the 53—year—old was found dead from head injuries in woodland near her home on 27th april. at least eight people have died after a shooting at a school in the southwestern russian city of kazan. police said two people had carried out the attack. one suspect — a teenager — has been detained. there are also reports that a second suspected attacker has been killed. emergency services are at the scene. countries around the world are appealing for calm, amid weeks of escalating violence between israeli forces and the palestinians. (tx militant groups in gaza fired rockets into israel on monday evening. israel responded with retaliatory strikes on the palestinian territory that killed at least 20 people — including children. the past few days have seen the worst violence injerusalem for years. apple is facing a billion—pound lawsuit, after being accused

of overcharging uk customers who use its app store. the action is being filed today on behalf of nearly 20—million people. it claims that apple is abusing its dominant position in the market, by charging 30—percent commission on app sales. apple said the legal action was "meritless". let's cross live to edinburgh — where scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon is about to lead the government's coronavirus briefing. she is expected to confirm that covid restrictions will be relaxed further next week. borisjohnson has already confirmed

key changes in england and that they will go ahead as planned on monday 17th may. we know, don't we? that pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers indoors and people from different households will be able to mix inside homes and stay overnight. let's hear what is in store for scotland.— overnight. let's hear what is in store for scotland. good afternoon. now, due store for scotland. good afternoon. now. due to _ store for scotland. good afternoon. now, due to the _ store for scotland. good afternoon. now, due to the election _ store for scotland. good afternoon. | now, due to the election campaign, the last time i stood here to give you a covid briefing was three weeks ago so i am glad today to be able to provide a full update and most importantly, of course, to set out our decisions on the next steps forward. my remarks today will therefore necessarily be slightly longer than usual so please bear with me and thank you to everybody who has tuned in today. as you can see i am joined by the chief medical officer and the clinical director.

help me answer questions shortly. before that, though, i am able to confirm that the main purpose of my remarks is to give the go—ahead to the move to level two, with the associated changes to the covid rules that had been scheduled for monday the 17th of may. i can confirm that that will go ahead as planned in most parts of scotland, and i will come back to that point in a second. indeed, in one respect, which i will also cover shortly, we are able to go slightly further than previously anticipated. however, they are two geographic exceptions to this, which i will flag up now, in more detail later on. in recent days, as you will have undoubtedly seenin days, as you will have undoubtedly seen in news coverage, moray has been experiencing a high and increasing number of cases, with a small associated increase in hospital admissions. small associated increase in hospitaladmissions. indeed, public hospital admissions. indeed, public health hospitaladmissions. indeed, public health experts consider that moray is currently experiencing widespread community transmission of the virus.

it is therefore highly probable, though a final decision will be taken at the end of this week, that moray will remain in level three for a further period, although i hope it will be a relatively short one. however, more happily, the situation and some of our own communities is now sufficiently under control that we are able to ease restrictions there more quickly and we will do on there more quickly and we will do on the mainland. therefore, from monday, we expect the island communities will move down to level one. i will come onto more detail on all of that at a slightly later point, but i wanted to flag up the main decisions at the outset of this statement. normally at this point, i would update you on the daily statistics. unfortunately, iam would update you on the daily statistics. unfortunately, i am not able to do that right now, due to a significant it issue affecting public health scotland this morning. i hope that will be resolved soon, and i can assure you that a lot today's will be published just as quickly as possible. —— all of

today's figures. you will be able to access those on the scottish government website. however, what we know from our recent run of daily statistics is that over the past few weeks, the success of the vaccination programme, the huge success, and of course i want to convey again my thanks to everyone involved in that, but its success coupled with the continued high compliance on the part of the general population with the various rules and restrictions that have beenin rules and restrictions that have been in place, all of that has combined to ensure a continued suppression of the virus. since i last stood here to give a briefing, cases have continued to fall from an average of 226 new cases a day to 177 new cases a day on average now. that said, in the last week, we have seen a very slight increase in cases. that is driven largely by the situation in moray that i have

referred to already, and will come onto a bit more fully shortly. but the situation in moray together with the situation in moray together with the emergence of new variants globally should be a sharp reminder to all of us that the virus remains a very real threat, notjust here in scotland but of course across the world. and notwithstanding the changes i am about to confirm, we must all continue to be careful, responsible, and vigilant. and of course, our levels means that we can and will, if required, as you will see today, apply the brakes deal with outbreaks as they arise. however, the situation overall is now a very positive one, and so that means we are in a position to relax more restrictions, and to restore much more normality to our everyday lives, which i know is something that everybody is desperate to see. so that improved position overall is why i am able to confirm today that from next monday, the 17th of may,

