this is bbc news. the headlines... keeping to the plan. the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the road map out of lockdown. 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. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant. a call to tackle the global imbalances in covid vaccine rollouts.

it feels completely wrong to be in a situation _ it feels completely wrong to be in a situation morally, first of all, where — situation morally, first of all, where we _ situation morally, first of all, where we are allowing that to happen, — where we are allowing that to happen, whilst in many countries, vaccines— happen, whilst in many countries, vaccines are — happen, whilst in many countries, vaccines are being rolled out to younger — vaccines are being rolled out to younger and younger populations at very low— younger and younger populations at very low risk. police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm. she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west. 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 can't say if it's a bag or a coat or dress but what i can say is, it's a blue bit of material within within a void. violence between israelis and palestinian militants shows no signs of easing. president biden has nowjoined calls for a ceasefire. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reached a record of more than a million in the year leading

into the global pandemic. and coming up, the teenage footballer, who was killed in a knife attack 15 years ago, is being honoured virtually by appearing in the computer game fifa 21. good afternoon. the prime minister says he will be able to tell in the next few days whether the indian variant will mean a delay to the end of lockdown in england. but he said there was currently no conclusive evidence to suggest deviating from the government's �*roadmap�* would be necessary. the variant is now the dominant strain in bolton, blackburn and darwen, and is rising in all age groups. ministers are urging anyone eligible to get a vaccine.

some scientists are questioning why restrictions were eased yesterday in england when the government's own tests for unlocking suggest that a variant of concern might prompt a rethink. restrictions were also eased yesterday in wales and in parts of scotland. our health correspondent jim reed reports. as people across england, wales and scotland celebrate their new freedoms... all: cheers! ..the weight of the data begins. ministers will be watching the figures closely to see if this kind of meeting up inside leads to another spike in covid infections. another big unknown. data on a variant of the virus first found in india are now spreading in places like blackburn and bolton. 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 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. 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. scientists are still trying to work out how easily the new variant transmits, how many fall seriously ill, and crucially, how effective vaccines are against it, although the early signs of that are positive. we know that it has generated some large clusters and some large outbreaks and there is a little bit of chance involved in that. so, what we're seeing at the moment is some of those that have been largerjust by chance. so, one of the things that we need

is a little bit of time so that the effect of those initial introductions comes down and we can compare and really see what the local transmission looks like. other scientists think the government is taking too much of a risk and are unlocking society too quickly. the government did not pass therefore test on the road map, especially the test around the risk assessment on new variants of concern. we failed that test but the government have gone ahead. in blackburn and bolton, there is now a drive to get more people vaccinated with dedicated mobile units sent to areas with high infection rates. public health officials do expect the variance to become the dominant form of the virus in the uk over time. the government has said there have now been 2,323 confirmed cases across the uk with five or more infections now found in 86 local council areas. ministers have identified bedford as a another possible hotspot. cases there are now the second highest in england. what we know is what we have been seeing locally which is a really massive rise in cases, so about three or four weeks ago, we were having three or four cases

a day and now we are up to ten times that in bedford. i think it's really important that people understand just how quickly the situation could change. the final question is how all this can affect the last stage of unlocking, currently pencilled in forjune 21 in england. a government review of social distancing measures has now been delayed with local lockdowns not ruled out if cases continue to rise in certain areas. there is still a month to go and ministers could face a tough decision with both lives and livelihoods at stake. let's speak to our political correspondentjonathan blake. is your sense that this is absolutely the live topic in government at the moment? whether we talk about something changing locally, regionally or nationally? it is a very sensible time in the pandemic and a test for the government's response. you have heard the prime minister say there

that although there is nothing conclusive to suggest that the government would need to deviate from its road map out of lockdown in england, they are clearly, as they have done throughout, keeping all of the options open. the key questions that ministers want to answer is how much more transmissible is the indian variant of coronavirus to the previous strains that we have seen in the uk and how effective are the vaccines against its? it will be a couple of days at least before the government has some clear answers to those questions, which will inform its next steps. i should say that there is no sense that the government is about to rip up the road map and slam on the brakes but any change to the lifting of restrictions and relaxation of the restrictions and relaxation of the restrictions to that set out in the road map which the government hopes to stick to, will be controversial and difficult because it will be ultimately another test of the prime

minister's nerves and leadership. some mps are already making very clear that they will not entertain any further delay to the lifting of restrictions in england. they argue that with the vaccine roll—out progressing at pace as it is doing, there is nothing to justify easing off on the relaxation of restrictions stop it is also worth reminding ourselves at this point, but there have been conditions and caveats throughout. they have been there from the start including whether new variants come along to increase the risk and the dates on the road map have oise been at the earliest and not necessarily guaranteed. —— have always been at the earliest. well, to breakdown the figures, our head of statistics, robert cuffe.

all talk about the variant. just to talk us through the role that it plays, roberts. if talk us through the role that it plays. roberts-_ talk us through the role that it plays, roberts. if you look at the arts of plays, roberts. if you look at the parts of england _ plays, roberts. if you look at the parts of england that _ plays, roberts. if you look at the parts of england that have - plays, roberts. if you look at the parts of england that have the i parts of england that have the highest rates of cases, blackburn and bolton. even bedford thatjim was talking about a couple of minutes ago. they are seeing the highest number of cases of the variant that was first discovered in india. in scotland, the concerns are that the rise in glasgow also have something to do with that. those increases in numbers are what does seem to be what's driving it. but we don't know yet is whether the variant has a biological advantage which means it will stamp out any otherform of which means it will stamp out any other form of coronavirus which means it will stamp out any otherform of coronavirus in which means it will stamp out any other form of coronavirus in the which means it will stamp out any otherform of coronavirus in the uk in the coming weeks and months, or whether itjust happens to landing places which are more fertile ground and is spreading quickly there as a result. we will not know for a few

weeks. 3 result. we will not know for a few weeks. . ., result. we will not know for a few weeks. �* ., ., . ~' result. we will not know for a few weeks. . ., ., ., ,, ., weeks. a lot of talk about vaccinations _ weeks. a lot of talk about vaccinations and - weeks. a lot of talk about vaccinations and take - weeks. a lot of talk about vaccinations and take up i weeks. a lot of talk about | vaccinations and take up in weeks. a lot of talk about - vaccinations and take up in certain areas. is that an issue or is it not? what the latest data tell us about actual that is what drives... you can see that the vaccination rates are a bit lower compared to the rest of england. even within bolton, if you look at the places that we are seeing the largest number of cases arising bolton, they are also the areas, where we have seen lower rates of take—up of the vaccine. fewer over40s seen lower rates of take—up of the vaccine. fewer over 40s have been vaccinated so far. it is notjust about vaccination because the rates are low in bolton, they are low in manchester as well and they are low in london as well and we have not seen quite the same increase in those areas. the rises recently have

also been within people under 40, who are not yet eligible for the vaccine. ~ . , .., ., vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a — vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a large _ vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a large part— vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a large part of— vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a large part of it _ vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a large part of it are - vaccine. what else could drive that? welcome a large part of it are the i welcome a large part of it are the same old things of... as we open society with a larger of people over 40 not been vaccinated, we should expect to see more people catching coronavirus. hopefully, that will not turn into hospitalisations or death. there is also a big thing thatis death. there is also a big thing that is underlying this which is deprivation. we can show that to the audience as well because if you look at parts of bolton that looked to be most deprived or score higher on measures of deprivation, that looks a lot like the map that we were showing people a second ago of low vaccination take—up. it is notjust a vaccine hesitancy story. local mps

say that it is much harder to get the vaccination if you have to take three buses to get to the centres and you are on zero—hours contracts. people who are not working from home in a nice, comfortablejob, if you need to go out and need to make more contact, you are more likely to catch the virus if it is going around. we will find in the next coming months, how all of these factors play together. and while we open up more of society and see more of the virus spreading in general, we will... . ~ of the virus spreading in general, we will... ., ,, i. , of the virus spreading in general, we will... . ~' , . we will... thank you very much. well, the _ we will... thank you very much. well, the ons, — we will... thank you very much. well, the ons, the _ we will... thank you very much. well, the ons, the office - we will... thank you very much. well, the ons, the office for i well, the 0ns, the office for national statistics has released its data on the number of deaths registered in the uk in the week ending the 7th of may. the 0ns says the number of deaths registered was 9,202, 19% lower

than the five—year average. 139 of those mentioned covid on the death certificate, which is 93 fewer than the previous week, and the lowest figure since last september. however, registry offices were closed over the early may bank holiday, so the 0ns warned that the data should be "interpreted with caution". the director of the group which developed the astrazeneca covid vaccine says it seems �*morally wrong' that children in some richer countries are being offered a covid jab before high—risk adults in poorer countries. professor andrew pollard from the oxford vaccine group has been speaking to the all party parliamentary group on coronavirus. when you look at the overall... the vaccine is to stop people dying. we know who those people are. is the over 50s and those who have got a

health condition and to some extent also health care workers. those are the priority groups as they are initially here in the uk. and yet we are in a situation at the moment, where there are many unvaccinated people in the world with not enough doses for people yet. people at risk which is extremely low of the vaccine are being vaccinated. including children, who have near to zero risk of catching the disease and death. it is a very troubling way. as we see the images from south asia on our televisions and the awful circumstances. i work in nepal and were dashed and colleagues they are just facing the most appalling circumstances. they are not working

in a situation, where there is an nhs to support them and it feels completely wrong to be in a situation morally, first of all, where we are allowing that to happen, whilst in many countries vaccines are being rolled out to younger and younger populations at very low risk. excavation work is to begin at a cafe in gloucester tomorrow, as police search for a suspected victim of the serial killer fred west. 15—year—old mary bastholm worked at the clean plate cafe before she went missing in 1968. jon kay is in gloucester. decades after the cromwell street investigation, the name fred west is once again in the minds of people here in gloucester. yet again, a location that was linked to him, he was a regular customer at this cafe backin was a regular customer at this cafe back in the 60s, is going to be

excavated. police say they have enough new evidence to be worth doing a dig here but they are managing expectations. they are saying there is no guarantee that they are going to find mary bastholm's... all the they are going to find mary bastholm's. .. all the family they are going to find mary bastholm's... all the family can do is watch and wait. mary bastholm was 15 years old when she vanished in the centre of gloucester. she worked in a cafe. at half a century on, a tv crew has found... in a cafe. at half a century on, a tv crew has found. . .— in a cafe. at half a century on, a tv crew has found... from looking at the material. — tv crew has found. .. from looking at the material. i— tv crew has found... from looking at the material, i can't _ tv crew has found... from looking at the material, i can't say _ tv crew has found... from looking at the material, i can't say if _ tv crew has found... from looking at the material, i can't say if it's - tv crew has found... from looking at the material, i can't say if it's a - the material, i can't say if it's a bag or a coat or address but what i can say is, it is a blue bit of material within a void. ground penetrating — material within a void. ground penetrating radar _ material within a void. ground penetrating radar has - material within a void. ground penetrating radar has now- material within a void. ground i penetrating radar has now found material within a void. ground - penetrating radar has now found six voids in the basement. six areas with anomalies. today, police began to remove stores in the building and tomorrow they will start digging.

fred west was a regular in the cafe in the years before he was charged for six murders. in the years before he was charged forsix murders. he in the years before he was charged for six murders. he took his own life in 1995. as well as excavation work, police are now going back to the original investigation. mary bastholm was last seen waiting for a best in the centre of gloucester. i best in the centre of gloucester. i never really thought it would happen to us. her never really thought it would happen to us. , ., to us. her parents died without ever knowin: to us. her parents died without ever knowing what _ to us. her parents died without ever knowing what happened _ to us. her parents died without ever knowing what happened to - to us. her parents died without ever knowing what happened to her. - to us. her parents died without ever knowing what happened to her. she | knowing what happened to her. she was rather knowing what happened to her. file: was rather a knowing what happened to her. elie: was rather a nervous knowing what happened to her. s“i9 was rather a nervous child. knowing what happened to her. s“i9: was rather a nervous child. she knowing what happened to her. s“i9 was rather a nervous child. she has run away, it is a sudden impulse to do so. apart from that, she has been enticed away. the do so. apart from that, she has been enticed away-— enticed away. the family have welcomed _ enticed away. the family have welcomed a — enticed away. the family have welcomed a new _ enticed away. the family have welcomed a new search - enticed away. the family have welcomed a new search and l enticed away. the family have i welcomed a new search and have enticed away. the family have - welcomed a new search and have asked for privacy while the two—week excavation is carried out. if mary bastogne's remains are found there,

you are going to... —— mary bastholm's ourrot there are ancient burial site in this historic part of gloucester which could explain the spaces under the basement. well, as well as the ground penetrating radar kits and special underground cameras that the tv production had to, they also brought in a dog that could sent the —— that could pick up the scent of death. there is no guarantee that there are human remains here. there is no guarantee that mary bastholm's remains are here but it is part of that new evidence that police say is worth taking forward to the next step tomorrow.

job vacancies in the uk have reached their highest level since the start of the pandemic — as the easing of lockdown measures has led employers to start recruiting. the office for national statistics says that between february and april, there were 657,000 vacancies, up more than 48,000 on the previous quarter. but there s also concern about a sharpjump in the number than 6 months without work. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity reports. it's not the first time since last march that this brewery in ripon, north yorkshire, has restarted its beer making, but the hope is it will be the last. at one of the local pubs it owns, its boss told us it's struggling to find the staff it needs. we are absolutely envisaging that we are going to be really busy. i mean, bookings are already really strong. recruitment�*s been a real challenge, because there aren't a lot of people out there. you would think there would be

an awful lot of people able to and looking for work, but there aren't. and, to be honest with you, we need significantly more staff because, obviously, it is a different type of sale. so we are doing table service, people can't come to the bar, so everything takes an awful lot longer, so we need three or four more people per shift than we had before. in spite of renewed lockdown, the number of vacancies has risen in recent months, especially in the worst hit sectors such as hospitality. in the first quarter of the year, the number of vacancies was just 125,000 below its pre—pandemic level. the industry has been hit very hard and we've pulled back a lot of our team members off furlough, and in some hotels the ramp up will take a little bit longer, so we still have some team members to come back. the figures predate the latest lifting of restrictions which has led to a surge in activity now all too evident on the roads. the bank of england's predicted unusual growth in economic activity this year of more than 7%. but while the jobs market's already recovering, it's got a long way to go. this chart shows you the number of employees, and as you can see,

although it's's recovered, it's still down by about three quarters of a million from where it was before the pandemic, and then there is the people on furlough, 4.2 million as of the end of march. not all of those people are going to be able to go back to their old jobs, so they have to be found new work. as restrictions have gone on, the number of people classified as long—term unemployed hasjumped by 28% since last year. we are seeing a rise in the number of people who have been unemployed for more than six months, and that is especially the case among those who are over 50 and also those who are under 25 and, of course, that is especially worrying because the longer the time someone spends out of work, the more damaging that could be to their future career prospects and their living standards. the proportion of under 25s classified as economically inactive has hit new highs as many stay in education. matching those keen to work with the vacancies available will be one of the biggest economic challenges in the months to come. andy verity, bbc news.

hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reached a record of more than a million in the year leading into the global pandemic. experts say the pandemic should be a wake—up call to people as being overweight is one of the most significant risk factors for severe covid. here's our health correspondent sophie hutchinson. just nice to move your body, isn't it, outside? a path to a healthier life, a walk on the wirral for patients, prescribed and led by a local gp. this is a great location. this part of the north—west has one of the highest levels of obesity—related hospital admissions in england. oh, the sun's come out now. lovely. in the year to march 2020 as the pandemic hit, hospitals in england had seen a record 1 million admissions for obesity—related problems. they'd actually told me if i'd caught covid, that there's every chance that

i would die. being significantly overweight like phil is a huge risk factor for getting dangerously ill with covid—19. at his heaviest, he was 25 stone. when he caught the virus, he ended up in intensive care. my wife, we said goodbye, but not really how i would like to. and then i was crying my eyes out in the ambulance, you know? it was heartbreaking. 0n the ward i was on, sadly i saw two people pass away. that was a massive, massive point. come here! come on, then. good boy! it really made me think, "i need to address this." by changing his diet, phil has lost more than six stone. these researchers in glasgow are trying to understand why the virus is so dangerous for those who are very overweight. people who are heavier probably get a bigger viral hit. and that's really important, because the amount of virus you get

will dictate the likelihood of having the immune response be exaggerated. they have less efficient body systems, so their lungs are perhaps not as efficient to expand, their blood vessels are less pliable, they have thicker blood to begin with. people effectively who are overweight have less capacity to cope with the damage that covid causes. pressure is piling on the government to take radical action to address the obesity problem, but last month experts wrote to the prime minister, urging him to stick to a landmark proposal to banjunk food advertising online and on social media after fears it could be ditched. it is good to get out. it is just one step at a time. that step, says the government, will be to introduce a ban onjunk food adverts on television before 9pm. how far it is prepared to go with restrictions online will be revealed in the next few weeks. sophie hutchinson, bbc news.

carmen piernas is an epidemiologist at the university of oxford's nuffield department of primary health care sciences. hello, very good afternoon. hello, thank you- — hello, very good afternoon. hello, thank you- just _ hello, very good afternoon. hello, thank you. just put _ hello, very good afternoon. hello, thank you. just put in _ hello, very good afternoon. hello, thank you. just put in context i hello, very good afternoon. hello, thank you. just put in context for l thank you. just put in context for us how much _ thank you. just put in context for us how much more _ thank you. just put in context for us how much more we _ thank you. just put in context for us how much more we know i thank you. just put in context for us how much more we know at i thank you. just put in context for l us how much more we know at this stage in the pandemic about the role of obesity because i feel that at the start of the pandemic, there was a lot of anecdotal evidence that it increases your risk factors. there were lots of stories and conversations about it but i think i'm right in saying that a lot more research has been done about it now. absolutely, we have heard already about obesity but it was mostly coming from smaller studies of people already admitted to hospital. we had a very, very large sample in england, about 7 million people but

we studied in this recent study, and we studied in this recent study, and we looked at not only people with obesity but also across the full range of weights. find obesity but also across the full range of weights.— obesity but also across the full range of weights. and it tells you what? it tells — range of weights. and it tells you what? it tells you _ range of weights. and it tells you what? it tells you how _ range of weights. and it tells you what? it tells you how strong i range of weights. and it tells you what? it tells you how strong is l range of weights. and it tells you i what? it tells you how strong is the correlation?— correlation? what we found is that... correlation? what we found is that- -- we — correlation? what we found is that... we found _ correlation? what we found is that... we found what - correlation? what we found is that... we found what we i correlation? what we found is that... we found what we call| correlation? what we found is i that... we found what we call in epidemiology aj shape. full admission, i

see biological pathways involving of of novelty of this to look at the and we found obesity was a bigger risk factor in younger people in the age of 20 to 40, compared to older people. so in people aged 20 up to 39 or 40 years old, the risk of the

bmi, and that risk to the point that bmi, and that risk to the point that people who are 80 years old or above, they did not have excess risk of covid—19 outcomes because of their obesity. 50 of covid-19 outcomes because of their obesity-— of covid-19 outcomes because of their obesity. so when people say these studies _ their obesity. so when people say these studies would _ their obesity. so when people say these studies would you - their obesity. so when people say these studies would you hope i their obesity. so when people say these studies would you hope it i their obesity. so when people say. these studies would you hope it is, but what would you like to see come out of this in terms of public policy? what government messages should be out there when you have now got the sort of data you there are lots of other risk factors for severe covid or obesity. we can't change but we can change the weight modifiable and we can do something about it not only for covid, we no excess chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes that kill a lot more people than

covid will have a kid, so but we have a long way to go to control that an excess way to do that. really interesting, and thanks time to take a look at the weather. here lots of showers this afternoon in northern ireland has a greater chance of showers than yesterday. in scotland the showers are slow moving so if you catch when it can hang around. some of the heaviest downpours across southern england, across the midlands and towards lincolnshire and across south—west england we are looking at more general cloud and outbreaks of rain moving, so it looks particularly wet here. there will be some areas that dodge the downpour, may be north

west wales or england, but overnight tonight, a bit of rain across northern scotland and another batch of rain works east across southern counties of england. in between, it slowly tomorrow, a showery day and this time the majority of showers will try to form and further west, pressure rises meaning across, wales, north—west england it should be a fine day tomorrow with long spells of sunshine. in the sunshine we will see temperatures getting up to 16 and that

hello, this is bbc news with jane hill. the headlines. keeping to the plan — the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the roadmap out of lockdown. i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map, but we've got to be cautious and we're keeping everything under very close observation. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant. police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm. she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west.

violence between israelis and palestinian militants shows no signs of easing. president biden has nowjoined calls for a ceasefire. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reach a record high of more than a million a year sport now and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's 0lly foster. good afternoon. after four years at crystal palace, roy hodgson is stepping down at the end of the season. he's 73 and says the time is right to step away from the rigours of the premier league. he is palace in the premier league forfour he is palace in the premier league for four successive seasons. he he is palace in the premier league forfour successive seasons. he has two games left, away at his former club liverpool on the final date, but before that, at home, in front of some crystal palace fans to mikel

artetahe is an absolute legend. what artetahe is an absolute legend. what he has. artetahe is an absolute legend. what he has- what — artetahe is an absolute legend. what he has. what he _ artetahe is an absolute legend. “imriat he has. what he transmits artetahe is an absolute legend. m“i9t he has. what he transmits as artetahe is an absolute legend. imr“i9t he has. what he transmits as a manager work he has done, i think it is remarkable, and to keep, with the way he's always conducted himself, i think it's a great example for me a young coach manchester city's owner sheikh mansour is going to fully cover the travel costs to the champions league final for thousands of the clubs fans. they have been allocated 6,000 tickets and the club will pay for all those fans who are using their official travel package, which will see them flown in and out of porto in 24 hours. city say they have sought to remove the most significant financial barrier to fans attending the final at the end of the month. tottenham's interim manager

ryan mason has says their only focus is on finishing the season strongly, after being questioned over the future of harry kane. there's been feverish speculation that the england captain wa nt�*s to leave the club this summer, although we understand that he has not asked for a transfer. kane is still waiting to win his first trophy after 12 years at spurs and he has another three years left on his contract. he has scored 220 goals in 334 appearances i don't think anything is awkward because there is always speculation around the best players. i am sure there has been a lot of speculation in the last three or four weeks about the new manager coming in, all of these questions witch is normal. when you are a big club, this is normal. our focus is on the next game, i have said it all along, my mind has not deviated from that i am sure harry's has not and the rest of the group, no one has deviated from that. we have to be ready tomorrow to compete and hopefully get three points.

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. 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. thank you. see you later. president biden has voiced his support for a ceasefire, after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. more than 212 people, including 61 children, have died in gaza. 12 people, including two children, have been killed in israel — according to officials on each side. paul adams reports. gaza's punishment continues,

more air strikes at dawn. israel says it is not over. it doesn't just want the rockets to stop, it wants its opponent crippled. it has been hitting the homes of hamas leaders and destroying as much of their hardware as possible. hamas still has plenty of rockets, but launchers are vulnerable. translation: the directive is to | continue striking terrorist targets. the idf is doing this very well. we will continue to take whatever action is necessary to restore peace and security to all residents of israel. international outrage is building over the civilian cost — almost 40,000 people have been displaced, the territory's only covid testing lab partially destroyed. this man says he got a call from the israeli army telling him to get out of his home. the next house next door was bombed. when they returned, this is what they found.

translation: my mother was with me at home and now she is out _ in the streets with no shelter. and i also have no shelterfor my children. here the whole house is totally destroyed. in the west bank, palestinians are again demonstrating over the situation in gaza. there is a general strike, notjust among palestinians, it is being observed by israeli arabs too. diplomatic efforts, much less visible, are gathering pace, international mediators are trying to stop the fighting, and when us presidentjoe biden spoke to mr netanyahu last night, he called for a ceasefire for the first time. the un is heavily involved, its envoy injerusalem one of few officials actually talking to hamas. with pressure mounting on israel, its window of opportunity in gaza is slowly closing. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. the indian navy has

intensified its search for more than 90 people, mostly oil workers, still missing at sea after cyclone tauktae slammed into the west coast yesterday. more than 20 people have died in the cyclone, one of the most powerful to hit the area in decades. the red cross has described it as a "terrible double blow", as the country struggles to cope with coronavirus. rajini vaidyanathan reports from delhi. in a nation already battered by covid came this, cyclone tauktae, a powerful storm which has hit western india with great ferocity. wind speeds of up to 160 kph have left a trail of destruction. translation: the strong winds came from this side j and went towards the west, damaging many trees and houses. in the city of mumbai, this is all that remains of a covid vaccination centre.

the immunisation programme suspended for two days. off the coast, the indian navy said it rescued 150 people on board a barge. many remain stranded at sea, some off the coast of gujarat. the storm has claimed lives in kerala and goa as it advanced up the coast. the timing could not have been worse, as india battles the second wave of coronavirus, nature has shown no mercy. scottish farming leaders have expressed concern at what trade talks between the uk and australia might mean for the agricultural sector in scotland. they fear that if australia and new zealand secure tariff—free access to uk markets that could put the domestic farming industry at a disadvantage.. 0ur correspondent connor gillies is in glasgow.

explain a little bit more about what these concerns are. this explain a little bit more about what these concerns are.— these concerns are. this is all about the _ these concerns are. this is all about the uk's _ these concerns are. this is all about the uk's ability - these concerns are. this is all about the uk's ability to i these concerns are. this is all| about the uk's ability to strike these concerns are. this is all i about the uk's ability to strike its own trade deals in this post—brexit world. this potential deal with australia would be the first of its kind after leaving the european union, and there is a lot riding on this as we go into the weeks and months ahead. we are told that potentially the deal could be secured in the coming weeks, and it would open the door to the wider trade bloc in that part of the world as well, but of course, both sides are looking after the interests of each of their own countries, so there has got to be a bit of give and take in the process. crucially, australia is asking for no tariffs on goods that it sends here to the uk and of course into scotland as well, and the uk estimates that that could boost our imports from

australia by up to 83%, and that would mostly be in the form of beef and lamb, and that potentially, according to farming unions, could severely disadvantage farmers here in the uk. the nfu reckon it would be unbearable, and the only way that they would be able to compete would be to lower standards here in the uk. nfu scotland has also put out a release and is due to conduct a press conference in the next 20 minutes, and they are saying that they need assurances this afternoon from the government on these discussions. they don't want anything rushed through that risks the future viability of the farming industry across the whole of the uk. they say that jobs and entire industry across the whole of the uk. they say thatjobs and entire rural communities are at risk, and that is a sentiment echoed by the scottish governmentjohn swinney has issued a

tweet saying it would potentially be a huge threat and would devastate communities notjust here in scotland, but across the uk. so what is the government saying? is there any sense of reassurance at this stage? downing street has issued details in the last couple of hours saying that the government is united behind trying to secure a free trade deal with australia. this follows some discussion and debate this morning and chat of a rift in the cabinet over this. but the prime minister's team has been clear in the last few hours and said that any deal will include protections for the agriculture industry and it will not undercut farmers and it will not compromise on those high standards that exist in the uk that they say we have at the moment. we understand an agreement has been reached on most parts of this potential deal and they are just working out the finer details at the moment, but

estimates reckon that these proposals as they stand at the moment would benefit the uk to the tune of 0.02% of our annual income, ourgdp, and tune of 0.02% of our annual income, our gdp, and some are concerned that this signifies the direction of travel when it comes to trade deals going forward, and of course, with everything when we are talking about trade, there are winners and there are losers. yes, clearly more to come on this, but for now, thank you very much. come on this, but for now, thank you very much-— very much. following that for us in glastow. the headlines on bbc news. keeping to the plan — the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the roadmap out of lockdown police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm — she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west violence between israelis and palestinian militants shows no signs of easing.

president biden has nowjoined calls for a ceasefire spain has deployed soldiers and police to the land border of its north african enclave of ceuta, after an estimated 6,000 people arrived there yesterday. the government says it's now returned nearly half of them to morocco. many of the migrants gathered at the border fence. witnesses said moroccan police appeared to do nothing to intervene, fuelling speculation that the relaxing of the border controls is a political move by morocco. spain's prime minister pedro sanchez says he will travel to ceuta. guy hedgecoe reports from madrid. ceuta has long been a magnet for african migrants desperate to reach this european city, but the influx of an estimated 6,000 migrants on monday is unprecedented.

many floated around the border fence at low tide on makeshift boats, others swam round. one man drowned. but a number of migrants were able to cross on foot. there were several hundred children, and in some cases entire families came. the vast majority of those who crossed were moroccan, and all of them were seeking a better life. translation: when you have no money and you have to pay your rent _ and you have to take care of your children and parents, you can't afford to be scared. translation: as you see, all the young people i want to leave the country. there is no work. spain has reinforced security along the border fence between ceuta and morocco, and it has even deployed the army. but ceuta's emergency services have been overwhelmed by the arrivals. a warehouse used to quarantine migrants can only hold 200 people.

spain says it has started sending migrants back to morocco. however, relations between the two countries are tense, something many see as the reason why moroccan border guards apparently allowed the migrants to cross in the first place. guy hedgecoe, bbc news, madrid. there's been anger over plans by some universities in the uk to continue online lecturing in the autumn term. students in leeds have started a petition, arguing there's no reason why they can't be taught in person when school children are — and when people can visit cinemas and pubs. matt graveling reports. when you move in, you get along with your flatmates and you are part of the student lifestyle. you get lecture theatres and big lecture halls with lots of people in, you get to use the big labs and fancy technology. it has just not been that this year. fran's university experience has

not quite gone to plan. one year into her biological sciences degree and more than £9,000 spent, she's yet to set foot inside a lab. i have had two in—person seminars, and that is all i have had all year in terms of any kind of in—person teaching. for the last year coronavirus restrictions have seen universities across the uk moving lectures online. but now with eyes on the autumn term, universities are starting to plan their return. but in leeds, a slow return to the classroom has been met with anger and a petition of more than 2,500 people have criticised the lack of face—to—face teaching. a university of leeds spokesperson said that they intend to give every student a substantial on—campus experience next semester, and although face—to—face teaching would be the norm, they are currently planning on the basis that many large teaching events will be delivered online as part of a hybrid approach. but the caution being shown here at leeds is shared by staff at other universities. if we are involved in planning,

if we can get the ventilation right and the social distancing right in classrooms and also recognise that some staff really are panicking about coming back on board and taking it as an individual case—by—case basis rather than forcing everyone to go back into the classrooms, i think, would help massively. elsewhere, the university of liverpool says it wants as much face—to—face teaching as possible but is expecting a blend of online and in—person. the london school of economics expects the vast majority of seminars and classes to be taught in person, but lectures will be largely delivered online. and the university of manchester is planning a blended approach, with a mix of both on—campus and online elements. a lot of people would say there is a pandemic, this has to be done. i understand this year, however from september there is no logical reason, coronavirus—wise, hopefully, from what we are being told at the moment, that lectures should remain online.

