this is bbc news. i'm james reynolds. the headlines at 8pm: the prime minister says there is "nothing conclusive" in current data that means the lockdown road map 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've got to be cautious and we're keeping everything under very close observation. from bedford to glasgow, health experts are tracking the indian variant. they want more data about how threatening it is. hospital admissions for obesity—related treatment in england reach a record high of more than a million a year. in the year before the pandemic. 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 militants fire more rockets into israel, israel resume its own air strikes on the territory. more international leaders are calling for an end to the unrest. a surge of migrants into the spanish territory of ceuta, as thousands arrive from morocco. the government in madrid deploys the army. how new measures to protect england's peatlands could help tackle climate change. good evening. borisjohnson says he has yet to see conclusive evidence

to amend the final stages of the road map. under the current plan, the next stage is the 21st ofjune. ministers are waiting for more data from the growing number of hotspots which stretch from glasgow to bedford. labour says it's time to make changes. here's our health editor hugh pym. with concerns about the indian variant, the push to vaccinate continues in hotspot areas around the country — like bolton, where there's been a recent surge in cases, and in glasgow, where cases of the variant have been detected in parts of the city, with a mosque among the vaccination centres and a sikh temple promoting the message. the prime minister said today it was too soon to decide whether restrictions should be amended. whether future plans on restrictions should be amended. at the moment, i think partly because we built up such a wall of defences with the vaccination programme, i don't see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map. but we've got to be cautious and we're keeping everything under

very close observation. we will know a lot more in a few days�* time. areas with the lowest covid cases relative to population are shown in light blue, with the highest in orange. and four of the top five hotspots have seen rising cases of the variant. in one of them, bedford, vaccination centres were busy today and offering jabs to people arriving without bookings. testing is being stepped up to identify people who are infected but don't have symptoms. public health officials in bedford say they are very worried about the surge in cases and that most involve the variant, but they point out that a large number are amongst the under 40s and that they do have confidence in the vaccination programme. for those aged a0 and over, scotland, england, wales and northern ireland have achieved similar vaccination rates, with around 90% given a first dose. but in the south west of england, while 92% have had the firstjab, in london, it's just 81% of those

aged a0 and over. in parts of london, surge testing's been stepped up because of concerns about the indian variant. cases are spread more thinly and officials say most can be linked to foreign travel, but they're worried that infection rates could pick up. we are very concerned about the indian variant because numbers of cases of the variant first described in india are increasing across the city. we are seeing particularly increases in different geographic areas, such as the north—west, but many of our boroughs are seeing cases as the variant spreads. if you've got a mask, please put it on. manchester united fans have been heading to watch the home game this evening, the first with spectators for months. and with some coming from the north west of england, officials will keep a close eye on the impact of this and other lockdown easing measures. hugh pym, bbc news.

a nurse who treated borisjohnson when he was in intensive care with coronavirus has quit the nhs and criticised both the government's handling of the pandemic and the proposed pay rise for nurses. jenny mcgee, who's from new zealand, said she was "taking a step back from the nhs" after what she described as the "toughest year in her nursing career", but said that she hoped "to return in the future". we can talk now to our political correspondent ben wright, who is at westminster for us. as you know come as we all know, the zist as you know come as we all know, the 21st ofjune was billed as the sort of tentative liberation date. what is your sense of when the government might decide to keep it or delay it? i think the government are desperate that they stick to that timetable and that they will not be veered off course by these part of the indian variant, which is clearly causing a lot of concert in whitehall, it clearly spreads faster than the current dell —— so—called kent variety that is here. my sense is this a very light

organ within government imports johnson made it clear at the end of last week that they were not when you commit now to definitely fully opening the country comejune the zist. it opening the country comejune the 21st. it will be decided by the data, and so i think we have to wait a bit longerfor clarity data, and so i think we have to wait a bit longer for clarity on that. as we will on holiday plans. i think there has been some confusion around, over the last day or two, about whether people are like to leave and go to countries on the so—called ember list. there are different requirements for people returning to the uk, in terms of self isolation and quarantine, whether they are green, amber or red list, but ministers in borisjohnson today have been a pain to say that all travel out of the uk to countries on the ember list should have not happened unless it is essential, and that is a message they have been trained to ram home. illegal ban on people leaving to go on holiday was lifted yesterday, but the guidance now is pretty clear that peoples not be going ember list countries, and that includes many in europe like france and italy,

messages for essential purposes only, there's been some confusion around that messaging over the course of the last 2a hours. ben course of the last 24 hours. ben wriuht, course of the last 24 hours. ben wright. thank — course of the last 24 hours. ben wright, thank you _ course of the last 24 hours. ben wright, thank you so much. let's take a look at the latest government covid figures. there were 2,412 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means that on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 2,211. the latest daily figure for the number of people across the uk in hospital with coronavirus is 932. seven deaths were reported in the latest 24—hour period — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, nine deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths so far across the uk is 127,691. as for the vaccination programme, the number of people who have had a firstjab has risen above 36.8 million and more than 20.5 million people have had both doses.

we will keep a close eye on this story and many more in the papers at 10:30pm and 11:30pm this evening. 0ur guestsjoining me tonight are times radio presenter jenny kleeman and the writer and broadcaster mihir bose. the number of people being admitted to hospital in england for treatments related to obesity reached more than a million last year, according to new nhs figures. the record number provides the clearest indication yet of the scale of the obesity problem as coronavirus started to spread across the uk. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson has this report. 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. since lockdown, i've gained a stone and a half.

