this is bbc news. the headlines at seven... the health secretary says the delta variant of the coronavirus is 40% more transmissible and the government is "open" to delaying the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in england due onjune the 21st. that does make life more challenging for everybody. and you have seen that the case rates have risen a little. but, the good news is that hospitalisations, the number of people arriving at hospital is broadly flat. coronavirus cases in the uk rise by 49% in one week. 5,31” new covid cases were recorded in the last 2a hours. vaccinations are being opened up to the under—30s this week in the drive to offer covid jabs to all adults in england.

the duke and duchess of sussex announce the birth of a baby daughter, who they have named lilibet diana — she was born on friday in california. cuts to uk foreign aid could harm schooling and health in poorer countries — a warning from hundreds of charities and business leaders. a memorial honouring soldiers who died under british command on d—day has been unveiled in france — on the 77th anniversary of the landings. good evening. the health secretary, matt hancock, says the new delta variant of coronavirus, first recorded in india,

is about 40% more infectious than the version detected in kent. he said the increased transmissibility is making �*more difficult' the decision on whether to lift all remaining restrictions in england on thejune the 21st. he stated that, the government is "open" to a delay if needed. but mr hancock told the bbc that the number of people needing hospital treatment was "broadly flat", which means the vaccines are working. here's our medical editor, fergus walsh. everyjab in every arm is another brick in a wall of immunity. but will it hold back the delta variant, which has led to a sharp increase in cases? ministers have just eight days before they must decide whether to lift all remaining restrictions in england. the good news is that

the hospitalisations, the number of people in hospital, is broadly flat and the majority appear to be those who have not had a vaccine at all and only a small minority are people who have had both jabs. around three quarters of cases caused by the delta variant are in unvaccinated people. just one in 25 are in those who have had both doses. although the variant seems more likely to cause severe illness, those in hospital are generally younger and recovering more quickly than patients admitted overwinter. scientists advising the government are uncertain about what the weeks may bring in terms of the impact on the nhs. if hospitalisation rates remain flat, there will be a further easing of restrictions, possibly retaining the need to wear face coverings on public transport, maybe still encouraging people

to work from home. and there were mixed views in london today about whether all remaining restrictions should be lifted on 21stjune. i would say yes, if you're not i vaccinated, i could understand not being comfortable. i would sit next to someone as long as they were wearing a mask. it wouldn't bother me if we waited untiljuly, because of the variant. i think that element of caution might be worthwhile in the long run. bolton, which was the area worst hit by the new variant, is now seeing a decline in cases and more importantly a fall in the number of covid hospital patients, which remained lower than in previous peaks. in england, booking will open this week for the under 30s to get their first dose of vaccine.

public support for covid immunisation remains high in the uk. with 27 million people now fully immunised, many of those will be wondering when legal restrictions on their freedoms to meet and travel will be lifted. well, our medical editor, fergus walsh, explained why the so—called delta variant was causing concern. is it going to be a wave this summer, ora ripple? what we didn't know three weeks ago is that the vaccine does work and give strong protection against the delta variant. two doses, not 100%, but very high protection. ministers and scientists are going to need every scrap of data in the coming week before they make a decision on further unlocking. it is finely balanced. so although it is more

transmissible, the vaccine is building this wall of immunity. we may get an autumn immunisation campaign for children, but scientists are divided about whether that will be needed. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30pm and 11:30pm this evening in the papers. joining me tonight are parliamentary journalist tony grew and the journalist and broadcaster caroline frost. the government has published its latest coronavirus figures. the number of infections across the uk are continuing to rise — with a further 5,341 confirmed cases of the virus. but the number of daily deaths

remains low with another four people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for covid—19. on the vaccine front, over 27.6 million people have now received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine — which means 52.5% of the uk adult population are now fully vaccinated. the prime minister borisjohnson will urge leaders at the upcoming g7 summit to commit to vaccinating the whole world against coronavirus, by the end of next year. mrjohnson will lay out his plan at a summit of advanced economies in cornwall on friday — the first face—to—face meeting of the g7 since the start of the pandemic. the duke and duchess of sussex, have announced the birth of their second child — a daughter — on friday. the couple — who have not released any photos of the new baby —

