i think people have been literally locked into their homes and they just want to get out and they just want freedom of walking and just breathing in the fresh air and seeing the sea. if you're in wales, how are you feeling ahead of the lifting of these restrictions? perhaps you have an easter weekend staycation planned. contact me on twitter — @annitamcveigh or #bbcyourquestions. the president of the european commission, ursula von de leyen, says astrazeneca producers must "catch up" on its promised deliveries to the eu before exporting doses elsewhere. diggers are still trying to free the stranded ever given mega—container ship in the suez canal. the blockage is holding up an estimated £7 billion worth of goods each day. and we meet a rather unpleasant pheasant, who likes to terrorise his local postman.

good morning and welcome to bbc news. china has imposed sanctions on nine uk citizens — including five mps — for spreading what it called "lies and disinformation" about the country. it comes in retaliation for measures taken by the uk government on monday over human rights abuses against the uighur muslim minority group in xinjiang province. xinjiang lies in the north—west of china. the region is autonomous, meaning it should have some powers of self—governance, but in practice it faces major restrictions by the central government. uighurs living in the region

speak their own language and see themselves as culturally and ethnically close to central asian nations. china has detained uighurs at camps, where allegations of torture, forced labour and sexual abuse have emerged. china initially denied the existence of the camps, before defending them as a necessary measure against terrorism. it has denied allegations of human rights abuses. the foreign secretary dominic raab has responded to the sanctions saying... "it speaks volumes that while the uk joins the international community in sanctioning those responsible for human rights abuses, the chinese government sanctions its critics." former conservative leader sir iain duncan smith, nusrat ghani and tom tugenhat are among the mps targeted by china, along with two peers, a lawyer and an academic. they will all be banned from entering china, hong kong and macau, their property in china will be frozen and chinese citizens and institutions will be prohibited from doing business with them.

let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent james landale. good correspondent james landale. morning good correspondentjames landale. morning to you. i'm came good morning to you. i'm sure it came as no surprise to you, this action, given the measures taken by the uk at the beginning of the week. give us your assessment of the impact of this and what can we read into china's choice of people to sanction? it into china's choice of people to sanction? . . , into china's choice of people to sanction? . ., , , into china's choice of people to sanction?— into china's choice of people to sanction? . ., , , ., sanction? it certainly comes as no surrise sanction? it certainly comes as no surprise step _ sanction? it certainly comes as no surprise stop ever _ sanction? it certainly comes as no surprise stop ever since _ sanction? it certainly comes as no surprise stop ever since the - sanction? it certainly comes as no| surprise stop ever since the british joined the canadians, americans and the eu in imposing sanctions on former senior chinese government officials in xinjiang over the week there would always be retaliation. the chinese have already retaliated against the eu, the uk was next. but i don't think that means we should ignore the fact that this is very, very unusual. according to the foreign office this is the first time that china has ever sanctioned british citizens. it is said to make the first time in a long time that any kind of restrictions have been placed on china by the british

government. it dates back to the tiananmen square disaster 30 years ago. it is very rare for relations to get to this point of having these tit—for—tat sanctions, but what is interesting is that although the british government sanctioned chinese government officials on monday, the chinese government here have chosen to target vocal critics. they have not gone for british ministers or officials, they have gone for members of parliament, peers and mps. essentially i think the message they are sending is this group of people who are campaigning hard for it to fit my china, they are calling for genocide to be declared in xinjiang, calling for greater trade restrictions, more sanctions for china over hong kong. they are saying to the government, those other people putting pressure on you, we don't want to escalate this yet. the question of course is

whether that achieves its aim. fin whether that achieves its aim. on that point, does it achieve the aim, does it de—escalate in a sense the situation at this point? m0. does it de-escalate in a sense the situation at this point?— does it de-escalate in a sense the situation at this point? no, i don't think it de-escalate _ situation at this point? no, i don't think it de-escalate set. _ situation at this point? no, i don't think it de-escalate set. it - situation at this point? no, i don't think it de-escalate set. it makes| think it de—escalate set. it makes itjust harder. the british government at the moment has split balanced policy toward china. on one hand, according to its foreign policy review last week, it says that china is the biggest estate threat to british economic security, but at the same time it says we want to have a positive trading and investment relationship with china. what is happening at the moment, this exchange of sanctions, i think will make that much harder. we have seen the rout with the eu has made a prospective eu trade and investment deal in doubt. i think it will make it harder now for the british government to go to china and say let's talk about climate change, international trade. along with other issues. it wants to maintain some dialogue.—

other issues. it wants to maintain some dialouue. . ~ , . some dialogue. thank you very much, james landale- _ the conservative mp tom tugendhat leads the china research group and was one of the mps sanctioned by china. thank you very much for talking to us this morning. iain duncan smith says he will wear these sanctions as a badge of honour. what is your reaction to them? i a badge of honour. what is your reaction to them?— a badge of honour. what is your reaction to them? i was elected to seak reaction to them? i was elected to s - eak for reaction to them? i was elected to speak for the _ reaction to them? i was elected to speak for the people _ reaction to them? i was elected to speak for the people in _ reaction to them? i was elected to speak for the people in the - reaction to them? i was elected to speak for the people in the recent| speakfor the people in the recent election. i was elected to chair the foreign affairs committee by the whole house of commons, opposition and government mps alike. and so i view this as a direct assault on british democracy and an attempt to silence the people the british people have chosen to speak for them. if that is not an assault on british sovereignty i don't know what is the. british sovereignty i don't know what is the-— what is the. dominic raab, the foreian what is the. dominic raab, the foreign secretary, _ what is the. dominic raab, the foreign secretary, says - what is the. dominic raab, the foreign secretary, says it - what is the. dominic raab, the l foreign secretary, says it beijing wants to credibly rebut claims of human rights abuses in xinjiang it should allow the un high commissionerfor human rights should allow the un high commissioner for human rights full access to verify the truth, he says it speaks volumes that while the uk