all parts of mainland scotland with, as i said, the highly probable exception of moray, will move from the current level three down at a level two. before i set out what that means, let me address the exceptions to that. firstly, some further detail and context on that situation in moray. at the moment, across scotland as a whole, we are seeing 23 new cases per week for every 100 thousand people in the population, levels are relatively low, much lower than they have been for a long time in scotland. but in moray, rates are more than four times higher than that at the moment, standing at 94 new cases per 100,000 people approximately. as i said earlier, there is, in the opinion of public health experts, widespread community transmission happening in morayjust now, so it is against that backdrop that, unless the situation were to materially improve over the next few

days, it would simply not be safe or sensible to ease restrictions there from monday. that is why i have to flag up today that it is highly probable that moray will stay at level three for a further period. it is also important that we take precautions to reduce the risk of the transmission of covid that is happening within moray spreading from there to other parts of scotland starts more significantly elsewhere. so if moray does stay in level three, which as i said earlier will be finally decided at the end of the week, we will also reimpose travel restrictions, again for a hopefully short period, which will mean that travel in and of moray will be limited to permitted purposes only. if the decision as to keep moray at level three, and right now i consider that to be very likely, i can confirm that we will provide additional financial assistance to businesses that will be affected by that, and also, given how deeply unwelcome i know this will be for people living in the

moray area, i can also confirm that we will be doing everything possible to ensure that any extension of level three is for as short a period as possible. we are already working closely with both moray council and grampian health board to reduce case numbers as quickly as possible. for example, a mobile testing unit has been moved to elgin, and people have been moved to elgin, and people have been strongly encouraged to take up lateral flow test. and been strongly encouraged to take up lateralflow test. and i been strongly encouraged to take up lateral flow test. and i would appeal to everyone living in the moray region to follow all of the public health advice so that we can get the situation back under control just as quickly as possible, and then allow moray to get back onto a positive track as soon as it is safe and possible to do so. now, looking to the other exception before i come in to the general picture across scotland, for our island communities, the situation is different and very much more positive. case numbers have consistently been at very low levels for some time now, many islands now also have a very good vaccination

coverage, and lateralflow also have a very good vaccination coverage, and lateral flow tests are available for all people travelling to the islands from other parts of scotland. so for those reasons, we have decided that it is possible and proportionate to now ease restrictions on the islands more quickly. and that will be for communities in the western isles, shetland and orkney, for all islands in the highland except for skye given its fixed link, and for the inner hebrides islands and argyll including islay, jura and mull. all of these areas will move to level one from monday, rather than level two. the full details of what that means are available on the scottish government website, but for example it means fewer restrictions on indoor hospitality. everywhere else indoor hospitality. everywhere else in scotland will move to level two from monday, so i want to spend a little bit of time setting out what that change means in practice. it means firstly that we will be able to meet outdoors in groups of eight

from up to eight households rather than in groups of six from six households, as is the case now. and even more significantly, we will be able from monday to meet in each other�*s homes, and that includes for overnight stays. it was initially intended that at level two, up to four people from no more than two households could meet indoors, however we consider that it is possible now to go slightly further than that, so from monday, up to six people from three households will be able to meet indoors in each other�*s houses. now, this is still a cautious change, but it is also a hugely important one. it is almost eight months now since most of us have been able to meet in each other�*s homes, and it has been even longer than that for those of us living in glasgow and lanarkshire. i know how much everyone has been looking forward to being able to do this again, it is one of the simple pleasures of life that i suspect,

and i hope, that none of us will ever take so much great for granted again. this is an important change in and of itself, but i am also pleased to say that in one respect, we consider that it is possible at this stage to go further than previously anticipated. from monday, if you are meeting friends and family within the permitted limits, either indoors in a private dwelling or in your garden, our guidance will say that it is no longer necessary to maintain physical distance, which means, and ifeela to maintain physical distance, which means, and ifeel a wee bit emotional saying this, that from monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again. i know how desperate we all are for this, so i do not intend to immediately pour cold water on it, don't worry, but there are two further points i really need to make. firstly, it remains vital to be cautious and to ease these restrictions carefully, so for the next three weeks at least, the easing of the guidance on

physical distance and will apply to permitted gatherings in our own homes and gardens only. however, over that period, we will also be conducting a wider review for the need for physical distance and in public indoor places and we will set out the conclusions of that at the next review point. and secondly, this is perhaps the more difficult point, please use carefuljudgment. close physical contact does still carry risk. i have got to be very clear with you about that. so if you have loved ones who are vulnerable for any reason, please still be careful. and limit the overall number of people that you are choosing to have close physical contact with. it is at this point is just worth making the point that as we progress, i hope, further into the next phases of the pandemic and easing restrictions as we try to get back to normal, prescriptive rules and regulations will increasingly give way to greater personal judgment. now, that can and will be difficult. we have all been used to

