this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines at seven. lockdown eases in wales — the first uk nation to lift travel restrictions within its borders. borisjohnson says england's road map out of lockdown remains on track — as it's revealed covid booster jabs may be available as early as september. mp kenny macaskill says he will quit the snp to stand for election within alex salmond's new party. it's a party for those who support the cause of independence, and who want to make sure that we grasp that nettle, which is badly required because of the risks and challenges that we face. the un says its received "shocking" reports of violence in myanmar — around 90 pro—democracy protestors are reported to have been killed by security forces.

work continues to refloat the giant container ship blocking egypt's suez canal. 1a tug boats are now involved in the operation. and later this hour, mark kermode takes us through the best and worst of the week's film releases, including kate winslet as fossil collector, mary anning in ammonite. wales has become the first nation in the uk to relax the lockdown measures, which have been in place since december. the "stay local" rule has been scrapped, in favour of unlimited travel within wales, and alowing groups of six people from two households to meet up outdoors in private gardens. next week will see some rules change in england and scotland too. our wales correspondent,

tomas morgan, has this report. as beaches across the nation are open once again. travel is allowed, much to the delight of these visitors to barry island. breath of fresh air. the kids love being out here, ice—cream and chips. it feels amazing. really hot. being out with our family. tourism has also partially re—opened. a welcome relief for the mcleer family, who have travelled to saundersfoot after being in lockdown in merthyr tydfil since 19th december. we started off this morning at 8:15, the traffic was very good, weather was very good. we got down here at about quarter to ten. we were saying, you know, "we've escaped, we've escaped." there is that feeling.

although travel within wales is permitted, crossing the border either way is still not allowed, other than for work, childcare or emergencies. some holiday premises rely heavy on the english coming here. however, the prospect of any tourists coming back is good news for those in the industry. getting the owners back today will really help bring the park back to life. we only have a handful of local owners, people within the county, but that is a start to the season where we can start looking forward to getting back to some sort of normality. last year when restrictions began to lift, beauty spots across wales were flooded. today, people were more cautious, planning their visits carefully. i was here five in the morning and i think there was only two other cars here. but i think it is more of a shock, knowing everyone�*s still in this phase of kind of going, "is it real? "are we allowed out now? "is it ok to go out?" national parks and natural

resources wales have asked people to be sensible. along with travel, six people from two households are also able to meet outside from this weekend and organised outdoor activities and sports for under 18s can resume. any travel further afield will be discussed at the welsh government's next three weekly review on thursday. but for now, an ice—cream on the sand will do in this glorious welsh sunshine. tomos morgan, bbc news, south wales. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers. 0ur guestsjoining me tonight are the broadcaster penny smith and martin lipton. people over 70 could be given what have been called, boosterjabs in september, in order to protect them from new variants of coronavirus. the government has indicated that nhs workers and care home staff would also be eligible. the vaccines minister said eight different vaccines are expected to be available in the uk

by the autumn. here's our health correspondent, katherine da costa. nearly 30 million people in the uk have at least one dose of the covid vaccine. scientists are looking at whether booster shots may be needed. they could be rolled out to the over 70s, health and care workers and people vulnerable from september. the immune system tends to become forgetful as people become older. so this new plan to give boosters has a lot of merit. viruses mutate to survive. some mutations caused concern if they make the virus more harmful. 0ne mutation called e484k has been found in the south britain and brazilian viruses. it helps the virus escape immunity from past infections. current vaccines provide some protection. france, germany and poland are seeing in a surge in infections. there is concern lifting travel restrictions with europe could increase the risk of bringing new variants into the uk.

