to get your vaccine, having not taken the offer up earlier? you can contact me @annita—mcveigh. president biden says the us is working to secure a ceasefire, after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. he urges both sides to protect civilians. as the indian state of gujarat is struck by its worst cyclone in decades, more than 125 people are missing at sea after their barge was sunk. the head of russia's foreign intelligence service tells the bbc that allegations of their involvement in a massive cyber—attack in the us are absurd. and coming up this hour: just 20 companies produce more than half of all the single—use plastic thrown away around the world, according to a climate change report.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. ministers are stepping up calls for people to accept a covid vaccination as soon as they're offered one. there are fears the spread of the india variant could jeopardise the end of lockdown restrictions next month and a review into social distancing expected next week may be delayed. there are now 2,323 confirmed cases of the strain in the uk with 86 local authorities now having five or more cases. the health secretary matt hancock told the house of commons yesterday that the india variant is now the dominant strain in bolton and neighbouring blackburn and darwen, and was rising in all age groups.

he said most people in hospital in those areas had been eligible for a jab but had chosen not to have one, and he urged anyone who was unsure about vaccines to look at what's happening in bolton. but yasmin qureshi, the labour mp for bolton south east, challenged mr hancock's suggestion that her constituents had refused the vaccine, blaming poor organisation instead. amid the rising numbers of the variant, the government has warned its next review of social distancing measures may be delayed, saying its decision would be based on the latest data. let's get more on this from our correspondentjon donnison. # a lovely day... a lovely day, and — for those out on the town indoors in manchester last night — one that's been a long time coming. a chance to get the glad rags on, or maybe just a pint with the pooch. do you know what? it's just amazing. you know, we spent so long, like... even being outside is not the same thing as being inside. and just the atmosphere, people, live music — it's brilliant, i love it.

indoor soft play areas for children are also now open — welcome news for parents in hull. it's amazing, just that he gets to be around other— children and interact. he's not had that for the last year so, yeah, it's great for him. - wales has also seen its restrictions eased and, in cardiff, the bingo was back. it's made me feel great to be able to... i've missed it so much. it's not as if i even win! but at the same time as it's easing restrictions, the government in westminster says it's urging caution, amid growing concerns about the new indian variant of the virus. the vaccination programme can give us confidence, - but we must be alert to new variants that could jeopardise _ the advances that we've made. in bolton, which has the highest infection rates in england, the vaccine programme has been stepped up, with long queues forming outside vaccination centres.

the government says there are now 86 local authorities with at least five cases of the indian variant. bedford is the latest place to roll out surge testing, and some say the government needs to slow down. my feeling is that we really need to just be a little bit more cautious in the speed at which we open up, and keep a very close eye on this variant. but while the restrictions we've all lived under are being eased now, it could be several weeks before we know what impact that has on the numbers. jon donnison, bbc news. government ministers being really very cautious in the language they are using around all of this. is this paving the way for an announcement that the ending of restrictions expected injune won't happen as planned? restrictions expected in june won't happen as planned?—

happen as planned? well, i think downin: happen as planned? well, i think downing street _ happen as planned? well, i think downing street is _ happen as planned? well, i think downing street is playing - happen as planned? well, i think downing street is playing down i happen as planned? well, i think downing street is playing down a| downing street is playing down a potential delay to some of the things leading up to that, so for example yesterday we heard that the review on social distancing rules, things like the one metre plus rule in pubs and hospitality venues, things like we are and when you need to wear a mask, that was due to happen, orthey to wear a mask, that was due to happen, or they hope to be able to announce that by the end of may which of course would be next week. yesterday we heard that was potentially going to be delayed. the plan is still to announce on the 14th ofjune whether or not the extra stage of relaxations, the final stage, will go ahead on during the 21st and of course that is the deep and the government had hoped to be able to lift all legal restrictions, so things like the opening making sure there are weddings with unlimited guests, we will find out on during the 14th. and at the moment i think there is a high degree of uncertainty around the indian variants on the bottom

line is that ministers and scientists don't know how much more transmissible it is. they need to look at the data over the next few weeks to actually look how more transmissible litters and therefore what the impact would be.- what the impact would be. helen catt, what the impact would be. helen catt. thank _ what the impact would be. helen catt. thank very _ what the impact would be. helen catt, thank very much. _ i'm joined now by dr simon clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the university of reading. thank you forjoining us. what are your thoughts on the transmissibility of the india variant, taking on the advancement of the vaccine programme here in the uk? i think unfortunately we don't have that line. it's frozen. we will try to get back to him, though. let's move on. the us presidentjoe biden has said he backs a ceasefire in gaza — and said the us is engaging

with egypt and other partners towards that end. in a phone call with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, mr biden also voiced his support for israel's right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks — while urging mr netanyahu to protect civilians. more than 212 people, including 61 children, have died in gaza, and ten, including two children, in israel. this was the scene in gaza city as day broke, bringing with it more airstrikes. with the latest here's our middle east editorjeremy bowen. nightmares come true in gaza for parents and their children. this mother couldn't talk about the air strike that engulfed them last friday. eight—year—old mustafa alzahana and his mother are further down the children's ward at shifa, gaza's main hospital. she says mustafa trembles when he hears israeli attacks, ever since the one that wounded him almost a week ago as he left their home with his father to buy

new clothes for the end of ramadan. his father was paralysed. mustafa's friend who went with them is dead. translation: his friend baraa was killed. when baraa was dying, he was clutching my son tightly and telling him not to leave him alone. baraa died. when my son has a fever, he hallucinates about it. as well as the badly injured, 61 children in gaza have been killed in the last week. about 20 miles north is this synagogue in the israeli town of ashkelon, it was hit by a hamas rocket. it was the festival of shavuot, the feast of weeks, usually a celebration. it's a very sad time for us over here in ashkelon. we are always on bombing. i hope it will finish fast. injerusalem, the western wall plaza was almost deserted.

this is the holiest place forjews to pray. it's usually packed on religious holidays like today, but some of the worshippers said people were scared to go out. the grey dome of al—aqsa mosque is one of the most sacred places for muslims. you can see how close it is to the wall. above the wall is the golden dome of the rock, both muslim shrines are built on the site of the ancient jewish temple. these sites are all also national symbols. a month of tension here raised the hatred levels so high it led to war. the events of the last week have shown a couple of things. first of all, the power ofjerusalem to ignite this conflict. and hamas have sent a strong message to palestinians that as far as they're concerned, they are their real protectors here in the holy city, even though hamas h0 is 60 or 70

miles away by the sea in gaza. our gaza producerfilmed his drive to work this morning. you can see the bomb sites. if palestinians and israelis could be equally safe and secure, they might have a chance of peace. right now, they don't. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. let's speak to the former prime minister of sweden, carl bildt, he currently sits as co—chair on the european council on foreign relations — a pan—european think—tank. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. the united states blocking a un security council statement again, calling for a cessation of violence in the region, although president biden has spoken of his support for a ceasefire. will eu foreign ministers meeting today explicitly call for an end to the violence? ~ explicitly call for an end to the violence?— explicitly call for an end to the violence? ~ . ., , ., , explicitly call for an end to the

violence? ~ . ., , .,, violence? well, i certainly hope so. particularly — violence? well, i certainly hope so. particularly after _ violence? well, i certainly hope so. particularly after president - violence? well, i certainly hope so. particularly after president biden i particularly after president biden has spoken about a ceasefire. i would expect that in the not—too—distant future we will have a ceasefire. the important thing is what happens thereafter. the international community, be that the united states or the european union, they need to not walk away from the issue again, as we've done after outbursts which frequently occur. a comprehensive solution might be difficult. but it should be possible to move towards a more stable situation after this. but it requires political determination and political courage and i hope that you can demonstrate that. so why specifically _ you can demonstrate that. so why specifically do _ you can demonstrate that. so why specifically do you _ you can demonstrate that. so why specifically do you say _ you can demonstrate that. so why specifically do you say that - you can demonstrate that. so why specifically do you say that a - specifically do you say that a ceasefire may be coming? i mean, what's happening on the ground, internationally, to make you say that? i apologise. internationally, to make you say that? iapologise. we internationally, to make you say that? i apologise. we are having

problems with the lines to guests. let me see if we can get carl bildt back. while we do that, this is the area in southern israel, very close to the border with gaza. we have seen sustained activity from the israeli army. obviously this is an area that is within range of rockets fired by hamas militants and we are now into the second week of this violence in the region, as efforts continue to find a diplomatic solution to in the first instance secure a cessation of violence. i believe we do have the co—chair of the european council on foreign relations back. apologies for technical problems. i was just asking you why you said to me that

you think a ceasefire may be coming soon? �* .., , you think a ceasefire may be coming soon? �* . ., , ., you think a ceasefire may be coming soon? �* , ., , ., you think a ceasefire may be coming soon? ., , ., ., soon? because that is what normally ha ens. soon? because that is what normally happens- these _ soon? because that is what normally happens. these conflicts _ soon? because that is what normally happens. these conflicts don't - soon? because that is what normally happens. these conflicts don't go . soon? because that is what normally happens. these conflicts don't go on j happens. these conflicts don't go on forever. at some point in time, israel will say they will accept a ceasefire and i hope hamas does the same. but the important thing is that we don't walk away from the issue. new rockets, new air strikes. how do we build a sustained conversation, a sustained dialogue and diplomatic efforts to ensure that we don't have these crisis points and then more conversation? how do you keep the conversation going, then, to try to work towards a longer—term solution? going, then, to try to work towards a longer-term solution?— a longer-term solution? difficult, difficult, difficult. _ a longer-term solution? difficult, difficult, difficult. firstly, - a longer-term solution? difficult, difficult, difficult. firstly, you - difficult, difficult. firstly, you have to try do it. the international community, america and europe, have not been active in this. it is hard

and you might fail, but if you don't try, it won't happen. i remember ten or 15 years ago when there were outbursts as well, the eu was actively trying to facilitate some sort of temporary solution. so there are models that can be used in order to get a slightly better situation. you say the core problem is the absence of a two state solution. where do you think international efforts are on that question? nowhere. i mean, the trump administration was against it. the biden administration seems to be reluctant to engage because it's too difficult. the europeans have been too divided lately. binyamin netanyahu is against. perhaps once you begin sorting this out, look at it issue by issue. butjust to walk

away from the issue is, i think that's been demonstrated not responsible. let that's been demonstrated not reaponsible-— that's been demonstrated not responsible. that's been demonstrated not resonsible. , , ., ., responsible. let me pick up on what ou said responsible. let me pick up on what you said about _ responsible. let me pick up on what you said about joe _ responsible. let me pick up on what you said about joe biden. _ responsible. let me pick up on what you said about joe biden. you - responsible. let me pick up on what you said about joe biden. you don't| you said aboutjoe biden. you don't think the us is going to engage in this because they see it as simply too difficult? the this because they see it as simply too difficult?— too difficult? the obama administration, - too difficult? the obama administration, the - too difficult? the obama l administration, the second too difficult? the obama - administration, the second term too difficult? the obama _ administration, the second term with john kerry as envoy, made a determined attempt to move forward with the two state solution and failed. no fault of theirs, but failed. no fault of theirs, but failed. , ., �* .,, failed. no fault of theirs, but failed. , ., �* ., failed. no fault of theirs, but failed. , ., ~ ., ., failed. joe biden was part of that administration _ failed. joe biden was part of that administration and _ failed. joe biden was part of that administration and you _ failed. joe biden was part of that administration and you think - failed. joe biden was part of that administration and you think he l failed. joe biden was part of that i administration and you think he was bruised by that? i administration and you think he was bruised by that?— bruised by that? i think washington is bruised by _ bruised by that? i think washington is bruised by that _ bruised by that? i think washington is bruised by that particular - is bruised by that particular experience. trump tried to do something entirely different which is off the cards at the moment. i would hope that in spite of the experience and understanding that a two state solution is not achievable in the next few months, so gaza is

an example of what can be dealt with and what must be dealt with. trasing and what must be dealt with. trying to solve the — and what must be dealt with. trying to solve the totality _ and what must be dealt with. trying to solve the totality of _ and what must be dealt with. trying to solve the totality of this - and what must be dealt with. trying to solve the totality of this is - to solve the totality of this is impossible, so as you say it's about small stages. so what do you think needs to be the next step? weill. small stages. so what do you think needs to be the next step? well, the immediate step _ needs to be the next step? well, the immediate step is _ needs to be the next step? well, the immediate step is obviously - needs to be the next step? well, the immediate step is obviously a - immediate step is obviously a ceasefire. then perhaps i think one should start with the issue in gaza orjerusalem and then you gradually move towards a two state solution. but perhaps doing more incrementally.— but perhaps doing more incrementally. but perhaps doing more incrementall. ., ~ , but perhaps doing more incrementall . ., ~ , . incrementally. thank you very much. thank you- — the headlines on bbc news...

the uk government is urging people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the india variant. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk, 86 local authorities now have confirmed cases. president biden says the us is working to secure a ceasefire — after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. let's return to the indian variant spreading in britain. i'm joined now by dr simon clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the university of reading. thank you for bearing with us with the technical issues. we wanted to ask you about the transmissibility, how transmissible do you think this variant is going to be here in the context of the vaccine programme, which is pretty well advanced? weill. which is pretty well advanced? well, the transmissibility, _ which is pretty well advanced? well, the transmissibility, it _

which is pretty well advanced? well, the transmissibility, it does - which is pretty well advanced? -ii the transmissibility, it does appear to be more transmissible, but we don't have a handle on exactly by how much. you will hear all sorts of kites phone with numbers on them, but i think this is largely guesswork. but it does appear to be more transmissible and that of course will meet the wall of vaccines. we have to wait and see. this will only be decided or figured out by trying it on people. and watching what happens. how much the vaccine is able to withhold that increase transmissibility. in the absence of— increase transmissibility. in the absence of firm _ increase transmissibility. in the absence of firm data _ increase transmissibility. in the absence of firm data yet, - increase transmissibility. in the i absence of firm data yet, because increase transmissibility. in the - absence of firm data yet, because we simply don't have enough weeks worth of data, presumably you would be taking a very cautious approach? i would be taking a more cautious approach, yes. ithink... but of course we won't know for sure how transmissibility is against the vaccine until try it. i mean, that's the uncomfortable compromise we've

got to make. we the uncomfortable compromise we've got to make-— got to make. we had a clip earlier from the director _ got to make. we had a clip earlier from the director of _ got to make. we had a clip earlier from the director of public - got to make. we had a clip earlier from the director of public health | from the director of public health in bedford, one of the areas where this is variant of concern and she was talking about a pattern of this virus spreading, this variant spreading among children, it being brought back into homes and then a slightly wider community transmission. do you think that schools need to be doing everything they can to stop transmission amongst children, including the wearing of masks?— amongst children, including the wearing of masks? well, if there is the potential— wearing of masks? well, if there is the potential increase _ wearing of masks? well, if there is the potential increase transmission in schools, then there needs to be a lot more testing in schools. the wearing of masks isjust lot more testing in schools. the wearing of masks is just one other thing you can add to the list, but i think actually getting a really accurate picture of what's going on in schools is probably more useful. the twice—weekly lateral flow testing that pupils are being asked to do at the moment, is that enough? potentially not, no. if it's moving

quickly, then perhaps every day would be quite instructive. it really feels like time is of the essence. do you think the resources are being ramped up sufficiently to meet that challenge?— are being ramped up sufficiently to meet that challenge? well, i'm not sure the testing _ meet that challenge? well, i'm not sure the testing is _ meet that challenge? well, i'm not sure the testing is necessarily - sure the testing is necessarily being ramped up. i think people will decide that enough is being done already. i'm not sure i would agree with that vis—a—vis testing in schools and of course in some instances we need to make sure that children are actually supervised and doing it properly. just children are actually supervised and doing it properly-— doing it properly. just to bring this conversation _ doing it properly. just to bring this conversation back - doing it properly. just to bring this conversation back to - this conversation back to vaccinations, how important is it that people get their vaccine when they're called up to and if they were already eligible for one but haven't, what should they do now? if they are already eligible for it and haven't had it, they should just go and book it. it's an evergreen offer. but it does appear that having had the vaccine prevents you from picking up this variant. i'm

not quite sure sure what effect it has on transmissibility, there may or may not be in effect, but i think it protects you or gives you a large degree of protection from picking it up, so it's really important people do it. b. up, so it's really important people do it. �* ., ., ., , do it. a large degree against ickin: it do it. a large degree against picking it up _ do it. a large degree against picking it up in _ do it. a large degree against picking it up in the _ do it. a large degree against picking it up in the first - do it. a large degree against - picking it up in the first instance, never mind stopping you getting very ill from it? it never mind stopping you getting very ill from it? , ., , never mind stopping you getting very ill from it? , .,, i. ill from it? it will stop you caettin ill from it? it will stop you getting very _ ill from it? it will stop you getting very ill, _ ill from it? it will stop you getting very ill, the - ill from it? it will stop you getting very ill, the mostl ill from it? it will stop you - getting very ill, the most important thing. but getting very ill, the most important thin. �* �* , ., thing. but i'm interested in what ou were thing. but i'm interested in what you were saying. _ thing. but i'm interested in what you were saying, there - thing. but i'm interested in what you were saying, there is - thing. but i'm interested in what you were saying, there is data i you were saying, there is data suggesting you might not get the variant in the first place?- variant in the first place? that's correct. variant in the first place? that's correct- its _ variant in the first place? that's correct. it's not _ variant in the first place? that's correct. it's not a _ variant in the first place? that's correct. it's not a huge - variant in the first place? that's correct. it's not a huge amount| variant in the first place? that's l correct. it's not a huge amount of data, but there is an anecdotal pattern. if you get heat maps of areas where there is this variant and overlaid with vaccine uptake, you see a correlation start to form between low vaccine uptake and high

virus acquisition, high viral contraction.— virus acquisition, high viral contraction. , , ., contraction. very interesting to talk to you- _ contraction. very interesting to talk to you. thank _ contraction. very interesting to talk to you. thank you - contraction. very interesting to talk to you. thank you very - contraction. very interesting to i talk to you. thank you very much. you are welcome. _ a powerful cyclone made landfall in the indian state of gujarat overnight, killing at least 12 people. 150,000 residents were forced to move to safety, including hundreds of covid—positive patients who are being treated amid the country's devastating wave of coronavirus. the navy has sent three warships to try to rescue people stranded off the coast. iamjoined i am joined now by a single —— a seniorfaculty i am joined now by a single —— a senior faculty professor. thank you forjoining us. a combination of the virus and in extreme weather events, incredibly challenging. how many covid patients do you have at the hospital where you are based right now? ~ , hospital where you are based right now? . , ., , ., ., now? where based in central gu'arat.

