tonight at ten: a metropolitan police officer admits kidnapping and raping sarah everard, who disappeared in march of this year. she was 33 and was last seen walking home in south london — her body was discovered in kent six days later. pc wayne couzens, who's a8, pleaded guilty to kidnap and rape, and he's also accepted responsibility for sarah's death. we'll have the latest from the old bailey, where the case is being heard. also tonight... all of greater manchester and parts of lancashire will get extra support to tackle the delta variant, also known as the indian variant, of coronavirus. i want to encourage everyone in manchester and lancashire to get the tests on offer. we know that this approach can work. the uk government's foreign travel policy

and the abrupt change for visitors to portugal draws more criticism from the travel industry. why are these government ministers telling vaccinated british citizens and their families that they should stay home? it's mindless and it makes no sense. a special report from iraq on the new threat now facing us and other western forces. and marcus rashford says that despite the opposition of some england fans, taking the knee is an important gesture that will continue. and coming up in the sport, on the bbc news channel... a first for both in a grand slam as victories for slovenia's tamara zidansek and anastasia pavlyuchenkova of russia sets up a french open semi—final. good evening. a metropolitan police officer has admitted kidnapping and raping sarah everard — the 33—year—old who disappeared

as she walked home in south london in early march. a court at the old bailey heard that pc wayne couzens also accepted responsibility for sarah everard's death, but he was not asked to enter a plea on a charge of murder, because the court is waiting for medical reports. ms everard was reported missing on 4th march and her body was discovered in kent six days later. our special correspondent lucy manning is at the old bailey tonight. sarah everard's death was one that shook the country. how a young woman could disappear after a night out with friends and people thought that could have been my sister, my daughter, that could have been me and it galvanised women to speak out about the abuse, the harassment that they had received. but at the centre of it all, the greatest impact obviously on the everard family. we can only feel immense sadness for

them as they came to court today to hear wayne couzens admit raping and kidnapping their sister, their daughter, sarah. just walking home. sarah everard should have expected to get there safely and if she faced danger, a policeman should have helped. instead that police officer, wayne couzens, admitted today he had raped and kidnapped the 33—year—old. couzens, with his head bowed, twice replied, "guilty, sir," when asked how he wanted to plead. sarah everard disappeared while walking home by clapham common. today in court, wayne couzens also accepted responsibility for her killing, but he wasn't asked to plead guilty or not guilty on the murder charge because the court wants medical reports before then. the marketing executive had so much to live for — a job in london, a boyfriend, a loving family. couzens was a police protection

officer who gave her none. the everard family made the painful journey to court today. they had described sarah as "bright, beautiful, a shining example to us all." after she disappeared in march, a massive search led by the metropolitan police resulted in the shock that a kidnapper and rapist and suspected murderer was in their ranks. a week later, sarah's remains were finally discovered, hidden in woodland in kent, 30 miles from couzens�* family home in deal. couzens is charged with murdering her some time between the 2nd and 10th of march. the loss of a daughter, sister and girlfriend cannot be fully comprehended, but the country reflected their grief, united in its sadness for the everard family, and its anger that women were not, and never have been, safe on the streets. from royalty to local residents, they came for sarah

and for women everywhere. in a month, wayne couzens will appear in court again still accused of murder. an officer who has already betrayed his position and left so many women feeling unsafe, but most of all — a betrayal of sarah everard and her right to arrive home safely. lucy manning, bbc news. let's turn to the latest on the pandemic. the whole of greater manchester and parts of lancashire are going to be given extra support to tackle the rapid spread of the delta variant of coronavirus, which was first indentified in india. there'll be increased testing and vaccinations. new guidance also recommends people "minimise travel in and out of the affected areas". so joining bolton, which was already subject to surge testing, are the remaining nine boroughs of greater manchester. and to the north of the city, the area of blackburn and darwen

