this is bbc news, i'm clive myrie. the headlines: borisjohnson insists he will comply with any investigation, into the funding of renovations for his downing street flat. but he dismisses concerns in the teeth of labour pressure. i don't think there's anything to see or to worry about, but what we are doing is focusing on the stuff that really matters. i think this is getting a bit farcical. i think the prime minister could actually deal with this very, very quickly. all he's got to do is answer a very simple question, which is who paid, initially, for the redecoration of your flat? leaseholders may still have to foot the bill to remove dangerous cladding from buildings, as new fire safety rules after

the grenfell tragedy become law. burying more dead in india as the rampant covid outbreak prompts further offers of help from the international community. after a police community support officer is murdered, detectives search woodland in kent. it isa it is a week until the scottish parliament elections and we are in aberdeen are talking independence and economic recovery. and the noxious, neighbourhood dump, raising a stink for thousands of people, in staffordshire. welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson has sought to play down concerns about how the refurbishment

of his downing street flat was paid for, saying he doesn't think there is anything to see or worry about. the prime minister has made clear the conservative party will comply with the outcome of an electoral commission investigation, but has refused to say whether he'll abide by the recommendations of his newly—appointed standards adviser. labour says it's a "ridiculous farce" that mrjohnson has failed to say who paid the initial cost of the refit. with more, here's our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. now haunting downing street and the prime minister, the question that borisjohnson still has not answered — who initially paid tens of thousands to renovate his flat? after six months leaving the post open, the prime minister has appointed an independent adviser on ministerial interests who is looking into things. but the labour leader in manchester today said it would be simple for the prime minister to put the whole matter to bed. i think this is getting a bit farcical. i think the prime minister could actually deal with this very, very quickly.

all he's got to do is answer a very simple question, which is who paid, initially, for the redecoration of your flat? now, i'm thinking of the people who are watching this, i think most people would say if i had my flat redecorated, i would be able to answer that question. in angry exchanges in parliament yesterday, the labour leader attempted several times to extract the information. mrjohnson said he had paid personally. borisjohnson�*s apartment is up there. down here in downing street they say he hasn't broken any regulations or any laws, but the question now is should the adviser�*s findings be binding on him, or would that be too much and potentially undermine the office of prime minister and parliament? lord geidt, seen here several years ago when he was working for the queen, will not have the power to open his own investigations or impose sanctions, those remain with the prime minister himself. labour and the man who heads the committee on standards in public life say that he

should have more powers. the adviser should have the right to initiate investigations and then to report the facts to the prime minister. the prime minister has not accepted that recommendation on this occasion, although he has said that the adviser can recommend to him. mrjohnson today declined to say whether he would follow any recommendations his new adviser makes, but that he would provide any information a second investigation by the electoral commission asks for. we will comply with whatever they want, and i don't think there's anything to see here or to worry about, but what we are doing is focusing on the stuff that really matters. so it's not clear borisjohnson will heed his adviser�*s findings, and the unanswered questions remain. damian grammaticas, bbc news. jill rutter is a former civil servant who is now senior research

fellow at uk in a changing europe, which carries out independent research on uk—eu relations. thank you for being with us. you worked in the government at a time when sleaze allegations it seemed to be the norm, sadly. how damaging do you think these allegations are now for thejohnson administration? the for the johnson administration? the bi for the johnson administration? tue: big difference for the johnson administration? tte: big difference to these allegations and the allegations, they miss doings in the major administration is at this time at the person at the centre of it is the prime minister —— me miss doings. at that time there aboutjohn major's government but not about him in particular and he looked quickly to set up a review committing the standards of public life and i think that is the really big difference this time that he person the centre of all these revelations, allegations, and what you will is the prime minister himself. �* , ., ., ., , himself. but there is now an adviser of ministerial _

himself. but there is now an adviser of ministerial standards, _ himself. but there is now an adviser of ministerial standards, lord - himself. but there is now an adviser of ministerial standards, lord geidt| of ministerial standards, lord geidt but his remit seems rather curious to some people. explained how he is going to work in relation to the investigation he is launching. so he is lookin: investigation he is launching. so he is looking at _ investigation he is launching. so he is looking at what _ investigation he is launching. so he is looking at what happened, - investigation he is launching. sr te: is looking at what happened, whether the prime minister made the right declaration that the right time. but as before, he will make his findings... it is up to the prime minister to decide whether to publish and up to the prime minister to decide, rather ironically, whether there where they of any further action. we saw the resignation of the previous adviser sir alex allan when he made recommendations about whether he thought the home secretary priti patel had breached any code over billing, he made his assessment that she could be interpreted to have breached the code —— breached any code after bullying. what is interesting about lord geidt as you

would have imagined the government was desperate, there has been a five month gap between this new appointment, that the government would have been quite desperate to have an independent adviser, not a laser to deflect that claim that no one would take this job. lord geidt was in quite a strong position last week to say he would take this job in terms that he would initiate his own enquiries and control publication of my findings. up to you, then, by minister what you decide to do that, but at least i will be able to guarantee transparency —— are prime minister. but lord geidt clearly decided he would not insist on those terms and took the job enemy, which would not insist on those terms and took thejob enemy, which i find slightly surprising. so took the job enemy, which i find slightly surprising.— slightly surprising. so you don't think ou slightly surprising. so you don't think you should _ slightly surprising. so you don't think you should have - slightly surprising. so you don't think you should have taken - slightly surprising. so you don't| think you should have taken the slightly surprising. so you don't - think you should have taken the job? —— took thejob think you should have taken the job? —— took the job anyway. he think you should have taken the “ob? -- took the job anywayi -- took the “ob anyway. he has set himself up — -- took the job anyway. he has set himself up for _ -- took the job anyway. he has set himself up for people _ -- took the job anyway. he has set himself up for people to _ -- took the job anyway. he has set himself up for people to say - -- took the job anyway. he has set himself up for people to say that l -- took the job anyway. he has set himself up for people to say that it| himself up for people to say that it did not have an authority, this was an opportunity for some to take a

