this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk highly effective against the indian variant of the virus. government ministers deny claims, by the former downing street adviser dominic cummings, that they pursued a policy of herd immunity in dealing with the coronavirus in the early part of last year. the former bbc journalist martin bashir defends his panaorama interview with princess diana, but apologises to princes william and harry. homes have been destroyed and at least five people have died — as thousands fled in panic after mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo exploded. the un security council stresses that israel and the palestinians should fully adhere to the ceasefire as the pause in violence enters a third day. the queen visits the

royal navy flagship — hms queen elizabeth — as it begins its first major deployment. we have a winner! and coming up — we'll be speaking to the winners of this years eurovision song contest. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. both the pfizer and astrazeneca coronavirus vaccines, the two main jabs used in the uk's roll—out, are highly effective against the indian variant of the disease according to a study by public health england. the health secretary matt hancock described the findings as "ground—breaking" and said he was "increasingly confident" the government is on track for the final stage of its road map out of lockdown.

here's our health correspondentjim reed. back up a little bit more there, fella, if you will. in places like rochdale in greater manchester, vaccinations are now being offered to younger age groups. all those over 18 can get a jab with no appointment needed. quite eager to come and get it done because once the first one's out of the way, it's out of the way, and it's easier tojust get it done while it's offered to get it done than waiting for an appointment to get scheduled. i think it's very important just to keep yourself safe, - but also helping other people stay safe as welt — so i think it's really important, yeah, for everyone to do it. . scientists think the so—called indian variant of the virus can spread more quickly, so areas like this where cases are growing are being offered extra surge vaccinations, and the first real—world data shows how important that could be. an early study has found one dose of either the pfizer or the astrazeneca jab was 33% effective in stopping infection from the indian variant.

it worked better against the older kent strain. but a second dose boosted that protection, narrowing the gap almost completely and bringing it in line with its effect against the more widespread kent variant. the second dose boosts your immune system, makes it more effective at a wider range of variants of sars—cov—2 that are circulating, and that's why were asking people to come forward for their second dose at eight weeks. that lower figure for the astrazeneca jab in the study may well be revised up later, as scientists say that vaccine takes longer to build up its protection. right now, the research can only tell us about covid infections. it's thought both jabs should offer even stronger protection against any severe disease and death caused by the indian variant. we all know that the way out of this pandemic is the vaccine, and this data show that is not changed, that is the right strategy, but it makes it even more important

for everybody to get the second jab. overall, then, this study makes for reassuring reading. it's the strongest evidence yet the vaccines can beat new variants of the virus, but it suggests that second dose could be key as society heads back towards normality. jim reed, bbc news. professor anthony harnden is deputy chairman of thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation which advises uk health departments. i've been getting his reaction to the results of the study. it's great news, really, and not unexpected, actually. these vaccines are highly effective, and we know that against not only the kent variant but this new 1.617 strain that's originated from india and will be protective against future variants, of that i'm sure. i do want to emphasise, though, the real importance the study�*s showing of receiving two doses of that vaccine, of either vaccine. i think that, you know, our strategy really to try and get those vulnerable groups that haven't received any doses of vaccine yet is the correct one,

as well as accelerating that second dose given that this particular variant is highly transmissible. we have low infection rates in this country at the moment, which is good news, but given the transmissibility of this virus, those infection rates could rise and therefore really, really important that if you haven't received a vaccine yet and you're in an eligible group you must step forward and have it. the uk home secretary priti patel has said it's absolutely not true, that the government pursued a policy of "herd immunity" in dealing with the coronavirus, in the weeks up to march 2020. the former downing street adviser dominic cummings has claimed the "official plan" had been to let the virus spread through the population — an approach he said would have led to hundreds of thousands of people choking to death in hospital. our political correspondent

greg dawson told me he described the government's handling of the pandemic is a disaster, he says that lives and money were needlessly lost, and on the key point of herd immunity which is essentially letting the virus spread freely throughout the population so that an immune responses sped up, he said that that was the government's strategy up until the point that scientists intervened and said that it would lead to a catastrophic loss of life but he says his point is that this was the government was not policy in the early stages. this morning on the early stages. this morning on the andrew marr show we had the home secretary priti patel on. she said she didn't want to comment specifically on dominic cummings but denied that that was ever the strategy.