joins the international community in sanctioning those responsible for human rights abuses, the chinese government sanctions its critics. do you expect any further action be of these words from the foreign secretary against china now? i these words from the foreign secretary against china now? i think dominic raab _ secretary against china now? i think dominic raab is _ secretary against china now? i think dominic raab is absolutely - secretary against china now? i think dominic raab is absolutely right - dominic raab is absolutely right that it dominic raab is absolutely right thatitis dominic raab is absolutely right that it is pretty striking that those who speak out against the human rights violations of chinese citizens are condemned by the chinese communist party. let's be quite clear we are not talking about the defence of any other citizens, but chinese citizens whose rights have been violated, who have been raped, sterilised, whose culture has been destroyed. it is quite extra. this is not about china, it is about the uk. the foreign affairs committee is not actually condemned china in any way. what we have done is speak about the abuses china is conducting here in the uk. we have

spoken about china's attempts to interfere in academic freedom here interfere in academic freedom here in the uk. we have spoken about china's attempt to organise protests against british government policies here in the uk. we have spoken about the attempt to silence different chinese voices and indeed british voices speaking about things we are allowed to speak out because this is allowed to speak out because this is a free country here in the uk. we are talking about britain's of sovereignty. there has been a lot of talk about what sovereignty means. if it doesn't mean the rights of the british people to choose who speaks for them and what they say, it means nothing at all. 50 for them and what they say, it means nothing at all-— nothing at all. so to pick up on my last question _ nothing at all. so to pick up on my last question to _ nothing at all. so to pick up on my last question to you, _ nothing at all. so to pick up on my last question to you, do _ nothing at all. so to pick up on my last question to you, do you - nothing at all. so to pick up on my last question to you, do you think| last question to you, do you think any further action is needed from the uk government towards china at this point, given that the government has said it wants to pursue a positive trade and investment relationship, given that it wants to work with china on climate change, biodiversity, other key issues? {iii climate change, biodiversity, other key issues?— key issues? of course we want to work together — key issues? of course we want to work together with _

key issues? of course we want to work together with china - key issues? of course we want to work together with china on - key issues? of course we want to | work together with china on those issues. they are fundamentally in china's interest, notjust ours. it is china that is seeing selling nation of its paddy fields on the eastern seaboard, the millions of megatons of rights in danger and that population in danger —— back—up rice paddies. pollution across the whole of china and this is something that this has been well reported by the bbc. share that this has been well reported by the bbc. �* , ., that this has been well reported by the sac. ~ , ., ., that this has been well reported by the bbc. �* i. ., the bbc. are you therefore saying ou think the bbc. are you therefore saying you think the _ the bbc. are you therefore saying you think the uk _ the bbc. are you therefore saying you think the uk government - the bbc. are you therefore saying i you think the uk government should not respond further to these sanctions at this time? trio. not respond further to these sanctions at this time? no, i am sa in: sanctions at this time? no, i am saying the _ sanctions at this time? no, i am saying the british _ sanctions at this time? no, i am saying the british government i sanctions at this time? no, i am - saying the british government should make it absolutely plain today and now that it stands with the democratic rights of the british people to express their views in whatever way they see fit. this is whatever way they see fit. this is what sovereignty means. no point in taking control back from brussels only to hand it back to beijing. beyond that is there any way for you to address your concerns about the treatment of the uighurs? there are man wa s treatment of the uighurs? there are many ways we _

treatment of the uighurs? there are many ways we can — treatment of the uighurs? there are many ways we can address - treatment of the uighurs? there are many ways we can address our- many ways we can address our concerns but it is quite noticeable that the chinese salt state has now injected major doubt in anyone doing business with china. another deliver a number of years ago if you went to china you would expect to be on a return flight. h&m have been banned for saying they will not accept slave made goods. that is an admission from china that that is what they do. if you told a uk company that they couldn't make a slave made goods, they would say it is not a problem because they don't do it. china have felt they have had to expel h&m for saying something that most of us think it's perfectly reasonable. we will be seeing a vulnerable and weak china that has failed in his diplomatic outreach to states around the region, failed to undermine the coalition of countries that are standing up for human rights and it has failed to undermine the connection between the uk, the us and europe. and so what they are doing is lashing out. it is

a sign of weakness and not strength and the demonstration that the president xi is failing the chinese people and the whole world. thank ou ve people and the whole world. thank you very much _ people and the whole world. thank you very much for _ people and the whole world. thank you very much for your— people and the whole world. thank you very much for your time - people and the whole world. thank you very much for your time this i you very much for your time this morning, tom tugendhat, mp. wales will end its "stay local" rules from tomorrow meaning people will be able to travel within its borders without restrictions. it's the first uk nation to allow travel since lockdowns were re—imposed, with tourist accommodation also given the green light to reopen, as hywel griffith reports. the coast is calling. after three months of confinement, from tomorrow, people across wales can travel where they want, as long as they remain within its borders. the final decision came last night. i think there's a mass confusion over when people are opening and when they're not opening. for paula, it means she can reopen her cabins. but with 96% of her customers normally coming from england, there are still spaces. she hopes the bookings will now come.

i think people have been literally locked into their homes, and theyjust want to get out, and they just want the freedom of walking and just breathing in the fresh air and see the sea. for now, it's only welsh visitors who can come and enjoy the scenery. tourism trips across the border aren't allowed with people in england being told to stay local over the easter holidays. along the coast at porthcawl, they still expect to be busy. some of the residents are anxious about crowds coming. very nervous. it happened last year. we couldn't even walk along the prom, there were so many people. whilst i understand people wanting to come out, it's daunting if you live here as well. the welsh government has called on people to be cautious as they take this next small step towards freedom. hywel griffith, bbc news. vaccine passports may only be introduced once all adults

have been offered a jab, according to the prime minister. borisjohnson says no decision has been made on the scheme — which would require people to prove they've been vaccinated before visiting pubs and other venues — but has promised an update next month. many business owners have cast doubt on the idea, saying it would be difficult to implement. retail sales rose slightly in february, recovering some ground from a steep fall injanuary. the office for national statistics said sales were still down by 3.7% on a year earlier, before the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. food and department stores benefitted from essential retailers remaining open, but clothing shops have continued to struggle. online sales have continued to grow and hit a record 36.1% of all uk sales. the european commission president ursula von der leyen has said astrazeneca must catch up with vaccine deliveries to the european union — before exporting doses to other countries, including the uk. the warning came after leaders met

