the uk economy shrank by more last year than any other on record, amid the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. figures show the economy contracted by nearly 10%, though there was a small pickup in december. the chancellor says it's been a tough time whilst it's been a tough time there were some signs of resilience whilst there were some signs of resilience overwinter, what is clear is that right now many families and businesses are experiencing hardship. we'll talk to our economics editor, faisal islam, shortly. the other stories this lunchtime... latest figures show that the estimated number of people infected with coronavirus in the uk is continuing to fall. the government insists new rules for travellers and quarantine hotels that start on monday will be in line with restrictions elsewhere.

a five—day lockdown is being imposed in the australian state of victoria, barring spectators for the next few days of the australian open tennis tournament. more problems for the tokyo olympics as the head of the organising committee resigns after making a series of sexist remarks about women. and coming up on bbc news, serena williams�* bid for a 24th grand slam title is still on, as the american moves through to the fourth round of the australian open. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the uk economy shrank last year by the largest amount ever recorded, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

the office for national statistics said gross domestic product, which measures the value of goods and services produced by the economy, dropped by 9.9% last year. the economy did grow slightly in december by1.2%, as some restrictions were eased in the run—up to christmas, avoiding the uk's first double—dip recession since the 1970s. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has told the bbc the economy "experienced a significant shock", and the government would set out the next steps of the response to the pandemic in the budget next month. our economics correspondent andy verity reports. 2020, the year that will be remembered not only for a pandemic but for an unprecedented economic roller—coaster caused by the government's anti—virus measures. the figures today show the economy shrank faster than it had in 300 years and surged back in the summer then slow down again before christmas. laboursay

then slow down again before christmas. labour say the 9.9% year on year drop in gross domestic product, or gdp, which measures goods and services, meant the uk had not only the worst death toll but the worst economic crisis of any major economy, something the chancellor disputed. i major economy, something the chancellor disputed.— major economy, something the chancellor disputed. i think this oint on chancellor disputed. i think this point on our _ chancellor disputed. i think this point on our comparative - chancellor disputed. i think this i point on our comparative economic performance is important to clear up. we calculate gdp in a different way to pretty much everybody else and if you either correct for that different or look at it in a way thatis different or look at it in a way that is more comparable with nominal gdp, what you find, as the bank of england and the office for national statistics have pointed out, is that our performance is very much in line comparable to other countries and in fact may be on the margin better than places like canada, germany, italy and spain. than places like canada, germany, italy and spain-— italy and spain. some parts of the economy are _ italy and spain. some parts of the economy are now— italy and spain. some parts of the economy are now less _ italy and spain. some parts of the economy are now less than - italy and spain. some parts of the economy are now less than 496 . italy and spain. some parts of the i economy are now less than 496 down economy are now less than 4% down from pre—pandemic levels of activity put at this high—tech manufacturer of metal parts for cars and bridges in shrewsbury saw new orders drop in the spring, it adapted by shifting from supplying the car industry to

