this is bbc news 7 these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the world's leading economies say they're on the brink of announcing a historic deal to tax tech giants during talks in london. g7 finance ministers say it would be a groundbreaking change. we will have an agreement, which will really change the world, and we will be able to do what we have to do for people. testing is ramped up as the uk sees the highest number of new covid infections in 2 months, raising more question marks over the further relaxation of restrictions. for the first time in nine months, people in glasgow will be able to socialise in each other�*s homes and drink alcohol in pubs & restaurants as parts of scotland move to lower restriction levels from today.

the devastating conflict in ethiopia — as the un warns that hundreds of thousands could starve. are live inside coventry cathedral ruins for uk city of culture. street performers are moving through the city to avoid attracting large crowds due to coronavirus restrictions. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. finance ministers of the world's leading economies remain confident of striking an historic deal in london today on taxing tech giants. the agreement by the g7 group of finance ministers is set to include a global minimum rate of corporation tax. the base rate of 15% is seen as a starting point, but is lower than the minimum rate of 21% that had been

proposed by president biden. the plans are also set to stop major multinational companies, include apple and microsoft from paying little or no tax in countries where they make money. the uk chancellor, rishi sunak said businesses should pay the right amount of tax in the right place. germany's finance minister olaf sholz said the deal — if struck — would "change the world". it will be very effective, yes. many countries will have higher taxes, but it is helpful that they know that there is a basis. and it will be looked country by country. i am sure that this will be the outcome also. so we will have an agreement which will really change the world. and we will be able to do what we have to do for our people, and this will be a turning point in global cooperation

because the last decades going into the other direction, now we are going into the right one. let's go straight to the chancellor, rishi sunak. i am delighted to announce that today after years of discussion g7 finance ministers have reached an historic agreement to reform the global tax system to make it fit for the global digital age but crucially to make sure that it is fair so that the right companies pay the right tax in the right places. that is a huge prize for british taxpayers. it's a very proud moment and i want to say thank you to my g7 colleagues for their collective leadership, and for their collective leadership, and for their collective leadership, and for their willingness to work together, to seize this moment, to reach an historic agreement that finally brings our global tax system into the 21st—century. can finally brings our global tax system into the 21st-century._ into the 21st-century. can you give --eole a into the 21st-century. can you give peeple a sense _ into the 21st-century. can you give people a sense of _ into the 21st-century. can you give people a sense of what _ into the 21st-century. can you give people a sense of what this - into the 21st-century. can you give. people a sense of what this means? the the mechanisms, it's complicated but this is important stuff. it is complicated but this is a

first step, an agreement amongst g7 finance ministers and next month we will have a g20 finance ministers summit to make progress. the crucial thing to take away is the principle of fairness. that's what we've achieved today to make sure there is achieved today to make sure there is a level playing field for all types of companies and whether it is people operating in tax havens or it is digital companies, we will level the playing field and inject fairness into our global tax system. the uk already has a digital services tax. what will happen now these rules come into play? will they raise more money than the digital tax for british public spending or will you get rid of that tax in the future?— spending or will you get rid of that tax in the future? we've always said the diaital tax in the future? we've always said the digital services _ tax in the future? we've always said the digital services tax _ tax in the future? we've always said the digital services tax we've - the digital services tax we've implemented like many others whether thatis implemented like many others whether that is france, italy, spain, canada, they all meant to be temporary solutions until a multilateral agreement was found which could be implemented consistently across the world. this is the first step. g7 agreement.

we've got to move to the g20 and beyond. the intention would be once thatis beyond. the intention would be once that is a global multilateral solution in place then the need for those goes away.— those goes away. what about tax sovereignty- _ those goes away. what about tax sovereignty. are _ those goes away. what about tax sovereignty. are you _ those goes away. what about tax sovereignty. are you tying - those goes away. what about tax sovereignty. are you tying your l those goes away. what about tax i sovereignty. are you tying your own handsif sovereignty. are you tying your own hands if you have this minimum rate in the future? i hands if you have this minimum rate in the future?— in the future? i think what the british public _ in the future? i think what the british public want _ in the future? i think what the british public want to - in the future? i think what the british public want to know . in the future? i think what the british public want to know is| in the future? i think what the - british public want to know is that the tax system is fair. they want to know there is a level playing field. whether people are operating in tax havens or whether online businesses are able to not pay taxes in certain places. they want that tackle. this agreement gives us the ability to do that and it has been agreed amongst g7 colleagues. once we broaden it out and employ meant it globally it is a huge prize. out and employ meant it globally it is a huge prize-— is a huge prize. slightly less ambitious — is a huge prize. slightly less ambitious than _ is a huge prize. slightly less ambitious than the - is a huge prize. slightly less ambitious than the original. is a huge prize. slightly less - ambitious than the original figure. is%. ambitious than the original figure. 15%. does that undermine anything? first, the agreement reached here