do you now admit as government that herd immunity was the policy until march? not at all, no. absolutely not. our policy from the outset, andrew, the policy and the strategy... so why is dominic cummings telling us that that's true? well, i can't speak for mr cummings and one individual, but what... so, if you say it's not true, he said it was on all the graphs, it was on all the paperwork in those crucial meetings. presumably, therefore, he cannot be bringing hard evidence of this, if you say it's not true. so, what i would say to this, i'm not going to comment on what mr cummings is going to say or also what is being speculated about right now. now, also on that same programme we heard from doctorjenny harries who advise the government at the outset of the pandemic as deputy chief medical officer. she also disputed dominic cummings' take of events. so, i can categorically say, i have never been in any government meeting where herd immunity was put forward at that point in the pandemic as a method for control.

and i think it's really important for viewers to understand what we mean by herd immunity, because, actually, what we're doing with the vaccine, which everybody is very supportive of, is developing herd immunity. what we're saying is, when you have a population which has a high level of immune response to the virus, then once we get it up to about 90%, somewhere around there, across the whole population, then the virus hasn't got anywhere to go. so priti patel and the government already pushing back against what dominic cummings is saying, but how much power does he still had to do damage to the government because, of course, his relationship with boris johnson was a key one? yes. course, his relationship with boris johnson was a key one?— johnson was a key one? yes, of course, johnson was a key one? yes, of course. he _ johnson was a key one? yes, of course. he is — johnson was a key one? yes, of course, he is out _ johnson was a key one? yes, of course, he is out of _ johnson was a key one? yes, of| course, he is out of government johnson was a key one? yes, of- course, he is out of government now and the government will officially point of that fact that he has no sway downing downing street but this isn't any one man's opinion. this is the man who borisjohnson trusted and hiding into government of that region and the government that he is living in the government that he is living in the government that he is living and that we are expecting to deliver on wednesday is that the government's handling of the pandemic was they got it badly wrong

and that this idea of herd immunity could have led to many more deaths. greg dawson. the former british prime minister, gordon brown, has called on borisjohnson to use next month's g7 summit in cornwall to step up funding of the global covid vaccine roll—out. $66 billion is required to complete the un—led covax programme, and gordon brown says that at least two thirds of that sum ought to be covered by the g7 group of nations. he said that while most adults in britain have had vaccinations, the figure in africa was just 2%, and ii% for india. india has reported more than 8,800 cases of the deadly "black fungus" in a growing epidemic of the disease. the normally rare infection has a mortality rate of 50 %,

with some only saved by removing an eye. india has seen thousands of cases affecting covid—i9 patients. doctors say there is a link with the steroids used to treat covid. the former bbc journalist martin bashir has defended his controversial panorama interview with princess diana in 1995, and rejected suggestions that his actions were ultimately responsible for her death two years later. in an interview with the sunday times, he admitted that he was wrong to have forged bank statements to obtain the interview, but insists it had "no bearing" on subsequent events. james reynolds reports. the dyson report found that martin bashir commissioned false bank statements in order to secure his interview with diana, princess of wales. mr bashir, who recently resigned from the bbc on health grounds, has now told the sunday times that he's "deeply sorry" to princes william and harry, but he rejected the duke of cambridge's claim that he fuelled diana's paranoia. "i never wanted to harm diana in any way, and i don't believe we did," he said. "i don't feel i can be held

responsible for many of the other "things that were going on in her life and the complex issues "surrounding those decisions. " tony hall, mr bashir�*s boss at the time of the 1995 interview, led an internal enquiry soon afterwards which found the journalist to be honest and honourable, but the dyson report said this enquiry was "woefully ineffective". as a result, lord hall, who left the bbc as director—general in 2020, has now stepped down as the chairman of the national gallery. in a statement, he said... diana's brother, earl spencer, has asked the metropolitan police to look again at the circumstances of her interview with martin bashir. scotland yard says it's looking at the dyson investigation to see if there is any significant new evidence to support a new criminal investigation. the current director—general of the bbc, tim davie, said the scandal leaves

