quite well at l melbourne have done quite well at controlling covid and having low levels _ controlling covid and having low levels at —

controlling covid and having low levels at the moment but they are still very— levels at the moment but they are still very strict with hand sanitising. facemasks and all the public— sanitising. facemasks and all the public transport and things like that _ public transport and things like that it — public transport and things like that. it feels like it is very safe. this_ that. it feels like it is very safe. this year— that. it feels like it is very safe. this year is— that. it feels like it is very safe. this year is really strange because you can _ this year is really strange because you can get — this year is really strange because you can get a _ this year is really strange because you can get a seat _ this year is really strange because you can get a seat really _ this year is really strange because you can get a seat really easily, i you can get a seat really easily, which _ you can get a seat really easily, which is — you can get a seat really easily, which is super— you can get a seat really easily, which is super strange, - you can get a seat really easily, which is super strange, but i you can get a seat really easily, which is super strange, but it. you can get a seat really easily, i which is super strange, but it still fantestic— which is super strange, but it still fantastic and _ which is super strange, but it still fantastic and it _ which is super strange, but it still fantastic and it still— which is super strange, but it still fantastic and it still has _ which is super strange, but it still fantastic and it still has the - which is super strange, but it still fantastic and it still has the best. fantastic and it still has the best atmosphere _ fantastic and it still has the best atmosphere i_ fantastic and it still has the best atmosphere. ijust _ fantastic and it still has the best atmosphere. ijust saw - fantastic and it still has the best atmosphere. ijust saw rafa i fantastic and it still has the best . atmosphere. ijust saw rafa nadal waiking _ atmosphere. ijust saw rafa nadal walking around, _ atmosphere. ijust saw rafa nadal walking around, amazing. - atmosphere. ijust saw rafa nadal walking around, amazing. i- atmosphere. ijust saw rafa nadal walking around, amazing. i lovedl atmosphere. ijust saw rafa nadali walking around, amazing. i loved it a lot. _ walking around, amazing. i loved it a lot. , ., , walking around, amazing. i loved it alot. , ., , , ., walking around, amazing. i loved it alot. ., a lot. getting to this stage hasn't been easy- _ a lot. getting to this stage hasn't been easy. less _ a lot. getting to this stage hasn't been easy. less than _ a lot. getting to this stage hasn't been easy. less than one - a lot. getting to this stage hasn't been easy. less than one week l a lot. getting to this stage hasn't i been easy. less than one week ago, this place was all but deserted. more than 500 players and officials and coaches were forced into isolation because of a positive covid—19 case in one of the events' quarantine hotels. much to the relief of the organisers everybody came back with a negative result and now the first grand slam of the year is finally happening. it's fair to say not everyone is happy this is taking place and yes, there are risks, but officials are confident and they say even if there are covid—19 cases it will not stop the

grand slam. australia wants to send a message it is able to organise a global sporting event like this, even with the challenges presented by doing it in the midst of a pandemic. by doing it in the midst of a pandemic-— by doing it in the midst of a pandemic. by doing it in the midst of a andemic. ~ .. , , ., pandemic. we can bring you the headhnes pandemic. we can bring you the headlines on _ pandemic. we can bring you the headlines on bbc— pandemic. we can bring you the headlines on bbc news. - pandemic. we can bring you the headlines on bbc news. the i pandemic. we can bring you the headlines on bbc news. the ukj headlines on bbc news. the uk government says the public should still have confidence in the country's over vaccine programme, despite evidence the oxford jab offers less efficacy over mild infections. israel's prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem. he is accused of offering favours to media companies. we will be live there for the latest. mind's unrest intensifies. a police fired water cannon on crowds in the capital while more workers walk out to join protests over last week was a military coup. heavy snow hits large parts of the uk and more is on the

way. the vaccines minister for the uk nadhim zahawi says the public can have confidence in the covid vaccines after early trials suggested that against the south african variant, the oxford jab offers minimal protection from mild—to—moderate disease. south africa has put its plans to use the oxford astrazeneca jab on hold for a period of time. i have been speaking to the south african government's top adviser on the pandemic about to the roll—out of that vaccine has been paused. 50 the roll-out of that vaccine has been paused-— the roll-out of that vaccine has been paused. so when we initially assessed the _ been paused. so when we initially assessed the vaccines _ been paused. so when we initially assessed the vaccines and - been paused. so when we initially assessed the vaccines and we i been paused. so when we initially i assessed the vaccines and we decided that we will take an approach of having a diversity of candidates which included the astrazeneca vaccine, our early assessment showed that the vaccine was effective against both mild and severe

disease, including hospitalisation. however, a recent studyjust out shows that in a small population of around 2,000 where there were no cases of severe disease, that the vaccine was less effective against mild disease, particularly in the context of south africa, where we have the 5021 variant. so we felt there was uncertainty as to whether there was uncertainty as to whether the astrazeneca vaccine does indeed prevent severe infection and hospitalisation, which is what we are really interested in. so we need to ensure we have that data before we proceed with the roll—out. so the roll—out has not been stopped, it has just been temporarily delayed while we collect this evidence before proceeding. how long do you think that will take? the way in which we are looking

at it right now, we have a large group of scientists trying to establish what's the best way to collect that evidence quickly. it looks like the simplest way to proceed is to start the roll—out of the astrazeneca vaccine under a research protocol where we would vaccinate, say, the first 100,000 individuals and look at the hospitalisation rates in that group. and if the hospitalisation rates are below the threshold, then we would proceed with just continuing the roll—out as normal. if that threshold is met and the hospitalisations are too high, then we would stop rolling out the vaccine and instead give those individuals another effective vaccine. i wonder if you have acted prematurely, as you yourself said, it's a small study, 2,000 people, the average age of those in the study was 31.

and this study hasn't been peer—reviewed, it has not been formally published yet. yes, i think it is not just that we have the clinical evidence, we also have the voluntary evidence which showed pretty a high proportion of individuals who had been vaccinated with the astrazeneca vaccine that the virus had full escape. it had no neutralisation at all. so, it was that combination that supported the clinical evidence. and we're not stopping the roll—out of the astrazeneca, it'sjust a temporary delay. and the reason for that is, if we proceeded with rolling it out and not knowing whether it remains effective, then we would be doing, we might be rolling out a vaccine that's not working. we would rather be able to answer that question before we roll it out without knowing that information. buckingham palace has denied reports

the queen influence to govan law backin the queen influence to govan law back in the 1970s, it comes after the guardian newspaper published documents that suggests queen elizabeth's lawyer successfully lobbied ministers to change a draft law to conceal the queen's private wealth. the draft bill was later revised to allow the head of state to sidestep the new regulations. buckingham palace has said any assertion that the sovereign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect. after successfully containing the coronavirus virus last year, africa is experiencing a surge in cases. zimbabwe's covid death rate went past 1,000 in january forcing the government to introduce strict lockdown. several government ministers have died there from covid and confirmed cases stand at around 34,000. this report from harare on the reasons behind the second way. —— second wave.

the burials are hurried, a handful of relatives look on from a distance. zimbabwe, like most african countries, was mildly affected by the first coronavirus wave, but now it's in the grip of a deadly second wave. january was the deadliest month of all. this private cemetery used to average two or three covid burials a day. last month, that number rose to around a dozen. some families say their loved ones died so quickly from covid—like symptoms, but that they're still waiting for test results. the powerful have not been spared either. an unprecedented triple burial at the national war heroes shrine. among those being buried, two government ministers. january accounted for more than half the total cases, and two thirds of the deaths, since the pandemic began. it followed festive season celebrations and travellers returning from south africa. the head of a major government hospital had warned of a pending

second wave long before it arrived. he cited the reopening of schools and borders in october. we really need to prevent this virus from spiralling out of control. in a proper covid—19 storm, there would be no way to cope with this storm. even if you have so many ventilators, so many staff members, you won't cope with the numbers. so the idea here, in lower—resource areas, to make sure that we don't reach a situation where we're having a full—blown covid—19 storm. doctors groups — concerned about the pressure on icu beds, oxygen supplies and the growing number of people dying at home — also believe that other factors contributed to the rise in deaths. delays in seeking treatment and an overreliance on home remedies. street vendors are cashing in on the latest home remedy craze, the zumbani, or fever tree leaf. the immune—boosting traditional herb is used to relieve the symptoms of colds, flu and fever.

before covid, i can only sell these packets maybe three, four packets a day. but now, just because of covid, we sell more than that, packets of this a day. after a tragic month, the rate of new infections and deaths has now more than halved, and the number of active cases has dramatically decreased. the government says this is due to stricter lockdown measures. the disease, they say, is now under control, and that vaccines are coming soon. but the last month has been a reminder that the war on covid—19 is farfrom over. shingai nyoka, bbc news, harare. six workers in sierra leone are often seen as immoral outcasts to be shunned, despite the fact their profession is legal. we have been

investigating the treatment of six workers and uncovered a world where many are abused, trafficked and even killed. this report from makeni in the north of the country. long before covid—19, many in this city were struggling to survive. but for the sex workers, the coronavirus has made that struggle even harder. there are more than 1,000 sex workers in makeni. although theirjob is legal, they get no government aid to ease the impact of the pandemic. and the risks they face have not diminished.

many, like this woman, have children to provide for and no man around to help. she shows me the injuries she says were inflicted on her by a client. a few weeks later, when i go back to see how she is doing, she has disappeared. two months pass with no word from her. hello. then, out of the blue, she gets in touch. from a number in mali. it appears she and another sex worker were taken by a trafficking gang.

she says they were trafficked even further, to mali. they were abandoned in a small mining village. we have been shown a location on hour's drive from kenieba. the international organisation for migration, a un body which aids trafficked people, organised their return to sierra leone. we are all here ready. their parents are outside waiting for their daughters. they can't wait. it's a joy, you know.

it's a celebration for me in my mind and my heart because i was not thinking it was going to turn out this way. we are happy that these girls are finally coming back. these lives that we almost lost, we regained them. today, the mothers have their daughters and the daughters have their mothers back. the question is, what kind of life awaits them now? british lawyers assessing human rights abuses against the house macro people says there is a credible case the chinese government is committing genocide. lawyers from the essex court chambers in london were instructed by uighur and human rights groups to investigate public evidence. they were told anti—china

forces were fabricating the lies of the century. tell us more about what this legal opinion says, james landale. , this legal opinion says, james landale. ., ., landale. this opinion has gathered to . ether landale. this opinion has gathered together all _ landale. this opinion has gathered together all be _ landale. this opinion has gathered together all be available _ landale. this opinion has gathered together all be available publicly . together all be available publicly available evidence that has been compiled by governments, research outfits, media, ngos and even the chinese government themselves and it has assessed it through illegal prism. what these barristers have done, they are all experts in human rights law and international law, and they have said if on the basis of the evidence already there that is, to use their phrase, a credible case that genocide is being carried out by the chinese government against the uighurs in shandoong and they crucially say the chinese president, because of his close involvement in these policies, there is a credible case against him for crimes against humanity and a plausible case that a genocide case can be made against him personally. so it is very substantive stuff. the crucial argument it makes is if you

look at the harm being done against the uighurs and the measures being taken to the uighurs and the measures being ta ken to force the uighurs and the measures being taken to force women to not give birth in a variety of pretty dreadful ways and also the forcible relocation of children to other areas, that together begins to meet the legal definition of genocide, it is a high bar to meet. find the legal definition of genocide, it is a high bar to meet.— is a high bar to meet. and tell us about the significance _ is a high bar to meet. and tell us about the significance of - is a high bar to meet. and tell us about the significance of this i is a high bar to meet. and tell us| about the significance of this legal opinion and what the chinese government have said about it. it is siunificant government have said about it. it 3 significant because it shows the sort of path a british court could follow, where british courts allowed to hear genocide cases. at the moment, they can't, largely for international courts. but mps are pushing for british courts to have this rate and there will be a big vote in the house of commons tomorrow the government poses that and it will be quite a tight vote. the chinese government said in a statement that the uighur population is rising in shandoong and they said

anti—china forces in the west are concocting and disseminating plenty of false information about shandoong and described these things as lies of the century, smearing china �*s image, so as usual, they denied those charges and say this is fabrication by people in the west. the headlines on bbc news... the oxford vaccine shows disappointing results aginst mild cases of the south africa variant, but the vaccine's minister urges confidence in the uk's vaccination programme. israel's prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem, he's accused of offering favours to media companies — we'll be there live for the latest. myanmar�*s unrest intensifies — police fire water cannon on crowds in the capital — while more workers walk out to join protests against last week's military coup. the number of people in the uk given

theirfirst vaccine dose the number of people in the uk given their first vaccine dose has now hit 12 million. but take up within black and asian communities remains lower. a gp has been investigating that reluctance. iamagpin i am a gp in buckinghamshire, you might have seen me on bbc breakfast, i am one of the resident doctors. i am in chesham in our vaccination hub and we will try to get as many people through the doors as possible. are there any questions you would like to ask me? we have been vaccinating people at our community hub for weeks now. this assay for anyone allergic to penicillin or other medications, you

will not get a reaction from this at all. thank you. but there still is some hesitancy out there, some doubts. some questions. uncertainty well done. perfect. i doubts. some questions. uncertainty well done. perfect.— well done. perfect. idon't feel anything- _ well done. perfect. idon't feel anything. thank— well done. perfect. i don't feel anything. thank you _ well done. perfect. idon't feel anything. thank you so - well done. perfect. idon't feel anything. thank you so much. | well done. perfect. idon't feel- anything. thank you so much. when i not m anything. thank you so much. when i got my vaccination _ anything. thank you so much. when i got my vaccination done, _ anything. thank you so much. when i got my vaccination done, i _ anything. thank you so much. when i got my vaccination done, i wanted i anything. thank you so much. when i got my vaccination done, i wanted to | got my vaccination done, i wanted to let my community know it is safe so i made videos in my mother tongue and i posted them online. some of the comments left on my videos are absolutely awful, this one talks about infertility, that is absolutely not true. this vaccine has been approved by all faith leaders from all communities. you are a sheep being brainwashed by the nhs. nobody is brainwashing anybody. how are you? so lovely to see you,

thank you so much for setting up this hub. we have had real difficulties getting members of our community vaccinated, particularly the asian community, have you come across that setting up this local hub? g, across that setting up this local hub? �* . . across that setting up this local hub? ., ., , ., ., ., hub? a lot of misinformation coming out is through _ hub? a lot of misinformation coming out is through things _ hub? a lot of misinformation coming out is through things like _ hub? a lot of misinformation coming out is through things like social- out is through things like social media and a lot of the younger generation are influencing their parents. we have had cases where parents. we have had cases where parents were initially happy to come in and had a chat with their kids and their kids said, i am not so sure. ., ., " and their kids said, i am not so sure. ., ., ~ ,~. and their kids said, i am not so sure. . ., ~ . ., sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are ou? sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are you? i — sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are you? i am _ sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are you? i am good, _ sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are you? i am good, thank _ sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are you? i am good, thank you. i sure. sofia, thank you so much, how are you? i am good, thank you. you | are you? iam good, thank you. you are you? i am good, thank you. you are quite hesitant about having the covid—19 vaccine, can you tell me more about that? i covid-19 vaccine, can you tell me more about that?— covid-19 vaccine, can you tell me more about that? i put two and two toaether more about that? i put two and two together and _ more about that? i put two and two together and sadly, _ more about that? i put two and two together and sadly, there _ more about that? i put two and two together and sadly, there are i more about that? i put two and two together and sadly, there are a i more about that? i put two and two together and sadly, there are a lotl together and sadly, there are a lot of conspiracy theories and a lot of ignorance — of conspiracy theories and a lot of ignorance about the facts being spread — ignorance about the facts being spread around and it is hard and you do get _ spread around and it is hard and you do get sucked into it. i was so focused — do get sucked into it. i was so focused on _ do get sucked into it. i was so focused on looking at it from one angle _ focused on looking at it from one angle and — focused on looking at it from one angle and i— focused on looking at it from one angle and i didn't even realise that

there _ angle and i didn't even realise that there were — angle and i didn't even realise that there were other multiple facets to this story. — there were other multiple facets to this story. if there were other multiple facets to this sto . , ., ., there were other multiple facets to this sto . i. ., ., ., this story. if you have ongoing concerns. _ this story. if you have ongoing concerns, it's _ this story. if you have ongoing concerns, it's ok. _ this story. if you have ongoing concerns, it's ok. please, i this story. if you have ongoing i concerns, it's ok. please, please, turn to the leaders of your community, please turn to your gp. listen to health care advice from the mainstream, rather than the extremes of social media. ladies, i am in awe of you guys and we are bbc breakfast girlies, this is awesome. it is notjust me dealing with the questions. we it is notjust me dealing with the cuestions. ~ ., it is notjust me dealing with the cuestions. ~ . ., , ., , questions. we have had people ruestion questions. we have had people question how — questions. we have had people question how quickly _ questions. we have had people question how quickly did i questions. we have had people question how quickly did this i questions. we have had people. question how quickly did this get done, is it safe? are they going to genetically alter me by giving me this vaccine? we have had a lot of questions and they have been coming for a while now.— for a while now. what is your underground _ for a while now. what is your underground experience, i for a while now. what is your - underground experience, rosemary? three cleaners came into the surgery. _ three cleaners came into the surgery, all afro—caribbean, and we said. _ surgery, all afro—caribbean, and we said. you _ surgery, all afro—caribbean, and we said, you work in a surgery, we have

