this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world: new rules for care home visits in england. residents will be allowed two regular visitors indoors from the 12th of april. we know that in care homes we've got some... ..maybe grandparents or great—grandparents who haven't had a chance to see new arrivals to their family during the pandemic and this will be the chance for that to happen. president biden says he's heartbroken at the death of a police officer, killed as he was guarding the us capitol building in washington dc. a court in taiwan has allowed bail for a construction site manager whose vehicle is suspected of causing a train accident that killed at least 50 people. italy and france enter new national lockdowns, as they struggle to contain a surge in coronavirus cases.

and the mummies of 22 ancient egyptian rulers will be transported through cairo today — crowds are expected to line the streets, to witness the historic procession. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. iam sure i am sure life. -- i am shaun ley. care home residents in england will be allowed two regular visitors indoors from the 12th of april, in a further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions. visitors will also be able to bring babies and young children with them, meaning some residents could meet grandchildren for the first time. charlotte wright has this report. it's been an agonising year for those with relatives locked down in care homes. but last month, as restrictions started to ease, some were able

to hold their loved ones�* hands for the first time since the start of the pandemic. hello, mum, how are you? now, from april 12th, more family members will be reunited as residents will be allowed a second regular indoor visitor. it is time for people to be let back in and the difference in my mother's mental health is huge, but not only that, the difference in how i feel, you know, also, as her daughter to be able to see her. it is absolutely imperative that people get to see their loved ones. you know, we are running out of time with our loved ones and this is really welcome news. it's a cautious step forward. it's a step that we want to take. for us, it's important that - all guidance is followed and we'll wait and see what the guidance i is but, you know, holding hands, no hugging, no kissing, you know, - two members of the family coming in.

it'sjust going to make a huge amount of difference - for the individuals' well—being, for the families as well. - the change to the visiting rules will also mean parents can bring their babies and very young children. so while many have introduced their newborns to family members like this in the past year, some care home residents will soon be able to meet their grandchildren face—to—face for the first time. the department of health and social care says the increase in visitor numbers can go ahead because of a drop in community infection rates and the roll—out of vaccinations, as almost 94% of eligible older people's care home residents have now received their first dose. in line with existing rules, visitors must provide a negative test result and wear ppe, but the exact details are yet to be announced, including the definition of "very young children". the government says the full guidance will be published next week. charlotte wright, bbc news. in the past hour,

the uk's care minister, helen whately, has been speaking about how to ensure the visits will be safe. care homes are taking a huge host of steps to keep residents safe at the moment. staff are being tested three times a week to pick up any early signs of covid. they are wearing ppe. and of course, the vaccination programme is making a massive difference for care homes. now over 90% of care home residents and 77% of care home staff have been vaccinated and we know the vaccine is really effective. and we are seeing this is making a real difference, both in the number of positive tests in care homes, which have fallen hugely, and in farfewer residents getting sick with covid and, sadly, dying from it. so we are seeing a much better situation, but we will continue to do this carefully, step by step. care homes are continuing to be really careful, knowing that it can be so difficult

to manage when they get an outbreak. that is why, with the visiting, we are taking it step by step as well. what i will say is we want to get to a place where, come the summer, i want it to feel much more like normalfor those in care homes and their family going to visit. helen whately bear, the care minister. earlier, i spoke to our political correspondent, jessica parker, and i asked her about another issue that's been dominating about vaccine passports. there has been an ongoing debate on really two separate issues, if you like. there is the idea of international vaccine passports, which ministers have been fairly clear they think is just a likely thing, almost an inevitable thing that is going to happen in future and then the more contentious idea of domestic so—called vaccine passports, so whether you might have to produce some sort of proof of your covid status if you want to go to pub or to the theatre... well, you are too young because you haven't had your first jab yet. no, exactly, i haven't had my firstjab, but what ministers have talked about as well is whether testing or immunity could

also play their part, but there have been reports on the international travel side this morning in the telegraph that vaccinated people would be able to avoid covid tests and quarantine to some extent in travel in future. this issue was put, as you say, to the care minister, helen whately, this morning. there has been quite a lot of discussion about this over the last week or so and there is a review going on into the questions about certification and there will be more announced on that in future, so there is not a lot more i can say on that that hasn't already been said. clearly, the overall point is that it is really important for people to come forward and get vaccinated, when you get the invitation to come for a jab. if you work in health and social care you are eligible, so just come forward and get yourjab. so helen whately not revealing too much there in terms of what may or may not happen, but worth pointing out we do expect some updates monday in terms of what is going to go ahead with this, but clearly on the domestic vaccine passport idea, pretty contentious.

