this is bbc news 7 these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections in great britain for nearly 50 years. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30m will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. and coming up... a pioneering initiative in indonesia to try to restore life and colour to coral reefs.

hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. the indian foreign minister has confirmed that its delegation at the meeting of the g7 group here in london is self—isolating after two members tested positive for covid—19. the news comes on the day the pandemic is being discussed at the meeting — with the focus on the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines. there's growing pressure to share stockpiles and know—how with poor nations trailing far behind in fighting the pandemic. the world trade organistion is also meeting to look at one solution: waiving vaccine patent rights. courtney bembridge has the details. are wealthy nations doing

enough to help poorer countries tackle covid—19? that's the question being put to g7 foreign ministers, who are meeting to consider new ways to ensure fairer access to vaccine stockpiles. the g7 countries are the world's economic and political leaders. they're also home to many of the world's vaccine producers. we will only solve the vaccine crisis with the leadership of these countries. six months into the global vaccine roll—out, and only 0.3% of the doses administered around the world have gone to people in low—income countries. contrast that with the figures we're hearing from the us. our goal byjuly 4th is to have 70% of adult americans with at least one shot, and 160 million americans fully vaccinated. that means giving close to 100 million shots, some first shots, others second shots, over the next 60 days.

in india, where coronavirus infections are spiralling out of control, less than 10% of the population has had theirfirstjab. it doesn't make moral sense for the majorityi of people to be in the queue, dying, waiting for a vaccine. i but, worse still, newl variants keep coming. the longer the virus remains anywhere in the world, - the more variants come that. are resistant to the technology which exists, and then- we are back to where we were. winnie byanyima founded the people's vaccine, a campaign to remove patent restrictions on covid—i9 vaccines and medicines to allow more countries to manufacture doses. the world health organization supports the plan, along with 100 countries, led by south africa and india, that are petitioning the world trade organization to waive protections on intellectual property. the eu and uk say

they'll oppose the move. critics say the proposal wouldn't solve supply chain delays. take pfizer's jab, for example. the company says it needs 280 components from 86 suppliers in 19 countries. so, even if you waive the patent, it would take months, if not years, to replicate pfizer's complex supply chain. it may actually disincentivise any commercial entity from getting involved in vaccines. as much as we love them or loathe them, the commercial entities have the professional resources to get a vaccine into final use. the top coronavirus advisor in the us, dr anthony fauci, has warned the plan risks of backfiring if it leads to long, legal disputes. the biden administration is expected to set out its position at a world trade organization meeting on wednesday. courtney bembridge, bbc news. let's speak to our diplomatic

correspondent paul adams. first on those two positive coronavirus cases in the indian delegation, what more do we know and is there the potential for any further impact on the g7? is there the potential for any further im act on the g7? , further impact on the g7? there is certainly potential, _ further impact on the g7? there is certainly potential, although - further impact on the g7? there is certainly potential, although no i certainly potential, although no obvious immediate sign of that. so far, we know that two of the indian delegation have tested positive, so the entire delegation is now self—isolating. the indian foreign minister is not one of those. he has not tested positive. he tweeted that he learned last night of possible exposure, and he says as a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, i decided to conduct my engagements in virtual mode. and that will be the case for the g7 meeting today. he has already had a number of individual meetings

including with the home secretary, priti patel and also with the us secretary of state antony blinken. paul, can you still hear me? unfortunately, we seem to have lost that line to paul, it's frozen. paul was just explaining that the indian foreign minister, although he has not tested positive for covid—i9, has a number of individual meetings, including with the uk home secretary and the us secretary of state. we are just trying to see if we can get paul back, but unfortunately not, maybe later. millions of voters in england, scotland and wales are preparing to head to the polls tomorrow for the biggest set of elections in nearly 50 years. many have been postponed from last year, due to the pandemic. on the final day of campaigning, let s take a look at what's at stake. =in england, 4,650 council

seats are being contested across 143 local authorities. 13 directly elected mayors are being sought, including in the capital, where 25 seats are also up for grabs in the london assembly. elsewhere, all eyes will be on hartlepool where there's also a parliamentary by—election to choose a new mp for the town. meanwhile, voters in scotland will elect 129 members of the scottish parliament. 60 members of the senedd will be elected by voters in wales. people there will also have the chance to select new police and crime commissioners. a total of 39 will be elected across england and wales. so this is being seen as the biggest test of public opinion outside a general election. our political correspondent helen catt gave us this update. we're looking at pretty much the whole political spectrum in these elections in england, right from councils at one end up to the hartlepool by—election at the other, which is the only election

in which someone is being directly elected to westminster. there are local issues that will play heavily in the decisions but they are seen as a way of taking the temperature of the political parties at westminster too and you're right, this is the first public test since keir starmer took over as labour leader. it is going to be a test of whether the conservatives can hold some of those gains they've made, particularly in seats in the north of england. are we going to see that reflected in the local council result and the mayoral results as well, or are labour going to be able to make some gains there? there is particular pressure on labour because of that hartlepool by—election. that has been labour since 1974, so there's pressure to make sure they hold it this time too. that's the overarching picture we are looking at, even though the contests

themselves are local. if you live in england, scotland or wales, you can find out what elections are taking place in your area by entering your postcode into our search tool, on our website, or the bbc news app. derek chauvin — the white former minneapolis police officer convicted last month of the murder of the black man george floyd — has requested a new trial. his legal team has filed court documents alleging misconduct by both prosecutors and jurors. last month, chauvin was found guilty of second and third—degree murder and manslaughter. matt sepic is a journalist with minnesota public radio. he has more details on the request for a new trial. eric nelson, chauvin�*s defence attorney, filed the request today for a retrial. he is citing multiple grounds, prosecutorial misconduct among them, but he doesn't get into a lot of detail.

he also mentions misconduct on the part of the jury and the fact that there was so much publicity and thatjudge peter cahill, who presided over this case, refused requests from the defence to move the case out of minneapolis because of all the pre—trial publicity. this filing today was not a surprise. it's a prelude to an expected appeal which would happen after chauvin is sentenced onjune 25th. this is a common occurrence whenever there is a trial and verdict that doesn't go the way of the defence. the defence will request a new trial as part of the process, and it really is an expected move on their part. donald trump has made a return to the internet... but on his own terms. this is the home page of what appears to be a blog which the former president has

called "from the desk of donald trump". the website has a series of personal updates and videos. mr trump has been banned from facebook and twitter. but facebook�*s independent oversight board is due to make an announcement today whether it will overturn the suspension. the mexican president has promised a transparent investigation into the collapse of an overpass in mexico city which left 2a people dead. the bridge was part of a metro line which was finished less than a decade ago. the current foreign minister, marcelo ebrard, was mayor when it was built and has said he'll make himself available to investigators. more than £29 million, or around $40 million, of uk government funding will be put into developing vaccines that fight new variants of covid—19. experts say this is vital to stay ahead of a virus that will continue to mutate. the investment will expand testing facilities at public health england's porton down research laboratory. our reporter aruna iyengar reports.

in the fight to stay on top of the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccines minister nadhim zahawi said a third jab could be offered to everyone over 50, the aim to eradicate the threat of covid—19 by christmas. we want to give the scientists as many options to be able to deploy a booster. coupled with that, jonathan van—tam is conducting a clinical piece of research called covboost to look at which additional shot — is it novavax, valneva, is it astrazeneca, is it pfizer — that would deliver the greatest protection. we have to make that available to them, and the nhs team is already planning to be ready for deployment from september onwards. meanwhile, work goes on to battle against new versions of coronavirus circulating around the globe, such as the kent and south africa variants. to counter that threat and stay ahead of the virus, the uk government is investing more

money in vaccine research. the extra £295 million, on top of nearly the 20 million already promised, will boost testing facilities at porton down, where scientists are checking how well existing and new vaccines fight covid variants. the cash will allow scientists to test 3,000 blood samples a week to measure the levels of protective antibodies against covid—19 generated by different vaccines. these new facilities will double our capacity and allow us to do these studies more rapidly and effectively. we do know that new variants are a major concern in our fight against the virus. so these new facilities will mean that we hopefully will be able to stay one step ahead of the virus. if plans proceed for a booster covid vaccine programme in the autumn, that could involve using updated

vaccines that are a better match for variants. a dealfor 50 million doses has been made with a german company called cu revac. the number of coronavirus deaths in the uk has reached its lowest level since last september, according to the office for national statistics. another set of figures released today also suggest that, let's get more on this from robert cuffe, bbc news head of statistics. let's talk first about these death figures. that's where covid is reported as being the cause? it is fallin: and reported as being the cause? it is falling and has _ reported as being the cause? it 3 falling and has been falling reported as being the cause? it 1 falling and has been falling for quite some time. the most recent figures report about 290 deaths that involved coronavirus in the week to the 23rd of april. that's the lowest

since september last year. so that is good news, and when you look at the deaths that were caused by coronavirus, it's actually even slightly better news than that because the figures for england and wales say that two thirds of the deaths were coronavirus was involved, the certifying doctor believed it was coronavirus that was doing the driving. that is far more than flu and pneumonia, where it is only a quarter of deaths expected to be caused by that, but it is a lot better than january and february, the high point where we were not only sing deaths that involved coronavirus, but in 90% of them, coronavirus, but in 90% of them, coronavirus was involved. so it is good news and it explains why they are lagging behind the government figures were four deaths were announced in the last two days. the news is all going in the right direction. news is all going in the right direction-— news is all going in the right direction. �* ., ~ ., direction. but you talk about the visible impact _ direction. but you talk about the visible impact of _ direction. but you talk about the visible impact of the _ direction. but you talk about the visible impact of the pandemic l direction. but you talk about the i visible impact of the pandemic and there is more worrying news about some of those less obvious impacts of the pandemic, particularly around mental health?— of the pandemic, particularly around mental health? , ., ., mental health? yes, we have had some new fi . ures mental health? yes, we have had some new figures out —

mental health? yes, we have had some new figures out on _ mental health? yes, we have had some new figures out on people _ mental health? yes, we have had some new figures out on people experience . new figures out on people experience in depression and diagnosis from gps. the broad picture is that increased demand wasn't fully met in the summer of last year. we already knew the number of people reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression had almost doubled in the first few months of the pandemic and the most recent figures say it has gone up again. before the pandemic, 10% of people reported the symptoms. it was just under 20% through the end of last year and in the first few months of this year, it went up tojust over 20%. but few months of this year, it went up to just over 20%. but at the same time, the number of diagnoses in gp surgeries went down. it fell by a quarter. diagnoses fell for almost everything because fewer people were coming forward, but when you combine that with the picture of more people saying they experienced the symptoms and less people getting diagnosed, thatis and less people getting diagnosed, that is probably worrying. as we turn from the immediate crisis of the soaring number of deaths, we start to see all of these other things like people coming in late for cancer diagnoses that were not

able to be dealt with during that all hands to the pump days of the pandemic. the headlines on bbc news... g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19 a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections in great britain for nearly 50 years. india accounted for nearly half of the world's reported covid cases last week, according to the world health organization. the country's coronavirus deaths rose by a record 3,780 during the last 24 hours. the international community has been stepping up efforts to help india as the country suffers critical oxygen shortages amid this devastating surge in cases.

let's speak to two people contributing to that relief effort — the british boxer, two—time world champion and olympic medallist, amir khan, who has launched an emergency appeal. he's working with an ngo based in mumbai called dasra which is a philanthropy network with links to charities working on the ground in india. deval sanghavi is the co—founder. amir, is this one of the biggest crises yourfoundation amir, is this one of the biggest crises your foundation has become involved with?— involved with? yes, it's one of the bi est involved with? yes, it's one of the biggest crises _ involved with? yes, it's one of the biggest crises we _ involved with? yes, it's one of the biggest crises we have _ involved with? yes, it's one of the | biggest crises we have experienced and the foundation is now on the ground. with the help of dasra, we joined the ngo in india to make sure the food, the medication and oxygen

tanks get to the right people in the right places. we have also joined another five ngos, right places. we have also joined anotherfive ngos, charities to right places. we have also joined another five ngos, charities to get all this stuff out. people are dying out there. the numbers have got ridiculous. over300,000 out there. the numbers have got ridiculous. over 300,000 people have died and it is getting worse day by day. every morning, i wake up and see new pictures. so that was why i started this campaign by the amir khan foundation. we have had amazing feedback from people, and people can still donate on our website. at the same time, i want to announce that dasra, whatever the amir khan foundation makes, dasra will match us a pound for pound, which is even better. �* ., . ., , ., ., ,

better. and how much have you raised so far? at the — better. and how much have you raised so far? at the moment, _ better. and how much have you raised so far? at the moment, we _ better. and how much have you raised so far? at the moment, we are - better. and how much have you raisedj so far? at the moment, we are aiming for £100,000. — so far? at the moment, we are aiming for £100,000. i — so far? at the moment, we are aiming for £100,000. | believe _ so far? at the moment, we are aiming for £100,000. i believe we _ so far? at the moment, we are aiming for £100,000. i believe we will - so far? at the moment, we are aiming for £100,000. i believe we will hit - for £100,000. i believe we will hit that within the next week. and every penny will go to people who need it the most. in india, you just turn on the most. in india, you just turn on the television, every time i wake up in the morning i'm getting numerous pictures and messages. it's so sad to see that. my parents are from pakistan and they are suffering, so it's a tough time that everyone is going through. let it's a tough time that everyone is going through-— going through. let me bring in deval. going through. let me bring in deval- you _ going through. let me bring in deval. you are _ going through. let me bring in deval. you are working - going through. let me bring in deval. you are working with i going through. let me bring in deval. you are working with a | going through. let me bring in - deval. you are working with a number of grassroots organisations through dasra, identifying where help is needed most. tell us more about how thatis needed most. tell us more about how that is going. you describe dasra as providing last mile support, what does that mean? just

providing last mile support, what does that mean?— providing last mile support, what does that mean? just to remind you what is happening. _ does that mean? just to remind you what is happening, we _ does that mean? just to remind you what is happening, we had - does that mean? just to remind you what is happening, we had over- does that mean? just to remind you | what is happening, we had over 3700 deaths _ what is happening, we had over 3700 deathsjust_ what is happening, we had over 3700 deathsjust yesterday in what is happening, we had over 3700 deaths just yesterday in india and that peak— deaths just yesterday in india and that peak is ridiculous because the last that peak is ridiculous because the iast peak— that peak is ridiculous because the last peak we had in september was 1200 deaths. so that gives you a sense _ 1200 deaths. so that gives you a sense and — 1200 deaths. so that gives you a sense. and hearing about what is happening — sense. and hearing about what is happening in the uk and how successful the uk has been withjust a small— successful the uk has been withjust a small number of deaths in the last conversation with the statistician, gives— conversation with the statistician, gives a _ conversation with the statistician, gives a sense of where we are at. to be honest. _ gives a sense of where we are at. to be honest. it — gives a sense of where we are at. to be honest, it is a war zone, except in this— be honest, it is a war zone, except in this case, — be honest, it is a war zone, except in this case, everyone who is dying civilians _ in this case, everyone who is dying civilians 50— in this case, everyone who is dying civilians. so it is madness. it's taking — civilians. so it is madness. it's taking davs _ civilians. so it is madness. it's taking days to find oxygen, hospital beds, _ taking days to find oxygen, hospital beds, icu _ taking days to find oxygen, hospital beds, icu beds. just our own organisation, which only has 100 people. — organisation, which only has 100 heapie. in— organisation, which only has 100 people, in the last three days three of our— people, in the last three days three of our colleagues have lost their mothers — of our colleagues have lost their mothers to covid. so we realised eariv _ mothers to covid. so we realised early on — mothers to covid. so we realised early on that we need to work with

local partners on the ground because what is _ local partners on the ground because what is happening in delhi is very different— what is happening in delhi is very different from what is happening in bangor, _ different from what is happening in bangor, the same as how what is happening — bangor, the same as how what is happening in bolton would be different from what is happening in london _ different from what is happening in london from a covid perspective. so we are _ london from a covid perspective. so we are finding partners who have been _ we are finding partners who have been in _ we are finding partners who have been in these communities for years, helping _ been in these communities for years, helping them identify what the diagnostic is so they can at least see who — diagnostic is so they can at least see who has covid and isolate those families— see who has covid and isolate those families in— see who has covid and isolate those families in makeshift covid wards, see if— families in makeshift covid wards, see if they— families in makeshift covid wards, see if they can identify comorbidities to see you has heart problems— comorbidities to see you has heart problems and diabetes and see if those _ problems and diabetes and see if those individuals can take extra precautions. like me and said, many of these _ precautions. like me and said, many of these families are not even able to leave _ of these families are not even able to leave the house. so money is not flowing _ to leave the house. so money is not flowing in _ to leave the house. so money is not flowing in and food and medications, 'ust flowing in and food and medications, just basic— flowing in and food and medications, just basic aid and cash transfers, are so— just basic aid and cash transfers, are so critical right now. the world has done _ are so critical right now. the world has done a — are so critical right now. the world has done a greatjob bringing aid to lndia. _ has done a greatjob bringing aid to lndia. but— has done a greatjob bringing aid to india, but you need people on the ground _ india, but you need people on the ground to — india, but you need people on the ground to help implement it. and