stand, basically we will only do thisjob on better terms, which means it has a better guarantor, and lord geidt did not do that. you could imagine if... 0k lord geidt did not do that. you could imagine if... ok the prime minister could have gone without an adviser for much, minister could have gone without an adviserfor much, much longer, but i think it is a shame that lord geidt seems to have accepted these rather feeble terms. the seems to have accepted these rather feeble term-— feeble terms. the leader of the liberal democrats _ feeble terms. the leader of the liberal democrats said - feeble terms. the leader of the liberal democrats said this - feeble terms. the leader of the - liberal democrats said this morning that if it is proven borisjohnson did say, lately bodies pile high, he should resign —— let the bodies pile high. i do think that is potentially something that could be more dangerous for him? he has made it clear, by the way, that he did not say that in the possibility —— in relation to the possibility of a third lockdown back in october. t third lockdown back in october. i think that is going to be a politicaljudgment. it is nothing like a breach of the rules. the

prime minister using callous and frankly really unpleasant language... frankly really unpleasant language - -_ frankly really unpleasant language. . . frankly really unpleasant lanauuae... , . , ~ frankly really unpleasant lanauuae... ,. , ~ ., language... but implicitly. we do not know those _ language... but implicitly. we do not know those at _ language... but implicitly. we do not know those at the _ language... but implicitly. we do not know those at the moment i language... but implicitly. we do not know those at the moment it| language... but implicitly. we do i not know those at the moment it is very much some sources say he did. the prime minister said he doesn't. i think the next a staging post in the story will either be some sort of recording comes out or that dominic cummings substantiate some of the claim that appear to be originating from him when he appears before parliament next month. but i think the real thing, actually, on the lockdown is as whatever the prime minister said, the lockdown is as whatever the prime ministersaid, i the lockdown is as whatever the prime minister said, i think the really interesting things about the pandemic, maybe we have to wait for the public enquiry that the premise is committed to but has not set a timetable for its actually the decisions that were made. we know the prime minister throws words around with the rather careless abandon i think that is already priced in. and i think this will just be a political issue, to his backbenchers think that he has

become an electoral liability —— liability. they went for boris johnson as leader because they thought he was the only person who could turn back the tide of the brexit party after those 2019 european elections. they were right, they did back baccy winner. i think they did back baccy winner. i think they moment they think the prime minister looks more like a liability, they will dump him. it is just a question of politics, not rules. . ~' , ., just a question of politics, not rules. ., ~ , ., ., just a question of politics, not rules. ., ~ ., ., just a question of politics, not rules. ., ~' i., ., ., , new fire safety legislation, drawn up in the wake of the grenfell tower disaster has become law, but without the extra protections for leaseholders demanded by campaigners and some mps. it means the owners of buildings could pass on the extra cost of removing cladding. our business correspondent victoria fritz explained why campaigners and peers alike were not satisfied with today's outcome. it's not what the campaigners want, it's not what the residents want, and it's also not what the peers in the house of lords wanted either. certainly, the latter made repeated

interventions to try to prevent this happening and shield leaseholders from the cost of compliance. i mean, these people living in these buildings, they didn't build these buildings, they didn't certify them as safe, they don't own them. they're just renting them. and yet, they are the people who may end up paying for the price of failure. now, it should be straightforward. 72 lives lost four years ago. it should have been the easiest bill to pass, but there was a bitter battle over who should foot the bill for this cladding crisis. now, residents are saying, look, we're already paying out money for sprinkler systems, forfire doors, for the balconies and the like, and to increase the liability on us just isn't fair. we are the people who are least able to afford it. now mps, including the prime minister, pointed back in february to a fund that they were starting up that you'd be able to apply for grants. £3.5 billion has gone into this fund, but the truth is we don't know what the true cost is of making

homes in britain safe for all. we just don't know. some estimates are sort of close to £15—£16 billion so, you know, this is just a third this pot, if it covers it at all. and so there is a big question here as to whether or not, even though this law has been passed, whether or not natural justice has been served, and campaigners are certainly vowing to fight on. what's likely to happen here is that we're going to see this end up in the courts and it will probably end up with the executive trying to make up with perhaps some of the failings that we've seen in the parliamentary system here, this ping pong that we've seen for years and years. mps say to delay the legislation any further would have cost lives, but it remains pretty unclear as to how this law is going to work in practice and whether essential works will actually be carried out if the leaseholders are unwilling or unable to pay for the changes that are needed to be made and, in the meantime, whether they've got enough money to even just keep

the lights on in the lifts working in these high—rise buildings, which otherwise would render them completely uninhabitable. victoria fritz, our business correspondence there. a week today, voters go to the polls in wales, england and scotland, where the holyrood elections will be closely watched at westminster. if pro—independence parties win a majority, they could use it to demand another referendum. but the state of the scottish economy is also a key electoral issue. let's go to nick eardley in aberdeen. hello, nick. the sun has come out for our last — hello, nick. the sun has come out for our last hour _ hello, nick. the sun has come out for our last hour of _ hello, nick. the sun has come out for our last hour of coverage - hello, nick. the sun has come out for our last hour of coverage from | for our last hour of coverage from aberdeen harbour. we have been speaking to the party this afternoon about some of the big challenges that scotland could face over the next five years. the north—east it could be really important, both for the result and for the future of the economy. some of the seats here are going to be really key to whether

the snp can get an overall majority, whether the conservatives or labour finish in second place as the largest opposition party. but there is also interesting because it is still having a debate over independence. it is also having a debate over how best to recover after the pandemic. have a listen full stop welcome to coming back indoors. a warm welcome back after a long winter lockdown. i hope you're hungry. hospitality on aberdeen�*s beach front is back up and running. enjoy your lunch. and despite a tough time recently, susie remains optimistic. we have to be positive going forward as from now with the reopening of everything. but it has been a very scary time this last year for everybody in aberdeen and aberdeenshire. do you think it's important that politicians focus on getting the economy moving again? oh, first, yes. firstly and mostly, yes.

