hello, i'm ros atkins. welcome to outside source. china lashes out at the us afterjoe biden orders officials to redouble their work into the origins of the coronavirus. translation: some people in the us i are spreading conspiracy theories i and disinformation, such as a laboratory leak. this is a very disrespectful approach to the scientific spirit and research findings of the who expert team. chinese authorities linked early covid cases to this seafood market, but in us media, the theory the virus came from a lab — perhaps through an accidental leak — is gaining traction. we'll talk to an epidemiologist about why it's no longer a fringe theory. borisjohnson and his health secretary reject claims by theirformer aide dominic cummings that their mistakes led to thousands

of extra covid deaths. it's important for us to focus on what really matters to the people of this country, and i think — if i may say so — that some of the commentary i've heard doesn't bear any relation to the reality. every day since i began working on the response to this - pandemic last january, l i've got up each morning and asked what must i do to protect life. . we'll go through those responses in detail. it's the reunion fans have been waiting 17 years for — the friends cast reunites for a special episode, and we'll be playing some of it for you. the issue of where the pandemic

began and how has never really gone away, but it's back centrestage because us intelligence officials are redoubling efforts to investigate the origins of covid—i9. the order came from president biden. here's the statement. it says the intelligence community is split on whether the virus came from human contact with an infected animal, or emerged in a laboratory accident. you'll probably have heard the laboratory theory. it's that the virus emerged from here — the institute of virology in wuhan. this is one of china's top virus research labs. we already know that the city became the first epicentre of the virus. there remains the questions if the lab is precisely where it started. some believe the lab is where it started. here's white house spokesperson karinejean—pierre on the investigation. the president is asking the us intelligence community in cooperation with other elements of our government to redouble efforts to collect and analyse information that could bring the world closer to a definitive conclusion on the origin of the virus and deliver

a report to him again in 90 days. so, let's talk about what we know about the origins of covid. scientists largely agree it came from animals. it's thought most likely that the animal was a bat — that was the case with the sars virus — and either it was transferred directly to humans, or via an intermediary animal. in february 2020, a group of 27 prominent public health scientists published a letter saying, "we stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that covid—i9 does not have a natural origin." the �*conspiracy theory�* they are referring to is the one that the virus was man made, or engineered, in the wuhan lab. we aren't going to be talking about that at all today. there is no evidence of that. what we do know is recent coronaviruses that have emerged in humans have originated in animals. we mentioned sars was from bats. then there was mers which is thought to have come from camels, and thatjump happen

can happen naturally. professor dale fisher says it's the most likely explanation. the evidence about a more natural species jump is that this is how it happened for centuries, especially over the last 40 or 50 years, the viruses mutate and theyjump species, and we just haven't found that link yet. so far, efforts to discover a natural source of the virus have failed. so, let's look at the laboratory leak theory that's being investigated in the us. at the beginning, china said the virus originated here — the wuhan wet market. they said the virus probablyjumped from wildlife into humans. it's now thought not to be the most likely explanation because many of the first reported cases had no links to the market, which brings us wuhan�*s virology lab. to we know that the lab studies coronaviruses by collecting bats from around china.

at the start of the pandemic, one chinese scientist wrote that the virus probably originated from a laboratory in wuhan, but the report was then removed. in 2020, the washington post reported that two years before the pandemic, us officials visited the lab and sent official warnings back to washington about inadequate safety. the theory is that while carrying out studies, a human in the lab was accidentally infected with the virus. professor ravi gupta explains. because sars could've spilt over from an animal reservoir, - just like other coronaviruses. but the hypothesis also exists that a lab in wuhan that had one - of the few high—level containment laboratories in china was also - working with coronaviruses l from bats and other species. therefore, there is a realistic possibility that one of these i viruses had managed to escape in some wax _ so, it should be explored

properly, in our view. - many scientists think it's just coincidental that wuhan has a lab that studies viruses. here's professor fisher again. the evidence for the lab, really, is that there is a lab. there's nothing else particularly stronger about that. the idea covid escaped from the lab also gained new attention this week because of a number of us media reports, including this wall streetjournal article on an as yet unseen us intelligence report that said three researchers from china's wuhan institute of virology became sick enough in november 2019 that they sought hospital care. they had symptoms consistent with both covid—i9 and common seasonal illness. that is one month before the first cases of covid—i9 were officially reported. china denies any sicknesses, by the way, and then america's top

infectious disease expert — who has tended to dispute the lab theory — said this. well, i'm not convinced about that. i think that we should continue to investigate what went on in china until we find out to the best of our ability exactly what happened. certainly, the people who've investigated say it likely was the emergence from an animal reservoir that then infected individuals, but it could do something else. the origins of the virus has been investigated. in february, the who sent a team to wuhan, and this was the joint who and chinese report. it said a lab leak was "extremely unlikely", and concluded covid "most likely" spread naturally to humans through an animal. phase two of that investigation is starting soon. but who said it needed more research, and at the time, the who director general said he had not

yet ruled anything out. some questions have been raised as to whether some hypotheses have been discarded. having spoken with some members of the team, i wish to confirm that all hypotheses remain open and require further analysis and studies. that who investigation was also criticised by the us. they said china withheld information about the virus outbreak from who investigators, and they voiced concerns that it china co—authored it. in february, the white house national security adviser jake sullivan said, "it is imperative that this report be independent, with expert findings free from intervention or alteration by the chinese government". the white house said the new investigation was because of a lack of transparency from china. we will continue pushing for a

stronger multilateral investigation into the origins of the virus in china, and we will continue to press china to participate in a full, transparent, evidence—based, international investigation with the needed access to get to the bottom of a virus that's taken more than three million lives across the globe. now to china's response. beijing has always rejected the laboratory theory, and here's how china responded to the new investigation today. translation: some people in the us are spreading conspiracy— some people in the us are spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation, such as a laboratory leak _ disinformation, such as a laboratory leak this_ disinformation, such as a laboratory leak this is— disinformation, such as a laboratory leak. this is a very disrespectful approach — leak. this is a very disrespectful approach to the scientific spirit and research findings of the who expert— and research findings of the who expert team. it undermines the global— expert team. it undermines the global solidarity to fight the virus — that response from china shows this has become political.