some of the _ ground to help implement it. fific some of the people you ground to help implement it. fific some of the people you are reaching out to our in marginalised communities. if we look at people with resources in india who are struggling to get help for their loved ones, you can only imagine the situation that people who are in more marginalised, impoverished communities are in get help. exactly. the foreign press has done a great _ exactly. the foreign press has done a greatjob— exactly. the foreign press has done a greatjob at highlighting the great — a greatjob at highlighting the great strides india has made as a country— great strides india has made as a country in — great strides india has made as a country in the last two decades, but we still— country in the last two decades, but we still have a billion people are than _ we still have a billion people are than five — we still have a billion people are than five a — we still have a billion people are than five a day. —— they earn less than _ than five a day. —— they earn less than five — than five a day. —— they earn less than five a — than five a day. —— they earn less than five a day. —— they earn less than five a day. they live in a house — than five a day. they live in a house which is ten by six feet, there — house which is ten by six feet, there is— house which is ten by six feet, there is no— house which is ten by six feet, there is no possibility for them to socially— there is no possibility for them to socially distance or isolate once a member— socially distance or isolate once a member of— socially distance or isolate once a member of the family gets it. the

slums— member of the family gets it. the slums in— member of the family gets it. the slums in mumbai and across the country. — slums in mumbai and across the country, hundreds of individuals are sharing _ country, hundreds of individuals are sharing one — country, hundreds of individuals are sharing one toilet. so again, social distancing — sharing one toilet. so again, social distancing is a privilege in the west— distancing is a privilege in the west but— distancing is a privilege in the west but is not in our country. . so while _ west but is not in our country. . so while masks — west but is not in our country. . so while masks are being worn and people — while masks are being worn and people are trying to follow the rules, — people are trying to follow the rules, the amount of poverty we have and the _ rules, the amount of poverty we have and the need is so great that the rules— and the need is so great that the rules that — and the need is so great that the rules that can be followed in the uk and the _ rules that can be followed in the uk and the us— rules that can be followed in the uk and the us are not possible here. amir, _ and the us are not possible here. amir. tell— and the us are not possible here. amir, tell us about your links with india. i know you have a boxing leak there and you have visited the country a number of times. tell me what it means to somebody of pakistani heritage to be helping india at this time, especially during ramadan?— india at this time, especially during ramadan? india at this time, especially durin: ramadan? , �* , ., during ramadan? yes, it's the month of ramadan — during ramadan? yes, it's the month of ramadan at _ during ramadan? yes, it's the month of ramadan at the _ during ramadan? yes, it's the month of ramadan at the moment _ during ramadan? yes, it's the month of ramadan at the moment and - during ramadan? yes, it's the month of ramadan at the moment and i - during ramadan? yes, it's the month| of ramadan at the moment and i have been doing a lot of work in india. i have travelled back and forth for the last couple of years. we have a boxing league over the where we help upcoming fighters. and every time i have gone, it has been an amazing

experience. i have been welcomed and looked after and people have been nothing but amazing. coming from a neighbouring country, i am from pakistan. recently, when imran khan offered to give oxygen to india, the news was that it was refused. when you think about a matter like this, you think about a matter like this, you cannot get political about it. you have to think about the people. this is where narendra modi needs to think about that. whatever issues he has with pakistan, he should take the aid from them, regardless of if he likes them or not. this is about saving lives. but my expense in india has been fine. i have been there numerous times and i enjoy it every time. —— my experience in india has been fine. but hearing the stories and sing the pictures of

what is going on, it does really hurt you. we feel very fortunate to live in a country like england. recently, i heard there was a massive festival happening in india. who is to blame? you would think the prime minister, narendra modi, should want better instead of having a huge parade for some celebration, allowing people to go into the huge pools. that is one reason why this happened. he should have known better than anybody. but we are in this position now and we have to make sure we deal with it. it doesn't matter where you come from, which country you follow, what race you are, we should get it done. amir, thank you for your time, talking to us about the appeal set “p talking to us about the appeal set up by the amir khan foundation, and to deval sanghavi in india. we wish

you well with the appeal and the very best with the work you are doing to save lives. thank you very much. known as underwater rainforests , much. of marine species. but threats such as over—fishing and rising sea temperatures mean more and more were lying grey and lifeless. now, a pioneering initiative to try to restore them is taking place in indonesia, as our science editor david shukman reports. it's one of the most shocking sights in the underwater world when corals die, either because they're damaged or because the sea becomes too hot for them and they turn into what looks like a graveyard. when you dive on a reef and it's just quiet and it's all monotone grey, it's desolate, it's so depressing. the solution, pioneered by professor smith, involves whole communities in indonesia.

they take these metal frames, called reef stars, and fix them to the sea bed. fragments of live corals are attached to them, and the result is a revival of a habitat that many depend on. you see fish come in, you dive on it one day and you see the small fish sort of finding a hole in the reef stars amongst the corals. six months later, medium sized fish, the whole ecosystem responds when you give it this chance of kick—starting the system. the latest reef to be helped in this way is called hope. the word is spelt out in the new corals and the aim is to apply the same technique in other areas around the world. over the years, there have been dozens of attempts to try to bring reefs back to life, some more successful than others. and they have all been on a really small scale, as with this latest initiative. so there will be questions about it.

it is funded by the pet food company sheba, which uses a lot of fish in its products, so can this venture really make any kind of difference? well, scientists i've spoken to are impressed by the way that reefs that were once dead are now being revived. and because the task is so huge, they welcome funding from big—name companies. for businesses involved, dependent on fish and marine resources, to actually invest in restoring the ocean, in recovering depleted reefs, is a good thing. obviously in business, you always have that extra filter of scrutiny. and because most corals are threatened as global temperatures continue to rise, any attempt to save even small areas will need real determination. david shukman, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news. g7 ministers meeting in britain

are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections in great britain for nearly 50 years. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30m will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. politicians are spending their final day campaigning before elections take place across england, scotland and wales tomorrow. it's the biggest set of elections in nearly 50 years because of delays caused by the pandemic. ballots will be cast for the scottish and welsh parliaments, english councils, mayors and police and crime commissioners. there's also a by—election to elect a new mp for the town of hartlepool.

we can speak now to professor nicola mcewen, of the centre for constitutional change at edinburgh university. let's begin with scotland because, obviously, the snp is going to be the biggest party in the scottish parliament and it's a question of how big and what impact that might have? it’s how big and what impact that might have? �* , , , . ., how big and what impact that might have? _ ., have? it's been such a strange election in _ have? it's been such a strange election in a — have? it's been such a strange election in a sense, _ have? it's been such a strange election in a sense, in - have? it's been such a strange election in a sense, in that - have? it's been such a strange election in a sense, in that all| have? it's been such a strange i election in a sense, in that all of the party leaders agree that nicola sturgeon will be the next first minister, so they aren't really competing for that office. they are competing for that office. they are competing on who comes second and gets to lead the opposition. the key issueis gets to lead the opposition. the key issue is can be snp secure a single party majority? it seems settled there will be a pro—independence majority, because it's notjust the snp that's pro independence but the scottish greens are also pro—independence and have been

pulling quite well. in the electoral system in scotland, it's very difficult for one party to gain an overall majority, very different from the situation used in english local elections or the house of commons. if local elections or the house of commons-— local elections or the house of commons. ., , ., , , commons. if the conservatives end up as the opposition. _ commons. if the conservatives end up as the opposition, if _ commons. if the conservatives end up as the opposition, if you _ commons. if the conservatives end up as the opposition, if you like, - commons. if the conservatives end up as the opposition, if you like, in - as the opposition, if you like, in the scottish parliament, does that make it harder for the the scottish parliament, does that make it harderfor the snp to the scottish parliament, does that make it harder for the snp to argue for another independence referendum if the conservatives are the official opposition? ida. if the conservatives are the official opposition? if the conservatives are the official o- osition? ., , ., official opposition? no. there is no official opposition? no. there is no official opposition _ official opposition? no. there is no official opposition in _ official opposition? no. there is no official opposition in the _ official opposition? no. there is no official opposition in the scottish i official opposition in the scottish parliament, it is a different kind of system from the house of commons. it seems quite clear that the conservatives and the labour party, whoever comes second, and polling suggests it will be the conservatives, they will be way back from the snp. i think what will make it may be more difficult to argue the case but easier for the it may be more difficult to argue the case but easierfor the prime minister to reject the claim will be

if the snp. short of that magic number of 65 seats which would give it an overall majority by itself. they will still make the case on the basis of a peer independence majority in the parliament but that might make it politically slightly easier for the might make it politically slightly easierfor the prime might make it politically slightly easier for the prime minister to reject the call for a new independence referendum, as he seems intent to do. . �* , independence referendum, as he seems intent to do. . �* . independence referendum, as he seems intent to do. ., �* , , intent to do. that's when it gets really interesting _ intent to do. that's when it gets really interesting because i intent to do. that's when it gets really interesting because whatl really interesting because what could be snp potentially do if boris johnson continues to say he is opposed to another independence referendum? at the snp call for a vote on the matter in the scottish parliament? could it occurred to the courts? in parliament? could it occurred to the courts? ., , , , courts? in theory but remember nicola sturgeon _ courts? in theory but remember nicola sturgeon has _ courts? in theory but remember nicola sturgeon has made i courts? in theory but remember nicola sturgeon has made it i courts? in theory but remember i nicola sturgeon has made it quite clear she's not in a particular rush. her priority will still be covid governance. the snp has some difficult issues to address before it gets to an independence

referendum. notjust about it gets to an independence referendum. not just about the process but also the substance. brexit has made independence a bit more complex, with issues around how you manage the border between scotland and england. in the campaign the first minister didn't really have clear answers to that, but try to push it back to the point at which there will be an independence referendum when then she will make the case. in a sense, having the delay buys them time, it buys them time to address those difficult issues and get to a point where maybe the economic case won't be quite as difficult as it would be right now. be quite as difficult as it would be riaht now. . ~ be quite as difficult as it would be riaht now. ., ,, i. , be quite as difficult as it would be riaht now. . ~' , . right now. thank you very much, professor- _ if you live in england, scotland or wales, you can find out what elections are taking place in your area, by entering your postcode into our search tool, on our website, or the bbc news app. in spain, the conservative people's party has made major gains in tuesday's vote to the madrid

regional assembly — more than doubling its seats. however, it has fallen short of a majority and will need the support of the far—right vox party to govern. the bbc�*s guy hedgecoe has this update from madrid. their candidate was the regional premier, isabel diaz ayuso. throughout the campaign, in fact before the campaign, over the last few weeks and months, she has been very much defending the idea that madrid should be a place where you have relative freedom when it comes to coronavirus restrictions. that bars, restaurants and other businesses should remain open and operate more or less as normal. so, madrid in that sense has been working almost as normal, certainly compared to many other regions in spain, despite the pressures of the pandemic in recent months. and that appears to have driven a lot of her popularity. a lot of people have bought into that and it helped hand had this overwhelming victory

that we saw last night, which gave her more than double the seats that her popular party won in the 2019 elections. and how much is what has happened there in madrid politically being seen as what could potentially happen on a national scale? well, it certainly is the case that this has notjust been seen as a regional election. it is being seen through a national prism. for example, the popular party's national leader pablo casado, when the results came in last night, he said this was a no—confidence vote against the spanish leftist government of pedro sanchez. and that's been very much how it's been seen. pedro sanchez was very involved on the campaign trail, trying to support his socialist candidate. the socialists suffered a really bad result last night, they lost 13 seats. so that was a blow for pedro sanchez, and i think that the right—wing popular party are hoping that after several years when they've suffered a lot of corruption scandals,

they suffered a string of poor election results, this will turn all that around. it may be a regional election result, but the feeling is it so overwhelming and it's in the spanish capital, that for those reasons it could have national repercussions and spark some kind of renaissance for the right—wing popular party. veterans unable to travel to normandy because of covid—19 travel restrictions are invited to mark the 77th anniversary of the d—day landings at a commemorative event in england on sunday 6thjune at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire. it will mark the official opening of the british normandy memorial in france. this will be the first time the normandy veterans have been able to come together in numbers since the events of d—day 75 and, given their age, will be a unique opportunity to gather so many in one place. let's speak now to the d—day veteran charles somerville.

lovely to have you with us this morning. thank you for talking to us. perhaps you would begin by telling us about your memories of the day. —— your memories of d—day. can you hear me? mr somerville, i wonder, can you hear me? unfortunately, we seem to be having a problem with mr somerville being able to hear us. i hope will be able to get back to him very soon. more than £29 million of government investment will be put into developing vaccines that fight new variants of covid—19. experts say this is vital to stay ahead of a virus that will continue to mutate. earlier i spoke to the virologist, dr muhammad munir, who told me why further development of vaccines is needed to fight variants of coronavirus.

we all understand that this year is a year of variants and the only thing that can undo the success we have had so far is the variants. the first factor is to look into which a vaccine is effective against which variant. to do that, there is a testing process at porton down and they are currently testing 500 samples a week, which will be ramped up to around 3000 a week to test the blood from people who are vaccinated and match that against the new variants which are predominantly in the uk, but also emerging in the rest of the world. that information will give us an idea of which variant is not being protected using the current vaccine and a variant will be used to manufacture a vaccine for the future so we can match with the variant so effectively that the vaccine will work. so if a particular variant is looking like it's going to become a problem and more dominant, how quickly can a new vaccine, a booster vaccine, be turned around?

the first step is to test whether it is really neutralised by the current vaccines. for example, when the indian variant started to adhere, those cases were tested against vaccinated people. there was a certain level of immunity. so that means that that antigen taken from the indian isolates can be used to manufacture the vaccine. depending on the technology being deployed, for example when it comes to the mrna based vaccine, that is a quick process. so it means the new mrna can be made which would take the antigen from these new variants. afterwards, there is a process in the laboratory to look for the efficacy against those variants and then go into human trial. that would be quicker than what we did in the first place as the overall process is streamlined. this is obviously about being prepared to stay ahead of the virus. but do you think these boosters will be needed if, for example, community transmission in the uk

stays low and if the immunity from the vaccinations that are currently being given last a bit longer than we think they might? yes, i have no doubt that the vaccine introduced immunity would last longer than we are anticipating, more than a year. but we have to look at the variants and whether they would escape the immunity or not. if they do, that would mean a booster would be required or a variant matching vaccine would be required. we cannot allow this virus to spread beyond the health community. as you highlighted, the important thing is that if we keep the virus under control, it will not replicate at the level it wants to. that means the new variant is less likely to emerge. dr mohammad munirfrom lancaster

university, thank you. let's return to the story that veterans are being invited to take part in an event at the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire injune. we can try to talk to d—day that charles somerville. i hope you can hear me this time. would you begin by letting us know about your memories of d—day. mr; begin by letting us know about your memories of d-day._ begin by letting us know about your memories of d-day. my memories of d-da are memories of d-day. my memories of 0-day are all— memories of d-day. my memories of d-day are all about _ memories of d-day. my memories of d-day are all about the _ memories of d-day. my memories of d-day are all about the incredible i d—day are all about the incredible noise that was going on when we arrived. i had spent the first year of my life in the navy in the atlantic. i went for some training and then the next ship i got was a

minesweeper. talk about from the frying pan into the fire. so, a few days later i was sailing across the channel in the middle of the night with hundreds of other minesweepers just ahead of the invasion fleet. and then this dreadful noise started, with all these guns firing their shells overhead. when we've been sailing across, the ships behind us were full of soldiers in landing craft. many of these men were even younger than me. i was only 19. were even younger than me. i was only19. but were even younger than me. i was only 19. but these men had been training all over the united kingdom for months and months, just for this

one special day. as the landing craft came in, we watched the ramps come down, and these young men perhaps the first day of action in their lives, too often, unfortunately, the last day of their lives. it went on and on and we had to move, several of us, to become screens for the battleships and the cruisers, just in case they were attacked. that is my memory of d—day. attacked. that is my memory of d-da . �* . . attacked. that is my memory of d-da . �* . , , ., ,

attacked. that is my memory of d-da. . , ., attacked. that is my memory of d-da. . , d-day. an incredible story that you tell about the _ d-day. an incredible story that you tell about the reality _ d-day. an incredible story that you tell about the reality of _ d-day. an incredible story that you tell about the reality of warfare i tell about the reality of warfare and when people ask you about that reality, what do you say to them? the reality of warfare is about a megalomaniac who becomes so politically powerful he can persuade all the citizens in his country to see it his way. the result of this is that the citizens are encouraged to take up arms and possibly invade another country. the result of this never changes. the result is the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, and the untold riches enjoyed

by the armaments manufacturers. that is the reality of warfare. all down to one powerful politician. you are talkin: to one powerful politician. you are talking about _ to one powerful politician. you are talking about your _ to one powerful politician. you are talking about your history, - to one powerful politician. you are talking about your history, the i talking about your history, the history of so many people but with the message that still holds true today, warnings for today. ijust wonder, as you reflect on this time, whether any particular good times that you remember from that period as well. . that you remember from that period as well. , ., , ., , as well. yes, lots of good times. you see. — as well. yes, lots of good times. you see. 19 _ as well. yes, lots of good times. you see, 19 years _ as well. yes, lots of good times. you see, 19 years of— as well. yes, lots of good times. you see, 19 years of age - as well. yes, lots of good times. you see, 19 years of age in i as well. yes, lots of good times. you see, 19 years of age in the i you see, 19 years of age in the royal navy, i wasn't bad looking. you know what they say, all the nice girls love the sailor. during my career in the royal navy, i drank

