this is bbc news. the headlines at 7pm. six cases of a coronavirus "variant of concern" that was first detected in brazil have been identified in the uk. plans for a £5 billion grant scheme in england for high street businesses hit by covid—19, as the chancellor says he'll continue to protect people through the pandemic. it's difficult out there for many of these businesses. they've been brilliant at trying to adapt. we want to support them as they reopen, and i want people to be reassured that we will have

support in place to help them move along the prime minister's road map as we move forward on that path. more than 20 million people in the uk have now received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. free rapid covid tests to be offered to families in england as children go back to school. and the bloodiest day of the military coup in myanmar. one month after the army took charge. the un says security forces have shot dead at least 18 protesters. and the coronation street actorjohnny briggs, who played mike baldwin in the itv soap, has died at the age of 85.

public health england has identified the first cases in the uk of a coronavirus variant first detected in northern brazil. there's concern the manaus variant may be more transmissible, and less likely to respond to a vaccine than the original virus. five out of the six cases are linked to travel from brazil. the national medical director for nhs england, professor stephen powis, says the country is well placed to deal with them. we expected to see this, we will see lots of minor variants occurring and some will have some importance, so it is important that we continue to sequence. the good news in the uk is that we have a lot of capacity to sequence samples and therefore get the mutations and the genetic code. we have good contact tracing in place as well. of course, the third bit of news is that the vaccines that are being used for covid can be adapted very rapidly, so it is likely that if we do need to change the vaccine,

that can be done in months, rather than in years, which was the case with the more traditional vaccines. our health correspondent jim reed is here now. tell us, what do we know about this variant and why it is a particular source of concern?— source of concern? rather confusingly _ source of concern? rather confusingly there - source of concern? rather confusingly there are - source of concern? rather confusingly there are two | source of concern? rather - confusingly there are two different variants from brazil. one is p1, the other is p two, which is not very different from the standard version we are used to. the other one, p1, is the one scientists are more concerned about. that is the one we have six cases confirmed in the uk. very similar in certain ways to the south african variant we talk about, mutations in the part of the virus likely to make it more transmissible. could potentially make a vaccine less effective. in

manaus in northern brazil where this was discovered, it was linked with higher levels of reinfection, people who had had coronavirus before appeared to be getting it again with this variant. at what level, we are not sure, but some indication that in the case. three cases found in england, we think three in england, one we are not sure about. but as the professor said there, no surprise we are noticing this and we shouldn't be too concerned. this was always going to happen as the vaccine roll—out continued. as we get used to more and different variants emerging in the uk. the difficulty is _ variants emerging in the uk. the difficulty is the _ variants emerging in the uk. the difficulty is the nature of viruses is they evolve and any opportunity they get to change and protect themselves so they can keep replicating is kind of what they do, and if not one step ahead, we have to be ready. and if not one step ahead, we have to be ready-— to be ready. that is white, and the government _ to be ready. that is white, and the government strategy _ to be ready. that is white, and the government strategy is _ to be ready. that is white, and the government strategy is twofold. i to be ready. that is white, and the l government strategy is twofold. one is looking at whether we need to

tweak vaccines to deal with new variants. —— that is right. we might need a boosterjab in the autumn, and if we do it shouldn't be difficult to make these changes, which is what the scientists are saying. the other thing is rolling out surge testing. even if we just see one or two cases of the variants, they try to hammer down on it and test everyone in the local area whether they have symptoms or not. that is what they are doing here. a couple of these cases were found from people that flew from sao paulo in brazil to zurich in switzerland and then to heathrow. so they are asking anyone else on that flight to get in touch with them straight away. flan flight to get in touch with them straight away-— straight away. can i pick up on that? i heard _ straight away. can i pick up on that? i heard you _ straight away. can i pick up on that? i heard you saying - straight away. can i pick up on that? i heard you saying this l straight away. can i pick up on | that? i heard you saying this to straight away. can i pick up on - that? i heard you saying this to tim an hour ago. that? i heard you saying this to tim an hourago. if that? i heard you saying this to tim an hour ago. if they were on a flight and the government knows which like they are one, why doesn't the government ask the flight —— the airline for a passenger list, it seems an odd way to go about? yes.

