tonight at six: world leaders come together to fight climate change, in the first major conference for years. meeting online, president biden cuts to —— pledges to cut us emissions by 50% by the end of this decade. urgent action is needed he said to prevent future fires, and extreme weather. this is the decisive decade. this is the decade we must make decisions that will avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis. but there were no new commitments from two of the biggest polluters — china and india. also tonight: almost everyone over 50 in england, wales and scotland has now had their first coronavirus jab. a formal apology from the government after failing

to commemorate properly more than 100,000 black and asian people who died fighting for the british empire during the first world war. and — the post office scandal that left dozens of workers with criminal convictions — the sub post masters who hope their names will finally be cleared tomorrow. and coming up on the bbc news channel: protests continue against the crumbling european super league, as fans demand more of a say in how football is run. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. president biden has opened a major global climate summit, with a call to other world leaders to step up to the challenge.

joe biden pledged to cut us emissions by half by the end of this decade — but he warned his country couldn't take action alone. he told world leaders that scientists were calling this the "decisive decade" for tackling climate change and action was needed now. this graph shows how global carbon emissions have risen over the years — they were still relatively low until the mid—20th century. the latest figures show the countries who are the biggest emitters are china, the us and india. 0ur science editor, david shukman, has this report. the more the world heats up, the more dangerous it becomes, that is what this is all about. more intense flooding in the uk are many parts of the world is more likely. while in some regions, like central america, the big fear is droughts getting even worse. failed harvests are already forcing thousands to leave their homes. mil

already forcing thousands to leave their homes-_ already forcing thousands to leave their homes. �* ., ., , their homes. all of a sudden, we can see the whole... _ their homes. all of a sudden, we can see the whole... that _ their homes. all of a sudden, we can see the whole... that is _ their homes. all of a sudden, we can see the whole... that is one - their homes. all of a sudden, we can see the whole... that is one reason l see the whole... that is one reason wh with see the whole... that is one reason why with a — see the whole... that is one reason why with a video _ see the whole... that is one reason why with a video president - see the whole... that is one reason why with a video president biden i see the whole... that is one reason why with a video president biden is| why with a video president biden is making climate a priority. irate why with a video president biden is making climate a priority. we know 'ust how making climate a priority. we know just how critically _ making climate a priority. we know just how critically important - making climate a priority. we know just how critically important that i just how critically important that is because scientists tell us that this is the decisive decade. this is the decade we must make decisions that will avoid the worst consequences of a climate crisis. there is virtual gatherings or the leaders of the world's biggest economies and some of its most vulnerable nations all calling for action on climate change. we are suddenly getting a flurry of promises, counted in different ways but all significant. the united states, to cut its emissions by up to 52% by 2030. the european union, 55% by the same year and the uk, 78% by 2035. china, the world's biggest polluter, says its emissions will fall from 2030 but president xi jinping wants more developed nations

to cut first. jinping wants more developed nations to cut first. . ., , to cut first. other countries need to cut first. other countries need to increase _ to cut first. other countries need to increase climate _ to cut first. other countries need to increase climate ambitions - to cut first. other countries need | to increase climate ambitions and actions that may climate efforts to help delith pagan countries make the transition. to help delith pagan countries make the transition. ., ., ~ help delith pagan countries make the transition. ., ., ,, ., , help delith pagan countries make the transition. ., .,~ ., , ., transition. to make any real difference. _ transition. to make any real difference, every _ transition. to make any real difference, every country i transition. to make any real| difference, every country has transition. to make any real i difference, every country has to play its part and despite all the talking in recent decades, the scale of the challenge has got even bigger. that is because human activity every year admit something like 50 billion tonnes of the gases that are heating up the atmosphere. now, scientists say that needs to come down by nearly half by 2030 to have any decent chance of keeping a lid on the rise in temperatures and then emissions should fall to basically zero by 2050. but at the moment, the world is not heading in that direction. so, what is likely to happen? well, electric cars are on their way. we are going to see far more of them. fewer flights may be on the cards because prices may have to go up if there are charges