far too much and i played the piano in every pub and club from chatham in every pub and club from chatham in england to sydney in australia. and i danced with all the most beautiful girls in the world. fiona, if you're watching in glasgow, i still love you. i. if you're watching in glasgow, i still love you.— if you're watching in glasgow, i still love ou. , , , still love you. i, my goodness. tell us about fiona. _ still love you. i, my goodness. tell us about fiona. i _ still love you. i, my goodness. tell us about fiona. i lived _ still love you. i, my goodness. tell us about fiona. i lived in _ still love you. i, my goodness. tell us about fiona. i lived in a - still love you. i, my goodness. tell us about fiona. i lived in a suburbl us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow _ us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow and — us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow and for _ us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow and for lots _ us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow and for lots of - us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow and for lots of us, i us about fiona. i lived in a suburb of glasgow and for lots of us, our| of glasgow and for lots of us, our part—time sport was tennis. all the tennis clubs around the area used to have a dance on a saturday night. fiona was one of the girls i used to

dance with regularly and play the piano at the interval. she obviously made a big — piano at the interval. she obviously made a big impression _ piano at the interval. she obviously made a big impression on - piano at the interval. she obviously made a big impression on you. i piano at the interval. she obviously| made a big impression on you. they were, a good—looking young man, you could dance, you could play the piano, i'm sure you are very popular!— piano, i'm sure you are very --oular! ., ., , piano, i'm sure you are very --oular! ., . , ,., popular! fiona remembered me so well that a few years — popular! fiona remembered me so well that a few years ago _ popular! fiona remembered me so well that a few years ago the _ popular! fiona remembered me so well that a few years ago the glasgow i that a few years ago the glasgow herald published a letter of mine about d—day and the next day i had a letter from about d—day and the next day i had a letterfrom fiona reminding us of what good friends we had been. i still see her occasionally when i go to scotland. still see her occasionally when i go to scotland-— to scotland. that is a beautiful sto . to scotland. that is a beautiful story- thank — to scotland. that is a beautiful story. thank you _ to scotland. that is a beautiful story. thank you for _ to scotland. that is a beautiful story. thank you for sharing i to scotland. that is a beautiful story. thank you for sharing it| to scotland. that is a beautiful- story. thank you for sharing it with us, charles. iwonderwhetheryou will be hoping to attend the memorial event at the national memorial arboretum injune. i

memorial event at the national memorial arboretum in june. memorialarboretum in june. i hope so. you memorialarboretum in june. i hope so- you have _ memorialarboretum in june. i hope so. you have to _ memorialarboretum in june. i hope so. you have to remember- memorialarboretum in june. i hope so. you have to remember that, i memorial arboretum in june. i hope l so. you have to remember that, with my fingers crossed, in a few weeks i hope to be 96. travelling is not my easiest sport these days. but ho efull easiest sport these days. but hopefully with _ easiest sport these days. but hopefully with some assistance you might be able to get there. the will is certainly there.— is certainly there. yes, i might do, es. we is certainly there. yes, i might do, ves- we really _ is certainly there. yes, i might do, yes. we really appreciate - is certainly there. yes, i might do, yes. we really appreciate you i yes. we really appreciate you talkin: yes. we really appreciate you talking to _ yes. we really appreciate you talking to us _ yes. we really appreciate you talking to us today _ yes. we really appreciate you talking to us today and i yes. we really appreciate you | talking to us today and telling yes. we really appreciate you i talking to us today and telling us about your memories of d—day. you arejust19, almost 96 now, we wish you were very happy birthday for your birthday coming up and thank your birthday coming up and thank you for your service and we hope you get to the national memorial arboretum in a couple of months. take care. arboretum in a couple of months. take care-— if you've been out cycling recently, there's every chance you've been

overtaken by someone pedalling pretty slowly, but travelling pretty fast. sales of electric bikes have boomed during the pandemic — but they're not a new invention, as our reporter danjohnson has been finding out. asjeremy clarkson: three rickety wheels. two wobbly pedals. and the electrifying force of 24 volts. that is a replica of an 1881 trouve electric vehicle. gustave trouve was a frenchman who married an english tricycle with his own battery and motor, thereby creating what we think is the first ever rechargeable electric vehicle. it's very rickety to ride. it's a steel frame, hard, solid rubber wheels and tyres. from just a picture, the original e—bike has been

carefully recreated. why, jeremy, why? because i think a lot of people realise that electric vehicles are the future. we've been told that that's the only type of vehicle you're going to be able to buy after 2030. but they're not new. and this one is 140 years old. because it is rechargeable and because it was 140 years ago this week that trouve ran it, it's a story. electric bikes are getting more popular. so i took a more modern model for a ride. all you do is use a couple of buttons to just change the level of assistance you're going to get. but then if you suddenly come to a steep hill, you can press the button, suddenly you'll get more assistance and you can get up pretty much any hill. i'll let you lead the way then, john. so this is making me look and feel like a better cyclist than i am, really. am i being lazy? well, i don't think so. we're not racing anybody. we're just having a nice

day out in the country. and i think anything that gets more people more active and gets more people cycling can only be a good thing for them and for the planet. it certainly makes the hills feel easier. and they're on city streets as well, especially as more deliveries are being made on two wheels. so, we at cycling uk think that e—bikes are a real game changer in the cycling world. we think they can encourage people who wouldn't usually think of themselves as cyclists to get out on bikes and try that. they're particularly good for perhaps older people, people who are less fit. and people who live in really hilly areas of the uk, because it really flattens those hills. so what about the cost? dutch style city bike, at around about £2000. the folding high—performance electric bike here at around £3000. and the bentley, rolls—royce of the electric bike here, at around £8,000. certainly over the last 12 to 18 months, we've seen an explosion

in popularity and demand for electric bikes. driven primarily by technological advances in the products, batteries getting lighter and better, the products are getting more durable. that's both consumers but also businesses who are moving from more traditional fossil fuel vehicles to electric cargo bikes to deliver their goods. i am of course a picture of parisian elegance, and i need a ride home, so this is it. that's for steering. the power is here. and the brake is, er... ..a bit of leather that rubs on the wheel. wish me luck! here we go. all right, well, it moves, hey up! it's like rubbing your head and patting your stomach or whatever. crikey! more pedal power is coming with a jolt of electricity. ooh la la!

but the e—trike looks truly unique. watch out for the ditch! danjohnson, bbc news, surrey. laughter in the midst of leading a country through a pandemic, new zealand's prime minister has announced that she and her partner have set a date for their wedding. jacinda ardern told a local radio station that the event was being planned for the end of the year during the new zealand summer. ardern and clarke gayford, who is known affectionately as the country's first bloke, became engaged in 2019 and have a two—year—old daughter. ardern says the wedding might not be celebrated in the traditional way as she admitted she "feels a bit too old to have a bridal party". a seaside town injapan has raised eyebrows after it used funding from an emergency covid relief grant to build a giant statue of a squid. noto has had a very low number of coronavirus cases but it has been impacted by the significant drop

in tourists, and officials argue that the statue will help drum up more business. the government grant isn'tjust earmarked for covid relief but some are criticizing the move at a time whenjapan is battling a third surge in coronavirus cases. during last year's lockdown, one man helped a family of ducks that had nested on the balcony of his 9th floor flat in the north west of england get safely to the water. well, the mother duck was so happy on steve stuttard's balcony at salford quays that she returned to raise another family this year. yesterday was hatching day, so with the help of a friend, steve began "operation mallard", carefully lowering the baby birds in a bucket to the ground below. despite the howling wind, the mission was successful — and the mother duck was reunited with her 11 ducklings. and if you're wondering why he didn't use the lift, it's because he didn't want to break the bond between the ducklings and the mother, which could happen if she couldn't hear them at any

point during theirjourney. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carole. hello again. today we are looking at a mixture of sunshine and showers. some of the showers will be heavy and thundery with hail, and wintry on the tops of the hills and mountains. the low pressure system that brought all of this inclement weather has moved away to the near continent but the wind around it is still coming from a chilly direction, the north or north—west. you can see that quite nicely indicated by all the blues moving across the uk, that snow i was talking about came down to 150 metres in scotland this morning. it will come back down again tonight. we've got further showers across northern ireland, wales, south—west england, moving eastwards through the day. some of those heavy and thundery with hail mixed in and some showers coming in across eastern england.

gusty winds around the showers but generally the winds are lighter than yesterday. temperatures still below average for the time of year. this evening, many of the showers but not all of them will fade. more will come in across scotland, getting far south with a wintry flavour, potentially in the borders, down to about 150 metres. cold night, potentially cooler than last night with a widespread frost. still with the showers coming in across the north, we've also got a system moving across the english channel bringing in more cloud and some rain. in between, a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine around. light winds with temperatures eight in aberdeen, ten in liverpool and 12 in cardiff. on friday, high—pressure moving across us. things are quieter, a frosty start of the day with some showers as we go through the day.

lighter winds, temperatures are still below par, maybe not feeling quite as bad. as we move into the weekend, temperatures rise. we've got a change in wind direction as the area of low pressure moves in from the atlantic bringing wet and windy conditions. pushing across much of the uk, not quite making it up into the northern isles. looking at that, a few places across the country, you can see we've got rain on the way with a few showers and temperatures rising.

this is bbc news, i'mjoanna gosling. the headlines at 11... g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30 million will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections for nearly 50 years. and coming up.... a pioneering initiative in indonesia to try to restore life and colour to coral reefs.

the indian foreign minister has confirmed that its delegation at the meeting of the g7 group here in london is self isolating after two members tested positive for covid—19. the news comes on the day the pandemic is being discussed at the meeting — with the focus on the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines. there's growing pressure to share stockpiles and know—how with poor nations trailing far behind in fighting the pandemic. the world trade organiztion is also meeting to look at one solution — waiving vaccine patent rights. courtney bembridge has the details. are wealthy nations doing enough to help poorer countries tackle covid—19? that's the question being put to g7 foreign ministers, who are meeting to ensure new ways to ensure fairer access to vaccine stockpiles.

the g7 countries are the world's economic and political leaders. they're also home to many of the world's vaccine produces. we will only solve the vaccine crisis with the leadership of these countries. six months into the global vaccine roll—out, and only 0.3% of the doses administered around the world have gone to people in low income countries. contrast that with the figures we're hearing from the us. our goal byjuly 4th is to have 70% of adult americans with at least one shot, and 160 million americans fully vaccinated. that means giving close to 100 million shots, some first shots, others second shots, over the next 60 days. in india, where coronavirus infections are spiralling out of control, less than 10% of the population has had theirfirstjab. it doesn't make moral

sense for the majorityj of people to be in the queue, dying, waiting for a vaccine. but, worse still, newl variants keep coming. the longer the virus remains anywhere in the world, - the more variants come that i are resistant to the technology which exists, and then- we are back to where we were. winnie byanyima founded the people's vaccine, a campaign to remove patent restrictions on covid—19 vaccines and medicines to allow more countries to manufacture doses. the world health organization supports the plan, along with 100 countries, led by south africa and india, that are petitioning the world trade organization to waive protections on intellectual property. the eu and uk say they'll oppose the move. critics say the proposal wouldn't solve supply chain delays. take pfizer's jab, for example. the company says it needs 280 components from 86 suppliers in 19 countries.

so, even if you waive the patent, it would take months, if not years, to replicate pfizer's complex supply chain. it may actually disincentivise any commercial entity from getting involved in vaccines. as much as we love them or loathe them, the commercial entities have the professional resources to get a vaccine into final use. the top coronavirus adviser in the us, dr anthony fauci, has warned the plan risks of backfiring if it leads to long, legal disputes. the biden administration is expected to set out its position at a world trade organization meeting on wednesday. courtney bembridge, bbc news. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. just the news no one wanted to hear, that there have been some covid cases, the entire indian delegation self isolating. what is the latest?

i'm s o rry , i'm sorry, we cannot hear him. can you try again? i think there was a mute button pressed. we hear you now! �* ., , ., mute button pressed. we hear you now! ~ ., , ., ., mute button pressed. we hear you now! �* ., , ., ., 1 mute button pressed. we hear you now! ~ ., , ., ., . 4, now! apologies for that. we think onl two now! apologies for that. we think only two members _ now! apologies for that. we think only two members of— now! apologies for that. we think only two members of the - now! apologies for that. we think i only two members of the delegation, the indian delegation had so far tested positive, they do not include the foreign minister himself. clearly this is going to cause a number of concerns. we are told the indian delegation as a whole has not yet held meetings in this g7 gathering, although the prime minister himself has had a number of face—to—face meetings including with dominic raab and priti patel and the us secretary of state. people will

want to know, here is a delegation coming from a country on the red list in the midst of an absolutely uncontrolled outbreak of the virus, what if any measures were taken to ensure they were safe when they arrived here and what measures have been taken since their arrival? the hosts, the british government has made some play of the precautions being taken in this g7 gathering, the perspex screen is in between delegation members, the regular testing and so far, but clearly given this is a bit of a dry run for a face—to—face meeting of g7 leaders in noir—mac, this is not good news for anybody. it in noir-mac, this is not good news for anybody-— in noir-mac, this is not good news for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the riaht for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the right thing _ for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the right thing for— for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the right thing for india _ for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the right thing for india to - for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the right thing for india to be i the right thing for india to be there, they could have done it virtually bit because of what is happening in india with covid and the fact they are targeting particularly today about what can be done around vaccine distribution.

the timing could not be worse and the indian delegation as you heard previously are coming here with a case to make for greater vaccine availability around the world to tackle what some have seen as a very inequitable arrangement at the moment, what gordon brown has described as vaccine apartheid in making his case for bolder action by the international community and for that delegation to be subjected to these self isolation bite at the moment they have to press their case, that is not helpful for them or the meeting altogether. thank ou, or the meeting altogether. thank you. paul- _ the number of coronavirus deaths in the uk has reached its lowest level since last september, according to the latest figures released by the office for national statistics.

for more here's the bbc�*s head of statistics, robert cuffe. it has been falling for quite some time, so the most recent figures report 290 deaths involving coronavirus in the week to the 23rd of april and that is the lowest since about september last year so thatis since about september last year so that is good news. looking at the deaths caused by coronavirus, it is even slightly better news because the figures for england and wales say about two thirds of the deaths where covid was involved, they believe coronavirus was doing the driving. that is far more than flu or pneumonia. it is a lot better thanit or pneumonia. it is a lot better than it was injanuary, february, the high point where we saw lots of deaths involving coronavirus but 90%, coronavirus was there. it is good news o, i . i 907 coronav|rus was there it is good news when 90%, coronavirus was there. it is good news when you scratch behind the figures and it may be explained is a bit why they are lagging behind the government figures where we saw around four deaths announced in the last few days. they are a little bit higher but there is a good reason to explain it and the news is going on

the right direction. another set of figures released by the ons also show the impact of the pandemic on depression and mental health. around one in five adults experienced some form of depression during the second peak of coronavirus in early 2021. this is up from november 2020 — when 19% experienced depressive symptoms and double that seen before the pandemic when it was 10%. more than £29 million of government funding will be put into developing vaccines that fight new variants of covid—19. experts say this is vital to stay ahead of a virus that will continue to mutate. the investment will expand testing facilities at public health england's porton down research laboratory. our reporter aruna iyengar reports. in the fight to stay on top of the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccines minister nadhim zahawi says a third vaccine could be offered to everyone over 50. the aim — to eradicate the threat of covid—19 by christmas. we want to give the scientists as many options to be able

to deploy a booster. coupled with that, jonathan van—tam is conducting a clinical piece of research call covboost to look at which additional shot — is it novavax, valneva, is it astrazeneca, is it pfizer — that would deliver the greatest protection. we have to make that available to them, and the nhs team is already planning to be ready for deployment from september onwards. meanwhile, work goes on to battle against new versions of coronavirus circulating around the globe, such as the kent and south africa variants. to counter that threat and stay ahead of the virus, the uk government is investing more money in vaccine research. the extra £29.3 million, on top of nearly 20 million already promised, will boost testing facilities at porton down, britain's top military research laboratory where scientists are checking how well existing and new vaccines

fight covid variants. the cash will allow scientists to test 3000 blood samples a week to measure the levels of protective antibodies against covid—19 generated by different vaccines. these new facilities will double our capacity and allow us to do these studies more rapidly and effectively. we do know that new variants are a major concern in our fight against the virus. so these new facilities will mean that we hopefully will be able to stay one step ahead of the virus. if plans proceed for a booster covid vaccine programme in the autumn, that could involve using updated vaccines that are a better match for variants. a dealfor 50 million doses has been made with a german company called cu revac. millions of voters in england, scotland and wales are preparing to head to the polls tomorrow, for the biggest set of elections

in nearly 50 years. many have been postponed from last year, due to the pandemic. on the final day of campaigning, let's take a look at what's at stake. in england, 4650 council seats are being contested across 143 local authorities. 13 directly elected mayors are being sought, including in the capital, where 25 seats are also up for grabs in the london assembly. elsewhere, all eyes will be on hartlepool where there's also a parliamentary by—election to choose a new mp for the town. meanwhile, voters in scotland will elect 129 members of the scottish parliament. 60 members of the senedd will be elected by voters in wales. people there will also have the chance to select new police and crime commissioners. a total of 39 will be elected across england and wales. clive myrie is at holyrood for us this morning.

