this is bbc news. the headlines — the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders — as he attempts to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. a vaccination campaign, developing vaccines, rolling them out, these are international projects, and they require international co—operation. research in the us shows the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine is 100% effective at preventing severe covid—19 — and keeping people out of hospital. widespread condemnation, after violence breaks out in bristol at a protest against the new police and crime bill — 20 police officers were injured. they were there with anti—police rheoric, they were there with violence and threats and graffiti and damage and violence. so there could be as many as 400 people we want to speak to.

fewer soldiers but more, and better, kit. the defence review expected to herald the biggest changes in defence since the end of the cold war. the cleaner that is out of this world — the mission to collect the space junk orbiting the planet. and with speculation that the current ban on foreign travel could be extended beyond mid—may, we'll ask if overseas holidays this summer are slipping further from our grasp. good afternoon. borisjohnson has been speaking to the french and german leaders, as he attempts to persuade the eu not to ban astrazeneca vaccine exports to the uk. the european commission has criticised the company for failing to deliver enough doses to the eu, while providing regular shipments to the uk from its plants in europe.

eu leaders will meet on thursday to consider an export ban. speaking this lunchtime, the prime minister warned the uk could soon feel the effects of the surge in infections seen in europe. our political correspondent iain watson reports. a further shot in the arm for the vaccination programme, a record number ofjabs were delivered at the weekend. four out of ten of the uk population have been vaccinated, compared with just over one in ten across the eu. on thursday, european leaders will discuss how vaccine supply can be improved on the continent, and they haven't completely ruled out a ban on the export of vaccines from the eu. but, at a brussels briefing, a spokesman said eu leaders were more likely to focus on how to boost imports. it isa it is a give and take, if you wish. we would be exporting, and these, the companies that are situated in those countries to which we export would also be exporting to europe. you will have to wait for more

specifics on this, but clearly this is the direction that we are going on. . , , ., , on. the current focus is on this factory in _ on. the current focus is on this factory in the _ on. the current focus is on this factory in the netherlands. - the eu are expected to use the approved the use of vaccines manufactured here soon. some european leaders want to ensure supplies here are not sent to the uk first. they say astrazeneca still hasn't fulfilled its obligations to the eu. today, the prime minister stressed the need for mutual cooperation with brussels on vaccines, but he emphasised there was a very good reason why the vaccination programme he it the vaccination programme here needed to continue apace. on the continent right now, you can see that sadly there is a third wave under way, and people in this country should be under no illusions that previous experience has taught us that when a wave hits ourfriends, i am afraid it washes up on our shores as well. i expect that we will feel those

effects in due course, that is why we are getting on with our vaccination programme as fast as we can. relations with the eu are prickly, but government and opposition are united in calling for the uk's vaccine contracts to be fulfilled, unhindered. idon't think the eu is helping itself here, i don't— think it has helpedj itself on the whole question of vaccines and i don't think they should go down thisl road of banning exports. what we want is this. resolved as quickly as possible, because we don't want any shortage of vaccines to interrupt - the roll—out in this country. but we know vaccine supplies will slow down next month, even with no further restrictions from the eu, so what would this mean for the government's route map out of lockdown in england? ministers have been keen to reassure as any short—term slowdown will not make as wait any longer for a

haircut or a drink in a beer garden, because the nhs is still on track to offer vaccinations to all those over 50s and those at serious risk from illness by next month, and restrictions should still be further eased in england further eased in england from april 12th. if you thought brexit would see the end of difficult talks with the eu, think again. ministers want to avoid a full—blown row and hope vaccine supply doesn't become a toxic issue. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. our europe correspondent nick beake gave us this update from brussels. i think it is worth stressing that we don't yet know what exactly the european commission is proposing, but certainly they have not ruled out using emergency powers, which haven't been used for more than a0 years, and this is because they feel very strongly that astrazeneca has let down the european union, by sending tens of millions of fewer doses than had been promised. 0f doses than had been promised. of course the company says it is doing all it can to boost production rates and as we were hearing in his report, the commission says it isn't about blocking exports to the uk for the sake of it, but trying to make sure astrazeneca delivers on its

contract. but i think interestingly, simon, some eu countries are worried about how this row could really escalate and possibly affect global supplies of vaccines and also the ingredients within them, and i think it is worth looking at the much bigger picture here. covid cases are on the rise in europe. in poland for example, in france, other places bringing in tighter measures to deal with this, and of course we need to remind ourselves, even though the eu is talking tough, and getting more vaccines, the latest polling shows that lots of people in the big eu countries are very sceptical about taking the astrazeneca product, so evenif taking the astrazeneca product, so even if they get millions more doses, there is no guarantee people will want to take it, simon. damian grammaticas is in westminster. we know borisjohnson has already spoken to angela merkel and president macron, what do we get, in terms of the mood of these chats? well, that has been confirmed, absolutely right, simon, that in the last couple — absolutely right, simon, that in the last couple of days he has spoken to both of— last couple of days he has spoken to both of those leaders in germany and

france _ both of those leaders in germany and france last— both of those leaders in germany and france. last week, he spoke to ursula — france. last week, he spoke to ursula von— france. last week, he spoke to ursula von der leyen and the belgian prime _ ursula von der leyen and the belgian prime minister. what we are getting is very— prime minister. what we are getting is very little actually, other than what _ is very little actually, other than what boris — is very little actually, other than what borisjohnson has said, which is that_ what borisjohnson has said, which is that he _ what borisjohnson has said, which is that he has been reassured by his conversations in the past few months that the _ conversations in the past few months that the eu _ conversations in the past few months that the eu does not want to bring in export— that the eu does not want to bring in export bans. more than that, it is very— in export bans. more than that, it is very hard — in export bans. more than that, it is very hard to say, because the only— is very hard to say, because the only other— is very hard to say, because the only other details we know, and little _ only other details we know, and little has — only other details we know, and little has come out from these talks, — little has come out from these talks, is— little has come out from these talks, is that the uk is continually trying _ talks, is that the uk is continually trying to— talks, is that the uk is continually trying to make this point that the international supply, the supply is an international effort, and that vaccine — an international effort, and that vaccine exports should not be banned — vaccine exports should not be banned. so it is a very complicated sort of— banned. so it is a very complicated sort of picture and complicated politics — sort of picture and complicated politics at the minute as well. but we also _ politics at the minute as well. but we also know it is worth saying the uk has _ we also know it is worth saying the uk has had — we also know it is worth saying the uk has had vaccine exports from the eu, the _ uk has had vaccine exports from the eu, the eu _ uk has had vaccine exports from the eu, the eu count was i think 10 million — eu, the eu count was i think 10 million given out in their total numbers— million given out in their total numbers last week. they said 10 million _ numbers last week. they said 10 million had been exported to the uk. largely— million had been exported to the uk. largely we _ million had been exported to the uk. largely we think of the pfizer

vaccine _ largely we think of the pfizer vaccine. but the eu has benefited from _ vaccine. but the eu has benefited from imports of component and other things— from imports of component and other things to _ from imports of component and other things to help its programme. and 'ust things to help its programme. fific just underlining the things to help its programme. fific just underlining the international nature of this battle against covid, of course we are talking about components for vaccines that are made here in the uk, that go to the eu. i mean, everything is interdependent. it eu. i mean, everything is interdependent.— eu. i mean, everything is interdependent. eu. i mean, everything is interdeendent. , . , , interdependent. it is, which is why i think interdependent. it is, which is why i think there _ interdependent. it is, which is why i think there is _ interdependent. it is, which is why i think there is concern _ interdependent. it is, which is why i think there is concern about - interdependent. it is, which is why i think there is concern about this | i think there is concern about this whole _ i think there is concern about this whole idea — i think there is concern about this whole idea of vaccine nationalism, what _ whole idea of vaccine nationalism, what the _ whole idea of vaccine nationalism, what the sort of domino effect could be of restrictions being brought in, but balanced against that, you have to say, _ but balanced against that, you have to say, are — but balanced against that, you have to say, are the political pressures, the pressures on governments, governments and the eu to speed out their roll—out. the government here in the _ their roll—out. the government here in the uk _ their roll—out. the government here in the uk to— their roll—out. the government here in the uk to keep it going and not to see— in the uk to keep it going and not to see it— in the uk to keep it going and not to see it slip behind after all the progress — to see it slip behind after all the progress that has been made, and we know that _ progress that has been made, and we know that there is going to be a shortfall— know that there is going to be a shortfall next month in april, and that is— shortfall next month in april, and that is largely due to supplies that were meant to be coming from india. so the _ were meant to be coming from india.

so the uk _ were meant to be coming from india. so the uk government is saying that it doesn't— so the uk government is saying that it doesn't envisage at the minute any delays. it is still committed to its timetable, still committed to getting — its timetable, still committed to getting out all of the priority groups— getting out all of the priority groups done by mid april and second doses— groups done by mid april and second doses as _ groups done by mid april and second doses as well, but as you say, all of this— doses as well, but as you say, all of this is— doses as well, but as you say, all of this is a — doses as well, but as you say, all of this is a very delicate picture, and underlying it all is the need for globally, as the prime minister was saying today, the virus to be tackled, — was saying today, the virus to be tackled, because if it does surge in one country. — tackled, because if it does surge in one country, that washes up, as he put it. _ one country, that washes up, as he put it. on— one country, that washes up, as he put it. on the — one country, that washes up, as he put it, on the shores of others, including — put it, on the shores of others, including here in the uk.- put it, on the shores of others, including here in the uk. thank you very much. — including here in the uk. thank you very much, damian _ including here in the uk. thank you very much, damian grammaticas. l the diplomatic row comes as there's further evidence that the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is both safe and highly effective. an american trial of more than 32,000 volunteers said it was 79% effective at stopping symptomatic covid, and 100% effective at preventing people from falling seriously ill. it also found there were no safety issues regarding blood clots. 0ur health correspondent dominic hughes reports. with the vaccination programme now

well under way in the united states, a new trial has cleared the way for the astrazeneca jab to be added to the armoury. it confirms it's safe and effective, especially for older people. that adds to the growing body of evidence from the use of the jab in millions of patients in the uk. we do, of course, have a lot of data now coming through from the uk on the use of the vaccine in older people, in people over 70 and people over 80, and showing that, in real—world use of the vaccine, there is very high effectiveness of the vaccine, it is keeping people out of hospital, it is stopping them getting infected, even in these older age groups. but these empty chairs at a german vaccination centre back up a new survey, suggesting many in europe have lost confidence in the astrazeneca jab, following a scare over blood clots, even though the vaccine has now been given the all—clear by the eu medicines regulator. it shows just how easily faith in vaccines can be undermined. and a rising wave of infections across the continent throws into doubt the hopes of so many

people of filling up these empty beaches this summer. if those breaks can go ahead, vaccination and testing will be crucial. vaccination non—stop, this is where the efforts of the spanish government are at the moment, and i am sure that with this, the summer will look brighter, and of course, we will be more than glad to receive our tourists from the uk, as we always had. but the prospect of holidaymakers returning from countries currently in the middle of a fresh outbreak is causing concern. when there is high prevalence| of the virus, there is more risk of mutations, and the big fear| here is that a resistance virus, one of the new variants, - if you like, will be brought back into the uk. keeping track of those new variants will be one of the biggest challenges for the coming months. a new process of genetic screening that could halve the time it takes to detect known variants is now undergoing trials. it's another weapon in what will be

a long fight against coronavirus. dominic hughes, bbc news. a clean—up operation is under way, after violent clashes, that have been described as "shameful", broke out last night between protesters and police, at a demonstration against new powers for the policing of protests. 20 officers were injured — two seriously — and police vans were set alight, after the �*kill the bill�* protests turned violent. seven people have been arrested. the scenes have been condemned as "completely unacceptable". john maguire reports. determined to reclaim the streets, an army of cleaners was deployed overnight, sweeping up glass from the broken windows of the police station, removing graffiti from walls, and clearing up hundreds of stones that had been thrown during the unrest. there has been a huge clean—up operation taking place here this morning. bristol city council has cleaned the pavements.

when i first arrived, there was broken glass everywhere, broken beer bottles, and perhaps the most sinister element, these stones were everywhere, hundreds of them spread across, clearly used as missiles. targeted at the buildings, just look at the broken windows, but they were also clearly used to target police officers themselves. sunday had started peacefully, as thousands attended a rally against the new police and crime bill that would restrict some protest. but as the evening came, events turned violent. i am incredibly saddened. i am saddened that so many of my brave police officers, our officers have been injured doing theirjob. i am saddened for bristol, because bristol is much better than this, this is a fantastic city to live and work in and be part of, but i am committed to roll up my sleeves with my officers to catch the people responsible and stop them doing it again. 20 officers were assaulted,

two suffering broken bones, and there were seven arrests, but the police are promising more. well, i think that all that kind of thing is unacceptable and i think that the people obviously have a right to protest in this country, but they should protest peacefully and legally. bristol's elected mayor is adamant that the violence was perpetrated by people who effectively hijacked an otherwise peaceful protest. these people here last| night had nothing to do with the real challenges | of real people in bristol. it is about them, about their. self—indulgence and their desire to play out their fantasies of being some kind - of revolutionaries. there's nothing revolutionary about what they did. - it's just privileged activism. some who were there last night, whilst not condoning the injuries to the police, argued that disaffection and mistrust had fuelled the anger. if we are making peaceful protest illegal, how else are you going to protest? and, like, even a one—man protest, if i was to stand outside

there with a sign, i could get up to ten years in prison. as the injured are treated and the damage assessed, the main question to be answered remains, just how a day that was designed to send a peaceful message of protest could descend into such wilful destruction and violence. john maguire, bbc news, bristol. and andrew is in bristol for us now. you saw it last night? yes, we were here for a few _ you saw it last night? yes, we were here for a few hours _ you saw it last night? yes, we were here for a few hours last _ you saw it last night? yes, we were here for a few hours last night. - here for a few hours last night. when we left it was well after midnight and still going on, far fewer protesters, may be between 50 and a hundred still push to the end of this road behind me by riot police, most of them asked, some in full balaclavas but they were still throwing rocks, bottles, that were smashing against the police shields. that is the police station behind me they were trying to protect right in they were trying to protect right in the centre of bristol, they formed essentially a ring, a barrier around that, they were being pelted with bottles and stones. you can see

holes in the window, we even saw a fire extinguisher going through the air at one point, so the clean—up has been swift but now there is the next stage of that process, because please tell us they are going through body camera footage and cctv, trying to identify the people who were involved in what happened here last night. they called it the worst night of violence this city has seen in more than 20 years, and they say the protest was essentially hijacked by people who are hell—bent, they say, on attacking the police. hell-bent, they say, on attacking the olice. . ~ hell-bent, they say, on attacking the police-— so what is the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill and how might it change protests? under the planned changes, police chiefs would be able to impose protest start and finish times, together with limits on noise and these rules could be applied to a demonstration byjust one person. there would be a new offence of "intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance" — to deal with people blocking streets for long periods, or gluing themselves to trains.