is joined by most of lancashire, including burnley, preston and rossendale. our health corresopndent dominic hughes reports from manchester. is it back to the bad old days for the north—west of england? a spike in covid cases linked to the delta variant, first detected in india, across greater manchester and much of lancashire has prompted what ministers are calling a strengthened package of support — advice to travel less, test more and keep get togethers outdoors. i want to encourage everyone in manchester and lancashire to get the tests on offer. we know that this approach can work, we've seen it work in south london and in bolton, in stopping a rise in the number of cases. this is a part of the country that since the pandemic began, pretty much, has barely been out of restrictions, so many people here in manchester and across north—west england may well view these new measures with an air of weary resignation. but ministers will point

to what's happened in bolton, where a surge in cases linked to the indian variant has been successfully tackled, with a mixture of a big push on vaccinations and testing. the infection rate in bolton, which is part of greater manchester, has fallen by around a quarter over the past ten days, but it took a concerted effort to reach communities that find it hard to access medical services. so, across the north—west, there will be more door—to—door testing, with the military drafted in to help and vaccination buses in those hard to reach communities. this isn't about asking for more than greater manchester's fair share, it is about saying we've got an opportunity now, with the resources on the ground and the extra support that we've got from the military, to go much faster in the next three weeks. on a sun—soaked afternoon in manchester, students at aidan and liv believe people are reaching the end of their tethers. i know think a lot of people are getting fed up, especially now it's,

like, nice weather. we just don't really want to be indoors all the time. _ like we want to get out and do stuff. i and this student, meeting a friend for the first time in nine months, hopes this isn't the prelude to more restrictions. it's been lockdown after lockdown, so this bit of freedom that we're tasting, if that was also taken away, i don't know how people would cope. mentally, physically — it's just exhausting. surge testing will help identify cases but it's vaccinations that are the key to stopping the virus and will keep the gradual easing of restrictions we've all enjoyed on track. dominic hughes, bbc news, manchester. the latest official figures on the pandemic show that in the past 2a hours, 13 deaths were reported and there have been 6,048 new infections, which means an average of 5,526 new cases per day in the last week. nearly 113,000 people received a first dose of the vaccine in the latest 2a hour period, meaning more than 40.5

million people have now had theirfirstjab — 77% of uk adults. the number of people who've had their second dose of the vaccine in the latest 2a hour period, is over 306,000. more than 28.2 million have had both doses — meaning nearly 54% of uk adults are fully vaccinated. 0ur health editor hugh pym is here. as we look at all of these latest developments, where are we in this journey towards during the 21st and boris johnson's journey towards during the 21st and borisjohnson�*s big decision on whether they are completely getting rid of restrictions?— rid of restrictions? there are many movin: rid of restrictions? there are many moving parts _ rid of restrictions? there are many moving parts here. _ rid of restrictions? there are many moving parts here. lots _ rid of restrictions? there are many moving parts here. lots of - rid of restrictions? there are many moving parts here. lots of data . moving parts here. lots of data being analysed every day by officials and government scientists. the general picture is across the uk, cases are raising really quite fast but from a low base, much below the peak injanuary. hospital numbers remain relatively low, no sign of a spike and it's being

observed that the previous link between rising cases and pressure on hospitals is much less evident because of the vaccines. that being said, hospitaladmissions because of the vaccines. that being said, hospital admissions are creeping up in england, again from a low base, according to the latest available figures and i think scientists and others advising the government will say they would rather have a few more weeks of data before saying that lifting restrictions is a good thing. they want to know how transmissible this variant is, how fast it spreads but it is ministers who will make the critical decisions. 0n the vaccines front, today in england, nearly 500,000 appointments were booked after it was opened up to 25—year—olds and over first thing this morning. that is more than double the amount for the whole of yesterday. officials are saying it is like a glastonbury style rush. that is seen as very positive but what really counts is double

vaccination and almost half the population haven't had that. hugh pym, many thanks. let's stay with the pandemic. the head of ryanair, michael o'leary, has made his most critical remarks so far about the uk government's foreign travel policy. there's been widespread frustration across the travel industry following the decision to switch portugal from the green list to amber. mr o'leary claimed the decision on portugal was not based on "any science" and he accused ministers of making it up as they went along. but the government says its position is clear, and that people should not be travelling to destinations on either amber or red lists. our transport correspondent caroline davies reports. the deep blues of greece's islands, the mediterranean coves in spain and the sun—drenched beaches of portugal — all now on the amber list, legal to go to, but against government advice. several government ministers today said they're planning to stay in the uk. many people, myself included, are coming to the conclusion

