today at six. they gcses and a lever exam grades in england will be decided by teachers. after the controversy following last yea r�*s exa m controversy following last yea r�*s exam results the government said it's going to trust teachers this time. what do their pupils think? it's come as a relief to me. i'm sure it has to the majority of a—level students. up and down the country. it feels as though it's the best option for this situation we find ourselves in. but there are questions about fairness — is one teacher's a grade another�*s b grade? also tonight... a culture of secrets and cover—up that is _ a culture of secrets and cover—up that is only — a culture of secrets and cover—up that is only growing, and it's all taking _ that is only growing, and it's all taking place on nicola sturgeon's

watch _ the allegations flying around the scottish parliament as the first minister is accused of misleading msps. it used to be possible in this country to have rigorous, robust scrutiny and political debate without a scorched earth policy of conspiracy theory and damaging the integrity of the independent institutions of the country. questions over the fate of shamsa, another dubai princess, missing for 20 years. why was a cambridgeshire police investigation closed? a five—day match done and dusted injust two. a wicket bonanza as england go down in the third test against india. and coming up in sport on bbc news... scotland's match with france in the six nations on sunday is postponed, after an 11th french player tests positive for coronavirus.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. after last year's exam fiasco — when grades were decided by an algorithm — this year the government has opted to pass the responsibility of gcse and a—level grades on to teachers. with so much term time lost and exams cancelled, pupils in england will be assessed only on what they've been taught. there are several ways in which teachers will be able to determine grades — from mock exams, coursework, essays and optional tests provided by exam boards. results will be published earlier in august to allow more time for the extra appeals that are expected. today's announcement follows similar moves in scotland, wales and northern ireland.

but there are concerns about the fairness of the approach, and that vexed issue of grade inflation. our education editor branwen jeffreys reports from ashton—under—lyne. schools will be testing all pupils when they return — but for covid, not their grades. check in the mirror that you're going to the right place. when year 11s are back, any work could count. a lot of pressure has been put on all of us... this is the crucial gcse year for elliott and elizabeth. it would let me get into the colleges and universities i want to go to. relief today that teachers will decide what counts towards their grades. i find it better, because i get under pressure a lot more in exams, so i think, whilst i'm comfortable in my lessons, i think it's a lot better for me. i'm perfectly fine with it, because i'm comfortable with my teachers and i know them well, and i know that the work i've done in lessons should

get me a good grade. this is the least worst option, mps were told today. our approach in the face of the worst disruption to education since the second world war has been to protect the progress of pupils and students. now, for the first time, he said he trusts teachers. i can't help wondering why he only trusts teachers when there's a chance to make them responsible for what happens with exams. if grades go up a lot this year, then teenagers who benefit and their families aren't likely to complain immediately. but if they're massively out of line with other years, then they won't hold their value in the long term, and of course not everyone will get the results they want, leaving schools to tread a very tricky, difficult path. for each pupil, in every subject, they have to look at the evidence — where more is needed, the school will use extra exam questions provided.

for some students, these questions that are being set nationally will have greater weighting, because we need them. but for some students it won't be such a weighting, so if we can work on both the gcse grade and their progression, then it should ease that challenge. but yes, i do worry that it is a bit of a hospital pass from government. a—level students, at home around the country, told us they want a level playing field. i'm more concerned as to whether some colleges inflate grades whereas others do not, and i think that could lead to a lot of discrepancies. this was probably the fairest way for us to be assessed, _ just because of the stress exams will have caused us. _ the regulator told me it will be different from the chaos of last year. teachers knew that the proposed grades would be put into a giant

mixing pot and spiced up with the mysterious algorithm, and of course, as you know, the algorithm isn't going to be used this year, so teachers will recognise that the grades they recommend are the grades that students will end up getting. schools do have their work cut out, welcoming back every year group, and byjune telling pupils what they'll use to work out grades. branwen jeffreys, bbc news, manchester. now, let's take a look at the latest official figures. there were 9,985 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. it means an average of 10,189 new cases were recorded per day in the last week. the number of people in hospital with coronavirus is falling — currently its 16,059. in the last 2a hours — 323 deaths have been recorded — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test. on average — 383 deaths were announced every day in the past week.