the corporation with much to reflect on. the government is carrying out an existing review into public broadcasting in britain. james reynolds, bbc news. people are beginning to return home in the democratic republic of congo after a volcanic eruption. earlier the government in kinshasa ordered residents to leave the eastern city of goma, where lava from mount nyiragongo burst into the night sky and has been seen flowing towards the city centre. officials say at least five people died in the rush to get out. more than 3000 had fled across the border to neighbouring rwanda. courtney bembridge reports. molten hot lava illumminated the night sky. when it reached the city of goma the houses stood little chance. locals tried in vain to douse

the flames while the lava continued to flow, engulfing roads and the city's airport. the government issued an evacuation order for goma earlier in the evening, but even before the warning came hundreds of thousands of people had packed up their belongings and left their homes. translation: it's something we've never seen before. - we're all together, shaken. translation: the volcano i is erupting and the population of goma are really worried. it's a really unusual situation and everyone is preparing, everyone is outside, asking what's going to happen. some fled across the border to neighbouring rwanda. others sought higher ground, remembering the last eruption in 2002 which killed 250 people and destroyed part of the city, leaving 120,000 people homeless. translation: we lost a lot of people - that's why - we don't know what to do. there's no information, even on the national channel. people are panicking and we don't know if we should stay in the house or flee.

mount nyiragongo is one of the world's most active and dangerous volcanoes but scientists in goma say they've been struggling to adequately monitor it because of a lack of funding. courtney bembridge, bbc news. the un security council has urged both israelis and palestinians to honour the ceasefire in the region, as egyptian mediators shuttle back and forth attempting to make it permanent. the pause in violence has entered its third day as humanitarian efforts to rebuild gaza continue. our correspondent laura trevelyan is injerusalem with the latest. well, there are intensive diplomatic efforts under way to try to firm up the ceasefire, which is regarded as quite fragile and precarious, though it is holding, now, into its third day. and egyptians, who mediated the ceasefire to begin with, because they're the only people in the region who can speak to both israel and hamas. they were in ramallah

in the west bank yesterday, egyptian mediators speaking to the president of the palestinian authority, mahmoud abbas. the previous day they were in the gaza strip. next week, you have the us secretary of state, antony blinken, who will come and visit israel. he'll also be in the west bank. so, all of this is going on at the same time the united nations security council has finally issued a press statement in which they've called on all sides to adhere to the ceasefire. that is significant, because american objections held up any actual security council resolution during that 11—day conflict, but now it's been resolved, the council is also supporting the ceasefire. the headlines on bbc news... two doses of the main covid vaccines used in the uk are found to be highly effective against the indian variant of the virus. government ministers deny claims, by the former downing street adviser dominic cummings, that they pursued a policy of herd immunity in dealing with the coronavirus in the early part of last year. the former bbc journalist

martin bashir defends his panaorama interview with princess diana, but apologises to princes william and harry. 21 people have died after extreme weather struck runners participating in a 100—kilometre ultramarathon in north—central china on saturday. it's sparked public outrage over the lack of contingency planning. sophia tran—thomson has this report. under overcast skies, 172 runners, most dressed in t—shirts and shorts crossed this ultramarathon start line not knowing the danger they would soon run into. the race took place near baiyin city in china's gansu province, and started at the yellow river stone forest injingtai. the area is known for its mountain scenery, and the 100km route crossed through deep canyons

and rugged landscape. at a mountainous, high—altitude section of the course the race was abruptly hit by gale force winds and as conditions worsened the race was called off. as darkness fell and temperatures dropped further, over 1200 rescuers, assisted by drones and radar detectors, searched for the missing runners. 18 were pulled to safety and 7 were taken to hospital with hypothermia, but 21 runners were found dead. ——18 were pulled to safety and several were taken to hospital after all the participants were accounted for, for the mayor pledged to find out what went wrong. translation: as organisers - of the event we feel deeply guilty and take full responsibility for these deaths. we express our deepest condolences to the victims, the injured, and all their families.