and sentences of up to 10 years in prison could be handed down for damage to memorials. dom siemons is in north london for us. the irony is those protesting at the bill last night showed the very scenes that those who are below —— pro this new bill say we need to avoid. , ~ , .., , avoid. yes, i think the bill comes out of i think— avoid. yes, i think the bill comes out of i think probably _ avoid. yes, i think the bill comes out of i think probably some - avoid. yes, i think the bill comes out of i think probably some of. avoid. yes, i think the bill comes i out of i think probably some of the protest by extinction rebellion, the environmental group in london in 2019. i remembersenior environmental group in london in 2019. i remember senior police officers around that time saying they needed new powers from the government to deal with a situation where peaceful protests are blocking important street junctions where peaceful protests are blocking important streetjunctions in important street junctions in cities, important streetjunctions in cities, and i think that is probably the genesis of this. the bill itself is actually much wider than just protest but these are if you like some measures that have been added to the middle of this bill. and as you say, they do allow the police to restrict some of what protesters

sometimes want to do, in particular start and finishing times. now, in truth, a lot of protests in cities, there are no discussions with the protesters because the protesters simply won't discuss with the police, saying when they will start, when they will finish and what the route is but this is i think an attempt to make it more difficult some of those protest to go ahead, they think ligament would say not an attempt to stop protests full stop. where are we? i attempt to stop protests full stop. where are we?— where are we? i didn't catch the first art where are we? i didn't catch the first part of _ where are we? i didn't catch the first part of your _ where are we? i didn't catch the first part of your question, - where are we? i didn't catch the first part of your question, i'm i first part of your question, i'm just wondering what the timing is, when any liaise just wondering what the timing is, when an j . ., just wondering what the timing is, when an . ., , ., . m when any law would be introduced? it is auoin when any law would be introduced? it is going through _ when any law would be introduced? it is going through parliament _ when any law would be introduced? it is going through parliament at - when any law would be introduced? it is going through parliament at the - is going through parliament at the moment and it is a longer bill, the exact stage i'm not sure about at this stage but it is progressing through parliament. i think really it has become a controversial piece of legislation following the sarah everard vigil last weekend. that really lead to violence when police

said they had to move in to stop the crowding of protesters in a protest that was on the face of it illegal under the coronavirus regulations. simultaneously, the metropolitan police has accepted, even in court, that there is a legal right to protest, a human right under the human rights legislation, and that the metropolitan police always seeks to uphold that, but any big protest at the moment are banned under the restriction on gathering, so it is a complicated, controversial area and this protest last night in bristol has made things perhaps even more controversial. thank you so much for that. the size of the army is expected to be reduced by about 10,000 soldiers, as part of a move towards robots, drones, and cyber warfare. the defence review due to be announced later is likely to see the loss of some tanks and aircraft — but the government said there would be "more ships, submarines and sailors". 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale reports. the prime minister this morning visited a factory in lancashire, to highlight investment in developing a new

british fighter jet. part of the modernisation of the armed forces which the government says will strengthen britain's sovereignty, security and prosperity. it's the biggest spend on the armed forces since the end of the cold war, and what it is doing is, it is enabling us to modernise our armed services, to give them the kit that they are going to need for 21st century conflict. the government says the armed forces of the future will be better equipped, with more marines and troops supported by robots and drones and sent to operate in small teams to train and fight with allies all over the world, underlining the government's mantra of global britain. it says they will be backed up by a new kind of army, skilled in information, electronic and cyber warfare. but it will also be smaller. the size of the regular army

is expected to be cut by 10,000, to just over 70,000 soldiers. quantity has a quality all its own, as stalin taught us, and we are concerned about the shrinking size of britain's military. but i would rather have a fully capable, fully resourced, smaller british force than i would have a larger, less capable one. i am very concerned about these cuts. . the prime minister at the tail end of last year was saying _ there won't be cuts to the military. now we know there will. and it's another cut, and i think that will have an impact. - extra investment is going into the royal navy, with new warships being ordered. but it is still expected to retire two older frigates early, seeing a reduction in its service fleet before it increases later this decade. the government has already named russia as the greatest threat,

but the decision to send the navy�*s new aircraft carrier to the pacific later this year is a sign of concerns about the rise of china. but it is still not clear how many of these f—35 jets the uk can afford, beyond the a8 already ordered. jonathan beale, bbc news. i can now speak to lucy fisher, who's the deputy political editor of the telegraph. lucy, nice to talk to you. fewer soldiers but better equipped? yes. soldiers but better equipped? yes, well, that is _ soldiers but better equipped? yes, well, that is the _ soldiers but better equipped? isis well, that is the government line. i think we are going to see considerable pushback against that as the day draws on when we've seen the detail from this document, expected to be published around about a:30pm when ben wallace, the defence secretary, is on his feet, but already we have had the likes of keir starmer in your clip and also tobias ellwood, the conservative chairman of the defence select

committee, expressing concerns about this cut. ~ �* ., ., ., ,, this cut. we've heard from former us chiefs of staff — this cut. we've heard from former us chiefs of staff suggesting _ this cut. we've heard from former us chiefs of staff suggesting that - this cut. we've heard from former us chiefs of staff suggesting that to - chiefs of staff suggesting that to cut further would mean that an ally, in terms of britain, would be less dependable, that they have fears. is that something that is a genuine fear here? i that something that is a genuine fear here? ~ ., , that something that is a genuine fear here? ~ . , ., fear here? i think that is a huge fear. fear here? i think that is a huge fear- the _ fear here? i think that is a huge fear- the us — fear here? i think that is a huge fear. the us alliance _ fear here? i think that is a huge fear. the us alliance is - fear here? i think that is a huge fear. the us alliance is very - fear. the us alliance is very important. their military is so big that relieve the uk need to be able to field enough units to be of strategic rather than just tactical benefit to the us in any conflict that might occur. i think there will be a real concern going forward. i think on the flip side the government argues that actually it's the capability, the deploy ability, it is how you use troops that is more important, and they would also argue that because of the evolution of cyber, ai, new technologies, in fact if there are ways you can send assets like drones or unmanned capabilities into combat and keep your human personnel safe, then that

is clearly a desirable way to go about war fighting. find is clearly a desirable way to go about war fighting.— about war fighting. and the strongest _ about war fighting. and the strongest navy _ about war fighting. and the strongest navy in _ about war fighting. and the strongest navy in europe . about war fighting. and the strongest navy in europe is about war fighting. and the - strongest navy in europe is the aim. what does that say about a post—brexit britain and our role within nato as well? post-brexit britain and our role within nato as well?— post-brexit britain and our role within nato as well? well, i think it is clearly _ within nato as well? well, i think it is clearly integral _ within nato as well? well, i think it is clearly integral to _ within nato as well? well, i think it is clearly integral to the - it is clearly integral to the government's post—brexit vision for global britain. i think it makes sense in one way. we are an island nation, have a very proud naval and maritime history, and obviously we saw last week with the publication of the prime minister's integrated review this tilt towards the indo pacific, the idea clearly that we will need more ships and more presence in the far east to be able to carry that out. bud presence in the far east to be able to carry that out.— to carry that out. and taking an overview of _ to carry that out. and taking an overview of this, _ to carry that out. and taking an overview of this, what - to carry that out. and taking an overview of this, what areas, i | overview of this, what areas, i mean, we have heard the royal marines for example might have a different role. what do you expect to hear on things like that? i

different role. what do you expect to hear on things like that?- to hear on things like that? i think another thing _ to hear on things like that? i think another thing we _ to hear on things like that? i think another thing we have _ to hear on things like that? i think another thing we have heard - to hear on things like that? i think another thing we have heard that. to hear on things like that? i think i another thing we have heard that has certainly captured my interest is around a retooling of a new elite stratum of the army, based on the us green berets. they are going to be called the ranger regiment. they will be sort of a step below the traditional special forces but part of a wider sort of special forces operational unit to support special forces on overseas missions, and i think that is more we will hear about today, the idea we will have fewer all—purpose general infantry men and women and more elite, highly skilled warriors who can do specific tasks and be deployed on more specialist missions.— specialist missions. lucy, it's really good — specialist missions. lucy, it's really good to _ specialist missions. lucy, it's really good to talk _ specialist missions. lucy, it's really good to talk to - specialist missions. lucy, it's really good to talk to you. . specialist missions. lucy, it's - really good to talk to you. thanks for that, really good to talk to you. thanks forthat, lucy really good to talk to you. thanks for that, lucy fisher. this is a big week for scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon. with just days to go before the holyrood election campaign, it's thought she'll find out this afterno0n the results of an independent review into her handling of harassment complaints against her predecessor, alex salmond. if it rules she has broken

the ministerial code, by knowingly misleading parliament, then her political career would be in serious trouble. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley is at holyrood. and, well, what are we expecting today? i and, well, what are we expecting toda ? ~ �* , and, well, what are we expecting toda ? ~' �* , ., today? i think we'll see that report into whether _ today? i think we'll see that report into whether nicola _ today? i think we'll see that report into whether nicola sturgeon - today? i think we'll see that report| into whether nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code in the next few hours, simon. iwouldn't the ministerial code in the next few hours, simon. i wouldn't be surprised if we see it this afternoon. the scottish government has had it since this morning, it is going through some legal and data protection checks before it is published. this is a really important one, because for weeks, nicola sturgeon and her team have been talking about that being the report they are really concerned about. it is by a man called james hamilton, who is an experienced lawyer, who is basically looking into whether nicola sturgeon has followed the rules that ministers have to follow. she has faced allegations for some time that she wasn't completely honest with the scottish parliament about when she knew about harassment allegations

against alex salmond, also allegations she didn't tell the full truth about what went on in various meetings i think we will see that shortly. i've got to say, speaking to a few people close to the first minister, they seem pretty relaxed at this stage. they don't seem to be on the verge of panic or talking about imminent resignations. i should point out that none of them have actually seen the report, but it does feel to me like there is an expectation in some around nicola sturgeon that some way or another she will make her way through this. but there is a lot going on this week, because tomorrow you have a committee report. they are going to conclude that nicola sturgeon misled them on some of the evidence she gave, there will be a full report out at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, no doubt other details, and ms sturgeon could face a no—confidence vote in the next few days as well. so this place packs up for the scottish parliament election on wednesday night, and there is a

lot to happen before then. ihmd on wednesday night, and there is a lot to happen before then. and there are so much — lot to happen before then. and there are so much at— lot to happen before then. and there are so much at stake _ lot to happen before then. and there are so much at stake with _ lot to happen before then. and there are so much at stake with this, - are so much at stake with this, because the very future of any new independence referendum depends very much on how this all pans out, doesn't it?— much on how this all pans out, doesn't it? , . , , , ., ~ doesn't it? yes, as we speak the scottish parliament _ doesn't it? yes, as we speak the scottish parliament has - doesn't it? yes, as we speak the scottish parliament has also - doesn't it? yes, as we speak the scottish parliament has also justj scottish parliament has also just published a new referendum bill, which the snp will seek to pass on the next parliament, if they come backin the next parliament, if they come back in power. this election really matters. if you are in england or elsewhere in the uk and you're wondering why does this all matter, it really does, because the scottish parliament election on the of may will be crucial in figuring out how much pressure there is for another independence referendum. if the snp win a majority they will say we have a mandate for another referendum. if they don't win a majority, the unionist parties, labour, the conservatives, the lib dems, will say you don't have that mandate for another referendum. it is slightly more complicated than that because the green party in the scottish parliament are pro—independence as well, and it is possible you have a

pro—independence majority, even if the snp don't get a majority of themselves, but this really, really matters for the future of the uk, for the pressure they will be on borisjohnson to greet for the pressure they will be on boris johnson to greet another borisjohnson to greet another independence referendum, and what happens over the next few days will play a massive part in shaping the election campaign over the next six weeks. pm election campaign over the next six weeks. �* , ~ ., ., weeks. an interesting week ahead, thank ou weeks. an interesting week ahead, thank you very _ weeks. an interesting week ahead, thank you very much. _ now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello, it's quite calm out there. will it last? we'll have more indications on that in just a minute but as you can see from the satellite picture, the best of the sunshine in sheltered eastern and southern areas, more anyway plough to the west and the county can offer a bit of light drizzle to the far north—west of scotland, but temperatures should peak between 9-13 c temperatures should peak between 9—13 c and with those light winds, for some of us feeling quite pleasant as we go through the day. 0vernight, we will see some cloud

gathering in from the west and that will continue to bring a few scattered showers along west facing coasts. where it does continue to break in places, we might see temperatures falling into low single figures but generally with the crowd around, it will not be a cold start to tuesday. tuesday sees mcleod as the weather front approaches from the weather front approaches from the and from wednesday onwards, the windy weather arrives for all.

hello this is bbc news with. the headlines... the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders — as he attempts to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. a vaccination campaign developing vaccines, rolling them out, these international project need international project need

international cooperation. research in the us shows the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine is 100% effective at preventing severe covid—19 — and keeping people out of hospital. widespread condemnation — after violence breaks out in bristol at a protest against the new police and crime bill, in which 20 police officers were injured. there are there with violence, threats, graffiti, damage and violence. there could be as many as a00 people we want to speak to. fewer soldiers but more — and better — kit. the defence review expected to herald the biggest changes in defence since the end of the cold war. the cleaner that is out of this world — the mission to collect the space junk orbiting the planet. and with speculation that the current ban on foreign travel could be extended beyond mid—may — we'll ask if overseas holidays this summer are slipping further from our grasp.

in the meantime, let's try and cheer ourselves up a bit, over to the sports centre with mr cheery himself. good afternoon. this is cheery news. there's been a huge boost for women's football in england. the bbc and sky have signed a multi—million pound deal to show super league games for the next 3 years. it is the first time the rights to the wsl have been sold separately from the men's game. at least 18 games will be shown live on bbc one or bbc two per season. the agreement , that starts in september, is believed to be worth around 8 million pounds a year with 25 percent of that invested in the women's championship, the second tier. the manchester city and england captain steph horton has been speaking to our reporterjo currie. you speak about young girls and as footballers, we try and be that inspiration and role models to so many but sometimes you cannot actually be that role model when you're not being seen so for us to be able to be on television more often, our games to be visible for these young girls, is the next step

forward for women's football in general and i think this will put surely to be the best in europe if not the world.— surely to be the best in europe if not the world. you cast your mind back quite — not the world. you cast your mind back quite a _ not the world. you cast your mind back quite a long _ not the world. you cast your mind back quite a long time _ not the world. you cast your mind back quite a long time ago - not the world. you cast your mind back quite a long time ago to - not the world. you cast your mind | back quite a long time ago to when you first started out your senior football career, someone said to you at that point that by this time in your career, you would get matches on bbc one and bbc two and skyward coming... what would you say? i first started at 13 or ia and i first started at 13 or 1a and i would have laughed because at that time, we went in a professional league. your training once a week and when you get to where the super league started in 2011, you think, right, this could really go somewhere, and it's probably only over the past few years you think, probably the 2015 world cup, you think, itjust expanded so quickly and to be at the heart of that is really special, and seeing both sides. but we are in such a

fortunate position that the likes of bbc have been unbelievable supporters for women's football and putting more investment in the game and trying to push it to as far as it can go, and this is the next step in the venture of women's football and hopefully we can continue with quality performances so everyone can see them. the idea of a women's british and irish lions team in rugby union has been mooted for the past few years but a feasibility study is now officially being carried out, with the results due in december. it's being backed by the insurance company royal london, one of the sponsors for the men's lions series against south africa this year a lot of governing bodies, nations do say they support they were inside but have not seen that reflected an investment, and yes, the likes of england, france, new zealand have really thrown their support behind their women set up but it's been quite challenging to watch other nations as they haven't had that same support. so this british and irish lions side being talked about

will hopefully mean that other governing bodies will start to say we need to do more to support women's side. there's a chance that the families of athletes taking part in the olympics and paralympics will be able to travel to japan to watch the games after all. all overseas fans have been barred from tokyo this summer because of covid concerns and though organisers say that includes competitors' family members at the moment, they are discussing the possibility of making exceptions. after losing the t20 series against india, england's cricketer�*s have moved onto pune where the one—day series starts tomorrow. it's largely the same squad and althouthofra archer misses out with an ongoing elbow issue there could be some fresh faces coming into the eleven it will present opportunities for guys that haven't necessarily played yet and been away from home. an opportunity might present itself and

it can be difficult when you are on tour, so i hope it will energise the guys a little bit and bring a performance in as well. staying with cricket, the bbc have secured a new a year radio deal for broadcasting domestic cricket. the new season starts in just over a fortnight. every ball of the county championship, one day and t20 competitions will continue to be broadcast across the bbc�*s network of local radio stations and bbc radio wales, and the bbc sport website where you can find more on that story thank you very much indeed. this is miami beach in florida — and these are scenes which have caused consternation. thousands of people descended on the city for the annual college spring break holiday — risking a further spread of coronavirus there. florida has had fairly relaxed restrictions up until now — but miami beach is now under a state of emergency for up to three weeks. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports.

these were the scenes last night, which have caused considerable concern. party time in miami. spring break, when students traditionally descend on florida to let off steam. the bars, beaches and restaurants are packed. but this is no time to party. the city of miami beach is currently under a state of emergency there is a curfew in effect. these extraordinary scenes have shocked local officials who say they have been overwhelmed by the number of revellers. there's little sign of social distancing and few people wearing masks. fights have broken out, and businesses have been forced to close down. at one point, the police shot pepper balls into the crowd, urging people to leave, after an 8pm curfew came into effect. i think it is a good idea. even though it's fun out here, like, we want to be out here and have fun. no—one is doing anything, people are just out here, enjoying the beach and it is a good vibe. but they want to shut it down at 8 o'clock, people will go somewhere else and take their money somewhere else

and it is what it is. people want to live. corona's over, winter's over, get the vaccine, get back to business. am i worried because of covid? i mean, i'm not really worried about that. l you know what i'm saying, like... you just got to be cautious, that's all, you know what i'm saying? i it's no guarantees with the covid thing, you can get the covid - from your neighbourhood, your block, your building. | it don't matter. you out somewhere else, like, we chilling. - florida is one of the few us states now fully open during the pandemic. last month, the republican governor ron desantis declared the state as an oasis of freedom from coronavirus restrictions. tourists have descended on the area in large numbers over the past few weeks. boston, you got to wear masks everywhere you go. i had the vaccine, so i don't care.