have named her lilibet or lili diana mountbatten—windsor, after her grandmother and great—grandmother. in the last half hour buckingham palace has released a statement which says... the royal baby was born in santa barbara, in california — and she and her mother and now back at their home in los angeles. so, let's speak to our correspondent in los angeles, david willis. how is this news been received for you are? it how is this news been received for ou are? , , ., , how is this news been received for ouare? ,, ., , ._ you are? it is still fairly early in the morning — you are? it is still fairly early in the morning here, _ you are? it is still fairly early in the morning here, about- you are? it is still fairly early in the morning here, about 11 - you are? it is still fairly early in i the morning here, about 11 o'clock on a sunday morning, and the news broke in the last couple of hours

courtesy of harry and meghan�*s website. that said the baby girl was born on friday at11:40am in the morning local time at the santa barbara cottage hospital which is very close to their home in the plush resort of montecito. mother and child are doing well, they are now back at home we are told, and the couple issued a statement saying, onjune the 11th we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter lili, she is more than we could ever imagine and we remain gratefulfor could ever imagine and we remain grateful for the love could ever imagine and we remain gratefulfor the love and could ever imagine and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we have felt from across the globe. a word about the name, she is to be known as lili with an rather than a y at the end. lilibet was a nickname for the queen, george v gave her that the nickname as she was

struggling as a toddler to pronounce her own name elizabeth and it was later adopted somewhat affectionately i am told by prince philip after they got married. lili diana mountbatten—windsor, born into this world on friday and now back home with mum and dad. obviously when we have _ home with mum and dad. obviously when we have a _ home with mum and dad. obviously when we have a royal— home with mum and dad. obviously when we have a royal birth - home with mum and dad. obviously when we have a royal birth here - home with mum and dad. obviously when we have a royal birth here we| when we have a royal birth here we have the cameras camped outside of the hospitals and we know them very well in the uk. i understand the santa barbara cottage hospital was founded by 50 women, this would have really appealed to meghan. what can you toes about it? you really appealed to meghan. what can you toes about it?— you toes about it? you have been doin: you toes about it? you have been doing your _ you toes about it? you have been doing your research! _ you toes about it? you have been doing your research! i _ you toes about it? you have been doing your research! i have - you toes about it? you have been doing your research! i have been | doing your research! i have been under a mountain of baby facts. i am sure you're absolutely right about that. it has been a tumultuous year for this couple, going back of course too much when they gave that

interview to oprah winfrey in which it was revealed amongst other things that depression amongst them, there had been consternation even in the royal family about the complexion of the skin of baby archie, all sort of things. that interview also opened up things. that interview also opened up a can of worms. since then prince harry has gone on to team up with oprah winfrey again on a series for apple tv about mental health, but it has also been revealed of course that meghan suffered a miscarriage a year ago and she wrote subsequently in the new york times about that. she said the grief that comes with losing a child was, she put it, almost unbearable.— losing a child was, she put it, almost unbearable. ., ~ , ., ~ , almost unbearable. thank you. always aood to see almost unbearable. thank you. always good to see you- _ i'm joined now by duncan larcombe,

former royal editor of the sun and author of prince harry: the inside story. thank you forjoining us. so, another birth, a first birth, royal birth outside of the uk.- another birth, a first birth, royal birth outside of the uk. yes, it is obviously great _ birth outside of the uk. yes, it is obviously great news _ birth outside of the uk. yes, it is obviously great news for - birth outside of the uk. yes, it is obviously great news for harry i birth outside of the uk. yes, it is. obviously great news for harry and meghan and i know that having reviewed they had a miscarriage last year, i would reviewed they had a miscarriage last year, iwould imagine reviewed they had a miscarriage last year, i would imagine that makes this an even more poignant and special date for young couple, recently married, second child. they are putting that family together. {iii are putting that family together. of the seat they moved across to the states for the privacy, —— obviously. how difficult is it going to be to try to protect that first photo and control it going out as well? , ., , , , .,