the authorities have instigated an incident investigation team to investigate the event. sophia tran—thomson, bbc news. the royal navy flagship "hms queen elizabeth" has set sail for its first major deployment, after the queen flew onboard to wish the crew well. jonathan beale reports. britain's longest—serving monarch arrived on britain's largest warship. hms queen elizabeth! two queen elizabeths — her majesty bidding farewell to the crew of the aircraft carrier she named and commissioned, about to sail east halfway around the world. one of six warships that'll accompany her to the pacific. the navy says it's the most powerful uk maritime deployment in a generation and the embodiment of global britain. so, this is a tangible expression of how the country can go out into the world, and so we have a fantastic new capability, and when we deploy, it speaks to our values, our interests, what we stand for.

the carrier's already been training with the latest f—35s. there are more usjets onboard than british ones — the government says that's a sign of strength, not weakness. during the seven—month voyage, they're expected to launch theirfirst combat missions over iraq. at dusk, the towering 65,000—tonne warship finally set sail on her 26,000—mile voyage, with crowds gathered to wave her off. horn blares. as hms queen elizabeth leaves portsmouth on her long voyage to the pacific, the government insists it's not seeking a confrontation with china. this is more about boosting trade and diplomatic ties in the region. but does this deployment signify a big shift in uk foreign policy? a tilt towards asia? i think diplomacy is often about theatre, and this is a great piece of theatre. it's a very impressive piece

of british engineering, it's a powerful military asset, but making a there—and—back to the indo—pacific is not a strategic shift, it's a gesture. this does mark a new era for the the navy — a return on the huge investment it's made in its two carriers. but will it really redefine britain's place in the world? millions tuned in globally to watch italy win this year's eurovision song contest with a punchy rock song. for only the second time in eurovision history, the uk entrant failed to get a single point. anna holligan reports. he sings in italian. maneskin, the italian rockers, won the audience over with their anthem, quiet and good. it's 31 years since the italians last tasted victory at the world's biggest televised singing competition.

we're so honoured and happy and we really want to thank everyone who supported us. this is unbelievable. we really didn't expect it. we're so happy, yeah. # out of the embers. # you and i are gonna light up the room #. from the winners to james newman... # light up the room!# ..who secured his place in history with nul points. # this ain't the end, no. # it's the birth of a new age #. for the first time in a long time, the fans were allowed to remove theirface masks and forget about social distancing inside. she sings in russian. to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision�*s taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long.

# here in the dark. # inside a hole in my heart #. many hope the way in which this event has been made possible could help to make live entertainment a reality around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. and we can speak to maneskin now as they're about to fly back to rome from rotterdam airport. have you had any sleep? not solve! -- not at all- _ have you had any sleep? not solve! -- not at all. what _ have you had any sleep? not solve! -- not at all. what have _ have you had any sleep? not solve! -- not at all. what have you - have you had any sleep? not solve! -- not at all. what have you been . -- not at all. what have you been doin: ? -- not at all. what have you been doing? drinking _ -- not at all. what have you been doing? drinking and _ -- not at all. what have you been doing? drinking and celebrating. | -- not at all. what have you beenl doing? drinking and celebrating. it

was a bit of — doing? drinking and celebrating. it was a bit of that _ doing? drinking and celebrating. it was a bit of that nailbiter - doing? drinking and celebrating. it was a bit of that nailbiter because l was a bit of that nailbiter because it was not immediately clear you're going to win but when the popular vote came in you one.— going to win but when the popular vote came in you one. well, that was the thing that — vote came in you one. well, that was the thing that then _ vote came in you one. well, that was the thing that then the _ vote came in you one. well, that was the thing that then the most - vote came in you one. well, that was the thing that then the most was - the thing that then the most was because the audience that are going to come to our gigs and be there for those of the most important for us and it makes us feel unbelievably happy. and it makes us feel unbelievably ha . . _ ~ ., and it makes us feel unbelievably ha . _ . ., ~' and it makes us feel unbelievably hat- .~ ., 4' ., and it makes us feel unbelievably ha-- .~ ., ~ .,, and it makes us feel unbelievably happy. what was it like to be able to perform _ happy. what was it like to be able to perform in _ happy. what was it like to be able to perform in the _ happy. what was it like to be able to perform in the environment - happy. what was it like to be able to perform in the environment of| happy. what was it like to be able i to perform in the environment of the year that we've had, the ever of lockdown. it year that we've had, the ever of lockdown-_ year that we've had, the ever of lockdown. ., , . , ., lockdown. it was incredible and we want to thank— lockdown. it was incredible and we want to thank the _ lockdown. it was incredible and we want to thank the organisations i lockdown. it was incredible and we | want to thank the organisations that made _ want to thank the organisations that made this_ want to thank the organisations that made this event possible so i think they took_ made this event possible so i think they took a — made this event possible so i think they took a huge responsibility but they took a huge responsibility but they did _ they took a huge responsibility but they did everything really well and so we _ they did everything really well and so we really thankful. let�*s they did everything really well and so we really thankful.— so we really thankful. let's 'ust listen to a fi so we really thankful. let's 'ust listen to a bit i so we really thankful. let's 'ust listen to a bit offi so we really thankful. let's 'ust listen to a bit of your �* so we really thankful. let'sjust i listen to a bit of your performance from last night. music plays she sings in italian.

