this is bbc news, i'm james reynolds. the headlines at 8pm. tighter rules for people seeking asylum in the uk — the home secretary says the current system is collapsing under the pressure. persistent failure to impose immigration laws with a system open to exploitation by criminals is eroding public trust and disadvantaging vulnerable people who need our help. john lewes is to shut eight more stores, putting over 1a persistent failure to impose immigration laws with a system open to exploitation by criminals is eroding public trust and disadvantaging vulnerable people who need our help. john lewes is to shut eight more stores, putting over 1a hundred jobs at risk. the closures are part of its new strategy to adapt to online shopping. as a third covid wave sweeps europe — the eu tightens coronavirus vaccine export controls. here, the government says it has confidence in its supplies and the country remains on track to meet its vaccinations target. the great suez snarl—up —

the 200,000 tonne vessel that's run aground. and blocked one of the world's most important trade routes. the government says there's been a "serious breakdown of governance" at liverpool city council — and sends in commissioners to run some services. and coming up, we hear from russia's eurovision song contest hopeful, about the barrage of abuse she's received from her compatriots. the home secretary, priti patel, has set out her plans to reform britain's asylum system — that's the process under which people seek refuge here on the grounds that they are fleeing persecution in their home country.

ms patel claims the process is being abused by illegal people smugglers who make money by trafficking those who can pay rather than those most in need of sanctuary here. so what's her proposal? if people arrive here illegally — for example taking boats across the channel — the new plan will make it much harderfor them to claim asylum and stay in the uk. but those who arrive here using what she calls legal settlement routes — such as being transferred formally from a refugee camp — will find it easier to get permission to stay in the country. but there's been severe criticism of these proposals which have yet to be put to parliament. the charity refugee action says the new scheme chooses people on the basis of how they get here rather than the threat of persecution they face. here's our home affairs correspondentjune kelly. dover, today. the latest arrivals heading to shore, after being picked up in their flimsy inflatable. like so many, they've paid thousands to the people smugglers. over the past year, patrol boats have found families with day—old babies and a pensioner of 97. during the last 12 months, 8,500 people crossed the channel in this way. the majority of them claimed asylum, and this ——during the last 12 months,

8,500 people crossed the channel in this way. the majority of them claimed asylum, and this is what the home secretary wants to stop. jehad and jene arrived in britain from syria under an official resettlement scheme. they've made their home in preston, with their two young sons. they'll always be grateful for the support they received right from the start. they provide lots of help, they show us the local area. they were doing lots of support and help. during the pandemic, jehad used his skills as a tailor to make hospital garments. he was a hard worker. he make me proud. i'm so proud of him. i have to return the favour for this country, for the british people. the home office introduced us to this couple, but stopped us from asking them any questions about their fellow syrians who travelled to this country on lorries and boats. the sort of migrants the home secretary was focusing on in the commons today. our system is collapsing under the pressure of parallel illegal routes to asylum, facilitated by criminal smugglers.

the existence of parallel routes is deeply unfair, advancing those with the means to pay smugglers over those in desperate need. the reality is, the measures outlined today will do next to nothing to stop people making dangerous crossings, and they risk withdrawing support from desperate people. so, how does the uk compare when it comes to numbers claiming asylum? well, in 2020, the figure here was just over 36,000. for the rest of europe — in germany, it was nearly 122,000. in france, more than 90,000. italy, lower than the uk, at 26,000, with spain at more than 88,000. tsegazghi michael is now a british citizen, after claiming asylum when he arrived here on a lorry. he works and volunteers with the charity citizens uk. in his native eritrea, he was a judge. he fled after being imprisoned for refusing to compromise

on his judicial independence. he doesn't believe he broke the law in the way he came to britain. i think we don't have a choice, an option. sometimes, to save life, you have to do something extraordinary. to stop criminals making money should not compromise the right of refugees to get a sanctuary. so, while many migrants say this is their only option, the message from ministers is that they will not be welcome if they arrive in this way. june kelly, bbc news. joining me is tony smith, the former head of uk border force. mrsmith, thank mr smith, thank you so much for joining us from your reaction to the home secretary's proposals? welcome i think it's a very _ home secretary's proposals? welcome i think it's a very bold _ home secretary's proposals? welcome i think it's a very bold proposal- home secretary's proposals? welcome i think it's a very bold proposal by - i think it's a very bold proposal by this secretary. she did say she wanted to take back control of our borders. and as your report shows, we don't have control of our borders

at the moment, particularly in the english channel. we are seeing lots of people putting their lives at risk and dying in refrigerated containers, in the backs of lorries, and on the waterways to come here. so i think she is trying to make the distinction between those legal routes where people can gain protection through the you hcr and come here legitimate as opposed to those who come here from a safe third country like france, put their lives at risk and put themselves in the hands of the smugglers. i think thatis the hands of the smugglers. i think that is what the new proposals are seeking to deal with. you that is what the new proposals are seeking to deal with.— that is what the new proposals are seeking to deal with. you talk about safe third countries. _ seeking to deal with. you talk about safe third countries. surely - seeking to deal with. you talk about safe third countries. surely come i seeking to deal with. you talk about safe third countries. surely come al safe third countries. surely come a lot of the success of the home secretary's proposal will, with coordination with countries like france. how likely is that coordination?— france. how likely is that coordination? ~ ~' coordination? welcome i think there is a mismatch. _ coordination? welcome i think there is a mismatch, really, _ coordination? welcome i think there is a mismatch, really, between - is a mismatch, really, between international coordination more widely and the problem we are facing is an international community, and that the unhcr will tell you that there are about 80 million people

now that are displaced around the world either in unstable states or next to them. and yet the amount of settlement schemes that are under way are very, very low, and we are actually third, even with only 5700 refugees from syria, we are still third highest in the world. so there is an international response required to address that imbalance and make sure that countries take their fair share. and make sure that countries take theirfair share. the thing is, about asylum—seekers that are in europe, is that there are more asylum—seekers in europe, but they are not there by choice, they are there because of him afraid that you, like us, has a very poor support on the mediterranean sea, and a very large number of people have managed to penetrated unlawfully and launch their claims there. so there is a real problem with balancing refugee resettlement schemes with numbers, but the main concern for me is that people are dying. they are putting their lives at risk and their lives into the hands of smugglers who are only in this for the money. they have no regard whatsoever for humanly five