following very rigid rules in the past year, but getting away from that, back to the exercising of personaljudgment is an essential part of that gradual return to normality. so please continue to be careful and cautious as we take these next steps forward. let me turn to the other changes. in hospitality settings, groups of up to six people from three households will be allowed to meet together and from monday alcohol can be served indoors up until 10:30pm and the return of licensed indoor hospitality will be welcomed by businesses and customers in those parts of the country that applies. a new app, check in scotland was launched in april to help test and protect and easily contact people. please use the app if you can. hospitality venues are required to take details of contact so cooperate

with that. there are several other important changes coming into effect. first, a number of venues will be able to reopen including cinemas, theatres, concert halls, comedy clubs, amusement arcades, casinos, snooker halls and bingo halls. amateur performing arts groups will be able to perform outdoors. colleges and universities have more flexibility to resume in—person learning and outdoor adult contact sport can resume and more than one person will be able to sing during religious services which is a change many groups have asked for and will welcome although at this stage, it does not include congregation singing. also the standard limit for the number events will increase from monday up to 100 people will be able to attend an indoor event, up to 250 will be able

to attend an outdoor event with unrestricted standing and up to 500 and outdoor event with seating. these are standard limits, but events organisers have the ability to make applications to hold bigger events and they will be assessed accordingly. we will continue to review rules on events with the sector and guidance will be published in the next three weeks. we will review the guidance on physical distance in and that is relevant to the event sector and many other businesses and if it is possible to relax the current rules on physical distancing, we will do so. finally i want to confirm we will make changes to rules on international travel. at the outset of this let me be very clear, difficult though this is, we intend to be cautious on international travel, given the risk of new

variants but we consider the situation now allows us to begin a careful move away from blanket restrictions on nonessential travel overseas. from monday we will move to a traffic light system and this will be informed by risk assessments prepared by the joint biosecurity centre and be based on the state of the pandemic in each country and that will include the presence of variants of concern. if you enter scotland from a red list country, one of the country is identified as acute risk, you will be required to enter managed isolation hotel and stay ten days. due to changes tomorrow, red list countries include turkey, maldives and nepal. if you arrive from and amber list country you must self—isolate at home for ten days and take two pcr tests in

that period and we will introduce a green list. if you travel from a green list. if you travel from a green this country you will need to take a pcr test shortly after arrival but will not be required to self—isolate. the uk chief medical officers will no doubt say more about this and they indicated the green list status should be the exception and not the rule and i agree. they will have to be good reasons to add a country to the green list and removing quarantine requirements and we will not do it lightly. i confirm that initially the 12 countries and territories on the 12 countries and territories on the green list will be the same as those announced for england. this is a limited list and includes australia, brunei, falkland islands, faroe islands, gibraltar, iceland, israel, new zealand, portugal. st helena, ascension and tristan tikkun cuneo and singapore and south

georgia and the south sandwich islands. as of now we have a consistent formations position on international travel which is positive. it has made possible because it is appropriately cautious. i hope this continues to be the case but the scottish government will continue to take decisions we consider right for scotland and will not sign up to decisions that will put progress at risk. we have made so much progress in suppressing the virus and must not put it at risk by allowing new variants to enter the country too easily. i want to stress a final point strongly. even though the rules on nonessential travel are starting to change, it does not mean we are saying international nonessential travel is desirable. everyone should think seriously about the need to travel abroad this summer. for many, international travel is about family connections and it is understandable people

might want to travel for that but when it comes to holidays abroad, the advice is to be cautious and to staycation. the importance of following guidance and exercising cautious is a note i want to end on. the changes next week are important. the changes next week are important. the most important yet. i suspect many will already be looking forward to meeting a friend in your home, having a drink indoors at a pub or restaurant and perhaps hugging a member of your close family. enjoy those moments when they come in just under a week. they have been greatly missed and hard earned by all. i hope and expect they will be followed by further steps in the right direction. i hope moray will be a level two soon and for the rest of the mainland, if circumstances allow we will move to level one on the 7th ofjune and zero on the 28th

ofjune, which would involve restriction so i hope we can move onto something more like normality over the summer and into the autumn. if we can, we will relax physical distancing rules and when safe, for example once all the adults are fully vaccinated, we will hope to start to move to the removal of these kinds of rules altogether but we cannot put a on that. in order to ensure we continue to make progress that makes this possible we must continue to exercise good sense and caution. the more we suppress the virus the more quickly we are able to open things up so please continue to open things up so please continue to work from home if you can, use the check in scotland app. download protect scotland. continue to be highly cautious about international travel and when inside, remember facts, face covering, avoid places

that are busy, clean hands and services and use two metres distancing for people outside your limited groups of family and friends and self—isolate and be tested if you have symptoms. it is important to stick to the rules, as so many have done for more than a year. that is how we continue to look after each other and continue to help the nhs and treat those who need it and save lives. i hope the update has been as i warned you longer than normal, gregorand been as i warned you longer than normal, gregor and jason will be getting sore legs as we stand here, but i hope you think it is positive. it has been hard earned, but we must do all the right thing so we continue to move in this positive forward direction. thank you for listening and i will move on at long last to questions. starting with stv. .,