good morning. a lovely day here. the wind is picking up a little bit, but a final day perhaps for voters to make, the campaign is to make their pictures to the public. door knocking, pressing the flesh, curtailed by the pandemic. we had a scottish leaders debate last night. we had the scottish leaders' debate last night, lots of sparks but no clear winner. and all eyes were on snp leader nicola sturgeon. can her party win a clear majority giving them what they say will be a mandate to call for a second independence referendum? but of course there are elections across the rest of great britain. there are no votes in northern ireland. let's talk to professor sirjohn curtice, professor of politics at the university of strathclyde it is good to see you as ever. let's start with the picture in england, i suspect perhaps it is all about

consolidation? is it about the conservatives consolidating those gains they made back in 2019 in those labour heartlands, particularly in the north, the breaching of the red wall? it is possible for them in the elections to consolidate those gains and turn them into local power? that to consolidate those gains and turn them into local power?— them into local power? that is certainly part _ them into local power? that is certainly part of— them into local power? that is certainly part of what - them into local power? that is certainly part of what we i them into local power? that is certainly part of what we are l certainly part of what we are looking _ certainly part of what we are looking far, it will be exemplified perhaps — looking far, it will be exemplified perhaps by the hartlepool by—election which is taking place in the most _ by—election which is taking place in the most pro—leave constituency. we have to _ the most pro—leave constituency. we have to bear — the most pro—leave constituency. we have to bear in mind that because the local— have to bear in mind that because the local elections, there is a seat up the local elections, there is a seat up for— the local elections, there is a seat up for grabs, before the eu referendum or in 2017, relatively earlv _ referendum or in 2017, relatively early in — referendum or in 2017, relatively early in the — referendum or in 2017, relatively early in the brexit process. these elections — early in the brexit process. these elections took place before much of the fairly— elections took place before much of the fairly substantial change in the character— the fairly substantial change in the character of support for conservative and labour including above _ conservative and labour including above all — conservative and labour including above all the ability of the conservative party to do well

amongst _ conservative party to do well amongst the voters. we are certainly expecting _ amongst the voters. we are certainly expecting for some of that, it should — expecting for some of that, it should simply work its way through into the _ should simply work its way through into the local election scene. it will not — into the local election scene. it will not tell us anything new necessarily about the strength of the parties but it will certainly make — the parties but it will certainly make it — the parties but it will certainly make it difficult for labour to demonstrate they are recovering, because _ demonstrate they are recovering, because if— demonstrate they are recovering, because if they were to do a little bit better— because if they were to do a little bit better amongst to leave the voters — bit better amongst to leave the voters than they did in december 2019. _ voters than they did in december 2019, they could still compared to 2016 and — 2019, they could still compared to 2016 and 2017 be losing ground in particular— 2016 and 2017 be losing ground in particular leave voting areas. is particular leave voting areas. [55 this particular leave voting areas. i1 this basically a rearguard action by the labour party? either they on the front foot in england?— front foot in england? these are a set of elections _ front foot in england? these are a set of elections which _ front foot in england? these are a set of elections which for - front foot in england? these are a set of elections which for the i front foot in england? these are a | set of elections which for the most part see _ set of elections which for the most part see labour more on the back foot than— part see labour more on the back foot than on the front foot though perhaps— foot than on the front foot though perhaps not as much on the back foot as looked _ perhaps not as much on the back foot as looked likely as little as ten days— as looked likely as little as ten days ago _ as looked likely as little as ten days ago. taking for example the position— days ago. taking for example the position in— days ago. taking for example the position in the national polls,

looking — position in the national polls, looking on average and there is some disagreement about the perils of the figure. _ disagreement about the perils of the figure. we _ disagreement about the perils of the figure, we are looking at the tire is being — figure, we are looking at the tire is being about five points ahead of labour— is being about five points ahead of labour in — is being about five points ahead of labour in the national polls. now we have to _ labour in the national polls. now we have to compare the five—point lead with the _ have to compare the five—point lead with the position in the 2016 and 2017 elections. as compared with the 2017 elections. as compared with the 2017 elections. as compared with the 2017 election when not long after theresa — 2017 election when not long after theresa may called the 2017 election, labourwas theresa may called the 2017 election, labour was 20 points behind, — election, labour was 20 points behind, so _ election, labour was 20 points behind, so in the county councils were _ behind, so in the county councils were it _ behind, so in the county councils were it is — behind, so in the county councils were it is up _ behind, so in the county councils were it is up for ground, labour may .ain were it is up for ground, labour may gain ground— were it is up for ground, labour may gain ground in a recent improvement inthe— gain ground in a recent improvement inthe polls. — gain ground in a recent improvement in the polls, may start making gains — in the polls, may start making gains. some i like derbyshire may falter— gains. some i like derbyshire may falter them. gains. some i like derbyshire may falterthem. equally gains. some i like derbyshire may falter them. equally however if we look at _ falter them. equally however if we look at the position in 2016 in the other— look at the position in 2016 in the other half— look at the position in 2016 in the other half of the elections taking place _ other half of the elections taking place tomorrow, that they're the poles _ place tomorrow, that they're the poles then five years ago, conservative and labour pretty much neck and _

conservative and labour pretty much neck and neck, so in those, even now with the _ neck and neck, so in those, even now with the narrowing of the conservative lead, we could see conservative lead, we could see conservative gains in somewhere like dudlev _ conservative gains in somewhere like dudley. there will probably be something for everybody to celebrate, but also something for everybody to be worried about. seemingly may not bring in the dramatic— seemingly may not bring in the dramatic local election gains which is the _ dramatic local election gains which is the kind — dramatic local election gains which is the kind of thing we usually ekpect— is the kind of thing we usually expect from an opposition once the government has been in office for as lon- government has been in office for as long as _ government has been in office for as long as the — government has been in office for as long as the 18 months this one has been _ long as the 18 months this one has been in _ long as the 18 months this one has been in taste— long as the 18 months this one has been in. ~ , ., , ,, , ., long as the 18 months this one has beenin. ,., ,~ , ., , been in. we should be keeping an eye on the greens — been in. we should be keeping an eye on the greens and _ been in. we should be keeping an eye on the greens and liberal— been in. we should be keeping an eye on the greens and liberal democrats i on the greens and liberal democrats as well, local government very important to those two parties because it is where they have a certain amount of power. turning to wales, national elections there, similar sort of story, the western fringe of the labour red wall that was battered in 2019, i suppose one

could say. is it possible that the labour party that has enjoyed power to varying degrees in wales, that they could be on the side even more? certainly opinion polls suggested that labour are probably going to fall back— that labour are probably going to fall back at least in terms of seats, — fall back at least in terms of seats, not necessarily in terms of votes, _ seats, not necessarily in terms of votes. not — seats, not necessarily in terms of votes, not least because back in 2016— votes, not least because back in 2016 when— votes, not least because back in 2016 when wales last voted, ukip did remarkably well. some of that vote will go _ remarkably well. some of that vote will go for — remarkably well. some of that vote will go for the abolish the welsh parliament party which looks like it will pick— parliament party which looks like it will pick up some seats in the election. _ will pick up some seats in the election, but a lot of it looks like it will— election, but a lot of it looks like it will go— election, but a lot of it looks like it will go to — election, but a lot of it looks like it will go to the conservatives and therefore — it will go to the conservatives and therefore they will do much better in this— therefore they will do much better in this election than they did back in this election than they did back in 2016 _ in this election than they did back in 2016. and the likely fallout from that is— in 2016. and the likely fallout from that is that labour, who are already starting _ that is that labour, who are already starting off— that is that labour, who are already starting off a little short of what is required for an overall majority

may end — is required for an overall majority may end up — is required for an overall majority may end up more shard for what they need for— may end up more shard for what they need for an— may end up more shard for what they need for an overall majority, but that is— need for an overall majority, but that is not— need for an overall majority, but that is not to say that power in any sense _ that is not to say that power in any sense will— that is not to say that power in any sense will go to the conservatives but rather — sense will go to the conservatives but rather labour may well find itself _ but rather labour may well find itself having to come to some accommodation with plaid cymru in order— accommodation with plaid cymru in order to _ accommodation with plaid cymru in order to form a new administration. plaid _ order to form a new administration. plaid cvmru — order to form a new administration. plaid cymru will do better in this election— plaid cymru will do better in this election than westminster election, that looks _ election than westminster election, that looks like they will come third. — that looks like they will come third, but i will be a third place which _ third, but i will be a third place which may— third, but i will be a third place which may give them some average. they will— which may give them some average. they will have to think about what they are _ they will have to think about what they are going to offer plaid cymru, not least _ they are going to offer plaid cymru, not least in — they are going to offer plaid cymru, not least in the way of pursuing the question— not least in the way of pursuing the question of— not least in the way of pursuing the question of a wales constitutional status— question of a wales constitutional status in— question of a wales constitutional status in order to get the welsh national— status in order to get the welsh national support. that status in order to get the welsh national support.— national support. that will be interesting — national support. that will be interesting indeed. _ national support. that will be interesting indeed. what- national support. that will be i interesting indeed. what about the parliament here in scotland, the snp and nicola sturgeon gunning for an overall majority that they would say would give them a mandate to push

for a second independence referendum. the greens here are also a party that is pro independence. is it looking likely that those two parties will have the pro—independence block out gunning everybody else in this parliament after the vote here? trier? everybody else in this parliament after the vote here?— everybody else in this parliament after the vote here? very much so, that has been _ after the vote here? very much so, that has been the _ after the vote here? very much so, that has been the expectation i after the vote here? very much so, that has been the expectation from�* that has been the expectation from the beginning, though much advantage by an electoral system in which the snp l00k— by an electoral system in which the snp look like they will terminate the constituencies and thereby get more _ the constituencies and thereby get more than — the constituencies and thereby get more than their proportional representation despite the fact they have the _ representation despite the fact they have the system. the greens look like they— have the system. the greens look like they are heading for a record performance and therefore they will pick up _ performance and therefore they will pick up votes. a country which is divided _ pick up votes. a country which is divided pretty much 50—50 on the question— divided pretty much 50—50 on the question of whether or not it should become _ question of whether or not it should become independent or not looks like it will be _ become independent or not looks like it will be represented at holyrood by a pretty clear pro—independence majorilv _ by a pretty clear pro—independence majority. the thing about which we are very. _ majority. the thing about which we are very, very uncertain is whether

the snp _ are very, very uncertain is whether the snp will get an overall majority on their— the snp will get an overall majority on their own and thereby repeat the thing _ on their own and thereby repeat the thing be _ on their own and thereby repeat the thing be achieved in 2011, that will pave the _ thing be achieved in 2011, that will pave the way to the 2014 independence referendum. the polls for the _ independence referendum. the polls for the most part but the snpjust below— for the most part but the snpjust below 50% on the constituency vote. that might _ below 50% on the constituency vote. that might be just enough to get them _ that might be just enough to get them to— that might be just enough to get them to the 65 mark in the constituencies alone but one poll this morning disagrees with the president says the snp has fallen back _ president says the snp has fallen back. even if the other polls are right, _ back. even if the other polls are right, the — back. even if the other polls are right, the outcome is likely to rest on literally— right, the outcome is likely to rest on literallyjust nine opposition held a — on literallyjust nine opposition held a very marginal constituencies, which _ held a very marginal constituencies, which of— held a very marginal constituencies, which of the snp are at 48 or 49, they might — which of the snp are at 48 or 49, they might get but they won't necessarily get enough of them and that extend probably will be on tenterhooks about whether they do or not tenterhooks about whether they do or hot to _ tenterhooks about whether they do or hot to get _ tenterhooks about whether they do or not to get past the overall majority from the _ not to get past the overall majority from the well, well into the count,

so well— from the well, well into the count, so well into— from the well, well into the count, so well into saturday. it from the well, well into the count, so well into saturday.— so well into saturday. it will be a while and turnout _ so well into saturday. it will be a while and turnout will _ so well into saturday. it will be a while and turnout will be - so well into saturday. it will be a while and turnout will be very - while and turnout will be very important here in scotland as well. a pleasure to talk to you as ever. thank you forjoining us. if you live in england, scotland or wales, you can find out what elections are taking place in your area, by entering your postcode into our search tool, on our website, or the bbc news app. and that is it from here in edinburgh for the moment. we will be talking to representatives of all the major parties here in scotland throughout the day, so stay with us. now back to you, joanna, in the studio. derek chauvin — the white former minneapolis police officer convicted last month of the murder of the black man george floyd — has requested a new trial. his legal team has filed court documents alleging misconduct by both prosecutors and jurors. last month, chauvin was found guilty of second and third—degree murder and manslaughter.

matt sepic is a journalist with minnesota public radio. he has more details on the request for a new trial. eric nelson, chauvin's defence attorney, filed a request today for a retrial. he is citing multiple grounds, prosecutorial misconduct among them, but he doesn't get into a lot of detail. he also mentions misconduct on the part of the jury and the fact that there was so much publicity and thatjudge peter cahill, who presided over this case, refused requests from the defence to move the case out of minneapolis because of all the pre—trial publicity. this filing today really was not a surprise. it's a prelude to an expected appeal which would happen after chauvin is sentenced onjune 25th. this is a common occurrence whenever there is a trial and verdict that

doesn't go the way of the defence. the defence will request a new trial as part of the process, and it really is an expected move on their part. british online fashion retailer boohoo has reported a 37% jump in full—year earnings, to £1716 million, benefiting from the huge growth in demand for digital shopping during the pandemic. boohoo recently added dorothy perkins, karen millen and debenhams to its portfolio of online brands. this report from nina warhurst. ah, a post lockdown pleasure. hitting the high street again to try clothes on. there's been a huge uptick in footfall, but for how long? covid has caused shopping habits to change. the mass shift to online has provided a fatal blow to so many big brands. boohoo has been there to swoop in and snap some up.

25 million for dorothy perkins, burton and wallis, 55 million for debenhams. but that is the brands only. no shops and no shop workers, meaning massive savings. but virtual sales come with their own very real costs. when people don't try on clothes and they buy poorly fitting clothes, that leads to really high rates of returns. that's very, very costly for retailers. the whole deliveries are costly. alongside that, there's going to be more investment needed. so they're going to have to, there's going to be higher costs involved, they're going to have to invest in sizing tools, which is something that there is huge demand for, online. and all of this technology, latest technology, it's actually costly. and boohoo has faced other reputational challenges. last year, it accepted legal findings pointing to the failings in working conditions, and low pay in its supply chain. it says it is working hard to fix the issues. and with tops on its website

starting at a pound, can boohoo meet the sustainability challenge? oxfam says two tonnes of clothing are bought every minute in the uk. only 10% are recycled, but do shoppers care? i do try and pay attention to who makes the clothes. i try and make sure it's sustainable and it's something that i'm going to wearfor a longer period of time. something that's not going to go in the bin, a year down the line. i'd like to think it does bother me, but we can all be honest that it does normally, it's more affordable when it does come from larger manufacturing places. however, the things i'm wearing today are from independent brands so it reallyjust depends, try and have a good balance. but fast fashion is just easy. it's not something. i really think about. when probably i should. sustainability, the conditions- of the people making the clothes, probably not going to be great. that's something probably i should look into more, . but it does come down to cost as well. - and last month, the bbc reported the same items of clothing

were being sold at different prices across boohoo brands. something they said was a genuine mistake. in the long term, investors, but most importantly, customers, will decide. ikea has launched its furniture buy—back and re—sale scheme in england, in an attempt to reduce the amount of products going to landfill. customers can earn up to £250 per returned item, which will be given to them in the form of a voucher to spend at the store. the initiative was originally meant to start in november but was postponed due to lockdown. the swedish retailer says it wants to become "climate positive" by 2030. known as "under water rainforests", coral reefs are home to around 25% of marine species. but threats such as over—fishing and rising sea temperatures mean more and more have been lying grey and lifeless. now, a pioneering initiative to try to restore them is taking place in indonesia, as our science editor david shukman reports.

it's one of the most shocking sights in the underwater world when corals die, either because they're damaged or because the sea becomes too hot for them and they turn into what looks like a graveyard. when you dive on a reef and it's just quiet and it's all monotone grey, it's desolate, it's so depressing. the solution, pioneered by professor smith, involves whole communities in indonesia. they take these metal frames, called reef stars, and fix them to the sea bed. fragments of live corals are attached to them, and the result is a revival of a habitat that many depend on. you see fish come in, you dive on it one day and you see the small fish sort of finding a hole in the reef stars amongst the corals. six months later, medium sized fish, the whole ecosystem responds when you give it this chance

of kick—starting the system. the latest reef to be helped in this way is called hope. the word is spelt out in the new corals and the aim is to apply the same technique in other areas around the world. over the years, there have been dozens of attempts to try to bring reefs back to life, some more successful than others. and they have all been on a really small scale, as with this latest initiative. so there will be questions about it. it is funded by the pet food company sheba, which uses a lot of fish in its products, so can this venture really make any kind of difference? well, scientists i've spoken to are impressed by the way that reefs that were once dead are now being revived. and because the task is so huge, they welcome funding from big—name companies. for businesses involved, dependent on fish and marine resources, to actually invest in restoring the ocean, in recovering depleted reefs, is a good thing.

obviously with business, you always have that extra filter of scrutiny. and because most corals are threatened as global temperatures continue to rise, any attempt to save even small areas will need real determination. david shukman, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carole. hello. in some parts of the north of scotland we woke up to a covering of snow. the snow level came down 250 metres overnight. although it will rise through the course of today, tonight it will be back down again. we continue with the showers across scotland, some of those wintry in the hills. showers across northern ireland, wales and south—west england. some of those could also be wintry. showers across eastern england. in between, sunshine with gusty winds and temperatures below par for the time of year. through this evening, and overnight, many showers fade but further wintry showers in scotland,

leaving as far south as the borders. a widespread frost to start the day and a bit more cloud coming in across south—west england. some rain will arrive. that rain clears quite quickly on thursday, remaining unsettled with sunshine and showers and feeling cool until the weekend when we see some wet and windy conditions coming our way. the temperature will rise. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30 million will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains.