—— for humanly. we must put them out of business. in order to do that, we have to stop this method of entry. isn't there an absolute routes necessary in order to seek protection? welcome i think there is going to be a lot of debate about the legalities of all of us in the passage of this bill. it is going to be really interesting for lawyers and students of constitution. a lot of this is based on convention set up in the 19505. based on convention set up in the 1950s. in based on convention set up in the 19505. in 1951 based on convention set up in the 1950s. in 1951 refugee convention and the european convention on human rights. now, they were created at a time just after the second world war, obviously to enable people to relocate in other countries. the? relocate in other countries. they are still in _ relocate in other countries. they are still in action? _ relocate in other countries. they are still in action? these - are still in action? these conventions, they might have been passed in 1951 from a lot of laws were passed several decades ago. yes, indeed. of the interpretation of those laws have changed, you see. and they have been changed by a number ofjudgements in the european

court of human rights, particularly in the last 15—20 years, which says that you have an entitlement anywhere to turn up at a border and claim either asylum or human rights and to be admitted whilst you are claim is considered. now, what this government is saying is while that is an interpretation of those conventions that's been laid down by the european court of human rights, this is a government that has been elected on a ticket to take back control of our borders. so those two aspects are in conflict. i think this is where the real challenge will come when the debates come in parliament about how you can redefine these conventions so that they comply with the new legislation that's being proposed by the home secretary. that's being proposed by the home secreta . ~ . , , , that's being proposed by the home secreta .~ . , , , ., secretary. what is the best way of caettin rid secretary. what is the best way of getting rid of— secretary. what is the best way of getting rid of people _ secretary. what is the best way of getting rid of people smugglers i getting rid of people smugglers without also harming the ability of lawful migrants to seek persecution? 0ften, lawful migrants to seek persecution? often, these people, i've spent five years in europe covering this in italy have no recourse but to pay people smugglers who control up many

of those routes. you cannot do those routes unilaterally, you often have to pay for a smuggler, even if you have almost no money. yes, i'm afraid that's a cause and effect of the policy that we have been talking about, because the only way that refugees or would be refugees are a ball to achieve their ambition is to fall prey to the smuggling gangs. they rely exclusively upon those supply chains, and they use migrants in these way with promises of getting them across borders so that they can get to other countries, putting themselves at significant risk along themselves at significant risk along the process. so the true and correct message for resettlement would be to have a balanced global programme of resettlement and work with the unhcr so that those groups from the camps and from the displaced states are available to people that don't then have to take these perilous journeys. i'm afraid the record shows notjust here but at other

borders around the world, that at the moment, they are —— the smugglers are gaining the upper hand. i met tony smith, think you so much forjoining us. there are fears that new eu proposals on restricting vaccine exports to non—eu countries could affect the roll—out of the jabs here in britain. under plans to be put to eu leaders tomorrow exports of vaccines from factories inside the eu could depend on the vaccination rate in the importing country. in other words, a country with a high rate might have to wait longer. as our europe editor katya adler reports, these proposals come against a backdrop of eu countries struggling to meet their vaccination targets. a brutal third wave. desperate lockdown protests. a deadly failure so far to get vaccines into arms. eu covid woes are deepening by the day. today, angela merkel — normally seen as the european symbol of calm and control — seemed to crumble, under mounting political pressure. "germany has to stop the third wave

of the pandemic," she said, but she changed her mind about an announced easter lockdown. "a personal mistake," she said. across the eu, there's growing frustration at a vaccine roll—out far slower than the uk's. some blame their government, others the european commission. it's now on the defensive, accusing pharmaceutical company astrazeneca of not delivering vaccines promised and demanding extra controls on vaccine exports. we ordered 120 million doses. we got only 30 million in q1. if astrazeneca had delivered exactly the number of doses which was planned, like they did in the uk, we will be today exactly at the same rate of vaccination as the uk. so, we have been heavily penalised, heavily. it seems, with the new proposals, you're actually penalising countries that have been successful with their vaccine roll—out, unlike the eu?

no, i really think that there is nothing against anybody, and especially not the uk. the eu says it's already exported over a0 millionjabs in the last two months, a quarter of those to the uk. existing controls, used only once so far, allow the eu to block the export of vaccines made by companies that owe deliveries to brussels. the new powers could target exports to wealthy countries that produce vaccines themselves, but aren't exporting to the eu, or where the vaccine roll—out is significantly ahead of the eu. "we're not after an export ban," says the commission, "we just want to secure vaccine supply". but the world outside is accusing the eu of vaccine nationalism, and not even all eu leaders are convinced about these new controls. some worry they'll disrupt the global supply chain for vaccines, and others that it

will further damage already strained post—brexit relations with the uk. ahead of their summit, eu leaders promise vaccine supplies will soar from next month, one way or another, but rising death and infection rates means the short—term looks bleak. katya adler, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... tighter rules for people seeking asylum in the uk — the home secretary says the current system is collapsing under the pressure. john lewes is to shut eight more stores, putting over 1a hundred jobs at risk. the closures are part of its new strategy to adapt to online shopping. as a third covid wave sweeps europe — the eu tightens coronavirus vaccine export controls. the uk government remains confident it can keep up its vaccination programme. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's tulson. good evening. the first of the european world cup qualifiers are underway

with wales in belgium playing the world's number one ranked team. the welsh are trying to replicate what they did by knocking their opponents out of euro 2016, while the republic of ireland are away to serbia as they start their bid for a place in qatar next year. all of this of course is on the bbc website. chelsea will take a 2—1 lead into the second leg of their women's champions league quarter—final tie against 2 time champions and last year's runners up wolfsburg. manchester city though, look to be heading out, they were beaten 3—0 by barcelona. adam wild reports. to be the best, you have to beat the best. manchester city have been largely untroubled of late for supper someone in the champions league is an entirely different proposition. behind before half—time, this was not bar supplies my first chance but the first on campus the spanish champions look to kick on man city kicking out.

