this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the latest data from the office for national statistics shows covid deaths are falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week to five february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown — and whether a phased return to school can start next week. prince harry and meghan are going to give a tv interview to oprah winfrey. if you want to get in touch it is w@vicderbyshire victoria@bbc.co.uk 0r@annita—mcveigh #bbcyourquestions military leaders in myanmar say armed forces had no choice but to take power as demonstrations continue over the coup

earlier this month. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. good morning, 43% of all deaths registered in england and wales in the week to february 5 mentioned covid—19 on the death certificate — the third highest proportion recorded during the pandemic — according to the latest figures from the ons infection survey. the latest data does show that deaths from covid are falling. a total of 7,320 deaths registered in england and wales in the week ending february 5 mentioned covid—19 on the death certificate that figure is down 13% from 8,153 deaths in the week to january 29. in total, 19,119 deaths

were registered in the uk — for any reason — that is slightly down from the previous week. but it is still 38% above the usual number of deaths registered during that week of the year. in scotland, nicola sturgeon is to announce later today whether more pupils will start to return to scotland's classrooms from next week. this could include children aged four to seven at primary schools, and some secondary pupils for coursework and in england, the prime minister has suggested rapid coronavirus tests could be used to help open up the struggling entertainment industry. boris johnson stressed he was taking a cautious approach to easing england's lockdown, but said tests that give results within 30 minutes could be used to reopen venues such as theatres and nightclubs — many of which have been closed for almost a year. 0ur head of statistics robert cuffe joins us now.

what does the new data tell us about deaths overall?— deaths overall? getting better but robabl deaths overall? getting better but probably still _ deaths overall? getting better but probably still not _ deaths overall? getting better but probably still not a _ deaths overall? getting better but probably still not a great - deaths overall? getting better but probably still not a great position, as you said in the headlines, we are moving down from the peaks of around 9000 per week in the uk in the last two weeks, high levels in the history of the pandemic, to a little bit below 8000. moving in the right direction but still seeing high levels and the total number of deaths well above average, almost 40% above the level for this time of year. the good news on the end of it, this news is two weeks old, up to the 5th of february, back then the daily death toll was running at 1000 per day and it is now down to 650. these measures have different definitions, they have been tracking pretty closely through the second

wave, so when we talk in a week, the news will be getting better as we move back down farther and farther. we are not at normal levels yet. [30 we are not at normal levels yet. do ou we are not at normal levels yet. do you what normal levels would be? we are not at normal levels yet. do i you what normal levels would be? we are you what normal levels would be? - are talking about 14,000, 13, 14,000 deaths a week in the uk at this time of year. we are seeing figures like 19,000, 5500 above what we would expect. a sizeable rise and pretty unusual. ~ . ., , unusual. what about the figures reauardin unusual. what about the figures regarding deaths _ unusual. what about the figures regarding deaths from - unusual. what about the figures regarding deaths from care - unusual. what about the figures - regarding deaths from care homes? good news to report here as well. we have been seeing that deaths in care homes have been rising in recent weeks. the worry was that in the first wave, deaths would rise later and higher in care homes, they were very badly hit, the latest figures suggest that the number of deaths in

care homes have peaked, 2500 covid—19 deaths of people last week in care homes and it is down to 2200. like the overall picture, not huge false but turning on the right direction, and in the second wave, it is no longer the case that care homes have been more heartache than the rest of society. it is in line with how hard it is hurting everywhere else. and, what can you tell us about antibodies? data on how many people are showing antibodies, unsurprisingly, more people were than when this was last published at the end of january. they are showing that people who have had coronavirus or who have been vaccinated, they should have antibodies in the blood which help to fight off an infection in the coming weeks and months. the number of people who have those antibodies, highest in london, one quarter of

people, the lowest in the south—west of england, 10% of people and that is close to the figures we are seeing in scotland, 10% there as well and in northern ireland and wales its 14%, one in seven people. broadly, that number is going up steadily, but that is probably the good news and the flip side of all the cases, the good news is it's part of the vaccination programme, the more people who have antibodies, the more people who have antibodies, the harder it is for the virus to spread. a rising number that has bad news but there are hopeful signs. thank you very much. we can speak now to david spiegelhalter, professor of statistics at cambridge university. how do you read these latest figures? figs how do you read these latest fiaures? �* , .,, how do you read these latest fiaures? a .,, how do you read these latest fiaures? a ,., figures? as robert said, things are auoin in figures? as robert said, things are going in the _ figures? as robert said, things are going in the right _ figures? as robert said, things are going in the right direction - figures? as robert said, things are going in the right direction but - going in the right direction but still very high. in england and wales in that weekend of the 5th of february, 5000 more deaths than we

would expect normally. the curious thing as there were 7000 deaths from covid—19, so there are more covid—19 deaths than excess deaths. that points to that known covid—19 deaths are running at low levels, historically low. it was a mild winter, we had not had the cold snap back then, which would have helped, but there is very little influence. what we are doing with covid—19 is enough to take influenza away. if it were not for the coronavirus, it would be a healthy winter. as the covid—19 deaths are being reduced, we might expect that by next month, our overall total number of deaths may be back to normal. things will not be normal, there will be a complex set of reasons, but it would be very encouraging. d0 complex set of reasons, but it would be very encouraging.— be very encouraging. do you expect this figure. — be very encouraging. do you expect this figure, total— be very encouraging. do you expect this figure, total number— be very encouraging. do you expect this figure, total number of - be very encouraging. do you expect this figure, total number of deaths| this figure, total number of deaths with covid—19 on the death

certificate is going to keep falling each week? it’s certificate is going to keep falling each week?— certificate is going to keep falling each week? �* , ., ., , ., , each week? it's going down very fast because the — each week? it's going down very fast because the daily _ each week? it's going down very fast because the daily data _ each week? it's going down very fast because the daily data which - each week? it's going down very fast because the daily data which is - each week? it's going down very fast because the daily data which is not i because the daily data which is not as good quality as this data, but what we report every day as showing an extraordinary drop of 35% drop over every ten days or so, and it is going down faster in older groups, the over 70s than it is an younger groups, the under 70s, the over 70s than it is an younger groups, the under70s, and the over 70s than it is an younger groups, the under 70s, and that is very encouraging. modelling shows that effective vaccinations should be seen first in deaths before admissions, it is strange but that is what we are seeing now which is very encouraging. is what we are seeing now which is very encouraging-— very encouraging. another encouraging _ very encouraging. another encouraging sign - very encouraging. another encouraging sign is - very encouraging. another encouraging sign is that i very encouraging. another. encouraging sign is that more very encouraging. another— encouraging sign is that more people have got the antibodies. those figures are going up and that is a good thing. {iii figures are going up and that is a good thing-— figures are going up and that is a uroodthin. , , ., good thing. of course it is. far too comlex good thing. of course it is. far too complex to — good thing. of course it is. far too complex to work _ good thing. of course it is. far too complex to work out _ good thing. of course it is. far too complex to work out the _ good thing. of course it is. far too i complex to work out the combination of immunity that comes from antibodies, from having had the virus, immunity from being

vaccinated, all these contribute to the benefit of everybody in society, it is a complex mix but it is going in the right direction.— in the right direction. thank you very much _ in the right direction. thank you very much for— in the right direction. thank you very much forjoining _ in the right direction. thank you very much forjoining us - in the right direction. thank you very much forjoining us this - very much forjoining us this morning. we have some breaking news, the rugby squad of france is an isolation after a staff member tested positive for covid—19. this has come from the french rugby federation. france six nations rugby squad is an isolation after a staff member tested positive for covid—19. they beat ireland on sunday. they are due to play scotland on the 28th of february. we are on the 16th of february, so there is time, hopefully, to get through self isolation and for the game to go ahead, but we will see. france six nations rugby squad is in isolation after a staff member tested positive for covid—19.

as we've heard, scotland's first minister is due to set out her plans for easing covid restrictions this afternoon. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordon explains what we're expecting from nicola studgeon today... the first minister has always taken a cautious approach to any easing of the lockdowns here in scotland. as you said, she has said she is very, very keen to get children back to school if at all possible. so what we will be looking for today is to see whether she does give a big thumbs up to getting those younger pupils, those in nursery school, the first three years of primary school and some senior secondary school pupils who are having to do practical work for their qualifications, whether to get the green light to return next week. interesting, though, that the expert panels here in scotland have said that if the senior school pupils do return, that small group of senior school pupils to return next week, physical distancing will have to be in place both on the buses to school and in the classrooms themselves. but that does, of course, leave the vast majority of pupils still learning at home so a lot of parents will be wanting to see

if she says anything about that. if she does, i think it will be an indicative timetable and most pupils, i think it's unlikely they will be back for several more weeks. the reason why? the numbers are coming down here in scotland but experts are concerned that that decline in the number of covid—19 cases may have stalled a little bitjust now. and viewers in the uk can see coverage of that statement from nicola sturgeon — after 2 o'clock this afternoon on the bbc news channel. the uk prime minister has suggested that quick coronavirus testing could enable nightclubs and theatres to open. borisjohnson said that the �*rapid' lateral flow tests could be used by �*those parts of the economy we couldn't get open last year.�* earlier i spoke to our chief political correspondent adam fleming and asked him if this could be a way out of lockdown restrictions. it's true that it is being looked at and it has been looked at by the government for quite a while and it's not the first time borisjohnson has mentioned it and i'm told it's very likely

that they will be something about this in the government's road map for lifting the lockdown which is published next monday, although whether there will be a lot of detail is another question. the idea is that once you get big numbers of people vaccinated and you reduce the risk of coronavirus in the population, then you can look at venues that have just been too difficult to open like theatres, football matches, gigs and stuff like that, and maybe you can make them even more covid—19 secure by having people doing these rapid turnaround covid—19 tests like the pregnancy test style ones. and it is the combination of the vaccine, other covered covid measures plus these tests getting more accurate, means the whole package means that you can open these venues again. and here is how the vaccines minister described it. testing is getting better and better. there are lots of technologies coming forward and being looked at by our scientists at porton down.

we have already now got, as i said to you, a capacity of 800,000 tests per day and pcr test from a standing start last year of being, maximum being able to do about 2,000 tests a day. we've got a multiple of that in the lateral flow test. many millions more in lateral flow test. so i think, you know, it's a combination of making sure we vaccinate and work with industry to deliver those testing, rapid testing, to be able to reopen some of those venues. that raises lots of questions, legal, moral, ethical, employment law in terms of how businesses actually deploy these tests and how it interacts with their employees and their customers. that is something for the medium term, i think. what it also does not mean and the government is very, very clear on this is the introduction of vaccine passports in the uk. ministers say absolutely no way will you have to show a certificate or an app or a wristband to access

to services in the uk. where you may have to show an app or a certificate or a wristband or something is when you travel abroad, though, and that will be because governments around the world will demand proof that you have been vaccinated before you can visit their countries. here is the vaccines minister again. at the moment, you have your health data which is held by the national immunisation and vaccination system which your gp has access to and of course, if you are on an nhs app you can look at your own health records. we want to make that certificate accessible to people if they need it for international travel if those countries require it. we are not planning a domestic passport for our own domestic use. but i cannot stress enough, this is not round the corner, this is much further down the road. what is round the corner is the prime minister's road map which is coming on monday and that is going to see a very,

very cautious relaxation of the restrictions in england because the government does not want people to look at all these millions of vaccines that are being very successfully and very quickly rolled out and think that that translates into a very quick lifting of the lockdown. we are in this for the long haul, i think. prince harry and meghan are to give their first interview since stepping back from royal duties. they'll speak to oprah winfrey in what has been described as a wide—ranging and intimate interview due to be aired by us broadcaster cbs next month. the interview follows the news that the couple are expecting their second child. let's speak to our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell. if this interview has been recorded already, and it is going out in a few weeks, does this mean princes harry and meghan are not coming back? the other match in short, yes,

it probably does, wide—ranging and intimate as it is being described, that sounds a little bit worrying from the palace point of view. thea;r from the palace point of view. they are keeping — from the palace point of view. they are keeping out _ from the palace point of view. they are keeping out of— from the palace point of view. they are keeping out of it. _ from the palace point of view. tie: are keeping out of it. now they from the palace point of view. ti21 are keeping out of it. now they are no longer working members of the royalfamily it is up no longer working members of the royal family it is up to them to decide what media engagements they do it is not clear whether this interview has been recorded yet. some reports suggest that it has, others that it is still to be done. we know it is due to be transmitted on the 7th of march. the palace line is that this is entirely a matter for them and they are playing a very straight bat to it. i think we are moving very firmly the separation between them and the working royal family is complete for the foreseeable future. �* ., . foreseeable future. added to that, the daily mail _ foreseeable future. added to that, the daily mail reports _ foreseeable future. added to that, the daily mail reports that - foreseeable future. added to that, the daily mail reports that prince l the daily mail reports that prince harry is to lose his remaining royal patronage is. i don't know if it's

true or if you know it's true, but it feeds into the feeling that the split is becoming complete. there is nothina split is becoming complete. there is nothing official— split is becoming complete. there is nothing official yet. _ split is becoming complete. there is nothing official yet. the _ split is becoming complete. there is nothing official yet. the review- nothing official yet. the review does not conclude for another month at least. there is no doubt things are moving in that direction. really, there is a perspective that they have left the queen, they had left the palace very little alternative. they are very settled and committed to their new life. they have bought a house in california and entertained and agreed to various commercial arrangements with companies and the news of the interview with 0prah news of the interview with oprah winfrey, that in itself suggests that they are not coming back, as i have said, in terms of the military patronage is, there is very little room for manoeuvre. you have to ask yourself what with the royal marines want to have as their captain

general, he took over from the duke of edinburgh, someone who jets general, he took over from the duke of edinburgh, someone whojets in when it suits him from his home in california? if there is a plausible argument that says that royal marines deserve a full ranking member of the royal family and this honorary but respected position within the core of the royal marines. in all probability, it will be the end of these patronage is. p, be the end of these patronage is. a number of our viewers have said, if harry and meghan want privacy, why are they doing an interview with 0prah are they doing an interview with oprah winfrey? it’s are they doing an interview with oprah winfrey?— oprah winfrey? it's a very good ruestion oprah winfrey? it's a very good question which _ oprah winfrey? it's a very good question which is _ oprah winfrey? it's a very good question which is not _ oprah winfrey? it's a very good question which is not for - oprah winfrey? it's a very good question which is not for me . oprah winfrey? it's a very good question which is not for me to | question which is not for me to answer. an inherent contradiction is there. after the landslide victory in the privacy case against associated newspapers, a couple of days later the issue a issue a photograph announcing very happy news of the pregnancy with the second child, and now they are doing

what undoubtedly will be a gigantic media event, an interview with 0prah media event, an interview with oprah winfrey. they will be people who will point out the only reason she has the platform is because meghan markle, american actress, married into the british royalfamily. she is very intelligent and articulate and ambitious and she has a message she wants to promulgate and she is taking full advantage of her position and going on this huge american interview programme. thank ou ve american interview programme. thank you very much- — american interview programme. thank you very much- our— american interview programme. thank you very much. our royal— you very much. 0ur royal correspondent. lots of e—mails about harry and meghan. the majority saying they can do what they want, leave them alone. the headlines on bbc news... the latest data from the office for national statistics shows covid deaths are falling. they dropped more than ten per cent in the uk to 7,320 in the week to 5 february nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland

will begin to emerge from lockdown — and whether a phased return to school can start next week. also this hour — military leaders in myanmar say armed forces had no choice but to take power — as demonstrations continue over the coup earlier this month. the military in myanmar has attempted to calm public anger at its seizure of power by promising that it will eventually hold new elections. but the military spokesman has also accused protestors of inciting violence and illegally pressuring civil servants to stop work. the lawyer for detained leader aung san suu kyi say police in the country have charged her with a further offence. ms suu kyi has already been charged with importing illegal walkie talkies, but now she's been accused of violating the country's national disaster law. it's amid a growing movement in the country — which is demanding the military reinstate aung san suu kyi and her democratically elected government. the military is continuing to defend the action taken,

as our correspondent jonathan head explains. yes, they have repeated their justification for the coup, which, i think is an area where they are very weak because, of course, they have claimed all along the coup was justified by electoral irregularities, but have always sidestepped the fact that legally, the election commission was the institution that was supposed to rule on any irregularities. the military had no legal right to get involved. they had to remove the government and replace the election commission in order to push forward to thisjustification. they focused, though, a lot on the protests, which have been going on for the last ten days, trying to portray them as violent. they talked about one police officer being killed. now, nobody has heard that anywhere else or has any information about it. it is the first time we have heard that. certainly showing the video footage where people have thrown stones and fought back against the police in clashes between them. no reference at all to the use of gun fire by the security forces to the young woman who was shot

in the head last week, who is on life support. and all the other injuries and of course the mass arrests that we know have taken place. more than 400 people are still detained, including aung san suu kyi. as you would have expected, a very one—sided presentation, but i think a sign that the military is trying to win back a bit of ground in trying to present its side, that there has been such a strong public backlash against this coup, they recognise the need to try to present an alternative message. british servicemen and women who were stripped of their medals because of their sexuality have been told they can apply to get them back. the move comes after the ban on lgbt people in the uk military was lifted in 2000.0ur home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. joe 0usalice loved his life at sea. he served in the royal navy for nearly 18 years as a radio operator. in 1982, he was part of the task force which sailed to the south atlantic

in the falklands war, and he did tours of duty in other trouble spots. joe's career ended because of his sexuality — and, as part of his dismissal, his long—service and good—conduct medal was cut from his uniform. i wouldn't have minded, had i done something wrong, but the fact was i'd done nothing wrong. the ministry of defence made a trumped—up charge against me and kicked me out purely because of my sexuality. this war veteran mounted a personal battle to get his medal back. he had to resort to legal action against the ministry of defence. and in 2019, they settled his claim. joe received his medal — and an apology. they apologised to me, but that's not enough. i did get my medal back and i was elated over that. but nevertheless, there are thousands of other people out there who have been treated not too dissimilar to myself. now, more than 20 years after the ban on lgbt people serving

in the armed forces was lifted, the ministry of defence has announced that other former service personnel dismissed because of their sexuality can finally apply to have their lost medals restored. it's taken a while to get here, and i acknowledge that. but, you know, today is a good day — many people thought we would never get here, and giving individuals the chance to apply and have their medals reinstated is a really important step for them. while welcoming this, joe regrets that some who lost out have died without the honours owed to them. june kelly, bbc news. latest figures show that the eu economy fell less than initially estimated in the last quarter