-ot said, you work in a surgery, we have got this— said, you work in a surgery, we have got this leftover, would you like them? — got this leftover, would you like them? and they all refused. they all said, them? and they all refused. they all said. no. _ them? and they all refused. they all said. no. we — them? and they all refused. they all said, no, we don't trust it, we don't — said, no, we don't trust it, we don't think— said, no, we don't trust it, we don't think it would work for us. what _ don't think it would work for us. what is — don't think it would work for us. what is so — don't think it would work for us. what is so sad is many of them are more _ what is so sad is many of them are more at _ what is so sad is many of them are more at risk— what is so sad is many of them are more at risk as well. so it is doubly— more at risk as well. so it is doubly important that we somehow get them in _ doubly important that we somehow get them in and get them to trust the vaccine _ them in and get them to trust the vaccine. . . . . them in and get them to trust the vaccine. . . . , ., , ._ vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going _ vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going to _ vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going to get _ vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going to get on _ vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going to get on top - vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going to get on top of- vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we are going to get on top of the i we are going to get on top of the virus and get our lives back to normal. are you ok with needles? are you worried about needles? we can't let even more lives be lost through misinformation, lies and myths. president ronald reagan's long—time secretary of state george schultz has died aged 100. he spent most of the 1980s trying to improve relations with the soviet union. this is a look back at his life. he is widely credited with helping to end the cold war.— is widely credited with helping to end the cold war. thank you very much, end the cold war. thank you very much. mr—

end the cold war. thank you very much, mr president, _ end the cold war. thank you very much, mr president, and - end the cold war. thank you very much, mr president, and my i end the cold war. thank you very i much, mr president, and my friend. george schultz says as secretary of state for six and a half years under ronald reagan and he helped improve relations with the soviet union, striking cordial and constructive relationships with both president gorbachev and his foreign minister. in negotiations, he refused to make concessions in advance, waiting instead for them to blink, and are usually dead. because, as george shultz well knew, they had become more concerned with problems at home than interference abroad. in 1987, both countries signed a landmark arms control agreement. he was also involved in talks with iran in the 19805. ., ., , ., involved in talks with iran in the 19805. ., ., ., ~ ., 19805. the iranian people are known as ureat 19805. the iranian people are known as great road — 19805. the iranian people are known as great road merchants _ 19805. the iranian people are known as great road merchants not - 19805. the iranian people are known as great road merchants not for- as great road merchants not for nothing, they are good at this business of smiling and encouraging you one and then cutting your throat. in you one and then cutting your throat. ., ., , throat. in total, he served three presidents- _ throat. in total, he served three presidents. dwight _ throat. in total, he served three presidents. dwight eisenhowerl throat. in total, he served three i presidents. dwight eisenhower and

richard nixon here. his public service following an impressive academic career, which saw him become a distinguished fellow of the hoover institution. its director, kaunda lisa rice, a former secretary of state herself, called him a great american statesman and a true patriot —— kaunda lisa rice. and the current secretary of state said he was a legend and an ardent champion of diplomacy. george shultz chose words instead of weapons to end the cold war. last december, to celebrate his 100th birthday, he wrote in the washington post, trust is the coin of the realm. when trust was in the room, good things happened. when trust wasn't, good things did not. he isa he is a world—famous rock star... he's a world famous rock star who played at the inauguration of president biden last month — but even dave grohl has to get stuck in with home—schooling. the foo fighters frontman has caught up with our entertainment correspondent colin paterson for a chat about lockdown life,

his new album. dave grohl, how does it feel to be releasing your new album in the middle of a global pandemic? it's a relief that people finally get to hear these songs that we recorded a year ago. i mean, when we... we wrote these songs maybe two years ago, we started recording, like, mid—2019, with the intention that this album was going to be the soundtrack to our 25th anniversary. it's our tenth album. we're going to go on this massive world tour. we're going to play stadiums and festivals, and we we're making this really upbeat, sort of danceable record because it's going to be the biggest party of our lives! and then everything went... he blows raspberry ..and just stopped. so, you know, the dam finally broke and i wasjust like, let's just put it — let's get it out there. we can't get to stage right now, but these songs were meant to be heard, so let's go. # it's times like these, time and time again...# you've also recently played

joe biden�*s inauguration. how was that experience? well, it was an honour, first of all, to be included in that. i mean, i voted for the guy, so... unfortunately, it was prerecorded. we couldn't be in washington, dc — which, i was bummed out because that's my hometown. so when i saw it on television, i was actually in hawaii on the couch in a tie—dyed t—shirt, drinking a beer. so it was... it was... it was a little surreal, but it was an honour nonetheless. the important question — how is home—schooling going? my kids know who i am. 0k? i've read my report cards to my kids before, so they're not necessarily going to come to me for anything academic. they just don't. like, i could be a cheerleader, i can make you a great breakfast and i could make you smile before you start your day, but you don't necessarily want me in your history lessons. you don't necessarily want me helping you with trigonometry. let's enlist you to do some music education to the children of britain, then.

give them three albums they should listen to for their music education. wow. well, you're going to want to get the beatles�* sgt pepper's. # it was 20 years ago today # sgt pepper taught the band to play...# one reason is because that album still connects the way it did the day it came out. now, if you want to be a drummer, you're going to want to get the ac/dc album back in black. that is like... that is rock'n�*roll drumming 101. music: back in black by ac/dc a third album, i mean, i like myself a little party every now and then — i do like to dance. i mean, come on, let'sjust go with saturday night fever. like, look, if you put saturday night fever on, it's going to feel like saturday night. it could be a monday morning! so, i would have to go with those three albums. that's a good way to start. and thus endeth dave

grohl�*s music lesson. thank you very much for that. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. we have seen further snow in places as we've gone through the course of this morning, and it has been a cold start. still the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. it's going to remain cold as we go through the next few days. temperatures will be below average anyway, but when you add on the wind chill, it will feel sub—zero. further snow showers to come and a return to overnight frosts. the met office still has two amber weather warnings in force. amber weather warnings mean increased likelihood of disruption due to severe weather. the snow showers today, we won't all see them, some will be forming lines in parts of the country. so, parts of north—east scotland, parts of north—east england,

parts of the midlands, for example. and with gusty winds, some of those will be blowing over towards the west, but generally speaking, west is best in terms of dry weather. we will also see some sunshine in between those showers as well. these are the strength of the wind gusts, strongest round the coasts of east anglia and kent. temperatures today on the thermometer will look like they are +3 to freezing, but when you add on the wind—chill, it will feel much colder than that. —ii in aberdeen, —3 in belfast, —7 in norwich. this evening and overnight, we continue with some of those snow showers, forming bands, particularly so across the central lowlands. this is one area we are keeping a keen eye on because we could see some significant snow here. it's going to be a cold night in prospect once again with the risk of ice. tomorrow, still the risk of significant snow across the central lowlands. still some snow showers coming in on the wind. not as windy, though, across the south—east as today, but windy through the english channel and south—west,

with an approaching band of rain, with potential for some snow. this is how it will feel. once again, another bitter day in prospect. on wednesday, if anything, the isobars space out a little bit more, so not as windy, so that means not all the showers will be blowing over towards the west, but it will be a cold start. —14 quite possible across parts of northern scotland. that will make it the coldest night of the year so far if that happens. you can see a lot of the showers will be in the east, a few in the south—east but, equally, a lot of dry weather, but still feeling cold.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11... the government says people should still have confidence in the country's covid vaccine programme — despite evidence showing that the oxford jab offers only limited protection against the south africa variant of the virus. it's still something we quite rightly have got to keep very close eye on, hence that surge testing to track down those cases of it and make sure those who have this variant self—isolate and thereby don't transmit it further. the former snp leader alex salmond will not now give evidence tomorrow to the inquiry into the scottish governments handling of harassment complaints against him. he's preivously said he'll only appear if his written evidence is published. israel's prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem, he's accused of offering

favours to media companies. heavy snow hits large parts of eastern england — and more is on its way. and england has run up a lead of more than 400 runs. the vaccines minister says the public can have confidence in the uk's covid vaccines — after south africa put its plans to use the oxford astrazeneca jab on hold. early trials suggest that against the south african coronavirus variant, the oxford vaccine offers �*minimal protection�* from mild and moderate disease.

so far, 147 cases of the variant have been found in the uk, but the dominant strain in this country is the kent one, against which the vaccines appear to work well. vaccines minister nadhim zahawi said scientists were working on updated vaccines to fight new variants, but added that we should "take confidence from the current roll out and the protection it will provide all of us." aru na iyengar reports. the race to arm the uk against coronavirus is stepping up another gear, with 18 new vaccination centres opening today across england. elland road has seen some pretty special shots on goal over the years, now the leeds united stadium is also helping give a shot in the arm, boosting the effort to give the top four priority groups part one of their vaccination by this time next week. and we are on target to offer 15 million first doses, maybe more. the numbers do seem to be very impressive, and that�*s great news, but i think the really key issue is that it�*s notjust

a question of numbers. it�*s getting the vaccine doses into the right people. and that is being achieved, i think. we are seeing very high percentages of people in their 80s now covered, and now increasing numbers of people in their 70s. particularly the older age groups, that�*s the really powerful predictor of risk. in the latest 24—hour period, just under 550,000 people had a first dose of one of the three approved vaccines. that takes the overall number who have had theirfirstjab tojust over 12 million. there are questions over how much protection these vaccines will give against new variants of the virus emerging here and in other countries. last night, south africa announced it was suspending its full roll—out of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine after a small study suggested the jab offers minimal protection against mild disease from the specific south africa variant. the country was due to start with a million doses

of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine in the next few days, but the new data has created uncertainty. it�*s a temporary issue that we have to hold onto, astrazeneca. it is temporary until we figure out these issues, what are the next steps supposed to be. when we know those steps, then of course we will bring you more. here, the vaccines minister has defended the jab, insisting it was vitally important in protecting the health care system. modified vaccines and boosterjabs are likely to be needed to beat mutations that could help the virus keep spreading for a long time yet. aruna iyengar, bbc news. our political correspondent, jessica parker is at wesminster. sojessica, this news out of south africa is obviously causing some concern and has led to the government to scramble to try and reassure the public here. i government to scramble to try and reassure the public here.— reassure the public here. i think ministers and _ reassure the public here. i think ministers and talking _ reassure the public here. i think ministers and talking about - reassure the public here. i think| ministers and talking about that,

this new study, are keen to stress some of the caveats around it that we have been hearing about. that it was a relatively small study, that the average age was 31 and that they were looking at mild disease. and interestingly, the men who let that study in south africa has been talking this morning, and he said there is hope that actually the astrazeneca vaccine could be effective against the beer disease and he is extrapolating that from the fact it has a similar design to the fact it has a similar design to thejohnson &johnson vaccine, which they think will be effective against severe disease on the south african variant. so i think ministers are keen to try and reassure people, because of course a vaccine campaign seemed to have been going very well in terms of sheer numbers for one thing, but they want to ensure that there is public confidence. and edward agar, the health minister, has been talking this morning about the fact that in their view there still some things that are unknown, but very much help as well that the oxford astrazeneca vaccine will be effective to some degree. there isn't anything that suggests,

or that she's seen, that this isn't effective in preventing severe illness, in preventing hospitalisation and preventing deaths. and although this study is an important one, and quite rightly, we will look at it carefully. throughout the past year, when i've been coming on your programme, throughout this pandemic, i've always been cautious in saying the science will evolve, we will look at all studies, but this is only one study, one small study. sol so i think important to stress, i think it has been reflected by ministers and the person who carried out the study in south africa, there are still some unknowns about all of this. what we know in terms of how many cases of the south african variant that there are currently in the united kingdom, we�*ve been told this morning that the latest numbers are 147. looking at statistics online, that figure looks to be around five days old, we should be have updates from public health england later in the week. thank you very much- — england later in the week. thank you very much- let's _ england later in the week. thank you very much. let's go _ england later in the week. thank you very much. let's go to _ england later in the week. thank you very much. let's go to jeremy - england later in the week. thank you | very much. let's go to jeremy brown. jeremy brown is a professor

of respiratory infection at university college london and sits on thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation. he is speaking today in a personal capacity. thank you very much forjoining us. obviously the government is saying in terms of the strains are currently prevalent in this country, there should be absolutely no concern. what is your view of what we should be reading into that study in south africa? i we should be reading into that study in south africa?— in south africa? i think there are two important — in south africa? i think there are two important things _ in south africa? i think there are two important things to - in south africa? i think there are two important things to say - in south africa? i think there are | two important things to say about the south african data we have got. first of all, that the strains we have in the country at the moment are not the south african variant, and we are vaccinating to prevent what we are facing here in the uk at the moment, which is the kent virus and the original virus. against which, the astrazeneca vaccine works very well, we had data last week showing that it reduces transmission, even with the kent virus knew variant. so that is good, and the second thing which i think has been mentioned is that we don�*t

know really more about the protection against severe disease. in fact, there is good evidence of a similar vaccine, thejohnson vaccine, does protect against severe disease caused by the south african variant, and that is important. this is not vaccine is with the astrazeneca vaccine, so we probably can be confident that the astrazeneca still prevents severe disease, which is the main aim of our vaccine policy.— our vaccine policy. does this give wei . ht to our vaccine policy. does this give weight to suggestions _ our vaccine policy. does this give weight to suggestions that - our vaccine policy. does this give weight to suggestions that a - our vaccine policy. does this give | weight to suggestions that a been previously made, and there is a study looking into this, about mixing and matching vaccines? yes it, and i mixing and matching vaccines? yes it. and i think _ mixing and matching vaccines? jazz it, and i think the study mixing and matching vaccines? i2; it, and i think the study that is come from south africa is important is thinking towards a future and how we can maintain the effectiveness of the programme over the years and months in the future. and that may involve repeating vaccinations with