last to questions. starting with stv. . , , . ., last to questions. starting with stv. on that sub'ect of physical distancin: stv. on that sub'ect of physical distancing which — stv. on that subject of physical distancing which i'm _ stv. on that subject of physical distancing which i'm sure - stv. on that subject of physical distancing which i'm sure will. stv. on that subject of physical| distancing which i'm sure will be welcomed. _ distancing which i'm sure will be welcomed, what— distancing which i'm sure will be welcomed, what you _ distancing which i'm sure will be welcomed, what you said - distancing which i'm sure will be welcomed, what you said by- distancing which i'm sure will be i welcomed, what you said by many, there _ welcomed, what you said by many, there will_ welcomed, what you said by many, there will be — welcomed, what you said by many, there will be those _ welcomed, what you said by many, there will be those without - welcomed, what you said by many, j there will be those without gardens who wonder — there will be those without gardens who wonder what _ there will be those without gardens who wonder what is _ there will be those without gardens who wonder what is the _ there will be those without gardens who wonder what is the difference i who wonder what is the difference between _ who wonder what is the difference between hugging _ who wonder what is the difference between hugging a _ who wonder what is the difference between hugging a friend - who wonder what is the difference between hugging a friend in - who wonder what is the difference between hugging a friend in your. between hugging a friend in your garden _ between hugging a friend in your garden and — between hugging a friend in your garden and doing _ between hugging a friend in your garden and doing it _ between hugging a friend in your garden and doing it in _ between hugging a friend in your garden and doing it in a - between hugging a friend in your garden and doing it in a park, . between hugging a friend in yourl garden and doing it in a park, and isthere— garden and doing it in a park, and is there an— garden and doing it in a park, and is there an element _ garden and doing it in a park, and is there an element of— garden and doing it in a park, andj is there an element of acceptance people _ is there an element of acceptance peorrte wilt— is there an element of acceptance people will probably _ is there an element of acceptance people will probably go _ is there an element of acceptance people will probably go further. is there an element of acceptance l people will probably go further than what you _ people will probably go further than what you have — people will probably go further than what you have said, _ people will probably go further than what you have said, priced - people will probably go further than what you have said, priced into - what you have said, priced into allowing — what you have said, priced into allowing that? _ what you have said, priced into allowing that? and _ what you have said, priced into allowing that? and professor. what you have said, priced into - allowing that? and professor leitch, on allowing that? and professor leitch, oh the _ allowing that? and professor leitch, oh the subject— allowing that? and professor leitch, oh the subject of— allowing that? and professor leitch, on the subject of moray, _ allowing that? and professor leitch, on the subject of moray, even - on the subject of moray, even without— on the subject of moray, even without travel— on the subject of moray, even without travel restrictions - on the subject of moray, even without travel restrictions sol on the subject of moray, even i without travel restrictions so far, have _ without travel restrictions so far, have you — without travel restrictions so far, have you been _ without travel restrictions so far, have you been reassured - without travel restrictions so far, have you been reassured to - without travel restrictions so far, i have you been reassured to some degree _ have you been reassured to some degree there _ have you been reassured to some degree there does _ have you been reassured to some degree there does not _ have you been reassured to some degree there does not seem - have you been reassured to some degree there does not seem to i have you been reassured to some . degree there does not seem to have been a _ degree there does not seem to have been a degree — degree there does not seem to have been a degree of— degree there does not seem to have been a degree of leakage _ degree there does not seem to have been a degree of leakage of- degree there does not seem to have been a degree of leakage of figuresl been a degree of leakage of figures into surrounding _ been a degree of leakage of figures into surrounding areas? _ been a degree of leakage of figures into surrounding areas? what - been a degree of leakage of figures into surrounding areas? what is - been a degree of leakage of figures. into surrounding areas? what is your thought— into surrounding areas? what is your thought on— into surrounding areas? what is your thought on the — into surrounding areas? what is your thought on the fans _ into surrounding areas? what is your thought on the fans at _ into surrounding areas? what is your thought on the fans at scottish - into surrounding areas? what is your thought on the fans at scottish cup l thought on the fans at scottish cup final? _ thought on the fans at scottish cup final? i— thought on the fans at scottish cup final? , , ., , , , final? i will briefly address this ruestion final? i will briefly address this question and — final? i will briefly address this question and then _ final? i will briefly address this question and then gregor - final? i will briefly address this question and then gregor and l final? i will briefly address this - question and then gregor and jason may want to comment. on the issue of a garden and a park. as we come out