-- we are now? where based in central gu'arat. -- we based. i now? where based in central gu'arat. -- we are based. we fl now? where based in central gu'arat. -- we are based. we currently h now? where based in central gujarat. -- we are based. we currently have i —— we are based. we currently have 545 patients with covid. of those, around 500 will be on some kind of oxygen therapy. we have 100 critical patients. that is the number of patients. that is the number of patients we have. i5 patients. that is the number of patients we have.— patients. that is the number of patients we have. is the hospital at risk of being _ patients we have. is the hospital at risk of being damaged _ patients we have. is the hospital at risk of being damaged by _ patients we have. is the hospital at risk of being damaged by the - risk of being damaged by the cyclone? might you need to evacuate patients? we cyclone? might you need to evacuate atients? ~ ., ., , ., patients? we had a field hospital in lace for patients? we had a field hospital in place for the _ patients? we had a field hospital in place for the last _ patients? we had a field hospital in place for the last two _ patients? we had a field hospital in place for the last two weeks - patients? we had a field hospital in place for the last two weeks to - place for the last two weeks to manage patients. due to the cyclone, a lot of them had to be moved indoors in the past three days.

oxygen treatment is being arranged for these patients. there is a risk of stuff happening in patients being at risk. plans have been made over the past couple of days in case such a thing happens. bud the past couple of days in case such a thing happens-— a thing happens. and what is the weather like _ a thing happens. and what is the weather like where _ a thing happens. and what is the weather like where you - a thing happens. and what is the weather like where you are - a thing happens. and what is the j weather like where you are now? professor, you were just talking about a risk to the electricity supply. i'm presuming that the professor cannot hear me. let me try again. can you hear me? well, just a second ago, the professor was talking about the possibility of power cuts because of the cyclone and it looks like one isjust happened where he is. the hospital

were he and his colleagues are looking after covid patients, around 540 covid patients. he wasjust mentioning about trying to get additional oxygen supplies and to try to take account of the cyclone. i do hope they manage to look after patients there and are not too seriously affected by the extreme weather. thousands of british holiday—makers have jetted off on their first foreign holiday in months — as travel restrictions have been eased around the uk. apart from northern ireland which is still to announce whether there will be any relaxation. portugal is one of the 12 destinations currently on the government's green list, which means british tourists won't have to self—isolate on their return. our transport correspondent caroline davies joins us from the beaches of southern portugal this morning. that beach looks pretty quiet, but i would imagine they are going to be getting busier?—

getting busier? yes, here in the altarve getting busier? yes, here in the algarve it's _ getting busier? yes, here in the algarve it's still _ getting busier? yes, here in the algarve it's still relatively - getting busier? yes, here in the algarve it's still relatively quiet | algarve it's still relatively quiet at the moment. restaurants, cafes and bars have been quiet for some time now but there is excitement about the fact they will hopefully be filling up again soon. i'm currently standing at a restaurant operated by this person. tell me how difficult the past year has been without british tourists? goad without british tourists? good mornin: , without british tourists? good morning, lovely _ without british tourists? good morning, lovely to _ without british tourists? good morning, lovely to see - without british tourists? good morning, lovely to see you. i morning, lovely to see you. obviously— morning, lovely to see you. obviously it's not been a great year to be _ obviously it's not been a great year to be in_ obviously it's not been a great year to be in the — obviously it's not been a great year to be in the hospitality industry. here _ to be in the hospitality industry. here we've been lucky but our heart .oes here we've been lucky but our heart goes out _ here we've been lucky but our heart goes out to— here we've been lucky but our heart goes out to all those people we would _ goes out to all those people we would normally have been able to employ _ would normally have been able to employ but because of covid, we simply— employ but because of covid, we simply haven't had positions available. but we are looking forward — available. but we are looking forward to a brighter future. the summer is _ forward to a brighter future. iie: summer is looking more forward to a brighter future. "iie: summer is looking more positive. forward to a brighter future. iie: summer is looking more positive. how important is that to be on the green list for the uk? it’s important is that to be on the green list forthe uk?— list for the uk? it's absolutely hue. list for the uk? it's absolutely huge- we're — list for the uk? it's absolutely huge. we're so _ list for the uk? it's absolutely huge. we're so excited - list for the uk? it's absolutely huge. we're so excited and i list for the uk? it's absolutely | huge. we're so excited and the feeling — huge. we're so excited and the feeling in — huge. we're so excited and the feeling in portugal is phenomenal. we depend hugely on tourism, especially in the algarve. unemployment has been up 61% on the

same time _ unemployment has been up 61% on the same time last year. it makes the difference — same time last year. it makes the difference between whether people can actually put food on the tables. it's can actually put food on the tables. it's huge _ can actually put food on the tables. it's huge. you are currently on the green list which is great news for hear about last year you are only available for british tourists to come for a couple of weeks. how optimistic are you feeling about portugal staying on the green list and continuing to let in british tourists for the whole of the summer? i tourists for the whole of the summer?— tourists for the whole of the summer? ~' �* ., ,., . summer? i think we've had so much wor and summer? i think we've had so much worry and negativity, _ summer? i think we've had so much worry and negativity, i _ summer? i think we've had so much worry and negativity, i genuinely - worry and negativity, i genuinely feel excited at the moment and i strongly— feel excited at the moment and i strongly believe that with the measures in place, if people come and are _ measures in place, if people come and are respectful and responsible, i and are respectful and responsible, i really— and are respectful and responsible, i really do _ and are respectful and responsible, i really do think we can keep covid levels _ i really do think we can keep covid levels down, reduce any spikes and perhaps— levels down, reduce any spikes and perhaps portugal could be the forerunners of showing how international travel can open again through— international travel can open again through the summer and into next year _ through the summer and into next ear. ~ . , ., , year. we are very positive. you must be very excited _ year. we are very positive. you must be very excited about _ year. we are very positive. you must be very excited about the _ year. we are very positive. you must be very excited about the prospect i be very excited about the prospect of guests coming to fill your terrace? 50 of guests coming to fill your terrace? . ~ �* of guests coming to fill your terrace? . . . terrace? so excited. we're looking forward to a _ terrace? so excited. we're looking forward to a busy _ terrace? so excited. we're looking forward to a busy summer - terrace? so excited. we're looking forward to a busy summer season, terrace? so excited. we're looking - forward to a busy summer season, not

'ust forward to a busy summer season, not just for— forward to a busy summer season, not just for us— forward to a busy summer season, not just for us but— forward to a busy summer season, not just for us but for all the restaurants, hotels and industries that will— restaurants, hotels and industries that will benefit from it.— that will benefit from it. thank very much- — that will benefit from it. thank very much. plenty _ that will benefit from it. thank very much. plenty more - that will benefit from it. thank i very much. plenty more tourists that will benefit from it. thank - very much. plenty more tourists are due to be arriving in the algarve and throughout portugal in the next few days and weeks.— and throughout portugal in the next few days and weeks. thank you very much. caroline _ few days and weeks. thank you very much. caroline davies _ few days and weeks. thank you very much. caroline davies in _ few days and weeks. thank you very much. caroline davies in portugal. much. caroline davies in portugal for us. the headlines on bbc news... the uk government is urging people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one, due to the threat of the india variant. downing street has warned its review of social distancing may now report back later than planned. more than 2,000 cases of the india variant have been confirmed across the uk, it's thought to be the dominant strain in at least two towns in england. president biden says the us is working to secure a ceasefire after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. he urges both sides to protect civilians. as the indian state of gujarat is struck by its worst cyclone in decades, more than 125 people are missing at sea

after their barge was sunk. the head of russia's foreign intelligence service tells the bbc allegations of their involvement in last year's solarwinds cyber—attack are "absurd." let's return now to our main story. ministers are stepping up calls for people to book a coronavirus vaccination as soon as they're offered one, amid increasing concern over the indian variant. 86 local councils have five or more cases of the variant and there are warnings it could delay the final stage of easing lockdown restrictions in england. one of the areas where the india variant has become the dominant strain is blackburn. earlier i spoke to our correspondent phil mccann from there. he says there's been an increase in the number of vaccines doses being made available in blackburn and in neighbouring bolton. they are the two boroughs that have the highest number of people with the indian variant in the country, and this is what that surge looks like.

this is a pop—up vaccination clinic. it appeared here in this car park overnight. it was dropped off by a lorry. and the reason that they have done that is because there has been concern that not enough people, of course, as we heard, had been coming forward to get their vaccine and it's thought that one of the reasons for that, other than people being hesitant, is that the vaccines may not be close enough to where people live, and so this vaccine centre has popped up here. there's another one across town and something similar is happening over in bolton. we heard matt hancock, the health secretary, yesterday saying, if you are hesitant about getting the vaccine then he said, just look at bolton, because the majority of people in hospital in bolton at people who were eligible for the vaccine but haven't had it. and part of the reason for that, we were hearing from health officials here this morning, is linked to deprivation. people perhaps not being able to book or not being able to get out to go to a vaccination centre, but the health officials i was speaking to here this morning

were saying that they are a bit concerned by all the queues they've seen here in bolton in the last few days. long queues down the street of people trying to get to the vaccination centres there. so this one is going to be appointment only. there are none of those queues this morning. their�*s an orderly car parking system and small queues of people who have booked appointments, so they don't want people to be put off by seeing lots of tv pictures of people queueing up to get their vaccinations, so the people here in blackburn they have to get onto the internet of ring up and book but they did say by the end of today it may be the case that they have left over vaccine — it has a short shelf life — and so they may then put a call out to say to people that they can come along on spec to try to get vaccinated. so, can ijust clarify with you, phil, who is eligible to come along? obviously, anyone who's been in those groups already vaccinated who hasn't been vaccinated yet, but, looking at younger age groups as well, who can actually turn up — or make an appointment, i should say, to turn up — to vaccination centres like the one behind you?

it is anyone of any age who has an underlying health condition, but if you don't have an underlying health condition, it is people over the age of 36, and matt hancock yesterday was saying they're not going to expand it to all age groups at the moment because the really want to concentrate the resource on those people who are older and therefore more vulnerable to getting seriously ill. the first person who came here today to get vaccinated with 20 years old, david, i spoke to him a few moments ago, he said he was able to get a jab because one of his parents has an underlying health condition and he is a front line worker in a supermarket, sojust he is a front line worker in a supermarket, so just yesterday he could book a jab, but most people his age would not be eligible. i asked whether most people in the early 20s in blackburn were wanting

to get the virus or were they hesitant, he said the vast majority of them want to but some of those stones and the minority of his friends who did not were worried, basically because of things they had read online. phil basically because of things they had read online. ~ . . we can speak now to dr zubaida haque. dr haque is a member of the group that established itself as an alternative to the government's official scientific advisors, calling themselves the independent sage group. dr zubaida haque, thank you very much forjoining us. you have been very clear in your criticism of the timing of the uk government decision to restrict travel from india. now this particular variant is here in around 86 council areas, we believe, what can you say from what you know so far about how easily it is transmitted? irate so far about how easily it is transmitted?— so far about how easily it is transmitted? ~ ., ~ ., ., , transmitted? we now know that it is about 5096 more _ transmitted? we now know that it is about 5096 more transmissible - transmitted? we now know that it is about 5096 more transmissible than | about 50% more transmissible than the kent variant, and as you said it is rapidly spread across the country in less than one and a half months,

in less than one and a half months, in the last six weeks. it has been doubling every week, last week it tripled, cases are growing exponentially over time, spreading far and wide. we have 86 areas with a minimum five cases, this is a huge problem. and can i say it is a decoy and the destruction to focus on vaccine hesitancy at the moment —— a decoy and a distraction. matt hancock has said the hospitalisations in bolton suggest a vaccine hesitancy issue, but that evidence is so poor, based on 18 hospitalisations in bolton of which up hospitalisations in bolton of which up to 12 people have not taken the vaccine when offered, but we do not know why. it could be medical reasons. we know six people in that group have taken the vaccine, so this is not a vaccine hesitancy issue, it is about the fact that the

government house left open the border —— the government left open the border, quarantine is extremely poor because there is no viral suppression strategy to stop the variance from spreading across the country. 50 variance from spreading across the count . , ., country. so in terms of susceptibility - country. so in terms of susceptibility to - country. so in terms of susceptibility to the . country. so in terms of. susceptibility to the virus country. so in terms of- susceptibility to the virus after the vaccine as opposed to somebody who has not had the vaccine for whatever reason, and obviously there is a political argument which we will not get into too much because we want to focus on the science, the previous guest i had said there was some evidence that if you have had the vaccine it was stopping you from getting, from contracting this variant. there is obviously the issue of reducing ill effects, that issue of reducing ill effects, that is there any evidence that if you have the vaccine it stops you contracting this variant? some evidence. _ contracting this variant? some evidence, but _ contracting this variant? some evidence, but i _ contracting this variant? some evidence, but i think _ contracting this variant? some evidence, but i think the - contracting this variant? some evidence, but i think the real. evidence, but i think the real concern is that the evidence is

still emerging. we have the study showing the vaccines are reflective to some extent. we have to remember that even though it is much better to take the vaccine than not, because it reduces severe illness, the vaccines are still not foolproof, there is still room for people to become infected with this virus and to spread the virus, whether the so—called indian variant, the south african variant, the brazil all the kent variant, there is still room for that. the biggest issue here is there is no strategy to suppress the spread of the variance and i think that is the really huge concern.— the variance and i think that is the really huge concern. what would you like to see in — really huge concern. what would you like to see in terms _ really huge concern. what would you like to see in terms of _ really huge concern. what would you like to see in terms of strategy - like to see in terms of strategy right now? whatever that will be needs to be put in place pretty quickly? needs to be put in place pretty uickl? , ., needs to be put in place pretty tuickl ? . , ., ., quickly? absolutely, so we want to travel to be — quickly? absolutely, so we want to travel to be completely _ quickly? absolutely, so we want to travel to be completely restricted, | travel to be completely restricted, only to need space travel, leisure

travel should be restricted, it should not be allowed right now. the government did not pass the four tests on the road map, especially about the risk assessment on new dairy and serve concerned, we fail part but the government house gone ahead. —— at the risk assessment on new variants. they need to close the border, strong quarantine for everybody regardless of whether they come from a red, amber or green country. robust test entree such as locally driven that we trace everybody who has this variant and we need to support self isolation —— test and trace which is locally driven. self isolation is the weakest part of the government strategy and no matter how much you put forward tests or to surge testing, unless you help people to self—isolate, including an accommodation for multi—generational households, people will not come forward, so we want to see all of that and a limit on indoor mixing.

