good afternoon. the government is to trial measures in england, including covid passports, to allow the safe return of sports matches, major events and nightlife. they'll show if a person has been vaccinated, had a recent negative test or antibodies. the pilot will include the fa cup final, and will last until mid may. here's our political correspondentjessica parker. the fa cup final, 2019. it won't be so packed this year,

but the final is being used to pilot how these kinds of mass events might work in future. the opportunity to get back to full capacity, i think, is something that is so prevalent at the moment and underpins so many of the hopes that the events industry and the entertainment industry has, so this scheme, we feel, is the right way to go. plotting a path to reopening society, trial events will also look at ventilation as well as testing before and after, along with so—called vaccine passports, an idea that has met some resistance. it would be proportionate and it would be time limited. but we are just looking at these as options at the moment, hence the pilot programme. in the pilot programme we will be testing these options and the evidence gathered will then help inform long—term decision—making and government policy. vaccine passports or covid state

certification could include proof ——covid status certification could include proof someone has been vaccinated, had a recent negative test, or has natural immunity through having had covid in the last six months. getting into places like pubs won't require certification for now as they look to start reopening. the system also won't be used in shops or on public transport, but after warnings, including from some tory mps, it could be divisive. there are logistical questions. how will it work with an app or also a paper version? and then there are really ethical questions as well about will i have to pay for the testing if i haven't been vaccinated or haven't had that opportunity? so still a lot of open questions. questions as well about how holidays abroad might work once they are legal again. there will be more details tomorrow on a risk—based traffic light system. for now, people are still being advised not to book foreign trips. jessica is with me now.

what more do we know about how these trials for covid passports were were? ., ., trials for covid passports were were? . ., . , trials for covid passports were were? ., ., ., , ., , were? fair to say, details are being worked on- — were? fair to say, details are being worked on- we _ were? fair to say, details are being worked on. we have _ were? fair to say, details are being worked on. we have had _ were? fair to say, details are being worked on. we have had a - were? fair to say, details are being worked on. we have had a list - were? fair to say, details are being worked on. we have had a list of i worked on. we have had a list of venues, from comedy clubs, snooker, nightclubs, the big football venues. some confusion over night in terms of what type of trial would apply to which venue, but nevertheless, notable by its absence, pubs, as i mentioned. they have been a focal point of this debate, but they won't be part of the trial and won't be required to look at this as they start to reopen. there have been warnings of a so—called checkpoint society from people concerned about these plans, versus the argument that this is a way of trying to get society open again and make business is viable. once senior tory i spoke to today said they think the approach overall is wrong—headed and they only want to see vaccine passports for international travel. how will it work across the uk? these trials offer england. there have been discussions and there is still some scepticism in some

quarters. in terms of a timeline, we are looking at this trial over the next couple of months, i understand a report going to the prime minister at the end of may, and the possibility of a further phase after made, so no sense that this will happen immediately.— made, so no sense that this will happen immediately. jess, thank you ve much. easter is being celebrated around the uk and across the globe. the easter service at canterbury cathedral took place with no congregation due to covid restrictions. justin welby encouraged people to ensure charity and international aid are maintained, as the country emerges from the pandemic. and the pope's easter message concentrated on the victims of the coronavirus, calling for an end to vaccine delays and urging their distribution to poorer countries. daniela relph reports. last year, at the height of the first lockdown, the easter service came from his kitchen table. today, the archbishop of canterbury, masked

for the procession to the altar, brought easter back to canterbury cathedral. requires have been allowed to sing again, but the adults must be socially distanced. —— the choirs. they had to abide by covid protocols. easter message drew on the experience of the past year. we can go on as before covid where the most powerful and the richest gain and so many fall behind. but we have seen and known where that leaves us or we can go with the flooding life and purpose of the resurrection ofjesus, which changes all things, and we can choose a better future for all. in all things, and we can choose a better future for all.— better future for all. in rome, there were — better future for all. in rome, there were no _ better future for all. in rome, there were no pilgrims - better future for all. in rome, there were no pilgrims filling l better future for all. in rome, - there were no pilgrims filling saint peter's square on sunday. eerily empty in a country that has partially returned to lockdown. the

pope took maths and gave his global easter blessing inside saint peter's basilica to a reduced congregation. he also focused on covid. translation: i he also focused on covid. translation:— he also focused on covid. translation: i urge the entire international— translation: i urge the entire international community - translation: i urge the entire international community in - translation: i urge the entire international community in a . translation: | urge the entire l international community in a spirit of global responsibility to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines, and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries. for those who have not gone to church today, there have been online services, the way so many have worshipped over the past year. this is another easter sunday that feels so different. daniela relph, bbc news. the former crown prince ofjordan says he has been placed under house arrest as part of a crackdown on critics. i was not allowed to go out, to communicate with people.