for pollution. eating less red meat is another recommendation from government advisers who say it will save carbon. and heating our homes, not with gas boilers but with heat pumps or hydrogen, but the details still need to be worked out. irate pumps or hydrogen, but the details still need to be worked out.- still need to be worked out. we are workin: still need to be worked out. we are working with _ still need to be worked out. we are working with everybody _ still need to be worked out. we are working with everybody from i still need to be worked out. we are working with everybody from the i working with everybody from the smallest nations to the biggest emitters to secure commitments that will keep change to within 1.5 degrees. will keep change to within 1.5 decrees. �* ., , degrees. but for younger people, this is all too _ degrees. but for younger people, this is all too slow. _ degrees. but for younger people, this is all too slow. this - degrees. but for younger people, this is all too slow. this earth i degrees. but for younger people, | this is all too slow. this earth day protest was in indonesia and american politicians got a similar message from greta to hamburg. me’ee message from greta to hamburg. we've ounu message from greta to hamburg. we've young peeple — message from greta to hamburg. we've young peeple are _ message from greta to hamburg. we've young peeple are the — message from greta to hamburg. -- young people are the people who will write about you in the history books. we are the ones who get to decide how you will be remembered. so my advice for you is choose wisely. so my advice for you is choose wisel . �* .. , so my advice for you is choose wisel . �* ., , , so my advice for you is choose wisel. , . , wisely. already, green technologies are becoming _ wisely. already, green technologies are becoming far _ wisely. already, green technologies are becoming far cheaper _ wisely. already, green technologies are becoming far cheaper but i wisely. already, green technologies are becoming far cheaper but the i are becoming far cheaper but the transition to a zero carbon world

will need a lot more political will and help for the countries most at risk and all of that still needs to be negotiated. david shukman, bbc news. 0ur north america editorjon sopel is in washington for us. president biden is effecitvely doubling the previous target — is it doable? well, there is no doubt it is ambitious and it marks a decisive break with the trump era, who polled america out of the climate change agreement. it goes much further than barack 0bama in 2015. so that is the optics of it. in terms of what it would require, it is going to require people to change their behaviour, the way they drive on a gas guzzling economy, the way people heat and cool their homes, the way industry operates. then of course you will need to get congressional approvalfor much of you will need to get congressional approval for much of this and it is farfrom clear that the approval for much of this and it is far from clear that the votes are there. republicans are much more sceptical, notjust about there. republicans are much more sceptical, not just about the science but on the wisdom of going ahead with this, if, as we heard in that report, you don't have the

chinese and the indians promising to make similar pledges to cut emissions. so if the ambition of this is to show thatjoe biden has global leadership and america is back on the international stage, box is ticked. if that is to show america will cut its emissions by 50% in the next few years, well, thatis 50% in the next few years, well, that is a big question. jan 50% in the next few years, well, that is a big question. jon sopel, thank yon _ more than 90% of people over the age of 50 in england, wales and scotland have now had their first coronavirus jab. the number of people dying from coronavirus fell so sharply between february and march that alzheimer's and heart disease are now the leading causes of deaths in england and wales. here's our health editor, hugh pym. moving down through the age groups — 45 to a9—year—olds among those getting theirjabs today. and in england, nearly 60% of that age range have already had theirfirst dose. a lot of my friends had

the vaccine already, and now it is my turn, so i am happy. everybody is very easy going. and they look like they really want to be here and be helping. there is an element of the wartime spirit. it is actually very inspiring. it seems relatively quiet today at this large vaccination centre. the message from officials is — there are slots and vaccine supplies available and anyone eligible who wants a jab should get on and book it. the latest figures for those aged 50 and over show that in england, 95% have had a first dose. in wales, it's 92%. in scotland, 98%. and northern ireland, 89%. that's on different dates over the last week. it was only in december when the very firstjab was given to margaret keenan. now she has spoken on camera for the first time since then. i feel really honoured to have had it done, you know, and to be the first and to set the ball rolling. in a video for nhs england, she was asked what next. i'm looking forward to a little holiday. just a little holiday. i'm not greedy.