we had to see of this in the context of us china relations which are tents. here's steven mcdonnell. in the country which saw the first coronavirus clusters, the government has vigorously denied any response billeted for the pandemic. any theory at all which has anything to do with a lab leak has been dismissed out of hand. that's because if there has been a lab leak, naturally, the authorities here would bear some of the responsibility. the problem for the rest of the world is that the origin has become so political. in the united states, president biden announces a report into the origins of the virus. beijing goes on the attack. here in the chinese capital, ministry spokesman ridiculed the idea that the same us intelligence agencies which spread misinformation about weapons of mass destruction in

iraq were now examining the origins of the coronavirus. what's interesting about this story is how this theory that the virus leaked from a lab in wuhan was once on the fringe of science, but is now seen by the us as a potential explanation for the pandemic. this fact checker at the washington post offers an explanation. now, the scientific community saying there should be more investigations into the origins of coronavirus. rhavi gupta was one of those who signed a letter calling for it. it's become very difficult for scientists_ it's become very difficult for scientists to _ it's become very difficult for scientists to voice _ it's become very difficult for scientists to voice any - it's become very difficult for. scientists to voice any doubts it's become very difficult for- scientists to voice any doubts they may have — scientists to voice any doubts they may have for — scientists to voice any doubts they may have for fear _ scientists to voice any doubts they may have for fear of _ scientists to voice any doubts they may have for fear of being - scientists to voice any doubts they may have for fear of being seen i scientists to voice any doubts theyj may have for fear of being seen as conspiracy—

may have for fear of being seen as conspiracy theorists, _ may have for fear of being seen as conspiracy theorists, but - may have for fear of being seen as conspiracy theorists, but all - may have for fear of being seen as conspiracy theorists, but all of - may have for fear of being seen as conspiracy theorists, but all of us i conspiracy theorists, but all of us are well_ conspiracy theorists, but all of us are well respected _ conspiracy theorists, but all of us are well respected scientists - conspiracy theorists, but all of us are well respected scientists and | conspiracy theorists, but all of us i are well respected scientists and we want to— are well respected scientists and we want to know— are well respected scientists and we want to know the _ are well respected scientists and we want to know the answer _ are well respected scientists and we want to know the answer as - want to know the answer as scientists. _ want to know the answer as scientists, not— want to know the answer as scientists, not a _ want to know the answer as scientists, not a citizen. - want to know the answer as scientists, not a citizen. i. want to know the answer as i scientists, not a citizen. i think that's— scientists, not a citizen. i think that's really— scientists, not a citizen. i think that's really important - scientists, not a citizen. i think that's really important for- scientists, not a citizen. i think. that's really important for people to understand _ that's really important for people to understand that _ that's really important for people to understand that this _ that's really important for people to understand that this is - that's really important for people to understand that this is not - that's really important for people . to understand that this is not about conspiracy— to understand that this is not about conspiracy theories, _ to understand that this is not about conspiracy theories, not _ to understand that this is not about conspiracy theories, not about - conspiracy theories, not about wanting — conspiracy theories, not about wanting to _ conspiracy theories, not about wanting to blame. _ maureen miller is an infectious disease epidemiologist at colombia university. she has worked with a chinese virologist who studies bat coronaviruses at the wuhan institute. thank you very much forjoining us on outside source. do you think it's appropriate thatjoe biden asks for appropriate thatjoe biden asks for a further investigation into this theory? i a further investigation into this theo ? ~ , a further investigation into this theo ? ~ theory? i think it is appropriate that joe biden _ theory? i think it is appropriate that joe biden asks _ theory? i think it is appropriate that joe biden asks for - theory? i think it is appropriate i that joe biden asks for additional thatjoe biden asks for additional research into the origins of sars cove two, but i think it needs to be a much more comprehensive approach thanis a much more comprehensive approach than is currently being highlighted. right now, they are only focusing on the lab, which still, most scientists in the us believe is the least likely mechanism for the

spread of covid—i9. the most likely mechanism sounds like science fiction, but it's true. it's been the case for millennia, that viruses in animals spread to humans and cause disease. of the 260 human virus currently known, two thirds are originally animal viruses. this is all of the other viruses that have caused outbreaks and at present it's, particularly in the 21st century. they've all been caused by animals and there's not been a debate. ~ , ., ., debate. while we bear that in mind, i was mentioning _ debate. while we bear that in mind, i was mentioning to _ debate. while we bear that in mind, i was mentioning to you _ debate. while we bear that in mind, i was mentioning to you worked - debate. while we bear that in mind, | i was mentioning to you worked with a chinese virologist who worked at the wuhan institute. what you make of the americans who visited the institute in advance of covid—i9 and a resort against the safety

protocols within that institute? i do not know that first—hand. i do know that there were some concerns and they are currently being studied by virologist in the united states, that he was working with coronaviruses in a bio—safety level two laboratory. in the united states, it is standard to work with pathogens that could have pandemic potential, not to work in a l3 laboratory and if you're doing very serious work, dsl for laboratory. i think that's a point that virologist who have signed on to the idea that we need to really investigate this lab as the cost of all else, i think thatis

lab as the cost of all else, i think that is the information that they're hanging their hat on. again, i worry that we're not going to really investigate the other, likely and probably true scenario that we have a bat that has 96% agreement with sars-cov-z, a bat that has 96% agreement with sars—cov—2, so it probably started in that and went to an an intermediary animal and ended up in humans. we could potentially do easy studies right now in china, where that bat is found, to look at surveys, antibody testing on blood samples that have been stored. right now, we only have a very select information from the who investigation. chances are very good that this virus began in southern