different vaccines, once which have been adjusted to specifically target the new variance like the south african one letter coming through. and that might involve where you vaccinate with one type of vaccine and then come in with another manufacturer�*s vaccine for the benefits from that. find manufacturer's vaccine for the benefits from that.— manufacturer's vaccine for the benefits from that. and in terms of what it means _ benefits from that. and in terms of what it means for _ benefits from that. and in terms of what it means for life _ benefits from that. and in terms of what it means for life in _ benefits from that. and in terms of what it means for life in the - benefits from that. and in terms of what it means for life in the uk - what it means for life in the uk once the current vaccines are rolled out, we do, as it is understood at the moment, have a cases of the south african variant identified in this country, but obviously there is a prospect of it having spread further than that. so how reassured can people be about how they should be living their lives once i�*ve had to vaccines with these other showings out there? this reflects what happens _ showings out there? this reflects what happens in _ showings out there? this reflects what happens in phase _ showings out there? this reflects what happens in phase two - showings out there? this reflects what happens in phase two of - showings out there? this reflectsj what happens in phase two of our vaccination roll—out, and phase one of the vaccination programme, which is what we�*re doing at the

programme, down to the age of 50, is largely to prevent people getting severe infection and ending up in hospital. in phase two, we will be thinking more about how we can prevent spread of the virus between different groups of people within the country and control at the actual viral infection that is occurring in the community. and there, the issue about the south african variant perhaps being resistant to astrazeneca vaccine, may be, but i do think it is too early to say how this will pan out and what we will need to overcome any specific problems that might be arising because of the new variant. and going back to what you�*re saying previously about the evidence so far, the educations for thejohnson &johnson vaccine looking like it does probably —— the indications, that it does probably protect against more serious strains of the

infection, can you therefore then roll out that assumption on other vaccines? and why would it be that a vaccines? and why would it be that a vaccine what has that effect if it doesn�*t stop you getting the disease at all? i doesn't stop you getting the disease at all? ., �* , doesn't stop you getting the disease atall? ., �* , ., ,, at all? i don't 'ust address the latter part — at all? i don't 'ust address the tatter part of _ at all? i don'tjust address the latter part of your _ at all? i don'tjust address the latter part of your question . at all? i don'tjust address the l latter part of your question first —— | latter part of your question first —— i willjust address the latter part, the coronaviruses, we have been exposed to them over a while and this is just a been exposed to them over a while and this isjust a new been exposed to them over a while and this is just a new variant that we have never previously been exposed to, and therefore do not have a significant immune response to. and it is quite likely that an immune response that partially affects that virus will have very profound effects on how the virus causes disease, converting it from being something that can cause severe disease to just mild disease, which is what the normal coronaviruses do. so you end up converting it from causing pneumonia to causing an upper respiratory tract infection, so mild flu or cough and cold type thing. and a little bit of immunity might go

quite a lot of way. and all of the vaccines we have had so far tend to target in the same protein, antigen spike protein, and therefore the immunity you get from each of the viruses is going to be fairly similar on how the immune system reflects what one vaccine does is likely to be what other vaccines do as well. ., ,,., g , likely to be what other vaccines do aswell. ., g , �* ., as well. professorjeremy brown, thank ou as well. professorjeremy brown, thank you so _ as well. professorjeremy brown, thank you so much _ as well. professorjeremy brown, thank you so much for— as well. professorjeremy brown, thank you so much forjoining - as well. professorjeremy brown, thank you so much forjoining us. j thank you so much forjoining us. alex salmon will not appear tomorrow as had been planned, the former scottish first minister is locked in a dispute with the committee over what evidence could be published. let�*s go to our scotland correspondent alexander mackenzie. as you see, he was do to appear tomorrow into the handling of sexual harassment claims against him, but it was confirmed this morning that he will not be appearing tomorrow,

the session will not now go ahead. the former first minister�*s lawyers had sent a letter to committee yesterday and he said he was willing to appear anytime between now and next tuesday when they first minister nicola sturgeon is due to give her evidence, but he wanted certain evidence to be published so that that can then be considered in the final report, but this morning a scottish parliament spokesperson confirmed that will not go ahead tomorrow, and a statement they said that alex salmond had been contacted to make it clear that he can speak freely in the committee about all his contact with nicola sturgeon and his contact with nicola sturgeon and his views on her actions. the statement went on to say that he would have four hours to answer questions in public and he was also invited to send more written evidence for publication after that meeting. and it said that the committee had already published two

lengthy submissions from alex salmond, and this would be considered in the final report. however, in the letter from considered in the final report. however, in the letterfrom mr salmond�*s lawyers, it said that asking a witness to accept the constraints of speaking only to selected evidence is not acceptable and is offensive. so for now, the former first minister is locked in a dispute with the committee over what material can be published. and there have been reports that he may be opt to hold a press conference instead of attending at holyrood.- to hold a press conference instead of attending at holyrood. britain�*s youngest, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, with sentences morning at the old bailey. he was 14 when he amassed her share of terror material and shared far right extremist material in online

class chat rooms. online fashion retailer boohoo has bought the dorothy perkins, wallis and burton brands. the deal means all of the former arcadia group businesses have now been sold — but they will all now become online—only. nearly 2500 staff are set to lose theirjobs. our business correspondent ben thompsonjoins me now. that means the sell—offs of arcadia is complete, and it started off with 13,000 employed, so tell us how things have now shaken down and what thatis things have now shaken down and what that is going to leave on high street. ., that is going to leave on high street. t, , ., �* that is going to leave on high street. ., i. �* ., , , street. yeah, you're absolutely ri t ht, street. yeah, you're absolutely right. really — street. yeah, you're absolutely right, really marking _ street. yeah, you're absolutely right, really marking the - street. yeah, you're absolutely right, really marking the end i street. yeah, you're absolutelyj right, really marking the end of street. yeah, you're absolutely i right, really marking the end of an era for that old group that was once so dominant on high street up and down the country, run by philip green, it had some of the biggest names in retail. as you say, today marks the end of that break—up. we know that a sauce brought the topshop, topminnow perkins brands. today, boohoo confirmed that about

the rest. it really does tell us how our shopping habits have changed. two of the biggest online clothing retailers snapping up the remnants of the high street. remember, boohoo bought denimsjust a of the high street. remember, boohoo bought denims just a few weeks ago, so it really does mark a —— bought another store just a week ago taking another store just a week ago taking another big high street name online. as he said, they will not take on the stores or the staff, so between those two brands, arcadia and the other one, manyjobs have other one, many jobs have disappeared other one, manyjobs have disappeared in the last week. we know it is really difficult for retailers on the high street, many have been able to open the door given the current osha —— given the coronavirus restrictions and our shopping is an increasingly online. in many cases they are cheaper online, and as you have been hearing elsewhere that is because online

retailers pay a different tax structure and they�*re not susceptible to rent and overheads in the way that high street retailers are. and what is so interesting, report this morning suggesting that with the closure of the arcadia brands, it leaves 1.3 million m2 of vacant retail space on high street up vacant retail space on high street up and down the country. to put that in more manageable terms, it is 194 football pitches now lying empty on high street. the losers, obviously the high street themselves because a more empty units you have the more unappealing they are. and also things like pension funds that invest in commercial property, they will be losers here and less those landlords of those big stores can find new tenants. and in this sort of retail environment right now, thatis of retail environment right now, that is increasingly difficult. so the budget is coming. there is pressure on this chancellor to

address the issues around this. is there any expectation of change? someone say it is far too little, far too late. we know that there has been increasing pressure on the treasury and the chancellor to start looking at how online retailers pay taxes and what contributions they make to society. because as i said, they don�*t pay the same rent and rates as high street retailers do. many suggesting that high streets are struggling become a day very archaic system —— because of a archaic system —— because of a archaic system —— because of a archaic system that is based on the value of the property and not the value of the property and not the value of the business that is within it. we know some retailers on high street do particularly well, those of supermarkets because they are still able to open and people still need to go to them to buy the things that they need. equally, we know that they need. equally, we know that online has fundamentally changed our shopping habits because it is cheaper in many cases and faster. so again, it is on the

chancellor to try and address that balance to make it a more level playing field that means that online retailers are facing the same sort of because it goes on high street stew. because let�*s not forget, we have to rethink what our high streets are for. gone are the days of us needing to go to the high street for everything that we need, and i think the future will be a mix of both online and physical retail. and the tax system perhaps needs to be updated to reflect that. in high streets must also be things like community services, may be doctors surgery, hairdressers, coffee shops as well as just retail. and i think the tax system doesn�*t yet reflect that, so it is still very expensive if you are an independent retailer, for example, to open a sore on your local high street. the costs are, and many cases, very prohibitive and therefore i think the pressure will mount once again, given the scale of thejob losses mount once again, given the scale of the job losses that we�*ve seen over the job losses that we�*ve seen over the past few weeks with debenhams and the arcadia group, i think there will be many more before this gets bred better. so once again there is

pressure on the chancellor to try and make this even out the playing field to make sure that online retailers do not have a huge advantage versus the physical retailers that we all still need on the high streets, but they are penalized by paying much heavier rates and rents and because of things like staff as well.- things like staff as well. thank ou, things like staff as well. thank you. then- _ tesco, asda and morrisons are among the major retailers calling for online stores like amazon to pay more tax once the pandemic has ended. they�*ve written to the chancellor, rishi sunak, asking for what they call a "more level playing field". our business correspondent katie prescott reports. another consequence of the pandemic — online retailers are doing a roaring trade, while high street stores have had to close. seniorfigures who run and own 10,000 bricks and mortar shops are questioning whether traditional tax structures on the value of property still make sense, as tax on shops is often far higher than warehouses. there are some of those businesses that say,

unless they get to a fairer position in terms of how they�*re trading in respect of online retailing, which gets a very easy ride currently, with the current business rates system, unless we can get to a fairer position, then this situation, as i say, started before the pandemic but has been really exacerbated in the last year, this situation�*s only going to get worse and people are going to see their high streets, i�*m afraid, looking even less healthy and vibrant than they perhaps were before. in a letter to government, they�*ve said nearly 15,000 jobs in the sector have already been lost, and more could follow. even before covid—19, the current system penalised physical shops. reducing business rates for retailers and rebalancing the tax system to ensure online retailers pay a fair share of tax would provide a vital boost to bricks and mortar retailers, and support communities in need of levelling up. there is currently a review of business rates under way, and the government said it will consider the case for introducing an online sales tax as part of it. katie prescott, bbc news.

which camera? four. buckingham palace has denied reports that the queen influenced a government law in the 1970s. it comes after the guardian newspaper published documents that suggest that queen elizabeth�*s lawyer successfully lobbied ministers to change a draft law — in order to conceal the queen�*s private wealth. the draft bill was later revised to allow the head of state to sidestep the new regulations. buckingham palace has said that �*any assertion that the sovreign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect.�* israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem. mr netanyahu was charged two years ago over allegations that he accepted improper gifts and sought to trade regulatory favour with media moguls in exchange for positive coverage. he�*s previously strongly refuted the charges calling them "fabricated and ludicrous". our middle east correspondent yolande knell gave us this update from outside the court.

mr netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing. he appeared in court, we saw him dash in and out in a motorcade, there is very tight security all around me in this part ofjerusalem. he was in court for only about 20 minutes, where he told the panel of three judges he confirmed what had been entered as a written submission, that he pleaded not guilty to these charges of bribery, breach of trust and corruption. and as he came out, he would have seen, as he often does close to his residence injerusalem, this large group of people who are opposed to him remaining in office while he is on criminal trial. people who call him a "crime minister" and demand his resignation. there have been a few people who turned up to support mr netanyahu despite his video message telling them to stay at home. and there were some confrontations

in the street between people. but mr netanyahu was swift to move away. he has got more official duties planned for later in the day. you can see thatjust at this very sensitive time, as israel is beginning to ease its latest coronavirus lockdown, its third coronavirus lockdown, also preparing to go for elections in just six weeks�* time, they will be the fourth elections israel has had injust two years, and coronavirus and the government�*s handling of this pandemic, are really going to be the key issues for the election campaign. there�*s been more snow overnight in the uk — as a new weather front keeps temperatures around freezing. severe weather warnings are in place across london and south—east england with warnings heavy snow is likely to cause disruptions to transport. four coronavirus vaccination centres in essex and suffolk have been closed because of the bad weather.

we are going to go to simonjones, who is at eight gritting depot and ashford in kent.— who is at eight gritting depot and ashford in kent. they have certainly been busy here. _ ashford in kent. they have certainly been busy here, because _ ashford in kent. they have certainly been busy here, because over- ashford in kent. they have certainly been busy here, because over the i been busy here, because over the past 2a hours, parts of kent have been 15 cm of snow, a lot of activity with the critters going out, trying to keep the roads open. i can tell you, it is pretty freezing here. temperature is probably about —1, but when you add in the wind chill factor, it feels more like —7. let�*s talk now to toby, the man who has the task of trying to ensure people can get around. what has been the biggest challenge? the around. what has been the biggest challente? , , . ., ., , challenge? the biggest challenge has been the likes — challenge? the biggest challenge has been the likes of— challenge? the biggest challenge has been the likes of drifting _ challenge? the biggest challenge has been the likes of drifting due - challenge? the biggest challenge has been the likes of drifting due to i been the likes of drifting due to storm _ been the likes of drifting due to storm darcy we had from very strong winds _ storm darcy we had from very strong winds which— storm darcy we had from very strong winds which has caused a lot of drifting — winds which has caused a lot of drifting and some exposed areas and has caused _ drifting and some exposed areas and has caused a lot of problems on the roads _

has caused a lot of problems on the roads. �* ., ., ., ., roads. and we are not out of the woods yet. _ roads. and we are not out of the woods yet, because _ roads. and we are not out of the woods yet, because weather i roads. and we are not out of the i woods yet, because weather warnings and plays all of today, all of tomorrow and into wednesday. indeed, and i think really _ tomorrow and into wednesday. indeed, and i think really the _ tomorrow and into wednesday. indeed, and i think really the real _ tomorrow and into wednesday. indeed, and i think really the real service i and i think really the real service temperatures aren't going to pick up above _ temperatures aren't going to pick up above freezing for the whole week, and that _ above freezing for the whole week, and that an added problem of ice around _ and that an added problem of ice around the place as well. and and that an added problem of ice around the place as well.- and that an added problem of ice around the place as well. and at the moment, around the place as well. and at the moment. we — around the place as well. and at the moment, we are _ around the place as well. and at the moment, we are told _ around the place as well. and at the moment, we are told to _ around the place as well. and at the moment, we are told to stay - around the place as well. and at the moment, we are told to stay at i around the place as well. and at the i moment, we are told to stay at home, only go up for essentialjourneys, but actually that strangely makes yourjob but actually that strangely makes your job a but actually that strangely makes yourjob a bit harder. it but actually that strangely makes yourjob a bit harder.— yourjob a bit harder. it does indeed, because _ yourjob a bit harder. it does indeed, because it _ yourjob a bit harder. it does indeed, because it is - yourjob a bit harder. it does indeed, because it is all i yourjob a bit harder. it does indeed, because it is all well putting — indeed, because it is all well putting all the salt down on the roads. — putting all the salt down on the roads, which we do, but i have to be activated _ roads, which we do, but i have to be activated by— roads, which we do, but i have to be activated by road traffic, so with everybody staying safe at home, that does cause _ everybody staying safe at home, that does cause a problem because assault is enduring _ does cause a problem because assault is enduring what it should do and all of— is enduring what it should do and all of the — is enduring what it should do and all of the places. if is enduring what it should do and all of the places.— is enduring what it should do and all of the places. if people do have to venture — all of the places. if people do have to venture out, _ all of the places. if people do have to venture out, what _ all of the places. if people do have to venture out, what is _ all of the places. if people do have to venture out, what is the - all of the places. if people do have| to venture out, what is the advice? it is reallyjust don�*t assume that it is reallyjust don't assume that one bit— it is reallyjust don't assume that one bit of— it is reallyjust don't assume that one bit of road is good that it will all be _ one bit of road is good that it will all be good. there will be areas of black— all be good. there will be areas of black ice _ all be good. there will be areas of black ice and will be out there, areas _ black ice and will be out there, areas of— black ice and will be out there, areas of snow drifting, so you never know _ areas of snow drifting, so you never know what — areas of snow drifting, so you never know what is — areas of snow drifting, so you never know what is around the next corner, so take _ know what is around the next corner, so take extra — know what is around the next corner, so take extra care and extra time. and just _ so take extra care and extra time. and just tell us how big a task it is for you, how many critters you

