president biden says the us now has a chance to move towards being a more equal society after the trial of derek chauvin. celebrations after the guilty verdicts for the former police officer who knelt on the neck of george floyd for more than nine minutes. his brother says it's finally justice. i'm going to miss him, but now i know he's in history. what a day to be a floyd, man. wow! applause led away in handcuffs — derek chauvin will be sentenced in two months after one of the highest profile trials in america in years. nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back. but this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in america.

also on the programme tonight. the labour leader accuses the prime minister of being at the centre of government "sleaze" in a fresh row over lobbying involving the businessman, sirjames dyson. survivors of the fishmonger hall attack tell the inquest about the dramatic moment they stopped usman khan. india ravaged by a second wave of covid — record numbers of daily deaths and infections, hosptials are overwhelmed as oxygen supplies run out. fan power — celebrations as plans for the european football super league collapse in spectacularfashion. and coming up on the bbc news channel. manchester city look to bounce back from their fa cup semifinal defeat against aston villa in the premier league. we'll be live at villa park.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. president biden has described the conviction of the former police officer derek chauvin for the killing of george floyd as a "a giant step forward in the march toward justice in america". chauvin was found guilty of all charges last night. he'll be sentenced in eight weeks' time. the video of him kneeling on mr floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as he repeatedly said, "i can't breathe" sparked protests notjust in america but around the world. today the us justice department announced a sweeping investigation into policing practices in minneapolis where george floyd was murderd. our north america correspondent nick bryant reports. guilty! cheering. guilty!

there was joy in the moment ofjustice, echoed around the world. ..committing a felony, find the defendant guilty. so now it was derek chauvin who was put in cuffs, a one—time police officer leaving the court a convicted murderer, who has since swapped his suit for prison clothing. it was the verdict the floyd family had yearned for, and their response became an act of remembrance. i'm gonna miss him, but now i know he's in history. what a day to be a floyd, man. at the white house, it was kamala harris, america's first black vice—president, who stepped before the microphones. here's the truth about racial injustice. it is notjust a black america problem, or a people of colour problem. it is a problem for every american.

it is keeping us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all. thenjoe biden said the verdict could be a giant step towards that justice. "i can't breathe. i can't breathe". those were george floyd's last words. we can't let those words die with him. say his name! george floyd! protesters immediately flooded the streets, this modern day civil rights movement continuing its onward march. guilty! but there was a sense of celebration and relief. relief, relief, absolutely relief. i can exhale now, i can breathe. overwhelmed, overwhelmed. the site where george floyd was murdered has become a landmark of racial injustice and last night it became a focal point for a swirl of emotions. at times, it felt like a street party. at times, it felt like a vigil.

but amidst it all, the haunting iconography of george floyd, whose violent death and desperate final words personified america's systemic racism. this is a milestone moment in the ongoing struggle for black equality. but it's farfrom being an end point. and while the murder of george floyd has brought about something of a racial reckoning, that's a very different thing from saying it's brought about racial reconciliation. there is no point talking of a new dawn in america. the history of hundreds of years will never be eradicated in a single moment. and we can finally say that we sent that killer cop to jail. but maybe there will be a new sense of police accountability, and maybe a new acknowledgement that black lives truly matter. even as protesters were on the

streets, news came through from ohio of another fatal police shooting, this time involving a teenage black girl who was seen stabbing another person with a knife. it underscores how the verdict in the derek chauvin trial will not provide an instant remedy to the problems of race and policing. sophie. nick bryant, thank you. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has accused the prime minister of being at the centre of government "sleaze" amid a fresh row over lobbying. the bbc has revealed text messages sent at the start of the pandemic, in which borisjohnson says he would "fix" tax rules that the businessman sirjames dyson wanted, who was offering to make ventilators. the prime minister says he makes "no apology for moving heaven and earth" to get ventilators during the pandemic. our political editor laura kuenssberg has more. the first lord of the treasury. it's on the letterbox. the most powerful politician in the country. have you and other

ministers broken the rules? who we now know have been texting one of the wealthiest man in the land, wanted guarantees that his company wouldn't pay extra tax if they worked in the uk making ventilators for the nhs. sirjames told the prime minister we are ready, but never seems to want us to proceed. sadly, james. borisjohnson promised, i will fix it tomorrow, we need you. then he said, rishi, referring to the chancellor, said it is fixed. we need you here. the reply? i will give the ventilator our all. but later, sirjames pressed again. we really need rishi to answer the letter, going on to say, he has freed up your ability to be in the uk, but not to work there, even in support of this national emergency. the prime minister's assurance? james, i am first lord of the treasury and you can take it that we are backing you to do what you need. but given the public importance, where those private conversations appropriate?

