this is bbc news, i'm rebecca jones. the headlines: president biden and borisjohnson prepare for their first face to face meeting as leaders this afternoon, on the eve of the g7 summit. the prime minister will be urged by the president not to let the dispute with the eu over post—brexit trading in northern ireland affect the peace process. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic but admitted lessons need to be learned. girls as young as 11 are being sexually harassed at school — the education watchdog warns that harrassment is becoming normalised

among young people. amateur astronomers across the northern hemipshere are treated to a partial eclipse of the sun. and on what would have been the duke of edinburgh's 100th birthday, the earl of wessex talks to us about remembering his father. i think that we go ahead and we celebrate what might have been in his life, and i think we try to turn it into something that's very positive. the us presidentjoe biden will hold talks with borisjohnson in cornwall in the new few hours, at the start of his first overseas tour since taking office. the two leaders are meeting

on the eve of the g7 summit and will agree a new atlantic charter, aimed at refreshing the relationship between the uk and us. but tensions about post—brexit trade arrangements for northern ireland threaten to overshadow their discussions. our diplomatic correspondent james landale reports from cornwall. president biden arriving in cornwall late last night. his first steps on foreign soil since taking office, the start of a trip to sign to show that, after the years of donald trump, america is back and ready to work with allies. it's a scallop... and the first of those allies is britain, borisjohnson — here visiting a school this morning — has never met mr biden, who once called him an emotional clone of mr trump. but all that will be put aside as prime minister and president seek to reaffirm the relationship between their two countries. archive: many happy scenes marked

this all-too-brief visit, _ the second to be made to this country by the american president... presidential visits have changed over the years but they still have a canny way of revealing the state of us/uk relations. the fact mr biden�*s chosen to come here first shows that he sees a relationship as important but also, perhaps, in need of repair. and to do that, guarded by the prince of wales — one of britain's new aircraft carriers — the prime minister and the president will sign a new atlantic charter, an update of the text agreed by winston churchill and franklin roosevelt in 1941, that shaped the post—war world. agreeing new ways of cooperating on global challenges as well as discussing opening up travel with the us. but for all the warm words and pictures, there is one issue of immediate friction, namely the row between the uk and the eu over post—brexit trade across the irish sea. president biden�*s diplomats have made it very clear in public and in private

that they would not welcome anything that would, in their words, imperil peace in northern ireland. the uk is resisting opposing checks on some goods heading for northern ireland. the eu says this breaches a protocol both sides agreed to try to avoid a hard border between the north and the irish republic. and the eu is firmly put the row on the g7 agenda. this agreement has not to be put in place, it's about implementing what has been agreed. once again, often the devil is in the detail, so therefore we showed and we will show flexibility on specific topics, but the overall frame is set and it has to be implemented now. so, the g7 leaders, portrayed here in a recycled pastiche of mount rushmore, will start arriving later for a summit already distracted by an existing row.

the bigger challenges of the covid pandemic and climate change await them in coming days. our north america editor jon sopel set out what to expect from the day. i'v e i've just been i'vejust been on i've just been on a briefing with senior white house officials and they say it's absolutely fitting thatjoe biden�*s first overseas visit should be to the uk and first meeting with a foreign leader on foreign soil should be with the british prime minister, given the shared values and common history that our two country share. so that's all fine about the special relationship. i think they will be talking about things like technology, science, medicine, perhaps reopening flights to the us at some point in the future. all things that are shared. the thing that struck me at the briefing is that struck me at the briefing is that the senior white house official didn't say a word about northern ireland, the northern ireland protocol. i think the americans, for public consumption, wanting to focus on what unites britain in the us,

rather than what divides them. our chief political correspondent adam fleming said that while brexit is not on the agenda, it will influence the talks. looming over the horizon there is one of the uk's new aircraft carriers, the prince of wales, which will provide a dramatic backdrop to that first face—to—face meeting between boris johnson that first face—to—face meeting between borisjohnson and that first face—to—face meeting between boris johnson and joe that first face—to—face meeting between borisjohnson and joe biden. i think number 10 will be hoping brexit doesn't in fact loom over that conversation as well. i think number 10 will be hoping they can impress upon the president that the unionist community in northern ireland is worried about the disruption to trade between great britain and northern ireland as a result of the protocol and they have gotjust result of the protocol and they have got just as result of the protocol and they have gotjust as much right under the good friday agreement to be happy, which may mean that the pressure is an equally applied to the uk and the eu by the american president, and this disappears from the g7 as an agenda item. it's actually not even officially on the agenda. templates

would much rather that today are focusing on the brand—new, updated atlantic charter, looking at cooperation between the us and the uk and security, on trades, and technology but then tomorrow, they would much rather we were focusing on all the pledges that might be made about donating vaccines to poorer countries on saturday, strengthening supply chains, so there is never an every man for himself dash for ppe if there's pandemic again. and on sunday, how the seven democratic countries and their four invited guests stand up to less democratic countries like russia and china. next four days will tell. as g7 leaders arrive for their summit in cornwall, young people from around the globe have been discussing what they expect from world leaders meeting in st ives. we'll be finding out what under—25s think about the covid—19 pandemic, gender equality and climate change. join matthew amroliwala from a.30pm for a special programme on the news channel.

the health secretary matt hancock has rejected accusations made by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic. under questioning by mps, mr hancock said he was aware at the start of the pandemic that 820,000 people could die from covid—19 but that ordering an earlier lockdown would have meant going against scientific advice. 0ur political correspondentjonathan blake was listening to the session. he has been at the forefront of the response of the pandemic throughout but matt hancock has been accused of incompetence and lies. the health secretary would today have his say on the decisions he and others talk that shaped the uk's handling of coronavirus. claim by claim, accusations by the prime minister's former adviser dominic cummings were put

to mr hancock, that he told the prime minister people in hospital would be tested for covid—19 before returning to care homes. we set out a policy that people would be tested when tests were available. and then i set about building the testing capacity to be able to deliver on that. that he had blamed the chancellor and others for blocking orders of personal protective equipment. no, that is not a fair recollection of the situation. and a direct question. did you ever say anything to the prime minister that you knew not to be true? no. dominic cummings has been asked to provide evidence for his explosive claims a fortnight ago but so far has not done so. matt hancock said that was telling and accused the former adviser of undermining him. i worked directly with the prime

minister from the start of this, and of course, i worked with his aides and his team as well, and i have no idea. did you know he wanted the prime minister to fire you? yes, because he briefed the newspapers at the time. 0r somebody briefed the newspapers, i now have a better idea of who it was. beyond the clash of personalities that has given us two different version of events, there were bigger questions today about the government handling of the coronavirus pandemic early on, and how well—equipped the uk was to deal with such a scenario. accused of mps by locking down too late, mr hancock said ministers were advised the public would not comply for long despite being aware of the potential loss of life. i was given the planning assumption based on spanish flu, and it was signed off at cobra on the 31st of january. that was a planning assumption for 820,000 deaths and i was determined that that

would not happen on my watch. and the health secretary gave an insight into the stark choices he and others faced. i remember the moment around the cabinet table when i said, "we are going to have to tell everybody to stop all social contact." and i remember thinking, this is the most extraordinary thing i have ever said. and the prime minister said, "yes, we are. you had better go and tell them." let's speak now to anita astle, director the situation in care homes in the number of deaths in care homes was a big part of that discussion today. let's speak now to anita astle, director of the national care association. thank you forjoining us, and i wonder what you may do what you heard from matt hancock today? i

haven't actually been able to hear a lot of it because i've been on duty but the snippets that i've heard, i don't know what the purpose of it is. what we actually need is an independent inquiries that's going to look at the facts, that's going to look at the facts, that's going to look at things that can be evidenced as to what actually happens. and until we get that, we're not going to move forward. it might be worth reminding us, what was happening in care homes at the height of the pandemic. 0r was happening in care homes at the height of the pandemic. or perhaps i should say, at the beginning of the pandemic. should say, at the beginning of the andemic. ~ ., , ., pandemic. well, at the beginning of the pandemic. _ pandemic. well, at the beginning of the pandemic, when _ pandemic. well, at the beginning of the pandemic, when we _ pandemic. well, at the beginning of the pandemic, when we knew - pandemic. well, at the beginning of the pandemic, when we knew it - pandemic. well, at the beginning of the pandemic, when we knew it was pandemic. well, at the beginning of. the pandemic, when we knew it was in other countries are not our own, not a lot was happening, really. i think that's where the failings first

started. at the beginning of the pandemic in the uk, from a care provider is�* point of view, we couldn't source ppe that was vitally needed to. and in some cases, we were being told that the ppe had been diverted to the nhs. so, again, there's lots of anecdotal evidence that we are told, there's information that we know, there's information that we know, there's information we can evidence, and until we've had an independent review, then we're not going to know exact what did happen, what could have happened and what we need to do in the future to make sure that we don't make the same mistakes again. matt hancock said this morning, from the start, we try to throw a protective ring around our care homes. he said more funding was put

in, ppe was available and the government set up guidelines for care homes. is that not how you see it, is that what you're saying? in the beginning, for quite a it, is that what you're saying? ii the beginning, for quite a length of time in the first wave, that is not how we experience it. later on, there was ppe that came, that was sourced by the government that we could access and we can still access that today. there was guidance, there was a pretty poor guidance, and there was better guidance as time went on and as care providers and care providing trade associations were meeting with the government and changing what was in the guidance. so, fortunately, things got better, but it did take a

lot of time for things to get better. and i think the tragic thing is, people lost their lives in the process. and we need to make sure that doesn't happen again. figs process. and we need to make sure that doesn't happen again.- that doesn't happen again. as you sa , a lot that doesn't happen again. as you say. a lot of— that doesn't happen again. as you say, a lot of people _ that doesn't happen again. as you say, a lot of people did _ that doesn't happen again. as you say, a lot of people did lose - that doesn't happen again. as you say, a lot of people did lose their| say, a lot of people did lose their lives in the process, people lost loved ones. are you saying that you believe deaths could have been avoided? , , ., , _, avoided? definitely, deaths could have been avoided, _ avoided? definitely, deaths could have been avoided, deaths - avoided? definitely, deaths could have been avoided, deaths didn't| have been avoided, deaths didn't need to be at the level that they have been. but that's not one person's fault. if we look at society as a whole, many of us made mistakes. many of us ignored requests or instruction to lockdown. again, ifeel i'm broke and reckoned here, but until we'll got an independent inquiry around what

happens, how seriously was it taken by the relevant people, you're not going to know, we're not going to lessons, and learning lessons is the important thing. that's what we owe the people who lost lives. i important thing. that's what we owe the people who lost lives.— the people who lost lives. i suppose the people who lost lives. i suppose the argument _ the people who lost lives. i suppose the argument that _ the people who lost lives. i suppose the argument that matt _ the people who lost lives. i suppose the argument that matt hancock - the people who lost lives. i suppose| the argument that matt hancock and the argument that matt hancock and the government would know forward is that the decisions, especially in those early days and months, were made in the fog of war, so to speak. they had to make decisions and make them quickly, perhaps not always knowing the full facts, is that fair? i knowing the full facts, is that fair? ., �* ~' ., knowing the full facts, is that fair? ~' ., �* knowing the full facts, is that fair? ., �* 4' ., �* ., fair? i don't know, i'm not in their circles. i would _ fair? i don't know, i'm not in their circles. i would have _ fair? i don't know, i'm not in their circles. i would have thought, - fair? i don't know, i'm not in their circles. i would have thought, and this is me as a registered nurse, i would have thought there would have been experts in the field of infection, pandemic, who study these things that would know what the

impact was going to be. it wasn't that... the uk wasn't the first country that was affected, so how will covid affected china, that then it gave us an indication of what we needed to do. it then went to italy and spain before we succumbed, as we have. so then i'm sure there would be information that could have been acted on. the scientists and politicians may say it was acted on but again, until we know what was the information, what was done and what could have been done, then we don't know whether mistakes were made in the way that i personally presume mistakes were made. thank ou ve presume mistakes were made. thank

you very much- _ there are stark regional variations in the number of people waiting more than a year for routine surgery across england. new analysis of nhs data shows that parts of essex have the highest proportion of people waiting more than 12 months for care, with the longest delays in orthopaedics. and the latest figures show the number of people waiting to start hospital treatment in england has risen above five million for the first time. nhs england says it has created a £1 billion fund to get services back to pre—covid levels. sophie hutchinson has the details. this is how the nhs is trying to build up capacity, in a car park at a hospital in south—west london they are putting up temporary operating theatres. the nhs is facing an unprecedented huge backlog of patients needing treatment due to delays caused by the pandemic. during the first and second wave we were able to keep up with the most important

and clinically urgent cancer and non—cancer surgery, but a significant backlog of less clinically urgent but important work built up, so we've created this facility with four new operating theatres to help south—west london catch up with that backlog. the latest figures show that more than 5 million people were waiting for hospital treatment in england in april. around a million more than the same time two years ago. i can't walk very far. i get what's called spasticity, when your limbs lock and your fingers lock and your hands lock. rachel tomlinson has multiple sclerosis, a type that causes progressive disability. there is a relatively new drug which can slow down the disease. 16 months ago she was told she needed the scan to see if she was eligible but because of the pandemic she is still waiting for an appointment. there is no doubting my illness has

progressed and this drug can slow it down and i kind of feel like i'm missing out on the opportunity for that to happen. across england, the highest proportion of people with the longest waits for treatment are in essex, followed by blackpool, parts of north—east london and norfolk. this doctor in norfolk and waveney says their workload has increased significantly because they are having to cope with the fallout of patients who can't get hospital treatment. it's hugely frustrating people coming and i'm sitting down and you know exactly what you need to do and you are having say, listen, this is not going to be a quick fix and i have no other options but to just keep them going, and that is probably the most difficult thing. nhs england says average weights for non—urgent care have come down to 11 weeks and the number of people

with the longest waits has fallen by more than 50,000 in april. with millions of people not even making it onto waiting lists because they've not yet been referred. i want to bring you some news just into us from our business unit — the european central bank has decided against any immediate reduction in economic stimulus measures designed to combat the effects of the covid pandemic, following the latest meeting of its governing council. it has also kept interest rates on hold. the ecb president christine lagarde said there was moderate optimism generated by vaccination programmes, and evidence of recovery in the manufacturing and services sectors. but she admitted there was also still a great deal of uncertainty over the evolution of the pandemic, including the emergence of new variants, and over the rate at which current restrictions

on normal life could be lifted. so that is a snapshot about the current european response to the pandemic. girls as young as 11 have experienced sexual harassment in secondary schools in england. a review by 0fsted found that nine out of ten girls at schools and colleges said they had experienced sexist name calling or been sent explicit images. many of the incidents went unreported, which the watchdog warns is leading to sexual harassment becoming normalised among young people. zoe conway reports. it doesn't matter who you are, any age, you will experience as a woman sexual harassment. it is normalised and it is ok for men to do these things to women and young girls and there's not enough of a consequence. lucy and kerry have now left school but they remember how hard it was being sent sexually explicit images by other pupils

on social media. i have received more than i can count on my hands images of privates that i didn't want to see, and the first port of call is to go to your mum but other than that it is really hard to know what to do because you feel very vulnerable in the situation and you feel like i don't want to see that! actual harassment has become normalised, so much so that it is not a surprise any more and it isjust brushed off. it is nothing that we think of is out of the ordinary, it has become so normalised that most women have experienced it whether in the street or on social media. 0fsted visited 32 schools and colleges to investigate sexual abuse in schools. inspectors were shocked by what they heard. nearly 90% of girls told 0fsted they or their peers had been sent on wanted explicit images, nearly 50% of boys said they or their peers had been sent on social media.