have got, how much they are doing. we have 65 critters, they have been out constantly through the day, through— out constantly through the day, through the night since saturday —— grifters, _ through the night since saturday —— grifters, so— through the night since saturday —— grifters, so we have some really good _ grifters, so we have some really good guys — grifters, so we have some really good guys and girls out there, hard work— good guys and girls out there, hard work and _ good guys and girls out there, hard work and making sure that these roads— work and making sure that these roads are — work and making sure that these roads are in the best condition they can be _ roads are in the best condition they can be. �* , , roads are in the best condition they canbe. , ., ., can be. and i suppose at the moment there is an added _ can be. and i suppose at the moment there is an added incentive _ can be. and i suppose at the moment there is an added incentive to - can be. and i suppose at the moment there is an added incentive to try i there is an added incentive to try keep things moving with the coronavirus situation and people needing to get through to the vaccination and testing centers. that is right, and we are making sure _ that is right, and we are making sure that — that is right, and we are making sure that we are assisting those in diverting _ sure that we are assisting those in diverting a — sure that we are assisting those in diverting a lot of our gritters off of their— diverting a lot of our gritters off of their main routes to deal with car parks — of their main routes to deal with car parks and access roads all of the vaccination centers so that people — the vaccination centers so that people can get there as soon as i possibly— people can get there as soon as i possibly can. people can get there as soon as i possibly can-— possibly can. and it is not 'ust our possibly can. and it is not 'ust yoursrttterai possibly can. and it is not 'ust your gritters, you i possibly can. and it is not 'ust your gritters, you also i possibly can. and it is notjust your gritters, you also bring i possibly can. and it is notjust i your gritters, you also bring enough for performers to help with their tractors. hate for performers to help with their tractors. ~ ., for performers to help with their tractors. . . ' :: ., , for performers to help with their tractors. . ' :: ., ., tractors. we have 120 farmers around the country that _ tractors. we have 120 farmers around the country that we _ tractors. we have 120 farmers around the country that we supply _ tractors. we have 120 farmers around the country that we supply the - the country that we supply the snowplows to, so when we have snow on those _

snowplows to, so when we have snow on those rural lanes, they are all hard _ on those rural lanes, they are all hard at _ on those rural lanes, they are all hard at it— on those rural lanes, they are all hard at it as _ on those rural lanes, they are all hard at it as well day and night and also helping to clear some of those drifts _ also helping to clear some of those drifts for _ also helping to clear some of those drifts for us. also helping to clear some of those drifts for us— drifts for us. and finally, tell me how you're _ drifts for us. and finally, tell me how you're expecting _ drifts for us. and finally, tell me how you're expecting the - drifts for us. and finally, tell me how you're expecting the next i drifts for us. and finally, tell me i how you're expecting the next couple how you�*re expecting the next couple of days ago. how you're expecting the next couple of days ago-— of days ago. really, out day and nit ht of days ago. really, out day and night throughout _ of days ago. really, out day and night throughout the _ of days ago. really, out day and night throughout the week, i of days ago. really, out day and night throughout the week, we | of days ago. really, out day and i night throughout the week, we also have hand _ night throughout the week, we also have hand crews dealing with some of the foot _ have hand crews dealing with some of the foot waves in the centers as well so — the foot waves in the centers as well so people will be hard at it all week — well so people will be hard at it all week. ., .. well so people will be hard at it all week. ., ,, , ., , . well so people will be hard at it all week. . .. , . ., all week. thank you very much for 'oinint all week. thank you very much for joining us- — all week. thank you very much for joining us. still— all week. thank you very much for joining us. still a _ all week. thank you very much for joining us. still a bit _ all week. thank you very much for joining us. still a bit of— all week. thank you very much for joining us. still a bit of snow i all week. thank you very much for joining us. still a bit of snow in i joining us. still a bit of snow in the air here at the moment, more snow forecast, and particular concern about the snow turning to ice and the treacherous conditions on roads, on pavements for people trying to get about.— trying to get about. thank you very much, trying to get about. thank you very much. simon- _ trying to get about. thank you very much, simon. let's— trying to get about. thank you very much, simon. let's see _ trying to get about. thank you very much, simon. let's see how- trying to get about. thank you very much, simon. let's see how the i much, simon. let�*s see how the weather is looking with carol. more snow and it will be bitterly cold as well. two amber warnings in force, increased likelihood of disruption due to the severe weather, in this case, snow. so what weather, in this case, snow. so what

we have today are snow showers, so not all this will catch them, but some of them are forming bands across northeast scotland, yorkshire, the north midlands, where we have that amber weather warning. and with gusty winds as well, some of the snow showers are being blown farther west. generally speaking, west is best in terms of dry conditions and also some sunshine, but here also we will have gusty winds. the strongest will be in the southeast, especially on the coast. these are the temperatures he can expect today, from three to freezing, but when you add on the wind—chill, it will feel better, —1i in aberdeen and —1i in bridge, so another day wrapping up.

hello this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines: the government says people should still have confidence in the covid vaccine programme, despite evidence showing that the oxford jab offers only limited protection against the south africa variant of the virus. the former snp leader alex salmond will not now give evidence tomorrow to the inquiry into the scottish governments handling of harassment complaints against him. he has preivously said he will only appear if his written evidence is published. israel�*s prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem. he�*s accused of offering favours to media companies. heavy snow hits large parts of eastern england, and more is on its way. england set india a huge target of 420 in the first test in chennai.|ndia are currently 36 for one in their second inning. sport and a full round—up from the bbc

sport centre. england well—placed that breakthrough with that wicket for victory in the first test in chennai. they would need to bowl india out on the final day tomorrow and take biscuits on what remains of the play left today. india were bowled out for 337 on day four. those two at the thick of it. joe roofs those two at the thick of it. joe root�*s sites do well in front. it was their captain who looked to hammer home that advantage as he made a quickfire a0. indian are chasing the mammoth target of a20. they are currently 38 for one with jack leach taking that wickets. some breaking news in the last 30 minutes. lewis hamilton has committed his future to mercedes, signing a new one—year deal which will keep them in the team for a ninth season. the announcement was

made on social media after weeks of negotiations. the new one combines an agreement to boost diversity and inclusion in the sport. three weeks later than planned, the australian open began overnight, with a host of big names in action, that included the defending champion in the men�*s singles novak djocovic. he�*s looking for a record extending ninth title and beat jeremy chardy in straight sets — djocovic one of the players who enjoyed the more comfortable surroundings in adelaide in the build—up, whilst othes faced quarantine for two weeks in melbourne. djokovic faced criticsim from nick kyrgios in the build—up, and the typically vocal australian also made a winning start beating frederico ferreira silva in straight sets in front of a noisy, but reduced—ca pacity crowd. one of the favourites, us open champion dominic thiem,

who lost to djokovic in last year�*s final won in straight sets against mikhail kukushkin, while sixth seed alexander zverev smashed a racquet on his way to victory against the american marcos giron. in the women�*s draw, britain�*s katie boulter lost her first—round match, the only brit in action on day one, but the second seed simona halep is through. she dropped just three games in her win over lizette cabrera. serena williams and naomi osaka among the other big names to reach round two. what a night it was in florida, as tom brady made more history as at the age of a3 guiding the tampa bay buccaneers to a 31—9 victory over the kansas city chiefs to extend his record for super bowl wins to seven. to put that in context, that�*s more than any single nfl team. it was a night ofjubilation in tampa, as they won it in their home stadium. led all the way by brady, who threw three touchdown passes

and was named most valuable player in the showpiece for a record extending fifth time. just really proud of all the guys, proud of all the coaches, the effort we put in. we knew we were playing a great football team tonight and we got thejob done, so... you want to get this far you have to get thejob done, and we did it. and it�*s a long way back for premier league champions liverpool in the title race after a a—1 defeat by manchester city leaves them them ten points behind, and city have a game in hand too. goalkeeper allison gifted city two goals in a a—1 defeat at anfield — as all the goals came in the second half. phil foden fired in the fourth — and best goal of the game to leave pep guardiola�*s side in command at the top of the table. that�*s all the sport for now. i�*ll have more for you in the next hour.

back to our main story now and the vaccines minister, nadhim zahawi, says the public can have confidence in the uk�*s covid vaccines after early trials suggested that against the south african variant the oxford jab offers only "minimal protection" from mild to moderate disease. as a result, south africa has put its plans to use the oxford astrazeneca jab on hold. with me now is steve valdez—symonds, he is amnesty uk�*s programme director for refugee and migrant rights. thank you forjoining me. tell me your perspective on this. i�*m sorry, i�*ve introduced you with the misleading introduction. you are here to talk about migrants! that's

ri t ht. here to talk about migrants! that's right- people _ here to talk about migrants! that's right. people can _ here to talk about migrants! that's right. people can register - here to talk about migrants! that's right. people can register with i here to talk about migrants! that's right. people can register with an i right. people can register with an nhs gp in this _ right. people can register with an nhs gp in this country _ right. people can register with an nhs gp in this country in - right. people can register with an nhs gp in this country in order. right. people can register with an j nhs gp in this country in order to get this vaccine. how many people with that effect? in get this vaccine. how many people with that effect?— with that effect? in truth, an unknown _ with that effect? in truth, an unknown number _ with that effect? in truth, an unknown number of - with that effect? in truth, an unknown number of people. | with that effect? in truth, an i unknown number of people. many with that effect? in truth, an - unknown number of people. many of whom are completely outside the health care system are not registered. one of the reasons for thatis registered. one of the reasons for that is they are not allowed to register. they feared the consequences that might happen to them. ~ ., , .. , consequences that might happen to them. . , ,, , ., consequences that might happen to them. . , ~' , ., consequences that might happen to them. . , ~ , ., ., them. what is likely to happen now that there is _ them. what is likely to happen now that there is this _ them. what is likely to happen now that there is this message - them. what is likely to happen now that there is this message saying i that there is this message saying you don�*t need to be afraid, you should register and get the vaccine. is it likely to change that perspective for people? i is it likely to change that perspective for people? i hope so, but i fear it — perspective for people? i hope so, but i fear it won't. _ perspective for people? i hope so, but i fear it won't. many _ perspective for people? i hope so, but i fear it won't. many people i but i fear it won�*t. many people have been living in the state for many years and it has been the message clearly from government that access to health care is something that leads to information being

passed about them to the immigration authorities. it is great that the government are saying they wanted in this case, but it has an awful lot to do to ensure that people can believe in that.— to do to ensure that people can believe in that. what could it do to make people _ believe in that. what could it do to make people believe _ believe in that. what could it do to make people believe that? - believe in that. what could it do to make people believe that? i- believe in that. what could it do to make people believe that? i think| make people believe that? i think what it needs _ make people believe that? i think what it needs to _ make people believe that? i think what it needs to do _ make people believe that? i think what it needs to do is _ make people believe that? i think what it needs to do is completely| what it needs to do is completely reappraised its whole approach to using access to health care as a means of immigration control. as this pandemic shows, it is terribly bad for public health, as well. we need to separate the issue of health care and immigration controls. just ex-lain care and immigration controls. just explain how— care and immigration controls. just explain how it does work. these are issues that have become ever more intertwined in recent years with policy change to try to get a grip on migration. the policy change to try to get a grip on migration-— policy change to try to get a grip on migration. the way things have worked for — on migration. the way things have worked for a _ on migration. the way things have worked for a long _ on migration. the way things have worked for a long time _ on migration. the way things have worked for a long time is - on migration. the way things have worked for a long time is that i

worked for a long time is that firstly a lot of health care is charged for. that deters people from going because they can�*t afford the fees. they know if they are charging they campaign, that will be on any immigration application that they make, that will be refused, or can be refused. it is wrong to approach health care in that way. many gps wrongly think that people aren�*t allowed to register with them because of their immigration status, which is not true. all of this has to do with the way the distinct areas of this policy have got wrapped up together. the areas of this policy have got wrapped up together. the figure i have seen quoted _ wrapped up together. the figure i have seen quoted on _ wrapped up together. the figure i have seen quoted on this - wrapped up together. the figure i have seen quoted on this as i wrapped up together. the figure i j have seen quoted on this as there are potentially 1.3 million affected. it is very hard to quantify at. you mentioned the link with public health. what with the concerns be around public health issues if those people do not get

vaccinated? to issues if those people do not get vaccinated?— issues if those people do not get vaccinated? ., , , , , , vaccinated? to put it very simply, if there are _ vaccinated? to put it very simply, if there are a _ vaccinated? to put it very simply, if there are a large _ vaccinated? to put it very simply, if there are a large number i vaccinated? to put it very simply, if there are a large number of i if there are a large number of people anywhere who are not vaccinated, this virus stands the chance of discontinuing and mutating. there are worries about mutations already affecting the usefulness of vaccines that we have at the moment. it would be terrible if we are keeping the prospect that a significant part of the population isn�*t getting, can�*t get vaccinated and is helping this virus to stay with us in ways that will hurt everybody. in with us in ways that will hurt everybody-— with us in ways that will hurt eve bod . , ., ., ., with us in ways that will hurt eve bod. ., ., ., everybody. in terms of a solution to the situation _ everybody. in terms of a solution to the situation we _ everybody. in terms of a solution to the situation we are _ everybody. in terms of a solution to the situation we are currently i everybody. in terms of a solution to the situation we are currently in, i the situation we are currently in, you said that you would like there to be a bigger picture solution in terms of not linking immigration status with the health service. that is a much bigger issue. what about something that might work, can you think of a quick fix for now? the

government _ think of a quick fix for now? the government has _ think of a quick fix for now? ti2 government has to work really hard to make its message today about this vaccine being accessible to everybody safely with no immigration consequences, to make that a reality. it will need to find partners and communities that can get that message out and have means of delivering, presumably through public health services, gp services, that people can trust in. it will have to do a lot more than just an initial public message to ensure that people know that what is said todayis that people know that what is said today is really true.— today is really true. steve valdez-symonds, - today is really true. steve valdez-symonds, thank l today is really true. steve i valdez-symonds, thank you today is really true. steve - valdez-symonds, thank you very today is really true. steve _ valdez-symonds, thank you very much. valdez—symonds, thank you very much. i�*m sorry if i made your hard lurch at the beginning making you think you are going to have to explain the intricacies of the different variants of the virus! it is good to talk to you, thank you.— variants of the virus! it is good to talk to you, thank you. british lawyers assessing human rights abuses against the uighur people have said there�*s a "very credible" case that the chinese government is committing genocide. the lawyers from the essex court chambers in london,