in a video passed to the bbc by his lawyer, prince hamzah bin hussein, the half—brother of king abdullah, accuses the country's leaders of corruption, incompetence and harassment. it comes after a number of high—level arrests said to be linked to an alleged coup plot. at least 44 people have been killed in flash floods in indonesia. after torrential rain hit the region. flood waters and landslides swept the island of flores, with mud inundating many homes. the death toll is likely to rise. in northern ireland, police have been attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks in the loyalist area of newtonabbey after a second night of protests. on friday, 15 officers were injured and seven people charged after disturbances in south belfast. from belfast, our ireland correspondentjohn campbell reports. the violence in newtownabbey began with masked men hijacking cars and setting them alight. as the police responded, their vehicles were attacked with stones, bottles

and petrol bombs. they managed to contain the rioters and the trouble came to an end within a couple of hours. tension has been simmering in some loyalist communities for weeks. they are deeply unhappy at the northern ireland part of the brexit deal. it creates a new trade border with the rest of the uk and they say that undermines their place in the union. in a separate development last week, northern ireland's public prosecution service decided not to prosecute senior sinn fein members who had attended a large funeral in an apparent breach of coronavirus regulations. that provoked outrage among unionist politicians and some of that sentiment appears to have spilled onto the streets. on friday night, 15 police officers were injured when a loyalist protest in south belfast turned violent. seven people have been charged with riot in connection with that incident, the youngest a boy

ofjust 13. there has also been several nights of trouble in londonderry, though no further incidents were reported from there last night. politicians and senior police officers are appealing for calm. john campbell, bbc news, belfast. and preparations are under way for the annual boat race, which is taking place in cambridgeshire this year. the two teams will row along the great ouse in ely for the first time since the second world war. the move is partly to dissuade big crowds in london and because of problems with one of the bridges over the thames. organisers say the event in ely is closed to spectators. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. the it is like a huge

you're watching the bbc news channel. iam ben i am ben brown. let's get more on our top story — that the government's planning to conduct a series of trials which will allow people to go to large public events in england, if they've had a coronavirus jab or they can prove they're immune or clear of the disease. earlier i spoke to professor adam finn, a member of the government's joint committee on vaccination and immunisation who gave his thoughts on vaccine passports at home and abroad. he was speaking to me by the way from somerset in the middle of his sunday bike ride. it is becoming clearer now that the vaccines that we are using don'tjust stop you from getting sick with covid, but do substantially reduce the risk of getting the infection and passing it on to other people. we are still in the process of figuring outjust how good

they are at doing that and of course, at looking at how they will work against the different variants of the virus. it does mean that vaccination in a sense becomes more than just a matter of personal protection, but is relevant to other people as well. so you can see how this will kind of start to fit into the whole traveljigsaw puzzle that people are trying to put together. i heard your correspondent saying earlier that it has been seen as kind of inevitable. and i tend to agree that we are inevitably going to see that people are going to want some kind of authentication that you have received the vaccine if you are going to travel in the future. in terms of domestically going to big events, that is being trialed and now. things like sporting events with covid passports. showing that you have had a vaccine or that you have had a negative test or that you have had

a positive test for covid, so you've got immunity. does all of that make sense as well, do you think domestically? some people have concerns about privacy, also about discriminating against people who don't want to have the vaccine or who cannot. well, i agree that domestically you do start to raise issues about civil liberties. it is becoming an increasingly political issue, so it is more difficult to really understand how that will work. and i think there are also some quite tricky logistic issues getting that information and then making it work. because if everything... life were to become a permanent queuing process if you had to prove you are immune in some way to do all these things that we normally do all the time. so i can see that there are challenges, but i can also see why it is also being explored. i think much more tricky to be honest than the international question. one of the pilot schemes to get people back together is taking place