0h, sun's come out now. lovely. to me, fitness is everything. to be unfit has brought my mood down, it's made me feel miserable. 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. me and 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 on, then. good boy! it really made me think, "i need to address this." by changing his diet, phil has now 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 being exaggerated. 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. and now there is evidence many people have put on more weight during the pandemic. people have gained two or three kilos, but that is very unevenly spread. some people have gained much more, and it seems to be a particular problem for women, for younger people, and for those people who are living in more deprived areas.

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 ban junk food advertising online and on social media after fears it could be ditched. just one step at a time. that next 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. let's discuss this further. with me are dr emma boyland, senior lecturer in appetite and obesity at the university of liverpool. she specialises in food marketing and eating behaviour. i'm also joined by professor

naveed sattar, who's the professor of metabolic medicine at glasgow university. thank you, welcome to you both. professor, first of all, when we look at how any people treated it does beg the question, how did we get to this point with obesity to begin with?— begin with? that's an excellent cuestion, begin with? that's an excellent question. and _ begin with? that's an excellent question, and i— begin with? that's an excellent question, and i think _ begin with? that's an excellent question, and i think most - begin with? that's an excellent. question, and i think most experts would agree that it is really an abundance of cheap calorific food, so our food environment over the last 20, 30 years has changed progressively to become more... in a sense, we are following the patterns we've seen in america. america started ten different years before us, but we are catching up rapidly and it is really the food environment. idr and it is really the food environment. , �* ., ., and it is really the food environment. , ., ., , environment. dr boyland, how easy is it to eat healthily _ environment. dr boyland, how easy is it to eat healthily for _ environment. dr boyland, how easy is it to eat healthily for us? _ environment. dr boyland, how easy is it to eat healthily for us? it _ environment. dr boyland, how easy is it to eat healthily for us? it is - it to eat healthily for us? it is very challenging, _ it to eat healthily for us? it is very challenging, as - it to eat healthily for us? it is very challenging, as mentioned for study— very challenging, as mentioned for study food — very challenging, as mentioned for study food environment is so easy to consume _ study food environment is so easy to consume and over consume foods with load nutritional value, and you pensioned food marketing, which is a promise _ pensioned food marketing, which is a promise to _ pensioned food marketing, which is a

promise to consume unhealthy food and is _ promise to consume unhealthy food and is targeted to us across all forms— and is targeted to us across all forms of— and is targeted to us across all forms of media, including social media, — forms of media, including social media, and it is targeted in a way that it _ media, and it is targeted in a way that it hits— media, and it is targeted in a way that it hits us at times where we are most— that it hits us at times where we are most vulnerable and most likely to respond — are most vulnerable and most likely to respond. and it uses emotional appeals _ to respond. and it uses emotional appeals and connections in order to persuade _ appeals and connections in order to persuade us to purchase and consume those _ persuade us to purchase and consume those sorts _ persuade us to purchase and consume those sorts of products.— those sorts of products. professor sattar, should _ those sorts of products. professor sattar, should there _ those sorts of products. professor sattar, should there be _ those sorts of products. professor sattar, should there be some - those sorts of products. professorj sattar, should there be some kind those sorts of products. professor. sattar, should there be some kind of regulation? i sattar, should there be some kind of reuulation? , ., , ~ sattar, should there be some kind of reuulation? , ., , ,, regulation? i personally think so, i think it is a — regulation? i personally think so, i think it is a tough _ regulation? i personally think so, i think it is a tough asked _ regulation? i personally think so, i think it is a tough asked at - regulation? i personally think so, i think it is a tough asked at this - think it is a tough asked at this moment in time, particularly when many food providers are finding it difficult, but to really solve this at the source, we need to change the food environment. i am not sure that is going to happen any time soon or certainly in a manner that is sufficient to change the environment sufficiently. having said that, would you have... we really need to upscale. we have much better data on how to help people change weight in a sustainable manner and equity to invest more in getting that type of

to the public, to our patients in clinics, in a way that is helpful and in a way that allows them to have a menu of options that they can take into, as they were, to make sustainable lifelong changes in their food sustainable lifelong changes in theirfood intake, to essentially slow weight gain and lose a little bit of weight but certainly slow there trajectory towards obesity, anything we can do that a lot better, and i think as a community we have some fantastic experts, as you've seen in covid research, and we have the same with obesity. we need to pull together in improve our policy and our health care in this particular sector. dr policy and our health care in this particular sector.— policy and our health care in this particular sector. dr emma boyland, ou heard particular sector. dr emma boyland, you heard the _ particular sector. dr emma boyland, you heard the professor— particular sector. dr emma boyland, you heard the professor there - you heard the professor there talking to the food environment for in a normal workplace, i'm just try to think, when he gets that point in the mid—afternoon, people's energy levels dip a bit. certainly here and other pleas i have worked, people