today says at least 15%. secondly, it is worth taking a step back, this has been talked about for almost a decade and for the first time today we actually have agreement on the tangible principles of what these reforms should look like and that is huge progress. the reforms should look like and that is huge progress-— huge progress. the prime minister said recently _ huge progress. the prime minister said recently that _ huge progress. the prime minister said recently that he _ huge progress. the prime minister said recently that he had _ huge progress. the prime minister said recently that he had been - said recently that he had been looking at the date and he saw no reason why there shouldn't be a change to that plan before the 21st ofjune. i wonder what your sense is ofjune. i wonder what your sense is of what that data is saying in terms of what that data is saying in terms of lockdown? ihla of what that data is saying in terms of lockdown?— of what that data is saying in terms of lockdown? ., ., . , ., , ., of lockdown? no final decisions have been made- — of lockdown? no final decisions have been made- we _ of lockdown? no final decisions have been made. we are _ of lockdown? no final decisions have been made. we are looking - of lockdown? no final decisions have been made. we are looking at - of lockdown? no final decisions have been made. we are looking at the i been made. we are looking at the data as it comes in. as the prime minister said, we need to make sure we have vaccinated and protected enough people to give us the reassurance we need given the new variant that is currently in the uk. it is too early to say where that will conclude but as the data comes and we look at it and a decision will be made as we have communicated in advance of the 21st ofjune.

thank you very much. rishi sunak describing it as an historic tax deal, setting it at a minimum rate, a global tax rate for tech companies, of 15%. he says it is just a first step. it needs to go to the 620 just a first step. it needs to go to the g20 next month and then beyond for it to be rolled out and have that global impact they are hoping for to try to introduce what he described as a level playing field for all companies whether they are online or otherwise. he said it is about the principle of fairness. that deal has been announced as anticipated. 15% the starting rate for a global tech tax rate. more surge testing for covid is set to take place in the uk after the country recorded the highest daily number of coronavirus cases since march. several areas, including parts of berkshire,

kent and west yorkshire, are experiencing a rise in infections linked to the variant first detected in india — now known as delta. scientists are urging caution over plans to lift restrictions in england later this month. helena wilkinson reports. come on in. thank you very much. with an increase in infection rates, nhs leaders are continuing to stress the message: come forward to get your vaccine when you're called. it is the delta variant, first detected in india, which is causing problems. public health england says it's now become the dominant strain in the uk. where it's been detected, surge testing has been taking place. from monday, residents in parts of reading and wokingham in berkshire will be urged to have a test as part of a two—week programme. one of our real concerns about this delta variant is if it keeps circulating,

people are not getting sick at the moment, we have virtually no hospital admissions, if it keeps circulating, we might get some more variants, more mutations. that is a concern. we want to try to minimise the number of these variants in the community so that we can get people vaccinated first. the latest figures from across the uk show there were more than 6,200 new coronavirus infections in the last 24—hour period. that is the highest daily number of cases since the end of march. 11 deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours. although hospital admissions are rising again in areas affected by the delta variant, on the whole they continue to remain low. what we think we can start to say now based on that experience from those who have been right at the front of this wave is that it does look as though the vaccines have kind of broken the chain between catching covid—i9 and potentially being very, very seriously ill and potentially dying.

as the vaccination rollout continues, the uk regulator has approved the pfizer vaccine for i2—is—year—olds. the uk's vaccine committee will decide whether they should be offered it. we want to be clear the reasons why we are immunising children. we need to be absolutely sure that the benefits to them and potentially to society far outweigh any risks. with a rise in infection rates, many in england are now asking what it means forjune 21. that's when the government hopes to move to its final stage of its roadmap for lifting lockdown in england. the prime minister and health secretary say more data will be assessed next week before any final decisions will be made about restrictions being lifted in england. helena wilkinson, bbc news.