china. . �* , that this virus began in southern china. . v . , that this virus began in southern china. ., �*, ., , , ., china. that's really helpful. thanks for our china. that's really helpful. thanks for your time _ china. that's really helpful. thanks for your time today. _ china. that's really helpful. thanks for your time today. thank - china. that's really helpful. thanks for your time today. thank you - china. that's really helpful. thanks| for your time today. thank you very much. the british prime minister has responded to allegations made by his former aide, dominic cummings that failings by the british government led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the uk. mr cummings was appearing at a parliamentary committee investigating the lessons learnt during the covid crisis when he made the comments. to put it mildly, he had quite a few lessons. he claimed that borisjohnson's decision not to impose a second lockdown in september made him unfit for office. here was the prime minister's response today. i think that it's important for us to focus on what really matters to the people in this country, and i think if i may say so, some of the commentary i've heard doesn't bear any relation to reality. and what people want to get on with is delivering the road map.

mr cummings was mrjohnson's top aide when the pandemic began and his comments are important because he was a witness to decisions made during the initial response. here's a reminder of some of what he said. he described it as the new swine flu. , , ., he described it as the new swine flu. , i. .,, �* flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly. _ flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly, but _ flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly, but the _ flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly, but the view - flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly, but the view of - flu. did you tell him it wasn't? | certainly, but the view of those inside _ certainly, but the view of those inside numberten certainly, but the view of those inside number ten was if we have the prime _ inside number ten was if we have the prime minister chairing covid meetings and he told everyone at swine _ meetings and he told everyone at swine flu, — meetings and he told everyone at swine flu, don't worry about it, everyone — swine flu, don't worry about it, everyone realises it's nothing to be frightened — everyone realises it's nothing to be frightened of, that would not help serious _ frightened of, that would not help serious planning. that is the prime minister's main adviser discussing conversations he had about whether it be helpful if the prime minister was in charge of decisions being made the pandemic.

it was more uncomfortable for health secretary at matt hancock who got the brunt of the criticism. mr cummings claimed covid mr cummings claimed that covid spread like wildfire through care homes because mr hancock falsely claimed patients were being tested before being discharged from hospital. here's the health secretary responding to that. we committed to building for testing capacity to allow that to happen. of course, it takes time to build testing capacity. in fact, one of the critical things we did was that the critical things we did was that the 100,000 target back then to make sure we built that texting capacity, and it was very a effective in doing so. here's what else mr cummings had to say about the health secretary on wednesday. i think the secretary of state for health _ i think the secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, _ health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody in multiple occasions, and meeting after meeting. here he is defending himself in parliament earlier today over those claims.

i welcome the opportunity to come to the house to put formally on the record that these unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true, and that i've been straight with people in public and in private throughout. every day, since i began working on the response to this pandemic lastjanuary, i've got up each morning and asked what must i do to protect life. that is the job of the health secretary in a pandemic. we've taken an approach of openness, transparency and acclamation of both what we know and what we don't know. many conservative mps have been standing up for mr hancock, so many, in fact, that the journalist robert hutton tweeted, "this is turning into quite a jolly session for hancock, with tory mps talking about how lovely it has been to welcome him to their constituencies, and him replying how lovely it was to come. crisis, what crisis?" it's important to remember that dominic cummings has promised to provide details about what he

alleges are mr hancock's failings. his claims are currently unverified. here's former health secretaryjeremy hunt, who was among the mps who questioned mr cummings on wednesday. we asked for evidence to be provided. _ we asked for evidence to be provided, and _ we asked for evidence to be provided, and until- we asked for evidence to be provided, and until such- we asked for evidence to be - provided, and until such evidence is provided. _ provided, and until such evidence is provided. those _ provided, and until such evidence is provided, those allegations - provided, and until such evidence is provided, those allegations should i provided, those allegations should be treated — provided, those allegations should be treated as — provided, those allegations should be treated as _ provided, those allegations should be treated as ._ while borisjohnson and matt hancock are clearly keen to move on from mr cummings' comments, questions remain about the veracity of mr cummings' claims and what should be done about them. here's our political correspondent, rob watson. the fallout is everyone trying to figure out what the fallout is because that is the question that you will of course ask. do the kind of allegations that mr cummings made it, do they stick? do they topple the government? obviously, in normal times, the kind of things that someone that close to the heart of government said about something that serious would have easily finished off mr hancock, borisjohnson and

probably shaken the government. but these are normal times, and the conventional wisdom that's out there is that most people have made up their minds about what they think of their minds about what they think of the competence or incompetence of the competence or incompetence of the prime minister, borisjohnson. the second thing that saves the government is people's focus on the success of the vaccination programme rather than all the undoubted difficulties and enormous death toll. the opposition wants answers. here's what the shadow health secretary had to say. these allegations from cummings are either— these allegations from cummings are either true, _ these allegations from cummings are either true, and if these allegations from cummings are eithertrue, and if so, the secretary— eithertrue, and if so, the secretary of state potentially stands — secretary of state potentially stands in breach of the ministerial code _ stands in breach of the ministerial code 0r— stands in breach of the ministerial code. orthey stands in breach of the ministerial code. or they are false, and the prime _ code. or they are false, and the prime minister brought and araya into the _ prime minister brought and araya into the heart of downing street. which _ into the heart of downing street. which is — into the heart of downing street. which is it? we into the heart of downing street.