the do—it—yourself market and sales recovered. we the do-it-yourself market and sales recovered. ~ ., ., ., ~ the do-it-yourself market and sales recovered. ~ ., ., .,~ recovered. we had to make some quite sweein: recovered. we had to make some quite sweeping changes _ recovered. we had to make some quite sweeping changes in _ recovered. we had to make some quite sweeping changes in terms _ recovered. we had to make some quite sweeping changes in terms of- sweeping changes in terms of structure _ sweeping changes in terms of structure of the company in 2020, from _ structure of the company in 2020, from march — structure of the company in 2020, from march onwards when our order book fell_ from march onwards when our order book fell to — from march onwards when our order book fell to 10% of what it should have been. so to me from december onwards_ have been. so to me from december onwards last year, i see there are green _ onwards last year, i see there are green shoots coming and i think once we get _ green shoots coming and i think once we get through this first period of 2021. _ we get through this first period of 2021, with — we get through this first period of 2021, with the impact of brexit, delays — 2021, with the impact of brexit, delays at — 2021, with the impact of brexit, delays at the ports, i think 2021 can be — delays at the ports, i think 2021 can be a — delays at the ports, i think 2021 can be a good year for the economy put up _ can be a good year for the economy put up white — can be a good year for the economy put up while growth was slightly better— put up while growth was slightly better than expected in the last three _ better than expected in the last three months of the year. up better than expected in the last three months of the year. up 196, the chronic pain — three months of the year. up 196, the chronic pain was _ three months of the year. up 196, the chronic pain was concentrated - three months of the year. up 196, the chronic pain was concentrated on - chronic pain was concentrated on sectors like accommodation and food which after a devastating pre—christmas slump saw activity dropped by a third. all hopes now rest on the back reopening the economy and consumers reopening their purses. the economy and consumers reopening their purses-_ their purses. the good news is the third lockdown _ their purses. the good news is the third lockdown will _ their purses. the good news is the third lockdown will be _ their purses. the good news is the third lockdown will be much - their purses. the good news is the third lockdown will be much less i third lockdown will be much less painful— third lockdown will be much less painful for— third lockdown will be much less painful for the _ third lockdown will be much less painful for the economy- third lockdown will be much less painful for the economy than - third lockdown will be much lessj painful for the economy than the previous— painful for the economy than the previous two _ painful for the economy than the previous two but _ painful for the economy than the previous two but we _ painful for the economy than the previous two but we still- painful for the economy than the previous two but we still expectl painful for the economy than the i previous two but we still expect to see a _ previous two but we still expect to see a step — previous two but we still expect to see a step down _ previous two but we still expect to see a step down in _ previous two but we still expect to

see a step down injanuary. - previous two but we still expect to see a step down injanuary. and ii see a step down injanuary. and i think— see a step down injanuary. and i think we — see a step down injanuary. and i think we are _ see a step down injanuary. and i think we are a _ see a step down injanuary. and i think we are a bit _ see a step down injanuary. and i think we are a bit more _ see a step down injanuary. and i| think we are a bit more optimistic leter— think we are a bit more optimistic tater in_ think we are a bit more optimistic tater in the — think we are a bit more optimistic later in the year, _ think we are a bit more optimistic later in the year, as _ think we are a bit more optimistic later in the year, as long - think we are a bit more optimistic later in the year, as long as - think we are a bit more optimistic later in the year, as long as the l later in the year, as long as the vaccines— later in the year, as long as the vaccines continue _ later in the year, as long as the vaccines continue to _ later in the year, as long as the vaccines continue to be - later in the year, as long as the vaccines continue to be rolled l later in the year, as long as the l vaccines continue to be rolled out fairly— vaccines continue to be rolled out fairly quickly, _ vaccines continue to be rolled out fairly quickly, provide _ vaccines continue to be rolled out fairly quickly, provide protection. fairly quickly, provide protection against — fairly quickly, provide protection against the _ fairly quickly, provide protection against the various _ fairly quickly, provide protection against the various variants - fairly quickly, provide protection against the various variants of. fairly quickly, provide protection i against the various variants of the virus _ against the various variants of the virus. . ., ., , against the various variants of the virus. .., ., , , against the various variants of the virus. ., , , , . ., virus. the economy is expected to shfink virus. the economy is expected to shrink again _ virus. the economy is expected to shrink again by — virus. the economy is expected to shrink again by 496 _ virus. the economy is expected to shrink again by 496 in _ virus. the economy is expected to shrink again by 496 in the - virus. the economy is expected to shrink again by 496 in the first - shrink again by 4% in the first quarter of this year which, outside of the pandemic, would count as one of the pandemic, would count as one of the pandemic, would count as one of the worst contractions in the past century. it is not expected to recover to its precrisis level until well into next year. our economics editor, faisal islam, has been speaking to the chancellor and joins me now. a lot of figures and questions so could you put into some context for is how worried we should be by what we've heard? that is how worried we should be by what we've heard?— we've heard? that fall in the economy. — we've heard? that fall in the economy, nearly _ we've heard? that fall in the economy, nearly 1096 - we've heard? that fall in the economy, nearly 1096 over. we've heard? that fall in the l economy, nearly 1096 over the we've heard? that fall in the - economy, nearly 1096 over the year, economy, nearly 10% over the year, is clearly historic but it's also history in that it was last year and it reflects what we all saw in our own home towns and high streets, people not going to work and people not being able to shop and all that sort of stuff. i think what matters