france, germany and poland are seeing in a surge in infections. there is concern lifting travel restrictions with europe could increase the risk of bringing new variants into the uk. there is interconnecdness in the worlds we live and people there is interconnectedness in the worlds we live and people move from one place to another and viruses move and there is connectedness in vaccine production. it is a complicated task enough now and it is not going to get easier as we look towards what to do next. scientists are working on adapting vaccines, but keeping cases low while ramping up vaccinations the best way to give us faith we will see

an end to this pandemic. the latest government figures show there were 11,715 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. 58 deaths were reported in the latest 2a hour period, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, taking the total number to 126,573. more than 400,000 people have had theirfirst dose of a covid vaccine, in the latest 24—hour period, bringing the total to more than 29.7 million. almost 3.3 million people have now had both doses of the vaccine. coronavirus restrictions are being stepped up in parts of europe, as a third wave of infections

continues to sweep the continent. eu states have seen some of the deadliest outbreaks of the pandemic, and are racing to vaccinate people. the prime minister of poland, has warned that the country's hospitals may not be able to cope with soaring covid cases. the uk kent variant of the virus is now responsible for 80% of all infections there. its government has brought in tighter restrictions affecting shops, supermarkets and churches. tougher measures have also been brought in paris and several other parts of france. residents face more stringent police checks, with people in high—risk areas not allowed to travel more than ten kilometres from home, except in emergencies. cases in germany are predicted to rise as high as 100,000 a day, as our berlin correspondent damian mcguinness explained.

at the moment, cases are around 20,000 a day, but that is the steep rise from what they were even a month or two ago, the beginning of this year, after the christmas lockdown, there had been hopes that by easter, germany would start opening up, a plan had been celtic up opening up, a plan had been celtic up in order to get the economy going, those hopes have been dashed and that is because of the new variants so what we see when you look at the sorts of infections that are happening, the majority of those are happening, the majority of those are the uk kent variant and angela merkel herself has said this variant is more infectious, potentially more deadly, and it is also causing this high rise in cases. that is what has got officials worried and that is why the german health minister this afternoon has expanded now on his thoughts and he said he believes that a complete lockdown immediately is what he wants, should be implemented for the next up to two weeks really, now this being germany, it being a federal

complicated system, you can'tjust, the health minister can'tjust the health minister can't just decide the health minister can'tjust decide to impose that so he will presumably want to start talking to other political actors, from regional leaders to other government member, and will probably try to start pushing for a more severe lockdown than the one we have already. that is what we are sees in society as a whole, societies really divided. 0n the one hand you have had people who have had enough of restrictionion but you have a lot people, a good third or 40% of the population, demanding tougher restrictions because everyone is seeing these cases go up, and at the moment, the restrictions are not holding that back, and the vaccination programme is still slow, big numbers of vaccines are do in april. they are not here yet. until thenit april. they are not here yet. until then it seems to be the case that more severe lockdown mightjust be necessary. that is certainly what many government ministers are calling for.

the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, has said there are "significant questions" over the appropriateness of her predecessor, alex salmond's plans, to return to public office. mr salmond launched a new party yesterday called alba, which will contest the scottish parliamentary elections in may. it's emerged that mp kenny macaskill has left the snp to join the alba party. 0ur scotland correspondent, jamie mciver has the details. nicola sturgeon wanted to focus on the snp�*s own election campaign today, but instead she's been facing questions about another party's campaign. the new party led by her former friend and mentor, alex salmond. ms sturgeon questions both his motivation and suitability to return to public life. it's not an opportunity to gamble with the future of the country. i know from knowing him well in years gone by, alex salmond is a gambler, it is what he enjoys doing, but this is not the time to gamble with the future of the country.

this is the time the make a serious choice. strong experienced leadership, a policy programme for recovery and a chance to choose independence. the alba party. mr salmond unveiled the new party yesterday. he says he wants to create a so—called super majority at holyrood for independence. he got a boost today when a prominent member of the snp defected. kenny macaskill was the scottishjustice secretary and is now a westminster mp. this isn't just the alex salmond party or even the alex salmondj and kenny macaskill party, - it's a party for those who support the cause of independencel and who want to make sure that we grasp that nettle, which is badly required, . because of the risks and challenges that we face — the scottish election is still six weeks away and it's hard to predict how much support mr salmond's new party may attract, but the battle between the snp and his party may well become the defining theme of this campaign. reports suggest that