to discuss vaccine supplies. they blame astrazeneca for delays to the rollout of the jab across the eu, saying the company failed to deliver promised doses. jon donnison reports. with much of europe battling a third wave of the virus, no eu leader wants to appear weak on ensuring the eu receives its fair share of vaccines. last night, the president of the european commission said the eu had exported 21 million doses of the astrazeneca vaccine to the uk in the last four months, and nothing had come back in the other direction. i think it is clear for the company that, first of all, the company has to catch up, has to honour the contract it has with the european member states before it can engage again in exporting vaccines. but while the threat of an export ban on vaccines is there, many eu countries are still reluctant

to enforce it in practice. and a statement issued after a marathon video conference call between the 27 eu leaders stopped short of explicitly backing the commission's call for export restrictions. france's president, emmanuel macron, has said he backs export controls. but the german chancellor, angela merkel, warned it was important to protect global supply chains... guten abend. ..concerns shared by the leaders of the netherlands, belgium and ireland. and as covid—i9 cases continue to rise across much of the continent, the tensions over vaccine supply are unlikely to end here. jon donnison, bbc news. our correspondent, nick beake, joins us from brussels. good morning. robust language coming from the eu after their virtual

vaccine summit, but is that translating into some of the tough action on vaccines that was talked about? ., , ., about? not in the short-term, i don't think— about? not in the short-term, i don't think it — about? not in the short-term, i don't think it does. _ about? not in the short-term, i don't think it does. they - about? not in the short-term, i don't think it does. they were i don't think it does. they were talking about nine hours yesterday, a marathon video call. at the end of it i think most of the people involved will feel they have come out of it quite well. in the run—up to the summit, borisjohnson was keen to avert a vaccine were exploding and he put in various phone calls to the european capital cities and it seemed the temperature dipped a bit. when you have a 27 eu leaders who have been able to come virtually to brussels and tell their respective national populations, who are facing in many cases tightened lockdown measures, that they talked tough on vaccines and will be doing all they can in the future. then the european commission, which put all of these very tough restrictions on exports in the future, somewhere calling them an export ban that would hitch the uk more than anyone else, it doesn't seem bay were

rejected out of hand but on the other hand, they were not explicitly welcomed and i think microtech, the re—elected dutch prime minister, summed it up when he said the new proposals, the tough proposals were acceptable to eu leaders but they would be a last resort. the acceptable to eu leaders but they would be a last resort.— acceptable to eu leaders but they would be a last resort. the eu now is focusing — would be a last resort. the eu now is focusing on _ would be a last resort. the eu now is focusing on two _ would be a last resort. the eu now is focusing on two particular - is focusing on two particular plants, two astrazeneca plants, producing the vaccines to boost the bloc supply. what can you tell us? this is potentially where we could get some positive development in terms of taking the heat of this —— out of this even further. these plants are intrinsic to the astrazeneca supply chain, one in belgium and one in the netherlands. the hope is that the ongoing conversations between british and eu officials may in the coming days possibly get some sort of breakthrough. it may not be a huge

deal but if there is a sense that in the coming days, weeks and months, more of the stuff produced there is going to eu member states rather than going out of the bloc to the likes of the uk, that may in some way appease the eu, this a sage of some of the eu has. emanuel macron yesterday of france saying, yes, the way they went to get hold of vaccines was the right thing to do what he is they were not ambitious enough and the naivety the eu has shown is going to be a thing of the past, which may be seen once again as someone who is talking the toughest language probably of all of the eu leaders, saying if they want then they still have on the table then they still have on the table the option of any sort of export ban. . ~ the option of any sort of export ban. ., ~ , ., the option of any sort of export ban. ., ~' , ., , the option of any sort of export ban. ., ~ , . the option of any sort of export ban. ., ~' i., , . .~' the headlines on bbc news... china has imposed sanctions on nine british citizens — including five mps — after the uk took action over human rights abuses.

"stay local" rules will lift in wales from tomorrow and staycations are back on — but only for people living within its borders. the president of the european commission, ursula von de leyen, says astrazeneca producers must "catch up" on its promised deliveries to the eu before exporting doses elsewhere. shipping traffic through one of the world's busiest waterways has entered its fourth day of disruption with a container ship still wedged across the suez canal. with the ever given holding up almost £9 billion worth of goods every day, experts say this could force shipping companies to re—reoute away from the canal. one possible re—route is a costly and time—consuming detour all around africa. our correspondent, sally nabil, joins us from cairo. hello to you. what is the latest in the

to try to get the ever given shifted? , ., ., , , , shifted? the situation is pretty complicated — shifted? the situation is pretty complicated and _ shifted? the situation is pretty complicated and quite - shifted? the situation is pretty complicated and quite tense. l shifted? the situation is pretty - complicated and quite tense. efforts are under way, dredgers, complicated and quite tense. efforts are underway, dredgers, tug complicated and quite tense. efforts are under way, dredgers, tug boats have been dispatched to the area. foreign experts including dutch and japanese teams are getting involved to try and salvage the ship, the old trick larger vessel, to try and salvage the ship, the old trick largervessel, but to try and salvage the ship, the old trick larger vessel, but so far nothing has worked. —— ultra large. we understand the huge size of the ship and the heavy cargo on board as well as the slow tide are complicating rescue efforts. the ship is 400 metres long, around 60 metres wide, more than 2000 tonnes heavy. sources of the suez canal authority say they need to remove around 20,000 cubic metres of sand to make room for the ship to move and that can take up to six days, so

the situation is quite complicated, it is creating congestion in the canal. more than 150 ships i stranded, waiting to resume their journeys. no timeframe has been given when navigation can be resumed in the canaland given when navigation can be resumed in the canal and things can go back to normal. some ships are already considering to re—route and go around the whole african continent so that they can proceed with their journeys and reach their destination.— journeys and reach their destination. ., ~ , ., , destination. 0k. thank you very much, destination. 0k. thank you very much. sally- — lorry drivers arriving in england may be required to take a covid test — if they're coming from mainland europe. drivers had previously been exempt from testing. but a haulage industry source has told the bbc that the government has warned them to prepare for the change. the department for transport says it is "carefully monitoring" an increase in cases in europe and would keep all measures under review. for more let's speak now with our transport correspondent, caroline davies.

