arrived — after israel opened two border crossings. officials say reconstruction costs will run to tens of millions of dollars. president biden has promised international help rebuilding homes and businesses. the strength of the truce has been tested. there have been violent clashes between israeli police and palestinians at one ofjerusalem's al aqsa mosque. twenty palestinians are reported to have been injured as police used stun grenades to disperse protesters, who threw rocks and petrol bombs. the world health organisation says the real number of coronavirus—related deaths is likely to be much higher than the three point four million officially reported. it says six to eight million is a more realistic figure, as many covid deaths have not been attributed to the virus. now on bbc news, ahead

of making their minds up in saturday's eurovision contest we give you. the road to rotterdam. i felt anxious all the time, worrying about stuff for no reason, so ijust got up one morning and was like, right, get in the cold water. do my breathing. and like later that day, it's like my mind just cleared. mr james newman. cheering and applause. in 2020, singer james newman was meant to represent the uk on the world stage at the eurovision song contest. it was meant to be the biggest moment of his life but the event was cancelled because of coronavirus. now then. fast forward a year, and he's got another chance, eurovision 2021 is on, but so is the pressure. the pressure is a very big

moment, going to be anxiety to the max, innit? james isn't the only one getting ready for the eurovision spotlight. # baby, you're hurting. # are you all right?# nearly a0 acts will compete nearly a0 acts will compete in the dutch city of rotterdam. # to all the wrong places~# - we will meet some like james who're getting a second chance to compete. i am so happy and so excited. i can't wait. let's get this done! for others, it's their first experience of the contest. ta ke two. action. i know that it will be a crazy, crazy adventure. i think it's going to be huge. # gimme some sugar.# and the one big question for everyone, how does the world's most popular live music event go ahead smoothly and safely in the middle of a global pandemic?

the ukrainian singer has been feeling unwell. music plays. if you get it right, it can change everything for you. we started following james newman on his eurovision journey last year, he is a brit award—winning songwriter with hits for ed sheeran, little mix and rudimental. despite the pandemic, eurovision 2021 got the green light and we found out james was coming back to this year's competition so we decided to pick up where we left off and this time, followjames all the way to the eurovision stage here in rotterdam. we are in greenham common. and this is an old nuclear warhead storage bunker. which is crazy. but they filmed star wars here, which is pretty cool, i think

if you like star wars, it's cool. i do. it doesn't scream eurovision yet. it will later, don't worry. it's all going to go off. and then this is my car. she is called dusty. horn toots. # some people let go.# last year, james entered a ballad called my last breath. this year, it's something different. i was just thinking every song that is doing well is dance music, everyone wants to have a good time, don't they? even if it's dancing in your kitchen, it still dancing. it's called embers so it's about everyone has got that spark like still there, it never kind of dies out. when we were writing it

we wanted to write something that kinda felt like people coming back together and those sparks igniting. and the fact that even though you're not together, there's still that kind of connection that reignites when you see someone. and it's just after six. and we've got back from this really nice country road where i am driving my mustang up and down, and they had a drone filming me, filming the inside. and i think i broke my car! # light up the room.# i like to add hoped into most songs. people have always said most songs that i write are a feeling of hope which is kind of good. eurovision is a bit like the olympics, you train for ages for that make or break moment on stage. if you get it right, it can go down in eurovision history, get it wrong, well, you might need to rethink things. there is the release date. of my single embers.

which is, i can't believe it's actually happening. yeah, it's like when you buy someone a gift and you're really worried that they are not going to like it, it's kind of like that, a gift for the uk and hopefully they like the present i've brought them! ohhh! james�*s song is getting played on the radio for the very first time. this is a very big moment. see what you think of this. i think it's a banger, - and it's got horns aplenty. yes. the uk's eurovision entry for- 2021 is embers byjames newman. # i know my fire burns low. # but as long as you're with me, i'll never get cold.# i'm absolutely buzzing. i'm like shaking a bit, you know, because it's like, it's on the radio right now. # feelings change as seasons fade. # but nothing will burn us out. # nothing can stop us now. # out of the embers.