of restrictions, which we saw last summer, apparent anomalies appear and they can be confusing but i suppose i can summarise it by saying it is a case of not wanting to do everything all at once because we know from past experience if we do that, quickly it can run away. it has been a long time since we have been allowed in each other�*s homes and a longer time since we have been able to hug loved ones. as we come out of this we want to do it step—by—step, carefully, but in a toe in the water, making sure we can cope with that before going too far so i suspect all things going as well as we hope, three weeks from now, i will be here saying that relaxation of physical distancing can apply elsewhere but for now, be careful, both in settings we allowed but also how you choose to behave as an individual. i know the apparent

inconsistencies confuse and frustrate people but they are simply down to if we did everything at once, we would quickly go back and it is simply about trying to avoid that. , ., we're leaving the briefing there, but do stay with us for expert analysis from the public health expertjillian evans and political reaction from the conservatives and labour. but first, let's just go over what was said there with our correspondent lynsey bews. in the main, some good news. some good news for the majority of people in scotland, that move from level three restrictions down to level two for most confirmed with the exception of moray where the first minister said it was highly likely moray would stay in level three due to concern about the number of cases there. and for the island community is better news because confirmation they can move to level one. what does it mean for the majority of

mainland scotland and those island communities? the first minister going further than what is set out in the route map. a big change many will look forward to is being able to meet indoors in another person's home. that has been expanded to six people from three households. the first minister said it would no longer be necessary to have physical distancing and that means that hugging is now back on the cards, but she did say that people should exercise theirjudgment in how they are doing. exercise their 'udgment in how they are doinu. ., ., , exercise their 'udgment in how they are doinu. , ., are doing. some good news on international— are doing. some good news on international travel _ are doing. some good news on international travel albeit - are doing. some good news on i international travel albeit limited. a move to a traffic light system for international travel rather than a blanket need for hotel quarantining. some countries will be added to a green list which means when you return you take a pcr test but you no longer need to quarantine. thank

ou. we're joined now by the public health expert and head of health intellgience for nhs grampian, jillian evans. good afternoon. the first minister describing the picture is positive. absolutely positive on all of the tests the who set out on case numbers, test positivity, vaccination uptake. everything points towards a cautious reopening of our lives as we know them and i feel we are at a threshold. these changes are significant in terms of easing restrictions. the main thing will be that we keep them under review, as i know we do. keeping them under review and making sure we can manage pockets of outbreaks as we see in moray and we manage them fast and have a fast response that does not endanger the rest of the country. does not endanger the rest of the count . , ~ , country. the first minister went further than _

country. the first minister went further than the _ country. the first minister went further than the route _ country. the first minister went further than the route map - country. the first minister went. further than the route map planned with an extension to the number of people who can meet indoors and also talking about international travel. are you surprised by that? the numbers back that up. it is are you surprised by that? the numbers back that up.- numbers back that up. it is a difficult balance _ numbers back that up. it is a difficult balance because - numbers back that up. it is a difficult balance because the | difficult balance because the expectation with infection rates being low and the question why can't we go further? it is a difficult judgment in going a little bit further or remaining cautious. there are signs of cautious decision making all the way through this. and the plea for us all do our own risk assessment and judge the situation is something that is giving control back to us as individuals which is a helpful thing to do when the rules become ever more complex and difficult to remember. i am glad we are going further. i am also glad there are some parts of the process

that are still being held back, moray being one. international travel is a tiptoe out. i would have preferred to have seen it off the agenda, but we are beginning to open up agenda, but we are beginning to open up and very good reasons for doing that and it is steady as you go. let's talk about moray, which is in your health board. the first minister says it will be reviewed before next monday, but the expectation is that it will review in on that final question i spoke to the prime minister on sunday. i indicated a willingness to take part indicated a willingness to take part in a four nation summit and work constructively as far as we can together. i asked constructively as far as we can together. iasked him constructively as far as we can together. i asked him for more detail exactly what he envisaged that summit to cover and be looking at to the best of my knowledge, and

we have not had that yet, but we will take ideas of our own to that, so no doubt there will be more information on that made available shortly. on the timescale for a physical distancing changes, i said in my opening remarks, we have announced the easing of guidance for in your own home or garden today, over the next three weeks, we will carry out a more fundamental review of physical distancing and we will set out the outcome of that at the next review point which is three weeks' time. i'm not going to pre—empt that but we'll be looking at other indoor public places which includes pubs and restaurants, cinemas etc, to see whether we can have further relaxation of physical distancing. i think it would be wrong to pre—empt the review that we are about to carry out. on face coverings, i'm not at this stage indicating any specific change to the guidance on wearing face coverings. but in relation to schools, we will be asking the education subgroup that advises us

on these issues within schools to look at is also over the next couple of weeks, so it may be that we are able to say something on face coverings in schools, but again i don't want to pre—empt that work that we have asked our expert advisers to do. i think moray is a reminder of how we have to be careful about this because some of what we are experiencing now in moray has had an impact and has evolved at schools and therefore thatis evolved at schools and therefore that is an important reminder that mitigations in schools continue to be important but equally, i know from the young people in my own life as well as more generally, that young people don't like wearing facemask, whether —— when they are in school all the time so when it is safe to move away from that we will do it but we have got to take the right advice on that and make sure that we are reaching a decision that takes all of that into account. james mattis from sky. —— james