hello. presumably because of the increase in cases on the continent this is why the government is considering this change of approach. of considering this change of approach. of choice. earlier this week we heard from the prime minister saying that he anticipated _ heard from the prime minister saying that he anticipated there _ heard from the prime minister saying that he anticipated there would - heard from the prime minister 3: “u; that he anticipated there would be heard from the prime minister 3

we have been told to anticipate it will probably happen in the uk rather than on mainland europe but there are plenty of questions about how this will work. is there are plenty of questions about how this will work.— how this will work. is one of those must be if — how this will work. is one of those must be if the _ how this will work. is one of those must be if the tests, _ how this will work. is one of those must be if the tests, and - how this will work. is one of those must be if the tests, and as - how this will work. is one of those must be if the tests, and as you . how this will work. is one of those i must be if the tests, and as you say the details are to be confirmed, if the details are to be confirmed, if the tests are to be done once a lorry drivers arrived back in the uk and if someone proves to be positive, what happens then to the drivers, what is the infrastructure around that?— drivers, what is the infrastructure around that? testing for drivers on the way out _ around that? testing for drivers on the way out of _ around that? testing for drivers on the way out of the _ around that? testing for drivers on the way out of the uk _ around that? testing for drivers on the way out of the uk has - around that? testing for drivers on the way out of the uk has been - around that? testing for drivers on the way out of the uk has been in l the way out of the uk has been in place for a while. france required that from december after concerns about the uk variant. interestingly they have made the decision very recently, this week, that testing is not required any more for drivers going from the uk out of france. we are now implementing it in the other direction. some of the infrastructure is already in place and speaking to the industry, they are not dramatically concerned right now although they have questions. questions you mention, if someone tests positive, at the if you test positive when you are travelling out from the uk to another country that

requires a negative test, you can stay in a hotel, a quality hotel, or if you live in britain you can stay in your home and quarantine. at the moment the travel out, most of those lorries quite often are empty and that concern about having truckloads load of food is not much of a concern. more of a concern to lorries coming into the uk. that is something we are waiting for more detail about how that will be worked out. ., ., ., ~ i., the uk's vaccine rollout is a huge national effort with medics and volunteers working around the clock to administer the jabs. where do those vaccines come from? we have been given exclusive access to one company — based in wrexham — which has taken on the mammoth task of preparing almost all of the uk's supply of astrazeneca jabs. wockhardt has never allowed tv cameras inside — until now. jayne mccubbin reports.

if you have had an astrazeneca chap it probably came from here. do you remember what borisjohnson said remember what boris johnson said about remember what borisjohnson said about your laps? i remember what boris johnson said about your laps?— about your laps? i think you said this lab could _ about your laps? i think you said this lab could be _ about your laps? i think you said this lab could be slu _ about your laps? i think you said this lab could be slu or - about your laps? i think you said | this lab could be slu or salvation for mankind. sat; this lab could be slu or salvation for mankind-— for mankind. say that what i'm. salvation for _ for mankind. say that what i'm. salvation for mankind. - for mankind. say that what i'm. salvation for mankind. and - for mankind. say that what i'm. l salvation for mankind. and there for mankind. say that what i'm. - salvation for mankind. and there is hue salvation for mankind. and there is hu . e ride salvation for mankind. and there is huge pride in _ salvation for mankind. and there is huge pride in everyone _ salvation for mankind. and there is huge pride in everyone that - salvation for mankind. and there is huge pride in everyone that works i huge pride in everyone that works yet. huge pride in everyone that works et. , , coral huge pride in everyone that works yet-_ coral is _ huge pride in everyone that works yet._ coral is one - huge pride in everyone that works yet._ coral is one of. huge pride in everyone that works| yet._ coral is one of the yet. keep it up. coral is one of the newest recruits _ yet. keep it up. coral is one of the newest recruits here. _ yet. keep it up. coral is one of the newest recruits here. you - yet. keep it up. coral is one of the newest recruits here. you were . newest recruits here. you were recruited just to get the vaccine out. just to get the vaccine out. i'm here solely to save the world! before saving the world, what were you doing? before saving the world i was in entertainment, where i'd do fire eating, whip cracking. still a bit of excitement. part of history now instead.

the wockhardt labs have a contract with the government to bottle up any vaccine they send their way. right now it's the astrazeneca jab. the raw materials come in from oxford and keele to this secure area. there is a massive weight of responsibility because obviously we're producing the astrazeneca vaccine for uk distribution, so we know without us there's people not receiving vaccination against covid. these guys have the capability to get out 120,000 doses every hour, but the pressure is constantly on to make it faster and more efficient, to get them out into the population much quicker. we can't talk to you because you're super sterile? yes, yes. you're actually putting the vaccine in the vials. yes. is it just another day at the office when you're on these lines or not? i don't know. you know. it's hard to explain. but you know you're doing a really good thing. it's very, very important. it's actually quite enjoyable.

every vial dawn and her colleagues have bottled end up here to be checked. 40 vials checked automatically every single second. the machine is using a total of 15 cameras to inspect a variety of different angles of the vial. there could be little bits of glass particulate, we can't waste a drop. we've got to get as many in arms as possible. and every arm it hits is making a difference. the uk's covid vaccines have cut hospital admissions by around 90%. now, thejob of a postman can bring many different challenges. they have to cope with all weathers, and even deal with the occasional barking dog. but for one postie in the norfolk village of brooke, he's got a more unique issue — he's being terrorised by a rather unpleasant pheasant, as our reporter mike liggins has been finding out. this is kevin the postman on his round in the village of brooke, not farfrom norwich. he's friendly, popular with

the locals and does a greatjob. but for weeks now, kevin has been battling with a filthy—tempered pheasant, called mr angry. he gets very angry, he goes for your ankles and there was one occasion at 24 round the corner, where he flew and knocked the letters out of my hand. mr angry lives in the garden at number 36, and every time kevin comes near, the pheasant gets upset. kevin has to dodge behind gates, but that doesn't always work. squawking. on occasions, kevin has even had to leg it, and seek refuge in his van. to start with, it was a bit of fun, you know, got a couple of nice photos of him in the snow, thought he was a friendly pheasant. and then he went for my ankles, and ever since that, he's always been in this mood.