two—0 from the penalty spot. what city needed was to be getting a chance but getting one and taking one is a very different matter. chloe kelly from the spot, not quite. barcelona added a third before the end for some it will take something very special for manchester city to turn this around. the standard set, chelsea were under no illusions as to the size of their task. wolfsburg, the german champions and for much of the first half they were struggling to keep pace. wolves were getting close but time won again. this reason by this chelsea site is so highly revered for them some of the best in the world. this was a sam kerr and the finish was quite brilliant. wolfsburg were being frustrated and with an outstanding save to keep chelsea in front. and then out of the blue, a gift for the blues, and uncharacteristically mistake, for the former wolfsburg player,

ruthless, but despite playing in hungary, this was technically home game for chelsea. wolfsburg pulled one back from the spot, that may yet prove important. chelsea with the advantage but only just. adam wild, bbc news. pitch—side saliva tests for concussion have moved a step closer, after a successful trial in rugby union players. it could mean a big breakthrough in developments dealing with head trauma in sport. it comes after rugby�*s governing bodies face a lawsuit from retired players suffering with early on—set dementia. the tests are currently being carried out in a lab and it'll be at least two years before the pitch side version is available. it was a day to forget for rory micilroy at the wgc matchplay event in texas losing 6 & 5 to ian poulter. the northern irishman found water twice, the first one into a residential swimming pool when hooking the ball left on the 5th hole in austin, and then he chipped across the green on the 13th where it eventually ended up in the pond, the world number 11 has employed

a new coach in pete cowen who looks like he'll have plenty to work on ahead of his next group match against american lanto griffin. two of snooker�*s greatest names will renew a rivalry that stretches back to the 1980s. stephen hendry — who's returned to the sport after retiring in 2012 — will facejimmy white in world championship qualifying next month. hendry beat white in four crucible finals in the 1990s, and ended up with a record seven titles in the modern era. despite being a crowd favourite white has never won a world final — losing all six. he's currently ranked 83 in the world. hendry said that they've recently been practising togther, but that will now stop! that's all the sport for now. we'll have more for you on the bbc news channel later on. white hendry, it does feel like 1995. it does, doesn't that? makes you

feel old. we it does, doesn't that? makes you feel old. ~ ., it does, doesn't that? makes you feel old. ~ . . ~ :: ' it does, doesn't that? makes you feelold. ~ . :: ' ., ~ feel old. we are back in 2021. thank ou. alex salmond has made his first public comments since the publication of two inquiries, one looking at the scottish government's handling of complaints against him and another on whether nicola sturgeon broke the ministerial code. reporting from holyrood, our scotland editor sarah smith said he would be taking legal action. he's angry that no one has taken responsibility for what he describes as catastrophic failures in the scottish government's investigation of sexual harassment complaints against him, and he is planning to take legal action against those he things are to blame. ——he thinks are to blame. now, he says he does except the fact that from the independent requiring that nicola sturgeon had not breached any ministerial rules and the holyrood committee which found serious flaws in the scottish government's processes, but he's not going to leave it there. he's going to launch a court action over concerns about the secretary, leslie evans, the most senior civil servant in the scottish government, and he is going to make a formal complaint to the police about a leak to a newspaper because he wants the police to try to uncover

who within the scottish government has details of the complaints against him to the press. but after that, he says he will make no further public comment because it's time to move on and look forward to scottish elections in just six weeks�* time. for the first time, nhs front line doctors have been speaking about the huge numbers of covid patients who had to be moved around the country during the second wave of the pandemic. an unprecedented 2,300 intensive care patients were transferred between hospitals because of bed shortages, two were moved 300 miles. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson has this exclusive report. the all too familiar images from this winter as the second wave took hold, but these pictures captured a little—known operation that saw hundreds of desperately sick covid—19 patients move between hospitals because of intensive care bed shortages. ashley harvey, a chauffeur, was one of them. the week injanuary when he was admitted to the royal stoke hospital

with breathing difficulties was the peak of the pandemic for the nhs. days later, despite being in an induced coma and on a ventilator, he was transferred to hospital in salford, one hour away, to make room for a surge of patients coming up from the south. i'm aware that they had nine patients come from london. they were having displacement patients coming into the hospitals up and down the country. and so you needed to be moved on because of that? yeah, somebody would have made a difficult decision. the fact that they were saying that he was well enough to do that journey and make space for someone that's worse and it's insane to think that someone could be worse because he was very poorly, sort of gave us a bit of hope and it was sort of a positive thing. the latest figures show during the second surge, more than 2300 critically ill patients were moved around the uk because icus were so full. one in eight patients had to be moved from hotspots in london and the midlands. more than a quarter of patients

went on longerjourneys. the bbc has learned among the furthest were west midlands to devon, 160 miles. birmingham to newcastle, 200 miles. and surrey to tyne and wear, 300 miles. moving critically ill patients and on this unprecedented scale required exceptional expertise because it's so high—risk. back last summer, medical staff, who saw bed shortages coming, raced to train specialist transfer teams, source ambulances and medical equipment. this doctor was instrumental in setting up the operation in london. no one wants their patients to be taken away from them, to complete theirjourney of care at another centre. but they also were very acutely aware that was the only option to preserve access to life support. when we were taking patients across from hospitals that were close to their critical levels of oxygen supply or the last ventilated bed, to hospitals that