were instructed by uighur and human rights groups to evaluate against the uighur people have said there�*s a "very credible" case the chinese embassy in london has said anti—china forces were fabricating the �*lies of the century�*. they said the deliberate infliction of harm on uighurs in the region of xinjiang, the forcible transfer of children and measures preventing women from giving birth, could amount to genocide. our diplomatic correpsondent james landale has been giving us this update. what this has done, as you say, it�*s gathered together all the available, publicly available evidence that�*s been compiled by governments, research outfits, media, ngos, even the chinese government themselves, and it has assessed it with the sort of, through illegal prism. what these barristers have done, they are all experts in sort of human rights law and international law, is they have said that if, on the basis of the evidence that is already there, there is — to use their phrase — "a credible case" that genocide is being carried out by the chinese government against the uighurs in xinjiang. and crucially, they also say that the chinese president, because of his close involvement in these policies, they say there is a credible case against him for crimes against humanity and a plausible case that a genocide case could be made against him personally. so it�*s very, very substantive stuff. the crucial argument it

makes, it says, look, if you look at the harm that has been done against the uighurs, if you look at the measures that have been taken to force women to not give birth in a variety of pretty dreadful ways, and also the forcible relocation of children to other areas, that that together begins to meet the legal definition of genocide. it�*s a high bar to meet. it is significant because it shows the sort of path a british court could follow, where british courts allowed to hear genocide cases. at the moment, they can�*t. it�*s likely for international courts. but mps at the moment are pushing for british courts to have this right. there is going to be a big vote in the house of commons tomorrow. the government opposes that, it is going to be quite a tight vote. now, in terms of the chinese, the chinese government said in a statement that, look, the uighur population, in their view, is rising in xinjiang and they said, as you say, that anti—china forces in the west are concocting

and disseminating plenty of false information about xinjiang and described these things as lies of the century that are smearing china�*s image. so as usual, they deny these charges. they say that this is fabrication from the west. for the third day in a row, people have taken to the streets in myanmar to protest against last week�*s military coup in which the country�*s elected leader, aung san suu kyi, was detained. the military authorities who�*ve seized power in myanmar are warning of action against demonstrators, though it�*s not yet clear what that means. thousands are marching in the main city of yangon, while in the capital police have used water cannons to try and disperse demonstrators. andrew nachemson is a journalist based in yangon who has been monitoring the situation there. one interesting thing is that a lot of these protests that we are seeing in yangon are being driven not necessarily from nld party members but by youth student activists, labour unions, a lot of groups that are a lot more left leaning than the nld and are kind of independent from the party but united in the goal of achieving

democracy for myanmar. there is a real spirit of resistance and revolution here. people are really angry and really motivated, but there is also a bit of a celebratory mood because so far protests have not been met with any resistance. you are seeing people singing in the streets and cheering and clapping. i went to get a coffee this morning and the woman who served my coffee was singing the revolutionary anthem from 1988 while she was serving. people are really getting into it. our south east asia correspondent jonathan head gave us this update from neighbouring thailand. these people on the streets are incredibly aware of the history. there is a certain groundhog day quality to this scene, the military back in charge. back in 1988 and the last serious uprising against military rule in 2007, the protests build up quite a lot of momentum.

in 2007 they were allowed to run for over a month before the military finally moved in and put them down with great brutality. we don�*t know the exact toll then, well over a hundred killed in 2007, we think around 3,000 when they put the protest down then in 1988. i don�*t think the police have very specific instructions yet. they are clearly not very well trained in crowd control. that is not unusual in this region. that is one of the problems, i mean, ultimately because the police can�*t use water... you saw how they were using them, they were squirting them a bit like kids enjoying a paddling pool. it was not effective at all. that is why in the end, it�*s very likely that the military are likely to resort to force at some point. that is what�*s on everyone�*s minds, they have done this in the past, the military has a very strong sense that what is done is right. you can�*t really get inside their minds. and if they can�*t control this, it will build up momentum, it will almost inevitably end up with the military using extreme force to put this down.

the headlines on bbc news: the oxford vaccine shows disappointing results aginst mild cases of the south africa variant, but the vaccine�*s minister urges confidence in the uk�*s vaccination programme. alex salmond won�*t give evidence tomorrow to the inquiry into the scottish governments handling of harassment complaints against him. he�*s previously said he�*ll only appear if his written evidence is published. israel�*s prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem — he�*s accused of offering favours to media companies. a petition demanding visa—free touring for uk artists in the eu, which has been signed by the likes of brian may, eltonjohn and radiohead, is being discussed in parliament later on today. from this month, uk musicians must, like non—eu artists, apply for visas to visit for more than 30 days, as well as providing proof

of savings and a sponsorship certificate from an event organiser. previously, artists and their crews had been able to perform anywhere in the 27 eu states the same as if they were at home. the petition now has more than 279,000 signatures, with performers saying they have been "forgotten" in the brexit negotiations. so why is visa—free touring so important to artists? well we can speak now to �*marky�* dawson, a singer and musician from dorset. tell us what impact you think this will have on g.— will have on g. personally, i tend to send will have on g. personally, i tend to spend maybe _ will have on g. personally, i tend to spend maybe two _ will have on g. personally, i tend to spend maybe two or _ will have on g. personally, i tend to spend maybe two or three i will have on g. personally, i tend i to spend maybe two or three months a year abroad in europe. to spend maybe two or three months a yearabroad in europe. up to spend maybe two or three months a year abroad in europe. up until now i have been able to travel freely between member states with very little red at all. so between member states with very little red at all.— little red at all. so what with the im act be little red at all. so what with the impact be for — little red at all. so what with the impact be for you? _ little red at all. so what with the impact be for you? do _ little red at all. so what with the impact be for you? do you i little red at all. so what with the impact be for you? do you think| impact be for you? do you think those 2—3 months would be viable going forward? the

those 2-3 months would be viable going forward?— those 2-3 months would be viable going forward? the additional costs of visas and — going forward? the additional costs of visas and permits _ going forward? the additional costs of visas and permits to _ going forward? the additional costs of visas and permits to move - of visas and permits to move equipment across each country, before we even go, will add already to add tight budget for during. yes, perhaps. d0 to add tight budget for during. yes, --erhas. ,, to add tight budget for during. yes, ..erhas. y., 4' ., to add tight budget for during. yes, --erhas. ,, ~ ., ., to add tight budget for during. yes, --erhas. ~ ., ., , perhaps. do you know what the costs would be for — perhaps. do you know what the costs would be for you? _ perhaps. do you know what the costs would be for you? i _ perhaps. do you know what the costs would be for you? i believe _ perhaps. do you know what the costs would be for you? i believe it - perhaps. do you know what the costs would be for you? i believe it is - would be for you? i believe it is different in _ would be for you? i believe it is different in each _ would be for you? i believe it is different in each country. - would be for you? i believe it is different in each country. the i would be for you? i believe it is . different in each country. the rules in each country are separate, but for example, to permit to move equipment will start at £300, so thatis equipment will start at £300, so that is already £300 at the window before you even start planning. eltonjohn has been talking about it, writing an article today. he said people like him will be ok, the big bands will be fine, but it is obvious to people like you who would be affected. ~ , ,., , obvious to people like you who would beaffected. , ,, be affected. absolutely. especially eo - le who be affected. absolutely. especially people who are — be affected. absolutely. especially people who are just _ be affected. absolutely. especially people who are just starting - be affected. absolutely. especially people who are just starting out i be affected. absolutely. especially i people who are just starting out who want to start discovering that wide

audience, like i did a few years ago when i started doing it. you start out small and you build yourself up. if you don't have anyone to bankroll you when you're starting out, or don't have any money, then it is going to be much more difficult to get theirfoot in going to be much more difficult to get their foot in the door. how did ou feel get their foot in the door. how did you feel when _ get their foot in the door. how did you feel when you _ get their foot in the door. how did you feel when you find _ get their foot in the door. how did you feel when you find out - get their foot in the door. how did you feel when you find out about i you feel when you find out about this? it you feel when you find out about this? ., , ., ._ , you feel when you find out about this? .,, ., ._ , ., you feel when you find out about this? ., , ., ._ , ., ., you feel when you find out about this? .,, ., , ., ., , ., this? it was always going to be a otential this? it was always going to be a potential outcome _ this? it was always going to be a potential outcome of _ this? it was always going to be a potential outcome of the - this? it was always going to be a potential outcome of the brexit. potential outcome of the brexit vote. i was always hoping that something would come along and there would be something in the deal for us. would be something in the deal for us. would be something in the deal for us, ., , , ., would be something in the deal for us. some artists are saying they feel like they — us. some artists are saying they feel like they have _ us. some artists are saying they feel like they have been - us. some artists are saying they i feel like they have been forgotten. we don't know why this wasn't included, how much it was considered, but what is your sense? i feel like there is a lot of finger pointing from both sides, i think a lot of it could be some game plan from either side. dig you are saying

the uk turned us down and vice versa. a lot of us feel that we were just not considered very well. thank ou for just not considered very well. thank you forjoining _ just not considered very well. thank you forjoining us. _ just not considered very well. thank you forjoining us, 'marky' _ just not considered very well. thank you forjoining us, 'marky' dawson. it is going to be discussed later in parliament and we will keep you updated on any developments. we are hearing news about the terror threat in this country. thejoint terrorism analysis centre has lowered the national terrorism threat from severe to substantial. that does mean a terrorist attack is still likely. the threat level is reviewed every six months. there is a formal review every six months, a systematic, comprehensive and rigorous process based on the latest intelligence and analysis of

internal and external factors which drive the threats. the decision to lower the level from severe to substantial is due to the significant reduction in the momentum of attacks in europe between september and november of last year. however, the uk national threat level is kept under constant review and it is subject to change at any time. he's a world famous rock star who played at the inauguration of president biden last month — but even dave grohl has to get stuck in with home schooling. the foo fighters frontman has caught up with our entertainment correspondent colin paterson for a chat about lockdown life, his new album and, believe it or not, a burning ambition to take up tap dancing. # i've been waiting on a war since i was young...# dave grohl, how does it feel to be releasing your new album in the middle of a global pandemic? it's a relief that people finally get to hear these songs that we recorded a year ago. i mean, when we... we wrote these songs maybe two years ago,

we started recording, like, mid—2019, with the intention that this album was going to be the soundtrack to our 25th anniversary. it's our tenth album. we're going to go on this massive world tour. we're going to play stadiums and festivals, and we were making this really upbeat, sort of danceable record because it's going to be the biggest party of our lives! and then everything went... he blows raspberry ..and just stopped. so, you know, the dam finally broke and i wasjust like, let's just put it — let's get it out there. we can't get to stage right now, but these songs were meant to be heard, so let's go. # it's times like these, time and time again...# you've also recently played joe biden's inauguration. how was that experience? well, it was an honour, first of all, to be included in that. i mean, i voted for the guy, so... unfortunately, it was prerecorded. we couldn't be in washington, dc — which, i was bummed out because that's my hometown.

so when i saw it on television, i was actually in hawaii on the couch in a tie—dyed t—shirt, drinking a beer. so it was... it was... it was a little surreal, but it was an honour nonetheless. the important question — how is home—schooling going? my kids know who i am. 0k? i've read my report cards to my kids before, so they're not necessarily going to come to me for anything academic. they just don't. like, i could be a cheerleader, i can make you a great breakfast and i could make you smile before you start your day, but you don't necessarily want me in your history lessons. you don't necessarily want me helping you with trigonometry. let's enlist you to do some music education to the children of britain, then. give them three albums they should listen to for their music education. wow! well, you're going to want to get the beatles�* sgt pepper's. # it was 20 years ago today # sgt pepper taught the band to play...#

one reason is because that album still connects the way it did the day it came out. now, if you want to be a drummer, you're going to want to get the ac/dc album back in black. that is like... that is rock'n'roll drumming 101. music: back in black by ac/dc a third album, i mean, i like myself a little party every now and then — i do like to dance. i mean, come on, let'sjust go with saturday night fever. like, look, if you put saturday night fever on, it's going to feel like saturday night. it could be a monday morning! so, i would have to go with those three albums. that's a good way to start. and thus endeth dave grohl�*s music lesson. thank you very much for that. now it's time for a look at the weather.

hello, again. we have seen further snow in places as we've gone through the course of this morning, and it has been a cold start. still the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. it's going to remain cold as we go through the next few days. temperatures will be below average anyway, but when you add on the wind chill, it will feel sub—zero. further snow showers to come and a return to overnight frosts. the met office still has two amber weather warnings in force. amber weather warnings mean increased likelihood of disruption due to severe weather. the snow showers today, we won't all see them, some will be forming lines in parts of the country. so, parts of north—east scotland, parts of north—east england, parts of the midlands, for example. and with gusty winds, some of those will be blowing over towards the west, but generally speaking, west is best in terms of dry weather. we will also see some sunshine in between those showers as well. these are the strength of the wind gusts, strongest round the coasts of east anglia and kent. temperatures today

on the thermometer will look like they are +3 to freezing, but when you add on the wind—chill, it will feel much colder than that. —1i in aberdeen, —3 in belfast, —7 in norwich. this evening and overnight, we continue with some of those snow showers, forming bands, particularly so across the central lowlands. this is one area we are keeping a keen eye on because we could see some significant snow here. it's going to be a cold night in prospect once again with the risk of ice. tomorrow, still the risk of significant snow across the central lowlands. still some snow showers coming in on the wind. not as windy, though, across the south—east as today, but windy through the english channel and south—west, with an approaching band of rain, with potential for some snow. this is how it will feel. once again, another bitter day in prospect. on wednesday, if anything, the isobars space out a little bit more, so not as windy, so that means not all the showers will be blowing over towards the west, but it will be a cold start.

