this is bbc news. the headlines at five. a senior conservative mp warns borisjohnson he'll lose the support of so—called �*red wall�* voters in former labour seats unless he resolves the row about lobbying. the two russian men suspected of carrying out the salisbury nerve agent attack in 2018 are being sought by police in the czech republic. the czechs, for example, in the past until quite recently have been quite reticent about basically picking a fight with moscow. and it's quite interesting now the czechs have pivoted and they're being very, very robust in their response. a warning from nhs providers — its chief executive says it will take five years for some hospitals to catch up with the backlog caused by the pandemic. once the world's largest iceberg, but now no more.

satellite images show the "mega—berg" has virtually gone. nasa is attempting to make history with the first powered flight on another planet with a helicopter mission on mars. good afternoon, welcome to bbc news. the environment secretary george eustice has told the bbc that the government will "look at" any recommendations made to change the rules around lobbying. inquiries have begun into former prime minister david cameron's communications with cabinet ministers while working for the collapsed firm, greensill capital. it comes as one senior conservative mp warns borisjohnson he'll lose support from former labour voters unless he resolves the row over lobbying. our political correspondent nick eardley has this report.

david cameron's lobbying of ministers on behalf of a finance company he worked for has led to wider questions about the relationship between government and the private sector and about possible conflicts of interest. a number of inquiries have been set up to look at the issues. the environment secretary used to work for mr cameron. he insisted his former boss hadn't broken the rules, but there was a hint the rules might have to change. it may be something that is... that is looked at, as a result of all this and i said there's a number of parliamentary committees that are exploring it. it absolutely does matter to the prime minister, which is why he set up a review. but not to you, you don't think there's a big problem? no, what i'm saying is there may be a problem, which is why we've set up a review. there's concern this row will impact on trust in politics. lobbying is part of what goes on here, lots of people try to influence their mps in different ways. but listen to this, from a senior tory...

boris defeated what he regarded, had described as, an out—of—touch elite in the 2016 referendum and won a general election victory. he is seen as different from his predecessors. and has won a lot of support as a consequence. and he will lose that support, unless he acts decisively now. labour's rachel reeves faced questions this morning, too, about why the former labour first minister of wales took a job despite being advised not to by an independent committee. the party thinks the rules, more broadly, need tightening up. what we've seen this week is that tory sleaze is back and that - it's bigger than ever. we need real change to restore trust in our democracy and in the very- essence of public service, - which matters to so many of us and matters to people in our country. we've seen a steady stream of questions in recent weeks about the connections between

politics and private companies. many, from government to opposition, are now looking for answers. nick eardley, bbc news. police in the czech republic say they want to question the two russian men suspected of carrying out the salisbury nerve agent attack after linking them to a fatal explosion four years earlier. 18 russian diplomats have been expelled from prague, after the czech government said there was strong evidence moscow was involved in the blast. this comes as the foreign secretary dominic raab says the british government stands in full support of the czech republic, he's called the actions of russian intelligence services �*reckless and dangerous'. gareth barlow reports. the czech republic, 2014. an explosion at an arms depot leaves two people dead, damages nearby homes and sends smoke rising from the ruins. following years of investigations, the czech authorities allege these two men were behind the blast. alexander mishkin and anatoliy chepiga, also

known as alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov, the two russian intelligence officers the uk says in 2018 carried out the poisoning of a former russian agent on british soil. announcing the news on saturday, the czech foreign minister said 18 russian diplomats would now have to leave the country. translation: as foreign minister of the czech republic, _ i made the decision to expel all personnel at the russian embassy in prague, identified by our secret services as officers of russia's secret services. within 48 hours, 18 staff of the russian embassy must leave the czech republic. the czech prime minister said the two suspects were members of the gru, russia's military intelligence service. a senior russian parliamentarian called the claim absurd. it all follows tit—for—tat expulsions of diplomats by the us and russia at the end of last week and western concern over the build—up of russian troops along the ukrainian border.

the latest development a serious escalation in a region that is already on a political knife edge. gareth barlow, bbc news. well, earlier our security correspondent gordon corera told us that the explosion in the czech republic in 2014 was widely assumed to be an accident. but after the salisbury poisonings, investigators then went back over the evidence. one of the things they found was an e—mail requesting access to the arms depot that blew up with the names of two people who wanted to visit it. when they looked at the pictures attached to the passport scans requesting that access, they could see these were the same images as the men that are alleged to have carried out the salisbury poisoning. they had entered the czech republic using the same cover names, the same false names they used when they came to the uk in 2018. so, a trail of evidence built up suggesting that this same unit of russian military intelligence had carried out this blast in 2014, possibly targeting a bulgarian arms dealer

and then some of those individuals had gone on to carry out the salisbury poisoning. russia has, of course, denied any role in this but the czechs are clearly taking it seriously, expelling 18 diplomats from russia who they say are intelligence operatives, and suggesting another sign of growing tension over russian intelligence activity. 0ur security correspondent talking to us earlier today. nhs providers has warned that it will take five years for some hospitals to catch up with the backlog of patient care caused by the coronavirus pandemic. the trusts in england worst impacted won't return to pre—covid levels for between three to five years. that's from the association which represents nhs trusts. while, nhs providers also says that covid—19 has resulted in the biggest while nhs providers also says that covid—19 has resulted in the biggest backlog of care in england for 20 years. earlier, i spoke to the chief executive of nhs providers, chris hopson. i started by asking him what he thinks could be done to improve the situation. well, i think it is going to be a very important

and challenging task. what we have said today is that we need a plan, a team plan, between the nhs and the government. 0n the nhs side, we are going to have to do do a range of different things. we're going to have to be bold and transformational. we're going to need to change the way that we provide some of this care. that's going to need the government to come up with some extra funding. in the past, you may remember for example, in the early 2000, for example, in the early 2000s, when we had similar sizes of waiting list problems, we sort of got round it by paying more overtime by using the private sector. this time, particularly given the range of things that we have to do at the same time, we're going to have to be bolder. we're going to have to do adopt, for example, new technology solutions. we're going to have to get trusts working together much more effectively to improve productivity and efficiency but the bit that is really important is that this is a very big challenge. this is... people have been doing some work over the last month to really look at how they will plan to deal with this and the conclusion that they have come to is that,

