this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. british prime minister borisjohnson comes under pressure from some of his own mps to end covid restrictions by the end of april. government ministers however urge caution. we are not going to be able to give certainty unless we are basing it on the evidence we have got that the vaccine is doing its job. so far the prognosis is pretty good but we have to keep monitoring it as the roll—out proceeds. president trump suggests he could make a political comeback after he's cleared of inciting insurrection in his impeachment trial. democrats are furious with the verdict despite the results of the vote on donald trump's conviction in the court of impeachment, he deserves to be convicted. i believe he will be convicted in the court of public opinion.

rolling out to the under—70s in the uk. more than a million people aged between 65 and 69 are to be offered a coronavirus vaccination. thousands of protestors in myanmar return to the streets for a ninth day of demonstrations against the military coup. and skating on thin ice — a rare skating event could return to the netherlands thanks to the cold weather. but will covid restrictions get in the way? hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. britain's foreign secretary dominic raab has rejected calls by members

of his party to lift all coronavirus restrictions by the end of april. more than 60 mps on the covid recovery group have backed a letter to borisjohnson demanding he commits to a strict timetable for ending controls in england. mr raab says he shares their desire to leave lockdown, but that it had to be driven by evidence the uk's vaccination programme is working. our political correspondent, damian grammaticas, joins me now. so, i suppose the government is under real pressure from some of its own tory mps, but also on the other side from government advisers and scientists? exactly, they have competing pressures on them. what lies beyond leeds behind all of this is the roll—out of the uk vaccine programme, which is rolling out fast. it is one of the fastest in the world, we know that. the target is that they have set themselves all

along, tomorrow, monday, they will have given or offered first dose of vaccines to around 15 million people. that's pretty much everyone over the age of 70 and everyone at high risk. so, the question then arises, how quickly can they start to relax things? what are the government is saying is that it is optimistic that this is going to allow them to take measures to relax things, but they cannot be certain that the minute. they need to see data coming in from that. and the competing pressure then, from some of their own mps in the conservative party, who want things to move quicker. this is what the foreign secretary has been saying this morning. we want to give as much certainty as we responsibly can. but it's based on the evidence. we've said that as well as opening schools on the 8th of march, our aim, the thing we are working towards, is to get nonessential retail open, and then after that, in due course again, driven by the evidence of how the vaccine is working, we can think about things like hospitality.

but i think you are not going to be able to give certainty unless we are basing it on the evidence that we've got, that the vaccine is doing itsjob. pa rt part of the reason for the government caution is, if you think back over the course of the pandemic, we have some of the highest death rates around the world, or highest total. 0ver world, or highest total. over 100,000 people now. and the government has been criticised by the opposition in the past for moving too slowly into lockdown. what they are cautious of is how quickly to move out of lockdown is now. interestingly, here, what we see is the opposition labour party supportive of a cautious approach. they don't want is to be going back into further lockdowns in future. at what they are saying is that there needs to be all sorts of supportive measures to say that those who do have to isolate in future. this is what the opposition labour party's

health spokesman has been saying. this lockdown has to be the final lockdown, by the way. the strategic aim is to do everything we can now so we don't have to go back into a lockdown. we know the virus is a moving target now. it mutates when it is given opportunities to mutate. and we don't want to grow a new mutation which can evade the vaccine response and set us back to square one, so we have to be cautious at every step. what they are saying is that they believe there should be measures like people wearing higher grade masks on public transport, there should be measures for better ventilation in public buildings. but i think the real pressure, interestingly, that the government is seeing is from its own backbench mps, who want a strict timetable. they say by april everything should be able to be lifted. but what we don't see yet is the data. and that is what the government says it has to wait for. remember, the uk vaccine roll—out at the minute is only a firstjab. they have delayed

the second jab 12 weeks. so people have received one injection at most, and i think the government want to see how that is working before it commits to anything.— see how that is working before it commits to anything. thank you very much indeed- _ donald trump has hinted he could return to politics, after being acquitted in his second impeachment trial in the us senate. a majority of senators — 57 — voted to convict mr trump. 43 voted to acquit him. only 7 republicansjoined the democrats in voting for conviction and this meant the ballot fell short of the two thirds majority of 67 votes needed to convict mr trump. so mr trump was cleared of the charge of incitement to insurrection, when he called on his supporters to march to the capitol building in washington, last month. after the vote, the former president said he planned to put forward a vision for a bright, radiant and limitless american future. nomia iqbal reports from washington.