think, three p:m., i'm good to get a bar of chocolate or a bag of crisps to pick me up. i have yet to hear mcauley come to me and say, i'm feeling tired, i need a . == mcauley come to me and say, i'm feeling tired, i need a ._ feeling tired, i need a . -- a colleague — feeling tired, i need a . -- a colleague come _ feeling tired, i need a . -- a colleague come to _ feeling tired, i need a . -- a colleague come to me. - feeling tired, i need a . -- a colleague come to me. i - feeling tired, i need a . -- a| colleague come to me. i think feeling tired, i need a . -- a - colleague come to me. i think part of this— colleague come to me. i think part of this is— colleague come to me. i think part of this is the way food marketing has developed, it is narrative that we should — has developed, it is narrative that we should use hunger to fix situations... sorry can use unhealthy— situations... sorry can use unhealthy foods to fix situations like emotional states, and to use it to, as _ like emotional states, and to use it to, as a _ like emotional states, and to use it to, as a reward particularly, for the end — to, as a reward particularly, for the end of— to, as a reward particularly, for the end of a _ to, as a reward particularly, for the end of a working day, for e>

eating — that their real consequences to eating these foods in excess and when _ eating these foods in excess and when you — eating these foods in excess and when you make radical changes to our food environment, one of which would be to scale _ food environment, one of which would be to scale back food marketing. that's _ be to scale back food marketing. that's the — be to scale back food marketing. that's the sort of proposal that has been _ that's the sort of proposal that has been put _ that's the sort of proposal that has been put forward. inflatable go—ahead. at inches one step within the obesity— go—ahead. at inches one step within the obesity plan that needs to be taken _ the obesity plan that needs to be taken for— the obesity plan that needs to be taken for us to start to see difference at population level. professor, can we really scale back food marketing in the way that happen perhaps with cigarettes in the 19805? i happen perhaps with cigarettes in the 1980s? i do happen perhaps with cigarettes in the 19805? ., ., , happen perhaps with cigarettes in the 1980s? ., ., , , happen perhaps with cigarettes in the1980s? ., ., , , ., . the 1980s? i do not see why not. we have big choices _ the 1980s? i do not see why not. we have big choices to _ the 1980s? i do not see why not. we have big choices to make _ the 1980s? i do not see why not. we have big choices to make in - the 1980s? i do not see why not. we have big choices to make in this - have big choices to make in this country. where do we want to be in honey five years time? do we want half of the nation to be living with obesity or do we not? do we want to have a healthier nation who are fitter, more active, having a better quality of food and as result list come abilities, less hospital admissions, better quality of life? —— less comorbidities. we know what direction we're heading in, we are seeing it across the pond, anything we have an opportunity to make

changes. we all need to eat to live, so certainly the food industry needs to make a profit. they still can, but they can reform elite to make better quality foods which we will still buy. they can still make profits, but effectively if the the government do not make big decisions about the legislation, thickly on it we are going to end in 20 years time, many more people suffering because of obesity.— time, many more people suffering because of obesity. professor, i am sure some — because of obesity. professor, i am sure some of _ because of obesity. professor, i am sure some of yours _ because of obesity. professor, i am sure some of yours watching - because of obesity. professor, i am sure some of yours watching would | sure some of yours watching would say that in terms of advertising to children, there might be a case, but when it is in terms of advertising to adults, we are all adults — we can make up our own mind about what we choose to eat. and advertisers are allowed to reach us.— we choose to eat. and advertisers are allowed to reach us. yeah, that is one point — are allowed to reach us. yeah, that is one point of— are allowed to reach us. yeah, that is one point of view, _ are allowed to reach us. yeah, that is one point of view, but _ are allowed to reach us. yeah, that is one point of view, but i - are allowed to reach us. yeah, that is one point of view, but i think - is one point of view, but i think every day, in our variety of clinics, we have people who for some reason or another have susceptibility to certain conditions and we unmask that condition, and it therefore diminishes that person's quality of life will to bouquet,

they might enjoy that food for a period of time, but they generally live long—term with pain or innate ability to be functionally active or lower self—esteem or comorbidities like heart disease, heart failure, and actually good quality food tastes good, and what we really need to determine is that many people can actually improve their diets to have actually improve their diets to have a better quality of food that they can enjoyjust as much as they would enjoy unhealthy foods, but live a healthier, more productive and more filling lifestyle, and i think that is where we need to get to, and i'm sure mcauley would agree with that. dr borland, just finally, would it help to have set mealtimes? 0ne help to have set mealtimes? one thing i was talking with colleagues, we tend to be grazing. there never seems to be 20 minutes without anyone having a snack and someone and we seem to be spending the whole day eating. should we just think, three times a day can that is it? studies have shown people who eat

certain _ studies have shown people who eat certain meals —— who eat set meals or more _ certain meals —— who eat set meals or more likely to have a more how the body— or more likely to have a more how the body weight compared to people who snack— the body weight compared to people who snack frequently, and again that is the _ who snack frequently, and again that is the way— who snack frequently, and again that is the way we allow the food energy takeover _ is the way we allow the food energy takeover and create, again, another narrative _ takeover and create, again, another narrative which is that snacking is on that— narrative which is that snacking is on that we — narrative which is that snacking is on that we should be doing. and this was a _ on that we should be doing. and this was a food _ on that we should be doing. and this was a food product that have been produced — was a food product that have been produced and filled on the shelves instructions from records are those sort of— instructions from records are those sort of quickfix snacks that are so popular. — sort of quickfix snacks that are so popular, and they generated the popularity and increase the amount that are _ popularity and increase the amount that are eating as a function of that are eating as a function of that comment so, yeah, one thing if people _ that comment so, yeah, one thing if people are _ that comment so, yeah, one thing if people are working towards gaining a healthy— people are working towards gaining a healthy weight is to cut out some of those _ healthy weight is to cut out some of those snacks and switch them to healthier— those snacks and switch them to healthier snacks such as fruits. dr healthier snacks such as fruits. dir emma healthier snacks such as fruits. d emma boyland and healthier snacks such as fruits. li emma boyland and professor naveed sattar, thank you both for a very interesting conversation. right, let's get healthy. sport now.