the total number of people who've died is 122,070. now on to the vaccination programme, nearly 449,000 people had their first dose of a vaccine in the latest 2a hour period. this means nearly 18.7 million people have now had their first vaccination. well, the uk's coronavirus alert level has today been lowered — from level five to level four — in all four nations. 0ur health editor hugh pym joins me now. hugh, what difference does this make? this doesn't make any difference to the easing of restrictions already announced in the uk's four nations. reviews on that are carried out by ministers. this is the uk's chief medical officers together giving their assessment of the level of risk. the system was set up in may of last year and for much of the summer and early autumn it was level

three, then a move up to level four in september as cases began to really take off. on january four this year, the day england went into a new lockdown and the uk's other nations were making similar moves, it was a move up to level five. that is defined by the uk's medical officers feeling there was a material risk of the nhs being overwhelmed within three weeks if no action was taken. now the movies back to level four, because, as the cmo is say, hospital numbers have been consistently declining and there is no further immediate risk to the nhs. but they say people will have to remain vigilant, as there is still pressure on health care services. still pressure on health care services-_ still pressure on health care services. , ., ~ , ., conspiracy, cover—up and corruption — just some of the allegations and accusations being flung around the scottish parliament today. both labour and the conservatives have rounded on first minister nicola sturgeon,

raising questions over when she first knew about the sexual harassment claims against her one—time friend, mentor and predecessor, alex salmond — and whether she misled the parliament about key dates. as our scotland editor sarah smith reports, the row pits the two most dominant figures in scottish politics against each other. sarah. when alex salmond gives evidence tomorrow, _ sarah. when alex salmond gives evidence tomorrow, in _ sarah. when alex salmond gives evidence tomorrow, in public, i sarah. when alex salmond gives evidence tomorrow, in public, in| evidence tomorrow, in public, in front of a holyrood enquiry, he will make absolutely explosive allegations, claiming there was a high—level plot, a high—level conspiracy, to destroy him, and accusing nicola sturgeon of lying to parliament, something she completely denies. today in parliament she was facing allegations her government is trying conceal evidence. two old friends, now calling each other liars. mr salmond has set out his version of events in written evidence to a holyrood enquiry. some parts of which have now been removed

for legal reasons, including his claim that nicola sturgeon is not telling the truth about when she first learned of sexual harassment complaints against him. scottish conservatives think they smell conspiracy. conservatives think they smell conspiracy-_ conservatives think they smell consira . , , ~ , conspiracy. does the first minister understand — conspiracy. does the first minister understand why — conspiracy. does the first minister understand why the _ conspiracy. does the first minister understand why the public, - conspiracy. does the first minister understand why the public, to - conspiracy. does the first minister understand why the public, to the | understand why the public, to the public, _ understand why the public, to the public, this looks like a cover—up, when _ public, this looks like a cover—up, when the — public, this looks like a cover—up, when the exact evidence that has been _ when the exact evidence that has been redacted as the most damaging to her— been redacted as the most damaging to her personally?— to her personally? nicola sturgeon firmly denies _ to her personally? nicola sturgeon firmly denies any _ to her personally? nicola sturgeon firmly denies any kind _ to her personally? nicola sturgeon firmly denies any kind of _ to her personally? nicola sturgeon i firmly denies any kind of government interference with evidence submitted to the holyrood enquiry. the scrutiny to — to the holyrood enquiry. the scrutiny to me _ to the holyrood enquiry. the scrutiny to me is, _ to the holyrood enquiry. the scrutiny to me is, as - to the holyrood enquiry. the scrutiny to me is, as i - to the holyrood enquiry. tie: scrutiny to me is, as i said earlier, it is important, necessary, entirely legitimate. what is not legitimate is to pursue a conspiracy theory, a scorched earth policy, that threatens the reputation and integrity of scotland's independent justice institutions, just because you happen to dislike this government.— you happen to dislike this covernment. _, ., ,, ., government. nicola sturgeon ori . inall government. nicola sturgeon originally told _ government. nicola sturgeon originally told parliament - government. nicola sturgeon| originally told parliament that government. nicola sturgeon - originally told parliament that the first she knew of harassment complaints against alex salmond was on the 2nd of april 2018 when he