there was a cross—party group of mps yesterday raising their concerns about it. the labour leader keir starmer has suggested it may go against the british instinct. government sources, though, continually stressing that no decisions have yet been made. we expect some sort of update in the next couple of days. our political correspondent, jessica parker. let's speak to mike padgham, the chairman of industry body the independent care group. thank you very much for being with us on a saturday to talk about this. first, just on the question of the possibility of two people now coming into care homes, it is kind of extra work and extra supervision for your staff, but do you think the benefits outweigh any possible disadvantages from that? , , ., ., from that? yes, you are quite right, it is extra work, _ from that? yes, you are quite right, it is extra work, but _ from that? yes, you are quite right, it is extra work, but i _ from that? yes, you are quite right, it is extra work, but i think- from that? yes, you are quite right, it is extra work, but i think we - it is extra work, but i think we welcome the fact that we are being able to open up two more visitors from the 12th of april because residents have waited a long time for this, so we can only welcome it, but as the minister said earlier it

is a cautious welcome. we have got to take it step—by—step and can hopefully keep the virus away, but yes, for people's well—being and the visitors as well as the residence, it is fantastic news.— visitors as well as the residence, it is fantastic news. what about the attention that _ it is fantastic news. what about the attention that has _ it is fantastic news. what about the attention that has been _ it is fantastic news. what about the attention that has been brought - it is fantastic news. what about the attention that has been brought to | attention that has been brought to the continuing restriction on people going out? so you can be in your care facility or care home or whatever other institution, you are protected there, but you are still prevented from going out for a trip with a family member or friend or even going out, dare i say it, because i know plenty of people do in care homes, are still able to do this, going out for half an hour's walk on your own.— walk on your own. yes, well, i welcome _ walk on your own. yes, well, i welcome the _ walk on your own. yes, well, i welcome the extra _ walk on your own. yes, well, i welcome the extra visitor - walk on your own. yes, well, i i welcome the extra visitor coming walk on your own. yes, well, i - welcome the extra visitor coming in, but i would like the government to go a bit further and have the guidance reflect that we would be able to allow some residents to go outside if they would like to. i cannot see why, provided they have had their two jabs and they are not meeting groups of other people, large groups, why they can't have more freedom like the rest of the

country. i would like to see people perhaps go out in a minibus and if they are people they already live with and there is fresh air, but that would be acceptable and also going for a walk because i think all the people now deserve, like the rest of us, the freedom that is coming and i hope the government will have another look at that. i think the summer is a long time to wait, i think i would like to see it come earlier.— wait, i think i would like to see it come earlier. , ., . come earlier. guidance is one thing, what the actual _ come earlier. guidance is one thing, what the actual statute _ come earlier. guidance is one thing, what the actual statute said - come earlier. guidance is one thing, what the actual statute said is - what the actual statute said is another. is there here and sufficient room for you as individual providers to look at the circumstances affecting particular residents and make up your own mind naturally how to handle a case? yes. naturally how to handle a case? yes, i think that — naturally how to handle a case? yes, i think that you _ naturally how to handle a case? yes, i think that you would _ naturally how to handle a case? yes, i think that you would do _ naturally how to handle a case? ya: i think that you would do a risk assessment for each resident you have got. there is a lot of work on that, but i think it is necessary in each case must be judged that, but i think it is necessary in each case must bejudged on its merits and if there is a particular need you would be flexible. the government's guidance is very good at putting the care home in the middle and saying, yes, you determine what is best, so if something goes wrong you get blamed

and if you're not doing it you get blamed, so it is a very difficult balancing act, but i think in risk assessing each client we should be flexible and give some people the benefit of allowing outdoor activities and meeting other people. backin activities and meeting other people. back in with the ppe and testing it needs to be done, but i would like the guidance to be a bit firmer with us when it comes out next week to allow some cautious visits externally. allow some cautious visits externally-— allow some cautious visits externall. , , ., ., externally. does this idea of vaccine certification - externally. does this idea of vaccine certification appeall externally. does this idea of. vaccine certification appeal to externally. does this idea of - vaccine certification appeal to you and your members? because that would be one way, conceivably, of reducing the administrative burden on staff in care homes and also increasing the chances that people would be able to have more visitors in or perhaps would themselves be able to go to places. i perhaps would themselves be able to go to places-— go to places. i think it certainly would be something _ go to places. i think it certainly would be something we - go to places. i think it certainly would be something we wouldl go to places. i think it certainly l would be something we would be interested to look at. i think the difficulty is the freedom in this country... where do we start? yes, it's a good idea in one area, but we want to make sure we trust that people coming in with the certificate is actually valid. i am content at the minute with the testing we are doing, but i would like to see people having the