i go home, i get tested, for myself, i don't really care but i wouldn't- want to get my parents sick, you know? - officials have blamed adults rather than college students for much of the chaos. the state of emergency and night—time curfew has now been extended for up to three weeks. many people are coming here right now and too many people are coming here with bad intentions. last week, florida recorded more than a000 new covid—19 infections a day. this is a crisis that is far from over. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. there's been speculation that the current ban on foreign travel could be extended beyond the 17th of may. that's the date set as the ealiest possible to lift it in england scotland and wales. an official update for england is due on the 12th of april. i am nowjoined by traveljournalist jill starley—grainger. the prime minister this morning, first things first, suggest that we are going to suffer some sort of effect from the third wave currently sweeping across europe. people are

thinking this will not happen. absolutely, and the 17th of may was always going to be an extremely optimistic date. given the vaccination dates around the world, i would be surprised even if the next day injune would be opened in any real or significant way and what is likely to happen is that will hopefully be a few travel corridors open. hopefully be a few travel corridors 0 en. ., , ., , hopefully be a few travel corridors oen. ., , . ., , hopefully be a few travel corridors oen, ., , . ., open. for people particularly you're sa inc, open. for people particularly you're saying. saying _ open. for people particularly you're saying. saying i _ open. for people particularly you're saying, saying i don't _ open. for people particularly you're saying, saying i don't pose - open. for people particularly you're saying, saying i don't pose a - open. for people particularly you're saying, saying i don't pose a risk. i saying, saying i don't pose a risk. i should be allowed to travel. unfortunately the world health organization and every authority has said repeatedly thatjust because you have the vaccination, they still do not know if you can get the virus and transmitted to other people, which is quite common with what of vaccinations. the vaccination means it reduces the chances of you

getting and developing the symptoms but you could still pass it on and this is a real worry in lots of destinations around the world, so even though you're vaccinated, that doesn't mean other countries are going to be happy. doesn't mean other countries are going to be happy-— doesn't mean other countries are going to be happy. many airlines, what are your _ going to be happy. many airlines, what are your rights _ going to be happy. many airlines, what are your rights if _ going to be happy. many airlines, what are your rights if you - going to be happy. many airlines, what are your rights if you buy . going to be happy. many airlines, | what are your rights if you buy one from them? you like until your trip is cancelled, until the government comes out and says, absolutely, you cannot travel until after the 17th, they will not be able to until after whatever that might be, but you don't have any rights in law to a refund or to change your date, however many operators are quite flexible in people making bookings and so they impose their own terms and so they impose their own terms and conditions, so some operators said it looked like the trip was unlikely or you just felt uncomfortable and wanted to change it, then you could go ahead and move

it, then you could go ahead and move it, but i would not move it in this year with one of those because what you could do is risk losing your deposit. untilthe you could do is risk losing your deposit. until the foreign office comes out and says absolutely you cannot travel, then you do not have a right to a refund or to change dates. all of this will lead to some kind of travel passport, so those who can as soon as possible will be able to have a holiday they've been craving for a let's face nearly two years now. , ., , , , ., for a let's face nearly two years now. , ,, ., ., ., now. everyone is desperate for a vaccination _ now. everyone is desperate for a vaccination passport _ now. everyone is desperate for a vaccination passport but - now. everyone is desperate for a vaccination passport but is - now. everyone is desperate for a vaccination passport but is much| vaccination passport but is much more complex than people realise. when compared to yellow fever, with yellow fever, there is one single vaccine, a passport that has been globally agreed by all the countries around the world, currently there are 12 approved vaccines globally and 300 in the works, and so every country, you have to get every country, you have to get every country to agree which vaccines it deems acceptable, so right now,

china said you will only be allowed in if you get the china vaccine approved in china and the uk says, we've got these vaccines were happy with but you're not happy with other vaccines. it's much more complicated than people realise and what the eu is looking at right now is a combination passport value either have the vaccination passport. you can allow more people to travel. we have a multitiered approach to this. evenif have a multitiered approach to this. even if you hate crowds, you want to be there anyway. in your heart of hearts. do you think foreign travel will be off the agenda altogether? i think there will be some corridors open. there are some countries that have very low cases and are very keen to get brits back into the

country. that doesn't mean... there are some countries that are like, come on over. you still have a big problem with your covid rates are just because they are desperate for uk citizens to come over, it doesn't mean it's a two—way street and some will be worked out. we don't yet know what those are because it is a bit too early in the game, so i'm hopeful within a month or two, the government will go, we can safely say these countries have had either the levels under control. we hope there will be a few long—haul destinations or even short—haul destinations or even short—haul destinations but i feel much more confident about uk holidays so i do hope they are likely to happen. frinton, here i come. thank you.

the welsh conservatives are hoping to... setting out the plans earlier today. you'll make on the 6th of may, we will decide whether we get more of the same setbacks and let downs of the last 20 years under labour or whether we take our chance to take on real change. that's what i'm about, what the welsh conservatives are about. we have a man for our nation's recovery, a plan that reaches every city, town and community in wales. garden centres garden centres in wales are welcoming customers today for the first time since the current lockdown began in december. supermarkets and other shops that have remained open — but were required to cordon off non—essential aisles — can now sell those products. all other shops in wales are expected to re—open on the 12th of april. (pres)seven year groups of school children in northern ireland have seven year groups of school children in northern ireland have returned to classes today. the changes mean all primary school pupils and most secondary students have now returned to face to face teaching. the final cohort of secondary school pupils will return

to the classroom on april 12th after the easter holiday. the headlines on bbc news... the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders — as he tries to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. research in the us shows the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine is 100% effective at preventing severe covid—19 — and keeping people out of hospital. widespread condemnation — after violence breaks out in bristol at a protest against the new police and crime bill, in which twenty police officers were injured. dozens of former subpostmasters convicted of financial crimes are attempting to clear their names today, they're arguing their convictions were based on evidence from a faulty computer system, the post office's fujitsu—developed horizon it system. at a four—day hearing at the royal courts ofjustice in london, the court of appeal will consider appeals by a2 former subpostmasters against their convictions. i'm joined now by our business presenter ramzan karmali.

every now and then, the story makes you very angry and this is one because it has been... resulted in innocent people going to prison and many of them having their livelihood... many of them having their livelihood. . ._ many of them having their livelihood... , ., , livelihood... yes, there whole lives have been — livelihood... yes, there whole lives have been destroyed _ livelihood... yes, there whole lives have been destroyed and _ livelihood... yes, there whole lives have been destroyed and i'm - livelihood... yes, there whole lives i have been destroyed and i'm hearing these reports of a woman spending her pregnancy injail and some of these stories are absolutely shocking. i should die in december, six former sub—postmaster had their is questioned and were proven to be innocent. this goes back to 1999, 2015 and this system and 900 postmasters were prosecuted because of the rise in the it system which turned out to be showing cash shortfalls and the problem is the sub—postmaster can have access to the software to prove they were innocent, and it resulted in

devastation for a lot of these people. in 2019, 550 managed to claim £58 million in compensation and the post office has apologised, for what it called historic failings, and so this case begins today, it is meant to last a whole week but it's a pretty shocking tale. it week but it's a pretty shocking tale. ,., , . week but it's a pretty shocking tale. , ., ., ., week but it's a pretty shocking tale. ., ., ., , week but it's a pretty shocking tale. ., ., ., i, tale. it sounds a lot of money but the sent tale. it sounds a lot of money but the spent most _ tale. it sounds a lot of money but the spent most of _ tale. it sounds a lot of money but the spent most of that _ tale. it sounds a lot of money but the spent most of that in - tale. it sounds a lot of money but the spent most of that in legal. the spent most of that in legal fees. , ., the spent most of that in legal fees. , . ., fees. yes, and it might go further. once more — fees. yes, and it might go further. once more and _ fees. yes, and it might go further. once more and more _ fees. yes, and it might go further. once more and more conviction i fees. yes, and it might go further. i once more and more conviction start coming in, they could have a complication and fidget to himself are under scrutiny because it is the software they developed and they claim they did not know there was a fault with the software. the evidence has emerged since that there were e—mails that may have proved otherwise, so that's another thing to watch out for, whether the prosecution might take place. some

of the stories we've had are unbelievable. the financial ruin, houses being repossessed, businesses going under. but i don't know whether this will ever be solved. they had years to put up with this and it's unbelievable. why quickly spoken with one person, let's hear their story. it’s spoken with one person, let's hear their story-— their story. it's a difficult one to 'usti . their story. it's a difficult one to justify- what — their story. it's a difficult one to justify. what the _ their story. it's a difficult one to justify. what the company's i their story. it's a difficult one to i justify. what the company's managing board are saying, their mantra is there are 20 meals a week, online is responsible for delivering one of those 21, so they are looking for that number to increase and the question is, how does their market share work out against the and just eat takeaway dot—com? there are mule companies out there going very quickly so there is a big market share fight going on but on face value, and £89 billion evaluation is a big straight. risk tolerant investors might go for it, there is a bit more nervous or wary might

not. , ., , ., ,., a bit more nervous or wary might not. , ., , ., y., ., . not. the sharper of you will notice that wasn't _ not. the sharper of you will notice that wasn't a _ not. the sharper of you will notice that wasn't a postmaster - not. the sharper of you will notice that wasn't a postmaster but i i not. the sharper of you will notice i that wasn't a postmaster but i would have just got angry. that that wasn't a postmaster but i would have just got angry-— have just got angry. that was talkin: have just got angry. that was talking about _ have just got angry. that was talking about a _ have just got angry. that was talking about a story - have just got angry. that was talking about a story we i have just got angry. that was talking about a story we will. have just got angry. that was i talking about a story we will return to. we should expect something else towards the end of the week on that. we heard from delivery. it's a company landing in 2015 in london. never held a profit. it would value the company at nearly £9 billion. it seems crazy. presumably they are one of these companies that has really benefited from the past. january and february see the more than double the amount of takeaway is ordered through their platforms, so they are doing pretty well in that respect but it is quite surprising. i was not quite a big shareholder. they own a chunk of it and amazon valued

it at five ilion so it's been going up it at five ilion so it's been going up quite substantially. do you do reckon they will get between eight or e9 reckon they will get between eight or £9 billion worth. that is what they value the company at. i know you're keen on diy. i spend a fortune on people putting it right afterwards. yes. the element kingfisher own b and q and screw fix. they've announced a massive increase in profits. 7% up in sales. there has been a development in a new generation of diy people. not us but the 18-3a new generation of diy people. not us but the 18—3a —year—olds are very keen on diy. he is worried that might taper up as lockdown measures ease. basically a lot of us have been at home and so we've been keeping ourselves busy. and as i say, waiting for people to come and put it all right. good to see you.

thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes across new south wales in australia — as heavy rains continue to batter the east coast of the country causing severe flooding. torrential downpours have caused rivers and dams to overflow around sydney and it's forecast that the rains will last for several more days. shaimaa khalil reports. this is what days of relentless downpour looks like. a deluge not seen here in decades. emergency services have conducted more than 500 rescues so far. this is what they are up against. waters so high and forceful a three—bedroom cottage was seen floating through. crews have also been called in to get stranded cattle to safety. one team even managed to ferry 20 dogs on inflatable boats. in the town of windsor, north—west of sydney, residents are used to floods this time of year, but nothing like this. very shocking. i have not seen it like this before. 1990 was the last time i remember having a really big flood. _ we have had some where the bridges

have gone under before, _ but not like this. it is hard to tell. this is the newly built windsor bridge. it is barely one year old. it was meant to withstand heavy flooding. this is how swollen the river got. you can hardly make out the windsor bridge. with more rain forecast over the next few days things are set to get much worse before they get better. thousands of families have already evacuated, with many more ready to go. for days now, this family has been on high alert. they tell me they hardly slept in the past 2a hours as they watched the waters inch ever closer to the property and submerge the whole of their back garden. this is what their property looked like before the flood. and this is it now. normally it is completely green. it slopes down to the dam. now, it is completely inundated. in the distance we can just see farmland. but now, we just see water. it is not the first natural disaster to hit these areas in the past year. some communities who were battered with the bushfires, now they are battered by the floods. drought prior to that. i do not know any time in our state's history when we have had these events in such quick succession. many have spent the night in evacuation centres.

with the rain showing no sign of letting up there is no telling when they will be able to get back to their homes and what state they will find them in. now — the prospect of a good spring—clean is daunting enough for any of us — but in space? well a british company is involved in the latest mission to clear up tonnes of debris that's floating in orbit around the earth. a vacuum cleaner won't cut it — they're going to be using huge magnets instead. our science correspondent jonathan amos reports.

there are now millions of pieces of discarded metal and other materials in orbit — everything from old rocket segments to accidentally dropped astronaut tools, even flecks of paint. the fear is that unless we start taking some of the bigger litter items out of the sky, they could hit and destroy the active satellites that provide our communications and weather forecasts. the international astroscale company, with a division in the uk, will demonstrate how this can be done. it'll use one satellite to magnetically grab another, a dummy in this instance, and pull it down to earth. the manoeuvres will be complex

and the demonstration will have to take care that it doesn't itself produce unnecessary debris. the key bit is to capture a tumbling object. so if a satellite fails, it can quite easily start tumbling, you know, about maybe all three axes. and that makes it considerably harder to capture it. so that is our key technology. but also we are going to show a lot of autonomous control. astroscale is hoping a vibrant market will emerge this decade in which spacecraft owners contract other operators to either service and repair hardware in orbit, or tow it out of harm's way. this should keep orbits free and safe for everyone to continue using. jonathan amos, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. quite calm out there at the moment. will it last as we go through the miz more indications on that at the minute. most of the sunshine in

sheltered areas, more new wave cloud out to the west. a bit of cloud and drizzle to the far north—west. temperatures should be between 9-13 c temperatures should be between 9—13 c and with the light wind and sunshine, some of us have that feeling quite pleasant as we go through the day. overnight, we will see some cloud gathering from the west which will continue to bring a few scattered showers along with a thin coat. cloud does continue to break in places, we might see it falling away to low single figures but generally with the crowd around, not going to be a cool start to tuesday. tuesday will see more cloud as a weather front approaches from the west and from wednesday onwards, we will start to see a change with some wet and windy weather arriving for all, turning noticeably colder ijy for all, turning noticeably colder by friday.

this is bbc news. i'm simon mccoy. the headlines — the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders — as he attempts to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. a vaccination campaign, developing vaccines, rolling them out, these are international projects, and they require international co—operation. research in the us shows the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine is 100% effective at preventing severe covid—19 — and keeping people out of hospital. widespread condemnation — after violence breaks out in bristol at a protest against the new police and crime bill — 20 police officers were injured. they were there with anti—police rhetoric, they were there with violence and threats and graffiti and damage and violence. so there could be as many as a00 people we want to speak to. fewer soldiers, but more, and better, kit. the defence review expected

to herald the biggest changes in defence since the end of the cold war. the cleaner that is out of this world — the mission to collect the space junk orbiting the planet. good afternoon. borisjohnson has been speaking to the french and german leaders, as he attempts to persuade the eu not to ban astrazeneca vaccine exports to the uk. the european commission has criticised the company for failing to deliver enough doses to the eu — while providing regular shipments to the uk from its plants in europe. eu leaders will meet on thursday to consider an export ban. speaking this lunchtime the prime minister warned the uk could soon feel the effects of the surge in infections seen in europe. our political correspondent

iain watson reports. a further shot in the arm for the vaccination programme, a record number ofjabs were delivered at the weekend. four out of ten of the uk population have been vaccinated, compared with just over one in ten across the eu. on thursday, european leaders will discuss how vaccine supply can be improved on the continent, and they haven't completely ruled out a ban on the export of vaccines from the eu. but, at a brussels briefing, a spokesman said eu leaders were more likely to focus on how to boost imports. it is a give and take, if you wish. we would be exporting, and these, the companies that are situated in those countries to which we export would also be exporting to europe. you will have to wait for more specifics on this, but clearly this is the direction that we are going on. the current focus is on this factory in the netherlands.