as you have said, in the worst areas, in the areas with the biggest problem, on the current trajectory, they're currently looking at a three to five year period to get through that backlog. everybody knows that's not appropriate. we're going to have to do better. we're going to have to work with government to help get a plan to do that. i think you've just set out there how big a challenge this is. so, is three to five years too optimistic? no, i don't think it is. again, it's really interesting talking to trust chief executives as i do every day of the week. they're absolutely clear that every single statistic on the waiting list, there are 4.7 million people currently waiting for care, is... they know the pain that people have and they know the impact that this can have. i think what particularly worries people is that we know that if you leave these for too long, you get into places, where, for example, people actually experience permanent disability. you get to a point where actually,

people will never be able to go back to work. so, every single trust executive is aware of the consequences of these delays. but this, i'm afraid, is one of the prices of covid—19, which effectively is, as soon as we got hit with covid—19, we had to dial back on the amount of selective surgery that we were doing. that was the only way that we could create the space to treat covid patients. we're not in the situation because the nhs hasn't been doing what it should be doing. it's been having to focus elsewhere and that is the challenge that we've got. and that focus elsewhere on the pandemic, on covid—19, that is likely to affect staffing levels within the nhs. i visited a hospital a few months ago during the pandemic and the majority of the staff that i spoke with there told me that they were really considering their future working within the nhs, so if the staff numbers aren't there, you have an even bigger problem here. yes, absolutely. i think one of the things that we've been saying is that it's not

just about the many. it's absolutely about having the right size of workforce. so, we know that we need to support our staff, who've been through some very, very difficult periods in the last 12 months but have done some absolutely amazing things and we need to retain our staff. we also need to ensure that we grow the workforce, but we also know and you're mentioning about how we run covid and ordinary care alongside each other, here's a great example. we know that during covid, we had to take a number of operating theatres out of commission. we had to ask anaesthetists because we were short of intensive care unit staff, we had to ask them, who were used to dealing with patients, for example who need mechanical ventilation, we had to ask them to help out with covid—19 patients. one of the problems we face is, you've got to realistically assume that there will be more covid—19 waves, so how do you ensure that at the same time as dealing with those waves, you can allow hospitals to continue to elective surgery activity, so you don't have to divert the anaesthetists off doing elective surgery

and you don't have to divert your operating theatres out of commission in order to create makeshift icu you space. makeshift icu space. so, there's a whole bunch of issues that the nhs faces here about everyone to get through this backlog quicker than three to five years in the workplace, which is what we absolutely must do, we've got to do things differently but we need the government to make the funding available to do that. chris hopson talking to me earlier. let's take a look at the latest coronavirus statistics for the uk. another 1,882 have tested positive for covid—19 in the latest 24—hour period. a further ten deaths have been recorded within 28 days of a positive test. and that brings the total number of deaths in the uk to 127,270. 0ver 32.8 million people have now received their first dose of a covid vaccine, and latest figures show over 9.9 million people have had their second dose.

meanwhile, health officials say they're studying the latest covid variant which has emerged in india, to see whether it can spread more easily, or evade vaccines. more than 70 cases have been identified in the uk, leading to calls that india should be put on the government's �*red list�* for travel. the environment secretary george eustice has been explaining the reason why this isn�*t yet the case. we�*re allowing people in from india, providing they have had a predeparture test, providing they then quarantine, albeit not in a hotel or a designated facility, but quarantining at home, and then have a test at two and eight days. so, there are quite a lot of robust tests and checks for everybody coming into the country. but we keep this under regular review and we take the advice of scientific experts on this. if the advice was to change that and move them onto a red list, then we would. earlier, i spoke with danny altmann, professor of immunology at imperial college london. i asked him how worried people

should be about this new variant. i suppose what i would say is we should _ i suppose what i would say is we should be — i suppose what i would say is we should be as worried about this one as we _ should be as worried about this one as we should be worried about the other_ as we should be worried about the other similar variant. we have variants — other similar variant. we have variants popping up in various places— variants popping up in various places in_ variants popping up in various places in the world. people know about _ places in the world. people know about south africa, brazil, this one, _ about south africa, brazil, this one. and — about south africa, brazil, this one, and they share changes. we're getting _ one, and they share changes. we're getting to _ one, and they share changes. we're getting to know some of the properties — which one to spread better— properties — which one to spread better and — properties — which one to spread better and evade immunity better? this one _ better and evade immunity better? this one looks like it has those features — this one looks like it has those features. ~ , ., ._ this one looks like it has those features. ~ , ., features. one minister today said there is no _ features. one minister today said there is no evidence _ features. one minister today said there is no evidence the - features. one minister today said there is no evidence the indian i there is no evidence the indian variant can evade vaccines. what the timescale on working that out? 50. timescale on working that out? so, all four labs — timescale on working that out? so, all four labs are working like crazy at the _ all four labs are working like crazy at the moment. we don't know until the data _ at the moment. we don't know until the data is— at the moment. we don't know until the data is in. my assumption is that viruses that have this change do tend _ that viruses that have this change do tend to — that viruses that have this change do tend to be quite good at getting antibodies and ones who have the

change _ antibodies and ones who have the change are — antibodies and ones who have the change are more transmissible. you mentioned _ change are more transmissible. you mentioned the 200,000 cases per day in india~ _ mentioned the 200,000 cases per day in india. that correlates, if you like. _ in india. that correlates, if you like. with— in india. that correlates, if you like, with 60% of the virus sequences being of this type. i agree — sequences being of this type. i agree that if the cause, but it nright— agree that if the cause, but it might account for this.- agree that if the cause, but it might account for this. more than 70 cases of this — might account for this. more than 70 cases of this variant _ might account for this. more than 70 cases of this variant reported - might account for this. more than 70 cases of this variant reported here. | cases of this variant reported here. are we identifying these variants quickly enough? i are we identifying these variants quickly enough?— are we identifying these variants quickly enough? i hope so. at the moment, quickly enough? i hope so. at the moment. l _ quickly enough? i hope so. at the moment, ifeel_ quickly enough? i hope so. at the moment, i feel like _ quickly enough? i hope so. at the moment, i feel like genomics - quickly enough? i hope so. at the i moment, i feel like genomics and... the testing — moment, i feel like genomics and... the testing are going extremely well _ the testing are going extremely well. and i hope we can crack down on any— well. and i hope we can crack down on any outbreaks and catch them before _ on any outbreaks and catch them before they spread, but we have to before they spread, but we have to be really. _ before they spread, but we have to be really, really vigilant. gn before they spread, but we have to be really, really vigilant.— be really, really vigilant. on that, if the cases _ be really, really vigilant. on that, if the cases are _ be really, really vigilant. on that, if the cases are already _ be really, really vigilant. on that, if the cases are already here, - be really, really vigilant. on that, if the cases are already here, is i be really, really vigilant. on that, if the cases are already here, is itj if the cases are already here, is it too late to place india on the red list? ., �* ,