go ahead, dr haque?— that and a limit on indoor mixing. go ahead, dr haque? sorry, iwas atoin go ahead, dr haque? sorry, iwas ttoin to go ahead, dr haque? sorry, iwas going to say _ go ahead, dr haque? sorry, iwas going to say that _ go ahead, dr haque? sorry, iwas going to say that right _ go ahead, dr haque? sorry, iwas going to say that right now, - go ahead, dr haque? sorry, i was i going to say that right now, because we have gone ahead with the third stage of the road map, the government has created perfect conditions for this variant to spread because they have allowed travel to go ahead, they have allowed more indoor mixing. we know approximately 97% of transmission happens indoors. why they wouldn't limit that, why they would get facemasks in secondary school classrooms and corridors whereby was no real evidence that children mounted wearing them —— why they would get rid of facemasks. we know it was keeping cases down in school. why they have done all of that, which goes against the evidence, goes against the risk posed by the so—called indian variant, it is completely unfathomable and, frankly, dangerous. the government

need to pause and put in much more mitigation measures, including limiting enjoy travel, indoor mixing just for the next two or three weeks until we find out more about this variant. {in until we find out more about this variant. , ., , ., , variant. on younger people, schoolchildren, _ variant. on younger people, schoolchildren, young - variant. on younger people, | schoolchildren, young adults, singapore is one of the countries which has expressed concern about transmission of the virus amongst younger people, children. we heard from the director of public health in bedford earlier said there seem to be a pattern of transmission amongst children, children returning home, transmission spreading around families and more widely into the community. you mentioned wearing masks in school, what more needs to be done specifically on looking out for this variant in younger age groups? i for this variant in younger age trou s? ~ ., , for this variant in younger age trou-s? ~ ., , , for this variant in younger age trou s? ~ . , , ., groups? i think that is why we are concerned — groups? i think that is why we are concerned about _ groups? i think that is why we are concerned about hospitalisationsl concerned about hospitalisations increasing in the next few weeks, because we know from india that this

variant has affected younger groups, we know it is an issue in multi—generational housing which crosses all communities but is particularly more accentuated in some of the black and ethnic minority communities. we know this virus spreads in those conditions and effects younger people, so vaccines need to be rolled out very quickly, but on top of that in order to keep younger people safe, we need more mitigation in schools, facemasks are not enough, the government has not improved ventilation, has not created more spaces so children can space out in a socially distanced weight.- a socially distanced weight. clearly schools are — a socially distanced weight. clearly schools are trying _ a socially distanced weight. clearly schools are trying to _ a socially distanced weight. clearly schools are trying to do _ a socially distanced weight. clearly schools are trying to do that, - schools are trying to do that, taking the lead themselves in terms of encouraging people is to still wear masks and spacing them out when they can —— encouraging pupils to still wear masks. mr;

they can -- encouraging pupils to still wear masks.— still wear masks. my children had said that schools _ still wear masks. my children had said that schools have _ still wear masks. my children had said that schools have suggested | said that schools have suggested they can still wear masks and most of the children wearing masks despite government guidance saying you no longer need eight, and that is the most astonishing thing, here we have failed to test four of the road map and yet the government have gone the other way with relaxing all of the public health safety restrictions rather than tightening. is there a balance given how well advanced the vaccination programme is to be struck with mental health, they need to return to some of the norms that we love in society, meeting up with friends and family and the economic argument? absolutely, and certainly if the government will limit indoor make signature to help all businesses that have just opened, that have been economically affected, hugely economically affected in this

pandemic. the government should financially support those businesses if they limit indoor mixing for the next two or three weeks, but unless the governmentjust reversed some of the governmentjust reversed some of the relaxation measures, unless they purchased a few limits, we are not talking about going back into lockdown like in the last couple of months but unless they do that we will go back to a national lockdown, we will be facing searches and hospitalisation, the same injanuary if not more, and that is notjust my word or the word of independent sage, that is from the government's own scientists in sage who has modelled for this and said if the government carry on the way they are with all the relaxed measures, even if the vaccine is effective against the so—called indian variant, we are still looking at high

hospitalisations, so the government need to learn that lesson now. we must leave — need to learn that lesson now. we must leave it there, thanking for your thoughts, must leave it there, thanking for yourthoughts, drzubaida haque, your thoughts, dr zubaida haque, member of yourthoughts, drzubaida haque, member of independent sage. the united states has said it will give an additional 20 million doses to other countries amid warnings of lack of supply in poorer countries. the us had already pledged to donate 60 million doses of the astrazeneca jab. president biden said the us would become "the arsenal of vaccines for the rest of the world". spain has deployed soldiers to the land border of its area of independent sage, after an estimated 5000 people arrive by yesterday. —— of its area of cueta. migrants continue to gather at the borderfence this morning — these pictures have just come in to us, showing migrants swimming in to the spanish territory. witnesses say moroccan police appear to do nothing to intervene, fuelling speculation

that the relaxing of the border controls is a political move by morocco. spain says it has returned 1,500 of the migrants back to morocco. the spanish prime minister, pedro sanchez, is cancelling a planned trip to paris over the crisis. this report now from mark lobel. one person's voyage for a more buoyant life, resting on an inflatable ring. children were among the groups of families and many young men making the short trip from neighbouring morocco. this area is a known magnet for african migrants. but it's the sheer number who entered spain's ceuta enclave in a single day that has surprised officials here. leaving morocco, these people either walked across at low tide or swam around fences in the sea. in sunny scenes, not a far cry from a relaxed day out on the beach. a gesture of empathy on arrival, but many of them are likely to have to return.

last month almost all the dozens of young moroccans who made a similarjourney were sent packing, except for unaccompanied minors. spain is belatedly bolstering its police presence here. its media blames moroccan border guards for not stopping the latest arrivals from leaving. but why would morocco let its guard down? the two countries are currently in dispute as madrid has allowed the treatment for covid on spanish soil of a political leader fighting for the independence of western sahara from morocco, angering the kingdom. morocco's foreign minister had warned the move would have consequences. spanish officials insist it was done for strictly humanitarian reasons —

an explanation that's no doubt also driven these thousands of others to make theirjourney to spain too. but for many of them, their stay in europe may be short lived. mark lobel, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... the uk government is urging people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the india variant. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk, 86 local authorities now have confirmed cases. president biden says the us is working to secure a ceasefire after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. more on that now. president biden says the us

is working to secure a ceasefire after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. the upsurge in violence has triggered an unprecedented wave of protests across the wider middle east. as our correspondent martin patience reports from beirut, the fighting is galvanising support for the palestinian cause. palestinian anger has been roused across the region. in jordan, security forces battled to keep protesters away from the border with israel. this was the scene at the lebanese border. what we're witnessing is a resurgence in palestinian identity. hundreds of thousands of palestinians fled or were forced out of their homes in what they call al—nakbah, "the catastrophe," when israel was created in 1948. they have never been allowed to return, and many still live in camps.

this is sabra and shatila, infamous for a massacre carried out here almost 40 years ago by lebanese christian gunmen while israeli forces looked on. and it is in these refugee camps, where opportunities and jobs are hard to come by, that the sense of palestinian injustice is at its strongest. one family bound by a single cause across three generations. this man was born in the galilee, now part of israel. he fled to lebanon when he was just a boy. translation: it's the new generation that are going to make history. - the israelis thought that when the elderly died the youth would forget the cause, but no. they are even more determined. his son tells me that he wishes he was there

so he could join the fight. while his granddaughter has this message. translation: my wish is to return to palestine, and ifi can't, - then i want to die a martyr for my country. well, as we heard there from three different generations, the palestinians in this camp want to return home one day. and it is that powerful combination of nationalism and religion that has fuelled this conflict for more than 70 years, and the reality is it is likely to continue fuelling it for decades to come. martin patience, bbc news, beirut. in an exclusive interview with the bbc, the head of russia's foreign intelligence service has denied his agency was linked to a major cyberattack

in the us last year. sergei naryshkin was responding to accusations from british and american authorities that russian intelligence carried out the solarwinds attack, which compromised government departments and threatened us national security. mr naryshkin suggested western intelligence may have orchestrated the operation. our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg reports. america says his spy agency hacked its way to the very heart of the us government. sergei naryshkin heads the svr, russia's equivalent of m16, and he says "where is the evidence?" translation: there is none, at least not made public. - have you seen proof? no, neither have i. the hack has been dubbed the biggest cyber espionage operation the world has seen. by infecting software of the company solarwinds, the hackers gained access potentially to thousands

of targets, including at least nine us federal agencies. when the us administration says it has traced the attack to a cyber group which goes by the name variously of cosy bear or the dukes, which it is claimed is linked to or part of the svr, is that not true? translation: all these claims about cyber attacks, _ poisonings, hacks, interference in elections, which are blamed on russia, they are so absurd, and in some cases so pathetic. they are like a bad crime novel. russia's spy chief is hinting that america is behind the hack. he says documents leaked by us whistle—blower edward snowden in 2013 show that western spy agencies were inserting secret bugs into commercial equipment software.

translation: idon't- want to say this cyber attack was carried out by a us agency, but the tactics are similar. recently, a former head of m16 accused moscow of aggressive intelligence activities across europe, but what about western agents in russia? is british intelligence very active in russia, in your country? translation: ask| the director of m16! and when i meet him, i will ask myself. do you have conversations, do you have links at the moment with your counterparts in britain, mi6? translation: we have started corresponding. l i'm telling you a little secret. the correspondence is respectful and polite, and i hope very much that as a result of this, there will be contacts, including face—to—face.

that's hard to picture, because, right now, between russia and the west, instead of cooperation, it's cold war. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. new research suggests more than half of single—use plastic items thrown away around the world are made from materials produced by just 20 companies. the authors of the study say firms should take more responsibility for the impact of the waste. our science editor david shukman reports. it all begins with oil pumped from underground, the start of a plastic journey. in refineries and processing plants, the oil is turned into the raw materials for plastic. and the new research finds that of those destined to make single use items, half are produced byjust 20 companies. those ingredients are sold to manufacturers who make everything from plastic cups

to plastic bottles. most of them used just once and then thrown away, often polluting the environment. the study says the original producers need to take responsibility for that. the future of the plastic waste crisis really sits in the hands ofjust 20 companies who account for more than half of the waste we generate. we need to go after the tap to turn off the tap of fossil fuel plastics, and we need to create plastics from recycled materials. the producers say they are trying to recycle as much plastic as possible and that they're investing in new ways to do that. they say it's not as easy as it looks and that anyway, we all depend on plastic to keep ourselves safe and to keep our food fresh. but pressure is mounting on the companies involved to do more. these rivers are choked with plastic waste and at the moment there's no end in sight to scenes like this.

david shukman, bbc news. a new study suggests there are at least 50 billion wild birds in the world. the most common species are the house sparrow, european starling, and barn swallow. but many species have a population of below 5,000. some of the lovely pictures. you're watching bbc news. joanna will be with you next until 1pm. now, the weather with nick miller. hello. it may have been a fine start to the day out there across many areas, but don't be deceived, because it is another day for dodging the downpours now. after the early sunshine and the pleasant sunrise, if you were up early enough, well, the clouds are building and the showers will break out. and yet again there will be some heavy, indeed thundery, downpours out there. a chance of hail too.

it is a low pressure weather pattern across the uk at the moment, and that is not changing for the rest of the week, indeed into the weekend. let's see how today is going to pan out. already some showers for wales and south—west england, they are going to feed their way further east across the midlands, towards the east and south—east of england. some prolonged heavy and thundery downpours here. they will be rather more scattered across north—east england, eastern and northern scotland and northern ireland. there will be parts of south—west scotland and north—west england that have a largely dry and sunny afternoon. temperatures where they have been for several days now, in the range mainly of 12 to 16 celsius. now, there will be some patchy rain in the far north of scotland, we'll continue with that overnight, and we'll hold on to some cloud and some showers across parts of wales and southern england through the night, whereas elsewhere where skies are clear and winds are light, temperatures will be lower than this in rural spots. i can't rule out a touch of frost in the coldest most frost—prone parts of northern england, but especially northern ireland and scotland going into the morning. and as for wednesday, yes, there will be some showers again, could be heavy in places,

but i think not as many as we've had recently. largely across eastern parts, some to northern ireland, but there will be many across the western side of the uk that will have a largely fine day with some sunny spells. all that will change, though, on thursday, as another area of low pressure moves in from the atlantic. may get off to a fine start on thursday, it's likely not to stay that way as that low pressure system feeds in an area of rain north and eastward, heavy showers following on behind and a difference on thursday will be the wind picking up. these are the gusts, we will get around 40, 50 mph across the western coasts and hills, so some gales developing here and, again, your temperatures mainly around the mid to low teens. they are not getting any higher going into the weekend. in fact, as that area of low pressure pulls away after a very windy friday, colder winds come down from the north for the weekend, with showers and then more rain arriving to at least western areas on sunday.

this is bbc news. i'm joanna gosling. the headlines at 11am... ministers urge people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the indian variant. downing street has warned its review of social distancing may now report back later than planned. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk. it's thought to be the dominant strain in some areas. some experts say low vaccine uptake is not behind the spread. this is not a vaccine hesitancy issue, this is about the fact that

the government have left open the border and that quarantine is extremely poor and porous. police searching for the remains of mary bastholm, missing since the 1960s, are to excavate a gloucester cafe linked to serial killer fred west. president biden says the us is working to secure a ceasefire, after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. he urges both sides to protect civilians. a number of uk universities say they plan to deliver some lectures online in the autumn. students in leeds have launched a petition to demand in—person teaching. and coming up this hour... garden centres in england are to be banned from selling peat, as part of new measures to restore nature and tackle climate change.

good morning and welcome to bbc news. ministers are stepping up calls for people to accept a covid vaccination as soon as they're offered one. there are fears the spread of the india variant could jeopardise the end of lockdown restrictions next month. and a review into social distancing expected next week may be delayed. there are now 2,323 confirmed cases of the strain in the uk, with 86 local authorities now having five or more cases. the health secretary matt hancock told the house of commons yesterday that the india variant is now the dominant strain in bolton and neighbouring blackburn and darwen, and was rising in all age groups. he said most people in hospital in those areas had been eligible for a jab but had chosen not to have one. and he urged anyone who was unsure about vaccines to "look at what's happening in bolton". but yasmin qureshi, the labour mp for bolton south east,

challenged mr hancock's suggestion that her constituents had refused the vaccine, blaming poor organisation instead. amid the rising numbers of the variant, the government has warned its next review of social distancing measures may be delayed, saying its decision would be based on the "latest data". let's get more on this from our correspondentjon donnison. # a lovely day... a lovely day, and — for those out on the town indoors in manchester last night — one that's been a long time coming. a chance to get the glad rags on, or maybe just a pint with the pooch. do you know what? it's just amazing. you know, we spent so long, like... even being outside is not the same thing as being inside. and just the atmosphere, people, live music — it's brilliant, i love it. indoor soft play areas for children are also now open — welcome news for parents in hull. it's amazing, just that he gets to be around other children and interact.

he's not had that for the last year so, yeah, it's great for him. wales and scotland have also seen their restrictions eased and, in cardiff, the bingo was back. it made me feel great to be able to... i've missed it so much. it's not as if i even win! but at the same time as it's easing restrictions, the government in westminster says it's urging caution, amid growing concerns about the new indian variant of the virus. the vaccination programme can give us confidence, but we must be alert to new variants that could jeopardise the advances that we've made. in bolton, which has the highest infection rates in england, the vaccine programme has been stepped up, with long queues forming outside vaccination centres. the government says there are now 86 local authorities with at least five cases of the indian variant.

bedford is the latest place to roll out surge testing, and some say the government needs to slow down. my feeling is that we really need tojust be a little bit more cautious in the speed at which we open up, and keep a very close eye on this variant. but while the restrictions we've all lived under are being eased now, it could be several weeks before we know what impact that has on the numbers. john donnison, bbc news. our political correspondent helen catt is at westminster. data and advice flying at a government from all directions. what options are now being considered? i think at the moment it is a case of wait and see. the government has been pretty clear that at the moment ministers and scientists just don't have the data on this, that it would take the next few weeks to see what is happening. it is certainly true that the government admits that the indian variant is causing a high degree of uncertainty in its plans.

we heard yesterday that that may delay the announcement of that social distancing review, that was looking at things like the one metre plus rule in pubs and restaurants, things like when and where to wear masks. there were hopes from ministers that they could announce that at the end of may to give plenty of time for people to prepare in terms of lifting restrictions on the 21st ofjune. it looks like that may get pushed back. the plan is still to announce on the 14th of june weather that final stage of unlocking will go ahead on the 21st, thatis unlocking will go ahead on the 21st, that is when the government hopes to lift all restrictions, legal restrictions, for example on the numbers at weddings. that'll have to wait and see, it will depend on the data over the next few weeks as to whether that goes ahead. at the moment, the focus is on vaccine take up. moment, the focus is on vaccine take u ._ moment, the focus is on vaccine take u . _ , ., moment, the focus is on vaccine take u ._ , ., ., moment, the focus is on vaccine take u . _ , ., ., ., up. the government will have to tra- tle up. the government will have to grapple with _ up. the government will have to grapple with what _ up. the government will have to grapple with what it _ up. the government will have to grapple with what it needs - up. the government will have to grapple with what it needs to - up. the government will have to grapple with what it needs to be | up. the government will have to i grapple with what it needs to be if the number of cases keeps going up in terms of whether the lockdown potentially has to be delayed nationally or whether they bring in

localised lockdowns. are you getting any sense of the thinking on that currently? i any sense of the thinking on that currentl ? ~ ., ., currently? i think at the moment the are currently? i think at the moment they are not _ currently? i think at the moment they are not really _ currently? i think at the moment they are not really quite - currently? i think at the moment they are not really quite wanting| currently? i think at the moment i they are not really quite wanting to go there. at the moment it is a case of look at the data and wait and see what happens. you are right, some of the ideas that have been speculative on r will be see the return of local lockdowns like we had before? is it a case of pushing back thatjune 21 the prime minister himself suggested was something that could throw the road map of course. i think right now what they are doing is to focus on the immediate trying to get the vaccine uptake up, putting on surge testing to see if that can tackle the variant outbreaks where it is happening at the moment. there has been pushed back from the local mps, from other mps about the idea of having any sort of local imposition of restrictions. again, i hate having the say this but i think it will be wait and see for the next

few weeks. it will be wait and see for the next few weeks-— will be wait and see for the next few weeks. , ., , few weeks. it is fine, we are used to that. few weeks. it is fine, we are used to that- we _ few weeks. it is fine, we are used to that. we have _ few weeks. it is fine, we are used to that. we have been _ few weeks. it is fine, we are used to that. we have been hearing - few weeks. it is fine, we are used. to that. we have been hearing that few weeks. it is fine, we are used i to that. we have been hearing that a lot over the past year. thank you very much. our correspondent phil mccann is in blackburn — one of the areas where the india variant has become the dominant strain. he says there's been an increase in the number of vaccine doses being made available there and in neighbouring bolton. they are the two boroughs that have the highest number of people with the indian variant in the country, and this is what that surge looks like. this is a pop—up vaccination clinic. it appeared here in this car park overnight. it was dropped off by a lorry. and the reason that they have done that is because there has been concern that not enough people, of course, as we heard, had been coming forward to get their vaccine. and it's thought that one of the reasons for that, other than people being hesitant, is that the vaccines may not be close enough to where people live. and so this vaccine centre has popped up here. there's another one across town and something similar is happening over in bolton. we heard matt hancock, the health secretary, yesterday saying, if you are hesitant about getting the vaccine then

he said, just look at bolton, because the majority of people in hospital in bolton are people who were eligible for the vaccine but haven't had it. and part of the reason for that, we were hearing from health officials here this morning, is linked to deprivation. people perhaps not being able to book or not being able to get out to go to a vaccination centre. but the health officials i was speaking to here this morning were saying that they are a bit concerned by all the queues they've seen here in bolton in the last few days. long queues down the street of people trying to get to the vaccination centres there. so this one is going to be appointment only. there are none of those queues this morning. there's an orderly car parking system and small queues of people who have booked appointments. so they don't want people to be put off by seeing lots of tv pictures of people queueing up to get their vaccinations. so for people here in blackburn they have to get onto the internet of ring up and book. but they did say

by the end of today it may be the case that they have left over vaccine — it has a short shelf life — and so they may then put a call out to say to people that they can come along on spec to try to get vaccinated. cases of the indian variant are also on the rise in bedford. the town's director of public health, vicky head, gave this update on the situation. what we know though is that we are seeing transmission now within the community more generally. so having had cases mostly in our school—age, younger population, we see movement into their households. that is one of the really striking things about the variant is just how transmissible it is. so if someone who goes to school tests positive, we then see the whole family test positive. we are now seeing more cases in the community where there is no connection to a school, so we are now moving to that surge testing model. we are working closely with our colleagues regionally and nationally to get that in place. we will be identifying some small areas in bedford where we will be targeting for that surge testing. dr zubaida haque is a member of independent sage, a group set up as an alternative

to the government's official scientific advisors. she says it's a distraction and a decoy to focus on vaccine hesistancy. i know matt hancock has said that the hospitalisations in bolton suggest that this is a vaccine hesitancy issue. but really that evidence is so poor, it is based on 18 hospitalisations in bolton of which up to 12 people have not taken the vaccine when they have been offered, but we don't know why. it could be medical reasons. but we know one third of that group, six people have taken the vaccine. so this is not a vaccine hesitancy issue, this is about the fact that the government have left open the border, and that quarantine is extremely poor and porous. and because there is no virus suppression strategy to stop this variant from spreading.