donald john trump, former president of the united states, is not guilty as charged in the article of impeachment. this wasn't a typical trial, but it had an ending we all saw coming. nearly half of the jurors, the republican senators, had voted unsuccessfully to stop the trial from happening. the motion as agreed to... there was a plot twist when it looked like witnesses may have been called, but soon the drama concluded, making it the fastest impeachment trial in history. at the heart of it all was the question, "did the then president, donald trump, insight of violent mob to overturn the election results on january the 6th?" mr mcconnell, not guilty. mr romney, guilty. only seven republicans said yes, along with 50 democrats. that was more republicans than expected. democrats had spent three days presenting new, harrowing footage and audio showing how mr trump not only encouraged rioters but backed them

when the violence was happening. all the senators had been inside the capitol that day, including vice president mike pence and top democrat nancy pelosi. they were targeted by the mob and had to flee. what we saw in that senate today was a cowardly group of republicans who apparently have no options because they were afraid to defend theirjob. a lot of her anger was directed at this man, top republican mitch mcconnell. there's no question, none, that president trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. no question about it. the people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president.

tough words, but he voted to acquit mr trump on a technicality, saying it was unconstitutional to remove a president who had already left office. in a lengthy statement, donald trump said the trial was a witch hunt and that his make america great again movement had only just begun. the capitol was the crime scene and the scene of acquittal. the stakes were high. the republican party can't let go of donald trump, even though he's no longer in the white house. and as for the country, it means in four years' time, he could run to be the us president once again. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. earlier i spoke with professorjonathan parker from keele university. he says this acquittal does not strengthen mr trump in any way. we pretty much knew the outcome going into this. it was surprising so many republicans did cross over, though. what are the implications of all of this?

we've heard from donald trump, kind of hinting, suggesting that a political comeback may be on. do you think he's strengthened by this decision? i don't think he was strengthened in any way by this decision. this was mitch mcconnell being very, very careful to try to hold the republican party together. it was very much an exercise in trying to manage public opinion. all parties savaged donald trump. savaged him, but how popular does he remain in the country? if he is thinking about running for re—election in 2024, what would that mean for the republican party? well, this does continue the battle in the republican party. more important are the primaries for the next midterms. trump has promised to go after people who voted against him and we will see if this civil war continues. it's a long way from the next presidential election. donald trump is old, he's not the most healthy of people, so again it's a long way before he runs again. but the republican party is desperately split, isn't it,

between the traditional republicans and the sort of trump wing of the party, if you want to call it that? it's not particularly split. the trump side is very much in the ascendancy. he has very high approval ratings this is why the republicans did not vote to convict him. mitch mcconnell was very calculated in trying to give cover to his senators who are running for re—election in two years' time. does that mean, if donald trump's supporters are that dominant in the party, any candidates have to effectively have the blessing of donald trump? if there is to be another candidate in 2024 for the white house, he or she would have the blessing if trump does not run? well, that is the big question. how much influence does donald trump keep in the party? he is currently in the ascendancy, he is very popular. his base, as you can see, is extremely motivated. will it continue? will people be bothered when he is no longer president and no longer on twitter? democrats are angry with the verdict, even though it wasn't a surprise. what aboutjoe biden? does he want it all out of the way