there are green shoots here, shoppers back on union street. but aberdeen has been hit hard and local business groups want politicians to act. unemployment has been the highest in scotland. our number ofjob vacancies has fallen the most. this is a vital election, possibly the most important of our lifetimes, because i think the policy decisions that are determined now will see how we recover. we're asking for business to be trusted by government, to be seen as part of the solution. after the challenges of the last year, economic recovery is playing a big role in the election debate. how to protectjobs and livelihoods when some of the emergency support schemes come to an end. but in scotland, it's also about independence. how strong is the economy here? would it suffer if scotland left the uk, or might the country be able to make different, perhaps better, economic decisions? aberdeen is no stranger to economic challenges.

after the boom years of oil, it suffered when the price fell. that also had an impact on the economic debate around independence. and increasingly, scotland's energy sector is investing in renewables. sir ian wood made his money from the oil boom — more than £1 billion of it. he says it still has a role to play, but diversification will be key for the city's future. i think we're in better shape than we were. we were too dependent on oil and gas. frankly, the whole of the uk has been too dependent on oil and gas in our economy. so we're in a transition period. it's going to be challenging, but i'm reasonably confident that we'll work our way through that. but i can't think of anywhere else in the uk better to actually make a serious go at renewables. and if you had your time again or if you were starting off now, rather, would you invest all your money in renewables? yes, i would.

scotland is hosting a major climate change conference in november. world leaders trying to figure out how to make the move to green energy. that's one of the questions aberdeen is trying to answer right now. but after the pandemic, it's not the only one for the city and its politicians. we have been speaking to a number of the politicians this afternoon. brute the politicians this afternoon. we have already spoken to four of the five largest parties and we are now joined by the scottish liberal democrat leader willie rennie who is speaking to us from the middle of scotland, from fife this afternoon. we know you're anti—independence, but when it comes to the economic recovery, do you think that scotland has enough power is that the scottish parliament has enough powers to deal with that? yes. scottish parliament has enough powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and i powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and i think — powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and | think that — powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and i think that is _ powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and i think that is why _ powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and i think that is why it _ powers to deal with that? yes, i do. and i think that is why it is - and i think that is why it is important that we focus on the

recovery rather than independence. i think it would be a terrible distraction to have another several year—long debate about independence because we know that it consumes our political energy and all of the skills and talents of the politicians in the parliament and beyond, so it would be a distraction for supper what we should be doing is making sure we invest in the skills and talents of people in terms of mental health and education, retraining, reskilling so we can get the workforce ready for the economy and making sure young people, in particular, get the youth job guarantee we are promising. there was any kind of steps we need to take urgently and are with any power of the scottish parliament so let's crack on and do it. == power of the scottish parliament so let's crack on and do it.— let's crack on and do it. -- are within the _ let's crack on and do it. -- are within the power. _ let's crack on and do it. -- are within the power. that - let's crack on and do it. -- are within the power. that is - let's crack on and do it. -- are within the power. that is the l within the power. that is the argument you're taking to voters next week. the snp, greens and other pro—independence parties are saying, we want another referendum, so if they win, if they are a majority, does that not mean there should be another referendum? the? does that not mean there should be another referendum?— does that not mean there should be another referendum? they are being rather presumptuous _ another referendum? they are being rather presumptuous predicting - another referendum? they are being rather presumptuous predicting the l rather presumptuous predicting the result before it actually even

happens. i think they need to focus on people's priorities rather than their own priorities. that is why their own priorities. that is why the liberal democrats have been very crystal—clear. we were not support another independence referendum. we think it will be a massive distraction. we have been through one of the dead those pandemics we have ever seen in this country, thousands of people have lost their lives, thousands more have lost theirjobs, and i think it is a massive indulgence of the nationalist parties to think we should spend the next few years focusing on that rather than other needs. especially in the northeast where people are running what will have to after oil and gas, will you be able to exploit renewables. these are big questions that any government at any time would find difficult to cope with those of any wake of a pandemic and then adding on independence, it is far, far too much. we need to focus. it should be a needle sharp focus on things that count. ~ .,

count. willie rennie, we have run out of time- _ count. willie rennie, we have run out of time. thank— count. willie rennie, we have run out of time. thank you _ count. willie rennie, we have run out of time. thank you so - count. willie rennie, we have run out of time. thank you so much l count. willie rennie, we have run. out of time. thank you so much for joining us. i really appreciate that. clive, it is a busy election campaign in terms of the arguments. in some ways, it has been a strange campaign because of the parties are out —— are not out and about as normal, that is not a normal activity you normally see around these elections, but there is a week left for the parties to really and those voters with some of those arguments. and to make the case, really, and it is important, not just for people in scotland, it could have a big impact on any future of the uk as well. indeed, thank you. and eardley their reporting live throughout the day from aberdeen. the headlines on bbc news... borisjohnson insists he will comply with any investigation into the funding of renovations, for his downing street flat — but dismisses concerns. leaseholders may still have to foot the bill to remove dangerous

cladding from buildings, as new fire safety rules after the grenfell tragedy, become law. india has again reported record numbers of new cases and deaths, as it fights to contain a huge surge in the spread of coronavirus. we are going to get more on that story now. india has again reported record numbers of new cases and deaths as it fights to contain a huge surge in the spread of coronavirus. more than 3,600 people have been reported dead in the last 2a hours alone, and there were almost 380,000 new infections. the indian government has praised what it calls an "an outpouring of solidarity," after more than a0 countries pledged to send medical supplies. arunody mukherjee has more details. it was too late. this woman lost her mother while standing in a queue for hours waiting for medical oxygen. the only thing that could have

given her a fighting chance to beat the virus. basic facilities like access to hospital beds and oxygen cylinders have now become a luxury in india's capital city. translation: we have been out of our house i since two o'clock last night. there is no oxygen available in all of delhi. and after a lot of running around, we finally got here at about four o'clock. delhi is in its second week of lockdown, but in the last ten days, the city of 20 million citizens has seen over 20,000 cases every day. more than 300 have died here daily for the last week. cases are surging in other parts of the country as well. it is notjust the hospitals which are inundated, so are burial grounds. this 52—year—old has been working around the clock for days, digging graves in mumbai. experts say the number of actual deaths are much higher than what is being reported. translation: it is ramadan, but i am not able to fast. - my work is really hard