the eu are expected to use the approved the use of vaccines manufactured here soon. the company is a subcontractor for astrazeneca. some european leaders want to ensure supplies here are not sent to the uk first, as they say astrazeneca still hasn't fulfilled its obligations to the eu. today, the prime minister stressed the need for mutual cooperation with brussels on vaccines, but he emphasised there was a very good reason why the vaccination programme here needed to continue apace. on the continent right now, you can see that sadly there is a third wave under way, and people in this country should be under no illusions that previous experience has taught us that when a wave hits our friends, i am afraid it washes up on our shores as well. i expect that we will feel those effects in due course, that is why we are getting on with our vaccination programme as fast as we can. relations with the eu are prickly, but government and opposition are united in calling for the uk's vaccine contracts to be

fulfilled, unhindered. idon't think the eu l is helping itself here, i don't think it has helped itself much in the last few weeks i and months on the whole question of vaccines— and i don't think they should go i down this road of banning exports. what we want is this resolved as quickly as possible, - because we don't want any shortage of vaccines to interrupt _ the roll—out in this country. but we know vaccine supplies will slow down next month, even with no further restrictions from the eu, so what would this mean for the government's route map out of lockdown in england? ministers have been keen to reassure as any short—term slowdown will not make as wait any longer for a haircut or a drink in a beer garden, because the nhs is still on track to offer vaccinations to all those over 50s and those at serious risk from illness by next month, and restrictions should still be further eased in england from april 12th. if you thought brexit would see the end of difficult talks with the eu, think again. ministers want to avoid a full—blown row and hope vaccine supply doesn't

become a toxic issue. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. a clean—up operation is under way, after violent clashes that have been described as "shameful" broke out last night between protesters and police at a demonstration against new powers for the policing of protests. 20 officers were injured — two seriously — and police vans were set alight after the �*kill the bill�* protests turned violent. seven people have been arrested. the home secretary has condemned the scenes as "completely unacceptable". john maguire reports. determined to reclaim the streets, an army of cleaners was deployed overnight, sweeping up glass from the broken windows of the police station, removing graffiti from walls, and clearing up hundreds of stones that had been thrown during the unrest. there has been a huge clean—up operation taking place here this morning. bristol city council has

cleaned the pavements. when i first arrived, there was broken glass everywhere, broken beer bottles, and perhaps the most sinister element, these stones were everywhere, hundreds of them spread across, clearly used as missiles. targeted at the buildings, just look at the broken windows, but they were also clearly used to target police officers themselves. sunday had started peacefully, as thousands attended a rally against the new police and crime bill that would restrict some protest. but as the evening came, events turned violent. i am incredibly saddened. i am saddened that so many of my brave police officers, our officers have been injured doing theirjob. i am saddened for bristol, because bristol is much better than this, this is a fantastic city to live and work in and be part of, but i am committed to roll up my sleeves with my officers to catch the people responsible and stop them doing it again. 20 officers were assaulted, two suffering broken bones, and there were seven arrests,

but the police are promising more. well, i think that all that kind of thing is unacceptable and i think that the people obviously have a right to protest in this country, but they should protest peacefully and legally. bristol�*s elected mayor is adamant that the violence was perpetrated by people who effectively hijacked an otherwise peaceful protest. these people here last. night have nothing to do with the real challenges of real people in bristol. _ it is about them, about their. self—indulgence and their desire to play out their fantasies of being some kind - of revolutionaries. there's nothing revolutionary about what they did. - it's just privileged activism. some who were there last night, whilst not condoning the injuries to the police, argued that disaffection and mistrust had fuelled the anger. if we are making peaceful protest illegal, how else are you going to protest? and, like, even a one—man protest, if i was to stand outside there with a sign, i could get up

to ten years in prison. as the injured are treated and the damage assessed, the main question to be answered remains, just how a day that was designed to send a peaceful message of protest could descend into such wilful destruction and violence. john maguire, bbc news, bristol. let�*s get more now on our top story the row between the eu and the uk, over vaccine supplies. dr david nabarro is the special envoy on covid—19 at the world health organization. hejoins me now and it is a great pleasure to talk to you once again, david. ., pleasure to talk to you once again, david-- m — pleasure to talk to you once again, david-- m just _ pleasure to talk to you once again, david.- i'm just wondering i pleasure to talk to you once again, david. hello. i�*m just wondering on david. hello. i'm 'ust wondering on the perspective — david. hello. i'mjust wondering on the perspective there _ david. hello. i'mjust wondering on the perspective there as _ david. hello. i'mjust wondering on the perspective there as you - david. hello i'm just wondering on the perspective there as you see leaders, borisjohnson and eu leaders, borisjohnson and eu leaders discussing the possible cuts to vaccine exports. what do you make of what�*s going on? to vaccine exports. what do you make of what's going on?— of what's going on? thank you very much indeed- _ of what's going on? thank you very much indeed. the _ of what's going on? thank you very much indeed. the most _ of what's going on? thank you very much indeed. the most importantl much indeed. the most important thing that i want to stress is that

this pandemic is still very, very active all over the world, and that we�*ve got to do everything possible as humanity to get ahead of it and not to let it get ahead of us. so i would like to stress it is what people do in their daily lives that is the most important influence on how the virus spreads. after all, we are still some way away from being in a situation in any country in the world where we can definitely look each other in the eye and say there is enough people that have been immunised with the vaccine to push the pandemic back. it�*s not there yet. even in the uk, which is one of the countries with the most advanced vaccine roll—out. there is still a long way to go, and so in the meantime, the only way you stop this pandemic from spreading is by keeping physical distance from others, especially in confined

spaces, wearing facemasks, practising superb hygiene and making certain that those who are likely to have the virus are isolated and properly treated. the vaccine is super good in reducing the extent to which people who get attacked by the virus go on and develop severe illness and dying, so it is important to continue rolling out the vaccine, but it�*s also vital that we go on treating this virus with respect. the fighting between countries that i am reading about in the newspapers, over whether or not there should be some kind of restriction on the movement of vaccine once it�*s been produced, between countries, is of course most unfortunate. none of us like to see this kind of headline in the paper, and i continue to plead with every political leader, whichever side of any divide they are on, to work with

the each otherfor a any divide they are on, to work with the each other for a fair roll—out of vaccines right across the world. we are notjust talking about disagreements between the wealthy nations, or groups of nations, we are talking about a world problem, with sickness being reported, particularly from those who are most exposed almost vulnerable, all over the world, and what we are working for in the world health organisation is fair shares for everyone, because no one is safe until we are all safe. ., ,. , ~ , ., safe. you described the astrazeneca vaccine is super _ safe. you described the astrazeneca vaccine is super good. _ safe. you described the astrazeneca vaccine is super good. the _ safe. you described the astrazeneca vaccine is super good. the research | vaccine is super good. the research from the united states suggests it is 100% effective in keeping people out of hospital, and yet you must have had your head in your hands when you hear someone like president macron suggesting that it�*s not effective for elderly people and that seems to have resulted in a loss of confidence in europe, and many are looking at that and saying that as part of the reason only 7% for example of people in france have had the vaccine.—

had the vaccine. well, there is alwa s a had the vaccine. well, there is always a difficulty _ had the vaccine. well, there is always a difficulty when - had the vaccine. well, there is always a difficulty when a i had the vaccine. well, there is always a difficulty when a new| always a difficulty when a new vaccine is produced. because there will be people who look very carefully at the figures and question whether or not the vaccine is as safe and vaccine —— safe and effective as it needs to be, and because there was quite a rush when these vaccines were developed, not all of the clinical trials went exactly as was expected. there were various differences, for example, in the particular design of different trial arms, and there were some question marks at the beginning about one of the vaccines, the one that you referred to, but these have been dispelled by very good follow—up work, you havejust referred to it, and so it is understandable, perhaps, that there were some questions particularly coming to a head in the last couple of weeks about that vaccine. but what i would like to say to

everybody is that there has been very careful work done by both european medicines agency and by the world organisation�*s scientific advisors, and on friday last week, a very clear statement was produced that said on the basis of a re—examination of all the data, there is no evidence that this vaccine has any particular safety profile that causes concern. but i don�*t blame anybody from asking questions about new vaccines. what i think is that it�*s important that when we get a result that has come through from a scientific assessment, wejust through from a scientific assessment, we just get on and make sure that everybody can access the vaccine as quickly as possible. really good to talk to you again, thank you very much for your time. thank you for having me, goodbye. the size of the army is expected to be reduced by about 10,000 soldiers, as part of a move towards robots, drones, and cyber warfare. the defence review due to be

announced later is likely to see the loss of some tanks and aircraft — but the government said there would be "more ships, submarines and sailors". our defence correspondent jonathan beale reports. the prime minister this morning visited a factory in lancashire, to highlight investment in developing a new british fighter jet. part of the modernisation of the armed forces, which the government says will strengthen britain�*s sovereignty, security and prosperity. it�*s the biggest spend on the armed forces since the end of the cold war, and what it is doing is, it is enabling us to modernise our armed services, to give them the kit that they are going to need the government says the armed forces of the future will be better equipped, with more marines and troops supported by robots and drones and sent to operate in small teams to train and fight with allies all over the world, underlining the government�*s mantra of global britain.

it says they will be backed up by a new kind of army, skilled in information, electronic and cyber warfare. but it will also be smaller. the size of the regular army is expected to be cut by 10,000, to just over 70,000 soldiers. quantity has a quality all its own, as stalin taught us, and we are concerned about the shrinking size of britain's military. but i would rather have a fully capable, fully resourced, smaller british force than i would have a larger, less capable one. i am very concerned about these cuts. i the prime minister at the tail end of last year was saying _ there won't be cuts to the military. now we know there will. and it's another cut, and i think that will have an impact. - extra investment is going into the royal navy, with new warships being ordered. but it is still expected to retire two older frigates early, seeing a reduction in its service fleet before it increases later this decade.

the government has already named russia as the greatest threat, but the decision to send the navy�*s new aircraft carrier to the pacific later this year is a sign of concerns about the rise of china. but it is still not clear how many of these f—35 jets the uk can afford, beyond the a8 already ordered. jonathan beale, bbc news. let�*s speak now to former military commander colonel richard kemp, who served in the armed forces for more than 20 years, and worked for thejoint intelligence committee, and has been part of cobra briefings. thank you forjoining us this afternoon. fewer soldiers but better equipped. is that the right way forward? ~ ~ . equipped. is that the right way forward? ~ ~ , ., forward? well, i think there is a lot to think— forward? well, i think there is a lot to think is _ forward? well, i think there is a lot to think is good _ forward? well, i think there is a lot to think is good about - forward? well, i think there is a lot to think is good about this i lot to think is good about this defence review, i think this government has a lot of it right,

and in particular having modernised equipment, using focusing on cyber, on unmanned systems and on space i think is absolutely the right way to go. think is absolutely the right way to 90- my think is absolutely the right way to go. my concern is, though, that doing that at the expense of reducing what is already a very tiny armed forces today i think it�*s potentially dangerous. the government have to juggle and they have two mate gambles and they have to take risks, obviously, when they have to decide on spending finite budgets, but i think this is probably an error to take such a big risk with cutting such a small army and armed forces as we have today. potentially dangerous is the phrase you use, in what way, what won�*t we be able to do in the future that we have been able to do up until now? well, i think have been able to do up until now? well, ithink it have been able to do up until now? well, i think it is not necessarily too helpful to compare future conflict with conflict that has gone by. there are lessons to be learned from it, but i think you would be hard pushed to name a conflict we

have gone into that we have expected to go into. they sort of ten to come out of the blue and we are fighting something within perhaps a matter of weeks that we never expected. but i think if you look at campaigns like afghanistan and iraq, and i wouldn�*t want to fight those campaigns again, but if we were in a situation where we had to deploy a significant number of forces on the ground after —— over a long period, i think that would be very problematic with such a small armed forces. and if you look at the figure of the government are probably going to go down too, of 72,000, when you actually look at the reality, that�*s probably going to be undermanned anyway, that 72,000, some of those people will not be deployable, they will be sick or downgraded or whatever, so you�*ve got under 70,000 in reality to use, and also is a very tiny number actually fighting troops. the vast majority of them, at least two thirds of them, are people doing logistics and essential supporting roles, but they are not fighting troops, so it gives you an idea of how small ourfighting

troops, so it gives you an idea of how small our fighting capability will be within the army, let alone the other forces. will be within the army, let alone the otherforces. i will be within the army, let alone the other forces.— the other forces. i want to talk about the _ the other forces. i want to talk about the navy, _ the other forces. i want to talk about the navy, we _ the other forces. i want to talk about the navy, we are - the other forces. i want to talk about the navy, we are an i the other forces. i want to talk i about the navy, we are an island nation, post—brexit, we seem to be concentrating more on ships, submarines and sailors. is that the right approach? i submarines and sailors. is that the right approach?— right approach? i think it is absolutely _ right approach? i think it is absolutely right _ right approach? i think it is absolutely right to - right approach? i think it is absolutely right to focus i right approach? i think it is i absolutely right to focus heavily right approach? i think it is - absolutely right to focus heavily on the navy and indeed the air force as well, and i think the plans to deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the south china seas and elsewhere in that region is a good thing to do. china does need to be reminded, including by britain, that it doesn�*t have free reign in that region, and i think therefore that kind of move is very important. and i think from the government�*s point of view, focusing on naval and air capacity, ratherthan of view, focusing on naval and air capacity, rather than ground forces, is less risky for them, because i think there is a lot of nervousness following afghanistan and iraq, in terms of deploying ground forces and incurring casualties as a result. that doesn�*t necessarily mean it is

the right thing to do. i�*m not disputing the need to focus on navy and air force, that should happen, but i think it is unwise to neglect the ground forces while doing so. if i'm sitting in my living room in i�*m sitting in my living room in macclesfield, am i going to be more or less safe after this?— or less safe after this? that's a very good _ or less safe after this? that's a very good question! _ or less safe after this? that's a very good question! i _ or less safe after this? that's a very good question! i would i or less safe after this? that's a i very good question! i would hope more safe, on a day to day basis, because i think moves like increasing the number of special forces, for example, creating a range of battalions that the government has in mind, which i think are going to be primarily aimed at countering terrorist —type organisations like the islamic state and other similar groups. organisations like the islamic state and othersimilar groups. i organisations like the islamic state and other similar groups. i think that kind of action is likely to make you safer in macclesfield than you are today, potentially. we can�*t tell. but i think if there is a wider conflict involving national armed forces that we have to get involved in, whether we want to or not, we have to do, and i can see

various scenarios that might occur, then i suspect we�*re going to be much less effective than we are today, with smaller forces, much less effective than we are today, with smallerforces, albeit better equipped and more capable forces. ., ., . ., , better equipped and more capable forces. ., ., . . , ., ~ forces. colonel richard kemp, thank ou ve forces. colonel richard kemp, thank you very much _ forces. colonel richard kemp, thank you very much for — forces. colonel richard kemp, thank you very much forjoining _ forces. colonel richard kemp, thank you very much forjoining us - forces. colonel richard kemp, thank you very much forjoining us this i you very much forjoining us this afternoon. you very much for 'oining us this this is a big week for scotland�*s first minister nicola sturgeon. with just days to go before the holyrood election campaign, it�*s thought she�*ll find out this afternoon the results of an independent review into her handling of harassment complaints against her predecessor, alex salmond. if it rules she has broken the ministerial code by knowingly misleading parliament, then her political career would be in serious trouble. our political correspondent nick eardley is at holyrood, and he explained what we might see today. i think we�*ll see that report into whether nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code in the next few hours, simon. i wouldn�*t be surprised if we see it this afternoon. the scottish government has had it since this morning, it is going through some legal and data protection checks before it is published.

this is a really important one, because, for weeks, nicola sturgeon and her team have been talking about that being the report they are really concerned about. it is by a man called james hamilton, who is an experienced lawyer, who is basically looking into whether nicola sturgeon has followed the rules that ministers have to follow. she has faced allegations for some time that she wasn�*t completely honest with the scottish parliament about when she knew about harassment allegations against alex salmond, also allegations she didn�*t tell the full truth about what went on in various meetings. so i think we will see that shortly. i�*ve got to say, speaking to a few people close to the first minister, they seem pretty relaxed at this stage. they don�*t seem to be on the verge of panic, or talking about imminent resignations. i should point out that none of them have actually seen the report, but it does feel to me like there is an expectation in some around nicola sturgeon that, some way or another, she will make her way through this.

but there is a lot going on this week, because tomorrow you have a committee report. they are going to conclude that nicola sturgeon misled them on some of the evidence she gave, there will be a full report out at eight o�*clock tomorrow morning, no doubt with other details, and ms sturgeon could face a no—confidence vote in the next couple of days, as well. so this place packs up for the scottish parliament election on wednesday night, and there is a lot to happen before then. and there�*s so much at stake with this, because the very future of any new independence referendum depends very much on how this all pans out, doesn�*t it? yes, as we speak the scottish parliament has also just published a new referendum bill, which the snp will seek to pass in the next parliament, if they come back in power. this election really matters. if you are in england, or elsewhere in the uk, and you�*re wondering why

does this all matter, it really does, because the scottish parliament election on the 6th of may will be crucial in figuring out how much pressure there is for another independence referendum. if the snp win a majority they will say we have a mandate for another referendum. if they don�*t win a majority, the unionist parties, labour, the conservatives, the lib dems, will say you don�*t have that mandate for another referendum. now, it is slightly more complicated than that, because the green party in the scottish parliament are pro—independence as well, and it is possible you have a pro—independence majority, even if the snp don�*t get a majority themselves, but this really, really matters for the future of the uk, for the pressure there will be on borisjohnson to greet another independence referendum, and what happens over the next few days will play a massive part in shaping the election campaign over the next six weeks. nick hurd lea. the welsh conservatives have launched their campaign today, pledging to freeze council tax and recruit 3,000 extra nurses. the welsh conservative leader, andrew rt davies, set out their plans earlier today.

