later in the turn more unsettled later in the week. and a bit coolerfor a time across northern parts of the uk. this is bbc news, the headlines at 6: reaching a milestone — half of all adults in the uk have now had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. the health secretary hails "a phenomenal achievement". the vaccination programme is our route out of the pandemic. it will help us to protect people, and we know that these vaccines protect you, and they also protect those around you. protesters opposed to the coronavirus lockdown march through central london. police have made several arrests. europe braces itself for a third wave of coronavirus infections, with fresh lockdowns in france and poland. government science advisors warn that summer holidays overseas are "extremely unlikely" this year because of the risk of travellers bringing coronavirus variants back

to the uk. organisers of this summer's tokyo olympics and paralympics say no international fans will be allowed because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. leeds united's all—time record goalscorer, peter lorimer, has died aged 7a. and coming up in half an hour, ros atkins takes a look at why astrazeneca's vaccine has become so controversial. good evening and welcome to bbc news. official figures show that there have been a record number of coronavirus vaccinations in the uk for a second day in a row. the health secretary has said the uk is on track

to ease lockdown measures, after announcing that over half of all adults in the country had now had at least one vaccine dose. in the latest 24—hour period alone, nearly 600,000 people had theirfirstjab, bringing the total to over 26.8 million. and just over 2.1 million have now had both doses of the vaccine. despite these record numbers of vaccinations, a scientist on a government advisory body warns summer holidays overseas are "extremely unlikely" because of the risk of travellers bringing coronavirus variants back to the uk. richard galpin reports. here in germany the authorities are warning the country is now facing a third wave of coronavirus. infections rising exponentially. particularly worrying as just 8% of the population has had a first dose of vaccine.

lockdown measures are now expected. the situation also serious here in france as well as poland and other eu countries, with covid cases surging. because of the spread of the uk variant of the virus. infections starting in western europe and moving gradually east and we are seeing this particular variant, being more severe in terms of the clinical picture is leading to bigger pressure on hospitals. europe's problems are in part a result of a faltering vaccine programme and problems with deliveries, made worse by the recent suspension of the astrazeneca vaccine but many eu countries are now using it again. the situation in britain is very different from that in the eu with covid cases right down and people hoping to be able to go on a summer holiday abroad, but will it be possible given

the covid situation in the eu and other countries? we have to be vigilant and we have set out the steps in the road map that there should be no international travel unless it is absolutely necessary until the 17th of may and then the global travel taskforce will make a judgment and work with the industry on how quickly and whether we will be able to reopen and how we can reopen. so whether the government will allow holidays abroad this summer remains very uncertain. unless there is a dramatic reversal in the covid situation in europe in the coming months, it may not be possible to travel to the popular european destinations. official government data shows there were 5,587 new cases recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means on average the number

of new cases reported per day in the last week is 5,350. the number of patients in hospital with covid continues to fall, now down to 6,162. there were 96 deaths reported of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test, which means on average 94 deaths were reported every day in the past week from coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths so far to 126,122. a mass demonstration against lockdown has taken place in central london, as dozens of mps urge the government to change the law to allow peaceful protest.

police say thousands have taken to the streets, with some being detained. our home affairs correspondent tom symonds has the story. a year since the lockdown became a part of our lives. thousands took to the streets to protest against it. they called it a vigil for the voiceless. there were as many views as there were placards.— voiceless. there were as many views as there were placards. more freedom to choose what _ as there were placards. more freedom to choose what is _ as there were placards. more freedom to choose what is going _ as there were placards. more freedom to choose what is going to _ as there were placards. more freedom to choose what is going to be - to choose what is going to be injected in your body, there is no freedom to speak.— injected in your body, there is no freedom to speak. everything is a hoax and it is _ freedom to speak. everything is a hoax and it is a _ freedom to speak. everything is a hoax and it is a lie. _ freedom to speak. everything is a hoax and it is a lie. enough. - freedom to speak. everything is a | hoax and it is a lie. enough. those views include _ hoax and it is a lie. enough. those views include a _ hoax and it is a lie. enough. those views include a long _ hoax and it is a lie. enough. those views include a long list _ hoax and it is a lie. enough. those views include a long list of- views include a long list of conspiracy theories. a feeling that individual rights have been a casualty of the battle against covid, including the right to protest. the police commanderfor the event today told me he had weighed up that right against the covid rules, the blanket ban on