here's chetan. good evening. we are going to start at old trafford. manchester united have ensured they'll finish as runners up in the premier league after a 1—0 win over fulham. with supporters back in the stadium — and many continuing to protest against the club's owners — edinson cavani gave them something to cheer with a brilliant chip a quarter of the way through the first half. united, though, could not find a second, and with a quarter of an hour to go, joe brian headed in the equaliser for fulham. leeds' fantastic end to the season continues. they're up to eight place after a 1—0 win at southampton — patrick bamford with the winner. the champions manchester city lead 2-1, the champions manchester city lead 2—1, and the one with a goal of couple minutes in, cancelo with another, before an brilliant

individual goal by trossard. a repeat of the fa cup final for both sides needing a win. i can seat five minutes played, it is 0—0. 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. at his last match with palace will be at anfield on sunday. 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. next to swimming. britain's adam peaty has retained his 100 metre breaststroke title at the european swimming championships in budapest. he's the reigning 0lympic champion in that discipline and puts him and looking good for the tokyo games later this summer. britain's james wilby took third with a superb final 50 metres. i've never ever been this fast in season, so that's a testament to the hard work that i'm putting in but also where i'm at. and come 0lympics, it's the same with me and james. we'll both be tapered, both be properly prepared. coming into a competition like this, it's always a bit difficult because you know people are going to be taking this seriously, and there's nothing wrong with that, but we like to dominate the olympics, not europeans. britain's mixed 4x200

metre freestyle relay team also claimed gold. abbie wood and freya anderson won the title in the women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay on monday and werejoined by tom dean and james guy. their time of 26.67 seconds was a new european championship record. england have named a 15—man squad for the two test series against new zealand next month. wicketkeeper batsman james bracey and pace bowler 0llie robinson are both included. bracey was a reserve for england last summer. there's every chance that both will get a chance to earn a first cap injoe 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. that is all your sport for now. i will be back with the rest of the football results and the day's

sports news. thank you. the new leader of the democratic unionist party, edwin poots, has reiterated his determination to get rid of brexit�*s northern ireland protocol but has said he had "no intention whatsoever" of endangering devolution. some within unionism and loyalism have suggested the dup should be prepared to bring down the institutions if new post—brexit trading arrangements are not removed. what i need to do, and my focus is actually on delivering going forward. and that delivery has to be about ensuring that your food costs 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, that the parts for your everyday things in life, for your cars and for your lawn mowers and all of that, they actually arrive and are not held up for weeks and weeks as a result of this protocol, and that people still want to continue to deliver to northern ireland from great britain. those are the things that are in people's minds.

let's get stuck into the northern ireland protocol. it's part of the treaty which took the uk out of the eu, and despite a government promise that there would be no impediments to trade between northern ireland and great britain after brexit, the protocol means that in fact there are new checks which apply to goods travelling from great britain to northern ireland. these checks have been causing disruption to supplies of food, plants and online deliveries, as edwin poots explained. let's get more on this from rte's europe editor, tony connelly. tony, you're something of an update on the story. tony, you're something of an update on the story-— on the story. yes, in relation to the protocol. — on the story. yes, in relation to the protocol, the _ on the story. yes, in relation to the protocol, the uk _ on the story. yes, in relation to the protocol, the uk took - on the story. yes, in relation to the protocol, the uk took its i on the story. yes, in relation to i the protocol, the uk took its own unilateral action back in march, two as they would see it relieve northern ireland and some of these problems you been highlighting. they extended a grace period that related to checks and controls on food consignments going from great britain to northern ireland, but

they did it in a unilateral way, did not consult the eu, and as a result, the eu initiated legal proceedings against the uk and london had two months to respond, and when they responded in a 20 page letter on friday night, it was a long criticism of the european commission for the way it wants to implement the protocol. it accused the commission of not approaching this politically, approaching it in a purest common on pragmatic kind of way, but what struck officials that i spoke to cure was that the letter referenced this idea of force majeure — in other words, the uk was perhaps not bound by the obligation of the protocol because of circumstances beyond his control and which are unforeseen. now, the

unforeseen circumstances are perhaps the circumstances beyond their control, the pandemic and how difficult it was to prepare for these checks and controls, to build these checks and controls, to build the structure necessary when there was a pandemic, and in general this idea that the uk did not really believe that the eu wouldn't lament the protocol the way it was negotiated and agreed. the two officials i spoke to here in brussels, there seem to be the idea that the uk was keeping in reserve this notion of force majeure, which again is a legal concept which would allow one party to say that, for reasons beyond their control, they are unable to abide by the terms of the contract, and so that is perhaps a signal of the kinds of options, if you like, that the uk may be considering if they don't get what they want from the european union on how the protocol is operating. you have given — how the protocol is operating. you have given us _ how the protocol is operating. you