that we should all be staying home and enjoying the beautiful weather here in the uk. you should not be travelling to countries on that amber list all the red list. the industry says it's causing more confusion. well, i can think of no better. reason for uk citizens to travel abroad to europe this summer other than to avoid the incompetent - ministers there who will be holidaying at home. - why are these government ministers . telling vaccinated british citizens . and their families that they should stay at home? _ it's mindless, and it makes no sense. i at gatwick, there were few passengers heading out today. i just think they should've made it red or green, you know, you can either go or you can't. well, to be fair, i haven't seen my family for a while, so i would be going anyway, regardless. psychologically, i really feel like i need to go. l gatwick is very quiet today. there were only around 60 or so flights in and out. the industry had never thought it was going to reach 2019 passenger levels. many people will choose to stay in the uk this year,

but it also hadn't predicted there would be so few countries on the green list and it's still trying to work out how that affects its operations. while some operators continue to travel to amber list countries, jet2 has currently decided it won't. a family of four coming back having all those tests, it's a lot of money. people can't afford it. and also, it's all right for white collar workers saying, "oh, well, i'll work from home for ten days and quarantine," if you're a hospitality worker, a supermarket worker, you can't do that. so, therefore, it's just a nonstarter for a lot of our customers. the next review of countries to go on the list will happen in less than three weeks' time, but at the moment, the industry feels the tide is pulling against them. caroline davies, bbc news. a worldwide operation organised by the fbi has led to the arrests of hundreds of suspected members of organised crime. gangs around the world were tricked into using a secure messaging app — what they didn't know

was that the app was developed by federal agents, who were able to monitor millions of messages about drug dealing, money laundering and planned murders. our security correspondent, gordon corera, has the story. a shipment of tuna cans coming from ecuador into europe with more than 600 kilos of cocaine hidden inside, all discovered by law enforcement. more cocaine wrapped up with a batman label, a picture of it sent on a phone that criminals thought was secure, but which was really a trap. that trap was sprung today... ..as law enforcement around the world made their move, with a wave of arrests against multiple organised crime groups. criminals believe that using a system called anom secured their communications. the problem was that the person behind it was an undercover informant for the fbi. they started by giving 50 devices to criminals in australia, people like this man,

hakan ayik, now on the run, who in turn recommended it to others, unwittingly helping the authorities. so, how did it all work? the system was run by the fbi and australian federal police, who were able to access communications between 10,000 devices. 20 million messages were intercepted from more than 90 countries. details about drug deals, money—laundering and planned murders were accessed. it was effectively a wiretap on the criminal underworld around the globe. the biggest users of the device were in germany, spain, the netherlands, serbia and australia. there are some investigations in the uk, although the device was not widely used here. the amount of intelligence that we received was staggering. from seizing drugs, guns and millions of dollars in multiple currencies, to addressing more

than 150 threats to life. in australia, there've been more than 200 arrests. police say the information even helped thwart a machine—gun attack in a cafe. and in europe today, there was more evidence of the operation�*s success. for nine months, we have been receiving intelligence to build criminal cases, and we have also had information that has helped us to prevent more than ten planned murders within sweden. this operation has dealt a serious blow to organised crime, not only because of those arrested, but because those still at large will not be sure who or what they can trust. gordon corera, bbc news. the environment secretary george eustice has said it would be "bonkers" if sausages made in great britain were banned from sale in northern ireland because of post—brexit border arrangements.