the united states has said it will give an additional 20 million doses of covid vaccines to other countries, amid renewed warnings about a lack of supplies in poorer countries. the us had already pledged to donate 60 million doses of the astrazeneca jab. president biden said the us would become "the arsenal of vaccines for the rest of the world". the us president has said he backs a ceasefire in gaza and said the us is engaging with egypt and other partners towards that end. in a phone call with the israeli prime minister, mr biden also voiced his support for israel's right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks, while urging mr netanyahu to protect civilians. more than 212 people, including 61 children, have died in gaza, and ten, including two children, in israel. our middle east correspondent yolande knell gave us this update on the fighting and the diplomatic efforts. certainly there were dozens of israeli air strikes in gaza overnight. my colleagues there said that buildings shook really violently.

this is where israel is in particular going after militant tunnels underground, what it calls the metro. on the other side, there were still barrages of rockets, particularly after dawn, fired by militants in gaza toward southern israel. but, importantly, there were no deaths reported on either side immediately overnight, and this violence does seem to be at a slightly lower level than we have seen in recent days. that could be an encouraging sign. all of this against the backdrop of diplomacy picking up. we know that there are egyptian intelligence officials who are on the ground speaking to the different sides. egypt is always a key player in this, trying to secure ceasefires between israel and hamas, because the two sides do not talk to each other directly. the us has also had its own envoy here for a few days now, but it is important what president biden said, because that is changing the us message to israel, basically saying now...

encouraging the israelis to try to seek a ceasefire, it's not something that the us has done up to now. and the us has blocked three times the un security council from passing a resolution on the hostilities that we've seen in the past week using its veto power. israel is always looking to the us as its real staunch ally, and that message has come through, that relationship, of course, remains intact. we have heard from mr netanyahu and, indeed, from israeli military spokespeople that they are continuing to go after the targets in gaza, particularly hamas militants and their networks. but, yes, we need to see now what happens on the ground, whether this leads to a bit of a change. we have actually got hope that during the day, from a humanitarian perspective, the kerem shalom commercial crossing

between israel and gaza could open for the first time in a week to allow in some fuel to go to the gaza power station. because that's not had any fuel and people are really suffering with electricity shortages. also for medicines and things like that to go in, that could also be another positive sign that at least diplomacy is delivering something. police have confirmed that excavation work will begin tomorrow at a cafe in gloucester, as they search for the body of a suspected victim of serial killer fred west. 15—year—old mary bastholm worked at the clean plate cafe before she went missing in 1968. will batchelor reports. he's been dead for more than a quarter of a century, but fred west's crimes still cast a shadow over gloucester. earlier this month, police officers began an initial search of this cafe in the town where west was a regular customer and where he carried out building work in the late 1960s. it was also the cafe where15—year—old mary bastholm

worked as a waitress. she was last seen in 1968 while waiting for a bus nearby. west was charged with murdering 12 women and girls in 1994, many of them buried at his house on cromwell street. he took his own life before he could stand trial. although never charged with mary's murder, many people in gloucester suspected his involvement. now the police search of the cafe basement has provided enough evidence to prompt excavation work, which is due to start tomorrow and likely to last several weeks. mary's family have been kept abreast of developments and are said to be happy at the thought of potentially solving the mystery of her disappearance. will batchelor, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... ministers urge people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the indian variant. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been

confirmed across the uk. some experts say low vaccine uptake is not behind the spread. police searching for the remains of mary bastholm, missing since the 1960s, are to excavate a gloucester cafe linked to serial killer fred west. a number of uk universities have said they plan to continue delivering some lectures online in the autumn term. students in leeds have started a petition in protest, saying there's no reason for them not to be in lecture halls when they can sit in pubs and cinemas. we can speak now to hillary gyebi—ababio, vice president higher education at the national union of students. welcome, thank you very much for joining us. should there be any online teaching at universities from autumn when, as things currently stand, we are heading for all social distancing to be stopped injune? yeah, i think it has been completely unfair that the government continue to put university students on the

back burner when they are relaxing rules in other parts of society but still leaving university students to be left behind. and disadvantaged by not being able to have that in person teaching that they have been asking for such long time. i think that it asking for such long time. i think thatitis asking for such long time. i think that it is important that if it is a safe and if the data is showing us that that can happen safely because we are seeing relaxation in other parts of society, then by all means the government need to be working so making that happen to students. sorry to interrupt you, but you are pointing the finger at the government and not the universities. it is universities individually taking this decision. for the autumn, isn't it? i taking this decision. for the autumn, isn't it?— taking this decision. for the autumn, isn't it? ithink it is the government's _ autumn, isn't it? ithink it is the government's role _ autumn, isn't it? ithink it is the government's role is _ autumn, isn't it? ithink it is the government's role is to - autumn, isn't it? ithink it is the government's role is to be - autumn, isn't it? ithink it is the government's role is to be able | autumn, isn't it? i think it is the i government's role is to be able to support and enable universities to make decisions that would be conducive to making sure students are able to get the full learning experience. we have seen the government abandon universities when they needed the support to make sure that students can get the learning experience that they quite frankly

have worked so hard for and have missed out on for the past year and a half. ~ ., , , , a half. what is the issue, then? what does _ a half. what is the issue, then? what does the _ a half. what is the issue, then? what does the government - a half. what is the issue, then? | what does the government need a half. what is the issue, then? - what does the government need to do? what does the government need to do? what is the problem to universities? because they are talking about hybrid learning, saying that seminars and tutorials should be able to be done face—to—face, but there needs to be a hybrid element with lectures continuing to be done online. what is the problem? weill. with lectures continuing to be done online. what is the problem? well, i think it is important _ online. what is the problem? well, i think it is important firstly _ online. what is the problem? well, i think it is important firstly that - think it is important firstly that there have been aspects of online learning which have been really beneficial for students that have had access to things which have needed that flexibility. what we have seen time and again is that with the rules always constantly missing out specific information for university students, it has meant that universities have been slow with talking about what that has meant for students in the next academic year. while i cannot speak on behalf of universities, i can say that the students, it has been so, so important that they are able to go back to university and it feels like the government have not

facilitated an environment where that decision can be made, and safety is assured for students to be able to return in person. if it is safe and if the data is showing us that that is something that can happen, as we are seeing with the relaxation of rules this week. [30 relaxation of rules this week. do ou relaxation of rules this week. do you share the anger of some students who say that it is ridiculous and a disgrace that there is not, that there will be some online teaching? also some parents, one here saying "my daughter has had an awful year stuck in her room, get a grip please!" stuck in her room, get a grip tlease!" ., ~ , please!" yeah, i think it is completely _ please!�* yeah, i think it is completely unfair- please!" yeah, i think it is completely unfair that - please!" yeah, i think it is - completely unfair that students please!" yeah, i think it is _ completely unfair that students have missed out on so much teaching and learning over this past year, and that has not been the experience that has not been the experience that they signed up for. whilst they were aware of the fact that it was for their safety, were aware of the fact that it was fortheirsafety, i were aware of the fact that it was for their safety, i think it has been really discouraging that students have seen other parts of society gets to be relaxed and get to have that experience back, but at university they have been left out

the decision—making. they have been left out of the announcement, left out of being given a chance to get an aspect of a university experience back that quite frankly a lot of students have missed over the past year and a half. so i think didn't have every right to be angry, and what they have a right to do is clarity and information about what they are going to get next year and how they can prepare for that. and he supported in going back hopefully if and when a safety university in the academic year.— if and when a safety university in the academic year. what about fee rebates? currently _ the academic year. what about fee rebates? currently it _ the academic year. what about fee rebates? currently it is _ the academic year. what about fee rebates? currently it is pretty - rebates? currently it is pretty piecemeal, the student website the tab said that one in 30 students that has asked for a fee refund has not won. the online learning continues going on, is this something that needs to be sorted out? i something that needs to be sorted out? ~' .. ., something that needs to be sorted out? ~ .. ., , , out? i think the fact that students are charged _ out? i think the fact that students are charged fees _ out? i think the fact that students are charged fees in _ out? i think the fact that students are charged fees in the _ out? i think the fact that students are charged fees in the first - out? i think the fact that students are charged fees in the first place | are charged fees in the first place needs to be looked at in its entirety. because ultimately it is not fair that students are forced to pay fees when they have worked hard

for an education which species that make which should be for the public good. —— which should be for their good. —— which should be for their good. they have been asking the government time and again for that comprehensive support and for the support packages that they have been needing to get through university and get through that education. that is why we have been calling for student support packages so students can get support that is equitable for what we have seen in northern ireland and in wales that ensures that students get the economic justice they have been asking for talking about fee rebates and hardship and other forms of economic justice that they have been tirelessly advocating for. thank you ve much tirelessly advocating for. thank you very much for— tirelessly advocating for. thank you very much forjoining _ tirelessly advocating for. thank you very much forjoining us. _ tirelessly advocating for. thank you very much forjoining us. thank- tirelessly advocating for. thank you | very much forjoining us. thank you. government advisers have told the bbc any decision over compensation for key workers with long covid could take more than a year. 65 mps and peers have written to borisjohnson asking for the illness to be made an 'occupational disease'.

it's estimated more than a million people in the uk have long covid, including over 120,000 health care workers. the government says it is committed to supporting people throughout the pandemic. joining me now is the lib dem mp and chair of the all parliamentary group on coronavirus, layla moran. thank you very much forjoining us. what difference would it make were long covid to be formally recognised as an occupational disease? �* ., .,, recognised as an occupational disease? �* ., ., ., disease? before those of front line workers, disease? before those of front line workers. the _ disease? before those of front line workers, the very _ disease? before those of front line workers, the very people - disease? before those of front line workers, the very people who - disease? before those of front line| workers, the very people who went out on thursdays on our doorsteps clapping for, who were asked to go into work to keep the country going and who then got covid and eventually long covid, it would make a world of difference. at the moment, the amount of support that they get is really patchy. on the one hand, doctors in the nhs have an extra pot which means they don't lose pay, but we have heard from social care workers, social care workers who, after the six months of

£96 per week of statutory sick pay, found themselves with no income at all. they have told us that they are at risk of losing their homes as a result of getting sick from covid and then getting long covid. so to them personally, it would mean a huge amount. our view is that frankly this country has a moral obligation to help them. until such time as the official bodies who were set up before this pandemic, who are taking it slowly, making sure that evidence is really robust, actually there is enough evidence now we think for the government to step in and the very least put in something interim in place until that final call can be made. the interim in place untilthat final call can be made.— interim in place untilthat final call can be made. the reason that the sa call can be made. the reason that they say it — call can be made. the reason that they say it is _ call can be made. the reason that they say it is so — call can be made. the reason that they say it is so difficult _ call can be made. the reason that they say it is so difficult to - call can be made. the reason that they say it is so difficult to work i they say it is so difficult to work their way through this on whether covid should be an occupational disease is because some things are really clear—cut as being caused as a part of a working environment. but with covid, you don't know where you got it.

with covid, you don't know where you tot it. ., .. ., with covid, you don't know where you tot it. ., ., ~ ., with covid, you don't know where you totit. ., ., ~ ., , , got it. you cannot know completely, but the way — got it. you cannot know completely, but the way that _ got it. you cannot know completely, but the way that they _ got it. you cannot know completely, but the way that they make - got it. you cannot know completely, but the way that they make that - but the way that they make that determination is that on balance it is more likely you got it at work than not. and the group that we are very concerned about are those particularly in that first wave when there was such a shortage of protective equipment when we did not know what we know about mask wearing in schools, ventilation, social distancing was in place but there were a lot of people reporting that workplaces were not as good as they are now at managing that situation. and the ons figures that we have suggesting, if you look at which professions are most likely affected, it does seem that that balance of risk is moving in the direction that they probably did get it at work at that time. so i understand where the official bodies are coming from, but nevertheless, i think the presumption should be that if you were a health and social care worker, if you are a teacher who, when all of us were allowed to stay at home working from home, were not asked to go out and keep the country going, that if you did that and put

yourself at risk and then as a result of putting yourself at risk thenit result of putting yourself at risk then it got long covid, you should be supported. at the moment, what we are worried about is that people are dropping off, and these are people who we need in our workforce. the investment to support them and then eventually get them back into work is worth making. at the moment, they are finding themselves in a position where they are actually being pushed some of them, back to work. on the nature of long covid is that when you do that you often end up with a relapse. it is in the government's relapse, in our view, to support these workers. it is notjust of the smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do. smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do-_ smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do. with the india strain now obviously _ thing to do. with the india strain now obviously on _ thing to do. with the india strain now obviously on the _ thing to do. with the india strain now obviously on the increase i thing to do. with the india strain now obviously on the increase in j now obviously on the increase in some areas, there are questions around what should happen with the vaccine roll—outs, whether the initial strategy of getting as many firstjabs into arms as possible should continue. ie young people start to get it, or whether it should be the currently targeted vulnerable groups who get both jabs.

what is your view on that? it seems particularly pertinent when we are talking about long covid because there is increasing evidence about long covid being a problem for the young. long covid being a problem for the cum. . ., _ young. indeed, i am delighted to say i tot m young. indeed, i am delighted to say i got my first — young. indeed, i am delighted to say i got my first jab _ young. indeed, i am delighted to say i got my first jab yesterday _ young. indeed, i am delighted to say i got my first jab yesterday and - young. indeed, i am delighted to say i got my first jab yesterday and it - i got my firstjab yesterday and it was amazing. i got my first 'ab yesterday and it was amazing.— i got my first 'ab yesterday and it was amazing— it| i got my first 'ab yesterday and it - was amazing— it was was amazing. congratulations! it was emotional, was amazing. congratulations! it was emotional. l— was amazing. congratulations! it was emotional, i have _ was amazing. congratulations! it was emotional, i have been _ was amazing. congratulations! it was emotional, i have been talking - was amazing. congratulations! it was emotional, i have been talking aboutj emotional, i have been talking about excellence and i recognise that i am 38 and have it now. there are huge numbers of people who are yet to be vaccinated, because they don't want to be but because it was not offered to be but because it was not offered to them. i think we do need to leave it tojcvi it to them. i think we do need to leave it to jcvi it to to them. i think we do need to leave it tojcvi it to make to them. i think we do need to leave it to jcvi it to make those decisions, but what it does highlight is something we have been pushing the government to do is to recognise that long covid should be part of this conversation. so if you are someone younger who has not been able to have the vaccine that you are hearing about social distancing collapsing, masks being stopped in secondary schools, we know that children can get long covid too and the consequences of that for their learning and their families the consequences of that for their learning and theirfamilies can be awful. the government needs to

maintain all those protections as if we are not vaccinated yet, until such time as the whole country has been. i think we will leave it to jcvi to decide what to do on vaccines, but i think it is right that the government gives a lot of protections in place and hurt that they do not unlock too quickly because the consequences to the young of long covid, i don't think they have been taking into account. when you talk about keeping the protections in place, what about for instance, a lot of relaxation came instance, a lot of relaxation came in yesterday, foreign travel, the government is now saying there are countries on the amber list people are allowed to go to them. under the new guidance. but the government are saying people should not actually go on holiday to countries on the amber list. do you think that the travel restrictions should come back again? this is an area of huge frustration for the all party group, because about one month ago we put out a report of evidence that we heard from the border force and epidemiologists that this was a really bad idea. at that time, we

started to see what was happening in india, we saw that the indian variant was beginning to emerge. and one of the bits of evidence we heard was the fact that they announced that india was going to go on that list and then a few days later it was actually enforced. the flights meanwhile were full, we now know that 20,000 people came in on those flights, probably bringing that varied with them. what we said at the time was that we think the government has got this wrong, that they should be much more cautious, that actually most countries should essentially be considered to be on the red list. and that this was a time when they should be actively discouraging, particularly leisure travel. when i say that with a huge amount of pain, most of my family including my parents don't live in this country, they live in belgium. i am desperate to see them. i understand how people feel, but nevertheless the risk until we have sorted out the borders. we were very concerned to hear that people are mixing between red, amber and green on arrival holes. that is not