seems an odd way to go about? yes, and that is exactly _ seems an odd way to go about? yes, and that is exactly what _ seems an odd way to go about? is: and that is exactly what the scottish authorities are doing. we know these people blue from london to aberdeen and they say they are contacting everyone on the london to aberdeen leg to speak to them. so quite why the authorities are asking people to come forward in the english example, we are not quite sure. the other thing they are struggling with is the sixth and last case discovered. this struggling with is the sixth and last case discovered.— last case discovered. this is in south gloucestershire. - last case discovered. this is in south gloucestershire. we - south gloucestershire. we don't know, south gloucestershire. we don't know. there _ south gloucestershire. we don't know, there are _ south gloucestershire. we don't know, there are two _ south gloucestershire. we don't know, there are two in - south gloucestershire. we don't know, there are two in south . know, there are two in south gloucestershire which came through from zurich. they have done everything by the book, they have self isolated. the other case, the six case, they are more concerned because they don't know who the person is. they filled out a home test where you send it out and send it back, but they didn't fill out the registration card. so all they haveis the registration card. so all they have is a positive test which looks like the brazilian variant... it is not their fault, _

like the brazilian variant... it is not their fault, they _ like the brazilian variant... it is not their fault, they do need somebody to think about, well, did i send a test and still haven't had a result? .,. , send a test and still haven't had a result? .. , , ., send a test and still haven't had a result? , i. ., , , ., result? exactly, if you applied for a test on february _ result? exactly, if you applied for a test on february 12-13 - result? exactly, if you applied for a test on february 12-13 in - result? exactly, if you applied for. a test on february 12-13 in england a test on february 12—13 in england or possibly scotland and you haven't received your results, you need to get in touch with them urgently to see if you are the person they are trying to track down. jinn. see if you are the person they are trying to track down.— see if you are the person they are trying to track down. jim, as ever, thank yon — the latest figures from the government on coronavirus show that there were 6,035 new confirmed infections in the latest 24—hour period. it means an average of 8,721 cases per day were recorded over the past week. in the last 2a hours, 144 deaths have been reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test. this number is often lower on sundays. because of delays in reporting over the weekend. on average, 324 deaths were announced every day in the past week.

it brings the total number of people who've died to 122,849. the vaccination statistics show 407,503 people had their first dose of a vaccine in the latest 24—hour period. which means, as we've heard, more than 20 million people have now had theirfirstjab. another interesting figure. ahead of the budget on wednesday, the chancellor rishi sunak has signalled the government will continue to support people and businesses through the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic — and he announced a grant scheme worth five billion pounds, to help pubs, restaurants, shops and other businesses in england to re—open. but with the government spending a massive £271 billion this year on fighting covid and its effects on the economy, mr sunak also said

he wanted to level with people about the challenges ahead. here's our political correspondent damian grammaticus. it's in the air, a sense of change, a hint of spring and the pandemic waning. but still there are months left to go until restrictions lift. so today the chancellor was signalling the support in place for firms and families will stay. so weighing on his mind is the debt, £270 billion and rising, all of which will have to be paid. my priority is to keep supporting british families, businesses and people through this crisis. i said at the beginning i would do whatever it took and i remain committed to that. borrow, borrow, borrow? the right thing to do now is to support the economy. but i want to level with people about the challenges we face. coronavirus has had an enormous shock to our economy and public finances and i think it's right to be honest with people

about that challenge and our plan to address that. labour says he is planning to increase corporation tax and plans to do it soon so he can cut it before the next election. but he should be focusing on national needs not party ones. talking to businesses across the country, what they are really concerned about is confidence. they don't want to see a chancellor focused on politics, focused on getting changes through right now so he can wash his hands of them before the next election. they want the focus on jobs and businesses and sadly that's not what we've seen from this chancellor. but rishi sunak said that was not his plan. i don't recognise that. given the shock we have had over the last year and the economic uncertainty we face, it would be brave for people to know exactly what was going to happen in three years. labour says the government handling of the pandemic and the timing