employment also rose slightly compared to the previous three months. let's talk about this. let's discuss this further with miatta fahnbulleh economist and chief executive of the new economics foundation. we are an economic think tank and we come up with policy ideas, ideas on how the government can't reform the economy so it works better for people and protects the environment. what do you think of these figures showing that the eu economy shrunk by 6.4% last year? it is showing that the eu economy shrunk by 6-4% last year?— by 6.4% last year? it is clearly a big economic — by 6.496 last year? it is clearly a big economic hit _ by 6.496 last year? it is clearly a big economic hit and _ by 6.496 last year? it is clearly a big economic hit and it - by 6.496 last year? it is clearly a big economic hit and it is - by 6.496 last year? it is clearly a big economic hit and it is the - by 6.496 last year? it is clearly a i big economic hit and it is the same hit that we are see the world. a 6% hit that we are see the world. a 6% hit is huge, and towards any contraction we have seen in recent history. but it is also clear that different countries have fared very differently as a consequence of the pandemic so you compare the eu 6%,

the euro zone 6% to the uk where we had confirmation last week that our economy contracted by 10%. in economic terms, a far worse pandemic for the uk. d0 economic terms, a far worse pandemic for the uk. ,, economic terms, a far worse pandemic for the uk. ., , ., for the uk. do you have views on whether it _ for the uk. do you have views on whether it might _ for the uk. do you have views on whether it might be? _ for the uk. do you have views on whether it might be? it - for the uk. do you have views on whether it might be? it is - for the uk. do you have views on whether it might be? it is early l whether it might be? it is early da s to whether it might be? it is early days to fully — whether it might be? it is early days to fully understand - whether it might be? it is early days to fully understand why i whether it might be? it is early. days to fully understand why the whether it might be? it is early - days to fully understand why the uk has done much worse. part of it is that the pandemic and the way the government has responded has meant that we have had lockdown is that have been longer and more protracted and more painful and that is part of the reason. the other part of the reason is that if you think back a long time ago, before the pandemic, that quarter going into the first lockdown, the economy was already ailing, we were skating on stagnant growth where as other countries in europe were growing higher so it is in part down to that. the final piece of the equation is brexit. it

is hard to untangle the impacts of brexit from the pending but we knew there would be a brexit impact on there would be a brexit impact on the economy and that is probably one of the other thing is that it's playing out the numbers. when things start to ease. — playing out the numbers. when things start to ease, do _ playing out the numbers. when things start to ease, do you _ playing out the numbers. when things start to ease, do you think— playing out the numbers. when things start to ease, do you think people - start to ease, do you think people are ready to spend? that start to ease, do you think people are ready to spend?— start to ease, do you think people are ready to spend? that is the big ruestion. are ready to spend? that is the big question- i — are ready to spend? that is the big question. i think— are ready to spend? that is the big question. i think we _ are ready to spend? that is the big question. i think we will— are ready to spend? that is the big question. i think we will see - are ready to spend? that is the big question. i think we will see two i question. i think we will see two halves, we know that those who are comparatively well—off have managed to save a lot over the pandemic so there is a lot of pent—up spending that be unleashed, but we also know that be unleashed, but we also know that those who were already doing badly before the pandemic are those who have been disproportionately hit either because they have lost their jobs are a huge squeeze in their income, so the lower end of the income, so the lower end of the income scale, we are not expecting, we are expecting people to be

suffering and struggling coming out of the pandemic. a story of two halves which will further entrench the deep inequalities we see here and in other countries. ? thank you very much. in the past hour — a dutch court has ordered an immediate end to a night—time curfew imposed to help the curfew, the first in the netherlands since world war two, sparked several days of riots by anti—lockdown protesters when it was initially introduced onjan. 23. the court ruling says the pandemic is not an emergency situation, and therefore lacks any legal basis. the curfew was set to be lifted on march 3. a state of emergency has been declared in texas, after winter storms left millions of people without power. temperatures have dropped to as low as minus 22 celsius in some parts of the state — the coldest experienced for more than 30 years. gail maclellan reports.

not the sort of weather you usually associate with texas. arctic air has plunged south, bringing freezing temperatures, snow and ice storms to areas unaccustomed to such weather. pipes have frozen, several million people are without power, and drivers not used to wintry conditions struggle to stay on the roads. water was gone at 8.30, power was off, we're all obviously one of millions in the same boat as everyone in houston — we're out in katy. it's... it's cold. some are even more at risk — the homeless putting their faith in tents as the bone—chilling weather continues. winter storm warnings have been posted across the southern plains and as far south as the gulf coast. we're looking at the temperature finally getting back above 0 celsius here in topeka on friday of this week, and by then we will have gone 14 straight days — two full weeks — with the temperature below freezing. and, again, it's been almost 40

years since that's happened. half of all americans are now under some sort of winter weather warning as the polar plunge mixes freezing temperatures with icy rain. gail maclellan, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news: the latest data from the office for national statistics shows covid deaths are falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk in the week to february the 5th. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown — and whether a phased return to school can start next week. also this hour — military leaders in myanmar say armed forces had no choice but to take power — as demonstrations continue over the coup earlier this month. questions over who is prioritised as the vaccine roll—out extends to people in at—risk groups — dj jo whiley asks why she's been offered the jab before her vulnerable sister.

in the uk, radio 2 dj jo whiley says she has been offered a vaccine — before her sister frances, who has a learning disability and diabetes and lives in residential care. it comes as the vaccine roll—out extends to the over 65s and people between 16 and 65 with underlying health conditions. data from public health england showed that 6 out of 10 people who died from coronavirus up to november last year had a disability — that's around 30,000 out of 50,000. here'sjo whiley. it feels like it's been a very long wait for the vaccine to get round to her, and on thursday night i got the call that i've been dreading, and that saying that they have about your blood running cold, we found out that covid had hit her care home, there was an outbreak of covid in the home, and she had been due to come home and be with mum and dad, and that had to — that was not allowed. she had to stay where she is. she is at risk of having covid, she is being tested daily at the moment, and we arejust...

you know, all i think about all the time at the moment is, god, i hope her next test is negative, i hope her next test is negative and i hope everyone in the care home is ok, and... the effect on her mental health is quite extreme, as well, because she was so excited about seeing us, she's finding it very difficult to comprehend why she can't see us anyway. she is very distressed, she has now gone into quite a slump, to be honest with you. she refused to speak to my parents over the weekend for the first time in her entire life, in her 53 years. she didn't want to speak to anyone. she's quite angry, she is quite confused, and whereas i'm used to her calling me, like, 30 times a day, she's not calling me any more, and that is quite weird. we've done everything. myself and my parents and the home have done everything we can to try and facilitate the vaccine coming into the people who need it the most. she is in tier 6, but she also has diabetes, quite bad diabetes, which, my understanding, puts her in tier 4, because she has an underlying health condition, so, i would have thought that she should have been vaccinated, she should have received it, but that hasn't happened. i suppose what i'm doing

is just wanting to speak up to people like frances, like the people that live in her care home, who have been overlooked, because this happens so often — people with learning difficulties are neglected. they haven't got a voice, they haven't got anybody there, just badgering everybody saying, what about me? you know, help me out here. and, oh, my god, ican't tell you how frustrating it is and how horrendous it is. the stuff of nightmares at the moment. we spoke to edel harris who is from the learning disability charity mencap. she says the definition of severe and profound learning disability in mencap's view, is an arbitrary one. one of the reasons thatjo and others likejo are speaking so passionately on this issue at the moment is that the definition of severe and profound learning disability, in our view, is an arbitrary one, and putting a definition of mild or moderate or severe or profound is irrelevant in the case of the horrifying statistics we've seen both from public health england and others.

yes. if you a learning disability, full stop, however one might define that learning disability, you are up to six times more likely to die of covid, and we cannot understand why thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation and the government are notjust including all people with a learning disability. it would also result in a much smoother vaccine rollout, because at the moment, gps, who are under so much pressure, have to decide whether somebody fits into a category of severe or profound or not. i did put these figures to a member of thejoint vaccination and immunisation committee yesterday, professor adam finn from bristol university, a professor of paediatrics, because it does seem like it doesn't make sense — and he said he hadn't seen the data. i mean, is that a possibility, or could itjust be a blind spot about learning disabilities?

this is ourfear, that even before any of us had heard the word covid, that people with a learning disability suffered huge health inequalities and were up to... sorry, they die much earlier than the general population, even before we introduce a worldwide pandemic, and i don't know that individual person and why he would not have seen the data, but we have been pushing the data, as have other disability organisations in front of the care minister, in front of the vaccination minister, in front of people who represent that committee — in fact, in front of everyone we can think of, so they certainly have access to the data, and we just don't understand why they won't change the criteria at this critical time and put people like frances, jo's sister, much higher up the priority list. there is still time for them to change the criteria, isn't there? they could say, ok, group six, which is the biggest group out

of everyone to be vaccinated, 7.3 million people at the moment, they could just say, everybody with a disability in group six. absolutely, and we just don't understand, based on the data and the statistics, why they won't do that — and as i say, at the moment, in england, there is a learning disability register, but not everybody with a learning disability is on that register, so what we are encouraging, and nhs england are encouraging this, too, in a letter that they sent to gps at the weekend, is that if you have a learning disability or you're the family of somebody with a learning disability and you haven't been called forward for a vaccination, contact your gp and asked to be put on the learning disability register, and we are seeing gps using their discretion around the country, fortunately — not in frances's area, sadly, but in other areas such as 0xfordshire and kent, for example, where they are giving the vaccine as a priority to everyone who has a learning disability. cuba is soon to launch

the third phase of clinical trials on its own coronavirus vaccine, produced by their own scientists. the government hopes the vaccine will not only end cuba's covid—19 crisis but become an important source of revenue for the cash—strapped nation. from havana, will grant reports. these vials represent cuba's best hope against covid—19 — the vaccine developed in cuba by cuban scientists called soberana 2. the government aims to give it to everyone on the island by the end of the year. it's an ambitious goal, but cuba has a strong record in biotechnology, developing the first meningitis b vaccine in the 1980s. soberana 2 is already in phase two clinical trials. we are trying to have in the order of 100 million doses during 2021, and so totally we are dedicating an important part of these doses to the full immunisation of the country. 30 years ago, fidel castro demanded that cuba find its own

solutions in immunology and biotechnology as a means around the us economic embargo. today the government hopes that the work being carried out here in havana's renowned finlay institute will produce 100 million doses of soberana 2 to export to the rest of latin america. however, that plan will be impossible without international assistance. the pan american health organization says, like entire region, cuba should be concerned about the worsening crisis, but that hopes for the vaccine are high. translation: we are very optimistic since the pilot i phase of soberana1 and the experimental trials we have kept informed and we have known cuba has been investigating the viability of several vaccines since august last year. for many cubans it can't come soon enough. the island had its crisis fully under control last year, with several weeks of almost zero contagion and no deaths.

cuba then reopened to tourism and the situation has now slid to its worst point since the pandemic began, but the paho denies things are out of control. translation: i wouldn't say it's gotten out of control. _ they have taken measures which have been seen in other countries. there comes a moment when you have to start to reopen and that's what happened here, as they tried to progressively move towards the so—called new normal. nevertheless, the mood on the streets remains grim. coronavirus has prompted the island's biggest economic crisis since the end of the cold war. long daily cues for basic foods are potential vectors in the spread of the virus and with the vital revenue source of tourism again shut down things may get worse for cuba before they get better. will grant, bbc news, havana.

there's been a big rise in the rate of hospital admissions of young children who hurt themselves on purpose in the uk. the latest annual figures from around the country show, on average, there are 10 hospital admissions of 9—12—year—olds because of self—injury every week. now the royal colleges of gps and a&e doctors are calling for primary school teachers to be given training to help spot the signs of children who might be self—harming. let's talk to dan whitworth from radio 4's file on 4 programme who's investigated this, and joy wright, ceo and founder of a charity called emerge advocacy and to 19—year—old amy fidler who self injured when she was 10 years—old. dan, you can tell us what you found out. �* , ,., ,

dan, you can tell us what you found out. absolutely, so, we basically anal se out. absolutely, so, we basically analyse data _ out. absolutely, so, we basically analyse data from _ out. absolutely, so, we basically analyse data from nhs _ out. absolutely, so, we basically analyse data from nhs figures i out. absolutely, so, we basically i analyse data from nhs figures from right across the uk, and what that data analysis showed us is that the rate of admissions for a nine to 12—year—olds because of self injury has doubled in the last four years. that equates to around about ten admissions every week, or the latest annualfigure of 508. admissions every week, or the latest annual figure of 508. that's admissions every week, or the latest annualfigure of 508. that's nine admissions every week, or the latest annual figure of 508. that's nine to 12—year—olds injuring themselves so badly they have to be given a hospital bed.— badly they have to be given a hosital bed. ~ ., , , , hospital bed. what is behind this rise, wh hospital bed. what is behind this rise. why is _ hospital bed. what is behind this rise. why is it — hospital bed. what is behind this rise, why is it happening? - hospital bed. what is behind this rise, why is it happening? that l hospital bed. what is behind this| rise, why is it happening? that is the key question. _ rise, why is it happening? that is the key question. we _ rise, why is it happening? that is the key question. we took - rise, why is it happening? that is the key question. we took that l rise, why is it happening? that is| the key question. we took that to one of the uk's leading experts, and he said a couple of things. there is the impact of the pandemic, of course, but he told us it was too early to draw firm conclusions on that at the moment. we talked about concerns that the fact that

self—harm is spreading down the age range to affect younger children, and also people look to things like social media will meet talk about issues like self—harm, but this is an expert who knows his stuff, he working at it for 40 years, he says the impact of social media is mixed, because there are bad parts of social media that can be seen to encourage self—harm, but then social media is a good place of support for certain people as well, so every single case of self—harm is so individual. single case of self-harm is so individual.— single case of self-harm is so individual. ~ . , ., ., single case of self-harm is so individual. . , ., ., , individual. what can be done to help the children — individual. what can be done to help the children who _ individual. what can be done to help the children who are _ individual. what can be done to help the children who are doing _ individual. what can be done to help the children who are doing this i individual. what can be done to help the children who are doing this to i the children who are doing this to themselves?— the children who are doing this to themselves? absolutely critical in this is being _ themselves? absolutely critical in this is being able _ themselves? absolutely critical in this is being able to _ themselves? absolutely critical in this is being able to spot - themselves? absolutely critical in this is being able to spot the i themselves? absolutely critical in | this is being able to spot the signs quickly and early, and that's why the royal colleges of gps and psychiatrists in accident and emergency doctors, they're all calling for primary school teachers to be given training so they can help spot the signs are people who may be self harming. as for the

westminster government and the devolved administrations, well, they all say that self—harm is obviously all say that self—harm is obviously a major issue and, indeed, the mental health and well—being of children is a priority of science. when can we hear your programme, if listeners are in the uk? eight o'clock radio _ listeners are in the uk? eight o'clock radio forth _ listeners are in the uk? eight o'clock radio forth tonight, i listeners are in the uk? eightj o'clock radio forth tonight, at listeners are in the uk? e mt o'clock radio forth tonight, at 36 minute documentary, so please do listen in. �* , minute documentary, so please do listen in. v ., ~ minute documentary, so please do listen in. �*, ., ,, ., minute documentary, so please do listen in. �*, ., ,, ., listen in. let's talk to joy and am . listen in. let's talk to joy and amy. welcome, _ listen in. let's talk to joy and amy. welcome, both - listen in. let's talk to joy and amy. welcome, both of i listen in. let's talk to joy and amy. welcome, both of you. | listen in. let's talk to joy and i amy. welcome, both of you. amy, listen in. let's talk to joy and - amy. welcome, both of you. amy, can you tell us what you are feeling when you decided to hurt yourself, aged ten? lt’s when you decided to hurt yourself, aued ten? 3 ., when you decided to hurt yourself, aued ten? �*, . ., , ., , aged ten? it's a really lonely feelin: , aged ten? it's a really lonely feeling. and _ aged ten? it's a really lonely feeling, and i _ aged ten? it's a really lonely feeling, and i felt _ aged ten? it's a really lonely feeling, and i felt like - aged ten? it's a really lonely feeling, and i felt like there | aged ten? it's a really lonely i feeling, and i felt like there was nowhere — feeling, and i felt like there was nowhere else for me to go, and at such— nowhere else for me to go, and at such a _ nowhere else for me to go, and at such a young age, i was dealing with all these _ such a young age, i was dealing with all these feelings that i did not understand, i knowl all these feelings that i did not understand, i know i did not know what _ understand, i know i did not know what to— understand, i know i did not know what to do— understand, i know i did not know what to do with them, so, i felt forced — what to do with them, so, i felt forced to—

what to do with them, so, i felt forced to go into hurting myself because — forced to go into hurting myself because i— forced to go into hurting myself because i didn't know what else to do. ., because i didn't know what else to do. . . , ~' because i didn't know what else to do. . ., ,~' ., because i didn't know what else to do. . ., because i didn't know what else to do. can i ask what you felt once you had hurt yourself? _ do. can i ask what you felt once you had hurt yourself? i _ do. can i ask what you felt once you had hurt yourself? i was _ do. can i ask what you felt once you had hurt yourself? i was probably i had hurt yourself? i was probably feelin: had hurt yourself? i was probably feeling just _ had hurt yourself? i was probably feeling just as — had hurt yourself? i was probably feeling just as scared, _ had hurt yourself? i was probably feeling just as scared, but - had hurt yourself? i was probably feeling just as scared, but i i had hurt yourself? i was probably feeling just as scared, but i felt i feeling just as scared, but i felt that release of my feelings, and i could _ that release of my feelings, and i could see — that release of my feelings, and i could see my hurting, that i was feeling — could see my hurting, that i was feeling inside, sol could see my hurting, that i was feeling inside, so i could sort of tour— feeling inside, so i could sort of tour i _ feeling inside, so i could sort of tour i felt — feeling inside, so i could sort of tour i felt like i could deal with the better because there is physical pain rather— the better because there is physical pain rather thanjust the emotional trauma _ pain rather thanjust the emotional trauma that i was feeling. did an one trauma that i was feeling. did anyone your _ trauma that i was feeling. d c anyone your family know trauma that i was feeling. ti c anyone your family know that you are doing that yourself? flat anyone your family know that you are doing that yourself?— doing that yourself? not for a good five ears doing that yourself? not for a good five years or _ doing that yourself? not for a good five years or so. — doing that yourself? not for a good five years or so, and _ doing that yourself? not for a good five years or so, and then - doing that yourself? not for a good five years or so, and then i - doing that yourself? not for a good five years or so, and then i my i five years or so, and then i my parents — five years or so, and then i my parents about what had been going on, parents about what had been going on. and _ parents about what had been going on, and they had had this suspicions were quite _ on, and they had had this suspicions were quite a — on, and they had had this suspicions were quite a while, but it was so secretive — were quite a while, but it was so secretive that i lied about it such a long _ secretive that i lied about it such a long time. did secretive that i lied about it such a long time-— secretive that i lied about it such a long time. did anyone at school notice? yeah, _ a long time. did anyone at school notice? yeah, quite _ a long time. did anyone at school notice? yeah, quite a _ a long time. did anyone at school notice? yeah, quite a few- a long time. did anyone at school notice? yeah, quite a few people | a long time. did anyone at school i notice? yeah, quite a few people in m ear notice? yeah, quite a few people in my year noticed _ notice? yeah, quite a few people in my year noticed through _ notice? yeah, quite a few people in my year noticed through pe, - notice? yeah, quite a few people in | my year noticed through pe, because we had _ my year noticed through pe, because we had to— my year noticed through pe, because we had to wear shorts and a t—shirt, and obviously— we had to wear shorts and a t—shirt, and obviously my forearms and thighs were on— and obviously my forearms and thighs were on show, so, people noticed,