coronavirus restrictions have eased for millions of people across scotland from this morning. glasgow has moved down to level two, which means socialising in each other�*s homes is allowed, in limited numbers, and pubs can serve alcohol. but a planned relaxation across some other parts of the country has been delayed. connor gillies reports. preparing for pints inside the pub here in glasgow. margaret's place hasn't opened at all since october. it's been absolutely horrendous, horrendous for everybody. hopefully all the regulars will be back, because we miss them. we miss them, so that will be great, that'll be absolutely brilliant, to see everybody. here in scotland's biggest city, almost 600,000 people have been living under the strictest of restrictions for the longest period of time across the whole of the uk. families haven't been able to mix inside their homes for nine months.

but this move from level three to level two makes that possible once again — a major milestone. i'm looking forward to going into my nephew's community and spending time i'm looking forward to going into my nephew's communion and spending time with my family and getting a wee drink and things like that. it'll be great, to see everybody again in the sunshine. a nightmare, an absolute nightmare. we've really been struck the worst, really, in glasgow. so, i'm looking forward to things opening up again and maybe getting back to a wee bit of reality. we've got max here... it's level one here on the farm in aberdeen, this business a magnet forfamilies — now allowed to reopen this soft play inside. it's been ia months since we've been able to open this soft play. we're not as weather—dependent, we can increase our capacity a little bit and things like that, so, yeah, it's a big boost for us as a business. orkney has mostly been

shielded from covid. it, like other scottish islands, dropping to level zero. continued caution, though, still required. it's the direction of travel that's really important. at the same time, we've got to be very conscious that we have more and more people coming here, and we're really asking them to take a lateral flow test, and even our own community, going away and coming back again, just taking those tests to give us an extra degree of safety. safety amid a difficult, fragile position. but as a new day begins, so does a new dawn on regaining many of our old freedoms. connor gillies, bbc news. the indian capital delhi has announced a gradual lifting of covid restrictions, weeks after being ravaged by a second wave. markets and malls will partially reopen from monday. despite the move, officials are still warning the country to prepare for a third wave of coronavirus. the united nations has issued a stark warning that ethiopia could be heading for a repeat of the deadly famine of 1984, unless a ceasefire is agreed. months of fighting between government forces and the regional authorities in tigray have destroyed crops, leaving hundreds of thousands

of people near starvation. now, the government is making it hard for aid agencies to reach those trapped by the fighting. laetitia bader is the horn of africa director at human rights watch. speaking earlier she told me there's a pressing need for more international attention. we are talking about a humanitarian crisis but this is also a human rights crisis. the ethiopian government, the eritrean government forces, and also allies to both of these parties, have directly contributed in their actions and abuses of the civilian population to the humanitarian crisis we are talking about now. i'm talking about targeted attacks and destructions of harvests, burning, occupation of land, destroying infrastructures. hospitals have been destroyed, looted. all of this having an impact.

at the same time as there are restrictions on aid agencies. and a lot of the attacks on civilians is having an impact on peoples ability to reach assistance. lots of people are too scared to move right now. one of the big concerns is people are in need of assistance and aren't receiving it at the moment. the ethiopian government has so far refused international calls for a ceasefire. it said its forces are close to finalising operations and eliminating all armed opposition. without a ceasefire, what are the prospects of getting aid through to those who need it? what is key is for the parties for the conflict to stop conducting this abusively. as i mentioned, there are clear rules in conflict as to how behaviour shouldn't target

civilians, and one of the big problems right now is the actions of these parties is basically making it very difficult for humanitarian assistance to reach the populations in need. it's clear, international action and pressure needs to continue. it's been very positive to see a much more concerted effort by a lot of western diplomatic officials in the last ten days, raising concerns about the humanitarian situation. it's essential to underline how this is also a human rights crisis. but there are many voices missing. the african union has been silent about what is the biggest human rights crisis on the continent right now. gulf states who have a lot of links and involvement in the region have also not been pressing warring parties to treat civilians as they should be. the pressure needs to continue. it needs to come from many voices which are too silent right now. laetitia bader talking to me earlier.

mexico is reeling from a surge of political violence. on the eve of the country's largest midterm election in history at least 89 politicians have been killed — 35 of them were running for political office. the election will determine who controls the lower house of congress, 15 governorships, and hundreds of city halls. the violence is blamed on criminal gangs trying to gain political influence and candidates who want to intimidate their opponents. anne laurent reports and a warning viewers may find some of the images in this report upsetting this was a mayoral candidate for a city in northern mexico. crime was a key issue of his campaign. a day after filming this message, he was shot to death while handing out flyers in the street.