of lockdowns contributed to having the severe, this country having the most severe lockdown. rishi sunak says it is important for a conservative government to be seen to be acting responsibly after an enormous amount of borrowing. i definitely feel financial spending needs to be prioritised for some industries. more than raising taxes and paying the debt? maybe you could raise taxes with certain people? i know there are definitely some friends in certain industries, like consultancy, sitting at home raking it in. it's a big hit to small businesses across the entire uk. giving them support enough to start again and weaning them off so they don't crash, because at the end of the day, with brexit and the pandemic, it's really important to get the economy back on track, going upwards. mr sunak, it's reported, may also freeze income tax thresholds, so over time people are more likely to find themselves paying the higher rate.

however it is done, sooner or later, the debt will have to be addressed. as we've been hearing, the one budget measure that has been announced is £5 billion for high street shops and businesses in england, to support them as they reopen after lockdown. it's been welcomed by many, but others say they will still struggle without more support and tax breaks, as our business correspondent katie prescott reports. a terrace, tables, sunshine, all that is missing from this bar is the punters. but with the prospect of welcoming them back here soon, this publican says he had a spring in his step. i think the demand is great from customers. that is really encouraging. the demand is great from our staff, they already messaging asking when am i coming back? demand is great from suppliers saying, we need to open our businesses as well, the window cleaners and the gardeners, everyone needs

to get back to work. to help them reopen, the government is offering grants to businesses in england forced to close by covid. scotland, wales and northern ireland will separately receive an extra £800 million in funding. in wednesday's budget, nonessential retailers will receive £6,000 for each shop they own, hospitality, gyms and beauty businesses will receive £18,000 per premises as they will open with more restrictions or later in the year. overall, 700,000 businesses will be eligible for the funds. what businesses like these really want to see as they reopen is a far broader package of measures from the budget. and information about what will happen to key schemes such as furlough and business loans which are due to come to an end. like the owner of this salon, who wants to know salon, who wants to know if business rates relief will continue.

£18,000 is fantastic. it's certainly something and it will help a lot of people. but it's not going to help me and the larger salons, many of us are losing over £1000 a day. permanent closing time is also a discussion for the pubs. these little crumbs of acknowledgement and the little grants that come out really probably less than cover the cost for one month of shutting. that might help some small businesses to reopen, but the truth is, the damage has been done is very severe and will need much more substantial package. but substantial packages are expensive, and businesses suspect the chancellor could look to them in the budget to help plug the hole in the nation's finances. as he navigates spending to support the economy with balancing the books. twice—weekly rapid coronavirus tests are to be made available to families in england when children return to school. adults working with children — such as bus drivers

and after—school club leaders — will also be offered them. it's hoped the programme will reduce the chances of cases increasing when pupils return to classrooms on the eighth of march. our health correspondent, naomi grimley, reports. if you live with a school—age child in england, get ready to start using these — the 30—minute tests also called lateral flow tests are already used in universities and by key workers. and secondary schools will be supplied with them as they open their doors again. but this latest announcement means all children and anyone who lives with them, as well as people like school bus drivers and carers, will be offered two tests per person each week. health officials hope it will uncover hidden cases of the virus and break the chains of transmission. testing has expanded greatly over the last few months and it is one important component of our battle against coronavirus. if anyone tests positive, they will still need a laboratory—assessed test to double—check the result. naomi grimley, bbc news.