—ili quite possible across parts of northern scotland. that will make it the coldest night of the year so far if that happens. you can see a lot of the showers will be in the east, a few in the south—east but, equally, a lot of dry weather, but still feeling cold.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the government says people should still have confidence in the covid vaccine programme — despite evidence showing that the oxford jab offers only limited protection against mild cases of the south africa variant of the virus. it's still something we quite rightly have got to keep very close eye on, hence that surge testing to track down those cases of it and make sure those who have this variant self—isolate and thereby don't transmit it further. the former snp leader alex salmond will not now give evidence tomorrow to the inquiry into the scottish governments handling of harassment complaints against him. he's preivously said he'll only appear if his written evidence is published. israel's prime minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges at his trial injerusalem. he's accused of offering favours to media companies.

heavy snow hits large parts of eastern england — and more is on its way. the vaccines minister says the public can have confidence in the uk's covid vaccines — after south africa put its plans to use the oxford astrazeneca jab on hold. early trials suggest that against the south african coronavirus variant, the oxford vaccine offers 'minimal protection' from mild and moderate disease. so far, 147 cases of the variant have been found in the uk, but the dominant strain in this country is the kent one, against which the vaccines appear to work well. vaccines minister nadhim zahawi said

scientists were working on updated vaccines to fight new variants, but added that we should "take confidence from the current roll out and the protection it will provide all of us." aru na iyengar reports. the race to arm the uk against coronavirus is stepping up another gear, with 18 new vaccination centres opening today across england. elland road has seen some pretty special shots on goal over the years, now the leeds united stadium is also helping give a shot in the arm, boosting the effort to give the top four priority groups part one of their vaccination by this time next week. and we are on target to offer 15 million first doses, maybe more. the numbers do seem to be very impressive, and that's great news, but i think the really key issue is that it's notjust a question of numbers. it's getting the vaccine doses into the right people. and that is being achieved, i think. we are seeing very high percentages

of people in their 80s now covered, and now increasing numbers of people in their 70s. particularly the older age groups, that's the really powerful predictor of risk. in the latest 24—hour period, just under 550,000 people had a first dose of one of the three approved vaccines. that takes the overall number who have had theirfirstjab tojust over 12 million. there are questions over how much protection these vaccines will give against new variants of the virus emerging here and in other countries. last night, south africa announced it was suspending its full roll—out of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine after a small study suggested the jab offers minimal protection against mild disease from the specific south africa variant. the country was due to start with a million doses of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine in the next few days, but the new data has created uncertainty.

it's a temporary issue that we have to hold onto, astrazeneca. it is temporary until we figure out these issues, what are the next steps supposed to be. when we know those steps, then of course we will bring you more. here, the vaccines minister has defended the jab, insisting it was vitally important in protecting the health care system. modified vaccines and boosterjabs are likely to be needed to beat mutations that could help the virus keep spreading for a long time yet. aruna iyengar, bbc news. joining me now is professor peter openshaw, immunologist at imperial college london and a member of the uk vaccine network. welcome, thanks for joining welcome, thanks forjoining us. what is your view of how concerned we should be by the study in south africa? it is limited and it hasn't yet been peer—reviewed. africa? it is limited and it hasn't yet been peer-reviewed. absolutely, we haven't actually _ yet been peer-reviewed. absolutely, we haven't actually seen _ yet been peer-reviewed. absolutely, we haven't actually seen the - yet been peer-reviewed. absolutely, we haven't actually seen the data, i we haven't actually seen the data, we haven't actually seen the data, we haven't actually seen the data, we have heard is a bit from press releases and from slide presentation that was done. but i think it is

important to emphasize that it was a relatively small study, it was only with about a thousand people in each of the limbs of the control trial, and apparently i think had 42 cases of actual covid infection, and all of actual covid infection, and all of them were mild. so you don't want to over interpret. within the range of the statistical error on this study, i think there is significant protection, even against mild disease. but this is the study which i think is compatible with the concept, the degree of immunity will shift down, down the severity scale, if you would've got very bad covid, a more mild covid you might get if you were given this vaccine. annette is really the vaccines are about, preventing really serious disease for those who are at greatest risk. right, so because the people in the study as well were young, weren't

they? the average age was 31. exactly. they? the average age was 31. exactl . �* , ., , ., exactly. and there were people who didn't have underlying _ exactly. and there were people who didn't have underlying health i didn't have underlying health issues, and so they are people who would get it mildly anyway, right? that is right, yes, and the mild disease is reallyjust a representation of the virus replicating in the nose and upper airway. the disease that we are most fearful of is when it gets down deep into the lungs and maybe also causes effects on other organs. and i think there is very little doubt that these vaccines will prevent that sort of spread of the virus outside the confined areas of the upper respiratory tract. so i think that is really what is about, these vaccines are not optimal for preventing infection of the mucosa, so for that we might need a strain vaccine, those haven't been developed. at the moment, the

vaccine we have been using, i think there is high confidence that these will reduce severity, especially in those at greatest risk. [30 will reduce severity, especially in those at greatest risk.— will reduce severity, especially in those at greatest risk. do you think that the government _ those at greatest risk. do you think that the government needs - those at greatest risk. do you think that the government needs to i those at greatest risk. do you think! that the government needs to think about, i mean obviously everything gets fed into the government's strategy, but is there anything arising from where we are now that makes it think there needs to be a change in attack? h0. makes it think there needs to be a change in attack?— makes it think there needs to be a change in attack? no, i think we are doinu change in attack? no, i think we are doin: the change in attack? no, i think we are doing the right _ change in attack? no, i think we are doing the right things. _ change in attack? no, i think we are doing the right things. we _ change in attack? no, i think we are doing the right things. we are i doing the right things. we are trying to get the infection rates down, it is reassuring to see that the infection rates are coming down and response to all the isolation measures that we are all taking. however, however arduous those are, it is painful and absolutely understand how difficult it is for everyone. but it is so rewarding to see those infection rates coming down, the hospitalization rates beginning to come down, and even some reduction in the frequency of deaths. so this is very good news, but this has to be kept up. we need to get through low levels of circulating virus in order to get

maximum benefit from the roll—out of the vaccine and to make sure that the vaccine and to make sure that the vaccines aren't being given under circumstances that might enable virus variance to rise spontaneously to really get a grip and to spread. so i think we're doing the right things. so what would you _ doing the right things. so what would you say _ doing the right things. so what would you say the _ doing the right things. so what would you say the level - doing the right things. so what would you say the level should | doing the right things. so what i would you say the level should be at for the lockdown to start to be eased? they are currently around 30,000 cases per day, and some are suggesting it should get down to a thousand before we can have more freedom. , , ., thousand before we can have more freedom. , ,, thousand before we can have more freedom. , y., ., freedom. yes, if you look at the case rates _ freedom. yes, if you look at the case rates that _ freedom. yes, if you look at the case rates that we _ freedom. yes, if you look at the case rates that we were - freedom. yes, if you look at the case rates that we were getting | freedom. yes, if you look at the i case rates that we were getting back in the summer, that was really good. if only we had had an effective track and trace system at that time and had been able to really lockdown on those cases that we had, we would be in a much better situation now. and i think it is so important to try and keep the rates low whilst we are all getting vaccinated and what's the level of general immunity in the population is getting right

up in the population is getting right up towards higher levels. we can expect that that will reduce circulation of any virus that returns. ~ ., , ., , circulation of any virus that returns. ~ ., , ., returns. would you put a figure where level _ returns. would you put a figure where level should _ returns. would you put a figure where level should be? - returns. would you put a figure where level should be? no. i. returns. would you put a figure i where level should be? no. ithink that is not something _ where level should be? no. ithink that is not something which i'm i where level should be? no. ithink| that is not something which i'm too expert on. probably best to asking epidemiologists. qm. expert on. probably best to asking epidemiologists.— epidemiologists. 0k, and 'ust a thouuht epidemiologists. 0k, and 'ust a thought on i epidemiologists. 0k, and 'ust a thought on going i epidemiologists. 0k, andjust a thought on going forward, i thought on going forward, predictions about life back to normal by the summer... 17! predictions about life back to normal by the summer... ? i do so ho -e normal by the summer... ? i do so hope that — normal by the summer... ? i do so hope that that _ normal by the summer... ? i do so hope that that will _ normal by the summer... ? i do so hope that that will be _ normal by the summer... ? i do so hope that that will be possible, i i hope that that will be possible, i think we are alljust aching to get to see our relatives, our friends and to start to relax a bit. it is enormously painful, and i do think that it enormously painful, and i do think thatitis enormously painful, and i do think that it is remarkable how good the vaccination programme is, how many vaccine doses are getting out there and how effective some of these vaccines are. some of them are really very effective indeed, much better than we anticipated at the

beginning of this.— alex salmond will not appear at the holyrood inquiry on the government's handling of harassment complaints on tuesday as had been planned. the former scottish first minister is locked in a dispute with the committee over what evidence can be published. 0ur scotland correspondent, alexandra mackenzie gave us this update. alex salmond was due to appear tomorrow at the holyrood inquiry into the government's handling of sexual harassment claims against him, but it was confirmed this morning that he will not be appearing tomorrow. the session will not now go ahead. the former first minister's lawyers had sent a letter to the committee yesterday and he'd said he was willing to appear anytime between now and next tuesday when the first minister nicola sturgeon is due to give her evidence, but he wanted certain evidence to be published so that that can then be considered in the final report. but this morning a scottish

parliament spokesperson confirmed that will not go ahead tomorrow, and in a statement they said mr salmond had been contacted to make it clear that he can speak freely in the committee about all his contact with nicola sturgeon and his views on her actions. the statement went on to say that he would have four hours to answer questions in public and he was also invited to send more written evidence for publication after that meeting. and it said that the committee had already published two lengthy submissions from mr salmond, and this would be considered in the final report. however, in the letter from mr salmond's lawyers, it says that asking a witness to accept the constraints of speaking only to selected evidence is not acceptable and is offensive. so for now, the former first minister is locked in a dispute with the committee over what material can be published.

and there have been reports that he may opt to hold a press conference instead of attending at holyrood. britain's youngest convicted terrorist, who led a neo—nazi cell from his grandmother's house, has been sentenced to a 24—month youth rehabilitation order. the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was sentenced this morning at the old bailey. he was iii when he amassed a stash of terror material and shared far—right extremist ideology in online chatrooms. online fashion retailer boohoo has bought the dorothy perkins, wallis and burton brands. the deal means all of the former arcadia group businesses have now been sold — but they will all now become online—only. nearly 2500 staff are set to lose theirjobs. tesco, asda and morrisons are among the major retailers calling for online stores like amazon to pay more tax once the

pandemic has ended. the chief executives of 18 companies and groups have written to the chancellor, rishi sunak, asking for what they call a "more level playing field". amazon insists that it pays its tax and has created thousands ofjobs in the uk. the budget coming up on the 8th of march and there is a lot of pressure on rishi sunak to introduce measures that will help many who have been dramatically affected by the economic downturn triggered by the covid—i9 outbreak. buckingham palace has denied reports that the queen influenced a government law in the 1970s. it comes after the guardian newspaper published documents that suggest that queen elizabeth's lawyer successfully lobbied ministers to change a draft law — in order to conceal the queen's private wealth. the draft bill was later revised to allow the head of state to sidestep the new regulations. buckingham palace has said that 'any

assertion that the sovreign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect.�* you are watching bbc news, if you're watching on bbc two this time to say goodbye. have a good afternoon. british lawyers assessing human rights abuses against the uighur people have said there's a "very credible" case that the chinese government is committing genocide. the lawyers from the essex court chambers in london, were instructed by uighur and human rights groups to evaluate publicly available evidence. the chinese embassy in london has said anti—china forces were fabricating the "lies of the century'. 0ur diplomatic correpsondent james landale has been giving us this update. it is gathered together all of the publicly available advice it is then given by government, research, media, even the chinese government itself and it has assisted their

illegal president. what these have done, they are all experts in human rights and international law, is that they have said that on the basis of the evidence that is already there, there is a credible case that genocide is being carried out by the chinese government against the uighurs in xinjiang. and crucially, they also say that the chinese president because of his close involvement in these policies, they say there is a credible case for crimes against humanity and a possible case that a genocide case could be made against him personally. so it is substantive staff. the crucial argument makes is that if you look at the harm that has been done against the uighurs, if you look at the measures that have been taken to women to not give birth, a variety of pretty dreadful ways, and the forcible relocation of children to other areas, that together begins to meet the legal definition of genocide. it is a high bar to meet. it is significant because it shows the sort of path a

british court could follow, were british court could follow, were british courts allowed to hear genocide cases. at the moment, they can't, it is largely for international courts, but mps are pushing for british courts have that right. there's going to be a big boat on that tomorrow, the government opposes it will be a tight boat. the chinese government said in a statement, the uighur population is rising in xinjiang, and they said, that the anti—china forces of the west are concocting and disseminating plenty of false information about xinjiang and describe these things as allies of the century that are smearing china's image. so as usual, they deny discharges, they say this is fabrication. let's go to nicola sturgeon. fabrication. let's go to nicola sturgeon-— fabrication. let's go to nicola sturueon. ., ., ., sturgeon. contact to that figure, it has fallen by _ sturgeon. contact to that figure, it has fallen by more _ sturgeon. contact to that figure, it has fallen by more than _ sturgeon. contact to that figure, it has fallen by more than 280 i sturgeon. contact to that figure, it has fallen by more than 280 the i sturgeon. contact to that figure, it i has fallen by more than 280 the past week, which is very positive, though it is still significantly above the

peak that we saw last spring. and i can also report that 108 people or intensive care, which is the same as yesterday. five additional deaths, i'm sorry to say, have been registered in the past 2a hours a people who have tested positive for the first time over the last 28 days, however, the figures we report on a monday are often low because registration offices are largely closed over the weekend. since the last media update on friday, we have reported 60 new deaths, which means that the total number of —— under the daily measure is now 661i3, and yet again i want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. and i am joined today by the chief nursing officer, she will help me answer questions in a few moments. but first of all, i want to update you on a couple things. first of all, let me give a progress report on the vaccination programme. as of 830 this morning, 866,823 people in

scotland have received their first dose of vaccine. that is an increase of 27,567 since yesterday, which is three times a number vaccinated last sunday. in total over the course of the weekend, approximately 80,000 people received the first dose, and thatis people received the first dose, and that is well over double the figure for last weekend, and of course it includes a record total of more than 52,000 vaccinated on saturday. in the past seven days, more than 290,000 people have received their first dose, which is approximately a more than were vaccinated in the previous week. and over the course of this week, we expect to hit the milestone of! million vaccines administered. within the headline figure, i can report that we have now vaccinated 99.6% of residents in

care homes, which i have to say it's a scale of uptake that none of us really believed would be possible and it is really important because thatis and it is really important because that is giving protection to the group that we know is most at risk of becoming ill and dying from the virus. now, you will remember of course that we prioritized care residents and front—line health staff for the vaccination, so quite a few of them receive their first dose during december. that means over the coming weeks, we will be starting to administer second doses to those groups of people. in addition, i can report today that more than 95% of over 80—year—olds living in the community have now had the first dose. again, that is an uptake way beyond anything that we dared hope forjust uptake way beyond anything that we dared hope for just a few weeks uptake way beyond anything that we dared hope forjust a few weeks ago. and almost 67% of 75—79 —year—olds living in the community and 29% of the 70-75 living in the community and 29% of the 70—75 —year—olds have also received their first dose and we are

on course to administer first doses to everyone in those age groups and all people with significant clinical vulnerabilities by the target date at mid february. but also now accelerating vaccination for people aged 65—69. so this is all very positive news, the vaccination programme undoubtedly picked up pace considerably over the course of last week as we always said that it would. and to see such large numbers, particularly in the groups that are clinically vulnerable now being vaccinated is extremely encouraging. i want to, as i have done before, just add a couple of caveats to that. and in particular, let me remind anyone who has received the first dose of vaccine that you must remember that it doesn't start to have a protective effect until around two or three weeks after you have received it. and even then, we don't yet know that the vaccine will stop you from

getting covid or transmitting it to someone else, although there is growing evidence that vaccination does have some impact on transmission. but given that remaining uncertain, it continues to be the case that everyone, including those who get the first dose of the vaccine, still need to be careful and to stick to the lockdown restrictions. nevertheless, the pace of vaccination is very welcome good news, it will be of vaccination is very welcome good news, it will he wanted things that start to make a difference in the weeks to come. and i know from many of the messages i had been getting that it of the messages i had been getting thatitis of the messages i had been getting that it is providing comfort and relief, notjust to those who are being vaccinated, but to the friends, family, neighbors and loved ones as well, so i'm hugely grateful to everyone who is involved in planning, distribution and delivery of the programme. and of course, i am particularly grateful to everyone who has come forward to be vaccinated in these early priority groups. as i have said, creating the level of uptake is way beyond