in liverpool and involves the outdoor luna cinema. a short time ago, i spoke to their managing director george wood, who said they are working with the city council and university on a series of events. in the instance of the luna cinema, it is open air. we are putting on three nights of open air cinema in the waterfront in liverpool and it really is as we understand it a chance to return to full capacity and for the government to actually analyse the data of how these events can run in a safe way with people back to pre—covid levels of capacity. from our side, anything we can do to support the return of live events in this country, we all feel passionate about. we are proud to be a part of it. yes, i think the whole country is going to be watching this experiment and really hoping it goes very well. how many people can you take there at the cinema? without social distancing and that is the whole aim of this we are looking at a capacity of 1000

people per night. we run these events, we have been running open air cinema for 12 years and it was last year we moved to a socially distanced layout where there was two metres between each visiting group and it worked perfectly well and it was exactly the right thing for 2020. but obviously we are itching to get back to full capacities in 2021. so these events, hopefully, if they are the way out of this and the way back to full capacity for the wider events industry, then great. and so are you going to be asking for these so—called covid passports or certifications? the way the testing is going to be done is still, i think the devil is in the detail as we know in all of these things. and over the coming days and weeks, i think the detail will be released. all of the testing side of the events will be carried out by the team from liverpool city council and the university. so that will be coming out. in terms of what we are providing, we will be presenting the backdrop, the opportunity for local people

to come and enjoy a film under the stars. and in terms of how that testing will be managed, we will work as closely as we can to make sure we are providing a suitable backdrop for what is essentially a science experiment. we all want to see that the data shows that the return to full capacity is something that can be supported notjust by public sentiment, but by the data as well. we will see how that comes out in the detail in the coming days. what do you personally think about the idea of covid passports showing that you have either had the vaccine or you have had a negative test or you have got immunity because you have had the disease in the last six months? our take on it is very much we all want the return of life events. we all know that to really get back to what we all love dearly, you need an audience of a certain size in a certain proximity. spaced out audience of a lower capacityjust does not deliver the experience that comedy,

theatre, music and even open air cinema, as we put on, that it needs, that it requires for the atmosphere to be right. in terms of how we get back to that, i think there has to be a route that the public can feel confident booking tickets, that they understand the rules, that we all get exactly what we are working with here. in terms of how that is done, let's see. we need something that works everyone, that doesn't discriminate, but also allows people to feel safe when they come back to public events. that is what we are all keen to do right now. that was george ward who is the managing director of the luna cinema and liverpool. let's look at our latest headlines in bbc news. a plan for the return of large public gatherings. the fa cup final — will be among the pilot events for the government's covid passport scheme in england. a traffic light system is being planned for the re—introduction of international travel from england. but there's a warning not to book foreign holidays just yet. the former crown prince ofjordan says he's been placed under house arrest — as part of a crackdown on government critics.

gavin has got all the latest sport for us. and the latest on the premier league action. what's happening today? indeed. thank you very much. there's already a second half on to the game. the day's premier league action is under way — two teams near the wrong end of the table, southampton and burnley, are facing each other and it's already quite a game on the south coast. they're in to the second half at st mary's and it's currently two apiece — all the goals in the opening 45 minutes. aston villa take on fulham later while manchester united and brighton is the evening game. newcastle against tottenham kicks off just after two — with spurs bossjose mourinho believing his side need help from others to secure a top four finish. after every match, the ambition and the confidence to win the match, the next match, to reach the championship position, i don't think we depend on anything but ourselves,

and results from other teams. i'm not going to say we are going to do it or we are not going to do it. we have to go one game at a time. there are five games in the women's super league this afternoon. chelsea have a two point lead at the top of the table and they're playing in the early kick—off against birmingham city. they lead 2—0 at half—time, sam kerr with the opener after erin cuthbert�*s shot was saved. everton against aston villa is also under way — that's goalless at the moment. the league cup final later this month at wembley has been approved as an official crowd test event. it's been confirmed that the clash between tottenham hotspur and manchester city will be played in front of 8,000 spectators. a number of tickets will be allocated to fans from both clubs for the tie in three weeks time. there will also be tickets made available to local residents and nhs staff as a thank you for their service during the covid—i9 pandemic. carl frampton announced his retirement in the ring

after being stopped byjamel herring in the sixth round of their wbo super—featherweight contest. the 34—year—old was hoping to become ireland's first three—weight world champion. but — after being dropped in the fifth round — frampton took a devastating left uppercut in the sixth, sending him to the canvas. he carried on, but shortly afterwards his corner threw in the towel. and frampton decided it would be his last fight. england's charley hull's hopes of victory at the a—n—a inspiration tournament in california are slipping away. a one—under 71 on her penultimate round at the mission hills country club kept hull in contention, and tied for fifth, but she is now seven shots behind thai leader patty tavatanakit. the team led by 2016 formula one world champion nico rosberg, rxr, has won the inaugural extreme e event in saudi arabia. the sport is making its debut in saudi arabia, the first of five extreme enviroments over the year to highlight climate change and promote sustainability. australian molly taylor was first over the finish line, beating andrettir united and lewis hamilton's x44.