# you and i are going to light up the room.# there it is, let me know what you think. i didn't realise i was going to get teary but i think like it's a release of, it's been really stressful building up to this, so much going on. planning everything. you jump the first hurdle, the hard bit of getting to that point. after eurovision was cancelled last year, james had to decide whether to devote another year of his life to the contest. ijust was like, i want to do it again, it's such good fun. getting to that end game of being on the stage in front of 200 million people, that's what i got into it for. many of last year's acts made the same decision as james. hi everyone, it's gjon's tears and i'm representing switzerland at eurovision. # tout l'univers. ..# when eurovision was cancelled, it was really a big frustration because i didn't know

what will happen. i mean, i had to come back with another song. it's not so easy because you think because you have time you have inspiration but that's not the case because sometimes people give you inspiration. dealing with this corona thing was kind of difficult because as an artist you need to see people, you need to have contact, meet new artists, other people for the concerts, for everything so you need contact so it was pretty hard just to be in front of a computer, zoom all the time. so i really hope that this situation is going to end as soon as possible because we need that contact. james and gjon are going to be joined by loads of others

who wanted a second chance. one singer who cannot make it to the netherlands is montaigne from australia. she's going to be using her live on tape performance because travel restrictions means she cannot make it to rotterdam. it so would have been nice to perform on the big stage and to actually have travelled to eurovision, which two out of two times i haven't been able to do. i've accepted it now. it's not ideal for like the competition aspect of things but you know, i'm proud of the song and glad people still get to see it performed. there are strict rules here, countries are in bubbles that can't mix, the acts spend most of their time in their hotel room or in special areas backstage, everyone working here has to be tested every 48 hours and as you can imagine, avoiding covid is on everyone�*s minds. you know, just because we are doing well with vaccinations, doesn't mean everyone else will have caught up so we've got to make sure it's as safe as possible.

# growing up is getting old.# covid situation in bulgaria put simply, eurovision is going to be the biggest gig of james�*s life and he's got a tactic to deal with that pressure. and it's cold. it's 6:45am. and we are at parliament hill lido. about to go for a swim and it's currently 0 degrees. but i think the water is going to be, i reckon it's going to be 8 degrees. ey—up, duck. why do we do this, guys? because you tell us to! james newman rules! indeed, definitely. what was it like when you first did it? it took about five or six attempts until you sort of started to think, this is actually amazing. but the first few, just horrible. mental health thing, i've noticed even more, this lockdown, anxious

all the time. worrying about stuff for no reason and feeling a bit depressed and stuff so ijust got up one morning and i was like right, the breathing, going to get in the cold water because it was just before lockdown, actually. this was still open. get in the cold water, do my breathing, and later that day, it's like my mind just cleared. like five minutes or something. it feels great. like a buzz. it's amazing. how do you describe anxiety? for me, it's like worry, worrying about stupid stuff all the time and then i find myself in my own head, take yourself down a spiralling little path and then the next thing, it's all stressed out, just consumes yout so it's like when i realised that was a thing, for me,

and just accepting that i needed to work out ways to get around it, you know. is this how you are going to deal with the eurovision stage? it's going to be anxiety to the max, isn't it? one of the positives of being locked in the hotel all the time is that i can do loads of breathing in the morning and kind of meditating and stuff like that. in a few days�* timejames has to go into isolation before travelling to rotterdam. so final rehearsals in the uk are crucial. # i know. # my fire burns low. # as long as you're with me. # i'll never get cold. # feelings change and seasons fade. # but nothing will burn us out. # nothing can stop us now.# the song is like a proper

work—out to sing it. these are the two important parts for me, vocally, you are out of breath and tired and you're exposed, everything else sounds amazing. it's been a massive learning curve. you are performing for the room now i want you to feel _ like you can imagine the arena. it is a big stage and things might not go to plan. i'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself in that sense. have you talked with your team about if on the night, things don't quite go to plan and you don't see the scores coming in and the uk is down near the bottom? i'm trying not to focus on it really, i think it has to be the best performance i've ever done. it's one shot, innit? but the way i feel now after rehearsals today and knowing i will have so many rehearsals on stage when i get there, ijust feel like i am nailing it. if you get it it can change everything for you. for some of this year's contestants, 2021 is the first time they are experiencing the eurovision whirlwind.