and there — were on show, so, people noticed, and there were a few comments that were made _ and there were a few comments that were made. — and there were a few comments that were made, but where we were also young, _ were made, but where we were also young, people didn't know what to do or say— young, people didn't know what to do or say about — young, people didn't know what to do or say about it. you young, people didn't know what to do or say about it— or say about it. you are finally referred to — or say about it. you are finally referred to specialist - or say about it. you are finally referred to specialist help i or say about it. you are finally. referred to specialist help when or say about it. you are finally i referred to specialist help when you were 15. what kind of help that you receive? 1 were 15. what kind of help that you receive? ., , ., receive? i went through cdt, and i also spoke — receive? i went through cdt, and i also spoke to _ receive? i went through cdt, and i also spoke to psychologist, - receive? i went through cdt, and i also spoke to psychologist, and i receive? i went through cdt, and i | also spoke to psychologist, and she told me _ also spoke to psychologist, and she told me the science behind everything that i was feeling, and that was— everything that i was feeling, and that was really, really helpful. let me brin: that was really, really helpful. me bring in that was really, really helpful. t2t me bring injoy, ifi that was really, really helpful. t2t me bring injoy, if i may. how do you react to these figures that show that there are, on average, ten hospital admissions weekly for nine to 12—year—olds who are hurting themselves? tt’s to12-year-olds who are hurting themselves?— to 12-year-olds who are hurting themselves? �*, ., , ., ., themselves? it's really sad to hear that, but it's _ themselves? it's really sad to hear that, but it's not _ themselves? it's really sad to hear that, but it's not surprising - themselves? it's really sad to hear that, but it's not surprising to i themselves? it's really sad to hear that, but it's not surprising to me. | that, but it's not surprising to me. i that, but it's not surprising to me. i mean. _ that, but it's not surprising to me. i mean. the — that, but it's not surprising to me. i mean, the reason _ that, but it's not surprising to me. i mean, the reason why— that, but it's not surprising to me. i mean, the reason why ice - that, but it's not surprising to me. i mean, the reason why ice sets i that, but it's not surprising to me. | i mean, the reason why ice sets up the charity— i mean, the reason why ice sets up the charity was— i mean, the reason why ice sets up the charity was that _ i mean, the reason why ice sets up the charity was that i _ i mean, the reason why ice sets up the charity was that i was - i mean, the reason why ice sets up the charity was that i was aware i the charity was that i was aware through— the charity was that i was aware through iny— the charity was that i was aware through my own—

the charity was that i was aware through my own work— the charity was that i was aware through my own work as - the charity was that i was aware through my own work as a - the charity was that i was aware | through my own work as a youth worker— through my own work as a youth worker what— through my own work as a youth worker what a _ through my own work as a youth worker what a big _ through my own work as a youth worker what a big issue - through my own work as a youth worker what a big issue this i through my own work as a youth worker what a big issue this is i through my own work as a youth i worker what a big issue this is for young _ worker what a big issue this is for young people _ worker what a big issue this is for young people at _ worker what a big issue this is for young people at the _ worker what a big issue this is for young people at the moment, i worker what a big issue this is for| young people at the moment, and sadly— young people at the moment, and sadly a _ young people at the moment, and sadly a growing _ young people at the moment, and sadly a growing issue. _ young people at the moment, and sadly a growing issue. ifilth?- young people at the moment, and sadly a growing issue.— young people at the moment, and sadly a growing issue. why are you more young _ sadly a growing issue. why are you more young children _ sadly a growing issue. why are you more young children doing - sadly a growing issue. why are you more young children doing this? i more young children doing this? that's a big question, isn't it? the pressures— that's a big question, isn't it? the pressures of— that's a big question, isn't it? the pressures of lockdown, _ that's a big question, isn't it? the pressures of lockdown, isolation i that's a big question, isn't it? the i pressures of lockdown, isolation and anxiety, _ pressures of lockdown, isolation and anxiety, but— pressures of lockdown, isolation and anxiety, but this— pressures of lockdown, isolation and anxiety, but this was _ pressures of lockdown, isolation and anxiety, but this was an _ pressures of lockdown, isolation and anxiety, but this was an issue - anxiety, but this was an issue before — anxiety, but this was an issue before lockdown, _ anxiety, but this was an issue before lockdown, it— anxiety, but this was an issue before lockdown, it was - anxiety, but this was an issue i before lockdown, it was already a huge _ before lockdown, it was already a huge need — before lockdown, it was already a huge need i_ before lockdown, it was already a huge need. i don't— before lockdown, it was already a huge need. idon't think- before lockdown, it was already a huge need. i don't think probably| huge need. i don't think probably -ot huge need. i don't think probably got time — huge need. idon't think probably got time to— huge need. i don't think probably got time to go _ huge need. i don't think probably got time to go into _ huge need. idon't think probably got time to go into own- huge need. i don't think probably got time to go into own now... i huge need. i don't think probably. got time to go into own now... we have, got time to go into own now... have, please, let's cut into it, because it's so important. 1 have, please, let's cut into it, because it's so important. i think that for lots _ because it's so important. i think that for lots of _ because it's so important. i think that for lots of young _ because it's so important. i think that for lots of young people i because it's so important. i think i that for lots of young people school is really _ that for lots of young people school is really difficult, _ that for lots of young people school is really difficult, and _ that for lots of young people school is really difficult, and teachers i is really difficult, and teachers are fantastic— is really difficult, and teachers are fantastic and _ is really difficult, and teachers are fantastic and can - is really difficult, and teachers are fantastic and can do - is really difficult, and teachers are fantastic and can do an- is really difficult, and teachers i are fantastic and can do an amazing 'ob, are fantastic and can do an amazing job, but— are fantastic and can do an amazing job, but the — are fantastic and can do an amazing job, but the environment _ are fantastic and can do an amazing job, but the environment of- are fantastic and can do an amazing job, but the environment of schooll job, but the environment of school can be _ job, but the environment of school can be very— job, but the environment of school can be very challenging, _ job, but the environment of school can be very challenging, whereas i job, but the environment of school. can be very challenging, whereas for other— can be very challenging, whereas for other people — can be very challenging, whereas for other people its _ can be very challenging, whereas for other people its difficult _ other people its difficult circumstances _ other people its difficult circumstances at - other people its difficult circumstances at home, j other people its difficult i circumstances at home, but other people its difficult - circumstances at home, but what other people its difficult _ circumstances at home, but what i would _ circumstances at home, but what i would say — circumstances at home, but what i would say about _ circumstances at home, but what i would say about self— harm, - circumstances at home, but what i would say about self— harm, and i circumstances at home, but what i. would say about self—harm, and one of the _ would say about self—harm, and one of the things — would say about self—harm, and one of the things that _ would say about self—harm, and one of the things that i _ would say about self—harm, and one of the things that i think— would say about self—harm, and one of the things that i think is - would say about self—harm, and one of the things that i think is not- of the things that i think is not always— of the things that i think is not always realised _ of the things that i think is not always realised is _ of the things that i think is not always realised is that - of the things that i think is not. always realised is that self— harm of the things that i think is not- always realised is that self—harm is not a _ always realised is that self—harm is not a disorder— always realised is that self—harm is not a disorder or— always realised is that self—harm is not a disorder or an _ always realised is that self—harm is

not a disorder or an issue - always realised is that self—harm is not a disorder or an issue in- not a disorder or an issue in itself, — not a disorder or an issue in itself, its— not a disorder or an issue in itself, its a _ not a disorder or an issue in itself, it's a way— not a disorder or an issue in itself, it's a way that - not a disorder or an issue inj itself, it's a way that people not a disorder or an issue in- itself, it's a way that people are trying _ itself, it's a way that people are trying to— itself, it's a way that people are trying to cope _ itself, it's a way that people are trying to cope with _ itself, it's a way that people are trying to cope with thoughts i itself, it's a way that people are | trying to cope with thoughts and feelings— trying to cope with thoughts and feelings that _ trying to cope with thoughts and feelings thatjust_ trying to cope with thoughts and feelings thatjust feel— feelings thatjust feel unmanageable, - feelings thatjust feel unmanageable, tool feelings thatjust feel- unmanageable, too intense, feelings thatjust feel— unmanageable, too intense, too painful. — unmanageable, too intense, too painful. too— unmanageable, too intense, too painful, too difficult, _ unmanageable, too intense, too painful, too difficult, and - unmanageable, too intense, too painful, too difficult, and if- painful, too difficult, and if someone _ painful, too difficult, and if someone is _ painful, too difficult, and if someone is struggling - painful, too difficult, and if someone is struggling with self-harm, _ someone is struggling with self—harm, you _ someone is struggling with self—harm, you have - someone is struggling with self— harm, you have to - someone is struggling withi self— harm, you have to ask someone is struggling with - self— harm, you have to ask what is going _ self— harm, you have to ask what is going on— self— harm, you have to ask what is going on beneath _ self— harm, you have to ask what is going on beneath that. _ self— harm, you have to ask what is going on beneath that. self—harml self—harm, you have to ask what is| going on beneath that. self—harm is not a _ going on beneath that. self—harm is not a diagnosis _ going on beneath that. self—harm is not a diagnosis in _ going on beneath that. self—harm is not a diagnosis in itself. _ going on beneath that. self—harm is not a diagnosis in itself. tan - going on beneath that. self—harm is not a diagnosis in itself. tan l - going on beneath that. self-harm is not a diagnosis in itself.— not a diagnosis in itself. can i ask what ou not a diagnosis in itself. can i ask what you think — not a diagnosis in itself. can i ask what you think about _ not a diagnosis in itself. can i ask what you think about this - not a diagnosis in itself. can i ask what you think about this call - not a diagnosis in itself. can i ask what you think about this call for| what you think about this call for primary school teachers, and you think about how abstraction pressured primary school teachers are at the moment, that they should be given some training to spot the self to beat back signs of self—harm. self to beat back signs of self-harm.— self to beat back signs of self-harm. g , ., self-harm. my first reaction was, we ask teachers — self-harm. my first reaction was, we ask teachers to _ self-harm. my first reaction was, we ask teachers to do _ self-harm. my first reaction was, we ask teachers to do so _ self-harm. my first reaction was, we ask teachers to do so much - self-harm. my first reaction was, we ask teachers to do so much already, | ask teachers to do so much already, but i ask teachers to do so much already, but i think— ask teachers to do so much already, but i think it — ask teachers to do so much already, but i think it is _ ask teachers to do so much already, but i think it is important _ ask teachers to do so much already, but i think it is important for- ask teachers to do so much already, but i think it is important for all- but i think it is important for all of us _ but i think it is important for all of us to— but i think it is important for all of us to be _ but i think it is important for all of us to be aware, _ but i think it is important for all of us to be aware, and - but i think it is important for all of us to be aware, and to - but i think it is important for all of us to be aware, and to be . but i think it is important for all. of us to be aware, and to be able tom _ of us to be aware, and to be able tom for— of us to be aware, and to be able tom foradutts— of us to be aware, and to be able to... for adults and _ of us to be aware, and to be able to... for adults and people - of us to be aware, and to be able to... for adults and people to - of us to be aware, and to be able i to... for adults and people to have the ability— to... for adults and people to have the ability to — to... for adults and people to have the ability to just _ to... for adults and people to have the ability to just ask— to... for adults and people to have the ability to just ask questions - the ability to just ask questions and be — the ability to just ask questions and be approachable _ the ability to just ask questions and be approachable for- the ability to just ask questions and be approachable for young| the ability to just ask questions - and be approachable for young people in a way— and be approachable for young people in a way that— and be approachable for young people in a way that they _ and be approachable for young people in a way that they feel—

and be approachable for young people in a way that they feel that _ and be approachable for young people in a way that they feel that they- in a way that they feel that they can come — in a way that they feel that they can come to _ in a way that they feel that they can come to us _ in a way that they feel that they can come to us when _ in a way that they feel that they can come to us when they- in a way that they feel that they can come to us when they need| in a way that they feel that they- can come to us when they need help. yes, can come to us when they need help. yes. teachers. — can come to us when they need help. yes, teachers, but _ can come to us when they need help. yes, teachers, but it's— can come to us when they need help. yes, teachers, but it's something - yes, teachers, but it's something that we _ yes, teachers, but it's something that we att— yes, teachers, but it's something that we all need _ yes, teachers, but it's something that we all need to _ yes, teachers, but it's something that we all need to be _ yes, teachers, but it's something that we all need to be more - yes, teachers, but it's somethingi that we all need to be more aware of. , ., . ., that we all need to be more aware of. i. . ., _, ., of. damn, you wanted to come in on that point? — of. damn, you wanted to come in on that point? yes. _ of. damn, you wanted to come in on that point? yes, someone _ of. damn, you wanted to come in on that point? yes, someone we - of. damn, you wanted to come in on that point? yes, someone we spoke| of. damn, you wanted to come in on i that point? yes, someone we spoke to in as art that point? yes, someone we spoke to in as part of — that point? yes, someone we spoke to in as part of the _ that point? yes, someone we spoke to in as part of the documentary - that point? yes, someone we spoke to in as part of the documentary is - in as part of the documentary is kate rufus, and she went into the examples of school she went into in somerset, and she goes in and helps to safeguard leads in secondary schools, but she is already getting calls from primary school teachers who are desperate for help because there is such a dearth of information for primary school teachers. certainly in her case, premier school teachers are already asking for help, i don't think that the gps and amd doctors are suggesting that every single primary school teacher, you know, one or two in each school could potentially be referred to. kate rufus is already getting questions from primary school teachers asking for help, so that need for the training, she

would say, is already there. i would say, is already there. i wonder if primary school teachers in your school had had the training when you are injuring yourself, when you are hurting yourself, might that have made a difference for you? might you have been able to get help earlier? it’s might you have been able to get help earlier? �* . . . , might you have been able to get help earlier? �* , . . , , . earlier? it's a really difficult question. — earlier? it's a really difficult question, because - earlier? it's a really difficult| question, because hindsight earlier? it's a really difficult i question, because hindsight is earlier? it's a really difficult - question, because hindsight is a wonderfut— question, because hindsight is a wonderful thing, question, because hindsight is a wonderfulthing, isn't it, really? i think— wonderfulthing, isn't it, really? i thinkthe— wonderfulthing, isn't it, really? i think the training for primary school— think the training for primary school teachers is absolutely essential, because evenjust to teach _ essential, because evenjust to teach young people emotional intelligence and how to deal with the feelings, rather than feeling the feelings, rather than feeling the need — the feelings, rather than feeling the need to go to such lengths as i did, and _ the need to go to such lengths as i did, and so— the need to go to such lengths as i did, and so many other young people do. . ~' , ., did, and so many other young people do. . ,, i. did, and so many other young people do. . ,, . . did, and so many other young people do. . . . ., do. thank you so much, all of you, for talking — do. thank you so much, all of you, for talking to _ do. thank you so much, all of you, for talking to us _ do. thank you so much, all of you, for talking to us today. _ do. thank you so much, all of you, for talking to us today. you - do. thank you so much, all of you, for talking to us today. you can - for talking to us today. you can hear the programme on radio four tonight. and you can find out about advice and support at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

why are some health workers not taking up the covid vaccination? one study which has yet to be formally published, suggests uptake was highest — at 73% — in admin and managerial roles, but doctors had the lowest rate of vaccination, at only 57%. let's talk to kamlesh khunti, a professor of diabetes and vascular medicine at leicester university who did this research — he's a member of both the government's official sage scientific advisory group and the separate independent sage. good morning to you. tell us more about what you found, because it was

about what you found, because it was a big study involving 20,000 staff across england.— across england. that's right. at university _ across england. that's right. at university hospital— across england. that's right. at university hospital of _ across england. that's right. at| university hospital of leicester, across england. that's right. at - university hospital of leicester, we had three hospitals, and we found that the good news was that an additional 10% was vaccinated in the last few weeks, but over 70% were white participants, about 60% south asians, and worryingly only 37% of black minority ethnic backgrounds came for the vaccine. you need to take this in context, it is one trust, but we have been hearing about this coming through social media, care home staff from minorities have not been taking this up. at our trust, about 50% of people were aged less than 40, so a lot of young people who work in our

trust, and we know that young people do have more reluctance to take up vaccine for various reasons. the reason for young people, a lot of people feel they have a low perception of risk. we also find people who are positive for antibodies, so they had previously had it, were less likely to take the vaccine, and that's also the case in young doctors. there may be cause for reassurance that if you are positive to the antibody you are less likely to catch it, but we know that's not true, because antibodies last about six months, from studies we have seen. the worrying aspect is that you miss out there, the blatant fake news, especially regarding fatality in young women, that it may affect fertility, and this has been something that we have seen a social media, it's a cause for concern.