told her at a meeting in her home. she later had to admit she had forgotten about another meeting on the 29th of march with alex salmond's former chief of staff, when he says the complaints were discussed. and then admit she had been told about separate allegations of sexual misconduct by alex salmond in november of 2017. if it is determined she misled parliament she will be expected to resign. certain paragraphs of alex salmond's written evidence have been edited out because the prosecution service said they had grave concerns they could identify one of the women who accused alex salmond of sexual assault. 0pposition parties are suspicious because these are also paragraphs in which alex salmond accuses nicola sturgeon of not telling the truth. irate accuses nicola sturgeon of not telling the truth.— accuses nicola sturgeon of not telling the truth. accuses nicola sturgeon of not tellin: the truth. ~ ., , , telling the truth. we have seen this week that there _ telling the truth. we have seen this week that there is _ telling the truth. we have seen this week that there is something - telling the truth. we have seen this| week that there is something rotten at the _ week that there is something rotten at the core — week that there is something rotten at the core of— week that there is something rotten at the core of the _ week that there is something rotten at the core of the snp. _ week that there is something rotten at the core of the snp. and - week that there is something rotten at the core of the snp. and it- week that there is something rotten at the core of the snp. and it is- at the core of the snp. and it is poisoning — at the core of the snp. and it is poisoning our— at the core of the snp. and it is poisoning our democratic- poisoning our democratic institutions. _ poisoning our democratic institutions.— poisoning our democratic institutions. ~ ., , ., institutions. what is poisoning our democratic _ institutions. what is poisoning our democratic institutions _ institutions. what is poisoning our democratic institutions in - institutions. what is poisoning our democratic institutions in my - institutions. what is poisoning our democratic institutions in my viewj democratic institutions in my view our politicians are standing up and

hurling assertions and accusations without a shred of evidence. applause to back them up. applause to back them u-. _, ., applause to back them u. ., ,, ., to back them up. nicola sturgeon sa s she to back them up. nicola sturgeon says she doesn't _ to back them up. nicola sturgeon says she doesn't believe - to back them up. nicola sturgeon says she doesn't believe alex - says she doesn't believe alex salmond will be able to produce any evidence to reduce his claims when he appears before the holyrood enquiry tomorrow. she will give evidence next week. studio: sarah smith reporting. with just days to go before rishi sunak�*s budget, the former chancellor phillip hammond has said the government must risk unpopularity and tell "some difficult home truths". lord hammond said dealing with the pandemic had been the financial equivalent of "fighting a war". next week's budget will take place against the backdrop of the biggest contraction of the economy on record. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. a lonely welder where dozens should be — a firm eking out a shrunken workload to keep going. covid's cost our health, but our country's finances too. and it's personal. staff are just stressed, depressed. there's just a real malaise setting in.

since this third lockdown's kicked in, our sales have dropped quite considerably. we're probably 35—40% down from where we should be right now. we're the sort of company where we share the pain, so everyone has had to have their hours dropped. in this one county, more than 100,000 people are being paid temporarily by the taxpayer on furlough. nearly 70,000 people are out of work — doors closed, boats tied up. and there's another reason for hard times here. this oyster farm was told again and again they'd still be able to sell to the eu. but on this beach lies around £250,000 worth of shellfish they can't get across the channel. we're not in good position. long term, if it's not viable, the people on the farm will lose theirjobs. you know, i can't carry on subsidising the business, it's set up on a business model that is nonexistent. the cash flow from those oysters sitting on the farm is pretty substantial. ministers say they're trying to fix that specific problem, but pushing on has been hard graft —

to stop the economy crashing through the floor, the government has spent an almost unimaginable amount. there is no chance the government is going to suddenly strip away the emergency support that has kept much of the economy going through these hard months, but the pandemic has ushered in big government — and even bigger bills. the tory chancellor has become a big spender and faces historically difficult political choices about the purse strings. the economy is still so fragile, so how and when should the cost of covid be confronted? the debt is likely to last for decades, but the former chancellor reckons ministers have to start worrying about the cash day to day. my fear is that, as a populist government, giving money away is always easier than collecting it in, and the government will be tempted not to move quickly. i'm not sure that the top leadership