on the 6th of may, we'll decide whether— on the 6th of may, we'll decide whether we get more of the same setbacks — whether we get more of the same setbacks and let downs of the last 20 years _ setbacks and let downs of the last 20 years under labour, or whether we take our— 20 years under labour, or whether we take our chance to getting real change — take our chance to getting real change. that's what i'm about. that's— change. that's what i'm about. that's what the welsh conservatives are about _ that's what the welsh conservatives are about. we have a plan for our nation's _ are about. we have a plan for our nation's recovery, a plan that reaches — nation's recovery, a plan that reaches every city, town and community in wales. bbc director general tim davie has said that the role of the bbc "is not to beat netflix". speaking to mps at the public accounts committee, davie said that bbc has a "different purpose" to streaming services, adding that the corporation needs to be "highly distinctive" and retaining both its reach and value. my my personal view is universality is we can fight and preserve universality, but we have to be incredibly well focused on where we differentiate ourselves versus the rest of the market. we�*ve always sat alongside competition. i�*ve been

very clear i think, saying our role here is not to beat netflix. just to be clear to the committee, we are not going to beat netflix. we�*re not going to beat them. we need to do something radically different. we make thousands more hours of local... i mean, the us streamers make about 200 hours of uk originated content. the public service broadcasters make 30,000 hours. we are differently shaped. we always have sat alongside competitors. the issue is the bbc needs to be highly instinctive, —— distinctive, whether that be bite—size education provision, locally made drama. tim bite-size education provision, locally made drama. thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes across new south wales in australia, as heavy rains continue to batter the east coast of the country, causing severe flooding. torrential downpours have caused rivers and dams to overflow around sydney, and it�*s forecast that the rains will last for several more days. shaimaa khalil reports. (vt next) this is what days of relentless

downpour looks like. a deluge not seen here in decades. emergency services have conducted more than 500 rescues so far. this is what they are up against. waters so high and forceful, a three—bedroom cottage was seen floating through. crews have also been called in to get stranded cattle to safety. in the town of windsor, north—west of sydney, residents are used to floods this time of year, but nothing like this. very shocking. i have not seen it like this before. in 1990 was the last time i remember having a really big flood. _ it is hard to tell. this is the newly built windsor bridge. it is barely one year old. it was meant to withstand heavy flooding. this is how swollen the river got. you can hardly make out

the windsor bridge. with more rain forecast over the next few days, things are set to get much worse before they get better. thousands of families have already evacuated, with many more ready to go. for days now, this family has been on high alert. they tell me they hardly slept in the past 2a hours as they watched the waters inch ever closer to their property and submerge the whole of their back garden. normally it is completely green. it slopes down to the dam. now, it is completely inundated. in the distance we can just see farmland. but now, we just see water. it is not the first natural disaster to hit these areas in the past year. some communities who were battered by the bushfires, now they are battered by the floods. deep drought prior to that. i do not know any time in our state�*s history when we have had these events

in such quick succession. many have spent the night in evacuation centres. with the rain showing no sign of letting up there is no telling when they will be able to get back to their homes. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello, it�*s quite calm out there. will it last? we�*ll have more indications on that in just a minute but as you can see from the satellite picture, the best of the sunshine in sheltered eastern and southern areas, more in the way of cloud to the west and the county can offer a bit of light drizzle to the far north—west of scotland, but temperatures should peak between 9—13 celsius and with those light winds, for some of us feeling quite pleasant as we go through the day. overnight, we will see some cloud gathering in from the west and that will continue to bring a few scattered showers along west—facing coasts. where it does continue to break, in places, we might see temperatures

falling into low single figures but generally with the cloud around, it will not be a cold start to tuesday. tuesday sees more cloud as a weather front approaches from the and from wednesday onwards, the windy weather arrives for all. turning noticeably colder by friday. hello this is bbc news with me simon mccoy. the headlines... the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders — as he attempts to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. a vaccination campaign developing vaccines, rolling them out, these are international project that require international cooperation. research in the us shows the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine is 100% effective at preventing severe covid—19 — and keeping people out of hospital. widespread condemnation — after violence breaks out in bristol

at a protest against the new police and crime bill, in which twenty police officers were injured. there were there with anti—police rhetoric — threats, graffiti, damage and violence. there could be as many as a00 people we want to speak to. fewer soldiers but more — and better — kit. the defence review expected to herald the biggest changes in defence since the end of the cold war. the cleaner that is out of this world — the mission to collect the space junk orbiting the planet. sport now...and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here�*s olly foster. always the big build—up. we�*re going to start

with that great news for women�*s football in england. the bbc and sky have signed a multi—million pound deal to show super league games for the next 3 years. at least 18 games will be shown live on bbc one or bbc two per season. the agreement , that starts in september, is believed to be worth around 8 million pounds a year with 25 percent of that invested in the women�*s championship, the second tier. you speak about young girls and, as footballers, we try to be that inspiration to role models to so many but sometimes you cannot actually be the role model if you�*re not being seen so for us to be able to be on television more often and games to be visible for these young girls is the big step forward but women�*s football in general, this will really push alex to be the best in europe if not the world. —— women�*s football in general, this will really push our leagues to be the best in europe if not the world. scotland have named their squad for friday�*s six nations match against france in paris. sean maitland has been surprisingly left out. he played at full—back over the weekend against italy but usually plays on the wing, he scored two tries against the french in last years six nations. this is the final game

of the tournament, it was supposed to be played last month but there was a covid outbreak in the french camp. the scots can finish second with a win. france need to win by 21 points and score a tries to take the title. staying with rugby union, and we could be a step closer to a first women�*s british and irish lions tour. a feasibility study is being carried out, with the results due in december. it�*s being backed by the insurance company royal london, one of the sponsors for the men�*s lions series against south africa this year a lot of governing bodies, nations to say they support the women�*s side what we�*ve not seen that reflector than the investment and yes, the likes of england, france, new zealand have really thrown their support behind the woman�*s set up but it�*s been quite challenging to watch as other nations haven�*t unfortunately had the same support so unfortunately the talk now about a british and irish lions side, the global calendar and the betterment of world rugby will mean other governments will start to say we need to do more to support women�*s side. there�*s a chance that the families of athletes taking part in the olympics and paralympics

will be able to travel to japan to watch the games after all. all overseas fans have been barred from tokyo this summer because of covid concerns and though organisers say that includes competitors�* family members at the moment, they are discussing the possibility of making exceptions. after losing the t20 series against india, england�*s cricketer�*s have moved onto pune where the one—day series starts tomorrow. it�*s largely the same squad and althouthofra archer misses out with an ongoing elbow issue there could be some fresh faces coming into the eleven we have to look at her an opportunity might present itself and that can be difficult on tour so i hope this will energise a little bit and hopefully bring a bit of performance as well. that you�*re a lot for now.

that�*s all the sport for now. i�*ll have more for you in the next hour. this is bbc news. now we have a special programme. your name... jolley smithers. clive mhairi. ., ., your name... jolley smithers. clive l mhairi._ sometimes mhairi. your occupation. sometimes 'ournalist. mhairi. your occupation. sometimes journalist- new _ mhairi. your occupation. sometimes journalist. newjob, _ mhairi. your occupation. sometimes journalist. newjob, -- _ mhairi. your occupation. sometimes journalist. newjob, -- clive - mhairi. your occupation. sometimes journalist. newjob, -- clive myrie. l journalist. new 'ob, -- clive myrie. mastermind. — journalist. newjob, -- clive myrie. mastermind. you _ journalist. newjob, -- clive myrie. mastermind. you have _ journalist. newjob, -- clive myrie. mastermind. you have an - journalist. newjob, -- clive myrie. mastermind. you have an amazing | journalist. newjob, -- clive myrie. i mastermind. you have an amazing new job. of course you are all familiar with clive myrie. how does it feel

presenting mastermind? what with clive myrie. how does it feel presenting mastermind? what an opportunity _ presenting mastermind? what an opportunity. amazing. _ presenting mastermind? what an opportunity. amazing. i- presenting mastermind? what an opportunity. amazing. i grew- presenting mastermind? what an opportunity. amazing. i grew up. presenting mastermind? what an i opportunity. amazing. i grew up with this programme along with university challenge, bamber gascoigne and alan whicker and it�*s one of those programmes that is entertaining, but it�*s packed with information as well. you can learn stuff and those are the kinds of programmes i loved growing up so to be part of this institution is really quite amazing. you talk about a programme that is an institution within the bbc, too, and these are big shoes to fill. ikla and these are big shoes to fill. iir: pressure, simon, thank you for that. they are big shoes to fill. absolutely, but all i can do is bring a bit of my own personality to what is a grounded format. remember bill wright who started the whole thing in the early 70s was a former raf gunner, shot down over germany, prisoner of war, and when the interrogated him, they asked what his name, rank and numberwas, which is where he got the idea from for

those. it is a stark simplicity of it. the lights, the chair. you will not mess around with that, but i suppose i can bring a bit of personality to it, and hopefully not disrupted too much for those purists who have been watching from the very beginning. i�*m who have been watching from the very bettinnin. �* ., i. who have been watching from the very bettinnin. �* ., y., ., , beginning. i'm told you have been chosen because _ beginning. i'm told you have been chosen because of _ beginning. i'm told you have been chosen because of something i. beginning. i'm told you have been l chosen because of something i have seen first—hand what you have a wicked of humour. all my friends when they see me in war zones, you and i were in iraq together, doing all the serious stuff, they know it is part of my personality but they also know i'm a bit of a laugh, and on the news channel, a bit of that, it's possible to get some of that outdoing the papers review, which i do in the evenings, and that is when you can open yourself up a bit and show your colours when it comes to your personality, and the other side

of things which is slightly out of the rigid news form. i of things which is slightly out of the rigid news form.— of things which is slightly out of the rigid news form. i think it was a bi art the rigid news form. i think it was a big part of _ the rigid news form. i think it was a big part of it. — the rigid news form. i think it was a big part of it. to _ the rigid news form. i think it was a big part of it, to be _ the rigid news form. i think it was a big part of it, to be honest- the rigid news form. i think it was a big part of it, to be honest with| a big part of it, to be honest with you. yeah. absolutely. i can't imagine they would have got me to present mastermind if it was just seeing me in some refugee camp in yemen, it is the other side of my personality that i think they noticed and i'm glad that it's great to be able to do that within the bbc. some of us here, you have won two journalism awards, two of the main awards. will we still see you doing the serious stuff? yes, it's an important part of who i am. i will still be doing the news of the six and ten, and the one, and i'm in the middle of making a panorama now full that side of me is still very much there, but it's good to be able to be liberated for a while every now and again when i do mastermind. difficult for you because, as you

say, people expect the show to stay the same. how will it change? figs the same. how will it change? as much the same. how will it change? is much as i would like to conduct the future of mastermind on this programme, as i slip into how a politician would normally answer that kind of question, there are little things in the works which it would be remiss of me to reveal right now but the fundamental format, the basic structure, the spotlight on the individual who is dealing with this is going to stay the same. you can have a bit more fun in the celebrity series for instance which goes out towards the end of the year, and that is where there is a bit more latitude, but it will be how you ask the questions and how you present yourself. ind and how you present yourself. and will ask the — and how you present yourself. and will ask the question for you. that is, when you are told to... i started time going to finish.

-- klaxon i'v e i've started, so i'm going to finish. when they told you they were offering you the gig, how did you feel is my goal out, my word. i burst out laughing. i feel is my goal out, my word. i burst out laughing.— burst out laughing. i burst out launchin burst out laughing. i burst out laughing because _ burst out laughing. i burst out laughing because it's - burst out laughing. i burst out laughing because it's so - burst out laughing. i burst out i laughing because it's so amazing burst out laughing. i burst out - laughing because it's so amazing and my friends now know and they can stop laughing. the world can't stop laughing. it's incredible and i am so, so happy and thankful that i've been given this opportunity, so, yeah, let's hope it works out. we are all thrilled for you and i know everyone thinks it's a fantastic decision on twitter which i agree with, wishing you all the luck in the world. no escape as your back on in 20 minutes. we will let you go and put a tie on or something anyway. thank you very much, good to talk to you. some good news. now there is further evidence that the orcs astrazeneca vaccine is both

safe and highly effective. there's further evidence that the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is both safe and highly effective. an american trial of more than 32,000 volunteers said it was 79% effective at stopping symptomatic covid and 100% effective at preventing people from falling seriously ill. it also found there were no safety issues regarding blood clots. our health correspondent dominic hughes reports. with the vaccination programme now well underway in the united states, a new trial has cleared the way for the astrazeneca jab to be added to the armoury. it confirms it's safe and effective, especially for older people. that adds to the growing body of evidence from the use of the jab in millions of patients in the uk. we do, of course, have a lot of data now coming through from the uk on the use of the vaccine in older people, in people over 70 and people over 80, and showing that, in real—world use of the vaccine, there is very high effectiveness of the vaccine, it is keeping people out of hospital, it is stopping them getting infected, even in these older age groups. but these empty chairs at a german vaccination centre back up a new survey suggesting many in europe have lost confidence in the astrazeneca jab following a scare over blood clots, even though the vaccine has now been given the all clear by the eu

medicines regulator. it shows just how easily faith in vaccines can be undermined. and a rising wave of infections across the continent throws into doubt the hopes of so many people of filling up these empty beaches this summer. if those breaks can go ahead, vaccination and testing will be crucial. vaccination non—stop, this is where the efforts of the spanish government are at the moment, and i am sure that with this, the summer will look brighter, and of course, we will be more than glad to receive our tourists from the uk, as we always had. but the prospect of holidaymakers returning from countries currently in the middle of a fresh outbreak is causing concern. when there is high prevalence of the virus, there is more risk of mutations, and the big fear here is that a resistance virus, vaccination non—stop, this is where the efforts of the spanish government are at the moment, and i am sure that with this, the summer will look brighter, and of course, we will be more than glad to receive our tourists from the uk, as we always had. but the prospect of holidaymakers returning from countries currently in the middle of a fresh outbreak is causing concern. when there is high prevalence of the virus, there is more risk of mutations, and the big fear here is that a resistance virus, one of the new variants, if you like, will be brought back

into the uk. keeping track of those new variants will be one of the biggest challenges for the coming months. a new process of genetic screening that could halve the time it takes to detect known variants is now undergoing trials. it's another weapon in what will be a long fight against coronavirus. dominic hughes, bbc news. dr maheshi ramasamy is an investigator in the oxford vaccine group and a consultant physician who has been involved in the trial since the beginning. when you saw this news, i presume you just went of course. your mac it's fantastic news and we have already demonstrated that you're in the uk trials but it's given us the opportunity in that clip in the real—world trial... opportunity in that clip in the real-world trial. . ._ opportunity in that clip in the real-world trial... public health

en . land, real-world trial... public health england, public _ real-world trial... public health england, public health - real-world trial... public health j england, public health scotland real-world trial... public health - england, public health scotland and the university of bristol, the vaccine with real people presenting that back preventing hospitalisation. that'sjust brilliant. hospitalisation. that's 'ust brilliant. �* , hospitalisation. that's 'ust brilliant. ., ., ., brilliant. it's brilliant what a shame that _ brilliant. it's brilliant what a shame that this _ brilliant. it's brilliant what a shame that this is _ brilliant. it's brilliant what a shame that this is only - brilliant. it's brilliant what a | shame that this is only today brilliant. it's brilliant what a - shame that this is only today given that we've seen that the vaccine put on hold in several countries in europe and there is a survey now showing that around 60% of people in france, 50 in germany still believe it's not safe. it france, 50 in germany still believe it's not safe-— it's not safe. it is a real shame because certainly _ it's not safe. it is a real shame because certainly in _ it's not safe. it is a real shame because certainly in our- it's not safe. it is a real shame| because certainly in our clinical trials, we showed the vaccine is very safe as well as effective. the uk regulator has a very robust way of monitoring any potential vaccine —related adverse events and both of those being used in the uk and they've not seen any signal of increased risk and even the european medicines agency and the who have very clearly stated that they should continue so it's a shame if some of

the headlines and politics have gotten the way of what we all want is people to be preventing. why tricounty thing is that wives are being lost. yes, that the real tragedy. these are not arbitrary concept, they are real people who sadly some of hume will die. we have the prime minister warning of the third wave in your. there will be people in the uk who have had the vaccine who will be thinking, i'm immune, i don't have to worry any more. are they right? well, you know the vaccine provides a good degree of protection but no vaccine is completely 100% effective at preventing disease. we don't know

how long vaccines will be... and we have good data. we don't know beyond that yet. this is a new disease and it takes time so we still have to be careful and we still need to follow the rules, we still need to be at the rules, we still need to be at the moment doing what we are told in terms of social distancing, wearing masks, just being sensible. is, masks, just being sensible. a relatively new disease, as you say, tomorrow marking the first anniversary of the first lockdown. you were a doctor. there was not any hope of the idea of a vaccine being a long way away. i'm thinking for you personally, this last year, how would you quantify that change in a disease that initially was a death sentence for many and how it is now

treated? it’s sentence for many and how it is now treated? �* , , ., ., ., , treated? it's 'ust extraordinary. there were — treated? it'sjust extraordinary. there were moments _ treated? it'sjust extraordinary. there were moments in - treated? it'sjust extraordinary. there were moments in march | treated? it'sjust extraordinary. i there were moments in march and treated? it'sjust extraordinary. - there were moments in march and i was looking after huge numbers of patients who are desperately unwell and we didn't know what to do with these poor people who are really suffering and just to think that one year later, we've got a vaccine that has been rolled out, several vaccines being rolled out and used on people, and we understand so much more about the disease itself, with amazing recovery trials showing that there are cheap, simple drugs, medicines which save lives, that is incredible and it's been a fantastic year. incredible and it's been a fantastic ear. . ~' incredible and it's been a fantastic ear. ., ~ , ., the headlines on bbc news... the prime minister has been

speaking to the french and german leaders — as he tries to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. research in the us shows the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine is 100% effective at preventing severe covid—i9 — and keeping people out of hospital. widespread condemnation — after violence breaks out in bristol at a protest against the new police and crime bill, in which twenty police officers were injured. this is miami beach in florida — and these are scenes which have thousands of people descended on the city for the annual college spring break holiday — risking a further spread of coronavirus there. florida has had fairly relaxed restrictions up until now — but miami beach is now under a state of emergency for up to three weeks. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports. party time in miami. spring break, when students

traditionally descend on florida to let off steam. the bars, beaches and restaurants are packed. but this is no time to party. the city of miami beach is currently under a state of emergency there is a curfew in effect. these extraordinary scenes have shocked local officials who say they have been overwhelmed by the number of revellers. there's little sign of social distancing and few people wearing masks. fights have broken out, and businesses have been forced to close down. at one point, the police shot pepper balls into the crowd, urging people to leave, after an 8pm curfew came into effect. i think it is a good idea. even though it's fun out here, like, we want to be out here and have fun. no—one is doing anything, people are just out here, enjoying the beach and it is a good vibe. but they want to shut it down at 8 o'clock, people will go somewhere else and take their money somewhere else and it is what it is. people want to live. corona's over, winter's over, get the vaccine, get back to business. am i worried because of covid? i mean, i'm not really worried about that. l you know what i'm saying, like... you just got to be cautious, that's

all, you know what i'm saying? i it's no guarantees with the covid thing, you can get the covid - from your neighbourhood, your block, your building. | it don't matter. you out somewhere else, like, we chilling. - florida is one of the few us states now fully open during the pandemic. last month, the republican governor ron desantis declared the state as an oasis of freedom from coronavirus restrictions. tourists have descended on the area in large numbers over the past few weeks. boston, you got to wear masks everywhere you go. i had the vaccine, so i don't care. i go home, i get tested, for myself, i don't really care but i wouldn't- want to get my parents sick, you know? - officials have blamed adults rather than college students for much of the chaos. the state of emergency and night—time curfew has now been extended for up to three weeks. many people are coming here right now and too many people are coming here with bad intentions. last week, florida recorded more than 4000 new covid—i9 infections a day. this is a crisis

that is far from over. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. with more and more britons expected to take a holiday in the uk this year, lifeboat charity the rnli is gearing up for another busy summer season around the coast. fiona lamdin has been to meet new and returning lifeguard recruits who are being put through their paces. as lockdown eased lastjune, nearly half a million visitors headed to the coast in dorset. roads were gridlocked, beaches were full, and extra police officers were brought in as a major incident was declared in bournemouth. you can't even see the sand when there's that many people down there. in the water, it actually looks like a mexican wave — there's just that many people in there. last year rnli lifeguards saved 110 lives, and responded to over 10,000 incidents. it changed in a second. ijust tried to catch a wave on my bodyboard, missed the wave, went to stand up and i was just out

of my depth. amanda and her 11—year—old son were bodyboarding at perranporth beach in cornwall when a flash rip tide started pulling her out. ajet ski came up towards me, another lifeguard. he told me to grab on and ijust couldn't — ijust had no energy left. and in his voice, he told me — he shouted at me to grab hold and i realised that it was my one chance. if i didn't grab hold of it, i would have perished. you know, my son would have gone home from that beach on his own. i don't even know how he would have got home from the beach. and without the rnli, i would be dead, i wouldn't be here today. and it was a similar story for dad—of—three ben.