which is it?— into the heart of downing street. which is it? ~ ~ ., ., �* ., which is it? we know that we've got one of the highest _ which is it? we know that we've got one of the highest death _ which is it? we know that we've got one of the highest death tolls - which is it? we know that we've got one of the highest death tolls in - one of the highest death tolls in europe, — one of the highest death tolls in europe, and _ one of the highest death tolls in europe, and the _ one of the highest death tolls in europe, and the families - one of the highest death tolls in europe, and the families are - europe, and the families are entitled _ europe, and the families are entitled to _ europe, and the families are entitled to answers - europe, and the families are entitled to answers in - europe, and the families are. entitled to answers in relation europe, and the families are - entitled to answers in relation to this because _ entitled to answers in relation to this because bad _ entitled to answers in relation to this because bad decisions - entitled to answers in relation to this because bad decisions havel this because bad decisions have consequences _ this because bad decisions have consequences and _ this because bad decisions have consequences and at _ this because bad decisions have consequences and at this - this because bad decisions have consequences and at this case, | this because bad decisions have i consequences and at this case, i'm afraid _ consequences and at this case, i'm afraid the _ consequences and at this case, i'm afraid the cons _ consequences and at this case, i'm afraid the cons which _ consequences and at this case, i'm afraid the cons which is _ consequences and at this case, i'm afraid the cons which is our- consequences and at this case, i'm afraid the cons which is our death. | it is important to remember when discussing the reaction to dominic cummings' claims that while this is a political story, it is also, like anything to do with the coronavirus pandemic, a human story. more than 128,000 people have died in the uk. fran hall's husband, steve, contracted covid—19 just a few weeks after their wedding and died a day before his 66th birthday. here's fran's reaction to what mr cummings had to say on wednesday. if decisions have been made differently and the virus hadn't been allowed to spread the way that it did, into care homes, into hospitals, into the community, i really think that steve might still be here. it breaks my heart to

think that. here's rob watson again. an awful lot — think that. here's rob watson again. an awful lot of _ think that. here's rob watson again. an awful lot of political _ think that. here's rob watson again. an awful lot of politicaljournalist - an awful lot of politicaljournalist do think— an awful lot of politicaljournalist do think the kind of allegations made _ do think the kind of allegations made about mrjohnson's fitness for office _ made about mrjohnson's fitness for office and _ made about mrjohnson's fitness for office and the allegation that while he could _ office and the allegation that while he could forgive mrjohnson's performance of the start of the crisis _ performance of the start of the crisis -- — performance of the start of the crisis -- we _ performance of the start of the crisis —— we could forgive, where he was cuipabie, — crisis —— we could forgive, where he was culpable, according to the former— was culpable, according to the former adviser — and this is the difficult — former adviser — and this is the difficult bit _ former adviser — and this is the difficult bit — last september, mr johnson — difficult bit — last september, mr johnson didn't want a lockdown and tens of— johnson didn't want a lockdown and tens of thousands of people die needlessly according to mr cummings, and that— needlessly according to mr cummings, and that is— needlessly according to mr cummings, and that is serious. it's the one we've all been waiting for — well, that's what it's called, anyway. not sure everyone has been waiting for it, but an awful lot of people have. the reunion episode of the hit comedy series friends has just aired in the us. the final episode in 2005 attracted

an audience of more than 52 million viewers in the us alone. here's a clip. my my eyes! quite a short clip. so, it's not an actual episode of the hit sitcom — more the stars getting together and reminiscing on the scenes, with james corden and plenty of famous names making an appearance. daniel fienberg is a tv critic for the hollywood reporter. here he is on what it to expect. james corden has an interview segment that's very good and long. there's a part where they walk to the stage and see all the sets which were put back up, and that's emotional. but they're all of these little bits. there's a fashion show, there are special guests all over there are special guests all over the place. there is a musical performance, there are bloopers, there is a trivia game that they playjust there is a trivia game that they play just out of the there is a trivia game that they playjust out of the one with the

embryos episode. so, there's a lot happening in this. it's104 embryos episode. so, there's a lot happening in this. it's 104 minutes, so it is a hefty reunion special. that's more than a regular and pesto. and of course, we've been hearing from the superfans. alyssa weisberg has watched every episode at least 50 times. here's what she makes of it all. —— episode. -- episode. could i be any more excited? — -- episode. could i be any more excited? it's _ -- episode. could i be any more excited? it's absolutely - -- episode. could i be any more i excited? it's absolutely legendary i think fans — excited? it's absolutely legendary i think fans are just so excited to witness — think fans are just so excited to witness the cast members get back together _ witness the cast members get back torether. ~ ., , ., , ., witness the cast members get back torether. ~ ., , ., ., together. what is it that you love so much about _ together. what is it that you love so much about friends? - together. what is it that you love so much about friends? every i together. what is it that you love i so much about friends? every episode 50 times. are you doing anything else with your life? hat 50 times. are you doing anything else with your life?— 50 times. are you doing anything else with your life? not really. i'm sure my family _ else with your life? not really. i'm sure my family thinks _ else with your life? not really. i'm sure my family thinks that. - else with your life? not really. i'm sure my family thinks that. it's i sure my family thinks that. it's 'ust sure my family thinks that. it's just an — sure my family thinks that. it's just an absolute comfort dome for me. just an absolute comfort dome for me it's _ just an absolute comfort dome for me it's so — just an absolute comfort dome for me. it's so relatable.— me. it's so relatable. alyssa talkin: me. it's so relatable. alyssa talking to — me. it's so relatable. alyssa talking to my _ me. it's so relatable. alyssa talking to my colleague. i me. it's so relatable. alyssa | talking to my colleague. that finishes this half of outside source. i'll be back in a couple

minutes. bye—bye. hello there. we saw plenty of sunshine and it felt much warmer across—the—board than what we've been used to for this month so far. some subtle changes overnight. that's going to bring outbreaks of rain across the west. initially for northern ireland and that rain will spill its way eastwards. there'll be some mist an murkiness further east, there will be more cloud around which should tend to stay dry. temperatures around eight to 11 degrees. milder than last night. here's the pressure chart for friday. we've got this weak weather front across western areas pushing into high pressure, so that's always going to we can. it looks like the rain out west will slowly peak