children said sexual harassment had become normalised and said most children felt that sex education they received in the school does not help them to navigate these issues. because it is something that is difficult for adolescents to talk to adults about, it is something the scale of which is still significantly underestimated by schools and colleges and adults more generally. 0fsted wants to see schools making time to teach children how to cope with online abuse and they want to see more training for teachers. it's not ok to bully a peer into sharing a nude against their will and it is certainly not ok to then post it on a whatsapp group to all of yourfriends. and yet, for so many young people, that has become commonplace, and we absolutely need to work together to reset that cultural dial. the government says it wants to bring together tech companies, the police, schools and charities so that online sexual abuse is anything but normal.

a woman who lost herjob after saying that people cannot change their biological sex has won an employment appeal tribunal. maya forstater didn't have her contract renewed at a think tank after posting a series of tweets questioning government plans to let people declare their own gender. today, a judge ruled her original tribunal erred in law. 0ur correspondent charlotte wright is with me. has significantly legally is this ruling? has significantly legally is this rulin: ? , has significantly legally is this rulina? , , , has significantly legally is this rulina? ,, ,., has significantly legally is this rulina? ,, . ruling? this sets a precedent in future employment _ ruling? this sets a precedent in future employment cases - ruling? this sets a precedent in future employment cases so . ruling? this sets a precedent in - future employment cases so people who might find themselves in a similar position may find that they have a case too for unfair dismissal. this essentially boils down to the issue of freedom of speech versus what is acceptable to say on a very sensitive subject. this woman

fundamentally believes that humans cannot change sex, this is what you said in her tweets back in 2018. her employer says that that presents an existential threat to trans people, her former employer, existential threat to trans people, herformer employer, i existential threat to trans people, her former employer, i should say. they chose not to renew her contract. she argues that this discrimination, she was discriminated against, according to the equality act. a tribunal in 2019 disagreed with her and said that her view is incompatible with human dignity and therefore did not meet the equality act criteria. that was overwrought today, following this appeal by knox ate the judge said that gender critical beliefs are protected under the equality act and this was the reaction from her today. when the government was consulting on self id, it was women who were most concerned and then it was women's voices that were shut down. i'm just an ordinary woman, i'm a mother, i was on mumsnet,

but i'm also a policy researcher, and i thought i should be able to tweet about this, and then when i couldn't i became and then when i couldn't, i became the test case. thisjudgment is this judgment is more than 60 thisjudgment is more than 60 pages long and it is very specific. it says that it doesn't mean that trans people do not have protection against discrimination and harassment in the equality act but it doesn't mean that those gender critical beliefs can miss gender trans people with immunity. this is something for charity stonewall has pointed to in their response to it. to say, while this news may be hard to hear, we must be aware that this case has no bearing on the protection trans people have in the workplace and that all trans people to search to be treated with respect, dignity and humanity while at work. . ~ respect, dignity and humanity while at work. ., ~ , ., now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. contrasting conditions across the country today the best of the sun

shone across eastern england and a lot more cloud than recent days. the cloud fixture bid for a few showers in the south west, misty and murky and some rain into the far north west, so temperatures peaking at 16 but elsewhere, low to mid 20s. as we move through thursday evening and overnight, that weather front will continue to push across scotland, introducing more cloud, generally quite a cloudy night, quite muggy as well, uncomfortable for sleeping with temperature sting widely into the mid—teens. another muggy start on friday, a lot of low cloud first thing. this weather front will introduce more cloud across northern england and wales, squeezing the once into the southeast corner, with 25 degrees, just that little bit fresher following on behind.

hello, this is bbc news.

the headlines. president biden and borisjohnson prepare for their first face to face the prime minister will be urged by the president not to let the dispute with the eu over post—brexit trading in northern ireland affect the peace process. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted lessons need to be learned. girls as young as 11 are being sexually harassed at school — the education watchdog warns that harrassment is becoming normalised among young people. amateur astronomers across the northern emipshere are treated to a partial eclipse of the sun. and, on what would have been the duke of edinburgh's 100th birthday, the earl of wessex talks to us about remembering his father.

sport now, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's chetan. ifi if i could i would be be at edgbaston but the next best things is talking to you. thank, you. good afternoon. first to edgbaston, where england are taking on new zealand in the second and deciding test. up to 18,000 fans are allowed because it's a government test event. the build up was overshadowed by a number of offensive historical tweets from england players coming to light — and ollie robinson's suspension following his racist and sexist tweets from 2012 and 2013. again, the england players wore t—shirts against discrimination. james anderson is now england's most capped player on 162, overtaking former captain alistair cook. england won the toss and chose to bat, burns and sibley took them steadily to lunch without any problems, but new zealand have since taken three quick wickets.

england slipping from 72 to without loss to 85—3. dom sibley dismissed by matt henry and then zack crawley gone for a duck. captainjoe root the third to go, out for four, henry's second england are currently 108—3. britain'sjoe salisbury is a french open champion after winning the mixed doubles final this afternoon with his american partner desirae krawczyk. they came back from losing the first set 6—2 against russia's aslan karatsev and elena vesnina — to win the second set and force a deciding tie—break, which they went on to win10—5. john lloyd was the last man to win in the mixed doubles final at rolland garros in 1982. it's salisbury�*s second grand slam title, after he won the men's doubles at the australian open last year. it's women's semi finals day at rolland garros. all four players in action

have never made it this far at a grand slam. later maria sakarri, who put out the defending champion iga swiatek, takes on barbora krejcikova. but out on court at the moment are anastasia pavlyuchenkova and tamara zidansek. zidansek had never been beyond the second round of a major until now. she's ranked 85th in the world, and hoping to beat pavyluchenkova — the russian player seeded 31st who'd been knocked out in six grand slam quarter—finals before she beat elena rybakina on tuesday. meanwhile warming up for wimbledon, britain'sjo konta is into the quarter finals of the nottingham 0pen after beating kateryna kozlova. she beat the ukranian player 6—2, 1—6, 6—3. celtic have announced that ange postecoglou

will become the club's new manager with immediate effect. the greek born australian, joins from japanese side yokohama f marinos. he's spent most of his managerial career in australia, and led the country's national team to world cup qualification in 2018. celtic say the 55—year—old will be in glasgow as soon as covid protocols allow. the countdown continues to euro 2020. wales will be the first of the home nations to get under way when they play switzerland in azerbaijan on satuday. hywell griffith is in baku for us. a big feature of euro 2016 was welsh fans having their first taste of tournament football and following their team round france. it this time covid has made things very different, with the welsh government and the football association of wales asking supporters not to come here to baku, thousands have cancelled their flight but a few hundred have still made the journey, knowing they face ten days of self—isolation when they eventually get back home. speaking to defender

ben davis earlier, he said it is disappointing there won't be thousands in the stand on saturday, but he is glad there will be a few hundred there.— but he is glad there will be a few hundred there. selfishly i am happy the are hundred there. selfishly i am happy they are here. _ hundred there. selfishly i am happy they are here, but, _ hundred there. selfishly i am happy they are here, but, yeah, _ hundred there. selfishly i am happy they are here, but, yeah, that- hundred there. selfishly i am happy they are here, but, yeah, that has i they are here, but, yeah, that has been _ they are here, but, yeah, that has been their— they are here, but, yeah, that has been their decision and theirs only, so, yeah. _ been their decision and theirs only, so, yeah. on— been their decision and theirs only, so, yeah, on match day i will probably— so, yeah, on match day i will probably be happy they are here. the -la ers probably be happy they are here. iie: players trying to probably be happy they are here. "ii2 players trying to focus probably be happy they are here. i“i2 players trying to focus on probably be happy they are here. ii2 players trying to focus on that first game against switzerland on saturday, three points could be crucial in taking them out of the group, and trying to emulate the success of 2016. england 108—3 at edgbaston, you can follow that on the bbc sport website, all from me for now. back to you rebecca. a russian court has outlawed groups linked to jailed kremlin critic alexei navalny after declaring them "extremist. it's a move that bans his allies from elections due to take place in september. and it will further strain us—russia ties before a closely watched summit between president biden and president putin in geneva next week. aru na iyengar reports.

the full might of the russian state is bearing down on associates of alexei navalny, president putin's most prominent critic. the case against three organisations in navalny�*s network was brought by the office of moscow's top prosecutor. he says navalny�*s allies organised illegal street rallies that ended in mass unrest and that the court's decision is lawful and reasonable. the ruling effectively outlaws alexei navalny�*s political movement, with parliamentary elections just over three months away. it targets his anti—corruption foundation which produced a high—profile investigation into alleged official corruption. and navalny�*s regional campaign headquarters which have mobilised in the past to organise anti—kremlin protests. navalny himself is locked up,

serving a 2.5 yearjail term for violating the terms of parole in an embezzlement case, charges he says are politically motivated. the legal offensive mirrors others against far right groups, islamist organisations and jehovah's witnesses, which were also declared extremists and banned. mr navalny is expected to be the topic on an agenda of talks between the us and russian presidents at their first summit on june the 16th. i think it's clear that navalny�*s health and welfare are very much directly the responsibility of the kremlin now and i think that biden needs to make clear that is how they see it and they will be following it very closely, navalny�*s health and welfare and the entire crackdown. observers say the crackdown on dissent reflects fear and paranoia in the kremlin — there may be a testy exchange when the russian and american leaders meet next week.

life the stormont where the cabinet office michael gove has been meeting 0ffice michael gove has been meeting the new leader of the democratic unionist party. edwin poots. they are speaking to journalist, let us listen in. well, it would strike me that it is not well—informed, in that you know, the emperilling of the peace has been as a consequence of the protocol and because of the implementation of the protocol, and we have seen riots on the streets, in northern ireland, which we hadn't seen for many years, and i think the president would do well to reflect what the reality is the east—west relationships has been harmed. that

is unconstitutional, and the issue that regulation is being made on behalf of northern ireland, in brussels, without representation is something that is against democracy something that is against democracy s and the united states was always a country which wished to have democracy round the world, so i would like to think that united states would recognise and respect the democratic rights of people in northern ireland, to have some say over the pupil who are making the laws that are applied to them. it wasn't a vast majority, it was 56—44 and i think you folks don't think thatis and i think you folks don't think that is a significant majority, nonetheless, if every person in northern ireland had voted to stay within the european union, the decision would still have been to leave it, so, we have to recognise that brexit has happened because the

majority of people in the united kingdom wanted brexit to happen, and the second element of it is how do we ensure that we protect everybody in northern ireland, as best we can. how do we protect the sing market. i believe both can be achieved but not through this protocol.— believe both can be achieved but not through this protocol._ i l through this protocol. (inaudible) i think ou through this protocol. (inaudible) i think you are _ through this protocol. (inaudible) i think you are talking _ through this protocol. (inaudible) i think you are talking about - through this protocol. (inaudible) i think you are talking about the - think you are talking about the chilled foods and those chilled foodsings are commonly sold across our supermarkets, and very often, they are acquired by people who are on the lowest disposable incomes in northern ireland, so i think that the european union, the uk governments, find everybody else should be thinking about the people who can hardly afford to put food on their table before they start pouring in lots of additional costs, and ensuring that some after that food is no longer available, and consequently, leaving families without food on the table.

