the astrazeneca covid vaccine, because of a surge in infections in india. the foreign ministry expects domestic demand to pick up in the coming weeks, and says the doses will be needed for india's own rollout. in brazil, the number of deaths from covid—19 has now passed 300,000 with oxygen running low in some of the busiest hospitals. brazil is the second worst affected country in the world after the united states — it has recorded more than 12 million covid cases. virginia has become the first southern us state, the 23rd across the country overall, to abolish the death penalty. signing the bill into law, governor ralph northam, who's a democrat, said capital punishment had been applied disproportionately to black people, and that a flawed legal system had led, too often, to mistakes. now on bbc news, click.

welcome to click. i would like to share with you some personaljoy, if i may. i was getting ready to film the programme this morning when i got the best text message that i think i've received in years, inviting me to get my first dose of the vaccine. congratulations. i presume you acted on it. yeah, sure did. took about three or four

clicks, ithink, and i'm booked in for later this afternoon so it was easy. i did that and then i had a big cry. well, i was so worried when i spoke to you first thing this morning — you were so upset — but now i know they were tears of joy. yeah, i mean, i might go again — just to warn you — but this, this feeling of relief and possibly a release of pent—up emotions from the last year, i don't know what it was, but it happened, let's just say that. but here's the thing, right? before i confirmed, ifound myself looking at this text and thinking "is this genuine?" now, i checked the website that it sent me to and it did end in .nhs.uk, so it was all fine, but these are the times we're living in, where scammers target world events and take advantage of people's fears. and by genuine coincidence, this is what we're talking this week. the royal united services institute says that cyber scams reached epidemic levels during the pandemic. dan simmons has been finding out more. preparing for a dawn raid. as soon as the door�*s breached, they will go in and then there will be a slight pause.

officers are on their way to a terraced house in north london. this is the city of london police force's 10th raid against covid scammers this year alone. 0peration parasite is aiming to seize evidence before devices can be locked or destroyed. police! police with a warrant! a red box is flung out of a bedroom window — it seems the suspect has something to hide. but it's what the cops will find inside the house that makes them certain they have their man. that's a sim file, so it's essentially one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight mobile phones and it is used by the fraudsters to send messages. specialist equipment housing multiple sim cards is designed to fire out thousands of texts at a time, in a type of fraud known as sms phishing,

or �*smishing'. officers are now bagging up anything they believe could be evidence — phones, computers and the like. they've also have access to a digital dog that can sniff out this sort of equipment. just like a drug dog, fred has been trained to recognise the smell of materials used to make digital equipment. the search will continue for several hours. whether it's raiding a house or simply taking a website offline, police are now closing down 2,500 covid scams like this every single month in the uk. 30,000 campaigns have been stopped in the last year. but that doesn't mean that these often sophisticated cons aren't working, partly because of the way our lives have changed. one line of attack has been to focus on the massive increase in home shopping. all those parcels have to be delivered, right?

it was last autumn and i'd been doing quite a bit of online shopping. anyway, i got this text message through from courierfirm dpd, asking me to rearrange a parcel delivery. like thousands of other people, i would have gone online and left some details but i did not because it was not dpd, it was fraudsters. and the only reason i knew — because it was pretty convincing — was i had been in all day. the black friday sales started and i decided to purchase a lovely coat that i really wanted to buy for a very, very long time. anna was not so lucky and is so worried about being targeted again, we've agreed not to use her real name. when she received an email saying her coat needed to be redelivered, she handed over financial details before realising it was a fake website. she immediately told her bank about the fraud and cancelled her card. i actually thought "now i have nothing to worry about. everything is fine and, you know, case closed."