it feels like amazing. and crazy responsibility. phone pings. sorry. i am going to throw it away. my parents moved to russia because of war in tajikistan and we were refugees. and now, i am going to represent russia for the eurovision song contest. i am happy that this year finally, the performancel is back and no matter that the restrictions l we will do the best - because the eurovision fans love is unconditional. this show will be watched by 180 million people. which is a lotta people! eurovision offers a bigger stage, ithink, you know, the greatest production in europa _ and may in the world. i can't wait to spend time . on stage with the audience. we want to feel, i want to feel

the energy from the people. . we are super excited to be part of eurovision this year and we cannot wait to bring rock music back to the mainstream. because of everything i it is very hard to practice music, last year and this year. we don't have shows. i need to be very concentrate and i need a lot of energy, i positive energy to sing it and to bring it and share| it with the public. all the restrictions, it's going to be weird but we are a year in now, this very peculiar situation so it's going to be all fun from here. we are a little bit, _ how can i say, sad and worried, yes, to go to participate in these conditions - but it is what it is. i am an actor, all myjobs got

cancelled and i used that free time to create a music video. produced by myself with my money and i spent about 10,000 euros on that music video project. the situation in italy are still very tough i but we all had to keep hoping for the best. . i think we are really happy to be back and playing - in front of an audience - because of this tough year. say hello, hello baby! i am ready to perform live with no stress. just to have my time and having fun. with all of you guys. it feels like every artist this year isn't necessarily- going to rotterdam to compete for themselves rather, - as a joint mission to entertain 200 million people, - watching from home.

i thinkjames�*s bus is coming in. hello, everyone. how is it going? sorry we are late! yes! how are you feeling? absolutely buzzing, i cannot believe we are here. how was the trip? it was great, a0 minutes on the plane, straight in. i cannot believe we are here. two years in the making.

i have got to go and get tested again. i have had several tests, before we got here. we should be fine. you have to do this breathing in thing and i did my exercises, then up the nose job and then, you had to sit and wait, come on but it's negative. now you can properly start your dutch experience. the dutch adventure begins here! james heads off to his hotel, we are guessing he will have a lot of time to check out his competition. # we've been together for a decade now. coming back this year is a fan favourite, the icelandic supergroup. our approach to eurovision is more is more. if there is something that is classic eurovision we definitely want to try to squeeze that into a performance. all of the lights, the colours,

all of the assassin is. the song is ten years, an ode to your wife who is currently sitting behind you. how does she feel about the song? i feel good about the song. he asked for permission first. that was good. it's nice. she thinks it's nice. eurovision has always been a massive event to organise, add covid into the mix and you have a huge logistical challenge. how do you feel now eurovision is up and running, taking place after the cancelled event last year? it's a great feeling to be her, we worked so hard that this it's a great feeling to be here, we worked so hard that this was such a long time and so many participants have and it's been two

years preparing for this. i think everyone is feeling really happy to be here. considering we are in a global pandemic is it responsible to be putting on an event of this size when people are coming in from across the world? we have testing for everyone every 48 hours. no one will be let in here unless they can provide a recent negative covid—19 test. that is actually connected to your accreditation, you can't get in if you don't have this. it's all about getting back to normal, i think it's something we would like to do as much as possible. was there any point of your leadership when you thought, you know what, things don't look safe and we need to canvass for another year come up on hold. cancelling for another year was never a consideration. as soon as i started i was sure it would come back, we have held onto that promise, and it's also why we introduced the live on tape back—up to saint no matter what happens the live on tape back—up to say that no matter what happens

with the pandemic, we will have a contest but i won't completely relax until the credit list is rolling on the grand final night. so ukraine rehearsed without their lead singer today, she's been feeling unwell, she has taken a pcr test, we are waiting for the result. the rest of the band will do their press conference at any second. let's open up to ukraine! please, take a seat. the protocol says the person must first take a pcr test. and only when the result - is negative any person can come back so that is why we did it. one day later at the lead singer gets a negative test so she is free to come back to the arena. there will be an audience to watch the live shows here, the dutch government is allowing a maximum of three and thousand people to watch as long as they can show a negative test. the singers keep arriving in