glp i haven't seen eevidence it can become workable _ glp i haven't seen eevidence it can become workable and _ glp i haven't seen eevidence it can become workable and the - glp i haven't seen eevidence it can | become workable and the european union haven't put forward arguments other than we are signed this protocol and everybody has to abide bit. this protocol, the implication were not fully understood i believe by either the european union or great britain when it was signed. i would say in terms of it the european union have been incredibly difficult when it has come to the issues so even my officials, whenever they make their arguments with officials in the european union and the officials in the european union, understand and get the arguments, no change happens because the politics won't allow it to that. that is not good enough. you can understand there is a problem, you can see there is a problem, but you

don't affect change because it doesn't suit your politics, that is not a way forward, european union have not demonstrated good faith when it comes to the protocol and you know, they have broken the protocol in no so many way, where is the smooth transition? where is the move to reduce the number of checks which is contained within protocol but none has been applied? so they are breakers of the protocol and how they have conducted themselves. (inaudible) my (inaudible) my preference is we do away with it all together. (inaudible) i am happy to meet arlene any _ (inaudible) i am happy to meet arlene any time, _ (inaudible) i am happy to meet arlene any time, if _ (inaudible) i am happy to meet arlene any time, if she - (inaudible) i am happy to meet arlene any time, if she wants l (inaudible) i am happy to meet| arlene any time, if she wants to meet me i will be happy to have the conversations with her. wish her well, i wish herfamily well, and you know, iwant well, i wish herfamily well, and you know, i want us all to move on and move forwards, and, you know,

keeping that relationship open, is something i would desire. (inaudible) i will be making my osition (inaudible) i will be making my position clear _ (inaudible) i will be making my position clear on _ (inaudible) i will be making my position clear on monday - (inaudible) i will be making my position clear on monday on . (inaudible) i will be making my i position clear on monday on that, there is the opportunity for a statement to be made in the house and i will hope to participate there. i would and i will hope to participate there. iwould be and i will hope to participate there. i would be hoping to do that on monday. reporter: ~ , ., reporter: minister how did your meetin: no reporter: minister how did your meeting 90 with _ reporter: minister how did your meeting go with the _ reporter: minister how did your meeting go with the sinn - reporter: minister how did your meeting go with the sinn fein - reporter: minister how did your i meeting go with the sinn fein leader yesterday? i thought we had a good meeting, and, the dynamics of the meeting, and, the dynamics of the meeting were good, we had a wide—ranging discussion across quite a lot of issues, and, it was business like and i was very happy with the meeting. (inaudible) i have publicly committed myself to new

decade, new approach and the implement of that. so, that is something they have committed to and i think that is something which should be encouraging for everyone. i have to admit to doing it. we have had a situation which has delayed a lot of progress in this mandate on new decade, new approach. let us look at it and how we can deliver it as quickly as possible. i don't see any reason it shouldn't be, the issues that we are talking about today, and one that i raised with cdl in particular was the 335,000 people on health waiting lists. now, for nae is pretty much the most important issue for politicians today. we have covid recovery and this morning, we are told that this delta variation is spreading, and we need to be ensuring that we get on top of that,

so, you know, not nominating anyone would be a hugely explosive thing to do, a wrong thing to do and it would be harmful to all of the people of northern ireland, whether you are unionist or nationalist. ok folks? thank you. unionist or nationalist. ok folks? thank you-— unionist or nationalist. ok folks? thank ou. ., ., thank you. so, that was the leader ofthe thank you. so, that was the leader of the democratic _ thank you. so, that was the leader of the democratic unionist - thank you. so, that was the leader of the democratic unionist party, l of the democratic unionist party, edwin poots talking to journalists there, sorry their questions were off mic but we could hear what mr poots had to say, clearly talking about the dispute between great britain and the european union over post—brexit trading in northern ireland. it is worth saying that the cabinet office minister michael gove has been in northern ireland today, and has had meetings with mr poots. he has said that the british, irish and american governments between great britain and the european union over post—brexit trading in northern ireland. it is worth saying that the cabinet office minister michael gove has been in northern ireland today, and has had meetings with mr poots.

he has said that the british, irish and american governments are all, and american governments are all, and i quote "on the same page over protecting the good friday agreement" and he played down differences over the northern ireland protocol. let us return to one off our other main stories. let's return to one of our main stories. a report by ofsted suggests that sexual harassment, online sexual abuse and sharing nude photos are becoming "normalised" among teenagers. in march, soma sara created a website inviting young survivors of sexual harassment and abuse to share their stories. since then, everyone's invited has received more than 15,000 anonymous testimonies. let's speak to soma now. it is good to you with us, i remember we talked on the day you did go public with the website. therefore i am very interested to know what you think about this report, in some ways it is so shocking, but i wonder how surprised you are be the severity of it. we are not you are be the severity of it. 2 are not surprised by the severity, we have been saying this since the

beginning that rape culture is everywhere and it is in all schools and that behaves such as sexual harassment and sexual abuse on line has become normalised, and commonplace. we welcome the 0fsted commonplace. we welcome the ofsted report, and we are relieved to the government and 0fsted are finally acknowledging the prevalence of this problem. acknowledging the prevalence of this roblem. ~ , 2 acknowledging the prevalence of this roblem. ~ i. acknowledging the prevalence of this roblem. ~ ., , ., problem. when you say finally, are ou problem. when you say finally, are you suggesting _ problem. when you say finally, are you suggesting it — problem. when you say finally, are you suggesting it has _ problem. when you say finally, are you suggesting it has taken - problem. when you say finally, are you suggesting it has taken too - you suggesting it has taken too long? i you suggesting it has taken too lona ? . , you suggesting it has taken too lona ? ., , ., ., long? i am. i believe that we have been feeling _ long? i am. i believe that we have been feeling survivors _ long? i am. i believe that we have been feeling survivors far - long? i am. i believe that we have been feeling survivors far too - long? i am. i believe that we have | been feeling survivors far too long, and —— failing. enough of what was revealed in the report was revealed backin revealed in the report was revealed back in 2016 yet we are still in the position where rape culture is rife inle schools throughout the country. why do you think it has taken until now, if you say they were raised in 2016, here we are in 2021why has it taken until now, why are we saying it has taking you, a 22—year—old to

make this happen? it is it has taking you, a 22-year-old to make this happen?— make this happen? it is not 'ust been me. — make this happen? it is not 'ust been me. a fi make this happen? it is not 'ust been me, a lot i make this happen? it is not 'ust been me, a lot of i make this happen? it is notjust been me, a lot of campaigners l make this happen? it is notjust i been me, a lot of campaigners and public figures and people have been speaking out about these issue, publicly. the first time. but you know, in reality this has always been happening. rape culture, you know, it is centuries—old, these problems have always existed. they are rooted in pate arical values and misogyny. are rooted in pate arical values and misoa n . ~ ., , are rooted in pate arical values and misoa n. ~ ., , ., are rooted in pate arical values and misoun. ., , ., are rooted in pate arical values and miso. n _ . ., , ., , ., ., misogyny. what needs to be done now, hel ouna misogyny. what needs to be done now, help young people? _ misogyny. what needs to be done now, help young people? i— misogyny. what needs to be done now, help young people? i believe _ misogyny. what needs to be done now, help young people? i believe that - misogyny. what needs to be done now, help young people? i believe that it - help young people? i believe that it is everyone's _ help young people? i believe that it is everyone's responsibility, - help young people? i believe that it is everyone's responsibility, and - is everyone's responsibility, and schools have a crucial fundamental role to play, as well as parents, as well as everyone. i think that we could all be encouraging in one another, that sense of empathy, and you know, instilling in young people, values such as boundaries, and introducing the concept of consent much earlier on, and again,

empathy is so important, and because dehumanisation is essentially at heart of this culture and if people have empathy they will be able to see what it is like from other people's perspectives, they will be able to understand the true impact of the behaviours and actions and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future. obviously our happening in the future. obviously your website _ happening in the future. obviously your website has _ happening in the future. obviously your website has given _ happening in the future. obviously your website has given people - happening in the future. obviously your website has given people a i your website has given people a forum to post about their experiences, anonymously, would it help if there was anonymous reporting system, perhaps available in schools, because my sense is that a lot of young women feel very uncomfortable about talking to adults about this.— uncomfortable about talking to adults about this. absolutely. and this featured _ adults about this. absolutely. and this featured prominent _ adults about this. absolutely. and this featured prominent play - adults about this. absolutely. and this featured prominent play in . adults about this. absolutely. and | this featured prominent play in the 0fsted this featured prominent play in the ofsted report, the massive gap between incidents and report, and it really outlined as is outlined throughout the testimonies the barriers that yum people face in reporting to schools or authority, they feel a sense of shame and fear and often blamed by their peers and

ostracised and they also fear what happens next in that they lose control over their situation, and story. so, yeah. so, yeah, anonymous reporting is absolutely you know, crucial aspect of everyone's invited and what we do. i do think it has become abun dancely clear with the15,554 become abun dancely clear with the15,55a testimonies it is needed. you know, vocalise their experiences, so, i do think that it would be hugely beneficial to introduce some form of anonymous reporting systems inle schools. what do you say to a young man who's listening to you, and watching you, and quite possibly a young man who is trying to do the right thing, and behave appropriately? you

is trying to do the right thing, and behave appropriately?— behave appropriately? you knowl would like to _ behave appropriately? you knowl would like to address _ behave appropriately? you knowl would like to address all - behave appropriately? you knowl would like to address all young i would like to address all young people, ratherthan would like to address all young people, rather than focussing on one gender, because i do believe it is everyone's responsibility to, so boys and girls, men and women, you know, i think practises empathy is so important, as i said before, doing our best to listen to each other, listen to experiences and also, you know, making time to listen to survivors too, and make sure that we are doing everything that we can to make them feel supported, and, you knows opening up that space for all. abs, supported, and, you knows opening up that space for all.— that space for all. a final question. _ that space for all. a final question, how _ that space for all. a final question, how confident| that space for all. a final. question, how confident are that space for all. a final - question, how confident are you that space for all. a final _ question, how confident are you now, given the amount of exposure this issueis given the amount of exposure this issue is now getting, the fact you and i are talking about it again, the fact loads of people are talking about it again. how confident are you that real change is going to happen? i you that real change is going to ha en? . , you that real change is going to hauen? . , you that real change is going to ha en? ., , ., happen? i am very hopeful. i cannot redict happen? i am very hopeful. i cannot predict the — happen? i am very hopeful. i cannot predict the future, _ happen? i am very hopeful. i cannot predict the future, but _ happen? i am very hopeful. i cannot predict the future, but i _ happen? i am very hopeful. i cannot predict the future, but i am - predict the future, but i am certainly hopeful it has been

extraordinary, the national conversation that has been going on for a long time now, and i am really looking forward to seeing more tangible solutions, and, serious concrete change.— tangible solutions, and, serious concrete change. good to talk to you a . ain, concrete change. good to talk to you again. many — concrete change. good to talk to you again, many thanks _ concrete change. good to talk to you again, many thanks for _ concrete change. good to talk to you again, many thanks for your - concrete change. good to talk to you again, many thanks for your time. i again, many thanks for your time. thank you very much. final results from a scientific trial in indonesia to combat dengue fever show it can be sharply reduced by an experimental technique using bacteria. scientists released millions of mosquito eggs infected with wolbachia, which is harmless to humans but prevents the insects from passing on dengue. results show a 77% cut in infections. dengue fever infects up to 400 million people a year around the world and can cause severe pain in muscle and bones. the lead researcher on the project, professor cameron simmons from the world mosquito programme, has told the bbc

the trial is now being expanded to a dozen countries. we're really excited, and indeed our colleagues in indonesia, so excited by the results from the trial that they've now expanded the deployment of wolbachia through the rest of the mosquito population. not only that, expanding it outside the urban areas of the city, and so in the next 12 month, around 2.5 million people in indonesia are going to have wolbachia in the mosquito population around them, and that will protect them from dengue. dengue is an enormous problem globally through asia, latin america. we are working in 11 countries. our goal is to teach governments, and other stake holders in endemic, disease endemic countries how to use this technology, efficiently, cost effectively, and really well, to bring long lasting protection to their communities from those diseases. large parts of the northern

hemisphere have seen a partial solar eclipse today. the moon travelled directly in front of the sun in what is called an annular eclipse — leaving just a thin sliver of sunlight visible. our science correspondent rebecca morelle reports. an eclipse at sunrise in the united states, one of nature's most dazzling sights, the moon gliding in front of the sun taking a bite from the shining disc, and this was the view from canada, where the northernmost parts of the world were treated to a full spectacle and it was a special kind of solar event known as an annular eclipse. an annular eclipse happens when the moon isjust a little bit further away from the earth so it looks smaller in the sky. what you'll be able to see is a sort of ring around the moon so this is why the annular solar eclipse is sometimes known as the ring of fire.

they are incredibly beautiful eclipses to spot as well. the full eclipse began in ontario, canada, the moon casting its shadow across a narrow band of our planet's surface, and ended in siberia. there was a partial eclipse in the uk, with up to 40% of the sun obscured, and in edinburgh families had a chance to catch a glimpse as our star emerged from the haze. across much of the country the weather was overcast. this was the view from cambridge, but every now and again the clouds parted. solar eclipses do happen roughly one or two times a year but actually you've got to be in the right place at the right time to see them and that's because the moon's shadow, which it casts on the earth, is rather small, so although they happen frequently enough we don't actually get to see them from the same country very often. london had a slightly better view this morning, but in the uk we'll have to get used to partial eclipses for a while.