again, if you look at the figures turning up at the royal college of gynaecologists, royal college of midwives, all of these are saying that there is no mechanism by which one could affect fertility, or changing the dna, at all. these are the worrying aspect that we have found through various mechanisms, these are anecdotal, but our next phaseis these are anecdotal, but our next phase is to look at why people are not taking this up in our trust, and work on it. i not taking this up in our trust, and work on it— work on it. i wonder, could these disparities _ work on it. i wonder, could these disparities in _ work on it. i wonder, could these disparities in the _ work on it. i wonder, could these disparities in the vaccine - work on it. i wonder, could these disparities in the vaccine uptake l disparities in the vaccine uptake actually effect... could it undermine the vaccine relax? it’s undermine the vaccine relax? it's definitely a _ undermine the vaccine relax? it�*s definitely a concern. i'm not concerned that it's going to undermine the longer term vaccine roll—out, and considers genuine concerns people have, wejust need to work with these people, give them

the facts, give them the information. it's about the message that we are giving out, and engaging with these communities, and, again, within my own health care setting, we have had people who are reluctant, ethnic minority staff are relaxing, and we have spent time talking to them about the misinformation. if we engage them through trusted sources through peer groups who can give them the right information they are more likely to take it up. it's really the time and engagement. 50. take it up. it's really the time and engagement-— take it up. it's really the time and engagement. so, what sort of work are ou engagement. so, what sort of work are you going _ engagement. so, what sort of work are you going to — engagement. so, what sort of work are you going to have _ engagement. so, what sort of work are you going to have to _ engagement. so, what sort of work are you going to have to do - engagement. so, what sort of work are you going to have to do to - engagement. so, what sort of work| are you going to have to do to make sure you boost the uptake amongst black members of staff and among south asian members of staff? melt. south asian members of staff? well, these are early _ south asian members of staff? well, these are early findings. _ south asian members of staff? well, these are early findings. we - south asian members of staff? in these are early findings. we are going with the survey to find out why people are reluctant to take this up. once we have found the survey, we will know one of the key reasons, but we already know some of them, as i said, through social

media. we need to engage them with peers, people who acceptable to them, we also want young ethnic minority females to engage with people who are reluctant to take it, because there doesn't seem to be any reason why they should be relaxing. the vaccine roll—out programme has been a tremendous success. 15 million vaccinated. it'sjust been a tremendous success. 15 million vaccinated. it's just a little bit more work that we need to do to regain the trust.— do to regain the trust. thank you for talking _ do to regain the trust. thank you for talking to _ do to regain the trust. thank you for talking to us _ do to regain the trust. thank you for talking to us today. _ do to regain the trust. thank you for talking to us today. thank - do to regain the trust. thank you i for talking to us today. thank you, professor. behind the study, big studies, that shows 20,000 health care workers in england, and the different rates of vaccine uptake. interesting that only 57% of doctors have taken up the offer of a vaccine so far. joanna gosling will be in the next few minutes to bring you the next few minutes to bring you the latest news from the uk and around the world on the hour. in the

meantime, you are watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. although it's a much milder week this week compared to last week, doesn't mean that it's necessarily dry, because this week we are also looking at periods of rain, some showers, and it's going to be windy. in fact, we've got most of that happening today, so, feeling mild, mild for the time of year. sunshine and showers, some of those showers heavy and thundery, and we have also got this band of rain continuing to push down into east anglia and the south—east, and here it will be slow to clear, but behind it we are into sunshine and showers, and, don't forget, some of those heavy and thundery. out towards the west, fairly gusty winds, particularly the north—west, where we could have gusts of 65—70 miles an hour, and temperatures 8 to about 13 degrees, so, above average for this stage in february. now, as we head through the evening and overnight, eventually we see the end of that rain moves away. the showers continue to push into the north sea, and we have got a drier slot, before the next band of rain sweeps in from the west. still windy conditions,

and temperatures just down a touch compared to last night. perhaps even low enough, locally, in north—east scotland, for a touch of frost. as we go through the course of tomorrow, you can see how our fronts move from the west towards the east, where, if we follow this one, we have got this curl coming in back in across the channel islands and also southern england. the isobars tell you that it is going to be another windy day, especially with exposure in the west. so, there goes the rain, heading over towards the north sea. here's the curl bringing it back into the channel islands, southern england, south wales getting in towards the midlands. out towards the west, there will be showers, but there will be a lot of dry weather, as well, and also some sunshine, with highs 7 to about 12 degrees. now, as we head on into thursday, we still have rain moving from the west towards the east, and look how it curls back across scotland. there will be some snow in the hills in scotland above about 300, 400 metres, and our temperature range 7 to 11 degrees, so, down just a touch compared to tuesday and wednesday.

as for the outlook, well, into friday, saturday and sunday, we are not done with the rain just yet. there is further rain in the forecast for some of us, but one thing of note is the temperatures. the temperatures are climbing. so, in the north, by the time we get to sunday, we are looking at 11 or 12, but somewhere in the south, particularly the south—east, could get as high as 17, and it looks like the mild weather will continue into next week.

this is bbc news. i metjoanna gosling. i'm joanna gosling. the headlines at 11am. the latest data from the office for national statistics confirm covid deaths have been falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week to five february the week of the 5th of february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown and whether a phased return to school can start next week. a dutch court orders an immediate end to a night—time coronavirus curfew, saying it has no legal basis. former military personnel dismissed from the forces because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals that were taken from them. and prince harry and

meghan are to give a tv interview to oprah winfrey. good morning. the number of deaths from covid—i9 are falling in england and wales, according to the latest figures from the office for national statistics. the number of people dying from the virus remains high. 43% of all deaths registered in the week to february 5th mentioned covid—i9 on the death certificate — the third highest proportion recorded during the pandemic. the latest data from the ons shows a total of 7,320 deaths registered in england and wales in the week ending february 5th included covid—i9 on the death certificate. that figure is down 13%

from the previous week. the data also shows that 2,175 care home residents died with coronavirus mentioned on their death certificate in the week ending february 5th in england and wales. this is a 13% fall from the previous week— the first time the figure has dropped this year. in total, more than 19,000 deaths were registered in the uk for any reason. that is slightly down from the previous week, but it is still 38% above the usual number of deaths registered during that week of the year. in scotland, nicola sturgeon is to announce later today whether more pupils will start to return to scotland's classrooms from next week. this could include children aged four to seven at primary schools, and some secondary pupils for coursework. and in england, the prime minister has suggested rapid 30 minute coronavirus tests could be used to help open up the struggling entertainment industry, and could allow theatre and nightclubs to reopen. our head of statistics robert cuffe joins us now. what does this data tell us about deaths overall?

the cases are falling but the deaths still remain high. what can you glean from these statistics? this is the last bit of— glean from these statistics? this is the last bit of the _ glean from these statistics? this is the last bit of the puzzle, - glean from these statistics? this is the last bit of the puzzle, really. i the last bit of the puzzle, really. the numbers have been falling for a long time prettily steady. but the ons look at their statistics in a different way and they say the deaths are also falling. they are moving down. now those falls you spoke about, they are pretty marginal week on week but we should expect better news to come when we talk about this next week in a week after and the reason is because it takes awhile to register a death. so these are deaths from the week up until the 5th of february. the numbers are now down to 650 a day

down from a thousand so quite a bit. hopefully, we will hear these numbers coming down and this is before the vaccination numbers start to bite on the daily deaths too. truth? to bite on the daily deaths too. why are numbers _ to bite on the daily deaths too. why are numbers in _ to bite on the daily deaths too. why are numbers in homes still so high? the big worry and the reason why we are paying such attention to care home figures is because it was a very different story in the first wave. in the first wave, it had a little while longer for care homes to reach a peak and thankfully, that hasn't happened this time around. so deaths across england and wales were stabilising but care homes were rising a little bit and there were worries it would go the same way as in the first wave but they are moving down. that proportion of

coronavirus deaths that care homes are bearing, it nowhere near what it was. it's a better news story than the first wave, and hopefully, those numbers will continue to move down. the ons has also been looking how many of us have antibodies. what are they saying on that front?— they saying on that front? there's a bi shift they saying on that front? there's a big shift on — they saying on that front? there's a big shift on how _ they saying on that front? there's a big shift on how many _ they saying on that front? there's a big shift on how many people - they saying on that front? there's a big shift on how many people have | big shift on how many people have antibodies, particularly in the over 805 in england. you can get antibodies either through infection or vaccination which could ward off any future infections. so we are seeing antibody levels are rising gradually across the country as more people have been infected, and across the fortnight in most age groups they've gone up by 4—5%. london has gone up from 21% of people with antibodies to 25%.

there's been a huge rise, 25% up to 40%. that's a big percentage of the rise instead of a five point rise in a week and that is showing the vaccination programme. people been vaccinated in january are starting to show antibodies now which will hopefully ward off infection, sickness and death and we will see that really start to bite in the daily numbers pretty soon. thank ou, daily numbers pretty soon. thank you. robert- _ as we've heard, scotland's first minister is due to set out her plans for easing covid restrictions this afternoon. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon explained this morning, what we're expecting to hear from nicola studgeon later. the first minister has always taken a cautious approach to any easing of the lockdowns here in scotland. as you said, she has said she is very, very keen to get children back to school

if at all possible. so what we will be looking for today is to see whether she does give a big thumbs up to getting those younger pupils, those in nursery school, the first three years of primary school and some senior secondary school pupils who are having to do practical work for their qualifications, whether to get the green light to return next week. interesting, though, that the expert panels here in scotland have said that if the senior school pupils do return, that small group of senior school pupils to return next week, physical distancing will have to be in place both on the buses to school and in the classrooms themselves. but that does, of course, leave the vast majority of pupils still learning at home so a lot of parents will be wanting to see if she says anything about that. if she does, i think it will be an indicative timetable and most pupils, i think it's unlikely they will be back for several more weeks. the reason why? the numbers are coming down here in scotland but experts are concerned that that decline

in the number of covid—i9 cases may have stalled a little bitjust now. that was lorna gordon reporting and viewing is in the uk can see coverage of that statement from nicola sturgeon after 2pm this afternoon on the bbc news channel. with me now is our political correspondent damian grammaticas. can you give us the latest view from their? ~ . . . can you give us the latest view from their? . ,, ,. ,, ., their? what is being discussed at their? what is being discussed at the minute. _ their? what is being discussed at the minute, interestingly, - their? what is being discussed at the minute, interestingly, is- their? what is being discussed at the minute, interestingly, is nowj the minute, interestingly, is now that we— the minute, interestingly, is now that we have a roll—out of the vaccine — that we have a roll—out of the vaccine programme progressing as it has done, _ vaccine programme progressing as it has done, that first target met and moving _ has done, that first target met and moving onto the next groups, the question— moving onto the next groups, the question of what this is going to start— question of what this is going to start meaning for easing up for opening — start meaning for easing up for opening things in the future. now, of course, — opening things in the future. now, of course, we have the road map the government— of course, we have the road map the government will set out in a weak's time. _ government will set out in a weak's time. so _ government will set out in a weak's time, so that will layout some dates. — time, so that will layout some dates, indicative dates, nothing set

in stone _ dates, indicative dates, nothing set in stone. but questions of the roll-out — in stone. but questions of the roll-out of— in stone. but questions of the roll—out of the vaccination programme, what's that going to mean for businesses, particularly, i mean. _ for businesses, particularly, i mean. the _ for businesses, particularly, i mean, the prime ministerwas for businesses, particularly, i mean, the prime minister was asked yesterday. _ mean, the prime minister was asked yesterday, businesses have found it difficult _ yesterday, businesses have found it difficult to _ yesterday, businesses have found it difficult to open in the past year, so things— difficult to open in the past year, so things like nightclubs, cinemas, concert— so things like nightclubs, cinemas, concert venues, places where you have _ concert venues, places where you have a _ concert venues, places where you have a lot — concert venues, places where you have a lot of people, and hear what he appears — have a lot of people, and hear what he appears to mention and appears that the _ he appears to mention and appears that the government is looking at, the possibility of having a vaccine programme plus rapid testing. so, test that— programme plus rapid testing. so, test that would deliver results in 15-30 _ test that would deliver results in 15—30 minutes, as are used to readying — 15—30 minutes, as are used to readying business places, and schools— readying business places, and schools are preparing to use them to. schools are preparing to use them to those — schools are preparing to use them to. those sorts of things being looked — to. those sorts of things being looked at _ to. those sorts of things being looked at as a way to allow people and those — looked at as a way to allow people and those venues to open to people, somewhere — and those venues to open to people, somewhere along the line. this is what _ somewhere along the line. this is what the — somewhere along the line. this is what the vaccine minister had to say today~ _

what the vaccine minister had to say toda . . . what the vaccine minister had to say toda . , , , . today. testing is getting better and better with lots _ today. testing is getting better and better with lots of _ today. testing is getting better and better with lots of technologies - better with lots of technologies coming forward and being looked at by our scientific advisers. we've now got 800,000 tests a day in pcr tests, standing start, last year. we did 2000 yesterday. we got a multiple of that in the lateral flow test, so many millions more in lateralflow test, so many millions more in lateral flow test so it's a combination of making sure we vaccinate and work with industry to deliver those tests, rapid testing to be able to reopen some of those venues. , ., ., _, , ., venues. the question of course was about vaccine _ venues. the question of course was about vaccine programme _ venues. the question of course was about vaccine programme and - venues. the question of course was about vaccine programme and what| about vaccine programme and what will the government's approach be to vaccine passports. people showing records of their vaccinations and he is very clear on that. the government says they will not be having a sister —— system that

within the uk. the government is looking at a way of being able provide a different system, somehow showing that you have been vaccinated here when you cross a border elsewhere. this is what he said. at the moment, you have your health data which is held by the national immunisation and vaccination system which your gp has access to and of course, if you are on an nhs app you can look at your own health records. we want to make that certificate accessible to people if they need it for international travel if those countries require it. we are not planning a domestic passport for our own domestic use. of course, all of these things are for several months down the line. what we face now, what the government faces now as decisions about unlocking and opening up in

the immediate future and then, what they've been saying is they want to be data driven, not date driven, that they would be following the result that they see coming back from the vaccine roll—out. at the minute, it's a little too early to say and the indications look like thatis say and the indications look like that is having an impact on transmission, on death rates, on hospitalisations but they need more of that communication so that feed into the decision next monday. the discussion is around what to relax, for example, distancing rules. will they be able to relax those quickly? that's something that is really important to businesses, any venues that rely on the numbers of people they can get through their doors. that's another open question. thank you very much, damien. a dutch court has ordered an immediate end to a night—time

curfew imposed to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. the curfew, the first in the netherlands since world war two, sparked several days of riots by anti—lockdown protesters when it was initially introduced on january the 23rd. the court ruling now says it lacks any legal basis. the curfew was set to be lifted on march the 3rd. our correspondent there, anna holligan, joins me now. this is really interesting because, we'll come to whether it has any wider implications but tell us about this ruling and the background. it tells you how unexpected it is when even the great who brought this, virus trade, are surprised by the success. the court ruled that the government had implemented a curfew based on a role that said they were able to do this without consulting parliament but they said it did not constitute an emergency, so for

example, damn break—in, a dyke breaking, very dutch example. but the curfew was dismissed in advance and therefore there was no legal basis so it said it did not need the necessary legal criteria and therefore must be scrapped with immediate effect. 50. therefore must be scrapped with immediate effect.— therefore must be scrapped with immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews — immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews of _ immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews of the _ immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews of the tables _ immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews of the tables and - immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews of the tables and at - take curfews of the tables and at the armoury against coronavirus? this is very specific to the netherlands. it was a district court hearing the hake and it's about how the dutch government went about introducing this 9pm curfew. the government can still appeal against it, of course. thejustice minister is saying he's looking at that before deciding what to do. this has been one of the most controversial measures in the fight against coronavirus, here in the netherlands. riots, protests and there's been quite a bit of

celebration from opposition parties. the leader of the populous app freedom party, has said "good news, end of 30. i've always said it was disproportionate. someone else has tweeted "long live the rule of law." this is not about the threat of coronavirus, the emergency situation brought on by it and the pressure in the hospitals. this is purely a legal ruling based on the way that the dutch government introduced this law by invoking its and the hake has ruled, the district court at the hague has ruled there was no legal basis in this. —— the hague. {guild basis in this. -- the hague. could there be any _ basis in this. -- the hague. could there be any wider— basis in this. -- the hague. could there be any wider impatience? i basis in this. -- the hague. could i there be any wider impatience? you know, it's there be any wider impatience? you know. it's very _ there be any wider impatience? gm, know, it's very specific to the situation here but that's not to say

that groups like virus trade, which is a very virus— sceptic group here in the netherlands. i actually interviewed the leader a few weeks ago and it's not to say that what they've achieved here, against expectation, isn't an example that anti—lockdown groups might not seize upon and try another countries. it could very well be that this is used as a legal precedent elsewhere. thank you, anna. the headlines on bbc news. the latest data from the office for national statistics confirm covid deaths have been falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week to 5th february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown and whether a phased return to school can start next week. a dutch court orders an immediate end to a night—time coronavirus

curfew, saying it has no legal basis. prince harry and meghan are to give their first interview since stepping back from royal duties. they'll speak to oprah winfrey in what has been described as a wide—ranging and intimate interview due to be aired by us broadcaster cbs next month. the interview follows the news that the couple are expecting their second child. let's speak to the royal correspondent for hello magazine, emily nash. welcome. so, the interview's already in the can, is it? i welcome. so, the interview's already in the can. is it?— in the can, is it? i think it's happening _ in the can, is it? i think it's happening this _ in the can, is it? i think it's happening this week. - in the can, is it? i think it's happening this week. ok. i in the can, is it? i think it's i happening this week. ok. so, wide-ranging _ happening this week. ok. so, wide-ranging and _ happening this week. ok. so, wide-ranging and intimate. i happening this week. ok. so, | wide-ranging and intimate. 90 wide—ranging and intimate. 90 minutes. it gives us a flavour of what's likely to come. it’s minutes. it gives us a flavour of what's likely to come. it's going to be box office _ what's likely to come. it's going to be box office stuff _ what's likely to come. it's going to be box office stuff i _ what's likely to come. it's going to be box office stuff i would - what's likely to come. it's going to be box office stuff i would imagine that anyone interested in the royal family, but the huge globalfan

base. harry and megan have had to stay fairly quiet over the last year because of the pandemic and this is their first because of the pandemic and this is theirfirst opportunity because of the pandemic and this is their first opportunity to really talk about what's happened, their decision to lead the leave the royal family and it's going to be the anniversary of their last outing in the royal family. anniversary of their last outing in the royalfamily. dire anniversary of their last outing in the royalfamily.— the royal family. are there any constraints _ the royal family. are there any constraints on _ the royal family. are there any constraints on what _ the royal family. are there any constraints on what they - the royal family. are there any constraints on what they can i the royal family. are there any i constraints on what they can say? there was the behind doors discussions around their future role, what their agreements were, we know they don't take money from the public purse any more but have they been beholden to secrecy on any issues around the terms of the agreement? it’s issues around the terms of the agreement?— issues around the terms of the aureement? �* , , ., , issues around the terms of the aureement? h , . , . ., agreement? it's been made very clear b --eole agreement? it's been made very clear by people within _ agreement? it's been made very clear by people within the _ agreement? it's been made very clear by people within the palace _ agreement? it's been made very clear by people within the palace that - agreement? it's been made very clear by people within the palace that it - by people within the palace that it is down to them to take on these opportunities. they are no longer working memos of the royalfamily. there's nothing to stop them going