through the course of the day, but could stay damp. further north and east, best of any sunny spells and dry weather, but where it does appear, close to 20 celsius. the audit heavy shower developing. temperatures not as high as what we see today. for the bank holiday weekend, we will see lots of sunshine around, particularly for england and wales as high pressure continues to build in. for saturday, there will be a legacy of cloud left from that weather front, so patchy cloud. maybe the odd shower. most places will be dry. where you get the sunshine, temperatures reaching the sunshine, temperatures reaching the low 20 celsius. for the north, sky stays cloudy. sunday looks sunnier across the board. little bit of fair weather cloud bubbling up. there will be light winds as well. it's going to feel much warmer than what we've been used to. 22, 20 to

three degrees. —— 23 degrees. we will see this weather front pushing in from the northwest. for the south east of scotland, much of england and wales, pretty similar to sunshine. —— to sunday. we could make 24 or 25 degrees across the south or the southeast. it stays fine, settled and sunny, particularly for england and wales. temperatures are holding up at around the mid—20s celsius across the southeast.

hello, i'm ros atkins. this is outside source. china lashes out at the us afterjoe biden orders officials to redouble their work into the origins of the coronavirus. translation: some people in the usa sreadin: translation: some people in the usa spreading compares _ translation: some people in the usa spreading compares the _ translation: some people in the usa spreading compares the theories - translation: some people in the usa spreading compares the theories and i spreading compares the theories and disinformation such as a laboratory league. —— are spreading conspiracy theories this is a disrespect to the scientific trust in the who report team. chinese authorities linked early covid cases to this seafood market, but in us media the theory the virus came from a lab — perhaps through an accidental leak — is gaining traction. borisjohnson has rejected claims mistakes lead to thousands of extra covid—19 desk. it is

mistakes lead to thousands of extra covid-19 desk.— covid-19 desk. it is important for us to focus _ covid-19 desk. it is important for us to focus on _ covid-19 desk. it is important for us to focus on what _ covid-19 desk. it is important for us to focus on what really - covid-19 desk. it is important for| us to focus on what really matters to the people in a fire may say so, some of the commentary i've heard does not bear any relation to reality. does not bear any relation to reali . , ., does not bear any relation to reali . , , , . does not bear any relation to reali. , . , ., reality. every day since i began workin: reality. every day since i began working on _ reality. every day since i began working on the _ reality. every day since i began working on the response i reality. every day since i began working on the response to i reality. every day since i began | working on the response to this pandemic— working on the response to this pandemic last january i got up each morning _ pandemic last january i got up each morning and asked what must i do to protect— morning and asked what must i do to protect the _ morning and asked what must i do to protect the life? in the democratic republic of congo — tens of thousands of people are leaving goma, as officials warn africa's most dangerous volcano is about to erupt for the second time in a week. lets�* turn to the democratic republic of congo. there a fears a volcano which killed 32 people in an eruption on saturday is about to blow again. the nyira—gongo volcano is ten kilometres from the city of goma. 1.5 million people live there. tens of thousands are leaving.

there were huge traffic jams as residents tried to leave in their cars. others went by foot — carrying all their possessions. residents in at least ten districts in goma have been told to leave immediately. let�*s hear from two of them. translation: there is a magma under the round translation: there is a magma under the ground here — translation: there is a magma under the ground here under— translation: there is a magma under the ground here under the _ translation: there is a magma under the ground here under the town - translation: there is a magma under the ground here under the town they i the ground here under the town they could erupt at any moment apparently. it is quite scary. so we have been asked to evacuate. they even said it was mandatory. i�*m even said it was mandatory. i'm aroin 27 even said it was mandatory. i'm going 27 km _ even said it was mandatory. i'm going 27 km away and i will get there _ going 27 km away and i will get there lry— going 27 km away and i will get there by foot. i run away from the volcano _ there by foot. i run away from the volcano i— there by foot. i run away from the volcano. i have five children and i can't _ volcano. i have five children and i can't locate — volcano. i have five children and i can't locate my husband since the last eruption. at least 3,000 homes were destroyed when the volcano erupted on saturday. we have these aerial pictures. rivers of molten rock streamed from mount nyiragongo —

setting houses and forest alight on the edges of goma. there was huge destruction. these fields are usually green — they�*re now black. the lava stopped just short of goma city, however one stream was close to its airport — which is the main hub for humanitarian aid operations in the east of the country. since the eruption — the city has been rocked by aftershocks and tremors. and they�*re still continuing. this building was destroyed in one earlier. we�*re told two cracks — several hundred metres long — have also appeared in the city. well the un estimates around 20,000 people were made homeless in that first explosion. here�*s a spokesman on tuesday. two villages on the northern tip of goma were destroyed and two others were almost completely covered by lava. my staff have heard testimony from families who have left their homes and others who lost children and other loved ones. entire neighbourhoods have been left

without electricity and a half of water shortages. without electricity and a half of watershortages. —— without electricity and a half of water shortages. —— and there are fears of water shortages. we also have these satellite pictures. this was taken a week ago — on may 20th. that�*s two days before the explosion. thent his was taken on may 25th — three days after the explosion. you can see the crater is completely covered in ash. so that was tuesday. today though the military governor of north kivu province gave another evacuation order — warning magma had been detected underneath goma — and nearby lake kivu. he warned an eruption on land — or under the lake could happen �*very soon�* — without warning. many have been told to head west to the city of sake. thousands though, are heading south west to the rwanda border. the eruption adds to an already difficult situation in the drc. according to report by the norwegian refugee council the country is the world�*s most neglected displacement crisis — five million people are internally displaced.