a few days later, she received a call from the phone number on the back of her bank card. man: we have detected fraud on your account. l we'lljust need to take a few pieces of security information to get this sorted out. ok, thanks for that. i can see that while we have been talking, your account has taken out a £9,000 loan. was that you? right. in that case, we'll need you to transfer that money back into our account. we'll give you the account number and sort code now. with the information she'd given them, the crooks had taken out a £9,000 loan into anna's account and were now trying to finish thejob by talking her into sending the money onto them. then i thought "0k, just give me the account number and sort code". so i still felt quite suspicious and i decided to google the sort code that they gave me and to see what that might come up with. then it came up with a completely different account, different bank. i said "you know what? i'm going to hang up right now and i'm just gonna

call you back." and this is when theyjust started panicking a lot and they were like "no, no, no!" like, "don't hang up! don't hang up! the longer the money are out somewhere, the more likely that they are just gonna be used by fraudsters." anna then called her bank and realised the scammers had come back to hit her again. she closed that account, changed her email address and mobile number in a bid to escape the crooks. she still doesn't feel safe. i know i did not lose any money but it did feel like a real burglary, to be honest. i didn't feel like that was — that was the end, because there was still a lot of my information out there that fraudsters can potentially try and use, and i don't know if they're gonna to use it now or in two months�* time or in two years�* time. that particular fraud netted nearly £250,000 last year. the true figure is probably much higher, due to under—reporting. in fact, during the pandemic, the uk service, the cyber helpline, saw an increase

of 366% in the number of people seeking support after being a victim of cyber crime. only a quarter of those had already reported the crime to the police. detective chief inspector martina elliott helps lead the fight against fraud on a national level. the different types of fraud that we have seen have dramatically shifted. for example, online shopping fraud has gone up by 43%, which is a huge leap. we saw a definite increase in smishing after the december rollout for the covid vaccine, where we received over 1000 reports in one week. they are taking advantage at the most horrendous time. people at the moment have — are short of money, people have lost employment, they've lost jobs, they're vulnerable, and these despicable people are taking advantage of all of those things.

it's reprehensible. back at the morning raid, and 21—year—old ty gallagher has been arrested. 0fficers find scripts on a smartphone, designed to trick victims into revealing personal information, messages with associates about the most effective ploys... they're saying they use this to make more money. ..and lists of numbers which can all be targeted at the press of a button. so that that will just send — bombard these with fake messages. i mean, can you see how many that is. and all this can be done from just sitting in your bedroom with your laptop and a mobile phone. two days after his arrest, ty gallagher pleads guilty to two charges relating to fraud. he's awaiting sentencing.

much harder to check if something is genuine. if something is genuine. if something is genuine. if something is behaving oddly, it is really hard to get it checked. we are really sorry this has happened. the charity hosted a webinar _ this has happened. the charity hosted a webinar to _ this has happened. the charity hosted a webinar to explain i hosted a webinar to explain what happened and alert those affected. although charity digital didn't lose any money directly, jonathan estimates the cost of dealing with the attack run into bite figures. perhaps the most worrying attacked over the past year have been the ones targeting the uk's ability to manage and counter the spread of the pandemic itself. four years ago, the wannacry ransomware attack brought the nhs to a standstill for several days, with attackers seizing control of hospital systems and demanding payments. the man in charge of protecting the uk's hospitals, vaccine research and rollout, and other key infrastructure, has been desperate to avoid a repeat. one of the things that

we learned very early on was that the organisations, the businesses that supplied our hospitals, supplied the work behind the vaccine, all of those became critical, and so they're still potentially a target for states and criminals. the ncsc has told click that the number of high—level incidents against key coronavirus—related targets like the nhs and vaccine development is happening around the clock, at around 30 every month. but none of them are believed to have affected the nhs�* response. there's certainly been no service disruption or impact or theft that we're aware of. i mean, obviously, you know, it's hard to be — always be confident of everything, because you don't see everything. but have any been successful against any other critical systems 7 well, there unfortunately have been a number of successful ransomware attacks against businesses. i can think of roughly

about ten that we've — that would be again, we deal with a number of ransomware cases — unfortunately, far too many — but about ten that have been — could have been considered part of the supply chain. meanwhile, the problem of fraud, particularly during the pandemic, continues relentlessly. we are never going to be able to arrest our way out of fraud because the levels are rising. technology enables fraudsters, so it is on the increase and it is likely to continue to increase. hopefully, we are keeping pace and we are dealing with it and we will continue to keep pace with it. the level of fraud has jumped over the past five years and now, the pandemic has allowed scammers to prey on fears and uncertainty. 0fficers admit that perhaps the most effective weapon against all of this is for us to adopt a sort of new normal and double check any message that asks us for our details.