this woman was calling for supporters to join her at a political rally in central mexico. but a few minutes later, she was shot dead. microphone in hand. she left children and even grandchildren behind. these are just a few examples of the shocking levels of violence seen across the country. as mexico is heading towards its biggest mid—term elections in history, criminal gangs trying to gain political influence are often blamed for these attacks. running for office in mexico is a risky business. dozens of candidates have already been killed ahead of these elections and hundreds more are being threatened for staying in the race. a security camera caught the moment when this home was set on fire.

luckily, the man who lives there is not home that night. he is running as an independent to be a mayor in central mexico. since he started leading the polls, he has been subject to all sorts of threats. political violence has been going on for decades in mexico, but this year, the mexican government is finally admitting the problem and offering protection to those under threat.

suspicious of the government's plan, julio has declined the offer. i ask him if he is scared. after a moment of reflection, he breaks down. his fear is shared by so many candidates across the country, but most of them will not give up. ready to risk their lives to bring real change. anne laurent, bbc news, mexico. coventry is staging its first major events to mark its year as the uk's city of culture.

the pandemic meant that celebrations had to be postponed until restrictions had started to ease. there are pop—up performances throughout the day, including fourteen modern day lady godivas who will ride through the city. let's cross live to colleen harris in coventry. lots happening in coventry today but in moving parts. street performers and theatre is moving its way through the city. the event opens with a performance from the singer pauline black from the 80s band the selecter. she was performing on a bridge in a residential part of the city. an element of surprise there for residents waking up. that journey has been followed through with river runners and bmx performers and parcours. they are all telling the story of coventry�*s

innovation of car manufacturing, migration, and musical innovation. those are the stories it wants to get across to its global audience. this has been a difficult challenge for some of the organisers to pull off. they have had several different coronavirus restrictions to contend with. they have had to deliver a programme that is online rather than mass gatherings and making sure everything is covid safe. take a look at where we are now. we are inside the coventry cathedral ruins, which is just one of the events, places, which will be where one of the performers are. coventry itself was bombed in world war ii, and out of that the city became a symbol of peace and reconciliation. it is also twinned with dresden. i want to point you to some art installations here, which will form part of some of the art we will see later today,

and a performer here, composer derek nesbitt, who was part of this. tell us about the art and the musical composition you have delivered for today? composition you have delivered for toda ? , �* , . composition you have delivered for toda ? , �*, ., composition you have delivered for toda? , ,. . today? yes, it's a sound piece which has been created _ today? yes, it's a sound piece which has been created for— today? yes, it's a sound piece which has been created for this _ has been created for this extraordinary space. it is on the theme of remembering and resilience. it is a place for people to come to, reflect on things, reflect on losses, perhaps, especially in the last year to 18 months. and take some time to listen. there is a specially created piece of music which was performed on the organ of the new cathedral and with an orchestra. that, woven within that is voices telling us about stories of loss and resilience and how people have worked through difficult experiences, which, obviously, coventry has had its fair share. that will be poignant for people. it's been a difficult year. this is

a place where people come for reflection and sort ofjust a moment of remembrance. what does coventry mean to you?— mean to you? well, it's. .. it's an extraordinary _ mean to you? well, it's. .. it's an extraordinary place. _ mean to you? well, it's. .. it's an extraordinary place. it _ mean to you? well, it's. .. it's an extraordinary place. it is - mean to you? well, it's. .. it's an extraordinary place. it is full- mean to you? well, it's. .. it's an extraordinary place. it is full of i extraordinary place. it is full of surprises. it's always been underestimated. whether it is coming from behind to win the fa cup, coming back from the problems with the car industry... it has shown it can rise. it symbol is the phoenix. perhaps this year, the city of culture, is another moment where it is blooming, and it is a challenge for people to visit and a challenge for people to visit and a challenge for them to think about what they think about the place. tell for them to think about what they think about the place.— for them to think about what they think about the place. tell us about our think about the place. tell us about your composition. _ think about the place. tell us about your composition. you _ think about the place. tell us about your composition. you can - think about the place. tell us about your composition. you can come i think about the place. tell us about. your composition. you can come here, have a moment _ your composition. you can come here, have a moment of _ your composition. you can come here, have a moment of stillness, _ your composition. you can come here, have a moment of stillness, but - your composition. you can come here, have a moment of stillness, but you i have a moment of stillness, but you can be in the rooms from tomorrow, sunday, and have this experience here physically. it's good to come