out and talking about things, but they do still have a lot of respect for the family, the queen, harry remains particularly close to his grandmother. they not going to go out there and be critical unnecessarily. we can expect to hear criticisms on sections of the media. that's not going to be anything new for those who followed this story but they'll be talking about the recent experiences and, more importantly, where they go from here. it's a good opportunity for them to set out their stall. they have a new charity, new baby on the way and they are pretty optimistic and this is a new start, in many ways. and this is a new start, in many wa s. y and this is a new start, in many wa s. , . ., . . ways. do they have to tread a careful line _ ways. do they have to tread a careful line between - ways. do they have to tread a careful line between their- ways. do they have to tread a i careful line between their desire ways. do they have to tread a - careful line between their desire to protect their privacy and also going out there and doing things that will attract an enormous audience? obviously, there was a big privacy judgment last week, and in many

ways, perhaps they were waiting for that to be resolved before they went forward with this next step. i understand it's been in the planning for some time. so, understand it's been in the planning forsome time. so, yes, understand it's been in the planning for some time. so, yes, they do have to be careful but it's very much about them having control. they are doing this with oprah winfrey, she is a neighbour and friend, she was at their wedding and they must have at their wedding and they must have a great deal of trust that they can talk to her and open up in the way that they want to, rather than being subjected, perhaps, to a news reporter style interview.- subjected, perhaps, to a news reporter style interview. well, it's coin: reporter style interview. well, it's auoin to reporter style interview. well, it's going to be _ reporter style interview. well, it's going to be recorded _ reporter style interview. well, it's going to be recorded later - reporter style interview. well, it's going to be recorded later this - reporter style interview. well, it's i going to be recorded later this week and obviously will get sight of it whenever it is released. emily nash, thank you very much. british servicemen and women who were stripped of their medals because of their sexuality have been told they can apply to get them back. the move comes after the ban on lesbians and gay men in the military was lifted in 2000. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. joe 0usalice loved his life at sea. he served in the royal navy

for nearly 18 years as a radio operator. in 1982, he was part of the task force which sailed to the south atlantic in the falklands war, and he did tours of duty in other trouble spots. joe's career ended because of his sexuality — and, as part of his dismissal, his long—service and good—conduct medal was cut from his uniform. i wouldn't have minded, had i done something wrong, but the fact was i'd done nothing wrong. the ministry of defence made a trumped—up charge against me and kicked me out purely because of my sexuality. this war veteran mounted a personal battle to get his medal back. he had to resort to legal action against the ministry of defence. and in 2019, they settled his claim. joe received his medal — and an apology. they apologised to me, but that's not enough. i did get my medal back and i was elated over that. but nevertheless, there are thousands of other people out there who have been treated not too

dissimilar to myself. now, more than 20 years after the ban on lgbt people serving in the armed forces was lifted, the ministry of defence has announced that other former service personnel dismissed because of their sexuality can finally apply to have their lost medals restored. it's taken a while to get here, and i acknowledge that. but, you know, today is a good day — many people thought we would never get here, and giving individuals the chance to apply and have their medals reinstated is a really important step for them. while welcoming this, joe regrets that some who lost out have died without the honours owed to them. june kelly, bbc news. more than 15 million people in the uk have already received a first dose of the covid vaccine. they include people aged 70 and over, nhs employees and care staff and their residents, and people who are considered extremely clinically vulnerable.

from this week, those aged 65—69 — that's around three million people — are next to receive theirjabs. they'll be followed by more than seven million people aged under 65, with underlying health conditions. after that it will be the 60 to 64—year—olds, accounting for nearly two million people. and then it will be the turn of more than five million of those in their 505. that's a total new target of 17.2 million people, in the uk, by the end of april. jayne mccubbin takes a look at how the roll—out is going so far. day by day, minute by minute, thousands have become millions. and with every individualjab, we inch ever closer to some kind of a national recovery. now it's the turn of the 65—to—69—year—olds. oh, brilliant. i got contacted by my own surgery. i booked the time

slot straight away. that got confirmed straight away. it was literally all done in minutes. john in boston is 67. you know, really, really on the ball. absolutely delighted. it's the way out of all this. diane and malcolm in exeter are 69. very good indeed, actually, yeah. i hate jabs anyway, but this one went very well. you just look the other way. but we were really looking forward to it and we've - been waiting every day to get it, really. - the second phase of the vaccination programme is also for the clinically vulnerable, like kerry thompson. hugely important because it's been a long time since i've left my house. so i haven't actually left my home since the beginning of march last year. i managed to get out probably five times in the summer period, but that was only very local — five minutes down the road — so i've pretty much been cooped up in my own home. everyone is really grateful and excited to have been

able to come through, and actually relieved that they've been able to get their vaccination at this time. we've vaccinated so many people from cohorts one to four and we're still continuing to vaccinate those — so it would be really great if you haven't had your vaccination yet to go on the nhs website and book online. some over—805 are still playing catch—up. in plymouth, duncan neale receives his vaccine in the football ground where he used to play midfield. can't understand anybody really not wanting it because you'd be saving other people's lives as well as your own, and putting less work on the nhs. they work 24/7 now around the clock to get this country back on its feet, so get the jab — that's my advice. over in leeds' elland road stadium, the vaccination centre was built over in leeds' elland road stadium, the vaccination centre was built in weeks to vaccinate 6,000 people a week, but supplies here are being restricted. they've been a victim, they believe, of their own success.

we were first to start our vaccination programme, and we've been really successful in vaccinating loads of people. and the whole country needs to come up at the same level. nobody must be left behind. so i suspect the reason that we're not receiving so many vaccines this week and next week is to enable other parts of the country to catch us up. but so many hope this moment will help them catch up on a life they once had — like amanda, due to get herjab today. ijust kept ringing my gp and i still got nowhere. and this morning i phoned about 10.15 and they said that i could go to the local town hall and have it done. so i'm glad i'm having it done because i miss my family, i miss my friends, and i'm fed up of staying indoors because i've been shielding for a very long time.

sir simon stevens, the head of the nhs, said this was the second sprint in the vaccination programme — the race to protect the most vulnerable. but he said it will be rolled out twice as fast as the first phase. the aim — 30 million jabs delivered by the end of april. the marathon still lies ahead. news of some extreme bad weather in the us. a state of emergency been declared in texas, after winter storms left millions of people without power. temperatures have dropped to as low as minus 22 celsius in some parts of the state, the coldest experienced for more than 30 years. gail maclellan reports. not the sort of weather you usually associate with texas. arctic air has plunged south, bringing freezing temperatures, snow and ice storms to areas unaccustomed to such weather.

pipes have frozen, several million people are without power, and drivers not used to wintry conditions struggle to stay on the roads. water was gone at 8.30, power was off, we're all obviously one of millions in the same boat as everyone in houston — we're out in katy. it's... it's cold. some are even more at risk — the homeless putting their faith in tents as the bone—chilling weather continues. winter storm warnings have been posted across the southern plains and as far south as the gulf coast. we're looking at the temperature finally getting back above 0 celsius here in topeka on friday of this week, and by then we will have gone 14 straight days — two full weeks — with the temperature below freezing. and, again, it's been almost 40 years since that's happened. half of all americans are now under some sort of winter weather warning as the polar plunge mixes freezing temperatures with icy rain. gail maclellan, bbc news.

now it's time for a look at the weather with carol temperatures are looking up. where going to continue with the mould weather for the rest of this week and, certainly, into the weekend. today, low pressure is dominating our weather. very windy in the west and we've got rain moving very slowly. some shells could be heavy and thundery. temperatures 8—13 c. the rain clears, showers move into the north sea and then there is a lull behind them with a slot of dry weather. then abandon rain comes in, some of which will be heavy and it's pretty windy. temperatures, lover in the night. this band of rain as we head into tomorrow will make it to the east but look at this curl into

the east but look at this curl into the south, bringing more rain into southern areas into the channel islands and moving northwards. still, pretty windy in the north—west. hello, this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines: the latest data from the office for national statistics confirm covid deaths have been falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week to 5th february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown

and whether a phased return to school can start next week. a dutch court orders an immediate end to a night—time coronavirus curfew, saying it has no legal basis former military personnel dismissed from the forces because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals that were taken from them. and prince harry and meghan are going to give a tv interview to oprah winfrey. sport now and for a full round up, let's head over to the bbc sport centre. good morning. the bbc sport centre. joe root says his england team were given an education as india squared the test series in chennai. they won by a massive 317 runs with more than a day to spare. england were never going to chase down the 482 for victory, dan lawrence was stumped of ravichandran ashwin's first delivery, the first of the seven wickets required by india. ashwin was man of the match with eight wickets in all and a century. root put up some resistance but he went for 33,

every batsman falling to spin. moeen ali top scored with 43 but was the last man out, another great stumping from rishabh pant. the series now stands at one all and they have a break before a day—night third test in ahmedabad next week let's be honest, we've been outplayed in all departments. it's important we learn, it's a bit of an education, we look at how they've gone about things on a surface that has spun a huge amount, probably bounced more than we had anticipated as well. but take that forward, take it as a learning and make sure that we're better for it next time we do experience conditions that are similar. more changes from england for that third test. moeen ali has decided to head home despite taking eight wickets in the match. johnny bairstow and james anderson and mark wood come back into the reckoning as do fit—again

zak crawley and jofra archer. france's entire six nations squad are islolating after a member of staff tested positive for covid—19. they lead the way in the championship with two wins out of two and organisers will be thankful that there is a rest weekend coming up. france's next match is on february 28th at home to scotland. the squad will undergo an intensive testing programme over the next week. gordon reid and alfie hewett have retained their wheelchair doubles title at the australian open. that's the pair's tenth grand slam victory. serena williams is still on for a 24th grand slam singles title, she beat the world number two simona halep to reach the semi—finals in melbourne. it was tighter than the 6—3, 6—3 scoreline suggests but williams hit some ferocious forehands on her way to victory — she said it was the best match she'd played so far. and standing between her and the final is naomi osaka,

who tookjust over an hour to make it through, dropping only four games to beat taiwan's hsieh su—wei. there was an upset in the men's draw. the 18th seed grigor dimitrov was struggling with back spasms and could barely serve after taking the first set. that saw the russian qualifier aslan karatsev, ranked 114th in the world, reel off the next three sets to go through. the 27—year—old is the first man in the open era to qualify for the semis on his grand slam debut. he'll face the winner of the match on court right now — the champion and world number one novak djokovic lost the first set against alexander zverev on a tie—break. djokovic has been struggling with an abdominal injury, but he's just won the second set to level.

the champions league returns this evening, the first leg of liverpool's last 16 tie against leipzig is actually in budapest because of covid travel restrictions in germany. liverpool's premier league title defence has faltered of late with three defeats in a row. i know the manager tries to protect us as much as possible in the press, but we know it is down to is to change the situation we are in. we take full responsibility for results and performances. so, yeah, it is down to us to go out there, keep working hard, keep fighting to try and change this tough period that we've been going through over the past few weeks. we've been going through over the past few weeks-— we've been going through over the past few weeks. commentary on that match on radio _ past few weeks. commentary on that match on radio five _ past few weeks. commentary on that match on radio five live _ past few weeks. commentary on that match on radio five live at _ past few weeks. commentary on that match on radio five live at hpm. - the draw has just been made for the last 16 in the women's champions league. super league champions chelsea will face atletico madrid and manchester city will play fiorentina. the two legged ties will takle place

in the first two weeks of march former england netball captain ama agbeze and five time world karate champion geoff thompson have been appointed to the birmingham 2022 commonwealth games board. it follows critcism that there was a lack of diversity in the organising committee. agbeze, who won commonwelth gold in 2018 and is a qualified lawyer has held a number of roles as an ambassador, trustee and board member to various charitable organisations, that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. let's get more on the vaccine rollout. radio 2 dj jo whiley says she has been offered a vaccine before her sister frances who has a learning disability and diabetes and lives in residential care. data from public health england showed that six out of ten people who died from coronavirus up to november last year had a disability — that's around 30,000 out of 50,000. this is howjo whiley has explained her concerns

we've done everything. myself and my parents and the home have done everything we can to try and facilitate the vaccine coming into the people who need it the most. she is in tier 6, but she also has diabetes, quite bad diabetes, which, my understanding, puts her in tier 4, because she has an underlying health condition, so, i would have thought that she should have been vaccinated, she should have received it, but that hasn't happened. i suppose what i'm doing is just wanting to speak up to people like frances, like the people that live in her care home, who have been overlooked, because this happens so often — people with learning difficulties are neglected. they haven't got a voice, they haven't got anybody there, just badgering everybody saying, what about me? you know, help me out here. and, oh, my god, ican't tell you how frustrating it is and how horrendous it is. the stuff of nightmares at the moment. we'rejoined now by ciara lawrence from the learning disability charity, mencap. welcome, thank you very much for

joining us. this is something that has been bubbling underfor a while, isn't it? and nowjo wiley is speaking up about her situation with her sister. speaking up about her situation with hersister. i'm speaking up about her situation with her sister. i'm sure you will be glad to see it has gone to the top of the news agenda. what are your thoughts on what has happened to your? it thoughts on what has happened to our? . . , thoughts on what has happened to our? , . , , thoughts on what has happened to our? , ., , , thoughts on what has happened to our? , . , , your? it is really shocking, as a erson your? it is really shocking, as a person who _ your? it is really shocking, as a person who has _ your? it is really shocking, as a person who has a _ your? it is really shocking, as a person who has a learning - person who has a learning difficulty, i know how important this is. we need to be prioritised now. we need priority now. i have tried to get the vaccine. i have not been able to. imo at the bottom of the heap with everybody else. ijust have a learning disability and we need more support. we are more at risk of catching it, people are dying needlessly because theyjust do not understand learning disabilities, so what we need is to be vaccinated now, we need priority now because we are more at risk of

dying from covid and women are four times more likely to die of covid and that is personally shocking. to lay out the statistics, younger people with learning disabilities aged 18 to 34 are 30 times more likely to die of covid than others of the same age and people with learning disabilities of any age are up learning disabilities of any age are up to six times more likely to die from covid—19 then the general population. the ministerfor vaccines was talking this morning about the decisions that were taken on who is in which category and he was saying that extremely vulnerable individuals are in some of the higher categories, so in the fourth category, clinically extremely vulnerable individuals feature and in category six, all individuals aged 16 to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality, but that does not

encompass people with learning disabilities.— encompass people with learning disabilities. . , disabilities. yes, definitely. some eo - le, disabilities. yes, definitely. some people. like _ disabilities. yes, definitely. some people. like me. _ disabilities. yes, definitely. some people, like me, who _ disabilities. yes, definitely. some people, like me, who do - disabilities. yes, definitely. some people, like me, who do not- disabilities. yes, definitely. some people, like me, who do not havej disabilities. yes, definitely. some i people, like me, who do not have an underlying health condition, and some people do not have an underlying health condition, they just have a learning disability but they are not being prioritised. we are being told we are not eligible, we cannot have it in group six or group four but actually we are more at risk. we need to be prioritised. we are just as important as anyone else. we have rights like anybody else. we have rights like anybody else. itjust seems we are not being listened to and we are more highly likely at risk of dying from covid, so we need to be vaccinated now. truth? so we need to be vaccinated now. why do ou so we need to be vaccinated now. why do you think — so we need to be vaccinated now. why do you think it is that people with a learning disability are at higher risk? �* u. . a learning disability are at higher risk? �* u, , ., a learning disability are at higher risk? �* , . ., a learning disability are at higher risk? , . ., , risk? because we are not being given the riaht risk? because we are not being given the right support- _ risk? because we are not being given the right support. people _ risk? because we are not being given the right support. people with - risk? because we are not being given the right support. people with a - the right support. people with a learning disability have had their social care support cut. we have been forgotten during the pandemic. we have not been listened to during

the pandemic. there has not been good enough accessible information since the start of lockdown, so people do not know what they cannot do and what they can do. the government have been slow to bring out accessible information and they have done it from the beginning of lockdown, it would have been easier and we would have understood the rules, but again, now is the time for us to be protected. now is the time for us to be vaccinated and we need to be given higher priority now. i need to be given higher priority now. ~ ., , ., need to be given higher priority now. ~ ., ,~. . need to be given higher priority now. ~ ., . , , ., now. i know you have been trying to net now. i know you have been trying to let a now. i know you have been trying to get a vaccine- _ now. i know you have been trying to get a vaccine. you _ now. i know you have been trying to get a vaccine. you have _ now. i know you have been trying to get a vaccine. you have not - now. i know you have been trying to get a vaccine. you have not found i get a vaccine. you have not found any discretion in the system? i get a vaccine. you have not found any discretion in the system? i have been told right _ any discretion in the system? i have been told right now _ any discretion in the system? i have been told right now i _ any discretion in the system? i have been told right now i am _ any discretion in the system? i have been told right now i am not - been told right now i am not eligible. i looked at the coronavirus calculator priority web page, i put my details in. it said i do not fit in the priority group because i only have a learning disability. yesterday, i went on an

nhs covid booking online system page and, again, i put all my details in. i answered the questions and again, it said you are not eligible right now and itjust it said you are not eligible right now and it just seems like it said you are not eligible right now and itjust seems like i... me and 1.5 million people living in the uk with a learning disability, we are not being listened to, we are not being taken seriously. we are put in group six with everybody elsewhere naturally we should be given more priority because we need support. we need more accessible information. we are important like anybody else who might have a condition but the bottom—line is we need to be listened to and be given priority for vaccines. ibis need to be listened to and be given priority for vaccines.— priority for vaccines. as things stand, i priority for vaccines. as things stand. i hope _ priority for vaccines. as things stand, i hope you _ priority for vaccines. as things stand, i hope you don't - priority for vaccines. as things stand, i hope you don't mind i priority for vaccines. as things i stand, i hope you don't mind me saying, but you are onlyjust 41, so when would you expect to get the vaccine? you are not anywhere near, obviously, being in the top group of

nine. ., . . , , nine. from what i read yesterday, the earliest _ nine. from what i read yesterday, the earliest point _ nine. from what i read yesterday, the earliest point i _ nine. from what i read yesterday, the earliest point i could - nine. from what i read yesterday, the earliest point i could have - nine. from what i read yesterday, the earliest point i could have it i the earliest point i could have it is probably in early may and that is still quite a long while off and i just feel like i am not important, my health care is not important, so i will be speaking to my gp this week and hopefully i'm going to try and get it earlier, but at the moment, i cannot, and get it earlier, but at the moment, icannot, but and get it earlier, but at the moment, i cannot, buti and get it earlier, but at the moment, i cannot, but i am going to keep trying. bud moment, i cannot, but i am going to keep trying-— keep trying. and how are you protecting — keep trying. and how are you protecting yourself _ keep trying. and how are you protecting yourself in - keep trying. and how are you protecting yourself in the - keep trying. and how are you - protecting yourself in the meantime? have you been sheltering? what are you doing? i have you been sheltering? what are ou doini ? . . have you been sheltering? what are ou doin ? . , ., ., have you been sheltering? what are ou doini? . , . , ., ., ~' you doing? i have been able to work from home. — you doing? i have been able to work from home. so _ you doing? i have been able to work from home, so i— you doing? i have been able to work from home, so i am _ you doing? i have been able to work from home, so i am working - you doing? i have been able to work from home, so i am working from i you doing? i have been able to work - from home, so i am working from home at the moment and my husband, i live with him, so he has been helping by going shopping and we have been going shopping and we have been going to the supermarket, taking all the precautions, wearing face coverings when we go shopping, but i really have not gone out that much because ijust really have not gone out that much because i just think really have not gone out that much