is what is happening right now. as you heard, the economy did pick up a bit at the end of last year, it has fallen back again, obviously with the renewed lockdowns we have seen. the lockdown this time round has been less of an economic hit than we had last april, so that is slightly less bad news. going forward, it is about if the economy reopens and the levels of support and the chancellor told me that the prime minister will announce in the final week of february a road map out of the restrictions. that might take some weeks or months put a week after that, at the budget in early march, we will see a recovery plan including how that support extends. that is the plan going forward, still some uncertainty, but with the right wind there's the possibility of a strong bounce back in the second half of this year. latest figures show that estimated coronavirus infections across the uk are continuing to go down in almost all areas. the office for national statistics

says one in 80 people in england tested positive in the week to 6th february, down from one in 65 the week before. it comes as people over the age of 65 in england will be invited to a vaccine appointment from next week. the government is due to announce its road map for easing restrictions on 22nd february. katherine da costa reports. despite concerns of a fast spreading a new variant, lockdowns seem to be slowing the spread of the virus. a small survey by the office for national statistics suggests compliance remains high but behavioural experts say it more support is needed. it behavioural experts say it more support is needed.— behavioural experts say it more support is needed. if you look at those ons _ support is needed. if you look at those ons data, _ support is needed. if you look at those ons data, it _ support is needed. if you look at those ons data, it also - support is needed. if you look at those ons data, it also tells - support is needed. if you look at those ons data, it also tells us. those ons data, it also tells us that 47% of people are having to travel to work. at the real problem is not people breaking the rules and choosing to go out, the real problem is people being forced to go out by rules and regulations which are too lax. . , rules and regulations which are too

lax. ., , , rules and regulations which are too lax. . , , ., ,, lax. the latest figures from the ons infection survey _ lax. the latest figures from the ons infection survey suggest _ lax. the latest figures from the ons infection survey suggest rates - lax. the latest figures from the ons infection survey suggest rates fell i infection survey suggest rates fell across the uk in the first week of february. one in 80 had the virus in england put it was one in 85 in wales, one in 75 in northern ireland and one in 150 in scotland. we wales, one in 75 in northern ireland and one in 150 in scotland.— and one in 150 in scotland. we need to remember— and one in 150 in scotland. we need to remember that _ and one in 150 in scotland. we need to remember that vaccinating - and one in 150 in scotland. we need to remember that vaccinating 2096 l and one in 150 in scotland. we need | to remember that vaccinating 2096 of to remember that vaccinating 20% of the population will not have a huge impact _ the population will not have a huge impact on — the population will not have a huge impact on transmission which is white _ impact on transmission which is white att— impact on transmission which is white all the vaccinations are hugely— white all the vaccinations are hugely important as part of the strategy— hugely important as part of the strategy and we still need to focus efforts _ strategy and we still need to focus efforts on — strategy and we still need to focus efforts on reducing case numbers in parallel— efforts on reducing case numbers in parallel with vaccination because we don't expect vaccination to have an impact _ don't expect vaccination to have an impact on — don't expect vaccination to have an impact on that in the coming months. on monday, _ impact on that in the coming months. on monday, the government hopes to have hit its target for offering jabs to the top four priority groups. it will be a crucial week for the government as it scrutinises data ahead of announcing its road map for easing restrictions. taste data ahead of announcing its road map for easing restrictions. we are ve much map for easing restrictions. we are very much hoping _ map for easing restrictions. we are very much hoping that _ map for easing restrictions. we are very much hoping that on - map for easing restrictions. we are very much hoping that on the - map for easing restrictions. we are very much hoping that on the 8th l map for easing restrictions. we are | very much hoping that on the 8th of march _ very much hoping that on the 8th of march there — very much hoping that on the 8th of march there is— very much hoping that on the 8th of march there is a _ very much hoping that on the 8th of march there is a date _ very much hoping that on the 8th of march there is a date that _ very much hoping that on the 8th of march there is a date that i - very much hoping that on the 8th of march there is a date that i imaginej march there is a date that i imagine parents _ march there is a date that i imagine parents across _ march there is a date that i imagine parents across the _ march there is a date that i imagine parents across the country- march there is a date that i imagine parents across the country will- march there is a date that i imagine parents across the country will be . parents across the country will be watching — parents across the country will be watching with _ parents across the country will be watching with great _ parents across the country will be watching with great interest, - parents across the country will be i watching with great interest, which is when, _ watching with great interest, which is when, if—