he was bodyboarding at perran sands beach in cornwall. it went from being probably waist height to over my head in a couple of steps. and then i could just feel myself being pulled really fast out into the sea. it's a lonely place to be when you're out there and you don't know if you're going to get the help, if people know that you're missing. i'll be honest, i didn't think he was going to survive. i kept losing him, his head would go down and i'd lose him for a few seconds. yeah, it was the scariest thing i think i've ever been through. i've never felt fear like i did in those few minutes. it was awful. nine, ten. 0k, she's not breathing, _ can we update the ambulance and let them know that we're doing cpr? it's early spring and we're still in third lockdown, and so beaches are pretty quiet. but these lifeguards have been out training for four hours, so they're fit and ready when the public return. it's been really tough. so all the pools have been closed, so we've had to go swimming in the sea with really thick wet suits, boots, gloves, and it's been cold — like, six degrees over the winter. so it's been tough, but we've kept a good level of fitness.

ok, so this summer we're expecting the staycation factor to be very much present for everybody, so we're gearing up and expecting busy numbers at the beaches again. it's easter in two weeks — when they'll be patrolling 50 beaches across the country, hoping that this time the public will take a more measured approach as we slowly ease out of lockdown. now — the prospect of a good spring—clean is daunting enough for any of us — but in space? well a british company is involved in the latest mission to clear up tonnes of debris that's floating in orbit around the earth. a vacuum cleaner won't cut it — they're going to be using huge magnets instead. our science correspondent jonathan amos reports. is this the start of a new error?

—— is this the start of a new era? there are now millions of pieces of discarded metal and other materials in orbit — everything from old rocket segments to accidentally dropped astronaut tools, even flecks of paint. the fear is that unless we start taking some of the bigger litter items out of the sky, they could hit and destroy the active satellites that provide our communications and weather forecasts. a russian rocket flies skyward on a mission to showcase how the space industry can finally start to deal with its dirty secret — orbital debris. more than 60 years of space activity have left millions of discarded pieces of metal and other materials littering the skies overhead. everything from old rocket segments to accidentally dropped astronaut tools, even flecks of paint. the space industry is finally realising that unless we start removing some of the biggerjunk items, we run the risk of collisions that will destroy the active satellites that provide our communications and weather forecast. enter the astroscale company with a division in the uk, which launched its clean—up demonstration on monday's rocket. it'll use one satellite to magnetically grab another, a dummy in this instance, and pull it down to earth. the manoeuvres involved

will be complex. the key bit is to capture a tumbling object. so if a satellite fails it can quite easily start tumbling and that makes it considerably harder to capture it. so that is our key technology. astroscale believes a vibrant market will emerge this decade in which spacecraft owners contract other operators to either service and repair hardware in orbit, or tow it out of harm's way. this should keep orbits free and safe for everyone to continue using. jonathan amos, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello. as we go through this week, the weather will turn unsettled, weather, windier, colder on friday before temperatures pick up as we head into saturday. today, what we have is a bright afternoon across the east and the south of the country, some sunshine, variable amounts of cloud but the cloud thicker in the west and the north, generally speaking highs ranging

from eight to 18 celsius. night tonight, variable amounts of cloud, preventing temperature from falling too low and then we see a few more showers. low single figures which are fairly isolated. a cloudy day tomorrow. some sharper showers along western facing places with rain heading through the afternoon. cloudy and dry with temperatures peaking at highs of 13 celsius. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, then that weather front continues to push that area of high pressure which will slow it down and also weaken it considerably, so a nuisance on wednesday afternoon. a band of cloud, may be the odd spit and spot of light rain with it moving its way through a central and south—eastern england behind it, dry

brighter and drier with rain pushing into the far north—west of scotland. top temperature is once again 8—13 c the high. wednesday into thursday, not a bad day. chiefly going further north and west but the real change to the weather story that arrives thursday night into friday, this cold front associated with low pressure will drive in colder air and some wetter weather with it, also some pretty windy weather and that will be a shock to the system. not expected to last very long but a noticeably colder day for all of us on friday and yes we're back to spells and scattered showers with some of which being wintry to the tops of higher ground in the far north and west. top temperature is disappointing, high of nine celsius.

this is bbc news. i'm clive myrie. the headlines — the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders, as he attempts to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. a vaccination campaign, developing vaccines, rolling them out, these are international projects, and they require international co—operation. the findings of an independent inquiry into whether nicola sturgeon breached the ministerial code during the investigation into former first minister alex salmond are expected to be published shortly. it comes as the scottish government publishes draft legislation for the holding of a second independence referendum. the home secretary has condemned violence at a protest in bristol yesterday, describing the 'criminal thuggery�* as 'utterly shameful�*. 20 police officers were injured.

for them to face the criminal violence _ for them to face the criminal violence against them while upholding the law is completely unacceptable. my thoughts are with the injured officers and their familx _ fewer soldiers but more — and better — kit. the defence review expected to herald the biggest changes in defence since the end of the cold war. the cleaner that is out of this world — the mission to collect the space junk orbiting the planet. good afternoon, and welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson has been speaking to the french and german leaders, as he attempts to persuade the eu not to ban astrazeneca vaccine exports to the uk. the european commission has criticised the company for failing to deliver enough doses to the eu —

while providing regular shipments to the uk from its plants in europe. eu leaders will meet on thursday to consider an export ban. speaking this lunchtime, the prime minister warned the uk could soon feel the effects of the surge in infections seen in europe. our political correspondent iain watson reports. a further shot in the arm for the vaccination programme. a record number ofjabs were delivered at the weekend. four out of ten of the uk population have been vaccinated, compared with just over one in ten across the eu. on thursday, european leaders will discuss how vaccine supply can be improved on the continent, and they haven't completely ruled out a ban on the export of vaccines from the eu. but, at a brussels briefing, a spokesman said eu leaders were more likely to focus on how to boost imports. it is a give and take, if you wish. we would be exporting, and these, the companies that are situated in those countries to which we export would also be exporting to europe. you will have to wait for more specifics on this, but clearly this is the direction

that we are going on. the current focus is on this factory in the netherlands. the eu are expected to approve the use of vaccines manufactured here soon. the company is a subcontractor for astrazeneca. some european leaders want to ensure supplies here are not sent to the uk first, as they say astrazeneca still hasn't fulfilled its obligations to the eu. today, the prime minister stressed the need for mutual cooperation with brussels on vaccines, but he emphasised there was a very good reason why the vaccination programme here needed to continue apace. on the continent right now, you can see that, sadly, there is a third wave under way, and people in this country should be under no illusions that previous experience has taught us that when a wave hits our friends, i am afraid it washes up on our shores as well. i expect that we will feel those effects in due course.

that is why we are getting on with our vaccination programme as fast as we can. relations with the eu are prickly, but government and opposition are united in calling for the uk's vaccine contracts to be fulfilled, unhindered. idon't think the eu l is helping itself here, i don't think it has helped itself much in the last few weeks - and months on the whole question of vaccines - and i don't think they should go i down this road of banning exports. what we want is this resolved as quickly as possible, - because we don't want any shortage of vaccines to interrupt _ the roll—out in this country. but we know vaccine supplies will slow down next month, even with no further restrictions from the eu, so what would this mean for the government's route map out of lockdown in england? ministers have been keen to reassure us any short—term slowdown will not make us wait any longer fora haircut, ora drink in a beer garden, because the nhs is still on track to offer vaccinations to all those over 50s,

and those at serious risk from illness by next month, and restrictions should still be further eased in england from april 12th. if you thought brexit would see the end of difficult talks with the eu, think again. ministers want to avoid a full—blown row and hope vaccine supply doesn't become a toxic issue. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. in the last couple of minutes, we received the latest coronavirus figures from the government, and they showed that there were 17 deaths in the latest 24—hour period of reporting, and 53112 new infections, so remember, the figures are slightly lower usually as a result of the weekend, but in the latest 24—hour period, 17 deaths have been recorded of people dying within 28 days of a positive

covid—19 test, and there were 53112 new infections. the prime minister has condemned the scenes that marred a "kill the bill" protest in bristol, which saw a police station attacked, officers injured and vehicles set alight. seven people have been arrested after violent clashes between protesters and police at a demonstration against new powers for the policing of protests in england and wales. john maguire reports. determined to reclaim the streets, an army of cleaners was deployed overnight, sweeping up glass from the broken windows of the police station, removing graffiti from walls, and clearing up hundreds of stones that had been thrown during the unrest. there has been a huge clean—up operation taking place here this morning. bristol city council has cleaned the pavements. when i first arrived, there was broken glass everywhere, broken beer bottles, and perhaps the most sinister element, these stones were everywhere, hundreds of them spread across, clearly used as missiles. targeted at the buildings, just look at the broken windows,

but they were also clearly used to target police officers themselves. sunday had started peacefully, as thousands attended a rally against the new police and crime bill that would restrict some protest. but as the evening came, events turned violent. i am incredibly saddened. i am saddened that so many of my brave police officers, our officers, have been injured doing theirjob. i am saddened for bristol, because bristol is much better than this, this is a fantastic city to live and work in and be part of, but i am committed to roll up our sleeves with my officers to catch the people responsible and stop them doing it again. 20 officers were assaulted, two suffering broken bones, and there were seven arrests, but the police are promising more. well, i think that all that kind of thing is unacceptable and i think that the people obviously have a right to protest in this country, but they should protest

peacefully and legally. bristol's elected mayor is adamant that the violence was perpetrated by people who effectively hijacked an otherwise peaceful protest. these people here last. night have nothing to do with the real challenges | of real people in bristol. it is about them, about their. self—indulgence and their desire to play out their fantasies of being some kind - of revolutionaries. there's nothing revolutionary about what they did. - it's just privileged activism. some who were there last night, whilst not condoning the injuries to the police, argued that disaffection and mistrust had fuelled the anger. if we are making peaceful protest illegal, how else are you going to protest? and, like, even a one—man protest, if i was to stand outside there with a sign, i could get up to ten years in prison. as the injured are treated and the damage assessed, the main question to be answered remains, just how a day that was designed to send a peaceful message of protest could descend into such wilful destruction and violence. john maguire, bbc news, bristol.

speaking in the commons in the last half an hour, the home secretary priti patel condemned the protestors who were violent. some of the anarchic and violent scenes we saw in bristol last night. we have been clear that, to save lives and fight this pandemic, people must not currently hold large gatherings. to many this weekend selfishly decided that this did not apply to them. we will always give the police they support and the protection that they need, and it is sad as we saw last week that the opposition voted against measures to protect our police, and also introduce longer sentences. the scenes in bristol yesterday were utterly shameful. we saw criminal thuggery and disorder caused by a minority, who put lives at risk, and our exceptional and brave police officers put themselves in harm's

way to protect the public. for them to face the criminal violence against them, while upholding the law, is completely unacceptable. my thoughts are with the injured officers and their family, thoughts are with the injured officers and theirfamily, and, mr speaker, i hope that every single member of parliament in this house willjoin me in condemning the shameful actions of the criminal minority involved. the shameful actions of the criminal minority involved.— minority involved. the home secretary — minority involved. the home secretary a _ minority involved. the home secretary a little _ minority involved. the home secretary a little earlier - minority involved. the home i secretary a little earlier today. the size of the army is expected to be reduced by about 10,000 soldiers as part of a move towards robots, drones, and cyber warfare. the defence review due to be announced in the next hour is likely to see the loss of some tanks and aircraft — but the government said there would be "more ships, submarines and sailors". our defence correspondent jonathan beale reports. professor michael clarke is an academic, specialising in defence and uk counter—terrorism. he was director—general of the royal united services institute, rusi, from 2007 to 2015. it is good to see you, thanks for joining us. this is being described as part of the biggest change to our

defence since the end of the cold war. does that seem fair? yes. defence since the end of the cold war. does that seem fair? yes, it is. this war. does that seem fair? yes, it is- this is — war. does that seem fair? yes, it is- this is a _ war. does that seem fair? yes, it is. this is a big _ war. does that seem fair? yes, it is. this is a big moment, - war. does that seem fair? yes, it is. this is a big moment, and - war. does that seem fair? yes, it l is. this is a big moment, and partly because we are brexit britain now, but also because we are entering into the 2020s, where life will be a lot more uncomfortable for many of the european powers, unless they get ahead of the curve, this is what this review is really about. it is trying to transform our forces for the 2030s, to get ready for the conflicts, not wards, of the next ten years, so it is actually quite a big moment. ten years, so it is actually quite a big moment-— ten years, so it is actually quite a bi moment. , ., ., , big moment. given that we have seen the likes of china _ big moment. given that we have seen the likes of china extend _ big moment. given that we have seen the likes of china extend out - big moment. given that we have seen the likes of china extend out in - big moment. given that we have seen the likes of china extend out in the i the likes of china extend out in the south china sea, is this the kind of review that should have taken place a long time ago?— review that should have taken place a long time ago? remember back in 2010, 2012. _ a long time ago? remember back in 2010, 2012. we — a long time ago? remember back in 2010, 2012, we hoped _ a long time ago? remember back in 2010, 2012, we hoped that - a long time ago? remember back in 2010, 2012, we hoped that china - 2010, 2012, we hoped that china would become an easier power to work within world politics, but president xi began his rule in 2012 and china has gone on the wrong direction, from our point of view, more or less ever since. from our point of view, more or less eversince. now from our point of view, more or less ever since. now that is not primarily our problem, it is a

problem for the united states and for the countries of east asia and the indo pacific area, but what this review is trying to say is that we want to be part of that. we think it is in our interest to try to stand up is in our interest to try to stand up to china where necessary, to cooperate with them where possible, and we are going to try to put in more as it were military collateral to that. we are going to show that we mean it by structuring our forces so that they can enter into partnerships in the indo pacific area. is partnerships in the indo pacific area. , . . partnerships in the indo pacific area. , ., ., ., area. is there a danger, though, michael, area. is there a danger, though, michael. that — area. is there a danger, though, michael, that in _ area. is there a danger, though, michael, that in looking - area. is there a danger, though, michael, that in looking to - area. is there a danger, though, | michael, that in looking to future conflicts, we end up actually potentially ignoring what is already on our plate?— on our plate? yes, there is a big dancer on our plate? yes, there is a big danger of _ on our plate? yes, there is a big danger of that, _ on our plate? yes, there is a big danger of that, and _ on our plate? yes, there is a big danger of that, and the - on our plate? yes, there is a big - danger of that, and the government, they are trying to as it were communicate the message that this does not mean we are turning our backs on europe, please believe us, they keep saying, the euro atlantic area is still the main focus of our interest, but of course all the press have picked up on the idea that we are thinking about africa and the indo pacific and the indian ocean, the queen elizabeth aircraft carrier is going on this famous tour

of the world, mainly into the pacific, starting in april of this year. in reality the government have been trying to balance the two things but i have to say the messaging has been terribly good so far, that is what we need from this review was a bit more of the boring stuff. it is boring because it's true. we need a bit less of the whizzy new stuff, because that will come in gradually during the 2020s. that's really interesting, because do you think the defence establishment in the united states, germany, france, the old traditional nato partners, you think they are looking at this and thinking, hang on, what is going on? yes. looking at this and thinking, hang on, what is going on?— looking at this and thinking, hang on, what is going on? yes, they are uuite on, what is going on? yes, they are quite worried _ on, what is going on? yes, they are quite worried about _ on, what is going on? yes, they are quite worried about our _ on, what is going on? yes, they are quite worried about our numbers. i quite worried about our numbers. what they are saying is we absolutely understand you want to transform your forces and that's great, we would love to see britain as a middle power really take this lead, but the government have thought about it and they have decided to make the leap, to take the chance, but they are also concerned about our numbers, because there are two separate issues here, you know, how big are the armed forces and how transformational are