our next total eclipse won't happen until 2090. but today's event has delighted many around the world with a display of a true celestial wonder. rebecca morelle, bbc news. louise lear has the weather. hello there. it's a little bit of a messy weather picture to paint at the moment. certainly, we've had more cloud around today than recent days and as you can see by this weather watcher picture sent in from cumbria. the best of the sunshine through eastern england, still some fair weather cloud here, this is where we are likely to see the best of the warmth as well. looking at the satellite picture along with the radar, there are some rain, light and patching into the northwest of scotland is. you can see the cloud thinning and breaking in places, but that said, quite market along the west coasts and the cloud, mist and mark they can offer a spot of drizzle across the four south west. the far south west. that's how we are likely to keep

this condition through the remainder of the day with the best of the sunshine and warmth in the south east. on the breezy side, winds in excess of 40mph here, accompanying that weather front. so temperatures a little subdued at 16, the low 20s perhaps for southern scotland and northern ireland, highs with the best of the sunshine across the south and east, 25 degrees. it's day one of the second test at edgbaston, perfect weather conditions for spectators and cricketers today looks a pleasant, dry, perhaps a little humid for some of you. through this evening, pleasant end to the day, that weather front continuing to push across scotland, bringing some rain from time to time but not too concerned about that. a fair amount of cloud across the country, temperatures holding up, sting quite muggy, quite staying quite muggy, quite uncomfortable for getting a good night's sleep. we start tomorrow again

in a largely grey notes, and west coasts will be misty and damp in places. that weather front will continue to bring a band of cloud south and east, squeezing the warmth into east anglia and the southeast corner, slightly cooler, pressure conditions following behind as the weather front pushes through. but high pressure is set to rebuild again at the weekend, and that will drag the warmer colours across the country. the warmth will return for all of us into the weekend. in fact, for some of you, you may be starting to say it's just too hot as we're like to see temperature peaking into the high 20s. that's it, take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines: president biden and borisjohnson meet for theirfirst face—to—face meeting as leaders, on the eve of the g7 summit. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted lessons need to be learned. the number of people waiting for hospital treatment in england tops five million for the first time. a woman who lost herjob after saying people cannot change their biological sex has won her employment appeal tribunal. girls as young as 11 are being sexually harassed at school — the education watchdog warns that harrassment is becoming normalised among young people.

and on what would have been the duke of edinburgh's100th birthday, the earl of wessex talks to us about remembering his father. i think that we go ahead and we celebrate what might have been in his life, and i think we try to turn it into something that's very positive. the us presidentjoe biden will hold talks with borisjohnson in cornwall this afternoon, at the start of his first overseas tour since taking office. the two leaders are meeting on the eve of the g7 summit and will agree a new atlantic charter, aimed at refreshing the relationship between the uk and us.

but tensions about post—brexit trade arrangements for northern ireland threaten to overshadow their discussions. our diplomatic correspondent james landale reports from cornwall. president biden arriving in cornwall late last night. his first steps on foreign soil since taking office, the start of a trip designed to sign to show that, after the years of donald trump, america is back and ready to work with allies. it's a scallop... and the first of those allies is britain, borisjohnson — here visiting a school this morning — has never met mr biden, who once called him an emotional clone of mr trump. but all that will be put aside as prime minister and president seek to reaffirm the relationship between their two countries. archive: many happy scenes marked this all-too-brief visit, _ the second to be made to this country by an american president... presidential visits have changed over the years but they still have a canny way of revealing the state of us/uk relations.

the fact mr biden's chosen to come here first shows he sees a relationship as important but also, perhaps, in need of repair. and to do that — guarded by the prince of wales, one of britain's new aircraft carriers — the prime minister and the president will sign a new atlantic charter, an update of the text agreed by winston churchill and franklin roosevelt in 1941, that shaped the post—war world. agreeing new ways of cooperating on global challenges as well as discussing opening up travel with the us. but for all the warm words and pictures, there is one issue of immediate friction, namely the row between the uk and the eu over post—brexit trade across the irish sea. president biden's diplomats have made it very clear in public and in private that they would not welcome anything that would, in their words, imperil peace in northern ireland. the uk is resisting imposing checks

on some goods heading for northern ireland. the eu says this breaches a protocol both sides agreed to try to avoid a hard border between the north and the irish republic. and the eu has firmly put the row on the g7 agenda. this agreement has now to be put in place, it's about implementing what has been agreed. once again, often the devil is in the detail, so therefore we showed and we will show flexibility on specific topics, but the overall frame is set and it has to be implemented now. so, the g7 leaders — portrayed here in a recycled pastiche of mount rushmore — will start arriving later for a summit already distracted by an existing row. the bigger challenges of the covid pandemic and climate change await them in coming days. our north america editorjon sopel set out what to expect from the day.

i've just been on a briefing with senior white house officials and they say it's absolutely fitting thatjoe biden's first overseas visit should be to the uk and first meeting with a foreign leader on foreign soil should be with the british prime minister, given the shared values and common history that our two countries share. so, that's all fine about the special relationship. i think they will be talking about things like technology, science, medicine, perhaps reopening flights to the us at some point in the future — all things that are shared. the thing that struck me at the briefing was that the senior white house official didn't say a word about northern ireland, the northern ireland protocol. i think the americans, for public consumption, are wanting to focus on what unites britain in the us, rather than what divides them. our chief political correspondent adam fleming said that while brexit is not on the agenda, it will influence the talks. looming over the horizon there is one of the uk's

new aircraft carriers, the prince of wales, which will provide a dramatic backdrop to that first face—to—face meeting between boris johnson and joe biden. i think number 10 will be hoping brexit doesn't in fact loom over that conversation as well. i think number 10 will be hoping they can impress upon the president that the unionist community in northern ireland is worried about the disruption to trade between great britain and northern ireland as a result of the protocol and they have got just as much right under the good friday agreement to be happy, which may mean that the pressure is then equally applied to the uk and the eu by the american president, and this disappears from the g7 as an agenda item. it's actually not even officially on the agenda. number 10 would much rather that today we were focusing on the brand—new, updated atlantic charter, looking at cooperation between the us and the uk on security, on trade, on technology but then tomorrow,

they would much rather we were focusing on all the pledges that might be made about donating vaccines to poorer countries. on saturday, strengthening supply chains, so there is never an every—man—for—himself dash for ppe if there's a pandemic again. and on sunday, how can these seven democratic countries and their four invited guests stand up to less—democratic countries like russia and china. the next four days will tell. as g7 leaders arrive for their summit in cornwall, young people from around the globe have been discussing what they expect from world leaders. we'll be finding out what under—25s think about the covid—19 pandemic, gender equality and climate change. join matthew amroliwala from 4:30pm for a special programme, here on the news channel. and it is for 30 pm, not for pm, so put that in your diary!

the health secretary matt hancock has rejected accusations made by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic. under questioning by mps, mr hancock said he was aware at the start of the pandemic that 820,000 people could die from covid—19 but that ordering an earlier lockdown would have meant going against scientific advice. our political correspondentjonathan blake was listening to the session. he has been at the forefront of the response of the pandemic throughout but two weeks ago, matt hancock was accused of incompetence and lies. the health secretary would today have his say on the decisions he and others talk that shaped the uk's handling of coronavirus. claim by claim, accusations by the prime minister's former adviser dominic cummings were put to mr hancock — that he told the prime minister people in hospital would be tested for covid—19 before returning to care homes... we set out a policy that

people would be tested when tests were available. and then i set about building the testing capacity to be able to deliver on that. ..that he had blamed the chancellor and others for blocking orders of personal protective equipment... no, that is not a fair recollection of the situation. ..and a direct question. did you ever say anything to the prime minister that you knew not to be true? no. dominic cummings has been asked to provide evidence for his explosive claims a fortnight ago but so far has not done so. matt hancock said that was telling and accused the former adviser of undermining him. i worked directly with the prime minister from the start of this, and of course, i worked with his aides and his team as well, and i have no idea. did you know he wanted the prime minister to fire you?

yes, because he briefed the newspapers at the time. or somebody briefed the newspapers, i now have a better idea of who it was. beyond the clash of personalities that has given us two very different version of events, there were bigger questions today about the government handling of the coronavirus pandemic early on and how well—equipped the uk was to deal with such a scenario. accused of mps by locking down too late, mr hancock said ministers were advised the public would not comply for long, despite being aware of the potential loss of life. i was given the planning assumption based on spanish flu, and it was signed off at cobra on the 31st of january. that was a planning assumption for 820,000 deaths and i was determined that that would not happen on my watch. and the health secretary gave an insight into the stark choices he and others faced.

i remember the moment around the cabinet table when i said, "we are going to have to tell everybody to stop all social contact." and i remember thinking, this is the most extraordinary thing i have ever said. and the prime minister said, "yes, we are. you had better go and tell them." earlier, i spoke to anita astle, director of the national care association. what we actually need is an independent inquiries that he's going to look at the facts, that's going to look at the facts, that's going to look at the facts, that's going to look at things that can be evidenced as to what actually happens. untilwe evidenced as to what actually happens. until we get that, we're not going to move forward. it might be worth reminding _ not going to move forward. it might be worth reminding us, _ not going to move forward. it might be worth reminding us, what - not going to move forward. it might be worth reminding us, what was i be worth reminding us, what was happening in care homes at the height of the pandemic. or perhaps i

should say at the beginning of the pandemic. that should say at the beginning of the andemic. �* , ., pandemic. at the beginning of the andemic, pandemic. at the beginning of the pandemic, when _ pandemic. at the beginning of the pandemic, when we _ pandemic. at the beginning of the pandemic, when we knew - pandemic. at the beginning of the pandemic, when we knew it - pandemic. at the beginning of the pandemic, when we knew it was i pandemic. at the beginning of the | pandemic, when we knew it was in other countries are not our own, not a lot was happening, really. i think that's where the feelings first started. at the beginning of the pandemic in the uk, from a care provider's point of view, we couldn't source ppe that was vitally needed. and in some cases, we were being told the ppe had been diverted to the nhs. so, again, there's lots of anecdotal evidence that we are told, there's information that we know, there's information that we can evidence, then tell we'll had an independent review, then we're not

going to know exact what did happen, what could have happened and what we need to do in the future to make sure that we don't make the same mistakes again.— sure that we don't make the same mistakes again. matt hancock said this morning. _ mistakes again. matt hancock said this morning, from _ mistakes again. matt hancock said this morning, from the _ mistakes again. matt hancock said this morning, from the start - mistakes again. matt hancock said this morning, from the start we i this morning, from the start we tried to throw a protective ring around our care homes. he said more funding was put in, ppe was available and the government set up to guidelines for care homes. is that not how you see it, is that what you're saying? in that not how you see it, is that what you're saying?— what you're saying? in the beginning. _ what you're saying? in the beginning, and _ what you're saying? in the beginning, and for- what you're saying? in the beginning, and for quite i what you're saying? in the beginning, and for quite a| what you're saying? in the - beginning, and for quite a length of time in the first wave, that is not how we experienced it. later on, there was ppe that came that was sourced by the government that we can access and we can still access that today. there was guidance, there was a pretty poor guidance and

there was a pretty poor guidance and there was a pretty poor guidance and there was better guidance as time went on and as care providers and care providing trade associations were meeting with the government and changing what was in the guidance. so, fortunately, things got better but it did take a lot of time for things to get better. and i think the tragic thing is, people lost their lives in the process. and we need to make sure that doesn't happen again. 1ng need to make sure that doesn't happen again-— need to make sure that doesn't happen again. as you say, a lot of --eole happen again. as you say, a lot of people don't _ happen again. as you say, a lot of people don't lose _ happen again. as you say, a lot of people don't lose their— happen again. as you say, a lot of people don't lose their lives - happen again. as you say, a lot of people don't lose their lives in - happen again. as you say, a lot ofj people don't lose their lives in the process, a lot of people lost loved ones. are you saying that you believe deaths could have been avoided? , , ., , .., avoided? definitely, deaths could have been avoided. _ avoided? definitely, deaths could have been avoided. deaths - avoided? definitely, deaths could have been avoided. deaths didn't| have been avoided. deaths didn't need to be at the level that they have been. but that's not one person's fault. if we look at

society as a whole, many of us made mistakes, many of us ignored requests or instructions to lockdown. again, ifeel requests or instructions to lockdown. again, i feel that requests or instructions to lockdown. again, ifeel that i'm broken record here, but until we've got an independent and quarry around what happened, how seriously was it taken by the relevant people, we're not going to know, she and i'm not going to learn lessons, and learning lessons is the important thing. that is what we owe the people who lost lives. the headlines on bbc news: president biden and borisjohnson meets for their first face to face meeting as leaders, on the eve of the g7 summit. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted lessons need to be learned.

the number of people waiting for hospital treatment in england tops five million for the first time. girls as young as 11 have experienced sexual harassment in secondary schools in england. a review by ofsted found that nine out of ten girls at schools and colleges said they had experienced sexist name calling or been sent explicit images. many of the incidents went unreported, which the watchdog warns is leading to sexual harassment becoming normalised among young people. zoe conway reports. it doesn't matter who you are, any age, you will experience, as a woman, sexual harassment. it's normalised and it's ok for men to do these things to women and young girls and there's not enough of a consequence. lucy and cerys have now left school but they remember how hard it was being sent sexually explicit images by other pupils

on social media. i have received more than i can count on my hands, images of privates that i didn't want to see, and the first port of call is to go to your mum but other than that, it's really hard to know what to do because you feel very vulnerable in the situation and you feel like, i don't want to see that! sexual harassment has become normalised, so much so that it's not a surprise any more and it'sjust brushed off. it's nothing that we think of as out of the ordinary, it's become so normalised that most women have experienced it, whether in the street or on social media. 0fsted visited 32 schools and colleges to investigate sexual abuse in schools. inspectors were shocked by what they heard. nearly 90% of girls told 0fsted they or their peers had been sent unwanted explicit images. nearly 50% of boys said they or their peers had been sent unwanted images.