gatherings. covid rules, the blanket ban on gatherinqs-_ gatherings. the current health protection _ gatherings. the current health protection regulations, - gatherings. the current health - protection regulations, coronavirus regulations, are very clear that it is unlawful to meet more than one person outside or one household, which you can do for recreational purposes, and there are some exemptions but protest is not one of those. of course, a protest is not unlawful, but gatherings of this size are not safe.— unlawful, but gatherings of this size are not safe. there were not enou:h size are not safe. there were not enough officers _ size are not safe. there were not enough officers to _ size are not safe. there were not enough officers to arrest - size are not safe. there were not. enough officers to arrest everyone taking part. watching from this control room, the plan was to manage the numbers down. there were protests around the world. this was germany. people marched in austria too. in london, this evening, the protesters had broken up into smaller groups. police say... inaudible.

this was the original place where the protest happened. you can see the protest happened. you can see the police there trying to disperse protesters. the numbers here, a lot smaller, and it's relatively easy to disperse them, because there is no risk of people running into the traffic, no danger because you are on parkland. trying to reduce the numbers, they obviously want to prevent a congregation of people. really don't want a rerun of the events last week at the vigil for sarah everard, the woman who was killed in a few days before, which turned into a scene where police were handcuffing people and taking them away. not a good image, the met defended their actions and are now under investigation as to what happened. not surprising that the police were mindful of that in

handling the protesters today. what is interesting, i think, handling the protesters today. what is interesting, ithink, is handling the protesters today. what is interesting, i think, is until now there has been no real sign of protest is congregating. they have walked from place to place and that seems to have been a deliberate tactic. obviously if you assemble unlawfully, it's a lot easier for the police to kettle you, contain new and potentially arrest you. if you are a moving target, constantly walking, all right, they will try to stop you walking on the road as we had a few situations up the strand, past charing cross station as well, that kind of thing is a problem and causes a public nuisance. this is not really a problem, it is a park. inaudible. . having said that, they have not sought to disperse people. however, it's possible that they now think perhaps something will happen this evening, some kind of candlelight

vigil, people using torches at night, dramatic pictures... i think they are pretty sure they don't want that to happen. so here they are in regenfs that to happen. so here they are in regent's park a phalanx, regent's park forming a phalanx, presumably they will expand the circle, pushing the protesters, who can't really see what we can see... do you see on the edges? it is my guess, and i will be created phil corrected i'm sure, is the police are positioned there and they can gradually expand and push they can gradually expand and push the protesters back. gradually the police will reclaim more and more of the territory. that is my guess. of course i could be completely wrong, they could just be standing around and admiring the view.

summer holidays overseas are "extremely unlikely" because of the risk of travellers bringing coronavirus variants back to the uk, a scientist on a government advisory body has said. mike tildesley said the uk faces a "real risk" if people travel abroad. under the current roadmap for easing restrictions, the earliest date people in england could holiday abroad would be may 17th. joining me now is irene hays, chair of hays travel, the largest independent travel agency in the uk. we have heard what a tough time your business has had and the painful decisions you have had to make in closing your shots. but you are still here, and presumably you have quite high hopes for the summer holidays, does this ruin them or is it too soon to give an informed judgment? —— closing your shops. the judgment? -- closing your shops. the news today has called into question whether or not people will be able to travel immediately. it is not unexpected at all. that means two things, first, obviously, people who booked their holidays to take it in

2020 and now they will need potentially to have their holidays transferred again. second thing, the good news, 12 of the biggest cruise companies in the world are sending ships across to the uk to help out with staycation ringback. so ships across to the uk to help out with staycation ringback.- with staycation ringback. so you will be able _ with staycation ringback. so you will be able to _ with staycation ringback. so you will be able to stay _ with staycation ringback. so you will be able to stay on _ with staycation ringback. so you will be able to stay on the - with staycation ringback. so you will be able to stay on the ship? with staycation ringback. so you i will be able to stay on the ship? -- will be able to stay on the ship? » staycations. a real opportunity to travel. inaudible. it offers a real alternative. they will be able to have a choice and entertainment and so on. a real