sorted. untilthat on arrival holes. that is not sorted. until that government sought that, it is too risky for the i am glad the government has changed its messaging, but, unfortunately that is now confusing. one of our long—standing concerns with the way the government has approached all of this is that a lack of clarity of message very often in what they are saying. i think the welsh government got the better. they accepted that read, and my dream is coming in but they said, right from the off, —— accepted that read, amber and green were coming in but they continued. they try to encourage people not to travel rather than saying green is go. travel rather than saying green is o, ., ~' travel rather than saying green is to. ., " travel rather than saying green is to. . ~' , ., , . , go. thank you very much. i will be s-etakin go. thank you very much. i will be speaking to _ go. thank you very much. i will be speaking to the — go. thank you very much. i will be speaking to the employment - go. thank you very much. i will be i speaking to the employment minister at mims davies shortly. on the new unemployed figures but we will put some of those points to her because it is all pertinent as to what happens economically here. and you can listen to file on 4's report on all this — 'the cost of long covid' airs

tonight on radio 4 at eight o'clock. the uk's unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.8% in the three months to march, down from 4.9% in february. the office for national statistics says the figures show "early signs of recovery" and that the number of workers on payrolls had risen between march and april, but was still more than three quarters of a million lower than before the pandemic struck. let's speak to the minister for employment mims davies. thank you very much forjoining us. how fragile is this, bearing in mind where we are now in terms of the indian variant putting? over the continued easing of lockdown? goad continued easing of lockdown? good mornint. i continued easing of lockdown? good morning. i think— continued easing of lockdown? good morning. i think we _ continued easing of lockdown? (limp. morning. i think we have seen a continued positive fall in unemployment with vacancies further rising and further growth in employment rates which is really welcome news as we continue this rope to a recovery. as we heard from the previous speaker, it is

difficult times and it has been difficult times and it has been difficult times and it has been difficult times over the last year and i am very mindful that behind every statistic in terms of unemployment that is a person, family, livelihood and community. it has been a really difficult time across sectors. i have been meeting apprentices and kick—starting employers this morning in wakefield and it was brilliant to see the positivity in the construction industry which is back to pre—pandemic levels so some sectors are thriving but as we heard, travel and hospitality are struggling. hopefully our uk hospitality sector will start to come back to life and bring those opportunities especially for young people to come back into the workspace. for young people to come back into the workspace-— for young people to come back into the workspace. obviously confidence has been vital _ the workspace. obviously confidence has been vital and _ the workspace. obviously confidence has been vital and the _ the workspace. obviously confidence has been vital and the vaccine i has been vital and the vaccine roll—out has done a lot to deliver that and the road map has given

companies and all of us signalling on when making expect things to happen but there are now? is over it, how worried are you about the impact on confidence?— impact on confidence? there is a balance we _ impact on confidence? there is a balance we need _ impact on confidence? there is a balance we need to _ impact on confidence? there is a balance we need to strike - impact on confidence? there is a balance we need to strike about| impact on confidence? there is a i balance we need to strike about our own personal responsibility and how we go about things in the workplace. how we use the opportunity of restrictions lifting. i want also to say to people if you're a covid compliant workplace, sticking to the rules thank my colleagues at the ministry for health and safety, they have done and 80,000 covid compliance checks over the slash gear to help people feel safe at work. as we go about enjoying the reduction of restrictions, we need to continue to be sensible around the variants and around the unlocking. if you are in the 1—9 category or the age range for

vaccination, please do take it. every person vaccinated helps us continue one road map to recovery. we have a five—week gap before the next stage in june we have a five—week gap before the next stage injune and we will be studying the data very carefully. the prime minister and government have been clear, we are driven by data, not solely the dates and we will be watching things extremely closely. i5 will be watching things extremely closel . , ., ., . closely. is travel to risky at the moment? _ closely. is travel to risky at the moment? we _ closely. is travel to risky at the moment? we are _ closely. is travel to risky at the moment? we are allowed i closely. is travel to risky at the moment? we are allowed to i closely. is travel to risky at the | moment? we are allowed to go closely. is travel to risky at the i moment? we are allowed to go on holiday but there is restrictions, the red, green and amber—listed, the government now saying there is you should not go to amber countries. but there is nothing to stop people going. we heard the speaker on the all—party parliamentary group on the coronavirus talking about the concerns of the committee, questions over india going on the red list was first raids, it took too long and 20,000 people came into the country at the time which has led to us

being where we are now. the tighter restrictions meet come back in now? i think the transport secretary has been clear always that it has been difficult for us a government to tell people you cannot go on holiday. you can only travel if you need to for work purposes or in extremis so it has been really difficult to move away from that point and we have been doing it very slowly and carefully. just a few days ago, the complaint was there was not enough countries on the green list. as a government, we have made it clear that this year, do not expect holidays to be on the way you would like them to be. if you need to travel to see family and friends, thatis to travel to see family and friends, that is because it is important, staycation is supporting our own economy is the way to do it alongside taking the right precautions around covid. there is a balance, myself as a local

constituency mp, close to gatwick airport, seeing the impact on your travel and tourism industry, it is extremely difficult to manage that. we have tried to act accordingly with passenger locations, focus testing where we have seen a surge in bolton for example, people on the ground helping people to understand the importance of taking tests and getting the vaccination and doing local search testing and focusing on your contacts if there has been any positives so we'll need to take responsibility because we all want to get back to normality as soon as possible. we have been very clear this is the summer of staycation and taking precautions around covid so we do not lose all the hard fought freedom we started to see coming back to as yesterday.— freedom we started to see coming back to as yesterday. thank you very much forjoining _ back to as yesterday. thank you very much forjoining us. _ back to as yesterday. thank you very much forjoining us. let _ back to as yesterday. thank you very much forjoining us. let us _ back to as yesterday. thank you very much forjoining us. let us catch i back to as yesterday. thank you very much forjoining us. let us catch up. much forjoining us. let us catch up with the sport. i have just had some

breaking news, roy hodgson is leaving crystal palace. he said after more than 45 years of coaching, he has decided the time is right for him to step away from the rigours of top—flight football so his final two matches will be his last ones as manager of crystal palace. they go to liverpool on the final day of the premier season. roy hodgson is standing down, the former england manager, the crystal palace managerforfour years. england manager, the crystal palace manager for four years. just palace will finish in the bottom half of the table, staving off relegation. we will see whether he continues in football, he said top—flight premier football, he said top—flight premier football, it was time for him to step away from that. we will have

more on that story for the later hour. for those of you into social media, you will have noticed that harry kane has been trending. there's been some pretty feverish speculation that the england captain wants to leave tottenham this summer, although we understand that he has not asked for a transfer and responding to the reports suggesting otherwise, the club has simply said "our focus is on finishing the season as strongly as possible. that s what everyone should be as strongly as possible. to win his first trophy after 12 years at the club and he has another three years left on his contract. he has scored 220 goals in 334 appearances. it's the penultimate round of premier league fixtures over the next couple of nights. after leicester beat cheslea in the fa cup final three days ago, they meet again. both teams are still trying to confirm their place in the top four — to qualify for next season's champions league. defeat for either side would leave a top four finish out of their hands. both can still be caught by liverpool following their last

gasp win over west brom thanks to a goalfrom goalkeeper alisson. everything is still in our hands. the players have been absolutely brilliant up until this point. we have european football, we have two games now to arrive into the top four. it was obviously an amazing header by alison to score that goal, to have intuition take what they are and score it. if we focus on ourselves, we have a great opportunity to qualify. with two games to go, we aim take it. theo walcott has signed a permamant deal to stay at southampton. he's been on loan from everton for most of the season. the 32 year old forward has signed a two year deal at saints. it's where his career started. after coming through the southampton acadamey he made his first team debut at the age of 16 in 2005. eric cantona has become the third player inducted into the premier league's hall of fame.

he won four premier league titles in five seasons with manchester united and joins alan shearer and thierry henry as fellow inductees. of the honour, in typical cantona style he says he's "proud, but not surprised". an american court has thrown a spanner in the works in the build up to the all—british heavyweight unification fight between anthony joshua and tyson fury in august. they've ruled that fury has to fight deontay wilder, the former wbc champ, for a third time before september 15th, thatjust a month afterjoshua and fury are set to meet in saudi arabia. fury�*s promoter frank warren says discussions are ongoing with wilder's team about reaching an agreement for him to step aside. the australian bowlers involved in the infamous ball—tampering match against south africa in 2018 have released a joint statement again denying that they knew what was going on at the time. mitchell starc, pat cummins, josh hazlewood and nathan lyon have responded following an interview with batsman cameron bancroft,

who was banned for using sandpaper to scuff up the ball in the cape town test. he appeared to suggest the bowlers would have known the ball had been tampered with. the quartet have protested their innocence and have requested 'an end to the rumour—mongering andinnuendo! that's all the sport for now. keep a night on the bbc website with the news about roy hodgson leaving crystal palace after four years. thank you very much. the government has indicated that uk farmers may have to prepare for the lowering of tariffs on agricultural imports. the department for international trade says a deal with australia would be "an important stepping stone" towards membership of the trans—pacific partnership free trade area. the national farmers union has urged the government to "stand up forfarmers" in the negotiations. our economics correspondent dharshani david joins us now.

explain a bit for us about the background to this. this explain a bit for us about the background to this.— explain a bit for us about the background to this. this is all about the _ background to this. this is all about the fact _ background to this. this is all about the fact we _ background to this. this is all about the fact we have i background to this. this is all i about the fact we have freedom to strike our own trade deals with other countries. taking away tariff import taxes and quotas. ideal with australia would be the first one potentially the uk would be striking with a nation that it did not have an agreement with as part of its eu membership so there is a lot riding on this and the hope is to strike an agreement by next month which would open up the process to apply for membership of a wider trade group as well. it is give—and—take when it comes to trade deal. looking at countries, both of which want the best for their own countries. australia has been asking for no tariffs on goods it sends over to the uk. buyer own government

estimate, that could boost imports from australia by 83% and most of that would be sheep or alarm and that would be sheep or alarm and that could potentially disadvantage our farmers that could potentially disadvantage ourfarmers here that could potentially disadvantage our farmers here so what are the likelihoods of this happening? the government said it would not be drawn on what is going on. what it does say is that if there are changes, it would take a number of years to come in. they would work with the farming industry and point out that australian farmers are already taking advantage of the conditions we have to send goods here. treat economists actually see what is not .1% of our total imports, it would not affect those further trade deals we want to sign further trade deals we want to sign further down the road. —— trade economists. the big worry for farmers and possibly government ministers might be what they signify

for deals further down the road. if it comes to compromise, will our farmers be served up on the menu? that figure you gave, 0.1%, very small but significant. how much could these deals cumulatively end “p could these deals cumulatively end up impacting on trade? it is could these deals cumulatively end up impacting on trade?— up impacting on trade? it is a really tricky _ up impacting on trade? it is a really tricky one _ up impacting on trade? it is a really tricky one because i up impacting on trade? it is al really tricky one because when up impacting on trade? it is a i really tricky one because when you look at what is being looked at here, we are talking about potentially between 0.1% and 0.2% of her annual gdp and that is in 15 years time. the government said we are talking about radios and we should not forget we are looking at the market we want to have a long—term relationship with. we won't have long—term access to markets which have greater potential in the long—term which is why we are looking at markets in the far east and india and we have been hearing

in recent weeks from established ones as well such as america. when strike to strike a trade deal it is given type —— give—and—take. lower tariffs for businesses you want to do trade with but for every winner, there will be a loser as well. this is why trade deals take many months if not years in fact to actually get a and ultimately, you could be looking further out, what do we want to be in the 21st—century now we have the freedom to strike those trade deals and that is the question which will take a long time to find out. ., ~ which will take a long time to find out. ., ,, , ., which will take a long time to find out. ., ~' , ., , which will take a long time to find out. ., ,, y., , . which will take a long time to find out. ., ~ ,, , . ., which will take a long time to find out. ., «i , . ., ., out. thank you very much to our local trade _ out. thank you very much to our local trade correspondent. i the headlines on bbc news... ministers urge people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the indian variant. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk —

some experts say low vaccine uptake is not behind the spread. police searching for the remains of mary bastholm, missing since the 1960s, are to excavate a gloucester cafe linked to serial killer fred west. the government is expected to announce a legally—binding target to halt the decline of nature and wildlife. it will outline plans for a taskforce to reintroduce animals such as the wildcat to england, as our science correspondent victoria gill reports. emerging, post—lockdown, into spring sunshine. when we've been allowed out, so many of us headed to natural spaces and green landscapes — like this protected woodland in cheshire. but while it's helped us to cope, nature is in crisis. in the uk one in seven species is under threat. now the government's revealed how it plans to build the restoration of the natural world

into a post—pandemic recovery, with a legally binding target to halt the loss of species by 2030. bringing together all the different actors in those landscapes — the farmers, the conservation groups, the water companies, the house—builders, the local government — then this really could work. and if you see the power of a legally binding target that we've seen on climate change — which has really shifted the dial in this country — then i'm very hopeful that something comparable on nature will begin to move us in the right direction on that subject, too. the new plans set out to tackle the nature and climate crises together, by planting more trees and also restoring 35,000 hectares of peatland — an area about the size of the isle of wight. but that's only about 5% of the peatland in england. so this is black lake... a promise to phase out the sale of peat in garden centres has been welcomed by conservation groups, but they say it's long overdue. it'd be deeply embarrassing if, by the time cop26 happens,

that this is still for sale in our garden centres. that we're still bagging up a carbon sink and selling it to gardeners. absolutely right. peatland is really valuable for our carbon, it's really valuable for tackling climate change. and what we're doing at the moment is we're digging it up, putting it in plastic and putting it on sale. sites like this have been a refuge for many of us, and these new plans aim to make space for nature in every landscape. victoria gill, bbc news. a ban on the sale of new gas boilers from 2025 has been proposed by the international energy agency. it's part of a new study exploring how the world can achieve net—zero emissions by the middle of this century. the recommendation is one of 400 steps on the road to net—zero proposed by the agency in a new special report. this afternoon we'll be answering your questions on these proposals in 'your questions answered'. you can send in your questions by tweeting

using the hashtag bbc your questions or by emailing yourquestions@bbc.co. uk. new research suggests more than half of single—use plastic items thrown away around the world are made from materials produced by just 20 companies. the authors of the study say firms should take more responsibility for the impact of the waste. our science editor david shukman reports. it all begins with oil pumped from underground, the start of a plastic journey. in refineries and processing plants, the oil is turned into the raw materials for plastic. and the new research finds that of those destined to make single use items, half are produced byjust 20 companies. those ingredients are sold to manufacturers who make everything from plastic cups to plastic bottles. most of them used just once and then thrown away, often polluting the environment. the study says the original

producers need to take responsibility for that. the future of the plastic waste crisis really sits in the hands ofjust 20 companies who account for more than half of the waste we generate. we need to go after the tap to turn off the tap of fossil fuel plastics, and we need to create plastics from recycled materials. the producers say they are trying to recycle as much plastic as possible and that they're investing in new ways to do that. they say it's not as easy as it looks and that anyway, we all depend on plastic to keep ourselves safe and to keep our food fresh. but pressure is mounting on the companies involved to do more. these rivers are choked with plastic waste and at the moment there's no end in sight to scenes like this. david shukman, bbc news. one of europe's biggest gardening projects opens today, after a year—long delay.

the rhs garden bridgewater in salford is the first of its kind to be created in an urban environment. it'll be home to a quarter—of—a—million plants, and has been four years in the making. john maguire reports. this is what a quarter of a million new plants look like — that's what it's taken to create the royal horticultural society's brand—new garden, rhs bridgewater in salford. due to the pandemic, it's opening a year later than hoped. but in that time, so much has changed. this has been the best surprise that we could have had. absolutely brilliant. this group has been coming here to the wellbeing garden on doctor's orders as part of prescribed therapy, but lockdown has seen them

effectively locked out. today, they're back for the first time in more than a year. absolutely amazing. this time last year, it was all covered in mud and then the pandemic hit us... yeah. 0h! it's really transformed. the last time i was her, in fact, working over that side there, i we didn't see any of these flower beds or anything. _ but i tell you, that's looking very nice. i absolutely brilliant, been waiting for this day since shutdown the first time. so... it's... ..awe—inspiring. it's absolutely brilliant. it's absolutely gorgeous, it is. and to be part of it... ..is even better. the 154 acres was once a grand estate owned by lord ellesmere — a wealthy industrialist — but in recent years was neglected and became overgrown.

the house, worsley new hall, is long gone. there are formal and walled gardens that reflect the site's heritage, but bridgewater has another role. very much with this garden, rather than us putting up a fence and inviting people to come in and pay a fee and have a cup of tea and be inspired and do all the beautiful things that you can do as a garden attraction, it's much more than that. there are links between us and the community — we have a community outreach team which goes out and takes horticulture to the community — but we're also inviting people in to work on site, as well. so it's a very two—way street and a symbiotic relationship that doesn'tjust have a fence around the outside. and this is that ethos in action. here in the community garden, various groups from salford can come here, work, garden, orjust relax in a safe space. it's a place for people tojust come and relax, get their hands dirty.

if someone turns up here one day and doesn't want to do any gardening, that's completely fine with me. we've got benches all round. they can have a wander around the rest of the garden. i really want people to feel at home and relaxed here because that's what community growing is all about, really. it's about...just getting involved and doing what you want to do. one of the groups involved here is salford loaves and fishes — a charity that works with homeless and vulnerable people. it's mal�*s first visit, and he's very impressed. i'm loving every minute of it. i'll be coming every week now. will you? i will be coming every week, helping out. that's no problem at all for me. much has been made during the pandemic of the benefits to mental and physical health from fresh air, green open spaces, and gardening. so bridgewater�*s arrival — albeit later than planned — will be very welcome.