too late to place india on the red list? . �* , ., too late to place india on the red list? . �*, ., . list? that's a political decision, not one for— list? that's a political decision, not one for scientists. - list? that's a political decision, not one for scientists. i - list? that's a political decision, not one for scientists. i see - list? that's a political decision, j not one for scientists. i see the concern — not one for scientists. i see the concern not _ not one for scientists. i see the concern notjust india or brazil or south _ concern notjust india or brazil or south africa, but all of them, including _ south africa, but all of them, including the ones we haven't yet sequenced that will be popping up as our biggest danger. why not be cautious? — our biggest danger. why not be cautious? why not err on the side of caution _ cautious? why not err on the side of caution. ., , ~' caution. comes in the week when thins caution. comes in the week when things start _ caution. comes in the week when things start to — caution. comes in the week when things start to open _ caution. comes in the week when things start to open up _ caution. comes in the week when things start to open up again. - caution. comes in the week when things start to open up again. it | things start to open up again. it looks like normality is starting to return, so what effect could these variants like the one from india have on the restrictions easing? well, like everyone else, i hope will not — well, like everyone else, i hope will not carry on with the road map and everything will be ok and so far, and everything will be ok and so far. so— and everything will be ok and so far, so good. ijust think variants like this— far, so good. ijust think variants like this one _ far, so good. ijust think variants like this one to have the ability to cause _ like this one to have the ability to cause damage to people who've only have one _ cause damage to people who've only have one vaccine dose or no vaccine doses, _ have one vaccine dose or no vaccine doses, and — have one vaccine dose or no vaccine doses, and could set us back, so

let's— doses, and could set us back, so let's be — doses, and could set us back, so let's be careful.— let's be careful. professor danny altman from _ let's be careful. professor danny altman from imperial— let's be careful. professor danny altman from imperial college i let's be careful. professor danny - altman from imperial college london. and across the world, the global number of covid—19 deaths has now passed three million. in brazil, more than 370,000 people have now died, yet the president there refuses to lock down despite a sharp rise in infections. mark lowen sent us this from sao paolo. every day, the faces of despair multiply. the food lines in sao paulo�*s largest favela go on and on. with most here working in the grey economy, covid has destroyed jobs. queues have more than tripled in recent months, as the pandemic takes lives and livelihoods of brazil�*s poorest. for luciana firmino and herfamily, this is now their only meal of the day. she lost herjob in a manicure studio with the pandemic and they�*re unable to pay the rent. translation: i've lost hope. we will have to live on the street or under a bridge soon.

sometimes, i think i should give my children away to social services. she sobs. with the pandemic, six out of ten brazilians households brazilian households now lack sufficient access to food. government hand—outs last year helped, but they�*ve been reduced as money ran scarce. no such concerns for the wealthiest food producers and backers of the president. it�*s corn harvest time on frederico da vila�*s 1,300 hectares. but with the president�*s anti—lockdown stance, slow vaccine purchase, and more than 365,000 dead here, his critics call his handling genocidal. the president bolsonaro is not focused on killing anyone, he want to preserve the liberties of the people. he want people to get...

to get out, to get work. with the public health disaster, economic woes, to get out, to get work. with the public health disaster, economic woes, and a divisive leader, brazil is facing a perfect storm. it urgently needs a way out from the darkness of the pandemic. mark lowen, bbc news, sao paulo. supporters of the jailed russian opposition activist, alexei navalny, have said he could die within days. doctors say blood tests indicate he�*s at risk of both kidney and heart failure. mr navalny has been on a hunger strike for more than two weeks, because he�*s not being allowed access to his own medical team. the european union says it is deeply concerned about reports of his health and has called for his release. speaking on the andrew marr show russia�*s ambassador to the uk, andrei kelin, was asked if mr navalny would be allowed to die in prison. he will not be allowed to die in prison but i can say that mr navalny behaves like a hooligan, absolutely, in trying to violate every rule that has been established. his purpose of doing

that is to attract attention for him, also by saying that today his left hand is sick, tomorrow his leg is sick and all of that stuff... the european court of human rights has ruled that the charges against him for the money laundering are, they say, arbitrary and unfair. isn�*t the truth that he is in prison because he is a threat to president putin, for democratic reasons? no, not at all. he has violated his terms of parole and that is why he has been given a sentence and i have to say that julian assange here in britain was arrested by british police because he had also violated the terms of parole. sarah rainsford is our correspondent in moscow. sarah, what more do we know about mr navalny�*s health condition at the moment? it�*s navalny's health condition at the moment? �*, , , navalny's health condition at the moment? �*, , ., moment? it's impossible to get independent — moment? it's impossible to get independent information. - moment? it's impossible to get independent information. the l moment? it's impossible to get - independent information. the prison aren�*t talking directly and the main source of information is coming from alexei navalny�*s team. they�*ve been

sounding the alarm over this weekend. they�*ve been putting out very strong statements warning that his health is hanging by a thread. they have said that he�*s been killed before people�*s eyes and they�*re warning very much that this is a critical moment. they�*ve actually published what they say our blood test results which point to particularly high potassium levels, which doctors say mean he�*s at risk of cardiac arrest at any moment. so, really, sounding the alarm, concerned about mr navalny�*s health. that�*s why they�*re calling supporters to take to the streets to demand his release, to demand that this critical situation doesn�*t come to past. he is of course on a hunger strike. it�*s been 19 days since alexei navalny has been refusing all food and only raking water. sarah rainsford in _ food and only raking water. sarah rainsford in moscow, _ food and only raking water. sarah rainsford in moscow, thank - food and only raking water. sarah rainsford in moscow, thank you. what was the biggest iceberg in the world has

completely broken up. a68, as it was known, measured around two thousand three hundred square miles when it broke away from antarctica, in 2017. here�*s victoria gill. a1 billion tonne block of ice. when iceberg a68 broke away from antarctica back in 2017, it measured more than 2,300 square miles, a quarter the size of wales. it was only by imaging it from space that scientists could actually follow the massive iceberg�*s journey as it inched its way north. at one point, it was on a direct collision course with the antarctic island of south georgia, potentially threatening to cut off vast populations of penguins and seals. but it was off that coast in the open ocean swell that the world�*s largest iceberg broke apart. it lasted for years like that, as it moved around, but eventually broke in two, four, five pieces and then those broke up again. but the end point for some of these fragments was quite interesting because just very suddenly overnight, theyjust fragmented