photo and control it going out as well? , ., , ., , , ., ., photo and control it going out as well? , ., , , ., ., , well? they are probably going to try and do exactly _ well? they are probably going to try and do exactly the _ well? they are probably going to try and do exactly the same _ well? they are probably going to try and do exactly the same thing - well? they are probably going to try and do exactly the same thing theyl and do exactly the same thing they have done with baby archie. i think people will remember recently they released a picture to mark his birthday and a picture of his foot. we don't know how many different parts of this baby we will see before they reveal her no doubt a beautiful face of the world, but there will be concern, harry and meghan are fiercely private in an incredibly public way, i am rather confused about the move for privacy in america, and they will bring this child dub, at the moment, where they are living in the paparazzi capital of the world, so i don't think it was the best place if they really are concerned about being pictured out and about.— are concerned about being pictured out and about. what did you make of the names? — out and about. what did you make of the names? this _ out and about. what did you make of the names? this is _ out and about. what did you make of the names? this is very _ out and about. what did you make of the names? this is very significant. i the names? this is very significant. there is no — the names? this is very significant. there is no doubt _ the names? this is very significant. there is no doubt the _ the names? this is very significant. there is no doubt the choice - the names? this is very significant. there is no doubt the choice of- the names? this is very significant. l there is no doubt the choice of name for harry and meghan's first daughter is the first significant, possibly the first, the only other

branch of the sussexes as a couple have offered to the british royal family since they left the country and they walked away from the family, so it is very significant in that respect, also i think this will also be interpreted by some of meghan's harshest critics, the most royal name you could give, the name that queen elizabeth was my father used for his daughter that queen elizabeth's father is a sign for infection, but affection. they don't was a name they had always had since childhood. it is a very royal name and critics might say that this is ensuring that link, that hugely lucrative link for brand harry and meghan, to have that length of the royal family, meghan, to have that length of the royalfamily, it will meghan, to have that length of the royal family, it will be continuing with the most royal name, personally i think that is a cynical view to take. i think this is a genuine

potential major step forward in the thawing of this dreadful rift that has plagued the entire family for coming up for has plagued the entire family for coming upfora has plagued the entire family for coming up for a year and to have. what do you think about titles? obviously this is one of the subjects that came up in that interview. how do you think this is going to be discussed? i can interview. how do you think this is going to be discussed?— going to be discussed? i can tell ou now going to be discussed? i can tell you now that _ going to be discussed? i can tell you now that the _ going to be discussed? i can tell you now that the royal - going to be discussed? i can tell you now that the royal family i going to be discussed? i can tell - you now that the royal family would be extremely keen to ensure that there are no careless mentions, careless flippa nt there are no careless mentions, careless flippant remarks or downright racist remarks from the let's not forget, harry and meghan have told the world the royal family is shielding a racist amongst its ranks. but as their claim. they will be very keen to ensure that there is no suggestion that the reason this new arrival into the royal family isn't necessarily being endowed with all the titles but may be possibly prince harry might have hoped, but i

think it is a very sensitive issue over baby archie and the royals will be very keen not to give them any more ammunition to fire back at them across the atlantic. quite interesting you say that because you mentioned about the importance of the relationship between the sussexes on the royal family will be viewed vis—a—vis the names that have been given. it appears it might be fair to say that i think that couple they will be criticised. do you think this happy news book quieten down the critics? i think this happy news book quieten down the critics?— down the critics? i hope so. until the whole — down the critics? i hope so. until the whole tone _ down the critics? i hope so. until the whole tone of— down the critics? i hope so. until the whole tone of this _ down the critics? i hope so. until the whole tone of this rather - the whole tone of this rather unpleasant series of events with them quitting the royalfamily and being so open in their criticism of what life is like inside that family, you would hope that is not going to continue, so hopefully a babyis going to continue, so hopefully a baby is the perfect chance as many of us will know from families, when