anything that we could have dared to hope for just anything that we could have dared to hope forjust a anything that we could have dared to hope for just a few weeks anything that we could have dared to hope forjust a few weeks ago. and thatis hope forjust a few weeks ago. and that is a real tribute to the enthusiasm and willingness of people across the country to be part of our collective efforts to beat this virus. the second point i want to update on today is testing. on friday, when he stood in for me here, the deputy first minutes spoke about the expansion of targeted community testing and local authorities across the country. today i want to briefly highlight a programme which will make testing more easily available in the nhs highland health board area, which in terms of landmass is the largest of our health board. in recent which, nhs highland has been piloting a programme in a few towns and fire stations in the communities being used at bases where people can get tested, and that saves local residents from either having to wait for a home testing kit to arrive or having to wait until there is a

mobile testing center in their area. or alternatively, from having to drive quite a distance to a permanent testing center. so due to the success of these initial pilots, a decision has been taken out to expand that service, and i can say that from tomorrow, fire stations in dune and campbellton will be used as testing centers, and coming weeks, more places will open in rural areas across the highland area. a total of 21 ruralfiles across the highland area. a total of 21 rural files stations will be assessed testing centers —— fire stations. these will be used in tandem with the larger testing centers for bigger communities across the highlands, such as the regional drive—through site, the walk—through sites in wake, and mobile testing units and more populous areas, or areas which face a particular outbreak. larger sites can carry out several hundred tests

a day, under hugely important, but they are often aren't acceptable enough —— accessible enough for rural communities. less than ten tested a average each into areas when it was being piloted, so these are very valuable, but proportionate way of making testing more easily available and accessible to a rural population. we don't deliver large volumes of a but they really help in ensuring that people can get easier access to testing when they needed. so i very much welcome the expansion of this pilot and i want to take this opportunity to thank nhs highland and the scottish fire and rescue service for making it possible. those were the two points that i wanted to highlight today. the progress we're making on the vaccination is extremely welcome and the continued expansion of testing is another way to help us keep the virus under control. but for the

moment, case numbers, although they are declining, still remain high. lockdown restrictions continue to be essential and it is really important that all of us continue to abide with these restrictions. and the most important role right now for all of us remains clear, stay at home in less you need to be out of your home for essential purposes. for example, central shopping, your home for essential purposes. for example, centralshopping, care, for example, central shopping, care, work, for example, centralshopping, care, work, that generally cannot be done at home. if you are meeting with other people outdoors, you should impact only meet with one other person from another household outdoors, and that should be two people from no more than two households. please work from home if you can, employers, please allow your staff to work from home if that is possible, and when you are out, please remember the advice to wear face coverings, avoid places that are busy, clean your hands and services, you —— use to meet her

distancing, all of these things are working, we can see that the numbers, and if we go back to the race analogy. while the vaccination programme is speeding up, it is really vitalfor all of us programme is speeding up, it is really vital for all of us to be behaving in a way that slows the virus down so that ultimately in this race we can beat the virus. so things are going well, things are difficult and precarious, but do have that hope now of better times ahead. simply stick with it, stay at home, protect the nhs, help us to save lives. thank you very much for listening, i want to move now to questions, and the first question today comes from james matthews from sky. today comes from james matthews from s . . «a today comes from james matthews from sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister. sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister- if — sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister- if i — sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister. if i may _ sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister. if i may ask _ sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister. if i may ask a _ sky. thanks very much indeed, first minister. if i may ask a question i minister. if i may ask a question that you — minister. if i may ask a question that you will not be asked by the harassment committee next week because _ harassment committee next week because it — harassment committee next week because it is not in the agreement

but it_ because it is not in the agreement but it is_ because it is not in the agreement but it is very much in public interest, _ but it is very much in public interest, the scottish government lawyers _ interest, the scottish government lawyers in — interest, the scottish government lawyers in telling the court of session— lawyers in telling the court of session that the first complaints against — session that the first complaints against alex salmond, on the basis basis _ against alex salmond, on the basis basis of— against alex salmond, on the basis basis of information that you provide? _ basis of information that you rovide? , , ., ., basis of information that you rovide? , ., , provide? this is a covid briefing, but i will briefly _ provide? this is a covid briefing, but i will briefly address - provide? this is a covid briefing, but i will briefly address that, i but i will briefly address that, note, that is not the case. i refute that absolutely and i look forward to getting the opportunity at long last to appear before the committee of inquiry. i very much hope that will be next week, assuming we don't postpone it again. and let me be very clear, i'm willing to answer and any questions put to me by that committee, including on the topic that you have just asked me. committee, including on the topic that you havejust asked me. and in addition to answering any and all questions, i also get the opportunity to take out on some of the ridiculous suggestion set a been made about this whole situation. suggestions that i know have caused any people a great deal of distress.

so that is all i'm going to say about it right now, i look forward for sitting before the committee, but this is a covid briefing and it's important that i do myjob, which is to steer this country is a place i can through the pandemic. do you have a covid question?— you have a covid question? actually, it is a question _ you have a covid question? actually, it is a question about _ you have a covid question? actually, it is a question about integrity, i it is a question about integrity, and integrity as of the heart of everything, including covid. and we say that— everything, including covid. and we say that you refute that, do you refute _ say that you refute that, do you refute that you supplied this information to the scottish government lawyers or that they misled _ government lawyers or that they misled it? — government lawyers or that they misled it? | government lawyers or that they misled it? ., ., ., misled it? i refute the allegation that has been _ misled it? i refute the allegation that has been made, _ misled it? i refute the allegation that has been made, and - misled it? i refute the allegation that has been made, and as i misled it? i refute the allegation that has been made, and as it i misled it? i refute the allegation that has been made, and as it is| that has been made, and as it is proper, i will not address these the he says she's in a press conference. i will do that sitting before the inquiry, as is my responsibility. i will give you one more chance, do you have a question on covid, or should i move onto the next question?— should i move onto the next ruestion? g , ., ., ., ., question? my question on covid would be, b what question? my question on covid would be, by what month _ question? my question on covid would be, by what month this _ question? my question on covid would be, by what month this year _ question? my question on covid would be, by what month this year do - question? my question on covid would be, by what month this year do you i

be, by what month this year do you think— be, by what month this year do you think you _ be, by what month this year do you think you will a finish vaccinating everybody— think you will a finish vaccinating everybody over 80? we think you will a finish vaccinating everybody over 80?— think you will a finish vaccinating everybody over 80? we have said that we will, everybody over 80? we have said that we will. supplies _ everybody over 80? we have said that we will, supplies permitting, - we will, supplies permitting, vaccinate everybody on the] i priority list, which is everybody over over 50, and mad over the summer we will do everybody in adult population. exactly when that is will depend on the supplies coming through, but we are on track right now to me all the targets we have said. on the issue of vaccinations, the numbers you have given today about percentages a particular age groups that had been done will be welcomed by people, but inevitably, nothing is perfect and we have been hearing from some people in those age groups who say they have not had a letter or a call, they appear to have

slipped through the net. what do you say to people here in that situation? and more widely, is it problematic that different areas appear to be using different ways of inviting people for the vaccinations? you have talked more about vaccination letters going out. we have heard about some people in some areas, such as tayside, who have been getting calls from gp surgery asking if they can come join in the next few hours, and if they can, if they need to reschedule, they say they don't know when the next batch of vaccines is coming in. what do you say to people in that situation? ., , , situation? nothing in this life is erfect situation? nothing in this life is perfect and _ situation? nothing in this life is perfect and nothing _ situation? nothing in this life is perfect and nothing in - situation? nothing in this life is perfect and nothing in dealing l situation? nothing in this life is i perfect and nothing in dealing with a global pandemic is perfect, i will readily concede that. this

vaccination programme is going exceptionally well and i think the numbers speakfor exceptionally well and i think the numbers speak for themselves. that is not going to me or government ministers, it is time to lots and lots of people working extremely hard around the country, planning and distributing the vaccine, and it is also down to the willingness of people in the priority groups to come forward and such huge numbers. after a year in which we have not had much to feel positive and optimistic about, let's allow ourselves to recognise that this is a monumental logistical exercise and a monumental logistical exercise and a monumental logistical achievement so far. that said, there is still a long way to go. by the end of this week, all mainland boards will be operating in what is called the service now platform, which is where invitations are issued centrally, so some people already using that service will know that from the blue envelopes they have been getting.

there will be gp practices and health boards that if they have the ability to do it, to give extra appointments at short notice because we are trying to get through this as quickly as possible and they will continue to be a number of different ways used by health boards to get people into vaccination centres or gp practices as quickly as possible. with an exercise this massive in scale, i think that is appropriate to do. in terms of if you are in the over 70 group and have not yet received a vaccine appointment, i want to give some clear guidance to people. the helpline, which i have given the number before, if you phone that, if you're vaccine appointment was due to be issued centrally through the service now system, the staff or look into that. if you have an appointment and it is just that your latter hasn't turned up, they will confirm your appointment to you or reschedule it

if it was missed. if you have no appointment scheduled they will take your details and pass them on for investigation and you will be contacted with an appointment. if you are an abort area where local arrangements are in place, the staff in the will direct you to the appropriate contact in the health board area you are in. at the end of this week we expect all mainland boards to be using the service now platform. if you find that you still don't get the answer to your question you can e—mail me. don't do that if you can find it in another way because we get lots and lots of e—mails, but please keep the e—mail address first minister dot golf at gough doctor in any big system there will be people that for one reason or another, i had cases e—mail to me last week where it was the case that somebody had moved house and hadn't

registered with the new gp. there will be a multitude of situations where individuals perhaps haven't got their appointment. that is not indicative of the system not working well, it isjust indicative of the system not working well, it is just on the nature of an exercise is big in scale as this one. nobody will be left behind. this is a vaccination programme that will reach the entirety of the adult population, starting with those who are most vulnerable and making excellent progress in the groups that are most vulnerable. just to su ort that are most vulnerable. just to support the _ that are most vulnerable. just to support the first _ that are most vulnerable. just to support the first minister- that are most vulnerable. just to support the first minister said, l support the first minister said, particularly local vaccination centres _ particularly local vaccination centres will run at the reserve list, _ centres will run at the reserve list. so — centres will run at the reserve list. so it— centres will run at the reserve list, so it may well be that people are phoned to say that they can come in so that— are phoned to say that they can come in so that they can get their vaccine _ in so that they can get their vaccine and stop wastage, but it also means there appointments can be brought— also means there appointments can be brought forward. i don't think phoning — brought forward. i don't think phoning to ask if you can come in

with if— phoning to ask if you can come in with if you — phoning to ask if you can come in with if you arch as a substitute for an actual— with if you arch as a substitute for an actual appointment, with if you arch as a substitute for an actualappointment, it with if you arch as a substitute for an actual appointment, it is a reserve — an actual appointment, it is a reserve list. sometimes people don't turn up _ reserve list. sometimes people don't turn up at _ reserve list. sometimes people don't turn up at vaccination centres, sometimes there is a slight amount of vaccine _ sometimes there is a slight amount of vaccine left over and i do the gp practice _ of vaccine left over and i do the gp practice or— of vaccine left over and i do the gp practice or the vaccination centre would _ practice or the vaccination centre would go — practice or the vaccination centre would go down the list of people who would _ would go down the list of people who would typically be next in line to be vaccinated.— would typically be next in line to be vaccinated. ,, , ., ., be vaccinated. stephen gordon from the bbc. people _ be vaccinated. stephen gordon from the bbc. people will— be vaccinated. stephen gordon from the bbc. people will have _ be vaccinated. stephen gordon from the bbc. people will have hurt i be vaccinated. stephen gordon from the bbc. people will have hurt a i be vaccinated. stephen gordon from the bbc. people will have hurt a lot| the bbc. people will have hurt a lot over the weekend about the effectiveness of the oxford vaccine. how concerned should people be, how many cases of the south african variant there are in scotland? the figure that you quoted for sunday was a bit lower than the days that are gone before for the number of vaccines delivered. will you expect an uptick again today? this sunday fi . ure is an uptick again today? this sunday figure is lower _ an uptick again today? this sunday figure is lower than _ an uptick again today? this sunday figure is lower than saturday's, i an uptick again today? this sundayj figure is lower than saturday's, but it is three times what the sunday figure was last week. we are working to ensure that boards on sundays are

booking to ensure that boards on sundays are hooking up to their maximum capacity. i want to see that figure increase in the weeks ahead, but i don't think we can take anything away from the significant acceleration of progress we have seen over the course of the week. in terms of the astrazeneca vaccine, people should have confidence in the vaccine and i think the number of people coming forward suggest that people coming forward suggest that people do. in terms of the south african variant, right now, although we will get more up—to—date information from public health scotland this week, right now there are five confirmed in one probable case of the south african variant that has been identified in scotland. all of them have associations to travel. that is important because it means that well be monitored this carefully, right now we have no evidence of community transmission in scotland of the south african variant and that is important. in terms of the trout that was reported, the south africa trial of the astrazeneca vaccine reported over the weekend, it is a

small trial. i think they were just over 2,000 participants. the early day to shoot limited efficacy against mild—to—moderate disease due to the south african variant. it hasn't yet been possible to properly ascertain the effect against severe disease and hospitalisation. the subjects in the trials were predominantly young and healthy adults. the vaccine could protect still against that new variant. there are a number of trial is ongoing, and astrazeneca is working ongoing, and astrazeneca is working on an amended vaccine to be more active against the south african variant. let me stress that the vast majority of virus circulating in the uk is what is called the p 117 variant, the uk is what is called the p117 variant, the one identified just before christmas. the astrazeneca vaccine appears to have similar, and other words good efficacy, against that strain compared to previous

strains. people should continue to be vaccinated with astrazeneca with confidence. that is a strong message we want to communicate to the public. i we want to communicate to the ublic. ., , , ., , _ ., public. i would be very happy to either be vaccinated _ public. i would be very happy to either be vaccinated with i public. i would be very happy to either be vaccinated with either| either be vaccinated with either astrazeneca or the pfizer/biontech vaccine _ astrazeneca or the pfizer/biontech vaccine in — astrazeneca or the pfizer/biontech vaccine. in the south africa trial, they— vaccine. in the south africa trial, they didn't — vaccine. in the south africa trial, they didn't look at older people, they didn't look at older people, they are — they didn't look at older people, they are not saying it didn't work, they are not saying it didn't work, they are _ they are not saying it didn't work, they are just saying they didn't look— they are just saying they didn't look at — they are just saying they didn't look at older people with the vaccine _ look at older people with the vaccine. people's immune systems are complex _ vaccine. people's immune systems are complex we _ vaccine. people's immune systems are complex. we all have heard of antibodies the neutralising antibodies the neutralising antibodies that elicit the response from vaccinated in the astrazeneca vaccine _ from vaccinated in the astrazeneca vaccine are — from vaccinated in the astrazeneca vaccine are very similar to those vaccines— vaccine are very similar to those vaccines that have shown efficacy against _ vaccines that have shown efficacy against the p 1351, vaccines that have shown efficacy against the p1351, the south african — against the p1351, the south african variant. in the moment in

the laboratory at least, the neutralising antibodies are there, very similarto neutralising antibodies are there, very similar to vaccines that are shown— very similar to vaccines that are shown efficacy against the south african _ shown efficacy against the south african variant. scientists are interested in what is happening with their t_ interested in what is happening with their t cells, is a part of the immune— their t cells, is a part of the immune system are also being grown in response _ immune system are also being grown in response to the vaccine. people's individual— in response to the vaccine. people's individual responses have a wide range _ individual responses have a wide range a— individual responses have a wide range. a lot of the vaccine are preventing harm and death, so the lack of— preventing harm and death, so the lack of hops —— lack of hospitalisation and lack of death, but still— hospitalisation and lack of death, but still is — hospitalisation and lack of death, but still is showing some infection in the _ but still is showing some infection in the mall— but still is showing some infection in the mall disease. i don't think at the _ in the mall disease. i don't think at the moment this is any different from _ at the moment this is any different from any— at the moment this is any different from any other trial we have seen before _ from any other trial we have seen before. clearly we need to keep watching, — before. clearly we need to keep watching, we know that mutations happen— watching, we know that mutations happen and we need to keep observing, but at the moment i have every— observing, but at the moment i have every confidence and i would be very happy— every confidence and i would be very happy for— every confidence and i would be very happy for any of my family or myself to be _ happy for any of my family or myself to be vaccinated with the vaccine.