a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections for nearly 50 years. sport, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. thank you, good morning. manchester city reaching the champions league final for the first time in their history. having gone out at the quarter final stage the last three seasons, there is a growing sense this mightjust be their year. 2—0 they beat paris saint germain last night, to progress 4—1 on agregate. ben croucher reports. city, city! manchester city fans came in hope and expectation outside the etihad stadium. not even a pre—match hail storm could dent a night of celebration. from this wintry scene, city were making the champions league final, come what may. 2—1 up from the first leg, riyad mahrez broke the ice to put his side on track for a first champions league final. a rearguard was needed to keep them in front but whatever

paris st germain sprung their way, it pinged straight back. not even neymar could break through. city's blocks were being celebrated like goals. soon, mahrez gave them another opportunity for the real thing. pace, teamwork, clinicalfinishing, the hallmarks of pep guardiola's vision in one swift counterattack. out and soon down to ten men, paris st germain's drizzly misery was compounded when former manchester united winger angel di maria's petulance got what you would expect. still, city know expectation and reality are rarely aligned. but for all their promise, all their success in the last decade, one trophy has eluded them. now, they'rejust one match away from being hailed european champions. ben croucher, bbc news. well, psg were without their star man kylian mbappe. but pep guardiola's side well worthy of their place, becoming the ninth different english club to reach the final. a far cry from their days playing in the third tier of english football 22 years ago.

the champions league, make the bigger picture what we've done the last four years. what we have done the four years is incredible in terms of the premier league, the cops, every competition we played. and reaching the final helps to understand what we have done. and we remain on course for an all—english final. chelsea will be hoping to join city in istanbul which stages the final in three weeks' time. uefa hopeful limited fans will be there. thomas tuchel�*s side level at 1—1 with real madrid ahead of the return leg at stamford bridge tonight. forget the first result, it's not as important — forget the first result, it's not as important as anybody out there thinks — important as anybody out there thinks and there is a euro importance in the preparation of a metch— importance in the preparation of a match and — importance in the preparation of a match and zero influence in the talk that we _ match and zero influence in the talk that we get— match and zero influence in the talk that we get to our players. we will encourage — that we get to our players. we will encourage them, we will demand from them and _ encourage them, we will demand from them and we will be strong with one

bil them and we will be strong with one big goal— them and we will be strong with one big goal to _ them and we will be strong with one big goal to overcome real madrid. and this _ big goal to overcome real madrid. and this will only happen if we bring — and this will only happen if we bring our— and this will only happen if we bring our best level to the pitch and the — bring our best level to the pitch and the best level means that we fi-ht and the best level means that we fight to— and the best level means that we fight to win. 8 of the 11 england players involved in the indian premier league have arrived back home their departure follows the continuing covid—19 crisis with india now the second country to register over 20 million infections. the players were on an overnight flight that landed at heathrow this morning. they'll now begin 10 days' quarantine in government—approved hotels. the three that remain are eoin morgan, chris jordan and dawid malan. they should leave india within the next 48 hours. finally, the world's oldest person, a 118—year—old japanese woman, has decided not to take part in the torch relay for the tokyo 2020 olympics. kane tanaka — seen here at a ceremony two years ago — has decided to pull out of the relay scheduled to take place in fukuoka in southern japan next week.

tanaka and her family were concerned about spreading the virus at the nursing home where she lives. japan last month declared a covid—19 state of emergency for the major population centres including tokyo and osaka to curb the resurgence of infections. what a shame for her that she won't be able to take part. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. see you then, thank you very much. politicians are spending their final day campaigning before elections take place across england, scotland and wales tomorrow. it's the biggest set of elections in nearly 50 years because of delays caused by the pandemic. ballots will be cast for the scottish and welsh parliaments, english councils, mayors and police and crime commissioners. there's also a by—election to elect a new mp for the town of hartlepool. clive myrie is at holyrood. hi. bake important elections everywhere, northern ireland is the

only area that is not having elections tomorrow. but arguably, the case could be made for the elections here to the parliament at holyrood perhaps being the most important and far—reaching in their effect longer—term if the snp get the majority that they say would give them the mandate to call for a second independence referendum. it is not important. let's talk now to douglas ross, the leader of the scottish conservatives. thank you very much for being with us. as a prounion party, i am just wondering what your appeal is to behalf of scotland that is pro—independence. why should those voters vote for you with? ~ ., why should those voters vote for you with? ~ . , ., , why should those voters vote for you with? ~ . , .,, ., ._ with? with all people who may su ort with? with all people who may support scottish _ with? with all people who may support scottish independent i with? with all people who may i support scottish independent do with? with all people who may - support scottish independent do not support— support scottish independent do not support nicola sturgeon's timescale to have _ support nicola sturgeon's timescale to have another divisive check in

the next — to have another divisive check in the next couple of years when we should _ the next couple of years when we should all— the next couple of years when we should all be focused on rebuilding scotland. — should all be focused on rebuilding scotland, getting to the pandemic together— scotland, getting to the pandemic together and continuing to be united in a recovery. nicola sturgeon wants to put _ in a recovery. nicola sturgeon wants to put all— in a recovery. nicola sturgeon wants to put all that risk in the snp, they— to put all that risk in the snp, they would wreck the recovery by going _ they would wreck the recovery by going for— they would wreck the recovery by going for another referendum. that is what _ going for another referendum. that is what is _ going for another referendum. that is what is so — going for another referendum. that is what is so important before pulling — is what is so important before pulling stages of the tomorrow that people _ pulling stages of the tomorrow that people could see the conservatives are the _ people could see the conservatives are the best place to stop that party, — are the best place to stop that party, stop the referendum, and they can support _ party, stop the referendum, and they can support us on the ballot list paper— can support us on the ballot list paper to — can support us on the ballot list paper to do that. stop the referendum, get the focus on the recovery — referendum, get the focus on the recovery i— referendum, get the focus on the recove . ., ., ., ~ referendum, get the focus on the recove . ., ., recovery. i have looked at your manifesto _ recovery. i have looked at your manifesto and _ recovery. i have looked at your manifesto and i've _ recovery. i have looked at your manifesto and i've looked - recovery. i have looked at your manifesto and i've looked at i recovery. i have looked at your manifesto and i've looked at a| recovery. i have looked at your i manifesto and i've looked at a lot of the interviews that you have given throughout the campaign and it essentially feels as if it is negative. you talk a lot about the problems of independence and not the positivity of unionism. is that an unfair characterisation? it feels that way. unfair characterisation? it feels that wa . ., ~'

unfair characterisation? it feels that wa . ., ,, , , that way. no, i think it is very unfair because _ that way. no, i think it is very unfair because it _ that way. no, i think it is very unfair because it clearly - that way. no, i think it is very unfair because it clearly the i unfair because it clearly the positive _ unfair because it clearly the positive case for the union is the further— positive case for the union is the further scheme, the income support that is— further scheme, the income support that is protected more than a million — that is protected more than a millionjobs in scotland that is protected more than a million jobs in scotland at the height— million jobs in scotland at the height of the pandemic, the world leading _ height of the pandemic, the world leading vaccination scheme. this is here in— leading vaccination scheme. this is here in scotland delivered by our nhs staff, volunteers, armed forces, we have _ nhs staff, volunteers, armed forces, we have 28 _ nhs staff, volunteers, armed forces, we have 2.8 million people getting at least _ we have 2.8 million people getting at least one dose of vaccine here in scotland _ at least one dose of vaccine here in scotland because of the success of the united kingdom vaccination scheme~ — the united kingdom vaccination scheme. and in terms of her own manifesto, — scheme. and in terms of her own manifesto, there is real positive commitments and nurture increasing the number— commitments and nurture increasing the number of teachers in broadband roll-out _ the number of teachers in broadband roll-out for _ the number of teachers in broadband roll—out for every business and property — roll—out for every business and property in— roll—out for every business and property in scotland by 2027, investing _ property in scotland by 2027, investing in a crucial house—building projects. these are all things— house—building projects. these are all things that we can do to help us recover— all things that we can do to help us recover from this pandemic if we can .et recover from this pandemic if we can get rid _ recover from this pandemic if we can get rid of— recover from this pandemic if we can get rid of the thought of another referendum. the get rid of the thought of another referendum.— referendum. the independence, pro-independence _ referendum. the independence, pro-independence lobby - referendum. the independence, pro-independence lobby would l referendum. the independence, i pro-independence lobby would say pro—independence lobby would say that unionism is also the brexit vote, that half of the country did not, in fact,

vote, that half of the country did not, infact, 64% vote, that half of the country did not, in fact, 64% of this country did not want. a fishing industry that has now been smashed as a result of brexit, exporters here in scotland having the nightmare of paperwork and increased bureaucracy, and frankly, according to the independence a lot, prime minister thatis independence a lot, prime minister that is universally loathed on the side of the border. that is what they were .2 unionism being about. what the independent supporters can answer— what the independent supporters can answer is _ what the independent supporters can answer is what currency we would have _ answer is what currency we would have if— answer is what currency we would have if we — answer is what currency we would have if we are ever to separate scotland — have if we are ever to separate scotland from the uk, what it would mean _ scotland from the uk, what it would mean for _ scotland from the uk, what it would mean for hard border between the scotland _ mean for hard border between the scotland and england and the rest of the united kingdom, because we know that rockland to 60% of its trade with the — that rockland to 60% of its trade with the united kingdom, but the snp will put _ with the united kingdom, but the snp will put that all under threat by putting — will put that all under threat by putting a — will put that all under threat by putting a hard border between —— scotland — putting a hard border between —— scotland does 60% of his trade with the united kingdom, it would not create _ the united kingdom, it would not create jobs, that is rubbish. it would — create jobs, that is rubbish. it would be _ create jobs, that is rubbish. it would be so damaging for scott and's businesses _ would be so damaging for scott and's businesses and economy and the jobs of robionek~ _

businesses and economy and the jobs of robionek. —— the jobs that rely on that — of robionek. -- the 'obs that rely on that. ., �* , of robionek. -- the 'obs that rely on that. ., h , of robionek. -- the 'obs that rely onthat. ., �*, , , of robionek. -- the 'obs that rely onthat. ., h , on that. how's it been boris johnson here competing _ on that. how's it been boris johnson here competing on _ on that. how's it been boris johnson here competing on behalf— on that. how's it been boris johnson here competing on behalf of- on that. how's it been boris johnson here competing on behalf of your i here competing on behalf of your party? he here competing on behalf of your .a ? ., , , here competing on behalf of your -a ? ., , , , here competing on behalf of your .a ? ., , , , ., here competing on behalf of your .a ? , here competing on behalf of your party? he has been up a couple of time since — party? he has been up a couple of time since he _ party? he has been up a couple of time since he has _ party? he has been up a couple of time since he has been _ party? he has been up a couple of time since he has been prime - time since he has been prime minister. _ time since he has been prime minister, but he has not been up in the selection. —— in this election. he has— the selection. —— in this election. he has not— the selection. —— in this election. he has not been up during the election— he has not been up during the election because he is not on the ballot _ election because he is not on the ballot paper. it is my name on the ballot _ ballot paper. it is my name on the ballot paper. it is my name on the ballot paper in the highlands and islands _ ballot paper in the highlands and islands across scotland, is our manifesto _ islands across scotland, is our manifesto that you look through, i outlined _ manifesto that you look through, i outlined a — manifesto that you look through, i outlined a positive vision we have for scotland with that and it is the scottish— for scotland with that and it is the scottish conservatives by getting support — scottish conservatives by getting support from people who may not normally— support from people who may not normally support them that may stop the snp _ normally support them that may stop the snp majority, stop the second from referendum and make sure that our country— from referendum and make sure that our country gets fully focused on the recovery from the pandemic. douglas— the recovery from the pandemic. douglas ross, leader of the scottish conservatives, thank you forjoining us here on bbc news.

let's speak now to the journalist and broadcaster ruth wishart. i'd like to put a similar question, because i think your ended —— independent supporter, why should people around the country, around about 50% who believe in the union, vote for the snp? i about 50% who believe in the union, vote for the snp?— vote for the snp? i don't think it is as simple _ vote for the snp? i don't think it is as simple as _ vote for the snp? i don't think it is as simple as you _ vote for the snp? i don't think it is as simple as you are - vote for the snp? i don't think it i is as simple as you are suggesting without— is as simple as you are suggesting without arithmetic, there have been poles _ without arithmetic, there have been poles back— without arithmetic, there have been poles back and forth over the independence question, as you know, since _ independence question, as you know, since the _ independence question, as you know, since the last referendum in 2014. the latest — since the last referendum in 2014. the latest one this morning, the one this morning — the latest one this morning, the one this morning shows that the vote for independence is still higher than it was in _ independence is still higher than it was in the — independence is still higher than it was in the referendum, which was lost in _ was in the referendum, which was lost in 2014, so it has been going steady~ _ lost in 2014, so it has been going steady. but the snp government is more _ steady. but the snp government is more than — steady. but the snp government is more than about for independence, over the _ more than about for independence, over the last number of years, there been _ over the last number of years, there been the _ over the last number of years, there been the only party that has been...

is interesting,... r hybrid system. ifyou _ is interesting,... r hybrid system. ifyou are — is interesting,... r hybrid system. if you are only asking people to vote _ if you are only asking people to vote for— if you are only asking people to vote for you in that, it means that your— vote for you in that, it means that your thorn — vote for you in that, it means that your thorn in _ vote for you in that, it means that your thorn in the towel about getting — your thorn in the towel about getting one mpn msp, and that doesn't — getting one mpn msp, and that doesn't sound like a high level of ambition — doesn't sound like a high level of ambition l— doesn't sound like a high level of ambition. . . . . doesn't sound like a high level of ambition. . , . . ., ambition. i was chatting to the co-leader _ ambition. i was chatting to the co-leader of _ ambition. i was chatting to the co-leader of the _ ambition. i was chatting to the co-leader of the greens - ambition. i was chatting to the i co-leader of the greens earlier, ambition. i was chatting to the - co-leader of the greens earlier, and co—leader of the greens earlier, and he did not seem to rule out the possibility of a fairly substantial linkage, even coalition, with the snp as far as that is concerned. and cementing a pro—independence majority after the selection. what do you make of that with smac while, i think the greens are going to be —— what do you make of that? i i think the greens are going to be -- what do you make of that? i think the greens — -- what do you make of that? i think the greens are _ -- what do you make of that? i think the greens are to _ -- what do you make of that? i think the greens are to be _ -- what do you make of that? i think the greens are to be winners - -- what do you make of that? i think the greens are to be winners in - -- what do you make of that? i think the greens are to be winners in this. the greens are to be winners in this election _ the greens are to be winners in this election. one poll this morning suggested they might get as many as 13 states, _

suggested they might get as many as 13 states, which is more to then twice _ 13 states, which is more to then twice what— 13 states, which is more to then twice what they have at the moment. ithink— twice what they have at the moment. i think that _ twice what they have at the moment. i think that part of their attraction is because there are pro—independence, but also in an era where _ pro—independence, but also in an era where climate change is such a major factor _ where climate change is such a major factor with _ where climate change is such a major factor with all of us. i think a lot of people — factor with all of us. i think a lot of people are giving the greens their— of people are giving the greens their second vote instead of snp voting _ their second vote instead of snp voting for— their second vote instead of snp voting for them, i think that will fall on— voting for them, i think that will fall on a — voting for them, i think that will fall on a lot of deaf ears because in some — fall on a lot of deaf ears because in some areas in scotland, voting for the _ in some areas in scotland, voting for the snp on the list is not going to get— for the snp on the list is not going to get you — for the snp on the list is not going to get you and snp msp, it will get you a _ to get you and snp msp, it will get you a unionist one. so the greens are the _ you a unionist one. so the greens are the pro—independence party in the mix. _ are the pro—independence party in the mix, think they have quite a lot to gain _ the mix, think they have quite a lot to gain in _ the mix, think they have quite a lot to gain in this election.— to gain in this election. indeed. what would _ to gain in this election. indeed. what would your _ to gain in this election. indeed. what would your message - to gain in this election. indeed. what would your message be i to gain in this election. indeed. | what would your message be to to gain in this election. indeed. - what would your message be to those what would your message he to those voters who, who like nicola sturgeon, who believes she has done a good job of dealing with the pandemic, they like the fire in her belly, i suppose. pandemic, they like the fire in her belly, isuppose. but pandemic, they like the fire in her belly, i suppose. but they don't like independence. what would you say to those voters who are

wondering which way to go? i think nicola sturgeon _ wondering which way to go? i think nicola sturgeon has _ wondering which way to go? i think nicola sturgeon has made - wondering which way to go? i think nicola sturgeon has made a - wondering which way to go? i think nicola sturgeon has made a very i nicola sturgeon has made a very clear. _ nicola sturgeon has made a very clear. and — nicola sturgeon has made a very clear, and she made it very clear on bbc last— clear, and she made it very clear on bbc last night, admit it very clear that in— bbc last night, admit it very clear that in the — bbc last night, admit it very clear that in the short—term and probably in the _ that in the short—term and probably in the medium—term, she's not in the market— in the medium—term, she's not in the market for— in the medium—term, she's not in the market for an — in the medium—term, she's not in the market for an independence referendum, she is fully focused on trying _ referendum, she is fully focused on trying to— referendum, she is fully focused on trying to steer scotland through what _ trying to steer scotland through what we — trying to steer scotland through what we hope to be the last vestiges of the _ what we hope to be the last vestiges of the pandemic. and i think a lot of the pandemic. and i think a lot of voters — of the pandemic. and i think a lot of voters respond to that, and to be honest— of voters respond to that, and to be honest with — of voters respond to that, and to be honest with you, i notice you mention— honest with you, i notice you mention borisjohnson's honest with you, i notice you mention boris johnson's vanishing trick in— mention boris johnson's vanishing trick in scotland. boris johnson mention boris johnson's vanishing trick in scotland. borisjohnson is toxic— trick in scotland. borisjohnson is toxic in _ trick in scotland. borisjohnson is toxic in scotland, and what are the comparisons most made by the electorate in scotland is a comparison between nicola sturgeon leading _ comparison between nicola sturgeon leading scotland to the pandemic and borisjohnson waving so leading scotland to the pandemic and boris johnson waving so often as we have seen — boris johnson waving so often as we have seen. so i think a lot of people — have seen. so i think a lot of people will apply their trust to nicola — people will apply their trust to nicola in— people will apply their trust to nicola in the selection because of how she — nicola in the selection because of how she has performed as a party leader. _ how she has performed as a party leader. and — how she has performed as a party leader, and because in all honesty they cannot see any of the other parties _ they cannot see any of the other