and get on with the business of governing america? democrats had to make a choice on making this a very partisan fight, and that is the battle you saw with the witnesses, orjust get a vote, get your public opinion movement and keep going. that is what biden wants. new zealand prime minister, jacinda ardern, has announced a three—day lockdown in the country's biggest city auckland, after three new covid cases were reported. the level 3 restrictions will require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping and work. new zealand hadn't had any local cases for months and has been one of the most successful countries in containing the spread of the virus. mrs ardern said the authorities would work quickly to assess the extent of the new infections. three days should give us enough time to gather further information, undertake large—scale testing, and establish if there has been

wider community transmission. that is what we believe the cautious approach requires and is the right thing to do. a ban on evictions in england is being extended until the end of march. the government says the move will ensure tenants who fall behind on their rent because of the pandemic are not forced out of their homes in all but the most serious cases. but housing charities argue it won't help those who've fallen into arrears. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake reports. my income went from reasonable to zero. as a parent, it's really important that you feel you can provide for your children and put a roof over their head. the pressures of the pandemic have left many like ian at risk of losing their home. when work as a wedding dj dried up he had to find a newjob. while struggling to pay the rent, he was served with a notice of eviction. i was working earlier this year but i had a car accident last week, so that stopped me from being able to get to work.

but i have been able to make a full rent payment and start also paying some of the arrears. but the situation is still pretty dire at this stage, if i'm honest. it's estimated that at least half a million private renters in the uk have fallen into arrears during the pandemic, meaning landlords like elena are losing income. so, i've just had to go through all of my savings and i had to borrow more from kind friends, because obviously i can't take a loan because i wasjobless. i think the government, first of all, shouldn't pass on the welfare state onto the landlords. a lot of them are like me, it'sjust one property. you know, the government should support the landlords and, or support the tenants, who are really struggling. confirming the extension to a ban on evictions

in all but the most extreme cases, the housing secretary robertjenrick said the government's measures strike the right balance, between protecting tenants and enabling landlords to exercise their right to justice. but across the housing sector and from opposition parties, there are calls for more financial support. emergency grants or loans, similar to schemes in scotland and wales. the government needs to make sure the resource is there, the support�*s there for people to be able to continue living in their own home and to plan for the future, so they make good on their promise that nobody should lose their home because of coronavirus. this extension to the ban on evictions may bring some relief to those most at risk of losing their home, but there is more uncertainty ahead. jonathan blake, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... british prime minister borisjohnson comes under pressure from some of his own mps to end covid restrictions by the end of april.

president trump suggests he could make a political comeback after he's cleared of inciting insurrection in his impeachment trial. thousands of people in myanmar return to the streets for a ninth day of protests against the military coup. as we've been hearing, borisjohnson is under pressure from more than 60 of his own conservative mps to remove all coronavirus restrictions in england by the end of april. earlier i spoke to the chair of that group of mps, mark harper. i agree with the foreign secretary that we shouldn't choose arbitrary dates. we haven't in our letter. we very much timed our requests for the relaxation of restrictions to the roll—out of the vaccination programme. so, we suggested starting lifting restrictions on march the 8th, when the top four groups who

are most vulnerable have been vaccinated in that first dose of vaccination, which becomes effective from march the 8th. and then we restricted all of those restrictions going once the government has vaccinated the top nine groups. and we have tied the timetable very much to the government's commitment about the vaccination roll—out. so it is not arbitrary at all, it is completely tied to the roll—out of the vaccination programme and the fact that you are then protecting the most vulnerable people from death and serious disease from covid, from the fantastically successful vaccination programme the nhs has undertaken. but successful vaccination programme the nhs has undertaken.— nhs has undertaken. but the government _ nhs has undertaken. but the government back _ nhs has undertaken. but the government back there - nhs has undertaken. but the government back there was l nhs has undertaken. but the i government back there was still considering the data from the vaccination programme, especially how it affects transmissibility. at the moment we don't know 100% how the moment we don't know 100% how the vaccine programme is affecting the vaccine programme is affecting the transmissibility of the virus? the government has made it quite clear, the health secretary made it quite clear in the house of commons just this week, that the government is looking at the reduction in death rates and the reduction in