into millions of little tiny pieces. and you could see that on the satellite data. and that process, i think, is something that needs studying a little bit more because it might tell us a little bit about how ice shelves break up in the future. a68 being the size of a small country made it the focus of global media attention. but the breaking away, or calving, of these giant icebergs is a natural part of the ebb and flow of the dynamic ice shelf. what we are looking at is the regularity of these events — are they becoming more frequent? and iceberg calving is a big factor in ice loss from antarctica. so, if these iceberg calving events are becoming more frequent, then it's a really important factor that we need to be looking at and researching. while a68 will be remembered as a social media star that was visible from space, scientists will now be turning their attention to the newest chasm on the edge of the vast ice sheet and the next giant berg to set off on its own epicjourney.

victoria gill, bbc news. nasa is attempting to make history with the first powered flight on another planet. it will launch a small helicopter, called ingenuity, from the surface of mars. on board is a small piece of history from earth, a tiny square of material from the wright brothers plane that first flew over a century ago. as our science correspondent rebecca morelle reports, it�*s a trial of technology that could transform how we explore distant worlds. the parachute has deployed... this mission has already revealed mars as never seen before with the first—ever footage of a thrilling dissent as the rover is lowered down to the martian surface. now nasa is ready to make history again. this time, it�*ll try to launch a helicopter. the first attempt at powered flight on another planet,

this animation reveals how it might look with the extreme conditions on mars and the fact that there�*s barely any atmosphere, it will be easy. fit barely any atmosphere, it will be eas . , �* , , easy. of course, we've been flying on earth for— easy. of course, we've been flying on earth forjust _ easy. of course, we've been flying on earth forjust over _ easy. of course, we've been flying on earth forjust over a _ easy. of course, we've been flying on earth forjust over a hundred i on earth forjust over a hundred years and now we�*re going to go to another planet, fine. it�*s crazy, right? that�*s the beauty of engineering. right? that's the beauty of engineering.— right? that's the beauty of enuaineerin. ,., engineering. nasa's helicopter is a feat of engineering. _ engineering. nasa's helicopter is a feat of engineering. it _ engineering. nasa's helicopter is a feat of engineering. it weighs - engineering. nasa's helicopter is a feat of engineering. it weighsjust| feat of engineering. it weighs just 1.8 kilograms — that�*s £4— and it has two long rotors which is in opposite direction —— four lbs. this is much faster than a helicopter on earth. its first test flight takes it three metres above the ground for 30 seconds before rotating and finally landing. then for the next 30 days, it will begin to fly much further afield. the helicopter has been lowered from where it was

stored beneath the rover onto a carefully selected strip of terrain, free of boulders. it will catch a footage as it flies, looking down on the rover and the rover�*s camera will film the helicopter, providing multiple views for the scientists. it can traverse places without being hindered _ it can traverse places without being hindered by the terrain. just kind of scouting for our future rovers, perhaps. — of scouting for our future rovers, perhaps. or _ of scouting for our future rovers, perhaps, or even for astronauts. the helico ter perhaps, or even for astronauts. the helic0pter is — perhaps, or even for astronauts. tie: helicopter is part of perhaps, or even for astronauts. ti9 helicopter is part of nasa's perhaps, or even for astronauts. ti9: helicopter is part of nasa's most helicopter is part of nasa�*s most ambitious mars mission to date. these are all images taken in the last few weeks. 0n the ground, the rover will be searching for signs of life. the helicopter will add an airborne dimension to how we explore other planets. 0pening airborne dimension to how we explore other planets. opening up new frontiers in flight. rebecca morelle, bbc news. this weekend marks 70 years since the peak district became a national park. it was the first in britain, allowing people to walk on moorland without being prosecuted. judy hobson has the story.

piano music plays. this landscape has been protected for 70 years for all of us. 555 square miles of natural beauty. so, this is heading up grindsbrook, up to the top of kinder scout... and it�*s the job of rangers like anna to help us appreciate it. so, we�*re kind of the link between the landscape and visitors and residents, i guess, so it�*s about advising people that are coming out, making sure they�*re having a good time and not doing any damage. the first ranger, i think, had a horse, so, i don�*t have a horse — that�*s changed quite a bit. although i do have a pick—up truck, so i can�*t complain! i would say they were all men at the start, and now it�*s kind of 50—50.

so, why was the national park created? this is one of the most popular areas of the peak district, butjust imagine, before the national park was formed, you were not allowed to walk across fantastic open moorland like this. file: the cpre are now fighting for great tracts of land to be i used as national parks. other countries have their national parks, like america's yosemite. workers in cities like manchester and sheffield needed access to the countryside, but the moors were strictly preserved for grouse shooting. the mass trespass on kinder scout in 1932 showed the strength of feeling that people should have access to this landscape. the same year, the rights of way act was passed. our town parks have to be cramped, so let us have the great, open country. 19 years later, the peak district becomes britain�*s first national park — walkers can now stray off footpaths without fear of prosecution.

it was hugely important - for the public to be able to roam, to be able to enjoy the countryside on their doorstep. _ it was a green lung for those people. i the peak district is britain�*s most accessible national park. more than 13 million people visit it every year, 20 million live within an hour�*s travel. and while here, they can enjoy 1600 miles of public rights of way. the peak district national park is probably, in my view, - more relevant today than it has been over the entirety- of its 70 years of existence. i�*m really grateful to be able to have these places to explore and see wildlife and get off the beaten track. this is the legacy of those who campaigned for the right to roam, so all of us can appreciate this precious landscape. judy hobson, bbc news. viewers on bbc one will be joining

us shortly for the latest headlines with clive myrie. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello. we�*ve seen a lot of sunshine across the uk through the weekend. more cloud around on sunday across scotland and northern ireland. but through the week ahead, it will be the dry and sunny weather that dominates, maybe even beyond that. for northern ireland, there was some rain around fora for northern ireland, there was some rain around for a western scotland as well, but that could be most significant rain we see for the uk as a whole in the next ten days or so. the rain courtesy of this weather front, so. the rain courtesy of this weatherfront, but so. the rain courtesy of this weather front, but as you can see by the time we get into monday, high pressure has lung dome i pumped it largely offshore. —— has lumped it. skies will clear after dark and temperatures will fall quite.