a new baby comes along, it can bring families closer together. if nothing else, it can get them talking. and frankly, that would be an improvement from where we were last week. . ~ improvement from where we were last week. ., ,, , ., ., improvement from where we were last week. ., ~' i., ., ,., the headlines on bbc news... the health secretary says the delta variant of the coronavirus is 40% more transmissible and the government is �*open' to delaying the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in england due onjune the 21st. coronavirus cases in the uk rise by 49% in one week. 5,3a1 new covid cases were recorded in the last 2a hours. the duke and duchess of sussex announce the birth of a baby daughter, who they have named lilibet diana — she was born on friday in california.

the british normandy memorial for those who died in the d—day campaign during world war two has been officially opened on the 77th anniversary of the allied invasion of nazi—occupied france. the names of nearly 22,500 servicemen and women are inscribed on 160 columns overlooking gold beach, one of the three british landing sites in france. hugh schofield reports now from ver—sur—mer. at last the veterans have a focal points where future generations can learn of d—day and honour the names of thousands who sacrificed their lives. the ceremony was simple and attended by a small number of people. there were virtually no veterans in france. instead, in less clement weather many gathered in britain and watched proceedings by a live transmission.

i can only hope that this serves to commemorate all those whose lives were lost during the events ofjune 19114 and between d—day and the liberation of paris at the end of august 19114. there was a two minute silence to honour the 22,000 names on the columns of memorial. and then the uk's ambassador in paris declared the memorial open. the memorial was only completed a few weeks ago and there are few visitors at the moment. as a result the scale and the beauty of the place have come to many as a surprise.

it is set on a hill looking down on gold beach, where thousands came ashore. built in pale limestone, there is a central temple—like structure with a statue and the cloister of pillars with the names of the dead and the dates they died. for the veterans watching in england today, a fit place to remember their friends and comrades. it should have been done years ago when we were alive. i'm in me 100th year, i'm lucky. i think it is wonderful, it is marvellous they can put this show on like this 77 years after. in france, the red arrows flew past in homage to the dead and then the memorial became what it is destined to remain,

a place of contemplation and quiet memory. more than 1700 charities, business leaders and academics have signed a letter warning that government cuts to foreign aid of almost £4 billion a year will hit the world's poorest communities and mean families go hungry. conservative mps are threatening a rebellion in the commons tomorrow. ministers say the pandemic means spending has to be temporarily cut, and it will still spend more than £10 billion this year on aid. here's our political correspondent chris mason. scrubbing floors, struggling to reach the shelves. sayuida is nine years old and works as a servant to earn money for herfamily in bangladesh. these pictures were given to us by a charity which secured permission to do this filming.

sayida would love to go to school. the uk bangladesh education trust applied for government funding to expand its programme to help girls working as domestic servants learn to read, write and count, but it was told the fund from which it hoped to get a grant had closed because of cuts to the foreign aid budget. over 1700 charities, business leaders and academics have now signed a letter pleading with the government to change its mind. in it they write that without an about turn, the uk's credibility and voice on the international stage will be undermined. we don't snatch the one textbook it has ever had in its life from its only tin shack school. more than 30 conservative mps, including the former

prime minister theresa may, hope to secure and win a vote in the commons tomorrow to compel the government to change tack. to go back on our commitments, these are legal commitments as well as manifesto commitments, in the middle of a pandemic where none of us will be safe from covid until all of us are safe and where britain is about to lead the g7 conference this week in cornwall, it is a terrible error ofjudgment. but ministers insist... l i think it is reasonable at a time i of this enormous economic challenge as well as of course the health | challenge, to take this action. j if you think about it... really? we have had a once in 300 years economic interruption. _ the government's supporters argue that you would never recommend a neighbour went into debt to donate to charity and the same logic holds true for the country. chris mason, bbc news.