rotterdam from across europe. what is up? iam benny, representing the czech... at the eurovision this year. i cannot believe i am here. i bet you thought the state might not come? there's been so many restrictions and confusions. and drama coming here. all the way from prague, the quarantine that we had to do, or two weeks i didn't see my friends and family, to be able to make the final test and get on a special bus that did not stop at the gas stations because we wanted to be super safe. hello, ladies, you are smiling so nicely. yes, being here, it's just great. what does it mean to perform to an audience? it's energy, seeing positive people, seeing that they enjoy what you're doing, they reflect your energy. i think that is why we do music. let's this done! at 18, destiny from malta

is one of the younger singers taking part. how does it feel to be one of the favourites? i mean, ifeel good, obviously. people follow me and i love my song, it's something i have been working for, i wanted that to happen, i feel grateful that it has. # i am not your honey. you have got a big voice and a loud voice, how are the other hotel guests feeling about your singing? it's a good question, today i was with my vocal coach and i was doing my warm up and i was like, do we annoy people around us? and i was like... and it is like an irritating, listening to it over and over. what do they think about it? my three inspirations in life are beyonce, aretha franklin...

inspiring me to feel confident and to own myself. when i see them performing on stage, when i see them on stage, they bring such a positive vibe, james is about to do his first rehearsal in the arena. i think stop talking now, we will run it again, - and then stop talking. for each rehearsal every country is given a 30 minute time limit and this is the momentjames will first step onto the eurovision stage.

# light up the room! i mean, that was the most amazing experience i've ever had. when it first went pitch black and i was standing there, i was like oh my god, we did the sound check, getting such a vibe going in the room, getting everyone buzzing, good feeling so now my challenge is to get that to the audience at home and the cameras and perform to the camera is like i was doing in that little room to people's faces. i've got to remember that feeling. there is a big difference between performing for six people in a room to 200 million. just a little bit, david! honestly. i cannot believe i am here, i have made it, still loads of work to do but bring

on the grand final! well, friday, for many of us was an absolute write off. blowing a gale, heavy rain, surely the weather is going to improve. and, yes, it is. the low pressure is finally moving out into the north sea. it brought some really heavy rain to wales, for example, and some ferocious gusts of wind. here's an example, 89 mph in exposed places in the isle of wight. more typically it was around 60mph or more, so very windy for the time of year,

and of course, very wet. you can see where low pressure is early in the morning on saturday. pretty stormy out to sea there. but for many of us, it is calming down. in fact, so much so that across parts of scotland and northern ireland, with clearing skies, there will be a touch of frost. anyway, here's the important bit, saturday's headline — drier, brighter and less windy for all of us. and this is what it looks like for the morning onwards. it will brighten up across many western areas right from the word go. there will be some showers around, particularly in the east of the country, maybe in the south, and there will still be a keen wind blowing out of the northwest, and it'll be chilly — 11 celsisus in newcastle, 1a or 15 degrees elsewhere. you know what? we'll take it after that nasty friday. now, here's the forecast saturday night into sunday — so the skies are clearing again, it's going to be a chilly morning on sunday. you can't miss this, the winds spinning around behind me. that's the next area of low pressure heading our way. here's the headline

for sunday — you may want to look away now — here it is — rain and wind again. so, this unsettled weather continues. here's the good news, across some eastern areas there will be sunshine in the morning. probably into the afternoon as well. and this weather front won't reach western areas until later on in the day, but the rain will be accompanied by gale force winds as well. so, not a great second half of the weekend. eventually, that weather front will sweep towards the east later on in the afternoon and into the evening hours. that low pressure is here to stay, it will park itself over us on monday and tuesday, and that means that the weather will remain unsettled into next week. so, you guessed it, showers to come and remaining cool into next week.

you're watching bbc news with me, tim willcox. our top stories: international aid starts arriving in gaza as the damage from 11 days of fighting on both sides is assessed. gunfire. but will the truce hold? palestinians throw petrol bombs and israeli police respond with stun grenades at friday prayers injerusalem. the world health organization warns the number of deaths from the global covid pandemic could be three times higher than officialfigures. committing to keeping temperatures down: global leaders set ambitious targets ahead of the g7 summit in glasgow. # whoa!

# el diablo! and, it's back: getting ready for eurovision�*s return