hospitalisation to remove pressure on the nhs. the government itself has said that infection rates are not one of the factors it is going to look at. because the vaccination breaks the link between the number of infections and hospitalisation and death, because you are protecting people from vaccinations. so the government is looking at deaths, hospitalisations, the roll—out of the vaccination and obviously keeping an eye on the progress of any new variants. at the government has confirmed that all of the new variants are dealt with effectively by the vaccination is that we have at the moment. your critics will say _ that we have at the moment. your critics will say that _ that we have at the moment. your critics will say that your _ that we have at the moment. your critics will say that your group, the covid recovery group has pushed for easing restrictions many times before, and effectively you were proved wrong, especially when we saw the emergence of the new variant, the emergence of the new variant, the cat variant, that has been so dangerous?—

the cat variant, that has been so dancerous? ., ., �* ~ ., dangerous? no, i don't think that, the kent variant _ dangerous? no, i don't think that, the kent variant emerged, - dangerous? no, i don't think that, the kent variant emerged, the - dangerous? no, i don't think that, j the kent variant emerged, the fact that it was more transmissible and led to a much higher level of pressure on the nhs meant that when the government brought forward this third lockdown, ifor the government brought forward this third lockdown, i for example, the government brought forward this third lockdown, ifor example, and many members of the group, did not oppose it for that very reason, because we looked at the evidence, we saw that the virus was more transmissible, and responded accordingly. what we are looking at now is the fact that we have got this fantastically successful vaccination roll—out programme, one of the fastest in the world. there was vaccinations go to protect their most vulnerable groups, the groups that get seriously ill and tragically died from covid. 0nce that get seriously ill and tragically died from covid. once you have protected those groups, the justification for the very severe restrictions that people are having to live under goes away. the british foreign secretary dominic raab has said he shares concerns raised by the united states, about the level of access given to a world health organisation covid—19 fact—finding mission to china.

mr raab said britain will be pushing for full access for the who, in their search for the origins of the pandemic. a member of the who team that visited wuhan — british epidemiologistjohn watson — told the andrew marr show that the wuhan mission was only the beginning of a long process. we have seen a great deal of information about those early cases, there is more that we would like to see, both in the way of analyses and data, and we've been talking with our chinese counterparts about that. we hadn't ever anticipated that this was an event that would be a one—off, we'd come back with a clear—cut answer on the basis of this one trip. we see it as the start of a process that is going to take really quite a while. and we are recommending a range of further work to be done, further analyses and further discussions to take place, as part of trying to

unearth what's going on. in myanmar military leaders have named seven opposition campaigners they want arrested, under the rare charge of "disturbing tranquility". the army is staging night—time raids, following mass protests at the military coup. tim neilson has more. an eighth successive day of demonstrations. this was yangon city on saturday afternoon. hundreds of thousands still marching, and still ignoring the military crackdown on the protests. the latest tactic by the coup leaders, suspending laws stopping security services from detaining suspects, or searching private property without court approval. they have also released the names of seven opposition activists they accuse of disturbing tranquillity — a rarely used charge. human rights watch says over 300

people have now been detained, many during night—time raids. we have neighbourhoods who are trying to organise. they are using pot banging when it looks like the police, or military, are coming into the local area, to the area, to possibly arrest someone, to warn people. it really has become a situation where the crackdown is now going after anybody that the military identifies as leaders of these protests. meanwhile, football is also playing its part in the protests. outside the country's national stadium, many of the country's top footballers have also been making their voices heard. translation: we will only play football on the street _ until we get democracy. we won't play for the national team under the military dictatorship. we are protesting to send that message. translation: we are football players i but we're also citizens of myanmar. i