opportunity for travel agents to have something else to sell, we have p and o, have something else to sell, we have p and 0, we have cunard, who have already said they will be sailing. other exciting announcements this week. we other exciting announcements this week. ~ , ._ ., other exciting announcements this week. ~ , ., ., week. we will stay tuned for that. we can hear— week. we will stay tuned for that. we can hear most _ week. we will stay tuned for that. we can hear most of— week. we will stay tuned for that. we can hear most of what - week. we will stay tuned for that. we can hear most of what you - week. we will stay tuned for that. i we can hear most of what you say... i guess anyone who has watched coast will know how bearing the british coastline is, so lots of potential as you travel from the scilly isles up as you travel from the scilly isles up to the islands to the north of scotland. looking at the continental travel, though, presumably that is a big part of the business? you must be really anxious to see that some of that survives this summer? what are the options, given what we have heard, is it only the question of quarantine that is the option available? forsome families, quarantine that is the option available? for some families, that would mean they can't go abroad

because they can't be away from work? , ., , , ., work? obviously, we have heard about vaccine passports. _ work? obviously, we have heard about vaccine passports. the _ work? obviously, we have heard about vaccine passports. the lateral - work? obviously, we have heard about vaccine passports. the lateral flow- vaccine passports. the lateral flow test... a number of ways people could travel. the travel savvy british public are still booking now, because the cost continues to rise. march 1st, 31% of the bookings we have taken have been for 2021. people are still booking holidays because they know what is going to happen with the prices if they don't do it now. fix, happen with the prices if they don't do it now. �* ., , happen with the prices if they don't do it now. �* ., happen with the prices if they don't do it now. �* . , a, ., happen with the prices if they don't do itnow. �* ., do it now. a last point, what has chanced do it now. a last point, what has changed now _ do it now. a last point, what has changed now compared - do it now. a last point, what has changed now compared to - do it now. a last point, what has changed now compared to 2020| changed now compared to 2020 is presumably the insurance picture is much clearer, so you presumably have a certain amount of protection and the purchasers have that also which perhaps was not there last year? absolutely right. if you book a

package holiday with hays travel, financially protected, we always encourage people to take travel insurance. ., encourage people to take travel insurance-— insurance. not everybody did, thou~h. insurance. not everybody did, though- not — insurance. not everybody did, though. not then, _ insurance. not everybody did, though. not then, but - insurance. not everybody did, though. not then, but i - insurance. not everybody did, though. not then, but i thinkl insurance. not everybody did, - though. not then, but i think they would now- _ though. not then, but i think they would now- a _ though. not then, but i think they would now. a peace of _ though. not then, but i think they would now. a peace of mind - would now. a peace of mind guarantee... 50 days ahead of the travel date, with absolutely no quibble guarantee they can have a refund or transfer the dates. putting things in place... the most important thing is the health consideration.— important thing is the health consideration. ., ~ , ., , . consideration. thank you very much, we will keep — consideration. thank you very much, we will keep optimistic— consideration. thank you very much, we will keep optimistic for _ consideration. thank you very much, we will keep optimistic for you - consideration. thank you very much, we will keep optimistic for you and i we will keep optimistic for you and everyone else in the travel industry. the microphone was breaking up, those sorts of protections is available, when you are looking at buying a holiday, a big investment, particularly if there is a danger it might not go

ahead. the headlines on bbc news. reaching a milestone — half of all adults in the uk have now had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. the health secretary hails "a phenomenal achievement". protesters opposed to the coronavirus lockdown have marched through central london. scotland yard says london remains in a health crisis, and urge people to stay at home. europe braces itself for a third wave of coronavirus infections, with fresh lockdowns in france and poland. let's get more on the situation across europe, and france and poland have reintroduced partial lockdowns as both countries battle a sharp rise in infections in recent weeks. ricardo mexia is vice president of the european public health the government have been low to put in a lockdown, facing criticism from doctors who said there should have been a lockdown back injanuary...

