at six — life in the uk will start to feel normal again by this summer, says one of the main scientists behind lockdown. professor neil ferguson says the vaccination programme is the way out — and the possibility of more restrictions is fading. do i think it's likely to happen? no, i don't. i think we are much more likely to be on our steady course now out of this pandemic. at least in this country. his optimism comes as the government prepares to reveal where you can travel to safely this summer. also tonight... two former paratroopers accused of the murder of an official ira man in 1972 are formally acquitted after their trial collapsed. a murder trial is told that former aston villa star dalian atkinson died

after being tasered three times and kicked in the head by a police officer. at least 23 people have died in mexico city after a metro train bridge collapsed onto a busy road below. the champion, mark selby! cheering and applause and bringing back the people — the first capacity crowd and coming up on the bbc news channel, history is on the line for manchester city. they are looking to reach a first champions league final, when they host paris saint germain at the etihad. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. one of the leading government scientists behind the first lockdown last year says it's unlikely that there will be any more

lockdowns in the uk. professor neil ferguson says life should start getting back to normal this summer thanks to the vaccination programme. he said questions do remain over summer holidays — particularly travelling abroard this year — but he was optimistic about life returning soon with far fewer restrictions. here's our health editor hugh pym. master social distancing, strict limits on gatherings and socialising, unprecedented restrictions on everyday life for much of the pandemic, but an increasing sense that things could be much closer to the old normal by the summer. one of the key scientists involved in lockdown policy told me that he is more confident. it policy told me that he is more confident-— policy told me that he is more confident. ., ., ., confident. it will feel a lot more normal in _ confident. it will feel a lot more normal in terms _ confident. it will feel a lot more normal in terms of _ confident. it will feel a lot more normal in terms of being - confident. it will feel a lot more normal in terms of being able . confident. it will feel a lot more | normal in terms of being able to visit friends, family, go out to restaurants. we have yet to see what will happen with holidays, overseas holidays, but we will have many fewer restrictions.— fewer restrictions. pubs and restaurants _ fewer restrictions. pubs and restaurants will _ fewer restrictions. pubs and restaurants will allow - fewer restrictions. pubs and - restaurants will allow customers back indoors soon. this was

manchester today. then there's the planned end of all legal restrictions in england from june 21. professor ferguson believes another lockdown is unlikely and that the data suggests things are track. ., u, ., ., track. the one caveat we need to keep watching — track. the one caveat we need to keep watching those _ track. the one caveat we need to keep watching those variants - keep watching those variants carefully to get more data on but i'm feeling very optimistic and that optimism has gradually increased over the last three months as they have unfolded. but the terrible situation we were in injanuary, two now, a relatively good situation, by comparison. now, a relatively good situation, by comparison-— comparison. there was more encouraging _ comparison. there was more encouraging news _ comparison. there was more encouraging news from - comparison. there was more i encouraging news from schools. comparison. there was more - encouraging news from schools. an ons survey for england said in december 1.2% of secondary pupils had the virus anti figure for staff was 1.6%, but in the last two weeks of march after schools had opened up earlier in the month, infections were lower, with 0.3% of secondary school pupils with a virus, and the same percentage of staff. we found that infections _