and we work 2a hours every day. how can i keep my fast? it is so hot. but i need to dig graves, i need to cover them with mud, and i need to carry dead bodies. how can i fast? contrast these images with election—bound bengal, another state in the eastern part of india. citizens on thursday braved the virus to come out to vote. many have questioned why political rallies, led by leaders across party lines, were allowed to go on for the last month, even as cases in the country continued to spike. equally jarring is the fact that until one month ago india was projecting itself as the pharmacy of the world, sending millions of free vaccine doses to countries around the globe. it is hard to imagine that its citizens here are now struggling for something as basic as finding a hospital bed. it is india that now needs help. the us has promised to send covid—19 supplies worth $100 million. countries like the uk, singapore and russia, too, have sent ventilators and oxygenators to support india's crumbling medical infrastructure.

amidst the despair, there are also encouraging stories, like that of this 105—year—old man and his wife in maharashtra who successfully beat the virus. it is stories like these that help inspire an exhausted country fighting the disease hold onto hope and pray for better days ahead. here, the government has published its latest coronavirus figures. in the latest 2a hour period the uk has recorded 2,445 cases of covid—19. 22 people have died within 28 days of a positive test result. over 3a million people have now received the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. the head of nhs england is to step down at the end ofjuly, the government has confirmed. sir simon stevens is currently overseeing the coronavirus vaccination roll—out for all adults in england. he had planned to leave sooner, but agreed to stay on through the winter and into this year to complete the

vaccination programme. i'm joined now by our health correspondent hugh pym. he is going, after a relatively lengthy amount of time, seven years i think it is. what do you think the last couple of years have been like for him in thatjob? last couple of years have been like for him in that job?— for him in that “ob? well, in one sense, for him in that “ob? well, in one nobody— for him in that job? well, in one sense, nobody has _ for him in that job? well, in one sense, nobody has run - for him in that job? well, in one sense, nobody has run a - for him in that job? well, in one sense, nobody has run a health | sense, nobody has run a health estimate through anything quite like the last year so. nobody has had to face up to leading an nhs workforce through a pandemic like that. of course, the nhs consist of many, many different organisations in england will stop he certainly can't pull levers and things happen miles away in different hospitals and gp surgeries, but he overtly sets the tone. i think the vaccination roll—out programme, which was basically done by the nhs in different parts of the uk, he ran it in england, obviously in partnership with the department of health as well, but he should take a lot of

credit for that. to actually move from the first jab credit for that. to actually move from the firstjab in early december to the huge figures we have got now, more than 30 million having had a first dose moving write—down is the age groups, that is, to a certain degree, he should take credit for that. the years before that, there were reforms the nhs in england, he faced critics who may be felt he should have pushed for more money from chancellors. he believed very strongly and more joined from chancellors. he believed very strongly and morejoined up health and social care at a local level and thatis and social care at a local level and that is now being introduced from about now in england. a very interesting time to be leading the nhs in england, certainly. find interesting time to be leading the nhs in england, certainly. and in, there are suggestions _ nhs in england, certainly. and in, there are suggestions that - nhs in england, certainly. and in, there are suggestions that there l there are suggestions that there could well be, certainly from some in the medical fraternity, could well be, certainly from some in the medicalfraternity, there could be a third way. as at the lockdown eases, and as people get together and there are more interactions. how has sir simon stephens left nhs england took up

with that kind of situation if it does transpire? —— sir simon stevens. does transpire? -- sir simon stevens-_ does transpire? -- sir simon stevens. . ., ., stevens. those close to him would an ue that stevens. those close to him would argue that leaving _ stevens. those close to him would argue that leaving at _ stevens. those close to him would argue that leaving at the _ stevens. those close to him would argue that leaving at the end - stevens. those close to him would argue that leaving at the end of. argue that leaving at the end of july is when the government's offer for every adult in the uk to have been offered a first dose will have actually been carried out. we will have to see if that happens, but you could argue it is a reasonable time to be moving on with the population at the least having had a first dose, second doses would still be needed at that stage when a certain number of people. and at the summary time when generally the virus has not spread so rapidly. it gives the new leadership time to prepare for the third way. and i suppose there is no perfect time to leave any situation like this, but generally speaking, it would be argued that yes, there will be some sort of surge in cases, but hospitals have had an expense of a first and second wave now and have been improvements in the way patients are treated in intensive care. a lot has been

learned, so the framework is there, the platform is there for the autumn. but again you could argue a new head of the nhs could just be moving in when cases pick up again and some difficult decisions will have to be made. but i think, generally speaking, the nhs has learned a lot through this with the first wave of being devastating, as we know, in all parts of the nhs around the uk.— around the uk. and given the possibility — around the uk. and given the possibility that _ around the uk. and given the possibility that difficult - around the uk. and given the i possibility that difficult decisions are going to have to be made later in the year, do you think there will be many takers for the job? and who might be in the frame? t be many takers for the “ob? and who might be in the frame?— might be in the frame? i suppose it has a very unusual _ might be in the frame? i suppose it has a very unusualjob _ might be in the frame? i suppose it has a very unusualjob because - might be in the frame? i suppose it has a very unusualjob because in i has a very unusualjob because in some senses, the head of nhs england is as influential as any cabinet minister, apart from maybe the chancellor and the prime minister. a workforce of more than 1 million, it is said to the nhs is one of the biggest employers in the world. i think only well marked and maybe the chinese army and one other ad ahead of it. —— only walmart because of it