at least 90 people have been shot dead in myanmar, on its bloodiest day since last month's military coup. the foreign secretary, dominic raab, said the killings marked a "new low". security forces in myanmar have cracked down on new protests, as leaders of the coup marked armed forces day. protesters took to the streets of yangon and other cities. laura bicker reports. defiant, determined and undaunted, even when faced with bullets. they scream in protest, armed with sticks and slingshots. street battles sprung up in over a0 towns and cities across the country. protesters sheltered behind makeshift barriers in their neighbourhoods, but the gunfire at times appeared relentless. one by one, they carried — and counted — their injured and dead. this is the deadliest day since the military staged its coup

on february the 1st. state tv had issued this chilling warning. to the youth who own the future, you should learn from the tragedy of earlier ugly deaths that you can be in danger of getting shot to the head and back. convince and prevent your friends, before doing something wrong. earlier, the generals had gathered in celebration of armed forces day. and in his address, myanmar�*s military leader, general min aung hlaing, promised the country would hold elections. translation: violent acts that affect stability - and security, in order to make demands, are inappropriate. but the people of myanmar want their elected government back, and appear ready to continue their protest, even if it means that their cities have to burn in the process. laura bicker, bbc news, bangkok.

the united nations says it's received reports of shocking violence in myanmar today. around 90 pro—democracy protestors are reported to have been killed by security forces following armed forces day parades. some reports suggest children are among the victims. the uk and the eu have condemned the violence as "indefensible". the headlines on bbc news. lockdown eases in wales — the first uk nation to lift travel restrictions within its borders. borisjohnson says england's road map out of lockdown remains on track — as it's revealed covid booster jabs may be available as early as september. mp kenny macaskill says he will quit the snp to stand for election within alex salmond's new party. efforts have resumed to refloat

the giant container ship blocking egypt's suez canal. the suez canal authority says 1a tug boats are involved in the operation to free the ever given, which has been stranded since tuesday. more than 300 vessels are currently waiting for passage through one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. 0ur correspondent sally nabil sent this update from the scene. up to now, no—one knows when the giant ship can be refloated. there is a state of uncertainty here. the authorities say they cannot give an exact time frame, they also say that the ship ran aground due to a number of factors — not only bad weather, but there might be human and technical errors too, and they are going to look further into that, when they start an investigation. the problem here is the congestion. a large number of ships are waiting to continue theirjourney and no—one knows when navigation can be resumed in the suez canal. for egyptians, the canal is not only

a source of national pride, but it's a source of much—needed foreign currency. it is one of the most important trade routes around the world. the authorities here are trying to send a message of reassurance, saying they are doing the best they can, to bring things back to normal as soon as possible. but the longer the ship is stuck, the more disruption there could be to global trade. more than 100 british schools and universities have been named on a website where people post anonymous accounts of sexual abuse. several independent schools have been accused of failing to deal with a "rape culture", in claims written on the everyone�*s invited site. the metropolitan police are now reviewing the testimonies on the website.

soma sara set up that website last summer and joins me now. thank you forjoining us. first off, thank you for “oining us. first off, wh did thank you for “oining us. first off, why did you — thank you forjoining us. first off, why did you feel _ thank you forjoining us. first off, why did you feel you _ thank you forjoining us. first off, why did you feel you needed - thank you forjoining us. first off, why did you feel you needed to i why did you feel you needed to create this website? i crated it on instagram back injune after conversations with friends, lightsed that so many of us had had shared experiences of sexual violence and rape culture growing up through our teenage years and in response to that i decided to post my own experiences on my instagram and i was overwhelmed with the responses from old friends and new friends, and complete strangers as well, saying they really resonated with everything i was saying and they also began sharing their own stories of rape culture, and you know, back injune i received round 300 and riley kind of got an inkling of the scale of the issue back then. sorry, could joust — scale of the issue back then. sorry, could joust define _ scale of the issue back then. sorry, could joust define please _ scale of the issue back then. sorry, could joust define please what - scale of the issue back then. sorry, could joust define please what is i could joust define please what is rape culture, because i don't think