it says the country suffers from a �*lethal combination of spiralling violence, record hunger levels and total neglect�*. 27 million don�*t know where their next meal is coming from. 3 million of them are children. jan egeland is the secretary—general of the norwegian council. he was caught up in the evacuation orderfrom goma earlier and crossed into rwanda — and he spoke to the bbc from there. it became pretty chaotic naturally because the governor in the middle of the night said it is not safe any more to be in goma town. we had to leave and in our case we were able to cross the border, but thousands of people are wanting to cross over to rwanda. others wanted to cross over a lake but that is also now unsafe because there is a vast quantity of methane gas trapped in the bottom

of that lake and that could be released by the volcano and the constant earthquakes. the thousands and thousands leaving from the volcano will get relief, they will be taken care of either in rwanda or elsewhere. i am not so worried for the volcano, i am worried about the numbers of people being displaced by conflict in the congo every single day. the total number now displaced by the volcano. that is the whole point of our report, to tell the world there are certain places that are being neglected by everybody. we are not giving funding to the aid operations in the congo. there is too little media attention. mount nyira—gongo is one of the world�*s most active volcanoes — and africa�*s most dangerous.

this national geographic article puts it down to a perfect storm of factors — very fast moving lava that can move up to 64 kilometres an hour and lethal carbon dioxide gas. it makes another point. dr robin george andrews wrote that article for the national geographic. he�*s a science journalist and former volcanologist — london. thank you forjoining us. given the difficulties that you described, how is he is it to protect how this volcano will evolve in the next few days? it volcano will evolve in the next few da s? . , , , . , days? it incredibly difficult. this eru tion days? it incredibly difficult. this eruption was — days? it incredibly difficult. this eruption was unusual— days? it incredibly difficult. this eruption was unusual even i days? it incredibly difficult. this eruption was unusual even by i days? it incredibly difficult. this i eruption was unusual even by this volcano own standards. it was initially at least really short—lived, even though there are seismic monitoring stations that are set up in the area. they were, there was an extensive network of them up for the first time during the mount

nyiragongo corruption. no precursors that morning about eruption. now it is been made clear by both the seismic activity and ground deformation data, essentially shows you these via satellite how the ground is changing shape that magma has essentially snuck itself under part of the city near lake kivu in even though scientists now know that thatis even though scientists now know that that is the case, trying to figure out when it might reach the surface and when this may happen, it is incredibly difficult to forecast. an enviable task. the best anybody can do at this moment is to be really cautious and i�*m really glad to see certain areas are being evacuated just in case the worst happens. you mention just _ just in case the worst happens. you mention just in _ just in case the worst happens. you mentionjust in case the worst mention just in case the worst happens. what is the worst case scenario that the people of goma are looking at? scenario that the people of goma are lookin: at? ., ., ., , looking at? there are two really dangerous _ looking at? there are two really dangerous here _ looking at? there are two really dangerous here at _ looking at? there are two really dangerous here at the - looking at? there are two reallyj dangerous here at the moment. looking at? there are two really i dangerous here at the moment. even though as you mentioned the volcano

is ten km away from the city, the lava itself is incredibly fast—moving. if another eruption happens at the volcano itself, the lava can move as fast as a car come a speeding car, so it is difficult to out run. but the magma that is apparently under parts of the city now under the late can cost two things, one is it could cause a limit corruption which is when you have something that is destabilising a lake that has a lot of dissolved carbon dioxide and methane in the lake new view has a lie. 300 cubic commodities of carbon dioxide, 16 km3 of methane, both very deadly. carbon dioxide is invisible in odorless. in certain air. it gets trapped in pockets and it is quite seepage that kills dozens of people every year. if there is a big underwater volcanic explosion it could cost interruption of all this gas. it would flood the shores of lake kivu which art would be

dangerous to happen. the second dangerous to happen. the second danger is we have all connectivity around bodies of water, if the conditions are right and they have beenin conditions are right and they have been in the geological past in this area, you can get when i call free pragmatic explosions, these are very hard to predict. they are like little bombs going off of the underground. worst case scenario is all those happening and even though nobody would ever really claimed they knew when or if this would happen, maybe there won�*t be another eruption. either one of these in isolation would be terrible for both would be catastrophic. let�*s isolation would be terrible for both would be catastrophic.— would be catastrophic. let's hope that doesn't _ would be catastrophic. let's hope that doesn't happen. _ would be catastrophic. let's hope that doesn't happen. robin, i would be catastrophic. let's hope | that doesn't happen. robin, thank that doesn�*t happen. robin, thank you for explaining it. perhaps we can stay in touch with the over the coming days. can stay in touch with the over the coming days-— let�*s talk about a global temperature limit. a global temperature limit is set to be reached within the next five years. a new study by the world meteorological organisation says that by 2025 there�*s a 40% chance of at least one year

being 1.5 celsius higher than it was 170 years ago — when the industrial age began. that�*s the lower of two temperature limits set by the paris agreement on climate change. in the past decade, it was estimated that the chance of any one year reaching the 1.5 degree threshold was only 20%. scientists say passing the 1.5 degree threshold will bring the world closer to being permanently above that temperature level. to give you an idea of the consequences of this temperature increase, here�*s richard allan, professor of climate science at the university of reading. this trajectory will lead to increasing impacts from climate change, so these could be more intense rainfall events with associated flooding like for example we have seen recently in ecuador, flash flooding in afghanistan, rwanda, somalia. but also, it shows we are going to go towards more intense

drought and heatwaves. we�*ve seen droughts recently in california, madagascar. and we�*re going to see increases in sea—level which are really going to affect coastal cities but also low—lying island nations. bbc science editor, david shukman. tell me understand why this assessment has shifted to a more pessimistic outlook. it�*s assessment has shifted to a more pessimistic outlook.— pessimistic outlook. it's 'ust that the modelling * pessimistic outlook. it's 'ust that the modelling shows i pessimistic outlook. it's 'ust that the modelling shows wei pessimistic outlook. it's just that the modelling shows we are i pessimistic outlook. it's just that i the modelling shows we are creeping towards that lower limit set by the paris agreement. scientists at the met office in the uk in the united states, china, 11 countries have been getting together and comparing notes about what their computer models show and they�*ve come up with this assessment that the likelihood because the climate is warming, the plan is heating up, that we will likely for one year at least only hit that new threshold. they are very keen to point out that this