we know people have relied on each other in this moment, so people from sport are participating in this revolution, too. the us is the only country to impose sanctions on myanmar�*s military so far. with the rest of the world still wondering whether to follow suit, the protests and the arrests go on. freezing temperatures in the netherlands have caused canals to ice over, meaning there are hopes the world's biggest skating competition on natural ice might go ahead. but coronavirus restrictions mean it's a politically charged issue as anna holligan reports. every formation brings hope the legendary race might just take place. everybody who skates, it's their dream to do it. you are talking about the elfstedentocht, yes. when you are skating in holland, you have to skate 11 city tours. i've skated it three times,

in 1985, '86 and 1997. 1997 was the last elfstedentocht. this was 1963. 10,000 skaters competed but brutal temperatures meant only 69 finished. the event attracts millions of spectators. the ice must be 15 centimetres thick across the 200 kilometre route. even if those climate conditions are met, the dutch covid guidance remains. 1.5 metres social distancing, essential travel only and a ban on mass gatherings. but professional athletes are still allowed to train and compete under certain conditions and there are calls for elfstedentocht to go ahead with competitors only in a natural ice bubble. this year is even more special because of the covid, of course. we can't go on holidays as much as we do, we can't go out. it is a perfect thing right now. why is that? nobody wants to get the blame if something goes wrong.

but even this is already unique, just to dream about it is even fun. the discussion has turned into a culture war this year, as the anti—lockdown populace argue elfstedentocht should be allowed, while the health and skating experts have advised it's impossible without the risk of breaking the covid rules. what began as a means of transportation, utilising the extensive waterways to keep the country moving during winter, today offers a rare opportunity to get out and indulge in something they love — together. why are we so passionate? it's part of who we are. we grew up with it. from the time we can walk, we are on the ice if it's there. here, in schipluiden, they couldn't wait to get their skates on. and scenes like these are replicated right across the netherlands, generations of skaters making the most of what they've got before it's gone. anna holligan, bbc

news, schipluiden. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah. hello. still a fair bit of lying snow around and icy conditions today. it is turning windier and milder. there is the threat of freezing rain. rain falling across northern england and scotland into sub zero air could bring some icy conditions here. winds gusting 60 to 70 mph, big waves around the irish sea coasts, the western isles for instance as well. 12 degrees in belfast. contrast that with further east still, very chilly, up to about 3 celsius in norwich. windy wherever you are through the day. east anglia and the south—east remaining dry for a good part of the day. this evening and tonight, rain

sweeping across england and wales, followed by clearer spells and scattered showers in the far north—west. 0vernight lows, 5 to 10 degrees, significantly warmer than we had during the daytime over the past week or so. monday morning, early rain clears from southern and eastern england. still showers for parts of scotland, northern ireland and northern england. sunny spells developing and temperatures between about 8 to 1a degrees. goodbye for now.

hello. this is bbc news with ben brown. the headlines: british prime minister borisjohnson comes under pressure from some of his own mps to end covid restrictions by the end of april. government ministers however urge caution. we are not going to be able to give

certainty unless we are basing it on the evidence we have got that the vaccine is doing its job. so far the prognosis is pretty good but we have to keep monitoring it as the roll—out proceeds. president trump suggests he could make a political comeback after he's cleared of inciting insurrection in his impeachment trial. democrats are furious with the verdict. despite the results of the vote on donald trump's conviction in the court of impeachment, he deserves to be convicted. i believe he will be convicted in the court of public opinion. rolling out to the under—70s in the uk. more than a million people aged between 65 and 69 are to be offered a coronavirus vaccination. thousands of protestors in myanmar return to the streets for a ninth day of demonstrations against the military coup. now on bbc news, time for dateline london.

hello, welcome to the programme which brings together some of the uk's foreign columnists, bbc specialists and correspondents from overseas who have filed their stories from the dateline london. this week, business blues over brexit, life after lockdown, and the trump trial, what will be america's verdict? i am joined by two guests to discuss that. welcome, lovely to have you here.

and clive myriejoined me in the studio, long—standing bbc foreign correspondent and news presenter.