getting a text inviting you for a vaccine is a massive deal, and the ones that i had had the official nhs website, and then i wasn't asked for any other details apart from my date of birth, but that might be different where you are. so the general advice is... different where you are. so the general advice is. . .— general advice is... check it send you — general advice is... check it send you to _ general advice is... check it send you to an _ general advice is... check it send you to an official - general advice is... check it i send you to an official website that you recognise. if send you to an official website that you recognise.— that you recognise. if you are asked for— that you recognise. if you are asked for your _ that you recognise. if you are asked for your bank - that you recognise. if you are asked for your bank details l that you recognise. if you are| asked for your bank details or any other information, get suspicious. bi; any other information, get suspicious-— any other information, get susicious. j . ., suspicious. by clicking on the text, suspicious. by clicking on the text. you _ suspicious. by clicking on the text. you are _ suspicious. by clicking on the text, you are not— suspicious. by clicking on the i text, you are not automatically going to be handing over your bank to details, you are just more likely to be asked. if bank to details, you are 'ust more likely to be asked. if you are suspicious, _ more likely to be asked. if you are suspicious, contact - more likely to be asked. if you are suspicious, contact the - are suspicious, contact the organisation that sent the message. in organisation that sent the message-— organisation that sent the messaue. ,, u, message. in the uk you can forward any — message. in the uk you can forward any text _ message. in the uk you can forward any text messages| message. in the uk you can i forward any text messages to 7726, spelling the word spam,

so the police can investigate and reply whether it is genuine or not. ., ., _, ., or not. hello and welcome to the week— or not. hello and welcome to the week in _ or not. hello and welcome to the week in tech. _ or not. hello and welcome to the week in tech. facebook l the week in tech. facebook agreed to pay news core, following a law to make tech platforms pay for use content. uber said it would pay a minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions after it lost a legal battle around workers' rights. google and head launched a series of children's mindfulness videos to combat stress around online learning, social distancing and screen time. canadian researchers are developing an exoskeleton that uses artificial intelligence to see and act in real time. where other systems use manual controls, this combines computer vision and deep learning to adjust movements in relation to surroundings. from two legs to four, this robot in norway is using machine

learning to shape shift. the limbs can be short, stable and slow or tall, fast and nimble, for example to step over objects. sensors and cameras inform the decisions by tracking and analysing terrain. and finally, a russian firm in helping robots look more human. they showed off their new department dedicated to making realistic robot skins, the research and development arm has polymer specialists, artists and 3d modellers, it's getting harder to tell who is a robot and who isn't. as we saw earlier, police forces are targeting scammers at their homes, but there are also online vigilantes who are fighting back. one of them is utilising artificial intelligence to tackle telephone forward. 0mar has

been finding out more. mina; telephone forward. omar has been finding out more. why did ou did been finding out more. why did you did this! — been finding out more. why did you did this! why _ been finding out more. why did you did this! why did _ been finding out more. why did you did this! why did you - you did this! why did you redeem! this is kit, a twitch streamer, youtuber&a scan baiter. he tricks and wastes the time of scam callers, who tries to steal money from unsuspecting people over the phone. it seems to be getting more popular, with videos flooding social media. ifound kit on with videos flooding social media. i found kit on tick—tock website. usually he operates by himself, but now he and a few others from the scam baiting community are creating artificial intelligence to waste the time

of scammers. using speech recognition, it can work out what a scammer is saying over the phone and respond with some set statements. it can keep going on and on until the scammer finally recognises he is talking to a bot. i! recognises he is talking to a bot. u, recognises he is talking to a bot. u, ~ , ., bot. if i can keep them on the -hone bot. if i can keep them on the phone for— bot. if i can keep them on the phone for an _ bot. if i can keep them on the phone for an hour, _ bot. if i can keep them on the phone for an hour, it - bot. if i can keep them on the phone for an hour, it is - bot. if i can keep them on the phone for an hour, it is an - phone for an hour, it is an hour— phone for an hour, it is an hour they— phone for an hour, it is an hour they are not talking to someone else. i wanted to do something. when i got those inbound _ something. when i got those inbound phone calls every day, i can't — inbound phone calls every day, i can't answer all of them, so if i forwarded them to an a i, even— if i forwarded them to an a i, even if— if i forwarded them to an a i, even if it_ if i forwarded them to an a i, even if it only wasted ten or 20 minutes, it adds up. kit can