doesn�*t automatically mean that we will have breached the lower limit of the paris agreement. they are describing it as a temporary single year, where the average temperature will be one and a half degrees above the preindustrial level. but they are saying it is a step towards that scenario being permanent. and whether that is in a decade or two or three, whether that is in a decade or two orthree, nobody whether that is in a decade or two or three, nobody seems to be quite sure but there is definitely for them the research is working on disk a signal as if we need another one, of the fact that the planet is heating up in the direction we are going in at the moment. thea;r heating up in the direction we are going in at the moment. they use the word sianal going in at the moment. they use the word signal because _ going in at the moment. they use the word signal because you _ going in at the moment. they use the word signal because you described i going in at the moment. they use the word signal because you described it. word signal because you described it become a political dimension to this with another important global summit coming. scientists are keen to emphasise to politicians at is time to focus. �* , , emphasise to politicians at is time to focus. . , , ., ., ., to focus. and this will be one of a treat to focus. and this will be one of a great number _ to focus. and this will be one of a great number of _ to focus. and this will be one of a great number of major _ to focus. and this will be one of a great number of major pieces i to focus. and this will be one of a great number of major pieces of. great number of major pieces of climate science that will emerge between now and november when the cop 26 climate summit is due to be

held in glasgow. that is normally the pattern of these things anyway but as that happens this year, a major piece of work by the un climate panel is due to be published later this summer. that will we think set out the latest understanding of the direction we are heading in and no doubt confirm the kind of scenario we are talking about today and go further, and i think it also may gave more detail on what climate change means for different parts of the world, but being no doubt that the climate scientists are becoming more more confident about theirfindings, scientists are becoming more more confident about their findings, more and more certain that they are on the right track and they definitely want politicians to get the signal that time for action is running out but there is still time, but only if we take a really radical step. david, thank you very much. we�*ll talk about that again.

stay with us on outside source — still to come. g7 leaders are calling for the immediate release of a belarusian opposition journalist —, who was arrested when his plane was forced to land in minsk. the author of the best—selling children�*s book the very hungry caterpillar, eric carle, has died aged 91. tens of millions of children have been brought up on his most famous book, published more than 50 years ago, which tells the story of a ravenous caterpillar. our arts correspondent david sillito looks back at his life. the very hungry caterpillar by eric carle. it�*s the story of a ravenous caterpillar that becomes... he's a beautiful... a butterfly! eric carle�*s children�*s classic, and more than 40 million copies have been sold. and he pushed his way out! what's he going to be? we sell him every day of our lives at the book shop.

it�*s the days of the week, it�*s the food that everyone knows, it�*s the interactivity. you want to put your fingers in that hole. itjust works on every single level. it�*s the perfect children�*s book. it had begun as a story about a worm, but eric carle, an american graphic designer, was advised to switch species. his friends saw in the gentle world of his children�*s books of reaction to the traumas of his own childhood in wartime germany. he went to school and the school told him that the next day, they would be joining the german army. and he went home, told his parents that. they locked him in the cellar the next morning. most of his comrades were killed. imagine the effect that would have on somebody. eric carle wrote dozens of books, but nothing came close to the caterpillar, and by the end, he had a theory as to why.

it took me a long time, - but i think it is a book of hope. i think that as the i appeal of that book. and i should know — i i did the book, after all. this is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. our lead story is? china lashes out at the us afterjoe biden orders officials to redouble their work into the origins of the coronavirus. belarus now. eu foreign ministers are meeting today to discuss what economic sanctions should be introduced. this is after president alexander lukashenko ordered the hijacking of a passenger plane on sunday. that ryanair flight was re—routed to the belarusian capital minsk to arrest an opposition journalist who was on board. roman protasevich was placed

on a terrorism list last year and says he now fears the death penalty. here�*s his mother. translation: i ask you to bring this information to the countries - of the european union, to america, to - presidents and leaders. i beg you, i ask you for help. i call upon you to save roman, save my son.| this was the route that the plane was travelling from athens to the lithuanian capital vilnius when the crew was told by belarus air traffic control to divert to minsk because of a bomb threat. lukashenko claims the information about the bomb came from switzerland. they deny giving the warning. also on that flight was sofia sapega — the girlfriend of roman prostevich — she�*s currently in a prison in minsk.

here�*s her mother speaking to the bbc�*s sarah rainsford. translation: we are in such a state that we keep saying to each other- this cannot be happening. we don�*t believe it is happening to us. to our daughter. roman pratasevich founded an opposition social media channel on the secure messaging app telegram. it�*s called nexta. his colleagues believe this work and his criticism of the president is the reason for his arrest. here�*s one of his friends. i think roman is a personal enemy because he was editor in chief of one of the most important channels during the protests in august and september, so i think it is a personal revenge. but i believe that they will also try to get some information out of him, so if you would ask why i consider they took him, and made the separation, it is because of these things of personal revenge and trying

to get some information from him. president lukashanko has been in power since belarus�* independence from the soviet union — that�*s 27 years. and after widespread crticism of last year�*s election — which he won — opposition protests began. huge ones. the state responded by arresting thousands of people — there are multiple allegations of beatings and torture. many of them are still in detention. among those in detention is the activist sergei tikhanovsky. saturday marks one year since his arrest. which was just two days after he announced he would run for president. his wife sviatlana tsikhanouskaya fled the country and ran as the main opposition candidate. here she is earlier today. translation: as for the plane's l case, i don't want it to be seen | separately from the overall situation in belarus. what happened to the plane as