i make absolutely no apology at all, mr speaker, pushing heaven and earth and doing everything i possibly could. every prime minister would in those circumstances. this shows once again that favours, privileged access, tax breaks for mates, they are the main currency of this conservative government. we take the tough decisions that are necessary to protect the people of this country and get things done. sleaze, sleaze, sleaze. and it's all on his watch. ministers can talk to firms and outside organisations about government business, but officials should be present. if not, any significant content should be passed back to the department as soon as possible. number ten says the prime minister did do this in a timely way. they must act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. the prime minister has promised to publish his text messages about covid contracts, quite the commitment. there isn't a doubt about the scramble in those

early, desperate days of the pandemic, but the rules that govern ministers' behaviour were in place then, just as they are now. and several sources familiar with what was going on at the time told me there were concerns even then. sirjames is a well—connected brexiteer, in the past, even invited to a meeting at the cabinet table. and at the start of the pandemic, the prime minister asked him to help make ventilators, then in short supply. but the contract never came off. we were ready to go, ready to produce it, we'd bought the components. the cabinet office said they didn't want it, they didn't need it. sirjames told the bbc he was responding to the prime minister's request during a national emergency, and his texts were simply seeking compliance with rules. 450,000 dyson people worked around the clock seven days a week to build potentially life—saving equipment. no company received any benefit from the project, and dyson voluntarily covered £20 million.

but worry has been building in westminster about links between politicians and the private sector, with questions for number ten now too about whether the prime minister's own contacts have been too close for comfort. and from a political point of view i think this issue divides the crowd. you may have read those messages and thought, what is the fuss about? equally, you might have read those messages and thought, that seems too cosy. there is a growing feeling at westminster the rules are meant to provide guidelines for any of these issues are a bit out of date and not up issues are a bit out of date and not up to snuff. at the very least it is a distraction downing street could well do without and then issue their opponents have really got their teeth into in the last couple of weeks and an issue they have shown no sign of letting go. laura kuenssberg, thank you. the inquest into the terror attack at fishmongers hall in london two years ago has been hearing

from survivors who've been describing the dramatic moment when they took on the armed attacker using a fire extinguisher and narwal tusks. our home affairs correrspondent daniel sandford reports. the infamous fight on london bridge between a convicted terrorist and two former prisoners and a civil servant. today, they gave their official account. first, former prisonerjohn crilly, who described hearing screaming and coming down the grand staircase in fishmongers hall to find saskia jones bleeding to death. he then saw usman khan holding two knives, shouting "allahu akbar!", and threatening to kill everybody while wearing what turned out to be a fake bomb belt.

then civil servant darryn frost, who wept as he remembered seeing the seriously injured victims. he had also joined the battle inside, using two tusks from narwals, long—toothed whales. when khan was forced out onto the street, he followed. darryn frost described running after khan onto london bridge, still carrying a narwal tusk. he said he saw khan's knives glinting in the sunlight and members of the public gathering like a shole of bait fish being chased by a predator. then khan turned back towards him and he took the opportunity to strike at him with the tusk. the men brought khan to the ground where darryn frost pinned him down and then tried to persuade the armed police that arrived not to shoot.

but then khan told one of the armed police that he had a bomb, and the officers pulled darryn frost off and opened fire. daniel sandford, bbc news, at fishmongers hall. plans for a new football european super league have collapsed — just two days after being made public. it's being seen as a victory for "fan power" after supporters vented their fury at the breakaway plans. and this evening, the duke of cambridge, president of the fa said he was glad the fans had been listened to. our sports editor dan roan reports. spurs fans no longer have to worry about being part of football's ill—fated super league. but as they gather tonight, ill—fated super league. but as they gathertonight, it ill—fated super league. but as they gather tonight, it was clear the action of the club's owners will not be easily forgotten. this action of the club's owners will not be easily forgotten.— be easily forgotten. this club is never going _ be easily forgotten. this club is never going to _ be easily forgotten. this club is never going to change - be easily forgotten. this club is never going to change and - be easily forgotten. this club is | never going to change and none be easily forgotten. this club is i never going to change and none of the six will change until they get