were under somewhat less pressure was absolutely life—saving. a little bit over 100% capacity... in birmingham, doctors told me at its worst, a staggering 40% of intensive care patients in some hospitals had to be moved and that without the transfers, more would have died. we would have seen scenes like northern italy, where at one point, hospitals were overwhelmed and they were talking about triaging by age. scenes like new york, that some hospitals had mortality rates that were five times higher than others because they were working on a 7:1 staffing ratio. i think the transfer service, it was one of the winners during this pandemic. this has been the most gruelling winter staff and patients have known and the scale of patient transfers is a measure ofjust how close

the nhs came to being overwhelmed. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. efforts are under way to move this 400—metre container ship that is stuck sideways, blocking the suez canal, the fastest shipping route from europe to asia. companies may now have to re—route cargoes around africa. the 200,000—tonne ever given container ship, which carries panama's flag and whose operator evergreen is based in taiwan, was travelling from china to rotterdam in the netherlands. our global trade correspondent dharshini david takes a look at what's going on. there are bottlenecks on the daily commute and then there's this, a ship the size of the empire state building, blocking one of the busiest shipping channels, blown adrift by a gust of wind. behind the giant ever given, a mounting queue of marine traffic, carrying cargo from oil to clothes and food, where ever

they hailfrom — china, the middle east or south asia, they are going nowhere. seen from above, the problem is clear. ships have grown to match our appetite to consume more but they are ill suited to a waterway that's just 205 metres wide. this canal, connecting the red sea and the mediterranean, is 150 years old but crucial from modern global trade. the ever given ran aground at 5:40 on tuesday morning. it is one of 52 ships a day that travel through this passage of water. they carry 12% of global trade worth over £2 billion. so, will there be a price to pay? we think about exports from china, they will take about 10% longer, in terms of shipping time, to arrive at their destination. and when we think about the importance of chinese products for the production of goods all over the world, we have to be worried that this still have major consequences.

they are hoping tug boats, diggers and the tide will refloat this ship but it could take weeks to deal with the consequences. however mighty the forces of globalisation, we are all vulnerable to the whims of nature. dharshini david, bbc news. rose george is a journalist and author of 90% of everything: inside shipping, the invisible industry that puts clothes on your back, gas in your car, and food on your plate. ifa if a mega ship like this one runs into problems in the canal, does everything back up, or is there an equivalent of a hard shoulder on the sways canal? there are passing plates, because the suez canal was originally a rudimentary passage linking a few lakes. so there are lakes, i remember great britain they come i can't remember the names of the

others, and there will be back—ups up others, and there will be back—ups up and down the canal, and at each end of it as well. so, yeah, bottleneck doesn't really cover it as a word. ~ . bottleneck doesn't really cover it as a word-— bottleneck doesn't really cover it as a word. ~ ., ., , ., as a word. what do the rest of the shi -s do as a word. what do the rest of the ships do in — as a word. what do the rest of the ships do in the _ as a word. what do the rest of the ships do in the meantime? - ships do in the meantime? they said there. i can't do anything. they are losing money, they have got cruise on them who now see their time on board being extended by however long this is going to take. so itjust means it will take them longer to get home. unless a shipping company has the time and the money to send the ship around africa, which obviously is going to take a lot more time, spend a lot more fuel which is expensive, and that is unlikely because the margins in container shipping in particular are pretty tight. i can't imagine that that would ever be feasible. i think it's probably in the best interest for nowjust to stay put. the best interest for now 'ust to sta ut. �* ., , stay put. are there enough tug boats in the canal— stay put. are there enough tug boats in the canal to _ stay put. are there enough tug boats in the canal to turn _ stay put. are there enough tug boats in the canal to turn this _ stay put. are there enough tug boats in the canal to turn this ship - in the canal to turn this ship around? i have no idea. i think about ten

tug boats nuzzle in poland push, but i really don't know how you get a ship doing a 9000 point turn out of the suez canal because i don't think it's happened in recent history. to the rest of us take global shipping for granted thinking that if we order an exercise bike from shanghai it will arrive here in london and we don't actually have to think much about how it gets transported? absolutely do think that. there is an expression which is used in maritime circles which as seed blindness, and i think we have come to see the sea is a place of leisure and something that we fly over. it's that patch of blue on a seat in front of you on a plane, but we don't realise that this is an absolutely vital workspace, and that it brings us, sorry to call it by book, but 90% of everything. and it still does. it is absolutely modern and cutting edge, but it isjust kind of ignore it. it's out of sight and out of mind.— and out of mind. how easy or difficult would _ and out of mind. how easy or difficult would it _ and out of mind. how easy or difficult would it be _ and out of mind. how easy or difficult would it be to - and out of mind. how easy or difficult would it be to build l difficult would it be to build another canal in suez? well, the

effort that _ another canal in suez? well, the effort that it _ another canal in suez? well, the effort that it took _ another canal in suez? well, the effort that it took to _ another canal in suez? well, the effort that it took to build - another canal in suez? well, the effort that it took to build this i effort that it took to build this one was pretty enormous using lots of slaves and forced labour, and i think it would be pretty difficult, but suez, maybe it is worth the effort because suez is an absolute money spinner for the egyptian government. it brings in about $3 billion a year, and i think from when i went through the canal, which ironically, ijust found out is that ship stuck behind the ever given thatis ship stuck behind the ever given that is now called something else. i think the passage cost about $300,000, although, it also cost a bit more because generally commute create your way down the canal with marlboro cigarettes and chocolate from the locker.— marlboro cigarettes and chocolate from the locker. rose doris, thank ou so from the locker. rose doris, thank you so much _ from the locker. rose doris, thank you so much for— from the locker. rose doris, thank you so much forjoining _ from the locker. rose doris, thank you so much forjoining us. - john lewis has said it will not reopen a further eight stores after the lockdown ends. the retail giant, which recently reported big losses, says certain locations cannot sustain a large store. the closures include four "at home" shops in ashford, tunbridge wells,