they? it is not the case that you have to transform them to make them smaller, in the other way you need to transform them to make them bigger and the government are pushing these two things together in a way that the united states, for one, isn't terribly happy about, and i'm not sure the government have done that much to actually clear their lines with the americans. they are going to be talking to them in the next couple of years to assuage any fears that they have. i would have thought they ought to have done that a couple of months ago. so is there no suggestion, _ that a couple of months ago. so is there no suggestion, then, - that a couple of months ago. so is there no suggestion, then, that this kind of thing would have been discussed with the other members of nato? ~ . , , discussed with the other members of nato? ,. ,, nato? well, it has been discussed but it has not _ nato? well, it has been discussed but it has not been _ nato? well, it has been discussed but it has not been discussed - nato? well, it has been discussed but it has not been discussed as i nato? well, it has been discussed| but it has not been discussed as an alliance issue. whatever else the alliance issue. whatever else the alliance issue. whatever else the alliance is doing. we have decided to do this relatively unilaterally, and we are keeping our allied informs, so there are no nasty surprises for the allies, but equally this has not been an alliance process, it has been a united kingdom process, and a number of members of the alliance are a bit sceptical come because they are

worried that our numbers are becoming too small, and what they say is, look, if it works, then you will be showing what a small power, or medium power, can really do in the world to create a better environment. that's great. but if it doesn't work you will get yourself into a situation you then can't handle, or even worse, you will find yourselfjust handle, or even worse, you will find yourself just waving your arms handle, or even worse, you will find yourselfjust waving your arms in some sort of post—imperial hubris that won't really impress anybody. so there is a degree of scepticism out there that we have got to prove that we can make this work, because it's a big gamble the government is taking. they are placing a series of quite heavy bets on certain things working out very well. {lila quite heavy bets on certain things working out very well.— quite heavy bets on certain things working out very well. 0k, good to see ou working out very well. 0k, good to see you again. _ working out very well. 0k, good to see you again, professor— working out very well. 0k, good to see you again, professor michael. see you again, professor michael clarke. thanks forjoining us. thank you. following up on that, the foreign secretary dominic rahm has been on his feet in the commons, —— dominic raab, given the foreign assessment of human rights around the world and has been talking about the world and has been talking about the situation with china. and their treatment of the ouija minority in

the shinjang province will stop lots of news concerning that. mr raab has announced sanctions against four senior chinese officials and the public security bureau in response to appalling violations of human rights over the last two or three years. we have been hearing distressing stories of repression of the ten one minority in shinjang and all kinds of internment camps. the west has been forced to act on a number of fronts and now the foreign secretary, dominic raab, has announced sanctions against four senior chinese officials —— in xinjiang. and the public security bureau that is based in the xinjiang province. any more on that, we will bring it to you when we get it. the headlines on bbc news... the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders, as he attempts to get the eu

to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk. the findings of an independent inquiry into whether nicola sturgeon breached the ministerial code during the investigation into former first minister alex salmond will be published later. salmond will be published the home secretary has condemned violence at a protest in bristol yesterday, describing the 'criminal thuggery�* as 'utterly shameful�*. 20 police officers were injured. the diplomatic row comes as there's further evidence that the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is both safe and highly effective. that is with the european union over the exports of vaccines. a us trial of more than 32,000 volunteers said it was 79% effective at stopping symptomatic covid disease and 100% effective at preventing people from falling seriously ill and there were no safety issues regarding blood clots. our health correspondent dominic hughes reports.

with the vaccination programme now well under way in the united states, a new trial has cleared the way for the astrazeneca jab to be added to the armoury. it confirms it's safe and effective, especially for older people. that adds to the growing body of evidence from the use of the jab in millions of patients in the uk. we do, of course, have a lot of data now coming through from the uk on the use of the vaccine in older people, in people over 70 and people over 80, and showing that, in real—world use of the vaccine, there is very high effectiveness of the vaccine, it is keeping people out of hospital, it is stopping them getting infected, even in these older age groups. but these empty chairs at a german vaccination centre back up a new survey, suggesting many in europe have lost confidence in the astrazeneca jab, following a scare over blood clots, even though the vaccine has now been given the all—clear by the eu medicines regulator. it shows just how easily faith in vaccines can be undermined.

and a rising wave of infections across the continent throws into doubt the hopes of so many people of filling up these empty beaches this summer. if those breaks can go ahead, vaccination and testing will be crucial. vaccination non—stop, this is where the efforts of the spanish government are at the moment, and i am sure that with this, the summer will look brighter, and of course, we will be more than glad to receive our tourists from the uk, as we always have. but the prospect of holidaymakers returning from countries currently in the middle of a fresh outbreak is causing concern. when there is high prevalence of the virus, there is more risk when there is high prevalence| of the virus, there is more risk of mutations, and the big fear| here is that a resistance virus, one of the new variants, - if you like, will be brought back into the uk. keeping track of those new variants will be one of the biggest challenges for the coming months. a new process of genetic screening, that could halve the time it takes to detect known variants, is now undergoing trials. it's another weapon in what will be

a long fight against coronavirus. dominic hughes, bbc news. this is miami beach in florida, and these are scenes which have caused consternation. thousands of people descended on the city for the annual college spring break holiday, risking a further spread of coronavirus there. florida has had fairly relaxed restrictions up until now, but miami beach is now under a state of emergency, for up to three weeks. our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. party time in miami. spring break, when students traditionally descend on florida to let off steam. the bars, beaches and restaurants are packed. but this is no time to party. the city of miami beach is currently under a state of emergency. there is a curfew in effect. these extraordinary scenes have shocked local officials, who say they have been overwhelmed

by the number of revellers. there's little sign of social distancing and few people wearing masks. fights have broken out, and businesses have been forced to close down. at one point, the police shot pepper balls into the crowd, urging people to leave, after an 8pm curfew came into effect. i think it is a good idea. even though it's fun out here, like, we want to be out here and have fun. no—one is doing anything, - people are just out here, enjoying the beach and it is a good vibe. but they want to shut it down at eight o'clock, i people will go somewhere else - and take their money somewhere else and it is what it is. people want to live. corona's over, winter's over, get the vaccine, i get back to business. am i worried because of covid? i mean, i'm not really worried about that. you know what i'm saying, like. you just got to be cautious, that's all, you know what i'm saying? it's no guarantees with the covid thing, you can get the covid from your neighbourhood, your block, your building. it don't matter. you out somewhere else, like, we chilling. florida is one of the few us states

now fully open during the pandemic. last month, the republican governor ron desantis declared the state as an oasis of freedom from coronavirus restrictions. tourists have descended on the area in large numbers over the past few weeks. boston, you got to wear masks everywhere you go. i had the vaccine, so i don't care. i go home, i get tested, for myself, i don't really care but i wouldn't want to get my parents sick, you know? officials have blamed adults rather than college students for much of the chaos. the state of emergency and night—time curfew has now been extended for up to three weeks. many people are coming here right now and too many people are coming here with bad intentions. last week, florida recorded more than 11,000 new covid—19 infections a day. this is a crisis that is far from over. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. dozens of former subpostmasters convicted of financial crimes are attempting

to clear their names today, they're arguing their convictions were based on evidence from a faulty computer system, the post office's fujitsu—developed horizon it system. at a four—day hearing at the royal courts ofjustice in london, the court of appeal will consider appeals by 112 former subpostmasters against their convictions. i'm joined now by our business presenter ramzan karmali. imean, the i mean, the more you hear about the story, the more unbelievable it is, really. it story, the more unbelievable it is, reall . , story, the more unbelievable it is, reall. , . , story, the more unbelievable it is, reall. , ., , ., , really. it is, really. i mean, this all dates— really. it is, really. i mean, this all dates back _ really. it is, really. i mean, this all dates back from _ really. it is, really. i mean, this all dates back from between - really. it is, really. i mean, this. all dates back from between 1999 really. it is, really. i mean, this- all dates back from between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 postmasters were prosecuted because of the failure of this horizon it system that was installed by the post office and supplied by fujitsu, and it falsely claimed there were cash shortfalls. the system is used for accounting, stock—taking, things like that and it has literally ruined the lives of many of these people, and earlier in

december six former postmaster generals had their —— postmasters had their convictions quashed. we hearing are people who are pregnant, injail, spent their 60th birthday injail, spent their 60th birthday in prison, they were not at fault for any of this, because the system was not working greatly. this is the latest case. 112 sub postmasters in court today. it is quite a complicated case, in terms of what the post office is trying to challenge, in terms of what they think they are not guilty for, or what they have not been at fault for, so it is going to be a complicated ruling but we should have a result by towards the end of this week. �* ., , ,, . , ., this week. and one suspects that will be the _ this week. and one suspects that will be the end _ this week. and one suspects that will be the end of— this week. and one suspects that will be the end of the _ this week. and one suspects that will be the end of the case, - this week. and one suspects that will be the end of the case, as i this week. and one suspects that | will be the end of the case, as far as the individuals are concerned, or this is going to run on? for as the individuals are concerned, or this is going to run on?— this is going to run on? for these lot, this this is going to run on? for these lot. this groun. — this is going to run on? for these lot, this group, so _ this is going to run on? for these lot, this group, so there - this is going to run on? for these lot, this group, so there will- this is going to run on? for these lot, this group, so there will be l lot, this group, so there will be more cases, we expect further down the line. sill more cases, we expect further down the line. �* . the line. all right, it will run and run. lockdown _ the line. all right, it will run and run. lockdown has _ the line. all right, it will run and run. lockdown has meant - the line. all right, it will run and run. lockdown has meant a - the line. all right, it will run and run. lockdown has meant a lot l the line. all right, it will run and | run. lockdown has meant a lot of the line. all right, it will run and - run. lockdown has meant a lot of us will be at home. finally

re—wallpapering or painting those areas we have letter ages. you re-wallpapering or painting those areas we have letter ages. you sound like a ro! areas we have letter ages. you sound like a pro! yeah. _ areas we have letter ages. you sound like a pro! yeah, no _ areas we have letter ages. you sound like a pro! yeah, no comment, - areas we have letter ages. you sound like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, l areas we have letter ages. you sound like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i| like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i have been — like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i have been doing _ like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i have been doing a _ like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i have been doing a bit _ like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i have been doing a bit about - like a pro! yeah, no comment, yes, i have been doing a bit about myself, l have been doing a bit about myself, i have to say, but fundamentally it means that companies like b&q, they have done all right. theo;o means that companies like b&q, they have done all right.— have done all right. they have aenerall have done all right. they have generally welcomed _ have done all right. they have generally welcomed the - have done all right. they have i generally welcomed the company have done all right. they have - generally welcomed the company that owns them, kingfisher, they own screwfix is welcome they have operations in france as well. sales up operations in france as well. sales up 7% to £12 billion. their chief executive has said there has been a div element of a new generation of diyers, i don't think either of us come into that, it is the 18 to 311—year—olds who have apparently been taking up diy. 34-year-olds who have apparently been taking up diy.— 34-year-olds who have apparently been taking up diy. cheeky! laughter the have been taking up diy. cheeky! laughter they have been — been taking up diy. cheeky! laughter they have been taking _ been taking up diy. cheeky! laughter they have been taking up _ been taking up diy. cheeky! laughter they have been taking up the _ been taking up diy. cheeky! laughter they have been taking up the diy - they have been taking up the diy mantle, so yes, they have done really well. the problem is what happens after lockdown finishes, when we all get our vaccines, that demand might start to taper off and thatis demand might start to taper off and that is what the worry is for b&q. sure, and it is sunny anyway, so everyone will be outside though no one will want to be knocking up shelves at home, will they? thank you with some of the business news.

thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes across new south wales in australia, as heavy rains continue to batter the east coast of the country, causing severe flooding. torrential downpours have caused rivers and dams to overflow around sydney and it's forecast that the rains will last for several more days. shaimaa khalil reports. this is what days of relentless downpour looks like. a deluge not seen here in five decades in new south wales. emergency services have been inundated with more than 10,000 calls, and more than 500 rescues so far. this is what they are up against. waters so high and forceful, a three—bedroom cottage was seen floating through. crews have also been called in to get stranded cattle to safety. in the town of windsor, north—west of sydney, residents are used to floods this time of year, but nothing like this.

it's very shocking. cos i have not seen it like this before. in 1990 was the last time i remember having a really big flood. it is hard to tell. this is the newly—built windsor bridge. it is barely one—year—old. it was meant to withstand heavy flooding. this is how swollen the river got. you can hardly make out the windsor bridge. with more rain forecast over the next few days, things are set to get much worse before they get better. thousands of families have already evacuated, with many more ready to go. for days now, this family has been on high alert. hours, as they watched they tell me they've hardly slept in the past 211 hours, as they watched the waters inch ever closer to their property and submerge the whole of their back garden. normally it is completely green. it slopes down to a dam. now, it is completely inundated. in the distance we can just see farmland. - but now, we just see water.

it is not the first natural disaster to hit these areas in the past year. some communities who were battered by the bushfires, now they are battered by the floods. deep drought prior to that. i do not know any time in our state's history when we have had these events in such quick succession. many families will spend the night in evacuation centres, and with the rainfall showing no sign of letting up, there is no telling when they will be able to get back to their homes. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise. hello. it's quite calm out there — will it last? we'll have more indications on that in just a minute but as you can see from the satellite picture, the best of the sunshine in sheltered eastern and southern areas, yes, more in the way of cloud to the west and the county can offer a bit of light drizzle to the far

north—west of scotland, but temperatures should peak between 9—13 celsius and with those light winds, and sunshine for some of us, feeling quite pleasant as we go through the day. overnight, we will see some cloud gathering in from the west and that will continue to bring a few scattered showers along west—facing coasts. where the cloud does continue to break, in places, we might see temperatures falling away to low single figures but generally with the cloud around, it will not be a cold start to tuesday. tuesday sees more cloud, as a weather front approaches from the west, and from wednesday onwards, the windy weather arrives for all. turning noticeably colder by friday.

pa rt hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... the prime minister has been speaking to the french and german leaders — as he attempts to get the eu to dismiss any proposals to block astrazeneca exports to the uk.

a vaccination campaign developing vaccines, rolling them out, these are international project that require international cooperation. 17 coronavirus deaths have been reported in the last 211 hours — that's the lowest for around six months. the findings of an independent inquiry into whether nicola sturgeon breached the ministerial code during the investigation into former first minister alex salmond will be published later. it's as the scottish government publishes draft legislation into holding a second independence referendum. the home secretary has condemned violence at a protest in bristol yesterday, describing the 'criminal thuggery�* as �*utterly shameful�*. twenty police officers were injured.

fewer soldiers but more — and better — kit. the defence review expected to herald the biggest changes in defence since the end of the cold war. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here�*s olly foster. we�*re going to start with that great news for women�*s football in england. the bbc and sky have signed a multi—million pound deal to show super league games for the next 3 years. at least 18 games will be shown live on bbc one or bbc two per season. the agreement , that starts in september, is believed to be worth around 8 million pounds a year with 25 percent of that invested in the women�*s championship, the second tier. you speak about young girls and as footballs we try to be that inspiration and be role models to so many but sometimes you cannot either role model when you�*re not being seen, so to be on television more often and be more visible for these young girls is the next step forward especially for women�*s in general.