because ijust think if i am not going to be protected for another while, i am a bit nervous about going out, so luckily i have been able to stay at home and that has been keeping me safe. it’s able to stay at home and that has been keeping me safe. it's always aood to been keeping me safe. it's always good to talk _ been keeping me safe. it's always good to talk to — been keeping me safe. it's always good to talk to you. _ been keeping me safe. it's always good to talk to you. thank - been keeping me safe. it's always good to talk to you. thank you - been keeping me safe. it's always good to talk to you. thank you forj good to talk to you. thank you for your time this morning and we wish your time this morning and we wish you all the very best.— you all the very best. thank you. thank you- _ you all the very best. thank you. thank you- i _ you all the very best. thank you. thank you. iwill— you all the very best. thank you. thank you. i will be _ you all the very best. thank you. thank you. i will be speaking - you all the very best. thank you. thank you. i will be speaking to l thank you. i will be speaking to professorjeremy browne from the joint committee on vaccination and immunisationjust after 12. the education secretary has outlined a series of measures to strengthen freedom of speech at universities in england. gavin williamson has warned against the what he called the "chilling effect" of "unacceptable silencing and censoring" on university campuses. the department for education said the proposals are an attempt to strengthen academic freedom, and include the appointment of a "free speech champion" who'll be tasked with investigating matters such as no—platforming speakers or dismissal of academics. we can speak now to the vice president of the national union

of students, hillary gyebi—ababio. welcome, thank you very much for joining us. so, gavin williams says, i am deeply worried about the chilling effect on campuses of an unacceptable silencing and censoring and this is why we must strengthen free—speech in higher education by bolstering existing legal duties and ensuring strong, robust action is taken if they are breached. do you agree with his prospective? i do taken if they are breached. do you agree with his prospective? i do not airee agree with his prospective? i do not a . ree with agree with his prospective? i do not agree with his _ agree with his prospective? i do not agree with his prospective - agree with his prospective? i do not agree with his prospective and - agree with his prospective? i do not agree with his prospective and as i agree with his prospective? i do not agree with his prospective and as a | agree with his prospective and as a union representing students, we do not see any evidence showing there is a free—speech crisis at universities. student unions and universities. student unions and universities have constantly been committed to upholding and promoting free speech at their institutions and actually i think what has been communicated by the secretary of state is actually really, really wrong. i think actually what the problem is is the perception people

have of institutions upholding freedom of speech is the real problem and the work that has been going into making sure the perception is right so that everybody can feel free and feel confident that their freedom of speech is being promoted and protected it where the actual work needs to go, as opposed to framing a baseless claim of a free—speech crisis at universities right now. there are examples, though, of where freedom of speech has been constrained. 21 universities have banned speakers. amber rudd, the tory politician, was amongst one of the hot most high profile to be no platforms at the last minute before a debate. 20 have banned newspapers, 17 have banned particular advertisements, some have suspended student societies and offensive fancy dress. is that not curtailing free—speech? fancy dress. is that not curtailing free-speech?— fancy dress. is that not curtailing free-speech? again, i want to say that student _ free-speech? again, i want to say that student unions _ free-speech? again, i want to say that student unions have - that student unions have continuously been committed to

upholding free—speech and actually a few examples, especially the one you talk about with amber rudd, first of all does not show a widespread problem but actually the situation with amber rudd was not around freedom of speech. that student society chose to disinfect her because she was not the best speaker for the event and they have a right to be able to choose whether they keep speakers on based on who they think is best for whatever event they are holding. i think using a few problems that actually have been mis—communicated and branded as contributing to a so—called crisis in free—speech has not shown at the a widespread problem but actually, even more so, has actually been conflated in a way that is not accurate to the fact that university student unions have continuously continued to promote freedom of speech and continue to do so and work on that and we have run a

survey in december that showed that 61 student unions 0.06% of events had any issues and those were down to administrative failures rather than free—speech issues and so i think it has been conflated that there is a free—speech problem when in reality, student unions and universities are continuously committed to upholding and promoting freedom of speech. 50. committed to upholding and promoting freedom of speech.— freedom of speech. so, if, as you sa , freedom of speech. so, if, as you say. there — freedom of speech. so, if, as you say. there is— freedom of speech. so, if, as you say, there is no _ freedom of speech. so, if, as you say, there is no widespread - freedom of speech. so, if, as you i say, there is no widespread problem, what with the downside of a lobby? because if there is not an issue, the largest does not get used. yes. the largest does not get used. yes, and i think the largest does not get used. yes, and i thinkthis — the largest does not get used. yes, and i think this is _ the largest does not get used. yes, and i think this is an _ the largest does not get used. is: and i think this is an ongoing symptom of the culture war that continues to be spoken about that really is not a thing. i think it is important that we recognise that we do not need an extra law or any more legal duty to uphold freedom of speech but what we need to see is

the secretary of state and his colleagues continuing to support universities and student unions in the crucial way they are already doing to protect and uphold freedom of speech and there is a lot going on behind—the—scenes that has not been spoken about and i think it is really important that all of the stuff that is already going on continues to be reported accurately by the secretary of state and actually champions for the hard work they are doing to make sure that all events and activities at universities and on campuses and in student unions are... universities and on campuses and in student unions are. . ._ student unions are... sorry to into, i 'ust do student unions are... sorry to into, ljust do want _ student unions are... sorry to into, i just do want to _ student unions are... sorry to into, i just do want to be _ student unions are. .. sorry to into, i just do want to be clear— student unions are... sorry to into, i just do want to be clear on - student unions are... sorry to into, i just do want to be clear on your i ijust do want to be clear on your view on what is wrong with a law working to stop censorship? it does not mean that anybody can say anything they like because obviously other laws remain in place which stop people inciting hatred, for instance, but it would stop there being decisions taking individually by people who may perhaps be basing

those decisions on their own views and not thinking about the bigger picture even if it is not happening very often. picture even if it is not happening very often-— very often. again, i do not feel there has _ very often. again, i do not feel there has been _ very often. again, i do not feel there has been evidence - very often. again, i do not feel there has been evidence that l very often. again, i do not feel. there has been evidence that that has been happening, especially on a widespread level, and i think our view of it is that we do not feel it is necessary for all of these measures to be put in when there is already work going on and, quite frankly, we are in the middle of a pandemic and it is hard as that the government focuses on this as a pulse to supporting students who are in hardship right now, financial hardship and uncertain of their educational features.— hardship and uncertain of their educational features. thank you very much. losing access to free school meals meant many children risked going hungry during half—term. but following a campaign by footballer marcus rashford, eligible children now receive a shopping voucher or food parcel instead. john maguire has been looking at the impact it's having. come rain, shine or snow, zane powles is out pounding the pavements of grimsby. how was today?

tough, hard work, really hard work. but got through, did it, so that's what it's all about. getting the kids fed, seeing the parents, supporting them, doing my thing. can you show me your knee? i've got an ice pack underneath, so i've got compression and ice, just to ease some of the pain. the primary school teacher's carried thousands of free lunches to those who need them and walked hundreds of miles during the lockdowns. he delivers notjust food but also computers and pastoral support to his pupils and theirfamilies. the food is almost a way in, a way in, not physically into the house, but it's the connection. so they have to open the door to me. so that allows me to chat to them and make sure things are ok. i was sorting out a relationship issue, the fella had left the mum because he'd had enough. the pressure of the work was too much, they were arguing all the time. so i was sorting out that. i went to another house, i was doing long division,

i was doing long division for year six. so it's that that you do at the door, the stuff you didn't know you was going to do, can't be done on the phone. one grateful mum recorded this message of thanks. this lockdown has been very hard on me because i'm a single parent and teaching my youngest child who's got hidden disabilities has been a right challenge. seeing zane every day has been a help because it gives us a bit of normality. i really do appreciate it. and with the hampers that we've been getting, that has been even more of a help. but in half term, it's a different system. at blackburn market, traders are accepting vouchers forfamilies to use, provided by councils under the covid winter grant scheme, rather than through schools. they were used at christmas and have proved popular with shoppers and traders. it's difficultjust to make ends meet, isn't it? so it's a good lift for them. i get supplies from the local farmers, so there's a money go—around.

it creates a money go—around so that money stays within certain areas. and if we are all supporting each other, it creates its own little micro economy. people that wouldn't usually shop on a market are getting the chance to come and shop on a market as opposed to where they would usually shop, and going into big business. it's just brilliant all—round. marcus rashford's high—profile campaign to feed those children most in need during school holidays has received widespread support. he's one of my heroes of the last year. to say that about a kid who's in his early 205 is amazing. james bates runs maray restaurants in liverpool. they've donated thousands of meals to people in need over the past year and he believes his industry should help out when it can. you know, hopefully we won't be shut for too much longer but over the next few months, if we can use that capacity to get food out where it's needed. and then beyond that as well, a lot of restaurants are shut on monday, so can we use

the spare capacity then? i think it's about thinking a little bit smarter in the future, how to use that capacity to do a bit of good in the community because it's needed and it's going to be needed for a long time to come. so, there's a will, but what about a way? adam roberts set up open kitchens as a way to coordinate restaurants and has provided more than a quarter of a million meals. it's a tech solution to a perpetual problem. and has now been launched to help schools feed their pupils. with covid, a lot of people for the first time are needing this help. and there's a lot of people who are trapped and isolated who can't get to food banks. so i think getting food to the people who need it most is critical and the schools are a key partner in doing that and that's a big initiative for us, is effectively providing a logistical service to schools to support their children that need it. issues can be complex and controversial but where children are going hungry, many in our communities are stepping

forward to feed them. john maguire, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. although it is a much milder week this week compared to last week, it doesn't mean it is necessarily dry because this week we are also looking at periods of rain, sun showers and it is going to be windy. in fact, sun showers and it is going to be windy. infact, most sun showers and it is going to be windy. in fact, most of that happening today, so feeling mild for the time of year, sunshine and showers, some of those heavy and thundery and we also have a band of rain continuing to push down into east anglia and the south—east and here it will be slow to clear, but behind it, sunshine and showers and do not forget some of those will be heavy and thundery. towards the west, gusty winds particularly for the north—west, up to 65 or 70 mph and temperatures between eight and 13 degrees, so above—average for the time of february. as we head through

the evening and overnight, eventually we see the end of the rain, moving away, showers push into the north sea and we have a drier slot before the next band of rain sweeps in from the west, still windy conditions and temperatures down a touch compared to last night. perhaps even low enough locally in north—east scotland for a touch of frost. as we go through the course of tomorrow, you can see how france moved from the west towards the east but if we look at this one, a car comes back and across the channel islands and southern england and the isobars tells you it will be another windy day especially with exposure in the west. there goes the rain towards the north sea, here is the curl bringing it back into the channel islands, southern england, south wales, towards the midlands. towards the west, there will be showers but a lot of dry weather as well and also some sunshine and highs of seven to 12 degrees. as we head on into thursday, we still have rain moving from the west towards the east and look how it curls back across scotland. some snow on the

hills in scotland above about 300-400 hills in scotland above about 300—400 metres and a temperature range of seven to 11 degrees, so down just a touch compared to tuesday and wednesday. for the outlook, into friday, saturday and sunday, we are not done with the rain just yet. further rain for some of us but one thing of note is the temperatures, climbing, so in the north by the time we get to sunday, we are looking at 11 or 12 but somewhere in the south, particularly the south—east could get as high as 17 and it looks like the mild weather will continue into next week.

this is bbc news. the headlines. the latest data from the office for national statistics confirm covid deaths have been falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week up to the 5th of february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown — and whether a phased return to school can start next week. a dutch court orders an immediate end to a night—time coronavirus curfew, saying it has no legal basis. former military personnel dismissed from the forces because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals that were taken from them. questions over who is prioritised as the vaccine rollout extends to people in at—risk groups. dj jo whiley asks why she's been offered the jab before her vulnerable sister.

and prince harry and meghan are going to give a tv interview to oprah winfrey due to be aired in march. good afternoon. the number of deaths from covid—19 is falling in england and wales, according to the latest figures from the office for national statistics. but the number of people dying from the virus remains high: 43% of all deaths registered in the week to february 5 mentioned covid—19 to february 5th mentioned covid—19 recorded during the pandemic. the latest data from the ons shows a total of 7,320 deaths registered in england and wales

in the week ending february the 5th included covid—19 on the death certificate. that figure is down 13% from the previous week. the data also shows that 2,175 care home residents died with coronavirus mentioned on their death certificate in the week ending february 5th in england and wales. this is a 13% fall from the previous week— the first time the figure has dropped this year. in total, more than 19,000 deaths were registered in the uk — for any reason. that is slightly down from the previous week, but it is still 38% above the usual number of deaths registered during that week of the year. number of deaths registered in scotland, nicola sturgeon is to announce later today whether more pupils will start to return to scotland's classrooms from next week. this could include children aged four to seven at primary schools, and some secondary pupils for coursework. and in england, the prime minister has suggested

rapid 30 minute coronavirus tests could be used to help open up the struggling entertainment industry, and could allwo theatre and nightclubs to reopen. earlier our head of statistics, robert cuffe, gave the overview of these figures. this is the last bit of the puzzle, really. cases, hospitalisations and the daily deaths we hear about, those numbers have been falling for a long time pretty steadily. and this set of data from the ons, they look at their death statistics in a different way and they are also saying deaths are falling. the picture is clear. when you put all those different streams of evidence together, they are moving down. now the falls you spoke about a couple of seconds ago, they are pretty marginal week on week, but we should expect better news to come when we talk about this next week and the week after and the reason is because it takes a while to register a death and an analysis to be conducted. so these figures are talking about deaths registered in the week up until the 5th of february. back then, the daily death figures were running atjust under 1,000 per day. the numbers are now down to 650 a day down from a thousand so they've fallen quite a bit

in the last ten—ish days. hopefully, we will hear these numbers coming down and this is before the vaccination numbers start to bite on the daily deaths too. why are numbers in homes still so high? given that residents were in the first cohort of people being vaccinated. given that residents were in the first cohort of people being vaccinated. the big worry and the reason why we are paying such attention to care home figures is because it was a very different story in the first wave. in the first wave, it had a little while longerfor care homes to reach in the first wave, it had taken a little while longer for care homes to reach a peak and thankfully, that hasn't happened this time around. so deaths across england and wales were stabilising but care homes were rising a little bit and there were worries it would go the same way as in the first wave but they are moving down. that proportion of coronavirus deaths that care homes are bearing,

it is nowhere near what it was. it's a better news story than the first wave, and hopefully, those numbers will continue to move down. the ons has also been looking how many of us have antibodies. what are they saying on that front? there's a big shift on how many people have antibodies, particularly in the over 805 in england. you can get antibodies either through infection or vaccination which could ward off any future infections. they hang around in the blood for a while, fighting off any future infections. so we are seeing antibody levels are rising gradually across the country as more people have been infected, and for the last fortnight in most

age groups across the uk they've gone up by 4—5%. london has gone up from 21% of people with antibodies to 25%. across the rest of the country there's been a huge rise, 25% up to 40%. that's a big percentage of the rise instead of a five point rise in a week and that is showing the vaccination programme. people been vaccinated injanuary are starting to show antibodies now which will hopefully fight off infection, sickness and death and we will see that really start figures bite in the daily numbers pretty soon. some breaking news, heavy fines for people travelling into the uk from a red list country. the new legislation came in yesterday. anyone coming from a country in the red list has to quarantine in a hotel and there are strong measures in place to stop anyone trying to

get around those rules. we are hearing from west midlands police, by noon yesterday that four passengers at birmingham airport had been fined £10,000 for failing to declare they had travelled from the red list country. they were not able to leave the airport by border officials. we don't have details of where they have travelled from but it's the first news we've had of any fines being levied the failure to comply with new rules that came into force yesterday. as we've heard, scotland's first minister is due to set out her plans for easing covid restrictions this afternoon. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon explained this morning, what we're expecting to hear from nicola studgeon later. from nicola sturgeon later. the first minister has always taken a cautious approach to any easing of the lockdowns here in scotland. as you said, she has said she is very, very keen to get children back to school

if at all possible. so what we will be looking for today is to see whether she does give a big thumbs up to getting those younger pupils, those in nursery school, the first three years of primary school and some senior secondary school pupils who are having to do practical work for their qualifications, whether to get the green light to return next week. interesting, though, that the expert panels here in scotland have said that if the senior school pupils do return, that small group of senior school pupils to return next week, school pupils do return next week, physical distancing will have to be in place both on the buses to school and in the classrooms themselves. but that does, of course, leave the vast majority of pupils still learning at home, so a lot of parents will be wanting to see if she says anything about that. if she does, i think it will be an indicative timetable and most pupils, i think it's unlikely they will be back for several more weeks. the reason why? the numbers are coming down here in scotland but experts are concerned that that decline in the number of covid—19 cases may

have stalled a little bitjust now. and you can see coverage of that statement from nicola sturgeon after 2pm on the bbc news channel. here's our political correspondent damian grammaticas. what is being discussed at the minute, interestingly, is now that we have a roll—out of the vaccine programme progressing as it has done, that first target met and moving onto the next groups, the — question of what this is going to start meaning for easing up for opening things in the future. now, of course, we have the road map the government will set out in a weak's time, so that will lay out some dates, indicative dates, nothing set in stone. but questions with the roll—out of the vaccination

programme, what's that going to mean for businesses, particularly, i mean, the prime minister was asked yesterday, businesses have found it it difficult to open in the past year, so things like nightclubs, cinemas, concert venues, places where you have a lot and here, what he appears to mention and appears _ that the government is looking at, the possibility of having a vaccine programme plus rapid testing. so, tests that would deliver results in 15—30 minutes, as are used already in business places, and schools are preparing to use them to. those sorts of things being looked at as a way to allow people and those venues to open to people, somewhere along the line. this is what the vaccine minister had to say today. testing is getting better and better with lots of technologies coming forward and being looked at by our scientific advisers.