have given us a — how the protocol is operating. you have given us a legal definition of force majeure. is there political definition that michael along the lines do it i want, you have to go along with it? if lines do it i want, you have to go along with it?— along with it? if that is the trajectory _ along with it? if that is the trajectory of _ along with it? if that is the trajectory of the _ along with it? if that is the trajectory of the uk - along with it? if that is the i trajectory of the uk position, along with it? if that is the - trajectory of the uk position, then we are in for quite a bumpy ride, because as you mentioned, this is part of a treaty that is already in force and that took the best part of walker or five years to negotiate and both sides negotiated this treaty, the northern ireland protocol, in october of 2019. yes, of course, it is in place now and it is causing problems, think the concerns in brussels are that by taking this kind of disruptive approach to it, they are raising expectations among the unionists and among unions leaders like edwin poots, who we heard from there, but i do not see any realistic option of

the eu sibley putting the protocol aside. this is international treaty which took a long time negotiate and edwin poots has not said what would precisely placed the treaty or replace the protocol if both governments and european union have said they want to avoid a hardboard on the island, so this is the dilemma that everyone faces, and i think we are in for a very difficult political period as we head into summer and the marching season in northern ireland. if summer and the marching season in northern ireland.— northern ireland. if the eu decides not to ut northern ireland. if the eu decides not to put it _ northern ireland. if the eu decides not to put it aside, _ northern ireland. if the eu decides not to put it aside, what, - northern ireland. if the eu decides not to put it aside, what, briefly, l not to put it aside, what, briefly, happens? that not to put it aside, what, briefly, ha ens? �* ., ., , happens? at the moment, ironically there have been _ happens? at the moment, ironically there have been almost _ happens? at the moment, ironically there have been almost daily - happens? at the moment, ironically there have been almost daily talks l there have been almost daily talks at a technical level between officials to try and look at ways to introduce plus abilities, to the protocol, to make it operate less onerous lien, those talks are said to be going well, the eu he

—— has offered the uk to align with his food safety and health rules as a way to obviate maybe 80 or 90% of the rules, the checks and controls of goods going across northern ireland, but the uk has declined that, the uk wants something cold in equivalence. the eu has declined that. so we are at an impasse here. unless there is some breakthrough politically in the coming weeks, this is going to be a very difficult situation. ., , ., , ., rte , rte, thanks so much. police in gloucester are to begin excavation work at a cafe where they think a suspected victim of the serial killer fred west could be buried. mary bastholm, who was 15 and worked at the clean plate cafe, went missing in gloucester in 1968. jon kay has this report. mary bastholm was 15 years old when she vanished. now a tv crew has found what appears to be a piece of blue material buried in the basement of the cafe where she worked.

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. after using dogs that can detect human remains, and special radar kit, police have found six areas in the cellar that they want to examine. today they removed doors. tomorrow they start digging. so, decades after the cromwell street murders, fred west is once again the talk of gloucester. he was a regular in the cafe in the years before he was charged with 12 murders. he is also rumoured to have done some building work here. he took his own life in 1995. if mary is in the cafe, i hope for the family that it is closure for them. i mean, it's upset me, because you always hope

against hope that it's not going to end like that. but detectives are being cautious about any links between fred west and mary bastolm. she was last seen waiting for a bus in the city centre. never really thought it would happen to us. her parents died without answers. 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. 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. police say there are ancient burial sites near the back of the cafe which might explain what's being detected. so far, no human remains have been found. jon kay, bbc news, gloucester.

a metropolitan police officer is being investigated after being filmed chanting "free palestine." free palestine! filmed chanting �*free palestine." free palestine!— filmed chanting "free palestine." free palestine! clips are posted on twitter. a new warning has gone out what need to be done to reach net zero by 2050. the international energy authority advisory group says new fossil fuel boilers need to be banned globally within four years. it's one suggested to keep global temperature rises and 1.5 degrees. garden centres are to be banned for selling pete as part of new

measures. environmentalists say digging up peatlands is devastating —— selling peat. victoria gill has this report. bogs might not be quite as majestic as our native woodland, but peat bogs are this country's rainforests, locking away more than three billion tonnes of carbon, and it's trees and peatland that are central to the government's new package of nature restoration pledges for england. as well as a promise to ban the sale of peat in garden centres, the environment secretary today announced a plan to restore 35,000 hectares of degraded dried out peatland, an area about the size of the isle of wight. conservation groups say it's a good start to tackling the interlinked nature and climate crises. they store lots of water, so they prevent flooding and they provide about 70% of our drinking water, and of course they are fantastic places for wildlife, but unfortunately, around 80% of peatlands in the uk are currently in a bad state. as we can see from a small bog restoration project in delamere forest that we had special permission to step on just briefly, bringing peat bogs

back to life takes time. you can actually feel under your feet by the way it moves that this is just a blanket bog of moss that is floating on the water, but it's taken 20 years to get back to this state that's full of vegetation, that's locking away carbon and is a rich habitat for lots of different wildlife. across the uk, nature is in decline. conservation scientists estimate that we've lost 40 million birds since the 1970s, and that well over a third of our native mammals are under threat of extinction. we're losing species, birds, animals, invertebrates, and we're losing those natural spaces. if all the economic drivers have been in that direction so far, why is this point going to be the change that we need? what we once thought was a choice between either economic development or environmental protection, we have reached the point today where we can see we have to do both of these things together, because if we don't look after the environment, in the end, that will cause