and so that song has already got double platinum certification in more than 45 million streams. it was not obviously touch people. tell us what the song is about? it is not obviously touch people. tell us what the song is about?— what the song is about? it is about bein: who what the song is about? it is about being who you _ what the song is about? it is about being who you are _ what the song is about? it is about being who you are and _ what the song is about? it is about being who you are and don't - what the song is about? it is about being who you are and don't care l being who you are and don't care about, like, other people, negative comments. ., , about, like, other people, negative commente— comments. yeah, 'ust express yourself. h yourself. and you were already successful, so you don't need the success of your vision to propel your careers. what does eurovision mean to you? i think that we needed _ does eurovision mean to you? i think that we needed that _ does eurovision mean to you? i think that we needed that because - does eurovision mean to you? i think that we needed that because of- does eurovision mean to you? i think that we needed that because of the l that we needed that because of the euro voting so we're very happy because we feel like now we really have the chance to expand to the whole europe. and we will campaign every city. yeah _ and we will campaign every city. yeah i_ and we will campaign every city. yeah. i can't wait.— and we will campaign every city. yeah. i can't wait. have you got any words for the _ yeah. i can't wait. have you got any words for the uk _ yeah. i can't wait. have you got any words for the uk entry, _ yeah. i can't wait. have you got any words for the uk entry, because - words for the uk entry, because we're feeling quite said this morning. we got no last night. yeah,

it was sad- — morning. we got no last night. yeah, it was sad. unfortunately, _ morning. we got no last night. yeah, it was sad. unfortunately, it - morning. we got no last night. yeah, it was sad. unfortunately, it is - morning. we got no last night. yeah, it was sad. unfortunately, it is a - it was sad. unfortunately, it is a competition _ it was sad. unfortunately, it is a competition so _ it was sad. unfortunately, it is a competition so it _ it was sad. unfortunately, it is a competition so it happens - it was sad. unfortunately, it is a competition so it happens but i it was sad. unfortunately, it is a | competition so it happens but we think— competition so it happens but we think that — competition so it happens but we think that the song was really good and he's _ think that the song was really good and he's a — think that the song was really good and he's a nice guy so we are said it. �* , ., , , and he's a nice guy so we are said it. �* i, , ., and he's a nice guy so we are said it. ., and he's a nice guy so we are said it. and you guys started out as buskers. yeah. _ it. and you guys started out as buskers. yeah. when - it. and you guys started out as buskers. yeah. when you - it. and you guys started out asj buskers. yeah. when you were it. and you guys started out as - buskers. yeah. when you were busking on the streets — buskers. yeah. when you were busking on the streets of _ buskers. yeah. when you were busking on the streets of rome, _ buskers. iéit'u when you were busking on the streets of rome, did buskers. iez:"i when you were busking on the streets of rome, did you expect that you would be where you are now? ., �* expect that you would be where you are now?_ not - expect that you would be where you are now?_ not at - expect that you would be where you are now?_ not at all. | are now? no, we didn't! not at all. and the name _ are now? no, we didn't! not at all. and the name of— are now? no, we didn't! not at all. and the name of the _ are now? no, we didn't! not at all. and the name of the band - are now? no, we didn't! not at all. and the name of the band is - and the name of the band is moonlighting daylight. where did that come from? why did you pick that. , .., , that come from? why did you pick that. , , . ., ., , that come from? why did you pick that. , , ., , ., that. yet, because victoria is half danish so we _ that. yet, because victoria is half danish so we needed _ that. yet, because victoria is half danish so we needed a _ that. yet, because victoria is half danish so we needed a name - that. yet, because victoria is half - danish so we needed a name because when _ danish so we needed a name because when we _ danish so we needed a name because when we started playing we were going _ when we started playing we were going to — when we started playing we were going to participate in this music contest — going to participate in this music contest and we actually needed a name _ contest and we actually needed a name and — contest and we actually needed a name and we didn't have one so we started _ name and we didn't have one so we started telling victoria to just save — started telling victoria to just save random things in danish and we chose _ save random things in danish and we chose that— save random things in danish and we chose that one. and it was a lucky name _ chose that one. and it was a lucky name. ,, ., chose that one. and it was a lucky name. ii ii i