sam nadel, is head of policy and advocacy at oxfam gb, and explained the impact the proposed cut is having already. we arejust we are just starting to see the impact of these cuts now and frankly they are devastating. nutrition centres and health clinics have been forced to close, water and sanitation projects during a global pandemic, they are being cancelled. 78,000 health care professionals are being left on trent. we know how important all of the services are in the fight against covid—19, so everywhere we look again and again, the trend is clear, families are going hungry, girls are going to school, and vaccines shockingly are expiring

on the shelves, so that is why we have written this letter along with 1700 other groups, business leaders, academics and charities asking the government to reverse course. it is notjust government to reverse course. it is not just us, government to reverse course. it is notjust us, it is many conservative mps and labour mps, the un secretary general himself called these cuts a death sentence. that might sound quite stark but for many it is that extreme. two teenage boys have been charged with the murder of dea—jean reid, who was stabbed on monday. in total 5 people have now been charged in connection with his death. the 14—year—old was killed in the kingstanding area of birmingham. west midlands police are appealing for more information from the public. kent county council says child migrants arriving at dover may be turned away within days, because its services are being overwhelmed. the council has taken the first steps of legal action against the home secretary priti patel, saying other local authorities should take �*their fair share'. according to the council, 2112 child migrants have arrived on kent shores this year, but only 52 have been moved to other local authorities under a voluntary transfer scheme.

pope francis has said he's pained by the discovery of the remains of more than 200 bodies at a former school for canadian indigenous children run by the catholic church. speaking in saint peter's square, the pope called on political and religious leaders in canada to seek reconciliation and healing. the comments come as canada's prime minister urged the church to take responsibility for its management of indigenous residential schools. as the covid wave intensifies in india, even children are at risk. in the southern state of karnataka over 140,000 children have been reportedly infected between march and may. in some cases where family members have been hospitalised as well, children are struggling to get even basic care. bbc�*s devina gupta reports.

a father's heartbreaking moment. his ten—year—old daughter was in the covid ward here. she was hospitalised after her diabetes got worse. he is not allowed to meet her. in another covid ward here a nurse is trying to feed a four—year—old. his parents tested positive and are admitted to a different hospital. as more families get infected health workers are becoming caretaker of some children as well.

in the last three months over 140,000 children have been infected because of covid in the state of karnataka alone. doctors here have told me most have not required hospitalisation and are only exhibiting milder symptoms but the real challenge in such cases is when parents or guardians of hospitalised and even their own extended family members or members of the community do not want to take care of the children because of the fear of transmission of the virus. and that's where a group of volunteers are trying to lend a helping hand. this covid care centre is only for children in bangalore, an option that didn't exist for parents until now. paediatric nurses and doctors here not only monitor children's health, but they also engage them in different activities to overcome their covid anxiety. this looks like a hospital but the children feel very happy because they watch movies and play

a lot of games, so the children are feeling very much at home. for 32 children here this place is becoming an emotional sanctuary, but this is a small start. experts say paediatric facilities in india are woefully short for covid emergencies. there are 70 units. we need to train, how to look after paediatric patients. that is where more funding is required for india to save the future of this and the next generations to come. the president of el salvador has told a bitcoin conference in florida that he'll make the cryptocurrency legal tender in his country alongside the us dollar. if congress backs his proposal, el salvador would become the first

country in the world to formally adopt bitcoin. aru na iyengar reports. miami, and a bitcoin conference generates huge interest not least because of this announcement from the salvadoran president. next week i will send to congress a bill that will make bitcoin legal tender. in the short—term this will generate jobs and help financial inclusion. nayib bukele says that using bitcoin would make it easier and cheaper for salvadorans living abroad to send money home. about one quarter of el salvadorans live in the us, and last year they sent home nearly $6 billion in remittances. this involves costly fees. president nayib bukele also says bitcoin will help attract investment and open up financial services to the 70% of the population who don't have bank accounts. it is a bold move — he is a young media—savvy and popular leader who is keen to be seen as an innovator.