temperatures will fall we skies will clear after dark and temperatures will fall we do just clean it onto a bit of cloud. patchy fog will develop across parts of eastern england, but the sun should make short work of that early on monday. after a chilly start, a lot of sunshine for england and wales and scotland as that front pushes further northwards. it also becomes largely confined to the west of northern ireland, so eastern counties should enjoy some decent brightness, 14 in belfast. monday, the warmest day of the week ahead, up the warmest day of the week ahead, up to 17 degrees. and one of the milder knights overnight monday is tuesday. we should be frost free. we have just got a little bit of southerly air direction and on tuesday, again, across england and wales, some fairly reasonable temperatures. highs of 15 or 16 degrees. but our weather front does eventually start to try and push his way south across the uk by tuesday, so a little bit of rain for eastern scotland, clear skies to the north, under those clear skies, we will see a frost starting to return.

overnight tuesday into wednesday... the cooler air, not much rain coming along with that front. a few showers across england and wales, but it�*s that plunge into the cooler arctic air and the pick—up of a northerly airstream that will make things feel quite different towards the end of the week. still looking drive but temperature is up 16, 17 on monday. lucky to get 13 or 14 for thursday and friday.

millions enjoy the sun, but there are worries over new covid variants. health officials are investigating 77 cases in england and scotland of an indian mutation of the coronavirus. i still, like, get a little bit nervous, obviously, because i don�*t want to get the virus and stuff, but it is nice to have a bit of normality in life again. two russians suspected of carrying out the salisbury nerve agent poisonings are now accused over a czech arms depot explosion in 2014. the government says it will examine any recommendation made by the inquiry into the lobbying row involving david cameron.

and coming up, it is starting to feel a bit like football. a wembley semifinal with some spectators. good evening. on the first weekend since the government eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions in england, millions have taken the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the sunny weather. but there are concerns over new variants of the coronavirus, with 77 cases discovered in england and scotland of an indian mutation of covid—19. it comes as deaths from coronavirus continue to fall, with 10 in the latest 24 hour period, though the figures are usually lower at the weekend. here�*s our health correspondent, catherine burns.

at steps along the road map go, this one has made a big difference to streets up and down england. it�*s been the first weekend for nonessential shops to open. streets packed and apart from masks and cues, it�*s almost like old times. just to see everybody out and about, because that is one thing i have missed, being able to be part of society again, i guess. i missed, being able to be part of society again, i guess.— society again, i guess. i still, like, get _ society again, i guess. i still, like, get a — society again, i guess. i still, like, get a bit _ society again, i guess. i still, like, get a bit nervous - society again, i guess. i still, l like, get a bit nervous because society again, i guess. i still, i like, get a bit nervous because i don't _ like, get a bit nervous because i don't want — like, get a bit nervous because i don't want to get the virus and stuff, — don't want to get the virus and stuff, but _ don't want to get the virus and stuff, but it is nice to have a bit of normality in life again.- stuff, but it is nice to have a bit of normality in life again. pubs and restaurants — of normality in life again. pubs and restaurants too _ of normality in life again. pubs and restaurants too have _ of normality in life again. pubs and restaurants too have had _ of normality in life again. pubs and restaurants too have had their- of normality in life again. pubs and restaurants too have had their first j restaurants too have had their first weekend of real trade for months. only outside, but it�*s not putting people off. steve and his family are getting together for a big people off. steve and his family are getting togetherfor a big occasion. it's getting togetherfor a big occasion. it�*s really great to be able to come out and celebrate my birthday, meet with my daughter, who i haven�*t seen for a long time, and just be around other people as well.— other people as well. there is a buzz. other people as well. there is a bun- lt's _ other people as well. there is a buzz. it's lovely _ other people as well. there is a buzz. it's lovely to _ other people as well. there is a buzz. it's lovely to see - other people as well. there is a buzz. it's lovely to see them i other people as well. there is a | buzz. it's lovely to see them and celebrate — buzz. it's lovely to see them and celebrate. it feels a bit more

normal— celebrate. it feels a bit more normal as— celebrate. it feels a bit more normal as well.— celebrate. it feels a bit more normal as well. �* , : :, , :, , normal as well. it's nice to be able to 'ust do normal as well. it's nice to be able to just do it _ normal as well. it's nice to be able to just do it now, _ normal as well. it's nice to be able to just do it now, even _ normal as well. it's nice to be able to just do it now, even if _ normal as well. it's nice to be able to just do it now, even if you - normal as well. it's nice to be able to just do it now, even if you have | tojust do it now, even if you have tojust do it now, even if you have to be _ tojust do it now, even if you have to be cold, — tojust do it now, even if you have to be cold, it's _ tojust do it now, even if you have to be cold, it's worth— tojust do it now, even if you have to be cold, it's worth it. _ to just do it now, even if you have to be cold, it's worth it.— to be cold, it's worth it. right now, it to be cold, it's worth it. right now. it can — to be cold, it's worth it. right now, it can feel _ to be cold, it's worth it. right now, it can feel like - to be cold, it's worth it. right now, it can feel like we - to be cold, it's worth it. right now, it can feel like we have l to be cold, it's worth it. right l now, it can feel like we have all got a lot to celebrate. infections across the uk have fallen by 90% since the start of the year. they are now at their lowest level since september. public health officials will keep a close eye on how easing up will keep a close eye on how easing up affects those numbers, but in the meantime, they are also studying a new variant that seems to have come from india. cases are spiking there, and 77 people in the uk have now tested positive for the new variant. the vast majority have been picked up the vast majority have been picked up in routine testing as people isolated after travelling from india, although if you have not been linked to travel. we india, although if you have not been linked to travel.— linked to travel. we have a variant under investigation. _ linked to travel. we have a variant under investigation. to _ linked to travel. we have a variant under investigation. to escalate i linked to travel. we have a variant under investigation. to escalate it| under investigation. to escalate it up under investigation. to escalate it up the ranking, we need to know if it has increased transmissibility or is vaccine evading, and we don�*t know that yet. so we are looking at