major economic problems. as well as a legally binding target to halt species loss, the government outlined plans for a task force on reintroducing wildlife that's disappeared from england. it will build on some successes by landowners and charities. this year, white storks, that have been missing from britain for centuries, bred successfully for just the second time. the critical challenge will be to make space for nature notjust in protected pockets of habitat, but across the country. victoria gill, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. the prime minister will tell us in the next few days whether or not the in the invariance will mean a delay to lockdown, but should restrictions have been further ease? aux on is a lecture at university couege aux on is a lecture at university college london —— 0ksana. i don't

know if you've been able to get out and about. did you go around thinking that's fine, everyone enjoy yourselves, carry on hugging, or did yourselves, carry on hugging, or did you see people dining indoors? i think we're an unimportant _ indoors? i think we're an unimportant phase -- i indoors? i think we're an unimportant phase -- in | indoors? i think we're an i unimportant phase -- in an indoors? i think we're an _ unimportant phase -- in an important unimportant phase —— in an important phase towards vaccination, but unfortunately it's been very rainy. i was quite pleased to see some individuals had their umbrellas and sat there outside. i think some people are doing their own personal risk assessment based on their vaccinate isn't status, and i would anyone who is eligible to get their vaccine as soon as possible,

particularly because the concerning spread of the be 1617 two indian variance. so it appears that the bricks are well prepared for rain and are happy to bear it. continued vigilance as well. there are still restrictions around how many households can mix indoors and such, so it's not a free—for—all yet. that is potentially the next step in june. i do have my doubts about that. the prime minister has concerns about the particular variant, minister has concerns about the particularvariant, but minister has concerns about the particular variant, but what his concerns on backed up with is we're allowing people to mingle inside again, mix household, etc, but we're also seeing travel internationally. i would say that the biggest hole in our defence currently is actually,

our defence currently is actually, our birder control. for this reason, we are now dealing with the current scenario —— border control. the uptick of a highly transmissible indian variant within our own borders, which could have been prevented had it not had political pressures in play.— prevented had it not had political pressures in play. when will we know for sure whether _ pressures in play. when will we know for sure whether or _ pressures in play. when will we know for sure whether or not _ pressures in play. when will we know for sure whether or not the _ pressures in play. when will we know for sure whether or not the vaccines l for sure whether or not the vaccines work against the indian variance? there is a lot of analysis of that right now. the early indication is it is still effective against preventing severe disease, although the cases showed us that the minority of quite frail individuals did have both jabs, did ended up in hospital, so that's important for people to consider. before rushing to do certain activities. it will be likely that booster doses and the pharmaceutical companies will be working on tweaking vaccines to make

them more effective. where we see some concern is more around protecting against mild disease as well as transmissibility, so it appears that if you have the vaccine, even if you don't get sick, you can still pass it on to other people. this is concerning about younger people were thought to be higher transmitters, who are more likely to be mass writers. we could still see a third wave that's linked to younger unvaccinated people spreading it across the country where we do see there are some weaknesses in this shield of vaccination that we currently have available. get vaccination that we currently have available. , ., ., .. vaccination that we currently have available. , ., ., vaccination that we currently have available. ., ., , available. get a vaccine and carry an umbrella- _ available. get a vaccine and carry an umbrella. doctor— available. get a vaccine and carry an umbrella. doctor 0ksana - available. get a vaccine and carry. an umbrella. doctor 0ksana pyzik, thank you so much. the deadly conflict between israel and palestinian militants led by hamas is entering its second week and there is little sign of a diplomatic breakthrough, with the un security council split on whether to issue a declaration on the crisis. today, there've been clashes between palestinian protesters and israeli security forces

in the israeli—occupied west bank. 0ur middle east editorjeremy bowen reports now from jerusalem, and just a warning — there are some images you may find upsetting. the israeli army blew up the car of a man who attacked them with grenades. soldiers shot him dead. it was the centre of hebron where soldiers protected a jewish settlement in the heart of a palestinian city. last night, a group showed off their weapons on the west bank. they have been quiet since the end of the last armed uprising around 16 years ago. their return if that's what it is as a sign of a hardening mood on the palestinian side and competition between rival factions to confront israel. this morning, they exchanged fire. the israelis are said to have their soldiers were wounded.

—— two of their soldiers. this was at the damascus gate. egypt blames heavy—handed israeli pressure injerusalem for what it calls palestinian retaliation. the egyptians have used unusually harsh language to condemn israel's behaviour. that matters because egyptian mediators are a critical part of ceasefire negotiations. much more anger in more places is on display in the palestinian territories in during previous wars between israel and hamas. this was bethlehem just outsidejerusalem. this kind of thing built up over night. —— doesn't build up overnight. it comes after years of settlement expansion, land confiscation. what happened injerusalem and what happened in gaza was the last straw. it is about for these people years of israeli pressure. that matters because

egyptian mediators inside israel, jafa is shared byjews and palestinian arabs. arab businesses across israel were closed in a general strike that was also solid on the west bank. in the last week, co existence between israel's arab and jewish citizens has broken down. a disaster for national cohesion. hamas is still hitting israeli towns. this was ashdod. all the pounding of gaza, this was an american made israeli bomb, has not stopped hamas from firing back. that could be an incentive for israel to respond to pressure from its allies for a ceasefire. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. the government says it's now returned nearly half of it to