parties able at this moment to form ministration. though having said all of that, _ ministration. though having said all of that, i_ ministration. though having said all of that, i think one of the other winners — of that, i think one of the other winners in _ of that, i think one of the other winners in this campaign has been the new— winners in this campaign has been the new labour leader. ithink winners in this campaign has been the new labour leader. i think he winners in this campaign has been the new labour leader. ithink he is one a _ the new labour leader. ithink he is one a lot _ the new labour leader. ithink he is one a lot of— the new labour leader. ithink he is one a lot of friends by the way he has composed himself, comported himself— has composed himself, comported himself during the campaign, but it doesn't _ himself during the campaign, but it doesn't seem to have made a huge impact _ doesn't seem to have made a huge impact on — doesn't seem to have made a huge impact on the labour vote. and part of that— impact on the labour vote. and part of that is— impact on the labour vote. and part of that is because it's with a natural— of that is because it's with a natural leader voters aren't independence and they switch to the snp. independence and they switch to the snp -- _ independence and they switch to the snp -- are — independence and they switch to the snp. —— are in favour of independence. snp. -- are in favour of independence.- snp. -- are in favour of independence. snp. -- are in favour of indeendence. . . ~' , . ,, snp. -- are in favour of indeendence. , , ., independence. this takes me back to the beginning — independence. this takes me back to the beginning of— independence. this takes me back to the beginning of our— independence. this takes me back to the beginning of our conversation, i the beginning of our conversation, if there is a coalition with the greens and the greens want to put forward a motion calling for nicola sturgeon to pick up the phone to borisjohnson and say, now is the time, i want to referendum now. and nicola sturgeon is sort of, well, we need to hold back on this, patrick harvie and the greens, we need to give it a couple of years or so. should the snp then vote against that kind of motion if you want to

come forward? to that kind of motion if you want to come forward?— that kind of motion if you want to come forward? ., _ . ,., . ., come forward? to say about that, one is that i do rrot — come forward? to say about that, one is that i do not think _ come forward? to say about that, one is that i do not think that _ come forward? to say about that, one is that i do not think that if _ come forward? to say about that, one is that i do not think that if the - is that i do not think that if the results — is that i do not think that if the results are _ is that i do not think that if the results are as simple as suggesting, do not _ results are as simple as suggesting, do not think, to be frank, that the snp need — do not think, to be frank, that the snp need the support of the greens in order— snp need the support of the greens in order to _ snp need the support of the greens in order to have a majority in parliament. the prediction this morning — parliament. the prediction this morning varied between 68 seeds and 67 seats _ morning varied between 68 seeds and 67 seats in _ morning varied between 68 seeds and 67 seats in the latest polls, and you need — 67 seats in the latest polls, and you need 6520 majority. neither do i think they're in the market for informal— think they're in the market for informal coalition and neither do i think— informal coalition and neither do i think the — informal coalition and neither do i think the greens are in the market for saying — think the greens are in the market for saying pick up the phone to boris — for saying pick up the phone to boris the _ for saying pick up the phone to boris. the only party suggesting that negotiation should start the morning — that negotiation should start the morning of the elections are the alba _ morning of the elections are the alba party, and at the moment, we do not know— alba party, and at the moment, we do not know whether any of their candidates will be returned. all ri-hts, candidates will be returned. rights, risk, candidates will be returned. fill rights, risk, good to talk to you. thank you very much indeed for joining us. and the prime minister has been warning against a second scottish referendum vote. borisjohnson was speaking on a visit to stourbridge in the english midlands.

well, let's wait and see what actually happens, but i think that most people in scotland, most people around the whole of the uk, feel that this is not the time, as we are coming forward out of the pandemic together, this is not the time to have a reckless and i think irresponsible second referendum. we had one only a few years ago, i think what most people want is to focus on the country and taking it forward and rebuilding our economy, getting people into work. that seems to me to be the priority for the country. borisjohnson boris johnson speaking a borisjohnson speaking a little earlier there with his views. this is the last day of campaigning here in scotland, that is the same for the welsh senate and all the council

seats, the police and crime commissioners, the hartlepool by election as well. so a lot is happening tomorrow, now back to you joanna. in september, we brought you the story of 19—year—old jake ogborne, who was campaigning to be given access to the drug spinraza for treatment of the rare muscle—wasting disease, spinal muscular atrophy. he, and many others, originally understood they would get the life—changing drug which had been approved for use in the uk, but they were then told they weren't eligible. we can speak to jake in a moment, but first, let's hear him and his mum speaking last year. it's just, the main thing that gets to me the most is as i have seen my friends grow and become more independent and turn into adults, pretty much, i've become less independent and less like an adult and needed more help with things. i haven't been able

to get out as much. as a mother, to see the decline in your own child is horrendous. the last two and a half years since he has come off his feet has hit him so badly and so quickly. he needs it, yeah. he's running out of time. it's just... it's heavy and it kind of destroys me because i see my friends growing up and i want to do those things, i want to live like they do, but i've been given this life, so ijust got to try and do my best with what i've got. that's what i can do, really. i'm happy to be able to tell you this. after a 6 month review, nice, the organisation in charge of managing access, has now revised their criteria and announced that patients like jake will now qualify. we can talk to jake now. it's heartbreaking to see how you were feeling back then when you had

the prospect of the drug taken away from you. how are you feeling now? amazing, really, it's long overdue, but better late than never. in other news has finally come, it's just amazing and myself and my family and all my friends are so pleased. what all my friends are so pleased. what are the practicalities _ all my friends are so pleased. what are the practicalities of— all my friends are so pleased. what are the practicalities of this? when can you start? we are the practicalities of this? when can you start?— can you start? we are still unsure not, we can you start? we are still unsure not. we are _ can you start? we are still unsure not, we are onto _ can you start? we are still unsure not, we are onto my _ can you start? we are still unsure not, we are onto my consultant i not, we are onto my consultant already, we are yet to find out. we're not sure when he will be able to do it, but it will be soon. find to do it, but it will be soon. and what difference _ to do it, but it will be soon. and what difference do you think it will make to your life? fist what difference do you think it will make to your life?— make to your life? at the very least, make to your life? at the very least. it's _ make to your life? at the very least, it's going _ make to your life? at the very least, it's going to _ make to your life? at the very least, it's going to stop - make to your life? at the very least, it's going to stop me i make to your life? at the very i least, it's going to stop me from getting even worse with my disability, i get worse every time, so it willjust hope that, which will be amazing to know where i am in my physical ability. and with work and stretches and physio—, should be able to get some strength

back, which isjust incredible. where are you now in terms of the impact of spinal muscular atrophy on your daily life?— your daily life? well, previously i used to be _ your daily life? well, previously i used to be able _ your daily life? well, previously i used to be able to _ your daily life? well, previously i used to be able to walk- your daily life? well, previously i used to be able to walk and - your daily life? well, previously i used to be able to walk and do i your daily life? well, previously i i used to be able to walk and do most things myself, pretty much everything myself, and now it's down to sitting up in bed and eating my food, and now i have a powered wheelchair, getting changed is hard, getting socks on his heart, swallowing, coughing, it's taken a real toll on my life and my independence. but the drug has come just—in—time. find independence. but the drug has come just-in-time-— just-in-time. and since september, when he went _ just-in-time. and since september, when he went on _ just-in-time. and since september, when he went on that _ just-in-time. and since september, when he went on that roller - just-in-time. and since september, | when he went on that roller coaster, have you deteriorated in that period? have you deteriorated in that eriod? . . , period? yes, i have definitely rotten period? yes, i have definitely gotten weaker, _ period? yes, i have definitely gotten weaker, i _ period? yes, i have definitely gotten weaker, i felt - period? yes, i have definitely gotten weaker, i felt my - period? yes, i have definitelyj gotten weaker, i felt my hand strength, finger dexterity has gone

over the last six months as they have been doing this sort of decision. and just energy levels, relief, as i get less muscle, this energy. so things like that. how hard it hit you _ energy. so things like that. how hard it hit you when _ energy. so things like that. how hard it hit you when you were told you could not get it? because you had been campaigning to have access to that drug for so long and when you thought you were going to get it back then, there were celebrations. yeah, so when we were first told 18 months ago that i would get it, we were so happy then that we had a party to celebrate. looking back now, i can see the humour of this, we were also happy, yes, this is going to be so great, and two weeks later, we werejust going to be so great, and two weeks later, we were just punched in the face with this taking back that thing that they have said about spinraza. it was very painful, but we are here now, which is the main

thing. we are here now, which is the main thin. �* ., , we are here now, which is the main thin. . ., , i. we are here now, which is the main thin. �* ., , �* , thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in — thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in that _ thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in that clip _ thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in that clip and _ thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in that clip and it _ thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in that clip and it has - we saw her in that clip and it has obviously been tough for her also. yeah, she is so happy, so, so happy. she was crying so much, just so overwhelmed. hasn't really stopped smiling, it's amazing. we are also happy. in smiling, it's amazing. we are also ha - . smiling, it's amazing. we are also ha . _ . , smiling, it's amazing. we are also ha . . _ . , ., smiling, it's amazing. we are also ha-- . . , . , happy. in the clip that we played, ou are happy. in the clip that we played, you are talking — happy. in the clip that we played, you are talking so _ happy. in the clip that we played, you are talking so movingly - happy. in the clip that we played, j you are talking so movingly about the difficulty for you of seeing your friends develop on a different path from you. how do you see that now, now that you do have the prospect of getting this drug and hope that that can give you? edger hope that that can give you? over the last year. _ hope that that can give you? over the last year, since _ hope that that can give you? over the last year, since i— hope that that can give you? over the last year, since i was - hope that that can give you? or the last year, since i was last talking on in that clip, i have realised that i have my own path, i don't have to go in their path, don't have to go in their path, don't have to do the things they do. i have these genetics for reason and i've got to live the life that i want to live and suffering from the

disease has allowed me to come to terms of that and realise that. so i am not really too worried about that, as much as i was back in that clip. that, as much as i was back in that cli . _ . ., that, as much as i was back in that cli -. ~ . . that, as much as i was back in that cli. ~ . , , ., that, as much as i was back in that cli.~ . , . that, as much as i was back in that clip. what is the life you want to live? what _ clip. what is the life you want to live? what do _ clip. what is the life you want to live? what do you _ clip. what is the life you want to live? what do you want - clip. what is the life you want to live? what do you want to - clip. what is the life you want to live? what do you want to do? i | clip. what is the life you want to - live? what do you want to do? i want to live a life — live? what do you want to do? i want to live a life in _ live? what do you want to do? i want to live a life in touch _ live? what do you want to do? i want to live a life in touch with _ live? what do you want to do? i want to live a life in touch with nature - to live a life in touch with nature and thinking about the universe, hopefully. that is a life i want to live. . ., ., hopefully. that is a life i want to live. ,., ., i. live. good, well you will get it. thank you _ live. good, well you will get it. thank you very _ live. good, well you will get it. thank you very much, - live. good, well you will get it. thank you very much, jake. i live. good, well you will get it. i thank you very much, jake. thank ou. now it's time for a look at the weather with carole. hello again. today we are looking at a mixture of sunshine and showers. some of the showers will be heavy and thundery with hail, and wintry on the tops of the hills and mountains. the low pressure system that brought all of this inclement weather has moved away to the near continent, but the wind around it is still coming from a chilly direction, the north or north—west. you can see that quite nicely indicated by all the blues

moving across the uk, that's know i was talking about came down to 150 metres in scotland this morning. and although that will rise throughout the day, it will come back down again tonight. we've got further showers across northern ireland, wales, south—west england, moving eastwards through the day. some of those heavy and thundery with hail mixed in and some showers coming in across eastern england. gusty winds around the showers, but generally the winds are lighter than yesterday. temperatures still below average for the time of year. this evening, many of the showers, but not all of them, will fade. more will come in across scotland, getting far south with a wintry flavour, potentially in the borders, down to about 150 metres. cold night, potentially cooler than last night with a widespread frost. still with the showers coming in across the north, we've also got a system moving across the english channel bringing in more cloud and some rain.

in between, a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine around. light winds with temperatures eight in aberdeen, ten in liverpool and 12 in cardiff. on friday, high—pressure moving across us. things are quieter, a frosty start of the day with some showers as we go through the day. lighter winds, temperatures are still below par, maybe not feeling quite as bad. as we move into the weekend, temperatures rise. we've got a change in wind direction as the area of low pressure moves in from the atlantic bringing wet and windy conditions. look at the effect it has on the temperature. pushing across much of the uk, not quite making it up into the northern isles. looking at that, a few places across the country, you can see we've got rain on the way with a few showers and temperatures rising.

this is bbc news. the headlines... g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30 million will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections for nearly 50 years. and coming up.... a pioneering initiative in indonesia to try to restore life and colour to coral reefs.

the indian foreign minister has confirmed that its delegation at the meeting of the g7 group here in london is self—isolating after two members tested positive for covid—19. the news comes on the day the pandemic is being discussed at the meeting — with the focus on the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines. there's growing pressure to share stockpiles and know—how with poor nations trailing far behind in fighting the pandemic. the world trade organization is also meeting to look at one solution — waiving vaccine patent rights. courtney bembridge has the details. are wealthy nations doing enough to help poorer countries tackle covid—19? that's the question being put to g7 foreign ministers, who are meeting to ensure new ways to ensure fairer access to vaccine stockpiles.

the g7 countries are the world's economic and political leaders. they're also home to many of the world's vaccine produces. we will only solve the vaccine crisis with the leadership of these countries. six months into the global vaccine roll—out, and only 0.3% of the doses administered around the world have gone to people in low income countries. contrast that with the figures we're hearing from the us. our goal byjuly 4th is to have 70% of adult americans with at least one shot, and 160 million americans fully vaccinated. that means giving close to 100 million shots, some first shots, others second shots, over the next 60 days. in india, where coronavirus infections are spiralling out of control, less than 10% of the population has had theirfirstjab. it doesn't make moral

sense for the majorityj of people to be in the queue, dying, waiting for a vaccine. i but, worse still, newi variants keep coming. the longer the virus remains anywhere in the world, - the more variants come that i are resistant to the technology which exists, and then- we are back to where we were. winnie byanyima founded the people's vaccine, a campaign to remove patent restrictions on covid—19 vaccines and medicines to allow more countries to manufacture doses. the world health organization supports the plan, along with 100 countries, led by south africa and india, that are petitioning the world trade organization to waive protections on intellectual property. the eu and uk say they'll oppose the move. critics say the proposal wouldn't solve supply chain delays. take pfizer's jab, for example. the company says it needs 280 components from 86 suppliers in 19 countries.

so, even if you waive the patent, it would take months, if not years, to replicate pfizer's complex supply chain. it may actually disincentivise any commercial entity from getting involved in vaccines. as much as we love them or loathe them, the commercial entities have the professional resources to get a vaccine into final use. the top coronavirus adviser in the us, dr anthony fauci, has warned the plan risks of backfiring if it leads to long, legal disputes. the biden administration is expected to set out its position at a world trade organization meeting on wednesday. courtney bembridge, bbc news. let's get more on those two coronavirus cases in the indian delegation. our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, gave us this update. we think only two members of the delegation, the indian delegation had so far tested positive, they do not include the foreign minister himself.

clearly this is going to cause a number of concerns. we are told the indian delegation as a whole has not yet held meetings in this g7 gathering, although the prime —— foreign minister himself has had a number of face—to—face meetings including with dominic raab and priti patel and the us secretary of state. people will wonder, here is a delegation coming from a country on the red list in the midst of an absolutely uncontrolled outbreak of the virus — what if any measures were taken to ensure they were safe when they arrived here and what measures have been taken since their arrival? the hosts, the british government has made some play of the precautions being taken in this g7 gathering,

the perspex screens in between delegation members, the regular testing and so far, but clearly given this a face—to—face meeting of g7 leaders in cornwall, this is not good news for anybody. it is tricky, it seemed the right thing for india to be there, they could have done it virtually but because of what is happening in india with covid and the fact they are talking particularly today about what can be done around vaccine distribution. the timing could not be worse and the indian delegation as you heard previously are coming here with a case to make for greater vaccine availability around the world to tackle what some have seen as a very inequitable arrangement at the moment, what gordon brown has described as vaccine apartheid in making his case for bolder action by the international community and for that delegation to be

subjected to these self—isolation right at the moment they have to press their case, that is not helpful for them or the meeting altogether. millions of voters in england, scotland and wales are preparing to head to the polls tomorrow, for the biggest set of elections in nearly 50 years. many have been postponed from last year, due to the pandemic. on the final day of campaigning, let's take a look at what's at stake. in england, 4650 council seats are being contested across 143 local authorities. 13 directly elected mayors are being sought, including in the capital, where 25 seats are also up for grabs in the london assembly. elsewhere, all eyes will be on hartlepool where there's also a parliamentary by—election to choose a new mp for the town. meanwhile, voters in scotland will elect 129 members of the scottish parliament. 60 members of the senedd will be elected by voters in wales. people there will also have the chance to select new police

and crime commissioners. a total of 39 will be elected across england and wales. my colleague clive myrie is in holyrood, following developments on the final day of campaigning. a final day, perhaps, for voters to make... the campaigns, rather, to make their pitches to the public. door knocking, pressing the flesh, obviously it's been curtailed a little bit by the covid pandemic. we had the scottish leaders debate last night. lots of sparks, but no clear winner. and all eyes were naturally on the snp leader nicola sturgeon. can her party win a clear majority, giving them what they say will be a mandate to call for a second independence referendum? but of course there are elections right across the rest of britain. there are no votes only in northern ireland. let's talk to a man who knows all about this — way more than i could ever! professor sirjohn curtice, professor of politics at the university of strathclyde.