children said sexual harassment had become normalised and said most children felt that the sex education they received in the school does not help them to navigate these issues. because it is something that is difficult for adolescents to talk to adults about, it is something the scale of which is still significantly underestimated by schools and colleges and adults more generally. 0fsted wants to see schools making time to teach children how to cope with online abuse and they want to see more training for teachers. it's not ok to bully a peer into sharing a nude against their will and it's certainly not ok to then post it on a whatsapp group to all of yourfriends. and yet, for so many young people, that has become commonplace, and we absolutely need to work together to reset that cultural dial. the government says it wants to bring together tech companies, the police, schools and charities so that online sexual abuse is anything but normal.

let's return to our main story. the g7 summit begins tomorrow and is taking place in cornwall. the main issues on the agenda are — the covid—19 pandemic and post—pandemic recovery, tackling climate change and promoting free and fair trade. all these issues affect the way we live now and the planet we live on but they also have an impact on the next generation. so, how relevant is this gathering of relatively old heads of state to people aged 25 and under and what do they think should be on the table at the g7 summit? evie aspinall is the head uk delegate for the y7 which brings together young leaders from the world's seven largest economies to formulate policy recommendations on behalf of young people. they are then given the chance to present their recommendations to world leaders.

thank you forjoining us. what are the main issues that you want these leaders to take notice of? so, we have a whole communique of 36 policy recommendations that we produced collectively across the g7 nations, but one of our primary once as mental health. what we've seen coming to the g7 so far, there is a distinct lack of discussion a mental health, which particularly affects young people, particular during the pandemic. climate change, of course, is a big one, and also use engagement and things like digital, in an increasingly digital world, young people increasingly spent much of their time online, but we don't just want government policies that tell young people what they should and shouldn't do, we want to be actively engaged with young people and give them an opportunity to create policy as well. haifa and give them an opportunity to create policy as well.— and give them an opportunity to create policy as well. how do you aet create policy as well. how do you net the create policy as well. how do you get the views _ create policy as well. how do you get the views of _ create policy as well. how do you get the views of young _ create policy as well. how do you get the views of young people . create policy as well. how do you get the views of young people to | get the views of young people to these g7 leaders?—

get the views of young people to these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this ear, these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this year. so — these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this year, so the _ these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this year, so the y7 _ these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this year, so the y7 is _ these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this year, so the y7 is an _ these g7 leaders? we've been lucky this year, so the y7 is an official - this year, so the y7 is an official engagement group at the g7, so it has engagements with ministers over the last few months and we also engage directly with young people, so we have been coordinating with the y7 this year, reaching people across the g7 and it has been a pay campaign to get as many young people involved so we can then relay those issues to the g7. i5 involved so we can then relay those issues to the g7.— issues to the g7. is one of you or are ou issues to the g7. is one of you or are you actually _ issues to the g7. is one of you or are you actually going _ issues to the g7. is one of you or are you actually going to - issues to the g7. is one of you or are you actually going to be - issues to the g7. is one of you or are you actually going to be in i issues to the g7. is one of you or are you actually going to be in a l are you actually going to be in a room withjoe biden? are you actually going to be in a room with joe biden? unfortunately not! we're not— room with joe biden? unfortunately not! we're not quite _ room with joe biden? unfortunately not! we're not quite that _ room with joe biden? unfortunately not! we're not quite that far- room with joe biden? unfortunately not! we're not quite that far but - room with joe biden? unfortunately not! we're not quite that far but i i not! we're not quite that far but i am today in cornwall, so that's exciting. am today in cornwall, so that's excitina. �* ., .y exciting. but get to meet policy makers and _ exciting. but get to meet policy makers and government - exciting. but get to meet policy| makers and government officials exciting. but get to meet policy - makers and government officials and put your points across?— put your points across? absolutely. boris put your points across? absolutely. itoris johnson _ put your points across? absolutely. boris johnson kindly _ put your points across? absolutely. boris johnson kindly opens - put your points across? absolutely. boris johnson kindly opens our- borisjohnson kindly opens our summits, which was last month, which was amazing, great to hear from summits, which was last month, which was amazing, great to hearfrom him, and a lot of government ministers join different policy sessions. i

got an opportunity to present as well. it's been amazing, but nojoe biden so far. well. it's been amazing, but no joe biden so far-— biden so far. there's still time! how confident _ biden so far. there's still time! how confident are _ biden so far. there's still time! how confident are you - biden so far. there's still time! how confident are you that - biden so far. there's still time! how confident are you that you | biden so far. there's still time! - how confident are you that you will be, not so much listen to, but they will act on what they hear?- will act on what they hear? that's the crux. when _ will act on what they hear? that's the crux. when you're _ will act on what they hear? that's the crux. when you're in - will act on what they hear? that's the crux. when you're in a - will act on what they hear? that's the crux. when you're in a room | will act on what they hear? that's i the crux. when you're in a room with them, it is easy to say, that's a good idea, really great, but actually pushing them over the line and to commitments, notjust words on a piece of paper, with the commitment and finances and resources behind it, is a really big thing. we'll bidding lots of campaigning over the coming days to really try and push that over the line and we hope they will listen to us. cabin on how to keep the pressure up once the spotlight moves away from this particular summit? the really great thing is we have a clear set of policies, 36 policy is from the youth summit and will be creating a co summit initiatives as our delegation is. so, overthe creating a co summit initiatives as our delegation is. so, over the next year we will campaigning on the

specific policies and creating big campaigns around those to try and keep the momentum going ahead of the next g7 and the next set of delegates as well.- next g7 and the next set of delegates as well. very briefly, in case people _ delegates as well. very briefly, in case people have _ delegates as well. very briefly, in case people have been _ delegates as well. very briefly, in case people have been inspired i case people have been inspired listening to you, if they want to become members of the y7, how do they do it? become members of the y7, how do the do it? ~ �* , become members of the y7, how do they do it?— they do it? we've been doing lots of amazin: they do it? we've been doing lots of amazing things. _ they do it? we've been doing lots of amazing things, will _ they do it? we've been doing lots of amazing things, will have _ they do it? we've been doing lots of amazing things, will have an - they do it? we've been doing lots of amazing things, will have an event | amazing things, will have an event on saturday in cornwall, so if anyone is in cornwall and falmouth, you can get involved, alternatively, join us on social media, we are doing loads of amazing campaigning over the next few months, getting the social media presence, and there will be lots of vents in the next few months as well.— will be lots of vents in the next few months as well. thank you. thank ou. a woman who lost herjob after saying that people cannot change their biological sex has won an employment appeal tribunal. maya forstater didn't have her contract renewed at a think tank after posting a series of tweets questioning government plans to let people declare their own gender.

today, a judge ruled her original tribunal erred in law. our correspondent charlotte wright explained how significant this case is. i spoke to her earlier. this sets a precedent for future employment cases to other people might find themselves in a similar position may find they have a case too for unfair dismissal. this essentially boils down to the issue of freedom of speech versus what is acceptable to say on a very sensitive subject. this woman fundamentally believes that humans cannot change sex, this is what she said in her tweets back in 2018. her employer says that that presents an existential threat to trans people — her former employer, i should say. they chose not to renew her contract. she argues that this discrimination, she was discriminated against, according to the equality act. a tribunal in 2019 disagreed with her and said that her view

is incompatible with human dignity and therefore did not meet the equality act criteria. that was overwrought today, following this appeal. the judge said that gender critical beliefs are protected under the equality act and this was the reaction from her today. when the government was consulting on self id, it was women who were most concerned and then it was women's voices that were shut down. i'm just an ordinary woman, i'm a mother, i was on mumsnet, but i'm also a policy researcher, and i thought i should be able to tweet about this, and then when i couldn't, i became the test case. thisjudgment is more than 60 pages long and it is very specific. it says that it doesn't mean that trans people do not have protection against discrimination and harassment in the equality act but it doesn't mean that those gender critical beliefs can miss

misgender trans people with immunity. this is something for charity stonewall has pointed to in their response to it. they say, while this news may be hard to hear, we must be aware that this case has no bearing on the protection trans people have in the workplace and that all trans people to search to be treated with respect, dignity and humanity while at work. with me now is jasmine andersson, who reports on equalities for the i. why in your view does this case matter so much? i why in your view does this case matter so much?— why in your view does this case matter so much? i think a lot of the trans community _ matter so much? i think a lot of the trans community were _ matter so much? i think a lot of the trans community were watching - matter so much? i think a lot of the j trans community were watching this today and wondering what this means for their rights and freedoms to work without harassment and discrimination. i think what's unfortunate about the case that has not been outlined is the fact that this isn't a case of any trans

rights are being abraded here, this does mean trans people will have those protections at work, however, this does award ms forstater the right to a fresh tribunal to see whether or not she was unfairly dismissed. i think what's is a really important to draw attention to, it's... ms forstaterwas really important to draw attention to, it's... ms forstater was an unpaid furlough, she had contracts under that time but what will be looked at now is whether she has the grounds in terms of employment to go back to that first tribunal and start all over again. it’s back to that first tribunal and start all over again.— back to that first tribunal and start all over again. it's such a complicated — start all over again. it's such a complicated issue _ start all over again. it's such a complicated issue and - start all over again. it's such a complicated issue and i'm - start all over again. it's such a complicated issue and i'm not| start all over again. it's such a - complicated issue and i'm not trying to reduce it down to easy portions, but as the crux of it essentially whether or not my forstater�*s believes are protected or not protected under the equality act? is that the crux of it? to protected under the equality act? is that the crux of it?— that the crux of it? to even complicate _ that the crux of it? to even complicate matters - that the crux of it? to even | complicate matters further, that the crux of it? to even i complicate matters further, i that the crux of it? to even - complicate matters further, i would say yes and no. because upholding

certain beliefs means that it will infringe on certain community, and of course, ms forstater says that she clearly believes that her beliefs are in no way denigrating to the trans community, and that was upheld in thejudgment the trans community, and that was upheld in the judgment today. but i think we have to bear in mind which enter critical campaigners at large, there are very worrying links to the far right and funding from the far right, which really does impress from those methodologies are that there are people out there who do want to reduce the number of transgender people that live in the uk freely, they do want to kerb those freedoms, and that you actually want to see an erosion of transgender people, and it's that link that needs to be looked at. 50. link that needs to be looked at. so, is one way — link that needs to be looked at. so, is one way of _ link that needs to be looked at. so, is one way of looking at plans, if we now say that the law now accepts that gender critical beliefs are protected under equality law, are

you saying, are we saying, that the rights of the trans community, their views need to be protected under a different law as well as boxy i would really like to see that happen, and we know that certain transgender protections are already enshrined in the equality law that came into effect in 2010, so i think there is a lot of misinformation about what those rights actually are. that forces the main thrust of this argument here. but i think it is also ensuring and giving some kind of validation it to a very marginalised communities that have really been under the spotlight in the spotlight in the past couple years of making sure their values and need to live freely with dignity under current agenda is equally enshrined. so i think that you can also come with affording the transgender community of those protections that they have been fighting for. things like self idea,

that are been successfully rolled out in our land and other states over recent years, and the simple accesses to health care, waiting lists to see a consultant if you are questioning your gender, and that now being up to four years, that should be the case what it's meant to be an 18 week waiting list. so i think it's not necessarily the underpinning of equality in that sense, but making sure those protections are there, so when we're talking about cases like this, it is an equal playing field. understood, it's worth saying — an equal playing field. understood, it's worth saying that _ an equal playing field. understood, it's worth saying that this _ an equal playing field. understood, it's worth saying that this project i it's worth saying that this project said it has not expressed any view on the merits of either side of the transgender debates that. we must live there, thank you. we will go straight to cornwall now because we have some live pictures to bring you of... no, they've frozen. will bring you them from cornwall of the arrival of president

joe biden's motorcade as soon as we can. he's on his way, that's the main message! now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello there. contrasting conditions across the country today, the best of the sunshine across eastern england and a lot more cloud than recent days. the cloud thick enough for a few light showers in the south west, misty and murky aling west coasts and some rain into the far north west, so here temperatures peaking at 16 but elsewhere, low to mid 20s. as we move through thursday evening and overnight, that weather front will continue to push across scotland, introducing more cloud, generally quite a cloudy night, quite muggy as well, uncomfortable for sleeping with temperature staying widely into the mid—teens. another muggy start on friday, a lot of low cloud first thing. the sunshine breaking through but this weather front will introduce more cloud across northern england and wales, squeezing the warmth into the southeast corner, with 25 degrees, just that little bit fresherfollowing on behind.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. president biden and borisjohnson meet for theirfirst face to face meeting as leaders, on the eve of the g7 summit. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted lessons need to be learned. the number of people waiting for hospital treatment in england tops five million for the first time. let us cross over to cornwall where borisjohnson the prime minister and joe biden the president of the united states are meeting for the first time with their representative

partners as leaders. there they are, overlooking the bay, and we understand that president biden said it is gorgeous, i don't want to go home. as he looked at that seaside view. iam very i am very pleased to be here, i think you could just hear him say that. as i said, he said it is gorgeous, i don't want to go home, borisjohnson... gorgeous, i don't want to go home, boris johnson. . .— boris johnson. .. gorgeous, i don't want boris johnson... gorgeous, i don't want to go — boris johnson... gorgeous, i don't want to go home. _ boris johnson... gorgeous, i don't want to go home. i— boris johnson... gorgeous, i don't want to go home. i am _ boris johnson... gorgeous, i don't want to go home. i amjust - borisjohnson... gorgeous, i don'tl want to go home. i am just pausing want to go home. i am 'ust pausing in case we — want to go home. i am 'ust pausing in case we hear h want to go home. i am 'ust pausing in case we hear what _ want to go home. i am just pausing in case we hear what any _ want to go home. i am just pausing in case we hear what any of - want to go home. i am just pausing in case we hear what any of them i in case we hear what any of them say... butjoe biden there, admiring

the view as he walked with the first ladyjill biden and borisjohnson with his new wife carrie. the two leaders are holding talks before the g7 starts tomorrow. let us catch up with the sports news. good afternoon. sussex have released a statement saying ollie robinson has decided to take a short break from the game to spend time with his family after a difficult week, and won't take part in their first two t20 blast games. he's been suspended by england for racist and sexist tweets from 2012 and 2013. at the start of today's second test against new zealand, england once again wore t—shirts against discrimination, after historical tweets from other players emerged too. meanwhile, james anderson's become england's most capped player on 162, overtaking alistair cook. up to 18,000 fans are at edgbaston as it's a government test event.