and has wasted _ 20 minutes, it adds up. kit can and has wasted up _ 20 minutes, it adds up. kit can and has wasted up to _ 20 minutes, it adds up. kit can and has wasted up to 37 - 20 minutes, it adds up. kit can and has wasted up to 37 hours | and has wasted up to 37 hours of a scammer�*s time, the a i can do it for 30 minutes before they realise. it is responding with set statements and using kit's with set statements and using kit�*s own voice to speak, but in the future he hopes it can use synthesised voices and machine learning to pick up what the scammer is saying and come up with their own response. i come up with their own response-_ come up with their own response. come up with their own resonse. , . ., response. i swear it had said the exact — response. i swear it had said the exact same _ response. i swear it had said the exact same line - response. i swear it had said the exact same line 50 - response. i swear it had said| the exact same line 50 times response. i swear it had said i the exact same line 50 times in this one — the exact same line 50 times in this one called! i really do think— this one called! i really do think we _ this one called! i really do think we can get to a point where _ think we can get to a point where we could allow people, if they get — where we could allow people, if they get a scam call, they could _ they get a scam call, they could forward it over to one of these — could forward it over to one of these artificial intelligences. you don't want them forwarding their— you don't want them forwarding their mother—in—law's number or something! — their mother—in—law's number or something! but yeah, it being more — something! but yeah, it being more autonomous or automated, doing — more autonomous or automated, doing its— more autonomous or automated, doing its thing, i think that

would _ doing its thing, i think that would be funny, you know! we will see — would be funny, you know! we will see. ~ ., , ., would be funny, you know! we willsee. ~ . , ~ , will see. what is it like being on the receiving _ will see. what is it like being on the receiving end - will see. what is it like being on the receiving end of - will see. what is it like being on the receiving end of this l will see. what is it like being | on the receiving end of this a i? let's find out. david is not here, can i take your gift card code. no, you can't talk to him, he's not here right now. sorry? what did it say! where would you like to fly?— like to fly? i'm taking a trip to neeew _ like to fly? i'm taking a trip to neeew york... _ like to fly? i'm taking a trip to neeew york... as - like to fly? i'm taking a trip to neeew york... as you i like to fly? i'm taking a trip. to neeew york... as you can see, it to neeew york... as you can see. it does _ to neeew york... as you can see, it does have _ to neeew york... as you can see, it does have some - to neeew york... as you can - see, it does have some teething problems, but it is in the early stages and they are hoping the next iteration will be available soon.

for the last couple of months, these courts have been empty. but from march 29th, play can resume. i am but from march 29th, play can resume. iam really looking forward to getting back to playing tennis, and today i will be testing some tech to help if you are playing solo, to improve your game. if you have no tennis partner, you can still play with this portable tennis ball launcher, which cost £780. it was a kick start a campaign and is now a good solution for socially distant tennis. the bag is quite large but is designed to fit in a car boot with a removable battery. when charged it lasts up to five hours. speed, frequency and the feed rate of the balls can be adjusted and operated by remote control from across the

court. it holds up to 144 court. it holds up to i44 tennis balls at a time. we are using just over 74 practice. this is the oscillation mode. starting again! —— just over 70 for practice. time to collect the balls. there is no automated collection, but the slinger does come with, oops, this handy telescopic tube which makes it a lot easier to collect. i which makes it a lot easier to collect. ., , which makes it a lot easier to collect. . , ., , collect. i have seen many machines _ collect. i have seen many machines of _ collect. i have seen many machines of various - collect. i have seen many| machines of various sizes, collect. i have seen many - machines of various sizes, the slinger is unique, portable and very easy to carry. the other machines, you have wires, long cables and in terms of health and safety, this is a brilliant idea. ., , .,