we've now got a capacity of 800,000 tests a day in pcr tests, standing start, last year. we did 2,000 yesterday. we got a multiple of that in the lateral flow test, so many millions more in lateral flow test so it's a combination of making sure we vaccinate test, so many millions more in lateral flow test so it's a combination of making sure we vaccinate and work with industry to deliver those tests, rapid testing to be able to reopen some of those venues. the question of course was about vaccine programme and what will the government's approach be to vaccine passports? people showing records of their vaccinations and he is very clear on that. the government says they will not be having a system of that domestically

within the uk. but if you are being asked by another— but if you are being asked by another country to show that you been _ another country to show that you been vaccinated, the government is looking at a way of being able provide a different system, somehow showing that you have been vaccinated here when you cross a border elsewhere. this is what he said. at the moment, you have your health data which is held by the national immunisation and vaccination system which your gp has access to and of course, if you are on an nhs app you can look at your own health records. we want to make that certificate accessible to people if they need it for international travel if those countries require it. we are not planning a domestic passport for our own domestic use. of course, all of these things are for several months down the line. what we face now, what the government faces now, as decisions about unlocking and opening up in the immediate future and then, what they've been saying is they want to be data driven, not date driven, that they would be following the result that they see coming back

from the vaccine roll—out. at the minute, it's a little too early to say and the indications look like that is having an impact on transmission, on death rates, on hospitalisations but they need more of that communication and indication so that will feed into the decision next monday. the discussion at the momemnt is around what to relax, for example, distancing rules. will they be able to relax those quickly? that's something that is really important to businesses, any venues important to businesses, many venues that rely on the numbers of people they can get through their doors. that's another open question. a dutch court has ordered an immediate end to a night—time curfew imposed to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. the curfew, the first in the netherlands since world war two,

sparked several days of riots by anti—lockdown protesters when it was introduced onjan the 23rd. the court ruling now says it lacked any legal basis. the dutch government will appeal. earlier i spoke to our correspondent in the hague, anna holligan the court said in this case it could constitute — the court said in this case it could constitute -- _ the court said in this case it could constitute —— could not constitute an emergency. a constitute -- could not constitute an emergency-— constitute -- could not constitute an emerien . ~ , . . , an emergency. a very dutch example, an emergency. a very dutch example, a dam breaking- _ an emergency. a very dutch example, a dam breaking. the _ an emergency. a very dutch example, a dam breaking. the evidence - an emergency. a very dutch example, a dam breaking. the evidence that i a dam breaking. the evidence that this was that the curfew was discussed in advance and therefore there was no legal basis. it said it did not make the necessary legal criteria and must be scrapped with immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews immediate effect. so, does this then take cu rfews off immediate effect. so, does this then take curfews off the table in terms of the armoury against coronavirus

their? well, this is very specific to the netherlands because this was a district court, here in the hague and it was about the dutch example of introducing an ipm curfew. the government can still appeal against it. thejustice minister is going to look at the ruling before he decides what to do. there's been a lot of celebration. this is been one of most controversial measures against the fight against coronavirus and there's been quite a bit of celebration from opposition parties. . member of the opposition said, "good news, i've always said that this curfew was..." this is about the threat of coronavirus, brought on by the increase of new strains,

the pressure on the hospitals and intensive care units. this is purely a legal ruling based on the way in which the dutch government introduced the curfew by invoking this emergency law, when the district court in the hague has ruled that there was no emergency to justify this. ibis ruled that there was no emergency to 'usti this. �* . , ., �* ruled that there was no emergency to 'usti this. ~ , , ., �* . justify this. as you've made absolutely _ justify this. as you've made absolutely clear, _ justify this. as you've made absolutely clear, this - justify this. as you've made absolutely clear, this was i justify this. as you've made i absolutely clear, this was very specific for the situation there. could there be any wider impatience? do you know, it's very specific to the situation here, but that is not to say that groups like virus truth, which is a very virus— sceptic group, here in the netherlands —— it's not to say that what they've done here, achieved against expectation is an example that anti—lockdown groups might not seize upon and trying other countries. it

could very well be that this is now used as a legal precedent elsewhere. let me just remind you that breaking is a brought you a few moments ago. the first vines have been issued to people returning to england from red list countries without declaring where they had travelled from. the west midlands police said by noon yesterday, first aid the new restrictions apply, four passengers at birmingham airport were fined £10,000 forfailing to at birmingham airport were fined £10,000 for failing to declare that they had travelled from a red list country. they were stopped by border officials and were not able to leave the airport. actually, the new restrictions that have been laid out, come into force since yesterday, to deter people trying to get around the rules that say if you are returning to this country from a red list country then you have to spend ten days in quarantine, you could potentially face ten years in prison, orthat

could potentially face ten years in prison, or that maximum £10,000 fine. so, from what we've got, from west midlands police, four passengers did get the maximum £10,000 fine. we got no details of them, whether they were travelling together or where they have travelled from. radio 2 dj jo whiley says she has been offered a vaccine — before her sister, frances, who has a learning disability and diabetes and lives in residential care. it comes as the vaccine rollout extends to the over 65's and people between 16 and 65 with underlying helath conditions. data from public health england showed that 6 out of 10 people who died from coronavirus up to november last year had a disability — that's around 30,000 out of 50,000. but there are concerns about how the vaccine priority groups are being applied for some people with underlying conditions. here'sjo whiley speaking this morning. it feels like it's been a very long wait for the vaccine to get round to her, and on thursday night i got the call that i've been dreading,

and that saying that they have she had to stay where she is. she is at risk of having covid, she is being tested daily at the moment, and we arejust... she is in tier 6, but she also has diabetes, quite bad diabetes, which, my understanding, puts her in tier 4, because she has an underlying health condition, so, i would have thought that she should have been vaccinated, she should have received it, but that hasn't happened. i suppose what i'm doing is just wanting to speak up to people like frances, like the people that live in her care home, who have been overlooked, because this happens so often — people with learning difficulties are neglected. they haven't got a voice, they haven't got anybody there, just badgering everybody saying, what about me? you know, help me out here. and, oh, my god, ican't tell you how frustrating it is and how horrendous it is. the stuff of nightmares at the moment. jeremy brown is a professor of respiratory infection at university college london and sits on thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation — which advises on vaccine priority lists. he is speaking today in a personal capacity. welcome, thank you forjoining us. i

know that you don't want to comment specifically on thejo wiley case, but just looking specifically on thejo wiley case, butjust looking at it and applying the rules more generally, does it make sense that someone who is 55, fit and healthy, would be offered a vaccine before someone who has complex learning difficulty and lives in a care home? i complex learning difficulty and lives in a care home? i think... i think it's — lives in a care home? i think... i think it's very — lives in a care home? i think... i think it's very specific _ lives in a care home? i think... i think it's very specific to - lives in a care home? i think... i think it's very specific to the i lives in a care home? i think... i | think it's very specific to the case you were talking about but the issue here is whether people with learning difficulties have been identified as high—risk and they have. they've been put into category six, which is extremely vulnerable and down syndrome using category four so they are extremely vulnerable, so they identified risk but it seems to be initially delivery happening for

that particular, those particular people. that particular, those particular --eole. . ,. that particular, those particular --eole. . , . . people. can you explain that then, because it sounds _ people. can you explain that then, because it sounds from _ people. can you explain that then, because it sounds from what - people. can you explain that then, | because it sounds from what you're saying that anybody with learning difficulties should be in category six but that is not the case based on the people that we are talking to who have learning difficulties, who are not being prioritised in that group? are not being prioritised in that arou - ? are not being prioritised in that i rou . ? , ., are not being prioritised in that a-rou? . . �* group? right, so, again, i can't comment— group? right, so, again, i can't comment on— group? right, so, again, i can't comment on very _ group? right, so, again, i can't comment on very specific - group? right, so, again, i can't- comment on very specific example, it's very to take —— difficult to take these figures without numbers. i think people with severe learning difficulties are categorised and will be offered the vaccine in category six. will be offered the vaccine in category sim— will be offered the vaccine in cateio six. . ., _ , category six. that obviously putting a decoration _ category six. that obviously putting a decoration on _ category six. that obviously putting a decoration on those _ category six. that obviously putting a decoration on those who - category six. that obviously putting a decoration on those who fall - category six. that obviously putting a decoration on those who fall into | a decoration on those who fall into category overall of being

vulnerable, when you look at the statistics on this, people with learning disabilities between 18-3430 learning disabilities between 18—3430 times more likely to die of coronavirus than those at the same age. and six times more likely at any age to die over the general population. there is no categorisation there, is anyone with a learning difficulty. that categorisation there, is anyone with a learning difficulty.— a learning difficulty. that data is dominated _ a learning difficulty. that data is dominated by — a learning difficulty. that data is dominated by those _ a learning difficulty. that data is dominated by those with - a learning difficulty. that data is dominated by those with more i a learning difficulty. that data is - dominated by those with more severe learning difficulties. that is what the data previously has suggested. and you are right about this graduation issue but it applies to all medical problems, so there's a grading system whether you have renal failure, grading system whether you have renalfailure, heart disease, diabetes, way is an issue to try and break those categories into lower and higher risk groups within a given co—morbidity problem. lanthem

and higher risk groups within a given co-morbidity problem. when it be simler given co-morbidity problem. when it be simpler to — given co-morbidity problem. when it be simpler to say _ given co-morbidity problem. when it be simpler to say that _ given co-morbidity problem. when it be simpler to say that anyone - given co-morbidity problem. when it be simpler to say that anyone with i given co-morbidity problem. when it be simpler to say that anyone with a | be simpler to say that anyone with a learning difficulty gets a vaccine, because, as i mentioned, we are talking to, we've been talking to people over the weeks, relatives of those with learning difficulties who do not fall into this category and are saying, you don't reach the level required to be category six bits not reassuring to them and they still feel vulnerable and are shielding. still feel vulnerable and are shielding-— still feel vulnerable and are shieldina. . ., ., still feel vulnerable and are shieldina. ~ . ., ., . . shielding. we are going on the data. we have to go _ shielding. we are going on the data. we have to go on — shielding. we are going on the data. we have to go on the _ shielding. we are going on the data. we have to go on the data _ shielding. we are going on the data. we have to go on the data availablel we have to go on the data available about who is at risk of dying because that is the choice, that is the underlying strategy for phase one. if someone is at higher risk of dying from coronavirus, then they are put into the category of risk and we have to go what the data shows us. so someone may feel that they are high—risk but it doesn't mean that. i do agree that there is

attention and difficulty here but it all dependent on the data tells us. would it be humane to say to these people who are afraid, who feel that they are higher risk, we will have some discretion in the system so you can get the reassurance on the backs in? �* , ., , can get the reassurance on the backs in? �* . .,., in? but if you say that to one particular— in? but if you say that to one particular group, _ in? but if you say that to one particular group, then - in? but if you say that to one particular group, then has i in? but if you say that to one particular group, then has to | in? but if you say that to one i particular group, then has to be applied to every group, just for equity and then it becomes what people feel and then you will end up with people being vaccinated who are not as high—risk where the vaccine should have gone to someone who is high—risk. it's very hard to have a situation where it is not based on the data and is subjective, because you end up in a position where people are not being vaccinated who need to be vaccinated. each person who is vaccinated, that's another vaccine who could have gone to

somebody else. at this point, it's all about making sure we are progressing it as quickly as we can through the highest risk groups as fast as we can to get to the lowest risked groups. the fast as we can to get to the lowest risked groups-— risked groups. the chief medical officer for england _ risked groups. the chief medical officer for england gave - risked groups. the chief medical| officer for england gave evidence risked groups. the chief medical i officer for england gave evidence to mp5 in december and she said then that people with learning difficulties should be those considered for early access to the vaccine because it took quite a while to understand which groups were at most risk from the coronavirus.— were at most risk from the coronavirus. could this be an oversight? — coronavirus. could this be an oversight? l _ coronavirus. could this be an oversight? i don't _ coronavirus. could this be an oversight? i don't think - coronavirus. could this be an oversight? i don't think so. i coronavirus. could this be an i oversight? i don't think so. no, i think we discussed it well before december and did look at the data for learning difficulties before that period. we could always go and revisit the data, as more data becomes available, we do revisit situations to see there's a changing data available which might suggest that a group that's at higher risk

is overlooked because we didn't have the data the first time around. if we have new data then we can use it in that situation. it we have new data then we can use it in that situation.— in that situation. it also seems a disari in that situation. it also seems a disparity in _ in that situation. it also seems a disparity in the _ in that situation. it also seems a disparity in the speed _ in that situation. it also seems a disparity in the speed in - in that situation. it also seems a disparity in the speed in which i in that situation. it also seems a l disparity in the speed in which it's being rolled out. so, for instance, one person who is spoken publicly about getting the vaccine way beyond schedule is reality tv host nadia essex who got the vaccine last thursday. does this make sense? sorry, uk coming back to specific circumstances... i sorry, uk coming back to specific circumstances. . ._ circumstances... i want to give a secific circumstances... i want to give a specific example _ circumstances... i want to give a specific example to _ circumstances... i want to give a specific example to make - circumstances... i want to give a specific example to make it - circumstances... i want to give a specific example to make it a i specific example to make it a factual question! does it make sense that someone who is aged 39, or below 50, would be getting a? there are disparities _ below 50, would be getting a? there are disparities out _ below 50, would be getting a? there are disparities out there. _ below 50, would be getting a? it!” are disparities out there. you have are disparities out there. you have a national vaccine programme, and in that, there are going to be situations where some people in some

geographical areas have got ahead in other geographical areas and you're going to find other examples of people vaccinated who live somewhere else who had not been offered the vaccine. that is the nature of a programme which is such a large one with a short timescale involved. the bottom—line is, by the end of this april read, everyone who is at high risk of the disease should have been offered a vaccine which prevent 99% offered a vaccine which prevent 99% of the mortality. it's an ongoing process and they will be people who are slightly advanced getting a vaccine earlier than others and there will be discrepancies and what looked like iniquities recurring but it's a programme for the entire country. it's a programme for the entire count . ~ . . it's a programme for the entire count . ~ . , country. what about the next phase ofthe country. what about the next phase of the programme. _ country. what about the next phase of the programme. there _ country. what about the next phase of the programme. there are - country. what about the next phase of the programme. there are calls i of the programme. there are calls for some to prioritise teachers, police and some say people from

black and ethnic minority backgrounds should be prioritised. what is your view? so, this is under discussion at the moment. there is no clear decision that has been made. the prince principles are very similar. it will be based on the morbidity and mortality of the disease. we are going to extend this to... data which underpins advice dictated by the data we have of who is still dying and who still has hospital admissions due to coronavirus infection once phase one vaccine has been complete. [30 coronavirus infection once phase one vaccine has been complete.- vaccine has been complete. do we know what — vaccine has been complete. do we know what the _ vaccine has been complete. do we know what the priorities _ vaccine has been complete. do we know what the priorities will - vaccine has been complete. do we know what the priorities will be? i | know what the priorities will be? i think we have a little bit of time to work that won through. we need to

finish phase one first and that's not planned until the end of april, so we have a period of time to make decisions and they will be communicated soon as we have... thank you, professor brown. prince harry and meghan are to give their first interview since stepping back from royal duties. they'll speak to oprah winfrey in what has been described as a wide—ranging and intimate interview due to be aired by us broadcaster cbs next month. the interview follows the news that the couple are expecting their second child. let's speak to the journalist and former royal correspondent for the bbc, jennie bond. welcome. nice to see you. obviously, you've got experience over many years with the royal family so i wonder what you think this 90 minute interview... how will this go down with the royals? i interview. .. how will this go down with the royals?— interview... how will this go down with the royals? i think those words are very worrying —

with the royals? i think those words are very worrying to _ with the royals? i think those words are very worrying to the _ with the royals? i think those words are very worrying to the palace, - are very worrying to the palace, intimate and wide—ranging, it's possible then talk about life stepping into the royalfamily. i imagine if oprah winfrey is doing herjob she will ask her about stepping out of her role too. in the past, interviews have not gone well, with charles admitting his adultery, and other details coming out and then most recently, prince andrew talking to newsnight where he simultaneously became a laughing stock and it didn't go well. they've made it clear _ stock and it didn't go well. they've made it clear that _ stock and it didn't go well. they've made it clear that they _ stock and it didn't go well. they've made it clear that they are - made it clear that they are ploughing their own furrow and it's clear that it's more showbiz the royal. clear that it's more showbiz the r0 al. ~ . ~ , clear that it's more showbiz the r0 al.. . «g ., royal. well, frankly, i maps of the bewildered — royal. well, frankly, i maps of the bewildered by _ royal. well, frankly, i maps of the bewildered by the _ royal. well, frankly, i maps of the bewildered by the decision - royal. well, frankly, i maps of the bewildered by the decision to - royal. well, frankly, i maps of the bewildered by the decision to do i bewildered by the decision to do this. why are they doing this? we are told they are also going to talk

about how she is handling the pressure of being under intense public scrutiny. well, she doesn't have to be now. she and harry have decided to step away, fair enough and they've gone to canada. gradually, we heard that the great british public became less and less interested in this. why do they keep want to popping their heads above the parapet, talking about this that and the other? wider base need so much money? i'm confused. they've got millions of their own money. how much money do you need? but got millions of their own money. how much money do you need?— much money do you need? but they want to live — much money do you need? but they want to live on _ much money do you need? but they want to live on their— much money do you need? but they want to live on their own _ much money do you need? but they want to live on their own terms. i want to live on their own terms. they are adults. they've stepped away. they are not getting any money from the public purse and paid back taxpayers money, so why don't they have the rightjust to do whatever they want and earn as much money as they want and earn as much money as they want and live whatever lifestyle they want?- they want and live whatever lifestyle they want? well, they do have that right _ lifestyle they want? well, they do have that right but _ lifestyle they want? well, they do have that right but really - lifestyle they want? well, they do have that right but really they i

lifestyle they want? well, they do l have that right but really they need to stop complaining about their privacy being invaded when it seems to be they are invading their own privacy. i wish them well. i'm very fond of harry, watching him grow up and i have reported on him for many, many years. i have understood his mentalfragility. why many years. i have understood his mental fragility. why keep many years. i have understood his mentalfragility. why keep inviting publicity? its wonderful news that they are pregnant again and the picture they issued was enchanting, but it wasn't really necessary. if they don't want to be splashed on over the newspapers then don't do things like that! have a cursory two word statement, if you like, that you would put out. i don't understand their motives. they've embraced this celebrity lifestyle and it is really my worst fears have come true, that they are becoming los angeles celebrities what they