with all the hand sanitiser, face coverings and temperature checks, it wasn't exactly business as usual when theatres reopened last night — but make no mistake, the show did go on. after a long wait, audiences returned to auditoriums across britain to watch everything from 'the mousetrap', to 'april in paris'. ben boulos reports from the west end. it's been months since any of us have experienced live theatre like this. # cos, baby, i'm a hit # we don't even know it # so admit. but across england, scotland and wales, stages are beginning to burst into life as audiences can return once again. everyone is so excited. we know the show, so we're just kind of fine tuning at the moment. and everyone is happy to be together. but when the curtain finally goes up and you hear the audience coming into the theatre, that's going to be a special moment. we love to perform, we love

entertaining people, that's obviously our passion and that's what we love to do. and it's been hard not being able to do that but finally we're getting back to it which is an amazing yeah, just missing the crowd. hearing the cheer when you've just the cheer, and the energy you get | back as well when you're running | through the audience, you see as lockdown restrictions ease, agatha christie's the mousetrap was one of the first to reopen. the classic whodunnit said to be the world's longest running show is back after what has felt like the world's longest interval. well, no detective skills are needed to spot the experience is different from before. well, no detective skills are needed to spot the experience is different from before. hand sanitiser, the audience having to wear masks, and temperatures checked on arrival. thank you. inside, the audience sit socially distanced, and at the interval, everywhere, clues that remind us, the pandemic is still not over. obviously, no—one's ever been in the situation before, so we are learning all the time.

with the mousetrap particularly, what we've done is we have engaged two separate star casts, so that, which i don't think anyone's ever done before, we've done it as a precaution so that if someone were to test positive in one of the casts, we have another cast that can step in straightaway. and the audience, delighted to be back. magical. amazing. utterly magical. so amazing. i got quite emotional going inside. just getting inside a theatre was really special. what have you missed about the theatre in the last year and a bit? the whole communal feeling of being in a house together, enjoying the same thing at the same moment, i think. laughing with somebody else. theatre is an important part of the uk economy. each year, normally 34 million people go to see a show. through tickets, travel and restaurants, that generates over £1 billion in vat for the government. and the sector employs almost 300,000 people. on stage, backstage and supplying things like costume and props. despite this week's reopenings, there are fears there could be an unwelcome plot twist.

the bigger shows like matilda, hamilton and lion king are more expensive to stage, and plan to return only after the next easing of rules when they can fill the seats without social distancing. that's expected on the 21st ofjune but if it's delayed, there will be questions about whether the shows can go on. ben boulos, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello. i hope you've got the umbrella to hand, because although there will be some pleasant spells of sunshine today, there are further heavy and thundery showers, some prolonged downpours moving from wales and south—west england across the midlands towards east anglia and the south—east. the heavy downpours, rather more scattered across north—east england, northern ireland eastern scotland and northern ireland and this afternoon there will be parts of north—west england and south—west scotland staying largely dry with some sunshine. temperatures around about the mid teens. now, many places turning dry tonight, still some patchy rain

in northern scotland, still a few showers for wales and southern england. where it is dry, clear, with light winds, it will be a bit colder than this in the countryside, most frost prone. spots in northern ireland, northern england and scotland may just see a touch of frost going into wednesday morning. and there will be further showers breaking out, particularly across the eastern side of scotland and england and into northern ireland. many western areas, though, seeing a largely dry day, even where there are showers. probably not as many as we've had recently, though still a few heavy ones out there.

this is bbc news. i'mjoanna gosling. the headlines at midday... ministers urge people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the indian variant. downing street has warned its review of social distancing may now report back later than planned. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk. it's thought to be the dominant strain in some areas. some experts say low vaccine uptake is not behind the spread. this is not a vaccine hesitancy issue, this is about the fact that the government have left open the border and that quarantine

is extremely poor and porous. police searching for the remains of mary bastholm, missing since the 1960s, are to excavate a gloucester cafe linked to serial killer fred west. on behalf of the family, we now need to look within the basement to find out once and for all if mary is there. president biden says the us is working to secure a ceasefire — after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. he urges both sides to protect civilians. a number of uk universities say they plan to deliver some lectures online in the autumn. students in leeds have launched a petition to demand in—person teaching. and coming up this hour... putting disability inclusion on the agenda, as 500 global businesses pledge to look at disability in the workplace at leadership level.

good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. ministers are stepping up calls for people to accept a covid vaccination as soon as they're offered one. there are fears the spread of the india variant could jeopardise the end of lockdown restrictions next month. and a review into social distancing expected next week may be delayed. there are now 2,323 confirmed cases of the strain in the uk, with 86 local authorities now having five or more cases. the health secretary matt hancock told the house of commons yesterday that the india variant is now the dominant strain in bolton and neighbouring blackburn and darwen, and was rising in all age groups. he said most people in hospital in those areas had been eligible for a jab but had chosen not to have one.

and he urged anyone who was unsure about vaccines to "look at what's happening in bolton". but yasmin qureshi, the labour mp for bolton south east, challenged mr hancock's suggestion that her constituents had refused the vaccine, blaming poor organisation instead. amid the rising numbers of the variant, the government has warned its next review of social distancing measures may be delayed, saying its decision would be based on the "latest data". let's get more on this from our correspondentjon donnison. # a lovely day... a lovely day, and — for those out on the town indoors in manchester last night — one that's been a long time coming. a chance to get the glad rags on, or maybe just a pint with the pooch. do you know what? it's just amazing. you know, we spent so long, like... even being outside is not the same thing as being inside. and just the atmosphere, people, live music — it's brilliant, i love it. indoor soft play areas for children are also now open — welcome news for parents in hull.

it's amazing, just that he gets to be around other children and interact. he's not had that for the last year so, yeah, it's great for him. wales and scotland have also seen their restrictions eased and, in cardiff, the bingo was back. it made me feel great to be able to... i've missed it so much. it's not as if i even win! but at the same time as it's easing restrictions, the government in westminster says it's urging caution, amid growing concerns about the new indian variant of the virus. the vaccination programme can give us confidence, but we must be alert to new variants that could jeopardise the advances that we've made. in bolton, which has the highest infection rates in england, the vaccine programme has been stepped up, with long queues forming outside vaccination centres. the government says there are now 86 local authorities with at least five cases of the indian variant.

bedford is the latest place to roll out surge testing, and some say the government needs to slow down. my feeling is that we really need tojust be a little bit more cautious in the speed at which we open up, and keep a very close eye on this variant. but while the restrictions we've all lived under are being eased now, it could be several weeks before we know what impact that has on the numbers. john donnison, bbc news. our political correspondent helen catt says, at the moment, it's a case of wait and see. the government has been pretty clear that at the moment ministers and scientists just don't have the data on this, that it will take the next few weeks to see what is happening. it is certainly true that the government admits that the indian variant is causing a high degree of uncertainty in its plans. we heard yesterday that that may delay the announcement of that

social distancing review — that was looking at things like the one metre plus rule in pubs and restaurants, things like when and where to wear masks. there were hopes from ministers that they could announce that at the end of may to give plenty of time for people to prepare in terms of lifting restrictions on the 21st ofjune. it looks like that may get pushed back. the plan is still to announce on the 14th ofjune whether that final stage of unlocking will go ahead on the 21st, that is when the government hopes to lift all restrictions, legal restrictions, for example on the numbers at weddings. that'll have to wait and see, it will depend on the data over the next few weeks as to whether that goes ahead. at the moment, the focus is on vaccine take—up. the government will have to grapple with what it needs to be if the number of cases keeps going up in terms of whether the lockdown potentially has to be delayed nationally or whether they bring in localised lockdowns. are you getting any sense

of the thinking on that currently? i think at the moment they are not really quite wanting to go there. at the moment it is a case of look at the data and wait and see what happens. you are right, some of the ideas that have been speculated on are will we see the return of local lockdowns like we had before? is it a case of pushing back thatjune 21? the prime minister himself suggested that was something that could throw the road map off course. i think right now what they are doing is to focus on the immediate trying to get the vaccine uptake up, putting on surge testing to see if that can tackle the variant outbreaks where it is happening at the moment. there has been push—back from local mps, from other mps about the idea of having any sort of local imposition of restrictions. again, i hate having the say this, but i think it will be wait and see for the next few weeks.

our correspondent phil mccann is in blackburn — one of the areas where the india variant has become the dominant strain. he says there's been an increase in the number of vaccine doses being made available there and in neighbouring bolton. they are the two boroughs that have the highest number of people with the indian variant in the country, and this is what that surge looks like. this is a pop—up vaccination clinic. it appeared here in this car park overnight. it was dropped off by a lorry. and the reason that they have done that is because there has been concern that not enough people, of course, as we heard, had been coming forward to get their vaccine. and it's thought that one of the reasons for that, other than people being hesitant, is that the vaccines may not be close enough to where people live. and so this vaccine centre has popped up here. there's another one across town and something similar is happening over in bolton. we heard matt hancock, the health secretary, yesterday saying, if you are hesitant about getting the vaccine then, he said, just look at bolton, because the majority of people

in hospital in bolton are people who were eligible for the vaccine but haven't had it. and part of the reason for that, we were hearing from health officials here this morning, is linked to deprivation. people perhaps not being able to book or not being able to get out to go to a vaccination centre. but the health officials i was speaking to here this morning were saying that they are a bit concerned by all the queues seen in bolton in the last few days. long queues down the street of people trying to get to the vaccination centres there. so this one is going to be appointment only. there are none of those queues this morning. there's an orderly car parking system and small queues of people who have booked appointments. so they don't want people to be put off by seeing lots of tv pictures of people queueing up to get their vaccinations. so for people here in blackburn, they have to get onto the internet or ring up and book. but they did say by the end of today, it may be the case that they have left over vaccine — it has a short shelf life — and so they may then put a call out

to say to people that they can come along on spec to try to get vaccinated. dr zubaida haque is a member of independent sage, a group set up as an alternative to the government's official scientific advisors. she says it's a distraction and a decoy to focus on vaccine hesistancy. i know matt hancock has said that the hospitalisations in bolton suggest that this is a vaccine hesitancy issue. but really that evidence is so poor, it is based on 18 hospitalisations in bolton of which up to 12 people have not taken the vaccine when they have been offered, but we don't know why. it could be medical reasons. but we know one third of that group, six people have taken the vaccine. so this is not a vaccine hesitancy issue, this is about the fact that the government have left open the border, and that quarantine is extremely poor and porous. and because there is no virus suppression strategy to stop this variant from spreading.

police have confirmed that excavation work will begin tomorrow at a cafe in gloucester, as they search for the body of a suspected victim of serial killer fred west. 15—year—old mary bastholm worked at the clean plate cafe before she went missing in 1968. will batchelor reports. he's been dead for more than a quarter of a century, but fred west's crimes still cast a shadow over gloucester. earlier this month, police officers began an initial search of this cafe in the town where west was a regular customer and where he carried out building work in the late 1960s. it was also the cafe where15—year—old mary bastholm worked as a waitress. she was last seen in 1968 while waiting for a bus nearby. west was charged with murdering 12 women and girls in 1994, many of them buried at his house on cromwell street. he took his own life before he could stand trial. although never charged with mary's murder, many people in gloucester suspected his involvement.

now the police search of the cafe basement has provided enough evidence to prompt excavation work, which is due to start tomorrow and likely to last several weeks. mary's family have been kept abreast of developments and are said to be happy at the thought of potentially solving the mystery of her disappearance. will batchelor, bbc news. gloucestershire police have been giving more details about what they've found in the basement of that cafe. with in the basement of that cafe. ground penetrating rt found with ground penetrating radar, they found a void within the toilet space within the basement. when they put in a drill vent hole, the recovery dog indicated the presence of something there. it was a minor to medium indication. they then put an endoscope in one of the holes when they saw, and i have seen the image, what i would describe as what looks like a piece of blue material. the

significance of that from the view is that when mary went missing in 1968, she was wearing a blue coat, a blue and white dress and a blue bag. from looking at the material, i cannot say if it is a bag or a coat or a dress, what i can say is a blue bit of material within a void is what it is. and with all the stories, folklore and conspiracy theories around fred west and mary bastholm and the basement, i found that to be new and significant evidence, which is why i have commenced this investigation now. we are not saying we have found mary, far from are not saying we have found mary, farfrom it. we cannot are not saying we have found mary, far from it. we cannot say what i in the voice, but they are anomalies within the ground. with the information we have had historically come what may be true or may not, i made the decision that on behalf of the family, we now need to look within the basement and find out once and for all if mary is there. let's bring you the latest

on the conflict between israel and palestinian militants some live pictures now. these are live pictures from the west bank. tbs, these are live pictures from the west itank-— these are live pictures from the west bank. . . , «i , west bank. a general strike has been called by fatah _ west bank. a general strike has been called by fatah against _ west bank. a general strike has been called by fatah against the _ called by fatah against the operation in gaza. the military operation in gaza. the military operation in gaza. let me show you a scene in bethlehem, similar pictures coming to you live from bethlehem where there are many on the streets protesting over what is happening in gaza. you are watching bbc news. we will stay with these pictures and bringing our corresponding. our middle east correspondent is yolande knell. tell us what is happening. this teneral tell us what is happening. this general strike _ tell us what is happening. this general strike was _ tell us what is happening. “ii 3 general strike was called by the different palestinian political factions, also by palestinian activists. unusually notjust to be in jerusalem activists. unusually notjust to be injerusalem and the occupied west bank, but also in arab israeli towns and cities as well. that has been an

unusual coordinated action earlier in the day, if you looked at the old city ofjerusalem, bethlehem, jaffa on the coast, you would find that really most palestinian businesses completely shut. now what has happened of these protests are taking place at many of the usual flashpoints, particularly in the west bank. those images that we are seeing where young palestinians advancing towards positions whether our israeli security forces, they are throwing stones. and their response is with tear gas and with stun grenades. those protests have reallyjust been picking up in the last few hours. and last week, in the past week, there have been 20 palestinians killed in the west bank in clashes of these kinds. this is really evidence, i suppose, of the anger of what is happening in gaza has really spread widely. itrufhtztt anger of what is happening in gaza has really spread widely.— has really spread widely. what is the latest on _

has really spread widely. what is the latest on the _ has really spread widely. what is the latest on the conflict? in i has really spread widely. what is i the latest on the conflict? in gaza, the latest on the conflict? in gaza, the have the latest on the conflict? in gaza, they have been _ the latest on the conflict? in gaza, they have been israeli _ the latest on the conflict? in gaza, they have been israeli air - the latest on the conflict? in gaza, they have been israeli air strikes i they have been israeli air strikes are still taking place. also rockets coming out of gaza and targeting israeli communities that are on the edge of gaza. people saying that actually this is a bit of a low intensity fighting and we have seen for several days now. there are no reported deaths in the past few hours. also, the humanitarian situation is very much in focus. this is because of course you have about 40,000 or so people, going to the un, have been displaced from their homes by the fighting that is going on. now taking temporary shelter, there are so many people injured and a lot of medicine needed to be brought into gaza. the reopening the commercial crossing between israel and gaza temporarily to take in some urgently needed supplies. also fuel for gaza's only

power station, supplies. also fuel for gaza's only powerstation, because supplies. also fuel for gaza's only power station, because in the heavy bombardment that has taken place, a lot of the power have been damaged, fuel has run out in recent days, normally has to be taken into their power plants to keep it running. and that has really led to a rapidly declining situation with people in gaza without electro— city, you cannot do things like pump the sewage out to sea.— cannot do things like pump the sewage out to sea. thank you very much. the headlines on bbc news... ministers urge people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the indian variant , downing street has warned its review of social distancing may now report back later than planned. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk. it's thought to be the dominant strain in some areas. some experts say low vaccine uptake is not behind the spread. police searching for the remains of mary bastholm, missing since the 1960s, are to excavate a gloucester cafe

linked to serial killer fred west. sport now, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster. roy hodgson will leave crystal palace at the end of the season, which is this coming weekend. he says the time is right to step away from the rigours of the premier league. let's get more on this from our football reporter alex howell. do you think his tenure will go down as a success? four years he has had there. i as a success? four years he has had there. ., �* , as a success? four years he has had there. ~i �* , ., there. i think it will, let's not fortet there. i think it will, let's not forget that — there. i think it will, let's not forget that he _ there. i think it will, let's not forget that he came - there. i think it will, let's not forget that he came in i there. i think it will, let's not forget that he came in after i there. i think it will, let's not i forget that he came in after the frank de boer appointment. he turned it around after having not scored and having no points was that he is the only crystal palace manager to keep the club in the league for four seasons in a row. there will be frustration from fans at times about the performances at the club, but, ultimately he has not had a lot of money to spend, then when you look back at the time, it will be viewed

as a success. this is a man whose boyhood club, he watched them from the terraces, he played in youth team. it is a fairy tale story really. i think you will see tomorrow night under the lights, 6500 fans, it will be a huge positive. he has done exactly what was asked of him.— was asked of him. their last home match against _ was asked of him. their last home match against arsenal, _ was asked of him. their last home match against arsenal, it - was asked of him. their last home match against arsenal, it would i was asked of him. their last home| match against arsenal, it would be fantastic if the fans could give him a sendoff tomorrow. he is hugely admired across football, 73 now. but that vast experience in european football in the former england manager, internationalfootball football in the former england manager, international football as well, do you think there is a role for him still in the game somewhere? you don't coach for 45 years unless you love the game. i don't think he could physically step away fully. certainly stepping away from full—time management, but that doesn't mean football. i think you could get an advisory role somewhere. he has managed england, liverpool, inter—milan, he is a legend at west brom and fulham for what he did at those clubs. who

knows. he could get a advisory role. that would be a decision down to him. it that would be a decision down to him. . ., , that would be a decision down to him. .., , , . that would be a decision down to him. .., , i . ., that would be a decision down to him. , i . ., ., «i him. it could be difficult to walk away from _ him. it could be difficult to walk away from it _ him. it could be difficult to walk away from it altogether. - him. it could be difficult to walk away from it altogether. many i him. it could be difficult to walk i away from it altogether. many thanks indeed. the australian bowlers involved in the infamous ball—tampering match against south africa in 2018 have released a joint statement again denying that they knew what was going on at the time. mitchell starc, pat cummins, josh hazlewood & nathan lyon have responded following an interview with batsman cameron bancroft, who was banned for using sandpaper to scuff up the ball in the cape town test. he appeared to suggest the bowlers would have known the ball had been tampered with. the quartet have protested their innocence and have requested "an end to the rumour—mongering and innuendo". that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. that at about 1:30pm.