of the current government really has that appetite for being unpopular in order to do the right thing. and to do the right thing for the economy, the prime minister needs to be willing to be unpopular, you're saying? i think he's going to have to tell the british people some difficult home truths. in crisis, though, there is often opportunity. years in the planning, the owners of this new maidstone distillery turned their hand to something else. we actually ended up making hand sanitiser before we indeed actually made or were selling our first spirits. someone did say to us, - "i think you're the first distillery in history that the first thing to leave the doors was handj sanitiser and not gin, you know!" the treasury says rishi sunak will be honest about the overdraft — new taxes on business to help pay back are in the mix. but in the main, expect the chancellor to reassure on wednesday — big changes impossible perhaps until the hardships gone. laura kuenssberg, bbc news.

the time is 6:15. our top story this evening: gcse and a—level exam grades in england will be decided by teachers, after similar moves in scotland, wales and northern ireland. and coming up, the pandemic has been tough on all of us, but spare a thought for the young people who've had to shield. coming up on sportsday on bbc news, all the reaction to an extraordinary day of cricket in ahmedabad, where 17 wickets fell in two sessions, as england suffered their first test defeat inside two days since 1921. last week, we reported on the plight of princess latifa who says she is being held captive by her father, sheikh mohammed, the ruler of dubai. now, in a letter obtained by the bbc, she has appealed to uk police to re—investigate the kidnapping of her older sister, princess shamsa, from a cambridge

street more than 20 years ago. a police investigation at the time was closed, and there have been questions about why that happened. our correspondent nawal al—maghafi has been following the story. sheikh mohammed rashid al maktoum — the billionaire ruler of dubai and one of the most powerful men in the middle east. last week, the bbc released secret recordings of his daughter princess latifa. i'm a hostage, and this villa has been converted into a jail, all the windows are barred shut, i can't open any window... in them, she claims he is responsible for her abduction and imprisonment. the messages sparked international concerns. but latifa is not the only daughter of sheikh mohammed to try to escape. 20 years ago, her sister shamsa ran away from the family estate in surrey. in 2000, my sister shamsa, while she was on holiday in england, she was 18 years old, going on 19,

she ran away. so, yeah, after two months, they found her. the police launched an investigation, but it hit a dead end. now the bbc has obtained exclusive letter written by princess latifa from her captivity. in it, a plea to reopen her sister's case. the letter, delivered by her friends yesterday to cambridgeshire police, says... cambridgeshire police have told us the letter will be considered in their ongoing review of shamsa's case. we have pieced together shamsa's extraordinary story. she was a passionate horse rider and loved spending summers at her father's estate in the surrey countryside. shamsa was cheeky, liked to push all the boundaries. and she wasn't what you would

call "a princess", you know? she was full of life and adventure. she dreamt of going to university but says that her father wouldn't allow it. so in the summer of the year 2000, she drove a black range rover to the edge of the estate, and she ran away. after shamsa escaped her father's estate, she lived as a free woman for around two months. she then checked into this hotel in cambridge. suddenly, her father's operatives arrived, and she was captured. by sam the next morning, she was on a helicopter to northern france, where she was transferred to a private jet that took her to dubai. six months later, from her captivity in dubai, she managed to get word of what happened to her to a lawyer in the uk who contacted the police. dci david beck received the news. it's not every day| that an allegation involving a head of state lands

on a police officer's desk. - in 2001, dci david beck needed to go to dubai to speak to shamsa. he applied through the crown prosecution service. and that's effectively where - my investigation came to an end, because a short while later, i was informed that _ my request had been declined. he was later told by a senior colleague that the investigation had some significant sensitivities. the london office of the princess's father, sheikh mohammed al maktoum, had contacted the fco about this. the foreign office told us that the investigation was conducted by cambridgeshire police. and that they had no role in the investigation or its outcome. but they declined to answer any of our questions about the communication between them and sheikh mohammed al maktoum's office. shamsa was kept locked up for the next eight years. she was then released from confinement, but her life remained heavily controlled. we spoke to someone