for anyone who wants a holiday, hopes are rising in the travel industry that the government will put up to 30 countries on a green list from may the 17th. that means testing required but no quarantine. and on another optimistic note, the brit awards will be allowed an audience of 4000 next month, another of the pilot schemes on the route to getting crowds back at all major events. hugh pym, bbc news. the latest coronavirus figures here show there were 2,729 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. on average, the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 2,471. just over 1900 people are currently in hospital. 18 deaths were reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week,

22 deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths is now 127,345. as for vaccinations, just under 118,000 people have had their first dose in the latest 24 hour period, meaning more than 33.2 million have now had theirfirst dose. the take up for the second jab remains high, withjust over 416,000 in the latest 24 hour period — meaning just over 11.2 million people are now fully vaccinated. india has recorded the highest daily number of new covid—19 cases anywhere in the world — with almost 315,000 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours and more than 2000 more deaths. hospitals in india are running out of oxygen to treat seriously ill coronavirus patients. the government in delhi says at least six hospitals in the city have no more supplies. in several major cities, crowds have formed outside hospitals which are filled to capacity. documents released at the high court

today have shed more light on how ppe contracts were awarded at the start of the pandemic last year. they suggest there was a controversial vip route that allowed certain companies to fast—track the process. our special correspendent, lucy manning, is outside the high court for us. lucy. 0ver lucy. over the last year, the bbc has revealed details of millions of gowns and facemasks that could not be used because they did not meet the right standards and there has been concerned over there vip route, this is where mps, ministers, officials could refer companies and they would get on this route and many of them did get more contracts to supply ppe. the good law project, campaign group, took the government to court over some of these deals. there has been a hearing today, e—mails have been published and we can see the concern some civil servants had at the time about this vip route. 0ne e—mail says from a

civil servant, we are currently drowning in vip requests and high priority contacts that despite all of our work and best efforts do not either hold the correct certification or do not past due diligence. and we also get some detail in these e—mails about how companies got into the vip route. a company re—revealed some of their masks could not be used, one of their company officials was at an 80th birthday party with the father—in—law of one of the department of health officials and thatis department of health officials and that is how they got involved in the system. and another company whose facemasks could not be used, they had an advisor that was also advising the government on trade, andrew mills. 0ne advising the government on trade, andrew mills. one of the e—mails says one for the vip route. in response, they say any accusations of cronyism are unsubstantiated. why does it all matter? well, it raises the question of yes, there was a

panic, a scramble to get ppe at the height of covid but was the government wasting taxpayer's money with companies that didn't have track records and equipment that in the end some of it couldn't be used? lucy manning, thank you. downing street has announced an internal inquiry into the leak of private text messages between boris johnson and billionaire sirjames dyson over the tax status of his employees. the bbc revealed these text messages sent at the start of the pandemic, in which borisjohnson says he would "fix" tax rules that the businessman sirjames said presented an obstacle to making ventilators for the nhs. labour have called for all correspondence from mrjohnson's phone about government business to be released. 0ur political editor, laura kuenssberg, has more. ticking. there wasn't time to waste. at the start of the pandemic, those at the cabinet table were under the most intense pressure. but were mistakes made in the rush? yesterday, we revealed the prime minister and the businessman sirjames dyson had been in touch

by direct text. dyson had offered to make ventilators for the nhs in the uk, but the firm wanted guarantees they wouldn't have to pay extra tax if they brought more staff in. government business is meant to be transparent — labour's calling foul. we've got this bizarre situation, where you've got some people who've got the prime minister's number and can access him and he apparently will respond by telling people that he'll get things done and then you've got the vast majority of people who've got no such access. dyson spent £20 million and didn't get a contract in the end. the firm says they were only trying to comply with the rules. sirjames became a uk tax resident again this week and ministers have defended what went on. what the prime minister did was to ensure that things happened. now this is the dither and delay of the socialists. they don't want to do things, they want to put the process ahead of succeeding. let us praise dyson for all that he has contributed to british manufacturing — the huge success that has been. there were concerns in government,