basingstoke, and chester. department stores in aberdeen, peterborough, sheffield and york will also close. the move puts nearly 1,500 jobs at risk. a warning, our business correspondent emma simpson's report does contain flashing images. three, two, one... it wasn't that long ago john lewis were still doing this... 0pening new department stores. good morning, john lewis exeter! nearly doubling in size in a decade. they are reining back rapidly now. today, another eight to close, from ashford in kent, john lewis has been in sheffield for 80 years. really disappointed for the city. really disappointed for all the people who are going to lose theirjobs. john lewis has been something that's been so important to us. i remember my mum taking me intojohn lewis. it's a destination store for the city. i am gutted because i love perusing and smelling all the perfumes and trying the make—up. not many people in there now, like there used to be, - so it didn't surprise me.

john lewis was so important to sheffield that the council paid it more than £3 million to effectively keep it here. it signed a new 20 year lease just last summer, as part of a wider regeneration plan. but it's now done a handbrake turn. the shift online has been unprecedented. there are some areas of the country which, you know, sad as it is, we can't any longer profitably sustain the size of store we've got today. but have they been too hasty? i think we'd question their strategy as we are just literally days away from stores reopening and john lewis now remain the only department store standing, really, in a lot of cities up and down the uk. and there's a lot of money to be spent. people haven't been spending money in lockdown and it may be that

they're making these decisions to close stores a little bit too early before people get back in and start spending. sheffield centre is already being redeveloped. they've got another piece of work on their hands now. the changes accelarating the changes that were already reshaping so many of our town and city centres. emma simpson, bbc news, sheffield. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. good evening. it was a story of sunny spells and scattered heavy showers through the day on wednesday. this picture behind me was taken by one of our weather watchers in devon. so we did have some shower clouds around, and infact, over the next few days, we will keep that mix of some blue skies, some showers and some cold weather briefly, particularly on friday. but for the here and now, for the rest of tonight, clear skies across parts of east anglia in the southeast, so turning quite chilly here. further north across england and into wales as well, we've got a bit more cloud and a few spots of drizzly rain. and for scotland and northern ireland, some scattered heavy showers rattling in through tonight. could be a touch of frost first thing thursday, particularly for eastern scotland and for the southeast

of england as well. after that chilly start, thursday brings a day of sunny spells and scattered showers. the bulk of the showers will be from northern ireland, western scotland, perhaps a few into northwestern england. later in the day, just one or two cropping up for southern in southeast england as well. in between these two areas of showers, quite a lot of dry weather with some sunshine and top temperatures on thursday around 13—14 celsius. bye for now. hello, this is bbc news with james reynolds. the headlines... tighter rules for people seeking asylum in the uk. the home secretary says the current system is collapsing the home secretary says the current system is collapsing under the pressure. the persistent failure to enforce our immigration rules with a system that is open to economic migrants and exploitation by criminals is eroding public trust and disadvantaging vulnerable people who need our help. john lewis is to shut eight more stores, putting over 11100 jobs at risk. the closures are part of its new strategy to adapt to online shopping. as a third covid wave sweeps europe,

the eu tightens coronavirus vaccine export controls. and coming up, we hear from russia's eurovision song contest hopeful about the barrage of abuse she's received from her compatriots. in a rare intervention, the government has decided to appoint commissioners to oversee some functions of liverpool city council for at least three years. local government secretary robert jenrick said a report had shown a "picture of mismanagement" at the council which put public "funds at risk". this latest move follows a police investigation into the way the council handled building and development contracts. those under investigation deny any wrongdoing. judith moritz reports from liverpool. the famous liver birds have long watched over liverpool. now, the city will also be overseen by the government,

which will monitor parts of the council. the local government secretary, robertjenrick, said a damning inspector's report had found multiple failures. it paints a deeply concerning picture of mismanagement, the breakdown of scrutiny and accountability, a dysfunctional culture, putting the spending of public funds at risk and undermining the city's economic development. inspectors found an overall culture of intimidation, saying some whistle—blowers were too frightened to be publicly identified. they say the council needs a reset, and so independent commissioners will work with the current chief executive to make improvements. how can you give the people of liverpool the confidence that this is going to be sorted out? we fully accept the recommendations, we're not hiding from that at all, and we are absolutely determined to put these issues right and re—earn the respect of the people of liverpool, and all of the partners and stakeholders that we work with.

merseyside police are also investigating building and development contracts. five men were arrested last year, including the former mayor, joe anderson, who denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offences. the current acting mayor says local politicians will still have a say. it's not a takeover of the city, as some of the media were proposing earlier in the week. a commissioner's coming in to oversee and observe the role of that department, at this point in time. i think the secretary of state was really clear, though, you know, if we were not cooperative with that, then further tougher measures would have been taken. the liberal democrats say the post of city mayor should be abolished altogether. so, what do liverpudlians think about the government getting involved? are you bothered by who's ultimately in charge here? erm, as long as liverpool gets its funding, or however gets helped, then i don't mind either way.