who had regular contact with after she was released. she was tranquilised all the time. everything she did was controlled. there was no spark in her any more. there was no fight in her. and i understand that people can't get their head around it. theyjust see some rich girl. it's not like that at all. it's horrific. the uae government maintain that shamsa and latifa are cherished and adored by theirfamily. they are yet to prove that they are still alive and well. nawal al—maghafi, bbc news. the number of people sleeping rough in england fell sharply last year, a fall of more than a third compared with 2019. there's widespread acknowledgement that the government's everyone in scheme has helped, but there are concerns that rising unemployment and the financial pressures of the pandemic, might undo the gains. michael buchanan has the story.

it is just really cold and dark, it is just uncomfortable. it isjust really cold and dark, it isjust uncomfortable. lawrence s - ent isjust uncomfortable. lawrence spent several — isjust uncomfortable. lawrence spent several months _ isjust uncomfortable. lawrence spent several months in - isjust uncomfortable. lawrence spent several months in 2019 i spent several months in 2019 sleeping on london streets after his father died and he could no longer stay in the family home. last spring, the 20—year—old was offered accommodation to protect him from the pandemic. t accommodation to protect him from the pandemic-— the pandemic. i am glad the coronavirus _ the pandemic. i am glad the coronavirus happened, - the pandemic. i am glad the i coronavirus happened, because the pandemic. i am glad the - coronavirus happened, because i got put into a hotel, so it was great, actually. i mean, there was a tv on the wall, ijust actually. i mean, there was a tv on the wall, i just forgot about being homeless. the wall, i 'ust forgot about being homeless. �* , ., ., ., homeless. because of covid, we have not these homeless. because of covid, we have got these new— homeless. because of covid, we have got these new hotels _ homeless. because of covid, we have got these new hotels now... - got these new hotels now... unprecedented levels of support i've seen the number of rough sleepers in england four by 30 7% in one year to just —— fall by 37% in one year. the pandemic has been an incredible opportunity reduce rough sleeping. we have helped people in off the

streets, we now know where they are, we have been able to put wraparound care around them, notjust for housing but importantly for substance abuse and mental health. today's figures are a snapshot that the pandemic is creating new homeless people, some who turn to charities to get by. here in the london borough of southwark, applications for homelessness assistance are up 48% on last year. i mean, it is completely unprecedented, just as we are able to support — unprecedented, just as we are able to support people and get them into a self—contained warm place to sleep. — a self—contained warm place to sleep. the _ a self—contained warm place to sleep, the new people are becoming homeless _ sleep, the new people are becoming homeless and arriving on the street. i homeless and arriving on the street. i ended _ homeless and arriving on the street. i ended up— homeless and arriving on the street. i ended up sitting for most of the night at a bus stop. you have some deep dark thoughts, how has it come to this? in deep dark thoughts, how has it come to this? ., , ., ~', , to this? in a few short weeks, this man went — to this? in a few short weeks, this man went from _ to this? in a few short weeks, this man went from working _ to this? in a few short weeks, this man went from working in - to this? in a few short weeks, this man went from working in a - to this? in a few short weeks, this man went from working in a hotel| to this? in a few short weeks, this i man went from working in a hotel on gold coast in australia to pounding the pavements of london alone. the 25—year—old became homeless in april

when he returned to britain and the live— in hoteljob he had lined up disappeared to coronavirus. t disappeared to coronavirus. i remember dozing off against this pane of glass behind me, ijust remember an immense feeling of fear and unsure about what was ahead through the early hours of the morning, what my next steps way. he was given a bed in a hostel and morning, what my next steps way. he was given a bed in a hosteland is was given a bed in a hostel and is optimistic of soon getting a job. preventing others from becoming homeless will be a key post—lockdown challenge. michael buchanan, bbc news. let's take a look at some of today's other news. asda has started talking to staff about a major restructuring process which could see 3,000 office jobs being lost. the supermarket says it needs to change the way it works, because of the shift towards online shopping. but it said the plans will mean the creation of a,500 separate jobs in its online operations this year and will look to hire staff hit by the potential cuts. scotland's six nations match away to france on sunday has been postponed after another french player tested positive