matthews. james mattis from sky. -- james matthew-— james mattis from sky. -- james matthews. . . , ., matthews. can i ask in the cup final oint, matthews. can i ask in the cup final point. have — matthews. can i ask in the cup final point. have the _ matthews. can i ask in the cup final point, have the sfa _ matthews. can i ask in the cup final point, have the sfa been _ matthews. can i ask in the cup final point, have the sfa been in - matthews. can i ask in the cup final point, have the sfa been in touch . point, have the sfa been in touch about— point, have the sfa been in touch about arrangements and a change of venue? _ about arrangements and a change of venue? and — about arrangements and a change of venue? and on travel, what would you say to— venue? and on travel, what would you say to those _ venue? and on travel, what would you say to those in the travel and aviation— say to those in the travel and aviation industry who say that more creative _ aviation industry who say that more creative solutions could have been found _ creative solutions could have been found before now, and while they respect _ found before now, and while they respect their health imperatives, they could have been helped out when they could have been helped out when they needed help most and the situation — they needed help most and the situation with airlines not coming back to _ situation with airlines not coming back to some scottish airports beyond — back to some scottish airports beyond the end of the summer, is that too— beyond the end of the summer, is that too little too late? as beyond the end of the summer, is that too little too late?— that too little too late? as far as i know that too little too late? as far as i know the _ that too little too late? as far as i know the sfa _ that too little too late? as far as i know the sfa have _ that too little too late? as far as i know the sfa have not - that too little too late? as far as i know the sfa have not made . that too little too late? as far as i i know the sfa have not made any proposal on the cup final, i think jason, that fully. on aviation, i understand how difficult is, but the inescapable facts around this virus, with new variants, we do not help anybody if we ease up too quickly and therefore allow variants to seed

into the country and send all of us including aviation and tourism backed away, so we are taking careful, cautious decisions. it is not the only thing, but one thing the sector has asked for if at all possible is to have a four nations approach and as of now we have a consistent four nations approach and i hope that can continue so we will continue to take decisions that we think are proportionate, and keep us as safe as possible from the importation of new variants, which is in nobody�*s interests, and we will continue to liaise with the sector about wider support. matthew sutton from itv border is.— sector about wider support. matthew sutton from itv border is. would you sa that no sutton from itv border is. would you say that no work _ sutton from itv border is. would you say that no work to _ sutton from itv border is. would you say that no work to prepare - sutton from itv border is. would you say that no work to prepare for - sutton from itv border is. would you say that no work to prepare for a - say that no work to prepare for a second _ say that no work to prepare for a second independence referendum will be carried _ second independence referendum will be carried out by the scottish government, civil servants and special— government, civil servants and special advisers until after the covid — special advisers until after the covid crisis is over and he will do fine when — covid crisis is over and he will do fine when it— covid crisis is over and he will do fine when it is over? i covid crisis is over and he will do fine when it is over?— fine when it is over? i think as i am evidencing _ fine when it is over? i think as i am evidencing right _ fine when it is over? i think as i am evidencing right now, - fine when it is over? i think as i am evidencing right now, my i am evidencing right now, my priorities and getting us through this crisis, and that will remain my

priority until we are through this crisis. . ~ , ., , , crisis. three quick questions, first minister, crisis. three quick questions, first minister. on _ crisis. three quick questions, first minister, on moray, _ crisis. three quick questions, first minister, on moray, as _ crisis. three quick questions, first minister, on moray, as you - crisis. three quick questions, first minister, on moray, as you have l minister, on moray, as you have called _ minister, on moray, as you have called it. — minister, on moray, as you have called it. a — minister, on moray, as you have called it, a high and increasing number— called it, a high and increasing number of— called it, a high and increasing number of cases with widespread community transmission, that requires — community transmission, that requires level 40 dishes to nip things— requires level 40 dishes to nip things in— requires level 40 dishes to nip things in the bud so why not a short shop _ things in the bud so why not a short shop to— things in the bud so why not a short shop to get— things in the bud so why not a short shop to get things under control, and what — shop to get things under control, and what was the source of this outbreak— and what was the source of this outbreak in the first place? lastly, theatres _ outbreak in the first place? lastly, theatres and concert halls say that physical— theatres and concert halls say that physical distancing requirements/ their capacity by up to three quarters, _ their capacity by up to three quarters, so it is not worth reopening so what will you do to help them?— reopening so what will you do to hel them? , , ., ., help them? this is not a comment about ou help them? this is not a comment about you but _ help them? this is not a comment about you but i'm _ help them? this is not a comment about you but i'm not _ help them? this is not a comment about you but i'm not in _ help them? this is not a comment about you but i'm not in the - help them? this is not a comment about you but i'm not in the first l about you but i'm not in the first question there was why are you not being tougher and the last question was why are you being served off? it just illustrates the balances that we have to strike. gregor orjason may want to add on moray, the advice they have given, i spent time with both of them yesterday looking at