i wouldn't like the government - in london to take over and say, oh, you can't do this or you can't do i that, because they don't live here. i think they should at least come in and just sort it all out, and then move back on, you know what i mean? because it's. .. it's gone on for years, this, in liverpool. there'll be checks on the council's progress every six months. the government expects its intervention to last for a minimum of three years. judith moritz, bbc news, liverpool. to the pandemic now — borisjohnson says he hasn't ruled out retaliation measures, if the eu does end up preventing the export of vaccines to the uk. the prime minister, answering mps�* questions on covid this afternoon, also suggested pub landlords could demand that customers prove they've been vaccinated. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. not exactly your normal commute. are we being greedy with our vaccines, prime minister? the prime minister leaving the house notjust for questions from the opposition, but the regular pummelling from parliament's senior mps.

and with the eu dangling a threat of tighter controls on exporting the all—important vaccine, how would boris johnson respond? if british lives were at risk, - do you rule out taking measured and proportionate retaliation to discourage the eu - from impeding legally—binding contracts for our vaccines? - i think that the long—term damage done by blockades can be very considerable. you're not taking anything offi the table, in terms of a british response to decisions this week? 0ur priority is to continue the vaccine roll—out, to vaccinate the british people. we'll do everything necessary that we can to ensure that that happens. with virus cases rising on the continent, mps wanted to know, why aren't border controls being tightened further and faster now? you have tougher measures going in the other direction. and that has to... you have testing arrangements in place for hauliers going to france...

and that has to be balanced... technology made the exchanges more testy than normal, but the prime minister hinted tougher rules might come. why have you not introduced, then, additional measures, or put france on the red list? in terms of putting france on the red list, which is what you're talking about, and with the consequences that would have for uk supplies and for cross—channel movements, but it is something that we will have to look at. we will have to look at tougher measures. then what may rile his backbenchers — the prime minister seemed to approve of the idea that vaccines could, in some circumstances, become a compulsory part of life. it doesn't seem to me to be irresponsible at all for the, er... farfrom it, wholly responsible, for care—home companies to think of requiring vaccination. what about a certificate

for going to the pub? it may be up to individual publicans. it may be up to the landlord. but grappling with the pandemic is still a hugejob for the government — even a year on, still big decisions to take. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. let's explore this a little further. i've got a couple guest. dr liz breen is a supply chain expert at the university of bradford, and anna cavazzini is a german mep, member of the green group and chair of the internal market and consumer protection committee. hello, welcome to your both. 0ne party says it has a set in stone contract for certain goods, in this case vaccines. the other says tough, we might need it more than you. how unusual is this kind of dispute? it unusual is this kind of dispute? it is definitely an interesting one. if you're buying other products, it certainly wouldn't be consideration

for another party to keep it, another country. however, we are talking about the life—saving drugs and we are talking about a product that globally, everyone has a very high demand for because it saves lives speak up —— this lives. so, that does bring out a lot of emotions. that is why we are seeing the play out we are seeing today. and i, picking up with you, a lot of people here in the uk might say isn't it a simple matter of honouring contracts? the uk has an aunt —— a contract with astrazeneca must be honoured. the aunt -- a contract with astrazeneca must be honoured.— aunt -- a contract with astrazeneca must be honoured. the british people and the british _ must be honoured. the british people and the british parliament _ must be honoured. the british people and the british parliament have - must be honoured. the british people and the british parliament have to - and the british parliament have to also understand that the eu has also also understand that the eu has also a contract _ also understand that the eu has also a contract with astrazeneca, and they are — a contract with astrazeneca, and they are not delivering. they

deliver— they are not delivering. they deliver 25% of their contract, so it is not _ deliver 25% of their contract, so it is not so — deliver 25% of their contract, so it is not so easy to just say the uk contract — is not so easy to just say the uk contract can be fulfilled, but the eu contract cannot. i think the best way is _ eu contract cannot. i think the best way is to— eu contract cannot. i think the best way is to co—operate and work togethen _ way is to co—operate and work togethen |_ way is to co-operate and work touether. ., way is to co-operate and work together-— way is to co-operate and work touether. ~ ., ., together. i think part of what some eo - le together. i think part of what some people can't _ together. i think part of what some people can't understand _ together. i think part of what some people can't understand when - together. i think part of what some people can't understand when they| people can't understand when they look at eu �*s position is this. a number of countries and stopped vaccinating people with astrazeneca. now on the other hand, eu is saying what's to keep more doses for itself —— it wants to keep more doses. i —— it wants to keep more doses. i think each and every government has the interest— think each and every government has the interest of vaccinating its population as fast as possible, and i completely understand that. a lot of people _ i completely understand that. a lot of people here think that eu at the moment— of people here think that eu at the moment is— of people here think that eu at the moment is exporting almost half of all the _ moment is exporting almost half of all the vaccines being produced in the european union. by other

countries, _ the european union. by other countries, they don't export anything _ countries, they don't export anything. people have perceived this as an _ anything. people have perceived this as an imbalance. this is very important _ as an imbalance. this is very important understand, it's not about we want _ important understand, it's not about we want more than the british or whatever, — we want more than the british or whatever, it'sjust that we want more than the british or whatever, it's just that there is an imbalance — whatever, it's just that there is an imbalance i— whatever, it's just that there is an imbalance. i think the mutual talk about— imbalance. i think the mutual talk about the — imbalance. i think the mutual talk about the best way how to address this, they— about the best way how to address this, they mentioned there was a critical— this, they mentioned there was a critical section of the astrazeneca vaccination that we have to acknowledge. in most countries, the roll-out _ acknowledge. in most countries, the roll-out is _ acknowledge. in most countries, the roll—out is taking place again. i think— roll—out is taking place again. i think some countries are worried about— think some countries are worried about the — think some countries are worried about the rules, about the side effects. — about the rules, about the side effects, but i think this has been sorted _ effects, but i think this has been sorted out, and now the roll—out is taking _ sorted out, and now the roll—out is taking up— sorted out, and now the roll—out is taking up speed again. sorted out, and now the roll-out is taking up speed again.— sorted out, and now the roll-out is taking up speed again. when it comes to life-saving — taking up speed again. when it comes to life-saving goods, _ taking up speed again. when it comes to life-saving goods, is _ taking up speed again. when it comes to life-saving goods, is there - taking up speed again. when it comes to life-saving goods, is there an - to life—saving goods, is there an exemption? tojust to life—saving goods, is there an exemption? to just write to life—saving goods, is there an exemption? tojust write new to life—saving goods, is there an exemption? to just write new rules? with regards to vaccines, i think we're making up the rules as we go