same percentage of staff. we found that infections were _ same percentage of staff. we found that infections were higher - same percentage of staff. we found that infections were higher in - that infections were higher in schools in november and december, as they were in the general population, and lower, in march, exactly the same in schools as in the general population. same in schools as in the general p°pulati°"-_ population. more than 50 million vaccine doses _ population. more than 50 million vaccine doses have _ population. more than 50 million vaccine doses have now- population. more than 50 million vaccine doses have now been - vaccine doses have now been delivered, and at the centre today people were looking forward to better things ahead. 1 people were looking forward to better things ahead.— people were looking forward to better things ahead. i really want to see my family _ better things ahead. i really want to see my family again. - better things ahead. i really want to see my family again. the - better things ahead. i really want | to see my family again. the more --eole to see my family again. the more people you _ to see my family again. the more people you have _ to see my family again. the more people you have it _ to see my family again. the more people you have it the _ to see my family again. the more people you have it the better- people you have it the better freedoms, the end of social distancing, we can go and see people — distancing, we can go and see ”eole. distancing, we can go and see --eole. , , ., ., people. some experts say that more time is needed _ people. some experts say that more time is needed to _ people. some experts say that more time is needed to assess _ people. some experts say that more time is needed to assess the - people. some experts say that more time is needed to assess the data i people. some experts say that more time is needed to assess the data as restrictions are eased. we time is needed to assess the data as restrictions are eased.— restrictions are eased. we have to wait at least _ restrictions are eased. we have to wait at least 3-4 _ restrictions are eased. we have to wait at least 3-4 weeks _ restrictions are eased. we have to wait at least 3-4 weeks after - restrictions are eased. we have to wait at least 3-4 weeks after the i wait at least 3—4 weeks after the middle of may to see what impact thatis middle of may to see what impact that is having, and also see what is happening in europe, america, asia, with new variants in covid cases before we can sit there and say that we have done it, because we are not there yet, but we are getting there for sure, there yet, but we are getting there forsure, but there yet, but we are getting there for sure, but we are not there yet. odeon will open almost all of its cinemas in may 17, the first

possible day allowed out of the road map in england, another sign of confidence in the current direction of travel. hugh pym, bbc news. the latest government figures showjust under 2000 new infections in the latest 24—hour period — so an average of 2,024 new cases per day in the last week. four deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours of people who'd had a positive test within the previous 28 days. the average number of deaths per day in the past week is 13. the total number of uk deaths is now 127,515. just under 80,000 people had their first vaccination in the latest 24—hour period, so more than 34.5 million people have now had their firstjab. just over 129,000 people have had their second jab, so more than 15.5 million people are now fully vaccinated. our transport correspondent caroline davies is here. more than half the adult population is now vaccinated. what does it mean for international

travel from next month? for a loan that is looking more positive that international travel will reopen on 17th of may but what we are still waiting to find out is which countries will be on the all—important green list. that will dictate what happens when you return from your trip. let's go through some of those different colours. if the countries designated read, you'll have to pay for quarantine in a hotel when you come to the country, amber means that you can quarantine at home, green means that you don't need to quarantine at all, but you do still need to have a negative covid test before you travel and take another one when you arrive, so obviously green makes international travel a lot easier, and the travel industry is a bit frustrated that it doesn't know which countries are going to be on that list. the government is still in the process of deciding that. they are looking at variants, the virus, vaccination rate, and they will take that information and have a discussion with ministers and discuss which countries would be on the green list. labour said they

want the exact details of what full criteria will be put to allow each country to go into each other�*s categories, and they have warned they don't want the process to be too rushed, which could risk letting in a dangerous bearing. which other countries are on the green list, which we expect to hear at the end of this week, it willjust be the initial list for the 17th of may. we expect to hear more that could be added, and taking away, throughout the summer. pressure is mounting on india's government to impose a national lockdown as the country recorded more than 20 million covid infections. shortages of oxygen and hospital beds are continuing in the worst affected cities, including the capital delhi. today, india cancelled its most popular sports tournament — the indian premier league. a number of players had tested positive. there had been criticism that matches were continuing despite the covid crisis. devina gupta reports from delhi. desperate hope. that's what family members in this

hospital in delhi are holding onto. it is a fight for life—saving oxygen that some are losing fast. translation: | came - here because a man died. his death freed up a place and oxygen for my mother. translation: they put us in a shed, when she needs| to go to intensive care. this oxygen bottle came from my house. we bought it ourselves. as india crosses over 20 million infected cases, many hospitals are choked like this, struggling with scarce resources. translation: the situation is really critical. _ there are no beds available. we are under pressure — _ the doctors, nurses, the orderlies. even the patients. we are all under pressure. covid is not sparing sport. the massively popular indian premier league tournament has been postponed