vaccine as much as possible and get those numbers up, particularly care home staff and staff in the community, but also the general public. community, but also the general ublic. �* ., ., public. and about where the general ublic. and public. and about where the general public. and what _ public. and about where the general public. and what about _ public. and about where the general public. and what about where - public. and about where the general public. and what about where this . public. and what about where this takes us longer term? because we are warned that there may yet be further restrictions having to be reimposed at the end of the year, if there is another return of the virus or a variant of the virus. there are some who say we are going to have to get used to coronavirus as an endemic condition. and until we have got to a better stage in our body's ability to resist these viruses, we are going to have to carry on with some of these social restrictions. is there anything we could learn in the gap between now and then, as it were, that might make the experience for residents next time around a bit more tolerable?— more tolerable? well, i think... whilst i more tolerable? well, i think... whilst i want — more tolerable? well, i think... whilst i want restrictions - more tolerable? well, i think... whilst i want restrictions to - more tolerable? well, i think... whilst i want restrictions to be i whilst i want restrictions to be reduced and relaxed, i don't want to go too fast too quickly because i think yes, i am worried about what chris whitty said that perhaps in the later part of this year we will

have a third way. i would like to see us perhaps being used to having had the ppe for the rest of this yearin had the ppe for the rest of this year in care homes and a few more restrictions, but gradually lifting because i do worry about what might happen if we don't get this right. we don't want to go backwards, but i do want to be a glass half full, it does look much more positive in the future with vaccines, but we have to be cautious. we are not quite out of the woods yet, but we are going in the woods yet, but we are going in the right direction, so i do feel that care home staff, residents and visitors are probably going to have to live with this a bit longer in care homes, particularly on the protection side.— care homes, particularly on the protection side. care homes, particularly on the rotection side. ~ ~' . ., ., protection side. mike padgham of the inde endent protection side. mike padgham of the independent care _ protection side. mike padgham of the independent care group, _ protection side. mike padgham of the independent care group, thanks - protection side. mike padgham of the independent care group, thanks so i independent care group, thanks so much for your time. a british woman in her 80s has died after being attacked by two escaped dogs in her garden. west midlands police says the pensioner was found suffering from serious injuries at an address in rowley regis near dudley on friday. in the past few minutes, we've had a statement from west midlands police. this is what was said. neighbours

called to report that a lady in her... 85 years of age was under attack from dogs from a neighbouring property. our officers have attended, at which point the dogs had returned through a hole in the fence to the adjacent property and then unfortunately, despite the best efforts of medical professionals and ourselves, that lady died at the scene. an operation then undertook to secure those dogs. they were tranquilizer and transported subsequently to secure kennels, where they currently remain. they are being tested to determine their breed. specialist officers are now working with the family to offer them their support in what is a tragic and horrific incident. west midlands police statement fare on the death of a grandmother at her

home in raleigh regis, after a dog attack. president biden has said he's heartbroken at the killing of a police officer outside the us capitol building on friday. william evans was hit by a car and then stabbed. a second officer was wounded. the suspect, named as 25—year—old noah greene from indiana, was shot dead, as david willis reports. sirens wail. panic in america's capital city once again. the driver of this car rammed into two police officers, killing one and injuring another before hitting the barrier. he then emerged, wielding a knife. he did not respond to verbal commands. the suspect did start lunging towards us capitol police officers, at which time us capitol police officers fired upon the suspect. congress was sent into lockdown as a helicopter arrived to take one of the officers to hospital. officials later identified the policeman who died

as william "billy" evans, an 18—year veteran of the force. house speaker nancy pelosi called him a "martyr for democracy". president biden said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken by the attack. three months ago, another police officer died after supporters of the former president donald trump forced their way into the building as congress was certifying joe biden's election victory. this time, however, the capitol building was quiet. congress is on easter recess and most of its politicians are out of town. the suspect has been named as 25—year—old noah greene, as 25—year—old noah green, an african—american who described himself on social media as a follower of the black nationalist group nation of islam. officials say they have yet to establish a motive for the attack.