would mr angry be on patrol today? well, yes, he was and at the start, he had kevin surrounded. why is he angry? is it because kevin wears red? or is he looking for a mate, and thinks kevin might be a female pheasant perhaps? well, no, localfarmers say, he's just being territorial. perhaps he knew he was on tv, but today, the bolshie bird wasn't so much mr angry, more mr mildly annoyed. he seems to be in a good mood today, which is unusualfor him. so it was honours even today. kevin got on with the job and mr angry predictably went off in a huff, unimpressed by his first tv appearance. mike liggins, bbc news.

i really good report, for kevin. but we were chuckling. every time he said unpleasant pheasant, i wanted to burst out laughing. i have resisted so far. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt. you are not the only one who has been chuckling. a little bit of everything on the cards this weekend. downpours, rain, hail, sleet and gales. the wettest conditions will be through central and eastern england pushing into east anglia, south east last of all. then the sunshine will be out, punctuated by heavy showers. the weather changing from one hour to the next. it will feel cool, six to 8 degrees and it will drop lower than that as the showers are rattled through. as it turns cold at the showers will turn to sleet and snow. could be a temporary covering of

sleet and snow for one or two anywhere from the midlands northwards tomorrow morning. temperatures are onlyjust above freezing. morning showers fading and the best of the sunshine coming out. clouding over in the west. full forecast coming throughout the morning on bbc news. hello this is bbc news. the headlines: china has imposed sanctions on nine british citizens, including five mps, after the uk took action over human rights abuses. i view this as a direct assault on british democracy and an attempt to silence the british people have chosen to speak for them. if that isn't an assault on british southern tree, i don't know what is. wales will end its "stay local" rules from tomorrow,

meaning people will be able to travel within its borders without restrictions. it's the first uk nation to allow travel since lockdowns were re—imposed, with tourist accommodation also given the green light to reopen. i think people have been literally locked into their homes and they just want to get out and they just want freedom of walking and just breathing in the fresh air and seeing the sea. european commission president ursula von der leyen has warned astrazeneca that it needs to catch up with vaccine deliveries to the european union before exporting doses to other countries. the stranded ever given mega—container ship in the suez canal is holding up an estimated $9.6bn of goods each day, according to shipping data. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, let's from the bbc sport centre, catch up with mike bus good morning. from the bbc sport centre, england's cricketers, are one down and so are hoping,

to level their three match one day series with india. they'll have to do it without captain eoin morgan, who's out with a hand injury. jos buttler is taking over, won the toss and decided to field and they made early breakthroughs. reece topley back in the side, getting the wicket of shikhar darwan. sam curran then dismissed rohit sharma. england were starting well, but india have recovered getting 89 with rowe hit kohli in ominous form. batsman liam livingstone, is making his debut so all eyes on him later. there was a win, a draw, and a defeat for the home nations in world cup qualifying action last night. england thrashed san marino, the world's lowest ranked team, 5—0. the least you'd expect really. but there was a goal on his debut for substitute ollie watkins, scoring with his first kick of the game, while dominic calvert—lewin, was twice on target. there was a battling point for scotland. john mcginn scored an acrobatic equaliser as scotland drew 2—2

with austria at hampden. the scots twice came from behind. but there was disappointment for northern ireland, losing 2—0 to italy in parma. the italians are now unbeaten in 23 matches so it was always going to be a massive challenge. after finding a swimming pool with one of his shots on wednesday, rory mcilroy had a much better day yesterday at the world matchplay. he beat the american, lanto griffin, comfortably in texas. but he needs to win today and hope fellow brit ian poulter, slips up, if he's to make it out of the group stages. poulter beat mcilroy, heavily in the opening match. next to an event going on right now in kew gardens. where they have been tiptoeing through the tulips well of sorts, right now the marathon olympic trials are taking place which will go a long way to deciding who makes it to tokyo this summer. finishing in the top two at kew is half the deal, but athletes also have to duck inside the olympic qualifying times. earlier callum wilkinson won the 20 kilometre walk. he didn't get get the qualifying time though so has to wait until tuesday to find out if he gets

to go to tokyo. tom bosworth came second today, but he'd already got qualifying time and so is going to the games injuly. in the women's event, heather lewis, the fastest briton over 20 kilometres in 2019 got the better of her big rival bethan davies. the new formula one season begins this weekend with the bahrain grand prix. practice starts at 11.30 this morning. reigning world champion lewis hamilton recently signed a new deal with mercedes — but the contract is only for one year. the seven—time champion says he doesn't feel like he's nearing the end of his career, but he didn't rule out walking away at the end of the season. i don't feel like i'm at the end. but only, you know, the next eight months or so will let me know, i'll find out whether i'm ready to stop or not. i don't think i will, personally. but you never know. the six nations finally ends tonight. scotland's trip to france was postponed last month due to a covid—i9 outbreak

in the french camp. and this one will now determine who wins the trophy. after beating wales last saturday, to deny them the grand slam, france can now snatch the title too, if they can score, at least four tries against scotland, and win by 21 points or more. the french players have been full of confidence in the media about becoming this seasons champions, tonight, and that has certainly been winding up, the scotland captain. we read a quote from one of the players saying that they've got a trophy to win. so as a proud scotsman, that hurt me a lot, and tomorrow, a lot has been said about what they need to do. if we win by eight points, we finish the highest we have ever finished in the six nations. so that's the motivation for us. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. and it is the start of the super league season tonight. it is leigh,