after four players tested positive. it is a huge disappointment for millions, where cricket is almost a religion. however, the goal of saving lives has proved too important for india in her darkest test for a decade. the ultimate fight for the country is to get oxygen and medicine supplies for millions, and fast. india is getting aid as countries continue to help, but the challenge is speedy distribution and there is not a minute to waste. and that is why tens of thousands are rushing to get a vaccine wherever they can find one. but, there is a shortage of these chaps, too. translation: it these chaps, too. translation: ., , , these chaps, too. translation: , , . translation: it was very difficult. i couldn't get _ translation: it was very difficult. i couldn't get an _ translation: it was very difficult. i couldn't get an appointment - translation: it was very difficult. i couldn't get an appointment right| i couldn't get an appointment right away~ _ i couldn't get an appointment right away~ i_ i couldn't get an appointment right away. i kepl— i couldn't get an appointment right away. i kept checking _ i couldn't get an appointment right away. i kept checking online - i couldn't get an appointment right away. i kept checking online and l i couldn't get an appointment right . away. i kept checking online and now there _ away. i kept checking online and now there is_ away. i kept checking online and now there is a _ away. i kept checking online and now there is a really— away. i kept checking online and now there is a really long _ away. i kept checking online and now there is a really long queue - away. i kept checking online and now there is a really long queue here. - away. i kept checking online and now there is a really long queue here. i. there is a really long queue here. i have there is a really long queue here. have been queueing since 930, there is a really long queue here.“ have been queueing since 930, so around _ have been queueing since 930, so around six — have been queueing since 930, so around six hours. for

have been queueing since 930, so around six hours.— around six hours. for now the government _ around six hours. for now the government of— around six hours. for now the government of narendra - around six hours. for now thei government of narendra modi continues to deny any shortage of oxygen and vaccines, and that is where india sees its biggest challenge. as the covid crisis heads towards a chaos. the trial of two former paratroopers charged with murdering a member of the ira in the street almost half a century ago the trial of two former paratroopers charged with murdering a member of the ira in the street almost half a century ago has collapsed. joe mccann was shot dead in the markets area of south belfast in 1972. the men, known as soldiers a and c, said they had fired shots at him, but had done so lawfully. the judge ruled that interviews carried out with the two men couldn't be included as evidence. here's our ireland correspondent emma vardy. it's 50 years since the soldiers in this case were patrolling the streets of belfast. as pensioners, they had to return to northern ireland to face a murder trial. campaigners who oppose these prosecutions watched today as the case collapsed. you've got two men in there

for the last 10 years and theirfamilies, have been dragged through this horrific process for what? for what? and it has to end. joe mccann was known to be in the official ira. in 1972 police asked soldiers for help arresting him. when he ran away, the soldiers opened fire and he was killed. soldiers a and c, as they have been known in court, said they acted lawfully and that joe mccann was a highly dangerous suspect. it's a very tragic blow for me personally, myself, like. are you proud of the fact that your husband was in the ira? yes. i always was and i always will be. joe mccann's daughter was also at court today. the judge was right when he used lthe word "appalling" to describel the failure of the state at all levels in relationi to the murder ofjoe mccann. gunfire

the case collapsed because the judge ruled that interviews given by the former soldiers in 2010 to a historical enquiries team was inadmissible as evidence, which could have implications for other cases which are still being processed. there are several other cases involving veterans who served in northern ireland still going through the courts and many others are still being investigated, and here in northern ireland it is not only an issue which is fought out in legal battles but also something which divides communities on the streets. the cases include the prosecution of soldier f, who is facing murder charges over the killing of two people on what became known as bloody sunday in londonderry in 1972. what people do need is we need to heal, because the current system we have at the minute with a handful of prosecutions, a handful of inquests, people trying to go through the high court and the civil court to try and get some kind of answers in relation to their