as you prestigious job of it. —— only walmart because of it as you prestigiousjob but in england it is broken up into many different parts, hospitals had a lot of autonomy. that is sometimes frustration at what you can do from there. i think there will be if your takers, including a couple in nhs already. and prichard, and nhs england operating officer, emily lawson are moving to number ten so i think there will be no shortage. thank you very much. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. hello there. today and indeed for the next two days, we are going to see a classic mixture of sunshine and april showers. and some of the showers will turn out to be heavy with some hail and some thunder in places also. other areas staying dry altogether. they will be hit and miss in nature. one thing we are also seeing is much colder arctic air spreading right across the country for the next few days. we will see a return to overnight frost in many rural areas. now, the showers will tend to fade away, a few continuing

overnight for scotland, northeast england, that get wintry over that higher ground. but for many places, it will be dry with lengthy clear spells. these are the towns and cities' values, you can see the blue hue indicates that frost in rural areas. so, friday starts cold and frosty, but bright. a lot of sunshine around, but as that strong sunshine gets going, then showers will develop quite widely again. some of them will be heavy with some hail and thunder, a bit of wintriness over the higher ground of scotland. some areas staying dry altogether, but these temperatures are pretty disappointing for the time of year, ranging from around 7—12 or 13 degrees in the south.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: borisjohnson insists he will comply with any investigation into the funding of renovations for his downing street flat. labour mps have asked the parliamentary commisioner for standards to look into issues raised. in the past hour, this is what the home secretary priti patel had to say. the prime minister himself has been a very clear, he spoke about this in

parliament yesterday, there are investigations that are now taking place, obviously there's investigations will run their course. ,., investigations will run their course. ,, investigations will run their course. ,., .., course. do you welcome the investigations? _ course. do you welcome the investigations? the - course. do you welcome the - investigations? the investigations are all welcome. _ leaseholders may still have to foot the bill to remove dangerous cladding from buildings, as new fire safety rules after the grenfell tragedy become law. india has again reported record numbers of new cases and deaths, as it fights to contain a huge surge in the spread of coronavirus. police have been carrying out a forensic search of woodland in kent, after the body of a police community support officer was found on tuesday. uefa have become the latest organisation to join a social media boycott this weekend. president alexander ceferin said he's been "impressed with the solidarity shown

by the players, clubs and stakeholders. " wales, scotland and england rugby, as well as rugby league, have also announced they'lljoin football and other sports in the boycott. they say it's a unified stand against racism and discrimination. the "show of solidarity against online abuse" takes place between 3pm on friday and 11.59pm on monday night. ole gunnar solskjaer has admitted it would be a "dream come true" to finally win his first trophy as manchester united manager — having won so much, of course, as a player. they're in europa league semi—final action tonight against the italian side roma. semi—final action tonight it semi—final action tonight will be a dream come ti’ul it will be a dream come true the day i can lift the trophy for this club as a manager, of course. that is what we are building for. we are close, building step by step, and our ambition this season is to finish it with lifting the trophy and being able to celebrate. i know how much that can mean fa group moving forward. —— for a group.

well, there's still a chance that we could have an all—premier league tie in the europa league final, because arsenal play in the other last four match tonight against spanish side villareal. the gunners have pierre emerick aubameyang back in contention — he's missed the last month of action after contracting malaria while on international duty. executives at clubs involved in the failed european super league have been forced to resign from advisory roles at the premier league, after the other 1a premier league clubs felt betrayed by the move and demanded that the club's representatives step down. manchester city, manchester united, liverpool, arsenal and chelsea will no longer have representatives on the club broadcast advisory board or in advisory roles concerning strategy and auditing. tottenham, which were also part of the breakaway group, didn't have any executives in such roles.

the resignations won't affect the six clubs' voting rights within the premier league. poppy cleall has been voted this year's women's six nations player of the championship. the england number eight is the first player to win the award voted for by the public. the red roses won the title for the third consecutive year. they face france in a friendly tomorrow in a repeat of the final. the semi—finals are under way at the world snooker championship and it's been a tight start so far between 2015 winner stuart bingham and three—time champion mark selby. they've been swapping leads with selby winning the final frame of the afternoon session to level the match at 4—4. it's the first to 16 frames played over three days. kyren wilson faces shaun murphy in the second semi later this evening. the number of adults in england classed as inactive had risen by 1.2 million, as the country was locked down for a second time in november. sport england has found that over 12 million people did less than half an hour's physical activity a week,

compared to last year. their chief executive tim hollingsworth says more must be done to help encourage people from all backgrounds to get active. the worst element of this, in some ways, is the fact that it just confirms what we already knew, that this is not a level playing field for community sport and being active in people's lives. there are barriers to entry for certain parts of our community which the pandemic has made worse. definitely, social economic circumstance matters. young people particularly have suffered during the pandemic and i think we need to look very hard at that and why is it that our 16—24—year—olds have actually been one of the least active groups over the past year. geraint thomas has slipped to third overall at the tour de romandie in switzerland. today's second stage was won by italy's sonny colbrelli, but thomas finished as part of the main group behind him. the briton remains nine seconds adrift of his ineos grenadiers team mate and race leader rohan dennis.

and that's all your sport for now. i'll have lots more in sportsday at 6.30pm. thank you for that. limit of breaking news for you, the stormont agriculture minister has announced his intention to stand as as leader of the dup. where else would he make that announcement? bet on twitter. he has held several positions within the stormont executive but made this announcement to replace arlene foster as leader of the dup, saying he wanted to rebuild, revitalise, reinvigorate and revise the dup for the next 100 years. he is a controversial figure for the next 100 years. he is a controversialfigure for some, from the conservative wing of the dup. he did fight against extending adoption rights that lgbt q did fight against extending adoption rights that lgbt 0 plus couples and

he could appeal to that wing of the party, but he is now the first person to throw their hat in the ring to replace arlene foster as leader of the democratic unionist party. let's return to the elections in holyrood which will be closely watched in westminster. if pro—independence parties win a majority, they could use it to demand another referendum. nick eardley is at aberdeen harbour this afternoon. hello. the parties all afternoon of what they are _ hello. the parties all afternoon of what they are offering. _ hello. the parties all afternoon of what they are offering. i - hello. the parties all afternoon of what they are offering. i wanted l hello. the parties all afternoon of| what they are offering. i wanted to finish up by speaking to someone who knows more about what businesses here are talking about. last year has been extremely tough for a lot of businesses. how do you feel the