understands that, that is important. of course. so rape culture is when of course. so rape culture is when behaviours that aren't normal are normalised, so, you know, the sort of offhanded derogatory sexist comment on none consensual shares of intimate photos, and you know, victim blaming so when attitudes and behaviours and thoughts in a society environment have the effect of normalising and trivialising sexual violence, so, you know, if, up skirting or sharing none consensual shares of nudes can act as a gateway to more serious accuses such as sexual assault and rape so within this culture all of the behaviour, even the less severe ones they are all kicked and that they are creating this wider environment, where sexual violence can exist and this rive. a , where sexual violence can exist and this rive. a, , , .,, ., this rive. many people would minimise _ this rive. many people would minimise those _ this rive. many people would minimise those behaviours l this rive. many people would - minimise those behaviours knoll realises they are serious. so what

sort of reactions have you had in education institutions?— sort of reactions have you had in education institutions? well, you know, we education institutions? well, you know. we are _ education institutions? well, you know, we are incredibly - education institutions? well, you i know, we are incredibly encouraged ijy know, we are incredibly encouraged by the response we have received so far, you know, the dialogue that is happening right now between students and pupils and heads, parents and teachers, it isjust and pupils and heads, parents and teachers, it is just amazing to see so many engaging in this dialogue and i am very proud and you know, my whole team is proud tow have begun this crucial conversation. you say your team. i don't want to be condescending. some of you are very young. this is a very serious subject to be taking on other people's traumas, what sort of support do you have to deal with thor issue of sexual abuse? yes. thor issue of sexual abuse? yes, well, we thor issue of sexual abuse? yes, well. we have — thor issue of sexual abuse? yes, well, we have trauma _ thor issue of sexual abuse? ye: well, we have trauma informed trained individuals on the team who are able to provide that support, for the rest of us. i am also trauma informed trained by the survivors

trust, so yes. informed trained by the survivors trust. so yes-_ informed trained by the survivors trust. so yes-— trust, so yes. next thing, what oint do trust, so yes. next thing, what point do the — trust, so yes. next thing, what point do the police _ trust, so yes. next thing, what point do the police get - trust, so yes. next thing, what point do the police get involved trust, so yes. next thing, what - point do the police get involved and how has that involvement been? 50. how has that involvement been? so, so far we how has that involvement been? srr, so far we have how has that involvement been? so, so far we have had how has that involvement been? s513, so far we have had very positive conversations with the police, these conversations with the police, these conversations are still i don't know going. you know, we are interested in looking at new ways to sort of prioritise and put survivors first, and yes, yes, all i can say is it is going very well so far. qm. and yes, yes, alli can say is it is going very well so far.— and yes, yes, alli can say is it is going very well so far. ok, so the testimonies _ going very well so far. ok, so the testimonies you _ going very well so far. ok, so the testimonies you have, _ going very well so far. ok, so the testimonies you have, the - going very well so far. ok, so the | testimonies you have, the website going very well so far. ok, so the i testimonies you have, the website is about anonymity, when we get to the stage where those who are connecting through the website want to speak out, that is a big, big step, because they lose that anonymity. what are the steps there, do they have to take that next step, and what are the police doing to ease that? i what are the police doing to ease that? ., ., , ,_ what are the police doing to ease that? ., ., , ., that? i mean i would 'ust say that no survivor * that? i mean i would 'ust say that no survivor has h that? i mean i would 'ust say that no survivor has to — that? i mean i would 'ust say that no survivor has to do _ that? i mean i would just say that no survivor has to do anything. i no survivor has to do anything. ever. and if you are not ready to