the department for education says universities have a strong track record in delivering excellent blended tuition and quality and quantity should not drop. matt graveling, bbc news. a teenage footballer who was killed in a knife attack 15 years ago is being added as a player to the computer game, fifa 21. kiyan prince was part of the youth team at qpr when he lost his life — and has now been created virtually to play for the club as a 30—year—old. graham satchell reports. my name is kiyan prince. and i am a professional footballer. at least, i would have been. had i not been killed when i was 15.

kiyan prince was trying to break up a fight when he was stabbed and killed outside his school. he was just 15. his bubbly, joyful personality was infectious to everyone around him. for such a big guy, at such a young age, you know, looked intimidating but honestly, just a gentle giant. some people are special, like, they are, and he was special. and he didn't have, special in the sense that, never thought he was better than anyone but he was better than a lot of us. 15 years on, kiyan's friends remember him as a boy becoming a man with huge potential to be a great footballer. he'd already been signed as an academy player for qpr. from watching him play at that age, and i think the progress he would have gone through, he would have been at the euros in two weeks' time, 100%. beautiful boy. beautiful. the kind of son that every parent, especially a father, just wants to have.

kiyan's dad mark was determined to do something in his son's name. he set up the kiyan prince foundation, a charity dedicated to stopping knife crime. on this, the 15th anniversary of his death, the foundation has done something remarkable to keep kiyan's name alive. this picture of star wars character han solo is by the artist chris scalf, renowned for the photorealism of his work. the foundation commissioned chris to create an image of kiyan as he would look today. there's a certain point where halfway through, when i start to feel like i'm getting it, and feeling confident, but not confident enough, until i get the final acknowledgement from the people who it really matters too, to say that it looks like kiyan. working with the special effects team behind avengers endgame, chris created this 3d

model of kiyan. and this is the moment mark prince saw the picture of his son at 30 for the first time. he looks absolutely fantastic. what a greatjob. kiyan's image will be on billboards, on match attax cards, and he'll become a qpr player on fifa. kiyan prince, how about that! brought back to life as the footballer he should have been. graham satchell, bbc news. with all the hand sanitiser, face coverings and temperature checks, it wasn't exactly business as usual when theatres reopened yesterday — but the show did go on. after a long wait, audiences returned to auditoriums across britain, and the bbc�*s

ben boulos, was among them. it's been months since any of us have experienced live theatre like this. but across england, scotland and wales, stages are beginning to burst into life as audiences can return once again. everyone's so excited. we know the show, so we're just kind of fine tuning at the moment and everyone's just 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. as lockdown restrictions ease, agatha christie's the mousetrap is 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. 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, drinks are brought to the seats. everywhere, clues that remind us the pandemic is still not over. with the mousetrap particularly, what we've done is we've engaged two separate style casts, so that... which i don't think anyone's ever done before, and we've it as a precaution so that it someone were to test positive on one of the casts, then we have another cast that can step in straightaway. and the audience, delighted to be back. magical. amazing. utterly magical. so amazing. ifelt quite emotional, like, going inside. what have you missed about the theatre in the last year and a bit? the whole communal feeling of being in a house together and enjoying the same thing at the same moment, i think. yeah. laughing with somebody else. yeah. 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 costumes and props. despite this week's reopenings, there are fears that could be an unwelcome plot twist. the bigger shows, like matilda, hamilton and the lion king are more expensive to stage and plan to return only after the next easing of rules, where they can fill the seats without social distancing. that is expected on the 21st ofjune, but if it is delayed, there will be questions about whether the shows can go on. ben boulos, bbc news. now, the weather with chris fawkes. this afternoon we will see widespread showers and thunderstorms so keep your umbrella handy. today's clouds have already been bursting upwards through the skies above

nuneaton in warwickshire and today's cloud could get to be about six miles tall. clouds that big are capable of really heavy downpours and we've already seen some of those. we have a more organised feature pushing in showers across wales and south—west england and thatis wales and south—west england and that is going on this kind of direction this afternoon. showers will be widespread from that and then we have another curl of cloud that will be pushing on across south—west england, so here we are looking at more general cloud and heavy outbreaks of rain pushing on through the course of the afternoon. heavy downpours for south—east england and some big thunderstorms crossing the midlands towards lincolnshire and a greater chance of showers compared with yesterday across northern ireland and today's showers in northern ireland will be slow—moving but there will be some areas that dodge the downpours and favoured spots will be north wales, north—west england seeing fewer showers so you might get away with a dry afternoon with some sunshine. 0vernight tonight, cloud and rain pushes east across southern counties of england and we are seeing thicker cloud moving across northern

scotland, bringing rain here overnight as well. for wednesday, another day of sunshine and showers but most of the showers will be forming across eastern areas of england and to a degree across eastern areas of scotland by this trough. furtherwest, pressure will be a building underneath the ridge and south—west england and the west midlands and wales and north—west england should have a dry afternoon with some spells of sunshine, long spells of sunshine at that and temperatures of around 15 or 16 degrees, so not too bad at all. on thursday's weather, not looking too good at all. low pressure moving on from the atlantic and this one bringing heavy rain widely and also some pretty strong winds, so although it starts in a bright note across eastern parts of the uk, cloud will gather and outbreaks of rain was spreading and it will become windy and the strongest winds looked to be heading on across the southern coastal hills of wales where we could get gusts of 50 or 60 miles an hour, strong enough to bring down tree branches and localised transport disruption and not just through thursday,

localised transport disruption and notjust through thursday, the same area of low pressure is with us on friday bringing rain and strong winds and even though it clear through the weekend, we are looking at a return of those shari conditions. that is your latest weather —— shower reconditioned.

this is bbc news. the headlines... keeping to the plan — the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the road map out of lockdown. 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. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant. a call to tackle the global imbalances in covid vaccine rollouts. it feels completely wrong

to be in a situation, morally, first of all, where we are allowing that to happen, whilst in many countries, vaccines are being rolled out to younger and younger populations at very low risk. police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm. she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west. 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 can't say if it's a bag or a coat or dress but what i can say is, it's a blue bit of material within within a void. palestinian protestors and israeli security forces clash in the west bank town of bethlehem — president biden hasjoined calls for a ceasefire in the conflict between israel and hamas. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reach a record high

of more than a million a year. also this hour, we'll answer your questions on the international energy agency's latest proposals, including a potential global ban on gas boilers. that's your questions answered in half an hour's time. good afternoon. the prime minister says he will be able to tell in the next few days whether the indian variant will mean a delay to the end of lockdown in england. but he said there was currently no conclusive evidence to suggest deviating from the government's �*roadmap' would be necessary.

the variant is now the dominant strain in bolton, blackburn and darwen, and is rising in all age groups. ministers are urging anyone eligible to get a vaccine. some are questioning why restrictions were eased yesterday in england when the government's own tests for unlocking suggest that a variant of concern might prompt a rethink. restrictions were also eased yesterday in wales and in parts of scotland. 0ur health correspondent jim reed reports. as people across england, wales and scotland celebrate their new freedoms... cheers! ..the wait for data begins. ministers will watch the figures closely to see if this kind of meeting up, leads to another spike in covid infections. personal details there... another big unknown, data on a variant of the virus first found in india and now spreading in places like blackburn and bolton. 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 such a wall of defences with the vaccination programme, i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say we need to deviate from the roadmap. but we have got to be cautious and we are keeping everything under veryu close observation. we will know more in a few days. scientists are still trying to work out how easily the new variant transmits, how many fall seriously ill and, crucially, how effective vaccines are against it, although the early signs are positive. we know it has generated some large clusters and outbreaks, and there is a bit of chance involved in that. so what we are seeing is some of those that have been largerjust by chance. so one of the things that we need is a bit of time so that the effect

of those initial introductions calms down and we can see what the local transmission looks like. other scientists though think the government is taking too much of a risk and unlocking society too quickly. the government didn't pass- their four tests on the road map, especially the test around the risk assessment on new _ variants of concern. we failed that test. but the government have gone ahead. in blackburn and bolton there is a drive to get more people vaccinated, with dedicated mobile units sent to areas with high infection rates. public health officials expect the variant to become the dominant form of the virus in the uk over time. the government has said there have been 2,323 confirmed cases across the uk, with five or more infections now found in 86 local council areas. ministers have identified bedford as another possible hotspot, cases there are now the second highest in england.

what we know is what we have been seeing locally, a massive rise in cases. about three or four weeks ago we had three or four cases a day and now it is ten times as that in bedford. it is important people understand how quickly the situation can change. the final question is how this could affect the last stage of unlocking, currently pencilled in forjune 21st in england. a government review of social distancing measures has been delayed, with local lockdowns not ruled out if cases continue to rise in certain areas. there is still a month to go and ministers could face a tough decision, with lives and livelihoods at stake. jim reed, bbc news. let's speak to our political correspondentjonathan blake. first in terms of lockdown, dates and looking tojune, is that absolutely the key concern, the key

topic of discussion in cabinet and in government? it topic of discussion in cabinet and in government?— topic of discussion in cabinet and in government? it is, jane. it is a very sensitive _ in government? it is, jane. it is a very sensitive time _ in government? it is, jane. it is a very sensitive time in _ in government? it is, jane. it is a very sensitive time in terms i in government? it is, jane. it is a very sensitive time in terms of. very sensitive time in terms of response to the coronavirus pandemic. perhaps the variant is calling into question the next stages of the road map out of lockdown in england. the date that we mentioned, during the 21st, when the government hopes to lift all legal limitations in england, it is not quite being called into question itself but certainly whether the government is able to go ahead with the removal of those restrictions as planned on schedule, is far from guaranteed. as you have heard, the prime minister was saying there is no conclusive evidence to call in to question —— to call into question the road map out of lockdown in england. if you are feeling

optimistic, perhaps the prime minister suggesting there is nothing to worry about, if you are feeling more pessimistic, well, there is no conclusive evidence but does that mean that there is some suggestion of something to worry about there? we will have to wait a couple of days or weeks before the ministers get some answers. all the time, many conservative mps and others are watching nervously and ready to pounce at the earliest sign, any indication or hint, that the road map may be slowed down and the government may have to ease off a lifting of the restrictions as planned next month but we are going to have to wait a couple of days to see what transpires.— see what transpires. yes, there is -ressure see what transpires. yes, there is pressure from _ see what transpires. yes, there is pressure from various _ see what transpires. yes, there is pressure from various directions, | pressure from various directions, it's in there because? can we talk about overseas travel as well? a slight change yesterday with a handful of countries that allowed to go to. how strong is this argument

that there are six messages now about overseas travel because there is a list and there is a green list and an amber list and there is confusion?— and an amber list and there is confusion? , :, ,:, �* , confusion? yes, now the government's traffic litht confusion? yes, now the government's traffic light system _ confusion? yes, now the government's traffic light system has _ confusion? yes, now the government's traffic light system has come _ confusion? yes, now the government's traffic light system has come into i traffic light system has come into force, it is clear that people are asking questions about how exactly it is working and how workable it is really in the longer term. labour are accusing the government of conflicting advice to people. particularly around countries on the amber list, it is said that people may want to go to those countries to visit family and friends. the official government advises that people should not travel to those countries, and when the prime minister was asked about it at lunchtime, he said that it is very clear that people should understand clearly what those amber countries are. you should only go to those countries were pressing family or business reasons. if you do not

quarantine as required on your return, you will be fined up to £10,000. the prime minister is trying to stress that but there is clearly a bit of a difference on emphasis there certainly at the very least from government ministers, which has led to criticism in the government's way from labour and others. the shadow secretary saying today that the government's policy on travel and borders is unravelling at the party has restated its position, which is that there should be a ban on international travel. thank you very much. the office for national statistics has released its provisional data on the number of deaths registered in the uk in the week ending the 7th of may. the 0ns says the number of deaths registered was 9,202, 19% lower than the five—year average. 139 of those mentioned covid on the death certificate, which is 93 fewer than the previous week, and the lowest figure

since last september. however, registry offices were closed over the early may bank holiday so the 0ns warned that the data should be "interpreted with caution". hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reached a record of more than a million in the year leading into the global pandemic. experts say the pandemic should be a wake—up call to people — because being overweight is one of the most significant risk factors for severe covid. here's our health correspondent sophie hutchinson. just nice to move your body, isn't it, outside? a path to a healthier life, a walk on the wirral for patients, prescribed and led by a local gp. this is a great location. this part of the north—west has one of the highest levels of obesity—related hospital admissions in england. oh, the sun's come out now. lovely. in the year to march 2020

as the pandemic hit, hospitals in england had seen a record 1 million admissions for obesity—related problems. they'd actually told me if i'd caught covid, that there's every chance that i would die. being significantly overweight like phil is a huge risk factor for getting dangerously ill with covid—19. at his heaviest, he was 25 stone. when he caught the virus, he ended up in intensive care. my wife, we said goodbye, but not really how i would like to. and then i was crying my eyes out in the ambulance, you know? it was heartbreaking. 0n the ward i was on, sadly i saw two people pass away. that was a massive, massive point. come here! come on, then. good boy! it really made me think, "i need to address this." by changing his diet, phil has lost more than six stone. these researchers in glasgow are trying to understand why

the virus is so dangerous for those who are very overweight. people who are heavier probably get a bigger viral hit. and that's really important, because the amount of virus you get will dictate the likelihood of having the immune response be exaggerated. they have less efficient body systems, so their lungs are perhaps not as efficient to expand, their blood vessels are less pliable, they have thicker blood to begin with. people effectively who are overweight have less capacity to cope with the damage that covid causes. pressure is piling on the government to take radical action to address the obesity problem, but last month experts wrote to the prime minister, urging him to stick to a landmark proposal to banjunk food advertising online and on social media after fears it could be ditched. it is good to get out. it is just one step at a time. that step, says the government,

will be to introduce a ban onjunk food adverts on television before 9pm. how far it is prepared to go with restrictions online will be revealed in the next few weeks. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the director of the group which developed the astrazeneca covid vaccine says it seems �*morally wrong' that children in some richer countries are being offered a covid jab before high—risk adults in poorer countries. professor andrew pollard from the oxford vaccine group has been speaking to the all party parliamentary group on coronavirus. when you look at the overall aim of a global vaccination programme in a pandemic, it's to stop people dying. we know who those people are. it is the over 50s, it is those who have got health conditions and to some extent, also health care workers. those are the priority groups as they are initially here in the uk and the world health organisations policy recommendations.

yet we are in a situation at the moment, where there are many unvaccinated people in the world and there are not enough doses for everyone yet but there are many unvaccinated people in the world, whilst people at risk that is extremely low are being vaccinated and including children, who have near to zero risk of severe disease and death. that inequity is absolutely plain to see at this moment. it is actually a very troubling way, as we see from the images in south asia on our television screens and the awful circumstances there. i work in nepal and bangladesh and colleagues there are just facing the most appalling circumstances. they are not working in a situation, where there is an nhs to support them and it feels completely wrong to be in a situation, morally, first of all, where we are allowing that

to happen, whilst in many countries, vaccines are being rolled out to younger and younger populations at very, very low risk. a study in spain has found that people, who've already received a first shot of the astrazeneca vaccine, can safely be given a second dose of pfizer. the study found the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream after a pfizer shot was much higher than in the control group who only had the astrazeneca dose. surge testing is being carried out in nuneaton in warwickshire, following the detection of the indian coronavirus variant.everyone over the age of 2 in the wembrook and abbey wards everyone over the age of 2 in the wembrook and abbey wards of the town is being encouraged to take a pcr test whether or not they are showing symptoms. enhanced contact tracing will be used for those who test positive for the variant. the headlines on bbc news...