rid of the owners they have at the moment. it rid of the owners they have at the moment. , ., , ., ., , ., moment. it shows the ideology of the owners, moment. it shows the ideology of the owners. the — moment. it shows the ideology of the owners, the chairman, _ moment. it shows the ideology of the owners, the chairman, not _ moment. it shows the ideology of the owners, the chairman, not the - moment. it shows the ideology of the owners, the chairman, not the fans, i owners, the chairman, not the fans, the ones _ owners, the chairman, not the fans, the ones who— owners, the chairman, not the fans, the ones who pay the money. having been forced — the ones who pay the money. having been forced into _ the ones who pay the money. having been forced into a _ the ones who pay the money. having been forced into a humiliating - been forced into a humiliating withdrawal, liverpool's ownerjohn henry was reluctant to explain himself when he was approached by the bbc in boston. shim; himself when he was approached by the bbc in boston.— himself when he was approached by the bbc in boston. any word for the fans? but one _ the bbc in boston. any word for the fans? but one of _ the bbc in boston. any word for the fans? but one of the _ the bbc in boston. any word for the fans? but one of the key _ the bbc in boston. any word for the fans? but one of the key scheme i the bbc in boston. any word for the fans? but one of the key scheme is| fans? but one of the key scheme is behind the plot _ fans? but one of the key scheme is behind the plot admitted _ fans? but one of the key scheme is behind the plot admitted he - fans? but one of the key scheme is behind the plot admitted he had i fans? but one of the key scheme isj behind the plot admitted he had let them down. i behind the plot admitted he had let them down. ., ., ., ., , ., them down. i want to apologise to them down. i want to apologise to the fans and _ them down. i want to apologise to the fans and supporters _ them down. i want to apologise to the fans and supporters of - them down. i want to apologise to i the fans and supporters of liverpool football_ the fans and supporters of liverpool football club and the disruption i caused _ football club and the disruption i caused over the past 48 hours. it goes _ caused over the past 48 hours. it goes without saying, but should be said, _ goes without saying, but should be said. the _ goes without saying, but should be said, the project put forward was never_ said, the project put forward was never going to stand without the support — never going to stand without the support of the fans. four never going to stand without the support of the fans.— never going to stand without the support of the fans. four days, the idea of a ring _ support of the fans. four days, the idea of a ring fenced _ support of the fans. four days, the idea of a ring fenced european - support of the fans. four days, the | idea of a ring fenced european elite had been met with backlash. 0n idea of a ring fenced european elite had been met with backlash. on a chaotic night, the english clubs abandon the breakaway and one of the architects of the plan admits the game is up. i

architects of the plan admits the game is no— architects of the plan admits the u-ameisu. ., . ., game is up. i remain convinced of the beauty _ game is up. i remain convinced of the beauty of _ game is up. i remain convinced of the beauty of the _ game is up. i remain convinced of the beauty of the project - game is up. i remain convinced of the beauty of the project and - game is up. i remain convinced of the beauty of the project and the | the beauty of the project and the value that would have developed and the creation of the best competition in the world. but admittedly know, i don't think that project is now still up and running. bundesliga teams refused _ still up and running. bundesliga teams refused to _ still up and running. bundesliga teams refused to sign _ still up and running. bundesliga teams refused to sign up - still up and running. bundesliga teams refused to sign up to - still up and running. bundesliga teams refused to sign up to the j teams refused to sign up to the super league and having ordered a review into the sport, the government wanted to look at the german model of ownership with fans having majority stakes in their clubs. it is unclear how such a model could be introduced into english football, where so many clubs are now controlled by overseas investors. today, manchester united's american co—owner, joel glazer, apologised unreservedly to the fans as they attempt to claw back trust continued. but while the premier league carried on, some warning there is a long way to go. some of those relationships will be difficult to repair because people have lied to us. they have sat on committees and they have not told

the truth and not come clean and they have been off in a zoom paradise, as in bubble, plotting everybody�*s doubtful. iltrui’ith paradise, as in bubble, plotting everybody's doubtful.— paradise, as in bubble, plotting everybody's doubtful. with the game havin: been everybody's doubtful. with the game having been brought _ everybody's doubtful. with the game having been brought back— everybody's doubtful. with the game having been brought back from - everybody's doubtful. with the game having been brought back from the i having been brought back from the brink, the hope is an episode football will never forget, proves a catalyst for meaningful change. dan roan, bbc news. our top story this evening: celebrations following the guity verdicts for the former police officer who knelt on the neck of george floyd — president biden vows to continue his fight for racialjustice. coming up, air pollution led to the death of ella adoo—kissi—debrah — the coroner at her inquest calls for legally binding targets for pollution. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel, organisers say the european super league can no longer go ahead after more clubs follow those from the premier league and step away from the project.