really want to be private citizens. will you watch? filth. really want to be private citizens. will you watch ?_ really want to be private citizens. will you watch? oh, yes! of course our watch! — will you watch? oh, yes! of course our watch! i'll _ will you watch? oh, yes! of course our watch! i'll do _ will you watch? oh, yes! of course our watch! i'll do loads _ will you watch? oh, yes! of course our watch! i'll do loads of - our watch! i'll do loads of interviews about it! there's a big raft of publicity which apparently they don't want. i raft of publicity which apparently they don't want.— raft of publicity which apparently they don't want. i don't understand it. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. it's looking much milder this week, feeling like spring rather than winter. but for the rest of today, quite a bit of rain lingering across some parts of east anglia in the south—east into the afternoon. sunshine and showers elsewhere some heavy and thundery, something dry but wins stronger with 60 or 70 mph gusts in the west of scotland. temperatures between eight and 10 degrees through the evening. temperatures will peak around 12 celsius this afternoon and we start the night reasonably mild but it will turn colder across eastern areas, mildertowards will turn colder across eastern areas, milder towards the west with cloud and now bricks of rain

returning but a touch of frost tomorrow morning in the north—east of scotland. into tomorrow, another speu of scotland. into tomorrow, another spell of wet weather, putting across most parts before the sunshine comes out and then a few showers later. the cloud will linger, southern counties of england, south wales and east anglia, further rain at times, not much in the way of sunshine, but in the milderair, not much in the way of sunshine, but in the milder air, a little fresher airfor the north, cloud and rain later on pushing northwards with the milder air yet again. later on pushing northwards with the milderairyet again. i later on pushing northwards with the milder air yet again. i will have more details in half an hour. hello this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines: the latest data from the office for national statistics confirm covid deaths have been falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week to 5th february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown and whether a phased return to school can start next week. a dutch court orders an immediate end to a night—time coronavirus

curfew, saying it has no legal basis former military personnel dismissed from the forces because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals that were taken from them. questions over who is prioritised as the vaccine roll—out extends to people in at—risk groups — dj jo whiley asks why she's been offered the jab before her vulnerable sister. and prince harry and meghan are going to give a tv interview to oprah winfrey due to be aired in march. now in the last half hour, the european space agency has been giving a news conference and for the first time since 2008, it's on the lookout for new astronauts to join its cohort of space explorers. uk citizens of any age and walk of life are invited to apply. after an intensive training, the new astronauts will take their first flights into space when they are deployed to the international space station. uk astronaut major tim peake spoke

about the roles on an esa virtual press call about the recruitment drive. some of the future missions that these astronauts have got to look forward to our quite incredible. when you are not actually flying a mission or specifically training for omission, as samantha mentioned as well, there are many, many ways you can be actively employed by the european space agency and prior to your mission, there are certain training events, for example, caves where we learn about the psychological elements of living and working together in a mixed cultural environment with our fellow astronauts from around the world and also underwater, for example, on the nemo mission where we developed the skills and techniques that will help us to actually manage a mission in space. also, something ifound with the interesting, was working at eurocom, so embedded in the mission control team that run the space station interactions 20 47 which

gives you such a great insight into what it is like for arsenal's on board the space station but also the enormous team that support those missions as well and that really helps you is nasty not to be more effective in yourjob, —— really helps you as an astronaut. loads of things you can be doing when you are not training for omission. more than 15 million people in the uk have already received a first dose of the covid vaccine. they include people aged 70 and over, nhs employees and care staff and their residents, and people who are considered extremely clinically vulnerable. from this week, those aged 65—69 — that's around three million people — are next to receive theirjabs. they'll be followed by more than seven million people aged under 65, with underlying health conditions. after that it will be the 60 to 64—year—olds, accounting for nearly two million people. and then it will be the turn of more than five million of those in their 505. that's a total new target of 17.2 million people, in the uk, by the end of april.

jayne mccubbin takes a look at how the roll—out is going so far. day by day, minute by minute, thousands have become millions. and with every individualjab, we inch ever closer to some kind of a national recovery. now it's the turn of the 65—to—69—year—olds. oh, brilliant. i got contacted by my own surgery. i booked the time slot straight away. that got confirmed straight away. it was literally all done in minutes. john in boston is 67. you know, really, really on the ball. absolutely delighted. it's the way out of all this. diane and malcolm in exeter are 69. very good indeed, actually, yeah. i hate jabs anyway, but this one went very well. you just look the other way. but we were really looking forward to it and we've i been waiting every day to get it, really. -

the second phase of the vaccination programme is also for the clinically vulnerable, like kerry thompson. hugely important because it's been a long time since i've left my house. so i haven't actually left my home since the beginning of march last year. i managed to get out probably five times in the summer period, but that was only very local — five minutes down the road — so i've pretty much been cooped up in my own home. everyone is really grateful and excited to have been able to come through, and actually relieved that they've been able to get their vaccination at this time. we've vaccinated so many people from cohorts one to four and we're still continuing to vaccinate those — so it would be really great if you haven't had your vaccination yet to go on the nhs website and book online. some over—805 are still playing catch—up. in plymouth, duncan neale receives his vaccine in the football ground where he used to play midfield. can't understand anybody really not

wanting it because you'd be saving other people's lives as well as your own, and putting less work on the nhs. they work 24/7 now around the clock to get this country back on its feet, so get the jab — that's my advice. over in leeds' elland road stadium, the vaccination centre was built over in leeds' elland road stadium, the vaccination centre was built in weeks to vaccinate 6,000 people a week, but supplies here are being restricted. they've been a victim, they believe, of their own success. we were first to start our vaccination programme, and we've been really successful in vaccinating loads of people. and the whole country needs to come up at the same level. nobody must be left behind. so i suspect the reason that we're not receiving so many vaccines this week and next week is to enable other parts of the country to catch us up. but so many hope this moment will help them catch up on a life they once had — like amanda, due to get herjab today.

ijust kept ringing my gp and i still got nowhere. and this morning i phoned about 10.15 and they said that i could go to the local town hall and have it done. so i'm glad i'm having it done because i miss my family, i miss my friends, and i'm fed up of staying indoors because i've been shielding for a very long time. sir simon stevens, the head of the nhs, said this was the second sprint in the vaccination programme — the race to protect the most vulnerable. but he said it will be rolled out twice as fast as the first phase. the aim — 30 million jabs delivered by the end of april. the marathon still lies ahead. british servicemen and women

who were stripped of their medals because of their sexuality have been told they can apply to get them back. the move comes after the ban on lesbians and gay men in the military was lifted in 2000. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. joe 0usalice loved his life at sea. he served in the royal navy for nearly 18 years as a radio operator. in 1982, he was part of the task force which sailed to the south atlantic in the falklands war, and he did tours of duty in other trouble spots. joe's career ended because of his sexuality — and, as part of his dismissal, his long—service and good—conduct medal was cut from his uniform. i wouldn't have minded, had i done something wrong, but the fact was i'd done nothing wrong. the ministry of defence made a trumped—up charge against me and kicked me out purely because of my sexuality. this war veteran mounted a personal battle to get his medal back. he had to resort to legal action against the ministry of defence. and in 2019, they settled his claim.

joe received his medal — and an apology. they apologised to me, but that's not enough. i did get my medal back and i was elated over that. but nevertheless, there are thousands of other people out there who have been treated not too dissimilar to myself. now, more than 20 years after the ban on lgbt people serving in the armed forces was lifted, the ministry of defence has announced that other former service personnel dismissed because of their sexuality can finally apply to have their lost medals restored. it's taken a while to get here, and i acknowledge that. but, you know, today is a good day — many people thought we would never get here, and giving individuals the chance to apply and have their medals reinstated is a really important step for them. while welcoming this, joe regrets that some who lost out have died without the honours owed to them. june kelly, bbc news.

losing access to free school meals meant many children risked going hungry during half—term. but following a campaign by footballer marcus rashford, eligible children now receive a shopping voucher or food parcel instead. john maguire has been looking at the impact it's having. come rain, shine or snow, zane powles is out pounding the pavements of grimsby. how was today? tough, hard work, really hard work. but got through, did it, so that's what it's all about. getting the kids fed, seeing the parents, supporting them, doing my thing. can you show me your knee? i've got an ice pack underneath, so i've got compression and ice, just to ease some of the pain. the primary school teacher's carried thousands of free lunches to those who need them and walked hundreds of miles during the lockdowns. he delivers notjust food but also computers and pastoral support to his pupils and theirfamilies.

the food is almost a way in, a way in, not physically into the house, but it's the connection. so they have to open the door to me. so that allows me to chat to them and make sure things are ok. i was sorting out a relationship issue, the fella had left the mum because he'd had enough. the pressure of the work was too much, they were arguing all the time. so i was sorting out that. i went to another house, i was doing long division, i was doing long division for year six. so it's that that you do at the door, the stuff you didn't know you was going to do, can't be done on the phone. one grateful mum recorded this message of thanks. this lockdown has been very hard on me because i'm a single parent and teaching my youngest child who's got hidden disabilities has been a right challenge. seeing zane every day has been a help because it gives us a bit of normality. i really do appreciate it. and with the hampers that we've been getting, that has been even more of a help. but in half term, it's

a different system. at blackburn market, traders are accepting vouchers forfamilies to use, provided by councils under the covid winter grant scheme, rather than through schools. they were used at christmas and have proved popular with shoppers and traders. it's difficultjust to make ends meet, isn't it? so it's a good lift for them. i get supplies from the local farmers, so there's a money go—around. it creates a money go—around so that money stays within certain areas. and if we are all supporting each other, it creates its own little micro economy. people that wouldn't usually shop on a market are getting the chance to come and shop on a market as opposed to where they would usually shop, and going into big business. it's just brilliant all—round. marcus rashford's high—profile campaign to feed those children most in need during school holidays has received widespread support. he's one of my heroes of the last year. to say that about a kid who's

in his early 205 is amazing. james bates runs maray restaurants in liverpool. they've donated thousands of meals to people in need over the past year and he believes his industry should help out when it can. you know, hopefully we won't be shut for too much longer but over the next few months, if we can use that capacity to get food out where it's needed. and then beyond that as well, a lot of restaurants are shut on monday, so can we use the spare capacity then? i think it's about thinking a little bit smarter in the future, how to use that capacity to do a bit of good in the community because it's needed and it's going to be needed for a long time to come. so, there's a will, but what about a way? adam roberts set up open kitchens as a way to coordinate restaurants and has provided more than a quarter of a million meals. it's a tech solution to a perpetual problem. and has now been launched to help schools feed their pupils. with covid, a lot of people for the first time

are needing this help. and there's a lot of people who are trapped and isolated who can't get to food banks. so i think getting food to the people who need it most is critical and the schools are a key partner in doing that and that's a big initiative for us, is effectively providing a logistical service to schools to support their children that need it. issues can be complex and controversial but where children are going hungry, many in our communities are stepping forward to feed them. john maguire, bbc news. a mountain rescue volunteer who suffered life changing injuries when he helped save two people who were breaking lockdown rules in the lake district earlier this month can now be named. graham satchell has been speaking to his team.

when you're out there in the middle of the night, you know, you have to be a team, you have to look after each other, and when something happens to one of your own, it's really tough. the two people that we went to rescue, er, you know, they'd breached covid regulations — they shouldn't have been camping, and that's the simple fact. but i do think this was avoidable. this is the first time the patterdale mountain rescue team have come together since a terrible accident on the fells just over a week ago. i've done this for 25 years. i'll honestly say this is the worst rescue. and that's. .. you know, i've seen some things in my time and that... you never really expect to have to rescue one of your own. you know, i've had my own share of tears this week.

i can see it in other people's eyes, as well. the team were called out to reports of two men camping above kirkstone pass — one complaining of chest pains. as they made their approach, one member of the team, chris lewis, slipped and fell 150 meters, suffering terrible injuries. ben hammond, who's an anaesthetist, was the first to get to chris. he's a very experienced member of the team and absolutely knows what he's doing, and someone to look up to on the team for advice when you're out there on the hill. certainly his injuries are life—changing for him, yeah. this is chris lewis on another rescue — a key part of the team, admired and respected. he suffered multiple facial fractures and severely damaged his spinal cord. they were really serious injuries and my heart goes out to him. i just cannot believe what, you know, what's going through his mind at the moment. really, really tough. i've had the chance to facetime, chris and, you know,

he's having conversations with me already about "where are we going to go in the wheelchair?" the two men who were rescued had travelled hundreds of miles to get to the lake district — one from leicester, one from liverpool. they've both been fined £200 for breaking lockdown rules. there is some anger and frustration in the team but, in the end, this... we're not there to judge, we're there to help. you know, we all love the fells, we're all mountaineers. we go out there because we think we can help people when they're in difficulty. and trying tojudge just isn't our role. chris' injury has had a devastating impact on the team, but they've been overwhelmed by support from other rescue organisations, and by the various online funding pages that have now been set up. because i'm a local and i've lived here all my life, i was shocked because we're such a tiny, small community that it really hit home when it happened.

local people were quite angry about it, to be honest, because it didn't really have to happen — they shouldn't have been here in the first place — so ijust thought something positive needs to try and be done to sort of offset the negativity that was felt around this. so ijust thought, i'm going to set up thisjust giving page, really. if you take the pandemic out of the situation, - it could happen to any mountain rescue member on any rescue. i and so, you know, removing - the breaking of the lockdown rules, it's stilljust as tragic as it would have been in any. other circumstance. the injury to their friend has hit this team hard. but there is enormous fortitude here, a togetherness — forged in the most extreme circumstances. whatever gets thrown at us, you have to know people really well. you have to be able to trust each other, understand each other. and, you know... you know, the team has to be strong because if somebody�*s at the top of a rope, lowering you over the edge of a cliff, you really need to know each other and trust their skills and abilities! i've had a conversation—

with my partner about, you know, is this time to retire i from the rescue team? i've done 25 years, do— i want to kind of carry on knowing that the risk is more... ..you know, more in yourface? but, you know, at the minute we're carrying on. _ so despite the risks, and whatever the circumstances, patterdale mountain rescue are ready for the next call—out. chris remains in intensive care — he has a long journey of recovery ahead. graham satchell, bbc news. the chair of the lake district search and mountain rescue association, richard warren, this morning spoke about the dedication of the teams. when the car came into me that morning at three o'clock my instinct was to go to the base and help and anybody who heard about it would

want to do the same. but our role is to save lives, alleviate the distress that people suffer when they go on the mountains. we are not here tojudge and they go on the mountains. we are not here to judge and we will carry on doing it. it is very difficult and we do question... i have been in mountain rescue for a very long time and, you know, this is the worst accident i have seen in the last four decades. it really is hitting people hard, but the support is fantastic. we want to pass our thanks onto everybody who has sent messages of support. from all the regions in the uk, we have had messages in. it really is heart—warming and i'm sure that chris and his family will listen to this and recognise that they are well supported and one of the things about chris that people perhaps don't know is that when he went into accident and emergency early that

morning after being flown in by the coastguard helicopter, who did a fantasticjob, the first coastguard helicopter, who did a fantastic job, the first thing coastguard helicopter, who did a fantasticjob, the first thing he said was, how is the other casualty? now before the weather — news of some extreme bad weather from the us. a state of emergency has been declared in texas, after winter storms left millions of people without power. temperatures have dropped to as low as minus 22 celsius in some parts of the state — the coldest experienced for more than 30 years. gail maclellan reports. not the sort of weather you usually associate with texas. arctic air has plunged south, bringing freezing temperatures, snow and ice storms to areas unaccustomed to such weather. pipes have frozen, several million people are without power, and drivers not used to wintry conditions struggle to stay on the roads. water was gone at 8.30, power was off, we're all obviously one of millions in the same boat as everyone in houston — we're out in katy. it's... it's cold. some are even more at risk — the homeless putting their faith in tents

as the bone—chilling weather continues. winter storm warnings have been posted across the southern plains and as far south as the gulf coast. we're looking at the temperature finally getting back above 0 celsius here in topeka on friday of this week, and by then we will have gone 14 straight days — two full weeks — with the temperature below freezing. and, again, it's been almost 40 years since that's happened. half of all americans are now under some sort of winter weather warning as the polar plunge mixes freezing temperatures with icy rain. gail maclellan, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. although it is a much milder week this week and pair two last week, that does not mean it is necessarily dry because we are also looking at periods of rain, some showers and it will be windy. most of that is happening today, so feeling mild for the time of year,

sunshine and showers, some of those heavy and thundery, and we also have this band of rain continuing to push down into east anglia and the south—east and here it will be slow to clear, but behind it, we are into sunshine and showers and don't forget some of those are heavy and thundery. out towards the west, gusty winds particularly for the north—west where gas could reach six to five or 70 mph and temperatures between eight and 13 celsius, so above—average for the stage in february. through relieving and overnight, eventually that's rain moves away, the showers continue to push into the north sea and we have a drier slot before the next band of rain sweeps in from the west, still windy conditions and temperatures just down a touch compared to last night. perhaps even low enough locally in north—east scotland for a touch of frost. as we go through the course of tomorrow, you can see how our fronts are moving from the west towards the east but if we follow this one, we have this curl coming in back across the channel islands in back across the channel islands in southern england and the isobars

tell you that it is going to be another windy day especially with the exposure in the west. there goes the exposure in the west. there goes the rain heading towards the north sea, here is the curl bringing it back toward the channel islands, southern england, south wales, towards the midlands. towards the west, sat showers but also some spells of sunshine with highs between seven and 12. as we head on into thursday, we still have rain moving from the west towards the east and look how it curls back across scotland. some snow on the hills in scotland above about 300-400 hills in scotland above about 300—400 metres and are temperature range between seven and 11 degrees, so down just a touch compared to tuesday and wednesday. as for the outlook, well, into friday, saturday and sunday, we are not done with the rain just yet. further rain and sunday, we are not done with the rainjust yet. further rain in and sunday, we are not done with the rain just yet. further rain in the forecast for some of us but one thing of note is the temperatures, climbing, so in the north, by the time we get to sunday, we are looking at a touch compared to tuesday and wednesday. as for the outlook, well, into friday, saturday and sunday, we are not done with the

rain just yet. further rain and sunday, we are not done with the rainjust yet. further rain in and sunday, we are not done with the rain just yet. further rain in the forecast for some of us but one thing of note is the temperatures, climbing, so in the north, by the time we get to sunday, we are looking at 11 or 12 but somewhere in the south, particular the south—east, it could get as high as 17 and it looks like much the mild weather will continue into next week.

recorded on a secret phone — the words of a dubai princess held against her will by her billionaire father. i'm a hostage. this villa has been converted into a jail. all the windows are barred shut. i can't open any window. princess latifa, who was abducted and held by herfather in dubai has disappeared — it's alleged her family tricked a former head of the un human rights commission into thinking she was safe. i was misled, initially, by my good friend princess haya, because she was misled. we'll be hearing more of the princess's story in her own words and assessing the implications for her father with our diplomatic correspondent. also this lunchtime... positive news on coronavirus — numbers of deaths are down and more elderly people

are developing antibodies. the stuff we report here every day is showing an extraordinary drop of,