morocco. spain's prime minister has just arrived and has promised to do everything possible to get the situation under control. 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. 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 6000 migrants on monday is unprecedented. many floated around the border fence at low tide on makeshift boats, others swan round. 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 the firm 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 - 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 hedgcoe, bbc news, madrid. i'm joined byjudith sunderland from

the european central agent division of human rights. judith, thanks so much forjoining us. how surprising is it to have so many arrivals? well, as we've heard, people have been crossing for years now, but it is unusual to see so many people at once. what's important now is that spain respect the rights of everyone who has reached its territory, and that's why we're so concerned about the alarming number of so—called hot returns, push facts into morocco. we're also concerned about the very high numbered of all unaccompanied children, estimates of around 2000 in the past day and a half.— in the past day and a half. which countries are _ in the past day and a half. which countries are these _ in the past day and a half. which countries are these migrants - in the past day and a half. which countries are these migrants coming from? it

countries are these migrants coming from? ,., , countries are these migrants coming from? , ,, ., , ., countries are these migrants coming from? , ~' ., , ., ., from? it sounds like many are from morocco, from? it sounds like many are from morocco. but _ from? it sounds like many are from morocco, but as _ from? it sounds like many are from morocco, but as is _ from? it sounds like many are from morocco, but as is always - from? it sounds like many are from morocco, but as is always the - from? it sounds like many are fromj morocco, but as is always the case, there will be some sub—saharan africans amongst them. it is a well—established route for migrants and refugees to try to get into spain via the enclaves and very un—seaworthy boats to the mainland. weaver the spanish prime minister valve to restore order —— we've heard. that might be a popular policy in spain. we've seen in recent years that governments try to control their borders and send migrants back do fit the mood of their population.— their population. well, i heard prime minister _ their population. well, i heard prime minister sanchez - their population. well, i heard prime minister sanchez speak| their population. well, i heard - prime minister sanchez speak and i'm slightly taken aback by the bombastic term he struck. i think

that's unfortunate because it nurtures some very negative imagery that people might already have or are susceptible to have about migrants and refugees. i'm certainly concerned about the potential for the use of force. we have seen in the use of force. we have seen in the past use of fatal force by border guards, precisely at the same morocco border. so, it's extraordinarily important that everyone involved exercise restraint and use force only if absolutely necessary. and use force only if absolutely necessary-— and use force only if absolutely necessa . , ,, necessary. some people in spain miaht necessary. some people in spain mi . ht sa necessary. some people in spain might say if— necessary. some people in spain might say if people _ necessary. some people in spain might say if people want - necessary. some people in spain might say if people want to - necessary. some people in spain might say if people want to go i necessary. some people in spain l might say if people want to go into their country, if they're seeking to migrate, there are different ways and getting through a fence. unfortunately, there are far fewer ways than people might suspect. one of the main reasons why we see so many people taking such extraordinary risks to get into european countries or other

wealthier, more developed countries where they believe they will dash their rights will be respected is because they don't see any other channels. it is extraordinarily difficult to access safe and legal pathways to migrate from many, many countries. so, we see an increasing obsession with ceiling borders, but that can often entail these kinds of episodes, when in fact, a more rational, affective and humane approach to migration is to acknowledge the need that many people have to migrate and to try to facilitate that in a safe and orderly way that benefits both the newcomers and our society. judith sunderland. _ newcomers and our society. judith sunderland, thank _ newcomers and our society. judith sunderland, thank you _ newcomers and our society. judith sunderland, thank you so - newcomers and our society. judith sunderland, thank you so much. l

newcomers and our society. judith sunderland, thank you so much. the prime minister says there's nothing conclusive that means lockdown road map will need to be delayed. hospital admissions for obesity —related treatment and england reach a record high of more than 1 —related treatment and england reach a record high of more than1 million in the year before the pandemic. palestinian militants found more rockets —— fire more rockets. international leaders continue their call for an end to unrest. job vacancies across the uk have hit their highest level since the start of the pandemic. the latest figures cover the three months up to april, and since then, there has been a further easing of the lockdown. the figures from the office for national statistics show a start rise in the long—term unemployment. the government is to strengthen the

independent inquiry into the post offices scan. a total of 47 former sub mobsters have had their for a total of 47 former sub—postmasters have had their names cleared as their convictions for stealing from the post office were based on faulty it evidence, with hundreds more expected to follow. mr floyd's death lid to the resurgence of the black lives matter movement and the state of race relations. chanting. everyone here today can make a difference. whether you have privilege or whether you don't. leamington spa. worlds apart from where george floyd was murdered in minneapolis. i thought 20 people were going to show up, never 700. but last summer, people in this leafy warwickshire town came together,

calling for change. because it's ourjob to make sure this does not happen again. shianne williams organised the protest. she was 17 at the time. i hadn't seen that many people in leamington coming together for one cause. so, and then you've grown up in a place where you thought people didn't really like you... i have been a victim of racism all my life. i've been spat on, i've been racially abused in the streets, bullied in school. i had another incident where someone through dirt over me. those things have kind of made me stronger and gave me the power to speak up about black lives matter. hundreds of thousands of people in the uk took part in antiracism marches in the aftermath of george floyd's murder, raising questions about policing. less than 2% of officers in england, wales and scotland are black, a disproportionate representation.