emmanuel macron has said again been a lockdown back injanuary... emmanuel macron t in said again been a lockdown back injanuary... emmanuel macron t in paris |gain outlet. if you go out in paris today, as i have, it doesn't look or feel that different. the park had plenty of people in it, wearing masks, but people bring their children out for walks and so on, because there is actually no limit to the amount of time you can spend outside. as long as you are taking exercise. you can't have a picnic with loads of people but you can

exercise. schools will remain open as well. which means families are not leaving the city for the country, a big incentive to stay put. inaudible. the effective psychological, this feeling that, however long this goes on, itjust keeps getting worse. a year to the day after the first lockdown came in, it'sjust year to the day after the first lockdown came in, it's just a reinforcement that we are on a terrible trend.— terrible trend. that was hugh schofield- — terrible trend. that was hugh schofield. polish _ terrible trend. that was hugh schofield. polish officials - terrible trend. that was hugh schofield. polish officials say| schofield. polish officials say a three—week is needed. schofield. polish officials say a three-week is needed.- schofield. polish officials say a three-week is needed. poland is seeinu three-week is needed. poland is seeing the _ three-week is needed. poland is seeing the infection _ three-week is needed. poland is seeing the infection rate - seeing the infection rate accelerate, cases which have reached levels that have not been seen since the peak of the second wave. i think there is acceptance in society that

there should be some restrictions, deviously we have had regional restrictions. now something nationwide. it's partly because of this prevalence of the british variant, which is rampant in poland at the moment. it is responsible for more than 60% of all cases, and soon will be responsible for 80% of cases. there is a feeling in society that we should have some restrictions, but at the same time, the health ministry is warning that there is also a feeling that the restrictions are not being adhered to, a feeling amongst some people that covid has been tamed to some extent. so you have this double phenomenon, people expect restrictions with the numbers being so high again, but they are not adhering to those restrictions. bdam adhering to those restrictions. adam easton. pakistan's prime minister imran khan has tested positive for covid—19. he was vaccinated just two days ago.

according to the country's health minister, mr khan is self—isolating at home. the vaccine doesn't take effect immediately. pakistan has recently seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infection. brazil has registered nearly 3,000 deaths from coronavirus in the past 2a hours, the second highest daily toll. the country is battling a more contagious variant which is taking a heavy toll on young people. in the latest surge, doctors say there's been a rise of deaths in people aged between 30 and 59. freya cole reports. the start of another hectic day for intensive care workers in sao paulo. the ward is full of covid—19 patients, relying on ventilators and constant monitoring so they can stay alive. for the head of intensive care, the biggest concern now is a sharp rise of younger people

being admitted in a serious condition. translation: today we face | the prospect that the situation will get worse because the patients we are witnessing have a slightly different profile than before. we are seeing more younger patients with very serious conditions and no underlying health issues. covid—19 has left a trail of death across brazil. a local variant is highly contagious. in the last 2a hours, almost 3000 people died, the second highest daily death toll since the pandemic began. the hospital workers have had no reprieve. some doctors say the health system is on the brink of collapse. translation: there is a waiting list at practically all— hospitals with icu beds. that creates a problem for us health workers because we are already tired,

we have been doing this for a year now and causes it us additional stress because we know we are not helping everyone who needs us. having to hospitalise more young people in brazil only adds to the pressure because young immune systems resist the disease more so than older people. it means beds are taken for longer, creating a backlog which doctors feel is never—ending. freya cole, bbc news. measures to help england's retail and hospitality sectors reopen, after coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, have been announced by communities secretary robertjenrick. pubs, restaurants and listed buildings have been given flexibility to use their land to allow more people to meet up. a welcome back fund of £56 million has also been created to boost high streets and seaside towns. mrjenrick says the money will be distributed through local authorities. we want to do everything that we can to support retailers and councils to reopen safely.

we are enabling pubs to erect marquees in their gardens for the whole of the spring and summer so we can enjoy a pint with our family and friends, whatever the weather. we are enabling alfresco dining again this april as we enjoyed last summer and we're giving money to high streets the length and breadth of the country so they can prepare to welcome us this year. and in doing that, is there a fear that by opening up and putting money back into getting people into the high street, we run the risk of increasing cases again? well, the vaccine roll—out is going incredibly well. we've vaccinated almost 26 million people. the road map enables us to cautiously but irreversibly open up again and it's really important that we back hospitality and retail. they've had such a difficult 12 months. so we are cutting red tape so that those businesses can do alfresco dining, can put marquees and pub