loved ones, that is completely unfair, it is toxic and it is tearing this place apart and it is damaging our peace. it's completely contaminating future generations. a number of conservative mps have called for there to be stricter legal limitations on the extent to which criminal proceedings can be brought in historical cases like these. but many victims groups in northern ireland continue to campaign for the prosecutions to press on, saying no—one should be above the law, however long ago alleged killings have taken place. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. at least 23 people have died in mexico city after a railway bridge collapsed, sending train carriages plunging down onto a busy road below. dozens more have been injured. rescue workers are continuing to search through the wreckage for survivors at the site, close to a metro station. our correspondent will grant has this report — and a warning, you may find some of the images upsetting. the scene of devastation at mexico city's subway

was reminiscent of one of the city's many earthquakes. but this war is not a natural disaster. rather, it was a man—made one. it was on a new stretch of subway track in the capital. line 12 was heralded of the city's public transport system when it was inaugurated in 2012. now its carriages and the city government's reputation hang by a thread. the security cameras caught the terrible moment of impact, when tonnes of cement and gnarled metal came crashing down on to the cars below. at that time of night, most of those killed will have been workers returning home after a late shift. their families anxiously gathered at the scene, desperately trying to make sense of it all. translation: my daughter—in—law called us. she was with my son, _ and she told us that the structure fell down on top of them. my brother came with his wife and they managed to get her out, but he was crushed in there, and we don't know anything. they don't give us reports. now, they have to get him out,

but who knows how long it will take? by morning, all eyes turned to the mayor, claudia sheinbaum. she insisted that a full structural check had been made as recently as last year. translation: on the entire line, | and i think we should not speculate, and that is why there will be an investigation by- the attorney general's office . as well as independent experts, so that we can find out the whole truth and know what happened. i but that is not an answer that will satisfy the victims' families, or most residents of mexico city. local people have complained for years that the construction of line 12 was not up to code. and that cracks had appeared following a recent earthquake. an investigation will determine whether such warnings were ignored and by whom. but those questions will have to wait, at least for now, as this vast city mourns the loss

of life in one small corner. well, this incident really gets to the heart of what most frustrates mexicans about successive that most regions here. this line cost a great deal to build and people want to know what happened to that money that it ended up in this state within a decade. among those expected to pay some very tough questions are the former mayor of mexico city, the current foreign minister, he says he will cooperate fully with any investigation into what happened. studio: thank you. a murder trial has been told the former aston villa star dalian atkinson died after being tasered three times and kicked in the head at least twice by a police officer. the prosecution said pc benjamin monk kicked the former footballer with such force that it left imprints on mr atkinson's forehead. pc monk and pc mary ellen bettley—smith — who is charged with assault —

both deny wrongdoing. our correspondent sian lloyd reports from birmingham crown court. dalian atkinson had enjoyed a successful career as a professional footballer, later in life he had serious health problems including heart disease and acute renal failure. today a jury heard he died after being tasered three times by a police officer who went on to kick him twice in the head as he lay on the ground. it's alleged that 42—year—old pc benjamin monk, an officer with 1a years experience with west murcia police struck the former footballer with enough force to leave the imprints of the pattern of his bootlaces on the 48—year—old's forehead. pc mary ellen bettley—smith had struck with the bat in the court heard. it was five years ago the officers had been called to dalian atkinson's father's in telford in the early hours of the morning. his behaviour was described as bizarre and erratic. the court

heard that inside the property he threatened his father and grabbed him by the throat. when the police arrived he came to the door. to attempt to taser dalian atkinson were described as ineffective. as he approached the two police officers it is alleged that pc monk fired a third taserfor 33 it is alleged that pc monk fired a third taser for 33 seconds which was described as six times longer than the standard five second phase. dalian atkinson's brother and sister—in—law were in court today. they heard how other officers then arrived at the scene. the prosecution said one source pc monk's bright but was resting on dalian atkinson's head. benjamin monk denies murder and manslaughter. pc mary ellen bettley—smith who we was in a relationship with denies assault causing actual bodily harm. they say he was entitled to use force on dalian atkinson because he was attempting to get up and they feared for his safety. the trial is

expected to last eight weeks. our top story this evening... life in the uk will start to feel normal again by this summer, says one of the main scientists behind lockdown. police in kent warn people to be vigilant if they head out alone, one week after the body ofjulia james was found in woodland near dover. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel, just two weeks after being sacked by tottenham hospital, jose mourinho is named as the new roma manager from the start of next season's serie a in italy. campaigners say they're concerned about the low number of compensation payouts for people caught up in the windrush scandal, two years on since a government scheme was set up. the latest figures show that up to february, the home office has received almost 2000 applications. just over 400 claims have resulted in a payment. the average claim takes about 14 months to process.