the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the road map out of lockdown. police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm — she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west. violence between israelis and palestinian militants shows no signs of easing. president biden has nowjoined calls for a ceasefire. excavation work is to begin at a cafe in gloucester tomorrow, as police search for a suspected victim of the serial killer fred west. 15—year—old mary bastholm worked at the clean plate cafe before she went missing in 1968. jon kay is in gloucester. decades after the cromwell street investigation, the name fred west is once again in the minds of people

here in gloucester and, yet again, a location which was linked to him — he was a regular customer at this cafe back in the 60s — is about to be excavated. police say they have enough new information, enough new evidence for it to be worth them during a dig here. but they are managing expectations. they are saying there are no guarantees that they are going to find mary bastholm's remains. so, all herfamily can do is watch and wait. mary bastholm was 15 years old when she vanished in the centre of gloucester. she worked in a cafe and half a century on, a tv crew has found what appears to be a piece of blue material buried in the basement. when mary went missing in 1968, she was wearing a blue coat, a blue and white dress and a blue back. from looking at the material, i can't say if it's a bag, or a coat, or a dress but what i can say is, it's a blue bit

of material within avoid. ground penetrating radar has now found six voids in the basement. six areas with anomalies. today, police began removing doors from the building, tomorrow they will start digging. fred west was a regular in the cafe in the years before he was charged with 12 murders. he is rumoured to have done some building work there. he took his own life in 1995. as well as excavation work, police are now going back to the original investigation. mary bastholm was last seen waiting for a bus in the centre of gloucester. i never really thought it would happen to us. her parents died without ever knowing what had happened to her. she was rather a nervous child. if she has run away, it's a sudden impulse to do so or apart from that, she has been enticed away. the family have welcomed

the new search and have asked for privacy, while the two—week excavation is carried out. if mary bastholm's remains are found there, as a force, you are going to face questions about why you didn't search it sooner, and you? —— aren't you? i understand that question but i am presented with new information which is why i made the decision that we are going to excavate tomorrow. but police are being cautious. no human remains have been detected yet and there are ancient burial sites in this historic part of gloucester, which could explain the spaces under the basement. well, as well as that ground penetrating radar kits and that special underground camera that the tv production company used, they also brought in a dog that can scent human remains and can pick up the scent of death. according to police, that dog picked up mild—to—moderate indications, which again, is no guarantee that there are human remains here.

certainly, no guarantee that there are mary bastholm's remains here but it is part of that new evidence that police say is now taking forward to the next step tomorrow. job vacancies in the uk have reached their highest level since the start of the pandemic — as the easing of lockdown measures led employers to start recruiting. the office for national statistics says between february and april, there were 657,000 vacancies, up more than 48,000 on the previous quarter. but there's also concern about a sharpjump in the number of people who've been classified as long—term unemployed, after more than 6 months without work. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity reports. it's not the first time since last march that this brewery in ripon, north yorkshire, has restarted its beer making, but the hope is it will be the last. at one of the local pubs it owns,

its boss told us it's struggling to find the staff it needs. we are absolutely envisaging that we are going to be really busy. i mean, bookings are already really strong. recruitment�*s been a real challenge, because there aren't a lot of people out there. you would think there would be an awful lot of people able to and looking for work, but there aren't. and, to be honest with you, we need significantly more staff because, obviously, it is a different type of sale. so we are doing table service, people can't come to the bar, so everything takes an awful lot longer, so we need three or four more people per shift than we had before. in spite of renewed lockdown, the number of vacancies has risen in recent months, especially in the worst hit sectors such as hospitality. in the first quarter of the year, the number of vacancies was just 125,000 below its pre—pandemic level. the industry has been hit very hard and we've pulled back a lot of our team members off furlough, and in some hotels the ramp up will take a little bit longer, so we still have some team members to come back. the figures predate the latest lifting of restrictions which has

led to a surge in activity now all too evident on the roads. the bank of england's predicted unusual growth in economic activity this year of more than 7%. but while the jobs market's already recovering, it's got a long way to go. this chart shows you the number of employees, and as you can see, although it's recovered, it's still down by about three quarters of a million from where it was before the pandemic, and then there is the people on furlough, 4.2 million as of the end of march. not all of those people are going to be able to go back to their old jobs, so they have to be found new work. as restrictions have gone on, the number of people classified as long—term unemployed hasjumped by 28% since last year. we are seeing a rise in the number of people who have been unemployed for more than six months, and that is especially the case among those who are over 50 and also those who are under 25 and, of course, that is especially worrying because the longer the time someone spends out of work, the more damaging that could be to their future career prospects and their living standards.

the proportion of under 25s classified as economically inactive has hit new highs as many stay in education. matching those keen to work with the vacancies available will be one of the biggest economic challenges in the months to come. andy verity, bbc news. a metropolitan police officer is being investigated after being filmed chanting "free palestine" while on duty during a demonstration at the weekend. clips of the female officer were posted on twitter. scotland yard said it was vital for public confidence that officers were impartial during protests. free palestine! the force's directorate of professional standards are now investigating the matter. president biden has voiced his support for a ceasefire, after more than a week of violence between israel and

palestinian militants. more than 212 people, including 61 children, have died in gaza. 12 people, including two children, have been killed in israel — according to officials on each side. paul adams reports. gaza's punishment continues, more air strikes at dawn. israel says it is not over. it doesn't just want the rockets to stop, it wants its opponent crippled. it has been hitting the homes of hamas leaders and destroying as much of their hardware as possible. hamas still has plenty of rockets, but launchers are vulnerable. translation: the directive is to | continue striking terrorist targets. the idf is doing this very well. we will continue to take whatever action is necessary to restore peace and security to all residents of israel. international outrage is building over the civilian cost —

almost 40,000 people have been displaced, the territory's only covid testing lab partially destroyed. this man says he got a call from the israeli army telling him to get out of his home. the next house next door was bombed. when they returned, this is what they found. translation: my mother was with me at home and now she is out _ in the streets with no shelter. and i also have no shelterfor my children. here the whole house is totally destroyed. in the west bank, palestinians are again demonstrating over the situation in gaza. there is a general strike, notjust among palestinians, it is being observed by israeli arabs too. diplomatic efforts, much less visible, are gathering pace, international mediators are trying to stop the fighting, and when us presidentjoe biden spoke to mr netanyahu last night, he called for a ceasefire for the first time.

the un is heavily involved, its envoy injerusalem one of few officials actually talking to hamas. with pressure mounting on israel, its window of opportunity in gaza is slowly closing. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. the indian navy has intensified its search for more than 90 people, mostly oil workers, still missing at sea after cyclone tow—tay slammed into the west coast yesterday. more than 20 people have died in the cyclone, one of the most powerful to hit the area in decades. the red cross has described it as a "terrible double blow", as the country struggles to cope with coronavirus. rajini vaidyanathan reports from delhi. in a nation already battered by covid came this — cyclone tauktae, a powerful storm which has hit western india with great ferocity. wind speeds of up to 160 kph have

left a trail of destruction. translation: the strong winds came from this side j and went towards the west, damaging many trees and houses. in the city of mumbai, this is all that remains of a covid vaccination centre, the immunisation programme in the city suspended for two days. off the city's coast, the indian navy said it rescued more that 150 people on board a barge. the race is on as hundreds more remain stranded at sea, some off the coast of gujarat. in recent days the storm has claimed lives in kerala, karnataka and goa as it advanced up the coast. the timing could not have been worse — as india battles a second wave of coronavirus, nature has shown no mercy. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, delhi. now, the weather with chris fawkes.

the suggestion from the international agency that gas only oiler should not be allowed, new ones should not be allowed from 2025. :, :, , , ., 2025. that has burned quite a response- _ 2025. that has burned quite a response- we _ 2025. that has burned quite a response. we are _ 2025. that has burned quite a response. we are going i 2025. that has burned quite a response. we are going to i 2025. that has burned quite a | response. we are going to put 2025. that has burned quite a i response. we are going to put all of your questions to experts on all of that. is it possible, is it realistic? that is coming up. right now, we will take a look at the weather. we are looking at lots of showers this afternoon. northern ireland, there is a much greater chance of seeing showers than yesterday. some of the heaviest downpours across southern england, across the midlands and across south—west england we are looking at clouds and it looks particularly wet here. north wales and perhaps north west

england will not fare too badly. 0vernight tonight, it is a bit of rain across northern scotland and another batch of rain across southern counties of england. it does slowly get a little bit drier. tomorrow is another showery day. this time, the majority of the showers will be across eastern areas of the uk. further west, pressure rises and that means across south—west england, wales and north—west england, it should a finer and drier afternoon with long spells of sunshine. temperatures getting to 16. and that's your weather.

hello, this is bbc news with jane hill. the headlines. keeping to the plan — the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the roadmap out of lockdown i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map, but we've got to be cautious and we're keeping everything under very close observation. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm. she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west.

palestinian protestors and israeli security forces clash in the west bank town of bethlehem — president biden hasjoined calls for a ceasefire in the conflict between israel and hamas. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reach a record high of more than a million a year. happy news for model naomi campbell. she reveals she's become a mother with a tribute to her �*beautiful little blessing'. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's 0lly foster. good afternoon. roy hodgson is stepping down as manager of crystal palace at the end of the season. he's 73 and says the time is right to step away from the rigours of the premier league.

though he has never managed to finish the season in the top half of the table with palace, he is the only manager to keep them in the premier league for four successive seasons. the club's chairman steve parish says he will be forever grateful for his immense contribution. a decision which hasn't exactly been taken overnight. it's been really brewing for a long time and i had it in the back of my mind that the right time to leave the club and maybe even to leave football for a while would be at the end of this season, and i'm pleased, really, despite the speculation of the last two or three months that we have still been able to keep things on a pretty even keel, and it looks like we will be ending the season in a very dignified way, and that was important to me. manchester city's owner sheikh mansour is going to fully cover the travel costs to the champions league final for thousands of the clubs fans.

they have been allocated 6,000 tickets and the club will pay for all those fans who are using their official travel package, which will see them flown in and out of porto in 24 hours. city say they have sought to remove the most significant financial barrier to fans attending the final at the end of the month. tottenham's interim manager ryan mason says their only focus is on finishing the season strongly, that's after he was questioned about harry kane's future. there have been numerous reports that the england captain wants to leave the club this summer, although we understand that he has not asked for a transfer. kane has another three years left on his contract but is still waiting to win his first trophy after 12 years at spurs. he has scored 220 goals in 334 appearances i don't think anything is awkward because there is always speculation around the best players.

i am sure there has been a lot of speculation in the last three or four weeks about the new manager coming in, all of these questions which is normal. when you are a big club, this is normal. our focus is on the next game, i have said it all along, my mind has not deviated from that. i am sure harry's has not and the rest of the group, no one has deviated from that. we have to be ready tomorrow to compete and hopefully get three points. 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. it's a rest day for riders at the giro d'italia, but the tour of andalusia is underway in spain. the opening stage was only 95 miles long, but was dramatic for portugal's rui 0liveira who was leading at the time when this happened. icame off i came off my bike yesterday, but

not as spectacularly as that. he was able to rejoin the race despite his injuries. spain's gonzalo serrano won the stage with britain's ethan hayter fourth for ineos grenadiers. england have named a 15—man squad for the two test series against new zealand next month. wicketkeeper batmsmanjames bracey and pace bowler 0llie robinson are both uncapped. bracey was a reserve for england last summer, there's every chance that both will get a chance to impress ahead of a busy summer forjoe root�*s test side. a host of england players are being rested having just returned from the indian premier league. no ben stokes orjofra archer who are both injured. all the details of that squad are on the bbc sport website. that's all the sport for now. a ban on the sale of gas boilers

from 2025 has been proposed by the international energy agency if the world is to achieve net—zero emissions by the middle of this century. it's one of 400 steps on the road to net—zero proposed by the agency in a special report. you've been sending in your many questions on this — a p pa re ntly apparently we have been inundated. clearly the proposal has really hit a nerve. let's try to go through as many questions as we can. with me to answer some of them is our energy and environment analyst, roger harrabin and the deputy editor of the carbon brief website, dr simon evans. really striking that so many people have so many questions. let's start with what sounds like a simple question, can a gas boiler be converted to a green boiler? yes.

question, can a gas boiler be converted to a green boiler? yes, i think we are _ converted to a green boiler? yes, i think we are talking _ converted to a green boiler? yes, i think we are talking here _ converted to a green boiler? yes, i think we are talking here about i converted to a green boiler? yes, i think we are talking here about the need for four new gas boilers to be made in such a way that they can be converted to hydrogen. nobody will be asked to convert their existing gas boiler to hydrogen. it'sjust that after maybe 2023 the government has not decided yet and after that period it looks like they will mandate the manufacturers that when they are making gas boilers, they will make them compatible and also with how hydrogen, which is a clean fuel that you put down the gas pipes in the same way.— fuel that you put down the gas pipes in the same way. from that date, but no suggestion — in the same way. from that date, but no suggestion as _ in the same way. from that date, but no suggestion as far _ in the same way. from that date, but no suggestion as far as _ in the same way. from that date, but no suggestion as far as i _ in the same way. from that date, but no suggestion as far as i understand l no suggestion as far as i understand it's that we are talking about

something compulsory now. and somebody with a gas boiler might have to rip that out? there is a misunderstanding here. iii have to rip that out? there is a misunderstanding here.- have to rip that out? there is a misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end — misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end of _ misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end of the _ misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end of the 20 _ misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end of the 20 40s - misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end of the 20 40s you i misunderstanding here. if you are at the back end of the 20 40s you are i the back end of the 20 40s you are running a clapped out boiler, the climate change police, that we will have by that time will come knocking on your door saying it's time to get rid of that, but it's not going to happen in a short timescale. this is a very long procedure, but the uk has to shift to low carbon sources and it's going to be very difficult and it's going to be very difficult and expensive. it has to happen but it will happen over a long period of time. ,, :, :, , ::, ~ time. simon evans, welcome. a auestion time. simon evans, welcome. a question from — time. simon evans, welcome. a question from neville _ time. simon evans, welcome. a question from neville in - time. simon evans, welcome. a. question from neville in cambridge which is, what replacement boilers will realistically be available by 2025? is hydrogen a possibility. i understand there are two prototypes, but we would need to supply of hydrogen. what might the options be? the options for replacing gas boilers. _ the options for replacing gas boilers, one is the hydrogen boilers that roger— boilers, one is the hydrogen boilers that roger has mentioned. and the

bil that roger has mentioned. and the big issue _ that roger has mentioned. and the big issue with those as you can have a hydrogen— big issue with those as you can have a hydrogen ready boiler but it won't cut any— a hydrogen ready boiler but it won't cut any carbon emissions unless there _ cut any carbon emissions unless there is— cut any carbon emissions unless there is a — cut any carbon emissions unless there is a supply of clean hydrogen. at the _ there is a supply of clean hydrogen. at the moment, that doesn't exist, so the _ at the moment, that doesn't exist, so the alternative, if you want to cut your — so the alternative, if you want to cut your carbon emissions from heating — cut your carbon emissions from heating straightaway is to install an electric heat pump which works like a _ an electric heat pump which works like a fridge in reverse and that will cut— like a fridge in reverse and that will cut your carbon emissions as soon _ will cut your carbon emissions as soon as— will cut your carbon emissions as soon as you _ will cut your carbon emissions as soon as you install it.— soon as you install it. that is something — soon as you install it. that is something that _ soon as you install it. that is something that when - soon as you install it. that is something that when it i soon as you install it. that is something that when it is i soon as you install it. that is - something that when it is available, and i'm very conscious that when theseissues and i'm very conscious that when these issues come up, we talk as if everyone is in a house, that they own the house, therefore they have the power to do as they wish and there are people who rent, and tens of thousands of people more who live in flats and you don't have the same purchase power. what options would there be for people who do not live in a traditional house that they own? :, :, , :, , in a traditional house that they own? :, :, ,:, , :, :,