though, about how boris johnson communicates. 0ne senior whitehall figure told me there was great anxiousness about this prime minister doing deals on whatsapp. nobody trusted him, nobody knew what was improper. and number 10 did not officially deny today claims that borisjohnson had been advised to change his phone number in the autumn. downing street emphasises this was happening during an emergency, adamant nothing went wrong and confident of some public sympathy, but it's not the only strand of concern about access and influence — raising doubts about whether this is a government that really plays fair. whatever the tangle, one question is the same — can you be sure those with the wrong motives never sneak behind the gates? laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the most senior civil servant at the treasury, sir tom scholar, has said the failed finance company, greensill capital, "persistently" lobbied the department to be included in the government's covid support schemes.

who was an adviser to the firm, had rung him and sent a series of text messages, but all the proposals put forward were rejected. mr cameron has insisted he broke no lobbying rules. the bank of england has shown text messages to cover the activities. the government has apologised for the failure to commemorate properly the deaths of tens of thousands of black and asian troops who fought for the british empire during the first world war. the commonwealth war graves commission found that at least 116,000 people who died weren't given headstones, because of what they call "pervasive racism". our home editor, mark easton, has the story. the imperial war graves commission was established with a remit to remember every individual who died for their country regardless of rank,

class, religion or race. in france, the immaculate memorial is an example ofjust that. but outside europe, the commission enacted a policy of discrimination, categorising the fallen as white, indians or what it called natives. this village in punjab, then part of british india sent 460 men to fight in the first world war, the largest of any village in south asia. yet the war dead are not named. a shock to a british gp who went to research his ancestors from there. i to a british gp who went to research his ancestors from there.— his ancestors from there. i came across the _ his ancestors from there. i came across the whitewashing - his ancestors from there. i came across the whitewashing of i his ancestors from there. i came i across the whitewashing of history when it came to the world wars. growing up born and bred in nottingham in history lessons i never saw a photograph or a story of a black soldier or an indian soldier. in a black soldier or an indian soldier. ,., ., ., soldier. in southern canyou, white war dead light _ soldier. in southern canyou, white war dead light beneath _ soldier. in southern canyou, white war dead light beneath war -

soldier. in southern canyou, white i war dead light beneath war memorials in a well tended cemetery. beyond the fence, is whether african comrades are very, no names and no gravestones. this man headed the commonwealth war graves commission and said natives were not civil enough. the report finds at least 116,000 casualties of world where one, mostly africans and indians were not commemorated by name and were not commemorated by name and were not commemorated at all. the consequence? pervasive racism. it was a policy encouraged by winston churchill, secretary of state for the congolese. he advised the commission would not erect individual headstones for native troops, but a central memorial in some suitable locality. shortly after sunrise... the commission has known for years there were significant issues with the way black and asian servicemen had been honoured, a century too late. today,

the prime minister gave his personal backing. i the prime minister gave his personal backinu. .. the prime minister gave his personal backinu. ., ., the prime minister gave his personal backin.. ., ., ., ., , ., backing. i want to apologise for the failures to live _ backing. i want to apologise for the failures to live up _ backing. i want to apologise for the failures to live up to _ backing. i want to apologise for the failures to live up to their _ failures to live up to their founding principles all those years ago and have deep regret that it has taken so long to rectify the situation. taken so long to rectify the situation-— taken so long to rectify the situation. , .. taken so long to rectify the situation. , ., ., situation. they have invited me to have a conversation _ situation. they have invited me to have a conversation that - situation. they have invited me to have a conversation that will i situation. they have invited me to have a conversation that will be i have a conversation that will be difficult — have a conversation that will be difficult to have and have someone like me _ difficult to have and have someone like me pointing out what they should — like me pointing out what they should have done years ago without glorifying _ should have done years ago without glorifying colonialism and without glorifying colonialism and without glorifying the empire.— glorifying the empire. there are romises glorifying the empire. there are promises to _ glorifying the empire. there are promises to act, _ glorifying the empire. there are promises to act, but _ glorifying the empire. there are promises to act, but true i glorifying the empire. there are| promises to act, but true healing will take time. not only has there been a great historical injustice to black and asian servicemen, but our nation's story has been missing vital pages. mark easton, bbc news. our top story this evening... opening a global climate summit — joe biden tells world leaders the us will halve its emissions by 2030 but insisted it couldn't solve the problem alone. and coming up — we talk to voters in swindon about the issues