watching with great interest, which is when, ifthe— watching with great interest, which is when, if the data _ watching with great interest, which is when, if the data allows, - watching with great interest, which is when, if the data allows, and - is when, if the data allows, and that is— is when, if the data allows, and that is the — is when, if the data allows, and that is the caveat, _ is when, if the data allows, and that is the caveat, if— is when, if the data allows, and that is the caveat, if the - is when, if the data allows, and that is the caveat, if the data i that is the caveat, if the data attows, — that is the caveat, if the data allows, the _ that is the caveat, if the data allows, the 8th _ that is the caveat, if the data allows, the 8th of _ that is the caveat, if the data allows, the 8th of march - that is the caveat, if the data allows, the 8th of march is l that is the caveat, if the data - allows, the 8th of march is when we very much— allows, the 8th of march is when we very much want _ allows, the 8th of march is when we very much want to _ allows, the 8th of march is when we very much want to start _ allows, the 8th of march is when we very much want to start unlocking. very much want to start unlocking schools — very much want to start unlocking schools it — very much want to start unlocking schools. , ., , very much want to start unlocking schools. , ,, , ., , ., very much want to start unlocking schools. , ,, , ., ., schools. it is likely to be a long road ahead. — schools. it is likely to be a long road ahead, it _ schools. it is likely to be a long road ahead, it may _ schools. it is likely to be a long road ahead, it may feel - schools. it is likely to be a long road ahead, it may feel more l schools. it is likely to be a long i road ahead, it may feel more like normal by the summer but some experts warn we may have to learn to live with the virus. in experts warn we may have to learn to live with the virus.— live with the virus. in the longer term, live with the virus. in the longer term. once _ live with the virus. in the longer term. once we _ live with the virus. in the longer term, once we hopefully - live with the virus. in the longer term, once we hopefully get - live with the virus. in the longerj term, once we hopefully get out live with the virus. in the longer i term, once we hopefully get out of this lockdown and back to some sense of normalcy, we may need to think in those terms of, we are clearly not going to eradicate this so how are we going to live with it? and at what level of impact are we prepared to put up with it as a society? health leaders have warned of the risk of easing too soon when hospitals still have more covid patients now than in the first wave last spring. they say we are turning the corner but need to get cases right down, with the lower the infections, the lower the chances of new variant is emerging. catherine da costa, bbc news. the government has been defending their hotel quarantine plans for people coming into england from high risk countries.

the policy comes into force on monday. the government has secured 4,700 rooms at 16 hotels. people will have to pay £1,750 to quarantine in hotels for ten days. and those failing to comply with the rules willl face fines of up to £10,000. but there has been criticism the system is not as strict as those in place elsewhere in the world, as david shukman reports. arrivals from many countries are about to face 11 nights in a quarantine hotel like this one, but there are questions about the arrangements — notjust because the government's online booking system crashed soon after launching, but also because the hotels have been given instructions which, in some ways, are different to the rules applied in australia. quarantine hotels there have operated for over a year now and lessons have been learned, including the need for better personal protective equipment because of the risk of the virus spreading in the air

from people's rooms. enough particles could go into the air of the hall that if someone walked down the hall, say 20 minutes later, and inhaled, that's a potential source of transmission. so what are the differences between australia's policy and what is about to start here? are people allowed to leave their rooms? not in australia, but yes, here, to get fresh air, though not to smoke. are hotel staff tested? yes, for all of them, every day in australia. there are plans for that here, but it's not confirmed that they will start on monday. what about masks? in the state of victoria, they are now using high—grade masks. the advice here is to use thinner, surgical ones. we saw from the ons figures as recently as december that hotel workers are some of the most at risk of dying from covid. security guards, for example, whether they be in hotels or not, they are being put at risk

if they are having to accompany people and customers to and from their room. that is something that the government should absolutely be putting in its guidelines and instead what it is saying is that those workers should be put at unnecessary risk. but the government says the system of quarantine hotels will be carefully controlled. i think we have to look at our own measures in our own country. you know, the hotel will, of course, be adhering to all of the very strict measures that we have in place in relation to social distancing and facemasks and so on. allowing someone a gulp of fresh air, apart from anything else, we know that being outside is less likely to transmit than being inside, but i think allowing someone a gulp of fresh air during a ten—day visit in a hotel, with all the very strict measures that we have, i think is reasonable. the test will be whether infections happen inside the hotels.