and england made a good start, won the toss and chose to bat, burns and sibley took them steadily to lunch without any problems, but new zealand have since taken four wickets. england slipping from 72 to without loss to 85—3. dom sibley dismissed by matt henry and then zack crawley gone for a duck. captainjoe root the third to go, out for four, henry's second wicket of the day so far. england are currently 141—4, with an unbeaten 65 from rory burns. staying with cricket, more indian superstars have signed up for this summer's women's hundred competition. shafali verma, the world's top—ranked t20 batter, will replace captain sophie devine at birmingham phoenix, whilst all—rounder harmanpreet kaur is joining manchester originals. smriti mandhana and deepti sharma have also now signed up. britain'sjoe salisbury is a french open champion, after winning the mixed doubles final this afternoon with his

american partner desirae krawczyk. they came back from losing the first set 6—2 against russia's aslan karatsev and elena vesnina to win the second set and force a deciding tie—break, which they went on to win10—5. john lloyd was the last man to win in the mixed doubles final at roland garros in 1982. it's salisbury�*s second grand slam title, after he won the men's doubles at the australian open last year. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. we are going to go back to cornwall where we have been seeing the president of the united statesjoe biden meet borisjohnson, there they are together. they are going to be holding talks in cornwall this afternoon. this, of coursejoe biden's first overseas tour since taking office, let us listen. the two leaders are meeting on the eve of the g7 summit, they are going to agree a new atlantic charter,

aimed at refreshing the relationship between the uk and the us. and the there we saw them, together, inside. it is clearly a bit chaotic but i think that is sometimes the nature of these thing, also gives you a sense of the entourage round these kinds of meet, and summits, and and the media, media attention as well. let us return to these pictures of borisjohnson and his new wife, of course, carrie, and there is president biden with the first lady jill biden. a photo opportunity, of course, but as i say, this is the first time the two leaders have met face to face, and here they are admiring the view, which is pretty spectacular. and clearly seeing some fine weather as well. we know that

borisjohnson fine weather as well. we know that boris johnson greeted joe biden earlier this borisjohnson greeted joe biden earlier this afternoon, ahead of the g7 summit, of course, where there are many weighty issues on the timetable to discuss, but in the meantime, these are the pictures that will be beamed around the world, and joe biden, we heard some fine weather as well. we know that borisjohnson fine weather as well. we know that boris johnson greeted joe biden earlier this borisjohnson greeted joe biden earlier this afternoon, ahead of the g7 summit, of course, where there are many weighty issues on the timetable to discuss, but in the meantime, these are the pictures that will be beamed around the world, and joe biden, we heard him saying "it's gorgeous, i don't want to go home" of those wonderful views, and, we know that the two leaders will hold talks before that summit begins tomorrow. tensions, of course, about post—brexit trade arrangement for northern ireland threatening to overshadow the discussions but here everything convivial. very pleased to be hear, you could hear president biden say there. this is, of course, the start

of his first overseas tour, since taking office, and then, the two leaders came indoors. again, let us just listen to see... it is leaders came indoors. again, let us just listen to see. . .— just listen to see... it is a great leasure just listen to see... it is a great pleasure mr _ just listen to see... it is a great pleasure mr president - just listen to see... it is a great pleasure mr president to - just listen to see... it is a great i pleasure mr president to welcome just listen to see... it is a great - pleasure mr president to welcome to you cornwall. abs, pleasure mr president to welcome to you cornwall-— you cornwall. a great pleasure to be here. fantastic— you cornwall. a great pleasure to be here. fantastic to _ you cornwall. a great pleasure to be here. fantastic to see _ you cornwall. a great pleasure to be here. fantastic to see you _ you cornwall. a great pleasure to be here. fantastic to see you here - you cornwall. a great pleasure to be here. fantastic to see you here on i here. fantastic to see you here on what is i think— here. fantastic to see you here on what is i think your _ here. fantastic to see you here on what is i think your first _ here. fantastic to see you here on what is i think your first big - what is i think your first big overseas trip since you have been... it is. it have been to this great country— it is. it have been to this great country many times but this is the first time — country many times but this is the first time as — country many times but this is the first time as president of the us. absolutely is —— everybody is thrilled to see you. we both married above our fashion! i am not _ we both married above our fashion! i am not going to disagree with that. are we _ am not going to disagree with that.

are we going to have, we can continuem _ are we going to have, we can continue... they all speak at well, as i said, this gives you a sense of the chaos that can surround these kinds of meet, but any way i think you certainly got a sense of the warm words between ten two leaders and they are going to be embarking on some more formal conversations this afternoon, ahead of the summit which starts top. we will bring bloor as get it. the cabinet office minister michael gove says the british, irish and american government are all on "the same page" when it comes to protecting the good friday agreement.

mr gove was speaking on a visit to northern ireland where he has held talks with the new dup leader, edwin poots. mr poots has called for the northern ireland protocol to be scrapped. the mechanism allows for border check on goods going into the province from the rest of the uk. our ireland correspondent, chris page is at stormont. hejoins us now, what did you make of it all? in he joins us now, what did you make of it all? . , he joins us now, what did you make of it all? ., , ., of it all? in the last hour, edwin poots the _ of it all? in the last hour, edwin poots the relatively _ of it all? in the last hour, edwin poots the relatively new - of it all? in the last hour, edwin poots the relatively new dup i of it all? in the last hour, edwin - poots the relatively new dup leader has held talks with gove and the northern ireland secretary, brandon lewis here. now the main item on the agenda, they spoke about several different dimensions was the northern ireland protocol, as you say, top of the political agenda here, this arrangement by which northern ireland has in effect stayed in the eu single market for goods which means there are checks on goods, particularly food products arriving into northern ireland from

england scotland and wales, so unionist that is an unacceptable board we are the rest of the uk which weakens ireland's place in the union. a after the meeting mr poots made clear he wants the protocol to be scrapped, he wants it done away with all together. we have also had the us administration making it clear ahead of the g7 summit that they want the british government to stand behind the protocol. from their point of view is protocol is necessary to protect the good friday agreement. so this is how mr poots responded to that from washington. so this is how mr poots responded to that from washington. i think the president would do well to reflect what the reality is. the east/west relationship has been harmed, barriers been put east/west, that is unconstitutional. the issue that regulation has been made on behalf of northern ireland in brussels without representation is something which is against democracy and the united states of america has always been a country which wished to have democracy right around the world, so i would like to think that united states of america would recognise and respect the democratic rights of people in northern ireland to have some say over the people who are

making the laws that are actually applied to them. so no doubt that everyone involved in that meeting here at stormont today had their minds focussed on what was happening in cornwall with the g7 summit about to start. michael gove as you have oussama assaidi during his visit he believes the irish and american governments are on the same page, from unionists like edwin poots�*s perspective, the good friday agreement protects relationships between northern ireland and the republic, but also between northern ireland and the rest of the uk, so the point of the protocol was to avoid checks on the land border with the republic of ireland, that has put the border in the irish sea, so according to mr poots, it is unbalanced the good friday agreement, even though he was a supporter of the agreement when it

was signed in 1998. he said if you are going to avoid checks on the border with the irish republic at the cost of having checks in a new border between northern ireland and the rest of the uk, well that is not in line with the spirit of the good friday agreement. so some of these arguments are circular, they are all very complex, doesn't look like there is any breakthrough imminent and as regards smoothing the way the protocol work, the next deadline in people's minds is that at the end of this month whenever a grace period is due to run out in relation to chilled meats, that would more checks on products with possibly more disruption for consumers and more disruption for consumers and more political unease among unionists in particular. chris page, many thanks for that. let's return to one of our main stories. a report by ofsted suggests that sexual harassment, online sexual abuse and sharing nude photos are becoming "normalised" among teenagers. in march, soma sara created

a website inviting young survivors of sexual harassment and abuse to share their stories. since then, everyone's invited has received more than 15,000 anonymous testimonies. she told me earlier the conetent of the report was expected. we are not surprise. we're not surprised by the severity, we've been saying this since the beginning, that rape culture is everywhere and it is in all schools and that behaviours such as sexual harassment and sexual abuse online has become normalised and commonplace. we welcome the ofsted report, and we are relieved that the government and 0fsted are finally acknowledging the prevalence of this problem. when you say finally, are you suggesting it's taken too long?

iam. i believe that we have been failing survivors far too long, and much of what was revealed today in the report was revealed back in 2016, yet we are still in the position where rape culture is rife in schools throughout the country. why do you think it has taken until now, if you say the issues were raised in 2016, here we are in 2021, why has it taken until now? and are we saying it has taken you, a 22—year—old, to make this happen? it's notjust been me, a lot of campaigners and public figures and people have been speaking out about these issues publicly for the first time. but you know, in reality, this has always been happening. rape culture, you know, it is centuries—old, these problems have always existed. they are rooted in patriarchal values and misogyny. what needs to be done now to help young people? i believe that it is

everyone's responsibility. schools have a crucial, fundamental role to play, as well as parents, as well as everyone. i think that we could all be encouraging in one another that sense of empathy. instilling in young people values such as boundaries, and introducing the concept of consent much earlier on. and again, empathy is so important, because dehumanisation is essentially at heart of this culture, and if people have empathy, they will be able to see what it's like from other people's perspectives, they will be able to understand the true impact of these behaviours and actions and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future. final results from a scientific trial in indonesia to combat dengue fever show it can be sharply reduced by an experimental technique using bacteria. scientists released millions of mosquito eggs infected with wolbachia, which is harmless to humans but prevents the insects

from passing on dengue. results show a 77% cut in infections. dengue fever infects up to 400 million people a year around the world and can cause severe pain in muscle and bones. the lead researcher on the project, professor cameron simmons from the world mosquito programme, has told the bbc the trial is now being expanded to a dozen countries. we're really excited, and indeed our colleagues in indonesia, so excited by the results from the trial that they've now expanded the deployment of wolbachia through the rest of the mosquito population. not only that, expanding it outside the urban areas of the city, and so in the next 12 month, around 2.5 million people in indonesia are going to have wolbachia in the mosquito population around them, and that will protect them from dengue.

dengue is an enormous problem globally through asia, latin america. we are working in 11 countries. our goal is to teach governments, and other stake holders in endemic, disease endemic countries how to use this technology, efficiently, cost effectively, and really well, to bring long lasting protection to their communities from those diseases. now to the indian city of mumbai where rescue efforts are continuing after a residential building collapsed killing 11 people. more people are feared to be trapped in the debris. the city has seen heavy monsoon rains in recent days — and officials say the rains are likely to have contributed to the collapse. our india correspondent yogita limaye reports from mumbai. when the rains set in each year, mumbai braces itself for building collapses.

this one occurred on the first day of the monsoon season. locals and rescuers rushed to pull as many to safety as they could. children are among those injured and dead. the collapse ok secured just before midnight. "the sound was so loud that we immediately knew something terrible had happened and we returned out of our homes" said this man. the search for survivors continued into the morning. the building was in a congested area, a shanty town, which made rescue operations even harder. six children of the owner of the building and his wife are still trapped under the rubble. "he is inconsolable", said a neighbour of the family. over the past two days, mumbai has been hit with heavy rains. not a year goes by without a fatal collapse in the city during this season. while rainfall is a factor, many say it is the quality of construction, unfit to withstand the monsoon,

that takes people's lives. police say they will act against those responsible for this collapse. yogita limaye, mumbai. president biden and borisjohnson have been meeting for theirfirst face to face meeting, as leaders on the eve of the g7 summit, we saw them just a little earlier, we can cross now to cornwall. let's speak now to our north america correspondent who is in carbis bay. we saw warm words about the view, any discussion about the sausage war though? laughter i have to say, also, in terms of warm it is just starting to warm up here in cornwall. it was quite cloudy and rainy the weather before, and i am sure the uk government's hoping that the weather will get much brighter as all the leaders

come here, we are expecting them to be here by the end of tomorrow. now, in terms of those conversation, joe biden's motorcade pulled into the knou biden's motorcade pulled into the knoll not so far behind me a few moments ago, he has met with boris johnson. this is the first time both men have met in person since becoming world leaders and in the past, president biden has said that borisjohnson is a clone of donald trump, i don't think he meant it as a compliment and borisjohnson has as we know this morning written an editorial about this special relationship, we hear that phrase a lot, he sees it as something that is weak and needily. top of the talk also be brexit. borisjohnson wants that brexit deal from the us, joe biden hasn't made any indication of what to expect so far, in facts when he became president, he had said one of his main priorities, his main one was to tackle the pandemic and to

teal with american and american infrastructure, and there wasn't any talk of a trade deal at that point, so i am sure borisjohnson will be having discussions with him to see what will happen. fiend having discussions with him to see what will happen.— what will happen. and what is the timetable for _ what will happen. and what is the timetable for the _ what will happen. and what is the timetable for the rest _ what will happen. and what is the timetable for the rest of - what will happen. and what is the timetable for the rest of today? i what will happen. and what is the l timetable for the rest of today? do we know? ~ , , ., , �* we know? well, the g7 summit doesn't officially begin — we know? well, the g7 summit doesn't officially begin until _ we know? well, the g7 summit doesn't officially begin until tomorrow. - we know? well, the g7 summit doesn't officially begin until tomorrow. we - officially begin until tomorrow. we are expecting more of the world leaders to arrive, dan's justice trudeau is expected. the is summit will kick off tomorrow, and sunday is when it all wraps up and we will get that document that will be published which will outline what the g7 leaders have agreed on. worth bearing this mind they can't pass any laws because the g7 is made up of individual nations with their own democratic process, what they can do is agree on tackling a lot of issues, such as climate change, one

of the big issues is the coronavirus pandemic, how to deal well the recovery and how to build that global health system to deal with pandemics, of the future. so that will be the plan for the next few days. 0k, days. ok, no doubt talk to you again very soon, for now, thank you. large parts of the northern hemisphere have seen a partial solar eclipse today. the moon travelled directly in front of the sun in what is called an annular eclipse — leaving just a thin sliver of sunlight visible. our science correspondent rebecca morelle reports. an eclipse at sunrise in the united states, one of nature's most dazzling sights, the moon gliding in front of the sun taking a bite from the shining disc, and this was the view from canada, where the and this was the view from canada, where the northernmost parts of the world were treated to a full spectacle and it was a special kind of solar event known as an annular eclipse.