on their minds as they prepare to vote in next months local elections. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel... the olympics will remain protest free — the ioc rules bans on demonstrations will remain. critics say they've forgotten competitors are humans first, athletes second. tomorrow the court of appeal will decide whether to overturn the convictions of 42 post office branch managers, who'd been found guilty of theft after glitches in the central computer system made it look like money had gone missing. in a scandal that stretched over decades, hundreds of sub—postmasters were convicted, given prison sentences or bankrupted as a result. our business correspondent colletta smith has been hearing from two women who are hoping that tomorrow will be the end of a fight that s lasted years. so nervous because i know my life's in the hands of three judges.

tomorrow, janet skinner is hoping to clear her name once and for all. she used to run a post office in hull. i loved it, absolutely loved it. it was the heart of the community. karen wilson owned up post office in redditch, alongside her husband, julian. when you buy these post offices, you almost, like, buy the village. but there dream job began to cause nightmares after a new computer system was introduced into every branch. money began to disappear from the accounts. thousands of pounds were missing, which sub—postmasters, like janet and karen, simply couldn't explain. the post office charged them with theft and began criminal proceedings. how did it feel when you were in court and suddenly you realised you weren't coming home? they locked the door and then that's like, you know, i knew then, that i wasn't coming out. do you know, i haven't cried

about this for years? they took me downstairs and i actually don't remember much after that. janet was taken away from her two children and given a nine—month prison sentence. in redditch, karen's husband julian was convicted too. i sold everything that he'd ever bought me, my engagement ring, all myjewellery. i didn't tell him. the couple struggled through incredibly difficult years and then in 2016, julian was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. he used to say, "i feel like i've got a ball and chain with an anchor around my leg and i'm dragging it over a stormy sea and i want someone to cut it free because i'm not a criminal." did you realise that anyone else was being investigated as well? no, no. or that they'd been taken to court? no.

or that they'd been put in prison? no. they make you believe you're the only person that's having problems. but they weren't the only ones. more than 700 sub—postmasters were prosecuted by the post office, who now say they've addressed what they describe as "historical failings". but janet and karen are still living with the consequences. i will never forgive them and i'm a forgiving girl. no, i'll never forgive them. former post office workerjanet skinner ending that report by our business correspondent colletta smith. scottish labour has launched its manifesto for the holyrood election next month. it says it will guarantee a job for every young person in scotland and the party has also called for the country to unite behind a national covid recovery plan. here's our scotland editor sarah smith. the banks of the river clyde were once rock—solid labour ground. the party that once dominated

scotland now languishes in third place and their new leader admits will not form the next scottish government. i would love to say to you sarah, that i have these superpowers to reverse a 20 year decline in ten weeks. i'm not pretending to have such a superpower. but what i do want to do is to be honest and direct with people across scotland. the labour party hasn't been good enough, you deserve a better labour party and i'm going to work day and night to give you that better labour party you deserve so we can all rebuild the country that we love. scottish labour propose under 25s and the long—term unemployed to be guaranteed a job in the public sector, rapid diagnostic centres for cancer patients, a free digital device for every school pupil, increasing the scottish child payment to £20 a week and opposing an independence referendum within the next five years. if the result of this election is a majority of msps who support independence, how can labour stand in the way of what voters have