despite all of australia's precautions, there are still outbreaks, so this will be a challenge. david shukman, bbc news. meanwhile, a coronavirus outbreak at a quarantine hotel in melbourne in australia has led to a snap lockdown being announced in the state of victoria. melbourne is currently hosting the australian open tennis tournament, which will continue but without fans attending for the next five days. phil mercer reports. a short, sharp circuit breaker is being imposed across victoria, australia's second most populous state. the growing cluster of infections is linked to a quarantine hotel at melbourne airport. australians returning home must go into isolation for at least two weeks on arrival. health officials say the snap coronavirus lockdown is in response to the hyper—infectious uk variant. it's thought to have been spread

in the hotel by a nebuliser, a device that vaporises medicine, that was used by a family who tested positive. stay—at—home orders will apply to millions of people. schools will close and facemasks are mandatory. the australian open will continue in melbourne, but tennis fans won't be allowed to attend for at least five days. the victorian premier, daniel andrews, says there's no time to lose. if we wait for this theory that it might be out there, there might be more cases than we know about, if we wait for that to be proven correct, it will be too late. and then we will face the prospect of being locked down until a vaccination. hotel quarantine is australia's last line of defence against imported cases of covid—19, but it's not perfect. breaches in security that allowed passengers to pass the virus to staff ignited a deadly second

wave of infections in melbourne last year. the city was shut down for almost four months until the outbreak was contained. international border closures, mass testing, sophisticated contact tracing and strict lockdowns are key pillars in australia's pandemic strategy. but the safety of the hotel quarantine system is once again under great scrutiny. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. let's speak to our political correspondent damian grammaticas at westminster. much scrutiny of this quarantine system both in australia and indeed here? , . .., here? yes and it will come under real scrutiny _ here? yes and it will come under real scrutiny when _ here? yes and it will come under real scrutiny when it _ here? yes and it will come under real scrutiny when it begins - here? yes and it will come under real scrutiny when it begins next| real scrutiny when it begins next week. we know many other countries have had this for some time, not just australia but south korea,

taiwan, new zealand, a lot of places like that point of the government here says it has consulted with australia and it was designing the system here and it believes the system here and it believes the system is in line with other countries and will be effective because of the whole range of measures. that is testing before you travel, ten days quarantine when you get here, two tests in quarantine and penalties if you don't follow that. but as david was saying in his report, there are differences and the government says that what it has been doing is clarifying the measures so what we have been hearing today is that those measures, such as in australia where you are not allowed out of your room at all, what they are saying here, a spokesman for number 10 said you will be depending on the individual hotel, they could decide to let you out for exercise or a smoke or something like that. but in other ways, in australia they do have more strict requirements, as you heard,

for a masks for hotel staff, hotel staff being tested and in australia they get paid to take those tests every day. hotel staff in australia cannot work in other hotels orjobs because of the risk of carrying the virus elsewhere and of course the biggest difference is that the red list here applies to 33 countries and australia's is the rest of the world except for some flights from new zealand although the government here says it will now be giving itself the ability to put countries on the red list at very short notice. . ., on the red list at very short notice. . ~' , ., wales has achieved its target of offering a coronavirus vaccine to the top—four priority groups. the first minister, mark drakeford, has been talking about the possibilty of easing lockdown, and says that easter will be �*an important moment�* for tourism and hospitality in wales. our correspondent hwyel griffith reports. that's it, you're all done. that's it? that was it.