chose that one. and it was a lucky name. i, ., , ., , chose that one. and it was a lucky name. , ., , ., chose that one. and it was a lucky name. , .,, ., , . name. so, it is. it has a very nice to congratulations _ name. so, it is. it has a very nice to congratulations again. - name. so, it is. it has a very nice to congratulations again. i - name. so, it is. it has a very nice. to congratulations again. i expects i feel stupid saying voxels get some sleep, but i expect you'll get some at some point. we sleep, but i expect you'll get some at some point-— at some point. we will, we will! thank you _ at some point. we will, we will! thank you so — at some point. we will, we will! thank you so much. _ hello. it is a bit of the day of mixed fortunes weather—wise. many places started the day on a chilly but right now with some sunshine and some of us particularly in the east will keep sunny spells the rest of the day but there is rain in focus. it's weaving its way gradually from the west, so all passing seem somewhat wet weather by the end of the day. it is all done to this area of low pressure moving from the atlantic, quite an active cold front, so some heavy rain we've already seen across northern ireland and the afternoon, pushing into wales and south—west of england, western scotland, north—west england as well. so, this rain quite heavy with some squally winds associated with some squally winds associated

with it to wear this further east we held onto some spells and hazy sunshine for much of the day. 13 or 14 degrees on the brighter spells in east but only around 11 with the rain and squally winds further west. some heavy showers and evening and then overnight we will see some showers working and across parts of england and wales. that main band of rain close of the east clear showers with a few shows around. despite clear skies. temperature down to single figures, another cool night but not quite as cold as last night. monday's weather driven by low pressure which is sitting biting the head. that could bring some sale comic fairly slow moving, heavy and potentially thundery showers, particularly across parts of england and wales. the shows could bring hail, thunder and thunder and lightning, and could well be very slow muse thing and just a little breezy moving along the south coast. cloud and outbreaks of patchy rain from northern scotland will push into northern ireland for about the day. perhaps some scotland for northern ireland and with

temperatures of 13—14 , so radical for this time of year. into tuesday, sunny spells and scattered showers once again, most frequent, i think, for scotland and eastern england what they were immune to catching a passing shower till only about 12-14 passing shower till only about 12—14 for most of us on tuesday but to be fair with the weather there is a hint things are going to change a little bit as we move into a midweek at the weekend and some warmer and drier weather eventually on the cards. we could see 20 degrees, so if it south, and that is down to this area of high pressure sitting close to the azores starting to build across the uk towards the end of may, so certainly a few more days of may, so certainly a few more days of showery weather but it does look like more settled weather is eventually going to be on the way. by.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... two doses of the main covid vaccines used in the uk are found to be highly effective

against the indian variant of the virus. government ministers deny claims, by the former downing street adviser dominic cummings, that they pursued a policy of herd immunity in dealing with the coronavirus in the early part of last year. the former bbc journalist martin bashir defends his panaorama interview with princess diana, but apologises to princes william and harry. homes have been destroyed and at least five people have died, as thousands fled in panic after mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo exploded. the un security council stresses that israel and the palestinians should fully adhere to the ceasefire as the pause in violence enters a third day. the queen visits the royal navy flagship, hms queen elizabeth, as it begins its first major deployment. and nul point for the uk at eurovision, as italy wins the big prize.