own? one of the reasons that we are onl now own? one of the reasons that we are only now talking _ own? one of the reasons that we are only now talking about _ own? one of the reasons that we are only now talking about how- own? one of the reasons that we are only now talking about how to - own? one of the reasons that we are only now talking about how to deal i only now talking about how to deal with carbon emissions that come from heating _ with carbon emissions that come from heating it's _ with carbon emissions that come from heating it's partly because as you nrention— heating it's partly because as you mention people live on all types of houses _ mention people live on all types of houses and a lot of the housing stock _ houses and a lot of the housing stock in — houses and a lot of the housing stock in the country as victorian era and — stock in the country as victorian era and leaky, inefficient and so on. era and leaky, inefficient and so on there's _ era and leaky, inefficient and so on. there's going to be lots of different— on. there's going to be lots of different solutions, heat pump to hydrogen — different solutions, heat pump to hydrogen boilers in flats, like in district — hydrogen boilers in flats, like in district heating where you have centralised heat sources and you 'ust centralised heat sources and you just type — centralised heat sources and you just type the heat into the flat. but it _ just type the heat into the flat. but it is — just type the heat into the flat. but it is going to be local solutions and it's worth emphasising the climate change committee advises the climate change committee advises the government on these marshes and have said _ the government on these marshes and have said similar to the other group have said similar to the other group have said. — have said similar to the other group have said, the best solution will be electric— have said, the best solution will be electric heating by heat pumps because — electric heating by heat pumps because they are the most efficient. 0k. because they are the most efficient. 0k~ ian— because they are the most efficient. 0k~ tan in— because they are the most efficient. 0k. ian in saint organs says i have a tiny house building 1998 and a boilerfrom1998 —— saint organs. i want to refurbish everything and

save the planet. where should i start? if save the planet. where should i start? , :, :, save the planet. where should i start? :, :, , start? if you have a tiny house, he's already — start? if you have a tiny house, he's already started. _ start? if you have a tiny house, he's already started. the i start? if you have a tiny house, | he's already started. the bigger start? if you have a tiny house, i he's already started. the bigger the house, typically the more emissions, so if you live in a tall, victorian house with large rooms like i do then i am a climate from that point of view and he is not, he starts off from a point of climate virtue if he has a small rooms because there is not so much to heat. we overcome it in our house by freezing all the way through winter and not putting the radiators on. it's a different method but probably quite effective in its way. if the boiler is ten years old houses ten years old, it should be reasonably reasonably well insulated and that's a big start. to fit a heat pump you need to have good insulation, so let's assume possibly it's quite well insulated at the moment and then the next thing would be, if he's keen to save the planet or do his bit, to check

out how much it would cost to put in an electric heat pump and get the heat out of it. you can take heat out of the air or out of the soil or out of the air or out of the soil or out of the air or out of the soil or out of a water source, like a river or lake or the sea and i'm assuming it's unlikely he lives near the sea or near a major water source so his choice will be if he has a garden, bigoted hole in the garden and have a ground source heat pump —— dig a big hole. if not, installan air source heat pump which is like an air conditioner. as we said previously it runs like a fridge in advance. the only issue will be how efficient will be how hold —— how efficient will be how hold —— how efficient the radiators will be, because if you have a small house, you probably don't want much more of it taken up by radiators. you

you probably don't want much more of it taken up by radiators.— it taken up by radiators. you do look very _ it taken up by radiators. you do look very well— it taken up by radiators. you do look very well wrapped - it taken up by radiators. you do look very well wrapped up i it taken up by radiators. you do look very well wrapped up and l it taken up by radiators. you do | look very well wrapped up and it it taken up by radiators. you do i look very well wrapped up and it all makes sense. simon, what is the solution for oilfired makes sense. simon, what is the solution for oil fired boilers? makes sense. simon, what is the solution for oilfired boilers? and domestic heating systems? what alternatives are there and will they be affordable. how can someone on a limited income afford these changes. the alternatives will be more costly — the alternatives will be more costly. roger has talked about hydrogen ready boilers and manufacturers have told me they expect _ manufacturers have told me they expect them to not cost more than a standard _ expect them to not cost more than a standard gas boiler. the hydrogen you would — standard gas boiler. the hydrogen you would fall that will —— fuelled up you would fall that will —— fuelled up with. — you would fall that will —— fuelled up with, that would be more costly than gas~ _ up with, that would be more costly than gas. heat pumps are currently expensive — than gas. heat pumps are currently expensive to install but the running costs _ expensive to install but the running costs ultimately are likely to be lower— costs ultimately are likely to be lower than a hydrogen boiler. again, heating _ lower than a hydrogen boiler. again,

heating is— lower than a hydrogen boiler. again, heating is one of the most challenging areas to solve, and in terms _ challenging areas to solve, and in terms of— challenging areas to solve, and in terms of people with limited incomes, this is the pinch point. when _ incomes, this is the pinch point. when the — incomes, this is the pinch point. when the chime —— climate change committee — when the chime —— climate change committee assessed the whole shift to net _ committee assessed the whole shift to net zero for the uk, broadly speaking, _ to net zero for the uk, broadly speaking, they found there would be savings _ speaking, they found there would be savings for _ speaking, they found there would be savings for consumers in terms of transport — savings for consumers in terms of transport costs and because electric vehicles _ transport costs and because electric vehicles are more efficient and cheaper— vehicles are more efficient and cheaper to run on petrol cars, but on the _ cheaper to run on petrol cars, but on the heating side, there is definitely going to be an upfront investment needed and probably for people _ investment needed and probably for people on— investment needed and probably for people on limited incomes, that will mean _ people on limited incomes, that will mean government support. interesting, on that point, roger, a question fromjim, interesting, on that point, roger, a question from jim, tying in with government support, he says my existing boiler will need replacing soon. should i be considering installing a green boiler now or should i wait either for further technology advances or future government aid, and that is what a lot of people will be thinking? will there be grants or will we be nudged

towards improving the situation at home? :, : :, , towards improving the situation at home? :, ::, , ,:, towards improving the situation at home? :, , :, home? from the consumer point of view, the advice _ home? from the consumer point of view, the advice would _ home? from the consumer point of view, the advice would be - home? from the consumer point of view, the advice would be to - home? from the consumer point of view, the advice would be to wait. l view, the advice would be to wait. the government did have its green homes schemes which ran until march and then were scrapped. mps were very cross and climate advisers were very cross and climate advisers were very cross, because they say the government really has to tackle the issue of heat with a long—term investment strategy spanning decades to help people get clean energy and also to get their homes properly insulated so that that energy can be most usefully used. but i am told that the government is thinking of putting out a different strategy of some sort to help people possibly at the back end of the year although thatis the back end of the year although that is not yet confirmed. but they absolutely need to do something because people will look at the bill for heat pumps, for instance, which could run from £6,000 installation cost at the bottom into maybe 16 or £18,000 at the top end if you have a big house with big rooms and lots of

external walls, and i think people will kick back at that and the government knows that, so they know they have to come up with something, and so far, you've got to be frank on this, i think it has been a really serious government failure over many years to take into account the necessity to decarbonise heat. it has been crushingly obvious and policies have flickered in and out but there's been no consistency. they have to get a consistent policy which will bring people on board. yes, those are eye watering figures that you mention there. there is a not dissimilar question from james muir in essex who says if we are not going to have gas boilers, how will people be convinced to use an electric alternative. for example, currently, electric charges per kilowatt hour are nearly six times the cost of gas.— the cost of gas. yes, so the cost incentives _ the cost of gas. yes, so the cost incentives currently _ the cost of gas. yes, so the cost incentives currently are - the cost of gas. yes, so the cost incentives currently are not i incentives currently are not favourable and very briefly, to come

back to _ favourable and very briefly, to come back to the — favourable and very briefly, to come back to the upfront cost of heat pumps, — back to the upfront cost of heat pumps, at _ back to the upfront cost of heat pumps, at the moment, the market for heat pumps _ pumps, at the moment, the market for heat pumps in the country is very small _ heat pumps in the country is very small. there is a hope and expectation that as the market for that expanse, cost will ultimately come _ that expanse, cost will ultimately come down and you would get more competition and more installers. in terms _ competition and more installers. in terms of— competition and more installers. in terms of electric versus gas costs per unit, — terms of electric versus gas costs perunit, it's— terms of electric versus gas costs per unit, it's certainly the case that— per unit, it's certainly the case that electricity is higher per kilowatt hour and the key thing here is that— kilowatt hour and the key thing here is that heat — kilowatt hour and the key thing here is that heat pumps are really efficient _ is that heat pumps are really efficient and as roger mentioned, you are _ efficient and as roger mentioned, you are part of the heat that is lreing — you are part of the heat that is being used is coming from the air or the ground — being used is coming from the air or the ground outside and it is effectively free heat. you are using electricity— effectively free heat. you are using electricity to pump that heat into your house and that means for each unit of— your house and that means for each unit of electricity you are getting perhaps— unit of electricity you are getting perhaps three units of heat, so that significantly reduces the cost of

the heat — significantly reduces the cost of the heat per kilowatt hour relative to the _ the heat per kilowatt hour relative to the electricity. the other thing is that— to the electricity. the other thing is that the — to the electricity. the other thing is that the fiscal incentives are quite — is that the fiscal incentives are quite messed up at the moment. at the moment we palm the costs of climate _ the moment we palm the costs of climate policy onto electricity and .as climate policy onto electricity and gas does — climate policy onto electricity and gas does not even face any kind of carbon— gas does not even face any kind of carbon price for the emissions associated with that. so the government is going to be looking at that one _ government is going to be looking at that one thing they could do is to take the — that one thing they could do is to take the kind of climate policy costs — take the kind of climate policy costs out _ take the kind of climate policy costs out of the electricity bill and potentially more fully reflect the costs — and potentially more fully reflect the costs of carbon emissions compared _ the costs of carbon emissions compared to gas use.- the costs of carbon emissions compared to gas use. when i look down the list _ compared to gas use. when i look down the list there _ compared to gas use. when i look down the list there is _ compared to gas use. when i look down the list there is a _ compared to gas use. when i look down the list there is a lot - compared to gas use. when i look down the list there is a lot of i down the list there is a lot of questions about the cost of this and how people can afford this, particularly if you are older or on a low income so i think we have covered a lot of that there are further questions aside from the financial ones. roger in london would like —— like to know is a green boiler different to a smart metre? smart metres are meant to encourage us to think about how much we are using, aren't they? roger? iii

we are using, aren't they? roger? if you are asking me, completely different animal. it's like squirrels versus front doors. they both have their place but not necessarily in the same sentence. so the point is that a smart metre is something that has been brought in partly for ease, but also it is more of an incentive issue, a smart meter so we can monitor how much gas and electricity we are using and think about it. : ,,:, , about it. absolute right. i 'ust want to go i about it. absolute right. i 'ust want to go back i about it. absolute right. i 'ust want to go back to i about it. absolute right. ijust want to go back to simon's i about it. absolute right. ijust i want to go back to simon's earlier point about the financial incentives or disincentives whereas at the moment we pay a lot of cost for electricity and that goes to help fund renewables and poorer people afford their bills. if the government shifts those costs onto gas, which would be a rational thing to do from an energy point of view, it will have a lot of upset from people whose gas bills are going to

go people whose gas bills are going to 9° up people whose gas bills are going to go up as a result, and typically, when you are introducing any policy change, the people who benefit from the policy, which will be those virtuous people with their heat pumps, they tend to sit smugly back and rub their hands and think, that is rather nice and then the people who find that their gas bills are going to go up, they are going to cry blue murder. it any apology —— policy change like this will need help from the media and whether it will get it, i don't know.— will get it, i don't know. another . uestion will get it, i don't know. another question to _ will get it, i don't know. another question to you, _ will get it, i don't know. another question to you, simon, - will get it, i don't know. another question to you, simon, from i will get it, i don't know. another i question to you, simon, from neil carter, who asks, when will the government provide real incentives for people to just become more green in their energy use? it all comes back to this. the cost of it, somebody might have the best will in the world, but the upfront costs can be big and there needs to be some sort of government nodule grant or

something. sort of government nodule grant or somethina. :, :, :, , :, something. roger already mentioned the treen something. roger already mentioned the green homes _ something. roger already mentioned the green homes grant _ something. roger already mentioned the green homes grant brought i something. roger already mentioned the green homes grant brought into i the green homes grant brought into the green homes grant brought into the coronavirus pandemic last year that was— the coronavirus pandemic last year that was then scrapped in march. there _ that was then scrapped in march. there is— that was then scrapped in march. there is still another incentive called — there is still another incentive called the renewable heat incentive and if— called the renewable heat incentive and if you _ called the renewable heat incentive and if you install a heat pump, you .et and if you install a heat pump, you get payments over the course of seven _ get payments over the course of seven years for all of the heat you generate — seven years for all of the heat you generate with that. that is closing in a year. — generate with that. that is closing in a year, march 2022, so there is very— in a year, march 2022, so there is very much— in a year, march 2022, so there is very much a — in a year, march 2022, so there is very much a gap there where the government needs to come in with some _ government needs to come in with some new— government needs to come in with some new scheme to encourage the sorts— some new scheme to encourage the sorts of— some new scheme to encourage the sorts of behaviours. lets some new scheme to encourage the sorts of behaviours.— sorts of behaviours. lets see again whether they _ sorts of behaviours. lets see again whether they do _ sorts of behaviours. lets see again whether they do come _ sorts of behaviours. lets see again whether they do come through. i sorts of behaviours. lets see again i whether they do come through. roger, a question, are the chp units, combined heat and power units, working on natural gas assumed to be green boilers? i'm afraid i'm lost already on that one. i'm not familiar with those but i'm sure you can explain. familiar with those but i'm sure you can “plain-— can explain. you can get a boiler used on a _ can explain. you can get a boiler used on a community _ can explain. you can get a boiler used on a community basis i can explain. you can get a boiler used on a community basis or i used on a community basis or individual basis which uses gas and

also creates electricity at the same time and there are extra efficiencies from that but no, it would not count as a zero carbon boiler. the only sort of boiler that can count as a zero carbon one is a hydrogen boiler, running on hydrogen generated or created by electricity, surplus electricity from wind farms or solar farms. surplus electricity from wind farms or solarfarms. that surplus electricity from wind farms or solar farms. that is the only thing that will qualify.- or solar farms. that is the only thing that will qualify. simon, a auestion thing that will qualify. simon, a question from _ thing that will qualify. simon, a question from roy _ thing that will qualify. simon, a question from roy smith. i thing that will qualify. simon, a question from roy smith. an i thing that will qualify. simon, a i question from roy smith. an element of cost with it but he makes the point that i use oil for my heating. i couldn't afford to replace my boiler with electric, so how is all of this meant to work? some of that is financial, but where does oil come into this as an option? lots of --eole, come into this as an option? lots of peeple. particularly _ come into this as an option? lots of people, particularly in _ come into this as an option? lots of people, particularly in more - come into this as an option? lots of people, particularly in more rural. people, particularly in more rural areas. _ people, particularly in more rural areas, aren't connected to the gas grid~ _ areas, aren't connected to the gas grid~ and — areas, aren't connected to the gas grid. and they picked —— typically will use _