a number of uk universities have said they plan to continue delivering some lectures online in the autumn term. students in leeds have started a petition in protest, saying there's no reason for them not to be in lecture halls when they can sit in pubs and cinemas. and we can speak now to will huddie, a second—year physics student at leeds university, who started the online petition. thank you very much forjoining us. why did you start a petition? i think mainly i was frustrated with the university's response to our plight, i guess. the university's response to our plight, iguess. i the university's response to our plight, i guess. ithink the university's response to our plight, i guess. i think generally throughout the pandemic, the government and the universities responses to students have been very poon responses to students have been very poor. we have been left behind. so when we look at the planning for online learning for next year, i was very angry. i thought it was a bit of a copout universities. i think

they need to be aware of the strength of feeling that we as students have against a blended and online learning, because it simply isn't good enough for the level of education that you would expect at this level. ~ ., education that you would expect at this level. ~ . ., , ., , ., this level. what have you been told exactl ? this level. what have you been told exactly? how _ this level. what have you been told exactly? how much _ this level. what have you been told exactly? how much of _ this level. what have you been told exactly? how much of the - this level. what have you been told exactly? how much of the teaching | exactly? how much of the teaching will be online?— will be online? excuse me. yeah, i think our university, _ will be online? excuse me. yeah, i think our university, the _ will be online? excuse me. yeah, i think our university, the university j think our university, the university of leeds's plan is workshops and seminars for people in person. but then any lectures are about 50 people, they will be online. of course, not many lectures or modules have as few as 50 people in them, especially for my course. even surgery, there is at least 100 people in that each module. they would be entirely online. based on the provision that we have had from

lectures of this year, online lectures of this year, online lectures next year, especially considering how much harder it will get, it is not going to cut it. the quality of learning has gone right down in the past year, and it is not good enough. it is down in the past year, and it is not good enough-— down in the past year, and it is not good enough. it is a limited amount of online material— good enough. it is a limited amount of online material from _ good enough. it is a limited amount of online material from the - good enough. it is a limited amountj of online material from the autumn. is it something that you think could be made to work? i mean, what impact do you think it would actually have directly on, notjust the quality of the experience, but actually on the learning capabilities of the students? i learning capabilities of the students?— learning capabilities of the students? ., ., , students? i mean, from my experience. _ students? i mean, from my experience, this _ students? i mean, from my experience, this year i students? i mean, from my experience, this year at - students? i mean, from my. experience, this year at least, students? i mean, from my- experience, this year at least, a lot of lectures have been delivered as pre—recorded material. and i was reading on the news earlier actually that liverpool are planning pre—recorded lectures next year with

the same topics, they seem to think it will be equivalent. and of course it will be equivalent. and of course it isn't, because the entire value any lecture is that you have the ability to speak to the lecturer in real—time. so if you have a pre—recorded video and if you e—mail the lecture or have a question and answer session every week or whatever, then you cannot answer it does not ask the question is when you need to ask them. your understanding is very much limited by the tiling and restrictions that you have on asking questions to the lecturer. tojust you have on asking questions to the lecturer. to just being you have on asking questions to the lecturer. tojust being in you have on asking questions to the lecturer. to just being in the same room as the person who is teaching you this material is hugely beneficial and it cannot be undervalued, i think. beneficial and it cannot be undervalued, ithink. 50. beneficial and it cannot be undervalued, ithink. undervalued, i think. so, who are our undervalued, i think. so, who are your complaints _ undervalued, i think. so, who are your complaints directed - undervalued, i think. so, who are your complaints directed to? - undervalued, i think. so, who are - your complaints directed to? because i spoke to the national union of students earlier, and she was pointing the finger at the government as much as universities,

saying that basically the universities have been left behind. but is it not down to the universities individually to make their decisions? who do you want to their decisions? who do you want to the message? who can actually make what you want to happen happen? j what you want to happen happen? i want everyone to know about how left behind we have been. i think the government likes to go on and on about how important schools were for the development of children, a prophecy that is very true. but equally, universities are important for the development as adults will stop but apparently it is not equivalent. we have been very much left behind by the government and by universities during this pandemic. and i think mainly our complaints or my complaint is directed specific lead of the university of leeds' executives because they want to make decisions on teaching. and what we really want is for them to listen to

us and listen to our complaints and have a dialogue with us. the? us and listen to our complaints and have a dialogue with us.— have a dialogue with us. they have been repeated _ have a dialogue with us. they have been repeated calls _ have a dialogue with us. they have been repeated calls over— have a dialogue with us. they have been repeated calls over the - have a dialogue with us. they have been repeated calls over the past i been repeated calls over the past year the students to have rebates and tuition fees. there hasn't been and tuition fees. there hasn't been a blanket policy on that, and it is estimated by one website that represents students at perhaps one in 30 students asking for a rebate on theirfees is in 30 students asking for a rebate on their fees is actually got it. what is your thinking on fees and whether they should be rebated and how it could work? i whether they should be rebated and how it could work?— whether they should be rebated and how it could work? i understand how tuition fees benefit _ how it could work? i understand how tuition fees benefit universities. - tuition fees benefit universities. it could not happen without the intervention of the government, i think. financially, universities would be left in the lurch if they had to refund our tuition fees. i think they should really, a on the value of our degrees, or refund some of it because it is not worth this

amount —— the same amount as an in—person degree. the current experience we have, i mean, i think the department for education said earlier that universities are a strong track record delivering blended learning, which isjust not true. the department for education is very out of touch with students if they think that. it is online learning is no substitute, the value for money is lowered, the value for money is not there sometimes. you could just read, for me, i could just read a physics textbook and get the same information. the delivery of the material is pretty much equivalent. refunds should be considered. but not without intervention from the government obviously, because i don't want universities left in the lurch. we have not really been great to our students, but they need the money.

so there needs to be some sort of communication with the government about that. ., ~' , ., communication with the government about that. . ~ , ., , . ., about that. thank you very much for 'oinin: us. about that. thank you very much for joining us- will. _ about that. thank you very much for joining us. will, second-year- joining us. will, second—year physics student at the university of leeds who have started a petition against ongoing online learning from the autumn. the prime minister has been at a vaccine centre in central london this morning. let's have a listen to what he had to say. how worried should people be about the indian variant? both in terms of their health and in terms of getting back to normal life? we their health and in terms of getting back to normal life?— their health and in terms of getting back to normal life? we are looking at the epidemiology _ back to normal life? we are looking at the epidemiology the _ back to normal life? we are looking at the epidemiology the whole - back to normal life? we are looking at the epidemiology the whole time as it comes in. and at the moment, i think partly because we have built up think partly because we have built up such a wall of defences with the vaccination programme, i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map. but we have got to be cautious, and we are keeping

everything under very close observation. we will know a lot more in a few days' time. it is observation. we will know a lot more in a few days' time.— in a few days' time. it is not changing — in a few days' time. it is not changing your— in a few days' time. it is not changing your approach - in a few days' time. it is not| changing your approach yet? in a few days' time. it is not - changing your approach yet? we are aaivin changing your approach yet? we are giving everything — changing your approach yet? we are giving everything under _ changing your approach yet? we are giving everything under careful- changing your approach yet? we are giving everything under careful clap | giving everything under careful clap or review, looking at all the data as it comes in from places like bolton, blackburn, bedford and other places, just looking at those curves and whether they are moving, trying to understand whether the indian variant is a more transmissible, and if so by how much more is it transmissible? i'm also trying to understand to what extent a vaccine programme has already sufficiently fortified us all against it. i'm afraid we just have to wait a few more days to look at that data. but as things stand at the moment, i can see nothing conclusive in the data to say that we have to deviate from the present road map. we have to be cautious, who will be letting people know in a few days' time. flan

cautious, who will be letting people know in a few days' time.— know in a few days' time. can you rule out a — know in a few days' time. can you rule out a return _ know in a few days' time. can you rule out a return to _ know in a few days' time. can you rule out a return to local- rule out a return to local lockdowns?— rule out a return to local lockdowns? ~ , . ., , lockdowns? we 'ust have to be cautious about — lockdowns? we just have to be cautious about the _ lockdowns? we just have to be cautious about the way - lockdowns? we just have to be cautious about the way we - lockdowns? we just have to be - cautious about the way we approach it the and we will be letting people know as much as we can as soon as we can. at the moment, we don't see anything conclusive that makes us think we have to deviate from the road map. obviously we will be letting people know as soon as we have got the data.— letting people know as soon as we have got the data. your own nhs test and trace data — have got the data. your own nhs test and trace data shows _ have got the data. your own nhs test and trace data shows that _ have got the data. your own nhs test and trace data shows that in - have got the data. your own nhs test and trace data shows that in late - and trace data shows that in late march early april, travellers returning from india had higher covid positivity than bangladesh, only marginally lower than pakistan for some they have brought five more variants of concern or interest from any other country in the world to stop why then did you wait a further two weeks before putting in the on the red list? if two weeks before putting in the on the red list?— the red list? if you look at what actually happened _ the red list? if you look at what actually happened with - the red list? if you look at what actually happened with the - the red list? if you look at what i actually happened with the variant that we are talking about, the so—called indian variant, that we 1617.2. india was put on the red list before this was even a variant

under investigation, let alone a variant of concern. so we took prompt action and we will continue to take very, very draconian action in respect to all variants coming from wherever around the world. only? from wherever around the world. why are the rules — from wherever around the world. why are the rules on international travel currently so woolly? you have 150 flights a day going to and the list of countries, do you think that is safe? i list of countries, do you think that is safe? ~ , , is safe? i think it is very important _ is safe? i think it is very important for _ is safe? i think it is very important for people - is safe? i think it is very important for people to | is safe? i think it is very - important for people to grasp is safe? i think it is very _ important for people to grasp what an amber list country is. it is not somewhere where you should be going on holiday. let me be very clear about that. if people do go to an amber list country, they absolutely have to for some pressing family or urgent business reason, if they have to go to an amber list country, then please bear in mind that you will have to self—isolate, you will have to take tests and do a passenger locator form and all the rest of it, but you will also have to

self—isolate for ten days when you get back. and that period of self—isolation, that period of quarantine will be enforced with fines of up to £10,000. i think it is important people understand what an amber list country is.— an amber list country is. george eustice said _ an amber list country is. george eustice said this _ an amber list country is. george eustice said this morning - an amber list country is. george eustice said this morning it - an amber list country is. george eustice said this morning it was| an amber list country is. george i eustice said this morning it was ok to go to amber list country to see family and friends, is he wrong? i think he is wrong. you have to understand if you get an amber list country, if you absolutely have to go for some pressing reason or not a holiday, if you have to go, then bearin holiday, if you have to go, then bear in mind you are going to pay for testing, you have to do passenger locator form all of that kind of thing. but you will also have to self—isolate the ten days at home, not going out and if you fail to obey that, then you will face a fine of up to £10,000. people need to understand that an amber list country is definitely not a green list country. country is definitely not a green list country-— list country. finally, we are in a vaccination _ list country. finally, we are in a vaccination centre _ list country. finally, we are in a vaccination centre today, - list country. finally, we are in a vaccination centre today, do - list country. finally, we are in a| vaccination centre today, do you think people are refusing to get vaccinated, do you think they should share the blame for the spread of

the indian variant? i share the blame for the spread of the indian variant?— share the blame for the spread of the indian variant? i want to thank eve bod the indian variant? i want to thank everybody in _ the indian variant? i want to thank everybody in this _ the indian variant? i want to thank everybody in this country - the indian variant? i want to thank everybody in this country who - the indian variant? i want to thank everybody in this country who is i everybody in this country who is coming forward to get vaccinated. that is the way i look at it. and this country is quite extraordinary, there was a poll i think dunn last night which showed that of all the countries in the world, we are the most positive about vaccination. the numbers are incredibly high. and i know that some people have been more vaccine hesitant than others, but actually, across the whole of society, the numbers continue to go up. in every group, in every age group. and that is very, very encouraging, and i would urge everyone, the obvious point, urge everyone, the obvious point, urge every minute who is eligible for a vaccine when you get your call up, when you get the notification from the nhs, kind get yourjab. what when you get the notification from the nhs, kind get yourjab. the nhs, kind get your 'ab. what do ou sa to the nhs, kind get your 'ab. what do you say to those. h the nhs, kind get your 'ab. what do you say to those, and _ the nhs, kind get yourjab. what do you say to those, and in _ the nhs, kind get yourjab. what do you say to those, and in your- the nhs, kind get yourjab. what do you say to those, and in your own i you say to those, and in your own party who say we cannot be unlocking for the sake of those who are refusing to get vaccinated? i would 'ust no refusing to get vaccinated? i would just go back _ refusing to get vaccinated? i would just go back to _ refusing to get vaccinated? i would just go back to the _ refusing to get vaccinated? i would just go back to the point _ refusing to get vaccinated? i would just go back to the point i - refusing to get vaccinated? i would just go back to the point i made i just go back to the point i made about where we are on the road map, we are looking very carefully at the

data, we are looking at what is happening, the epidemiology. we are trying to work out to what extent the new variant, the indian variant may be more transmissible. but at the moment, we see nothing conclusive to say that we have to deviate from the road map. but obviously we'll be keeping people informed, that is why i said what i said on friday, we will keep people continually updated.— continually updated. thank you, prime minister. _ continually updated. thank you, prime minister. he _ continually updated. thank you, prime minister. he said - continually updated. thank you, prime minister. he said the - continually updated. thank you, | prime minister. he said the same line several times, at the moment he sees nothing conclusive which says we have to deviate from the road map out of lockdown. it will continue to be looked at and we will let people know as we have the detail. —— the data. at the grenfell fire inquiry, a councillor who was overseeing the tower�*s refurbishment has admitted asking questions about the colour of the cladding

used for the outside of the building — but not whether it was safe. our correspondent tom symonds is following the inquiry. this is the deputy leader of the council before he resigned after the fire. fora period council before he resigned after the fire. for a period during 2014 was involved in housing regeneration in kensington and chelsea, hisjob involved in housing regeneration in kensington and chelsea, his job was to oversee on behalf of the council the refurbishment work at grenfell tower. we heard this morning on evidence that he was very involved with the colour of the cladding which was going to be fitted on the outside of the building and was eventually blamed for helping the fire spread. that example, he said he was less convinced by the champagne colour that was proposed and preferred the battleship grey or and preferred the battleship grey or a british racing green for one section of the tower but the inquiry was also told he was sent an e—mail in 2014 including some leaflets which had been sent by... we have

lost tom, unfortunately. _ which had been sent by... we have lost tom, unfortunately. can - which had been sent by... we have lost tom, unfortunately. can you l lost tom, unfortunately. can you still hear me? we can now, you are back. . , ., . ., back. carry on. so the councillor in 2014 was sent _ back. carry on. so the councillor in 2014 was sent an _ back. carry on. so the councillor in 2014 was sent an e-mail _ back. carry on. so the councillor in| 2014 was sent an e-mail containing 2014 was sent an e—mail containing leaflets from the london fire brigade which told councillors the sort of questions they should ask when considering housing issues when visiting a housing estate. the counsellor said he had not opened the e—mail already has documents and he admitted he should have done, especially given what happened later with a fire in 2017 which led to the deaths of 72 people but he said he felt the job of ensuring fire safety was really important that experts had the necessary skills and experience to do that kind of work to ensure the safety of residents. thank you. a global business collective says it has reached its goal —

with 500 international organisations committing to put disability inclusion on their board agenda. the pledge was made by 'the valuable 500' — the world's biggest ceo collective for disability inclusion. it comes as new research shows there are no executives or senior managers who have disclosed a disability at any of the ftse100 companies. with me is the founder of the valuable 500 and disability campaigner, caroline casey and also i'm joined by steve ingham, ceo of pagegroup, a recruiter company company in the top ftse 250. welcome both of you, thank you for joining us. caroline, tell us more about the initiative, it is obviously pretty fresh but is there a sign of it making a difference? thank you for having us, yes, this very unique collective which represents 20 million employees in 35 countries, 64 sectors with 500

ceos 35 countries, 64 sectors with 500 ceos was built in less than 2.5 years. the intention was to break the ceo silence about disability inclusion. disability had always remained on the sidelines of business inclusion and we felt ceos are the people who can change business, some of the most powerful people in the world, more power than politicians who take lifetimes to make changes. it is so exciting for us today because we are launching phase two which is when the change happens. we will be activating this 500 community and the power they have, and asking and supporting them on how they wait, what culture they want, heavy report on disability, how they represent disability in business in research and data. these opportunities will be created by 13

global leading companies to deliver to the disability community.- to the disability community. steve, i mentioned — to the disability community. steve, i mentioned your _ to the disability community. steve, i mentioned your company - to the disability community. steve, i mentioned your company of - to the disability community. steve, i mentioned your company of which you are ceo since 2006 but in 2019 you are ceo since 2006 but in 2019 you had a skiing accident which resulted in you being in a wheelchair so you are in the rare position of being a ceo in a wheelchair, that involved you? i have learned a lot in the last two years _ have learned a lot in the last two years i— have learned a lot in the last two years. i thought i knew much about disability— years. i thought i knew much about disability before, it has been a steep — disability before, it has been a steep learning curve. i have met incredibly— steep learning curve. i have met incredibly resourceful people who have a _ incredibly resourceful people who have a huge amount to offer. they are finding — have a huge amount to offer. they are finding it very difficult to get employed. that is dreadful, bearing in mind _ employed. that is dreadful, bearing in mind the — employed. that is dreadful, bearing in mind the massive shortage we have _ in mind the massive shortage we have i_ in mind the massive shortage we have. i have grown up in my company talking _ have. i have grown up in my company talking to _ have. i have grown up in my company talking to ceos in fixing 150 350 and smaller enterprises. all would