india is being ravaged by a second wave of covid — a coronavirus storm — as the country's prime minister has called it. india is now the epicentre of the pandemic, with cases accelerating faster than anywhere else in the world. in the past 24 hours alone more than 2,000 people have died and nearly 300,000 new cases have been reported. ? but the true figures are thought to be much higher.?hospitals in many parts of india, including the capital delhi, are already overwhelmed. people are dying without getting the treatment they need. just a warning — you may find yogita limaye's report upsetting. a capital on its knees. at its biggest hospitals, people being pushed to the limits of human endurance. "my husband's in a very bad state, let me get through", this woman says. she's been carrying him around for ten hours. many of these people

won't survive the night. "sir, for one minute, come and look at my mother", a man pleads. a doctor follows him to the ambulance and prepares to say the words he's had to say over and over again in the past day alone: "she's no more". herfamily among hundreds in india denied even the chance of saving a loved one. covid—i9 has hit this country with a ferocity not seen before, but not unexpected either. and this is delhi, which has among the best health care facilities in the country. it's what's been feared would happen since the pandemic began. but once the first wave subsided, the government almost declared victory over covid—i9. the country has been

caught unprepared. and now it's stunned by fear and grief. at this crematorium, new funeral platforms have had to be built overnight because of numbers they've never had to handle before. in a protective suit, rohit sharma builds a pyre for his mother deepika with crematorium workers. it's a ritual normally performed together by families. we were not prepared. as a country, we were not prepared. and it's really sad to see my mother go, because she was just 59. and she recently retired. she wanted to spend some quality time with us, but all i could see was her lying down on the... that's all i... holding on to his mother's bangles, a broken man. so many more will lose as the virus rips through india.

yogita limaye, bbc news, delhi. the latest coronavirus figures here show there were 2,396 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 2,463. just over 2,000 are in hospital — the lowest number since the start of september. 22 deaths were reported , that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. average in the past week, 24 deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths is now 127,327. as for vaccinations, more than 107,000 people have had their first dose in the latest 24 hour period.

more than 33.1 million have now had theirfirst dose. the take up for the second jab remains high withjust over 350,000 in the latest 24 hour period, meaning just over 10.7 million people are now fully vaccinated. on her 95th birthday, the queen has thanked people for their support and kindness since the death of prince philip. in a message, she said still the tributes to her husband — whose funeral was last saturday — have been a comfort and she has been deeply touched by them. the queen said herfamily is in a period of deep sadness but the reaction to his death reminded them all of the extraordinary impact the duke of edinburgh had on countless people throughout his life. today the duke and duchess of cambridge made their first public appearance since the funeral, visiting an air cadet centre in honour of prince philip, who served as air commodore—in—chief of the air training corp for 63 years. a coroner has urged the government to set tougher legally binding pollution targets after an inquest found air pollution contributed to the death of a nine—year—old girl in london.

ella adoo—kissi—debrah died eight years ago after an asthma attack. she lived near a busy main road in south london. ella became the first person in the uk to have air pollution listed as a cause of death, following an inquest last year. 0ur correspondent claire marshall has more. ella was a healthy child, then suddenly developed severe asthma, this cough an early sign of some of the damage being done to her lungs by toxic fumes close to her home near london's busy south circular. last year, in a legal first, a coroner ruled that unlawful levels of air pollution helped to kill her. today, to prevent others dying from toxic exhaust fumes, he recommended the law should be changed, there should be stricter limits, they should be in line, he said, with tougher world health organization guidelines. i feel a bit relieved. ella's mother, rosamund, has been complaining for this for years. i am really, really happy with it.

it's very clear, it is concise, and it is about saving lives now. 40,000 people die prematurely in the uk due to air pollution. and that needs to stop. and this is a start. it is just a start. even when ella was terribly ill, no one made the connection between her lung condition and pollution, and her mother was not warned. today, the coroner said that the public should be told much more about the dangers and that medical professionals should make the link clearer to their patients. this report is not legally binding, but the fact that the recommendations are so clear and direct will make it very difficult for the government to ignore. and the world health organization believes the danger is global. there is one message _ believes the danger is global. there is one message which _ believes the danger is global. there is one message which is _ believes the danger is global. there is one message which is very - is one message which is very powerful. stop using fossil fuels. we have said that for a long time now. fossilfuels are we have said that for a long time now. fossil fuels are literally

killing us. the government says it will consider the report and that it's invested almost £4 billion in cleaning up the air. there is now real pressure to do more to prevent others from suffering and dying like ella. claire marshall, bbc news, lewisham. the trial of two retired police officers and a former solicitor has been told by one defence lawyer that there is no evidence of a cover up in the aftermath of the hillsborough disaster. the three men are accused of amending parts of statements in order to paint the force's handling of the tragedy in a better light. judith moritz is outside court. sophie, the case against former south yorkshire police officers donald denton and alan foster and former force solicitor peter metcalfe is built on the allegation that they sought to minimise blame directed at the police after the hillsborough disaster. and today, jonathan goldberg qc, who is representing peter metcalfe, told