grid. and they picked —— typically will use oil— grid. and they picked —— typically will use oil heating. in my dad's place. _ will use oil heating. in my dad's place. that_ will use oil heating. in my dad's place, that is on oil —— oil heating and we _ place, that is on oil —— oil heating and we have — place, that is on oil —— oil heating and we have a big tank in the garden and we have a big tank in the garden and when— and we have a big tank in the garden and when it— and we have a big tank in the garden and when it runs out it's a bit of a problem. — and when it runs out it's a bit of a problem, like it did in winter. the thing _ problem, like it did in winter. the thing with— problem, like it did in winter. the thing with oil heating, it's quite expensive and definitely much more expensive _ expensive and definitely much more expensive than gas heating. and it is simply— expensive than gas heating. and it is simply a — expensive than gas heating. and it is simply a case of that is what is available — is simply a case of that is what is available. so, relative to an electric— available. so, relative to an electric heat pump, the running cosis— electric heat pump, the running costs are — electric heat pump, the running costs are likely to be much higher, so it comes — costs are likely to be much higher, so it comes down to whether there will be _ so it comes down to whether there will be government alternatives or grants— will be government alternatives or grants of— will be government alternatives or grants of some sort in order to ease that upfront — grants of some sort in order to ease that upfront cost of installing a heat _ that upfront cost of installing a heat pump, because overall that will brin- heat pump, because overall that will bring costs _ heat pump, because overall that will bring costs down to somebody like roy. bring costs down to somebody like ro . �* ., , ., ., bring costs down to somebody like ro. ., ., ., roy. before we let you go. roger, i would like to _ roy. before we let you go. roger, i would like to get _ roy. before we let you go. roger, i would like to get an _ roy. before we let you go. roger, i would like to get an overall- roy. before we let you go. roger, i would like to get an overall closing | would like to get an overall closing thought from you, because the fact that this is just a proposal at this stage and we understand why, but the fact that we were inundated with questions, i'mjust fact that we were inundated with questions, i'm just interested in your take on that, and whether people are perhaps nervous and we

have illustrated people are nervous about the cost applications of this, evenif about the cost applications of this, even if they would like to do the right thing. i wonder whether all of this goes to your point that there is a long way to go on this and an awful lot ofjoined up thinking if any of this is to happen. absolutely. i can't stress how difficult i think the policy will be for the government. there has been the fact that it has been grasped so loosely until this point, but it has to happen, something has to happen and the government has to be brave and the government has to be brave and inventive and whether it can summon up the bravery and inventiveness i'm not sure, but if we are closing our clothing —— if we are thinking of closing thoughts, i would like to mention the source of the report today that is making suggestions to which country's energy think tank, which has no power to dictate to anyone in the uk is pursuing similar policies on its own, but for me was an significant

day to day to see this whole organisation, which is typically been favourable and accused in the past of letting fossil fuels off the hook coming out very strongly with a message that we do not need to dig any more coal and we do not need to drill for any more oil or gas. the future is clean energy and really, from that organisation, and i think simon would agree, itjust feels to me like a landmark moment, a watershed and the big boys have really finally understood the implications of climate change and the implications of tackling it. really interesting to have both your thoughts. thank you for now. roger harrigan and simon evans. this afternoon we will see

widespread showers and thunderstorms so keep your umbrella handy. today's clouds have already been bursting upwards through the skies above nuneaton in warwickshire and today's clouds could get to be about six miles tall. clouds that big are capable of really heavy downpours and we've already seen some of those. we have a more organised feature pushing in showers across wales and south—west england and that is going in this kind of direction this afternoon. showers will be widespread from that and then we have another curl of cloud that will be pushing on across south—west england, so here we are looking at more general cloud and heavy outbreaks of rain pushing on through the course of the afternoon. heavy downpours for south—east england and some big thunderstorms crossing the midlands towards lincolnshire and a greater chance of showers compared with yesterday across northern ireland and today's showers in scotland will be slow—moving but there will be some areas that dodge the downpours and favoured spots will be north wales, north—west england

seeing fewer showers so you might get away with a dry afternoon with some sunshine. overnight tonight, cloud and rain pushes east across southern counties of england and we are seeing thicker cloud moving across northern scotland, bringing rain here overnight as well. for wednesday, another day of sunshine and showers but most of the showers will be forming across eastern areas of england and to a degree across eastern areas of scotland by this trough. further west, pressure will be a building underneath the ridge and south—west england and the west midlands and wales and north—west england should have a dry afternoon with some spells of sunshine, long spells of sunshine at that and temperatures of around 15 or 16 degrees, so not too bad at all. on into thursday's weather, not looking too good at all. low pressure moving on from the atlantic and this one bringing heavy rain widely and also some pretty strong winds, so although it starts off on a bright note across eastern parts of the uk, cloud will gather and outbreaks of rain will spread in and it will

become windy and the strongest winds looked to be heading on across the southern coastal hills of wales where we could get gusts of 50 or 60 miles an hour, strong enough to bring down tree branches and localised transport disruption and notjust through thursday, the same area of low pressure is with us on friday bringing rain and strong winds and even though it clear through the weekend, we are looking at a return of those showery conditions. that is your latest weather.

this is bbc news. the headlines... keeping to the plan. the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means england would have to deviate from the road map out of lockdown. i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map. we have got to be cautious and we are keeping everything under very close observation. keeping everything under very close observation. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant. a call to tackle the global imbalances in covid vaccine roll—outs. it feels completely wrong to be in a situation, morally, first of all,

where we are allowing that to happen, whilst in many countries, vaccines are being rolled out to younger and younger populations at very low risk. police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm. she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west. 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 can't say if it's a bag or a coat or dress but what i can say is, it's a blue bit of material within within a void. palestinian protestors and israeli security forces clash in the west bank town of bethlehem. president biden hasjoined calls for a ceasefire in the conflict between israel and hamas. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reach a record high of more than a million a year.

and coming up, kiyan price, the teenage footballer who was killed in a knife attack 15 years ago, is honoured virtually with an appearance in computer game fifa 21. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the prime minister says he will be able to tell in the next few days whether the indian variant will mean a delay to the end of lockdown in england. but he said there was currently no conclusive evidence to suggest deviating from the government's 'roadmap' would be necessary. the variant is now the dominant strain in bolton, blackburn and darwen, and is rising in all age groups. ministers are urging anyone

eligible to get a vaccine. some are questioning why restrictions were eased yesterday in england when the government's own tests for unlocking suggest that a variant of concern might prompt a rethink. restrictions were also eased yesterday in wales and in parts of scotland. our health correspondent jim reed reports. as people across england, wales and scotland celebrate their new freedoms... cheers! ..the wait for data begins. ministers will watch the figures closely to see if this kind of meeting up, leads to another spike in covid infections. personal details there... another big unknown, data on a variant of the virus first found in india and now spreading in places like blackburn and bolton. 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 such a wall of defences

with the vaccination programme, i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say we need to deviate from the roadmap. but we have got to be cautious and we are keeping everything under very close observation. we will know more in a few days. scientists are still trying to work out how easily the new variant transmits, how many fall seriously ill and, crucially, how effective vaccines are against it, although the early signs are positive. we know it has generated some large clusters and outbreaks, and there is a bit of chance involved in that. so what we are seeing is some of those that have been largerjust by chance. so one of the things that we need is a bit of time so that the effect of those initial introductions calms down and we can see what the local transmission looks like. other scientists though think the government is taking too much of a risk and unlocking society too quickly.

the government didn't pass- their four tests on the road map, especially the test around the risk assessment on new _ variants of concern. we failed that test. but the government have gone ahead. in blackburn and bolton there is a drive to get more people vaccinated, with dedicated mobile units sent to areas with high infection rates. public health officials expect the variant to become the dominant form of the virus in the uk over time. the government has said there have been 2,323 confirmed cases across the uk, with five or more infections now found in 86 local council areas. ministers have identified bedford as another possible hotspot, cases there are now the second highest in england. what we know is what we have been seeing locally, a massive rise in cases. about three or four weeks ago we had three or four cases a day and now it is ten times as that in bedford.

it is important people understand how quickly the situation can change. the final question is how this could affect the last stage of unlocking, currently pencilled in forjune 21st in england. a government review of social distancing measures has been delayed, with local lockdowns not ruled out if cases continue to rise in certain areas. there is still a month to go and ministers could face a tough decision, with lives and livelihoods at stake. jim reed, bbc news. i asked our political correspondent jonathan blake whether the road map and any future easing of restrictions would be dominating debate at downing street. it is, jane. it is a very sensitive time in the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic and there is no doubt that the rise in the cases of indian variant of coronavirus is causing concern. it is perhaps calling into question

the next stages of road map out of lockdown in england and that date that you mentioned, the 21st ofjune, when the government hopes to remove all legal limitations in england, is not quite being called into question itself but certainly whether the government is able to go ahead with the removal of all of those restrictions as planned on schedule is far from being guaranteed. as you heard, the prime minister said injim's reportjust now, there is no conclusive evidence to call into question the road map or to deviate from the road map out of lockdown in england and i guess you could read that in a couple of ways depending on your outlook. if you are feeling optimistic, perhaps the prime minister suggesting that there is nothing to worry about. if you're feeling more pessimistic, well, no conclusive proof — does that mean that there is evidence or some suggestion that there is something to worry about there? either way, we are going to have to wait a couple of days at least before ministers get clear answers to the pressing questions — how much more transmissible that

variant is and how effective the vaccines are against it? all the time, many conservative mps, and others it has to be said, are watching nervously and are ready to pounce at the earliest sign, any indication, any hint, that the road map may be slowed down and the government may have to ease off the lifting of the restrictions as planned next month. we are going to have to wait a couple of days to see what transpires. yes, so there are pressures from various directions. can we talk about overseas travels as well? slight changes from yesterday with a handful of countries that we are allowed to go to. how strong is this argument that there is actually mixed messages there about overseas travel because there is a list and there is a green list and an amber list and there is confusion? yes, now the government's traffic light system for international travel has come into force and it's clear that people are asking questions about how exactly it is working and how workable

it is really in the longer term. labour are accusing the government of conflicting and confusing advice to people. the environment secretary said this morning, particularly around countries on the amber list, but people may want to go to those countries to visit family and friends but the official government advice is that people should not travel to those countries and when the prime minster was asked about it at lunchtime, he said that people should understand very clearly what the amber list countries are. you should not go there on holiday, you should only go to those countries for pressing family all business reasons and if you don't quarantine as required on your return, you are risking a fine of up to £10,000. so, the prime minister was trying to stress that but there is clearly a bit of a difference in emphasis certainly at the very least from government ministers, which has led to criticism coming from labour and others.

the shadow home secretary, was saying today that the government's policy on travel and borders is unravelling and the party has restated its position, which is that there should be a continued ban on all international travel. we are going to talk much more about the indian variant injust a moment stop first, just to bring you the latest figures that have come through in the last couple of minutes. the latest uk wide coronavirus data. there have been 2412 more confirmed cases in the last 24—hour period. the data also shows seven further deaths. that is of someone who has tested positive with covid—i9 in the previous 28 days. those are the latest figures there. as promised, let's take some time to talk about the indian variant because it is dominating our

conversation. our health correspondent nick triggle is here. how much more do we know yet? is it fair to say that there is still a lot that we don't know? there is still a huge _ lot that we don't know? there is still a huge amount _ lot that we don't know? there is still a huge amount that - lot that we don't know? there is still a huge amount that we - lot that we don't know? there is | still a huge amount that we don't know. as you can imagine, the scientist behind—the—scenes are looking at every bit of data about this variant — how it spreading and how it is behaving. on friday, we were told that it could be 50% more transmissible than the uk variant that proved so deadly during the winter. now, what is important is that the scientists said it's a realistic possibility. that is a key phrase because there is a sliding scale of how confident they are about the numbers that they put on this. a realistic possibility actually means there is a 50—50 chance that they are right. it could be a lot less. that is very

important because if they variant is 20% more transmissible, that is a difference in impact from a variant thatis difference in impact from a variant that is a 50% more transmissible than the dominant variant. that would have an impact on the restrictions that are needed to keep that variant at bay while b vaccine programme rolls out. so, determining just how more infectious it is is really crucial. when cases have been imported from abroad, when social distancing measures are changing, it is very hard to monitor exactly what is very hard to monitor exactly what is happening. one of the problems with the variant is that there has to be a positive case... a positive case has to be sent to a lab and the picture that we get is from a week ago. if wejust look picture that we get is from a week ago. if we just look at the raw data from positive cases, there is actually some early signs in bolton

and blackburn that the positive cases are not rising as rapidly as they are. that is encouraging. but there is a lot of conflicting data in there and on thursday, i believe, public health england will be giving us an update, which should help us understand more about exactly what this means. , ._ , understand more about exactly what this means. , .y , ., this means. 0k, thursday will be an interestin: this means. 0k, thursday will be an interesting day. _ this means. 0k, thursday will be an interesting day. the _ this means. 0k, thursday will be an interesting day. the key _ this means. 0k, thursday will be an interesting day. the key element. this means. 0k, thursday will be an interesting day. the key element in| interesting day. the key element in all of this is transmissibility. just how easily does it transmit. yes, it is. we are at a delicate point. the vaccine roll—out has gone really well. however, there is still a lot of, especially young adults, who are not vaccinated yet, so the fear of the scientists is that if you have got a more transmissible variant, and you lift restrictions, you will have a lot of spreading within young people and that could find its way to the vulnerable groups. 5% of people in the over 50s

still have not been vaccinated. if the vaccine does not work for another 5%, that is 10% of a fairly vulnerable population which is at risk. that is when we will see quite serious illnesses and hospital cases going up. there was one model that was given to the government that said if it is 50% more transmissible and it was allowed to spread, that could lead to a peak in hospital cases above what we saw in the winter. of course, there are lots of people that say that the vaccination programme will help stem that and, of course, the government would impose more restrictions before that ever happens but it is a sign of just how delicate the position is. many thanks for now. let's stay with that topic of the variant and particularly the whole government policy around this and opening up and the easing yesterday and whether

during the 21st will really happen as planned. let's speak to gabriel scally, who's a visiting professor of public health at the university of bristol, and a member of independent sage. a very good afternoon to you, professor. a very good afternoon to you, professor-— a very good afternoon to you, professor-_ l i a very good afternoon to you, - professor._ i hope professor. good afternoon. i hope ou are professor. good afternoon. i hope you are able _ professor. good afternoon. i hope you are able to — professor. good afternoon. i hope you are able to hear— professor. good afternoon. i hope you are able to hear some - professor. good afternoon. i hope you are able to hear some of - professor. good afternoon. i hope you are able to hear some of our. you are able to hear some of our conversation about the indian variant. can i pick up with you on that? what is your current assessment, understanding of that? how much do we know or not know and the impact therefore that that should be having on the government decisions and policies? melt. should be having on the government decisions and policies?— decisions and policies? well, i think nick _ decisions and policies? well, i think nick was _ decisions and policies? well, i think nick was right. _ decisions and policies? well, i think nick was right. there - decisions and policies? well, i think nick was right. there is l decisions and policies? well, i - think nick was right. there is quite a bit but we don't know. we don't know quite how much more infectious it is but i think there is little doubt that it is in some degree more infectious. we don't know whether it causes more serious illness in those who have not been protected by the vaccine and we don't know about this particular variant�*s ability to dodge the vaccine and to overcome the immunity that has been generated