the uk is considering extending a grace period so that shops in northern ireland can continue selling chilled meats produced in england, scotland or wales. but the eu has warned it will take firm action if the uk government doesn't honour the agreement it signed. our ireland correspondent emma vardy has the latest. keeping supermarket shelves stocked in northern ireland has become a lot more complicated since the uk left the eu, and the movement of chilled meat products, like sausages and chicken nuggets, from britain, is about to be banned when a grace period finishes at the end of this month. there is an outright ban, a prohibition on those goods flowing. so it's not possible to comply, and we have to ask the question: in the cold light of day, does it really make sense to ban the sale of sausages and chicken nuggets manufactured in great britain from being sold anywhere in northern ireland? clearly, that is bonkers. the uk government's already upset

the eu by unilaterally changing the dates on when new rules for food products come into force and now it risks doing that again. but unless it gets some agreement, shoppers in northern ireland will no longer be able to buy the likes of scottish haggis and cumberland sausages any more. the brexit deal meant that food which comes over the irish sea from britain is now subject to new paperwork and checks, to avoid checks on the sensitive land border with the irish republic. but the new arrangements are still causing disruption for businesses. uk suppliers are now only waking up to the realities of paperwork, the complexity of moving goods from gb to ni and so those delays are happening at ports, hauliers are having hassle. loyalists believe the new brexit arrangements are a betrayal of northern ireland and a weakening of their british identity. our prime minister, borisjohnson, who sold northern ireland down the river to achieve his brexit!

protest parades are now regularly being held. how to approach the tensions over brexit will be one of the biggest challenges for the man nominated to be northern ireland's new first minister. paul givan is set to take over from arlene foster. the uk and eu meet tomorrow, with the supermarket industry urging both sides to find compromise. it's going to be up to the uk and the eu, what we need them to do is live up to their commitments, where they said that the protocol would be put in place with the least disruption to northern ireland communities. the eu has warned that if the uk takes matters into its own hands again by changing the rules of the deal, there could be financial consequences. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. armed forces from the us and other western nations are facing a new threat in iraq. on two occasions, american airbases have come under attack from iranian—made drones fitted with explosives.

it follows earlier rocket attacks on western forces but commanders say the drones are a "game changer" in terms of threat. iran denies involvement, but its proxies in iraq, the shia militia, have been growing in strength. what is in effect a shadow war is taking place between the us and iran with iraq as the battleground. and iraqis are paying the price — as our middle east correspondent quentin sommerville reports from syria and iraq. american troops have grown used to being in iraq. still watchful, they move between here and syria almost as if the border didn't exist. they came to help fight the islamic state group. thatjob is almost done, but another war is taking place here, mostly in the shadows. we are the only people operating in this part of the world. the louisiana national guard have

been operating here in north—eastern syria for about as long asjoe biden has been president. the number of americans here and in iraq keeps shrinking. there about 2,500 of them now. the mission here, their enemy, is the islamic state group, but that is far from the greatest danger americans face here. us air bases have been targeted twice in recent months by iranian—made military grade drones. this is the aftermath of a drone strike which destroyed a cia warehouse. and in baghdad, iran's proxies are running rampant. here they are cutting off the city's diplomatic green zone after one

of their leaders was arrested. inside, the united states remains mostly silent. it's focused instead on its nuclear negotiations and is fearful of giving fuel to hardliners in iran's elections. from the us, there has been no military response yet to recent attacks. beyond this fortress, a terror campaign is under way. if you're western forces, you are fighting the islamic state group, you can be here in the centre of baghdad and you can be relatively safe, but the situation outside these walls is far more grim. and the people out there and all across iraq don't have the luxury of that protection. chanting young iraqis took to the streets to protest, among other things, foreign interference in their country. and they have been slaughtered. almost 700 have been cut down.

they blame pro—iranian militia. and they chant, "who killed me?" please, have a seat. ali mohammed wants to know who it was that shot dead his brother.