prince charles has thanked teachers for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic. he made the comments in a video message to the pti, an organisation that supports teachers. the prince said teaching had never been an easyjob. i'm very pleased to take this opportunity to thank all the dedicated teachers across the country, and all the generous supporters of the pti, for your continuing commitment to nurturing the next generation in these particularly challenging times. i must say i'm enormously suppressed by all that i've heard about what you are managing to achieve. despite the many difficulties you have faced. last term, the challenges were coping with teaching in a different way because of social distancing. at the same time as dealing with the mountain of logistical challenges of running a school

with staff and student illness, remote teaching, bubbles, constant hand washing, deep cleaning. the list goes on and on. then this year began with a new lockdown. and with changes to arrangements for summer exams. these are unpredictable times for us all. i just want to let you know that your dogged determination to do the best for your students is certainly not going unnoticed. i am full of admiration for all your efforts, so often unseen. today has been by far the bloodiest day on the streets of myanmar since the military seizure of power there last month, with at least 18 people killed as security forces used live rounds and tear gas against protestors. it follows four weeks of largely peaceful demonstrations

following the coup, in which government leaders, including aung san suu kyi, were overthrown and detained by the army. the foreign office has condemned the violence as "abhorrent" and the un secretary general antonio guterres says he is deeply disturbed. paul adams reports. gunfire and screaming four weeks after the military�*s coup. demonstrators remain defiant, but myanmar�*s streets are more and more dangerous. today's violence marked a new, ominous turn. the military no longer able to argue that it is exercising restraint. in the largest city of yangon, the police were out in force, early, reinforced by the army. tear gas and stun grenades seem to have little effect. protesters have started erecting makeshift barricades, gone is the carnival atmosphere

of some of the early demonstrations. this is morphing into something much more deadly. the military apparently determined to gain the upper hand. when gunfire rings out, they run for their lives. more live fire and more injuries in the southern city of dawei, three people shot dead here. ambulances racing injured protesters to hospital, doctors are suddenly overwhelmed. outside, the anxious search for news. all across myanmar, the same demand. the release of the country's elected leader, the whereabouts of aung san suu kyi remain uncertain. she faces another court hearing on monday, her lawyer says he still has not been able to meet her. terrified families grab furtive glimpses of events outside. it is increasingly difficult

and dangerous to record events on the street. the distress and fear are palpable. across the country, the number of arrests is soaring. more than 800 before the weekend, hundreds more in the past two days. the coup has been condemned around the world. new sanctions applied as well. so far, to little effect. myanmar is descending into chaos, with no sign of a way out. former us president donald trump will be the main attraction at a conservative conference in florida later, in his first public appearance since leaving the white house injanuary. the annual conservative political action conference is the first big gathering of republican party supporters since the presidential election and is seen as a key event determining the future direction of the conservative movement

clarkjudge is the founder and managing director the white house writers group. he was also speech writer and special assistant to president ronald reagan. clark, thank you for being with us on bbc news, it is good to have your knowledge and experience to draw on. what sort of tone do you think mr trump will be seeking during the course of his speech? valediction or something else? bier? course of his speech? valediction or something else?— course of his speech? valediction or something else? very much about the -a 's something else? very much about the party's future- — something else? very much about the party's future- we _ something else? very much about the party's future. we understand - something else? very much about the party's future. we understand he - party's future. we understand he will call against a third party movement, but he will take on some of his critics within the party. he will look more intently at the biden administration and what it's been

doing, and talk about it as a disasterfor doing, and talk about it as a disaster for the country. in that sense, more like what you would call a traditional politician than the one we saw in the post—election period. more calling for unity on his side, looking at the work of the policies on the other.— his side, looking at the work of the policies on the other. there doesn't seem any doubt _ policies on the other. there doesn't seem any doubt that _ policies on the other. there doesn't seem any doubt that for _ policies on the other. there doesn't seem any doubt that for now- policies on the other. there doesn't seem any doubt that for now at - policies on the other. there doesn'tl seem any doubt that for now at least the republican party is donald trump's party. do you think any conservatives who have been supportive of him are now looking at alternatives, simply because they know american political history and they know how hard it is for a former president to come back again? well, that's bound to happen. there are some very good candidates out there. by the way, this conference this weekend is not a republican party conference.—