by all of the vaccines that have been administered very well in the uk. the question is, how do we respond to this unknown situation? this variance is with us that make this variant is with us and is growing. we can't afford to be... from a public health point of view, what we have got to do is we have got to try and drive the cases down in places like bolton and blackburn. all of the cases, both those of the variant that was first identified in india and all of the other cases, because they are far, far too high. we need to concentrate on thatjob and that means more resources locally and it means doing the things that the local directors of public health have suggested like vaccinating the whole population,

for whom we have approved vaccines at the present times and that's people 18 and over. we should not just limited to the age groups that are in play nationally. the reason to do that is to break those chains of transmission, which are predominantly in younger people. so, there is much more that we should be doing including testing close contacts of people who have tested positive which is something that we don't do at the moment unless they have symptoms. 50, i think we should be throwing the kitchen sink at this virus locally wherever we can find it and get those high numbers in those communities down.- it and get those high numbers in those communities down. there are a lot of question _ those communities down. there are a lot of question marks _ those communities down. there are a lot of question marks they _ those communities down. there are a lot of question marks they are - those communities down. there are a lot of question marks they are right . lot of question marks they are right at the start of your answer. you mean that the general easing that we saw a much of the country yesterday was unwise or do you feel that this could be tackled by taking local regional initiatives?— could be tackled by taking local regional initiatives? there has been a terrible temptation _ regional initiatives? there has been a terrible temptation to _ regional initiatives? there has been a terrible temptation to think- regional initiatives? there has been a terrible temptation to think that l a terrible temptation to think that we can solve everything by a

combination of vaccination and social restriction, closing things down, and sometimes, it looks like we are in a one trick pony situation, where the only thing we do is shut things down. i am not in favour of that. i am in favour of taking all of the available public health action and doing it rigorously and fast. we don't have to wait to know all of the answers to wait to know all of the answers to all of the unknown questions. if we do it rapidly and we do it with great vigour and pull the resources into a local level and let the directors of public health have their heads and control this local outbreak. one further point about that, we are going to need to get used to having local outbreaks. there are going to be up surges and outbreaks going further set forward because of that variation in vaccination that there is and we may get more variance and even more

dangerous ones. so, we need to be more practised and more well rehearsed. we need to help these communities, where these outbreaks are more likely to happen, and that is deprived communities with a high proportion of overcrowded housing. 50, that is where our concentration so, that is where our concentration should be. we should be trying to remove those inequalities that have condemned some local communities into almost virtual restriction since this pandemic really took off. —wise that is a really interesting point. your point is that if we do that now, we will be prepared for future flare—ups in the months to come as we get more into winter and there will be a action plan that you can translate to any part of the country, where you have a break—out. that is absolutely right and one of the things that has been remarkably absent is the government having a plan. where is there a strategic plan. where is there a strategic plan for how we are going to go

about handling this pandemic from now on? we have not had a plan since march last year. we get plans for removing restrictions but we don't get a plan for how we are going to tackle the virus and how we are going to have safe communities, safe workplaces, safe schools. we need to know all of those things and we need to practice all of that. what we are seeing now is almost a dry run for what is going to be coming at us over the next six to 12 months. the government _ over the next six to 12 months. the government would say en masse that it is watching the data and we have certainly had very heavy data that is the 21st ofjune will not happen and the grant is being prepared for such an eventuality. the government is saying that it is watching the data. , ., is saying that it is watching the data. , . . ., , ., . data. they are certainly watching what the implications _ data. they are certainly watching what the implications might - data. they are certainly watching what the implications might be l data. they are certainly watching l what the implications might be but it is all too voyeuristic for my liking as a public health doctor. we cannot stand back and watch what

happens, we have got to act now. we should be acting to get this virus under control and completely repressing it in those communities. we should also be fixing the holes in our quarantine system. it is leaking like a sieve which is how this variant that a originated in india got to us in the first place. we need to set about doing it. we will get the information in due course which will answer some of these important questions that the more we delay, and if we have learnt anything from the entire history of this pandemic in this country, that's delay and differ is very, very dangerous and very detrimental to our society. very dangerous and very detrimental to our society-— to our society. interesting to talk to our society. interesting to talk to ou. to our society. interesting to talk to you- thank— to our society. interesting to talk to you. thank you _ to our society. interesting to talk to you. thank you so _ to our society. interesting to talk to you. thank you so much - to our society. interesting to talk to you. thank you so much for i to our society. interesting to talk. to you. thank you so much for your time. from the university of bristol. just to tell you in fact, after 5pm today, we will talk more

about some of the local issues around some of this and we will be talking to the regional public health director for the north west of england. that will be very, very interesting to hear his take on the current situation there. that is coming up after 5pm. surge testing is being carried out in nuneaton in warwickshire, following the detection of the indian coronavirus variant. everyone over the age of 2 in the wembrook and abbey wards of the town is being encouraged to take a pcr test whether or not they are showing symptoms. enhanced contact tracing will be used for those who test positive for the variant. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reached a record of more than a million in the year leading into the global pandemic. experts say the pandemic should be a wake—up call to people — because being overweight is one of the most significant risk factors for severe covid. here's our health correspondent sophie hutchinson. just nice to move your body, isn't it, outside? a path to a healthier life,

a walk on the wirral for patients, prescribed and led by a local gp. this is a great location. this part of the north—west has one of the highest levels of obesity—related hospital admissions in england. oh, the sun's come out now. lovely. in the year to march 2020 as the pandemic hit, hospitals in england had seen a record 1 million admissions for obesity—related problems. they'd actually told me if i'd caught covid, that there's every chance that i would die. being significantly overweight like phil is a huge risk factor for getting dangerously ill with covid—19. at his heaviest, he was 25 stone. when he caught the virus, he ended up in intensive care. my wife, we said goodbye, but not really how i would like to. and then i was crying my eyes out in the ambulance, you know? it was heartbreaking.

on the ward i was on, sadly i saw two people pass away. that was a massive, massive point. come here! come on, then. good boy! it really made me think, "i need to address this." by changing his diet, phil has lost more than six stone. these researchers in glasgow are trying to understand why the virus is so dangerous for those who are very overweight. people who are heavier probably get a bigger viral hit. and that's really important, because the amount of virus you get will dictate the likelihood of having the immune response be exaggerated. they have less efficient body systems, so their lungs are perhaps not as efficient to expand, their blood vessels are less pliable, they have thicker blood to begin with. people effectively who are overweight have less capacity to cope with the damage that covid causes. pressure is piling on the government to take radical action to address the obesity problem, but last month experts wrote to the prime minister,

urging him to stick to a landmark proposal to banjunk food advertising online and on social media after fears it could be ditched. it is good to get out. it is just one step at a time. that step, says the government, will be to introduce a ban onjunk food adverts on television before 9pm. how far it is prepared to go with restrictions online will be revealed in the next few weeks. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. excavation work is to begin at a cafe in gloucester tomorrow, as police search for a suspected victim of the serial killer fred west. 15—year—old mary bastholm worked at the clean plate cafe before she went missing in 1968. jon kay reports. mary bastholm was 15 years old when she vanished in the centre of gloucester. she worked in a cafe and,

half a century on, a tv crew has found what appears to be a piece of blue material buried in the basement. 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 can't say if it's a bag or a coat or a dress, what i can say is it is a blue bit of material within a void. ground penetrating radar has now found six voids in the basement, six areas with anomalies. today police began removing doors from the building. tomorrow they will start digging. fred west was a regular in the cafe in the years before he was charged with 12 murders. he is rumoured to have done some building work there. he took his own life in 1995. as well as excavation work, police are now going back to the original investigation. mary bastholm was last seen waiting for a bus in the centre of gloucester.

never really thought it would happen to us. her parents died without ever knowing what had happened to her. she was rather a nervous child. if she has run away, it is a sudden impulse to do so, or, apart from that, she has been enticed away. the family have welcomed the new search and have asked for privacy while the two week excavation is carried out. if mary bastholm's remains are found there, as a force, you're going to face questions about why you didn't search it sooner, aren't you? i understand that question, but i'm presented with new information, which is why i made the decision that we're going to excavate tomorrow. but police are being cautious. no human remains have been detected yet, and there are ancient burial sites in this historic part of gloucester which could explain the spaces under the basement.

the crown prosecutor, who helped to jail several sex abusers in the rochdale grooming gang scandal has been appointed to lead the catholic church's new safeguarding body in england and wales. nazir afzal will head the catholic safeguarding standards agency, which the church hopes will enforce professional standards of child safeguarding on its clergy and dioceses. the agency's creation this year came after the church was heavily criticised by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse. our religion and ethics correspondent, john mcmanus, joins me now. and nazir afzal, a man that will be known to a number of people watching perhaps for his high—profile work. explain more about this appointment. just any former crown prosecutor. he led the charge against the rochdale

grooming gang. they passed around vulnerable girls and women, who thought they were untouchable stop you thought that they operated under a culture of impunity. that might sound familiar. the church tries to get to grips with the problem of the sexual abuse of minors. it has made some progress but in 2019, the independent enquiry into child sexual abuse looked into the church in england and wales and produced a scathing report about victims of abuse had been treated and also criticised... at times, he preferred to look out for the reputation of the church instead of survivors. the catholic safeguarding standards agency... nazirafzal�*s catholic safeguarding standards agency... nazir afzal�*s appointment, it's pretty clear that they want a big hitter and somebody who can take on vested interest forced change.

this agency is supposed to be able to sanction lattes that don't follow clear... clergy, of course, and her two bishops and bishops to archbishops. what extents his powers really stretch, we don't know. we will have to wait and see. —wise has there been a reaction to the news of his appointment? they spoke in a press conference this morning when mary bastholm's appointment was announced. they said they were encouraged by this and it looked like —— when nazir afzal�*s appointment was announced. he said his success was dependent on how far the church would allow him to be successful because there are all kinds of vested interests within the church in england. we are seeing people being appointed in the past by the pope to look at... we have

also seen them resign with no change happening. —wise thank you very much for now. thank you. now, it's time for a look at the weather with chris. we are looking at lots of showers this afternoon. in northern ireland, there is a much greater chance of seeing showers than yesterday. scotla nd scotland has slow—moving showers, so you could catch one if they hang around. some of the heaviest downpours across southern england, across the midlands and across south—west england we are looking at clouds and it looks particularly wet here. there will be some areas that dodge the downpours, perhaps north wales or north—west england not faring too badly but overnight some rain will come across northern scotland and another batch of rain works east across southern counties of england. in between, it does slowly get a bit drier. tomorrow, another showery day and this time the majority of

showers will try to form across eastern areas of the uk and further west, pressure rises, meaning across south—west england, wales and the west midlands and north—west england, should be fine and dry afternoon with long spells of sunshine. in the sunshine we can see temperatures getting up to that is your weather. temperatures getting up to that is yourweather. —— temperatures getting up to that is your weather. —— up to 16. that is your weather. —— up to 16. that is your weather. hello, this is bbc news with jane hill. the headlines: keeping to the plan — the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means the lockdown roadmap will need to be delayed. 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. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant.

police prepare to excavate a cafe in gloucester, searching for mary bastholm. she disappeared in 1968, and it's thought she may have been murdered by the serial killer, fred west. palestinian protestors and israeli security forces clash in the west bank town of bethlehem. president biden hasjoined calls for a ceasefire in the conflict between israel and hamas. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reach a record high of more than a million a year. sport now, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster. good afternoon. roy hodgson is leaving crystal palace at the end of the season, that's this weekend. he's 73 and says the time is right to step away from the rigours

of the premier league. though he has neverfinished the season in the top half of the table with palace, he's the only manager to keep them in the premier league for four successive seasons. the club's chairman steve parish says he will be forever grateful for his immense contribution. the former england, switzerland and liverpool boss hasn't ruled out staying in the game in some capacity. a decision which hasn't exactly been taken overnight. it's been really brewing for a long time and i had it in the back of my mind that the right time to leave the club and maybe even to leave football for a while would be at the end of this season, and i'm pleased, really, despite the speculation of the last two or three months that we have still been able to keep things on a pretty even keel, and it looks like we will be ending the season in a very dignified way, and that was important to me. manchester city's owner sheikh mansour is going to fully cover the travel costs to the champions league final for thousands of the clubs fans. they have been allocated

6,000 tickets and the club will pay for all those fans who are using their official travel package, which will see them flown in and out of porto in 24 hours. city say they have sought to remove the most significant financial barrier to fans attending the final at the end of the month. tottenham's interim manager ryan mason says their only focus is on finishing the season strongly, that's after he was questioned about harry kane's future. there have been numerous reports that the england captain wants to leave the club this summer, although we understand that he has not asked for a transfer. kane has another three years left on his contract but is still waiting to win his first trophy after 12 years at spurs. he has scored 220 goals in 334 appearances i don't think anything is awkward because there is always speculation around the best players. i am sure there has been a lot of speculation

in the last three or four weeks about the new manager coming in, all of these questions which is normal. when you are a big club, this is normal. our focus is on the next game, i have said it all along, my mind has not deviated from that. i am sure harry's has not and the rest of the group, no one has deviated from that. we have to be ready tomorrow to compete and hopefully get three points. spurs play villa tomorrow. it's the penultimate round of premier league fixtures over the next couple of nights. after leicester beat chelsea in the fa cup final three days ago, they meet again this evening. 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 that out of their hands. both can still be caught by liverpool following their injury time win over west brom thanks to that header from their keeper. everything is still in our hands.

the players have been absolutely brilliant up and to this point. we've got european football, but we have two games now to arrive into the top four. it's obviously an amazing header by him to score the goal and have the intuition to go up there and headed. we focus on ourselves and we've got a great opportunity to qualify and with two games to go, we aim to take it. it's a rest day for riders at the giro d'italia, but the tour of andalusia is underway in spain. the opening stage was only 95 miles long, but was dramatic for portugal's rui oliveira who was leading at the time when this happened. he was able to rejoin the race despite his injuries. spain's gonzalo serrano won the stage with britain's ethan hayter fourth for ineos grenadiers. england have named a 15 man squad

for the two test series against new zealand next month. wicketkeeper batmsmanjames bracey and pace bowler ollie robinson are both uncapped. bracey was a reserve for england last summer, there's every chance that both will get a chance to impress ahead of a busy summer forjoe root�*s test side. a host of england players are being rested having just returned from the indian premier league. no ben stokes orjofra archer who are both injured. all the details of that squad are on the bbc sport website. that's all the sport for now. thanks. see you soon. president biden has voiced his support for a ceasefire, after more than a week of violence between israel and palestinian militants. more than 212 people, including 61 children, have died in gaza. and 12 people, including two children, have been killed in israel, according to officials on each side. paul adams reports.

gaza's punishment continues, more air strikes at dawn. israel says it is not over. it doesn't just want the rockets to stop, it wants its opponent crippled. it has been hitting the homes of hamas leaders and destroying as much of their hardware as possible. hamas still has plenty of rockets, but launchers are vulnerable. translation: the directive is to | continue striking terrorist targets. the idf is doing this very well. we will continue to take whatever action is necessary to restore peace and security to all residents of israel. international outrage is building over the civilian cost — almost 40,000 people have been displaced, the territory's only covid testing lab partially destroyed. this man says he got a call from the israeli army telling him to get out of his home. the next house next door was bombed.

when they returned, this is what they found. translation: my mother was with me at home and now she is out _ in the streets with no shelter. and i also have no shelterfor my children. here the whole house is totally destroyed. in the west bank, palestinians are again demonstrating over the situation in gaza. there is a general strike, notjust among palestinians, it is being observed by israeli arabs too. diplomatic efforts, much less visible, are gathering pace, international mediators are trying to stop the fighting, and when us presidentjoe biden spoke to mr netanyahu last night, he called for a ceasefire for the first time. the un is heavily involved, its envoy injerusalem one of few officials actually talking to hamas. with pressure mounting on israel, its window of opportunity in gaza is slowly closing. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem.