beth potter has run the second fastest time ever over five kilometres on the road by a female athlete at a race in lancashire last night. the 29—year—old from glasgow clocked a time of 1a minutes and 41 seconds. it only really started to sink in when i had another kilometre to go and it said 11 something on the clock. and i was trying to do the maths in my head. i was convinced the clock was wrong. ijust maths in my head. i was convinced the clock was wrong. i just could not believe it. cricket finally and australia's women have set a new world record. their six wicket victory over new zealand is their 22nd successive win and becomes the longest winning run in odi history. the achievement beats the record previously held by ricky ponting's australia men's team. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. that's bbc.co.uk/sport.

with all the latest of the football. many thanks indeed for all of that. as case numbers continue to rise in germany many health experts are calling for an immediate lockdown. but angela merkel — who's urged regional leaders to introduce tougher restrictions — is facing stiff opposition. jenny hill reports from the city of marburg. spring has brought some life back to germany. but it has also delivered soaring case numbers and a confusing variety of restrictions. sandra is open for business, but her cafe is closed, her takings down by 80%. marburg is a tourist town, she says. it isa it is a big problem. they are a large part of our turnover and at the moment they cannot come. we plan from day to day, week

to week and in the evenings we watch what the politicians decide. those politicians are watching marburg as well. biontech claim their new factory here will be able to produce 1 billion doses of vaccine a year. good news for germany, which has givenjust 12% of the population a first vaccination. and astrazeneca vaccine is restricted to the over—60s. weary and frustrated, angela merkel wished she wants regional leaders to impose tougher emergency restrictions, but they are resisting. leading the rebellion, the man widely expected to succeed angela markel when she steps down later this year. armin laschet says he will think about it over easter. for the mayor of marburg the time for reflection is over. translation: in the short time,

it would be the right thing to do, | given that infection rate is rising exponentially. but in the long run, we need a different strategy. a long—lasting lockdown is unbearable for the people. a survey suggests that most germans would support a lockdown, but they also reveal that this country is getting fed up. as you can see, it is not nice. one could say devastating. we are not getting out of the situation. i think england, withjohnson, is currently doing better in vaccinating their people and being more pragmatic and to get at least the first vaccination done. people ask what has gone wrong for germany. some point to inflexibility, a reluctance to adapt structures, but many more blame its political leaders who have been unable, unwilling to agree a common strategy. it has cost the lives and come this september elections, it could cost angela merkel�*s conservatives another term in office.

the easter service took place with no congregation. as a country emerges from the pandemic. also at the service from canterbury cathedral, we saw the spiritual choir performed this version of hallelujah. singing. that comes now after choirs are now allowed to perform after being silenced after the pandemic. karen gibson is conductor and founder of the kingdom choir in london. i asked her what it was like to be singing again. it is like a huge relief.

it is like a huge exhale and you know i think for everybody it is at last we can sing together again. how hard has it been? it has been so hard for everybody. but for you not to be able to sing. pretty tough, to be honest. it is about singing, but it is really about connection and about being with one another. so when you just can't be with one another, there is something missing. you can meet over zoom but it is not quite the same. yourfounder and conductor of the the kindgdom choir, just tell us what kind of stuff you're going to do during the next few weeks. we've got some lovely performances coming up. we are going to be going on tour next year. we are going to be rehearsing for that. we are going to be releasing new music soon. we are very excited. in