gardens and can rebuild and prosper once more. and we also want to ensure that high streets like this brilliant one i am in today can spruce themselves up, can market themselves and can invest in festivals and events this summer so people can get back out and support those shops. the bbc�*s director—general, tim davie, has suggested that over—75s who do not pay the tv licence fee will not be threatened with legal action. the right to a free tv licence for the elderly ended last august for all except those who receive the pension credit benefit. emergency authorities in australia are warning of "life—threatening" flash flooding as storms batter parts of the east coast. evacuation orders are in place in many low—lying areas, and residents in sydney, australia's most populous city, have been told to stay home. david campa nale reports. the aftermath of significant record—breaking rainfall in

new south wales. got to go around to the other side of the cart now to get the other patient out. across australia's most populous state, dozens of people have been rescued from floodwaters, and residents in many low—lying communities ordered to leave. major highways have been closed and wild surf is battering the coast. more storms are forecast in the coming days and parts of eastern australia could receive up to a metre of rain in the space ofjust a week. officials say sydney is facing what they are calling a rain bomb. the main water reservoir though has overflowed for the first time in years as the city of 5 million braces for what's coming next. in the suburbs, descriptions of fear as the first sweep of rain came through the area. and then we saw the tornado form and then we saw trees and plants and people's furniture flying in the air, rubbish bins. and then i screamed and just ran back inside.

i've never been so scared in my life. it felt like a movie. there have been over 500 rescue operations from the rising floodwaters. state political leaders said the storms could last for some days yet. and gave a plea to residents to obey evacuation warnings. i hate to say this again to all our citizens of this state but it's not going to be an easy week for us. but i know that no matter what comes our way we'll be able to deal with it. the federal government said the extreme weather has affected its covid—19 vaccine delivery in sydney and throughout the state, but said delays should only last a few days. australia plans to deliver the first vaccine doses to almost 6 million people over the next few weeks. david campanale, bbc news. a volcano in south—west iceland has erupted, releasing streams of lava from under the earth's surface. the fissure, 20 miles from the capital, reykjavik,

is more than 500 metres long. it's the first eruption in the area in centuries and follows thousands of small earthquakes over recent weeks. our europe correspondent jean mackenzie visited the volcano last week. the lava bursting through a long crack in the earth's crust, the moment icelanders have been bracing for turns into a spectacle, rather than a threat. translation: the nation has been waiting with bated breath now- for three weeks for this to happen and it's been 15 months since seismic activity began increasing significantly on the peninsula. since the activity ratcheted up three weeks ago, iceland has recorded more than 50,000 earthquakes, a sign this eruption was imminent. we visited the volcanic area just 20 miles from the capital reykjavik last week. the eruption is going to happen most likelyjust beyond that ridge.

this island which straddles two tectonic plates is used to eruptions. but not here, because this area has sat dormant now for centuries. this is very different to the explosive eruption in 2010 that blanketed the skies of europe in ash for weeks. the biggest threat this time is the pollution from the gases released. with residents being asked to keep their windows shut. translation: people have been growing tired of the significant i earthquakes that are constantly keeping us awake, growing anxiety and some residents said, if there's going to be an eruption, it might as welljust happen. icelanders have nicknamed the pretty eruptions tourist eruptions but with no tourists around to witness this one, it's the locals who get to marvel at their latest geological wonder. jean mackenzie, bbc news.

now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich. hello. today turned into a dry day for most of us, but it hasn't been sunny everywhere. many spots have been stuck with a lot of cloud. you can see that on our earlier satellite image. best of the sunshine across north—east england, south—east scotland. that's where we have seen some of the highest temperatures as well. we've also got a frontal system pushing down from the north, and overnight that will bring a band of thick cloud and the odd spot of rain, but many spots staying dry through the night and with some clearer skies following behind that frontal system, it will get quite cold in one or two spots in central and southern scotland, for example. temperatures could get all the way down to freezing. tomorrow, as that frontal system clears we will be left with more in the way of sunshine in many areas. still some patchy cloud around and with a slight shift in the wind direction, it's not going to be as warm as it was today across eastern scotland or north—east england. 9, 10 or 11 degrees at best. it stays mainly dry into the start of the new week but things

will change from midweek onwards. it will turn more unsettled, some rain at times and some brisk winds as well.