it came only days after officials started removing a fence put in place following the uprising in january. a week ago, the driver would not have been able to get as close to the building as he did. there had also been talk of reducing the thousands of national guard officers who were drafted in, some of whom found themselves deployed once again. lawmakers will have to decide whether they remain, and whether the fences should go back up. but as flags at the white house were lowered, some were posing a broader question — how to maintain an open democracy when so many people seem to want to cause it harm? david willis, bbc news, los angeles. a court in taiwan have allowed bail for a construction site manager whose vehicle is suspected of causing a train accident that killed at least 50 people. this was on friday. the train hit the vehicle, which had slid down an embankment onto the tracks. it is reported that the handbrake

hadn't been engaged. hundreds of people were trapped in the wreckage for hours, with two american women in their 20s among the victims. prosecutors had requested the suspect�*s arrest on charges of causing death by negligence and forging documents, and objected to the bail decision. meanwhile, rescuers have been working overnight to try to remove the train from the tunnel. cindy sui is in taipei examining the political fallout so far. the premier of taiwan has apologised repeatedly to the survivors and to the victims' families. the president went out today to visit some of the survivors, but there are definitely a lot of questions among the public that, you know, could the government have prevented this accident from happening? because this is notjust any construction site. it was actually outsourced by the taiwan railway administration to build another tunnel next to the tunnel where the accident happened to make travel safer for the taiwanese public. so, you know, there are questions about whether the taiwan railway administration should have perhaps exercised more oversight over this construction project,

it should have, you know, placed more requirements on safety, and, again, this construction company is no stranger to government contracts. it has won many government contracts in the past. so, again, there are more questions about whether this country about whether this company was an appropriate choice to do this project. it has a record of safety issues, apparently, according to local media. so, again, a lot of these questions will have to be answered, and the investigation continues. cindy suifair in cindy sui fair in taipei in taiwan. the headlines on bbc news... new rules for care home visits in england. residents will be allowed two regular visitors indoors, from the 12th of april. president biden says he's heartbroken at the death of a police officer, killed as he was guarding the us capitol building in washington dc. a court in taiwan has allowed bail for a construction site manager whose vehicle is suspected of causing a train accident that killed at least 50 people.

seven people in the uk have died with rare blood clots after receiving the oxford—astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine. the medicines regulator, the mhra, is reviewing 30 cases of clots out of more than 18 million vaccinations, but insists the jab is safe. rebecca morelle has more. the astrazeneca jab has been rolled out across the uk, providing vital protection against covid—19. no link between rare blood clots and the jab has been proven, but the uk medical regulator is investigating. the clots are unusual. they're accompanied by low levels of platelets, which are a type of blood cell. 30 cases have been reported and seven deaths. this is out of 18 million doses, so the incidence is extremely low. now scientists are trying to establish whether the clots have occurred naturally or are very rare reactions to the astrazeneca jab. because something has been

reported, does that mean that it's a side effect? well, if we look at all the side—effects that have been reported, or possible side effects that have been reported, they include excess wind, alcohol poisoning, getting pregnant. there are so many things people report because they happen shortly after people have the vaccine — within a few weeks of them having the vaccine. that does not mean that they wouldn't have happened anyway. the medical regulator also reported brain blood clots in two people who'd had the pfizerjab, although without the unusual low platelet levels. some countries are restricting who they're giving the astrazeneca jab to. the netherlands has announced it's not recommending it for people under 60. but the uk vaccine roll—out is continuing. the british medical regulator, along with the european medicines agency and the world health organization, say the benefits from vaccination far outweigh any potential risks. rebecca morelle, bbc news. across europe the coronavirus

pandemic continues to cause havoc. italy is heading into a nationwide lockdown — from today until the 5th of april. it means non—essential shops will be shut, restaurants and bars will not be able to serve customers and people are required to stay at home — except for work, health or other essential reasons. here's our rome correspondent, mark lowen. well, when pope francis gave his urbi et orbi message on easter sunday to the city and the world a year ago to a deserted, locked—down st peter's square, few would have imagined that 12 months on, here we would be here again, but yes, indeed, we are. italy is in the grip of a third wave with about 20,000 coronavirus cases a day, and so the whole of italy is now in a red zone for this easter weekend. and of course, the vatican, too, is in lockdown. what does that mean? well, that restaurants are only offering takeaway service across the whole of the country and that nonessential businesses right across italy have had to close. there are movement

restrictions as well. all arrivals into italy from european union countries are subject to a five—day quarantine as well. but in one concession to italians, who will be sitting down for their easter lunch or dinner at home, they are allowed to invite up to two people from the same family to join them for this, which is an extremely important weekend and celebration for many italians. in terms of church services, well, they are still going ahead for the easter mass, but the faithful are being encouraged to go to the church closest to their homes and, of course, to observe strict social distancing measures when they're inside. pope francis will be holding mass this weekend. he will deliver that urbi et orbi message on sunday morning, which he hopes will, i'm sure, provide some solace to many people around the world for whom this has been an incredibly difficult year, and hoping above hope that with the vaccine roll—out slowly ramping up, that this time next year will finally look very different.