the data on a daily basis. lliluliliiile the data on a daily basis. while the data on a daily basis. while the do the data on a daily basis. while they do that, — the data on a daily basis. while they do that, here _ the data on a daily basis. while they do that, here is _ the data on a daily basis. while they do that, here is another. the data on a daily basis. while l they do that, here is another site we have not seen for a while. 213 fans watching the world snooker championships at the crucible yesterday. it�*s the first part of a government pilot into how to hold big events safely. and this afternoon, wembley stadium is welcoming 4000 people to watch the fa cup semifinal between leicester and southampton. it is fa cup semifinal between leicester and southampton.— and southampton. it is local residents — and southampton. it is local residents only, _ and southampton. it is local residents only, so _ and southampton. it is local residents only, so there - and southampton. it is local residents only, so there are | and southampton. it is local. residents only, so there are no leicester or southampton fans necessarily. so i do feel bad that the fans won�*t see their team, but i�*m just looking forward to getting in a stadium again. so i'm just looking forward to getting in a stadium again.— i'm just looking forward to getting in a stadium again. so far, england is the only part _ in a stadium again. so far, england is the only part of _ in a stadium again. so far, england is the only part of the _ in a stadium again. so far, england is the only part of the uk _ in a stadium again. so far, england is the only part of the uk to - in a stadium again. so far, england is the only part of the uk to ease i is the only part of the uk to ease up is the only part of the uk to ease up this much. outdoor hospitality is still not allowed anywhere else until close to the end of the month. but one of the consents remains how the nhs will deal with the backlog of nhs treatment.—

of nhs treatment. yes, nhs providers. — of nhs treatment. yes, nhs providers, the _ of nhs treatment. yes, nhs providers, the group - of nhs treatment. yes, nhs providers, the group that i of nhs treatment. yes, nhs - providers, the group that represents nhs trusts in england, says in the wet areas, it could take that long. right now, we are dealing with a record backlog of patients, 4.7 million people waiting to start treatment. nhs providers says if we are going to deal with that in a reasonable time frame, it�*s going to need a bold and radical approach and of course, more money. the government says yes, the nhs is facing significant challenges right now, but it�*s also getting an extra £7 billion. now, but it's also getting an extra £7 billion. :, , , the latest government figures show there were 1,882 new coronavirus infections, recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 2,555. the number of people in hospital in the uk with coronavirus stands atjust over 2,000.

10 deaths were reported, that�*s of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, which means on average in the past week, 26 deaths were announced every day, taking the total to more than 127,000. nearly 140,000 people have had their first dose of a covid—19 vaccine, in the latest 24 hour period, taking the overall number of people who�*ve had their firstjab, to more than 32 and three quarter million. while the number of people who�*ve had their second dose of the vaccine in the latest 24 hour period, is nearly half a million, which takes the overall number who�*ve had their second jab, to nearly 10 million. two russian men suspected of carrying out the salisbury poisonings are being linked to an arms explosion in the czech republic in 2014. the bbc has learned of a trail of evidence linking them into the blast. prague is now expelling

18 russian diplomats. our security correspondent gordon corera has been following the investigation. the aftermath of a deadly explosion. in october 2014, this arms depot in the czech countryside blew up. it took a month to find the remains of two men who worked there. it was widely assumed to have been an accident, until now. a key piece of evidence came when investigators found an e—mail requesting permission for two men to inspect the site. attached were scans of the men�*s passports, a copy of which the bbc has obtained. if you recognise them, this is why. they are the same two men wanted in connection with the salisbury poisonings in the uk. in 2018, they were spotted on cctv and accused of smearing nerve agent on the front door of sergei skripal�*s house. the two denied any involvement, saying they visited salisbury to see the cathedral spire. the e—mail with the passport

scans claim the men were from the national guard of tajikistan and gave false names. the pair arrived in prague in october the 11th, using the same names as in salisbury. on october the 13th, they went to stay near the arms depot and they left the country on october the 16th, the day of the explosion. but why was the depot targeted? the bbc has been told that a bulgarian arms dealer stored weapons there. six months later in bulgaria, another team from russian military intelligence is believed to have tried to kill him. this cctv shows an alleged member of the team moving around them and�*s car. it�*s alleged the poison was smeared on its door handle, leaving him fighting for his life, although he did survive. one expert says these incidents paint a picture of how this team operates. it these incidents paint a picture of how this team operates. it actually seems to be _ how this team operates. it actually

seems to be military _ how this team operates. it actually seems to be military intelligence's| seems to be military intelligence�*s in—house team of miscellaneous throats slit is general saboteurs. there are probably about 20 operational staff and may be 200 support personnel. the operational staff and may be 200 support personnel.— operational staff and may be 200 support personnel. the czech prime minister last — support personnel. the czech prime minister last night _ support personnel. the czech prime minister last night announced - support personnel. the czech prime minister last night announced 18 - minister last night announced 18 russian diplomats were to be expelled. moscow has responded that the allegations are absurd. the revelations about this explosion may not be the last. investigations into the activities of russian military intelligence are ongoing, and more cases may still be uncovered. gordon corera, bbc news. the environment secretary, george eustice, has told the bbc that the government will "look at" any recommendations to change the rules around lobbying. inquiries have begun into david cameron�*s contact with ministers on behalf of the collapsed financial firm, greensill capital. it comes as a senior conservative mp warns borisjohnson he�*ll lose support among former labour voters unless the lobbying row is resolved. here�*s our political correspondent, jonathan blake. letting light into parts of political life that often stay in the shadows.

former prime minister david cameron�*s lobbying of ministers on behalf of a finance company has led to wider questions about links between government and business and possible conflicts of interest. one cabinet minister who used to work for mr cameron defended his actions and those of ministers today, but hinted that a government review could bring change. once it�*s concluded and once all those parliamentary committees that are now looking at this have concluded, i�*m sure some of them will make policy recommendations, and of course the government will look at that. i�*m not saying that things can�*t be tweaked or improved, but i am saying that it was changed about ten years ago and that fundamentally here, the question should be less about who spoke to who. the question is much more about how ministers acted after those conversations. conservatives are worried that some of this may be starting to stick and could spell trouble for borisjohnson with voters if he doesn�*t do something soon. boris defeated what he regarded and

described as an out of touch elite in the 2016 referendum, and won a general election victory. he is seen as different from his predecessors, and has won a lot of support as a consequence. he will lose that support unless he acts decisively now. labour�*s rachel reeves faced questions about why her party�*s former welsh first minister took a job against independent advice, but there is no letup in the political attacks. what we have seen this week is that tory sleaze is back and that it�*s bigger than ever. we need real change to restore trust in our democracy and in the very essence of public service, which matters to so many of us and matters to people in our country. there are now multiple investigations under way into the rules around contact between politicians in power and those who seek to influence them, including the government�*s own review. so it�*s possible, indeed likely, that more details