emphasise the importance of talent in their— emphasise the importance of talent in their businesses. —— in ftse companies _ in their businesses. —— in ftse companies. they want to attract great _ companies. they want to attract great talent and not lose them and motivate _ great talent and not lose them and motivate them. this is a key priority— motivate them. this is a key priority in— motivate them. this is a key priority in being able to achieve that _ priority in being able to achieve that 20%— priority in being able to achieve that. 20% of the population are disabled — that. 20% of the population are disabled so it is ridiculous we are ignoring — disabled so it is ridiculous we are ignoring a — disabled so it is ridiculous we are ignoring a large proportion of that 20% when— ignoring a large proportion of that 20% when we hire talent. what ignoring a large proportion of that 20% when we hire talent. what do you think is a barrier _ 20% when we hire talent. what do you think is a barrier for _ 20% when we hire talent. what do you think is a barrier for taking _ 20% when we hire talent. what do you think is a barrier for taking on - think is a barrierfor taking on people with disabilities and do you think you would have achieved your position of ceo had your injury come before getting in that position? well, ifi before getting in that position? well, if i am honest, at my age it would _ well, if i am honest, at my age it would have — well, if i am honest, at my age it would have been very difficult to have _ would have been very difficult to have done it in the time i grew up in. have done it in the time i grew up in there — have done it in the time i grew up in. there was a misunderstanding and fear, _ in. there was a misunderstanding and fear. of— in. there was a misunderstanding and fear, of understanding as well, some negative _ fear, of understanding as well, some negative assumptions that disabled people _ negative assumptions that disabled people can be expensive. they will

probably— people can be expensive. they will probably need more time off or they will be _ probably need more time off or they will be ill— probably need more time off or they will be ill more often or whatever. these _ will be ill more often or whatever. these things are just wrong. in majority— these things are just wrong. in majority of cases, they are incredibly resilient, they have overcome incredible challenges. they are creative _ overcome incredible challenges. they are creative to problem—solving come up are creative to problem—solving come up with _ are creative to problem—solving come up with solutions and so on so i think— up with solutions and so on so i think today, younger generations are actually— think today, younger generations are actually demanding that workforces are more _ actually demanding that workforces are more inclusive and that is not 'ust are more inclusive and that is not just disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, everything. if the workforce is not inclusive and diverse, — the workforce is not inclusive and diverse, i— the workforce is not inclusive and diverse, i think companies will struggle — diverse, i think companies will struggle to retain their best talent _ struggle to retain their best talent. so i think today will be easier— talent. so i think today will be easier than it was when i was young. it is an— easier than it was when i was young. it is an interesting point about it being good for business because sometimes these issues, whether

about equality in any area, it gets pulled back to it is against the law, what a company should be doing, but that point stephen is making it can benefit a company, how do you persuade companies of that to overcome the hurdles which have been there so long? i overcome the hurdles which have been there so long?— there so long? i think the figures seak for there so long? i think the figures speak for themselves. _ there so long? i think the figures speak for themselves. exclusion | speak for themselves. exclusion costs up to 7%. let us consider the spending power of the 1.3 billion people in the world who have experienced disability. 13 chilean pine spending power. in the uk alone -- 13 pine spending power. in the uk alone —— 13 chilean pounds. every business once to have inclusion, why would you risk that money on the table but it is notjust about money. you have

to be able to access that market we are speaking to but how can you do that if you do not have the talent in your business? we will only increase the employment of dissident people if it is connected to value, it is the right thing to do but it is a brand differentiation for business and it is important that business and it is important that business understanding cannot turn a blind eye to 20% of our global population. i am blind eye to 20% of our global population. iam registered blind and unlike steve, my disability is invisible. it will touch oliver lives at some point. it is trying to create communities and collectors were we can learn together and create best practice and innovate. i think fear is a real problem because when you are so worried about getting it wrong, you do not try to fix it which is why this 500 companies are creating a stage where

we can journey together and make a difference with the collective massive scale that can happen. that is the uniqueness about the valuable 500, the ceos, the is the uniqueness about the valuable 500, the ceos, the businesses, it is a very unique time and the stats are stacking up. {lin a very unique time and the stats are stacking up— stacking up. on that point of being a uniuue stacking up. on that point of being a unique time. _ stacking up. on that point of being a unique time, i _ stacking up. on that point of being a unique time, i have _ stacking up. on that point of being a unique time, i have been - stacking up. on that point of being| a unique time, i have been reading what you have said about the pandemic, steve, people can work from home and that takes away some of the boundaries for people in the workplace? of the boundaries for people in the worklace? , ., of the boundaries for people in the worklace? , . .. ., ., workplace? there is an educational score known _ workplace? there is an educational score known in _ workplace? there is an educational score known in the _ workplace? there is an educational score known in the last _ workplace? there is an educational score known in the last year. - workplace? there is an educational score known in the last year. a - workplace? there is an educational score known in the last year. a lot| score known in the last year. a lot of it very — score known in the last year. a lot of it very sad _ score known in the last year. a lot of it very sad but a lot of it very productive, _ of it very sad but a lot of it very productive, without doubt for the cynics _ productive, without doubt for the cynics amongst the leaders out there whether— cynics amongst the leaders out there whether it _ cynics amongst the leaders out there whether it is effective working from home _ whether it is effective working from home with — whether it is effective working from home with flexible working and so on, home with flexible working and so on. we _ home with flexible working and so on, we have overcome that. recruitment, everybody would look at that and _ recruitment, everybody would look at that and say everybody is working from _ that and say everybody is working from home, how will that impact their—

from home, how will that impact their industry, interviews and so on. probably everyone thought it would _ on. probably everyone thought it would be — on. probably everyone thought it would be awful and how could a recruitment company survive? we can transact _ recruitment company survive? we can transact business by video and it has worked and we have done it from home _ has worked and we have done it from home it— has worked and we have done it from home if you — has worked and we have done it from home. if you look at our results in the public— home. if you look at our results in the public domain, in march for example. — the public domain, in march for example, we broke oliver 45 year history— example, we broke oliver 45 year history records of productivity. —— all of— history records of productivity. —— all of our— history records of productivity. —— all of our 45— history records of productivity. —— all of our 45 years. while 75% of our people — all of our 45 years. while 75% of our people are working from home. that allows — our people are working from home. that allows companies to think differently and think about how can we be _ differently and think about how can we be more inclusive as we can offer more _ we be more inclusive as we can offer more flexibility to people who need it. more flexibility to people who need it that— more flexibility to people who need it. that could be working mums or somebody— it. that could be working mums or somebody who is disabled who would find it— somebody who is disabled who would find it difficult getting to the office — find it difficult getting to the office everyday and being more open in their— office everyday and being more open in their recruitment philosophy. without— in their recruitment philosophy. without doubt that will make them

more _ without doubt that will make them more productive as businesses. canl more productive as businesses. can i 'ust also more productive as businesses. can i just also say — more productive as businesses. can i just also say that _ more productive as businesses. can i just also say that the _ more productive as businesses. can i just also say that the pandemic has proved that systems can change when they want to, when there is the intention. the companies that thrived in the pandemic are companies that are agile and flexible and actually have a much more integrated approach to inclusion and that is the living proof of this, before it was seen as costly and too difficult but now we can see that systems can flex and they can change. can see that systems can flex and they can change-— they can change. great to talk to ou they can change. great to talk to you both. _ they can change. great to talk to you both, thank _ they can change. great to talk to you both, thank you _ they can change. great to talk to you both, thank you both - they can change. great to talk to you both, thank you both very i they can change. great to talk to i you both, thank you both very much indeed. the headlines on bbc news... ministers urge people to book a coronavirus jab as soon as they're offered one due to the threat of the indian variant. downing street has warned its review of social distancing may now report back later than planned. more than 2,000 cases of the indian variant have been confirmed across the uk , it's thought to be the dominant strain in some areas. some experts say low vaccine uptake is not behind the spread.

police searching for the remains of mary bastholm, missing since the 1960s, are to excavate a gloucester cafe linked to serial killer fred west. the government is expected to announce a legally—binding target to halt the decline of nature and wildlife. it will outline plans for a taskforce to reintroduce animals such as the wildcat to england, as our science correspondent victoria gill reports. (tx) emerging, post—lockdown, into spring sunshine. when we've been allowed out, so many of us headed to natural spaces and green landscapes — like this protected woodland in cheshire. but while it's helped us to cope, nature is in crisis. in the uk one in seven species is under threat. now the government's revealed how it plans to build the restoration of the natural world into a post—pandemic recovery, with a legally binding target

to halt the loss of species by 2030. bringing together all the different actors in those landscapes — the farmers, the conservation groups, the water companies, the house—builders, the local government — then this really could work. and if you see the power of a legally binding target that we've seen on climate change — which has really shifted the dial in this country — then i'm very hopeful that something comparable on nature will begin to move us in the right direction on that subject, too. the new plans set out to tackle the nature and climate crises together, by planting more trees and also restoring 35,000 hectares of peatland — an area about the size of the isle of wight. but that's only about 5% of the peatland in england. so this is black lake... a promise to phase out the sale of peat in garden centres has been welcomed by conservation groups, but they say it's long overdue. it'd be deeply embarrassing if, by the time cop26 happens, that this is still for sale

in our garden centres. that we're still bagging up a carbon sink and selling it to gardeners. absolutely right. peatland is really valuable for our carbon, it's really valuable for tackling climate change. and what we're doing at the moment is we're digging it up, putting it in plastic and putting it on sale. sites like this have been a refuge for many of us, and these new plans aim to make space for nature in every landscape. victoria gill, bbc news. one of europe's biggest gardening projects opens today, after a year—long delay. the rhs garden bridgewater in salford is the first of its kind to be created in an urban environment. it'll be home to a quarter—of—a—million plants, and has been four years in the making. john maguire reports. this is what a quarter of a million new plants look like — that's what it's taken to create the royal horticultural society's brand—new garden, rhs bridgewater in salford. due to the pandemic, it's opening

a year later than hoped. but in that time, so much has changed. this has been the best surprise that we could have had. absolutely brilliant. this group has been coming here to the wellbeing garden on doctor's orders as part of prescribed therapy, but lockdown has seen them effectively locked out. today, they're back for the first time in more than a year. absolutely amazing. this time last year, it was all covered in mud and then the pandemic hit us... yeah. 0h! it's really transformed. the last time i was her, in fact, working over that side there, i we didn't see any of these flower beds or anything. _ but i tell you, that's looking very nice. i absolutely brilliant, been waiting for this day since shutdown the first time.

so... it's... ..awe—inspiring. it's absolutely brilliant. it's absolutely gorgeous, it is. and to be part of it... ..is even better. the 154 acres was once a grand estate owned by lord ellesmere — a wealthy industrialist — but in recent years was neglected and became overgrown. the house, worsley new hall, is long gone. there are formal and walled gardens that reflect the site's heritage, but bridgewater has another role. very much with this garden, rather than us putting up a fence and inviting people to come in and pay a fee and have a cup of tea and be inspired and do all the beautiful things that you can do as a garden attraction, it's much more than that. there are links between us and the community — we have a community outreach team which goes out and takes horticulture to the community —

but we're also inviting people in to work on site, as well. so it's a very two—way street and a symbiotic relationship that doesn'tjust have a fence around the outside. and this is that ethos in action. here in the community garden, various groups from salford can come here, work, garden, orjust relax in a safe space. it's a place for people tojust come and relax, get their hands dirty. if someone turns up here one day and doesn't want to do any gardening, that's completely fine with me. we've got benches all round. they can have a wander around the rest of the garden. i really want people to feel at home and relaxed here because that's what community growing is all about, really. it's about...just getting involved and doing what you want to do. one of the groups involved here is salford loaves and fishes — a charity that works with homeless and vulnerable people. it's mal�*s first visit,

and he's very impressed. i'm loving every minute of it. i'll be coming every week now. will you? i will be coming every week, helping out. that's no problem at all for me. much has been made during the pandemic of the benefits to mental and physical health from fresh air, green open spaces, and gardening. so bridgewater�*s arrival — albeit later than planned — will be very welcome. thousands of british holidaymakers have jetted off on their first foreign holiday in months — as travel restrictions have been eased around the uk. portugal is one of the 12 destinations currently on the government's green list, which means british tourists won't have to self—isolate on their return. our transport correspondent caroline davies sent this from the beaches of southern portugal this morning. morning, i would say the first thing that really struck us when we arrived yesterday was quite how empty everything is still. obviously the holiday—makers

are starting to arrive, over 20 flights yesterday, more expected today. if you look at the beach behind me, there really is not that many people. there are not very many people here at the moment. but those people are coming in, they have plenty more planned, plenty more operators are planning to bring more tourists here. and i am joined by matt callaghan who is from easyjet holidays. matt, tell me how many people have you got coming to portugal soon? i mean, how fantastic is this? and it was great to be the first major tour operator from the uk to welcome customers to the beautiful algarve yesterday. and to share amongst that excitement for people that for a long time have not been able to go on holiday. over the next couple of weeks, we have over 200 flights between the uk and portugal. so plenty of opportunity for more people to come and enjoy everything the algarve has to offer. people are obviously concerned that now portugal is on the green list, that some of the low prices they saw before are going to shoot up. are you going to be taken advantage of the fact that people now know where they can go on holiday and charge more? absolutely not.

we know that the value for money is really important, that is something that we are really proud of. and actually what we have been doing is increasing the number of flights between the uk and green list countries in order that we can provide great value and offer as much choice as we can to customers. and that is something that we will continue to do over the weeks and months to come. portugal is obviously on the green list at the moment, but it was relatively late on that portugal confirmed that they were going to be on the green list, plenty of uncertainty about which other countries are going to be added during the course of the next few months. how is it summer looking more broadly at the moment? we are really optimistic about the summer. as you say, portugal and a number of other countries on the green list, and we know that there is a review coming earlyjune where we hope many more countries will be added to the green list. so that people can have even greater choice about where they holiday this summer. i think a probably big cost or a big concern for people is additional paperwork, the additional pcr tests.

do you think that will put people off wanting to go on holiday as well as potentially concerned about the fact that the borders should not be open yet? well, i think the traffic light system, since that has been announced can potentially be confusing for some customers. green countries, i think many customers and people watching your programme will be confused about why going to a green country do i have to do multiple tests in order to come home? and that is something that we have been working with the government, calling on a greater transparency about decision—making and also leaning on the government to really help drive down the cost of testing, which we know can be prohibitive for some customers. thank you very much, matt. good to speak to you. and more tourists are expected here in the algarve in the next few days and weeks. in a moment, reeta chakrabarti has the bbc news at one, first, the weather. hello. i hope you've got the umbrella to hand, because although there will be some pleasant spells of sunshine today, there are further

heavy and thundery showers, some prolonged downpours moving from wales and south—west england across the midlands " actually get to six miles high today. we have an organised feature pushing showers against southwest wales and england, showers will be widespread. then we have another curl of cloud pushing on against southwest england so more general cloud and heavy outbreaks of rain pushing in through the afternoon. heavy downpours for south—east england, thunderstorms across middle england, thunderstorms across middle england, a greater chance of showers for northern ireland and showers in scotland will be slow—moving but some areas will match the downpours. north wales, north—west england will see fewer showers, you might get away with a drier afternoon. overnight, cloud and rain pushing eastwards across southern counties in england and also thicker cloud

northern scotland bringing rain here. forwednesday, northern scotland bringing rain here. for wednesday, another day of sunshine and showers, most showers across eastern areas of scotland and to some eastern areas of scotland. further west, to some eastern areas of scotland. furtherwest, pressure to some eastern areas of scotland. further west, pressure building. south—east england, west midlands, north west england should have a dry afternoon with spells of sunshine and temperatures here around 15—16 , not bad at all. into thursday, not looking good, low pressure moving on from the atlantic bringing heavy rain widely and also strong winds. although it starts in a bright note on the east of the uk, cloud will gather and rain will spread, increasingly windy. strongest winds increasingly windy. strongest winds in the southern hills of wales. strong enough to bring down tree branches and there could be localised transport disruption. not

just for thursday, remaining for friday bringing rain and strong winds. at the weekend we are looking at a return of those showery conditions. that is your latest weather. continually updated. thank you, prime minister. _

borisjohnson says he will be borisjohnson says he will be able to tell people able to tell people in the next few days in the next few days whether the indian variant will make whether the indian variant will make it necessary to delay the end it necessary to delay the end of lockdown in england in england. of lockdown in england in england. as surge—testing continues as surge—testing continues in specific areas like bolton, in specific areas like bolton, the prime minister said that the prime minister said that at present, plans to at present, plans to unlock were on track. unlock were on track. i don't see anything a suspected victim of i don't see anything conclusive at the moment conclusive at the moment to say that we need to say that we need to to deviate from the road map, deviate from the road map, but we've got to be cautious and but we've got to be cautious and we're keeping everything under we're keeping everything under very close observation. very close observation. we'll bring you all the latest. we'll bring you all the latest. also this lunchtime: also this lunchtime: police prepare to excavate police prepare to excavate

at a cafe in gloucester, at a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm — searching for mary bastholm — a suspected victim of the serial killer, fred west. violence between israelis and palestinian militants shows no signs of easing — president biden has nowjoined calls for a ceasefire.