it is good to see you as ever. let's start with the picture in england. i suspect, perhaps, it is all about consolidation? is it about the conservatives consolidating those gains they made back in 2019 in those labour heartlands, particularly in the north, that breaching of the red wall? it is possible for them in these elections to consolidate those gains and turn them into local power? that is certainly part of what we are looking out for. it perhaps will be exemplified by the hartlepool by—election, which is taking place in the most pro—leave constituency in the country and the constituency with the largest brexit party vote. we have to bear in mind that because the local elections in england, the seats up for grabs, were last fought over in 2016, before the eu referendum, or in 2017, relatively early in the brexit process. these elections took place before much of the fairly substantial change in the character of support

for conservative and labour, including above all the ability of the conservative party to do well amongst leave voters and thus withing red wall seats. so we are certainly expecting for some of that, it should simply work its way through into the local election scene. it will not tell us anything new necessarily about the strength of the parties, but it will certainly make it difficult for labour to demonstrate they are recovering in these kinds of areas, because even frankly, if they were to do a little bit better amongst leave voters than they did in december 2019, they could still, as compared to 2016 and 2017, be losing ground in particular in leave—voting areas. is this basically a rearguard action by the labour party? are they on the front foot anywhere in england? these are a set of local elections which for the most part see labour more on the back foot than on the front foot, though perhaps not as much

on the back foot as looked likely as little as ten days ago. taking for example the position in the national polls, we're now looking on average — and there is some disagreement about the polls on the exact figure — we are looking at the tories being about five points ahead of labour in the national polls. now, just ten days ago, that was more like eight or nine. we have to compare that five—point lead with the position in the 2016 and the 2017 elections. as compared with the 2017 election, when not long after theresa may called the 2017 election, labour were 20 points behind in the polls, so in those county councils which are up for grabs, labour may now, given their recent improvement in the polls, may start making gains. somewhere like derbyshire might fall to them. but equally however, if we look at the position in 2016 in the other half of the elections

that are taking place tomorrow, there, the polls then five years ago, conservative and labour, pretty much neck and neck, so in those, even now with the narrowing of the conservative lead, we could still see conservative gains and somewhere like dudley might go to the conservatives. there will probably be something for everybody to celebrate, but also something for everybody to be worried about. certainly it may not bring in the dramatic— certainly it may not bring in the dramatic local election gains which is the _ dramatic local election gains which is the kind — dramatic local election gains which is the kind of thing we usually expect— is the kind of thing we usually expect from an opposition once a government has been enough as far as lon- government has been enough as far as long as _ government has been enough as far as long as the _ government has been enough as far as long as the 18 months this government has been in. professor sirjohn curtice, professor of politics at the university of strathclyde speaking to my colleague clive myrie. there will be more on the elections

taking place in england, wales and scotland throughout the day. and you can find out what elections are taking place in your area, by entering your postcode into our search tool, on our website, or the bbc news app. and just a round—up of the figures released by the office for national statistics. the number of coronavirus deaths in the uk has reached its lowest level since last september. of the 11,349 deaths registered in the uk in the week to 13 april, 290 of these deaths involved coronavirus, 112 fewer than in the previous week, and the lowest since last september. another set of figures released by the ons also show the impact of the pandemic on depression and mental health. around one in five adults experienced some form of depression during the second peak of coronavirus in early 2021. this is up from november 2020 — when 19% experienced depressive symptoms and double that seen before the pandemic when it was 10%.

you're watching bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30 million will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. with manchester sitting booking their place in the champions league final, _ their place in the champions league final, it _ their place in the champions league final, it has— their place in the champions league final, it has been confirmed to host a final— final, it has been confirmed to host a final in— final, it has been confirmed to host a final in istanbul and expected a limited _ a final in istanbul and expected a limited number of fans to be admitted into the stadium to watch. they have _

admitted into the stadium to watch. they have been assured the temporary lockdown in turkey in fast until the 20 17th of may lockdown in turkey in fast until the 2017th of may should not lockdown in turkey in fast until the 20 17th of may should not have lockdown in turkey in fast until the 2017th of may should not have an impact on the game. we remain on course for an all england final. they will be hoping tojoin they will face to join they will face at stamford with the semifinal evenly poised at 1-1. ., , , , 1-1. forget the first result. it is not as important _ 1-1. forget the first result. it is not as important as _ 1-1. forget the first result. it is not as important as anybody i 1-1. forget the first result. it is| not as important as anybody out there thinks and there is zero importance in the preparation of a match, zero influence in the park we give to players. we will encourage them and demand them and we will be strong with one big goal to overcome the real madrid and this will only happen if we bring our best level to the pitch and the best level means that we fight to win. eight the pitch and the best level means that we fight to win.— that we fight to win. eight of the 11 encland that we fight to win. eight of the 11 england players _ that we fight to win. eight of the 11 england players involved - that we fight to win. eight of the 11 england players involved in i that we fight to win. eight of the | 11 england players involved in the indian premier league have arrived

back home, their departure following the continuing covid—19 crisis with india, now the second country to register millions of infections. they arrived at heathrow this morning and will begin ten days quarantine in hotels. the three that remain are eoin morgan, chrisjordan and another. they should leave india within the next 48 hours. last year spectators around the world held their breath as the formula 1 car driven by roman growerjohn burst into flames. remarkably he was pulled to safety and only suffered burns from his hands. he has been given the keys to lewis hamilton's car to ensure his final memory on an f1 track is a positive one. we spoke earlier to him this morning and asked him what triggered his survival instinct. it asked him what triggered his survival instinct.— asked him what triggered his survival instinct. it was my kids. i couldn't imagine _ survival instinct. it was my kids. i couldn't imagine growing - survival instinct. it was my kids. i couldn't imagine growing up, - survival instinct. it was my kids. i | couldn't imagine growing up, then growing up without a dad and that is

what gave me that last impulse to jump what gave me that last impulse to jump out of the car when i thought it was all over because i tried two escape many times and i was stuck in there and then i that it was going to be the end, that are thinking about my three kids and they wouldn't have a dad to grow up with, that gave me that extra piece of power and energy to jump out. that gave me that extra piece of power and energy tojump out. it that gave me that extra piece of power and energy to jump out. power and energy to 'ump out. it was a remarkable _ power and energy to jump out. it was a remarkable moment. _ power and energy tojump out. it was a remarkable moment. incredible he will step back into a formula 1 car again. that is all from the bbc sports centre for now. more than 29—million pounds of government funding will be put into developing vaccines that fight new variants of covid—19. experts say this is vital to stay ahead of a virus that will continue to mutate.

the investment will expand testing facilities at public health england's porton down research laboratory. our reporter aruna iyengar reports. in the fight to stay on top of the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccines minister nadhim zahawi says a third vaccine could be offered to everyone over 50. the aim — to eradicate the threat of covid—19 by christmas. offered to everyone over 50. the aim — to eradicate the threat of covid—19 by christmas. we want to give the scientists as many options to be able to deploy a booster. coupled with that, jonathan van—tam is conducting a clinical piece of research call covboost to look at which additional shot — is it novavax, valneva, is it astrazeneca, is it pfizer — that would deliver the greatest protection. we have to make that available to them, and the nhs team is already planning to be ready for deployment from september onwards. meanwhile, work goes on to battle against new versions of coronavirus circulating around the globe, such as the kent and south africa variants.

to counter that threat and stay ahead of the virus, the uk government is investing more money in vaccine research. the extra £29.3 million, on top of nearly 20 million already promised, will boost testing facilities at porton down, where scientists are checking how well existing and new vaccines fight covid variants. the cash will allow scientists to test 3000 blood samples a week to measure the levels of protective antibodies against covid—19 generated by different vaccines. these new facilities will double our capacity and allow us to do these studies more rapidly and effectively. we do know that new variants are a major concern in our fight against the virus. so these new facilities will mean that we hopefully will be able to stay one step ahead of the virus. if plans proceed for a booster covid vaccine programme in the autumn, that could involve using updated vaccines that are a better

match for variants. a dealfor 50 million doses has been made with a german company called cu revac. a wheelchair user who went viral for a video showing her struggle to get down a street full of al fresco diners is urging businesses "not to forget" disabled people in its outdoor seating plans. 25—year—old katie pennick�*s video of her struggling to fit through the gaps between diners in the cluttered streets of soho has been viewed more than 885,000 times on twitter, you can see literally every few seconds she will navigate one obstacle and then there is another. and it goes on. . one thing she says about her wheelchair as it is a child's size wheelchair that measures 23 inches width. an adult

will wheelchair wood beam larger. you can see how she is struggling to get through. so that video has gone viral, it has had so much traction on social media with other wheelchair users and people with disabilities. it takes awhile for them to even her, doesn't it? but saying they are finding the same the stubble one person in derby said she is on a council committee and this is on a council committee and this is something that they consider and if there is not adequate provision for people in wheelchairs they will not give a licence to the alfresco dining. she put that out there in her frustration, dining. she put that out there in herfrustration, and it got dining. she put that out there in her frustration, and it got people talking. so how widespread an issue is this for disabled people now that more and more restaurants are using outside space? i'm joined now by siobhan meade from the guide dogs charit. the pictures said it all, didn't

they? is this something you have experienced? they? is this something you have experienced?_ experienced? yes, many times, actuall , experienced? yes, many times, actually. and — experienced? yes, many times, actually. and l _ experienced? yes, many times, actually, and i think— experienced? yes, many times, actually, and i think over - experienced? yes, many times, actually, and i think over the i experienced? yes, many times, | actually, and i think over the last month or so when we see the restrictions lifting somewhat in terms of restaurants being able to offer people outside seating, so for someone who is totally blind like me who works with a guide dog, i have noticed so many times now where i have to literally battle my way through and understandably we are all wanting to go out and socialise with our friends and family but it is just about asking for space and to be aware that we need to be able to be aware that we need to be able to navigate safely through familiar streets. ., . , , ., streets. how exhausting is it? you are already — streets. how exhausting is it? you are already having _ streets. how exhausting is it? you are already having to _ streets. how exhausting is it? you are already having to navigate - streets. how exhausting is it? you i are already having to navigate using landmarks like curbs, the edges of buildings, which that is something that you are used to, but that is obviously something most of us,

others do not have a disability, do not have to take into account what you have to do, but adding into the mix the furniture on the streets and thatis mix the furniture on the streets and that is taking people time to notice you were there? it is that is taking people time to notice you were there?— you were there? it is incredibly exhausting. — you were there? it is incredibly exhausting, as _ you were there? it is incredibly exhausting, as someone - you were there? it is incredibly exhausting, as someone who l you were there? it is incredibly i exhausting, as someone who lives with total blindness and i can speak for many people who have said to me it actually takes a lot longer to get through and being noticed, we understand that many people are kind of isolated or not able to go about because they are having to find alternative routes or sometimes not even possible to find alternative routes and it is about making awareness of how dangerous it can be. it is looking out for each other and we want people to be able to enjoy their meals but equally, if we are going within the deer meat is, not keeping today's social distancing, so it is very challenging bowl keeping within two

metres. —— keeping within two metres. -- keeping within two metres. -- keeping within two metres. . . . metres. -- keeping within two metres. . , , . ., ., metres. there has been a lot on social media _ metres. there has been a lot on social media about _ metres. there has been a lot on social media about this - metres. there has been a lot on social media about this and - metres. there has been a lot on social media about this and one| social media about this and one comment that caught my eye was somebody in derby who is on the committee for the council when they consider applications for licences and actually if the wheelchairs cannot get through or there is not provision, they do not get the licences. does that not happen everywhere? it licences. does that not happen everywhere?— everywhere? it is something i actually haven't _ everywhere? it is something i actually haven't heard - everywhere? it is something i actually haven't heard of - everywhere? it is something i actually haven't heard of but. everywhere? it is something i actually haven't heard of but i everywhere? it is something i - actually haven't heard of but i am guessing that maybe moving forward, thatis guessing that maybe moving forward, that is something potentially that could be looked at but i think it is just a case of if there is not enough provision for people to be able to safely navigate, then there needs to be other provisions in place because we want pavements to be safe for everyone to travel. it is notjust people with disabilities but people with pushchairs as well,

that it but people with pushchairs as well, thatitis but people with pushchairs as well, that it is something that could be looked at moving forward. what that it is something that could be looked at moving forward. what would ou sa to looked at moving forward. what would you say to people _ looked at moving forward. what would you say to people in — looked at moving forward. what would you say to people in the _ looked at moving forward. what would you say to people in the meantime - looked at moving forward. what would you say to people in the meantime is i you say to people in the meantime is in terms of helping to make it easierfor in terms of helping to make it easier for anybody struggling to navigate these environments because maybe people might wonder how much help people may want any sticky situation like this. it is help people may want any sticky situation like this.— situation like this. it is about bein: situation like this. it is about being able — situation like this. it is about being able to _ situation like this. it is about being able to be _ situation like this. it is about being able to be confident i situation like this. it is about. being able to be confident and situation like this. it is about - being able to be confident and may being able to be confident and may be asking or calling out for assistance if people are able to assistance if people are able to assist in terms of being able to safely guide you or a car verbally guide you through. it is a simple ask, something about —— about being able to navigate. if you leave enough space for a person who uses a wheelchair, then that is likely that a guide dog or a pushchair will be able to safely navigate, so it is about looking out for each other and supporting in terms of leaving enough space and not leaving anything that someone could

potentially trip over like a bag. thank you so much. thank you for joining us. known as "under water rainforests", coral reefs are home to around 25% of marine species. but threats such as over—fishing and rising sea temperatures mean more and more have been lying grey and lifeless. now, a pioneering initiative to try to restore them is taking place in indonesia, as our science editor david shukman reports. it's one of the most shocking sights in the underwater world when corals die, either because they're damaged or because the sea becomes too hot for them and they turn into what looks like a graveyard. when you dive on a reef and it's just quiet and it's all monotone grey, it's desolate, it's so depressing. the solution, pioneered by professor smith, involves whole communities in indonesia. they take these metal frames, called reef stars, and fix them to the sea bed.

fragments of live corals are attached to them, and the result is a revival of a habitat that many depend on. you see fish come in, you dive on it one day and you see the small fish sort of finding a hole in the reef stars amongst the corals. six months later, medium sized fish, the whole ecosystem responds when you give it this chance of kick—starting the system. the latest reef to be helped in this way is called hope. the word is spelt out in the new corals and the aim is to apply the same technique in other areas around the world. over the years, there have been dozens of attempts to try to bring reefs back to life, some more successful than others. and they have all been on a really small scale, as with this latest initiative. so there will be questions about it. it is funded by the pet food company sheba, which uses a lot of fish in its products, so can this venture really make any kind of difference? well, scientists i've spoken

to are impressed by the way that reefs that were once dead are now being revived. and because the task is so huge, they welcome funding from big—name companies. for businesses involved, dependent on fish and marine resources, to actually invest in restoring the ocean, in recovering depleted reefs, is a good thing. obviously with business, you always have that extra filter of scrutiny. and because most corals are threatened as global temperatures continue to rise, any attempt to save even small areas will need real determination. david shukman, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. the showers which we should have had in april are catching some of us a little bit by surprise through may, some bringing hail and thunder.

of course, where the hail falls, it's quite dramatic, but really, the vast majority of us, i think it's just fleeting showers and lots of sunny spells, but it is cold. story of the last few weeks, no change there. you can see where the wind arrows are coming from, straight out of the north. that is the arctic, so pretty chilly. and in fact, tonight and into tomorrow, we will see some wintriness across the scottish hills. yeah, snow falling in a few areas, perhaps even down to lower levels. so scotland, particularly i think early in the morning, maybe a little bit icy in a few areas with temperatures close to freezing. tomorrow early in the morning, there could be some cloud and maybe some spots of rain in the south, but i think overall, the afternoon is looking brightest in the southwest of the country, but further showers in some northern and eastern areas.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines...

g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30 million will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. a final day of campaigning ahead of voting on super thursday — the biggest set of local and national elections for nearly 50 years. a doorstep candlelit vigil was held last night for police community support officerjulia james, one week after her body was discovered in woodland. a murder investigation is under way, but police say they still don't have a motive and no arrests have been made. the local community have been warned to be "vigilant" if heading out alone. simonjones reports.