scotland have named their squad for friday�*s six nations match against france in paris. sean maitland has been surprisingly left out. he played at full—back over the weekend against italy but usually plays on the wing, he scored two tries against the french in last years six nations. this is the final game of the tournament, it was supposed to be played last month but there was a covid outbreak in the french camp. the scots can finish second with a win. france need to win by 21 points and score it tries to take the title. staying with rugby union, and we could be a step closer to a first women�*s british and irish lions tour. a feasibility study is being carried out, with the results due in december. it�*s being backed by royal london, one of the sponsors for the men�*s lions series against south africa this year (tx sot) a lot of the governing bodies and nation are waiting on investment. some places have really throwing support behind the set, but it�*s been quite something and other

nations haven�*t had the same, so there�*s talk about a british and irish lions side, hopefully it means that other governing bodies will start to say we need to do more to support our women�*s side. there�*s a chance that the families of athletes taking part in the olympics and paralympics will be able to travel to japan to watch the games after all. all overseas fans have been barred from tokyo this summer because of covid concerns and though organisers say that includes competitors�* family members at the moment, they are discussing the possibility of making exceptions. after losing the t20 series against india, england�*s cricketer�*s have moved onto pune where the one—day series starts tomorrow. it�*s largely the same squad and althouthofra archer misses out with an ongoing elbow issue there could be some fresh faces coming into the eleven it will present opportunities for guys who have not necessarily a jet

and have been away from home, travelling and not playing his really difficult, motivation two words were an opportunity might difficult when you are unsure, so i�*m hoping that will energise the guy is a little bit and bring a woman�*s with it as well. snooker�*s tour championship is underway, it features the top 8 players in the world rankings. ronnie o�*sullivan leadsjohn higgins after their first session. the rocket took the crucial final frame to open up a 5—3 lead at keltic manor. they�*ll play to a finish tonight, with ten the target for a place in the semi finals. that�*s all the sport for now. a year ago, the world was shutting down — in that time, some two and a half million people have died from coronavirus— but if governments had been �*better prepared�*, things could have been very different. that�*s the view of one of the world�*s leading experts in infectious diseases,

professor dale fisher, who was part of a team sent by the world health organisation to the epicentre of the outbreak, in china. in an exclusive interview with the bbc�*s panorama programme, professor fisher says that it was countries in the far east, where they�*d had two outbreaks of similar viruses in the past twenty years — that were best prepared. jane corbin reports. this is one of the worst human rights crisis of our time and i believe the evidence is your as it is sobering. it includes satellite imagery, survivor testimony, and indeed leaps from the chinese government themselves. they need to corroborate other talks about the targeting of specific ethnic. in some, the evidence points to a highly disturbing programme of oppression with expressions of religion being criminalised. there

is widespread you�*d make use of forced labour, women forcibly sterilised, children separated from their parents and entire populations subject to surveillance including collections of dna, use of facial recognition software and so—called predict of policing algorithms. state control in the region are systemic. over1 million people have been detained without trial. there are widespread claims of torture and rape in the camps based on first—hand survivor testimony, people are detained for having too many children, for praying too much, for having a beard wearing a headscarf, orfor having for having a beard wearing a headscarf, or for having the wrong thoughts. i�*m sure the whole house willjoin with me in condemning such appalling violations of the most basic human rights. mr speaker, in terms of scale, is the largest mass detention of an ethnic or religious group since the first world war and

i believe one thing is clear, the international community cannot simply look the other way. the foreign secretary dominic raab has announced sanctions against four senior chinese officials and the xinjiang n more on —— more on that soon but some breaking news coming into us, all eyes on the independent enquiry looking at whether or not the first minister nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code by allegedly misleading parliament in relation to what she knew and when she knew about it concerning allegations of sexual impropriety levelled at alex almond, well, that independent investigation has now concluded that scott and�*s first minister nicola sturgeon did not break the ministerial code. —— scotland�*s first minister. that report make public in the last few minutes, the scottish government has actually had it since the beginning of the day but they�*ve had to go through it in

order to deal with various legal issues. it�*s now been made public and the independent adviserjames hamilton has made it clear that as far as he is concerned on all the evidence, the first minister did not break the ministerial code. i�*m pretty sure we can talk now to our correspondent in edinburgh, nick eardley, who is at holyrood. was this expected? [30 eardley, who is at holyrood. was this abetted?— eardley, who is at holyrood. was this expected? eardley, who is at holyrood. was this exected? ~ ., ., this expected? do you know what? it was all u- this expected? do you know what? it was all up in — this expected? do you know what? it was all up in the _ this expected? do you know what? it was all up in the air— this expected? do you know what? it was all up in the air for— this expected? do you know what? it was all up in the air for the _ this expected? do you know what? it was all up in the air for the last - was all up in the air for the last few days because this process has been going on behind closed doors, no one really knew what james hamilton was thinking. he�*s been looking at for key areas which have alleged that she potentially breach ministerial code which were to do with a bunch of meetings that she had held when she said she became aware of the investigations into alex almond and whether she had

misled. in the last few minutes, that report said he found no breach breach of ministerial code. speaking to sources close to miss sturgeon, he said there is complete vindication and they will use it to argue that she did nothing wrong and that some of the accusations have been flying about most notably from alex salmond and they will use this conclusion to argue that they are not true and were not warranted. the attacks have been political. you will hear from nicola attacks have been political. you will hearfrom nicola sturgeon on exactly that over the next hour or so but i suspect many people in our official residence, bute house, are breathing a sigh of relief because

there was genuinely no indication of how this report was going until it was delivered to the scottish government this morning. nicola sturueon government this morning. nicola sturgeon enters _ government this morning. nicola sturgeon enters waters - government this morning. nicola sturgeon enters waters made - government this morning. nicola sturgeon enters waters made it i government this morning. nicola - sturgeon enters waters made it clear this was going to be the crucial piece of evidence as it were as to whether or not her future was secure or whether it was going to be hanging in the balance. they were pushing for a vote of no confidence. this was the critical issue to be looking at. this was the critical issue to be looking at— looking at. absolutely right. tomorrow — looking at. absolutely right. tomorrow morning - looking at. absolutely right. tomorrow morning there . looking at. absolutely right. | tomorrow morning there will looking at. absolutely right. - tomorrow morning there will be a report from the committee for the scottish parliament. that is not going to be pleasant reading for the first and it will say that msps on the committee think that she misled them in her evidence but the scottish government has always said

that it thinks that decision was political, split down party lines that we expect to see tomorrow morning. it was pointing to this investigation saying it�*s independent, it�*s from the person whose job it is to figure out whether there is a breach to the ministerial code so they will use this as vindication of the first minister. i suspect your political opponents will still use the committee report tomorrow to say, look, not everything was ok here, they may say for example that they didn�*t think the remit of this report by her independent adviser is necessarily enough. be under no illusion that the political mudslinging will still go on but for miss sturgeon, she now has a report from an independent adviser to point you to say she didn�*t breach ministerial code. i�*m you to say she didn't breach ministerial code.— you to say she didn't breach ministerial code. i'm 'ust looking at the conclusions _ ministerial code. i'm just looking at the conclusions and _ at the conclusions and recommendations from the report. he

said he looked into the allegation that the first minister may have attempted to influence the conduct of the investigation then being undertaken by the permanent secretary into allegations made against the salmond on the procedure of handling harassment complaint so it was notjust of handling harassment complaint so it was not just when she of handling harassment complaint so it was notjust when she knew of handling harassment complaint so it was not just when she knew about these harassment allegations, and how much she knew, but once she had information, she actually tried to tamper with the investigation to these allegations of sexual misconduct.— these allegations of sexual misconduct. ., ., ., misconduct. that was one of the allegations _ misconduct. that was one of the allegations and _ misconduct. that was one of the allegations and one _ misconduct. that was one of the allegations and one of— misconduct. that was one of the allegations and one of the - misconduct. that was one of the l allegations and one of the reasons the remit for this report was extended was because alex salman suggested it. iwant extended was because alex salman suggested it. i want to bring you something that has come in from nicola sturgeon in the last few minutes where she says now this investigation is complete and its conclusions public, i will continue to devote all my time and energy to leading scotland, helping the country through this pandemic. she also said mr hamilton is an internationally renowned legal professional with impeccable credentials and no one should seek to suggest or imply that he has

acted anything other than independently and utterly without fear or favour. independently and utterly without fear orfavour. it is independently and utterly without fear or favour. it is worth remembering that although we�*ve seen the committee playing out in public, mr hamilton had the opportunity to speak to some people involved in the process you couldn�*t questioned by the committee or the public for complex legal reasons. he has had access to pretty much everybody, and we know that is the conclusion we�*ve got, reading it in more detail about the headline is pretty clear, nicola sturgeon, no breach of ministerial code. you�*ll be mightily relieved. snp as well. the first —— showing strong leadership through a challenging time and is worthy of the trust of the voters that they

have in scotland. we have scottish parliamentary elections coming up, we know there is a road map for some kind of independence vote that they have put out as well. this sets the stage for the next couple of months leading up to those elections. six. leading up to those elections. six weeks leading up to those elections. s weeks until the scottish election. this debate will continue. it will continue until parliament breaks up and for the whole election campaign and for the whole election campaign and what you will have as nicola sturgeon saying, i was cleared by my independent adviser. i will have an opportunity to explain myself. we don�*t think the first minister is as quick queen as she thinks she is is what they will say. there will be the question, constitutional and about whether scotland should be

independent but if you sit in the scottish parliament, the happiest of all in that will be the first minister nicola sturgeon. me all in that will be the first minister nicola sturgeon. we did see a di as a minister nicola sturgeon. we did see a dip as a result _ minister nicola sturgeon. we did see a dip as a result of— minister nicola sturgeon. we did see a dip as a result of all— minister nicola sturgeon. we did see a dip as a result of all this, _ a dip as a result of all this, interestingly nicola sturgeon�*s potential ratings stage pretty constant arguably because of the pandemic handling. how much damage has been to the s&p�*s because because of all this? has been to the s&p's because because of all this?— has been to the s&p's because because of all this? there have been oles of because of all this? there have been poles of the — because of all this? there have been poles of the last _ because of all this? there have been poles of the last couple _ because of all this? there have been poles of the last couple of— because of all this? there have been poles of the last couple of weeks - poles of the last couple of weeks which have suggested support for the party has gone down slightly, not massively but slightly. the truth is those polls... there were a few of them, pull someone suggested that independence was the head, a few of them have changed, likewise the suggest the snp could on course for a majority at holyrood, something that will matter for the independent debate because they would use that to say they have a mandate. there was an argument and some of those polls suggest that some of that

support had taken a knock but what will be interesting to see now is whether those polls go back to the position they were in before but it was always fairly tight. the question of independence and the question of independence and the question of independence and the question of whether the snp would win a majority at holyrood resource on a knife edge and that may well continue for the next few stop just to recap, that independent investigation by ireland�*s former chief prosecutor into possible breaches of ministerial code that an alleged... breaches of ministerial code that an alle . ed. .. ~ breaches of ministerial code that an alleaed... ~ . ., ., , alleged... were alleged against the first minister _ alleged... were alleged against the first minister nicola _ alleged... were alleged against the first minister nicola sturgeon - alleged... were alleged against the first minister nicola sturgeon in - first minister nicola sturgeon in relation to what she knew and when she knew it concerning allegations of sexual harassment by the former first minister alex salmond, that has found nicola sturgeon did not breach the ministerial code and as a result of that, it seems scottish conservatives calling for a vote of

no confidence in nicola sturgeon tomorrow, it looks as if that vote will probably not take place but the independent investigation has made it clear that nicola sturgeon did not break ministerial code. much more on that, we will bring it to you throughout the rest of the afternoon. the foreign secretary dominic raab has announced sanctions against four senior chinese officials and the xinjiang borisjohnson has been speaking to the french and german leaders, as he attempts to persuade the eu not to ban astrazeneca vaccine exports to the uk. meanwhile, there�*s further evidence that the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is both safe and highly effective. a us trial of more than 32,000 volunteers said it was 79% effective —— the foreign secretary dominic

raab has announced sanctions against four senior chinese officials and the xinjiang production and construction corps public security bureau in response to what he called "appalling violations" of human rights. across the world, coronavirus has given the government the best... but the from the very start, we put in place prevention measures to stop the same thing happening again. to stop history repeating itself so the government acting in a much stronger way compared to the past. track and trace teams you cctv, mobile phone and credit cards. anyone they might have come into contact with. seen

from outside, these methods may appear to intrusive but they have not had to lock down in south korea like many other countries have. they�*ll fisher, a specialist in infectious diseases based in singapore, says governments in the far east were by far the best prepared. ray country of1.11 billion... prepared. ray country of 1.4 billion... they have to treat them with incredible respect and it�*s like every country would have to experience the problem before knowing how big the problem was. in sweden, where the law guarantees freedom of men, there were no strict rules, just advice. free from harsh restrictions, the virus spread and it was the elderly living in care homes who are the most vulnerable. last april, thomas anderson, whose father was living in a care home, had a call telling him he had covid.

i get into his room to say goodbye to him. i have drugged him with morphine in such a high level that was no... i couldn�*t have any contact with him at all. he didn�*t know what was there. contact with him at all. he didn't know what was there.— contact with him at all. he didn't know what was there. thomas was my father was given _ know what was there. thomas was my father was given end-of-life _ know what was there. thomas was my father was given end-of-life care - father was given end—of—life care instead of any treatment. it was only after he emerged that mike —— mike alerted the media his father was put on a drip and started to get better. now he�*s doing well. he better. now he's doing well. he would better. now he's doing well. he: would be dead if we didn't turn up. would be dead if we didn�*t turn up. almost half of sweden�*s covid deaths have been in care homes. an investigation found that by allowing the virus to spread and denying some old people hospital care, the state had failed to protect the elderly. one of the worst things you can do is when this is over, we just go back to normal. if you don�*t learn

from it, then history will repeat. and you can watch jane corbin�*s full report in panorama — covid: who got it right — tonight on bbc one at 7pm. on tuesday, israel goes to the polls for the fourth time in two years. throughout it all, the current prime minister benjamin netanyahu has stayed in office. he�*s trying his best to do so again — despite the pandemic. and he�*s still on trial over corruption charges — which he denies. but according to the final opinion polls, nothing seems to have changed much. so why is israel stuck in this cycle of elections, and can it break free this time? our middle east correspondent tom bateman reports from the desert town of mitzpe ramon. it has been a rough ride in israeli politics. and it�*s still going on. voters just can�*t solve a deep split over benjamin netanyahu�*s leadership. what a year it has been. this tour guide takes me out and tells me how trade tumbled with the pandemic.

he used to vote for the party of the pm, bibi, as he is known, but he lost faith years ago. he is not representing anything that is not ego, power, so what can i say? no. it is a no, no, no to bibi and his friends. i want to live in a free, democratic country. this town relies on tourism, built on the edge of a crater in the desert. now finally things are reopening. i meet this woman who thinks there�*s only one man to thank. she once worked as a maid for the netanyahu family and she credits him with israel�*s speedy vaccine roll—out. because i have had two. plus lots more. translation: no one else has the courage to pick up the phone to the guy from pfizer, the guy from bahrain. whether it is peace with the arab countries, countering iran, corona, or the economy, don�*t forget benjamin netanyahu works day and night.

but this fourth recent election is unusual. mr netanyahu is courting the arab israeli vote. he used to warn his own base against them. this woman�*s job involves speaking for the community in this town. and she doesn�*t trust the pm�*s change of tack. we all know that he is lying to people. we know very well that that he was the worst one for us, for the arab community. and i think that he will not change himself. mr netanyahu is a political veteran, surveying the scene now with a new opponent from his right—wing. but the polls again suggest deadlock. plenty of people see all this just eroding their politics. they feel worn down by it. many israelis are asking how many times can you keep having elections with no real winner? back at the crater the local circus school tries new tricks. and at this election israelis watch another uncertain outcome.

many israelis are asking how many times can you keep having elections with no real winner? back at the crater the local circus school tries new tricks. and at this election israelis watch another uncertain outcome. now — the prospect of a good spring—clean is daunting enough for any of us — but in space? well a british company is involved in the latest mission to clear up tonnes of debris that�*s floating in orbit around the earth. a vacuum cleaner won�*t cut it — they�*re going to be using huge magnets instead. our science correspondent jonathan amos reports. is this the start of a new era?

a russian rocket flies skyward on a mission to showcase how the space industry can finally start to deal with its dirty secret — orbital debris. more than 60 years of space activity have left millions of discarded pieces of metal and other materials littering the skies overhead. everything from old rocket segments to accidentally dropped astronaut tools, even flecks of paint. the space industry is finally realising that unless we start removing some of the biggerjunk items, we run the risk of collisions that will destroy the active satellites that provide our communications and weather forecast. enter the astroscale company with a division in the uk, which launched its clean—up demonstration on monday�*s rocket. it�*ll use one satellite to magnetically grab another, a dummy in this instance, and pull it down to earth. the manoeuvres involved will be complex. the key bit is to capture a tumbling object. so if a satellite fails it can quite easily start tumbling and that makes it considerably harder to capture it. so that is our key technology.

we will leave that and go straight to the commons. let�*s cross live to the commons — and hear from the defence secretary ben wallace. we did not know it then but they will be set for massive change. the fall of the soviet union, the rise of china, the rise of the internet. it was some way off which means no one was prepared for it when they did. it was in truth a hollow fourth. some people would rather play top trumps. when you simply look for new ways to defeat them. that is why we have been at the

heart. in defence, it is too tempting to use a sentimentality to the previous battle winning in previous capabilities. there is over ambition and under resourcing which leads to even a harder consequence down the line. it risks the lives of our people who are truly finest assets. sizing away the battle proven at the novelty. without regard for what is left hind. both capability is not relevant. those in government charged to defend the new domains as

well as continuing investment in the traditional ones but always adapting the threat. history shows us time and time again that failing to do so risks irrelevance and defeat as the threat changes, we must change with it. meaning clear eyed about the capabilities we retire, why we are doing things and how they will be raised. the prime minister wasn�*t vision for the uk in 2020 shows a stronger more prosperous union. better equipped for more, and to become so requires written cosmic and hard bound to be better integrated. the given no choice but to step up ready to take on the challenges and take the opportunities of the years ahead, alongside our allies and trends. let us be clear, the benefits and institutions of multilateralism to

which we have all become so accustomed are an extension, not an alternative, for our shared leadership and hard power. uk diplomacy should work hand—in—hand with the uk armed forces abroad and we will invest in our defence diplomacy network in order to strengthen the influence we can bring to bear. whose professionalism and dedication is every bit as vital to uk security as all the other component parts of the defence enterprise. likewise, in the defence enterprise. likewise, in the past we�*ve been too tempted to fund equipment at the expense of our service personnel as a lived experience. that is why the next four years we will spend £1.5 billion on proving single living accommodation. and 1.5 billion on wraparound childcare over the next decade. the governments commitment

to spending 1.180 £8