to be releasing new music soon. we are very excited.— are very excited. in terms of sinuain are very excited. in terms of singing in — are very excited. in terms of singing in church _ are very excited. in terms of singing in church and - are very excited. in terms of l singing in church and inquires, are very excited. in terms of - singing in church and inquires, what difference does it make, do you think, to the congregation and to the whole service itself when you don't have a choir? when you don't have any singing? it is don't have a choir? when you don't have any singing?— have any singing? it is quite difficult. it— have any singing? it is quite difficult. it is— have any singing? it is quite difficult. it is very _ have any singing? it is quite difficult. it is very surreal. have any singing? it is quite l difficult. it is very surreal and very unusual. to go to church and not be able to sing, to have to have your mask on. what people tend to do is they hum along anyway because they are used to expressing their worship through song. however worship through song. however worship is about a connection with god, so that does not go away, it is just the expression that is a little bit unusual. just the expression that is a little bit unusual-— bit unusual. you are able to get back to singing, _ bit unusual. you are able to get back to singing, but _ bit unusual. you are able to get back to singing, but what - bit unusual. you are able to get back to singing, but what sort l bit unusual. you are able to get| back to singing, but what sort of restrictions are there still on you? according to the space that you are in, you have to be mindful of the numbers, we have to be socially distanced. we still have to wear our mask in and out of the building,

we've got our temperature taken. a flow of where we can walk in the building, how we sit or where were standing. and the direction we are facing, we are very, very mindful to make sure that we keep everybody safe. ., ., , ., safe. how many are in the the kindgdom _ safe. how many are in the the kindgdom choir? _ safe. how many are in the the kindgdom choir? can - safe. how many are in the the kindgdom choir? can they - safe. how many are in the the kindgdom choir? can they alll kindgdom choir? can they all partake? kindgdom choir? can they all artake? ., ., ., ., ., partake? no, not at all. there are about 40 members _ partake? no, not at all. there are about 40 members and _ partake? no, not at all. there are about 40 members and we - partake? no, not at all. there are about 40 members and we can i partake? no, not at all. there are i about 40 members and we can only have 16 at a time, which is challenging. because we all like to be together, but we've got to abide by the restrictions. that be together, but we've got to abide by the restrictions.— by the restrictions. that was karen gibson talking _ by the restrictions. that was karen gibson talking to _ by the restrictions. that was karen gibson talking to me _ by the restrictions. that was karen gibson talking to me the _ by the restrictions. that was karen gibson talking to me the founder. by the restrictions. that was karen i gibson talking to me the founder and conductor of the the kindgdom choir in london. dozens of young activists in myanmar have decorated easter eggs with anti—coup slogans and pictures as part of a coordinated social media campaign. some protesters were seen handing out the eggs in yangon, but most posted anonymous photos in a bid to attract international attention while avoiding police brutality. street protests against the military

coup have also continued in several towns and cities. a civil society group monitoring civilian deaths says 557 people had been killed by the authorities since the february first coup. and easter has come early for the littlest member of one family in the uk... elizabeth,the four—year—old elephant, has enjoyed some easter treats, laid out by her zoo keepers in the small english village of whipsnade. she is the youngest of the zoo's herd of endangered asian elephants. zoos in the uk have been closed to visitors due to lockdown restrictions, but are currently scheduled to reopen on april 12, when many outdoor attractions are set to open back up. that is a list some fun with easter eggs. let's see what the weather

forecast is. how is it looking, darren? we've got some eastern sunshine —— easter sunshine. we've got some eastern sunshine —— eastersunshine. not we've got some eastern sunshine —— easter sunshine. not so good for tomorrow, because things are going tomorrow, because things are going to get colder and windier. arctic air is going to sweep down and it's going to feel really cold and there could be some wintry showers too. with the wind no longer off the north sea, we've got the sunshine out widely across england and whales. patchy rain will be coming down into scotland. for at parts of england, 15 or 16 maybe even 17 degrees. we will have sunshine to finish the day. patchy rain will be coming overnight. in the air will get colder. the winds will pick up and the showers will turn more wintry. there will be a widespread

frost. not quite so cold elsewhere. we've still got cloud and patchy rain. a little bit of wintriness and that. that will move away and we are into the arctic air everywhere. mostly showers coming into northern ireland over the irish sea, down the seacoast perhaps into east anglia. but the bulk of the snow will be across northern parts of scotland. it will be a windy day. 60, 70 across northern parts of scotland. it will be a windy day. 60,70 mph. temperatures will be much lower everywhere. three to 9 degrees. but when you add on the strength of the wind, it will feel more like midwinter. a lot of places are going to be dry and will have clear skies overnight as well. early tuesday may two more widespread frost and icy patches. we have still got the wintry showers, hail, sleet and snow, around the eastern coast. we could get some wintry showers in land across scotland running down

into northern england perhaps later