this is that level 4 is not required. there are some early signs as jason said earlier that the situation may be beginning to improve in moray, but we need more time to be sure about that. if it doesn't improve materially over the rest of this week, while we don't think level 4 is required at the moment, we don't think it would be safe to go to level two, so these are the judgments we will take. gregor and jason may want to say something about current understanding about the source of the outbreak. physical distancing is not something any other bus want to see for longer than necessary because it is a statement of the obvious that, if you have to have customers at one metre or two metre physical distancing then the capacity of any business is going to be reduced accordingly. so we don't want that to be the case, for any longer than necessary, but the converse of that is true. if we

don't have any physical distancing and there are outbreaks, and those outbreaks seed wider community transmission, then very soon, it will not be a situation where a pub, restaurant or theatre has reduced capacity, they will quickly be in a position of having to be closed again altogether, so, i'm afraid, as was the case before my few weeks was not the absence on the campaign trail, there are no magic solutions. we have to manage our way through it carefully and cautiously, and we are making good progress on that, but the worst thing we could do right now, even we think we are in a stronger position, is to throw all caution to the win, and allow it to run ahead of us again. that would set oliver's backwards. does anyone want to say any more about moray? level at three would appear to be the most — level at three would appear to be the most appropriate level for it, and decisions remain to be made depending what happens over the next few days _ depending what happens over the next few days but the data at the moment, the 90 _ few days but the data at the moment, the 90 cases per 100,000 at the positivity— the 90 cases per 100,000 at the positivity rate ofjust over 3%, what — positivity rate ofjust over 3%, what that _ positivity rate ofjust over 3%, what that suggests is that level 3 is likely— what that suggests is that level 3 is likely to be adequate to control

those _ is likely to be adequate to control those measures but the local and national— those measures but the local and national int are keeping this under review, _ national int are keeping this under review, and the number of local action— review, and the number of local action is— review, and the number of local action is taken to improve the situation _ action is taken to improve the situation. as jason has already said we are _ situation. as jason has already said we are seeing the first signs of encouraging improvement with a slight _ encouraging improvement with a slight dip— encouraging improvement with a slight dip in the case rate over the weekend, — slight dip in the case rate over the weekend, but we will continue to ntonitor— weekend, but we will continue to monitor that. weekend, but we will continue to monitorthat. level4 weekend, but we will continue to monitor that. level 4 is a much higher— monitor that. level 4 is a much higher degree of restrictions, i really. — higher degree of restrictions, i really. we _ higher degree of restrictions, i really, we willing to make sure that, _ really, we willing to make sure that, if— really, we willing to make sure that, if we _ really, we willing to make sure that, if we are going to place those type of— that, if we are going to place those type of restrictions on a local community, that there is sufficient justification to do that, but that any of— justification to do that, but that any of our— justification to do that, but that any of our responses are proportionate and at this moment in time, _ proportionate and at this moment in time, the _ proportionate and at this moment in time, the discussions we have five 3d time, the discussions we have five 30 int_ time, the discussions we have five 30 wt and — time, the discussions we have five 3d int and the local director of public— 3d int and the local director of public we — 3d int and the local director of public we don't think it is posted to move — public we don't think it is posted to move moray to level 4 at this current— to move moray to level 4 at this current time. the virus we are dealing — current time. the virus we are dealing with in moray right there, what _ dealing with in moray right there, what we — dealing with in moray right there, what we are tracking is the relative

proportion— what we are tracking is the relative proportion of the kent variant, the b117 variant — proportion of the kent variant, the b117 variant most commonly seen across _ b117 variant most commonly seen across scotland, and this is proportionate with findings across the rest _ proportionate with findings across the rest of scotland. there has not been _ the rest of scotland. there has not been any— the rest of scotland. there has not been any sign of any variants of concern — been any sign of any variants of concern other than that b117 within that area _ concern other than that b117 within that area just now, so we will continue _ that area just now, so we will continue to monitor this over the next _ continue to monitor this over the next few— continue to monitor this over the next few days and make a final decision— next few days and make a final decision at the end of this week as to what— decision at the end of this week as to what happens to moray but at this moment— to what happens to moray but at this moment in— to what happens to moray but at this moment in time there is nothing in the data _ moment in time there is nothing in the data suggesting we would need to strengthen the move to level 4. can first minister why are theatres and concert— first minister why are theatres and concert halls — first minister why are theatres and concert halls better— first minister why are theatres and concert halls better off— first minister why are theatres and concert halls better off in - first minister why are theatres and concert halls better off in englandl concert halls better off in england instead _ concert halls better off in england instead of— concert halls better off in england instead of scotland _ concert halls better off in england instead of scotland when - concert halls better off in england instead of scotland when it - concert halls better off in englandj instead of scotland when it comes concert halls better off in england i instead of scotland when it comes to restrictions? — instead of scotland when it comes to restrictions? l— instead of scotland when it comes to restrictions?— restrictions? i am the first minister — restrictions? i am the first minister of _ restrictions? i am the first minister of scotland - restrictions? i am the first minister of scotland and i l restrictions? i am the first - minister of scotland and i have to take decisions that i think are right for scotland and that is what i have tried to do and what i will continue to try to do. that is my job stop is my duty. i am not in