dose by dose, hope is being delivered. vaccinations started more slowly in wales than the rest of the uk but, today, it becomes the first of the four nations to have offered the jab to everyone over 70, health care workers, care home residents, and the extremely vulnerable. david is 74 years old. for him, it's about freedom. i want to get back to a normal life, where i go training three days a week, and i want to be healthy. i want many, many more years left on this earth and i want to enjoy life, that's what it means to me. get back to normal. so when exactly will that happen? wales was the first nation to lock down, five days before christmas. covid case rates have fallen significantly since, but there's no end to shutdown in sight. we're ready to reopen and, as i say, we want to trade our way back to recovery. that's the best prescription for us as a sector now. it's not more grants, not more funding, we just need to see an opportunity to be able

to get people back into the workplace and to start to see trade and stores open once more. there may be some good news on the horizon for people wanting to a holiday. the first minister of wales says tourism could resume here in the spring. we've got easter at the beginning of april this year, it's always - a very important moment for our tourism and - hospitality industry. we are talking with them - about what might be possible around the easter period. those are amongst the dates that we are using in our conversations- with businesses and workers here in wales _ in towns like tenby, that would be a huge relief. some businesses haven't survived. others will need financial support to hold on until easter. they're hanging on not so much with the fingertips, but with theirfingernails. you know, and we need reassurance on furloughing, that's really important, and that budget in march is really important because we want

an extension of the 5% vat and we want another rates holiday. the forecast for what the next few weeks will bring is as uncertain as ever, but in this corner of the country, there is now a glimmer of optimism. hywel griffith, bbc news. the time is 13:20. our top story this lunchtime: the uk economy shrank by more last year than any other and record and make the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. —— amid the fallout. taking the political temperature in the frozen far east of russia, in the wake of protests against the treatment of dissident alexei navalny. coming up on bbc news... there will be no fans at the australian open for at least the next five days, as the state of victoria announces a lockdown from midnight there on friday to stamp out a new coronavirus outbreak. lawyers for the former us president donald trump

will start their defence at his impeachment trial later today. democrat prosecutors finished making their case last night, urging senators to convict him. they argue mr trump incited his supporters to storm the capitol building last month. barbara plett usher reports from washington. after reconstructing the anatomy of the riot in brutal detail, the prosecution rested its case. if you don't find this a high crime and misdemeanour today, you have set a new terrible standard for presidential misconduct in the united states of america. democrats focused their second day on donald trump's role and his alleged intent, arguing that the violence was foreseeable and he wilfully encouraged it. they sought to demonstrate that mr trump had a history of inciting political violence, and that his supporters listened and got the message. the security guys, we have wonderful security guys, they said, "mrtrump, there may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience."

so, if you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of him, would you? seriously. the rioters at the capitol building did believe they were following the president's orders — their own words presented as evidence. we were invited by the president of the united states! _ and much was made of mr trump's lack of remorse. that this meant he was a danger to democracy, unless convicted and banned from office. you know, i'm not afraid of donald trump running again infouryears. i'm afraid he's going to run again and lose. because he can do this again. the defence takes over now. mr trump's lawyers are under pressure to step up their game, after a bumbling performance that angered him. they'll make the case that his fiery rhetoric wasn't meant literally, and that he has the right to freedom of speech. republicans were shaken by the democrats' graphic video evidence, but mr trump's lawyers will argue that he never intended

for the violence to happen. and they're expected to be brief — not more than a day — suggesting they're confident they have the votes to acquit him. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. let's speak to our washington correspondent, gary o'donoghue. what can we expect next, gary? it could be brief today, what you expect? it could be brief today, what you exect? , , . ., it could be brief today, what you exect? , , ., ,, ., it could be brief today, what you exect? , , ., 4' ., it could be brief today, what you exect? , , ., ,, ., , expect? yes, there is talk of may be onl three expect? yes, there is talk of may be only three or— expect? yes, there is talk of may be only three or four _ expect? yes, there is talk of may be only three or four hours _ expect? yes, there is talk of may be only three or four hours for - expect? yes, there is talk of may be only three or four hours for the - only three or four hours for the defence to put their case today and they will focus really on the president's the former president's first amendment rights, in other words, the question of free speech. he was allowed to say what he said because of free speech, they will argue. they will also use some examples from democrats, possibly even bernie sanders, of speeches they have made with pretty fiery rhetoric in them and they will also argue the president didn't have due process, the former president was impeached just a week after the here