along. we are, to quote a lot of people, in unprecedented times. if we were in the same situation with other pharmaceuticals, no, we would be re—persecuting the pharmaceuticals and they would come to respective country. —— repurchasing. the supply chain i'm seeing at the minute, it's something i've never seen in the 20 years i've beenin i've never seen in the 20 years i've been in this sector and in academia. so it is something we are learning on thejob with so it is something we are learning on the job with regards to how we manage this, and i do appreciate that there are countries who are possibly making much more progress. i think a lot of countries will have lumpiness with wrist regards disapply. —— regards to supply. we saw last week with regards to the indian stock and also back in

january and february. i think we're trying to make the best of the situation that we have. it's not perfect, but obviously, the uk had contracts in place. they were very proactive and very strategic with regards to our supply chain plans, they made sure they created a situation whereby they had 700... improve them as quickly as they could. the reports today have clearly shown that the prime minister wants to go forward with the situation and make sure we have cooperation so that we all benefit from access to these vaccine. the fi . ures i from access to these vaccine. the figures i have _ from access to these vaccine. the figures i have say _ from access to these vaccine. the figures i have say that only 55% of astrazeneca �*s doses delivered to the eu have been used. there are 7 million sitting in refrigerators. why is that? by, million sitting in refrigerators. why is that?— million sitting in refrigerators. why is that? a lot of european countries _ why is that? a lot of european countries follow _ why is that? a lot of european countries follow a _ why is that? a lot of european countries follow a different - countries follow a different strategy than the uk, and the uk has a very— strategy than the uk, and the uk has

a very fast— strategy than the uk, and the uk has a very fast roll—out, vaccinating as many _ a very fast roll—out, vaccinating as many people as possible with the first doses. a lot of european countries _ first doses. a lot of european countries are more on the safety auction — countries are more on the safety auction and have to store the second doses— auction and have to store the second doses because we have delivery problems, and we don't know if the second _ problems, and we don't know if the second dose is coming and we don't want _ second dose is coming and we don't want to— second dose is coming and we don't want to waste it. so that is why a lot of— want to waste it. so that is why a lot of countries want to use their second _ lot of countries want to use their second doses for people who have already— second doses for people who have already had their first dose. so this is— already had their first dose. so this is a — already had their first dose. so this is a difference in vaccination. is this is a difference in vaccination. is there _ this is a difference in vaccination. is there an— this is a difference in vaccination. is there an obvious solution here? so, i to is there an obvious solution here? so, ito think... if there are doses available and not being used, really, they should be used. we have proven more recently with the us study and vma have said that the astrazeneca jab is perfectly safe. really, we should be using that ——

the ema. also astrazeneca is not the only vaccine. 0thers the ema. also astrazeneca is not the only vaccine. others are successfully being used. maybe it's a case of making sure we get the astrazeneca vaccine for people to use, but also start thinking about the investment on the other vaccines and their availability and the transparency of what is being made and what stock is available to all of our patients.— and what stock is available to all of our patients. both of you, thank ou so of our patients. both of you, thank you so much- _ the latest government figures show there were 5,605 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means on average, 5,476 new cases were reported per day in the last week. the latest figures show 5,407 people were in hospital across the uk. 498 deaths were reported in the latest 24—hour period — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test.

on average in the past week, 79 deaths were announced every day. the total number who have died is now 126,382. as for vaccinations, more than 325,000 people have had their first dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period, bringing the total to more than 28 and a half million people, more than half of the adult population. over two and a half million people have had both doses of the vaccine. eurovision fans have just two months left to wait until the contest returns again, for the first time since 2019. but despite the brewing excitement, russia's entrant for this year's competition has revealed the abuse she's received after being chosen to represent the country. 0ur moscow correspondent steve rosenberg has the story. and eurovision expert! one, two, three, four. # you gonna, you gonna break the wall #.

it's russia's eurovision rap. but it's not music to everyone's ears. it was really hard to... ..understand that someone can hate you so much. she sings in russian manizha sangin's song russian woman has been met with a crescendo of criticism. some russians dislike the song's liberal message about female empowerment and the need to break down stereotypes of how russian women should look and behave. we're always hearing these advices from our childhood, like you need to be like this, you need to be like this, your skirt should be longer or shorter. these stereotypes makes our life so bad, and i'm tired of that.

manizha was born in tajikistan, in central asia. not being ethnically russian has made the pop star an even bigger target of abuse. how surprised are you about the reaction? you can don't like my voice. you can don't like the song. but if you don't like me because i was born in tajikistan, that was hard. she is now a russian citizen. representing her adopted country at eurovision is a source of pride but manizha's been hurt by some of the comments. it was very hard to... ..understand that someone can hate you so much. like one woman who has two children wrote me a message, like, "i will pray to the god that your aircraft "will crash when you will go to rotterdam."