who have been promoted, against wigan. mike, thank you very much. a government scheme to bring all rough sleepers indoors at the start of the pandemic has seen a large disparity in the outcomes of those supported across england. new data shows that in some areas over 80% of those helped are in longer—term accommodation, whereas in others it is less than is%. adam elay reports. this is where i used to live, under here for 12 months before the pandemic. i used to have a bit of carpet under the floor to keep me warm and the concrete doesn't get through you. i had a pillow and a sleeping bag, basically.- through you. i had a pillow and a sleeping bag, basically. before the andemic, sleeping bag, basically. before the pandemic, martin _ sleeping bag, basically. before the pandemic, martin slept _ sleeping bag, basically. before the pandemic, martin slept rough - sleeping bag, basically. before thel pandemic, martin slept rough under this bridge in shrewsbury. he said the council had told him he wasn't a priority for support. you the council had told him he wasn't a priority for support-— priority for support. you ask for su ort priority for support. you ask for support and _ priority for support. you ask for support and they _ priority for support. you ask for support and they are _ priority for support. you ask for support and they are not - priority for support. you ask for support and they are not ready | priority for support. you ask for i support and they are not ready to give it to you. if it hadn't been for the pandemic, give it to you. if it hadn't been forthe pandemic, i give it to you. if it hadn't been for the pandemic, i would still be here now. ., , ., ., ., ., for the pandemic, i would still be here now. ., ., ., ., ,. here now. then a year ago, a scheme is brou:ht here now. then a year ago, a scheme

is brought in — here now. then a year ago, a scheme is brought in to _ here now. then a year ago, a scheme is brought in to ensure _ here now. then a year ago, a scheme is brought in to ensure all— here now. then a year ago, a scheme is brought in to ensure all rough - is brought in to ensure all rough speakers would have a place to stay during the pandemic. figures show by the bbc, the best performing councils, on average, 82.5% helped by the scheme have been moved into long term accommodation. but around 13% long term accommodation. but around i3% have had the same outcome. you 1396 have had the same outcome. you have to move — i3% have had the same outcome. you have to move away from this kind of look of _ have to move away from this kind of look of the — have to move away from this kind of look of the draw and postcode lottery — look of the draw and postcode lottery approach where at local level— lottery approach where at local level decision—making, is dependent on the _ level decision—making, is dependent on the funding restrictions, the difficulty— on the funding restrictions, the difficulty the local authority and local areas are facing, which can mean _ local areas are facing, which can mean people are getting what they need to— mean people are getting what they need to end their homelessness. across _ need to end their homelessness. across england, 11,000 individuals remain in emergency accommodation. paulfrom oxford is one of remain in emergency accommodation. paul from oxford is one of them. remain in emergency accommodation. paulfrom oxford is one of them. he said having a place to stay over the last day has improved his mental health. bill last day has improved his mental health. �* ., ., , .,

health. all of a sudden, all the anxieties and _ health. all of a sudden, all the anxieties and stresses - health. all of a sudden, all the anxieties and stresses began i health. all of a sudden, all the | anxieties and stresses began to health. all of a sudden, all the - anxieties and stresses began to fall away. if tomorrow, if we were to lose the accommodation, it is back to square one, isn't it. the government has provided unprecedented amounts of funding, not least for example four 6p of un—ring fenced funding to allow councils to make decisions. 1 un-ring fenced funding to allow councils to make decisions. i think our approach _ councils to make decisions. i think our approach would _ councils to make decisions. i think our approach would be _ councils to make decisions. i think our approach would be not - councils to make decisions. i think our approach would be not to - councils to make decisions. i think our approach would be not to be i councils to make decisions. i think. our approach would be not to be too prescriptive — our approach would be not to be too prescriptive but leave it to councils _ prescriptive but leave it to councils to determine what is best for them _ councils to determine what is best for them in — councils to determine what is best forthem in their councils to determine what is best for them in their local area. martin now lives in _ for them in their local area. martin now lives in privately _ for them in their local area. martin now lives in privately rented - now lives in privately rented accommodation, just a few minutes walk from the bridge he once left under. he remembers when he was first told about his new home. i was first told about his new home. i was a bit emotional. _ first told about his new home. i was a bit emotional. it _ first told about his new home. i was a bit emotional. it has _ first told about his new home. i —" a bit emotional. it has opened the door again. when you have a place to wake up in the morning and you are not on the streets, you wake up more positive. we can now talk to carlyjones, the chief executive of charity sifa fireside which tackles homelessness in birmingham.

thank you forjoining us on bbc news. as we have been hearing, everyone in the schema started a year ago to tackle rough sleeping homelessness, as we have been hearing, there has been a sliding scale of success, so where does your area sit in that? in scale of success, so where does your area sit in that?— area sit in that? in terms of what we do at sifa — area sit in that? in terms of what we do at sifa firestart, - area sit in that? in terms of what we do at sifa firestart, we - area sit in that? in terms of what i we do at sifa firestart, we support adults under the age of 25. it has been important because it is single people who have most benefited from this. obviously we work a lot with people who don't have recourse to public funds, so people with no statutory benefit entitlements, and they have been accommodated under this as well, which has been very positive. this as well, which has been very ositive. , ., ., ., , positive. explain for our viewers how exactly _ positive. explain for our viewers how exactly everyone _ positive. explain for our viewers how exactly everyone in - positive. explain for our viewers how exactly everyone in has - positive. explain for our viewers - how exactly everyone in has allowed you to help these individuals who have been homeless or rough

sleeping?— have been homeless or rough sleeina? ., _ have been homeless or rough sleein: ? ., , , ., sleeping? previously, there were two strands of people _ sleeping? previously, there were two strands of people where _ sleeping? previously, there were two strands of people where everyone - sleeping? previously, there were two strands of people where everyone in l strands of people where everyone in has benefited most. there were people who hadn't previously engaged with mainstream services that did start to engage and they were offered a slightly different accommodation provision, which works betterfor accommodation provision, which works better for them. accommodation provision, which works betterforthem. forthe accommodation provision, which works better for them. for the clients who have no benefit entitlement, we have never been able to offer them a solution will give them an accommodation offer without being able to look at employment options and various things like that. under this, we were able to start to work with them and face the issues, because there are things like mental health issues, sometimes there is addiction and trauma that need to be addressed. it is very difficult to addressed. it is very difficult to address those things when someone is sleeping on the street every night. what kind of living accommodation have you been able to offer and how have you been able to offer and how have you been able to give the ongoing support as someone