will emerge and be used by some to argue that there are just too many grey areas. what�*s less clear is whether any of this will lead to lasting change in the way westminster works. how to regulate access to politicians and ensure that they are not unduly influenced are not easy questions to answer. jonathan blake, bbc news. now, with all the sport, here�*s olly foster at the bbc sport centre. good evening. we are 45 minutes away from the second of the fa cup semi—finals. leicester face southampton with chelsea waiting for the winners in next month�*s final, and as you�*ve been hearing, there will be some spectators at wembley. our sports correspondent joe wilson is there for us. joe. yes, the spectators are here. i am not sure if you can make them out in the vastness of wembley, just 4000. it's the vastness of wembley, just 4000. it�*s probably right that we refer to them as spectators rather than supporters. they are not travelling fans of leicester or southampton. the tickets have been distributed around this part of north london. i

have got one leicester fan who happens to be studying in this part of london at the moment, good timing. as we look ahead to the weeks and months to come, there are plans to vastly expand the permitted attendance here, looking forward to the men�*s euros, for example. that does depend on this test event in particular going well. in the here and now, of course, this is a big moment for leicester and southampton, two clubs who don�*t take a club fine for granted. southampton thus won this event in the 1970s. leicester have never lifted the trophy. last time they were in a semifinal, leicester scored an own goal. perhaps it�*s a good job i will soon be leaving the stadium. , :, . fulham were seconds away from a precious win at arsenal in their bid to stay in the premier league but it finished 1—1 at the emirates stadium. eddie nketiah with the gunners equaliser in the 97th minute. fulham remain in the bottom three, 6 points from safety with just five games left to play. rangers are still on for the double in scotland

after getting the better of their old firm rivals celtic in the scottish cup. a month after securing the league title, steven gerrard�*s side won 2—0 at ibrox to reach the quarter—finals, where they�*ll face stjohnstone. hibs also won today. we�*ve had 14 ties in the women�*s fa cup today. there was a west midlands derby as birmingham city women beat coventry united ladies 5—1 at solihull. sarah mayling scored twice to see them reach the last 16. the second formula one grand prix of the season had it all — a huge crash and a storming drive from lewis hamilton to make it onto the podium. but it was max verstappen�*s red bull that took the chequered flag in italy. adam wild reports. arriving in the sunshine, heading out in the rain. imola in the springtime — who knows what to expect? it�*s lights out and away we go... well, reigning champion lewis hamilton at the front felt familiar enough, but behind him, the looming threat of red bull. that wouldn�*t stay behind him for long. hamilton against max verstappen — it may be the story of the season, playing out here behind the spray.

keep an eye on that weather, though. the rain was slowly going. the chaos coming at pace. a rare mistake from lewis hamilton took him into the gravel. he would make it back out eventually, unlike his team—mate, valtteri bottas, colliding with george russell�*s williams. bad enough to stop the race. some time, then, for recriminations... radio: what was he doing? honestly! ..and some reflection. but with the dust settled, the track cleared. hamilton, incredibly, raced back to second. verstappen, though, wouldn�*t be caught. a race from which no one knew what to expect ultimately had it all. adam wild, bbc news. finally, the football association and the premier league have condemned a proposed breakaway european superleague involving some of their top clubs, describing it as "a cynical project". much more detail on that story on the bbc sport website, but that�*s all for now. nasa says it will attempt to make

history tomorrow with the first powered flight on another planet. the plan is to launch a small helicopter, called ingenuity, into the thin atmosphere of mars. it was taken to the red planet as part of the perseverance rover mission, which landed in february. the hope is to capture some spectacular views of the planet�*s surface. that�*s it. i�*ll be back with the late news at 10pm. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. bye for now.

hello. this is bbc news with ben mundy. it�*s the first weekend since lockdown eased in england...

and restaurant and pub gardens up and down the country have been filling up. adam mcclean was in manchester speaking to people about their first saturday night out in 2021. one group representing the industry says in parts of london, up to 40% of bookings are no—shows. with so many businesses closed, so little footfall being generated, it has been electric. we could be out in _ it has been electric. we could be out in a — it has been electric. we could be out in a garden somewhere, but we are not _ out in a garden somewhere, but we are not we — out in a garden somewhere, but we are not. we are here giving local business — are not. we are here giving local business ceremony. cheers. we queued for two hours — business ceremony. cheers. we queued for two hours to — business ceremony. cheers. we queued for two hours to get _ business ceremony. cheers. we queued for two hours to get here. _ business ceremony. cheers. we queued for two hours to get here. worth - business ceremony. cheers. we queued for two hours to get here. worth the i for two hours to get here. worth the wait? gray we _ for two hours to get here. worth the wait? gray we got — for two hours to get here. worth the wait? gray we got to _ for two hours to get here. worth the wait? gray we got to the _ for two hours to get here. worth the wait? gray we got to the front - for two hours to get here. worth the wait? gray we got to the front of - wait? gray we got to the front of the queue and thought we couldn�*t leave now. the queue and thought we couldn't leave now. :, :, :, the queue and thought we couldn't| leave now— it leave now. yeah, worth the wait. it is blue skies _ leave now. yeah, worth the wait. it is blue skies out, _ leave now. yeah, worth the wait. it is blue skies out, what _ leave now. yeah, worth the wait. it is blue skies out, what more - leave now. yeah, worth the wait. it is blue skies out, what more do - leave now. yeah, worth the wait. it| is blue skies out, what more do you want? :, ,:, :, , :, is blue skies out, what more do you want? :, :,, :, : :, : :, want? for some it was a chance to relax in the _ want? for some it was a chance to relax in the sun, _ want? for some it was a chance to relax in the sun, and _ want? for some it was a chance to relax in the sun, and others, - want? for some it was a chance to relax in the sun, and others, a - relax in the sun, and others, a return to work. it is really