as a young, black man was stopped and searched. i know the struggles and difficulties. it's helpful for the community to see police officers that look and sound like them. and to acknowledge what the community are saying. in coventry, campaigners have been reflecting on the last 12 months. but the conversations are changing. before it wasjust, racism is bad because it's "i hate black people." but now we are beginning to understand that racism is a system and there's levels to it. things like, "oh, sorry, can i shorten your name, it's too hard to pronounce?" the reason why we're even here in the first place is because people are either ill educated or wrongly educated. when i try and talk about these things to other white people my age they go, "well, i can't be racist because i'm a good person." but there are things that you do, because of the society that we live in, that discriminates against black people.

have we learned anything that will lead to real change in this country? the kind of naive and sensitive nature of it, the way we - talk about race, is the reason why every ten, 15 years we get - a pushback from the natives, white people getting a bit... i they don't have the space to be able to speak openly. _ cancel culture means that people are scared. i have had white people ask me if it's ok to refer to me as black. that's how scared they are of using the wrong word, because they genuinely want to be part of the conversation. if we haven't got space to talk openly, then we don't change as a society. adina campbell, bbc news. now, have a look at these self—portraits of an artist. how would you describe the style? ultra modernist, perhaps?

or something else? well, the name behind these creations is ai—da, and they're going on show from tomorrow at london's design museum. david sillito reports on this ground—breaking exhibition. meet ai—da, the robot artist. it's a slow and steady process, but effective. these are a few of her recent self portraits. and what's more, she's happy to have a chat. how are you today? er, i'm well, thank you. how would you rate yourself as an artist? i love to be creative. i enjoy being someone who makes people think. she answers questions. each painting is different, and a surprise. you could almost say she has a personality. fundamentally, that's

a funny question. i think the prospect of getting to know her is hilarious, but at the same time, i mean, peering over at her now, i think her makers probably considered that they have some form of relationship, whether that's reciprocated or not. ai—da, could you look across there to the camera. we are all used to, these days, talking to machines and our phones. but creativity, that's a rather different question and this is meant to be a little bit unsettling, a little unnerving. the thing that concerns us about technology is the fact that we don't know the domino effect of it. ai—da foreshadows many technologies coming through, and she opposes those questions by her artwork to say, this is what's coming through: are we happy with that? so, ai—da, the artist. it's painting today. who knows what tomorrow?

david sillito, bbc news. she could also beat the terminator in a fight. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello again. the unsettled weather is going to continue for a good while yet. tuesday saw another mixture of sunshine and showers with big storm clouds going up over the skies in hertfordshire, big downpours coming down widely across the country with some thunder and lightning mixed in and some hail as well. the radar picture showed just how active a day of showers it has been. but there were a few places that dodged most of them, for example, a good part of northwest england where skies in cumbria looked like this and it really was a gorgeous afternoon here. and i'm sure in the sunshine it would have felt very pleasant. looking at the weather picture over the next few hours, we are just monitoring this area of cloud that has been bringing some heavier rain into southwest england. during this evening and overnight that is going to continue to push eastwards across southern england. at the same time, showers hanging around this evening but slowly fading away overnight.

and then across northern scotland we will have this thicker cloud moving in bringing some rain across northern areas later in the night. our temperatures overnight drifting down to around five to eight celsius, so similar to what we have had over recent nights. wednesday another kind of showery day, although we do start off with the risk of some rain across the southeast and across northern scotland. then we will have sunshine come out, but into the afternoon showers will develop and they'll tend to form along this trough that will be across eastern areas of england and eastern parts of scotland. furtherwest, pressure will actually begin to rise. and across southwest england, wales, probably the west midlands and northwest england you've got a decent chance of having a drier weather to take you through the afternoon with long spells of sunshine. it's may, and in that sunshine it will feel pleasantly warm with temperatures 15 or 16 degrees. thursday and friday, though, not looking particularly pleasant. as this area of low pressure moves its way in off the atlantic. now, for thursday, this is going to bring some pretty wet weather. although starting off on a bright note across eastern parts the rain quickly moves in from the west

through the day and the winds began to strengthen. now, across the south coast of wales will probably get gusts of wind around 50, perhaps 60 mph. and when's that strong are strong enough to bring down a few tree branches, so we may see some localised transport disruption. the same area of low pressure is still with us on friday bringing further wet and windy weather. that clears off and then over the weekend back to a mixture of sunshine and showers. those showers heavy with hail and thunder. as i say, this unsettled weather is going to be with us for a while yet.

this is bbc news. pressure grows onjoe biden to get tougher on israel. so far, the us president will only say he supports a ceasefire — he isn't pushing for one. against the backdrop of ongoing clashes, israel's prime minister has repeated his warning that the operation against hamas will take as long as needed to restore calm. the white house is sending millions of vaccines overseas, but is it nearly enough? we'll speak to gayle smith, the woman in charge of sharing america's doses. also in the programme: more and more americans can take off their masks, which means an increasing number may well be heading back to work. we'll be live in new york city to see if that's actually happening. and it was meant to be a simple order, a few plants

to brighten up the shed.