city is doing?— city is doing? always optimistic, but they have — city is doing? always optimistic, but they have of _ city is doing? always optimistic, but they have of course - city is doing? always optimistic, but they have of course been . but they have of course been challengers put up before covid as well, _ challengers put up before covid as well, but — challengers put up before covid as well, but we are so very much vibrant — well, but we are so very much vibrant but _ well, but we are so very much vibrant but it has been more acute in aberdeen and north—east region, the challenges, but we continue to work_ the challenges, but we continue to work collaboratively three as a team, — work collaboratively three as a team, but still a a lot to do. people _ team, but still a a lot to do. people we have been speaking to this week suggest that aberdeen's past economic challenges have made it more resilient and that might mean the high street can bounce back this time? it the high street can bounce back this time? , . , the high street can bounce back this time? , ., , ., the high street can bounce back this time? ,.,, ., .. the high street can bounce back this time? ., .. , time? it is a bit of cliche, but we have gone _ time? it is a bit of cliche, but we have gone through _ time? it is a bit of cliche, but we have gone through the _ time? it is a bit of cliche, but we have gone through the granite, i time? it is a bit of cliche, but we i have gone through the granite, the fishing _ have gone through the granite, the fishing in_ have gone through the granite, the fishing in the farming, we have got oil and _ fishing in the farming, we have got oil and gas — fishing in the farming, we have got oil and gas but we are still resilient _ oil and gas but we are still resilient and we will gravely position— resilient and we will gravely position ourselves at their no doubt — position ourselves at their no doubt. but there is a real challenge for this— doubt. but there is a real challenge for this city— doubt. but there is a real challenge for this city that has given so much over the _ for this city that has given so much over the years to the rest of the

country— over the years to the rest of the country and we have seen that in times— country and we have seen that in times of— country and we have seen that in times of scotland and the uk. it as may be _ times of scotland and the uk. it as may be time for us to give a bit more _ may be time for us to give a bit more back— may be time for us to give a bit more back and as we look towards a city centre master plan to deal with the challenges to the high there has been some valued support given— there has been some valued support given of— there has been some valued support given of the past year and that has been _ given of the past year and that has been accepted and appreciated, of course _ been accepted and appreciated, of course it— been accepted and appreciated, of

course it has, but much more has been _ course it has, but much more has been given — course it has, but much more has been given i_ course it has, but much more has been given-— been given. i really appreciate it. plen of been given. i really appreciate it. plenty of time — been given. i really appreciate it. plenty of time for _ been given. i really appreciate it. plenty of time for the _ been given. i really appreciate it. plenty of time for the politicians | plenty of time for the politicians to keep making that argument, there is a week left. there are a number of issues that are important in the scottish election, but the argument keeps coming back to independence and the covid recovery. you will see the sun has just come out, there was a bit of rain this afternoon, freezing all day, the sun has come outjust freezing all day, the sun has come out just as we freezing all day, the sun has come outjust as we are leaving, butjust before we sign off from aberdeen, i want to show you some pictures that my cameraman managed to get at the very last minute of dolphins in the harbour this afternoon. there have been keeping us company whilst we have been her. the high street has started to reopen and we noticed it filming yesterday that quite a lot of places in the city have managed

to find space for outdoor dining and in scotland you can have a glass of wine way be out with a meal as i just now so we might head off and do thatjust now. trlice just now so we might head off and do thatjust nova— that 'ust now. nice one, but given the thatjust now. nice one, but given the state of _ thatjust now. nice one, but given the state of scottish _ thatjust now. nice one, but given the state of scottish politics, - thatjust now. nice one, but given the state of scottish politics, theyj the state of scottish politics, they were not dolphins, they were sharks! come on! , , come on! they were definitely dolhins, come on! they were definitely dolphins, because _ come on! they were definitely dolphins, because they - come on! they were definitely dolphins, because they were l come on! they were definitely - dolphins, because they were really close to us earlier this afternoon. a brilliant site. mt close to us earlier this afternoon. a brilliant site.— a brilliant site. all right, good to see ou. a brilliant site. all right, good to see you- a _ a brilliant site. all right, good to see you. a slight _ a brilliant site. all right, good to see you. a slight break-up - a brilliant site. all right, good to see you. a slight break-up on i a brilliant site. all right, good to | see you. a slight break-up on the a brilliant site. all right, good to . see you. a slight break-up on the at see you. a slight break—up on the at there at the beginning so we apologise to our view that. —— for our viewers. and for a round up of everything you need to know about the elections, there's a simple guide online, where you can find lots of useful information, including background on the parties and candidates. it's on our website, orjust go the bbc news app.

julia james was last seen walking her dog and detectives are treating her dog and detectives are treating her death as murder. our reporter is in a snow down. this her death as murder. our reporter is in a snow down-— in a snow down. this is an incredibly _ in a snow down. this is an incredibly rural _ in a snow down. this is an incredibly rural and - in a snow down. this is an incredibly rural and quite l in a snow down. this is an . incredibly rural and quite part in a snow down. this is an - incredibly rural and quite part of kent but you can see behind us a long line of police vehicles because this is now a murder investigation. just a little way from where we are is the woodland and on the edge of thatis is the woodland and on the edge of that is wherejulia is the woodland and on the edge of that is where julia james' is the woodland and on the edge of that is wherejulia james' body is the woodland and on the edge of that is where julia james' body was discovered just after four o'clock on tuesday afternoon. what we have seen as detectives carrying out a fingertip search is in this area trying to gather clues. we also heard from a neighbour who said that they last saw her some hours earlier in that afternoon. she had gone out to take her dog for a walk, but detectives clearly, as well as this investigation here, they are trying to gather clues, but they want to speak to any member of the public who may have any information. helena