exciting to know that the staff we have had on furlough, they have all been brought back and everyone is really excited to have loads of errors and to start getting money in the back pocket.— the back pocket. mancunians have turned manchester _ the back pocket. mancunians have turned manchester into _ the back pocket. mancunians have turned manchester into majorca, i the back pocket. mancunians have i turned manchester into majorca, they are in the holiday spirit, we have given out 350 pavement licenses. to all the bars. but the virus is still with us, and council officers are out every night checking that everyone is complying with the regulations. everyone is complying with the regulations-— everyone is complying with the regulations. everyone is complying with the reiulations. :, :, ,, :, regulations. eating and drinking out here rove regulations. eating and drinking out here prove popular. _ regulations. eating and drinking out here prove popular. many— regulations. eating and drinking out here prove popular. many joined i regulations. eating and drinking out i here prove popular. many joined long here prove popular. manyjoined long queues to grab a table. it here prove popular. many “oined long queues to grab a table._ queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and — queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and a _ queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and a half— queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and a half to _ queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and a half to two _ queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and a half to two hours - queues to grab a table. it was about an hour and a half to two hours we | an hour and a half to two hours we queued up. it wasn�*t too bad, we had a couple of drinks in the queue, auditorfood, happy days. you a couple of drinks in the queue, auditor food, happy days. you can't have the kings _ auditor food, happy days. you can't have the kings of— auditor food, happy days. you can't have the kings of the _ auditor food, happy days. you can't have the kings of the time, - auditor food, happy days. you can't have the kings of the time, takes i have the kings of the time, takes the fun— have the kings of the time, takes the fun out— have the kings of the time, takes the fun out of the spontaneity of going _ the fun out of the spontaneity of going out, — the fun out of the spontaneity of going out, but i think people are happy— going out, but i think people are happy to— going out, but i think people are happy to give. going out, but i think people are happy to give-— going out, but i think people are happy to give. some that weren't ha - to happy to give. some that weren't happy to wait _ happy to give. some that weren't happy to wait still _ happy to give. some that weren't happy to wait still managed - happy to give. some that weren't happy to wait still managed to i happy to give. some that weren't i happy to wait still managed to have a night out. we happy to wait still managed to have a niiht out. ~ , happy to wait still managed to have a niiht out. . , :, happy to wait still managed to have a niiht out. ~ , :, :, :, a night out. we 'ust went to and got a night out. we 'ust went to and got a few tens and — a night out. we just went to and got a few tens and sat _ a night out. we just went to and got a few tens and sat here. _ a night out. we just went to and got a few tens and sat here. we - a night out. we just went to and got a few tens and sat here. we have i a night out. we just went to and got l a few tens and sat here. we have not been any queues. the a few tens and sat here. we have not

been any queues-— been any queues. the streets here in manchester's — been any queues. the streets here in manchester's northern _ been any queues. the streets here in manchester's northern carter - been any queues. the streets here in manchester's northern carter are - manchester�*s northern carter are about as normal as they have been four months. the roads here are closed to cars, but very much open to people. it closed to cars, but very much open to --eole. , : :, closed to cars, but very much open to people-— it. to people. it is nice, not bad. it is northern _ to people. it is nice, not bad. it is northern weather, _ to people. it is nice, not bad. it is northern weather, we - to people. it is nice, not bad. it is northern weather, we are - to people. it is nice, not bad. it- is northern weather, we are northern masses. _ is northern weather, we are northern masses. it— is northern weather, we are northern masses, it doesn't stop us, we are used _ masses, it doesn't stop us, we are used to— masses, it doesn't stop us, we are used to it — masses, it doesn't stop us, we are used to it -- _ masses, it doesn't stop us, we are used to it. —— northern lasses. a i'iili'it used to it. —— northern lasses. night out means a night out. now for the tale of a dog, who refused to let a disability hinder his exercise regime. a car accident when he was just a—year—old left dexter with two injured front legs. but he�*s learned to adapt and thrive, as russell trott now reports. putting his best feet forward, dexter the dog has amazed medical experts. his owner kentee was faced with having to put him to sleep when he was just a year old, after he had injured his front

legs in a car accident. but although he was feeling a little "ruff", she recognised something in dexter — that he was a fighter, and so she put him through surgery and therapy sessions, and effectively taught him to run on his hind legs. we didn�*t think he�*d make it. his front legs got caught underneath the wheel. i couldn�*t put another dog down without giving him a chance. he�*s become something of a celebrity in his hometown of ouray, colorado, and he�*s put a smile on the faces of his family and the locals. kentee describes dexter as goofy, sweet and smart, and she credits the dog�*s upbeat demeanour of helping them all paw through the pandemic, especially after she lost herjob. dexter, for his part, seems to be taking it all in his stride. russell trott, bbc news. time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello.

we�*ve seen a lot of sunshine across the uk through the weekend. more cloud around on sunday across scotland and northern ireland. but through the week ahead, it will be the dry and sunny weather that dominates, maybe even beyond that. for northern ireland, there was some rain around for western scotland as well, but that could be most significant rain we see for the uk as a whole in the next ten days or so. the rain courtesy of this weather front, but as you can see by the time we get into monday, high pressure has lumped it largely offshore. skies will clear after dark and temperatures will fall quite. we do just clean it onto a bit of cloud. we dojust cling on to a bit of cloud. patchy fog will develop across parts of eastern england, but the sun should make short work of that early on

monday. after a chilly start, a lot of sunshine for england and wales and scotland as that front pushes further northwards. it also becomes largely confined to the west of northern ireland, so eastern counties should enjoy some decent brightness, 14 in belfast. monday, the warmest day of the week ahead, up to 17 degrees. and one of the milder nights overnight monday into tuesday. we should be frost free. we have just got a little bit of southerly air direction and on tuesday, again, across england and wales, some fairly reasonable temperatures. highs of 15 or 16 degrees. but our weather front does eventually start to try and push south across the uk by tuesday, so a little bit of rain for eastern scotland, clearer skies to the north, under those clearer skies, we will see a frost starting to return. overnight tuesday into wednesday... the cooler air, not much rain coming along with that front.

a few showers across england and wales, but it�*s that plunge into the cooler arctic air and the pick—up of a northerly airstream that will make things feel quite different towards the end of the week. still looking dry but temperatures 16, 17 on monday. lucky to get 13 or 14 for thursday and friday.

indians enjoy the first we since lockdown was in these. the organisation representing nhs trusts in england says it will take five years for some hospitals to catch up with the backlog caused by the pandemic two russians suspected of carrying out the salisbury nerve agent poisonings, are now accused, over a czech arms depot explosion, in 2014. the checks for example in the past until quite recently have been quite reticent about picking a fight with moscow, and is quite interesting how the czechs have pivoted and are being very, very robust in their

responses. the government says it will examine any recommendation