the government has promised to right the wrongs and ensure the windrush generation get the compensation they deserve for the injustices they faced. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports. anthony williams arrived in birmingham from jamaica when he was seven. he laterjoined the army and spent 13 years serving with the royal artillery. but the former soldier says his biggest challenge has been more recently. unable to work and afford urgent dental treatment after wrongly being told he was in the uk illegally. he's now got new teeth, paid for by an anonymous donor who heard his story. back in 2014, i got a really, really bad mouth infection. my gums kept swelling up and the only way i could get rid of it was to start extracting my own teeth. you pulled your own teeth out? it took about three months to take most of my teeth out, the ones i've taken out now. he's still waiting for compensation

two years after filling out an application. my first offer, remembering i was unemployed for five years, i lost myjob and they offered me £18,500. if i would have accepted that, it would have destroyed me. more than 12,000 people have been given british citizenship or had their legal status sorted out since the government task force was set up following the windrush scandal. but there have been fewer than 500 compensation payouts so far, way lower than what campaigners were expecting. and with so few applications, there are now questions over the length of time it's taking to process claims, on average 14 months. lawyers who've been helping some windrush victims say the delays are unacceptable. you've only had 2500 applications and people are taking a year and 18 months to even get their first offers, so it says something is very, very wrong.

the home office says it aims to process quickly as possible while carefully considering each person's circumstances and experiences. and the value of all payments made through the scheme so far is over £6 million. in nottingham, veronica bell is trying to claim compensation on behalf of her father, who died injamaica in 2010. nathaniel blake wasn't allowed back in the uk after a family holiday, and later lost his sight and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. as far as he was concerned, he was a british citizen, always had been. he was invited here by the government to build up the country after the second world war. we just weren't able to afford the most appropriate medical interventions over there. you submitted your compensation claim two years ago. are you confident that you'll

receive the money any time soon? it's not about the money, and there is absolutely no financial compensation that can right that, but the acknowledgement is very, very important to me, you know, and otherfamilies. adina campbell, bbc news. foreign ministers from the world's leading economies, the g7, have been meeting in london today for the group's first face—to—face talks in more than two years. discussions have been focussed on the ongoing crisis in myanmar, as well as relations with russia, china and iran. police in kent have urged people to be "vigilant" and told them to be aware of their surroundings if they are heading out alone, as they attempt to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the death of 53—year—old julia james. the body of the police community support officer was found in woodland near dover last week. she'd been walking her dog. our correspondent

simon jones is aylesham. tell us the latest on the police investigation. a, tell us the latest on the police investigation.— investigation. a murder investigation _ investigation. a murder investigation is - investigation. a murder investigation is now - investigation. a murder- investigation is now exactly one—week—old, hundreds of officers are involved. tonight they have been carrying out road checks but the police have met one way, and they still don't know what the motive for attack was. i don't have a suspect in mind and no arrests have been made. they say it is possiblejulia james was killed by a stranger or it is possible she was killed by someone she had come into contact with through her line of work. but local people tell me they are scared, they are feeling concerned so the police say it people go out they should have their phones with them fully charged, they should let someone know where exactly they are going, what time they will be back. there have been calls tonight for a vigil to mark her life butjulia james's daughter said she wanted the police to focus on the investigation, she didn't want anything to distract from that. she said instead she will be lighting a candle tonight and leaving it on her