and we're having some threats — like, "if you're going to sing "like this about russian women, you're not going to "live any more here." # every russian woman needs to know # you're strong enough to bounce against the wall #. have there been any moments in the last few days when you've thought, you know, "i don't need this, "i don't need this kind of abuse, that's it, i'm pulling out"? um...i'm a normal person. i'm a human, you know, i have feelings. and of course i had these thoughts, but now i have a lot of support. i can see it, like, not only from media and media people — from people who think, like, the same like me, you know, and these things are supporting me. this thing makes me stronger, and i'm like, iwill go and say whatever it is. i will go on the stage in order to do myjob. yeah, i'm going to do this. she sings in russian as for her eurovision song, russian woman — well,

this british man is getting into it. come on, steve! steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. # oh, yeah! steve should perform at eurovision. do check out his post. i think he can play every single euro reason song without sheet music —— every single euro vision song. song without sheet music —— every single euro vision song. the queen's granddaughter, zara tindall, has given birth to her third child, a baby boy named lucas philip tindall. he's the queen and the duke of edinburgh's tenth great—grandchild. zara's husband mike tindall revealed the news this morning via his �*the good the bad and the rugby�* podcast, where he talked about how disappointed he was in england's performance in the six nations championship last weekend. and then, sunday got even better because our little baby boy arrived at my house. you're kidding! yeah. well done, mate. that's unbelievable! well, let's not talk about rugby.

how are you getting on? yeah, brilliant. so, yeah, at six o'clock last night. this is unbelievable! how healthy, how bonny? eight lbs four. arrived very quickly — didn't make it to hospital — on the bathroom floor. you're kidding me! wow! preparing for the olympics requires stamina and determination at the best of times, so imagine doing it in the year of the pandemic. katarina johnson—thompson started on the athletics track as a child in liverpool, and now, the reigning world heptathlon champion is counting down to her third 0lympics in japan this summer. sally nugent reports. katarina johnson—thompson of liverpoot _ she's the world champion! years of work and preparation. reaching the peak of her capabilities atjust the right time, katarina johnson—thompson had to put the brakes on when last year's 0lympics was postponed. it's literally got halted. there's going to be so many people who would have been olympic champion who isn't going to be an olympic

champion because of this pandemic and i find that fascinating. i think the olympics will be won and lost on whoever�*s handled the pandemic the best. over the last 12 months, johnson—thompson has wanted to give something back and has now set up her own academy. she wants to help young athletes who she feels are at risk of dropping out. they have to be from a diverse ethnic background. they have to be, you know, state schooled and at that county level competition. so i feel like they're the groups who need most help. you think there's a lot of people and young athletes out there who could be in the olympic team, could be winning 0lympic medals butjust haven't had the right support along the way. the world champion has worked hard to protect herself from the mental pressures of a year in lockdown. i think social media with its pressures as well, just it is self—care sometimes tojust to log off, or mute or, you know, unfollow. this could be a gold i medal winning jump... even with the delay and the difficulties of last year,

what's it like going into an olympic games as world champion in your event? for me, knowing that for a number years, i didn't think i could ever win on that sort of global world championship stage. ijust know that it's possible now, so i'm happy that if it's happened before, it can happen again and that's what... you know, that's my sort of beliefs, you know? i know that it's a strong chance that i could be outperformed but as long as i do my best, and knowing i have no regrets. the olympics will look different this year — no overseas fans or families in the crowd, but katarina johnson—thompson will be ready. sally nugent, bbc news. four months to go. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. good evening. wednesday brought us a day of some spells of blue sky and spring sunshine but other areas had more in the way of cloud with some scattered showers, too. this was the picture in staffordshire wednesday afternoon. some clear spells over there

and in fact over the next few days, we're going to keep with that general theme of sun sunny spells, some scattered showers, but we will all notice that things are going to turn quite a bit colder by the time we get to friday. for the here and now, we've got a fairly weak weather front, a cold front which is clearing away from the south—east of england through the course of tonight. so clearing skies for east anglia and the south—east behind that weather front, it's going to be quite chilly here. further north across england and wales, we've got more cloud as a band of light patchy rain just sinks its way south overnight, and across parts of scotland and northern ireland, clear spells but also more cloud and scattered showers working in from the west later in the night. it will be coldest tonight across parts of aberdeenshire, north east scotland down towards east anglia and the south—east too. so, these areas could see just a touch of frost first thing thursday morning. a bit of a chilly start to the day, a day of sunny spells and scattered showers. the bulk of the showers will be for northern ireland, scotland, perhaps north west england as well but particularly later in the day we will start to see more for southern and south east england as well, they'll be fairly hit and miss. in between these two areas, for central england and for wales,

a lot of dry weather with some sunshine flows of temperatures sunshine, temperatures in the warmest parts up to about 14 celsius or so, a little bit cooler than that across parts of scotland particularly where you've got the blustery showers. now moving through thursday night into friday, it is all change as an active cold front pushes its way eastwards. as it does so, that's going to open the doors for this cold air mass whose winds are coming in from the north—west. whose winds coming in from the north—west. so, a different feeling day on friday, we start the day with cloud and rain across england and wales that will slowly move its way eastwards followed by clear spells but also some showers and some of these showers will be wintry, so some sleet and snow over the higher ground, particularly highland scotland, snowdonia for instance as well. and gusts of wind of a round about 30—40 mph wind. and gusts of wind of around about 30—40 mph wind. could be up to about 50 mph around coasts and hills as well. so, it's a colder day. temperatures on the thermometer only 7—11 celsius on friday but feeling colder where you are exposed to those brisk winds as well. into the weekend and after that brief colder spell, things will start to turn a little bit

warmer, some rain at times, but we won't all see it. most places looking predominantly dry on saturday, some showers in the north and west on sunday, and temperatures up to about 13 celsius. bye— bye.

i'm laura trevelyan in new york and this is bbc world news america. the eu and britain try to defuse the row over vaccine exports — after brussels threatened to make it easier to block the export of coronavirus vaccines. angela merkel changes course, cancelling plans for an easter lockdown in germany. she says she made a mistake in trying to impose it. israel's fourth election in two years fails to produce a clear winner. once again — the country's prime minister has to try and form a new government. and we hearfrom russia's eurovision song contest hopeful, about the abuse she's receiving from her fellow russians.