transition from perhaps many years of rough sleeping, back to living at a fixed address, fixed accommodation? it a fixed address, fixed accommodation? , ., ., accommodation? it has been a mix of accommodation, _ accommodation? it has been a mix of accommodation, it _ accommodation? it has been a mix of accommodation, it is _ accommodation? it has been a mix of accommodation, it is about _ accommodation? it has been a mix of accommodation, it is about finding i accommodation, it is about finding the thing is suitable for the individual. some of it has been hotel accommodation and this has been widely publicised. also there is shared accommodation provision in supported housing and there is hostel accommodation with multiple complex support needs offers. there has been a range of offers for people and what we have been able to do, operate throughout lockdown and we have been able to put in wraparound support with our partners, it has been a partnership approach in birmingham and we have, also with those individuals who need support with their immigration status, work in partnership there and started to look for people around their settled status and pre—settled status to be able to help them to move on. the main

question now is what we do next and also looking at what the long—term employment options for some of the people we have supported. inethat employment options for some of the people we have supported.— people we have supported. what do ou do people we have supported. what do you do next? _ people we have supported. what do you do next? how— people we have supported. what do you do next? how do _ people we have supported. what do you do next? how do you _ people we have supported. what do you do next? how do you help - people we have supported. what do i you do next? how do you help people who have been homeless to take the next step? i who have been homeless to take the next ste - ? ~ ., ., ., ' next step? i think we have got off to such a good — next step? i think we have got off to such a good start _ next step? i think we have got off to such a good start and - next step? i think we have got off to such a good start and built - next step? i think we have got off to such a good start and built a i to such a good start and built a very strong foundation, but i think one of the key areas for us now, we have got to make sure we can keep the focus on prevention as well because we don't know what the full fallout of covid is going to be. but i think employment will be a major area for people to be able to help people access training, education and employment opportunities, so they can get some long term move into more sustainable housing options. into more sustainable housing 0 tions. . ,

into more sustainable housing otions. . , into more sustainable housing otions. ., , ., ., options. that is tricky in a tough employment _ options. that is tricky in a tough employment environment, i options. that is tricky in a tough employment environment, isn't| options. that is tricky in a tough i employment environment, isn't it? i wonder why you think this scheme has worked very well in some places and less well in others? i worked very well in some places and less well in others?— less well in others? i think the resource is _ less well in others? i think the resource is a _ less well in others? i think the resource is a primary - less well in others? i think the resource is a primary factor. i resource is a primary factor. partnership working, i can only speakfor the experience partnership working, i can only speak for the experience in birmingham, because that is where my area of expertise is, but in birmingham we had an incredibly strong response in terms of the partnership working and we are fully backed by our local authority to deliver the work we have been doing. i think it varies in terms of the capacity of local authorities and those partnership agencies to be able to respond quickly. this really did need a rapid response for it to be successful.— did need a rapid response for it to be successful. thank you very much for that. executive _

be successful. thank you very much for that. executive at _ be successful. thank you very much for that. executive at sifa - for that. executive at sifa firestart charity. we are going to the supreme court. an important judgment, a ruling on a long—running dispute. it is judgment, a ruling on a long-running disute. , .,, , ., judgment, a ruling on a long-running disute. , , ., , dispute. it is as the store is limited- _ dispute. it is as the store is limited. which _ dispute. it is as the store is limited. which i— dispute. it is as the store is limited. which i will- dispute. it is as the store is limited. which i will call- dispute. it is as the store is i limited. which i will call asda, a major supermarket retailer in this country. the respondents, who i will call the claimants are employees of asda. they are employed in its retail business. they work in asda's retail business. they work in asda's retail stores. they are predominantly women. the claimants bring equal pay claims in the proceedings in which the appeal has brought, they seek compensation because they say in the six years prior to them bringing their equal pay claims starting in 2014, they received less pay than a valid comparator of work of equal value to

that done by the comparator. claimants who bring equal pay claims must, in general, overcome a number of hurdles. in particular, under the legislation governing equal pay, claimants have to choose a valid comparator. the comparator is a person employed by the same or an associated employer. the comparator must be employed, either at the same establishment as the claimants, or at another establishment. however, the claimants may choose a comparator employed at another establishment and thereby make what is called across establishment comparison. on certain conditions, in that situation, the comparator must be employed on common terms. and i will call this the common

terms requirement. parliament has not provided a definition of common terms and so the courts have had to find the meaning intended by parliament of this expression. i will come back to this when i come to a case called the north case that is dumfries and galloway and north, to give its long name, but i will call it the north case. the common terms requirement is found in the legislation namely section 79 4c 2010 which replaced the earlier version of the equal pay 1970. the present equal pay claims are brought under both the 2010 act and the 1970 act, because the claims include period when the earlier legislation

was still in force. the claimants, who are retail employees, rely on across establishment comparison with other employees employed by asda at its distribution depots. i will call them the distribution employees. these employees are predominantly men. asda claims they are not employed on common terms. the retail and distribution locations are separate from one another and the employees at the different types of location, retailand employees at the different types of location, retail and distribution employees respectively in different terms and conditions. the question whether the retail employees could use the distribution employees as comparators was tried by the tribunal as a preliminary issue.

asda applied for the dismissal of the claimants multiplex reclaim on the claimants multiplex reclaim on the basis this is to be determined against the claimants. the claimants succeeded on this issue before the employment tribunal. asda unsuccessfully appealed to the appeal tribunal and it unsuccessfully appeal tribunal and it u nsuccessfully a ppealed appeal tribunal and it unsuccessfully appealed to the court of appeal and now appeals to this court. the essential question on this appeal is whether the common terms requirement for the purposes of equal pay legislation were satisfied. as the judgment explains, the courts have interpreted the common terms requirement to mean firstly, the terms and conditions of employment of the comparators must be broadly the same at both establishments, their own establishments, their own establishment and the claimants' establishment. and secondly, that if there are no employees of the

comparators' group at the claimants' establishment, which was the case here, and it is not clear on what terms they would be employed there, then the court or tribunal applies what is known as the north hypothetical. to do this it considers whether the comparators group would have been employed on broadly similar terms for the terms on which they are employed at their own establishment if they were to be employed on the same site as the claimants, that are hypothetical. for this purpose it is irrelevant that they never would have been employed there, or in fact it would not have been feasible to have a distribution depot at a retail store site. as lady hale explained in the north case, the purpose of the common terms requirement is simply to prevent a person from being treated as a comparator if he is