across the middle east, iran and the united states continue to face off, but the victims in this shadow war are rarely americans, nor iranians. they are, once again, the people of iraq. quentin sommerville, bbc news, baghdad. the former bosnian serb commander, ratko mladic, has lost his appeal against a 2017 conviction for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. un judges upheld mladic�*s life

sentence for his role in the killing of around 8,000 bosnian muslim men and boys in srebrenica in 1995. the president of france emmanuel macron has been slapped in the face during an official visit to the south—east of france. the incident happened outside the city of valence and was shown on a video circulating on social media. french media reported that two men have since been arrested. on the 1st ofjuly, voters will head to the polls in a parliamentary by—election in the west yorkshire seat of batley and spen. it was held by labour's tracy brabin in 2019 but she resigned after being elected as mayor of west yorkshire last month. the contest is seen as a big test for labour and its leader sir keir starmer in a region where labour has suffered heavy losses in recent years. the race is more difficult to predict because there are no fewer than 16 candidates standing — as our political correspondent alex forsyth reports.

the pitch is rolled, and it's all to play for. these voters are at the heart of a fierce contest to choose their next mp, and at this local bowls club, they know what they want delivered. bus service is not all that brilliant for people like older people who need them. the high street, probably. it's very sad in batley, i think. many here talk of the need to understand an area that can feel overlooked. the conservatives know what working men's aspirations are, _ whereas the labour party usually | tell us what our aspirations are. | the tories have recently shifted the political landscape, tapping into frustration in post—industrial areas with the promise of a better future. it's what their candidate, ryan stevenson, wants to replicate in this once—thriving textile town. and this local community leader and new tory member thinks there is a chance. i think it's just about people not feeling that, "look, just because i'm born in a certain

town or live in a certain town, i'm never going to be able to earn as much money or get as good a job as somebody in the south." if that perception can change, but it's backed up by real opportunities, then i think people will be happy about that. but labour's roots here do run deep. we only do it for labour. i working class will vote for labour, i always have done and always will do. this was the seat ofjo cox before she was murdered. her legacy is still felt. now her sister, kim leadbeater, is standing for labour, pledging to be a local champion. and this party member and local volunteer thinks their candidate's community ties could be key. for a long time since the mantra of the northern powerhouse, we haven't actually seen anything change on the ground, and the increase in poverty over the last ten years has been really sad for me to watch. so, that's why i think the labour party needs to win. there's a lot at stake in this

contest for the two main parties, but in particular labour. a win here is crucial after the party's recent losses in the region. but the contest here is complicated, with different factors at play. at the general election, a local independent party came third with a chunk of the vote, and this time a host of smaller parties and some high—profile candidates are standing. among them, george galloway, a controversial former mp who's causing nerves in labour with his pitch to the area's sizable muslim community. at this local centre, which focuses on welfare and well—being, there is scepticism among the more senior members about the political mainstream. why do we only have two main parties? why is there just, you know, labour or conservative? you know, how democratic is that? i'm going to be thinking a lot more than what i used to do before. - a lot of people in this constituency, that's. what they'll be doing as well. this will be a fierce fight, with so much at stake

for the political contenders and the community, too. alex forsyth, bbc news, batley and spen. and you can find a full list of candidates on the bbc news website — that's bbc.co.uk/news. football — and just days before england start their euros campaign — marcus rashford has told the bbc that the gesture of taking the knee sends a powerful message about fighting racism and injustice and the team will continue to do it. there was booing from a small section of england fans when the team took the knee at the start of their final warm—up game against romania on sunday. our correspondent natalie pirks looks at the challenges the team will face — both on and off the field. it's important in tournaments to get off to a winning start. gareth southgate played the media at darts today hoping to continue a relationship that's been largely

supportive, unlike a vocal minority of fans lately. commentator: so, the game about to begin, well, - that is quite a reaction... booing ..to the players taking the knee. there was a lot of booing there. players kneeling for racial equality has proved a gesture too divisive for some. for any supporters who continue to boo during the tournament, though, recent england captain marcus rashford has a message. we're notjust going to quit because some people disagree with it for whatever reasons, so that's our thought process behind it. we're going to stick at it. we believe that it's a strong and powerful message, and because we believe that, why would we not do it in a massive european tournament? if people are booing it, i feel like it's something they need to address with themselves as to why they're booing it. rather optimistically, southgate says they'll park all talk of booing fans now and move on to football.

the big dilemma he has is how to balance exuberance with experience.