this weekend is not a republican party conference. sure. although most of the _ party conference. sure. although most of the speakers _ party conference. sure. although most of the speakers if _ party conference. sure. although most of the speakers if not all of them are republicans, it's a conservative conference, and that is somewhat different than what you have in the uk. fin somewhat different than what you have in the uk.— somewhat different than what you have in the uk. on that point about conservatism. _ have in the uk. on that point about conservatism, how _ have in the uk. on that point about conservatism, how much _ have in the uk. on that point about conservatism, how much credit - have in the uk. on that point about| conservatism, how much credit does donald trump get for being the president who did what many other republican presidents would have liked to do but didn't have the opportunity, not entirely in his hands, but reshaping and changing the balance of the supreme court, which presumably will have a legacy long after the current generation of republican politicians is drawing their pension? the republican politicians is drawing their pension?— republican politicians is drawing their pension? the legacy with the su - reme their pension? the legacy with the supreme court _ their pension? the legacy with the supreme court is _ their pension? the legacy with the supreme court is a _ their pension? the legacy with the supreme court is a strong - their pension? the legacy with the supreme court is a strong part - their pension? the legacy with the supreme court is a strong part of. supreme court is a strong part of his appeal. so too is his work in the lower courts. there are three tiers in the federal courts in the us. a big part of the appeals process is actually in the regional appeal court. so he gets a lot of credit for that. at the same time,

there is much more that in many ways is something that so long as the democrats don't undo it, and they will try but they probably can't, because of the thoroughness with which he filled the seats, the rates of turnover, that sort of thing. more technical reasons. he will emphasise other things as well, the economy, foreign policy, energy. aha, economy, foreign policy, energy. a brief last thought, your interdict that he will at least hint at running again? —— your instinct. i think he will speak a little bit above that. i don't think he will hint, but the vigour and focus and strength will leave no doubt that if that should happen, he would be there. . ~ , that should happen, he would be there. ., ,, , ., , , .,~ that should happen, he would be there. . ~ , ., ,, .,~ ., there. clark, very good to speak to ou, there. clark, very good to speak to you. thank — there. clark, very good to speak to you. thank you _ there. clark, very good to speak to you, thank you for _ there. clark, very good to speak to you, thank you for being _ there. clark, very good to speak to you, thank you for being with - there. clark, very good to speak to you, thank you for being with us i there. clark, very good to speak to | you, thank you for being with us on

bbc news. we will have coverage of the former president's speech from the former president's speech from the confluence live on bbc news during the evening. monday marks the start of eating disorder awareness week in the uk, and this year, the focus is on binge eating disorder. eating disorder charity beat says binge—eating disorder will affect one in 50 of us in our lifetime, and is the most common, but least understood, eating disorder. joining me now to discuss this is the director of external affairs at beat, tom quinn. can you define if possible what is understood by a binge eating disorder? it understood by a binge eating disorder? , ., , , disorder? it is an illness where eo - le disorder? it is an illness where people usually _ disorder? it is an illness where people usually cope _ disorder? it is an illness where people usually cope with - disorder? it is an illness where people usually cope with other| people usually cope with other negative feelings and emotions and they will eat a large amount of food in a very short space of time. they will often be very distressed while doing so. and afterwards, unfortunately they will often feel

ashamed or very distressed. it is an incredibly distressing illness, one incredibly distressing illness, one in six people who have an eating disorder attempt to take their own life. . , . disorder attempt to take their own life. ., , ., , ~ disorder attempt to take their own life. ., , . life. that is a shocking statistic in itself. we _ life. that is a shocking statistic in itself. we saw _ life. that is a shocking statistic in itself. we saw some - life. that is a shocking statistic in itself. we saw some figures | in itself. we saw some figures suggesting there was a fall in the number of people reporting eating disorders more generally in the last government figures available covering the summer period. but we also heard earlier from covering the summer period. but we also heard earlierfrom a psychotherapist saying, yes, but you need to see what happens when kids go back to school and teachers might pick up things that parents haven't noticed or themselves feel ashamed about, which may reflect badly on them, what their child is going through. how big a problem is this among young people?— through. how big a problem is this among young people? eating disorders are incredibly — among young people? eating disorders are incredibly important _ among young people? eating disorders are incredibly important among - among young people? eating disorders are incredibly important among all- are incredibly important among all ages. what we see with our helpline over the last year is a massive increased in the number of people talking about binge eating and other