the jury that the word hillsborough has become synonymous with a cover—up, and he said to them, by the end of this trial, we predict that you will find no evidence to justify that allegation. the prosecution has said that the changes to the statements were made around areas in which the police expected to be criticised at the 1989 public inquiry into hillsborough. they gave examples today of faces being removed like office as being like headless chickens. at the trial, which is being held here in a contemporary courtroom at the lowry theatre, is expected to last until the summer. judith, thank you. scotland's former first minister, alex salmond has launched the alba party's election manifesto, saying his party is the only one that is "taking scottish independence seriously". mr salmond said his party has a proper plan for scotland to leave the union and promised alba would "bring urgency into the timetable" of independence if it wins seats in next month's polls. hartlepool will go to

the polls in a by—election on the 6th of may after the town's labour mp resigned last month. the area has been labourfor decades — and the party held on at the last election, while surrounding areas in the north east — part of the so called "red wall" — voted conservative for the first time. alex forsyth reports. the shadow of past industry lingers on england's north east coast. solid labour for decades, but support�*s gradually ebbed. nearby seats have changed colorfrom red to blue. the seaside town of hartlepool, though, still picked labour when it made its last choice. he's hoping it stays that way. a gp and former mp, he's pushing for improved public services, dismissing claims that hasn't always been the case. i was involved in bringing services back to hartlepool hospital. actually, we're showing on the doorsteps that lots of people believ in the same issues as us. they want to see services

back in the hospital, they want to see more jobs in hartlepool and they want to see more police on the streets. the conservative candidate, a farmer and councillor, is pointing to benefits reaped in nearby tory towns, unashamedly saying she would aim for the same. we have seen with other mps in the area, over in darlington, we have the treasury coming north, we have an economic campus coming north, and i want to get those opportunities for people here so they have got sustainable jobs for them and their children going forward. big names have been visiting, a sign of what is at stake. were recent tory wins on labour turf a one—off or permanent shift? does labour leadership have what it takes to win back support? voters here have the power to make waves. and some at this swimming group, a lockdown lifeline, are not afraid of a sea change. i'm what you would call a classic labour voter, really, but this election, i just cannot bring myself to support labour. i voted labour, brexit, conservative. but i'm voting

conservative this time. i would like to see an mp driving the leverage in the houses of parliament to really do something transformational in the town. nothing is clear, though. support is far from settled. usually labour. probably still labour. i actually disapprove of keir starmer's leadership, but i will vote for the labour candidate because i actually think this town is shamefully going to fall to the conservatives. i don't want to be part of that defeat. last time voters here went to the polls at the general election, the national picture was very different. it was before the pandemic, when brexit was still a huge issue in this leave—supporting town. then the brexit party won a big chunk of the vote. and what happens to that now will be crucial. he hopes to claim some — reform uk and the brexit party reborn, with an anti—lockdown, pro—small business stance. it is tragically unfair in this country how the two—party system

monopolises everything, and there needs to be more voices coming through from other parties in parliament. we're offering a real alternative. in total, 16 candidates are vying for votes. among them, greens, lib dems, and a host of independents in a contest that could test political ties, prompt party soul searching and send ripples far from here. alex forsyth, bbc news, hartlepool. you can find the full list of candidates in the hartlepool parliamentary by—election on our website bbc.co.uk. time for a look at the weather. here's nick miller. where yesterday, cloud a little rain to parts of north scotland, it has been sunnier today. frustratingly for gardeners and growers, the cloud produced barely any rain. that is now clearing away with high pressure behind to bring settled weather for the rest of the week and into the

weekend. there are at the moment a few showers in south—west england. they are going to fade this evening. you may catch a show in shetland over night. otherwise, it is dry and largely clear but a few mist and fog patches that may develop in the east of england. under clear skies, patches that may develop in the east of england. under clearskies, it's yet another aprilfrost of england. under clearskies, it's yet another april frost on the way, a widespread frost tonight, with the exception of western fringes of england, wales, scotland and for many in northern ireland. after that chilly start tomorrow, temperatures will be heading up in plenty of sunshine with the exception of northern scotland, where more cloud may produce a shower. there will be a stiff breeze running through the english channel towards the channel islands and into south—west england. but along the north sea coast, a lighter breeze compared with today, turning offshore in some spots. and in that strong april sunshine, 17 in cardiff and manchester. and they word for hay fever sufferers. after a bit of a dip today, tree pollen

levels are on the up again tomorrow, and that is