mark lowen bear in rome. in france, the number of covid cases has also been rising dramatically over the past two months and the government has announced tighter restrictions. hugh schofield has more from paris. seven o'clock this evening, 7pm, they'll kick in round three of the great national lockdown. and the same measures which have applied here in paris and other covid hotspots for the last two weeks will be extended across the country. now, we're in paris, we're on the champs—elysees and, quite evidently, it's not lockdown as you might conventionally understand the term. we're not literally locked down in our homes. it's a much looser affair than the original lockdown a year ago. we can go out, as long as we don't get further than ten kilometres away. we don't have to have a piece of paper to show the police anymore. nonetheless, nonessential shops are shut, schools are shut. that's a big change.

and it's going to mean a lot of adjustment forfamilies. and we can't travel outside our region. there is actually a kind of window of opportunity over this weekend when you can go to your country house, if you have one, and a lot of people are going to be using that to get out of the city today and tomorrow, but for the next four weeks, if you get out of the city, wherever you are, you stay there and that's the lockdown. it is a psychological pressure that people are feeling, with this sense that a year on, exactly a year on, we're just round back to where we began before. and that is difficult and people are feeling the stress. the difference now, of course, is that we're being reassured that help is coming. "get through april," is what macron said, and then we'll see the light at the end of the tunnel. the vaccination program is advancing. well, people want to believe that. they really are trying very hard to believe that and, well, let's all hope it comes true. hugh schofield fair in paris. this

might be called the march of the mummies. the mummies of 22 ancient egyptian rulers are being taken in an historic procession through the streets of cairo later on saturday to be transferred to a new museum in the south of the city. crowds are expected to witness the lavish pharaohs' golden parade of 18 kings and four queens being transported in gold coffins, amid great fanfare, in chronological order of their reigns. security will be tight, befitting their royal blood and status as national treasures. the procession will include queen hatshepsut and king ramesses ii. several people have questioned, what is this event about, who is it for? and it's for, i think, many people at a variety of levels. on one level, i think it's for all the egyptians so that there's a sense of pride and understanding and a way for greater engagement with their own past. people should understand that these pharaohs are incredibly important historically and also important now. here are some remarkable pictures.

a man who previously free—climbed the shard in london has now scaled one of europe's highest skyscrapers in barcelona, without any ropes or safety measures. i hope i don't her to say, don't try this at home. now a look at the weather. here is sarah. hello, there. some fine, settled weather for many places over the next few days, before things turn much colder by the time we get to easter monday, but, for today, many places dry, a bit of sunshine around for most of us, not everywhere, though. there's going to be more cloud across parts of central and, in particular, eastern england. so, if you have got that cloud, a cooler day ahead, with the breeze coming in off the north sea. so, cloudier skies for east anglia, the south—east, through parts of the midlands up towards north—east england, as well, also northern scotland seeing a bit more cloud, and quite breezy around these peripheries of the uk. just 8 or 9 degrees where you have got the cloud and the breeze from the north sea, but look at that — 16, there, in aberdeen,

13 in belfast, not too bad, where you keep the sunshine lasting through into the afternoon. now, this evening and tonight it will be dry with clear spells and a cold night ahead. a touch of frost likely as temperatures in more rural spots dip a little bit below freezing. so, a chilly start to your easter sunday, i think. we will start to see high pressure slowly easing away as this cold front works its way in from the north, so, a change afoot, particularly later in the day. we are going to see the cloud increasing for scotland and northern ireland, the breeze picking up ahead of some afternoon rain working in. further south, across england and wales, more sunshine than we have seen over recent days, particularly for central and eastern areas, where temperatures will reach around 1a or 15 degrees for easter sunday. but single figures across the northern half of scotland as that cold air works in, and through sunday night into easter monday, as this cold front works its way south, that is going to open the doors for this really cold blast of arctic air to push all the way from the arctic right across the uk, bringing some wintry showers, some sleet and some snow, even to low levels.

now, most of them will be just draped around the coast, parts of eastern england, eastern scotland, a few into northern ireland, as well. parts of scotland could see up to 15 centimetres of snow over the higher ground, and these wintry showers blown on a brisk northerly wind, too. so, temperatures on easter monday on your thermometer may well read around about 3 to 8 degrees, but when you add on the effect of that strong northerly wind, the wind chill will make it feel subzero for some of us. so, certainly a very different feeling day for easter monday. in fact, it's going to stay quite chilly for tuesday into wednesday, before temperatures are slowly going to ease back to near average later in the week. bye for now.