possession of all of the facts and figures about the same situation in england, and england has its own government to take those decisions. i am the first minister of scotland and i will continue to take decisions that i think are as safe as possible to get us through this as possible to get us through this as safely as possible. phil mcdonald from global radio. $171? as safely as possible. phil mcdonald from global radio.— as safely as possible. phil mcdonald from global radio. any concern about --eole from global radio. any concern about people rushing _ from global radio. any concern about people rushing out _ from global radio. any concern about people rushing out to _ from global radio. any concern about people rushing out to island - people rushing out to island communities where restrictions will not be _ communities where restrictions will not be as— communities where restrictions will not be as strict, and is there any update _ not be as strict, and is there any update on — not be as strict, and is there any update on cases of the indian variant— update on cases of the indian variant in— update on cases of the indian variant in scotland?— update on cases of the indian variant in scotland? gregor orjason will say about _ variant in scotland? gregor orjason will say about -- — variant in scotland? gregor orjason will say about -- more _ variant in scotland? gregor orjason will say about -- more about - variant in scotland? gregor orjason will say about -- more about the i will say about —— more about the indian variant. the point about island communities is a good one. we have had the ability to travel to and from ireland now for the past few weeks, and we have not seen that having an impact in terms of the virus on islands. we will monitor that carefully. with islands, travel

and tourism there is already permitted. people don't tend to pop to the islands just because there was a public longer opening hours than on the mainland for obvious reasons. i don't mean to be facetious there, but we want people to stay safe if they staycation, we want anyone who travels to the islands to do lateral flow testing before they go so that if they have the virus they can change their arrangements, so that all of the proper mitigation in terms of travel and how people behave on the islands, we are satisfied as we can be that what we are doing there is safe and cautious, but all of this, of course, we will continue to have to keep under review as we move to the next stages of this. which one of you wants to... studio: we believe that briefing from scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon, announcing the news that scott quin's covid rules will be relaxed across most of scotland.

there is that exception of moray in north—east scotland, but most of scotland from monday, may to 17th. more on that at one. here now is the weather with chris woakes. —— fawkes.. hello again. yesterday some of us saw some torrential downpours and for the next few days the forecast remains unsettled with slow—moving downpours, hail and thunder, sunny spells in between and feeling warm in the sunshine. on the satellite picture, you can see the show are clouds here, further north from northern scotland, a band of rain here, and we have got some further rain across the far south—west of england. it is across wales, the midlands and east anglia that we are seeing chavez brew. wider showers they are? it is down to a change in the wind direction. we have southerly winds colliding with more of an east—south—easterly wind on this drop, and as that boundary pushes northwards, so, too, will those big

showers and thunderstorms, so late afternoon, early evening, the biggest storms likely across yorkshire and parts of north—east england more generally. some heavy downpours with hail and thunder mixed in. at the same time it should be a largely shower free afternoon for central scotland. there will be some pushing into the far south of scotland late in the afternoon. northern ireland is largely dry, and across south—east england it should be a fine afternoon with plenty of sunshine. overnight tonight, we're going to see that rain pushing northwards across northern england into scotland, maybe fringing into northern ireland. temperatures similar to last at around six celsius. tomorrow, another day of sunshine and showers, and there will be that general rain first thing in scotland. showers pushing through for the afternoon, tending to be across more western areas, eastern area seeing fewer showers, but with the wind is a little bit lighter, it is going to feel pleasant in the sunshine, but it does mean where we see the showers, they will be slower

to move their way through. thursday, another unsettled day on the cards. we may well see further little low pressure system is developing, bringing rain across parts of england and wales, but we're not sure heaviest falls will be for the moment. further north again, scotland and northern ireland looking unsettled with some heavy downpours. temperatures round 15 celsius. through friday, the weekend and into next week, the pressure stays round about the uk, remaining unsettled with further showers at times. that's your weather.

here in westminster the government sets out its agenda for the next year in the queen s speech in a pared back, covid—secure event there were promises to level up the economy, supportjobs, businesses and economic growth my government's priority is to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the united kingdom stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before. there were also pledges on training and skills, the reform of planning laws, animal welfare and the environment — but no detailed commitments to address the long—term funding of social care. and the other main stories this lunchtime...

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