a result of the impunity in belarus. since december, we have not seen any decisive action by the eu against the regime. there were declarations of solidarity, but not much else was done. there were no plans and no conferences on the situation in belarus. all of this has given lukashenko the space to behave in this way. he thought everyone had forgotten about him. he thought, "i can do whatever i want." so again, i ask you to not let belarus escape your attention. and now the eu is deciding what action to take. foreign ministers are meeting in lisbon today. here�*s the german foreign minister. translation: it is extremely important that there - was this clear reaction and that this is now. being implemented by the eu altogether, where we also i need to look into not only which people, but also i which companies in belarus will be targeted for sanctions. _ we will monitor how effective this i

is in belarus and whether lukashenko relents, and if he does not, then we will assume that this is just - the beginning of a long, . severe spiral of sanctions. as the actions taken i by lukashenko are just so unacceptable that the eu will not i only refused to be silent over this, but will spend the coming weeks realising ways to increase the i pressure on belarus and lukashenko. so what has the eu proposed so far in terms of sanctions? it is demanding the release of roman pratasevich and sofia sapega. calls on all eu based carriers to avoid flying over belarus. it wants to prevent belarusian airlines from flying in eu airspace and access to airports in the eu. it is also going to adopt further economic sanctions against belarus and drawing up a list of what these should be against. here's the foreign policy chief of the eu ahead of their meetings today.

well, we are going to discuss about belarus today. fresh air. it is only two days after the leaders take important decisions on belarus and we will discuss how do we implement the decision of going into economical and centurial sanctions. we are going to do with the council decided to go further personal sections look at the economic sanctions. that is what we can do. and key to all of this is the relationship between belarus and russia and what that means to the eu. look at this map — you can see why. belarus is a buffer between russia and eu and nato countries. lithuania is an eu country and borders belarus. this is the reaction of its lithuanian foreign minister.

and russian support is key to keeping lukashenko in power. here's the german foreign minister again. translation: it would | of course be important to speak to russia about this issue, as everyone knows that - without russia and without russian support, _ lukashenko would have no future in belarus. i and i think this affects _ the relationship between russia and the eu. so, it's important that we keep up dialogue with russia, but - with the clear expectation - that we also have with belarus. in the sanctions, we must use i the same language with russia. so there will be economic sanctions on belarus. the eu is also withholding a three billion dollar package for belarus. and russia is backing its neighbour in other ways. as the eu has banned its airlines from flying over belarus. now, russia won't allow flights in from another route. a flight from vienna to moscow had to be cancelled today after russia would not allow it

to take another route. here's our diplomatic correspondent james landale. we live in an interconnected world. whenever you try and turn one tap of, somebody else can turn another tap off as well. clearly, what the russians are doing here is they are trying to give a little bit of cover to their neighbours. the european union have made it very clear that one of the prices they are going to make belarus pay for this forced landing and the arrest of this opposition journalist was to shut down its own airline, and also prevent its aircraft flying over belarus. what the russians are doing is, they are saying, "if you are going to do that, you are going to pay a price for it, we are not going to let you divert around belarus if you want to get to moscow." because basically, if you want to get from vienna to moscow, from paris to moscow, by and large you fly over belarus. now, the airlines are saying they are not going to do that, but russia is saying, "you can't come at us from a different angle." so, in other words, they are forcing the europeans to say, "look, what your action is, your response, it's not entirely cost—free." that ends this addition of outside source. thank you for watching this

week. we will see you next week. all the best. hello there. we saw plenty of sunshine today and it felt much warmer across the board than what we've been used to this month so far. there are some subtle changes overnight. we got a weak weather front pushing into western areas. that's going to bring the car cloud to many, but also outbreaks of rain across the west initially for northern ireland, and in that rain will spill its way eastwards through the night across western scotland in towards western england and also western wales. there'll be some mistiness and murkiness around, too. but the further east you are, although there will be more cloud around, it should tend to stay dry here. those temperatures no lower than around 8—11 degrees for most, so milder than last night. so, here we go — here's the pressure chart for friday, then. we've got this weak weather front across western areas pushing into the high pressure, so that's always going to weaken it. so, it looks like the rain out west will slowly peter out

through the course of the day, but could stay rather grey, damp and misty here. further north and east, we'll see the best of any sunny spells and dry weather, but where the sunshine does appear and pushes temperatures close to the 20 celsius mark, then we could see the odd heavy shower developing, particularly in towards east anglia. temperatures not as high as what we've seen today. now, for the bank holiday weekend, though, we're going to see lots of sunshine around, particularly for england and wales, as high pressure continues to build in across the country. for saturday, there will be a legacy of cloud left from that weather front, so patchy cloud and sunny spells and sums it up nicely. maybe the odd shower mixed into there, but most places will be dry. where you get the sunshine, temperatures reaching the low 20 celsius again. further north, where skies stay cloudy, the high teens celsius. for sunday, though, i think it looks sunnier across the board. little bit of fairweather cloud bubbling up through the afternoon, and there will be light winds as well around this area of high pressure, so it's going to feel much warmer than what we've been used to. 22—23 degrees across the south, 20 celsius there across

parts of scotland, too. for the bank holiday monday, we'll see this weather front push in from the northwest, affecting the northwest of scotland, parts of northern ireland. but for the south and east of scotland, much of england and wales, it's pretty similar to sunday. plenty of sunshine, light winds and feeling warm — in fact, even warmer. we could make 2a—25 degrees across the south or the southeast. and it stays fine, settled and sunny, particularly for england and wales as we head through the first week ofjune. temperatures holding up at around the mid—20s celsius across the southeast.

this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 8pm: the prime minister rejects claims by his former adviser dominic cummings that government mistakes led to thousands of extra deaths from covid. the health secretary, matt hancock, is under pressure — over accusations that he falsely claimed that hospital patients were being tested for covid before being discharged back into care homes. there will be a time when we go back over all this in great detail, but my recollection of events is that i committed to delivering that testing for people going from hospital into care homes when we could do it. with england's planned final lifting of lockdown said to be "in the balance", the health secretary says up to three quarters of new uk covid cases could be of the indian variant.