an annular eclipse happens when the moon isjust a little bit further away from the earth so it looks smaller in the sky. what you'll be able to see is a sort of ring around the moon so this is why the annular solar eclipse is sometimes known as the ring of fire. they are incredibly beautiful eclipses to spot as well. the full eclipse began in ontario, canada, the moon casting its shadow across a narrow band of our planet's surface, and ended in siberia. there was a partial eclipse in the uk, with up to 40% of the sun obscured, and in edinburgh families had a chance to catch a glimpse as our star emerged from the haze. across much of the country the weather was overcast. this was the view from cambridge, but every now and again the clouds parted. solar eclipses do happen roughly one or two times a year but actually you've got to be in the right place at the right time to see them and that's because the moon's shadow, which it casts on the earth, is rather small, so although they happen frequently enough we don't actually get to see them

from the same country very often. london had a slightly better view this morning, but in the uk we'll have to get used to partial eclipses for a while. our next total eclipse won't happen until 2090. but today's event has delighted many around the world with a display of a true celestial wonder. rebecca morelle, bbc news. louise lear has the weather. hello there. it's a little bit of a messy weather picture to paint at the moment. certainly, we've had more cloud around today than recent days and as you can see by this weather watcher picture sent in from cumbria. the best of the sunshine has been through eastern england, still some fair weather cloud here. this is where we are likely to see the best of the warmth as well. looking at the satellite picture along with the radar, yes, there is some rain, albeit light and patchiy

into the far northwest of scotland, you can see the cloud thinning and breaking in places, but that said, quite murky along the west facing coasts and the cloud, the mist and murk thick enough for a spot of drizzle as well across the far south west. that's how we are likely to keep this condition through the remainder of the day, with the best of the sunshine and warmth in the east. it will be on the breezy side, particularly in the far north west, with winds in excess of 30—40mph here, accompanying that weather front. so temperatures a little subdued at 16, the low 20s perhaps for southern scotland and northern ireland, highest with the best of the sunshine across the south and east, 25 degrees. it's day one of the second test at edgbaston, perfect weather conditions for spectators and cricketers today. pleasant, dry, perhaps a little humid for some of you. through this evening, a pleasant end to the day,

that weather front continuing to push across scotland, bringing some rain from time to time but not too concerned about that. a fair amount of cloud across the country, temperatures holding up, staying quite muggy, quite uncomfortable for getting a good night's sleep. we start tomorrow again on a largely grey notes, on a largely grey note, and west facing coasts will be misty and damp in places. that weather front will continue to bring a band of cloud south and east, squeezing the warmth into east anglia and the southeast corner. slightly cooler, pressure conditions following behind as the weather front pushes through. but high pressure is set to rebuild again at the weekend, and that will drag the warmer colours across the country. the warmth will return for all of us into the weekend. in fact, for some of you, you may be starting to say it's just too hot, as we're like to see temperature peaking into the high 20s. that's it, take care.

this is bbc news, i'm rebecca jones. the headlines: president biden and borisjohnson meet for theirfirst face to face meeting as leaders, on the eve of the g7 summit. recovering from the pandemic and the dispute with the eu over post—brexit trading in northern ireland will be high in the agenda. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted lessons need to be learned. the number of people waiting for hospital treatment in england tops five million for the first time. a woman who lost herjob after saying people cannot change their biological sex has

won her employment appeal tribunal. girls as young as 11 are being sexually harassed at school — the education watchdog warns that harrassment is becoming normalised among young people. and on what would have been the duke of edinburgh's100th birthday, the earl of wessex talks to us about remembering his father. i think that we go ahead and we celebrate what might have been and his life, and i think we try to turn it into something that is very positive. hello and welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson has met the us presidentjoe biden in cornwall. the two leaders are holding talks

at the start of his first overseas tour since taking office. the men seen here with their wives are expected to agree a new atlantic charter, aimed at refreshing the relationship between the uk and us. but tensions about post—brexit trade arrangements for northern ireland threaten to overshadow their discussions. let's speak now to our diplomatic correspondent james landale, who is in falmouth. we heard warm words about the views, but how much of the focus of their discussions will be on this so—called sausage war? i discussions will be on this so-called sausage war? i think some of them will — so-called sausage war? i think some of them will be, _ so-called sausage war? i think some of them will be, but _ so-called sausage war? i think some of them will be, but certainly - so-called sausage war? i think some of them will be, but certainly not - of them will be, but certainly not all. the agenda they have got for the summit and their own bilateral discussions is much bigger than that. however, on the northern irish issue, the diplomats following mr biden around have made it very clear, both in public and private, that he has not come here to lecture the prime minister but he will make clear his very deeply held view that

nothing involving the northern ireland protocol in the dispute between the eu and uk threaten or imperil the peace and stability and the good friday agreement in northern ireland. i think that point will be made, i do not think the issue will be resolved. i think borisjohnson will explain to him his side of the possession, namely the concerns felt within the unionist community and elsewhere. but i do not think either side have any incentive to let this issue dominate their talks. they have much bigger fish to fry when it comes to covid cooperation and discussions about vaccines, climate change, making western democracies talk to each other more, share technology more so they are more resilient so they can take on the threats, as they say it, from elsewhere around the world, including from autocracies. i think northern ireland will be part of the discussion but not all of it.- discussion but not all of it. james, 'ust sta discussion but not all of it. james, just stay there _ discussion but not all of it. james, just stay there if _ discussion but not all of it. james, just stay there if you _ discussion but not all of it. james, just stay there if you well - discussion but not all of it. james, just stay there if you well because | just stay there if you well because we're just going to watch a small piece of footage that has come into us in the last half an hour of the

two leaders meeting.— us in the last half an hour of the two leaders meeting. fantastic to see ou. two leaders meeting. fantastic to see you- and _ two leaders meeting. fantastic to see you. and what _ two leaders meeting. fantastic to see you. and what i _ two leaders meeting. fantastic to see you. and what i think- two leaders meeting. fantastic to see you. and what i think is - two leaders meeting. fantastic to see you. and what i think is your| see you. and what i think is your first— see you. and what i think is your first big — see you. and what i think is your first big overseas trip since you have _ first big overseas trip since you have been— first big overseas trip since you have been president. it first big overseas trip since you have been president.— first big overseas trip since you have been president. it is. this is the first time _ have been president. it is. this is the first time as _ have been president. it is. this is the first time as president - have been president. it is. this is the first time as president of- have been president. it is. this is the first time as president of the | the first time as president of the united _ the first time as president of the united states. _ the first time as president of the united states. i— the first time as president of the united states. i am _ the first time as president of the united states. i am very- the first time as president of the . united states. i am very honoured. everybody — united states. i am very honoured. everybody is — united states. i am very honoured. everybody is absolutely _ united states. i am very honoured. everybody is absolutely thrilled - united states. i am very honoured. everybody is absolutely thrilled to. everybody is absolutely thrilled to see you — everybody is absolutely thrilled to see ou. ., , ., see you. thrilled to meet your wife. told the prime _ see you. thrilled to meet your wife. told the prime minister _ see you. thrilled to meet your wife. told the prime minister we - see you. thrilled to meet your wife. told the prime minister we have - told the prime minister we have something — told the prime minister we have something in— told the prime minister we have something in common. - told the prime minister we have something in common. [- told the prime minister we have something in common. i amu- told the prime minister we have something in common.- told the prime minister we have something in common. i am not going to dissent from _ something in common. i am not going to dissent from that _ something in common. i am not going to dissent from that one. _ something in common. i am not going to dissent from that one. i _ something in common. i am not going to dissent from that one. i will - something in common. i am not going to dissent from that one. i will not - to dissent from that one. i will not disagree _ to dissent from that one. i will not disagree with that, or indeed on anything — disagree with that, or indeed on anything else,. the disagree with that, or indeed on anything else"— anything else,. the two leaders meetin: anything else,. the two leaders meetingjust — anything else,. the two leaders meeting just a _ anything else,. the two leaders meeting just a little _ anything else,. the two leaders meeting just a little earlier. - anything else,. the two leaders| meeting just a little earlier. our correspondent james landale is meeting just a little earlier. our correspondentjames landale is still with us. james, in terms of the bigger picture, what is it that you think borisjohnson and his government is hoping to get out of this meeting today? it is

government is hoping to get out of this meeting today?— this meeting today? it is very clear, this meeting today? it is very clear. this — this meeting today? it is very clear, this is _ this meeting today? it is very clear, this is a _ this meeting today? it is very clear, this is a big _ this meeting today? it is very clear, this is a big moment i this meeting today? it is very | clear, this is a big moment for this meeting today? it is very - clear, this is a big moment for the uk. it is the first time it has been any position of global leadership after it has left the european union. one of the concerns, questions, bits of uncertainty around that change is involved what does it mean for other relationships between the uk and other countries? possibly the most important relationship, one of the most important relationships with the united states. here is an opportunity to restore, renew, repair, choose whichever word you want, after a few years of uncertainty want, after a few years of u ncerta i nty after want, after a few years of uncertainty after donald trump. and i think what they will want to do is just to try and stabilise that and say, look, this relationship is still strong, still vibrant and still strong, still vibra nt and still strong, still vibrant and still matters. that is the uk site. but the americans have an incentive because they are here, notjust in the uk and the g7, but also the eu and nato, to say america is back on the multilateral global state, engaging in a way that it has not done for the last few years. the uk

is the first port of call, so they will want to start that process by showing how they are getting on very well with the brits as they will get on very well with everyone else in the g7. there is a mutual incentive for both sides to make this as good as possible. as you heard in that clip, they are both thrilled to meet each other, both agreeing that they are married above their pay grade and doing all the usual banter. the substance we will see after the meeting, in terms of what they agree on vaccines, want to they agree on how to deal with china and all the other big issues before them this weekend. i other big issues before them this weekend. . ,, . . other big issues before them this weekend. ., , , . ., i. other big issues before them this weekend. ., , , . ., ., ,, weekend. i appreciate your talking to me and not _ weekend. i appreciate your talking to me and not in _ weekend. i appreciate your talking to me and not in the _ weekend. i appreciate your talking to me and not in the room - weekend. i appreciate your talking to me and not in the room while i weekend. i appreciate your talking i to me and not in the room while they are talking to each other, but i suppose i do wonder what sort of tone do you think will be established between the two of them? they are both genial men. they will be genial with each other. we have just seen it visibly with our own eyes. they will get on with each other. they have had differences in the past, they have both described

each other in critical ways in previous times. all of that will be put to one side because this is about national interest rather than just the personalities. but i think that the personal relationships will be easier than it was with donald trump. as we shall be donald trump almost on a daily basis, you could be quite fractious and he spoke his mind, occasionally that would mean leading to tensions, not least at summits like this. i think there will be a congeniality. we have got to remember that the president is an old hand at this. he has been on the diplomatic circuit for many years, he has been to the uk many times, he understands the space, he knows the politics, he understands a politics of northern ireland, you will know how to navigate that in a way that perhaps was less obvious with donald trump. perhaps was less obvious with donald trum -. g . , perhaps was less obvious with donald trum. , ., , perhaps was less obvious with donald trum-. , ., , ., perhaps was less obvious with donald trum. , ., ., ,, perhaps was less obvious with donald trum. . ., , ., ., ~' ., perhaps was less obvious with donald trum. , ., ., ~' trump. james, good to talk to you. james landale _ trump. james, good to talk to you. james landale there, _ trump. james, good to talk to you. james landale there, i _ trump. james, good to talk to you. james landale there, i work- james landale there, i work diplomatic correspondent. thank you. our north america correspondent nomia iqbal is in carbis bay and highlighted what would be on the agenda between the two men for those talks.

it is the first time both men have met in person since becoming world leaders. and in the past, president biden has said that borisjohnson is a clone of donald trump. i do not think you meant it as a complement necessarily. and borisjohnson has, as we know this morning, written an editorial in which he talks about the special relationship. we hear that phrase a lot. we hear that some think that is weak and needy. talk of these bilateral talks will be brexit. borisjohnson wants a brexit dealfrom the us. joe biden has not made any indication of what to expect so far. in fact, when he became president, he had said one of his main priorities was, or his men one, was to tackle the pandemic and to deal with american infrastructure, and there was not any talk of a trade deal at that point. so i am sure borisjohnson will be having those discussions with him to see what will happen. and what is the timetable for the rest of today which what do we know?