on the capitol. once they have put their case, there will be a period of time when senators can ask questions, procedural stuff will follow that. but the truth is this could all be over by the end of tomorrow, making it the fastest impeachment trial in history. and at this stage, it is looking pretty clear that the president will be acquitted because there just are not enough republicans who are prepared to break ranks to vote against him. gary, thank you. the kremlin dissident alexei navalny has been back in court today — this time, accused of defaming a world war two veteran. his arrest on arrival back to russia last month has sparked outrage and protests across the country. our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg travelled more than 4,000 miles, to the country's far east, to gauge the political temperature there. what do you find at the end of russia, where the pacific turns to ice?

at first, russia here feels frozen in time, no hint of spring. but in vladivostok, there are signs that something is changing. chanting last month, thousands here risked arrest to protest, in support ofjailed opposition leader alexei navalny. there were rallies across russia. but there is no political thaw. the kremlin's response is a crackdown. blogger gennady shulga had livestreamed one of the live protests. a few days ago, police raided his flat and pinned him to the floor. the police video shows gennady�*s head over the dog bowl. translation: this show of force i was meant to scare me and my wife. now the authorities are using that video to scare others — by showing what happens

to people who tell the truth. scientist anton, who's working on new cancer treatments, took part in the vladivostok protests. he too has been targeted by the police. they broke into my apartments, hold me laying on the floor, like some criminal. and that was a real humiliation. and... infuriating. this isn'tjust happening here, in the russian far east. in recent days, there have been reports of police raids and searches across the country, a sign ofjust how determined the authorities are to crush the protest movement. in moscow, alexei navalny was back in the dock — a defamation case. this month, a different court had sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, in what he insists

are trumped—up charges. the police raids on protesters are aimed at cutting his support base, by spreading fear. it will send chilling waves across everybody else who is in their early—20s, idealistic, wants to work for team navalny. a lot of people will be scared, a lot of parents will insert a lot of pressure on their kids to notjoin the movement. there's something else the kremlin is doing to try to undermine public support for protests. it's telling russians, through the state media, that mr navalny is an agent of the west, and some people are believing it. "he's carrying out the west's instructions," galina says. "we all know it's the west pulling navalny�*s strings," yulia tells me. "and as for navalny being poisoned, he probably poisoned himself." where is this taking russia? with "the west is to blame"

the official narrative, there's little prospect of a thaw in relations with america and europe. russia faces the prospect of growing isolation. steve rosenberg, bbc news, vladivostok. the government has extended the deadline for the ability to buy a home until the end of may. it is the third extension to the deadline and gives home—builders an extra two months to complete developments. emergency services have warned members of the public to stay away the head of the tokyo olympics organising committee has resigned after making sexist remarks about women. yoshiro mori said women talk too much and that meetings with many female board directors would "take a lot of time". his replacement has not been decided but is expected to be chosen soon in order to provide reassurance the tokyo olympics will go ahead in july. our sports correspondent

laura scott has more. japan's former prime minister yoshiro mori said women "talk too much" and that meetings with many female board members would "take a lot of time". it took ten days of backlash building at home and abroad until today, he resigned, acknowledging his comments might interfere with the delivery of the games. translation: my inappropriate l remarks caused a lot of confusion. i feel extremely sorry for causing so much trouble for the executives, the board of councillors and so many others. so, today, i'm offering my resignation as president of the tokyo organising committee. the international olympic committee — which had previously described his comments as "absolutely inappropriate" — thanked mori for his outstanding contribution to organising the postponed games. the controversy has given fresh impetus to campaigns against the event and could hinder chances of getting an already scepticaljapanese public onside.

many are looking down under for how a major sporting event might be held amid a pandemic. after overcoming initial issues with hotel quarantine, the australian open had got under way... bizarre scenes, highlighting the precarious reality of staging a big event in these circumstances. laura scott, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. it wasn't quite as cold last night, temperatures only —13 in braemar. but still a cold day today and it feels a bit colder because the winds are stronger. many areas will see

spells of sunshine, more cloud come again off the