doorstep and she is urging others who are feeling affected by this to do the same. simon, thank you. prosecutors are being asked to consider whether to charge a man arrested on suspicion of murdering 31—year—old stuart lubbock — who died at the entertainer michael barrymore's home in essex two decades ago. his body was found in the former television presenter�*s swimming pool. a 50—year—old man — who has not been named — was arrested in march after police said "significant new information" had come to light. seven people have been injured after an explosion in a row of houses in kent. the emergency services are believed to have freed several others who had become trapped under the rubble in the village of willesborough near ashford. investigators say the blast isn't being treated as suspicious. there was a glimpse of normality at the world snooker championships in sheffield last night as the first capacity crowd at a uk sporting event for more than a year was allowed in to watch mark selby secure his fourth world championship title. it was part of a government pilot

scheme which is trying to ensure the safe return of audiences to cinemas, theatres and other public events. our sports correspondent katie gornall reports. they called it a crucible roar like never before. this is what sport looks and sounds like with a capacity crowd. it has been more than a year since we've seen one, and it was mark selby who brought the full house down. today, the now four times world champion told me what that felt like. the atmosphere was probably as good as i've ever played in, in any tournament i've played in. i mean, i've played o'sullivan in the masters final in london in his own backyard and the atmosphere was never nowhere near as much as what it was last night, so i think it was just everyone in more elation than anything else, being allowed back in to sporting events. the day had started with his opponent, shaun murphy, three frames adrift. this is a player who feeds off the crowd, but whenever murphy gained momentum, selby eventually snuffed it out. through this year's tournament,

he's been meticulous and ruthless. one mistake is often all he needs. for those 980 fans inside the crucible, it was a moment they will never forget. it was amazing. the only thing that was any different to what it would be in a normal event was the fact that everyone was sat wearing facemasks. that was the only difference. other than that, itjust felt completely normal. it was just very nice to be involved in that event. and not only that, it was lovely to be able to share it with these two guys, who i haven't seen for the best part of a year. there was a bond between everyone who was in attendance. _ you could tell in the foyer. everyone wasjust, "this is it, we're going in." . it is happening, this. is happening right now. it was absolutely phenomenal. last night was about more than sport. the final is part of a government pilot programme with the aim of getting crowds back to live events. it is vitally important. to get a start. it is the top end, the entertainment industry, the sport industry,

hospitality, all these things are fundamental to our way of life. the data will lead us to the return to normality i think in the reasonably short term. the fa cup final is sport's next test event, the findings from the whole programme due at the end of the month. another important milestone on the road to some kind of normality. katie gornall, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. hello, we have had skies like this at times today. the cold winds have brought lots of showers across the uk. the satellite picture, a lot of these showers particularly in the south will start to fade away this evening, we have got this band of wet weather moving away from scotland heading into northern ireland which will continue to work its way south this evening and overnight. a lot of the rain tending to die out. further north we will head skies clearing but increasingly wintry showers coming into northern parts of scotland. not as windy

tonight, not as wet so it will be colder than last night. clearer skies were longer in scotland and northern england is where we are likely to have frost, tomorrow will star sunny and now faces but wintry showers moving down across scotland, showers moving down across scotland, showers were northern ireland and wales in the morning, pushing their way through the middle towards east anglia and the south—east, would turn heavy with some hail and thunder. not too many showers for northern england and not much of a rising temperature. another chilly day. temperatures of 9—12. not as windy on wednesday. for many the winds continue to ease on thursday. this weather front will bring more cloud into the far south of england for a while and it may bring some rain. more likely through the english channel. further north there will be sunshine and showers. more frequent and heavier and blustery for scotland and putting down into northern ireland and northern england and even a touch wintry over high ground, only seven in newcastle, 13 in cardiff in the

sunshine. it may start sunny but cold widely on friday with a slight frost. the cloud will bubble up and a scattering of showers developing, not many, more places will have a dried out with a little sunshine and temperatures beginning to creep up but still no better than 14 or 15. thank you. our main story this evening... one of the main scientist behind lockdown says life in the uk will start to feel normal again by this summer, though professor niall ferguson says questions still remain over overseas travel. that is all. goodbye from me and we joined the bbc news teams where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday. coming up on the programme this evening... afterfive

coming up on the programme this evening... after five seasons trying, can pep guardiola guide manchester