share your story that is fine. you know, i would just say, you know, take strength, if you are not ready to share, to read those stories and know you are not alone in your experience, and you know, you should never be shamed or victim blamed, and yeah, i am very proud to have created a platform where survivors you know, can experience catharsis and solidarity with each other. 0bviously, and solidarity with each other. obviously, there is a bit of a statement here from the metropolitan police, who said that they are reviewing some of it will submissions of misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault. when it gets to that stage, and who, the survivor wants to take it further, are they believed? ., ~ ., �* believed? you know, i can't comment on what goes — believed? you know, i can't comment on what goes on. _ believed? you know, i can't comment on what goes on, you _ believed? you know, i can't comment on what goes on, you know, - believed? you know, i can't comment on what goes on, you know, inside i on what goes on, you know, inside the police, and you know, i am no expert, but i would hope, you know, now that since we have had this

incredible moment, and it has been all over the news, and we, we are having this national conversation that i hope that we are starting to work against that kind of stigmatisation and shame culture and that survivors will from now on, you know, will believed. i5 that survivors will from now on, you know, will believed. is it that survivors will from now on, you know, will believed.— know, will believed. is it 'ust . irls know, will believed. is it 'ust oirls we know, will believed. is it 'ust girls we i know, will believed. is it 'ust girls we are talking i know, will believed. is itjust girls we are talking about i know, will believed. is itjust i girls we are talking about here, women? ., ., , , ., women? no, not 'ust girls, we have received women? no, notjust girls, we have received testimonies _ women? no, notjust girls, we have received testimonies from - women? no, notjust girls, we have received testimonies from boys i women? no, notjust girls, we have received testimonies from boys as l received testimonies from boys as well, and you know, that is one of the main things we wanted to emphasise, everyone's invite. everyone must be invited to the conversation for things to change. 0ld generation, new generation, parents, teachers, you know, it is so important that everyone is involved, because it is a cultural problem, a global issue and the only way we can change culture is if everyone steps up. 50 way we can change culture is if everyone steps up.— way we can change culture is if everyone steps up. way we can change culture is if eve one ste-rsu. ., ., everyone steps up. so want would you like to see happen _ everyone steps up. so want would you like to see happen next? _ everyone steps up. so want would you like to see happen next? because i everyone steps up. so want would you like to see happen next? because you| like to see happen next? because you are allowing people, you are giving them a voice, what next?—

are allowing people, you are giving them a voice, what next? well, you know, it is — them a voice, what next? well, you know, it is incredible _ them a voice, what next? well, you know, it is incredible to _ them a voice, what next? well, you know, it is incredible to see - them a voice, what next? well, you know, it is incredible to see the i know, it is incredible to see the progress we have made in such a short time so far. even having conversations it is a huge step to acknowledge rape culture exists is extraordinary, especially for someone like me and my team, you know, back injune, it was a really hard for people, to get people on side and to understand rape culture, so i guess moving forward, the next step is doing everything we can to eradicate this culture and that is going to take a lot, and because it is a systematic and global issue there are so many cases that this culture manifests so it guess it is about thinking about where are the root causes? is it in parenting w the government? there are so many places that this culture exists. and places that this culture exists. and that is a sad. _ places that this culture exists. and that is a sad, sad _ places that this culture exists. and that is a sad, sad indictment. thank you. thank you for sharing your story. the government's programme to help uk householders insulate their homes

has been scrapped. the green homes grant reached only 6% of the 600,000 homes the chancellor said would be improved by march 31st. we can get more from our environment analyst, roger harrabin. what went so wrong? it has been a com-lete what went so wrong? it has been a complete mess _ what went so wrong? it has been a complete mess from _ what went so wrong? it has been a complete mess from the _ what went so wrong? it has been a complete mess from the start. i what went so wrong? it has been a complete mess from the start. thej complete mess from the start. the government add first blamed covid that householders were reluctant to have tradespeople into their homes because of fears of catching covid from them, but the truth is rather broader than that, that loads of people, myself included, tried to get a grant to insulate their homes butjust simply couldn't get through, because of all the contractors were so busy they were swamped with call, and if they did get through then they had difficulties with the administration. then there was a further problem that the administration was so complicated and badly run, often cheques didn't