testing _ to be vaccinated with the vaccine. testing has— to be vaccinated with the vaccine. testing has now begun in stranraer, which has been something of a covid hotspot. there are still questions there as to why it has taken so long for this asymmetric testing, testing people who don't have set stems —— symptoms, to be tested. why is that? the local teams that are dealing with this, the asymmetric testing is a key tool as we go further into this to make sure that we are catching cases. we have piloted some initiatives before christmas and we are rolling that out to more communities. case rates, i don't have the case rates in front of me for different parts of the country, but case rates have been falling in stranraer as they have been in other parts of scotland. this approach to testing will help to ensure that we drive cases as low as possible,

because it will pick up people with the virus and get them into isolation more quickly. the ways in which these outbreaks are dealt with this very much based on the guidance and the decision—making of local health protection teams. goad health protection teams. good afternoon- _ health protection teams. good afternoon. with _ health protection teams. good afternoon. with regards i health protection teams. good afternoon. with regards to i health protection teams. good afternoon. with regards to the roll—out of asymptomatic testing in the fight, can you explain the rationale for where these test centres will be? a lot of people are working from home and don't have many reasons to leave their house, who do you expect to make use of these facilities and in what circumstances would you encourage them to take a test?— them to take a test? getting tested is one of the _ them to take a test? getting tested is one of the legitimate _ them to take a test? getting tested is one of the legitimate reasons i them to take a test? getting tested is one of the legitimate reasons for| is one of the legitimate reasons for leaving home. there are not many legitimate reasons at the moment but thatis legitimate reasons at the moment but that is one of them. the location for the asymptomatic testing initiatives have been identified by local councils and by local health

boards. proposals have been put to the scottish government so the local agencies will have taken account of population concentration, traffic and travel flows, in order to decide where they think is going to be most appropriate. they will communicate locally with the populations they are asking to come forward for testing. are asking to come forward for testinu. , ., .., , are asking to come forward for testinu. , ., , , , testing. testing, of course, is 'ust one of testing. testing, of course, is 'ust of the — testing. testing, of course, is 'ust one of the layers i testing. testing, of course, is 'ust one of the layers in i testing. testing, of course, is 'ust one of the layers in our i testing. testing, of course, isjust one of the layers in our armoury i one of the layers in our armoury against — one of the layers in our armoury against covid—19. the best way is to follow _ against covid—19. the best way is to follow the _ against covid—19. the best way is to follow the regulations, stay at home — follow the regulations, stay at home, where a face covering, wash your hands, — home, where a face covering, wash your hands, keep social distancing, and that— your hands, keep social distancing, and that is— your hands, keep social distancing, and that is over and above. many people _ and that is over and above. many people are — and that is over and above. many people are worried that they may have _ people are worried that they may have covid — people are worried that they may have covid but don't have symptoms. these _ have covid but don't have symptoms. these people would be encouraged to grow _ these people would be encouraged to grow in_ these people would be encouraged to grow. in other areas, these people would be encouraged to grow. in otherareas, again, the local— grow. in otherareas, again, the local health protection teams would guide _ local health protection teams would guide if— local health protection teams would guide if they are seeing high levels in one _ guide if they are seeing high levels in one community, they would then have local—

in one community, they would then have local communications to encourage people within that area to id encourage people within that area to go and _ encourage people within that area to go and be _ encourage people within that area to go and be tested. gn encourage people within that area to go and be tested.— go and be tested. on vaccine passports — go and be tested. on vaccine passports for _ go and be tested. on vaccine passports for international i go and be tested. on vaccine i passports for international travel, the do you think it is the right approach, and were broadly looking ahead in the future, what do you think the impact on the scottish economy will be given that we are likely to see international travel of some sort for quite a while? i wanted to set in my view in parliament on a couple of occasions of the concept of vaccine passports. i am not sure it would be right to rule them out forever, but i think it is premature to be thinking about them is a concept right now. given some of the uncertainties that we still have around the vaccine.

there are questions about fairness, as well, whether it would be discriminatory against some groups. i think we have to to know more. does that mean never, ever, ever? i don't think it would be right to say that now, but i don't think it is something that is likely to become feasible or desirable in the immediate future. the reason i wouldn't say never ever is that we know there are some diseases already were in order to travel to certain countries you need to have proof of vaccination, so as a concept it is not brand—new, not unheard of, but i think there is a lot of understanding that has yet to develop about the vaccine, but lots of issues that need to be thought through before we are in the position of looking seriously at

that. on the economy, there will be an impact on the economy from a covid for some time yet, that it is why it is incumbent on all governments to make sure there is support available, support for industries most effective. airports and aviation will be affected for some time. i want to work with the uk government to make sure they're as appropriate support in place. if we can get ourselves to a position through a combination of suppression, elimination, keeping the virus levels very low on the one hand, and vaccinating more and more people on the other, if we can then open up some greater domestic normality within our own borders, then that will be good the economy. let's leave nicola sturgeon at that point. the coronavirus briefing, saying that 866,823 scottish residents have now been vaccinated. borisjohnson has been speaking in

the past few moments. he is in derbyshire today and he has been asked about what is going to be happening with schools. there is a suggestion that schools could open into the summer holidays or possibly have longer school days to help kids catch up with the impact on their studies as our result of closures over covid anti has been asked about the vaccine in the light of the claims of that study in south africa that indicates that the oxford astrazeneca vaccine isn't completely effective with the south african strain. ~ ., , effective with the south african strain. ~ . , .., ., strain. we are very confident in all ofthe strain. we are very confident in all of the vaccines _ strain. we are very confident in all of the vaccines we _ strain. we are very confident in all of the vaccines we are _ strain. we are very confident in all of the vaccines we are using. it i strain. we are very confident in all of the vaccines we are using. it is | of the vaccines we are using. it is important for people to bear in mind that all of them we think are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing. we will be

continuing to study the effectiveness of the vaccine roll—out. that is going very, very fast indeed. we will be looking at the ways in which the population is starting to respond to this vaccine as we prepare to say what we are going to do in the wake of the 22nd, what kind of road map we want to layout. ii what kind of road map we want to la out. , .. , ., layout. if it is the case that it isn't stopping _ layout. if it is the case that it isn't stopping people - layout. if it is the case that it| isn't stopping people catching layout. if it is the case that it i isn't stopping people catching or passing — isn't stopping people catching or passing on the virus, will it mean to the _ passing on the virus, will it mean to the relaxation of lockdown? we think to the relaxation of lockdown? think that to the relaxation of lockdown? , think that all of the vaccines we are using are effective in stopping serious disease and death. we also think, particularly in the case of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine that there is good evidence that it is stopping transmission, as well. 67% reduction in transmission with the

oxford astrazeneca vaccine. there remains a massive benefit to our country and to the population as we go through the pandemic, and i have no doubt that vaccines generally are going to offer the way out. with every day that goes by you can see that medicine is slowly getting the upper hand over the disease. that is boris upper hand over the disease. that is lzvoris johnson _ upper hand over the disease. that is boris johnson in _ upper hand over the disease. that is boris johnson in derbyshire. - the vaccine rollout continues with another 16 new mass vaccination centres opening across england. new sites include leeds united's elland road stadium and the east of england showground in peterborough. more than 12 million people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, with the government on course to reach its target of immunising 15 million people in the top four priority groups by next week. doctor nikki kanani is a gp and the medical director for primary care for nhs england. she says everyone should have a vaccine when they are offered one.

first of all, i would urge people, that when it is their time, when they are offered the vaccine, please come forward and have it, it is so important. i know we had some people asking these questions over the weekend as vaccination clinics were running, but look, all the evidence tells us that the vaccine is effective, and particularly effective against premature mortality, so death, and hospitalisation, which is why we are working through the priority cohorts in the way that we are. so please come forward. the vaccine rollout continues with another 16 new mass vaccination and the people who develop the vaccine will be looking at the new virus strains that are coming through and making sure that the vaccines are developed to reflect the new viruses. it might be a little bit like flu where we have to have more vaccines on a yearly basis, but we are learning all the time, so right now your best chance of being protected is any vaccine that you get offered, so if you're offered a vaccine, please say yes. despite the impressive vaccine

roll—out figures, the take—up within black and asian communities remains lower. gp doctor nighat arif has been investigating that reluctance. hello. hi, come on in. my name is dr nighat arif. i'm a gp in buckinghamshire. you might have seen me on bbc breakfast — i'm one of the resident doctors. i'm today here in chesham, in one of our vaccination hubs, and we're going to try and get as many people through the doors as possible. are there any questions that you would like to ask me? will i have a penicillin... allergy. yes, allergy. we've been vaccinating people at our community hub for weeks now. this is safe for anyone that's allergic to penicillin or any other medications. you will not get a reaction from this at all. oh, thank you.

no, thank you. but there still is some hesitancy out there. some doubts, some questions, uncertainties. well done. perfect. you don't feel anything. thank you so much. so when i got my vaccination done, i really wanted to let my community know that it is safe, so i made some videos in my mother tongue and posted them online. some of the comments left on my videos are absolutely awful. "this will cause infertility." that is absolutely not true. "this vaccine is haraam." this vaccine is not haraam — it's been approved by all faith leaders from all communities. "you're a sheep and so therefore you're being brainwashed by the nhs." nobody�*s brainwashing anybody. hiya, how are you? so lovely to see you. thank you so much for setting up this hub. so i know that we've had real

difficulties trying to get some of the members of our community vaccinated — particularly our asian community. have you come across that setting up this local hub? a lot of the misinformation that's coming out is through things like social media. and i think what's happening is a lot of the younger generation are influencing their parents. we've had cases where parents were initially happy to come in, had a chat with their kids and their kids kind of said, "ohh, i'm not so sure." hi, sophia. thank you so much. good afternoon, how are you? i'm good, thank you. so, sophia, you were quite hesitant about having the covid—19 vaccine. can you tell me a little bit more about that? ijust put two and two together, and there's... sadly, there's a lot of conspiracy theories and there's a lot of, like, injustice in regards to, like, the facts that get spread around, and it's kind of hard at times and you do get sucked into it. and i was so focused on looking at it from one angle and i didn't even realise that there were other multiple facets to the story.

if you have ongoing concerns, it's ok. please, please turn to the leaders of your community, please turn to your gp. listen to health care advice from from the mainstream rather than the extremes of social media. oh, ladies, i'm in awe of you guys — and obviously me and my other bbc breakfast girlies. i mean, this is awesome. but it's notjust me dealing with the questions. we've had people who've questioned, how quickly did this get done? is it safe? are they going to genetically alter me by giving me this vaccine? i think we've had a whole lot of questions and they've been coming, actually, for a while now. what are your sort of on—the—ground experiences, rosemary? three cleaners came in to the surgery, all afro caribbean. and we said, "look," you know, "you work in the surgery. we've got these left over. would you like them?" and they all refused.

they all said, "no, don't trust it. we don't think it'll work for us." what's so sad is that many of them are more at risk, as well. so it's doubly important that we somehow get them in and get them to trust the vaccine. the vaccine is the only way we're going to get on top of the virus and get our lives back to normal. are you ok with needles? are you worried about needles? we can't let even more lives be lost through misinformation, lies and myths. at least14 people are dead and 150 are missing in northern india after a section of a glacier in the himalyas fell into a river and triggered a huge flood. water burst open a dam and then ran through a valley where a huge rescue operation is in place. our correspondent paul hawkins has the details.

these are the lucky ones. at least a dozen men rescued by the emergency workers. they were found trapped in this tunnel. their survival scarcely believable after the power of the water which destroyed everything in its way. this dramatic footage shows when the nanda devi glacier burst on sunday morning. as water gushed down the valley, damage and destruction. translation: about 50-100 people were running for their lives, - but couldn't be saved, and they were engulfed by the river. the situation here is still dangerous. people are leaving their homes and are fleeing towards the forest. with floodwaters rising and roads and homes destroyed, an urgent rescue operation is now under way. hundreds of members of the indian military and disaster response units have been deployed to the area. translation: approximately 125 people could be missing - as per the estimates, but it could rise because the power company is unable to give the exact figures.

everyone is busy in the rescue operations. prime minister narendra modi is monitoring the situation. but many have either died or are still missing. possibly trapped beneath the debris or running out of time. two power plants employing 150 people were also hit. cheering. but moments like these keep hope alive. they keep the emergency workers digging. paul hawkins, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. well, the snow showers are very hit and miss at the moment, but the overall pattern isn't going to change over the next few days. strong east to northeasterly winds bringing subzero wind chill values, lots of snow showers and hard overnight frost. there are amber warnings enforced from the met office for parts

of eastern england and also central scotland through the day. accumulations of 10—15 cm of snow where you get stuck underneath these snow streamers, so these lines of snow that lined themselves with the wind and itjust keeps snowing in the same place over and over again. you can see these striations, so some areas actually missed the snow altogether, just get a bit of dusting. these are the gusts, around 30—a0 miles an hour in places, and that means it's going to feel a lot colder than what the thermometer shows. daytime temperatures of around zero, wind—chill, so the equivalent of losing heat of skin at around —7 celsius. so here are the streamers through the course of this evening, you can see snow showers there across parts of east anglia. also central scotland giving those further accumulations out towards the west, not much snow at all. these are the over night lows of around —2 or —3 degrees in city centres, but colder in the scottish glens.

and tomorrow, much the same, again, we have snow showers driven on the east, northeasterly wind. some of the showers escaping many of us, in fact, it will be a bright if not sunny day in places. and again, another cold one. let me show you the jet stream. middle part of the week, it is actually way to the south of us, we are to the north, we are the cold areas. but that jet stream is so far south it is basically deflecting all the mild air, all the warmth towards the mediterranean, so we have got that sort of cold, snow—driven air across the northern half of europe for the time being. so wednesday , no different, but i would say that they showers will probably become a little less frequent as we go through the course of the weeks. be more that dry, crisp sunny weather. now, towards the end of the week and into the weekend, there will be a bit of a battle between mild air trying to set in, but it does look as though at least

for the rest of the week, that cold beast from the east is here to stay.

the prime ministerjoins other ministers in seeking to reassure the public about the oxford astrazeneca covid jab after questions about its effectiveness against the south african variant. it comes after an early study suggested the oxford jab offered minimal protection against mild disease. borisjohnson expressed confidence in all vaccines being used. all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing. we'll be asking what this finding means for the fight against coronavirus. our medical editor fergus walsh will be here. also this lunchtime... cut business rates permanently to help the ailing high street —

that's the plea from a group of top companies.