chosen, which is to have another referendum? what people are worried about right now in scotland isn't the date of a referendum. what they are worried about is keeping their loved ones safe, when are they going to get a vaccine? if and when they'll have a job to go back to, their children's education and mental health, the cancelled operation or the failure to get a cancer diagnosis, the planet we are going to leave our children and our grandchildren. these are the big issues, i think. could you work with an snp government whilst they were, at the same time, pursuing an independence referendum within the next three years? firstly, this isn't a party manifesto, it's a recovery plan for all of scotland. i don't support independence, i don't support a referendum but is that going to stop me from working with people to challenge child poverty, to get a great investment in our nhs, to get people back to work? no. if labour succeeds in becoming the main opposition party in scotland, it wants to concentrate on covid recovery not the constitution. labour say the country can't recover from the pandemic whilst politicians are arguing about independence. it's also true that labour's fortunes in scotland can't recover

whilst independence dominates. squeezed between the snp and the staunchly pro—unionist conservatives, labour often struggles to get its arguments heard. sarah smith, bbc news, greenock. in a fortnight voters in england head to the polls in 143 councils to decide who they want in charge of crucial local services, such as social care. in swindon, the conservatives have controlled the council for more than 15 years, but labour is trying to win it back. here's our political correspondent alex forsyth. these allotments have been a haven this past year but even here, there's no total escape from the pandemic. these residents will soon be asked to vote in council elections and covid, it seems, could play a part. there are lots of lovely green open spaces... for sue, having to stay home has made her aware of what's on the doorstep. it's made me start to think, well, where does our council tax money go? is it going to the right people, at the right places?

local elections are local things. but ann thinks the national picture will determine votes, though she doesn't think it should. it's the only way you're going to change local government, for people to understand how it works and how important is to actually vote on local issues and not on party lines. in swindon, there are factors which will resonate across the country — how to help struggling high streets, how councils, many cash—strapped, provide leisure and community services. we're going to deliver to all- the postal voters in grange drive... here, labour's pushing these issues, criticising the conservative council's record, hoping to gain ground. you three can start i on the right hand side. the tories want to consolidate theirsupport, pointing to investment and plans for improvements, echoes of the national fight. 0n the doorstep, local issues will be important but the pandemic�*s been so dominant the past year, it will inevitably factor in how people vote. so, while councils have played a key

part in the covid response, these elections will also be seen as a test of how the public thinks the national parties have responded to the pandemic. the lib dems are trying to get their message to cut through. i'll leave you a calling card... here, it'sjobs and regeneration. after campaigning was curtailed, there is now a push. the greens are focused on an eco—friendly recovery and a host of independent candidates are standing here too, an alternative, they say, to the main parties. for voters like mums kat and vicky, the local messages do matter but it's hard to ignore the practical and political impact of the pandemic. the only thing that affects me is anything that's going to be open or not open in swindon, which i can take my little boy to. for me, it isjust that national picture of what's going on next, how people, you know, the parties, have dealt with things, in my opinion, and i think that is kind of where my vote will take me. so, as we try to resume life

as usual, these elections will be the first real sign of how this most unusual year shifts the political landscape. alex forsyth, bbc news, swindon. the bay city rollers singer, les mcewan has died suddenly at the age of 65. # buy, buy baby. they wear sensations in the uk in the us and the uk. they sold 120 million records. les mcewanjoined in 1973 and left in 1978. time for a look at the weather here's nick miller. a range of high temperatures today from seven to 17. barely a cloud in

the sky, just drifting across northern scotland. this will be a repeat performance tomorrow. it is high pressure keeping thing settled and dry, notjust tomorrow but through the weekend. just a hint next week some areas could see a little bit of rain. there is a chance of a night of catching a passing shower in the northern isles, cloudy in northern scotland. elsewhere it is clear at the temperatures will be dipping again. we are expecting a frost in many places and it could be coldest across eastern england, down 2—4 in the countryside. a meteor shower peaked last night and one lucky weather watcher got a view. there are other opportunities tonight. after the chilly start in the morning, temperatures will rebound in the sunshine. plenty more of so passing shower possible in the northern isles and there may be high cloud developing tomorrow, turning the sun a little hazy. winds are light away from the english channel, channel islands and it will be quite

dusty. there is some