for the coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the squad to 16. scotland coach gregor townsend insists the match must be rescheduled for a day when his top players are available and not committed to their club sides. european leaders have been meeting to work out how to speed up the rollout of vaccines across the continent. in some parts of the eu, vaccination rates are one fifth of the rate here. and some places are now reporting a reluctance to take the astrazeneca vaccine, after some countries incorrectly raised questions about its efficacy, especially for older patients. the focus of the vaccine rollout so far has largely been on over—70s. but it's also included nearly 200,000 young people from across the uk who are classed as extremely clinically vulnerable and who've been shielding for much of the past year. daniela relph has been hearing from some of them. the day you get your first vaccine,

when you're 22 years old and have been shielding on and off for almost a year, is a big moment. do you want to come and wait down here? it's quite emotional. i'm very excited about it, it does really mean a lot to me. this is your vaccination card, today you're receiving. the astrazeneca vaccine. hope stephens has crohn's — an inflammation of the digestive system. she's spent months thinking about being here, in the vaccine centre, getting herjab. feeling more emotional than i thought i would be. i don't think i realised quite how much of a big step it could be. when a young life has felt so restricted for so long, the vaccine has brought a major shift in mood. a significant day for me, and it's given me a lot of hope, really, that soon things might start to change for the better. ffion here! as you all know, there are police out and about... ffion gwyther is 2a, an actor, and has down's syndrome. during lockdown, she's dressed up to lift spirits. right, you lot,

you are not listening! amongst the first to be offered the vaccine, she recorded every step of the way. if you are offered the vaccine, go and have it. what difference do you think it makes, having the vaccine? what did it mean to you to have the vaccine? it means that we can move on, ithink, _ what we can do in the future. i was thinking i was excited to have it and how lucky i am to have the vaccine that early. aditutu ojo has lupus — a condition that affects the immune system. she was worried about having the vaccine at first but did some research and changed her mind. when i went to the vaccination centre, there was definitely a positive vibe, and people were sort of, you know, i could sense hope. definitely looking to get into a better position than we are now. i just want to do things that make me happy, do things that sparkjoy. for all these young women,

the first vaccine has offered the promise of a fuller life ahead. nothing to be worried about, go and have the jab! daniela relph, bbc news. cricket, and after an astonishing day's play, india have beaten england by ten wickets to win the third test in ahmedabad. there was a thrilling fightback by england, bowling india out for 145, but india's spinners then bowled the tourists out forjust 81 runs. joe wilson reports on the game that finished inside two days. all traces of batsmen removed, even reason brushed away in thursday's dust. well, england began needing wickets. jack leach struck. if only they had another spin bowler. well, they do, it'sjoe root. oh, there we go! rishabh pant fell to the captain's first ball — it couldn't get better, until it did. root to washington sundar. absolute beauty from root!

look back in anguish — yeah, clean bowled. india 145 all out, a lead ofjust 33. joe root took five wickets for eight runs. remember, strictly speaking, he's not even a bowler. well, come back quick with your bat. in the battle of who scores less, england then excelled. 0h, a wicket on the very first delivery! crawley and bairstow fell with a score of none. the shiny pink ball slid and deceived on the dry earth. ben stokes and joe root fell, like so many. ravichandran ashwin to ollie pope. well, how do i play that? england's second innings — 81 all out. it meant india needed 49 to win. it meantjoy — unless you had tickets for friday. rohit sharma hit the winning runs with maximum impact. especially on the bowler, england's captain. it's been tough, you can see it's been tough on their guys as well, who are more used to

these conditions than we are. but we just had to keep trying to find a way, trying to explore, to experiment. root says the authorities should decide if this pitch was fit for purpose. well, there's a week to prepare for the final test — and to try to forget this one. joe wilson, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. another mild day today, but compared with the crazy temperatures yesterday, when we had highs of 18 degrees, still above average, but we have changed where the weather is coming from. yesterday it was southern europe, north africa, but today from the atlantic, leaving the extreme heat more focused across europe. it is worth mentioning there have been a number of cities that have been a number of cities that have set a new february temperature records, really pretty unusual weather. overnight tonight, high pressure building in, a combination

of clear skies and light winds, a