eating disorders as well. we are hearing from some clinicians that they are not receiving as many referrals. perhaps there are even more suffering from eating disorders but they are not coming forward, which is really worrying, because all the evidence shows the need to get professional help, it is much easier to treat... get professional help, it is much easier to treat. . ._ get professional help, it is much easier to treat... easier to treat. .. some people may even be sitting _ easier to treat. .. some people may even be sitting on _ easier to treat. .. some people may even be sitting on the _ easier to treat. .. some people may even be sitting on the sofa - easier to treat. .. some people may even be sitting on the sofa next - easier to treat. .. some people may even be sitting on the sofa next to| even be sitting on the sofa next to their partner, their parents, their child, so they are not going to turn around and talk about this to the person next to them, but if you could get a message across to them, what would it be? i could get a message across to them, what would it be?— what would it be? i would say that ou ma what would it be? i would say that you may feel— what would it be? i would say that you may feel distressed _ what would it be? i would say that you may feel distressed all- what would it be? i would say that you may feel distressed all alone l you may feel distressed all alone right now but help is available. i would encourage you to talk to a loved one. it can be difficult, it can be stressful, but in our experience, people want to help so i encourage you to reach out. these

are serious illnesses. treatment and recovery is possible, but as i said, the sooner you get help, the more easy it is to treat, and to reach out for help... i would encourage people who are worried about their loved ones, in a safe environment, away from the old time, ask them how they are feeling and open up the conversation.— they are feeling and open up the conversation. ., ., �* ., ., ,, conversation. tom, from beat, thank ou so conversation. tom, from beat, thank you so much- — conversation. tom, from beat, thank you so much- -- _ conversation. tom, from beat, thank you so much. -- away _ conversation. tom, from beat, thank you so much. -- away from - conversation. tom, from beat, thank. you so much. -- away from mealtimes. if ou you so much. -- away from mealtimes. if you know _ you so much. -- away from mealtimes. if you know someone _ you so much. -- away from mealtimes. if you know someone affected - you so much. -- away from mealtimes. if you know someone affected by - you so much. -- away from mealtimes. if you know someone affected by the i if you know someone affected by the issues we have been discussing, you can contact us to find more relevant resources. bbc.co.uk/actionline.

in coronation street for 30 years, has died at the age of 85. he landed his career—defining role in 1976, his character becoming notable for a string of failed relationships, including an affair with deidre barlow. in a statement his family said he had died peacefully after "a long illness, with family by his side". now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. hello there. parts of scotland and northern ireland have quite a bit of cloud this weekend, but other areas of the country have had a fine one with plenty of sunshine around, albeit on the rather chilly side in the mornings. for this upcoming week, we keep high—pressure with us, so it'll stay mainly dry with a little bit of sunshine, could see areas of low cloud and fog which could be stubborn to clear as we move we are likely to see a frost.

generally above freezing while we hold on to the thickest cloud and fog. could be a grey and miserable start across central southern and eastern areas. any fog should burn away, increasing amount of sunshine. some of the fog and low cloud could be stubborn to clear through central and eastern areas, so it will make it feel chilly where it does. hello this is bbc news. the headlines... six cases of a coronavirus �*variant of concern' that was first detected in brazil have been identified in the uk. plans for a five—billion pound grant scheme in england for high street businesses hit by covid—19 — as the chancellor says he'll continue to protect people through the pandemic. more than 20 million people in the uk have now received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

the bloodiest day of the military coup in myanmar — the un says security forces have shot dead at least 18 protesters. now on bbc news — bill gates talks to the bbc�*sjustin rowlatt