wilkinson reporting _ who may have any information. helena wilkinson reporting that. _ as the travel industry prepares for the potential easing of coronavirus restrictions next month, the boss of heathrow airport has urged the government to "get a grip" on long delays at border control. the transport secretary, grant shapps, said hold—ups were inevitable at the moment, but they would ease once covid—related paperwork had been automated. international travel restrictions are not due to be eased until the 17th may at the earliest. but what does this mean for the industry and hopeful holiday makers? i am nowjoined by traveljournalist jill starley—grainger. hello, good to see you. are you expecting a mad crash, a disaster, mid—may? shat expecting a mad crash, a disaster, mid-ma ? �* expecting a mad crash, a disaster, mid-ma ? . ., mid-may? at the airport, potentially. _ mid-may? at the airport, potentially, but _ mid-may? at the airport, potentially, but i - mid-may? at the airport, potentially, but i do - mid-may? at the airport, potentially, but i do not l mid-may? at the airport, - potentially, but i do not think there will be a whole world of destinations open to us by mid—may. i think what is more likely to happen is that at that point in time there will be a view to key destinations where these corridors have been agreed. because i think a lot of people get very excited when

they hear about spain saying they want brits to come over or greece saying they want brits to come over, but you have to bear in mind that this has to be a two way system, so the uk government has to be happy that the rates of infection in that country are good as well in order to put it on the green list rather than potentially on the amber or the red list. the green list means that you would not have to quarantine when you came back, you willjust have to pay for the pcr tests which are still quite expensive, but that is a separate issue. but still quite expensive, but that is a separate issue.— separate issue. but the fiat for many people — separate issue. but the fiat for many people is _ separate issue. but the fiat for many people is what _ separate issue. but the fiat for many people is what happened j separate issue. but the fiat for - many people is what happened last year around about this time going into the sum of stop —— the fear. people flying on holiday, and while they are away the rules change and they are away the rules change and they are away the rules change and they are told they have to quarantine on the way back. is the sincere hope that the vaccine roll—out will mean that that cannot happen? roll-out will mean that that cannot ha en? ., . , roll-out will mean that that cannot hauen? ., . , ., , ., happen? unfortunately, it does not sound like that _ happen? unfortunately, it does not sound like that is _ happen? unfortunately, it does not sound like that is something - happen? unfortunately, it does not sound like that is something that l sound like that is something that cannot happen. the government is still trying to come up with plans

for this, still trying to come up with plans forthis, but still trying to come up with plans for this, but it seems likely that this could still happen. they said that they will bring in something called a green watchlist. if you are off to a green destination they are hoping to tell you with one or two weeks notice that it could potentially go to amber, but of course if you are booking your holiday weeks or a couple of months ahead, that will not do you any good, so all that is going to do is mean that really, unless you wait until the 11th hour to book your trip, you will still not be certain where it is going to be on the list, whether green, amber or red and there are huge implications for that, because at green you do not have to quarantine, you have to pay for these pcr tests, or potentially your vaccine passport might get you out of some of those if you have had both jabs, that is still too busy, but with an you would have to quarantine at home and at red he would have to quarantine in one of these hotels which cost about 2000 pans per person and you are in one

of these hotels for ten days. it is quite a big challenge right now. do you think that the fact that a holiday—maker may have been vaccinated, had two jabs, and can prove that, do you think that will help facilitate that trouble abroad? long term, yes. in the early days it will certainly help facilitate with certain destinations. we know that the eu already has plans to bring out its own digital passport in mid june and that is to travel around the eu. it will hopefully also include some other countries, but we do not know yet whether the uk will be one of them. long term, certainly. if we're talking about six months or a year, once one of the wrinkles have been worked out, yes, but you have to bear in mind there is the issue the vaccines themselves. some vaccines are approved in different countries, so there are 1a vaccines around the world, there are only four approved in the uk, so if somebody has a different vaccine, so if you have

astrazeneca for example, will you be able to go to america with your vaccine passport? because astrazeneca is currently not approved in america. so there is a lot of complexity and i think in the early days it is a little tricky, so i would definitely wait and see before making that trip because we do not know where it's going to be safe to go. do not know where it's going to be safe to no. . , . do not know where it's going to be safe to go— safe to go. that is a really interesting _ safe to go. that is a really interesting point - safe to go. that is a really interesting point about. safe to go. that is a really| interesting point about the different faxes. are you going anywhere?— different faxes. are you going an here? , ., ., , anywhere? currently, no. most of my famil are anywhere? currently, no. most of my family are in — anywhere? currently, no. most of my family are in america, _ anywhere? currently, no. most of my family are in america, i'm _ anywhere? currently, no. most of my family are in america, i'm hopeful. family are in america, i'm hopeful they will be able to come and visit. yes, i am very much holding fire. you're not taking the me neither. we will leave it there, good to see you, thank you. if you've ever lost a pet, you'll knowjust how distressing that experience can be. sadly, as dog thefts have increased during the pandemic, some criminals are making it even worse for the owners by pretending to have found their missing animals, simply to extort money from them. one woman who fell victim to the scammers was sharon. she's been telling her story to ellie price.

he went missing on the wednesday night and on the friday evening, two hours after i finished putting the posters up, i had a phone call from a gentleman. he said to me, i've got your dog. and i'm leaving the area tonight, so if you want him back, you've got to give me £1000. if you don't give it to me, he'll go to the bait farm. when six—year—old ronnie went missing, sharon put up posters locally and online. she received around 50 calls over ten days from the same scammers, who claimed they had her dog. they kept demanding more. in the end she paid out almost £2,500.

i would have given anything to have him back and i truly believed they had him. and although loads of people told me that they were scammers and they hadn't, ijust believed. and he kept promising sharon he would return ronnie. they phoned again and he just said, we haven't got your dog, we never had your dog, have a nice life and laughed and put the phone down. it was actually part of my pension i used. and i sort of think, well, there are times, i know it sounds really pathetic, but there are times when i think i don't want to carry on because i can't live waking up every single morning thinking about where he is. going to bed every night thinking about, is he cold, is he frightened? with people spending more time at home over several lockdowns, there's been a rise in demand for dogs. a rise in the cost of dogs, and therefore, a rise in dog thefts.