out of the virtual world and enjoy the environment and share some gentle experiences with other people. gentle experiences with other --eole. . ,, gentle experiences with other --eole. . , gentle experiences with other --eole. ., , .,~ gentle experiences with other n-eole. ., , ., ~ ., gentle experiences with other neale, ., , ., ~' people. can you 'ust talk about some ofthe people. can you 'ust talk about some of the trees — people. can you just talk about some of the trees behind? _ people. can you just talk about some of the trees behind? obviously - people. can you just talk about some of the trees behind? obviously yourl of the trees behind? obviously your music goes with that. what's the bet —— what's the meaning behind it? the -- what's the meaning behind it? the desirn has —— what's the meaning behind it? tue: design has brought —— what's the meaning behind it? tte: design has brought in —— what's the meaning behind it? t"te: design has brought in the —— what's the meaning behind it? t'te: design has brought in the trees. there is a history of trees in coventry because in the memorial park all of the trees have names and they are often of soldiers who were lost, especially in the first world war. there is a tradition of that commemoration. it's about remembering individuals and also thinking about green shoots of the future. . ., , , future. excellent. people will be able to enjoy — future. excellent. people will be able to enjoy that _ future. excellent. people will be able to enjoy that over - future. excellent. people will be able to enjoy that over the - future. excellent. people will be able to enjoy that over the next | able to enjoy that over the next week or so. able to enjoy that over the next week or so-_ able to enjoy that over the next week or so. , ., ., ., ., week or so. yes, from tomorrow until thursda . week or so. yes, from tomorrow until thursday. absolutely. _ week or so. yes, from tomorrow until thursday. absolutely. you _ week or so. yes, from tomorrow until thursday. absolutely. you are - thursday. absolutely. you are watchinu thursday. absolutely. you are watching bbc _ thursday. absolutely. you are watching bbc news. - studio: thank you very much. if you

have been watching us on bbc world, thank you for your company, we will see you soon. goodbye. after sniffing more than 70 landmines and dozens of unexploded items in cambodia in his five year career — this african giant pouched rat has finally retired from duty. while some may regard everyday rats as pests, magawa was awarded a gold medalfor his heroism last year. but his handler says the seven—year—old is "slowing down" and she wants to "respect his needs". magawa isn't quite done with duty yet though. he'll be mentoring new recruits and passing on his life—saving skills. almost like a cartoon rat. let's catch up with the weather now. i think most of us will see some

brightness and hopefully some sunny spells today but i cannot promise wall—to—wall blue sky for everyone and there are some showers and patchy rain in the forecast too. high pressure is trying to build to the south. we have this week when the south. we have this week when the front pushing into western parts. that will introduce thicker cloud. you can see it here, some showers and patchy rain into the south—west of england come up through western parts of wales, moving towards the east. eastern parts, where it was miserable yesterday, a drier and brighter story here. heavy showers across northern ireland and western parts of scotland and curving up towards the north of scotland as well. eastern part seeing more brightness. any mist and fog patches continuing to clear. moving through this evening, that weather front trundles across towards eastern parts, something drier on offer behind it. it'll introduce mist and fog patches as well as further showers with lows tonight of around nine to 12 celsius.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. the uk chancellor, rishi sunak says g7 finance ministers

from the world's leading economies have reached a historic deal to reform the global tax system during talks in london. i think the crucial thing for people to take away is the principle of fairness. that is what we have achieved today. to ensure there is a level playing field for all types of companies. testing is ramped up as the uk sees the highest number of new covid infections in 2 months, raising more question marks over the further relaxation of restrictions. for the first time in nine months, people in glasgow will be able to socialise in each others homes and drink alcohol in pubs & restaurants as parts of scotland move to lower restriction levels from today. the devastating conflict in ethiopia — as the un warns that hundreds of thousands could starve. now on bbc news: click is at the hay literary festival in wales. we speak to the writer

of the book, peter 2.0, a memoir about motor neurone disease and combining his humanity with al. this week, the giant coming to a city near you. a giant leap for disability, and willing rides on giant screens. hay, it is one of my favourite fests. we've been coming to the hay literary festival for quite a few years now, each time meeting amazing people who have written on fascinating topics. every so often someone has stolen the show and stop our world spinning.