well, they g7 summit does not officially begin until tomorrow. we are expecting more of the world leaders to arrive. canada is expected to arrive today. it will kick off tomorrow. sunday is when it all wraps up and we will get that document that will be published, which will outline what the g7 leaders have agreed on. it is worth bearing in mind that they cannot pass any laws, because the g7 is made up of individual nations with their own democratic processes. instead what they can do is agree on tackling a lot of issues, such as climate change. one of the big issues, of course, is the coronavirus pandemic, how to deal with the recovery and how to build that global health system to deal with pandemics of the future. so that will be the plan for the next few days. as g7 leaders arrive

for their summit in cornwall, young people from around the globe have been discussing what they expect from world leaders. we'll be finding out what under—25s think about the covid—19 pandemic, gender equality and climate change. join matthew amroliwala from 4.30pm for a special programme on the news channel. i want to bring you some news just into us at the bbc. the fishmongers' hall attacker was lawfully killed by armed police, an inquestjury has concluded. usman khan was hit by 12 police bullets, just over half of a total of 20 rounds fired in less than ten minutes, by six armed officers from the city of london police and the metropolitan police. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford joins me now. daniel, as i say, this news coming into us as we speak. what more can you tell us?—

you tell us? well, in the end, this was an uncontroversial _ you tell us? well, in the end, this was an uncontroversial inquest. you tell us? well, in the end, thisl was an uncontroversial inquest into the death of these men can. his family were represented in the inquest, but they did not challenge any of the police evidence. essentially the police evidence went through unchallenged, and therefore the unlawful killing verdict was directed by the coroner that the police's version of events was accepted in full. thejury police's version of events was accepted in full. the jury heard was that usman khan hasjust accepted in full. the jury heard was that usman khan has just killed saskia jones and jack merritt, flight out onto london bridge where he was tackled by three men, using a narwhal tusk and a fire extinguisher. then the first team of three fire officers arrived, he told them he had a bomb. that officer at them he had a bomb. that officer at the first opportunity shot him twice. then all the firearms officers retreated to a safer distance of about 40 metres or so. they were joined by several other firearms teams. usman khan was lying, but still moving, and london bridge. a police helicopter was

hovering overhead, live video back to the main control room. then, to have an's surprise, after about eight minutes, usman khan sat up, his fake suicide belt still clearly visible, but looking at that .5 more firearms officers opened fire, firing a total of 18 shots between them. 20 shots fired, of which 12 hit usman khan. after a 90 seconds of that burst of gunfire, he stopped moving and soon afterwards was declared dead. essentially, it was a lawful killing because all those firearms officers who opened fire said they did so because they feared for both their safety and for the safety of the public. but the suicide vest, in fact, was a fake. did the coroner make any comment? he did the coroner make any comment? ii2 did not. except to comment on the bravery of those men who had tackled usman khan on the bridge. he said

thatjohn, the former prisoner, and a serving prisoner, who was there on day release, and darren frost had showed great bravery in fighting to mark one. he said that the first day that had been used onjack merritt and saskia jones could not be faulted, but unfortunately they had died. of faulted, but unfortunately they had died. of course there was a miracle survivor of this attack, isabel, who had been very badly injured by usman khan did survive. one of the firearms officers who had shot him in that volley of fire, the second volley of fire, immediately afterwards went inside and effectively saved isabel's lie. thank you so much. —— isabel's life. the health secretary matt hancock has rejected accusations made by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister

during the coronavirus pandemic. under questioning by mps, mr hancock said he was aware at the start of the pandemic that 820,000 people could die from covid—19 but that ordering an earlier lockdown would have meant going against scientific advice." our political correspondentjonathan blake was listening to the session. he has been at the forefront of the response of the pandemic throughout but two weeks ago, matt hancock was accused of incompetence and lies. is it your chance to give a version of events today, mr hancock? the health secretary would today have his say on the decisions he and others talk that shaped the uk's handling of coronavirus. claim by claim, accusations by the prime minister's former adviser dominic cummings were put to mr hancock — that he told the prime minister people in hospital would be tested for covid—19 before returning to care homes... we set out a policy that people would be tested when tests were available. and then i set about building

the testing capacity to be able to deliver on that. ..that he had blamed the chancellor and others for blocking orders of personal protective equipment... no, that is not a fair recollection of the situation. ..and a direct question. did you ever say anything to the prime minister that you knew not to be true? no. dominic cummings has been asked to provide evidence for his explosive claims a fortnight ago but so far has not done so. matt hancock said that was telling and accused the former adviser of undermining him. i worked directly with the prime minister from the start of this, and of course, i worked with his aides and his team as well, and i have no idea. did you know he wanted the prime minister to fire you? yes, because he briefed the newspapers at the time. or somebody briefed the newspapers, i now have a better

idea of who it was. beyond the clash of personalities that has given us two very different version of events, there were bigger questions today about the government handling of the coronavirus pandemic early on and how well—equipped the uk was to deal with such a scenario. accused of mps by locking down too late, mr hancock said ministers were advised the public would not comply for long, despite being aware of the potential loss of life. i was given the planning assumption based on spanish flu, and it was signed off at cobra on the 31st of january. that was a planning assumption for 820,000 deaths and i was determined that that would not happen on my watch. and the health secretary gave an insight into the stark choices he and others faced. i remember the moment around the cabinet table when i said, "we are going to have to tell everybody to stop

all social contact." and i remember thinking, this is the most extraordinary thing i have ever said. and the prime minister said, "yes, we are. you had better go and tell them." jonathan blake, bbc news, westminster. the headlines on bbc news: president biden and borisjohnson meet for their first face to face meeting as leaders, on the eve of the g7 summit. the health secretary matt hancock rejects accusations by dominic cummings that he lied to the prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted lessons need to be learned. the number of people waiting for hospital treatment in england tops five million for the first time. girls as young as 11 have experienced sexual harassment in secondary schools in england. a review by ofsted found that nine

out of ten girls at schools and colleges said they had experienced sexist name calling or been sent explicit images. many of the incidents went unreported — which the watchdog warns is leading to sexual harassment becoming normalised among young people. zoe conway reports. it doesn't matter who you are, any age, you will experience, as a woman, sexual harassment. it's normalised and it's ok for men to do these things to women and young girls and there's not enough of a consequence. lucy and cerys have now left school but they remember how hard it was being sent sexually explicit images by other pupils on social media. i have received more than i can count on my hands, images of privates that i didn't want to see, and the first port of call is to go to your mum but other than that, it's really hard to know what to do because you feel very vulnerable in the situation and you feel like, i don't want to see that!

sexual harassment has become normalised, so much so that it's not a surprise any more and it'sjust brushed off. it's nothing that we think of as out of the ordinary, it's become so normalised that most women have experienced it, whether in the street or on social media. 0fsted visited 32 schools and colleges to investigate sexual abuse in schools. inspectors were shocked by what they heard. nearly 90% of girls told 0fsted they or their peers had been sent unwanted explicit images. nearly 50% of boys said they or their peers had been sent unwanted images. children said sexual harassment had become normalised and said most children felt that the sex education they received in the school does not help them to navigate these issues. because it is something that is difficult for adolescents to talk to adults about, it is something the scale of which is still significantly underestimated by schools

and colleges and adults more generally. 0fsted wants to see schools making time to teach children how to cope with online abuse and they want to see more training for teachers. it's not ok to bully a peer into sharing a nude against their will and it's certainly not ok to then post it on a whatsapp group to all of yourfriends. and yet, for so many young people, that has become commonplace, and we absolutely need to work together to reset that cultural dial. the government says it wants to bring together tech companies, the police, schools and charities so that online sexual abuse is anything but normal. zoe conway, bbc news. a woman who lost herjob after saying that people cannot change their biological sex has won an employment appeal tribunal. maya forstater didn't have her contract renewed at a think tank after posting a series

of tweets questioning government plans to let people declare their own gender. today a judge ruled her original tribunal �*erred in law'. our correspondent charlotte wright explained how significant this case is. this sets a precedent for future employment cases. so other people who might find themselves in a similar position may find that they have a case, too, for unfair dismissal. now this essentially boils down to the issue of freedom of speech versus what is acceptable to say on a very sensitive subject. and maya forstaterfundamentally believes that humans cannot change sex. this is what she said in her tweets back in 2018. her employer says that presents an existential threat to trans people, her former employer i should say. so they chose not to renew her contract. now, she argues that was discrimination, that she was discriminated against according to the equality act.

now, a tribunal in 2019 disagreed with her and actually said that her view is incompatible with human dignity, and therefore did not meet the equality act criteria. that was overruled today, though, following this appeal. the judge said that gender critical beliefs are protected under the equality act. this was the reaction from maya forstater today. when the government was consulting on self id, it was women who were most concerned, and then it was women's voices that were shut down. and i am just an ordinary woman, i am a mother, i was on mumsnet, but i am also a policy researcher and i thought i should be able to tweet about this. and then when i couldn't, you know, i became the test case. now, thisjudgment is more than 60 pages long, and it is very particular, very specific. it says that it does not mean that trans people do not have protection against discrimination and harassment in the equality act, that it doesn't mean that those

with these so—called gender critical beliefs can misgender trans people with immunity. and this is something that the charity stonewall has pointed to in their response to it. they have issued a series of tweets, saying while this news may be hard to hear, we must remember that this case has no bearing on the protections that trans people have in the workplace and that all trans people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and humanity while at work. final results from a scientific trial in indonesia to combat dengue fever show it can be sharply reduced by an experimental technique using bacteria. scientists released millions of mosquito eggs infected with wolbachia, which is harmless to humans but prevents the insects from passing on dengue. results show a 77% cut in infections. dengue fever infects up to 400 million people a year around the world and can cause severe pain in muscle and bones.

the lead researcher on the project, professor cameron simmons from the world mosquito program, has told the bbc the trial is now being expanded to a dozen countries. we are really excited. and indeed our colleagues injakarta, indonesia, so excited by the results from the trial that they have now expanded the deployment of wolbachia through the rest of the mosquito population in jakarta. not only that, expanding it outside the urban areas of jakarta, the city. so in the next 12 months around 2.5 million people in indonesia are going to have wolbachia in the mosquito population around them, and that is going to protect them from dengue. dengue is an enormous problem globally, through asia, latin america. we are working in 11 countries. our goal is to teach governments and other stakeholders in disease endemic countries how to use this health technology efficiently, cost effectively and really well to bring long lasting protection to their communities

from these diseases. large parts of the northern hemisphere have seen a partial solar eclipse today. the moon travelled directly in front of the sun in what is called an annular eclipse — leaving just a thin sliver of sunlight visible. our science correspondent rebecca morelle reports. an eclipse at sunrise in the united states. one of nature's most dazzling sights — the moon gliding in front of the sun, taking a bite from the shining desk. and this was the view from canada, where the northernmost parts of the world were treated to a full spectacle. and it was a special kind of solar event, known as an annular eclipse. an annular eclipse happens when the moon isjust a little bit further away from the earth so it looks smaller in the sky. what you will be able to see is a sort of ring around the moon, and so this is why that annular solar eclipses are known as the ring of fire. they are incredibly beautiful

eclipses to spot, as well. the full eclipse began in ontario, canada. the moon casting its shadow across a narrow band of our planet's surface. and it ended in siberia. there was a partial eclipse in the uk, with up to 40% of the sun obscured. and in edinburgh, families had a chance to catch a glimpse, as our star emerged from the haze. across much of the country, though, the weather was overcast. this was the view from cambridge. but every now and again the clouds parted. solar eclipses do happen roughly one or two times a year. actually, you have got to be on the right place at the time to see them. that is because the main's shadow, which casts on the earth, is rather small. although they happen frequently enough, we do not actually get to see them from the same country very often.-

actually get to see them from the same country very often. london had a sliahtl same country very often. london had a slightly better _ same country very often. london had a slightly better viewed _ same country very often. london had a slightly better viewed this - a slightly better viewed this morning. but in the uk, we will have to get used to partial eclipses for a while. our next total eclipse will not happen until 2090. but today's event has delighted many around the world, with a display of a true celestial wonders. i want to bring you the latest coronavirus figures, which havejust been issued by the government. the government has said that as of nine o'clock this morning, there had been a further 7393 laboratory confirmed cases in the uk. over 7000 cases for a second day. it also said that seven more people had died within 28 days of testing positive for covid—19 as of today. that brings the uk total to 127,867. separate

figures published by the office for national statistics show there have been hundred and 53,000 deaths registered in the uk were covid—19 was mentioned on the death certificate. those that latest figures from the government. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello there. contrasting conditions across the country today, the best of the sunshine across eastern england and a lot more cloud than recent days. the cloud thick enough for a few light showers in the south west, misty and murky aling west coasts and some rain into the far north west, so here temperatures peaking at 16 but elsewhere, low to mid 20s. as we move through thursday evening and overnight, that weather front will continue to push across scotland, introducing more cloud, generally quite a cloudy night, quite muggy as well, uncomfortable for sleeping with temperature staying widely into the mid—teens. another muggy start on friday,

a lot of low cloud first thing. the sunshine breaking through but this weather front will introduce more cloud across northern england and wales, squeezing the warmth into the southeast corner, with 25 degrees, just that little bit fresherfollowing on behind.

hello and welcome to bbc news — with me matthew amroliwala. as we've seen, the g7 summit begins on friday — and this year, it's being hosted here in the uk — in a five—star hotel in cornwall on the south—west coast of england. it's worth having a look at why it's such an important meeting. the g7 is a group of seven

of the world's largest, most—advanced?economies, including the uk ? which currently holds the presidency of the group — the united states, canada, germany, france, italy and japan as well as representatives from the european union. prime minister borisjohnson has also invited australia,