get paid so it was a great scheme to get paid so it was a great scheme to get people back to work but in some cases it has costjobs because firms went bankrupt because they didn't get paid enough. there was a problem of overcharging where some contractors have quoted a price, not been properly checked and ripped off the government and you and me in terms of taxes, so it really is a catalogue of multiple failure and now the money that was allocated for it for next year is going to be transferred into a separate fund, being administered by local authorities which is running a lot more smoothly, the original one, the main one is being run by an american contracting firm, consultants and thatis contracting firm, consultants and that is doing really very badly indeed. in that is doing really very badly indeed. . ., ., that is doing really very badly indeed. _, ., ., indeed. in context, how important was this scheme? _ indeed. in context, how important was this scheme? it _ indeed. in context, how important was this scheme? it is _ indeed. in context, how important was this scheme? it is absolutelyl was this scheme? it is absolutely vital, we was this scheme? it is absolutely vital. we had _ was this scheme? it is absolutely vital, we had 19 _ was this scheme? it is absolutely vital, we had 19 million _ was this scheme? it is absolutely vital, we had 19 million homes. was this scheme? it is absolutely vital, we had 19 million homes in| vital, we had 19 million homes in the uk in need of proper insulation.

the uk cannot hit its climate change targets with badly insulated leaky homes like the ones we have. and the government is going to have to come up government is going to have to come up with another scheme, to replace this. but i don't know if you remember, just a couple of years ago, we had the green deal, which was supposed to, incentivise people to insulate their homes but the interest railway station was so high, that it was betterfor interest railway station was so high, that it was better for people to just go to the bank, and get a loan from the bank, so this is the second failure of an insulation scheme injust a second failure of an insulation scheme in just a few year, i mean second failure of an insulation scheme injust a few year, i mean it really, really is abject. {lila scheme in just a few year, i mean it really, really is abject.— really, really is ab'ect. 0k, roger, thank ou really, really is ab'ect. 0k, roger, thankyou very— really, really is abject. 0k, roger, thank you very much. _ last night — ten people were arested in bristol following a third mass protest in the city in the past week. around a thousand people had gathered to oppose law changes that would give police more powers to restrict demonstrations. and today, at least five people have been arrested in manchester's city centre as people gathered to protest the government's

controversial new policing bill. 0ur correspondent andy gill was there and sent this update. the trams in manchester are run again but foran the trams in manchester are run again but for an hour this afternoon, the lines here in the centre of the city were completely blocked, by protestors demonstrating against the new police powers bill. the protest had begun earlier this afternoon, it was peaceful, the protestors then marched through the city for a while and at one point they blocked a road by sitting down. the police didn't move in. when they came here, to speed fierce square and blocked the metro line police liaison officers spoke to the protestors and asked them to move. they didn't and after about an hour police units moved in to disperse them. some wouldn't move and police arrested at least five people. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. winter may not be quite done with us yet, but over the next few days, things are going to turn milder.

a little feel of summer as we go into next week. with it, though, we are going to see some windy weather during the next 36 hours. winds picking up tonight. the cloud that's gathered in the west through today bringing outbreaks of rain to the evening. it will bring rain more widely through tonight. although some in the south and east will stay dry. drying up a little later in western scotland and here we will see some clear skies into the morning. but for most, a windy night with gales quite widely, but it is a mild wind. temperatures in double figures for one or two. now, as we go into tomorrow, a mild start, plenty of cloud around. early sunshine in scotland giving way to cloud and the return of some relentless rain in western scotland through the afternoon. drying up little bit for north wales and northern england temporarily before more rain moves into tomorrow evening, and across—the—board it will be a windy day. but that will puncture some holes in the clowd to the south and east, so some sunshine here, not quite the levels of today, but it is a milder wind, and with the sunshine, it will feel warmer. 15 or 16 celsius certainly possible. see you soon.

hello this is bbc news. the headline. lockdown eases in wales — the first uk nation to lift travel restrictions within its borders. borisjohnson says england's roadmap out of lockdown remains on track —