there's been anger over plans by some universities in the uk to continue online lecturing in the autumn term. students in leeds have started a petition, arguing there's no reason why they can't be taught in person when school children are, and when people can visit cinemas and pubs. matt graveling reports. when you move in, you get along with your flatmates and you are part of the student lifestyle. you get lecture theatres and big lecture halls with lots of people in, you get to use the big labs and fancy technology. it has just not been that this year. fran's university experience has not quite gone to plan. one year into her biological sciences degree and more than £9,000 spent, she's yet to set foot inside a lab. i have had two in—person seminars, and that is all i have had all year in terms of any kind of in—person teaching.

for the last year coronavirus restrictions have seen universities across the uk moving lectures online. but now with eyes on the autumn term, universities are starting to plan their return. but in leeds, a slow return to the classroom has been met with anger and a petition of more than 2500 people have criticised the lack of face—to—face teaching. a university of leeds spokesperson said that they intend to give every student a substantial on—campus experience next semester, and although face—to—face teaching would be the norm, they are currently planning on the basis that many large teaching events will be delivered online as part of a hybrid approach. but the caution being shown here at leeds is shared by staff at other universities. if we are involved in planning, if we can get the ventilation right and the social distancing right in classrooms and also recognise that some staff really are panicking about coming back on board and taking it as an individual case—by—case basis rather than forcing everyone to go back into the classrooms, i think, would help massively.

elsewhere, the university of liverpool says it wants as much face—to—face teaching as possible but is expecting a blend of online and in—person. the london school of economics expects the vast majority of seminars and classes to be taught in person, but lectures will be largely delivered online. and the university of manchester is planning a blended approach, with a mix of both on—campus and online elements. a lot of people would say there is a pandemic, this has to be done? i understand this year, however from september there is no logical reason, coronavirus—wise, hopefully, from what we are being told at the moment, that lectures should remain online. the department for education says universities have a strong track record in delivering excellent blended tuition and quality and quantity should not drop. matt graveling, bbc news.

let's speak now to nicola dandridge who is chief executive of the office for students — the independent regulator of higher education in england. good afternoon. there are a lot of students very unhappy about this. do you think they are right to be? i completely understand the concerns that students have after the incredible disruption that they have had over the course of the last year and what we need to look at is the quality of what is on offer next year because we have seen examples where blended provision which is partly in person partly online can be extremely good but can be provided well, so i think the quality of what is on offer is more important rather than whether or not it is online or face—to—face. and thatis it is online or face—to—face. and that is what we as the regulator will be looking at carefully, and if the quality is poor, then we will intervene. the quality is poor, then we will intervene-— the quality is poor, then we will intervene. �* , , ., .,

intervene. but students, and part of this, unfortunately, _ intervene. but students, and part of this, unfortunately, comes - intervene. but students, and part of this, unfortunately, comes down - intervene. but students, and part of this, unfortunately, comes down to| this, unfortunately, comes down to money because students will think i'm paying £9,000 a year in fees and living costs on top, so what is the point? why am i spending so much money if there are large chunks of this going to be online, i could be at home in my bedroom without all the living costs, so why am i paying £9,000? you understand where that process comes from. i £9,000? you understand where that process comes from.— process comes from. i completely a . ree process comes from. i completely aaree but process comes from. i completely agree but i _ process comes from. i completely agree but i don't _ process comes from. i completely agree but i don't think _ process comes from. i completely agree but i don't think we - process comes from. i completely agree but i don't think we are - agree but i don't think we are talking about provision that is entirely online. i don't think that is what is being proposed at all. what is being proposed is elements of online provision and they are what matters is the quality of it, but also, most importantly, students have every right to expect in person provision, and i think that is also what is being offered but it is that blended approach that students are being presented with and i think the most important thing here also, but from the quality is that students know what they are going to get and it's really important that universities provide clear information for students on how they

will be taught next year, notjust for returning students, but for future students so that they know what to expect and they can make informed choices, so from our perspective, as the regulator, we will look closely at the quality but also the clarity to make sure students know what to expect. i understand your point about quality. what powers will you have then, if students start coming to you and saying, we don't think this is right, we don't think it's enough and we don't think this is what we pay £9,000 a year for, what powers do you have to investigate and assess and then take whichever educational establishment it is to task? i educational establishment it is to task? .. �* , educational establishment it is to task? .. v .. , educational establishment it is to task? ~' �*, ,, , . task? i think it's unlikely that we would be looking _ task? i think it's unlikely that we would be looking at _ task? i think it's unlikely that we would be looking at situations i task? i think it's unlikely that we - would be looking at situations where the quality is high but it is blended, so it's a mixture of online orface—to—face, unless blended, so it's a mixture of online or face—to—face, unless that is not

what was promised, and i think that's why it's so important that there is clarity in advance, so we'd be particularly concerned where students have been misled into thinking that what was going to happen was one thing and then it turns out it was entirely different, so that's the sort of thing where we would be particularly concerned, and also with generally the quality of what is on offer is really poor, for example, if large numbers of students are recruited and the university or college simply cannot maintain the support that students have the right to expect, so those are the sorts of things we would be concerned about but if students are concerned, they should raise it with universities and make it explicit their concerns about what is on offer, particularly where it is not what has been promised and we would expect the universities to respond in a supportive way given the really difficult, disrupted time that students have experienced over the last year or so. d0 students have experienced over the last year or so— last year or so. do you understand what the reasoning _ last year or so. do you understand what the reasoning is _ last year or so. do you understand what the reasoning is for - last year or so. do you understand what the reasoning is for the - what the reasoning is for the proposal to have a lot of online

lectures?, to have that shift? what is the benefit to the university? why are they doing it? mi; why are they doing it? ii understanding why are they doing it? ii1: understanding is why are they doing it? ii1 understanding is that why are they doing it? ii1: understanding is that it is why are they doing it? m1 understanding is that it is partly due to uncertainty as to what the coronavirus restrictions will be in the autumn and there's a lot of planning taking into account the possibility of an element of ongoing restrictions, so i think that is partly yet. but i think also there is an element to which universities and colleges and students have benefited from a degree of online provision so in part it is also a positive thing, but there might also be an option where it is just not very good and seen as a cheap option and the quality is being sacrificed, and the quality is being sacrificed, and that is where we will be concerned.— and that is where we will be concerned. �* ., , , , and that is where we will be concerned. �* ., , , concerned. but also, university is a social experience, _ concerned. but also, university is a social experience, and _ concerned. but also, university is a social experience, and rightly - concerned. but also, university is a social experience, and rightly so. l social experience, and rightly so. it should be, it should be about going out in the world, meeting new people, making friends for life. of course, you are there to study as

well, but it is about more than just the learning, surely? well, but it is about more than 'ust the learning, summi the learning, surely? absolutely. i totally agree _ the learning, surely? absolutely. i totally agree and _ the learning, surely? absolutely. i totally agree and that _ the learning, surely? absolutely. i totally agree and that is _ the learning, surely? absolutely. i totally agree and that is what - the learning, surely? absolutely. i totally agree and that is what has l totally agree and that is what has been so tragically missing over the last year but i don't think anyone is talking about that, and the in—person element of the university experience will, and should be there and what we are looking at is elements of online lectures, so i don't think they should be taken out of proportion. i think we are looking at the possibility of some degree online provision, particularly in relation to lectures but that in—person experience of meeting that has to be there and thatis meeting that has to be there and that is unless there are restrictions that prevent it from happening, we expect it to be there. nicola dandridge, thank you for now. the next leader of the dup, edwin poots, has hinted that he might still take up the post of northern ireland's first minister — if his party colleagues felt he should. in his first bbc interview

since he was announced as leader, he spoke to tara mills, and began by addressing rumours of a political coup that led to leader arlene foster standing down. obviously the dup took a decision that i am a person best placed to lead on these issues and that is what i am going to do. but lead on these issues and that is what i am going to do.- what i am going to do. but the speculation — what i am going to do. but the speculation is _ what i am going to do. but the speculation is that _ what i am going to do. but the speculation is that you - what i am going to do. but the speculation is that you were i what i am going to do. but the i speculation is that you were behind the coup. speculation is that you were behind the cou -. ., , speculation is that you were behind the cou-. .,, speculation is that you were behind the cou. ,, . ., speculation is that you were behind thecou. ,, . ., ., the coup. people can speculate and think about — the coup. people can speculate and think about who _ the coup. people can speculate and think about who did _ the coup. people can speculate and think about who did what _ the coup. people can speculate and think about who did what and i the coup. people can speculate and think about who did what and all i the coup. people can speculate and l think about who did what and all and they don't have any evidence of anything. what i need to do, and my focus, is actually on delivering on going forward, and that delivery has to be about ensuring that your food cost don't go up because of the protocol, that medicines that should be available for people in hospital are available, that your amazon parcels continue to arrive and the parts for your everyday things in life, for your cars and your lawn and all of that are actually arriving and are not held up for weeks and weeks as a result of the protocol, and that people still want to continue to deliver from northern

ireland to great britain. those are the things that are on peoples minds. ~ , ,., , the things that are on peoples minds. ~ , , ., the things that are on peoples minds. ~ , , . ,, the things that are on peoples minds. ~ , , ., i. ., ., minds. absolutely, and you have made that oint, minds. absolutely, and you have made that point. but — minds. absolutely, and you have made that point. but why _ minds. absolutely, and you have made that point, but why are _ minds. absolutely, and you have made that point, but why are you _ minds. absolutely, and you have made that point, but why are you not - that point, but why are you not going to be first minister then? i believe there is a real piece of work to do in building the dup. i believe there is a real piece of work to do in running the country and i think it would be better if two people paid their attention to that as opposed to one. and while i have my undivided attention towards building the dup, and the first minister will have their undivided attention to running the country. so will you stay as agriculture minister?— will you stay as agriculture minister? ., ., minister? can you confirm that? i can't confirm _ minister? can you confirm that? i can't confirm that _ minister? can you confirm that? i can't confirm that and _ minister? can you confirm that? i can't confirm that and i'm - can't confirm that and i'm discussing those issues with colleagues. if they wish me to stay, thatis colleagues. if they wish me to stay, that is ok, they don't want me to stay, that will not be a problem. will the dup make that decision because my guy working closely with colleagues and who should be in what roles and identifying peoples strengths and weaknesses and where we can have the right people for the rightjob. pare we can have the right people for the riht 'ob. �* ., , right job. are there any circumstances - right job. are there any circumstances in i right job. are there any circumstances in which |

right job. are there any i circumstances in which you right job. are there any - circumstances in which you would become first minister? irate circumstances in which you would become first minister?— circumstances in which you would become first minister? we will see in due course. _ become first minister? we will see in due course, but— become first minister? we will see in due course, but i _ become first minister? we will see in due course, but i move - become first minister? we will see in due course, but i move forward l in due course, but i move forward with a commitment that i wasn't going to be forward as first minister and that is a commitment i will stand by but if in the future the members think it would work better with me as first minister, then we will have that discussion, but at this time, i don't have any interest or intent to do that. a teenage footballer who was killed in a knife attack 15 years ago is being added as a player to the computer game, fifa 21. kiyan prince was part of the youth team at qpr when he lost his life — and has now been created virtually to play for the club as a 30—year—old. graham satchell reports. my name is kiyan prince. and i am a professional footballer. at least, i would have been. had i not been killed when i was 15.

kiyan prince was trying to break up a fight when he was stabbed and killed outside his school. he was just 15. his bubbly, joyful personality was infectious to everyone around him. for such a big guy, at such a young age, you know, looked intimidating but honestly, just a gentle giant. some people are special, like, they are, and he was special. and he didn't have, special in the sense that, never thought he was better than anyone but he was better than a lot of us. 15 years on, kiyan's friends remember him as a boy becoming a man with huge potential to be a great footballer. he'd already been signed as an academy player for qpr. from watching him play at that age, and i think the progress he would have gone through, he would have been at the euros in two weeks' time, 100%. beautiful boy. beautiful. the kind of son that every parent, especially a father, just wants to have.

kiyan's dad mark was determined to do something in his son's name. he set up the kiyan prince foundation, a charity dedicated to stopping knife crime. on this, the 15th anniversary of his death, the foundation has done something remarkable to keep kiyan's name alive. this picture of star wars character han solo is by the artist chris scalf, renowned for the photorealism of his work. the foundation commissioned chris to create an image of kiyan as he would look today. there's a certain point where i'm halfway through, when i start to feel like i'm getting it, and feeling confident, but not confident enough, until i get the final

acknowledgement from the people who it really matters to. to say that it looks like kiyan. working with the special effects team behind avengers endgame, chris created this 3d model of kiyan. and this is the moment mark prince saw the picture of his son at 30 for the first time. he looks absolutely fantastic. what a greatjob. kiyan's image will be on billboards, on match attax cards, and he'll become a qpr player on fifa. kiyan prince, how about that! brought back to life as the footballer he should have been. graham satchell, bbc news. much more coming at the top of the

hour. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris. this afternoon we will see widespread showers and thunderstorms so keep your umbrella handy. today's clouds have already been bursting upwards through the skies above nuneaton in warwickshire and today's clouds could get to be about six miles tall. clouds that big are capable of really heavy downpours and we've already seen some of those. we have a more organised feature pushing in showers across wales and south—west england and that is going in this kind of direction this afternoon. showers will be widespread from that and then we have another curl of cloud that will be pushing on across south—west england, so here we are looking at more general cloud and heavy outbreaks outbreaks of rain pushing in through the course of the afternoon. heavy downpours for south—east england and some big thunderstorms crossing the midlands towards lincolnshire and a greater chance of showers compared with yesterday across northern ireland and today's showers in scotland will be slow—moving but there will be some areas that dodge the downpours and favoured spots will be north wales, north—west england seeing fewer showers

so you might get away with a dry afternoon with some sunshine. overnight tonight, cloud and rain pushes east across southern counties of england and we are seeing thicker cloud moving across northern scotland, bringing rain here overnight as well. for wednesday, another day of sunshine and showers but most of the showers will be forming across eastern areas of england and to a degree across eastern areas of scotland by this trough. further west, pressure will be a building underneath the ridge and south—west england and the west midlands and wales and north—west england should have a dry afternoon with some spells of sunshine, long spells of sunshine at that and temperatures of around 15 or 16 degrees, so not too bad at all. on into thursday's weather, not looking too good at all. low pressure moving on from the atlantic and this one bringing heavy rain widely and also some pretty strong winds, so although it starts off on a bright note across eastern parts of the uk, cloud will gather and outbreaks of rain will spread in and it will become windy

and the strongest winds look to be heading in across the southern coastal hills of wales where we could get gusts of 50 or 60 miles an hour, strong strong enough to bring down tree branches and there could be localised transport disruption and not just through thursday, the same area of low pressure is with us on friday bringing rain and strong winds and even though it clears through the weekend, we are looking at a return of those showery conditions. that is your latest weather.

this is bbc news, i'm reeta chakrabarti. the headlines at 5pm. keeping to the plan — the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means the lockdown roadmap will need to be delayed. i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map. we have got to be cautious and we are keeping everything under very close observation. extra vaccination centres have been opened and surge—testing is continuing in areas affected by the indian covid variant. a call to tackle the global imbalances in covid vaccine rollouts. it feels completely wrong to be in a situation, morally, first of all, where we are allowing that to happen, whilst in many countries,

vaccines are being rolled out to younger and younger populations at very low risk.