employed at a different location and has different terms and conditions for, let say, for geographical reasons. the north hypothetical provides the short and direct answer to this case. for the detailed reasons given in the judgment today, this court concludes that the claimants were entitled to succeed on the north hypothetical and accordingly holds this appeal by asda should be dismissed. it is unnecessary to consider whether the claimants could succeed as the employment tribunal held, and any other basis or on the basis of eu law, which imposes a test of single source where the common terms requirement is not met. for these reasons, as amplified in the judgment, the court dismisses as the's appeal. the court goes on to explain how the court should deal

with the common terms requirement in the future. in this case, there was a substantial amount of evidence led in the employment tribunal in this case, which was simply not required. moreover, the tribunal had performed a line by line comparison between the terms of the claimant and the terms of the comparators when this was the wrong exercise. they ought to have been considering whether there were common terms, that is the same or substantially the same terms between the distribution employees at their location and at the claimants location. thejudgment claimants location. the judgment therefore claimants location. thejudgment therefore provides guidance on future case management of issues raised by the common terms requirement involving this cross establishment comparison. finally, let me say a word about the implications of this judgment for the parties in these proceedings. this court dismisses the appeal brought by asda. this is clearly a

substantial case for asda. at the time of the hearing before the employment tribunal in june time of the hearing before the employment tribunal injune 2016, asda had around 630 retail stores and employs approximately 133,000 hourly paid retail employees. at the date of the agreed statement of facts and issues prepared for this appeal, there were 35,000 claimants. however, the court's conclusion does not mean those claimants have won their equal pay claims. at this stage, all the court has determined is they can use the terms and conditions of employment enjoyed by the distribution employees as a valid comparison. the claimants must still show they perform work of equal value. asda will still be able to rely on any defence open to it,

including, if it is appropriate, the statutory defence that the difference in pay was due to a genuine materialfactor, which was not itself discriminatory on grounds of sex. that brings me to the end of this summary. thank you for your attention and i hope you have a good day and this court is now adjourned. there you have it, a significant ruling. the supreme court rules against the supermarket asda in a workers' equal pay case. this was a case brought around, involving around 35,000 retail workers predominantly women, who have asked to be paid the same as the predominantly male staff who work in as the's distribution depots. asda had appealed against an earlier verdict back in 2019 by the court of

appeal but now the uk supreme court has turned out that appeal by asda and has said that the retail workers can proceed with their case. this is just phase one, if you like, of the case. as you heard, the supreme courtjustice case. as you heard, the supreme court justice saying case. as you heard, the supreme courtjustice saying the retail workers must still show in the next stage that they have performed work of comparable value to people employed in the distribution depots. obviously, lots of retailers watching this case very closely. if successful, the workers are seeking six years of backdated pay, but it could have ramifications for a number of other supermarkets where equal pay claims are ongoing as well. so the supreme court ruling against asda in favour of workers continuing with their equal pay case. we will have more analysis of thisjudgment coming up. let mejust

tell you about a tweet from boris johnson. we can show you his twitter feed. this is in response to the sanctions imposed by china on nine british citizens, including five mps for their criticism of china in relation to the uighur muslim minority. borisjohnson saying the mps and other british citizens sanctioned by china today are performing a vital role, shining a light on the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by uighur muslims. freedom to speak out in opposition to abuse is fundamental and i stand firmly with them. that reaction just in from the prime minister. more on that coming up, but before then, the weather. all of us will see some crisp spring sunshine but be on guard for the sky is turning increasingly grey. there will be some lively downpours around

and with that, some thunder possible and with that, some thunder possible and some sleet and snow over higher ground. the most of the rain is across central and eastern parts of england, about an hour or two worth of rain and gusty winds as it works towards east anglia and the south east. once it has gone and for the rest of the country, it will be a story of sunshine, followed by their show pushing through the sky quite quickly. blustery winds with them and as the showers come through it will feel colder than around six to nine celsius will suggest. a chilly day and that will be followed by a cold night. the showers of air and they will turn to sleet and snow. even a dusting of snow, temporary dusting for some of you into tomorrow morning. from the north midlands, north wales northwards. ice risk on saturday morning, chilly start and if you showers around on saturday morning. one or two will fade and many will continue in the west. for many a lot of dry weather on saturday. better sunshine the further east you are. clouding over

in the afternoon and rain into ireland, western scotland and the western fringes of england and wales in the breeze picks up on saturday afternoon. temperatures will be of a degree or so on today's values. a cool start to the the winds get stronger across scotland and northern ireland, gail is possible and outbreaks of rain pushing southwards into northern england, north wales for the start of sunday. he will linger across the central parts of the uk come average of rain coming and going with heavy bursts at times. top and tail the country, dry and bright with some sunshine and with wins going into more south—westerly direction, it will feel warm on sunday, particularly to eastern parts of england, 14 or 15 is possible. warmer into the start of next week. there will be rain in scotland and northern ireland but even here we will see temperatures into the teens, may be low 20s across the south—east through tuesday and wednesday. just before i 90, tuesday and wednesday. just before i go, on saturday night, the clocks go forward. it does mean an hour less in bed, but if you like your evening

later, the sunset on sunday will be after 7.30 in the evening. you soon. this is bbc news — this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. in the uk and around the world. on nine british citizens — asda bosses in the uk have lost asda bosses in the uk have lost a supreme court fight with store a supreme court fight with store workers who brought equal pay claims workers who brought equal pay claims after complaining that staff working after complaining that staff working in distribution depots in distribution depots unfairly got more money. unfairly got more money.

china has imposed sanctions china has imposed sanctions on nine british citizens — including five mps — after the uk took action over human rights abuses. and so i view this as a direct assault on british democracy and an attempt to silence the people the british people have chosen to speak for them. if that isn't an assault on british sovereignty, i don't know what is. wales will end its "stay local" rules from tomorrow, meaning people will be able to travel within its borders without restrictions. tourist accommodation will also given the green light to reopen.