and safety, this is a brilliant idea. . , ., ., , idea. capturing all of this action has _ idea. capturing all of this action has been - idea. capturing all of this action has been the - idea. capturing all of thisj action has been the ava, idea. capturing all of this - action has been the ava, the automated video assistant, which connects via bluetooth and follows you around the court. this is a prototype of a device which will be available in the autumn. it also started on kick starter. it has nine speeds and rotates in 2.5 seconds, it has ten hours of battery life. my seconds, it has ten hours of battery life-— seconds, it has ten hours of battery life. my background is in tennis and _ battery life. my background is in tennis and i _ battery life. my background is in tennis and i wanted - in tennis and i wanted something that would capture video footage easily for people who wanted to submit footage to the tennis coaches.— the tennis coaches. other features _ the tennis coaches. other features include - the tennis coaches. other| features include automatic the tennis coaches. other- features include automatic zoom tracking and the eyesight module attachment which connects to zoom and tick—tock. that is still in first prototypes, you screw it on and it does all of the machine learning itself, which means anything mounted to it has auto tracking capability, effectively being piggybacked onto the eyesight module. shifter

onto the eyesight module. after three months _ onto the eyesight module. after three months away, _ onto the eyesight module. after three months away, it _ onto the eyesight module. after three months away, it will - onto the eyesight module. after three months away, it will be i three months away, it will be great to being back to playing tennis, with or without a human partner. that is it for now. as ever, you can keep up with the team on social media — find us on youtube, instagram, facebook and twitter at @bbcclick. we'll see you soon. goodbye. the weather's looking pretty unsettled over the next few days and it's going to be turning a bit colder as well. before we get there, though, today on the satellite picture, we can see some thick cloud developing to the west of the british isles. and this is going move its way across northern ireland, with a little rain developing over the next few hours. more general rain and cloud heading into western scotland, so wet weather into

the highlands, the western isles and perhaps pushing into 0rkney as well, as we head into the first part of thursday morning. so for these northwestern areas of the uk, cloudy with rain at times. now, there will be a few showers elsewhere developing through the day across england, also some spells of sunshine, but towards eastern england, we're going to have a zone of convergence. this is where the winds bash together and make a line of showers. and if you happen to live in this area, that's where the greatest chance of showers are, whereas across the midlands and across the south coast, your chance of showers is much lower and there should be more in the way of sunshine. in the sunshine, temperatures widely around 13 or 14 degrees across england and wales. a bit cooler across scotland and northern ireland, ten to 12 celsius, ten where it stays cloudy with rain. now, it is going to be turning colder. colder air that's just to the west of greenland at the moment has our name on it, and it's going to be arriving across the british isles as we head into friday behind this stripe of rain, which is our cold front. so, this band of rain, squally winds on it, will push its way

eastwards across england — sunshine and showers follow. cold enough for a little bit of snow across some of the higher mountains across the northwest of the uk, and those temperatures really taking a plunge. just seven degrees celsius in both belfast and glasgow through friday afternoon. beyond that, into the weekend, it stays pretty unsettled. often, the weather's going to be quite windy and there will be some rain around as well. of the two days, probably saturday the better of it, but quite cloudy across western areas with some patches of rain, more general rain spreading to northern ireland. and all the while, we'll have gusty winds. temperatures still below par for the time of year, about nine to 12 celsius on saturday. and on sunday, we've probably got some heavier rain on the way, working into some central portions of the uk. to the south of this area of rain, temperatures not so low. we're looking at highs of around 12 or 13 degrees. but cold still in scotland, about 8—10, below average for the time of year.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. india suspends all major exports of the astra—zeneca vaccine following a domestic surge in coronavirus infections. with brazil struggling to contain the rapid spread of covid—i9 — the number of deaths has surpassed 300,000. virginia becomes the first southern, us state to sign—away the death penalty. democrats say opposition is rising across the country. egypt is due to re—start efforts to free a giant container ship that's been wedged across the suez canal, for almost 48 hours.