we have heard from a number of people whose dogs have gone missing and a scammer calling them has used the same tactics and script as they did with sharon. wayne may from the dog loss website, which helps reunite owners with their lost dogs, told me he's in touch with 19 different police forces. as an organisation we've experienced one or two scam callers each month. over the last two weeks, we've experienced 117 calls to owners. they're thieves, they're stealing your money. they're capitalising on your grief. they're not taking into consideration at all how these people are feeling when their dogs and their pets are being stolen. and they haven't got the dog? they haven't got the dog, no. i'm not aware of any case at the moment where someone has paid a ransom, or they've done a direct transfer for their dogs, and the dogs have ever been returned. fraud specialists are looking into sharon's case. she says she's handed over the scammers' bank details, and even a phone number.

six weeks on, ronnie has still not come home. itjust made what was an awful, awfultime, losing him, just, it was like somebody had opened a wound and just kept on just digging and digging and digging. sorry. broadcaster and journalistjon snow has announced he'll step down from channel it news at the end of the year. he became the programme's main presenter in 1989 and is the longest—serving presenter in the programme's history. over that time he was honoured with a bafta fellowship in recognition of his outstanding and exceptional contribution to television. in a statement, channel it described him as "a talismanic figure" who was "the most trusted and well—loved news

presenter of his generation." thousands of people who live near a landfill site in staffordshire have complained that their physical and mental health is suffering because of its terrible smell. levels of hydrogen sulphide at the former quarry in newcastle—under—lyme have twice breached recommended standards. the operator, red industries, has promised to cap part of the area by the weekend. here's phil mackie. this is walley's quarry in silverdale. it is used as a landfill site, and here's the problem. it's right next door to hundreds of homes and is giving off a terrible smell. since it was allowed to increase the amount of waste it takes, the stink has got worse and, if you're downwind, it's horrible. we obviously knew there was a landfill there when we moved in. the smell gets trapped in the house and it gets trapped in your hair and your clothing, your carpets and your cars, and your children's toys and all that, you all smell of landfill and it ranges from a rotten eggs sort of smell to a chemically acrid smell as well, and that's quite foul. today shouldn't be so bad

because it's sunny and warm and that should get rid of the hydrogen sulphide smell, that creates that rotten eggs—stink bomb odour that's really unpleasant, but, honestly, standing just across the road from it at the moment, oh, it's really unpleasant and, actually, it's making me feel quite ill. people say they can't sleep and are feeling ill. there were more than 5,000 complaints last month and over 2,000 just last week. its noxiousness is taking its toll. it can cause nausea and shortness of breath, but there's been a big impact on mental health. it distracts you, it depresses you. it's the day on day, week on week attrition of living with it randomly that's really getting people down. the site's being closely monitored. the latest air quality report is due out later and the environment agency has told the operator it must make improvements by the end of this week. in a statement, red industries said, "as a waste management company, we recognise that we are hosted by the local communities in which we operate.

a few miles away, it's made learning very difficult for children like ruby, poppy and ben. it's the same here in the classroom. you can't work and your minds just a set onto the landfill. it makes me feel sick. i have headaches all the time, it puts me off my work, it puts me off my food. and then the smell will come in and, like, it won't go away. _ like, no matter how many air. fresheners you get, it won't go. it's horrible. chanting: stop the stink! hundreds joined another protest this week demanding that something's done to stop the silverdale stink from overpowering the whole area. phil mackie, bbc news, newcastle—under—lyme.

now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. hello there. we are finally getting to see some classic april weather for the next few days. we are ending the month with april showers and sunny spells after cold and frosty starts. and we have seen those shower clouds bubbling up across the country through this morning. low pressure is clearing away into the near continent. it is allowing higher pressure to slowly build in, but there is still enough instability in the atmosphere to allow these showers to develop through the day, but what we are also pulling in is much colder air right across the board. so, we will see a return to widespread overnight frosts. so, it's been a chilly start this morning. through the day, it looks like it's going to stay bright, with sunny spells, but those shower clouds will continue to develop, with some of them turning out to be heavy with some hail and thunder, even some wintriness over the higher ground of scotland there. some areas staying dry altogether, but it will feel chilly, particularly when you factor in the breeze, which will be quite noticeable across northern and eastern areas.

temperatures reaching highs of 11 and 12, maybe 13 celsius, which is pretty disappointing for the time of year. closer to single figures,though, across the north sea coast with that onshore breeze. as we head on into this evening and overnight, the showers begin to fade away. many places will turn drier, though. some showers are likely to continue on across parts of scotland, again wintry on the higher ground, but for many it is going to be a dry, clear night, winds falling light, so it is going to be chilly. these are the town and city values, but you can see the blue hue there in rural areas, where we will see a fairly widespread frost. so, for friday, then, it is a repeat performance with a chilly start, cold and frosty, with some sunshine, though, but then as the temperatures begin to rise, as that strong sunshine gets going, then we will see some showers developing into the afternoon. again, some of them will be heavy, perhaps the risk of hail and thunder, and some forming bands in areas. but some areas staying dry altogether. disappointing temperatures again for the time of year, ranging from around eight to 12 or 13 celsius in the south.

for much of this bank holiday weekend, it is pretty samey. it is going to start chilly with some frost around, and we will see sunshine and showers both saturday and sunday. but as we move out of sunday, into bank holiday monday, we will see a feature that we have not seen for quite a while moving off the atlantic, a deep low likely to bring some stronger winds and some wet weather across the country as we head through the course of bank holiday monday.

today at six, grenfell and the cladding controversy — angerfrom campaigners after a new law is passed. they say the fire safety law does nothing for leaseholders left with massive bills to pay. please listen to our cries for help, please just help us, because so many people... people can't hang on, people are facing these costs now, and we need help. ministers say the new law will make properties safer in the future. also tonight: "nothing to worry about" — borisjohnson on the row over his downing street renovations. there are three reviews under way. a hundred days into the biden presidency — is sleepyjoe turning into action man?

the staffordshire residents having to put up with a stink.