they are calling for justice forjulia. pcso james's son was among those lighting candles in her memory last night near to the spot where she was found dead just over a week ago. local people have paid tribute, too, to a woman described as a much—loved member of the community and the policing family. while her killer remains at large, officers are advising people in the area to always have their phones with them when they go out. that's exactly what people should be doing — being vigilant, of course. thinking very carefully about their own safety, but making sure that if you go out alone, telling people where you are, where you are going and such like. how determined are you to get to the bottom of this? the same with any murder, we are hugely determined to get to the bottom of it. it is a bit raw, when it is one of your own, as you would imagine, but we will do everything we can, as we can with any murder, throw all resources at it to find out who did this and bring them to justice. hundreds of officers are involved in the investigation, but there has been no breakthrough. julia james's body was discovered

in woodland over there. the police admit they still have no clear motive for the attack and no clear suspect. that is why they have been stopping vehicles coming and going from the area, to ask local people whether they saw anything unusual or suspicious at the start of last week. officers are also trying to offer reassurance, but this is a community that remains deeply concerned. no, i won't go out on my own, at the moment to walk the dog, which is a shame, but, you know, there is nothing else you can do about that. i've actually put a location app now on my phone and sent it to all my family so that when i'm out, they will know where i am and what time i'm getting back. it kind of makes me feel a little bit safer. anxious, i suppose. obviously, we don't know anything more about what has happened. i julia james's daughter has remembered her mother with the words "there are no goodbyes for us, wherever you are, you will always be in my heart." simonjones, bbc news, aylesham.

derek chauvin — the white former minneapolis police officer convicted last month of the murder of the black man george floyd — has requested a new trial. his legal team has filed court documents alleging misconduct by both prosecutors and jurors. last month, chauvin was found guilty of second and third—degree murder and manslaughter. matt sepic is a journalist with minnesota public radio. he has more details on the request for a new trial. eric nelson, chauvin's defence attorney, filed a request today for a retrial. he is citing multiple grounds, prosecutorial misconduct among them, but he doesn't get into a lot of detail. he also mentions misconduct on the part of the jury and the fact that there was so much publicity and thatjudge peter cahill, who presided over this case, refused requests from the defence to move the case out of minneapolis because of all the pre—trial publicity.

this filing today really was not a surprise. it's a prelude to an expected appeal which would happen after chauvin is sentenced onjune 25th. this is a common occurrence whenever there is a trial and verdict that doesn't go the way of the defence. the defence will request a new trial as part of the process, and it really is an expected move on their part. british online fashion retailer boohoo has reported a 37% jump in full—year earnings to 173.6 million poundsm to 173.6 million pounds, benefiting from the huge growth in demand for digital shopping during the pandemic. boohoo recently added dorothy perkins, karen millen and debenhams to its portfolio of online brands. this report from nina warhurst. ah, a post lockdown pleasure. hitting the high streets again to try clothes on. there's been a huge uptick in footfall, but for how long? covid has caused shopping

habits to change. the mass shift to online has provided a fatal blow to so many big brands. boohoo has been there to swoop in and snap some up. 25 million for dorothy perkins, burton and wallis, 55 million for debenhams. but that is the brands only. no shops and no shop workers, meaning massive savings. but virtual sales come with their own very real costs. when people don't try on clothes and they buy poorly fitting clothes, that leads to really high rates of returns. that's very, very costly for retailers. the whole deliveries are costly. alongside that, there's going to be more investment needed. so they're going to have to, there's going to be higher costs involved, they're going to have to invest in sizing tools, which is something that there is huge demand for, online.

and all of this technology, it's actually costly. and boohoo has faced other reputational challenges. last year, it accepted legal findings pointing to the failings in working conditions, and low pay in its supply chain. it says it is working hard to fix the issues. and with tops on its website starting at a pound, can boohoo meet the sustainability challenge? oxfam says two tonnes of clothing are bought every minute in the uk. only 10% are recycled, but do shoppers care? i do try and pay attention to who makes the clothes. i try and make sure it's sustainable and it's something that i'm going to wearfor a longer period of time. it's not going to go in the bin a year down the line. i'd like to think it does bother me, but we can all be honest that it does normally, it's more affordable when it does come from larger manufacturing places. however, the things i'm wearing today are from independent brands, so it reallyjust depends, try and have a good balance. but fast fashion is just easy. it's not something. i really think about. when probably i should.

sustainability, the conditions- of the people making the clothes, probably not going to be great. that's something probably i should look into more, i but it does come down to cost as well. - and last month, the bbc reported the same items of clothing were being sold at different prices across boohoo brands. something they said was a genuine mistake. in the long term, investors, but most importantly, customers, will decide. ikea has launched its furniture buy—back and re—sale scheme in england, in an attempt to reduce the amount of products going to landfill. customers can earn up to £250 per returned item, which will be given to them in the form of a voucher to spend at the store. the initiative was originally meant to start in november but was postponed due to lockdown. the swedish retailer says it wants to become "climate positive" by 2030. in september, we brought you the story of jake ogborne, who was campaigning to be given access to the drug spinraza for treatment of the rare, muscle—wasting disease,

spinal muscular atrophy. he, and many others, originally understood they would get the life—changing drug which had been approved for use in the uk but they were then told they weren't eligible. we can hear from jake, who's 20 now, in a moment but first let's listen to him and his mum speaking last year. it's just, the main thing that gets to me the most is as i have seen my friends grow and become more independent and turn into adults, pretty much, i've become less independent and less like an adult and needed more help with things. i haven't been able to get out as much. as a mother, to see the decline in your own child is horrendous. the last two and a half years since he has come off his feet has hit him so badly and so quickly. he needs it, yeah. he's running out of time. it's just... it's heavy and it kind of destroys

me because i see my friends growing up and i want to do those things, i want to live like they do, but i've been given this life, so ijust got to try and do my best with what i've got. that's what i can do, really. i spoke to jake a little earlier and he told me he felt when he got the news yesterday about qualifying for the drug. the company has rewritten the criteria. it's long overdue, but better late than never. and now the news has finally come, it's just amazing and myself and my family and all my friends, we're so pleased. what are the practicalities of it? when can you start? we are still unsure on that, we are onto my consultant already, we are yet to find out. we're not sure when they will be able to do it, but hopefully it should be soon. and what difference do you think it will make to your life?

at the very least, it's going to stop me from getting even worse. with my disability, i get worse over time, so hopefully spinraza willjust halt that, which will be amazing to know where i am in my physical ability. and with work and stretches and physio, ishould be able to get some strength back, which is just incredible. where are you now in terms of the impact of spinal muscular atrophy on your daily life? well, previously, i used to be able to walk and do most things myself, pretty much all the things myself, and now it's down to sitting up in bed. i need help cutting up my food, i'm now in a powered wheelchair, getting changed is hard, putting socks on is hard, swallowing, coughing, it's taken a real toll on my life and my independence. but the drug has come just in time.

and since september, when you went on that roller coaster, have you deteriorated in that period? yes, i have definitely gotten weaker, i've felt my hand strength and finger dexterity has gone over the last six months as they have been doing this sort of decision. and just energy levels, really, as i get less muscle, i have less energy and stuff. so things like that. how hard did it hit you when you were told you could not get it? because you had been campaigning to have access to that drug for so long, and when you thought you were going to get it back then, there were celebrations. yeah, so, when we were first told 18 months ago that i would get it, we were so happy then, we had a party and everything to celebrate. looking back now, i can kind

of see the humour of it, we were all so happy, like, yes, this is going to be so great. and two weeks later, we were just punched in the face with this taking back that thing that they have said about spinraza. it was very painful, but we are here now, which is the main thing. and how is your mum? because we saw her in that little clip and it has obviously been tough for her too. yeah, she's so happy, so, so happy. she was just crying so much, just so overwhelmed, hasn't really stopped smiling, it's amazing. we are all so happy. in the clip that we played, you were talking so movingly about the difficulty for you of seeing your friends develop on a different path from you. how do you see that now, now that you do have the prospect of getting this drug and the hope that that can give you?

over the last year, since i was last talking on it in that clip, i have realised i have my own path, i don't have to go on my friends' path, i don't have to do the things they do. i have these genetics for a reason and i've got to live the life that i want to live and the suffering from sma has allowed me to come to terms with that and realise that. so i'm not really too worried about that, as much as i was back in that clip. what is the life you want to live? what do you want to do? i want to live a life in touch with nature and thinking about the universe, hopefully. that is the life i want to live. jake, thrilled that he is now gone access to that treatment for his spinal muscular atrophy.

the headlines on bbc news... g7 ministers meeting in britain are urged to take action so coronavirus vaccines are shared more fairly around the world. india's entire delegation at the g7 in london is self—isolating after two of its members tested positive for covid—19. a major uk investment in vaccines to fight new variants of coronavirus — nearly £30 million will be spent on labs and extra tests to identify new strains. for almost ten years, d—day veterans have been campaigning for a national memorial in normandy to honour their fallen comrades. it will be officially opened at this year's d—day commemoration events, but, due to travel restrictions, the british veterans and their families will have to watch the ceremony virtually from this side of the channel. john maguire has been to catch up with one of those veterans — harry billinge. all of it. keep going. you just can't keep a good man down. harry is back. oh, overwhelmed. it brings tears to my eyes.

people — you couldn't really see who they were until they took their mask down, and then i recognised them — they've been wonderful. before the pandemic, harry billinge, a veteran of the d—day landings, was a regular fixture here at par market near st austell in cornwall. but covid forced him to stay at home. he's part of our family. we have missed him so much. he is such a lovely character, we are absolutely honoured to have him here. he was awarded the mbe for his efforts raising money for a memorial to the 22,442 men and women under british command who died on d—day and the subsequent battle of normandy. it was a very, very tiring job. oh, impossible to describe. hell on earth. noise and noise and more noise. guns firing overhead. guns firing from inland. from the germans.

it will be opened officially at ver—sur—mer above what was, on d—day, gold beach. due to french covid restrictions, veterans and their families are being invited to the national memorial arboretum in staffordshire to watch a live screening of the ceremony, which will take place onjune the 6th, the 77th anniversary of the invasion. the memorial was built at a cost of £30 million, funded by the government, private donations and fundraising efforts of people such as harry, who will be able to watch the events at home via an internet livestream. when i collect money for that memorial, i get a great calmness over me. i lost a lot of good men. young men. someone else who also raised thousands, cycling hundreds of kilometres, is harry salmon. his father, also called harry, was killed in normandy and the memorial bears his name.

i saw veterans being interviewed on television and i found it really hard to see them smiling and shedding tears as they talked about their fallen comrades. my father was a team player and these were his team—mates. and they were shedding tears for him and for the others that didn't come back. ijust felt i had to do something for them. during his long—distance cycle in northern france, harry visited the site. i saw my father's name up there in stone and it is an incredible piece of architecture, the whole thing. and there is one thing that is really, really powerful, and it is the sculpture at the entrance. it is of a tight—knit group of soldiers apparently coming up from the beach, obviously facing enemy fire. and it is so realistic, it's really powerful. it almost made me want to shout, "get down!" it's a really powerful thing.

for some of their comrades, those veterans who worked tirelessly to see the memorial built, its opening will be the realisation notjust of many years of hard work, but also of a promise fulfilled to never forget those left behind. john maguire, bbc news. more now on one of our main stories today — it is the final day of campaigning in elections across great britain. in scotland, voters are electing the holyrood parliament. the result could have a bearing on whether there is another independence referendum. the snp leader nicola sturgeon was asked about that in aberdeen today. my my first priority for reelection as first minister tomorrow is to get back to work, to take the next decisions to get us through the covid crisis, that is what i spent almost every waking moment doing for the past year and i'm ready to get back to work doing that. we're in a strong position right big decisions are lying ahead next week, and is

important we have the experience leadership to take this. and then to start to implement that hold policy programme to get our economic and social recovery under way. and we are out of the crisis, to say to people to scotland, is for all of us who live here to choose our future, it's not for boris johnson who live here to choose our future, it's not for borisjohnson or any politician to decide the future scotland, but people should have no doubt that my priority as first minister is to continue to lead us through the covid crisis. if you've been out cycling recently, there's every chance you've been overtaken by someone pedalling pretty slowly, but travelling pretty fast. sales of electric bikes have boomed during the pandemic, but they're not a new invention, as our reporter danjohnson has been finding out. asjeremy clarkson: three rickety wheels. two wobbly pedals.

and the electrifying force of 24 volts. that is a replica of an 1881 trouve electric vehicle. gustave trouve was a frenchman who married an english tricycle with his own battery and motor, thereby creating what we think is the first ever rechargeable electric vehicle. it's very rickety to ride. it's a steel frame, hard, solid rubber wheels and tyres. from just a picture, the original e—bike has been carefully recreated. why, jeremy, why? because i think a lot of people realise that electric vehicles are the future. we've been told that that's the only type of vehicle you're going to be able to buy after 2030. but they're not new. and this one is 140 years old. because it is rechargeable and because it was 140 years ago

this week that trouve ran it, it's a story. electric bikes are getting more popular. so i took a more modern model for a ride. all you do is use a couple of buttons to just change the level of assistance you're going to get. but then if you suddenly come to a steep hill, you can press the button, suddenly you'll get more assistance and you can get up pretty much any hill. i'll let you lead the way then, john. so this is making me look and feel like a better cyclist than i am, really. am i being lazy? well, i don't think so. we're not racing anybody. we're just having a nice day out in the country. and i think anything that gets more people more active and gets more people cycling can only be a good thing for them and for the planet. it certainly makes the hills feel easier. and they're on city streets as well, especially as more deliveries are being made on two wheels. so, we at cycling uk think that e—bikes are a real game changer in the cycling world. we think they can encourage people

who wouldn't usually think of themselves as cyclists to get out on bikes and try that. they're particularly good for perhaps older people, people who are less fit. and people who live in really hilly areas of the uk, because it really flattens those hills. so what about the cost? dutch style city bike, at around about £2000. the folding high—performance electric bike here at around £3000. and the bentley, rolls—royce of the electric bike here, at around £8,000. certainly over the last 12 to 18 months, we've seen an explosion in popularity and demand for electric bikes. driven primarily by technological advances in the products, batteries getting lighter and better, the products are getting more durable. that's both consumers, but also businesses who are moving from more traditional fossil fuel vehicles to electric cargo bikes to deliver their goods. lam, of course, a picture of parisian elegance, and i need a ride home,

so this is it. that's for steering. the power is here. and the brake is, er... ..a bit of leather that rubs on the wheel. wish me luck! here we go. all right, well, it moves, hey up! it's like rubbing your head and patting your stomach or whatever. crikey! more pedal power is coming with a jolt of electricity. ooh—la—la! but the e—trike looks truly unique. watch out for the ditch! danjohnson, bbc news, surrey. laughter during last year's lockdown, one man helped a family of ducks that had nested on the balcony of his 9th floor flat in the north west of england get safely to the water. well, the mother duck was so happy on steve stuttard's balcony at salford quays that she returned

to raise another family this year! yesterday was hatching day, so with the help of a friend, steve began "operation mallard", carefully lowering the chicks in a bucket to the ground below. despite the howling wind, the mission was successful — and the mother duck was reunited with her 11 ducklings. and if you're wondering why he didn't use the lift, it's because he didn't want to break the bond between the ducklings and the mother, which could happen if she couldn't hear them at any point during theirjourney. in a moment, the bbc news at one with clive myrie in holyrood, and ben brown here in the studio, but now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. another day of showers, and as the word suggests, they can be on—and—off, fleeting, some of them cold, some of them bringing hail and thunder as well. of course, where the hail falls, it's pretty dramatic, but hailstorms tend to be pretty local. they might be a mile across or so, so further down the road, there could be nothing at all. this is the pattern on the satellite

picture, you can see the speckled cloud here, that is the current of cold air coming in from the north. these are arctic winds, it's the story of the last few weeks, we just keep getting these shots of cold from the north. and through the course of today, this current of cold air is driving these showers, and if you combine that with strong may sunshine, you get these big cumulus clouds forming. and they are pretty deep, pretty tall clouds, and within them, all these currents of air form the hailstorms. but as i say, they are very hit and miss and most of us actually in for a pretty bright day. now, the cold current of air is with us through the course of this evening, and actually, what is perhaps a little more unusual is the fact that we will see some snow falling across the hills and possibly even down to lower levels across parts of scotland through tonight and into tomorrow. you can see temperatures are close to freezing, so there could be a little dusting of snow here and there and some icy patches as well. elsewhere tomorrow, there could be

a bit of cloud and some spots of rain flirting with the southern counties, but this afternoon is looking much brighter. i think the day tomorrow, the afternoon, is pretty good across wales and the southwest of the country, but certainly some northern and eastern areas are in forfurther showers, and again, hail and thunder. very hit and miss, though, but dramatic where it falls. so here is friday's weather forecast, further showers across some northern and eastern areas of the country, but elsewhere, i think it's a pretty decent day. and then towards the end of the week and into the weekend, we're starting to see a shift in the wind pattern. it starts to blow out of the southwest, weather fronts arrive as well. now, that spells rain, but also with this rain comes this subtropical air, so we are going to cut off that current of cold air from the arctic and things are going to warm up a little bit. so it is going to be warm and wet i think for many of us on saturday, then briefly on sunday, warm also.

bye— bye.

it's the last day of campaigning in a series of elections across england, scotland and wales. millions of people will head to the polls tomorrow for the biggest set of local and national elections in 50 years. the other main stories this lunchtime. a covid scare hits the g7 summit in london with the entire indian delegation self—isolating after two of its members test positive for coronavirus. the government steps up plans for a booster vaccination campaign in the autumn. could jersey face a power blackout? france threatens to cut off its electricity in a row overfishing rights.